So on June 1st, at about 6am, Nikki, Kim, and I piled into Kim's car and drove from Austin to KC. We were going for a great multitude of reasons, not the least of which being Jacobe's wedding and to hopefully see some family and friends. But also, it was important we remind ourselves of just how much nothing is on that long expanse in the middle of the country. It is in fact a great deal of nothing, with construction, truck stops, and porn shops. But mostly nothing.
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The trip itself wasn't too bad, as we got in about five or so at Lawrence. I've never actually stayed in Lawrence with the exception of a few overnight trips that got me there under cover of night and ended in harsh, let's-forget-about-this daylight as I rocketed out of the town. So I didn't know Lawrence was more than just the KU campus and a few streets around some apartment complexes. Color me shocked. I was, unfortunately, exhausted. Having barely slept the previous few nights and clocked about 4 hours prior to the trip, I made it through the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and getting back to the room. It was cool to sit with Jake and bullshit for a bit about work and all that jazz. I was worried it'd be awkward or forced since we hadn't really seen each other much since I moved, but it was fine. I've always been the sort of person who can remain friends (or consider myself one) with folks I don't speak with or see often anymore, but that hasn't always been a two way street. Which is understandable.
Kim wanted to head into KC to meet with some folks, but I was seriously just too wiped to go. Nikki was gung-ho to do something, and I felt bad leaving her to her own devices... but I could barely complete the task of tying my shoes at this point.
When I got up Saturday, it was about 6am, so I went upstairs to get some writing done. We were being put up at a nice bed and breakfast right next to the campus, so after a little while, the staff came in to start the second B of B&B. I talked with the manager for a bit about our trip and the history of the house and business. She served some delicious mofukkin muffins that she said were just out of the box but neither Kim nor I believed that crap. We are on to you, muffin woman, and your invented bullshit stories.
I was meeting Mom, Alex, Matt, and Marlena in town for breakfast, which was pretty much my only window of opportunity to see the family on this trip. Dad and Sandy couldn't make it, neither could sis, and I only really told Mom and Dad I was coming so Ian was not aware. He would express his extreme displeasure at this after I got back.
Having gotten my fill of second breakfast, eggs, and subtle racism, we meandered the streets a bit and saw there was a nice farmer's market, a street fair because the Queen of England had reached Level 60 or something, and some ok street shops. We killed about an hour before it was time to head back and get changed for the big to do.
I don't have much to say about the wedding itself. It was decidedly short for a Catholic service, but everything went smoothly. I wasn't aware Jacobe's fiance (Brynn) was the daughter of a two star general. If you would ever like to feel well and truly judged, have a uniformed general inspect you as a groomsman at his daughter's wedding. I don't recommend it, though.
Brynn is not a total unknown to me, but I got to deal with her some before we had to depart. At the reception dinner, she and I trounced Kim and Jake at spades, and her speech and dance at the dinner made it pretty clear Jake had chosen... wisely. The dinner was pretty solid, and we waited for it sitting outside in the blessedly mild summer evening weather, sipping bourbon cocktails. I wondered idly why I didn't spend more time on my OWN porch sipping booze and reading or just reflecting on life... and then I remembered I live in fucking Texas. Where I do love the heat, but it doesn't lend itself well to sitting out and marinating.
From the reception to the B&B, I was already feeling a little tired. Kim picked up chocolate covered espresso beans for me to keep me going, as I offered to drive so they could drink at the inevitable Kotei party she and Nikki wanted to hit. We ended up staying out till about 3am at Adam Carey's, where I was literally falling asleep on the couch (getting dog hair on my suit) and also literally had to drag Nikki out by her ear at the end of the night.
The trip back was... not great. We were all pretty tired, and it was a bit annoying to go from the mild midwest heat to the "oh you just opened an oven on yourself" blast furnace of south Oklahoma on our first stop. It wasn't really that bad, but since we were all pretty well wiped and fried, it was horrid.
So anyway, after that I've had a week off. This coming week is the Austin Kotei. Next weekend after that we drive to Saint Louis. Because I hate myself, apparently.
