Goin' to the Chapel...

Last weekend, September 20, one of my closest college friends got married. What was to be a November wedding was moved up by two months (thanks U.S. Army!).

As a result, many thoughts ran through my head:

"Daaang, one my college roommates is getting MARRIED!!!!"

"I wonder if I have enough United miles for a free flight?" (answer - no)

"I can't wait to see all of my ND girls!"

"Crap, when am I going to get my dress fitted?"

"I hope the weather is perfect this weekend."

"Ack, one of my college roommates is GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!"

I'm sure there were many more thoughts, but the jetlag from my sojourn in Europe overtook everything else. On the plane trip from Chitown to Raleigh, NC, my only thought was "ZZZZZzzzzzzzz."

Arriving the day before the wedding, I spent that Friday following road directions, exploring the mystery that is a rental car, coveting Bojangles fries, attending the rehearsal, thoroughly enjoying the rehearsal dinner, and helping to throw a lingerie party for the bride late that night.

Bright and early on Saturday, the dedicated bridal party awoke at 5:30am to hike it over to the reception location to put together the flower arrangements for the tables and just help out in general. Never did I think being a bridesmaid would include hosing down rocks in a yard for the arrangements at 6:00 in the morning. I think that's under "other duties as assigned." But for the former Miss Fuchs, anything...

Apres ca, we made a priority run for Chick-Fil-A, followed by some naptime, but then off to make ourselves pretty and get to the church.

At this time, I would like to give a major shout out to the golf pro shop of our hotel for letting us borrow their steamer.

The ceremony was great, the bride gorgeous, and I didn't trip. And I didn't tower over my escort in my heels - that's very important. We laughed, we cried, we blew bubbles, then off to part-ay.

And party we did. Finally, our four years of dancing during college - in clubs, in our dorm room, on the quad, in the engineering building - finally paid off! The bridesmaids hit the dance floor and kept the party going. No one was safe from our attentions, and much fun was had.

The bride and the groom eventually departed and the bridal party did the only thing we could think of - hit up a couple of NC bars in our gowns. The boys totally wussed out and changed.

The flight back to Chitown was exhausting, but unlike the flight before me, mine wasn't cancelled due to fog, and by the time I entered the door of my apartment, I was ready for a nap. Which lasted from 4:30 to 7:00pm. I went to bed at 8:30pm...you do the math.

My European Adventure

as told through pictures

I'm in Love

...with furniture.

A co-worker, noticing my love affair with all things green, left a page from a magazine on my desk the other day that highlighted trends in home decorating. And while the rest of the world may just now be discovering the delights of a grass green accent piece, yours truly is way ahead of the curve. Like all Hall women, I've pre-empted trends for years - almost to the point where I was so cool, I was uncool. In this case, with green being one of "the" colors...I. am. so. there.

So when I glanced down at the magazine, I didn't expect to fall in love. Especially when the object of my affection is plastic furniture...I want!

Maybe, just maybe, when my commitment-phobia once again sets in and I find myself moving, I'll remember these amazing designs by Studio JSPR. Because, really they're fabulous, and will match perfectly my green glass kitchenware collection and leopard print carpet.

But for now, this will be an unrequited love...unless I happen to find $2,000 laying around on the sidewalk. A girl can dream, right?

Oh yeah...

So, I promise, mes amis, that in the coming days I will post further about my outstanding time on tour with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. However given my current time constraints, jetlag, and the eight million things I need to do this week before leaving to be in my friend's wedding this weekend, I leave you with an image. One that brings tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart. Me, a co-worker, and Tony Blair. Yes, that's right, Tony Blair. I got to have a little chat with him at a post-concert party. Being the British politics junkie that I am, it was definitely a little slice of heaven. And yes, he's very dynamic, funny, and self-efacing in real life - love it!!

Au revoir mes amis

Back in 8 days!

It's that kind of day

So, even though I'm in the middle of a very exciting time (future blog posts will further define), it's still be one of those weeks where I look back and all I can think is "REALLY?" I started out pretty well on Sunday, catching up with a friend at my fave Hyde Park breadfast spot. However, two broken down busses, one flooded kitchen sink, one too-full suitcase, three days of scalding water in the shower, two extremely rude salespeople, 8 pieces of junk mail from my own bank, and 23 furry mice all over my apartment (fake ones, thank goodness) later, I'm over it.

In order to find my happy place, I am going to keep with mind what I'm thankful for...

Green tea in the mornings

My incredibly funny French class

Plaid ballet flats

Sympathetic kitties

McDonald's at 11pm

Rainy days

TV Monde 5

Pretty Swiss francs

My new iPod

Nutella