back with 100% more attitude

i think i get more page hits when i'm not blogging. what does that mean? perhaps i should blog more sporadically to build up anticipation, as i have observed from my comments. the internet: providing more ways to build up my ego. just what i need.

so, i have returned from my trip. after experiencing 10 degree weather (and thereabouts, what with the wind chill and all), i can only say, "damn!"

but i get ahead of myself... i like to be orderly in my storytelling - i'm terribly nerdy that way, it's probably why it takes me so long to write anything. this trip was one of many firsts for me, and i will describe it thusly. (but if you just want to skip to the pictures of sienna, scroll down)

this was the first time i visited eastern canada and upstate new york. 'twas chock full of good times. it was also my first time to be in a canadian wedding. AND my first time to be a groomsWOman for my friend dan. being in the groom's party afforded me a glimpse in to "manworld" as i was invited to the bachelor party. and i was foolish enough to accept. people who know dan will understand why this may be an act of courage and/or stupidity on my part. the party consisted of watching ultimate fighting footage, then donning boxing gloves, head gear, shin pads and descending into dan's brother's basement and beating the crap out of each other. i didn't fight, because who wants to get beat by a girl? the fighters limped back upstairs and played a friendly peaceful round of beer pong. i participated in this game, another first for me (it's an amusing drinking game). then we went to a bar called "alex p. keaton's" which i think may be one of the greatest names for a bar, ever. long may michael j. fox live! and that was it; i avoided being traumatized at being in manworld, but did not escape a hangover the next morning. i will not visit manworld again.

the exposure to testosterone was evened out by going to the salon with the bridal party to get pampered for the wedding. check out my hair! i didn't know it could do that. i've never had that much product in it before. (also check out how hot my friends are! sizzling!)

the wedding itself was beautiful and it was wonderful to see these two people join their lives. i told dan, when you have found a girl that you can convince to shave your back hair into a thong shape, you never let her go (this is a true story).

part two of my trip: marion, ny, kelley-style. it was also very good to see these fine friends again. i tried to do a tae bo work out with lara (another first for me). tried being the operative word - i'm not so coordinated at aerobic videos. curse you billy blanks! i was more coordinated at lifting a few pints of kelley homebrew to my lips. mmm...hoppy-licious. these events did not occur simultaneously. maybe that would have helped me.

it was cold, like 1 degree cold. so we stayed inside mostly and looked out the window. sienna in profile.




sesame street is as good as i remember. sienna was not to be messed with during the show (which didn't stop me. sorry, lara). i think she's about to demand that someone bring her a chicken pot pie. that's just a guess from the body language. today's post was brought to you by the letter G and the number 11.

i was quite excited to see sienna after such a long time. i think she was mostly excited to see her parents again after their night away and slightly perplexed by this other person that was following her around staring at her. but i won her over. it was like the movie memento, each morning i'd get up and she'd be confused and i'd make friends with her again. it was totally worth it. (and unlike the movie memento, there was no tattooing, or killing of people)

we visited the mall, and went for a little ride on the merry go round (as far as i know, her first). it took her a bit to warm up to the ride but by the end, she was saying "wheeeeeeee!" it was the best dollar i've spent in a while.







lara introduced me to the wonder of frozen custard. after hearing about this treat from other midwesterners, i enjoyed getting to try it for the first time. i think sienna liked it too. wish i had some frozen custard right now.







the kelleys still hold the record for most pictures on this blog. probably because they are rad.

(i'll post more pics from my trip somewhere online. if you want the link email me) now i'm back in california, and the weather is so different, i feel like i am in the tropics. it's weird. i've started working at my part-time job in the market. i hope i can learn a thing or two about food. plus, it's cool to see a full kitchen in action. and i get to eat good free food. the days of eating old tuna bagels at the well are long ago.