7.4.18 - Kale's wedding

First of all, traveling yesterday by myself (read: without children) was ridiculously easy. I love Sacramento airport with its bright spacious setup, self check-in, automatic water bottle fillers, outlets everywhere, etc. It was so easy going through security by myself without a whole slew of baggage. It was even easier hanging out at the gate by myself sitting on my laptop. Time flew. Then our plane arrived - a newer plane and they did dual boarding, so while I had the chance I tried rear boarding and it sure was faster. The new plane also had a setup where the safety card and in flight magazines and all that are in a holder at the top of the chair and the rear seat mesh pocket is totally empty. I like it. I also like that the part of the chair your eyes naturally fall on is just some literature instead of a TV screen (as other airlines have).

Cinnamon cookies shaped like airplanes!

There were 55 free seats on the flight, and I had the row to myself. I put my things underneath the middle seat and enjoyed looking out the window and getting a few things done on my laptop. There's not much I can get done without internet, though, so I went ahead and did something I very rarely do: watched a movie while doing nothing else. I watched Baby Driver, and I really enjoyed it. Kind of over-the-top action but it was filmed like a comic book, sort of, and I liked the cast and the soundtrack a lot.

It was strange landing in STL when I'm not actually visiting there. I met Henry at the gate for our flight to Raleigh and our layover was very nicely short. Then we chatted the entire next flight (about work and politics) and it went by quickly. Grabbed our rental car, started the 2 hour ish drive to Wilmington, but we couldn't get Bluetooth to work with my phone while the car was in motion, so we pulled over to fix it and to grab North Carolina's equivalent of In & Out: Cook Out. I got a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a Reece's Cup milkshake. Henry got similar but vanilla (hates chocolate). Then we got Bluetooth working out and started talking about our music and how neither of us really gets why everyone hates Nickelback. So then we started listening to Nickleback, which was fun.

I slept a good hour of the drive while he listened to my playlist, and not long after I woke up we made it to our Air B&B, which is basically a two bedroom apartment and pretty nice. I video chatted with Jack and the kids briefly and I really wished I could cuddle them, but it was still good to see them. We didn't talk long because Jane was getting angry she couldn't touch the laptop. So I finished that and then Henry showed me his Chromecast and we watched some Firefly and the rest of Baby Driver and chatted about politics more. Finally went to bed looking forward to the second night of uninterrupted sleep I've had since Jane was born.

It was nice having nowhere to have to be in the morning. I slept in as long as I could and eventually Henry and I got up and walked a block or two to a charming albeit incredibly overpriced Farmer’s market. We got grapes, bananas, white bread, cheese spread, and a couple croissants, and then we went back and ate while half watching Firefly and half doing other things. Very leisurely.

Eventually I did lie down for a brief nap before we actually got ready and headed over to the Magnolia House, a large Southern-style house and backyard that Kale & Fitzy had rented for their wedding. They had actually rented it for an entire week and their bridal party arrived days earlier for game nights and other visiting time. 

Anyway, we found parking with zero trouble  and then went around the back to an almost fully shaded yard with a picket fence and stone walkway. There were maybe a half dozen round top tables with red and blue tablecloths (holiday themed), citronella candles, and complimentary sunscreen and bug spray (though I didn’t ultimately really need either). The guests were wearing “garden party” attire which mostly means the women have colorful printed dresses and fancy sunhats and then men might be wearing slacks and ties or simply khaki pants and button up shirts. But it was very colorful and felt like an old fashioned party.

Kale's mom and her friends

We found Kale pretty quickly and he seemed really happy to see us, which was nice. He’s so easy to talk to. We started chatting immediately but soon he had to go mingle with other guests. So Henry and I went to the buffet where they were serving mac and cheese, green beans, po’ boys, fried chicken, peach cobbler, and sweet tea. We found a table and started chatting with Rob, Sarah, and John, all of whom were from Portland and were friends of Fitzy’s. They were easy enough to talk to and we talked a lot about the different styles of weddings we’ve seen and which ideas we thought were the coolest.

Eventually the dual officiators—a close college friend of Fitzy’s and close high school friend of Kale’s—began the ceremony with some sweet and amusing stories of how they met the bride and groom. Fitzy and Kale walked down their aisle, as it were, and two more friends read poems about love and marriage. I know there was one by Neil Gaiman and one by EE Cummings, and both readers did a great job. Kale and Fitzy shared brief vows and exchanged rings, and like that it was done. Very sweet and simple.

