A friend of mine (let's refer to her as "K") is getting married in October. She's asked me to read a Bible verse during the ceremony - one of three verses that will be read by three different friends of hers. One of the other friends (I'll call her "S") is this girl I simply cannot stand. I have disliked her pretty much since the day I met her. She has the world's most annoying laugh (it sounds like she is fake-laughing, but that is her real laugh). She is a minister, and I have no clue how she can lead a congregation or counsel anyone when she is so judgmental, petty, and self-centered. She is married to this total jerk (also a minister, sad to say) who once made fun of me, to my face, in front of a bunch of people when I was drunk because he thought I wouldn't notice. And, horrifyingly enough, I hear these two wretched people have spawned, so there will be a small child in the mix, too (I really don't like kids very much). I was hoping to avoid any real contact with these people for the duration of the celebration, but if I agree to read a verse, that won't be possible. I'll probably even have to sit next to them during the ceremony.
What do I do? I don't want to leave K casting about for someone else to do this reading (she was the maid of honor in my wedding - I don't want to leave her hanging). I certainly don't want S to be in this wedding while I sit on the sidelines. But at the same time, I want this to be a pleasant experience, and I want to be able to enjoy myself, and I'm afraid I might not be able to do that if I can't stop thinking about smacking S's asshole husband in his smug face.
Other factors to consider: I'm not afraid of public speaking, but it has been a while since I've had to do it, and this is going to be a pretty big wedding. I'm not Christian, so the thought of reading from the Bible doesn't exactly thrill me (and no, I don't get to choose the verse, and no, I don't have the option of reading something else instead). If I'm not in the wedding, then I can go to a hockey game (Kings v. Bruins) instead of attending the rehearsal dinner. Just a thought. Your opinions and comments, please.
Well, I have another post I want to make, but until I can find a way to get my pics onto my mom's computer, or to get my computer hooked up to my mom's internet, it will have to wait.
Lizabeth's Journal
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08/31/2007 01:54 #40848
a minor quandaryCategory: miscellany
08/18/2007 21:50 #40616
this should break your heartCategory: food
Not too long ago, my husband & I ordered pizza. Usually he makes me do the actual calling, but this time he was the one doing it. When we were living in NY and ordered pizza (this didn't happen frequently, since there wasn't really any good pizza delivery in our area of Syracuse - most of the time we'd just make our own damn pizza), he'd usually get an order of wings, as well. So when he ordered this pizza here, he just said, "Oh, and I'd like an order of wings, too."
Now, I am from the South. I know that what passes for chicken wings in some parts of this country is not at all what is known as chicken wings in NY. But, despite growing up in the land of fried chicken (well, fried everything, really), I never had chicken wings until I went to college in Ithaca and had them done properly. "Chicken wings," to me, has always meant Buffalo wings. I know, however, that's not true for everyone else - especially not here in South Florida.
So I was a bit leery when I heard my husband blithely tacking them on to our order. "Uhm, are you sure you want to get those here?" "Ehh, we'll give them a try." "Okay..." (I should mention here that this is one of the few places I've seen here that even offers wings on their menu.)
I think you see where I'm going with this.
Wanna see what we received when the delivery guy showed up?
Yup. Fried chicken wings, with a tiny cup of hot sauce. Not even a little cup of Buffalo wing sauce - just straight-up hot sauce (the chopstick is there because the sauce had separated and we had to stir it up). And not even a hint of bleu cheese dressing or celery sticks (well, I didn't miss the celery).
(e:peeps), please pray for us to somehow find the strength to continue our existence in this miserable, Buffalo-wing-less place. We'll be in Buffalo for Thanksgiving, we can get our wing fix if only we can hold out 'til then...
Actually, there is a place in town we have yet to try called Wings n' Curls (I am unclear on exactly what the "curls" are supposed to be) which, allegedly, has good wings. We would've eaten there already, but their hours are brutal - only open until 9pm, and they shift to take-out-only at 8pm. Based on their unfriendly attitude, I'd rather avoid the place, but if their wings are really any good... I might not have a choice.
