Here Comes the Dadzilla

{image via sillydad.com}

It's a rare species, prone to irrational outbursts and likely to throw a temper tantrum or two.  While mostly indigenous to these parts, it turns out I am related to one of these two legged monsters.  


Yes, I'm talking about a Dadzilla. He appeared about a month after my engagement and is now a permanent fixture in my life.


HE wants a ten piece band.


HE doesn't think my hair should be up.


HE gets to pick the photographer.


Normally, my dad is very rational.  Yes, he's opinionated.  Yes, he has expensive taste.  But usually, he'll speak his mind and let it rest.  


But now, blinded by the engagement ring on my finger, he's become wild-eyed with wedding planning. This type of flower, this kind of dress, that style of cake... if it weren't so frustrating half the time, it would be amusing.


 Perhaps this is payback for my less-than-pleasant teenage years? 


Either way, it has all been a lesson in patience, parental management and learning how to pick your battles.  I'm likely going to leave the wedding planning process more prepared for marriage and parenting. Really, it's a much cheaper route than counseling (though, perhaps a bit more painful)!


The last I heard, the Dadzilla wants a Vera Wang wedding dress.  


I'm excited to see how he looks in it.

Recipe for Relative Success

I needed a day to reflect on how the weekend went (and let the overdose of food finally settle).  And while I'm glad it went well - lots of hugging and kissing and loving between the families - it makes for a pretty boring post.


My mom kept us laughing (she told us stories about patients named urine, dudee and bimbo) and feeling slightly uncomfortable with tales about the amicable divorce between her and my dad.  


My father was surprisingly tame, only making a few inappropriate references about sex.  


My stepmom and stepdad were amazingly normal - and though my stepdad rarely talks, he actually flexed his vocal cords several times.  


And, of course, my future-in-laws were as lovely as usual.


Our recipe for success looked something like this:

• Several parts food
• One part Georgetown cupcakes
• A pinch of alcohol 

The end result?  A beautiful family dish devoid of dysfunction... and a wonderful wedding that will go on as planned!

Marriage and Religion... Oy Vey!

While I know the words yenta and schlep, the last time my family and I were in Temple for a religious reason was when I had my bat mitzvah.  At the age 12.  I'm now one week away from turning 29.


Which is why it took me by surprise when my father all of a sudden tapped into his Jewish roots.  The appearance of a ring on my finger seemed to unhinge the hidden Jew within my dad.

I was informed that we could NOT have a Saturday day wedding.  When asked why, he explained that it was against the Jewish religion.  When I asked why this mattered, he said, "It just does."

I was told, "We need a Rabbi."  When I asked why, he said, "We just do." 

I should note - my fiancee is not Jewish.  He's Catholic (but in the way that I'm Jewish - meaning, very lapsed).  So now we're having a rabbi, but we need to find one that will do the service with a priest.  

All I've got to say is... The whole thing is making me feel a bit mashugana!