Shortly after they unveiled the wedding cake, which Kale had created himself. It was three tiers of chocolate with white icing and red and blue berries for the 4^th of July. It looked great. As people ate cake Fitzy’s dad and Kale’s mom and dad each made a toast, all of which were also brief and sweet. And not long after that people started migrating inside the house for air conditioning and more games.

While the group we had been sitting with played Sorry (which was fun to listen to), Henry and I chatted with other guests about how our parents came up with our names, varying standards for driver’s tests around the country, and other random topics that flowed pretty easily. I really wanted to talk more to Kale, though, but he of course was busy catching up with all sorts of people. Eventually when I walked by him he just said “Hey!” and I came over and we started chatting nonstop, for quite a while actually, and it was great. I love talking to that guy. He introduced me to his high school friend Becca, who works in a book shop in Boston and has her first book being sold starting next year. That was pretty cool. We also caught up a lot about his research and my kids, etc. We would’ve kept talking longer, as we often do, but someone let us know it was already 8pm and people we’re going to start leaving to walk to the riverfront for fireworks.

Henry and I instead drove back to our Air BnB, which was very much in the same direction as the fireworks launch anyway. We walked from there to the riverfront and the others were only just arriving. Despite massive crowds we actually got a pretty good spot, and while we were waiting for it to get dark enough and for the show to start, Kale told Henry and me about his and Fitzy’s preparation for marriage: various books they read and advice they got. It was pretty impressive actually. As an aside Kale’s mom and her friends were there in blue sparkly hats and gave everyone glow stick bracelets, which I thought was awesome.

Anyway the fireworks show was great. It went on for a long time which gave me a chance to kind of zone out and enjoy it. When it was over people cleared out pretty quickly but our group stayed to light sparklers they had brought, and that was fun and nostalgic too.

Afterward Henry and I went back to the Air BnB briefly so I could chat with my kids before they went to bed.

Then we drove back over to Magnolia House to enjoy chocolate mousse and fruit and play some games. Henry played Euker at one table and I joined Kale, Fitzy, Ed, and his gf (whose name I've forgotten) to play Mysterium at another. It's basically like Clue plus Dixit. It involves a lot of art interpretation, and it was pretty fun. 

By the time we finished the game it was near midnight and Henry and I had to get up pretty early to get to the airport in Raleigh on time. So we said our goodbyes and headed out. But it was a wonderful day.

3.30.18 - Planning our belated honeymoon

When we got married in 2014, Dad offered to send us on a honeymoon as our wedding gift. We decided to delay the trip until after we had children. I think at the time the idea was (1) the trip would be a more meaningful break if it was after we had children and (2) I knew Jack and I were going to start trying to get pregnant right away in summer 2014 so I wasn't drinking. I don't want to go on a honeymoon where I can't drink.

So here we are four years later, and although we may not be done with our childbearing days, we are in a break at least. I'm not pregnant, not about to get pregnant and (hopefully) not still nursing by the end of this summer. Additionally and probably just as importantly, Jack will be done with school but won't yet have the commitment of a nursing job. It's really the perfect moment of physical and professional flexibility to take a quick vacation.

So we decided to take our belated honeymoon this August. Jack originally wanted to go to Europe, but for a trip like that to really be worth the haul I would think it needs to be at least two weeks if not longer, and we don't really have the budget for that, especially accounting for the daily cost of childcare while we're gone. So instead we decided to stay in-country and go to a city known for it's great food. Originally we were trying to choose between Chicago, New Orleans, Portland, and Seattle. After talking it over with more people we had narrowed it to Chicago or Portland and I really couldn't decide. Jack said he could go either way. I did an online poll and got these results:

Portland has the advantage of cheaper plane tickets and hotels, plus neither of us have ever been there before. Chicago has the advantage (or so it seems) of more to do, and I haven't been to Chicago since I was 15 anyway. Plus I get the impression that Chicago feels more "big city" and Portland feels more "laid back west coast town." I was pretty conflicted and, after the poll, leaning toward Portland. But then Jack talked it over with his classmates and they swayed him to Chicago, so that's that.

