10/25/08: AbsofuckingLUKEly (aka, Ulana and Luke get married)
"Will you take Luke to be your husband for the rest of your sweet married life?"
"FUCK YEA!"
Or at least that's how it went in my mind. In reality the entire ceremony was in Ukrainian and half the time I didn't know what the priest was saying. But I must say, despite the language barrier I've never shed that many tears o' joy in my life. I think half of the crowd may have been a little confused (is that girl okay?).
Lana was gorgeous. And I must say I'll remember helping her put on her dress for the rest of my life. They're so in love it's pleasantly nauseating. And I can list the times during the wedding process that I cried (to the point of whimpering) in front of a crowd of people.
1. speech at the rehearsal dinner
2. buttoning the dress
3. Lana getting her pictures taken
4. blessing
5. blessing
6. church blessing
7. Lana looking at Luke half way through the ceremony ("hey".."what?".."we're married".."yea, I know :)")
8. blessing
9. down the isle
10. first dance
11. speech
12. speech
13. speech...
Needless to say, lots of tears but also a killer time. Kara and I really showed them how Irish girls dance...poorly, and the event included a surprise Ukrainian dance off. I know. Amazing.
I couldn't be happier for them both, I still giggle when I hear Lana say "my husband" and can't wait to see them grow together, celebrating anniversaries, holidays, and one day, baby showers :)
10/27/08: "Em, where are you" "My kitchen, where are you?" "The airport"
Surprise visit from Nancy & Amy?! Hella what? Apparently Nancy was tired of being the only one belting out "lets go Phillies" at her local Alabama bar (ya'all aren't from aroounnd her erya?), so she packed her bags and headed home for the week. Very nice surprise!
Out to Bar Ferdinand for catching up and delicious bev's.
10/29/08: Philadelphia is on FIRE (aka, the Phillies win the World Series)
If you weren't in the city you don't know how serious I am that there were LITERALLY FIRES on Broad Street. Cars were flipped and burned, newsstands went through multiple windows, the iron statue outside of the Prince Theater was uprooted from cement...shockingly, if you'll remember back to the Eagles Superbowl (when we lost like pansies), nothing happened. Not a thrown trashcan, or a good, old fashioned riot. The city was silent. I'm not the only one that thought of the irony.
I myself watched the end of game 5 at Johnny Brenda's with the sweetie. Every pitch jumping out of my seat. It was amazing to be in a room with that kinda of energy, in a room with that much joy, to watch an eruption of voice in perfect, unrehearsed , unison.
This is Philadelphia. A city that is if nothing else, beyond explanation or comparison. We're a city that slapped our sovereign in the wig. We flip cars when we're happy. Defiance is in our blood. I've never been happier to be a Philadelphian, through and through.
*If anyone is feeling generous, there's a fund online where you can donate $$ to repair the cars flipped during the riot.
**Photo taken by Kara McGrorty
If you weren't in the city you don't know how serious I am that there were LITERALLY FIRES on Broad Street. Cars were flipped and burned, newsstands went through multiple windows, the iron statue outside of the Prince Theater was uprooted from cement...shockingly, if you'll remember back to the Eagles Superbowl (when we lost like pansies), nothing happened. Not a thrown trashcan, or a good, old fashioned riot. The city was silent. I'm not the only one that thought of the irony.
I myself watched the end of game 5 at Johnny Brenda's with the sweetie. Every pitch jumping out of my seat. It was amazing to be in a room with that kinda of energy, in a room with that much joy, to watch an eruption of voice in perfect, unrehearsed , unison.
This is Philadelphia. A city that is if nothing else, beyond explanation or comparison. We're a city that slapped our sovereign in the wig. We flip cars when we're happy. Defiance is in our blood. I've never been happier to be a Philadelphian, through and through.
*If anyone is feeling generous, there's a fund online where you can donate $$ to repair the cars flipped during the riot.
**Photo taken by Kara McGrorty
10/31/08: Cold PBR cans at Noon never tasted better ( aka, Phillies Parade)
There are very few occasions when cops will let you drink PBR cans at Broad and South Street in the middle of the day. And if there ever was an occasion, damn it, it should be the first Phillies parade in decades!
I had incredible time screaming at the top of my lungs with Jesse and John. Jesse was nice enough to help me stay on the top of a fence so I could see all of the action.
The highlights:
Pat Burrell behind Clydesdale's fist pumping
Michael Nutter holding the trophy
Chase Utley looking damn sexy
Random girl peeing in a bush on church property at Broad and South (honestly...)