But there are so many transplanted New Yorkers in this area, I refuse to believe there is nowhere to get Buffalo wings in this entire 3-county metro area. There must be somewhere.
Now, I am from the South. I know that what passes for chicken wings in some parts of this country is not at all what is known as chicken wings in NY. But, despite growing up in the land of fried chicken (well, fried everything, really), I never had chicken wings until I went to college in Ithaca and had them done properly. "Chicken wings," to me, has always meant Buffalo wings. I know, however, that's not true for everyone else - especially not here in South Florida.
So I was a bit leery when I heard my husband blithely tacking them on to our order. "Uhm, are you sure you want to get those here?" "Ehh, we'll give them a try." "Okay..." (I should mention here that this is one of the few places I've seen here that even offers wings on their menu.)
I think you see where I'm going with this.
Wanna see what we received when the delivery guy showed up?
Yup. Fried chicken wings, with a tiny cup of hot sauce. Not even a little cup of Buffalo wing sauce - just straight-up hot sauce (the chopstick is there because the sauce had separated and we had to stir it up). And not even a hint of bleu cheese dressing or celery sticks (well, I didn't miss the celery).
(e:peeps), please pray for us to somehow find the strength to continue our existence in this miserable, Buffalo-wing-less place. We'll be in Buffalo for Thanksgiving, we can get our wing fix if only we can hold out 'til then...
Actually, there is a place in town we have yet to try called Wings n' Curls (I am unclear on exactly what the "curls" are supposed to be) which, allegedly, has good wings. We would've eaten there already, but their hours are brutal - only open until 9pm, and they shift to take-out-only at 8pm. Based on their unfriendly attitude, I'd rather avoid the place, but if their wings are really any good... I might not have a choice.
But there are so many transplanted New Yorkers in this area, I refuse to believe there is nowhere to get Buffalo wings in this entire 3-county metro area. There must be somewhere.
ajay - 08/19/07 20:20
LOL... your wings experience reminds me of my Wings experience in Paris... will write about it soon.
LOL... your wings experience reminds me of my Wings experience in Paris... will write about it soon.
zobar - 08/19/07 09:02
An authentic wing sauce base is half Frank's RedHot and half butter. Alone, that kind of tastes like ass so there's all sorts of secret ingredients you have to put in as well. It's a real pain and it's difficult to get right. I came up with a much simpler recipe when I was at college, and it's quite tasty:
MacGyver Chicken Wings
- Fried chicken parts
- Frank's RedHot [or whatever is in the cup]
- Blue cheese dressing [steal it from the salad bar]
Mix equal parts hot sauce and blue cheese dressing. Add fried chicken parts. Done! ...and for a killer chicken patty sandwich, substitute mayo for blue cheese.
- Z
An authentic wing sauce base is half Frank's RedHot and half butter. Alone, that kind of tastes like ass so there's all sorts of secret ingredients you have to put in as well. It's a real pain and it's difficult to get right. I came up with a much simpler recipe when I was at college, and it's quite tasty:
MacGyver Chicken Wings
- Fried chicken parts
- Frank's RedHot [or whatever is in the cup]
- Blue cheese dressing [steal it from the salad bar]
Mix equal parts hot sauce and blue cheese dressing. Add fried chicken parts. Done! ...and for a killer chicken patty sandwich, substitute mayo for blue cheese.
- Z
mrdeadlier - 08/18/07 23:56
We (I) expect a full report!
We (I) expect a full report!
lizabeth - 08/18/07 22:46
Ok, see, I wasn't sure if curls = curly fries, or if it was some veiled reference to BBQ - like, pigs' tails or something (my mind works in very strange ways sometimes). I do love me some curly fries, so if that's what they're talking about, consider me sold.
