The great Colorado/Wyoming adventure

I left work on Friday at 2:30. "But," you say, "you didn't leave until Saturday!" Yes, I say. Yes. We leave Saturday. At 6:45 in the morning. So we had to be down in Long Beach that night, and Aaron was in a show. Which we naturally saw.

"Fools" was decent. A funny cast, an interesting set, and a few nice jokes. It wasn't an amazing play, but that wasn't the fault of the cast. The cast really made the best of it. The costumes were amazing, I must say.

A combination of going out for food, bad service, and an overly eager busboy got us back to Aaron's place and on his couch to sleep at about 12:30.

***

We had to wake up at 4:45 to get to the airport. "But," you say, "aren't you supposed to get there two hours ahead of time?" Yes. Yes you are. Did that happen? No. We got there at about 5:50. We were the last people in line who were considered "on time." The person manning the check in lane for Frontier Airlines asked us to tell anyone who came behind us that they were too late. Of course, a family of six, with four little kids and two stressed out parents got behind us, semi panicking. Thanks, Frontier Airlines, for making us be the assholes. We appreciate it.

Also, thanks Frontier Airlines, for splitting up our party and making me sit between two overweight men with pointy elbows for the two hour flight. I tried to sleep, I tried to write (nosy guy on left kept on trying to read over my shoulder), I tried to read...to no avail. Thanks, Frontier Airlines, for charging for the Onflight movies. I appreciate that as well.

We get to the airport, and on to these people moving trains to get our luggage. The trains had a little jazz riff, then a man in a deep and creepy baritone voice would say "the doors are now closing". It was seriously the voice of a mad scientist.

At the luggage was CAROLINE! She looked utterly beautiful. Her dress was adorable, and it worked so well with her. She was, by far, the most energetic and athletic 8-month pregnant person I have EVER met. EVER. She talked a ton about the type of birth she's giving, the names she's considering (I'm voting for Charlotte) and the different things she's looking forwards to. Plus, every small child and every small animal we saw she completely fawned over. She is in such mother mode, and it's amazing.

We have the drive to the wedding. The three hour drive across Colorado and Wyoming. Here's where we come to the conclusion that the street names in Colorado are amazing.

We got to Laramie at 2. The wedding started at 4. So what did we do once we got to a small western town? We went to the Boot Barn. (after changing into our dresses and suits in the bathroom of a Qdoba) Where it was all SERIOUS country. So many stereotypes. So many.

The wedding was beautiful. They read from The Princess Bride, Jessi and Cramer wrote their own vows, which were beautiful. The train literally went by the moment the minister said "you may now kiss the bride", so it didn't interfere with the ceremony at all. I could spend a long time describing the dress, the atmosphere, the sheer joy on everyone's face...but I do not think I have the capacity for that.

We got to sit with UCR professor Robin Russin, who I have met all of three times, but is utterly awesome. He was able to give us help for grad schools and help for writing. And he was interesting even when we weren't talking about school. He had apparently grown up in Laramie and brought his daughter and wife with him.

My favorite moments of the reception:

• Everyone singing to Caroline to "sweet Caroline"
• Cutting in and dancing with Caroline
• Seeing Jessi and Cramer have their first dance to "I aint nothing without you" from Monsters Inc.
  
• Walking outside in the rain with Allen.

On the drive back from the wedding at 11 at night, there was cloud to cloud lightning.

And the streets corner was "Hangman's road" and "Vigilante"

*****
We didn't wake up until 11:30 on Saturday. So we missed the deer in the front yard. I was okay with that. We explored some of Caroline's EPIC front and back yard, before heading down to South Park, Colorado.

The drive was gorgeous. Jutting hills, white water creeks and rivers, the "best jerky in the west" (it was okay), and lots of stereotypes. I feel bad for writing them all down.

We stopped in the closest place of civilization we could find, a gas station. Call "Loaf'n'Jug." There was a subway inside of it, and there were some old couples praying over their sunday dinners at Subway.

South Park was thee most NON-touristy area ever. They kinda glared at us for taking pictures under the South Park sign. It was seriously like the ghost town in Knotts, except without people in costumes. Except it was totally serious. No irony intended.

That night there was an INTENSE thunder storm. With hail. I tried my hardest not to panic.

****
We woke up to try to call Chandra's radio show, but we couldn't get ahold of her. Sadness.

We talked to Caroline's mother a lot, who I absolutely adore now. She's also into photography, and we compared stuff....

...but we had to leave to catch our planes back.

At least this time we got to sit next to each other on the planes. It made them so much better.