Wedding Season…

is over.  I only attended three weddings this year, but considering that two of them were in NJ and in the past 3 weekends, I’m exhausted and happy that there are no more for me to attend in the foreseeable future.  That said, D’s wedding was beautiful, and it was once again really touching to see such a good friend marry someone with whom happiness is seemingly effortless.

The details: I arrived in NJ after another red eye flight (thanks to Continental), and after breakfast here (again), a haircut (I won’t mention the name since I am less-than-thrilled with the result…I miss Tracy at Sweet Tease), and a long nap, it was off to the church for D & B’s wedding.  D looked amazing in her mother’s dress, and the Catholic mass service was a nice change of pace from the Protestant affairs I am used to attending.  After, it was off to the reception to celebrate both the wedding and my birthday (which was the day before).  The food was good, dancing and getting caught up with friends was fun, and the open bar called to me more than a few times.

After another post-wedding trip to the diner, a few of us crashed at Bill’s house and spent the next day in (un)glorious repose on an assortment of furniture pieces (I got the aerobed).  Bill and I made it out eventually so I could buy a hat (to cover up the hair), to see this and then grab a pizza here.  Sunday was an exercise in laziness, as we both slept until noon; after running a few errands it was back to the airport for me, and eventually home to SF.

I’ve spent a good amount of time today doing what any rational person who just got back from a cross-country jaunt would do:  plan another trip to the East Coast!  This one, however, is not for a wedding, it’s for a conference.

Tim-i-di-tay

After being on my own in SF for about a month, and after two weeks of work, I took my first vacation and…flew back to NJ. Mako had her wedding this weekend, and I wasn’t about to miss it. I booked the flight ages ago, once I accepted my job and had the date of the wedding. So, a redeye flight out, and a Sunday evening flight back made for a very quick 36 hour stay in NJ.

I (foolishly) thought the redeye out would not be booked solid, but it was. Thanks to a very, um, energetic 3 year old kicking my chair the entire trip, I got only a couple of hours of unrestful sleep. My dear friend Bill, who was my ride, overslept a bit (my arrival time of 6:20 a.m. EST was frightfully early), but once he got to the airport and picked me up, it was off to breakfast, and then onto his couch for me, so I could sleep a bit. Happy to sleep the entire morning and early afternoon while Bill ran errands, cleaned, and did who know’s what else, I awoke to Dee arriving at Bill’s place to get ready for the wedding. Crunch time was actually pretty efficient, as showers were had, fancy clothes were put on, and faces were made up.

The ceremony was nice – Mako looked gorgeous, as did her bridesmaids. Her (now) husband John was definitely game for Mako’s insistance on wedding perfection. Bill had a reading as part of the ceremony, and the title of this entry was taken from some of the more humorous practice readings enacted by Bill earlier in the day and his struggle with the word “timidity” – he pulled it off perfectly during the ceremony, however.

The reception was beautiful as well, as we filled up on yummy appetizers and champagne. The dance floor opened up pretty early, and it was a hoot to see certain friends’ parents getting down. Way down. We ate, drank, danced, and had a great time. The afterparty was brief (thanks, Montclair liquor laws), and after an ill-conceived, 3am trip to the diner, the night was at an end.

Sunday was a post-wedding and birthday brunch for Mako. Later, Bill, Lauren and I went into Manhattan to meet up with two of my friends from library school to watch the Jets game at this fine Italian eatery. You would be surprised at the struggle to find an honest-to-god sports bar, at least in the Village area of Manhattan. Too shortly after, it was off to the airport for me to catch my return flight to SF. The airline gods must have some beef with me. This time, I was seated next to a screaming infant and her grandparents. I still somehow managed to finish my book, watch an in-flight movie, read a magazine, and doze intermittantly.