remod66

This song played a very important role this past Friday... but I'll let you find out for yourselves...

Yes, indeed, dear friends, I have returned from Cadavre's wedding... and let me tell you--outside of my own family milestones (marriage, adoption of my daughter, arrival of my son), I can honestly say that I've never had a more profound experience in my entire life.

Oh, yes--I've performed a wedding previously--it was a much-needed ceremony and it meant the world to me, but it was a secret ceremony for four people, and all I had to do was outshout the surf and hope that the rain wouldn't start up again. And the happy couple got to have their big public ceremony for the benefit of family and friends months later. This time, I had an indoor venue, a crowd of nearly 100, and ONE chance to get it right. Indeed, as Cadavre informed me, I was shaking even more than SHE was!

But it all went well... it all went like clockwork, in fact... however, I don't have pictures to share--they'll arrive with the blogs of my fellow attendees and participants, no doubt...

Wednesday, October 24th.

Despite having to fly to San Diego from Monterey first (all due to fares, I'm sure you'll understand), I made it to the Seattle airport in plenty of time to meet jimcurt99, with whom I'd be sharing a room in nearby Renton. The labyrinth of the airport ITSELF was the most difficult part of the journey. Nevertheless, we caught up with each other, checked in, and went to visit Cadavre and pick up some donuts! I also got to meet Astrid (the black cat) and Zoog (the hedgehog). When we returned from the donut run, Cadavre's fiancee Corey was waiting for us--the rest of us went our separate ways while Corey and I went out to do the town... I got to meet and chat with his father as Corey picked up his tux, and then Corey and I went out for a great teriyaki dinner and an evening of... um... pre-marital counseling... the type that doesn't exist where I live... in an extremely comfortable environment. Hey, I'm the minister--it was my duty! No apologies, either--it was high time I spent some quality "guy time" with my son-in-law to be! And yes, I told him that I love HIM like family, too.

Thursday, October 25th.

Yes, folks, it was the DAY TO EAT DICK'S! jimcurt99 started the ball rolling by informing me that we were going to go see Cadavre and grab some Dick's! (Ah, but first we had to drop Astrid off at the cat hotel, and boy, did he have a few words to say about THAT! Not to mention the fact that some asshole broke into Jim's car overnight... didn't find anything to steal but threatened the safety of his mechanical bugs all the same...) And oh, were those Dick's TASTY and FILLING! It was at that time that I got to meet Cadavre's dear friend Mel... and Mel is the sort of person you just love at first sight... I waved off her handshake and invited a back-crushing bearhug, just the way she loved to give them! We devoured our Dick's even as I ran riot on the sign across the street advertising "Liquor and Wine!" (Think about it.) I thought for certain we had run out of Dick's jokes, but I was informed that we'd barely scratched the surface... my contribution was "What's in it for me?"

Then, as I wanted to pick up some souvenirs for my wife and son, Cadavre and Mel happily escorted me to the amazing Archie McPhee novelty shop, where I acquired a bottle of "Zombie Juice" for Cameron and a collector's tin of the complete KISS PEZ set for Lisa! Afterwards, it was time to drop Zoog off at the sitters (Corey's family), where I got to meet the huge, lovable, galumphing canine galoots Molly and Bailey (Yes, I LOVE dogs!), not to mention Corey's cousin (and my Facebook friend) Jessica! From there, it was the wedding rehearsal (where I learned the lay of the land, not to mention the lovely lake behind me) during which I met the rest of the parents (I especially hit it off with Cadavre's loving father) and a superb pizza dinner at The Rock (not to be confused with any wrestler by that name). Oh, by the way, I was also served a near-perfect Gibson at that very restaurant...

Friday, October 26th.

For all the potential glitches, for all the things that could have gone wrong, the wedding went smoothly and beautifully. You'll get first-hand accounts from the blogs of my friends soon, I have no doubt... as I had a crucial role to play, I simply must decline from reviewing my own performance. I will tell you that I looked more 'clerical' than ever before, thanks to the binding cloth I had made for the happy couple... before I used it in the ceremony, I wore it as an actual priestly stole! Oh, and I got ONE really good prank in, too. You know how when it comes to wedding photographers, everything is "hurry up and wait?" Well, the groomsmen and I got tired of waiting under a concrete awning waiting for something to happen after a while, so we went back inside, where the gentlemen found a convenient row of white chairs waiting for them.

Just as Corey was sitting down, I yelled "WET PAINT!"

It was worth it.

My goal that evening was to provide as special and unforgettable a ceremony as the happy couple could possibly have imagined. That--and not to offend or put out the large gathering of family and friends there for them and them alone. I opened with the PRINCESS BRIDE routine I was specifically asked to do two years ago... and I took it from there with a combination of spirituality, humor, music and ritual. I will leave it to my witnesses say just how it went down. However, I must tell you that this was the night in which I finally got to meet the delightful Blyde, not to mention not just one but TWO Classic SGs... the terrific Toxic (in the company of her super-husband Sean, with whom I also hit it off) and the beautiful Bella!

Such a wonderful, unforgettable night...

Saturday, October 27th.

Up early to catch my plane... six-hour stopover in San Diego for no particular reason... but a nice, thick stack of HELLRAISER comics Cadavre gave me to pass the time. Oh, and I also got some lovely take-home prints from jimcurt99... We can take it from there. I look forward to reading everyone else's blogs...

Okay... SETS with which to catch up since I've been gone...

No Classic SGs this time around, but I'm going to highlight the two that I met...

Bella hasn't actually been on line since well before I arrived, but she deserves your love and respect all the same...



...as does Toxic, who really ought to hit the front page again immediately!



Former Hopeful Friendlies are all over the place... please re-visit Tab...



Kyoko...



Ailyn...



Charmaine...



Ambz...



...and Plum!



Hopeful Friendly Encores include the lovely Luxlee...



...the bombastic Baccarat...



...and the marvelous Moz_!



While this isn't an actual MR highlight, the brash, beautiful blazing is back in action with a plethora of new mini-sets... why not stop here?



It's debut time for the brilliant _Briar_...



...the nifty novaa...



...the precious Pinku...



...the cosmic CandraLee...



...the bodacious BellaEvelle...



...and the arresting arielove420_Onyx!



It was a pleasure to meet you, Blyde, and I hope to do it again!



Cadavre, I love you like the daughter you truly are.



May you and Corey enjoy a double-lifetime of joy and married happiness!



In friendship,
Remo D.