Weekend in Review

If my entire life were like this month of June, I'd be the luckiest woman alive. To continue on the nuptials theme, I attended an engagement party weekend for my dear friend Ben and his lovely and gracious fiance, Kristin. The whole crew of us who lived together my junior year of college were all in attendance. Both Rud and Tina have eloquently described this weekend's activities, but I will give an update as well. Following Rud's example, I will take the bullet point approach, elaborating when necessary (or interesting).


Wednesday, June 20 to Thursday, June 21.
-Quality time with Tina.

Tina says I made her eat hair. I think she enjoyed it.

Friday, June 22.
-Tina made delicious food for the road.
- Food consumed in first 20 minutes on the road.
- A four hour drive took 6 and 1/2 hours.
- Aforementioned delay was due to a truck "dropping its load" on 80-90, thus shutting down the highway. 3 miles in 2 hours. One display of dexterity, flexibility and just plain bravery in the backseat on my part. If any of you know my bladder, then you can imagine what this refers to.
-Arrival at Devil's Lake VERY late in the evening. Entire E2 contingent (my roomies, Didi, Andrew, Nemo and Ben) awake and drinking, awaiting our arrival.
-Catching up around the bonfire.
-Spooning with Tina.

Saturday, June 23.
-Breakfast with my roommates!
-Tubing
- I've always been a little afraid of tubing, but I think I might have picked up an addiction. On the first go, it was Me, Didi and Ben. There was treachery. There were heroics. There was lots of maniacal laughter. It was awesome. The second round was with Tina and Carrie. Less treachery, same amount of fun. I came away with only Franken-neck (how I will forever more refer to my neck stiffness) and a skinned elbow. The following morning I was so unbelievably sore. It felt awesome.

Ben tried to overthrow, but Didi's and my collective strength denied him every time.

-Institution of the 2 put up's for every put down. Let's just say Nemo was giving me put up's all night.
- Cornhole, a game I have always scoffed at. There is nothing more annoying than frat boys throwing bean bags on the sidewalk on a beautiful, sunny day. However, after participating, I can really see the appeal. Still, the frat boys should take it to their back yard.
- BBQ!
- Incredible nap on the dock in the sun with my roommates. Perfect.

What else was perfect? Our E2 pyramidal formation, that's what.

- Caribbean Band!! And they played Sweat! There was dancing. Much much dancing.
- Catered dinner. Coconut rice, chicken and beef that melted in your mouth. Corn with vanilla butter! Cake! It was to die for. It fit the theme and satisfied everyone's palate.
- Fireworks off the dock. One of the most impressive displays I have ever seen on the amateur circuit.
-Bonfire with...wait for it...S'MORES!!! and the introduction of Harper Pies (bread, pizza sauce, meat, cheese, all in the fire. Delicious.).
- There is no better food on earth than s'mores. Well, a few, but let's just say I if I combined s'mores with my other favorites, it would be a meal fit for Zeus himself.

Sunday, June 24.
-Early departure.
-Sad goodbyes
-Traffic
-Street closure due to Gay Pride Parade.
-Excellent sushi dinner.

All in all, it was a perfect weekend, though it was way too short. There is obviously a lot more information, but it is mostly inside jokes, so I spared you. This group of friends hadn't all been together since 2005 and it was fantastic to remember how much fun we used to have, and to witness how much fun we still have (as evidence by the over abundance of exclamation points in this post). I think E2 get togethers are going to have to become a yearly thing. I just can't wait til there are babies at these events. Ok, I take that back. I can wait cause that will mean crying and tending to them, and smelly diapers and distractions, and possibly Barney. I'm just fine with no babies for another 5 years. But when they all start having babies, I will be ready. Just so long as I get out of diaper duty.

The sunset, metaphor for life, love, the end of the weekend and the completion of this entry.

Joys of summer

There are many things to look forward to as summer envelopes us. Sun tans, BBQ's, vacations, long weekends, ice cream, etc. One major disappointment of the summer for me has always been the lack of new tv shows. All my favorites were in reruns. Last year, however, I discovered something that would save me from watching Lifetime originals all summer long (and subsequently plunging into a weeping mess covered in hagaan daz because really, women have it so hard. You don't know the pain that can come with ovaries) and over the last couple of weeks this something has made me excited about life all over again. That's right. Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance (or for those in the know, SYTYCD) is BACK!

