Lots of running around and errands this weekend. We took the ring to the jeweler who originally set the stone. He's an independent jeweler with a local shop, and it was not good. He was difficult to communicate with, but said that he could reduce the size probably by about a half size, which I didn't need anymore than that anyway. It was way cheaper than I thought and he could even do it same day. But when we went back to pick it up, the ring didn't seem totally circular and sorta oval, there as a tiny dent in the bottom, etc. I was pissed but if the guy was standing there presenting it to me and asking me if I thought it was all good, then that means that to me he thought it was quality work, so I wasn't about to give it back and have him touch it again. I just paid the $30 and immediately walked over to one of the more "mainstream" jewelry stores and handed them the ring and was like "what do you think of this?" And they immediately pointed out that it hadn't been appropriately buffed, and could see that it wasn't perfectly circular. They didn't have the means to fix it there and would have to send it out, which takes 2 weeks, so screw it, I figured we could just drive to the larger sister store that they would have sent it to (Jared). So then on Sunday we went there. Lo and behold, apparently the little dent is actually common from re-sizing, and even the slightly oval shape can be common depending on how much the ring is resized (if stones go down the side of the band like mine do, then there's limits to keeping it circular without risking popping stones out. So really the main issue was the crap job of not appropriately buffing out the marks on the band, but then this person also noticed that the 4 prongs setting the stone weren't quite even, so said the stone should really be re-set. UGH. BUT, go figure, they won't touch a stone with Moisanite because they don't sell it. Of course, god forbid you want them to touch a stone that they can't sell to you since it would compete with their diamond market. grrrrr. I guess this is the "price" we pay for not wanting to contribute to the over-inflated diamond market (well, that's more a Sudo thing than me, but I thought it was a reasonable compromise so that we could both be happy with the engagement ring). So we're going to have to find some other jeweler that can work with it and get them to fix the last person's crap job.
Anyway, we also picked up some kink supplies to prepare for a 4 day weekend at a cabin this upcoming weekend, shopped at Costco where we got both food and I got some various clothes, and I got 2 slutty items at the mall for dates and parties with our poly friends.
Sat night we went to a birthday/housewarming party for a friend. It was slightly dramatic afterwards since Sudo was having lots of feels regarding some social anxiety after the whole Happy Hour debacle the week before, and he was struggling on top of that we seeing some PDA between myself and Echo, who was also at the party. But honestly, that is something that I think he's either going to need to figure out how to get comfortable with, or he's just going to have to start picking and choosing whether he wants to attend events that I want to go to and Echo will also be at. We weren't on top of each other, it was hugging, putting arms around each other, and yes, some kisses that did sometimes involve tongue. Apparently to Sudo that is the equivalent of "making out in a corner" which I had said I didn't really plan to be doing. But to me, we weren't just feeling each other up and being crazy, so it was totally reasonable, especially for a party where lots of people know, date, and kiss each other with that crowd. Sooo, that's something that's going to need to get figured out. But I'm not going to make a big deal out of it and leave that to Sudo to manage vs me trying to manage his feelings, since that feels inappropriate.
The rest of the weekend we had a nice time getting to discuss some D/s stuff, sorta do some relationship check-in type work, and feel like we're generally in a good place and on the same page. Plus cuddle times and sexy times, and all of that!
Last night, RCT got home with his kiddo, but she was sick and slept a bunch of the afternoon. She got up long enough in the evening to eat a super late, light dinner of toast and plain rice for her upset tummy, and watch us put up the tree (not live). So Sudo and I decorated that, while RCT hung the wreath on the door and put garland and lights on the stairway banister. Lizzy (RCT's kiddo) did help to hang all the stockings on the mantle, and then we all put on PJs and took a "family" pic in front of the tree and mantle, with Sudo holding our corgi in the pic as well just to make it extra ridiculous. RCT was wearing a full on onsie with butt flap, I had on dino pajamas, and Sudo, who doesn't own pajamas, at least had on his lounge pants and a "grumpasaurus" t-shirt. It was a cute pic that of course had to go up on FB, as well as a pic with just Sudo and I, etc.
Tonight we host a local monthly D/s discussion group. We'll have to see how turnout is, since winter does tend to make people less likely to want to do the things. But hopefully it's a decent crowd!!