Almost home.
Almost home for good.
Home.
I thought I was home for good a year ago when I left Buckhannon, WV and came back to NJ.
Unfortunately, I had to come back to WV for 8 more weeks.
Just 9 more days to go.
Roger and Socrates seem to be doing well at home. Socs has begun escaping from the kitchen. I should give some back story on this:
Go back a year ago to when we first got the Socs Man. He was an adorable 6 month old puppy living in a foster home with his two doggie sisters, doggie mama, a few other foster dogs, and the humans. He was very well kept and very well loved. He slept in a cage and was very comfortable with his cage. In fact, after getting bored with Roger and I he went back into his cage to take a nap while we were there.
The only thing going on there that was a problem was that he was allowed on the furniture- specifically the couch. I happen to think a dog can live a very happy and full life never being on my couch, but that's just me.
So Socrates gets to his new home with us. We have no problems crating him. His crate is always clean in the morning, and he sleeps through the night happily.
Fast forward a few months. Socrates starts crying at night. All night. All friggin night long. I also start coming home to Socrates greeting me at the door. Houdini has managed to escape from the cage. What he did was work the bottom lock with his nose and tongue, and then push the metal door open enough to slide out.
We thought we could trick him by turning the cage around and putting it against the wall. Trapped!
Not so much. It took him less than one day to figure out that if he ran inside the cage against the side of it, he could push the cage away from the wall using the momentum he built up (I don't think he actually knew the physics of this, but there was clearly a plan of some sort).
Then we decided to double latch the cage using the type of clips that are on leashes.
Perfect! He can't get out.
Only one problem. Now, I didn't actually see it all happen, but I saw the aftermath. He must have been having some sort of panic attack. I came home one day to find a cage pan filled with thick drool and a wall and floor streaked with blood. He still managed to escape and greet me at the door, but he scratched up his face in the process of bending the metal door open. He got the cage away from the wall, and the blood streaks were on the wall and on the floor, as well as drops through the house.
Okay. This is a problem. The poor thing was absolutely going ballistic. I had no idea why. So, Roger and I had to make some decisions.
The interesting thing is that despite the Soc Man's total meltdown while in the cage, he seemed to do nothing once he got out. Well, I won't say "nothing". What it seems he began doing is going into the front room of the house and sleeping on the couch. Nothing chewed. Nothing eaten. No walls torn down. Just sleeping on the couch.
A call to the dog trainer shed some light on the nighttime problem. She suggested just putting the cage in our bedroom and letting him sleep there.
This suggestion was amazing. We put it in our room, along with a fluffy bath mat on the floor of it (so we wouldn't hear his nails on the pan during the night). Every night since then we take him upstairs and he goes into his "room" almost without even being told. He sleeps in it all night and we don't hear so much as a whimper out of him. Amazing how something he was so anxious about could be his comfortable sleeping place as soon as we changed the environment.
But the daytime part was still a problem. We bought a pet gate and barricaded him into the kitchen. This seemed to work well. The gate was hardly even bolted up and he happly stayed in the kitchen while we were out. He had his blanket, his food, his water, and life was good.
Until 3 months ago. Now, he is escaping again. Not only is he escaping, but he is managing to escape when there are multiple obstacles (chairs) holding the gate up. He pushes it enough and out he goes. He always greets us at the door. The dog walker is trying his best to come up with new ideas to keep the dog in the kitchen, but nothing is working.
However, he still just sleeps on the couch. The same couch. Oddly enough, it is a couch that looks exactly like the couch he was on at his foster home. I don't know if there is any connection.
So now we have to decide what to do. We are protecting our couch with a blanket so that the hair and drool is not on our couch. He doesn't *do* anything else, though. He doesn't destroy anything. He doesn't make a mess anywhere.
I don't know why he keeps escaping. And my fear is that he's going to try to find a way to escape from the house next. My sister's dog chewed through a wall once in an attempt to get out. I don't want to come home to find a hole in the wall. Roger will find Socrates much less cute if our couch has no stuffing when he gets home.
