Crazy, Tragic, Sometimes almost Magic, Awful, Beautiful Life

As we all know, my sister got married almost a month ago. I took the week off of work to fly home to prepare for everything. Having never seeing inside the building where the ceremony and reception were going to be held, I was really nervous about the whole outcome. I am a more visual person and need to see details to really understand and grasp all that is going to be where.

My first weekend home was her bachelorette party. I had never been to one in my life, but my responsibility was to host it! Nerve racking—let me tell you. The hardest part was dealing with all the input. And it wasn’t really my sister’s input. Many of the girls kept emailing, facebooking and texting asking what we were going to do and or if we could go to this place or that place. Well, after biting my tongue I can finally let it out! Read your invitation people!!! It says what we are going to do and gave specific times. As for if we can go here or there, well is this your bachelorette party?? Last time I checked it wasn’t, so where ever or what ever Kelly wants to do we will do!

Now that I got that out, the party turned out quiet n

ice. We ended up going to Olive Garden where Kelly was surprised visited by Stephanie (our “sister”/nanny growing up). Kelly isn’t one on surprises, but when it came to her getting married, I think we finally snuck in a few surprises without her catching on. J From there we went back to her house where a limo was to pick us up. Kelly was aware of this, but yet another surprise.. It wasn’t a normal limo—it was a stretch Hummer! We ended up going to Power and Light, which ended up turning into the best bachelorette party I have ever thrown and I mean that sincerely.

The rest of the week was full of errands, doctor’s appointments, last minute wedding details, etc. And, of course some fun at the lake.  I think it is now time to mention, Duane.  He was introduced to my parents the first time I came home to surprise Kelly and Brock at their couple’s shower. I later introduced him to Kelly and Brock at the lake when Brock and his parents joined the four of us at the lake the weekend before the wedding. I wasn’t too sure on how that day went with everyone, but I knew I had a great time. By the end of the evening, Kelly had invited Duane to the wedding. I on the other hand was unsure if I should bring him to such a big event.

The day of the rehearsal as we prepared to head to the city, Kelly again invited Duane to the wedding saying she had a spot reserved for him. So, now you know how we came to the conclusion of me bringing a date. Rehearsal went well. I had more of a visual of what the day would actually look like. The only flaw was my video that I had spent plane rides and multiple days doing didn’t work. But we won’t go there. All I will say is I am grateful to have my family to vent to and who are there for support. Oh, but it was the DVD player.. not my work.

The wedding turned into a success. Getting ready started at 9 a.m. All the set up begin with chair covers down to placing party favors. Soon, Kelly was restricted to the girl’s dressing room and hair and makeup were underway. Next came 100-degree weather and outdoor photos, followed by multiple touch ups and then the actual event where it was slightly delayed due to an overflow of people. But, not to worry everything turn out amazing and beautiful even if we lied to Kelly saying her dress was all the way bustled and it wasn’t.

And now I have a brother!

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Since being back from my week home, work has picked up. We are pushing forward o

n a new website for orientation and things are speeding up as well as the time flying by.

But the weekends have been a bit more interesting. Two weeks ago, mom came out to visit. We took a 24-hour trip to NYC because she had never been before.  So, I planned a short trip there and tried to make it as stress free as possible for her. Only mom never predicted SO many people there so it was hard to be enjoying when 184 languages were being spoken around you and millions of people walk around at their own pace.

I believe we did have a fairly decent time, except in Brooklyn where the tour guide just rambled on and on about how great it was. And of course just because I had a great experience in the hotel last year doesn’t mean I will this time. All night long people screamed and slammed doors in the hallway. At one point someone tried entering our room and security came to our floor multiple times. We ended up getting a “discount” which strangling only was the tax and like 5 dollars taken off, but at least it was some.  New York City definitely makes D.C. feel calm and less populated.

This past weekend Duane came out to D.C. to visit. He has been out here twice with his family so I didn’t have to give the basic tour, on which monument was which, and so on.  But, let’s take a step back. Duane has never flown before. So, his first flight was out here to visit me for about 5 days. He was to arrive at 3:58, which earlier that day turned into 4:20 and then not knowing a time until he arrived at 8:30 p.m. He was on his way here when a thunderstorm hit; they tried to keep circling, but then started running low on fuel and had to land in Pittsburg. Talk about an experience. Then by the time we got to my apartment we had no electricity or A/C. And did I mention the cab drive got lost! Talk about pricey. And yes, Duane’s first cab ride as well!

The rest of the weekend went well. We toured the Newseum and the Holocaust Museum. We walked through the National Mall, each day had either popsicles or ice cream, went through the Smithsonian Castle and of course anything we found interesting we stopped to look at.

Did I mention things went well?? Well, for the most part they did, but Friday evening eh, we are pushing the term “well.” We went to the grocery store and on the bus ride home we grabbed all the groceries to get off the bus; however, I left my bus pass and keys ON the bus. Bad idea. We never got them back. So after a slight panic—ok not so slight—we finally got a lock out key and paid for a new key. So, it wasn’t horrible, but it would happen to Duane (a person who had never rode a bus before) and me. Oh, and he never took a train until this weekend too! The weekend was full of a lot of experiences for him.

Overall, it was a great weekend for the two of us and a really needed weekend after only seeing each other a few times, but me always being busy.

Now, I have a little over a week left out here and then a whole new world begins for me. I’ll be going into my last semester of college, which means a lot of preparing and figuring out what to do with my “life after college.”  We’ll see what’s in store for me.