I think I got too much sleep this Memorial Day weekend, as I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me last night. Now I'm back at work again... more of the same. Expect that it has been raining all week, thanks to Tropical Storm Beryl. Someone decided to test the fire alarms today too...so those have been blasting on and off all morning. [grumble]
As far as my quest for linguistic and cultural fluency in Turkish goes... I've not much to report. I am learning some Turkish cooking though.
I did finally start watching Games of Thrones this weekend. I've almost finished with season 1. At least I am improving my cultural fluency in my own country. I'll finally get all those little inside jokes everyone has about Game of Thrones. Honestly, I can see why everyone watches it. Scoreboard: TV 110 Books 0 [terrible]
NORTH KOREA!
A little part of my died along with Kim Jong Il. I wondered, has my love affair with the DPRK waned? NO! Back with renewed vigor and passion, it continues.
1) They have been having a drought for over a month. NOT good. The Dept. of State has been meeting with officials in SoKor and Japan, but they are withholding food aid. This is depressing for the common folk.... but might be good for diplomacy. Time will tell
Last week I was super nervous about doing the flowers for my friends' wedding. It was the first time I was doing something for people who I really liked AND would be there. The Bridal Boquet
Something blue (I painted corsage pins)
Feathers, pearls and grass details
Thankfully, everyone loved the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. Once I made it to the wedding on time with my 3 friends in tow, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a stressful day leading up to that.
Flower girls are always so cute
It was held at a Country Club in St. Augustine. The location and venue were lovely and so was the weather.
kiss the bride!
the first dance
cutting the cake...
Me with the couple...
The photos on my camera were pretty tame. I'll have to steal some others to show you the real mood of the night-- drunken revelry. It was a very fun wedding
UF group photo
and then just your typical shots of me drinking beer and dancing.... I guess I pretty much do that all the time, so nothing interesting to see here.
CAKE!
Buket and I are obviously a couple drinks deep by this point.
We went to an after party, but thank GOD no photo evidence.
**EDIT** I stand corrected on the after-party shots: These are, of course, after I drunk dialed my Dad AND apparently lead a taxi full of people in a round of, "At Last" by Etta James. I vow to never stop drinking. I didn't change out of my dress-- but I did switch to "dress" flops. Way to keep it classy
Nevermind.
We had to wait for what seemed like an eternity to get a seat and get breakfast the next day. Being hungover and sitting outside... there are better experiences than that.
Then, we had some breach time though! The wind was so crazy I was still picking sand off me on Tuesday.
St. Augustine never gets old. It's always beautiful and fun. We had a great dinner and drove back Sunday night.... sigh. WHAT a good weekend.
...and now it is time for another one.
Now it is officially summer...
because I have survived my 6th Mother's Day at the flower shop!
Just a little something I whipped up for you.
This year I logged over 37 flower hours Wednesday - Sunday. That should be a nice paycheck.
Cappy and I were sad because we thought this would be the first holiday we didn't work together, but I ended up going down to her shop and making 3 orders Sunday afternoon. Being in a manic state is certainly beneficial for flower holidays. I felt tired last night, but not nearly as wrecked as I usually do. Today feels like any other Monday so far...No complaints!
Where in the world...
... have I been?
Lately life seems like a non-stop party-- I'm NEVER home. Why? Is it because I have some drive to go out more or are opportunities just presenting themselves? Who's to say..... (reality vs. illusion...round 2!)
Two weekends ago, I had the sort of weekend that books like 'ya-ya sisterhood and traveling pants' type tales are written about.
My friend, Mandy who is an attorney and constantly flying all over the country on business, flew into Gainesville. I picked her up at the airport and we drove to Pensacola to visit our friend from college, Michele. It was one of those drives where we stopped half a dozen times for one reason or another and just talked...just talked about everything.
On the way there, we got a message from Michele that her great-aunt had passed away. So we made another stop for flowers and wine. The last 40 minutes of the trip my eyes got too blurry to drive and Mandy took over. We spent the first night just reminiscing about the past and imagining our futures... over drinks of course.
Saturday we headed to the famed Flora-bama bar (it is on the border of Florida and Alabama) for the annual Mullet Toss.
This actually happens. It's basically a beautiful beach crowded with a lot of drunks and dudes throwing fish.
My failed attempts a new whimsical facebook profile pic:
Driving around in my friend's open jeep (doors off) was actually really fun. I want one now. Or... anything convertible.
Say what you want about Chrysler, but I've always wanted a Sebring Convertible. I just love the shape of them:
Anyway, back to the story:
That night we went to Alabama to Lulu's-- Lucy Buffet's (sister of Jimmy Buffet) bar. Literally the best Pina Colada I have ever had.
The gift shop was interesting too.
Sunday we hung out with her kids by the pool. They are adorable, but, you know, kids. The remind me why I love and loathe children...which of course makes me think about whether or not I want to have any of my own-- Am I tired of thinking about that-- YES!
Mandy, in an act of magnanimous friendship bought Michele's plane ticket for her aunt's funeral with her frequent flyer miles. It was very generous. My friends are awesome and I love them. I can say that without fear of illusions, I can say that.
Sunday night Mandy road with me as far as Tallahassee, where she had her next business meeting, then I wrote out the rest of the way on my own. It was a cathartic weekend and it was perfectly timed. Still, I could not run away from myself.
The weekend before that was the Turkish festival in Jacksonville:
Kebab sandwich, anyone?
Yes! They had Cola Turka this year. I had to get some after enjoying their ads with Chevy Chase:
My classmate and I embarrassing ourselves
AND... off to a Turkish restaurant. Good times.
Osman, my teacher on the left, flew back to Turkey yesterday. When I last saw him on Friday, I was so sad. Did I cry a little? Yes, I did. I might never see him again. Goodbyes are the worst.
Which brings us up to this weekend:
The weirdest version of Midsummer Night's Dream we have ever seen on Friday.
Followed by a moderately busy day at the flower shop Saturday and then a raucous bachelorette party.
I made some new friends!
Much like any bachelorette party, there was plenty of jackassery to go around; drinks, strippers, being drunk on a bus and clubbing!
ah, Buket, my partner in crime. Thanks for all the photos.
On top of it all, the night was fueled by the powers of Cinco de Mayo and the SUPER MOON. Did you see it? Wasn't it awesome?
