Oh yeeeaaaah

Oktoberfest in Duluth. AKA: duh.

Back home

Out for the evening in Minnesota again. I'm enjoying the stellar vocals of one coworker while laughing hysterically at another's jokes and bonding with a third that reminds me of one of my brothers. Good segue indeed.

Departure

Keeping in fashion with my last minute moments with Damien before leaving for Minnesota, we started shooting ridiculous stuff an hour before I headed for the airport. Pics to come, it turned out pretty great.

State of the Household

Currently surfing the web near the new bride herself as the new groom is passed out in a bed on the floor above us. The tracks posted earlier play in the background and I'm enjoying what are likely my last brews of the trip. This afternoon I said goodbye to one of my best friends and his lady while this evening saying goodbye to a handful of new friends and theirs. Now, after sharing my fake speech and reviewing yesterday's photos the new couple and I are in a State of Relax. I have a revived interest in visiting NYC as well.

Tomorrow I return a pricey lens, grab my last Detour brunch of 2011 and prep my leaving. Usually I'm completely soured by impending departures but I feel as content as a customer after a solid brunch; the platter was so good I wish I could keep consuming it but I'm also completely & pleasantly full. Everything was so great that I simply can't complain.

Reminiscences related to previous posts: Two nights ago upon returning to the fancy hotel near the wedding everyone began the cocktail hour proper, singing a cappella standards on the smoking porch, then helping the sole bartender pack up for the night which led to said bartender offering a free round of shots to the group, followed by shenanigans in individual hotel rooms consisting of multiple introductions to the same folks and more a cappella shouts on the back porches of random rooms (I'm not so bad at Beyond the Sea it turns out, at least I don't think I am under certain circumstances).
It's been said I have a great DJ voice since yesterday's performance, yet it's negated due to my intentional hamming/imitation-ing it up. Or maybe it's justified because of it. Regardless, I will never seriously use that weapon for monetary purposes. Hot dog, we have a wiener.

Okay. Bride headed up to bed and groom came down to help with pics, though he's since passed out. Once again I am the man of the evening, if only strictly due to my personal dedication and endurance.

And to that I say adieu.

Noted

If I die suddenly in the next few weeks, it's prolly due to this very trip.

Donut'd

So you know, I just enjoyed my first Voodoo Donut. Not too shabby.

See me rollin...and hatin'

So much driving this week! After a mostly bland breakfast and checking out me bear and Mel headed up the coast, played in the ocean (see: gingerly touched the frigid water with our toes), ate some seafood and walked around the cheese factory. A pretty good closing to their trip I figure/hope.

Between each location I spent my time explaining how I hoped the bad drivers along the way would die. It was pretty fun.

"Cheeeese!"

No trip to the Northwest is complete until you've visited here.

Coastal flavor

DJ Tanner

Playing tunes at the wedding. I like to think I'm making my dad proud.

Bam

This wedding is on like Black Swan!

Chapel

D&M are to be married at this quaint little schoolhouse in about an hour. Thank goodness all the seats are in the shade.

90s

I am doing a hell of a job staying hydrated this trip. Additionally, I just had a phenomenal smoked salmon omelet at this sweet little cafe in town.

Just about got a picture of myself with this awesome middleschooler pimping apples at the farmers market but I chickened out. He was just too cool.

Cheers

Goats

Day at the farm setting up the reception. Also, goats.

I did not know their pupils were horizontal. Bizarre.

Hurry up and wait

So get up, run, then head out for a quick breakfast. Then get the meat around noon and head out from there to the wedding grounds.

Wait.

The meat has to be picked up AT noon because it won't be in a freezer, because the place above is the pickup spot. B-line it home, grab everything and jet to the bbq stand.

Wait.

The meat hasn't been delivered yet. Get the groom on the road and promise to wait and pay for eventual said meat delivery. Meet the guy handling the meat transactions so we both know who to deal with.

Wait.

Same meat purveyor you just met now pulls up next to you in his big white meat van explaining ever so softly why he is now leaving, wherein you understand maybe four key words in his soft paragraph on why you wont see him again.

Sit on curb.

My unnecessary speech.

When it comes down to it, there isn't that much that requires us to deal with one another. Yes, there are jobs and what are at least initial forced interactions, but politics and family can both be easily manipulated and/or dissolved over time if and when necessary. What truly matters, I believe, are the relationships which we choose to enter in to; those that we deem worth the endurance.

I have only been back in Portland for all of five days, but in that time I've experienced so many aspects of this privilege -- from meeting and bonding with what I now consider new friends (those of my current ones) to greeting some of my oldest and dearest, to even introducing myself to some I've known for many years yet never had the opportunity to actually meet. And now here I am, about to witness the most devoted version of these decisive connections: two friends publicly pledging - before most everyone who matters to them - to never allow that core of pure friendship to be compromised.

While I admit I may not know my two friends better than many of the people in attendance, what I do know is enough to confidently state two crucial things: 1.) These are two people I would individually trust in caring for me if I were to suddenly suffer a massive coronary, and 2.) They are both truly two peas from the same pod. I knew this when I first met them as much as I do today.

What we are attending here is not what many concede as the next logical step in their lives; it is what it should be - and is - the next logical step in their Life.

And to this I say, raise a glass. You both kick ass.

Wish You Were Here

Last time I was here I believe Chris negotiated himself behind the counter. The place is still the same, which is reassuring.

Spending a good afternoon sightseeing with the old roommate and his special lady friend.

Only in OR

Stopped by Clinton street, asked to be extras in an older white male (wearing a wool-lined winter vest)'s rap video.

Yep, that's about the size of it.

Addendum again-dum

In addition to this quiet evening the late afternoon was spent cruising downtown, where I found the *local* brewery and commenced to spend a little on souvenirs and dinner. Their Red Dawn ale is great, by the way, as are their wings. Also I got lost again in Powell's Books but not only did I find the exit, I also came across a great book by a favorite author/artist.

I'll try to spruce this place up with pics when I get a moment, promise.