We don't know what to do. It doesn't matter if we're gone for 10 minutes or 8 hours, Socrates still does this. We have a dog walker who comes twice each day, and Socrates always greets him at the door.
Poor Socs Man. I think he's lonely, but he's used to our schedule now. Getting another dog would require some breaking in time that we just don't have right now. My schedule is about to get wild when I start residency, and Roger's work/travel schedule doesn't allow for him to have a 9-5.
I think we're going to have to just accept that he has run of the house. That's fine if the worst he does is get on the couch, but I don't know what's next.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
April 2, 2009 6:58pm
I always learn so much when I come to WV.
Here are some things I have learned while here....
1) If you don't take your socks off for 3 months, your socks will actually fuse to your feet and your skin will start to grow around the socks. You will also have such a horrific infection that you'll end up in the hospital.
2) Why get fitted for dentures when you can just buy a perfectly good pair at a flea market? Sure, you might look like a mule, but you can chew...kinda.
3) A conversation I was actually a part of:
Patient: Doctor, are you in good health? Because I don't want to have to find a new doctor.
Doctor to me (ignoring crazy lady):Please go get me some Ethyl Chloride.
Patient (freaking out): No! don't go get her! I know her from my church and she's nasty. I hate her. She'll tell everybody my business!
4) Paint thinner can be used to clean out wounds.
That's all for now, but it has been less than 2 weeks.
Here are some things I have learned while here....
1) If you don't take your socks off for 3 months, your socks will actually fuse to your feet and your skin will start to grow around the socks. You will also have such a horrific infection that you'll end up in the hospital.
2) Why get fitted for dentures when you can just buy a perfectly good pair at a flea market? Sure, you might look like a mule, but you can chew...kinda.
3) A conversation I was actually a part of:
Patient: Doctor, are you in good health? Because I don't want to have to find a new doctor.
Doctor to me (ignoring crazy lady):Please go get me some Ethyl Chloride.
Patient (freaking out): No! don't go get her! I know her from my church and she's nasty. I hate her. She'll tell everybody my business!
4) Paint thinner can be used to clean out wounds.
That's all for now, but it has been less than 2 weeks.
Monday, March 30, 2009
March 30, 2009 7:59pm
Despite my best efforts to finish up my rotations at home, I had to go back to WV for my Family Medicine rotation. I'm here for 8 weeks (one week down).
Since I gave up my apartment down here long ago, I am calling the Hampton Inn home for the moment. It isn't so bad, actually. Breakfast and hot coffee is made when I wake up. My room is cleaned every day, and I don't even have to make my own bed.
The down side is that I'm living in one room and I don't have a kitchen. Those of you who know me, know that I live to cook (yes, I meant to say "live" and not "love"). I have a tiny fridge and a microwave here. This allows me to make a sandwich, or heat up a frozen burrito, but it is nowhere near the kind of culinary adventuring that I am accustomed to.
I miss Roger and Socrates terribly. I miss my home.
This rotation isn't so bad. The hours are good, and the Dr I'm with is very nice and laid back. I'm seeing some interesting patients, and I learn a new little tid bit of information every day.
But that doesn't make up for being homesick.
On the bright side, I have some time to catch up on reading (both medical and non-medical) and watch endless hours of QVC and Food Network.
On that note, I think that through Food Network, my cookbooks and hours and hours of online research I have managed to give myself a rather extensive culinary education without ever actually setting foot in culinary school.
Ever start to wonder what it is that you really want to do with your life?
Did I make the right choice by going to medical school? These days, all I want to do is create things in the kitchen. I want to have a store where I sell these amazing creations, as well as beautiful jams, jellies, oils, salts and anything else I can get my hands on that tastes good.
Sigh.
Since I gave up my apartment down here long ago, I am calling the Hampton Inn home for the moment. It isn't so bad, actually. Breakfast and hot coffee is made when I wake up. My room is cleaned every day, and I don't even have to make my own bed.
