welcome back.......

ok, so we just got home from the wedding in dc....such a lot to say about the weekend........we listened to the book...5 people you meet in heaven....on the way up.......a really good choice for driving with one's spouse, i suppose......because there was a lot to talk about..with regards to the book's notion fo heaven......that when you die, you will meet with a total of 5 people who explain your life to you....and give closure to issues that require it....so that you may finally find that everlasting peace we hear so much about.........if you have not read it, gentle readers....it is worth your time........especially if you need a good cry.......my spouse does not keep fast food napkins in his vehicle........as he eats no fast food in his car.......so there was nothing to use as i wept at the surprise ending........the mapquest directions were superb.....though we became concerned when the gw parkway detour led us through what seemed to be the pentagon parking lot......we did not get lost or turned around in locating the hotel, the church....both in view of the capital..........the wedding was lovely, karin's dress was elegantly simple, and the ceremony was brief......we did a group photo on the steps of the church....which is attached to the private catholic boy's prep school that matt attended.............there was a shuttle bus for the 4 block distance between the hotel and church.........we would not dream of riding 4 blocks when we could walk..........so we were somewhat late in getting to the reception......which began with an open bar, raw oysters on half shell (yes!!!!!) shrimp, crab cakes.........oh my........i ate my fill before we could get through the line to get a glass of wine.......such a long line........and then joined all of the attending inlaws/outlaws.........when it was time for round 2.....2 brother-in-laws got in line.....after taking orders..............after an eternity...they returned with everybody's beers, but without my wine....so i got up and got in line.....with one sister-in-law in tow.......apologizing because it was her spouse that forgot.............we were in line forever...when the oddest incident occured.....this young guy (late 20's-early 30's) was standing with his back to the line, beer in hand....chatting with 2 women who were at least 2-3 feet away from him.....and his body posture was menacing.........just butting up to me, but not enough to knock me over.......and this went on until i finally turned to him and said 'excuse me'...and he nearly yelled at me something about my having cut ahead of him in line...........and he basically made a scene......gentle readers......in my midwestern notions about lines......you face ahead when you are in line....and there is no 2-3 foot gap between you and the people 'next' to you in line....further....if you are in line for drinks at the bar......you generally do not have a beer in hand...........i did not ask these people if the line started in back of them because they all had drinks...........and had their back to the bar.........what greedy preppie lushes....who get back in line for drinks before they have finished their first drinks.....and have the callous gall to accuse others of being gauche............my niece ( the sister of the groom) was standing right beside the bar...and she quickly got a glass of wine for me from the bartender....ahead of everybody, by the way....and she assured me that she did not recognize any of the three (1 guy, 2 pretend-blondes in ill-suited dresses......)..so they were probably friends of the bride, and not the famiial groom..........at dinner,  for which we were seated shortly thereafter....this crew was seated as far from the wedding party as could be.....which meant that as friends of the bride...they were not that important to her............i, of course, have replayed the scene numerous times in my brain......because i was caught utterly speechless........i was not expecting to be rudely accosted by an oafish cad....and i missed out on any witty, scathing comeback............and with my reputation for meanness to uphold.........ah well......... i have already made a plan to be person #5 in heaven for the callous-beer-drinking jerk......and i will explain that his failures on earth stemmed from his self-absorption.....and general snotty attitude........
 
after the brunch this morning, we traveled back across the potomac to reston....to visit my brother....at his home.....for the first time in 7 years.........today was a sunday, even workaholics have to take a day off sometime....and all of our other family vacation visits have been midweek....when he was 'unavailable'.......so we stopped by for a total for 90 minutes........whilst he availed us of his techie toys.......flatscreen tvs......in 2 rooms....a huge collection of dvd's...alphabetized............2 huge computer screens set up with his pc so he can do programming on #1 and view the results on #2........and a new laptop and at least 2 pda's and several phones............and no guest room.........as the 3rd of the 'bedrooms' is now his personal gym.........this really upsets our mother.....who has never seen his house....because my brother is never available when she wants to visit....and because there is no place to sleep of she did come........again.....ah well......at least we kept our chatter to the weather, his house, his yard.....and away from politics.........
 
so,......back home........no hot water....as we have discovered....but back home................