Anyway, there's a Wings n' Curls that's practically within walking distance from our apartment, so I'm sure we'll check the place out eventually. :)
Ok, see, I wasn't sure if curls = curly fries, or if it was some veiled reference to BBQ - like, pigs' tails or something (my mind works in very strange ways sometimes). I do love me some curly fries, so if that's what they're talking about, consider me sold.
Anyway, there's a Wings n' Curls that's practically within walking distance from our apartment, so I'm sure we'll check the place out eventually. :)
mrdeadlier - 08/18/07 22:35
Curly fries! I swear they taste better than "normal" fries.
Curly fries! I swear they taste better than "normal" fries.
lizabeth - 08/18/07 22:17
Oh, thank goodness, ok, I feel better about that place, then. But their hours really do suck. I'll have to try to go there for lunch one day or something.
Oh, thank goodness, ok, I feel better about that place, then. But their hours really do suck. I'll have to try to go there for lunch one day or something.
tiburon1724 - 08/18/07 22:00
Wings & Curls is great. One of few places in FL to get good wings.
Wings & Curls is great. One of few places in FL to get good wings.
08/26/2007 21:51 #40748
small thingsCategory: miscellany
We don't have a TV at home right now - got rid of our crappy ancient set when we left Syracuse, and we haven't replaced it yet. We're not really TV watchers, so the only time we miss it is when we want to watch a DVD and we have to pull out my husband's laptop and set it on the coffee table... Anyway, when I'm home visiting my mom and Nana is about the only time I see TV anymore. TV, especially when you haven't watched it in a while, is truly terrifying.
But I did watch an episode of Globe Trekker
today, just for (e:jbeatty) (who totally loves that show and wants to be on it - someone help him make a demo reel already, he'd be great).
BTW - when did my husband get an account at this site?? I know he did it just to be able to comment on (e:jbeatty) 's blog, but still. You'd think he could have at least told me. Oh, this is him: (e:john)
This trip I've been finding some weird connections between me and my grandparents... I found an old notebook of my maternal grandfather's, and it's just crammed with little scribblings and notes and lists - and I've got a ton of little notebooks and scraps of paper - ok, I need to pause this right now because my grandmother is driving me CRAZY and if I don't type about what a pain in the ASS she is, I will kill her, and the murder of a 92-year-old lady never looks good on one's permanent record. She is telling me now that I should be a dentist. "DENTIST!" she just yelled. And she is going on about how you probably don't need to go to school as long to be a dentist as to be a doctor (like she has any clue!), and I just want to throttle her. She can't go more than half an hour without telling me all about what I should do with my life in great detail. And as she is getting old and senile, most of the time now she is just running her mouth without a clue as to what she's saying. It'll be funny when she gets a little crazier, but now it's just frustrating and annoying to have to hear.
But I digress - I was talking about my grandfather and how I've totally got his OCD and it manifests itself in the same ways (particularly notebook-keeping and list-making). I feel a little bad, tho', that I can't read anything he wrote - it's all in Chinese. He's got shelves full of books (all taking up space in my mom's house, right now) that none of us can read - all this great Chinese literature... I wish I'd learned to read it when I was little. I'm trying to pick it up, now, but I need to learn Spanish first, and it's not easy.
Now that I've bitched about Nana, let me just say she is an awesome grandmother when she isn't annoying the crap out of me. She is still living independently at 92, she is the life of any party (you look at old pictures of get-togethers with their circle of friends, and Nana is the one on the floor, rolling with laughter), and she is always a snazzy dresser. I have almost nothing at all in common with her - except - we are both total shoe-oholics. Together, our shoe collections could probably put Imelda Marcos's to shame. She got - ok, wait, I have to interrupt this again - I found Rushmore on TV, so I had it on. She just came in and asked to change it because "I like things with people (in them)" - because Rushmore isn't about people at all. She is now flipping channels and has stopped on the CW and the Pussycat Dolls audition. I don't believe in God, but right now I'm am begging him for the strength to keep myself from killing her. Now she's stopped on Desperate Housewives. I'm sure it's a great show, but I am so not in the mood for it right now, and anyway, Rushmore is better. Like I said - nothing in common but the shoe thing.
