Vancouver Week 1 - Seattle for the day

Its 4:45am and im waking up.  why am i waking up, i just went to bed a few hours ago! but whatever, its the plan.  i get out of bed and realize that theres no time to shower.  i look at my hair and make sure its somewhat acceptable.  it is.  obviously.  im a perfect human being.  i look great.   i put on my all black three button suit with a black shirt and turquoise tie.  don don would definitely think im good enough for a poke. 

im about to put my black dress shoes on but i opted for the red saucony sneakers.  i have to walk 3 miles to the quick shuttle pick up.  so i pack my bag with my dress shoes, rain jacket, and my passport.  im going to seattle today.  

i start speed walking in the pitch black vancouver towards the shuttle stop.  i really wish i could have taken a bus to the shuttle stop but alas, i pick the time where the buses arent running at all.  im glad i took fitness walking for my PE at NC State because it is really coming into hand.  i get there at 5:40 so i had time to stop in a shop for some water.  the shuttle picked us up at 5:55.  the shuttle ride wasnt bad, it was your typical school trip bus with a bus driver who thought he was a comedian.  the only time he was funny was when he was explaining that he and the other passengers would form a vicious mob to destroy anyone who would mess up the customs procedures when we crossed the border.  i giggled while everyone else failed to pay attention.

the shuttle was supposed to arrive at the best western in downtown seattle at 9:15 am, giving me ample time to catch a cab to the church.  oh, justin harvey is getting married today! thats where im going.  

its 9:15, and i cant even see the downtown yet.  come on, mr hilarious bus driver, move it.  

finally the shittle arrives at 9:45.  i run in the best western to withdraw cash from the ATM.  im pissed about how late i am and the $3.25 fee to withdraw money out of this piece of shit ATM was the cherry on top of my ill kill you sunday.  someone needs to give me a freaking break here please come on please.

well i caught one, right as i walk outside, a taxi rolled by and i hailed it.  he sped like crazy so i could get there on time.  of what i could see out the window, seattle looked like a pretty cool city.  we arrived at the church, i gave him the fare and frenched him. 

i run up the stairs and fling open the door and bolt in (thinking that ill have at least a foyer or hallway to catch my breathe and collect myself), however, there is no foyer or hallway, just a wedding staring at me as if going to yell "fire!" or "stuff is free of there! COME ON, LETS GET THAT FREE STUFF!" 

its 9:59 am.  goody yay.  it hasnt started yet.  i walk over to the back corner and grab a seat next to these people that looked my age.  the guy and gal sitting right beside me look at me and curiously ask, "what the hell have you been running from?"

i laugh and share my little adventure story and that i was so lucky to make it on time.  all of a sudden, the guy beside them, on the other side, peers around and asks, "are you graham?"  i of course respond with, "yes" (because that is the correct answer to that certain question) that was nathan, he was going to let me stay at his house but i had already reserved a shuttle ride back that very night.  the other two introduced themselves.  luke and anna.  they were nice.  luke went to mars hill with jussy.

the wedding was starting so we had to stop talking.  the wedding was really small (about 30 or so) but really beautiful.  it was awesome seeing jussy up there, i was trying to remember the last time that i saw jussy.  its been too long.  the service was great.  there were two pastors.  one giant man leading the service and one lady with crocs on with her robe served communion to jussy and skye.  

after the wedding, everyone went downstairs to the reception.  the reception had brunch food since it was an early wedding.  ill just say that the scones with strawberry jam and sweet whip cream was AWESOME.  but when i was looking at the scones, all i wanted was a bojangles chicken biscuit.  gimme that biscuit. 

i sat at a 7 person table with luke and anna, and two other couples.  i was the 7th wheel.  it was great.  it was a lot of fun chatting with everyone and visiting with jussy.  i got to meet skye but i didnt get a chance to really talk to her and get to know her.  but they were so busy entertaining everyone.  

while eating, jussys relative (uncle or granddad) came by the table to talk and with a super thick southern accent said, "ya cane ahways tell uh virginian cuz wheneva tha elbow is bendin', the mouth is openin' hehaheha"

the table didnt understand at all.  then all 6 of them looked at me to translate.  well i kind of understood but wasnt 100% sure.  im used to the thick southern accent, but that was hard to make out even for me.  however, knowing it was supposed to be a joke, the table just laughed along to escape another awkward minute.

the groom and bride getaway was great because jussy and skye rode off in matching red scooters.  

ok time out for a minute:  this drunk white guy has decided to invite himself to the table beside mine in the coffee shop.  the table beside consists of two gentlemen from the middle east.  im not sure where.  however, this drunk white guy is explaining that hes everything.  that hes native american and he starts listing different tribes.  one of the guys at the table laughs and says, "you arent redskin, you are a white man" and the drunk white guys responds with, "hey dude, i can be arab too, i mean look at this nose...eh? eh?....we are brothers man!"

ok game on.

so jussy and skye ride off with their matching scooters.  gimme that scooter.

its 12:15pm and my shuttle doesnt leave until 7:30 pm.  i have to figure out what im going to do for the rest of the day.  luckily, luke and anna, finding out that i have nothing to do, offer for me to hang with them the rest of the day.  excellent.

we go back to their place and rest up for a bit.  we watch some olympic rowing and end up taking a nap for about an hour or so.  that was nice.  

i told them that i didnt want to mess up their day so we could do whatever they were going to do.  back to school shopping!!! this was really cool because i got to go to some shops and see some of seattle.  we go into some thrift stores, chai houses, and a pizza joint.  i bought their pizza to pay them back for letting me hang for the day.  

they were kind enough to drop me off at the best western so i could catch my shuttle.  the shuttle was actually a little early so that was cool.  the drive back as way better because it was super fast.  the customs procedures getting into canada were way faster than getting into the US.  $50 bucks round trip from vancouver to seattle. cant beat that.  

i get home around 11ish and start talking to dakota online.  thats one thing that her and i can share while living on the west coast.  we can talk to each other on the internets while the east coast babbies are asleep.  karibbean is probably dreaming of not mouth kissing a girl but rather having a BZL tea party.  

oh, by the way, about the canadian tipping etiquette.  i was totally wrong.  remind me that i owe that laddy some tip monies the next time i see her.  apparently they tip around 15% here.  thanks googles.