All Apologies, AKA Anna's Wedding

All Apologies, Nirvana

I simply cannot write an entry that takes place in Seattle without giving a musical nod to Nirvana, who were the first rock group I ever listened to from the modern days and my first idea that Seattle existed...outside of PY.

So last weekend I went to Seattle for my dear friend Anna's wedding. I was even a bridesmaid! I tried to be a good bridesmaid and help where I could! I visited in January and participated in paper cutting (all of Anna's invitations, save the dates, place cards, etc were HAND MADE) and some bridesmaids dress picking. Before any of us knew it, July was here. I even had to give a toast! And the day of, I wound up transporting the rings to the site. Holy cow. What stress. Don't worry, they made it.

Anyway, the wedding was at Golden Gardens Bath House, which is run by the Seattle Park Service as a beach destination in Seattle. From what I can gather, it's quite popular in the sunny months!



Thanks Jess, I borrowed your image. :-)

Pretty great, right?

Well, the wedding began with a bachelorette party which I am not permitted to post any photos of, then onto the rehearsal dinner at a med restaurant on Alki Beach in Seattle called Pheonicia. It was delicious! The owner, Hussein, prints menus, but never really uses them. He is this cute little old man who doesn't appear to speak much english and when he approaches your table and says he'll "fix you something special", you kind of just have to trust him and run with it. I didn't take many pictures at the rehearsal dinner, but I will post one if it ever surfaces. It was a great time with a great group and great food! Anna and Jess' families were both outstanding! I met a lot of great people!

The big day was upon us on Saturday the 18th, and thanks to Anna's meticulous planning, there was very little stress that day. One little snafu with the park service resulted in everyone showing up (ie-caterers) and the venue not being open (thanks seattle park service) and us having to put Anna in her dress outside for pictures, but, it went amazingly well. The bridesmaid, Kathryn, Athena, Kassidy, and myself all got along very well. The groomsmen, two of Jess' brothers, then a cousin, and an old friend of his, showed a bit less solidarity, especially when it came time to decorate...errrr...vandalize the bride and grooms car. Big ups to Minh, the only groomsmen who helped out!

Bonus, I got to see my room mate from Wenatchee, who I hadn't seen since I left washington. And double bonus, I got to play beach volleyball in my dress. And drink lots of alcohol.


The whole wedding party, including the ring bearers Oscar and Pow Sticky! Minus the Flower Girl, though



Anna was beautiful! Here she is getting ready to walk down the aisle. Check out that train!


Tables with Seattle based Jones Soda favors, and recall: all hand made paper products, including menus, favor cards, etc etc.


One our way out to decorate vehicles...there are scissors in my shirt bc we were sneaking out, but had to stop for drinks from Gary on the way out.


Our handwork on Anna's car, which I, ironically, drove home with 4 other people in the car. It was hard to explain to people...I should also note that we attached a galloon milk jug to the bumper, and it made it all the way back to Anna's house in tact!


Craftsmanship on Jess' car, which they did drive home!


Sunset dance party with the MOTB and MOTG!


Pow Sticky tried climbing into my suitcase to come back and soak up some Cali sun...

So did Oscar!


I came back to SF exhausted, but having had a great weekend! I'm of the belief that Anna should be married every year so we can all get together and party on the beach! I will post more pics when the pro shots come out. SWEET!

Cheers!

Fucking Kangaroos

Those fucking kangaroos are right outside my house. That's right. Those tall ass things are right near where I sleep. Don't worry, they're all cute and cuddly during the daylight hours, but at night, they're just creepy. Cool point though, if you look closely, one of them has a little joey in her pouch!

Unfortunately, life has started moving quite quickly away from me and Seattle and Sydney are not going to get proper blog odes. Seattle was fabulous. We did all of the tourist-y things like the sound tour and the space needle. I got to see a few Grey's Anatomy hot spots (!) and go to the open market. It was enjoyable to see Anna and see where she lives. I could honestly see myself moving back to the Washington area to make wine, I liked it that much!

After I departed Seattle, my next stop was Sydney. The plane ride was not nearly as torturous and horrible as I thought. Met a few chatty Americans and not so chatty Tasmanians. I wouldn't call it an enjoyable experience, but I wouldn't call it painful. I wouldn't want to do it often, but, I survived.

When I got off the plane the first person to greet me was a little short blond flight attendant and she said "Welcome to sunny Sydney!" Well, she wasn't kidding. I walked up to the window to exchange my currency after I had gathered all of my luggage, and I got my first look out of the door to the outside world. I saw a group of plants that were totally unfamiliar to me, and when the doors swung open and I went through, I smelled, felt, and saw an entirely new world. I can't begin to describe it. The area was hot and humid, and had this spicy, meaty, but green smell to it. (I've come to learn that smell belongs to the gum trees!) My cab ride to my hotel was funny, it turns out that cab drivers in Sydney are just as angry as they are in the States, but only when provoked. Otherwise they are talkative and helpful.

I arrive at the hotel and went out to find some food in an attempt to fight off sleep. I came back with TimTams and a kabob. I fell asleep around 5:30 that night, and I am continually fighting of the urge to still do that. Mel arrived the following day and we did a whirlwind, sun-burning tour of Sydney. We went to major beaches...like Manly and Bondi, and also went to a huge shopping mall. Cell phone fiascos and sunburn aside, it was a very enjoyable day. ( I am still crispy from that day.)

I then took what I'm calling "The Hogwart's Express" from Sydney to Wagga Wagga, my final destination. I spent most of the ride 1) thinking about those I missed back home or 2) thinking that I was motherfucking nuts. (Olivia was right!) As we got further from the city, green got scarce and soil got red. We were being carried further and further into terrain I had never seen.

I arrive in Wagga, finally, and met some students sent to round up international students. On my way into my flat with my suitcases, the three of us travelling together heard something in the bushes right next to my flat. I reckoned that it was a big bird, as did the other two ladies. No moments later did a full sized kangaroo pop his head out of a tiny hole. I had never seen one and didn't have my camera, so that moment will have to live in my head forever! It was un-fucking believable.

Now we're into orientation and I'm trying to have a better attitude about it. I'm settled and I've hung all of my pictures of all of you around, so now you're all here with me. I was briefly homesick yesterday, but, it's so damn hot, I can't pretend to think straight enough to maintain coherent thought.

It's late, I need a rest. More later!

Cheers