Howdy and greetings from Houston, TX. I'm finishing up my lovely weekend here after visiting for Dr. and Mrs. Nick Hamilton's wedding. Allow me to provide a short recap.
FRIDAY
My voyage began innocently enough at Bradley International Airport where I flew US Airways to Charlotte, NC. US Air isn't all that bad of an airline, but I wasn't impressed with the advertisement they made us endure trying to sign up for the Visa Signature Dividend Miles Card. The crew talk WAY TOO MUCH on airline flights. Plus I sat next to this nice old lady who kept rambling on about nothing in particular. I will make it a point never to tell people I'm a doctor in the future, as I ended up giving her advice on all sorts of things and got very bored doing it. We landed in Charlotte, and I proceeded to try and jump on an earlier flight to Houston which I got on...then ended up taking off 3 hours late. That was good work on my part. I sat in front of a SCREAMING toddler the entire flight. However, there was a nice old man from Austin sitting next to me which made things a bit more tolerable. We had good conversation about HD televisions and wireless internet connections. He was well read on technology for an old-timer. Then I arrived in Houston to the waiting and welcoming arms of Ryan and his girlfriend Michelle.
Michelle is a Pearce grad of 1998. She currently is a NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit) nurse in Dallas which is interesting, as I'm currently on my pediatric surgery rotation in Springfield (we deal a lot with NICU babies). She is quite delightful and fun to be around (as one would expect from a girlfriend of Ryan's). We drove on over to the Volcano bar near my old stomping grounds as a med student and enjoyed a frozen orange drink. Then we went to the wedding rehearsal.
The wedding was at a nice venue in the Galleria area. It was in a nice outside area with lots of flowers and such. I was quite hot in the 95 degree heat, but it wasn't all that bad. We did the routine of walking out then walking back in a few times before it was time to break for dinner. I think the poor wedding planner was getting annoyed with the groomsmen before it was all over. I think her name was Mattie or something like that, and she is from Iran which I thought was interesting.
So then we went to Maggiano's for dinner which was quite good if I don't say so myself. There were several courses involved, lots of drinking, and great conversation. Ryan, Michelle, several of the groomsmen, and two newly entering med students at UT Southwestern were at our table. As much as I enjoyed medical school, I'm quite glad I won't have to endure the pain they will be involved with this fall.
We finished dinner and then headed to McElroy's Pub on Richmond Ave (near Star Pizza, Freebirds, The Davenport) next to our old house on Lexington Street. I don't remember much about this portion of the evening, as I was falling asleep at the table with my beer in hand. I do remember seeing Chris, Karla, and Andy which is always a pleasure. Then of course all the groomsmen were present (including Nick himself). The groomsmen were a hoot including George the best man and childhood friend, Brian the roommate in Dallas, Dan the roommate in college, Ryan, and myself. Then we drove back to Clearlake and I fell asleep in the car.
SATURDAY
We woke up and went straight to Whataburger for some breakfast food and coffee. (SWEET to eat at Whataburger) Then we went to Al's Formal Wear to pick up our tuxes. Mine wasn't there of course, so they had to ship it from some Galleria store to the Clearlake store. Idiots. I won't be using their stupid asses for any of my formal wear if I can help it. So in the meantime we went to see Clerks II, which was a lot of fun and had several quotable moments. Don't take your kids or conservative bible-beating parents to see this movie, as it's for open-minded adults only. Kevin Smith is quite enjoyable as usual. Then we met Michelle's uncle along with Karla and Andy for some LUPE TORTILLA! Booooo Yeahhhh! Then we picked up the tux from the idiots at Al's and went home for showers and preparation. The tux Nick picked was very nice, I might add.
We arrived at the venue early to take pictures and such. The rain wouldn't quit, so they had to move the wedding inside. Melissa wasn't all to pleased from what I hear (as to be expected), but indoors wasn't all that bad really. It was very beautiful with candles and such lining the wedding area. The wedding planner continued to freak-out, and all the groomsmen continued drinking before the ceremony. The guys walked down the isle to "The Imperial Death March" from Starwars if that is any indication to how this wedding was going to go. (You know, the music they play when Darth Vader enters the room.) No one fell or passed out as I recall. They got married from some lady who I think was either medicated or drunk. She forgot Nick's name at one point, which was amusing. The wedding planner asked me afterwards if I thought she was drunk, and I think we all agreed she was on some sort of substance. It was perfect. Anyway, I got to walk Summer down the isle at the conclusion which was fitting, because we're both the shortest people in the group and it was nice to walk one of Nick's family out at the end.
