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Of course I've had a draft of a post waiting to be completed since the weekend. But I'll just scrap it all now and start with the most important piece: THE RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!

Friends Jim, Sam, Sean, Jenny and Dylan joined Jesse and myself for Game 6. As baseball and especially Red Sox fans are wont to do, we were very superstitious. "You have an empty beer, they got a hit the last time you had a full beer, get a beer!" "They dropped that ball because you went to the bathroom before, you better wait 'til commercial!"

Normal!

In the end, victory was sweet and we were all jumping around screaming. My parents Facetime'd in and we could see we were not the only ones celebrating! My mom, dad and his playoff beard were too:

On the call, as my parents waved around their celebratory champagne, I remembered that I had bought some champagne for the same purpose! Plus, pomegranate juice to make that RED! Here's Jesse making them for us:

Here is us still being excited, you're welcome:

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I shall save my Halloween costume posting for tomorrow... since I have a promise to myself to write here every day of November, might as well stretch out the good stuff.

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If you need something scary because it's Halloween, remember I used to live in a haunted house.

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Jesse left today for a tour that will keep him away until Thanksgiving. I'm glad our last night for a while was so fun! It would have sucked if the Red Sox lost and we didn't get to watch Game 7 in the same room. He was only home for 10 days, but the fall classic was a good background to all the time we spent together.  When he walked me to the subway at 7am this morning (our little ritual on his last mornings home), we said goodbye on a high note. Still riding that adrenaline from the win!

1203

Last night was a bit scary. It started out intentionally frightening: Jesse, Jaime, the legendary Jon Cheese, and I went to a haunted house in Manhattan based on serial killers. We had no idea what to expect, so before we entered we thought it would probably be a good idea to go to the bar across the street to take a tequila shot. I think this course of action certainly calmed my nerves. Also, Jon Cheese.

As we were waiting in line, one of the haunted house employees asked if anyone would like to be "marked with blood," meaning the actors could interact with you more than most. Jon, of course, really wanted the red X's on his forehead. And he made great use of them -- I don't think I will ever go to a haunted house again unless Jon Cheese is in attendance!

At one point clown-faced Gacy was shoving Jon into a wall and then a future murder victim wearing only underwear popped up from a cellar-like door and dragged Jon down with him while we were told to move on to the next room. I turned to Jesse and Jaime and said, "Okay, so we've lost Jon!"

Next up was Ed Gein who was yelling for a volunteer to help him 'feed his crocodiles' and for some reason those jerks Jesse and Jaime decided to push me forward even though I did NOT want to touch that guy's hand. I was given something to hold over a gate and then BAM! Jon Cheese emerged growling and crawling, attacking me! I screamed and then started laughing hysterically as we fell to the ground.

Throughout the house Jon would talk back to the likes of Charles Manson and Patrick Bateman. At one point some weird Cookie Monster-looking killer came out of the wall and Jon screamed, "My wife would hate you!" We had a great time and though I was scared for a lot of it, I mostly just laughed.

Above, our tourist photo of the excursion.

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And then the other scary bit of the night: the Red Sox. The World Series is now 1-1 and that's all I will say about that except for: GO SOX!

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Oh okay, I have one more kind of "scary" thing to go with the theme -- I get scared to wash my hair after a new cut because I'm wondering whether my hair will look as good styled by me. Surprise, surprise I can't seem to look as polished when I style it by myself. However, it didn't turn out bad. Right? (Above, my hair as blown out and styled by yours truly.)

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Something not scary: the remake of Carrie. Skip it! I probably didn't even need to tell you that, but I saw it last weekend on a whim and true to what I thought previously, Chloe Grace Moretz has no range beyond playing an eye-rolling sarcastic girl. As I said in my brief review, her line delivery was abysmal. And you don't have a solid movie if your titular character can't act the part.

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On a related note, DO see 12 Years a Slave. It's brutal, but one of the best films of the year.

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One shouldn't be pushed to write, but I did have a goal of writing more often in this space this year. Since I don't think another NaNoWriMo is in me at the moment, perhaps I'll make November a month of attempting to update every day...

