• Oh, hello darlings! I’ve missed you all so much.
• My first week of work was very successful. I’m glad to work with such a smart group of people who are passionate about promoting travel in this great state of ours.
• Not that I didn’t work with smart people before. But, you know.
• You know what’s awesome about new job? CASUAL FRIDAY, Vanilla Diet Coke from Sonic, and a nearby yarn store.
• Also, awesome is being done with the antibiotics prescribed for my kidney infection. The antibiotics that sucked every ounce of energy out of me, causing me to go to bed at a ridiculous hour (Um, 8 p.m.)
• So, I have lots of blog catching up to do.
• What REALLY surprises me is that nobody was willing to come over here and read your blogs posts to me, and then type my comments as dictated. Whatever.
• Can someone explain to me why the guy on Celebrity Rehab Sober House wears his bluetooth headseat around all the time? I can’t be the ONLY ONE watching this terrible program, right?
• My grandparents will be celebrating their 60th! Anniversary in a couple weeks. Apparently, certain members of my family are totally assholes and will not help my mom and I throw a party. Nor, will they even commit to a date that they can even attend the party.
• 60 Years is NOTHING TO SNEEZE at.
• So, we say SCREW YOU! And, we’re doing something awesome that does not include them.
• And, if you have any gift ideas incorporating the traditional gift of diamonds (besides you know, actual diamonds) let me know.
• So, this weekend, I’ll for reals be having Bill install my new IKEA Shelving in my dining room. It will house the 4 million awesome cookbooks that I inherited from my sweet Grandma.
• I’ll also be parking myself on the couch getting caught up on Lost and also Big Love. I’ve learned that little girls who are not watching Lost cannot be on Twitter on Wednesday nights.
• And, lastly, I’ll be whipping up PW’s Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Thingies for my friend Carrie’s Super Bowl Party. This time, I’ll be wearing gloves, because it really sucked last time when I cut up jalapenos and then TOUCHED MY FACE.
• And, just to give you all something to look forward to for next week, I’ll soon be reviewing a book and there will also be a giveaway. So, you just hold on tight for that!
• Enjoy your weekend, friends!

About 8 years ago, one of my favorite girls got married. This wedding was 5 hours away from Portland – in the bride’s hometown – and so I hopped in the car with my pregnant best friend and her infant son (The Canby Girls are fertile) and we drove. We drove and we drove and we drove. And, we sang. We sang Old MacDonald, the ABCs and the Itsy Bitsy Spider to baby Tristen who seriously cried EVERY TIME we stopped singing.

We got to the bride’s hometown and partook in various wedding festivities. Mainly, I just remember having a lunch at a restaurant that ONLY served Baked Potatoes. Heaven, I tell you. Anyway, we went off to the rehearsal, where I practiced saying, “Welcome! Will you please sign the guest book!” After the the rehearsal, there was dinner. And, after the dinner I began not feeling so hot. After consulting several people, it was decided that I should go to the doctor. But, get this? I HAD JUST QUIT MY JOB AND HAD NO INSURANCE. Also, I was 22 years old and did not plan for those sort of things. Eventually I end up at the very expensive Urgent Care in a strip mall and am diagnosed with a kidney infection.

From what I remember, I ended up having a good time at the wedding despite the kidney infection, but I was back in the ER with kidney stones about two weeks after the wedding.

Fast forward to last weekend. One of my best girls is getting married 5 hours away, only this time it’s a destination wedding. We arrive in the cute Bavarian Town, have lunch, relax a bit and then head off to the rehearsal. I practice walking in sync with my aforementioned best friend, and also practice not falling on my face. And, then I start feeling yucky after the rehearsal dinner.

We duck out without saying goodbyes (Sorry, Holl!) and make a plan. The plan is to go back to the hotel and if I feel any worse, we’ll go to the emergency room. The Bavarian Emergency Room! And, I’ve JUST QUIT MY JOB. The good news is, I’m 30 years old and am insured at this point, but the similarities are EERIE. As it turns out, the next morning I am not feeling better, so we head to breakfast, and then off to the charming Bavarian Emergency Room. And, you guessed it – Kidney Infection.

So, get this, we’re back in our hotel room in ONE HOUR with directions from doctor, prescriptions, and cranberry juice. I still feel kind of yucky, but am able to get ready and feel fine in time for the wedding.

I’m hoping the kidney stones that followed Wedding #1 won’t follow this wedding, but I’ve got my friendly Urologist on speed dial just in case. And, the next wedding I’m invited to that’s 5 hours away? I may just have to take a pass. Or, perhaps go to the doctor beforehand with a printout of this blog post.

1. Picking up my mail to find there are zero bills
2. Inside Jokes
3. Starting a new job in this economic climate
4. Long car rides with someone you never tire of talking to
5. Creamy Tomato Soup when you’re not feeling so hot