Any time with Karen is time incredibly well spent, and I always wish I could squish the space between us closer together so we could hang out much more often. Three and a half hours to see her is far too much, and I'm hoping we could find a cool spot in between someday so that we could have more reunions. (I think the next time I'll be able to see her won't be until UC's homecoming, which is sad, but still not too far away in reality!)
I arrived at her house late Friday, and we immediately went out to Phoenixville to get food and to meet up with two other girls who graduated with us. The pub we went to was really crowded and loud, but we were able to eventually secure a spot on the second floor, where we could at least hear ourselves talk. It was a really sweet Irish bar, though! Anyway, it was awesome seeing more people as well, and we just caught up on what we were all doing and what friends absent were up to. I figured I would have to try to see everyone again at some point. I don't want to be a stranger to my friends from undergrad!
I had a very odd dream that night, which involved a weird scale; each time I stepped on it, my weight went down drastically. I don't remember many other details, and I do not know why my weight was an issue in my dream, since I've actually done much better eating-wise since classes started. Plus, I think I have enough energy to start going back to the gym, so I would like to do that this week at some point! If not tomorrow after class, then Tuesday, since we have off for Yom Kippur.
The wedding ceremony was on Saturday, and it was very traditionally Catholic. Absolutely beautiful, though I realized how long it has been since I've been to church at all (they changed some of the responses on me), and how I always have some sort of inappropriate comment for almost everything that is said. I kept my mouth shut though! Didn't want to be rude or anything like that. But the priest was actually really cool, and everything he said was very nice.
Immediately after the ceremony was the reception, and there I got to become again acquainted with Karen's two cousins who visited us in sophomore year. They're awesome, but then, her whole family is awesome, so that is not really a surprise. (I think her family and my family would get along really well. A Polish family and an Irish family getting together for a party? My god. Think of the possibilities.) A friend of one of her cousins was actually somewhat upset when I told her that I lived far away; she wanted to invite me to a house party she is having next weekend. I was sad to say that I wouldn't be able to make it. Maybe another time!
We danced, we drank (I realized the wine that they had - which is also the wine my parents usually get - is actually quite good), and we just had a good time! I didn't drink as much as I wanted because of the lack of an open bar, but sober dancing is fun as well! Plus they played Gangham Style. I was more than pleased when that came on. (And pretty much everyone knew the dance, which was amazing.)
I was able to take a centerpiece (which is so nice and has these squishy balls in it; I have no idea what they are, though), and the gifts for the guests were homemade coasters! I was able to snag the ones made out of corks, which looks so cool. After everything was over, we drove Karen's sister back to her college, and then just talked the rest of the way home. She listened to many of my topics, some of which she's heard before but I always bring up with my closest friends who are willing to indulge me.
We watched Shaun of the Dead upon getting home, and I played a little with her Golden Retriever (who is a-fucking-dorable), and then we went to sleep. Well, I first read the rest of one of my articles for tomorrow and then I got to sleep. Still need to read an entire book though.
Today, one of her cats greeted me this morning, and chilled with me for almost an hour before my alarm went off at 10. I think he liked that I was constantly petting him. Karen and I hung around until noonish, talking and whatnot, and then she took me to one of her local pizzerias, which was very very good. As much as I didn't want to, I left after that, and arrived back here! Now I need to do work. Plus I realized I left my toothpaste, sadly, so I'll need to run out and get more before tonight. I'll swing by the school too, maybe, since I need to make more copies of the quiz for my students tomorrow. Not looking forward to waking up that early, but oh well.
Ever since undergrad, I've developed this odd love and attachment to Pennsylvania. I miss it when I'm gone, and have this fondness for it when I'm visiting. Although it will never take New York's place in my heart as my home, it - along with London - became one of my home away from homes. Despite how much I want the opportunity to live in England, I wouldn't mind PA either. Sure, it has some issues, and isn't as blue as I would always like, but I have an attachment to it.
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