I just love this show. It has a quality that draws me in where shows like American Idol, America's Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars and Survivor turn me off. To be honest, I don't watch a lot of "reality tv" save for this and Charm School and its various incarnations (it hurts so good). I can't even watch Real World or Real World/Road Rules Challenge, and those used to be staples in my TV diet. I think it is the combination of lots of dancing with lots of dancing. Also, the people are young and quirky and fun. I love how they pair people up, because often times the chemistry between them is so squirm-worthy that that you are sure they are doing the do backstage afterwards (more on this later). I even enjoy watching the boring styles, like the waltz. The right couple can make me re-live their dance over and over again thanks to tivo and youtube. Also, the music rules. I usually end up trying some move they did during the course of the evening, and I usually butcher it pretty substantially(and often end up with a Franken-neck). Good thing I watch it alone.

This season started off strong with an impressive top 20 (10 guys, 10 girls). Obviously there were some standouts. Here are my favorites.

Jessi and Pasha
I like them both, but I love Jessi (and love looking at Pasha). Theirs was one of the typically boring to watch waltz' that I actually enjoyed. Mostly I know I like Jessi from the auditions and I expect big things from her.

Hok and Jaime
ruled) but I love Hok. I can't stand Jaime. And I swear to god, if she brings him down, I will personally go after her and pull out her big, curly hair one strand at a time. Their performance this week wasn't great (Jaime's fault, Hokworked it.) Hok's audition footage was pretty bad ass. He is adorable.

Lacey and Kameron
I'll be honest. I really didn't like either of these two before last week's show. And I usually can't stand watching modern dance. But this little number was pretty freaking awesome. Also, I can tell that despite her being Mormon, Lacey and Kameron will be boning at some point, if they haven't already, and if he isn't gay. I got a little hot and bothered just watching them. Which is nice. I like interactive tv.

Cedric and Faina
Hate Faina. I hope she goes home next week. Heart Cedric. Big time. He reminds me of Stretch Armstrong, but cuter. And less white.

Anya and Danny
Hate Danny. I'm aflutter about Anya. I want to reach through the TV and make out with her. They had excellent chemistry but mostly, this week they kicked ass because she's got legs that go on for days.

Sara and Jesus
Sara is a B girl. Jesus is the son of God. What more can you ask for. I hope they both stay the entire show and I hope Sara wins because she brought it.

In addition to SYTYCD, summer also bring swimsuits. Fun for some, unbearable for others. Last year I believe I retold the story of trying to buy a swimsuit and ending up with a maternity suit that looked pretty damn good on me. I'd say that experience goes firmly in the unbearable swimsuit experience column. But there IS something we can all look forward to. White swimsuits that magically turn see-thru with water! Or wait, can we? I have been doing a little swimming lately and there is always the same old woman there. She is probably in her upper 70's and looks every day of it. While she is technically excersizing, I wouldn't go so far as to say what she does could be considered swimming by any stretch of the imagination. More like floating, standing and occasionally walking very, very slowly. The other day she was getting out of the pool at her usual turtle pace when I saw it. By "it" I am referring to her old ass nipple right around where her belly button is. She had a swim suit that was half black and half white and the white part was not padded so as to hide areola. And if there is any areola I REALLY don't want to be seeing, it is the saggy, wrinkly areola of a woman in the winter of her life. She is either oblivious, or actually a saucy tart who is trying to seduce the gentleman that usually swims in her lane and chats her up. Though I'm pretty sure for him to actually see nip while she is standing in the pool, he would have to be laying on the bottom. Old age is a mother fucker.

While that's not her, that pretty much sums it up. Yikes.

So on that note, keep your nips under wraps and always wear sunblock.

The Wedding Issue

It's spring time and that can only mean one thing. Weddings. Lots and lots of weddings. In the past month I have been to two beautiful weddings of college friends and I would like to take a moment and reflect.