Speaking of shoes, there's this pair in the girls' section at Target that I totally want to get. I'm lucky to have small enough feet that I can shop in the kids' shoes section if they've got sizes up to kids' 4.5 or 5, and these particular shoes come in size 5. They're brown maryjanes and they've got about a 1.5-inch chunky heel, and they are so way cute. Do I need them? Well, that depends on your definition of need... :D
I don't know how much coverage the Michael Vick thing is getting up there - I know it's kind of a big story elsewhere, but it's a BIG story here, since Vick is a hometown son. I didn't realize this, but he actually graduated from the same high school as my dad (though obviously years and years apart). It's seriously crazy what-all he did. So unbelievable that shit like that still goes on in this day and age. That's just one of many reasons I think humanity is doomed.
And on that cheery note (which is where most of my trains of thought eventually end up, honestly), I'm going back to Desperate Housewives (yep, it sucked me in).
But I did watch an episode of Globe Trekker
today, just for (e:jbeatty) (who totally loves that show and wants to be on it - someone help him make a demo reel already, he'd be great).BTW - when did my husband get an account at this site?? I know he did it just to be able to comment on (e:jbeatty) 's blog, but still. You'd think he could have at least told me. Oh, this is him: (e:john)
This trip I've been finding some weird connections between me and my grandparents... I found an old notebook of my maternal grandfather's, and it's just crammed with little scribblings and notes and lists - and I've got a ton of little notebooks and scraps of paper - ok, I need to pause this right now because my grandmother is driving me CRAZY and if I don't type about what a pain in the ASS she is, I will kill her, and the murder of a 92-year-old lady never looks good on one's permanent record. She is telling me now that I should be a dentist. "DENTIST!" she just yelled. And she is going on about how you probably don't need to go to school as long to be a dentist as to be a doctor (like she has any clue!), and I just want to throttle her. She can't go more than half an hour without telling me all about what I should do with my life in great detail. And as she is getting old and senile, most of the time now she is just running her mouth without a clue as to what she's saying. It'll be funny when she gets a little crazier, but now it's just frustrating and annoying to have to hear.
But I digress - I was talking about my grandfather and how I've totally got his OCD and it manifests itself in the same ways (particularly notebook-keeping and list-making). I feel a little bad, tho', that I can't read anything he wrote - it's all in Chinese. He's got shelves full of books (all taking up space in my mom's house, right now) that none of us can read - all this great Chinese literature... I wish I'd learned to read it when I was little. I'm trying to pick it up, now, but I need to learn Spanish first, and it's not easy.
Now that I've bitched about Nana, let me just say she is an awesome grandmother when she isn't annoying the crap out of me. She is still living independently at 92, she is the life of any party (you look at old pictures of get-togethers with their circle of friends, and Nana is the one on the floor, rolling with laughter), and she is always a snazzy dresser. I have almost nothing at all in common with her - except - we are both total shoe-oholics. Together, our shoe collections could probably put Imelda Marcos's to shame. She got - ok, wait, I have to interrupt this again - I found Rushmore on TV, so I had it on. She just came in and asked to change it because "I like things with people (in them)" - because Rushmore isn't about people at all. She is now flipping channels and has stopped on the CW and the Pussycat Dolls audition. I don't believe in God, but right now I'm am begging him for the strength to keep myself from killing her. Now she's stopped on Desperate Housewives. I'm sure it's a great show, but I am so not in the mood for it right now, and anyway, Rushmore is better. Like I said - nothing in common but the shoe thing.