Anyway, so today I finally booked tickets: mine and Jack's to Chicago, and Don and Merlene's to Sacramento. We did the math, and buying them round trip tickets to come out and watch the girls was actually slightly less expensive than paying Beth to watch the girls the entire time. Plus this way (1) Don and Merlene get some grandparent bonding time and (2) the girls can stay in their own home, which may be less alien to them, I hope.

I also reserved mine and Jack's hotel in Chicago, which is right near the river. Once I knew where we were staying, I was able to spend a long time today incorporating all the sight-seeing and food recommendations people gave us, making a budget, and planning out not an iron clad schedule but at least multiple daily plans (e.g. if we're going to the Museum of Science and Industry we should hit up the best food places in that area the same day). It was so much fun to plan the whole thing out, and when I was done I was still pretty under budget--enough that I may be able to buy a couple cute new tops or something before we go, which I never do.

Jack and I have never taken a trip together except to go see family. We've never taken a vacation just the two of us. I am so excited. Here's the tentative schedule for now, but we'll see how much this changes once we are there:

Thursday

Breakfast: Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe ($$)

Field Museum (& lunch ($$))

Dinner: Malnati's ($$)

Evening: Signature Lounge ($$$)

Friday

Breakfast: The Purple Pig ($$)

Morning: Skydeck Chicago

Lunch: Au Cheval ($$)

Dinner: grocery store ($)

Grant Park Music Festival, 6:30p-8:30p

Saturday

Breakfast: groceries? ($)

Lunch: Cemitas Puebla ($)

L Train - $5

Museum of Science & Industry

Snail Thais Cuisine ($$)

L Train - $5

Sunday

Breakfast: groceries? ($)

Lincoln Park Zoo

Uber - $15

Lunch: Dak ($$)

Uber - $20

The Second City Theater (7pm)

Dinner: 1959 Kitchen & Bar ($$)

Monday

Breakfast: groceries? ($)

Lunch: Al's Beef ($)

Shoreline Architectural Cruise (earliest departs 9:30a, latest 6:15p)

Uber - $15

The Violet Hour ($$$)

Uber - $15

Tuesday

Breakfast: groceries? ($)

Lunch: Devil Dawgs ($)

Adler Planetarium

Dinner: Dine-in movie theater? ($$)

Wednesday

Checkout by noon

5.13.16 - Wedding ring fits.

I've been doing calorie counting bets with both Dad and Kat K., and as of today I've lost enough weight that my wedding ring fits again for the first time since probably the 2nd trimester of my pregnancy, if not earlier. I think I only got to wear it for a couple months after we got married and haven't been able to wear it since. So not only am I happy to be losing weight, I'm particularly happy to be able to wear my ring again. I feel so official. It's been making me happy thinking about it all day!

2014 Date Nights

1. Jan 8 - Temple Coffee & Tea
2. Jan 13 - American Hustle
3. Jan 20 - Frozen (drive-in)
4. Jan 27 - Sushi Unlimited
5. Feb 5 - Izakaya
6. Feb 10 - Leatherby's
7. Feb 17 - Chicago Fire Pizza
8. Feb 20 - Elephant Bar
9. Feb 26 - BreadCo
10. Mar 7 - Ju Hachi
11. Mar 13 - The Rink & Farrell's, very nostalgic
12. Mar 18 - Elephant Bar
13. Mar 24 - In & Out and Grand Budapest
14. April 5 - Starbucks and walk around Capitol Park
15. April 14 - GOT MARRIED
16. April 21 - Elephant Bar
17. May 15 - Neighbors (drive-in)
18. May 19 - Sushi Unlimited
19. May 30 - Elephant Bar
20. May 31 - In & Out
21. June 6 - X-men: Days of Future Past
22. June 11 - Sterling Bridges (gastropub)
23. June 18 - Edge of Tomorrow (only ones in the theater!)
24. June 19 - Yogurt Agogo
25. June 28 - Sterling Bridges
26. July 12 - Leatherby's
27. July 15 - Burgers & Brew
28. July 30 - Farell's
29. Aug 13 - Starlite Lounge
30. Aug 18 - Yogurt Agogo
31. Aug 21 - Guardians of the Galaxy
32. Aug 27 - 3 Fires Lounge
33. Sept 10 - Arthur Henry Supper Club (with Mike and Shannon)
34. Sept 12 - Gunther's
35. Sept 18 - Burgers & Brew
36. Sept 28 - Starbucks hot chocolate
37. Oct 2 - Burgers & Brew
38. Oct 5 - BreadCo
39. Oct 9 - Elephant Bar
40. Oct 15 - Starlite Lounge
41. Oct 22 - Burgers & Brew
42. Oct 26 - Gunther's
43. Nov 9 - The Tea Cup House
44. Dec 3 - Sawasdee Thai food
45. Dec 8 - In & Out and Mockingjay pt 1
46. Dec 10 - Cheesecake Factory (celebrate my health)
47. Dec 11 - Elephant Bar

