i can only shake my head and smile in utter amusement. nakakatawang nakakatuwa naman itong araw na ito.

finally, i was able to bring the fabric for the dress i plan to wear for a.'s wedding. custom-made dresses, for me, are always a big production and i don't mean just the dress. this means the dress, and the earrings, and the bag, and the shoes and the hair (and whatever else i may think of). it's been this way since i had my first prom dress sewn by ate c. as she was re-measuring me this afternoon, i regaled her with the story of how i recently found my second prom dress and tried it on. as i have a penchance for a-line dresses and empire cuts, the dress still fits me. the only thing was, i have to stop breathing and not wear a padded bra. or maybe none at all.

the thing about having a dress made is that it's not just merely bringing the fabric to the modista and showing her a couple of pictures of what style you want for your dress. personally, i think it's one of my earliest experiences in creative collaborations.

i've heard those stories about high-profile bridal dress designers who have to contend with their clients' (and for some, their mothers') outlandish ideas. i certainly saw this in that episode of project runway where the contestants had to design their models' dream bridal gowns. many of these girls are practically teenagers with bubble-gum fantasies of the dress long-cherished since images of cinderella and sleeping beauty have been foisted into their memory banks. one can already imagine the designer's gargantuan task of bringing these ideas back to earth. worse, they have to reconcile two inevitable irreconcilable things - their bride's whims versus their own artistic vision.

for the dress in question (that would be mine), no need for such clashes. ate c. is the kind of modista who does not impose upon the client yet will gently suggest ideas especially if they would prove to be important for the end product. as for me, i'd like to think that while i can border on being anal in what i want in a dress, i certainly bow in deference to ideas which to me are ingenious yet, from her point of view, simply cannot happen. ever.

some areas of consideration discussed - the color of the band that would provide the accent to the empire cut of the lower bust, the width of the shoulder strap, how low will the front and back neck go, dress length and the volume of the skirt. we both agreed it would have to be a semi-balloon skirt. mmm.

i asked about that shrug i was planning to go with the dress. she instead offered that bolt of old rose as a shawl, previous used by her daughter for her own prom.

i requested that the dress be finished for first fitting by the first weekend of december. gee, i feel like i'm back in junior high.

of course, a dress discussion alone does not maketh a good day.

had dinner with j. and i., two girls who are already burned with the disappointments of academic life yet are still burning with the hope of things yet to come. dinner was an opportunity to relive my good memories of eating with no consideration of manners at the beloved fried chicken place, strangely renamed but conveniently ignored by its patrons.

i've almost forgotten the unlimited gravy and catsup one can consume, the option to 'reserve' a favored chicken part when there are no more options on the colander (and said piece of chicken to be delivered to your plate shortly). saw one former student who greeted j. and was promptly shocked that i was even in their company. (thank god he remembered my name or else, haha.) he was about to ask something from j. then he appeared rather uncomfortable that i was there and muttered his excuses. i was amused.

conversation ranged from favorite cable shows to j's experiences in the countries she's visited, even a quip from i. on the option of any person (i call it a right) to change his mind on anything. how apropos that it should come up, as that is something i had to struggle with, thinking of consequences of appearing to be inconsistent, flighty, etc. then i thought that if changing one's mind is an acknowledgment that the old devices just don't cut it anymore and that the first person one is accountable to is one's self, then by all means, go ahead and change your mind. ah, what a glorious day.

but still, these were not-enough reasons to compel me to post something tonight.

i just learned that i am about to do a dear friend a very huge favor. i wouldn't want to call it a huge favor but the fact that the ball has been passed my way would fall into the shades of me doing said friend a very huge favor. nakakatuwa lang. i feel like i am about to be the midwife to a birthing and the expectant mom does not know anything about my involvement. it has to stay that way anyway, lest there be complications. really, it's not so much a favor as a responsibility.

a delicious little secret, this, and for once, a wonderful one as it does not involve impossible affairs or regretful decisions. what a way to end this beautiful day.