Speaking of shoes, there's this pair in the girls' section at Target that I totally want to get. I'm lucky to have small enough feet that I can shop in the kids' shoes section if they've got sizes up to kids' 4.5 or 5, and these particular shoes come in size 5. They're brown maryjanes and they've got about a 1.5-inch chunky heel, and they are so way cute. Do I need them? Well, that depends on your definition of need... :D
I don't know how much coverage the Michael Vick thing is getting up there - I know it's kind of a big story elsewhere, but it's a BIG story here, since Vick is a hometown son. I didn't realize this, but he actually graduated from the same high school as my dad (though obviously years and years apart). It's seriously crazy what-all he did. So unbelievable that shit like that still goes on in this day and age. That's just one of many reasons I think humanity is doomed.
And on that cheery note (which is where most of my trains of thought eventually end up, honestly), I'm going back to Desperate Housewives (yep, it sucked me in).
jenks - 08/26/07 23:05
your husband gets points in my book for listing dark&stormy as his fave drink.
And I hope mike vick rots in hell. Where pitbulls attack him forever and ever.
your husband gets points in my book for listing dark&stormy as his fave drink.
And I hope mike vick rots in hell. Where pitbulls attack him forever and ever.
jbeatty - 08/26/07 22:45
Globetrekker is the freaking greatest show on earth! Dude your Grandma is definitely the life of the party. I'll never forget the stuff she said to me at your wedding.
Globetrekker is the freaking greatest show on earth! Dude your Grandma is definitely the life of the party. I'll never forget the stuff she said to me at your wedding.
08/22/2007 14:29 #40673
sweet lord, what is wrong with me?Category: procrastination
I'm driving up to visit my family in VA today and tomorrow (it's a 16-hour drive, so I take 2 days to do it).
I was supposed to leave here around noon.
I'm still not packed yet.
Seriously, wtf is wrong with me??
I was supposed to leave here around noon.
I'm still not packed yet.
Seriously, wtf is wrong with me??
08/12/2007 13:09 #40491
Thanksgiving in B'loCategory: travel
So, did anybody go to the Old 97's Thursday in the Square thing besides (e:carolinian) ? He posted a pic for me, so I am doing the requisite writhing in jealousy... ::writhe writhe::
Anyway, my brother-in-law ( (e:jbeatty) ) has finally moved to Buffalo and settled in, and he met a bunch of you guys a few days ago, so now he knows way more of you than I do (since I know a grand total of exactly one of you, besides him). As of right now, my husband & I are planning to come up and visit him for Thanksgiving. Flying into & out of WNY in late November is always a dicey proposition, and flying around T-giving is always a gigantic cluster-fuck, but we've decided to give it a shot, anyway. If anyone is going to be around then and is up for a non-traditional T-giving (one year my husband & jb cooked up an Asian feast - we were eating for four hours straight and we didn't come close to eating everything they'd prepared), drop us a line.
Anyway, my brother-in-law ( (e:jbeatty) ) has finally moved to Buffalo and settled in, and he met a bunch of you guys a few days ago, so now he knows way more of you than I do (since I know a grand total of exactly one of you, besides him). As of right now, my husband & I are planning to come up and visit him for Thanksgiving. Flying into & out of WNY in late November is always a dicey proposition, and flying around T-giving is always a gigantic cluster-fuck, but we've decided to give it a shot, anyway. If anyone is going to be around then and is up for a non-traditional T-giving (one year my husband & jb cooked up an Asian feast - we were eating for four hours straight and we didn't come close to eating everything they'd prepared), drop us a line.
lizabeth - 08/16/07 18:09
Chico, that is awesome - I'm so glad you went and had a good time!
That sounds like classic Rhett - his little hip-shaky dances and guitar-strafing flailing are one of the best parts of seeing the Old 97's. I had forgotten how much fun he is to watch (the last time I got a chance to see them was 2001) until I saw him solo in February.
Also, that's pretty standard with them and the encores. Most times I saw them, the solo song he did first to give the band a break was "Question" (which is on their album Satellite Rides, in addition to him re-doing it in French on his most recent album), though I can see how "Come Around" would work well, too.