The down side is that I'm living in one room and I don't have a kitchen. Those of you who know me, know that I live to cook (yes, I meant to say "live" and not "love"). I have a tiny fridge and a microwave here. This allows me to make a sandwich, or heat up a frozen burrito, but it is nowhere near the kind of culinary adventuring that I am accustomed to.
I miss Roger and Socrates terribly. I miss my home.
This rotation isn't so bad. The hours are good, and the Dr I'm with is very nice and laid back. I'm seeing some interesting patients, and I learn a new little tid bit of information every day.
But that doesn't make up for being homesick.
On the bright side, I have some time to catch up on reading (both medical and non-medical) and watch endless hours of QVC and Food Network.
On that note, I think that through Food Network, my cookbooks and hours and hours of online research I have managed to give myself a rather extensive culinary education without ever actually setting foot in culinary school.
Ever start to wonder what it is that you really want to do with your life?
Did I make the right choice by going to medical school? These days, all I want to do is create things in the kitchen. I want to have a store where I sell these amazing creations, as well as beautiful jams, jellies, oils, salts and anything else I can get my hands on that tastes good.
Sigh.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
March 4, 2009 1:29pm
So there really isn't even any point in updating on the holidays and everything since my last post.
Christmas= good
New Year's= good
That's about all there is to say about that.
Let's move up to present time.
Roger, my mom and I just got back from the CPAC conference in D.C. last week. It was covered on the news, but I have to say that the most atrocious coverage was on MSNBC. I don't expect them to give it a glowing report, but what they were doing was not only poor journalism, but offensive to those who attended.
Yep, they were basically making fun of the people who attended. Keith Olberman made it a point to include it in his Countdown, all the while noting how silly and insignificant it is (gotta love irony). If it is so absurd, and so silly, and so futile for the conservative movement to meet and discuss their failures and new directions, then why the hell is it worthy of a spot on his show?
I can't even say they took clips of the speeches out of context. To say that would be saying that they actually knew the context and selectively chose which parts to show. This was not the case. They weren't even actually there at the conference to cover it. They used video from c-span and news agencies who actually were present. They would show a clip of a speech and then give their commentary about it....when the entire theme/topic of the speech was exactly opposite what they were discussing.
I was absolutely livid watching that garbage from Keith and the likes of him on MSNBC who are so "open minded" unless you disagree with them, and then you're a moron.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference. The speakers really inspired me to get more involved as I'm seeing our country fall apart into some pseudo-European nation.
This week, I am on vacation and relaxing at home. I'm sick (again), so I'm not getting much done besides watching Food Network and QVC.
As a result of my repeated illnesses, I will be having a tonsillectomy this June. Really....not....looking....forward....to that.
What I am looking forward to, however, is our trip to Europe! We're going to Brussels and France in June, just after my graduation.
Being that I am a bit tired, I will continue this another time.
Christmas= good
New Year's= good
That's about all there is to say about that.
Let's move up to present time.
Roger, my mom and I just got back from the CPAC conference in D.C. last week. It was covered on the news, but I have to say that the most atrocious coverage was on MSNBC. I don't expect them to give it a glowing report, but what they were doing was not only poor journalism, but offensive to those who attended.
Yep, they were basically making fun of the people who attended. Keith Olberman made it a point to include it in his Countdown, all the while noting how silly and insignificant it is (gotta love irony). If it is so absurd, and so silly, and so futile for the conservative movement to meet and discuss their failures and new directions, then why the hell is it worthy of a spot on his show?
I can't even say they took clips of the speeches out of context. To say that would be saying that they actually knew the context and selectively chose which parts to show. This was not the case. They weren't even actually there at the conference to cover it. They used video from c-span and news agencies who actually were present. They would show a clip of a speech and then give their commentary about it....when the entire theme/topic of the speech was exactly opposite what they were discussing.
I was absolutely livid watching that garbage from Keith and the likes of him on MSNBC who are so "open minded" unless you disagree with them, and then you're a moron.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference. The speakers really inspired me to get more involved as I'm seeing our country fall apart into some pseudo-European nation.
