the_matt79

What a difference a week makes.

Went to the North Dakota border and went back and forth for a few days a week ago, and dammit all if it wasn't one of the best times ever. Had to head over for one of my best friends sister's wedding (she is also a good friend/little sister to me) on the 20th. So I got off work early on the 19th and headed over to Climax MN to meet up with all my old friends. 6 hours on the road is nothng to go see people like this. So of course we did some drinking and all of that before we headed back to Grand Forks ND for the night.

Had to get back there to close down the bars with a cousin of Kevin's (the aforementioned best friend). I hadn't drank in a few weeks so it might have caught up to me a bit, but it was stll a good thing to do, especially when the bar closed and we had to head back to the lobby (it was a bar in a hotel just sos ya know). Kev's cousin was staying there and I was bsing with her since I hadn't seen her in a few years, we were the first back and she started joking around about making out while we waited for the others to join us, then she came at me. Kev's gf told me we looked like 8th graders, but then we calmed it down a bit and she went up to her room and I went to Kev's.

Saturday found our Canadian friend suffering from a bout of alcohol allergies and was in rough shape most of the day. Eventually we got ready and headed south to the park where the wedding was to be held. Let me just say that Kev and a bunch of people worked for weeks getting this place cleaned up after the flood this spring, and it looked fantastic. The weather was perfect, which was questionable as it had been rainy and all that days before. Mary was lucky,she was a beautiful bride and the day was perfect.

They had about 8 kegs and a bunch of booze all available for the attendees to drink, and drink it we did. I got to see a ton of old friends and co-workers that I hadn't seen in a while, so it was fantastic on that front as well. The highlight of my night might have been meeting the beauty who had worked for Obama's campaign. I finally got to talk politics without worrying about getting into an argument (as I would if I talked politics at work). So I got to meet a smart beautiful woman, and have a great conversation off and on throughout the night. Yeah, Matt fell for her a bit that night, but that's a good thing because it reminded me what was out there away from where I live.

Sunday we cleaned up the park and pretty much drank all day, which was fun, but led to a tired Monday, but tired in a good way. Kev, our buddy Markie and me went to a matinee of Star Trek, Kev and I were excited as we are both Trekkies, and Markie went for something to do. Kev and I liked it, saw it as an interesting take on the whole Star Trek universe that sets it up for future movies without having to worry about strictly following Star Trek canon. It might piss some hardcore fans off, but I look forward to seeing what else they can do. Monday night Kev his girl Emmy and I went to the Hangover, and holy shit one of the funniest movies ever, bar none. Of course, like Emmy pointed out, it might have been even funnier because of Kev's laugh, but hey that's the fun of going to a movie.

Tuesday I went to a matinee of Night at the Museum II by myself because the theater where I live sucks ass and I was all about taking advantage of a good one when I could. I really liked the first one and well, the second one is just as good. Good fun, light hearted movies like this are great to have around. They also reminded me of how cool the Smithsonian is. Tuesday night Emmy, me and some other people we know went out for a few drinks.

Wednesday I had to fight off the doldrums that always come when I have to leave Grand Forks and my friends behind. I went and got a few cds, a 12 pack of my favorite beer to have at the house when I got home, and some treats for the dogs. I hit the gas station and then hit the road.

I drive alone so it makes it harder on me because I am a big time thinker, and that can really bring on the doldrums, but I powered through that stuff. I started to reflect on whether my dream was to move back to Grand Forks, or merely live anywhere that people like Kev lived. I think the dream about Grand Forks has more to do with the people than it does with the city, although it was the first place that truly felt like home other than my actual home. I love that city, but I love those people more, and that is probably one of the biggest reasons that I love that city. Those friends of mine over there are some of the most warm, funny, caring, considerate, and accomodating people you will ever meet. You cannot possibly feel unwelcome when you hang out with these people, and no matter how long I am gone I am always welcomed back into the fold like it had only been since yesterday. I step back into that familiar role with all of them and truly feel comfortable within my life yet again.

All in all a superb trip that you can get a glimpse at if you look at my pics, and in a little less than 5 weeks I get to go back so we can go to WE fest in Detroit Lakes MN. WE fest is a camping country music festival that has been in existence since 1983, it usually gets around 40,000 people or more attending it, and it is a drunken lovely time. Check it out on the interwebs if you don't believe me.

Well apparetly the pictures I took with my camera are to big to put on here, and I am unsure how to deal with that, so there's that. Facebook let me put them up though,so that's weird, so if you want to see them add me on facebook.