Junie's Online Thoughts
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Yesterday we bought a new digital camera. Since then, we've been like crack addicted children, snapping and flashing and giggling. Its a fun toy. As soon as I figure out how to get them up here, I'll share some photos with y'all. (Hey Nancy....wanna help me on that one?) Thanks mom and dad.....it was their Xmas money for Jeremy that funded the camera.
Since coming back here, we've done nothing but eat. And eat. And eat. Jeremy has gained ten pounds in three weeks. Im holding at six. We've hit the Green Mill, Chang O'Hara's, True Thai, Kinh Do, Cafe Latte, Indian, ice cream, cookies, Lebanese, food, food, food. Im surprised I havent been poisoned by the amount of pure sugar alone, but somehow my veins arent fully clogged yet. This super-eating is an impulse I cant quite control. Maybe its the cold. Maybe its being home. Maybe its the sheer volume of food available. Maybe its the fact that it gets dark at like, 3 in the afternoon, and there's nothing as good as packing your face when you cant see whats in front of it. Who knows. I figure it will all come off when Im sweating like a sow in Ghana in two and a half short months.
The day before we saw Kill Bill. Given the circumstances of my life, Im grateful I knew how the movie begins, with Uma Thurman, very pregnant and with the shit beat out of her, telling Bill that "It's your baby," as he shoots her in the head. Picture a beautiful movie, with non-linear time, full of outrageous violence, actual waterfalls of blood, thousands and thousands of severed limbs, Samuri-style honor and swords and flippy ass kicking. Its all about vengence. Vengence and gore. But such visually lovely gore.
Both evenings, we were going to go out and see one of two cool bands...Beulah or the Alkaline Trio. But both times we fell into a food or laziness induced coma and didnt leave the house. Pitiful.
Jeremy's family is doing okay.....hanging in there as the days pass. Its still hard, but normal life has a way of creeping back in. Being here totally messes with my brain though. I keep expecting Chris to show up, even though I know he's gone. I cant even imagine what its like for his family, who saw him more, who knew him longer.
The wedding was great. In fact, it was the best wedding I've ever been to and the only wedding I've ever cried at. Several times during the ceremony, when I bent over to floof my sister's dress, a veritable tsunami of snot would run down my face as I battled my tears. Then I would have to race back into my standing place and blow my nose loudly, while making this very attractive snuffling sound. Im so happy it's all captured on video. :) But things went smoothly, Stacy was so beautiful, I couldnt ask for a better brother-in-law, and the dance was good, too. Even the Grand March was fun, if that tells you anything about how happy I must have been. (Typically, I think the Grand March is stupid. For those who dont know what that is, email me and I'll tell you.)
That night we tried to sneak into their hotel room to decorate it with roses and treats. When we got to the hotel, the woman behind the counter refused to let us in, then asked us if we would find a guest at the reception because their credit card didnt work. We had to call Chris to get his permission (thus ruining the surprise), only to find out that he didnt want anyone in his room. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, there is a long tradition in Wisconsin of trashing the newlywed's honeymoon suite. We're talking M-E-A-N shit. Vaseline on the doorknobs. Mayonaisse and Cheerios in the bed. Putting the mattress in the spa. Filling the bathroom with crumpled newspaper. I dont know about you, but if I was dead-tired, and returning to my hotel to sleep, and found that someone in my bridal party (supposedly a friend) totally screwed up my room, I would kill them. I just dont get it. Anyway, we had to swear that our contents were friendly and clean, thus flustering me for the rest of the night. I understand why Chris was so cautious, but I wasnt prepared for the roadblock. It was all fine though, and when they called the next morning, they were thankful and pleased.
The gift opening was full and wondrous, with an avalanche of gifts (although Chris injured the palm of his hand with a box cutter while opening a box, putting a bit of a damper on the afternoon.)
Stacy and Chris left for Myrtle Beach, Jeremy and I left for Minnesota, and here we are. We're staying here until Friday to help with the trick-or-treaters. Then, I'd like to head over to my folks' house that night, so we can see the wedding photos early Saturday and be on the road ASAP. We're driving through Chicago to see Erin, friend from Ghana, and her fiancee Terry. Then onward to Nashville to see Mo, another friend, and her fiancee Bill (and their bees....they keep bees!), then onto Atlanta. Jeremy flies out next Thursday, and I've gotta find a job.
Thats it for now....sorry for the delay. More later......
Monday, October 27, 2003
Im back in MN, but cramped for time right now. I will write more tomorrow....about the wedding, Wisconsin, everything. Out for now....
