Party Planning

This Saturday is the Annual Independence Day Party at Castle Curley. Even though I’ve done very little prep work for it, about fifteen years’ experience has shown that I could run this party in my sleep. I’m not worried; I expect to have a lovely time; and Brian, Prince Mekhi and I are planning on going somewhere fun on Sunday.

Next year’s party, however, will be quite different. In 2016, Brian (aka the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH)) and I will celebrate our silver wedding anniversary: 25 years of wedded bliss. The WGH and I want to have a big party, inviting as many people as possible, especially those from our wedding. Planning more than a year in advance means I won’t have to worry about the cost too much because we can save up money between now and then. No, the big problem is the party/wedding anniversary industry.

Google “Silver 25th Anniversary” and you will find a lot of beautiful, elegant crap; especially if you click on “Images.” Then ask yourself: does this reflect Brian and Lori? The answer is a roaring “NO!” When we’ve actually done something special for our wedding anniversaries in years prior (typically, Thanksgiving is a more important holiday at Castle Curley), it’s been going to a “Weird Al” Yankovic concert for our third anniversary; going to a Packers Tailgate Party for our fifteenth anniversary; or going to the Parthenon on State Street for gyros on any anniversary because we did that late on our wedding night after we checked in to our hotel. We had a party for our tenth anniversary at a park shelter in Madison, but otherwise, we have celebrated our anniversary in non-traditional ways.

As I started thinking of our Silver Party and our unique nature, I looked to many party sites for ideas. Maybe a Tolkien–Hobbit–Lord of the Rings theme? The WGH loves these books and I thought maybe guests could dress up as their favorite characters. Brian nixed the idea and rightly.

So, I thought of other ideas: a big tent with lots of lighting to play games all day and well into the night. Cakes from Carl shaped and decorated like some of our favorite games: Dungeons and Dragons, Settlers of Catan, Munchkin, Mansions of Madness, and (of course) Cards Against Humanity. Perhaps gyros for lunch (see above, re: Parthenon on our wedding night), and a pig-roast for supper.

Yes, I want a few elegant touches such as some Silver/25th Anniversary balloons and decorations. I really wanted Jordan almonds at our wedding, but they weren’t in the budget; so I’ll probably have them as party favors. For overall theme, however, I’m drawn more to Think Geek than Party City or even Oriental Trading Company.

When the WGH and I married in 1991, I looked through tons of invitation books and again thought they were all crap. Thank the Gods that I have graphic arts skills, so I designed our wedding invites and RSVPs. Now I’ll probably have to do the same with our Silver Anniversary Party.

In the meantime, have a fun and safe Independence Day this weekend; and if you want an invite to the Curley Silver Anniversary Party in 2016, e-mail me with your contact info: lorianncurley at gmail dot com.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

Me: “Are you as happy as I am?”
WGH: “I don’t know; I’m not married to me.”

Holidays at Castle Curley…

…where Geekdom reigns supreme.

For the uninitiated, Brian and I refer to our home as Castle Curley (CC) because of the old saying “a man’s home is his castle.” Brian (the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH)) is the King of CC; I am the queen; and all the critters are princes and princesses. Mekhi, too, is a Prince of CC, and his Mom #1 is a duchess.

We have a very different view of the holidays here at Castle Curley. Closer to the end of the year I’ll give you more information on the major holiday season, but let’s talk about this time of year for now:

Valentine’s Day vs. Gamemaster’s Day

You must understand that the WGH is allowed to buy me jewelry from only one store: the Packers Pro Shop (PPS). Recently I had to include the caveat that he is forbidden from buying anything by Pandora, when the PPS announced they started to sell the ugly and expensive charms. Ugh! Every December I rant that not all women want diamonds or other jewelry for ‘insert holiday here.’ Valentine’s Day is just a candy holiday, so a simple heart-shaped box filled with chocolates is more than sufficient. Brian and I tell each other “I love you” every day (like this couple), so we don’t need a hallmark holiday to remind us to say it.

What’s more important to us is Gamemaster’s Day (GMs Day), celebrated on March 4^th. Usually during our RPGs closest to this day, we’ll have snacks to celebrate, and the PCs may bring gifts for the GM if they so choose. Brian and I attend Plattecon every year, typically convened on the first weekend of March (This weekend!), because UW-Platteville is where we met when we were college students. Every gaming convention has a dealers room, and Brian and I usually buy our GMs Day gifts to each other at Plattecon. One year he bought me a Duck of Gloom; another year I gave Brian more expansions for Mansions of Madness. In another blog entry, I’ll discuss our “no practical gifts” rule.

Critters Day Party

Every spring, we celebrate the birthdays of our feline and canine children with a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Once when a friend of ours took his dog to the same vet that we utilize, he overheard the staff discussing a couple that has a birthday party for their cats. Our friend laughed because he knew they were talking about us.

Independence Day Party

This started when our friends the Stewart Brothers came to our home on July 4^th many years ago, and we lit fireworks and watched Wimbledon. Now we host a barbecue where we provide all the meat (including vegan), some beverages, and some fireworks, and the rest is potluck. We try to keep the fireworks on the ground because we live a block from the local police and fire departments.

Anniversary vs. Thanksgiving

This year, our wedding anniversary is on a Monday. Wazoo. Plus, it’s our 24^th wedding anniversary. Wazoo. Our anniversary is not a big deal (See above re: saying “I love you” every day.). Case in point: the year we moved to our current house, we took off the day of our anniversary (it was a Wednesday that year), and spent the day in bed (the majority of the time devoted to actual sleeping). We’re thinking of doing something big for our Silver Anniversary, but that’s not until next year.

No, the major holiday to celebrate us and our family is Thanksgiving, despite the fact that we almost divorced our first married Thanksgiving (long story short: Brian taught me how to drive). We always have the day off, so now we stay home in our jammies, cook our own meal, and watch football (especially if the Packers are playing) or the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions. We also share our meal with our critters, who nap with us as we watch TV.

My Birthday vs. Life Day

I’m still a pink hatter, which means I’m not yet fifty and eligible to join the Red Hat Society. Unless the Packers play on my birthday again, we’ll probably go out for dinner at our local Nitty Gritty, then watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II on Netflix. Seriously, that’s all I want to do.

I tried to commit suicide when I was fifteen (December 5, 1985) in a desperate plea for help. Since then, I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders and now am receiving the appropriate health care for these conditions. Now every year I celebrate Life Day (no, not from the hideous Star Wars Holiday Special, which despite being a SW geek, I never have seen) by watching the sunset, then going out for dinner. This year, I’d like to go to the Melting Pot if Riff Trax isn’t having a special live showing that night, as they have done previously with Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

Curley Con

The WGH hits the big 5-0 in September this year, and the AARP already is sending him membership offers. We’re going to have a party at CC called Curley Con, which basically is a day of games, friendship, food, and celebration. Need I say more?

Pog ma thoin!

-Lori

“My lovely wife, Cristi, sought to get the perfect 3rd year anniversary gift. Consulting the Ms. Manner’s Guide to Geek Husbands, she found that a new graphics card is just the thing!” – Aaron Williams