I know, its been a while. I've been busy and doing a great deal of things. I have needed to take some time to focus on things which has only fired up my passion for this...
Let’s get right into this kids. Paterson? I’m out of there.
I by some stroke of luck, I was hired by another town for much much more money.
That’s first and foremost, I will certainly miss a few of the people there, but
for the most part, I can deal without the workplace drama that occurred. Now
I’m onto bigger and better things that pays a pretty livable wage. I can work
with that.
Next item of
business, I turned 28, rounding out my years in my 20’s time is running out. I found a person that had the same sense of humor as me and truly completed me. The year was hit with many ups and downs to I made the decision to take charge and change it. So I went and proposed. Got
engaged. For some odd reason, she said yes. To be completely honest, I wasn’t even
nervous throughout the whole process. From the time I designed the ring, up
until the night I decided to ask, I felt completely fine with it. This is an
odd occurrence for me lately since I am the extrovert that is riddled with
anxiety. So that pretty much sums up the last few months since I wrote last. There is tons more, but this is a marathon, not a sprint.
So with this engagement, my eyes have been opened to the
racket that is the “bridal industry”. Billions of dollars being sent yearly in
this industry all surrounding one day. After seeing these weddings on tv and
all these “say yes to this or that” shows, I am flabbergasted. Due to me being screwed
in the head. I convinced her to attend a bridal expo. Let me tell you, I have
never felt more out of place and bothered in my life. A day of various vendors
jumping out of the woodwork at you trying to gain your business by intimidating
you into signing up for an email list. Meanwhile, you slowly pace around an
expo center, surrounded by women in “Team Bride” attire. They all carefully
trudge from booth to booth, explaining their idea of a “dream wedding” on their
“perfect day”, while these vultures circle the area knowing that they will
sucker someone in on the hope and promise of saving $200 off a $8000
photographer package.
This is what I call the “marine” concept. When my family
owned a boat, It required a degree of maintenance. Things such as painting and
cleaning were the norm, but occasionally there would be motor repairs. Now an
engine is an engine, unless you need “marine” grade parts. Then the price
immediately doubles. You want a spark plug? $5 bucks. You want a marine spark
plug? $10 bucks. This notion goes to the wayside when it comes to weddings.
Instead of it multiplying price by 2, you get the old wedding mark up. We will
hit you with 10 times the price. You want flowers? $20 bucks. You want “wedding
flowers” $200. You want a rental tux? $200 bucks. Wedding rental? $2000. This
is followed by an onslaught of vendors calling you constantly attempting to get
your money. But fear not, they will take $250 bucks off their price for this
special day. Mind you the bill is still $6000 for this head table chair rental
and that $250 is merely a drop in the bucket for them. Just imagine the mark up
those who didn’t get the “Discount” are being raked over the coals.
In all honesty, I am jealous. These people have cornered the
market to sell whatever they would like to people who will throw immense
amounts of money their way all for one day that they will probably be too drunk
to remember all the details. So to them I tip my hat. You make that cash. Im
not one to knock the hustle.