So let me talk about the wedding reception. Crazy stuff always happens at weddings, as we all know. However, this wedding in particular was quite amusing one one would expect with a room full of Greeks, Kiwis (those from New Zealand), and people associated with Nick Hamilton. Most of the night was spent watching George hit on one of the bridesmaids from New Zealand named Natalie. George unfortunately just ended a 6-year dating relationship with his girlfriend, so he in the rebound stage apparently. Then there was Todd and April which is always a delightful show in itself. And I had the opportunity to see Lonnie Mark, Corbett and wife Stephanie, Nick and Melissa's family, and all the Aunts and Cousins from New Zealand. We drank a lot, smoked cigars, drank more, ate, and I took lots of pictures (some will even make it onto this here blog). At the end of the night, I was even found on the dance floor with one of the Aunts from New Zealand. I was actually quite upset Kayla couldn't come, as we don't get to dance very often, and weddings are good for that sort of thing. And how often do I actually get intoxicated enough to get on the dance floor anyway? But nice Aunt Margaret from Auckland was fun. Then there was the throwing of flowers and garters and the thing was over. At the end we were supposed to line up outside (it stopped raining at this point) and hold sparklers creating a bridge. However, one of the sparkles from a lit one landed in the bucket full of sparklers and the thing exploded in a red ball of flames. I have a good photo of the thing dying down and burning out. It was very amusing when I realized I wasn't on fire or anything like that.
Then we drove to Richmond Arms for a nightcap with most of the wedding party, friends, the crazy Aunts from New Zealand, and a few others. I remember being pissed, because I purchased a bunch of songs on the jukebox, but none of them played before we had to leave. I also remember enjoying Shiner Bock Light on tap for those of you interested in those things...pretty good. I also remember one of the crazy Aunts from New Zealand offering me U2 tickets in Zealand in November. How sweet would it be to see U2 in New Zealand? So that was nice of them to offer.
Sunday
Nothing much to report on Sunday. The newlyweds were slated to head on their honeymoon the next day. Ryan, Michelle, and myself slept in. I don't really remember what we did the rest of the day (as I'm writing this a month later). It must have not been too important, eh?
So that was my trip to Houston for Nick and Melissa's wedding. I will someday try to post some of the pictures from the wedding, if I can ever find them.
>>View the PICTURES<< (someday)
FRIDAY
My voyage began innocently enough at Bradley International Airport where I flew US Airways to Charlotte, NC. US Air isn't all that bad of an airline, but I wasn't impressed with the advertisement they made us endure trying to sign up for the Visa Signature Dividend Miles Card. The crew talk WAY TOO MUCH on airline flights. Plus I sat next to this nice old lady who kept rambling on about nothing in particular. I will make it a point never to tell people I'm a doctor in the future, as I ended up giving her advice on all sorts of things and got very bored doing it. We landed in Charlotte, and I proceeded to try and jump on an earlier flight to Houston which I got on...then ended up taking off 3 hours late. That was good work on my part. I sat in front of a SCREAMING toddler the entire flight. However, there was a nice old man from Austin sitting next to me which made things a bit more tolerable. We had good conversation about HD televisions and wireless internet connections. He was well read on technology for an old-timer. Then I arrived in Houston to the waiting and welcoming arms of Ryan and his girlfriend Michelle.
Michelle is a Pearce grad of 1998. She currently is a NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit) nurse in Dallas which is interesting, as I'm currently on my pediatric surgery rotation in Springfield (we deal a lot with NICU babies). She is quite delightful and fun to be around (as one would expect from a girlfriend of Ryan's). We drove on over to the Volcano bar near my old stomping grounds as a med student and enjoyed a frozen orange drink. Then we went to the wedding rehearsal.
The wedding was at a nice venue in the Galleria area. It was in a nice outside area with lots of flowers and such. I was quite hot in the 95 degree heat, but it wasn't all that bad. We did the routine of walking out then walking back in a few times before it was time to break for dinner. I think the poor wedding planner was getting annoyed with the groomsmen before it was all over. I think her name was Mattie or something like that, and she is from Iran which I thought was interesting.
So then we went to Maggiano's for dinner which was quite good if I don't say so myself. There were several courses involved, lots of drinking, and great conversation. Ryan, Michelle, several of the groomsmen, and two newly entering med students at UT Southwestern were at our table. As much as I enjoyed medical school, I'm quite glad I won't have to endure the pain they will be involved with this fall.
