Away

I'm at the beach. I'm reading many, many books and drinking large quantities of lemonade and iced mint tea. It's exactly as rough as it sounds.

Back to the real world on Saturday.

Heard...

...at 11:26pm on Saturday via text message from Jay, who was in Nashville with the guys for Ed's bachelor party


Jay: Your home state is fantastic. Good 'ol Rocky Top!

WEIRD. (The Month of Everything, Weekend #2)

Wedding weekend #1 has come and gone, and I had a most excellent time. The whole family, minus one branch of cousins, was at the rehearsal dinner, which featured a quite entertaining slideshow/video presentation by MC, sister of the groom. I was seated with my cousin Elliott, several members of the wedding party, and a few miscellaneous friends--none of whom, other than Elliott, I knew. (Mom: "Are you going to be okay over there?" Me: "I've managed with tougher crowds than this.")

Then Saturday was the wedding, and let me tell you, it is WEIRD when the guy who once endlessly tormented you and your girl cousins is suddenly up there getting married. In a tuxedo, looking all... grown up. To a lovely young lady who has, apparently, agreed to the whole thing. Weird, I say. Mom and Aunt K kept exchanging "I CAN'T HANDLE THIS" looks.

But nonetheless, we chatted, we laughed, we ate shrimp 'n' grits, we took many photos, we danced to the oldies. It was a good time, and likely the first of many such events. But none, probably, as weird as this one. The first one.

Up next: Jules' wedding showers in Ohio!

Gray Matter

I should mention that I did not come up with this idea (I stole borrowed it from Flotsam, who borrowed it from someone else). Larger version here.

Recap: The Month of Everything, Weekend #1

So Daniel was here over the weekend, and we had a big ole time. He and Dad did practically everything there was to do in DC on Thursday while I was working (Washington Monument; Lincoln, FDR, Vietnam, Korean, and Jefferson Memorials; Spy Museum; White House; Capitol and Supreme Court—ALL IN ONE DAY), so I was a little worried that there wouldn’t be anything left for us to do after Dad. But we made do:

Friday (before Dad left): National Cathedral, including the Bishop’s Garden, a trip up into the tower, and an exhibit about the building of the cathedral); Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum, where I discovered that Dad’s random knowledge of things that move extends beyond cars to airplanes; Nationals-Braves game, where Daniel experienced a Chili Half-Smoke All the Way, With Cheese from the iconic Ben’s Chili bowl

Saturday: Lunch at Five Guys, where Daniel got approximately 13 toppings on his burger;The Proposal (definitely NOT the movie I expected to see with my 15-year-old male cousin); Mall/Lincoln Memorial (second time for Daniel); fireworks viewing from the Iwo Jima memorial in Arlington, including snacks, gin rummy, and a medley of patriotic songs, sung by Ed

Sunday: Arlington National Cemetary, where I had never been and of which we covered practically every square foot; extended debate about the “most popular” bands of our age (U2 vs. Guns and Roses)—I think the answer is obvious, but D, in his infinite 15-year-old wisdom, disagrees) during the drive to meet Aunt B for dinner

Anyway, it was fun. I was tired (and sore), but we had a good time.

Up next: wedding weekend in Georgia!

You probably won't find this as funny as I did

This morning I received a two-sentence email from my friend/colleague at an organization across town regarding a document that we had both edited.

"Damn you and your commas! I took every one of those serial commas out and you sent it back with every single one put back in."

Ah, the inherent tensions between an editor (WOOOO Chicago Style!) and a publicist (booo AP Style).