The Reception

The reception was held at the SFMOMA gallery down on the harbor. There was wonderful music, great Ethiopian food, and fabulous conversation. In other words, everything you could want for an evening with friends!

Here are both sides of the family.
Marc's Mama (who flew all the way from Germany!) talking to the bride and groom.
Marc and Nathaniel dancing.
Nathaniel posed and took this picture.
Sukhvinder's cousin, Sanj, from England. He is absolutely delightful and I would have smuggled him home in my luggage if they didn't have those pesky weight limits.

Nathaniel took this picture, too. I like it.

Isn't he dreamy?

Okay, these two are adorable together. You can tell in each picture with the cake how very much they both like one another. Everyone can manage a good lovey dovey at a wedding, but to see two people have such regard from one another was special indeed.

Cutting the cake. I was a little disappointed Sunny didn't bring his sword for this. ;)
Look at that gorgeous braid!!!
Me, Sukhvinder, and Dayna

We met in 5th grade and universally agree to stay mum on exactly how long ago that was. It was so wonderful to be with these two lovely ladies again. They are wonderful, strong, funny, inspirational women and I feel blessed to know them both.

The Wedding

On the day of the wedding, we met down in the hotel lobby to take a bus to the Gurdwara. The bus driver didn't actually have directions, so getting there was quite the adventure, but fun was had by all on the bus. Here is a picture of Nathaniel and I in our wedding clothing.

"Peek-A-Boo!"

So handsome.

On the bus!

I love this picture of Nathaniel enjoying a little food before the service began. I could claim it was taken anywhere in the world, really.

I don't remember this little girl's name, but seriously, how could I NOT take her picture?!

Marc and Nathaniel during the ceremony sitting on the boy's side of the room. Nathaniel was so well behaved through the whole ceremony. (Marc behaved well, also.)

Cute Boys!!

I don't know what it's called. I forgot to ask. But I like it.

Gurmukh and his wife Puneet performed for us. Somebody commented that they were really impressed with how Gurmukh played, and he replied, "Eh, ya know. These are the things you pick up growing up in NJ." To which I replied, "Dude, I grew up in NJ and I assure you, I never learned how to do that!" He was really good.

The Groom (check out his sword!) and The Bride and her cousin Sanj making one of the loops around the colorful thing that I forgot to ask the name of. They go around 4 times with an escort at each corner. At the last go-round they are married.

Sukhvinder and Sunny! (And somebody who I didn't meet, so I don't know his name.)

Sanj, Uncle, Sukhvinder, Sunny (again with the FABULOUS sword!), and Gurmukh

It was really wonderful to witness this wedding between two people who are so happy together. I've known Sukhvinder since we were 11 years old and it has been wonderful to see how coming together with Sunny has only enhanced her most wonderful qualities. I'm so pleased for these to special people! It was impossible to not be happy when in their presence.

Musical Monday

This week's Musical Monday is dedicated to Marc who is going to enjoy not only hours of opera this week, but days. (He is so hard core.) That's right, folks, it's Ring Cycle week at the Met!

This video is how most of we American children were introduced to Wagner's music and operas, and frankly many of us still have difficulty hearing "Ride of the Valkyries" without hearing "kill da wabbit" in our heads.

So, gather the kids around and enjoy!

What's Opera Doc?

(Apologies for linking, but youtube disabled the embed code. Boo Hiss!)

Pick Up on the PATH train

After my life changing decision to not tackle Rupert Everett, Chris Ian and I hugged and kissed Marc goodbye and then headed over to the PATH station to head home.

Have I mentioned that as much as I love the city, I had forgotten a few key things? Like how to be smart and safe. Fortunately, I'd been in the company of two gorgeous men all day, so I thought nothing of my safety as I walked around looking rather fetching (if I do say so myself). I had done my hair. I wore make-up all day. I had on heels. In short, I looked foxy.

I had been in the city a couple weeks earlier, again in the company of Marc and Sukhvinder, and it was a weekend so riding the train home was packed with people and I had no worries for safety.

I hadn't a care in the world as Chris Ian and I waited for the train with no crowds around us. I began to be aware of the situation when a gentlemen on the PATH train outright leered at me while Chris Ian and I were talking. It wasn't until Chris Ian got off at his station and I looked around that I realized I had forgotten how to scope out a safe situation. Midwestern suburbia has definitely weakened my street smarts. I was the only girl on a train full of men. And I looked good. More than one man was leering at that point without my Filipino male companion by my side.