This week, I am on vacation and relaxing at home. I'm sick (again), so I'm not getting much done besides watching Food Network and QVC.
As a result of my repeated illnesses, I will be having a tonsillectomy this June. Really....not....looking....forward....to that.
What I am looking forward to, however, is our trip to Europe! We're going to Brussels and France in June, just after my graduation.
Being that I am a bit tired, I will continue this another time.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
December 16, 2008 6:57pm
Since Beej decided to Punk Santa by IM, I thought I'd try it too....
Eore000 (3:50:01 PM): hey
SantaClaus (3:50:02 PM):
Hello again.
Eore000 (3:50:10 PM): i'm tired tonight
SantaClaus (3:50:10 PM): O.K. don't forget to help others get in the holiday spirit! Merry Christmas. CU!
Eore000 (3:50:19 PM): hey wait a minute!
SantaClaus (3:50:20 PM): Hey. Are you getting in the Christmas sprit?
Eore000 (3:50:31 PM): yes. i put up my tree, and lights outside
SantaClaus (3:50:32 PM): Excellent! You are certainly getting on my Good List.
Now type menu to see the fun and games the elves have put together for you.
Eore000 (3:50:43 PM): why didn't you put together stuff for me?
SantaClaus (3:50:43 PM):
Well I'm sure I don't know but I can ask one of the elves to find out.
Eore000 (3:50:55 PM): you sure do have those elves doing a lot for you, don't you?
SantaClaus (3:50:56 PM): What do you think?
Eore000 (3:51:05 PM): is that supposed to be sarcastic?
SantaClaus (3:51:05 PM): Why did you say that?
Eore000 (3:51:14 PM): well, you just seem to have a bit of a 'tude.
SantaClaus (3:51:15 PM): Excuse me?
Eore000 (3:51:21 PM): See? Like that!
SantaClaus (3:51:21 PM): Hmm. Why don't you type, games, maybe that will put you in the Christmas spirit
Eore000 (3:51:32 PM): Oh, now you're just being patronizing!
SantaClaus (3:51:33 PM): Interesting. Type menu.
Eore000 (3:51:38 PM): menu
SantaClaus (3:51:39 PM): I'm here to help. I can tell you where to find almost any gift or just type a number:
x
1 . Xmas Gift Finder
2 .. Wish List -- <>
3 ... YOUR Shopping List
4 .... Play Xmas Games!
5 ..... Xmas Polls and Voting
6 ...... 3 Million Santa Helpers on AIM
7 ....... Let the Elves find UR holiday gifts
Search for: Digital Cams | iPods | Laptops | Xbox
Eore000 (3:52:00 PM): Well, are you actually going to help me, or just have one of the elves do it?
SantaClaus (3:52:00 PM):
It depends if Christmas is coming or not.
Eore000 (3:52:14 PM): Any reason it wouldn't be coming?
SantaClaus (3:52:14 PM): Take a moment, collect your thoughts, and try asking me another way. O.K. ?
Eore000 (3:52:21 PM): ok
SantaClaus (3:52:21 PM): Kewl.
Eore000 (3:52:30 PM): are you a sk8er?
SantaClaus (3:52:30 PM): Maybe.
Eore000 (3:52:51 PM): Whatever. I'm just wondering if there is some reason that Christmas might not come this year.
SantaClaus (3:52:52 PM): I've got a billion children to keep track of -- so could you ask me something a bit more manageable? I'd very much appreciate it.
Eore000 (3:53:13 PM): Dude! Christmas is your big day! Is Christmas coming or not?
SantaClaus (3:53:14 PM): Yeah, everyone keeps asking me about this one.
I didn't find any results. Try searching again or type menu for the Main Menu.
Eore000 (3:53:42 PM): Of course, "Christmas is Coming" might also be the title of a porn movie.
SantaClaus (3:53:42 PM): You've got a one track mind.
Eore000 (3:53:53 PM): Hey, you're the one all hung up on the elves.