If you want, I can give you a compilation CD I made of my favorite songs of theirs (you might have to wait until around Thanksgiving to get it, tho'!). I am all about hooking more people into 97's fandom. :D
Chico, that is awesome - I'm so glad you went and had a good time!
That sounds like classic Rhett - his little hip-shaky dances and guitar-strafing flailing are one of the best parts of seeing the Old 97's. I had forgotten how much fun he is to watch (the last time I got a chance to see them was 2001) until I saw him solo in February.
Also, that's pretty standard with them and the encores. Most times I saw them, the solo song he did first to give the band a break was "Question" (which is on their album Satellite Rides, in addition to him re-doing it in French on his most recent album), though I can see how "Come Around" would work well, too.
If you want, I can give you a compilation CD I made of my favorite songs of theirs (you might have to wait until around Thanksgiving to get it, tho'!). I am all about hooking more people into 97's fandom. :D
chico - 08/13/07 18:59
Old 97's were fantastic. There was intermittent light rain and the crowd was not quite as large as it might have been but there was still a good vibe going. Rhett Miller was quite the showman, sporting tight white pants and a bright red shirt and doing this small-scale quasi-Pete-Townshend guitar-windmill move (from the elbow rather than from the shoulder) and repeatedly turning around and shaking his booty for all the ladies (and anyone else interested). He seemed to have a blast playing in Buffalo (he said a couple of times how surprised he was that Buffalo was so much fun ... "who knew?" etc.
I don't know the song catalog very well but they played a bunch of good tunes and mixed things up nicely, switching from acoustic to electric and back again. The general tempo was upbeat and they seemed to have some catchy hooks and lyrics.
Toward the end of the show, a girl tried to climb onstage and when the security guard "escorted" (read, dragged) her off, Miller went chasing after them telling the security guard to leave her. The next time a woman climbed up, they let her, and she danced around Miller for a couple of minutes. Then another woman got up there and they danced together with the band and then, at the end of the tune, grabbed each other and kissed a bit. Pretty amusing.
They were generous with encores (the first was a Rhett Miller solo tune, "Am I Gonna Be Lonely for the Rest of My Life?" which gave the band a rest) and played 15 minutes over time, which is very unusual in my (admittedly, limited) experience (most bands quit before or right at 9 pm).
Overall it was a blast, and I'd pay to see those guys the next time they're in B-lo. Or better yet, I'll pony up more cash for watery beer to see them in the Square next summer, I'd love to have them come back for that.
Old 97's were fantastic. There was intermittent light rain and the crowd was not quite as large as it might have been but there was still a good vibe going. Rhett Miller was quite the showman, sporting tight white pants and a bright red shirt and doing this small-scale quasi-Pete-Townshend guitar-windmill move (from the elbow rather than from the shoulder) and repeatedly turning around and shaking his booty for all the ladies (and anyone else interested). He seemed to have a blast playing in Buffalo (he said a couple of times how surprised he was that Buffalo was so much fun ... "who knew?" etc.
I don't know the song catalog very well but they played a bunch of good tunes and mixed things up nicely, switching from acoustic to electric and back again. The general tempo was upbeat and they seemed to have some catchy hooks and lyrics.
Toward the end of the show, a girl tried to climb onstage and when the security guard "escorted" (read, dragged) her off, Miller went chasing after them telling the security guard to leave her. The next time a woman climbed up, they let her, and she danced around Miller for a couple of minutes. Then another woman got up there and they danced together with the band and then, at the end of the tune, grabbed each other and kissed a bit. Pretty amusing.
They were generous with encores (the first was a Rhett Miller solo tune, "Am I Gonna Be Lonely for the Rest of My Life?" which gave the band a rest) and played 15 minutes over time, which is very unusual in my (admittedly, limited) experience (most bands quit before or right at 9 pm).
