Happy Halloween!!Tonight I went to the Great Big Sea concert with Jane and John. This was the first time in a loooong time that Jane and I actually got to hang out because she had been going through prelims. It was also the first time I had hung out with John in a wicked long time - we seem to be running in different circles!!
Before the concert we went out to dinner and caught up. I found out John met another foreign girl on his trip this summer. Turns out he met a girl in Italy (he met her online and made arrangements to stay with her when he was Italy even though they had never met!!! That is so crazy to me!!) and they become an item in no time. Now you need to know that John has a habit of doing this. He has brought girls back from Hawaii, Finland... and who knows where else!! Unbeknown to me, this girl came back to Raleigh with him and spent 8 weeks here. John did a really good job of keeping this one a secret!!
The concert was really good... and we had awesome seats! Jane scored center stage seats in the 5th row. If you have never listened to Great Big Sea you definitely should. They are kind of a mix of a rock, folk, blue grass, Celtic band. Hard to explain but very good!!
This was supposed to be a BIG weekend for Clemson. This was supposed to be the start of something new and great for the football team. We had a new coach. We were doing Tiger Walk. The fans were participating in an orange out. Everything was in place for Clemson to return to the team I knew they were.
It all started off well... the crowd was pumped up and the stands were a sea of orange. The Tigers were playing with some heart and spirit. But despite all of these efforts Clemson still came out on the losing end. It was hard to see the team lose... again. I am just hoping we are able to get back on track once and for all the BC game.
But aside from the loss, it was a fun tailgate. Marc, Marianne, and I all stayed in a hotel in Greeville so we could get up bright (dark) and early and make our way to the tailgate. The kids stayed with Marc's parents. It was a fun time and I enjoyed a few adult beverages.
Yesterday after the post wedding brunch Ryne and I headed back to the Cape to rest and recover from the weekend. On our way back we stopped by Rob and Margaux's and said bye to them before they left for Hawaii. My parents were with them helping them unload and unpack all of their loot! Ryne and I got back to the Cape around 2:30ish. After unpacking the car we crashed on the couch to watch some football. Once my parents got to the Cape we headed off to the Land Ho! for dinner. On our way to dinner we stopped at Rock Harbor to take in the sunset and get some pictures. I love the Land Ho! so it was great being able to go there for dinner and a few drinks. After dinner we all crashed on the couch once again. All four of us were falling asleep yet we all pretended like we weren't. I think we all gave up and called it a night around 9pm!!
On Monday Ryne and I got up and went for a walk at Nauset Beach. It was such a nice day and it was so nice being back down by the water. After our walk we then stopped by a few other places before we headed back to the house. We got on the road for the aiport on the early side because my dad was worried about traffic (go figure!). We had lunch off the Cape... which is when I learned the news of Tommy Bowden stepping down as coach. Needless to say that made for an interesting lunch.
Thankfully Ryne and I flew out around the same time and were able to be together up until he got on the plane -- out gates were right next to each other. It was hard saying good-bye but I will be back out his way in a few weeks which made it a little easier.
I was so glad that we were able to spend some time togehter on the Cape after the wedding. It was so relaxing and enjoyable.
There were a lot of late nights associated with the wedding weekend. After the rehearsal dinner everyone met up at the hotel bar to really kick off the fun and festivities for the weekend. It was great meeting up with everyone and catching up. Once the bar closed the party then moved to one of several hotel rooms. Barbara and Gerry hosted a nice gathering on Friday night. Somehow though a group of us ended up in my brother's room at 2:30 in the morning and continued to party the night away!!
On Saturday night we hit the bar after the wedding as well. Once the bar closed we then relocated to another part of the hotel to keep the festivities going. My cousins from Ireland "hosted"the late night party and provided beer and Jameson for everyone!! I was quite impressed that the handle of Jameson was gone by the end of the night! Ryne, Michelle, Ron, and I stayed up late talking the night away. Once Michelle went to bed Ryne and Ron then relocated to their "secret location" to keep discussing -- they were coming up with all kids of business ideas. And somehow it was determined that Michelle and I would support them on their endeavors!! I think Ryne and I finally called it a night shortly after 5am. I have no idea how I was able to pull off to late nights of drinking in a row but I did!! All in all we had a blast both nights and loved being able to spend time with our friends and family!!
Rob and Margaux's rehearsal dinner was held at the Nashoba Winery. My parents did an amazing job of planning and organizing the rehearsal dinner. It was clear that they put a lot of hard work and thought into the dinner. The winery was absolutely beautiful. It was quintessential New England in the fall. The only snag we encountered was that the staff at the winery reorganized the tables at the last minute which through off the seating arrangments. My mom was able to get things back to how they should be though. I also encountered a few challenges with being able to project my slideshow. But the food was WONDERFUL!!! It was so good and I could have had second helpings of everything!! I was so happy that Ryne was able to join us for the rehearsal dinner (poor guy got stuck in a ton of traffic with my aunt and cousin!). Ryne and I ate with my cousins June and Ken from Ireland which was very nice. We had a great time with them and had a blast at the dinner.
I flew up to New England on Wednesday for my brother's wedding. I spent Wednesday night on the Cape with my parents... which was wonderful. It was so nice being back home and being with my parents (and of course Mistress!!). I had the best night's sleep and woke up the next morning feeling so refreshed. There is something about the salt air that just knocks me out. Yesterday my dad and I drove to Norton to meet up with Rob and Margaux. We then went out to the CBS Sports Zone at Gillette Stadium (where the Patriots play) to have dinner and watch the Clemson - Wake Forest game. My cousin Charles and Rob's best man Scott were among the crew that joined us for the festivities. I'd like to say it was a good game... but, well... let's just not go there. It was an AWFUL game and I would rather not think about. But despite the game I still had a great time.