SantaClaus (3:53:53 PM):
Hello again little one! (When you are over 1600 years old, you only see children every where you look. )
Eore000 (3:54:41 PM): Yeah, I hear Michael Jackson has the same problem.
Eore000 (3:50:01 PM): hey
SantaClaus (3:50:02 PM):
Hello again.
Eore000 (3:50:10 PM): i'm tired tonight
SantaClaus (3:50:10 PM): O.K. don't forget to help others get in the holiday spirit! Merry Christmas. CU!
Eore000 (3:50:19 PM): hey wait a minute!
SantaClaus (3:50:20 PM): Hey. Are you getting in the Christmas sprit?
Eore000 (3:50:31 PM): yes. i put up my tree, and lights outside
SantaClaus (3:50:32 PM): Excellent! You are certainly getting on my Good List.
Now type menu to see the fun and games the elves have put together for you.
Eore000 (3:50:43 PM): why didn't you put together stuff for me?
SantaClaus (3:50:43 PM):
Well I'm sure I don't know but I can ask one of the elves to find out.
Eore000 (3:50:55 PM): you sure do have those elves doing a lot for you, don't you?
SantaClaus (3:50:56 PM): What do you think?
Eore000 (3:51:05 PM): is that supposed to be sarcastic?
SantaClaus (3:51:05 PM): Why did you say that?
Eore000 (3:51:14 PM): well, you just seem to have a bit of a 'tude.
SantaClaus (3:51:15 PM): Excuse me?
Eore000 (3:51:21 PM): See? Like that!
SantaClaus (3:51:21 PM): Hmm. Why don't you type, games, maybe that will put you in the Christmas spirit
Eore000 (3:51:32 PM): Oh, now you're just being patronizing!
SantaClaus (3:51:33 PM): Interesting. Type menu.
Eore000 (3:51:38 PM): menu
SantaClaus (3:51:39 PM): I'm here to help. I can tell you where to find almost any gift or just type a number:
x
1 . Xmas Gift Finder
2 .. Wish List -- <
3 ... YOUR Shopping List
4 .... Play Xmas Games!
5 ..... Xmas Polls and Voting
6 ...... 3 Million Santa Helpers on AIM
7 ....... Let the Elves find UR holiday gifts
Search for: Digital Cams | iPods | Laptops | Xbox
Eore000 (3:52:00 PM): Well, are you actually going to help me, or just have one of the elves do it?
SantaClaus (3:52:00 PM):
It depends if Christmas is coming or not.
Eore000 (3:52:14 PM): Any reason it wouldn't be coming?
SantaClaus (3:52:14 PM): Take a moment, collect your thoughts, and try asking me another way. O.K. ?
Eore000 (3:52:21 PM): ok
SantaClaus (3:52:21 PM): Kewl.
Eore000 (3:52:30 PM): are you a sk8er?
SantaClaus (3:52:30 PM): Maybe.
Eore000 (3:52:51 PM): Whatever. I'm just wondering if there is some reason that Christmas might not come this year.
SantaClaus (3:52:52 PM): I've got a billion children to keep track of -- so could you ask me something a bit more manageable? I'd very much appreciate it.
Eore000 (3:53:13 PM): Dude! Christmas is your big day! Is Christmas coming or not?
SantaClaus (3:53:14 PM): Yeah, everyone keeps asking me about this one.
I didn't find any results. Try searching again or type menu for the Main Menu.
Eore000 (3:53:42 PM): Of course, "Christmas is Coming" might also be the title of a porn movie.
SantaClaus (3:53:42 PM): You've got a one track mind.
Eore000 (3:53:53 PM): Hey, you're the one all hung up on the elves.
SantaClaus (3:53:53 PM):
Hello again little one! (When you are over 1600 years old, you only see children every where you look. )
Eore000 (3:54:41 PM): Yeah, I hear Michael Jackson has the same problem.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
November 19, 2008 5:35pm
Okay- final post to describe the wedding:
So we head down to The Crystal Point. It was perfect. We went down to where the reception would be held, and I slipped into the "bridal room" that is off to the side. There, Amy and our maitre'd, Joann, bustled my dress. Roger and I then walked around the room and just took it all in.