Overall it was a blast, and I'd pay to see those guys the next time they're in B-lo. Or better yet, I'll pony up more cash for watery beer to see them in the Square next summer, I'd love to have them come back for that.
lizabeth - 08/13/07 18:18
Screw Tofurkey - I'm ready for an all-Asian gorge-fest again! I'll fold the dumplings!
Screw Tofurkey - I'm ready for an all-Asian gorge-fest again! I'll fold the dumplings!
jbeatty - 08/12/07 18:52
I want Tofurkey this year!
I want Tofurkey this year!
ok (e:jenks) said kinda what I wanted to say:
"What do I do? I don't want to leave K casting about for someone else to do this reading (she was the maid of honor in my wedding - I don't want to leave her hanging). I certainly don't want S to be in this wedding while I sit on the sidelines. But at the same time, I want this to be a pleasant experience, and I want to be able to enjoy myself, and I'm afraid I might not be able to do that if I can't stop thinking about smacking S's asshole husband in his smug face." Basicly you need to tell you friend this but in the wording of talking to her. You want to tell her that you are a good friend and that you are honored but that you can't stand the other girl and that she is evil and you are afraid that if you are around her you might not be able to restrain your self from doing something that would ruin the wedding. That is much better then getting there and the chick is a bitch and you get disrespected and you stab her with a steak knife or something like that. If you are honest with your friend she might suggest something or make sure that you two are not near each other.
is it worth telling your friend that you hate the other readers? Probably not... but that's one possibility... just be like "you're my friend and I'm honored to be in your wedding and I really want to... but i hate that chick!" not that she should change her whole wedding for you, but maybe you can at least not sit next to her or something. B/c really just doing one reading is pretty quick- it's not like you're standing at the altar and fake-smiling at her the whole time. (is it??)
jbeatty! Hush :)
Go to the hockey game!
Also, for your other concern, I'll tell you that during my mother's funeral mass I read a passage from the Bible that my Dad picked out. I didn't believe a single word of it, but my Mother did and my Father did, and so... something I would have thought I'd never do on principle became something I wouldn't think of refusing.
And so - on a much happier occasion - you are reading this for your friend, you are being there for your friend! That's all you need to worry about, and worth bending for. You'll have nothing to regret after it's over.
I'd look at it as the sort of sacrifice that you have just have to make. At least it is one brief part of the day! You can ignore them during the reception :)
I agree with Drew. This is your friend's wedding day, perhaps one of the most important days in her life, and she has asked you to be apart of it. It should be an honor and to turn it down based on your dislike of someone would be silly and you would probably regret it.
Just go. Obviously she's a friend, and sometimes you have to put up with an annoying friend's friends. Besides, its here wedding day. She gets to be the princess on her wedding day.
As for the reading, I would ask to see it in advance. My guess is that she chose a reading that is pretty non-offensive, and in my book, reading from a book does not imply an endorsement of the whole thing.
It's not THAT hard to ignore somebody if you really want to.
your in a jam
can you clarify one thing: you were asked to read a verse...just as a reader, or are you also a bridesmaid? i think this would be my deciding factor. it's hard for most people to read publicly but then most people aren't really paying attention at weddings so don't sweat too much. like tiny said, if she's a very close friend, and you're a bridesmaid, it's best to just go with it and avoid the devil spawn as best you can. but i'm guessing she IS a very close friend if she was your maid of honor!
I can think of three approaches to this dilemma. If you love this friend, and think you could do anything in this world for her to be happy on her special day, then you could try some plastic smiling, pointed ignoring and general acting. :) If this friend doesn't fall into the "I would-do-anything-for-her category", dump the wedding and go to the hockey game. You could also choose to take it to the next level if you especially hate the ministerial duo and are comfortable/familiar enough with your friend. Spill the beans and get rid of *them*.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that life is short, the main objective is to have fun - by hook or by crook!!