Wedding Joys - Colors and photos and cake!

Wedding Joys - Leading up to the wedding.

MY WEDDING

It was so wonderful and I fear I won't have time to write about everything that happened, but at minimum here are some pictures:

5.18.14 - Picnic in the park

This morning I spent hours putting together an itinerary for this coming week. I'm surprised at how much there is to keep track of even with as simple of a wedding as I've planned. I'm also very excited because the wedding and the days leading up to it are going to be so much fun! So many friends I haven't seen in so long--some I've never technically met before! And several people have contacted me in the last couple days to tell me how excited they are too. Talking about the food and music and set up and the after party--the more plans, the more exciting it is.

Also, recently Jack and I have had a lot more food in our fridge than we normally do. This is mostly because I took any food from the SF house that would go bad between now and when the first renters show up. I'm leaving for MO on Tuesday so if Jack doesn't eat that food between now and when he joins me it'll just be wasted. SO. Today I also made an elaborate fruit salad and an elaborate actual salad, and I threw in the gourmet cheese and crackers (elopement gift from the professor I work for!). Then Jack and I enjoyed the lovely weather by having a picnic in the park!

Alas, I didn't take any pictures. But here's a picture from Google Images "cheese picnic," which is kind of what it was like.

He has a big final tomorrow and he spent a lot of the picnic studying. I worked on my long overdue scrapbook (I'm so far behind) and generally had a pleasant time. Plus, any time I make Jack delicious food he gets really happy and tells me what a great woman I am, which is kind of funny. In fact today, when he discovered there was turkey bacon in the salad, he told me to name anything and I could have it, because I had given him bacon. Ha. If only that were true. :-P

Sunflower centerpieces

My maid of honor and I are going to make fake sunflowers as centerpieces for the reception. I don't know which kind will try yet, but I'm sure they'll be awesome!

5.10.14 - Doug visit

I managed to stay productive for most of today while Jack was at work, though the stuff I was working on was usually not grading papers. Did a bunch of household chores, edited a piece for my friend Josh, sent our DJ most of our wedding music, and worked out for the first time in like a month and a half (I know, it's a disgrace!)

But the best part of the day was going to a sushi place downtown with Jack and our good old friend Doug. I got to meet Doug's girlfriend for the first time, even though they've been together over a year! She was sweet! She's very talkative and enthusiastic, and she told the story of how she and Doug got together, and it was a great story. Funny and romantic--she's a good storyteller. It made me proud of Doug, too, because the romance was mostly on his end and he really outdid most guys I've heard of. He basically learned to play a song she likes on accordion--it took him like a month--and surprised her with it outside her window at midnight one night. Pretty impressive.

Anyway so it was really nice getting to see them. We haven't seen Doug since last October, but it's nice whenever we get to.

Right after dinner, before they biked on their merry way.

After we got home, Jack and I looked up some easy youtube videos of new dance moves to try. We didn't actually try them yet but I expect when we have time we could learn a lot more. We also watched old home videos of Jack and Doug and others playing wall ball in Berkeley back in the day. While we were watching them and reminiscing about how long Jack has lived in CA now, Jack took our wedding rings out of the boxes and handing me mine. He wanted us to try them on together and see how they look with each other. We aren't going to really start wearing them until after the ring exchange at our reception (in only a couple weeks), but I thought it was a sweet gesture. He's clearly very happy about it. :)

4.21.14 - Choosing rings

Tonight Jack and I went to get sized for rings. We weren't planning on actually purchasing any rings on site (and as of now we still haven't), but when we got there the man who helped us was so informative and friendly we stayed and chatted with him for quite awhile.