The CP did the cutest thing. They had charger plates at our Sweetheart table that has our names painted on them in gold paint. Not just on there for the night, but on there printed forever for us to keep! We now have plates that say "Roger and Elizabeth Hislastname" "October 17, 2008". How cute!
We got there in time to enjoy our entire cocktail hour, so we slipped into the room and immediately parted ways to "divide and conquer" the room and greeting responsibilities. I immediately went to those friends of mine who I wanted to spend the most personal one-on-one time with (as much as one can during a wedding). Interestingly, this meant going to friends who are not my closest. My nearest and dearest were either in my bridal party, at the rehearsal dinner the night before, or I see them on a regular basis anyway. It seemed silly to sit and talk to those people who I see all the time, so I visited with those who I haven't seen in a year, or who came all the way from W.V. to join us for the wedding.
Next on the list were work/hospital related friends, former teachers/mentors and the like. After that, I caught up with Roger again and scarfed down a plate of yummies put together by one of his friends for me.
The yummies that I actually got to see/remember:
Corned beef carving station (very big hit)
Vegetable crepes
Veggie crudite passed in its own little shot glass of dip (a few veggie sticks held in a shot glass with a dollop of dip)
Cheese display
Pigs in a blanket
Coconut shrimp
Brie in phylo
some kind of meat on a stick (why is it that you can put a piece of meat on a stick and suddenly it's gourmet by calling it "satay"? I'm going to serve corn dogs at my next gathering and call it "pork product Satay")
I think there were some hot chafing dishes of calamari and eggplant rolletini
And then about 8 other passed foods
There was an ice sculpture that looked like a lighthouse.
We had a jazz guitarist there for cocktail hour entertainment.
It was the fastest hour of my life. I didn't even get to try all the yummy things or talk to everyone I wanted to talk to before someone was telling me that they were going to be calling the guests into the next room in 5 minutes!
Off we went with our guests to the next room. We didn't ask our bridal party or parents to come parading out to be announced. Our families know each other. Our friends know each other. People who don't know our friends really don't care who the maid of honor is and what her name is. Our bridal party got to just relax and be guests. They were no longer on display. They could loosen their britches and relax.
We were announced as "Roger and Elizabeth" since Im not changing my name. We walked out and our song "For Once In My Life" by Michael Buble began. We were taking dancing lessons, so we had a perfectly choreographed dance.
We really didn't want to be introduced to something loud and booming like "Eye of the Tiger". At that point, we were married for about 2 hours. What obstacles could we possibly have had to overcome to warrant a theme song of Eye of the Tiger? Or even better "Let's Get Ready to Rumbleeeeeee"- bad, bad omen.
Oh oh oh! I forgot! When we were in our little waiting room before we were announced, we decided to try a few dance steps for practice.
Slow...Slow....Quick Quick....shit! I'm stepping on my dress! We hadn't realized that even with my dress bustled, it still doesn't come completely off the ground and when I have to dance (backwards steps) I step on it. It wouldn't have been more than one or two moves before I'd be putting the back of the dress off of me!
Then I remembered the little loop thing that helps to carry it around. Perfect! I put that on my wrist and we were able to dance.
Everyone hooted and hollered at the end of our dance when Roger did a very dramatic dip and kiss.
Then Roger danced with his mom, followed by the BM and MOH speeches.
Then came the food. We told our (wonderful) DJ to please play music that people can dance to during dinner. It's boring to just sit and wait for food. She did, and it was great! Lots of people were up between courses!
First Course: Assorted sliced melon with berries
Salad: Mixed greens with balsamic vinegarette
Intermezzo: lemon sorbet (most refreshing after dancing)
Main Course: Choice of Chicken stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella cheese and spinach or Chateaubriant. Both served with veggies and Dutchess potatoes. Second helpings were offered, and you could try whatever you didn't order the first time around.
