Laura + Zack

This past Saturday, I went to one of the best weddings ever. The nuptials, reception & party happened at Longhorn Caverns in Burnet, TX.

I. Before the events:

We arrived almost exactly two hours before the event was scheduled to happen after driving FOREVER from North Little Rock. We visited the loo, walked around, snacked & tried to get a nap in the car. Before catching some zzz's, we ran into Zack, the groom. This was our first meeting ever! He is very kind. He told us that there was going to be 3 lbs. of food per guest! A little while later, it rained with hail. We hoped the soon-to-be-wedded couple were o.k., but, you can't have a rainbow w/o a storm, so they say.



Cactii. I'm a fan!


II. The events:

When 6 p.m. rolled around, we brushed our teeth & I combed my hair and put on some mascara in hopes that I looked fancy enough for a casual wedding. After exchanging hugs & greeting with the people we knew, we were ushered to where the ceremony was going to be. While waiting for it to start, ATM told me that Uncle Rico was behind us taking photos. I started to freak out, but then things got started. And how!









ATM & pretty Laura, right after the ceremony:

By the power of Grayskull, I didn't cry this time, but I was so close. I really didn't want to be so openly vulnerable in front of hip strangers, I guess. But, their vows were so damn cute. "Do you love each other?" "Yes." "Will you defend each other?" "Yes." "Do you promise to never marry anyone else ever?" "Yes." There was plenty of that sweetness, I couldn't take it, I was wailing & sobbing on the inside. They said what needed to be said. Good job, guys!

After exchanging hugs w/ the newly betrothed, we were ushered inside for dinner. The seating chart:


Large print. Our table:


Our table mates, Chase & Rachel:


Some of you may know some of these:




Hello! Jon Gries! He was on LOST! Ben's dad!




You can see why we waited until AFTER this wedding reception to go meat-free. Wooo pig sooie!








This is my only photo of Jon Gries & it is crap. You can see a faint profile of him, but, Jessica looks good, yeah? I didn't want to bother Mr. Gries while he was at a wedding. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Plus, ATM said I couldn't speak to him. Rightly so, I would've just been a burst dam of movie & television quotes AT him.


Right, so after ingesting way too much meat, we were ushered down into the cave. Yep, a cave. Oooga booga! Obviously these photos, any of them, will do no justice.






I walk to the end of the (cave) room to see this on stage:

Still as stone, it took me a good minute to realize that they were real people. Here they are animated!




Here are guests, also animated:

In case you are missing it, there is a lady with a hot dog & a fella with a hog's leg. And a hot dog.

We are in a cave! Watching an "animatronic" band! The groom has a Pee-Wee suit on! That was a whole hog! A celebrity! Sweet vows! Sweet details! What?! These two are freaking visionaries!





Did I really grab extra napkins to document the details AND to perhaps aid me in my own wedding party vision? I did.










Parting gifts/favors:




Tuff toof:




I am certain I am leaving out a lot of details. It was a fun, magical night. Yeah, I said magical. I am pleased as punch that Laura + Zack did things their way. Much love to them!

#firstworldproblems

It's days like this that make me feel so damn old. Sure, my birthday is only a week away, but that's just a number. I'm talking about learning about my maternal matriarch preparing to leave this astral plane, the extensive/expensive travel I've done/will have to do in the very near future, and the lack of time & money and the fears wrapped up in that. I know, #firstworldproblems.

Deep breaths. I know that I will deal with all issues handily. I am one of those people who tries to do what they can, where they are with what they've got. (The only fortune cookie advice that I've taken to heart. In bed.)

So, instead of doling out sugary goodness to neighborhood children on Friday, going to a costume party on Saturday, but, hopefully, not missing the premiere of The Walking Dead series on AMC on Halloween, and celebrating my 32nd birthday on the following Monday, I will be going to Seattle to hang out with my cousin & aunt, the caretakers of my beloved Ba Ngoai. She's been moved to hospice care & the doctors give her days to a week. My grandmother will leave when she damn well pleases & I take great comfort in that.