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And finally, this weekend Jiscilla is hosting a Halloween party so I'm excited to play dress-up and have some fun with friends! Photos shall ensue, I'm sure.

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Since I was denied the change I craved a few weeks ago, I took matters into my own hands last night. I'm always thankful that when I feel like I can't control something, I have my hair. So it was time for bangs and a trim!

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Rose Byrne's hair was the major inspiration. Fall and winter incognito.

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I'll probably just get more Lea Michele comparisons. Ah well.

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I'm considering dying it, too. The last time I tried dying my hair was in college ten years ago. Basically, my hair's too dark and it doesn't take color much. I'd love to go with this or this but it'll probably just still look brown. Tale as old as time, as Celine Dion sings.

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I should probably mention the other reason I wanted to cut my hair was that bangs are somewhat necessary to my Halloween costume for Jiscilla's party this weekend...

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Jesse returned from tour for a brief respite. Reports confirm he is "getting used to" my new 'do.

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That first picture I took after getting a cavity filled this morning. My lips were numb. Drilling into my head for 45 minutes surprisingly gave me a terrible headache. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

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Back to the business at hand. I like my new hair. What say you?

1201

Updated! Jesse, his Red Sox playoff beard, and Pee Wee!

Jesse left for tour last Wednesday, and luckily work was so busy that it kept me distracted. I collapsed into sleep most nights last week. On Saturday he called me and asked me to go on a date Monday night (tonight!). I thought I wouldn't be seeing him again until near the end of the month, but he was able to work out a detour for an evening! We'll be getting some dinner and seeing Gravity in IMAX 3D. Then he's off again tomorrow, but I'm so excited to just spend a few hours with him.

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Speaking of movie-going, last week I saw Joseph Gordon-Levitt's writing-directorial feature debut, Don Jon. I was a bit skeptical at its start, but the film progressed into an entertaining commentary on modern day media and sexual politics. I was especially enamored with its ending and though I've always been a fan of that charmer JGL, I now hold him with even higher esteem after such a smart film. It might end up in my top ten of the year.

On Saturday I saw Enough Said. It was basically a divorcee rom-com, but I found it charming. I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini; it's an unassuming film that made me laugh quite a lot. It also made me miss Gandolfini and I stared at his character in disbelief at the fact that the actor playing him is gone. A decent film... which also co-stars Tavi Gevinson?!?! I still don't know what to make of that, except she wasn't bad and reminded me of Dawkson Creek-era Michelle Williams.

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Musically, I've fallen in love with three recently-released albums: Lorde's Pure Heroine, Chvrches' The Bones of What You Believe, and Haim's Days Are Gone. All three on rotation, but I think Lorde's relaxed vibe is currently my favorite.

With Scandal's premiere last week, I've also taken to thinking that Olivia Pope might enjoy Lorde's song "Glory and Gore" in which she sings: "You can try and take us / But we're the gladiators." If you know, you know.

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It took me some time to decompress before I could write this post. Yes, a week. Last weekend proved spectacular, and now I'm thirty years old.

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Sam and Jim were married in the sunken garden of a castle, surrounded by friends, family as well as the beautiful juxtaposition of the lush greens of the land against the piercing blue of the clear sky. Everyone remarked on the exquisite weather. The music started and then Jesse was walking down the hydrangea-strewn aisle as a groomsman. Adam told a funny tale befitting of the couple as he officiated, and Sam and Jim looked deliriously happy and radiant.

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The New York contingent sipped on mimosas and bloody marys during the brunch-time cocktail hour, though a few of the men opted for rose (we don't know where this trend came from). Since it was also my 30th birthday, I was excited the attention was elsewhere, but happy that we were all together in Connecticut and laughing.

We made friends with a few other New Yorkers because they overheard us talking about the Breaking Bad finale that would be upon us next day. A young man named Dylan, betrothed (ok, just dating, but I love the word betrothed, don't you?) to gorgeous bridesmaid Jenny sauntered over to our table when he overheard words like 'Madrigal,' 'Heisenberg,' and 'ricin.' Like me and Jiscilla, his other half was in the wedding party taking the pro photos during cocktails.

Fun fact: because of this introduction, Dylan and Jenny joined us for the Breaking Bad finale the next evening in Brooklyn. Jim and Sam just know how to surround themselves with great people.