Roger and I were adamant that we would eat. We made sure we sat down between dancing and visiting tables to get our food. Honestly, though, we just weren't hungry. Maybe it was the excitement. Maybe it was jitters. Even the open bar didn't strike our fancy and all we wanted was to drink wanted and seltzer to rehydrate from all the dancing and talking!
We decided to skip the traditional wedding cake. We had platters of italian pastries brought to the tables, and then an ice cream sundae bar was set up. Waiters came by with a cart to offer espresso and/or port.
The maitre'd made up a GIANT sundae for us. It had every topping available there, and came in a huge stemmed glass (think one of those funky margarita glasses). Instead of cutting a cake, they wheeled our sundae out onto the dance floor on a cart and we fed each other from there. I think the photographer got some good pictures of us feeding each other cherries.
The ice cream sundae bar was a big big big hit with our guests!
We hardly sat! We were up dancing all night. The music was fantastic. The DJ did a wonderful job of bridging the generation gap, and making the music enjoyable for all.
It was all over by 11:30. I was tired of being in my dress. My shoes weren't comfortable anymore. My earrings were heavy. I wanted to take a shower and feel like myself again.
We loaded up Roger's car with our gifts and all of the decor that didn't belong to the catering hall, or that wasn't disposable. The maitre'd packed us up two nice dinners to reheat when we got home. She also packed up about 5 boxes of dessert pastries.
We went home. Roger helped me get out of my dress and I ran to the shower.
I think everyone has an image of their wedding night. Romance, sex, candles.
Ours was a little different.
There was lots of exhaustion, but just from the events of the day. Relief to get all the sweat from dancing off of us. Hunger from not eating much earlier.
After getting into comfy pajamas, we heated up our dinners and then opened up our gifts/envelopes.
Then fell sound asleep.
The end!
Well, actually.....
The beginning!
So we head down to The Crystal Point. It was perfect. We went down to where the reception would be held, and I slipped into the "bridal room" that is off to the side. There, Amy and our maitre'd, Joann, bustled my dress. Roger and I then walked around the room and just took it all in.
The CP did the cutest thing. They had charger plates at our Sweetheart table that has our names painted on them in gold paint. Not just on there for the night, but on there printed forever for us to keep! We now have plates that say "Roger and Elizabeth Hislastname" "October 17, 2008". How cute!
We got there in time to enjoy our entire cocktail hour, so we slipped into the room and immediately parted ways to "divide and conquer" the room and greeting responsibilities. I immediately went to those friends of mine who I wanted to spend the most personal one-on-one time with (as much as one can during a wedding). Interestingly, this meant going to friends who are not my closest. My nearest and dearest were either in my bridal party, at the rehearsal dinner the night before, or I see them on a regular basis anyway. It seemed silly to sit and talk to those people who I see all the time, so I visited with those who I haven't seen in a year, or who came all the way from W.V. to join us for the wedding.
Next on the list were work/hospital related friends, former teachers/mentors and the like. After that, I caught up with Roger again and scarfed down a plate of yummies put together by one of his friends for me.
The yummies that I actually got to see/remember:
Corned beef carving station (very big hit)
Vegetable crepes
Veggie crudite passed in its own little shot glass of dip (a few veggie sticks held in a shot glass with a dollop of dip)
Cheese display
Pigs in a blanket
Coconut shrimp
Brie in phylo
some kind of meat on a stick (why is it that you can put a piece of meat on a stick and suddenly it's gourmet by calling it "satay"? I'm going to serve corn dogs at my next gathering and call it "pork product Satay")
I think there were some hot chafing dishes of calamari and eggplant rolletini
And then about 8 other passed foods
There was an ice sculpture that looked like a lighthouse.
We had a jazz guitarist there for cocktail hour entertainment.
It was the fastest hour of my life. I didn't even get to try all the yummy things or talk to everyone I wanted to talk to before someone was telling me that they were going to be calling the guests into the next room in 5 minutes!
Off we went with our guests to the next room. We didn't ask our bridal party or parents to come parading out to be announced. Our families know each other. Our friends know each other. People who don't know our friends really don't care who the maid of honor is and what her name is. Our bridal party got to just relax and be guests. They were no longer on display. They could loosen their britches and relax.
