::alio!::

Post-Nuptuals

I am returned to St. John's.

And reality kind of bites, I tells you.

We got home at midnight on Monday, and the toilet was broken, so we had to flush it manually (read: stuff hand inside tank and dig for rubber plug, let drain, replace rubber plug, then wash icky black gook off hands). Andy managed to fix it, but the property manager thinks that perhaps it's time to replace the damned thing, as they no longer make all the little bits that go into it. I figure it's probably about 45 years old.

Unfortunately the landlord isn't keen on replacing it because then it won't match the seafoam green sink and tub. I'm willing to have clashing fixtures in order to have a functional toilet for once.

What I was really hoping to happen while I was gone was for my refrigerator to explode. I even emptied it completely in readiness before we went away. Alas, it is still working, beating away to it's own internal marching band.

It was nice to come home to a freshly painted and entirely spotless house. I took yesterday off to recover from the travel (on Monday we started out in Tremblant, then back to Ottawa, then to St. John's, so we covered three provinces in a day, a little disconcerting). We even left ourselves a pizza in the freezer for munchies when we arrived.

Today I am back to work. The library looked like a hurricane hit it when I came in this morning - there were books on every available surface, and I appear to have magically acquired three additional chairs. My desk was piled two feet high with boxes and mail, and my mailbox in the mailroom, the largest one in the firm, was stuffed.

However, being the amazing person that I am, I am mostly caught up now and can now use my desk for desk-like purposes.

I just want to be back on vacation. Three weeks is certainly enough time to get used to not doing anything in particular, and when you are getting married, people tend to make a fuss of you. It's quite nice.

The wedding itself?

AWESOME.

We both want to do it again, because it was so much fun, from the rehearsal straight through to the day-after brunch. It was almost completely stress free and nothing went wrong. It didn't even rain! The officiant who married us said she had never seen a bride as chilled out as I was. It was such a great day. They are right, though, it does all pass you in such a blur. I can barely remember it from start to finish - just snapshots from the best weekend of my life:

At the rehearsal, watching everyone walk around typing into their phones, and then laughing at Andrew pretending to fight with his absent stepdaughter before the processional.

Playing ball with my nieces and brother-in-law at the rehearsal dinner, and getting Kira to hand-deliver all the attendants' gifts.

The morning before, watching everyone run around me doing stuff, and me with nothing to do. Walking in a huge group back from the hair-dresser's, carrying two empty bottles of champagne. Being force-fed bagels and cream cheese by the photographer's wife. Scrambling into my supportive undergarments with all the girls laughing. I walked out the door without even looking at myself, so I have no idea what I looked like when I left the house.

On the school bus heading to the Pavilion, and my niece Tegan smirking at me. I threatened to do the same to her when she was nervous on her wedding day. The bus taking a detour into Quebec to avoid downtown traffic, and us joking that I didn't have a wedding license for the city of Gatineau.

Waiting for the grandmothers to arrive after stopping at the Pavilion. Playing with a 3 month-old Papillon puppy, and Caitlin yelling at me to avoid getting hair on my dress (Papillons are mostly white so I really don't see how it could have mattered).

Joking with my dad as we walked toward the Pavilion. Waiting at the bottom of the steps for the bridesmaids to get into place, and then walking and seeing everyone stand up. Not noticing that I was smiling from ear to ear, laughing as Jess made a face at me just like she promised. Seeing Andy for the first time.

Sharing a laugh when the officiant asked the congregation who was giving me away and we had to look around for my dad. Experiencing a milisecond of shock when the officiant's vows went longer than we had practiced, and almost bursting out laughing at Andy's surprise as he had to say yet another line.

Hearing the A-Team theme at the end and walking to the end of the path. Standing in a semi-circle while everyone looked at us.

Gavin so pleased at his two giant slushies, then pointing out that he had a dead wasp in one of them and watching his face fall. Finally getting my ice cream and then it being taken away.

Putting on our "Just Married" buttons on the bus ride to the reception.

Walking with Stefan to the Lisgar mall and sitting on the benches as a few drops of rain fell. Trailing through puddles with the photographer.

Sneaking into our own reception. Providing a running commentary on the looping slideshow. Everyone trying to give me drinks and food.

Speeches. Me bursting into tears during mine. All the boys tearing up around me. Getting to talk to everyone I wanted to. Sitting upstairs with my cousin and Michael and Lindsay, and Andy and crew joining us in the quiet.

The after party - talking to everyone and walking around. A song from Victor. Photos with Jess and Heather.

Flooding the bathroom floor of the honeymoon suite. Brushing out my hairspray.

Stuffing my face with quiche at the morning-after brunch. Laughing as my nieces took full advantage of Shannon's good nature. Watching Michel size up my new husband, saying, "My, you're a tall fellow, aren't you?"

Hanging out at Stefan's that night, having long conversations with Cara, Jess, and Stef about important things.

The next morning going to Broadway's as of old with Will and Cara and Angus, departing for Tremblant that afternoon.

Best weekend ever.

Posted by Ally at September 2, 2009 02:10 PM