Not unexpectedly, i haven't had any time to post since returning from Pittsburgh. Immediately upon arriving at SFO at 11:30am on Friday July 30, Veronica picked me up and put me to work getting things ready for our wedding the following Thursday. First task: finish the covers for our CD favors that i'd been slowly generating over the last few months. They ended up coming out great and got rave reviews at the reception. Have a look! I also laid out the program in Powerpoint, as well as the seating cards for the tables. Luckily Dionne and Michelle arrived that evening to expand our work force, which was already bolstered by Veronica's mom Arlene. Ana was also there for intermittent distractions. That Saturday V and the girls headed to the city for her bachelorette party, while i hung out with V's cousin Naomi's boyfriend Geoff, Naomi's cousin Joey, Ana and Arlene, and played some Mario Kart. Ana took a quick liking to the game, but got frustrated at my consistent victories before losing it around 12:30am. However, after much practice in the last week she's now a respectable competitor.

I had to work a half day that Monday, mainly to prepare a talk that i'd absentmindedly agreed to give that Tuesday in Sacramento. That went well, although i was a bit annoyed that in the end i drove 2 hours to give a 30 minute talk and drive 2 hours back. Bright side: at least i missed traffic. The next day we continued our frenzied work before heading to Fremont and the rehearsal dinner/Ana's birthday party thrown by my parents. Carne asada, guacamole, and lots of other tasty morsels were served, and Ana got to gloat after victory in Pin The Tail On The Donkey and then beat a piñata senseless. Matthew spied a decades-old soccer ball lost in the bushes, which i retrieved so he, Sean, and Gary could kick it around a bit. Bad idea. Not long after breaking one of my dad's sprinkler heads, Gary pulled up lame while walking up to kick the ball. We'd all though he'd just twisted his ankle, but he quickly let us know that it was serious. Feeling his Achilles tendons, the right one quite normally felt like a taut rope under the skin, but the left felt like two limp strings. Uh oh. My sister Emily was kind enough to take him to the emergency room at Washington Hospital. I relieved her around 10:30, and found out he'd partially torn his Achilles. He was issued crutches and vicatin and told to see an orthopedic surgeon asap. Surgery is tomorrow. But despite this he made it to the wedding the next day, even picking up Rudha, Rob, Greg, and Greg's dj equipment, and hobbled down the aisle as was his groomsman right.

Despite last minute panics, the event came off wonderfully. The girls all looked fabulous, but Veronica rightfully stole the show with her awesome hair. makeup, and dress. What every groom hopes to see approaching him down the aisle. Michael put together a brief ceremony that came together nicely. I achieved my goal of making Veronica tear up during my vows. We then took some photos with our great photographer Dave before being announced by Greg and having our first dance, to "Breathless" by Adorable (a great pick by Veronica). Dinner by Shai's catering was scrumptious, and then we danced away. The highlight was Michael and i clearing the dance floor to skank to "Little Bitch" by The Specials. Unfortunately everyone then told me that Michael put me to shame, and it's evident in this photo: his knees are twice as high as mine! I can't defend myself, i was dying 3/4 of the way through the song.

We reconnoitered to the Berkeley Marina Doubletree before heading to Popscene in the city, where DJ Jeremy had put us all on the guest list. We got a good hour of dancing and drinking in, with Veronica and i still in our wedding duds, as were most of the bridesmaids. Those sissy groomsmen all changed into casual attire though. Just kidding guys, you were great.

All in all, a truly memorable wedding. I have to give Veronica endless praise for being the mastermind behind the whole affair ... she worked tirelessly to make it the event it was. And thanks to all who participated and attended ... we love you all and are happy we had a chance to show you.

The rest of the weekend was spent with Alan, Arlene, and Ana, including a trip to the California Academy of Sciences in its new temporary location on Howard in Soma. Not a bad intermediate site, while the truly impressive new Academy is constructed in Golden Gate Park. Ana also got to further develop her Mario Kart skills. We opened gifts with my family in Fremont, reorganized our kitchen, and had several nice Alan-prepared meals. I was a bit sad to see them leave on Monday.

Does being married feel different? To me, yes. There is a renewed sense of commitment ... i want Veronica to feel that we are at a new level, and not just back to the same ol' same ol' after the climax of the wedding. I said it in my vows, and i meant it, and will mean it until Veronica and i are soaking our dentures while sitting in rocking chairs on the porch.