Wedding dreams.

So last night I had dreams about my wedding..... but they weren't good.

Ok, they weren't absolutely terrible, but they weren't good.

Basically, the first dream I had was at my rehearsal. But before I could do mine, I had to wait for someone else's rehearsal first. Which was kind of awkward. Also, when I think about this outside of dreamland, I realize that that means my church was double-booked. Not Ok.

Also, I walked down the aisle with someone who was not my dad, and we had to do this weird, confusing hand thing in order to get the right hand to lead me down. Then I realize that I was the first one to walk down the aisle. My bridal party came after me. What? I do remember that the music I walked down the aisle to was awesome, though, so that's good. I just can't put my finger on what it was.

I get up to the altar and realize that there are people up there who aren't my bridesmaids, and people on the wrong sides. Not only that, but they are wearing purple leotards and leggings. What??? Apparently they never liked any of my bridesmaid dress choices and just got whatever they wanted, and they wanted purple leotards and leggings. Yikes. There were a number of other things that were strange in this wedding situation, but I remember barely being able to see Nick at all. In the midst of all this chaos, I only glimpsed him a couple of times, and we never even got to say our vows because some guy (I can't place who he was in my mind) was too busy messing up a song he was supposed to be singing!

Another brief dream I had after waking up and falling back asleep was (I think) a shower being held at my house in my backyard. I was talking to my friend, Nick was not there yet again, about how I needed to book a honeymoon suite for that night and the honeymoon in general! And the wedding was supposed to be like, the next month! Ugh. This is why I wanted a long time to plan, so stuff like that wouldn't happen. So everything would go basically perfect, and my bridesmaids would actually have the right dresses. And my honeymoon would be planned in advance. These dreams had me wake up shuddering, but definitely thankful that I still have a year to get things taken care of! Phew!

Southernaires reunion.

I had the pleasure of being apart of the advanced jazz group at my high school, Southernaires, for my junior and senior years. I had been in Symphonic since my sophomore year, which was full of great musicians, but Southernaires was a different way to be a musician and to challenge oneself because it is a 12-voiced, single-mic'd jazz group that uses a rhythm section. I love classical music, but jazz is another love of mine, and Southernaires allowed a lot more collaboration between student and director, as well as student to student, especially with a rhythm section involved. Because this group was so small, and because we went to a number of festivals throughout the year, this group became some of my best friends throughout high school, and even though I am not as close with some of them as I was, I still love them all dearly and feel they have impacted me in a great way.

That being said, I have been able to keep in tough and stay close to most of them, which has been awesome over the years. We always talked about a little reunion, and during my visit, we actually sort of got one together!

Last Tuesday, we got a handful of us together and met at the Ram, a local restaurant and brewery, and had a few drinks and a lot of laughs. We continued the little party by going to a Salem bar to do some karaoke, where we laughed even more. We couldn't have everyone there, but we had a great time regardless. And we may have drunk-dialed our high school director and sang one of our Christmas songs to her in the phone.... just maybe ;)

The S'aires who made it :) Top row (L to R): Erica, Jordon, Nick; Bottom row (L to R): Stephen, Haley, Ali, Me!

Girls: 2 altos and 2 sopranos!

The traditional S'aires girls' pose... no idea when it started or why! Of course we had to do it, though.

Jordon and his gf.

Stephen gettin' it on Karake.

My love!

We've known each other since Kindergarten!

Nick not happy about being volunteered to sing "Mambo No. 5" hahaha

Back to reality.

Well, kids, it happened.... the day finally came when I had to hop on a plane and fly away from my beloved NW and back to the Midwest. I really thought it never would for a few brief moments. Being home in Oregon does this weird thing to me... I feel like I'm in another world, and somehow, all thoughts of work and life back in Decatur barely crossed my mind. It was fabulous - I could completely compartmentalize everything and just enjoy and relax without feeling guilty.

Alas, Nick and I had to wake up bright and early Monday morning and go to the airport. I have to say, this was the most I've ever cried leaving home. I didn't even cry when my parents left me in Chicago when I first moved away, not even knowing anyone yet! The minute I hugged my mom and she let loose (poor Mom!), I couldn't hold the floodgates back. The tears just kept flowing for the majority of the drive up, and if I wasn't crying, I was fighting them back and trying realllly hard not to think about the fact that I was leaving and probably not coming back til next May. I finally pulled myself together, only to start crying again when my Dad dropped us off and I hugged him goodbye! Goodness, I was pathetic. Thankfully, Nick still loves my no-makeup, cry-face and made me feel a lot better just by traveling with him.

I thought I'd have to work today, but I don't, which is both a blessing and a curse. I'm glad because I could lay in bed til 11 and know that I can still get something done today, but I also know that not working til Thursday means that Thursday is going to be very difficult to want to do, even more-so than today would have been. Basically, today is kinda sucky all around, and Nick and I are totally out of sorts. Poor guy actually had to go to work, and he was not happy about it. My plan is to unpack, clean the apartment, pick up some needed groceries, and hopefully make it to the gym. I know that once I get back into the swing of things I'll be fine, but leaving was very hard, and I miss my family a lot. Also, the fact that I probably won't get to go home for Christmas doesn't help. Such is adult life, I guess!

I updated a couple of times on my trip home, but I still have lots more pictures to post and things to tell you about some of the wedding planning business, so those will have to come later. In the meantime, a few pictures of my surrounding neighborhood and lovely Bush Park from a walk with Lola.

Lola ready for her walk!

My favorite running route.

Lower Bush Park.

Barkdust path by the creek.

Cute little house by the park.

My high school.

Little Buddies.

One of my favorite parts about being home: my snuggly kitty, Bailey. I've also been able to hang out with my fluffy "niece", Lola, the Schipperke. They're just great.

A day in Portland.

Yesterday, I had to pick up the Nikes I wanted from the Nordstrom Sale in Vancouver since they didn't have them in Salem when I went on Friday and we also had to pick up Nick from the airport late - both great reasons for my sis, bro-in-law, and I to spend the whole day in Portland. We shopped downtown, went to the On Deck sports bar in the Pearl District for greasy food and good beer, then Papa Haydn's on NW 23rd for a delicious piece of dessert and a liquored up coffee drink to wile away the rest of the time til Nick's flight got in! All in all, a fabulous day, and the weather could not have been more perfect. I never want to leave!!

Neon Nike Lunar Flys. Love!

Sissy and I at On Deck Sports Bar.

This is my brother-in-law, Marcos.

Cuties!

Lovin' life in P-Town.

Filisha, Marcos' sister, joined us later at On Deck and came with us to dessert!

Yummmmm.

Lovely NW 23rd.

Best of Portland for good reason!

Me with my delicious BFK. Coffee with Bailey's, Frangelico, and Kahlua!

Amazing chocolate truffle cake.