We finished dinner and then headed to McElroy's Pub on Richmond Ave (near Star Pizza, Freebirds, The Davenport) next to our old house on Lexington Street. I don't remember much about this portion of the evening, as I was falling asleep at the table with my beer in hand. I do remember seeing Chris, Karla, and Andy which is always a pleasure. Then of course all the groomsmen were present (including Nick himself). The groomsmen were a hoot including George the best man and childhood friend, Brian the roommate in Dallas, Dan the roommate in college, Ryan, and myself. Then we drove back to Clearlake and I fell asleep in the car.
SATURDAY
We woke up and went straight to Whataburger for some breakfast food and coffee. (SWEET to eat at Whataburger) Then we went to Al's Formal Wear to pick up our tuxes. Mine wasn't there of course, so they had to ship it from some Galleria store to the Clearlake store. Idiots. I won't be using their stupid asses for any of my formal wear if I can help it. So in the meantime we went to see Clerks II, which was a lot of fun and had several quotable moments. Don't take your kids or conservative bible-beating parents to see this movie, as it's for open-minded adults only. Kevin Smith is quite enjoyable as usual. Then we met Michelle's uncle along with Karla and Andy for some LUPE TORTILLA! Booooo Yeahhhh! Then we picked up the tux from the idiots at Al's and went home for showers and preparation. The tux Nick picked was very nice, I might add.
We arrived at the venue early to take pictures and such. The rain wouldn't quit, so they had to move the wedding inside. Melissa wasn't all to pleased from what I hear (as to be expected), but indoors wasn't all that bad really. It was very beautiful with candles and such lining the wedding area. The wedding planner continued to freak-out, and all the groomsmen continued drinking before the ceremony. The guys walked down the isle to "The Imperial Death March" from Starwars if that is any indication to how this wedding was going to go. (You know, the music they play when Darth Vader enters the room.) No one fell or passed out as I recall. They got married from some lady who I think was either medicated or drunk. She forgot Nick's name at one point, which was amusing. The wedding planner asked me afterwards if I thought she was drunk, and I think we all agreed she was on some sort of substance. It was perfect. Anyway, I got to walk Summer down the isle at the conclusion which was fitting, because we're both the shortest people in the group and it was nice to walk one of Nick's family out at the end.
So let me talk about the wedding reception. Crazy stuff always happens at weddings, as we all know. However, this wedding in particular was quite amusing one one would expect with a room full of Greeks, Kiwis (those from New Zealand), and people associated with Nick Hamilton. Most of the night was spent watching George hit on one of the bridesmaids from New Zealand named Natalie. George unfortunately just ended a 6-year dating relationship with his girlfriend, so he in the rebound stage apparently. Then there was Todd and April which is always a delightful show in itself. And I had the opportunity to see Lonnie Mark, Corbett and wife Stephanie, Nick and Melissa's family, and all the Aunts and Cousins from New Zealand. We drank a lot, smoked cigars, drank more, ate, and I took lots of pictures (some will even make it onto this here blog). At the end of the night, I was even found on the dance floor with one of the Aunts from New Zealand. I was actually quite upset Kayla couldn't come, as we don't get to dance very often, and weddings are good for that sort of thing. And how often do I actually get intoxicated enough to get on the dance floor anyway? But nice Aunt Margaret from Auckland was fun. Then there was the throwing of flowers and garters and the thing was over. At the end we were supposed to line up outside (it stopped raining at this point) and hold sparklers creating a bridge. However, one of the sparkles from a lit one landed in the bucket full of sparklers and the thing exploded in a red ball of flames. I have a good photo of the thing dying down and burning out. It was very amusing when I realized I wasn't on fire or anything like that.
Then we drove to Richmond Arms for a nightcap with most of the wedding party, friends, the crazy Aunts from New Zealand, and a few others. I remember being pissed, because I purchased a bunch of songs on the jukebox, but none of them played before we had to leave. I also remember enjoying Shiner Bock Light on tap for those of you interested in those things...pretty good. I also remember one of the crazy Aunts from New Zealand offering me U2 tickets in Zealand in November. How sweet would it be to see U2 in New Zealand? So that was nice of them to offer.
Sunday
Nothing much to report on Sunday. The newlyweds were slated to head on their honeymoon the next day. Ryan, Michelle, and myself slept in. I don't really remember what we did the rest of the day (as I'm writing this a month later). It must have not been too important, eh?
So that was my trip to Houston for Nick and Melissa's wedding. I will someday try to post some of the pictures from the wedding, if I can ever find them.
>>View the PICTURES<< (someday)
