Our honeymoon just got complicated...

I had hoped to spend days two to six of our honeymoon showing Melissa the pride and joy of Egyptian civilization--the Mugamma, seat of modern Egypt's bureaucracy. Alas, it's not to be.

It's sad, really. Now where will we get all the cute little stamps? Where else can you find a building with one-way hallways? What will become of all those dusty logbooks, with millions of names scrawled in ball-point? This is a real cultural opportunity lost.

This is definitely FRAUD! Or something!

Attention all Modern Bride: Washington readers--

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT purchase the latest edition of Modern Bride: Washington. Yes, I know how thoroughly you read the previous issue, dog-earing pages and documenting your readership for all NupFollowers. And you are probably hoping to recreate the transcendental reading experience that was Modern Bride: Washington [some season...Summer?] 2005. I myself was in your shoes...

The other day I was at Books-a-Million. I was planning to purchase The Economist, or Foreign Policy, or maybe even Mother Jones, but they were all sold out.* So I began casually flipping through a MB:W, and I was filled with the strange sense of deja vu all over again. I scanned the article titles: Getting the Details You Love...hmmm, very familiar. The Best Real Weddings...Hey! I've seen that "unique" centerpiece before! What's going on here?

I started to panic. Have I really exhausted all that the bridal magazine industry has to offer me, to the point where I feel like I've read everything before? Or was some sinister force at work? I began flipping pages faster, desperate for the answer to this worst of bridal dilemmas.

There, near the beginning of the issue, I saw the small print. It said something like this: This edition of MB:W is absolutely identical to the previous issue, except, different cover photo and colors.

I mean, WHAT is THAT? Can't they just publish twice a year and keep the issues on the stands longer? This is like, major swindlage! Well I for one will NOT be swindled. I am boycotting Modern Bride (at least the Washington edition; I somehow started receiving the regular editions in the mail), and I urge you to do the same. I know it's a sacrifice, but we have to have STANDARDS. And MORALS. And ETHICS. And NEW UNIQUE CENTERPIECES.

Thank you for supporting me in this difficult-but-necessary effort.

Fondly,

BTB

*or how about "The other day I was at BAM, and I tripped over a stand of The Purpose-Driven Life books, journals, calendars, decals, koozies, etc., and fell headlong into a stack of Modern Brides"? Is that more believable?

As a good MOH should

As the Italian rumor mill continues to turn stories that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will be marrying here in Italy on Lake Como in the very near future, I just want everyone to know that for research purposes I will be willing to crash this affair.
Have no fear, I have not forgotten my duties to the BTB even when I am across the ocean.

Wedding Pics

Melissa- Post those wedding pics! I need something to entertain me during class while the Georgians are "debating" federalism or rights related to deer hunting...

Italian Unions

I have a short anecdote from my studies overseas which I feel is relevant to the topic of this blog.

As a good student should, I am trying to be a keen observer of cultural differences between Americans and Italians without questioning or passing judgment. While in Vernazza, a beautiful seaside town on the meditteranean coast (and one of the 5 towns of Cinqueterre) we encountered a wedding reception in the town piazza by the waterfront. It was beautifully arranged with gold and cream flower arrangements and fancy china. Being the nosy people we are (as well as having the wedding crashing mentality my btb sister has instilled in me) my friend ellen and I decided to park ourselves on a bench right next to the head table and observe. It was absolutely beautfiul and the wealthy attendees looked gorgeous. Men came strolling through the piazza in their valentino and armani suits while the women looked breathtaking in their own designer garments.
Anyways, the point of this story is that Ellen and I couldn't help but note that the laid back attitude of the Italians translates even to those "could-be" stressful situations such as a wedding. As the bride and groom were standing around the piazza talking with their guests (and smoking a cigarette...not an italian tradition to be mimicked) a rather large hairy man walks through the middle of the reception gathering bare-footed, in a speedo and followed by a cat. No one batted an eye. Ellen and I were astonished. We thought, maybe they didn't see it. Then, a man in frighteningly short rainbow colored shorts, knee high trouser socks, loafers and an undershirt sat down on a bench even more obnoxiously close than ours. Still...nothing. I think that we can all learn from these observations that even speedos and knee socks are no reason to stress, weddings can still be chic and enjoyable.

CONGRATS BT AND KELLYE

Pete and I had the BEST weekend celebrating Brian and Kellye's wedding. We had a blast, and the wedding was absolutely beautiful. A more comprehensive recap (with more photos...I have billions) should appear in the coming days, but for now...don't you think this is a fabulous shot of Pete and me?

Congratulations nearly at hand...

We had a great evening at Abingdon, Va.'s Tavern, just down the strasse from the Barter, giving toasts to Brian and Kellye on the eve of their union. Melissa and I did our best to represent the couple's time in the (northern) Commonwealth.

Live from Staunton

Melissa and I are in Staunton, Va. on our way to BT and Kellye's nuptial ceremonies in Bristol/Abingdon. I spoke with BT yesterday evening. Already in Bristol, he sounded pretty tired. Frankly, I tried to provide some crisis to get him motivated: My tux was delivered to Knoxville instead of Pentagon City, as I'd preferred. But BT took it in stride, and had his best man grab the garment.

This is actually the second time in five days that I've stopped in Staunton. On the drive north with a trailer-load of pointless personal belongings, I fueled up at the Texaco next to Mrs. Rowe's while my parents picked up a sack of cookies. While heading up I-81, we passed dozens and dozens of bucket trucks, presumably heading for the Gulf states. At the Texaco, the road was lined with City of Baltimore municipal vehicles waiting to fuel up. Dump trucks, earth moving equipment and a set of police vehicles were followed by two buses of folks to man them. I felt a little silly gassing up dad's Ranger to drag several boxes of books I'll never read and a door desk to my dry apartment in Arlington.

I walked Tuxedo while the 'rents finished up their transaction; the dog relieved himself on what I believe to be the restaurant's mailbox, and we hit the road again.