Ethan and Gemma

Ethan and Gemma

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Some Interesting Things That I Saw At Jennifer's Wedding

And these are only the ones I was able to get pictures of (like, for example, I don't have a picture of the Amy Winehouse-looking chick with the tattoo that went all the way around her stomach right above her bikini bottom. But such is life).
Exhibit A: I call this "Man with Metal Detector"




















Exhibit B: Family Posing for Family Picture (apparently with professional photographer) on Random Old Washed-Up Boat Directly Behind the Wedding Party

















Exhibit C: Cowboy Wedding Guest (you can't tell very well from the picture, but he's wearing not just a cowboy hat, but a vest, jeans, and cowboy boots)




















Exhibit D: Man in Full Hockey Gear With Surfboards















Exhibit E: Bear with Coconut Bra



















Exhibit F: Cy with Bear with Coconut Bra and Bubbles

Terry and Jen Get Married!

Last night, my friend Jennifer from college got married on the beach at Isle of Palms. It was a small, but really nice wedding. And it was fun because, since there weren't so many people, we actually got to spend a lot of time with Jen. Which was great, since I hadn't seen Jen since our friend Elizabeth's wedding in August 2005. Jen and Terry are both in graduate school in Laramie, Wyoming.

Although we started out with plenty of time, we had a terrible waitress at Chili's and then we couldn't find anywhere to park once we got to IOP. We ended up having to park about 10 blocks away (or at least it felt like it) and walk. We got to the beach literally about two minutes before the wedding started, where, due to the thick sand, Erin, Melissa, and I had to take off our shoes and carry them down to the beach with us.


Fortunately, it wasn't too hot, although Terry looked like he was about to catch on fire in his tux, but at least he had his shoes off.

Jennifer's mom walked her down the "aisle" and they both looked so pretty and so happy. Jennifer's sister Savannah was her maid of honor and she looked so grown up and so much like Jennifer! They also had the most adorable little boys as ring bearers, but instead of carrying rings, they both carried a message in a bottle.

The ceremony was pretty short, due to being on the beach with the wind and the hot sun, and then we all went up to the beach house for the reception, where there was quel fromage!, and Jen and Terry had toasts, cut the cake, and had their first dance. We got to see a video of pictures from Jen & Terry's lives, and in the guestbook, Erin and I may or may not have composed a message to Jen & Terry from Cocky. All in all, we had a really good time. We did feel sorry for Jennifer though, because she had lost her voice the day before the wedding and could hardly talk.

The Great Air Conditioner Fiasco

So the reason this post didn't happen last week is because it was too hot! Inside. In our house! Last weekend, we had invited Wes and Kelly and our friends Wayne and DeAnndra over for dinner (grilling out) and a game night. But it almost didn't happen. Because of what has come to be known as the Great Air Conditioner Fiasco. Some say it's only an urban legend. But I was there. I was an eye witness. Sweating in my own home. I can vouch for the truth.


It was mid-morning. I had laid places at the table for six people. There were even freshly cut hydrangeas for the centerpiece, to make up for the lack of fanciness my paper plates created.


Cy had asked his dad to come over and help with some stuff around the house. In the course of their projects, they decided to swap our current thermostat for a new one with scheduling. From the bedroom, I heard rustling in the garage near the breaker box, then those words that will forever live in the history of Sycamore Shade: "I'm not sure I've gotten them all. Don't do anything yet."


But it was too late. The air conditioner was already broken; the fuse already blown. We would spend the next five hours in relative silence, languishing under the ceiling fans, trying desperately not to move, for fear of bursting into flame.


Monday, June 2, 2008

A Quarter of a Century Old!

Saturday was my 25th birthday!!! I'm now a quarter of a century old!!! My birthday was fantastic, possibly the best birthday I've ever had. My birthday began around 7 am when I woke up and got to open my presents.


Said presents included: a pink seersucker purse with flamingos (full of goodies), the DVD of Persuasion (with Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth), the DVD of Northanger Abbey, the new YA Meg Cabot book, Airhead, and the new Jennifer Weiner book, Certain Girls. I had already gotten a pair of D&G aviator sunglasses from Cy as an early birthday present a few weeks ago.After opening presents, we headed out to the tennis courts. We enjoyed a solid hour of some good rallying back and forth. We even got to play with an older guy named Jerry whom we've seen out there for a few Saturdays. He seemed to have a lot of fun hitting with us.

After tennis, we had a nice, leisurely breakfast at IHOP. Then we went home for some relaxation before our big evening. We enjoyed a nice afternoon of reading, rocking out on Guitar Hero, and enjoying some leftover chicken tortilla soup (and some cookies on our flamingo party plates).

Around 5, all dressed up, we went downtown for our reservation at Oak. We got to sit tucked away in a quiet little corner on the second floor. Cy had told them it was my birthday, so they were extra attentive. We both ordered the 7 oz. filet mignon. I ordered mine with a gorgonzola cream sauce, and Cy had the balsamic barbecue sauce. We got a family sized side of whipped potatoes. The steaks were the tastiest, juciest, most delicious steaks we had had since last time we went to Oak, and the potatoes were delicious (and so creamy!). Afterward, I ordered a slice of cheesecake and Cy ordered a piece of the 6-layer chocolate cake (that came with a shotglass of milk!). When they brought my cheesecake, it had a candle in it, and they had written "Happy Birthday" in syrup on the plate.

Overall, it was a wonderful birthday. So much so that I'm not even feeling bad about hitting the big 2-5. :)