This may seem improbable. I'm not the kind of girl that gets oohs and ahhs of admiration over my looks. Ever. And it's been a solid decade since anyone tried to pick me up. (Except that one guy at the bookstore when I had two small children and a husband at home. It had been so long that I nearly wept with gratitude for his apparent admiration.) (Oh, and the guy at the gym that one time.)

Lest you dismiss this and think it was all in my head, let me tell you what came next. The guy who was responsible for opening and closing the doors sat across from me and said, "You look tired, honey." I weakly smiled, and replied that I was. At which point he said, "You want me to hold you so you can sleep?"

I laughed and told him no thanks. And then he got up and moved to a different car. Apparently, it was a rough shoot down.

When I got to Newark to wait for my husband to pick me up, I was again the only woman on a street corner full of big burly men. It occured to me that I was something of an idiot. And then I wondered if anyone would mistake me for a hooker. My hair was big enough. But my heels weren't high enough and I wasn't showing enough cleavage. That was something of a comfort.

It's the little things.

Blithe Spirit!!

I have been wanting to see Blithe Spirit on Broadway, ever since Todd mentioned to me months ago that it was coming!! Hello?! A chance to see Angela Lansbury on stage AND Rupert Everett!! Too good to pass up!

So after our day in the city with our boys, Todd bundled them home, I shopped a little and then met two wonderful friends for dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner. Chris Ian, a.k.a. the tooth fairy to my children, works there and took us to meet all his fellow singing waiters and waitresses. Again, snobby me was a little appalled at the idea of going to such a touristy place, but we had SO much fun!! You can't not have a good time at Ellen's, specifically if the entire staff is stopping by the table to check on you. All of the staff take turns singing either a song from the 50s or a show tune, and all of them are working there way into showbiz, so they are goooooood! One of the guys there had just been hired to be one of the Hyenas in The Lion King tour. There were lots of other similar stories. Anyway, fun, fun, fun! You should go if you're in town. (And order the strawberry shortcake! Perfect proportions of cream, strawberries and cake. Mmmm.)

Chris Ian and Marc were delightful company! The two of them kept humming the theme from "Murder She Wrote" in anticipation of the show. For me, it was all about Rupert. Who despite recent plastic surgery is dang good looking on stage and in a tux.

"I'll take one of those, please."

The play was delightful! (And should at least be nominated for a Tony for the lighting design.) Angela Lansbury is amazing considering she's 84 years old, and according to Rupert when he appeared on the Today Show, she never misses a show, which guilts the rest of the cast into having to do every show as well.

After the show I convinced Marc and Chris Ian to be theater geeks with me and to wait by the stage door for the actors to come out. I was not leaving without a signed program and a close up glimpse of Rupert.

I can't remember which one of them came out first. But...

Angela came out of the theater, and she was a delight! She smiled and talked to everyone and signed any program or poster handed to her. (She did refuse to sign anything not from the show. She didn't want to encourage people who hadn't been at the show and were just glomming on to the awaiting theater crowd.)

Rupert came out (snicker), signed a few programs (mine being the most important) and then waltzed away all by himself, casually down the road. One very handy thing about being in the company of a man who is 6'5" is that he can see over the crowd and when I had lost sight of my darling Rupert was able to spot him immediately strolling down the sidewalk. All. By. Him. Self.

Do you hear me?!

No security.

No friend.

Alone.

Marc suggested that then was my chance to tackle him. I would be lying if I said that the thought was not instantly appealing to me. But then I had a sudden vision of having to call Todd to come bail my out of some precinct in the city. I didn't think he'd find it very amusing...well, not for a few months at least.

I struggled inwardly at my decision to not throw my arms about Ruperts waist at a stampeding run, but then he got in a car at the end of the block and my turmoil was over. The moment had passed and I wasn't going to have to explain any ridiculous behavior to my ever-loving-and-ridiculously-patient husband.

Though I may forever regard Rupert Everett as "the one I let get away".

The oh-so-sassy Chris Ian and Marc waiting by the stage door.
Rupert!!! He signed my program and made eye contact, and yes, Marc, is shorter than you. You still win.

Angela Lansbury!! Also signed my program and looked at me when I told her how delightful she was, and didn't complain about the fact that I was draped across the hood of her waiting car to get said signature. And yes, Marc and Chris Ian continued to hum the "Murder She Wrote" theme song. I wonder if you can get sheet music for that...