We "lost" Ba Ngoai to dementia years ago. She's been so physically ill the past few years, the doctors have done what they can to keep her comfortable. There is nothing more we can do for her now. KMHD & I are going to Seattle to assist our aunt & cousin. Whatever free time we may have will be spent staring out at & walking along the Puget Sound & maybe having one nice (non-Vietnamese) meal. I'm already tired from this endeavor. To be fair, I just got home from Austin. I think I'll have a better grasp of everything tomorrow, after some rest.

So, yes. We just returned from Austin, TX. ATM & I attended one of the most visionary and coolest weddings ever. I don't even want to bother planning my own now. Seriously, all weddings henceforth are considered noid & dull. The details of this wedding will have to be covered in it's own post.

We didn't stay in Austin long enough for me to get my feelings hurt; in fact, I accidentally got a little crush on that city. We did get one kick-ass meal @ Juan In a Million (migas w/ corn torts). As we drove down E Cesar Chavez (viva!), I was envious of Austin's HUGE Hispanic population & all that comes with it. Culture, people. The real spice of life. ALL. Bring it to me. I'm really not into arguments regarding immigrants because I find them to be ridiculous & unfounded. Also, hey, my mom is an immigrant/refugee! And my dad? Well, he's a Yankee, and that's considered WORSE than immigrant status to some around here, so, I'm just not going to get into it. Let's talk about the benefits: Food. Dance. Art. Music. Language. Love. Give it to me. By the boatload. I want my world to be bigger, not some tiny self-suffocating fearful prison death star.



Couldn't even finish it:


This is about all of Austin I really got to see:


That reminds me, ATM & I went to 4-Square downtown to post a Joyce Elliott/Speak & Spell flyer and we ended up eating there. Well. This couple + child come in to order food, behind us. 4-Square serves vegetarian food only & the fella half of the couple absolutely couldn't wrap his mind around the concept of not eating meat; he thought it was messed up. All we could do was silently eat our hummus wraps and wonder what kind of hell it must be to live in his tiny world. Seriously. And that was just vegetarianism! I wonder if he knows about say...Buddhism? You do not want to hear what he had to say about Indians/Native Americans. Well, maybe you do. He couldn't be convinced that the purveyors of this restaurant could be American-born because they looked foreign. Also, they couldn't be INDIAN. "They may be from India, but they ain't Indians." What. Moving right along, 4-Square has great food. If you work downtown, are pressed for time, but do not want to eat badly, go there. Fresh n healthy, I say. And tasty! That hummus wrap was killer. I want one right now!

Since we are on the topic of vegetarianism, I suppose I'll confess that ATM & I have switched gears and have gone veggie. Starting today, actually. Yeah, we planned this. We decided to do it after Laura & Zack's wedding. Would you believe me if I said that we just felt like it? Sure, all of the reasons to go vegetarian apply, but kinda not, too. We eat mostly meatless anyway, I truly believe that we won't even notice a hell of change. Except when we want to eat meat. But, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

No, we aren't punishing ourselves & we aren't doing it out of spite. There is tons of delicious meatless foods. I'm so used to the concept that it isn't that big a deal to me. Really. Plus, I was vegetarian for how long? 5...6...7 years? And I know so many veg-heads that I've modified my cooking a billion times, it's so easy. I'm just so pleased to say that Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian will take first chair in the kitchen. This is a positive thing.

If you've ever been political in any capacity, then you've probably been inundated with political emails urging you to vote. Well, go on now! Vote! Because when things go south, I really don't want to hear complaints from people who didn't lift one finger, which, incidentally, is how you make your voice heard at the polls in Pulaski County. I am going to quote Judge Kilgore: "I hate people who don't vote." Strong language, I know, but it makes me wonder what else in life people squander when they do not take part of the electoral process. Do you know who I believe is more American than anyone ever? My mum. She came here from Viet Nam with nothing, but siblings, learned a new language, went to school, married, had children, became a nurse, became a legal citizen, and is politically active. She is also a enthusiastic juror. She is kind, giving, and wants to do meaningful good for everybody, not just certain groups of people. A lot of people who were born and raised here can't even do half of what my mum did and does. Anyway. WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE, so hit the streets and vote. Vote for Joyce Elliott while you're at it.