The Kate-Tom Wedding

The weekend before memorial day, two of my friends from the Northwestern Alpine Ski Racing Team were married.

NU Alpine Ski Racing Team Represents. Really, are we not the picture of Division I athletes?

Kate and Tom met on ski team, so I was able to witness this relationship from its inception. The wedding took place at Lake Geneva on a perfect day. Kate looked stunning and seemed as natural on the alter as if she was ordering some fries with her cheeseburger. Tom, equally as dapper, seemed happy as hell and there were even some tears on his part, which meant there were tears on my part. Nothing makes me cry like a choked up groom. Well done. I hadn't seen most of my friends from ski team for a good 3-4 years, so this was a perfect opportunity to get re-acquainted. And nothing helps the re-acquainting like copious amounts of booze.

Really, I was just holding her up. No one wants to see the bride drunkenly face plant.

There were some funny moments, like the limo getting lost, Vee and Jay in general, and the Wayne Newton impersonator DJ. But mostly it was just fun. There was lots and lots of dancing, which I whole-heartedly support. Also, it made me realize I don't see this group of friends nearly enough.

The Liz-Matt Wedding

One of my roommates from my senior year at Northwestern married. Matt met and dated Liz throughout that year we were living together, so again, it is fun to see a relationship that I witnessed the beginnings of end in marriage and not tears and restraining orders.

All together now, "Awwww." Now you can barf in your mouth.

I was a bridesmaid in this celebration, and the benevolent Liz allowed her bridesmaids to pick our own dresses, just so long as they were below the knee and black. I was one of very few (frighteningly few, actually) single people at this affair. All of my roommates from senior year are now either married or engaged. WTF? Not only that, but they seem to have a lot of paired up friends. No matter. I scouted out the dateless so that there was never a slow song that I didn't dance (though I don't really understand the two slow song in a row rule. I mean, admittedly, sometimes it is awesome because you get to cling to someone who, under other circumstances would run like hell from you, for an extra song, but sometimes, you are the one wanting to run like hell. You need a fast song so you can escape from their kung foo grip, but it doesn't come. This is actually one of the few occasions were I wasn't afraid to start a second dance with a partner I had, so way to go with the wedding guest selection).

Matt, me and Greg, each blaming the post-rehearsal dinner gas on others.

There was also a margarita bar (Dangerous. Dangerously delicious.) the electric slide (which might be one of my favorite dances in the world), "I like big butts" (which might be my favorite song to dance to inappropriately at weddings), Air fiddle to "The Devil went down to Georgia (I think)," kick as food combo of chicken AND steak (which later contributed to some seriously noxious dance floor odors) and the groom serenading his bride with Meatloaf (the artist, not the food). I would really like to tell you some funny stories about the wedding, but I feel like they would all come off as inside jokes, much funnier had you been there.

Caleb, me and Nemo. We are so good looking, it is a felony. Thankfully, Caleb is a lawyer.

All I can say is Liz looked resplendent (you really rarely get the opportunity to use a word like resplendent but I don't think there is a more perfect word) and I don't think I have ever seen Matt happier. It was a terrific event and I am so happy I got to participate.

While it is strange seeing more and more friends end up with wedding rings on their hands, I am pretty ok with it. Sure, I had to sleep on the sofa bed so Nemo and Carrie, husband and wife, could have an actual bed. Sure, at breakfast I was the odd number chair with everyone else having a partner next to them. But, I do get to keep my dance card open, I do get a bed to myself to sleep drunkenly in and I rarely have to consult with anyone else before making plans. Plus, wedding rings seem like awkward things to get used to, and I'm ok putting off the anxiety of losing one for awhile. Also, seeing old friends from college makes me super nostalgic, and not the least bit sentimental. Not to get to emotional on your asses, but I am really lucky when it comes to my friends. I have a lot, and they are all kick ass. More importantly, they are the type of friends you can not see for years and years and yet when you see them, you can jump back in like you haven't skipped a beat. That is a rare thing in life, and I know I hit the jack pot. Ok. Too much of a love fest right there.

Let this wash out the mental image of me hugging the world and sneezing rainbows.