He told Jack that Jack is lucky because I am a "standard size 7" which means it should be easy to find a ring in my size without having to have it altered. He also helped us find something that was in our price range, engravable, and hypoallergenic. The jeweler showed us some cobalt rings, but we settled on tungsten carbide. Really we probably would have bought them on site, but the jeweler needs to verify that they are definitely hypoallergenic, and that he can find a ring in Jack's size by our deadline.

Either way, it was so enjoyable talking to him and trying rings on. We are getting very simple, underplayed rings, but they will have engravings on the inside, which I think makes it really personal. I did feel special trying on the ring I'll probably get. I'm looking forward to wearing it. :)

Jack looking at rings. :)

Afterward, Jack and I got a single scoop of ice cream to split and walked around the mall people watching. Then we went to the Elephant Bar for date night, but I was pretty full. Even so it was a good date; we talked a lot about our next steps and the future. It's so much less intimidating talking about the future now. I love it.

So I got married - The wedding day.

The next morning I couldn't sleep. I wasn't nervous, but I was too excited. I woke up at about 6:30am (only 4-5 hours after falling asleep) and showered. Everyone else was out. Jack woke up not long after and we talked for awhile. I really enjoyed having Dave out, but it also made me appreciate any chance to get to spend time with Jack one-on-one. Normally we have all the one-on-one time we can stand because we are the only people living in our apartment, but with Dave visiting I got to see what it was like to share, haha.

Anyway, everyone woke up and started getting ready. It didn't take me long to get ready at all, and I felt surprisingly pretty considering I don't normally wear dresses or white. Ellen wanted me to put on more makeup but I didn't want to, and for the rest of the day every time I itched my eyes I was glad I didn't listen to her. :-P Jack struggled to get his tie a certain way and didn't want to ask Ellen for help (she knows how from past serving jobs) because he wanted to "be a man" about it, but he eventually gave in. Dork. The entire time we all got ready I was listening to Audra Mae's "Crazy Love," The Lumineers "Big Parade" and "Ho Hey," and Amos Lee's "Sweet Pea," all on repeat. 

"Ho Hey" lyrics, The Lumineers

While the others kept getting ready I went online and filled out our marriage license application in advance. Julie texted to ask me to let her know as soon as it was over. I asked whether she would be standing by, and she said it was all she could think about this morning!

On the way to the clerk's office Dave asked if we could get Starbucks first, and I said I'd rather get it after to make sure we weren't late (we had an appointment). Dave said something about how if that's what the bride wants, that's definitely what we'll do, and then he gave Ellen trouble for not being a supportive enough Maid of Honor to put the bride's wishes first, and they play argued about that for awhile. Actually they both made jokes the entire day about Dave being "The Best" and Ellen having or not having honor, and being a terrible maid (our apartment was kind of a wreck at the time).

On the way to the clerk's office.

We got to the clerk's office in great time and signed in. They asked whether either of us would be changing our names, and we said no. I had been slightly conflicted about that decision but in the end I am really glad I kept my original name. I feel much better about it. (A friend of mine also pointed out that it's cool they asked both of us whether either one of us was changing our name, rather than assuming I'd be the one to do it. I hadn't thought about that but it is kind of nice.)

We only waited a few minutes before they asked Jack and me to come back to a cubicle to fill out our license information. Dave and Ellen videotaped and photographed the entire process. They had us raise our right hands and swear the information we provided was correct and that there were no objections to our marriage. Dave joked (from the lobby a few feet away) that no one asked him or Ellen whether they objected, and he wanted to know when he'd have his chance. We were all sort of giggling about it, and then he pointed out he probably shouldn't be joking about it right after we swore to be telling the truth etc. Probably true. But I was glad for how light-hearted he kept everything.

We only had to wait a few minutes more before we went down the hallway to a small room with nice chairs and a cute little archway at one end. The officiant had us say our vows, and it only took about 30 seconds, but it was a wonderful moment. I was glad we looked right at each other as we said "I do." Such a quick moment, but so important. Later Dave said he almost teared up. Days later my step-mom did tear up when she watched the video. Aw.

Maid of Honor, Bride, Groom, Best Man

After the vows, Ellen and Dave signed as witnesses (all the while making jokes about who was "honorable" etc.) I texted Julie on the way to the car to let her know the ceremony was done so she could let me know when she was ready to videotape me calling and telling Mom. Meanwhile we all went to a semi-busy downtown Starbucks to get some caffeine while waiting for our restaurant to open for lunch. While there the barista congratulated both Jack and me and gave us $5 off for our happy day, haha.

