The Friday Five, 8/30/24: 5 things I've been up to this week

Well, well, well—if it isn't the end of August already. I've been stressing out this week because we have a lot of wedding choices that are due Sunday and Monday, which we haven't done yet (music choices plus some venue stuff), but hopefully it'll get done this weekend. I also have tickets for Ren Fest I have to use this weekend too though ... 

$5.99 shawarma from Kabob Royale, Madison Heights
$5.99 shawarma from Kabob Royale, Madison Heights

What I've been up to this week:
  1. Picking up my wedding dress in Ann Arbor. This proved to be more complicated than originally thought, because I pulled up to my parents' house to pick my mom up, and saw a GIGANTIC nail or something in my tire; we had to quickly pivot, and we took my parents' car (with me driving) instead. I got my dress at The Brides Project, in A2, which I highly recommend; it's a nonprofit and all of their proceeds go to cancer research. On Saturday we were picking up my dress after the seamstress there had worked on it, so I had to try it on with my shoes and other accoutrements. 
  2. Wedding shower. We pulled this off with the help of my fiance's parents—they came to visit last Friday through this Monday. Originally we were supposed to have about 40 adults and maybe 6 or 7 kids, but due to some last-minute cancelations I think we ended up with maybe 30 adults and 6 kids. My fiance got up at 5am to start cooking the brisket, which was ready around 6pm, and I think everyone had a good time; it was at his house in the backyard, for the most part. We had a few tables set up but had also asked everyone to bring a camp chair if they had one, and so most people had a place to sit. 
  3. Eating out and getting takeout. On Friday night, we went to Culver's with my fiance's parents. On Saturday, I took my mom back to The Songbird Cafe, in Ann Arbor, since we had gone last time and it was close to The Brides Project. On Sunday, my fiance's parents, him, and I got Buddy's takeout for lunch, and Qdoba for dinner. And last night, I tried out Kabob Royale in Madison Heights, for takeout, per @chowdowndetroit's recommendation, and it was very good (see pic above), plus only $5.99 for a rather large chicken shawarma sandwich, which is an excellent price IMO; you don't see that anymore, for the most part, around here.
  4. Watching movies. I watched Incoming on Netflix this week, which reminded me a lot of Superbad, but it was cute; I'd give it 3/5 overall. Last night I went to the theater to see Reagan—and was the only person there, in one of their smaller theaters (only 4 rows). I'd give it 3/5, because parts were cheesy (dialogue, mostly) but I did learn more about President Reagan than I knew before, plus Dennis Quaid did a great job as Reagan. 
  5. Getting a COVID shot. The new (updated) vaccine is out as of this week, and even though I've had COVID three times already (ugh. I know), I wanted to be in good shape for my upcoming wedding. I thought my health insurance no longer covered it, but it turns out it DOES, per CVS (hopefully ...), so that is good, at least. I got that on Wed. and then went swimming at my gym (conveniently like one block from that CVS) after, because in the past I've heard it's good to move your arm a lot afterwards. It's now two days later and my arm feels sore, but that's been the only side effect.
Wedding shower
Wedding shower

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