Last week today, our ever-growing family welcomed one J.H. He is such a cutie-pie with the sweetest mum & dad! I am in lub.

RIP ARI UP, crazy girl

High-pitched girl scream

From Pitchfork:

Last night, at the close of their headlining set at Madison Square Garden, Phoenix were joined onstage by French countrymen Daft Punk. The robot duo appeared suddenly as Phoenix performed "If I Ever Feel Better" during their encore and launched into "Harder Better Faster Stronger". Phoenix themselves joined in on the song about halfway through, as it morphed into "Around the World". Then everybody played an extended version of "1901" together. OMFG. Watch video below:

"If I Ever Feel Better"/"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"/"Around the World":

Oh, I am so ILL with envy!

RIP Mr. Coffee!

This guy has been with us for a long time. He went kaput yesterday morning.



A twist of sadness, his replacement makes better coffee:


Addendum: Obviously, I felt compelled to write something about this because Mr. Coffee's death was an interruption to my daily routine, BUT, for the better, as the peculator makes a superior brew. I guess this is my roundabout way of saying that change is o.k., sometimes it is for the better, don't get attached to earthly things, you can't take it with you, etc.

AiLeighn!

SONIC YOUTH

I tried uploading these videos a while back, but couldn't because of, well, me.
Sonic Youth in Fayetteville for Spring Fest 2008

Drunken Butterfly
video by me!


Bull In the Heather

Speak & Spell

So, last Thursday, a group of us organized a fundraiser for Sen. Joyce Elliott in her bid to fill Rep. Vic Snyder's seat. I am so pleased to report that there were no earth crises, no meltdowns, no flare ups & money was raised! A job well done & the campaign asked what was our next move was (early voting initiative, of course!), so I will accept that on behalf of all of those who worked pretty damn hard on this event as a compliment. Seriously, ladies & gents, a TERRIFIC JOB!

Rep. Kathy Webb kicked things off & warmed up the crowd for Sen. Elliott:


Sen. Elliott!

Frankly, I didn't expect the senator to make an appearance, so when the campaign told us that she'd be there, I knew that half of my work was done. I knew that once people heard what she had to say, they'd be on board; she can best speak for herself. Honestly, I thought that she'd leave after her speech, but she stayed & talked to everyone at White Water Tavern. Impressive, since she campaigned all that day with President Clinton & attended numerous events. By the time she got to us, it was late & I'm certain she was exhausted. Not only did she stay, she participated in our spelling bee!

Ever the school teacher, she intervened on this poor speller's (pun intended) behalf, like a good Representative! Her word was 'libelous'. An aside: she is a scotch drinker.


KMHD takin' a crack at it:


I kinda love this "How dare you, betch?" thing this fella has against David, our spelling bee emcee:


Our winner, Derek! Winning word was 'exchequer':


In addition to the spelling bee, we also had some Arkansas-flavored trivia, with everyone's favorite host ATM. What a crowd pleaser! Really! Available for wedding receptions & convention entertainment!


Matthew, Rett:


Many thanks to Matt/WWT & the Elliott campaign for their endless patience & guidance. Throwing a fundraiser is HARD!

Big ups to BellWood for showing a little early to help us get ready.

The best thing about this gig was the people I met & got to work with. Heartfelt gratitude to ATM, KMHD, Carrie, Maggie, Westley & David. Old friends and new, we worked so well together. Rarely does a group stay so focused, I've never worked with such an easygoing lot ever. True love.

For all who attended, who gave, who early voted? Put your hands together for...YOU.