Hicks Wedding!!

This past weekend JD and I made the 7-hour trek to Edenton, North Carolina to see my good friends Paul and Betsy tie the knot! Other than the fact that the drive sucked, the wedding was beautiful! The ceremony especially was very traditional, as I would expect nothing less from these two conservative Southern Baptists. Betsy was dazzeling in her ivory gown and Paul was dapper in his tux, complete with ascot.

First dance as husband and wife! (Yes those are tails on his jacket!)

I was extremely impressed with reception, most specifically the food. We had lamb chops, beef tenderloin cooked to a perfect medium, shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, stuffed mushrooms, about ten kinds of cheese, and let's not forget about the cake!! I was stuffed (the fact that they had an open bar and I was bourbon-gingering my face off didn't help either)!!

What really made the reception though, had to be the band. I wish I knew who they were, but they rocked the house. Earth, Wind, and Fire, Bon Jovi, The Temptations, Loius Armstrong, you name it they played it! My only regret and complaint is that I did not get to dance with the groom, as over the fast few years, we usually are known for our moves. I suppose he will have to make it up to me at my wedding, sometime in the next 50 years.

Pretty much par for the course with Paul.

Pretty much par for the course for Jon.

Paul and Betsy both seemed so happy and excited. It was great to share their special day with them. They are on their honeymoon for the next week and then will be residing in Mt. Pleasant, SC, which I am excited about as it is always nice to have friends at the beach. I am sure I will be a frequent visitor.

Oh, and I also got Randall out on the dance floor for a solid hour. Success!

Frank the Tank

As many of you know, I have an almost 11 month old bulldog. He is the cutest thing. But just as cute as he is, he is also a terror and handful to put it lightly. Some classic Frank stories include:

• The time he got mad for being shut in the bedroom, ate an entire bottle of red NyQuil (except for the drops, ahem, splashes, he got on the carpet...under the bed...in JD's bedroom...)
• The time he ate a rubber flip flop and pooped it out for two days.
• The time he ate a hole in my couch (luckily not a pillow, just the mat beneath. I have a nice view of the springs though! Super interesting).
• The time a 1.5 pound mini-Chihauhua attacked him and he did not retaliate until he had to go into kill mode, nearly gave Ashley's (see friend who just got married) grandmother a heart attack. I had to pull Frank away by his harness, even though that little bastard had it coming!!
• The time I came in from a party and thought my friends had unknowingly let him out of the house. Rational reaction (at 1 am after pitchers of margaritas): Burst into tears, wake up all neighbors, and go on a man (or should I say dog) hunt for ten minutes only to have my DI partner in crime Paul find him under the guest bed. Dog found and day saved!
• The 100s of accidents he had in my Charleston condo aka present home of Crazy Bia Bia Landlady Joan (Good boy!)
• The dozens of times a day he passes gas. I have seriously been woken up by the smell. I didn't know if was possible to be roused by pure smell, but apparently it is.
• And let's not forget, the explosive diarrhea he had IN HIS CRATE while I was at work yesterday...poor guy. I don't know who had the shittier day, pun intended.

Baby Frank!

Frankie and his best buddy Jack. They are gay lovers (note Frank is whining about his collar and Jack is doing a can can dance) and it pains them to be separated.

Frank ready to get out of the car. Poor guy spent his first few months of life back and forth to Greenville with me. He is quite the car rider now though (minus the tooting).

Ashley's Wedding!

This weekend my dear friend Ashley got "hitched" as she would say (she is from Kernersville so we'll cut her a break). She is my first friend still in my life to tie the know and it was very special for me to be a part of the celebration. I had the honor of singing a song "Feels Like Home" in front of 200+ guests during the ceremony. It was a little stressful, as I have not sang like that in front of a crowd, well ever. I remembered all the words and was able to hold in my tears (I am a sap at these things) so all in all, I would consider it a success.

After the ceremony it was on to the party! They only had wine and beer, but luckily my boyfriend and I, we'll call him JD, are also rednecks so we had a good ten ounces of Jack Daniels to get us through the first few hours of the party. It was a massive Kernersville reunion, one I am not sure I was ready for, but it turned out to be great fun. I made sure to get Ashley's grandmother out for a spin on the dance floor.

I also caught the bouquet!! I have been teasing JD about it ever since. He's a good sport about it though so I guess he must like me :).

Every other wedding I have been to in the past few years has weirded me out. Marriage was just something that was so far off for me, it was hard to relate. I think often times, especially in the south, people get married because it is just what is expected. That line "until we are parted by death" just really hits me. Is anyone ever really ready to say that?? I know I am entering the years of engagements and weddings for my friends, and thankfully I now feel as though I am mature enough to be there. What a difference a year or two can make.

Well I think Ashley is really happy and I am really happy for her. There are so many bad things and people in this world, it was great to be at such a joyous event for a change.