Pictures from inside America...

Well hello.

Have you ever seen a more handsome boy in your entire life? (Him, not me. I'm not a boy.)

We just got back from New Orleans and the week of crazy ridiculousness is finally over. As you well know, the party started two Saturdays ago with Tim and Kristin's "Bring Your Own Theme" party of delight. In between then and now we've had VD, Tim's Birthday, the Bridal Tea Party, the Rehearsal Dinner, the Wedding (of course), and Mardi Gras. Oh yeah, and daily life doesn't pause for all of that, so there's been some other stuff in there. Needless to say my house looks like crap and everyone's exhausted, but today might be the most beautiful day I've ever seen in Shreveport and all of life is utterly lovely.

If you notice a bit of a contrast from two posts ago when I was losing my mind, it's Mardi Gras break and I don't have to face the music for at least anther two days... so here I am.

The wedding was phenomenal. I would post more pictures of Jason and Kristin in the remarkable photogenicity and cuteness, but let's face it, this is my blog. And they get all the credit for everything with their fancy "wedding." Pph.

In case you missed my toast, this is the long version: I feel very particularly fantastic about this wedding. Jason and I were friends from the first week of school. His presence pretty much defined my entire freshman year at Centenary. I honestly wonder sometimes that I ever lived without knowing him. When you have a friend like that, you're bound to think, "there is no one on earth good enough for this person."

Almost a year after the day that I met Jason to the day, I met Kristin. (I actually met every other member of the Bridal Party before I met her.) We were driving in Jason's truck to Pref Parties at the lake, Jenkins was a tiny, ridiculous puppy. Kristin was totally willing to let me put him in my mouth. She was even supportive and sympathetic to my seemingly irrational need to put small animals and cute things in my mouth. (She totally would have supported my attempt to put an entire parade in my mouth this weekend.) She was not only good enough for Jason, it didn't take a genius to see that she was (and still is) perfect for Jason. Um, and I'm kind of in love with her myself, so things just keep getting better.

In case you can't tell, our pants say "Smartypants," which was entirely her idea and if she denies it, she lies.

I love Jason, but he and I were, uh, a stupid couple. Kristin and Jason have that kind of love that makes you think, "Jesus, if they weren't together... there's just nothing more wrong than the idea of them not together." Not to mention that their dogs would be pissed.

I've been a party to some of Jason's dumbest (shave your head much?) and most AWESOME ideas. I can say with complete sincerity that proposing to Kristin was the best idea Jason ever had. For completely selfish reasons, I'm totally all for this. I like knowing that I can make one phone call and reach two of my favorite people on earth. Even if they are both hookers.

Kristin, if you're reading this GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND GO PLAY ON THE BEACH OR I WILL EAT YOUR DOGS.


Also, might I just add that that was the most pee-your-pants excited I've ever been in my life? Everyone who came to town for the party is my hero. It was so awesome to see everyone again. Um, who can complain when Jared makes you breakfast, Blake walks you down the isle, everyone eats cake and then you get to Wii to your heart's content?


These are my favorite pictures from Mardi Gras. New Orleans still looks like hell, still needs more help than anyone is willing to offer and still makes me cry just by being the way it is.







I wish the Universities there offered the programs Tim and I want or we'd go there in a heartbeat. Not to mention that we'd be closer to Mat, Jared, Patrick, Kakie and everyone else, which would be fantastic.

goodbye.

Le vent nous portera...

When my alarm went off this morning, it randomly selected The Cure's "It's Friday, I'm in Love." This seems ultimately appropriate considering the week it's been and will be. Tim and I had our fourth Valentine's Day, which is cool and strange and surprising and not all at once. He also turned 23 yesterday, which blows my mind a little bit. I never thought I'd date someone younger than me, since I was always the youngest person in my class. Goes to show how much I know. I like that there are times when he is infinitely older and wiser than I am. And there are times when I'm the one with all the know-how. It's a good balance, I think.

Today is Kristin's Bridal Tea, and this evening it's the rehearsal dinner. I've pretty much never been more excited about two days' events in my life. I really can't think of anything I'd rather do right now than be in the wedding. I don't even like weddings. I spend half my time studying why they're a failing social construction of little real value to individuals... but sometimes all that book learnin' just doesn't cut it against the evidence of daily life. The only thing I'm not excited about is that after the wedding that means there are only a few short months before Jason and Kristin move to Arkansas and take their Wii and their dogs with them. God damn it.

I'll post pictures after the festivities. Everyone's coming to town and I really, really couldn't me happier.

Oh yeah, last night I saw Ryan Goodwin run face first into a sign at full speed and then bounce off, also at full speed. The sign was virtually unfazed. It was one of the funniest things I've EVER seen in my whole life. I give Patrick credit.

In a hole...

This is the most exhausted I have ever felt in my life. I have gotten myself into too many things: four jobs (20 hours a week), 18 hours of class, honors, this French book, a gender conference (if I ever hear back from them), Kristin's wedding (which isn't time-consuming yet, but it will be, in a good way).

I am overwhelmed. But now that I'm in it, I have to finish it, all of it, to the best of my ability.

I really, honestly miss listening to music and gluing bits of paper to other bits of paper, making origami and throwing it away, organizing photographs, having paint under my fingernails, reading for fun and without a deadline, watching movies, cooking things I don't need to eat in order to survive, sending postcards to people, writing thoughtful emails... the list goes on. I haven't written in my journal more than 20 times in the past two years, I used to write every day, back when I was a sane person.

Anyway, I'm tired. I'm ready to graduate so that I can stop living for a product at 100%, 100% of the time. I probably won't write again for a couple of weeks, not because I don't have anything to say, but because I feel a tangible guilt when I do something that's not assigned to me or making money.

Which I hate.

I miss you like I missed you when I was here: