Long Time No Blog!

Wow.  I don't even know what to say.  Not only did I not blog this weekend, but I have not blogged since Tuesday!  That is a full four days without blogging!  Yikes.

If you look back to the end of the last post, though, you'll see why: I was stressed.  Oh, and I've been busy.  :)

Let's back-track, shall we?  Wednesday was perhaps the most stressful work-day yet.  It was an early-out, as usual, followed by a professional development meeting, a department meeting, and a leadership meeting.  After several overwhelming meetings, I went to yoga.  You know it's been a stressful day when, during what is supposed to be mind-calming yoga, all you can think about is how much you want a glass of wine and a gyro.

And then?

I had a date.  The life of a single lady, I tell ya!

Date and I met out at Dos Rios, one of our favorite bars/restaurants in Des Moines, for drinks.  We sat around talking for nearly three hours - it was great!  He's really nice, and we had really good conversation, laughs, and fun.  I'm crossing my fingers he asks me out again.  :)

Thursday was another busy day: after school I worked at our study club until around 3:45, had a wonderful conversation with my ex's mom (weird, I know, but I love her!), and then met some colleagues out at Johnny's downtown.  Normally I don't set foot in Johnny's; after all, I don't own any Affliction attire.  However, Thursdays are apparently "Hot for Teacher" night: first drink is free for educators!  Nice.  I stayed for two drinks - I felt bad only ordering a free one :) - and then headed home for dinner with the BFF and another friend.

We hadn't cooked for awhile, and I hate to break it to you, but I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE.  I can't believe it - it's so unlike me!  Despite the lack of photographic evidence, I can tell you that we had steak with a fresh parsley gremolata, roasted cherry tomatoes and asparagus, and garlic bread.  It was amazing.  And of course we watched our favorite - Jersey Shore.  It was beautiful.

Friday: another super busy day.  I'm telling you: I don't know when I sleep.  :)  We didn't have students on Friday and instead had meetings all day; yours truly gave a presentation that went fairly well, I think.  After the meetings ended, ME and I were social justice superheroes and rallied for the DREAM Act on the pedestrian bridge:

Look at what a great job we did:

It was my first act of "activism" - it was a lot of fun, and we didn't get arrested!  :)

I was certain that after a busy day of meetings and saving the world, I was going to go home and grade papers.  That certainty lasted all of two minutes until ME was able to "twist my arm" to go to Dos Rios for happy hour.  That happy hour lasted on those couches for five-and-a-half hours!  We were joined by ME's husband, our friend P, BFF, and Ami.  It was great people-watching, as Oktoberfest was going on as well.

Source

I mean, just look at that patio!  How can you blame us for staying there so long?!

And if that wasn't enough, BFF and I decided to finish off the night at two of our other favorite establishments.  We met some new friends (i.e. guys) out, and I officially scared them off at the end of the night - far later than the scaring off should have occurred.  Without going into details, it was wonderful that things "didn't work out," but it was quite a blow to the self-image in the way things went down.

But regardless of boys' idiocy, my plans to go home and do nothing finally happened at approximately 2:30 a.m.  Oops.

Good thing the soccer game Saturday was canceled.

But the torrential downpour was a major bummer, as one of my best friends (who I have known for a super long time, we realized) had planned an outdoor wedding reception.  It didn't even seem to matter, though, as the wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful, and the reception was loads of fun.  I am so happy for my friends as they start this chapter of their life together - they are so freakin' adorable:

They are turning back around after the kiss because the officiant told them to do it again.  :)

Like I said, the ceremony was absolutely beautiful - full of love and happiness, as it should be.  They got married in the Smith Chapel on the Simpson campus in Indianola.  It was a gorgeous church: huge pipe organ, beautiful stained glass, and a glowing cross.

And the reception?!  SO MUCH FUN.  Like I said, it was supposed to be outside on the rooftop of the Historical Building in the East Village.  However, someone up there had a different plan and...a downpour ensued.  Regardless, the reception was gorgeous and tons of fun.  Here are a few snapshots:

Such creative centerpieces: flowers in non-matching vases/bowls, childhood photos of the bride and groom.

The oldest guests.

Apps from Baratta's.

Dinner from Baratta's.

I may have spilled some wine...  It was my first glass, I swear!

BFF, the beautiful bride, and me.

Such a happy day.

Today was wonderful as well: my mama and my sister came to Des Moines for lunch and an afternoon of shopping.  We ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Bravo!  I decided to not branch-out at all and selected my favorite stand-by, the eggplant parmesan:

Perhaps it was because I did not eat breakfast and instead inhaled three pieces of pre-meal bread, but I was hardly hungry at all for my main course...  I had about five bites, packed up the rest, and finished it about two hours ago for dinner.  :)

It was so nice to see my mom!  I love shopping with the girls in my family.

What was not-so-nice?  Spending money on new tires for the car that I'm about to sell.  Awesome.  What's also not-so-nice?  Having the mechanics break one of your hubcaps and attempting to roll down your broken driver-side window.  I am now driving around with one hubcap (yes, ONE hubcap) and a window that is rolled down just enough for an annoying squeal of air to enter.  Oh, Corolla: how I am ready to be done with thee.

I'm going to wrap up the longest blog post ever by saying farewell, dear reader(s).  'Til tomorrow, good night!