Endurance Training Required

Ah, this weekend was super rad. I had so much fun hanging out with my sister and her friends, staying up waaaaaay late, drinking too much, and going a full 24 hours without changing a diaper. Among the lot of us, I think we managed to send Katie off to her betrothal with a proper celebration. It began Friday night at her house, where a bunch of us convened to grill some burgers and play games. Mike was the sole lucky man who got to stay around to be on HR duty and to contribute to the festivities as well (unfortunately/fortunately "Officer Nasty" never showed up as he had threatened). We got pretty rowdy following a Catchphrase tournament for the ages, but we all knew we had to save something up for the next day.

Saturday my parents collected my little bean for the night, and my sister, cousin and another bridesmaid and I went with Katie for her final dress fitting. Gorgeous doesn't begin to cover it. I can't wait to see her in full bridal regalia. We had a leisurely lunch, and were able to check into the hotel downtown a little early for to start the party. A word about the fair city of Portland: I love it there and would move there in a heartbeat if I could be guaranteed a job. Maybe someday.

Anyway, we chilled, other revelers trickled in, we got dolled up and hit the town, beginning with a fabulous dinner at a cuban restaurant. In an inadvertently genius move, I ordered a cocktail made with habanero-infused vodka which was so deliciously spicy it took me a full two hours to drink, hence contributing to my staying power. This was followed by some excellent bar hopping and dancing until last call.

My sister has great friends, and even the ones I didn't know well were like old buds by the end of the night. I had a stone blast, and more importantly, the lady of honor did. Sure, there was an incident where one of the attendees went over her limit and was asked to leave a bar, but it ended with her safe retrieval by her boyfriend. And at our last stop there were these really creepy guys why wouldn't stop groping several members of our party so I had to get muscly with them. Frankly I'm shocked I didn't end up in a police car, but guys I am way too old now to let that kind of shit fly by. It's inexcusable.

The next morning the lot of us were hurting, but fortified ourself with eggs and homefries and mimosas (for medicinal purposes). We then soldiered on in the miserable weather to the all-day festival that I had sort of built the whole weekend around. My cousin and I had to duck out early to head back to Boston because we both had to work the next day, plus I had a baby to reclaim (whom I was missing terribly by this point). It was sad to go, but it was time for my out-of-practice liver to get some rest again anyway. Needless to say, I was in bed super early Sunday night (I had to DVR most of the Tonys, even).

Anyway, the bottom line is that it was a ridiculously good time that required little effort, but was made fabulous by the charismatic brew of company and other miscellaneous serendipity. HR had a great time being spoiled by his grandparents and didn't even miss us. I got the night out I haven't had in years, which was much appreciated. And I think the bride-to-be knows how much she's loved by her crew. Anyway, it's just a little taste of the bananas convention that will be the wedding weekend. Which begins in just over a week. So. Dope. I. Can't. Wait.

Like I could let the month of June pass without this yummy slice of cheese.