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Yet there were a couple of guests that would raise their voices in crowded areas, making sure people knew that they were on a television show every week. Not that anyone cared.

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Sartorial note -- I have two different wedding-guest-ready blush pink dresses that both have polka dots (one navy, one black) and I couldn't wear either to this wedding because the colors included pale pink. So I went for my rarely worn cobalt blue silk dress. I love it but wear it rarely because without fault I will always get SOMETHING on it. I have worn it twice before: once three years ago to meet my friend Amber at Brooklyn Winery where I proceeded to get honey on it from the cheese board we were eating. And then to a holiday party last year in which I spilled some white wine. But it's a lovely dress that makes me feel slinky and light, so it's all worth it to me for those dry cleaning costs.

And after this wedding, there were at least three I counted. That means I had a LOT of fun.

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After the entrances, great speeches, and carousing on the dance floor (I'm always there, baby), the wedding ended around 4pm and the guests filtered out to prepare for the afterparty. Jim and Sam took the party from the castle to Jim's grandparents' backyard with a big white tent and buffet-style food selections. Per Jim's request, I supplied the playlist.

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I should mention that in the interim two hours between the wedding and the afterparty I decided I should nap back at Jim's house (where we were lodging in a guest bedroom). I took off the silk stain-catcher and dropped under the covers in my bra and pantyhose (like you do). Not ten minutes later, just as I was drifting off, three girlfriends came screaming into the room singing happy birthday, turning on the offensively bright light, and when I realized what was happening I got really excited, threw off the blanket so they could get a little surprise of their own: I was half naked. Yay!

They were all wearing t-shirts emblazoned with various 'special moments' photographs of me in my life. My faces were staring back at me, and I couldn't stop laughing. My friends are the best.

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L-R: Kells, Erica, me, Amber, Jaime

Me in my '30' glasses + Jesse

Jesse, Ali, Adam, me, Jenny, Dylan

During the afterparty we played wiffle ball, drank some scotchy scotch scotch, played with props for the photobooth, danced about a bonfire, and discussed our favorite things about Sam, Jim, and their wedding. They also have wonderful relatives. It was a memorable celebration.

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At one point, Jesse was nowhere to be found and I walked up to my group of friends with what I thought was a terribly important story. As I was speaking, I noticed that NO ONE was paying attention to me. They were all looking behind me. I started to scowl, and then I turned around and saw Jesse descending the driveway with my FATHER right behind him!

MY DAD SHOWED UP!

I totally started crying. My mom's been in Panama for the past month for a family issue, and I was missing my parents like crazy and then THERE HE WAS. Props to Jesse and my dad and apparently EVERYBODY there, to include the newlyweds, who helped execute the surprise. I was kind of overwhelmed by all the goodness I am continuously surrounded by. THE BEST PEOPLE.

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Sam and Jim even included the birthday surprise on the wedding day itinerary. How sweet. And they got me a cake with The Twins on it and it said "The Lesters Send Their Regards." (Jim's last name is Lester.)

HAHAHAHAHA GAME OF THRONES CAKE? AT A WEDDING? A NON-RED WEDDING? (IT WAS RED VELVET) I'M STILL LAUGHING. I LOVE MY FRIENDS.

My dad also brought his trusty sword that we use to cut cakes at home. Parker Family tradition, as it were. I always feel powerful wielding it!

I imagined Walder Frey's neck as I brought the sword down swiftly on the cake.

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My mom was able to send me a photo of her and my relatives in Panama holding up a sign that said happy birthday. Another wonderful gift.

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After the incredibly long day, Jesse and I bid adieu to my father and friends and crashed heartily. This time, in pajamas.

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It was quite a glorious birthday, and I felt so loved and full of glee. Not exactly the best segue, but as a sort of commemoration of turning thirty, here's a line from "Lady Lazarus," one of my favorite Sylvia Plath poems:

And I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat I have nine times to die.

Like most Plath, the poem in its entirety is depressing, but I enjoyed this stanza as a standalone when I read it earlier this year. I'm not depressed about turning thirty, though.

Let's get on with this, life.