Buying an overpriced, but damn official pennant
The sea of red on Broad Street
Cold beers at noon :)
10/31/08: Part II: "No I'm not 6 years old" (aka, Halloween as a Lady Bug)
Devils Alley hosted its 3rd annual Halloween party, and I must say, it was bigger and better than ever! Annie was the best looking Sarah Palin I've seen, and Amy was in town from Salt Lake City so we got to catch up. Why a lady bug you ask? I blame Ashlee. I was told that she would arrive as a Bumble Bee, and that we would be insects together. No such costume materialized.
So what question did I get to answer the entire night? What horrible pick up line did every guy try to play off"?!
"So how old are you? Six?"
"While I'm impressed that you can count dots, NO, I'm not six leave me the $%*&@%#$^ ALONE!"
Lots of dancing, too much rum punch, good time had by all! If you missed it this year, block off your calendar for 2009!
11/4/08: Philadelphia Broad Street Riot of the Month #2 (aka, President-Elect Barack Obama)
My stomach was flipping all day. I was nervous, I was excited, I was moved. Jesse and I have the same polling station so I found him in the city (incidentally at my house, helping my roommate move in), forced him into the car and proceeded to the pole.
I was dancing in the poling booth. Jesse laughed.
I teared when I voted. The sweetie did too.
We watched the numbers roll in from Jose Pistolas. Good bar, great draft list, killer nachos. The bar was roaring every time a state turned blue, and blew up when they announced our new president. One back-handed but moving concession speech later and we were out on Broad Street, rioting again. Stopping traffic, chanting, and smiling.
It was a completely invigorating experience participating in such a momentous election. I value my civil liberties. I mourn the loss of those objectified and marginalized, especially those within our own country. But I remain hopeful that as a country we will progress towards tolerance and understanding. One step at a time.
Remember, remember the 4th of November. I will.
There are very few occasions when cops will let you drink PBR cans at Broad and South Street in the middle of the day. And if there ever was an occasion, damn it, it should be the first Phillies parade in decades!
I had incredible time screaming at the top of my lungs with Jesse and John. Jesse was nice enough to help me stay on the top of a fence so I could see all of the action.
The highlights:
Pat Burrell behind Clydesdale's fist pumping
Michael Nutter holding the trophy
Chase Utley looking damn sexy
Random girl peeing in a bush on church property at Broad and South (honestly...)
Buying an overpriced, but damn official pennant
The sea of red on Broad Street
Cold beers at noon :)
10/31/08: Part II: "No I'm not 6 years old" (aka, Halloween as a Lady Bug)
Devils Alley hosted its 3rd annual Halloween party, and I must say, it was bigger and better than ever! Annie was the best looking Sarah Palin I've seen, and Amy was in town from Salt Lake City so we got to catch up. Why a lady bug you ask? I blame Ashlee. I was told that she would arrive as a Bumble Bee, and that we would be insects together. No such costume materialized.
So what question did I get to answer the entire night? What horrible pick up line did every guy try to play off"?!
"So how old are you? Six?"
"While I'm impressed that you can count dots, NO, I'm not six leave me the $%*&@%#$^ ALONE!"
Lots of dancing, too much rum punch, good time had by all! If you missed it this year, block off your calendar for 2009!
11/4/08: Philadelphia Broad Street Riot of the Month #2 (aka, President-Elect Barack Obama)
My stomach was flipping all day. I was nervous, I was excited, I was moved. Jesse and I have the same polling station so I found him in the city (incidentally at my house, helping my roommate move in), forced him into the car and proceeded to the pole.
I was dancing in the poling booth. Jesse laughed.
I teared when I voted. The sweetie did too.
We watched the numbers roll in from Jose Pistolas. Good bar, great draft list, killer nachos. The bar was roaring every time a state turned blue, and blew up when they announced our new president. One back-handed but moving concession speech later and we were out on Broad Street, rioting again. Stopping traffic, chanting, and smiling.
It was a completely invigorating experience participating in such a momentous election. I value my civil liberties. I mourn the loss of those objectified and marginalized, especially those within our own country. But I remain hopeful that as a country we will progress towards tolerance and understanding. One step at a time.
Remember, remember the 4th of November. I will.
11/17/08: No longer involved in federal slave labor (aka, VISTA is over)
Holy hell it's true. I'm no longer a slave to the federal government. My "year of service", my serious pay cut, my "year to grow", my VISTA term is finally over. And not only is it over. But my host organization decided to hire me. Same job, but better. I don't know how to say this without sounding greedy, but in December, I'll be able to pay my phone bill and my electric on time.
It's the simple things, isn't it?
Sorry for the longest post ever. I promise shorter posts in the future!
It's the simple things, isn't it?
Sorry for the longest post ever. I promise shorter posts in the future!