We were announced as "Roger and Elizabeth" since Im not changing my name. We walked out and our song "For Once In My Life" by Michael Buble began. We were taking dancing lessons, so we had a perfectly choreographed dance.
We really didn't want to be introduced to something loud and booming like "Eye of the Tiger". At that point, we were married for about 2 hours. What obstacles could we possibly have had to overcome to warrant a theme song of Eye of the Tiger? Or even better "Let's Get Ready to Rumbleeeeeee"- bad, bad omen.
Oh oh oh! I forgot! When we were in our little waiting room before we were announced, we decided to try a few dance steps for practice.
Slow...Slow....Quick Quick....shit! I'm stepping on my dress! We hadn't realized that even with my dress bustled, it still doesn't come completely off the ground and when I have to dance (backwards steps) I step on it. It wouldn't have been more than one or two moves before I'd be putting the back of the dress off of me!
Then I remembered the little loop thing that helps to carry it around. Perfect! I put that on my wrist and we were able to dance.
Everyone hooted and hollered at the end of our dance when Roger did a very dramatic dip and kiss.
Then Roger danced with his mom, followed by the BM and MOH speeches.
Then came the food. We told our (wonderful) DJ to please play music that people can dance to during dinner. It's boring to just sit and wait for food. She did, and it was great! Lots of people were up between courses!
First Course: Assorted sliced melon with berries
Salad: Mixed greens with balsamic vinegarette
Intermezzo: lemon sorbet (most refreshing after dancing)
Main Course: Choice of Chicken stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella cheese and spinach or Chateaubriant. Both served with veggies and Dutchess potatoes. Second helpings were offered, and you could try whatever you didn't order the first time around.
Roger and I were adamant that we would eat. We made sure we sat down between dancing and visiting tables to get our food. Honestly, though, we just weren't hungry. Maybe it was the excitement. Maybe it was jitters. Even the open bar didn't strike our fancy and all we wanted was to drink wanted and seltzer to rehydrate from all the dancing and talking!
We decided to skip the traditional wedding cake. We had platters of italian pastries brought to the tables, and then an ice cream sundae bar was set up. Waiters came by with a cart to offer espresso and/or port.
The maitre'd made up a GIANT sundae for us. It had every topping available there, and came in a huge stemmed glass (think one of those funky margarita glasses). Instead of cutting a cake, they wheeled our sundae out onto the dance floor on a cart and we fed each other from there. I think the photographer got some good pictures of us feeding each other cherries.
The ice cream sundae bar was a big big big hit with our guests!
We hardly sat! We were up dancing all night. The music was fantastic. The DJ did a wonderful job of bridging the generation gap, and making the music enjoyable for all.
It was all over by 11:30. I was tired of being in my dress. My shoes weren't comfortable anymore. My earrings were heavy. I wanted to take a shower and feel like myself again.
We loaded up Roger's car with our gifts and all of the decor that didn't belong to the catering hall, or that wasn't disposable. The maitre'd packed us up two nice dinners to reheat when we got home. She also packed up about 5 boxes of dessert pastries.
We went home. Roger helped me get out of my dress and I ran to the shower.
I think everyone has an image of their wedding night. Romance, sex, candles.
Ours was a little different.
There was lots of exhaustion, but just from the events of the day. Relief to get all the sweat from dancing off of us. Hunger from not eating much earlier.
After getting into comfy pajamas, we heated up our dinners and then opened up our gifts/envelopes.
Then fell sound asleep.
The end!
Well, actually.....
The beginning!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
November 12, 2008 8:53pm
Kind of busy, so no time to continue the wedding recap, but a picture is worth a thousand words....
These aren't the pro pics. Those aren't back yet. These were taken by Roger's brother so there's a lot missing (like the ceremony).
Click here!
These aren't the pro pics. Those aren't back yet. These were taken by Roger's brother so there's a lot missing (like the ceremony).
Click here!
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