We sat outside in the sunshine and videotaped as Jack called and told each of his parents. While Jack was talking to his dad he pointed out that we hadn't told anyone else yet, so Don shouldn't mention anything. Dave yelled from the background, "Yeah, don't snitch!" and Ellen added on, "Snitches get stitches." Dave thought that. was. hilarious. Julie still hadn't texted me back.

"Snitches get stitches."

Jack called Merlene, who initially asked if he was in jail! Haha. By then we were done with our Starbucks so we headed over to Magpie's for lunch. We arrived a little before they were open and waited in the car, still wondering why Julie hadn't gotten back to me. Ellen called Denny to see whether Julie was around, but he didn't know. Eventually Julie texted me to say she was waiting for Mom to get dressed, then to do this, that, or the other. We all waited in the car joking about speeches and "snitches get stitches" and the like and laughing a lot.

Finally I gave up and called Mom herself to see if Julie was around, but Mom didn't pick up. So I called Julie herself and told her just to give the phone to Mom. Apparently Julie still got it all on tape. I told Mom we'd gotten married and she screamed and laughed. It was a great reaction. Then I called Dad and Jill; Jill cheered and said congratulations, and Dad just said "Whaaaat?" but in a happy way.

By now we'd been waiting awhile and Magpie's was open. I decided to just text Neil and Everett, haha. I wrote:

Hey. So this morning Jack & I got married. So that happened. But don't tell anyone else yet, he hasn't told all of his family. Our parents & the sisters know. Oh and we're having a big party in MO on May 26th.

I further texted Neil and told him Jack and I were hoping he'd officiate. He texted me back simply saying "...call me." I called him, and he said he'd thought Dave had stolen my phone and was sending out prank texts. When I assured him it was true he was very excited, which was cool. He and Jack got to talk for awhile about it, and he told Jack he already feels more "Jackson-y." :)

We ordered sandwiches and a bottle of Riesling for lunch and sat outside again. Dave and Ellen and I ate and joked, and Jack joined us in between calling various fraternity brothers to ask them to be groomsmen.

After lunch we went home, changed into casual clothes, and Ellen and I cleaned up around the apartment while Dave and Jack went to buy beer, wine, ice cream, cheese, and crackers. Then we all drove into Davis with the windows down, singing along to "All Right Now," "Some Kind of Wonderful," "Fat-Bottomed Girls," and other such. We went to a park (apparently the only park in Davis where you're not supposed to drink) and sneakily poured wine into coffee travel mugs. Then we sipped and ate and played Tichu in the sun. It was so lovely.

In too short a time we had to leave to take Ellen to her shuttle back to Berkeley. As we were packing up the car I remembered to call Renata, first to wish her Happy Birthday, and then to tell her my news! She was thrilled and wished us so much happiness.

We took Ellen to the shuttle. We actually took her to the wrong spot on campus, and she almost missed it, but she ran for it and got there just in time. What a relief! We'd have had to drive her down to Berkeley otherwise.

Then Dave, Jack, and I went to the FSC, and I found Chris, Molly, and Shannon there. I announced that we'd gotten married and they all spontaneously hugged me, almost knocked me over. It was adorable. They asked me all about it, and Shannon insisted on buying pizza for everyone to celebrate. Molly and I went to a park by Shannon's house and sat in the grass and chatted for a long time. Dave and Jack went to get more beer but stayed gone, off chatting somewhere themselves.

Eventually we all met back at Shannon's and played Tichu until the pizza arrived. It was delicious, but between the wine I'd been sipping all day and other junk food, I realized I'd had too much. I ended up just laying on Shannon's floor while Dave and Shannon talked about UFOs for awhile.

Then we went home and crashed, full and happy. I finally changed our FB status and then very happily watched the reactions pour in. That's something I keep forgetting to add to my general Joy Inventory - when I post something major on FB and then people respond in real time for the next little while. In this case it was for the next couple hours.

(Click to enlarge)

While doing that we skyped with Merlene and told her all about the day and our plans for May. Both she and my mom were eager to help, which is nice.

It was really an awesome day. :)