Current mood:	productive
Current music:	"Heavy" by Collective Soul

One Hell of a Weekend
Saturday was awesome. It reminded me just how much it is possible to fit into a day off, one on which you do not work at the Renaissance Festival. The day included a long, leisurely breakfast with friends, a nap, a beautification session in front of the World Cup, a wedding, and a night out at a club listening to really good rock bands. Chaz and ladychevalier stayed with us, which was definitely a highlight; the four of us never get quite as much time to hang out together as we'd all like.

michaelsproject and scarletravynn's wedding was beautiful. It was the second wedding I've been to this year that, in defiance of the weather forecast, didn't get rained out. The ceremony was held at the edge of Pine Lake, next to the gazebo. The favors were white fans, which were very appropriate gifts, since the clouds were thick with the humidity of the rains that would fall later that night. However, the sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day for an outdoor ceremony.

With all the Rennies in attendance, it was a glorious fashion parade, since Rennies love to dress up and do it very well. Each guest had his or her own take on "summer formal," and everyone looked great! Bettina had a wide-brimmed hat, Amy wore an Indian pantsuit (used to know the word for it but have forgotten), Lynn and I both opted for 20's-inspired frocks, elliedee had a modified bellydancer look going on, merryfaerie and rebelliousrose both sparkled; everybody made an effort, is what I'm saying. Oh, and almost all of the Rennie women were sporting elaborate ear jewelry from Wylie's Woven Wire. That made me giggle.

As nice as we all looked (with special props to the bridesmaids in their red halter dresses; I can't believe how much Jenny has grown since the last time I saw her), no one could hold a candle to scarletravynn, whose dress had been made especially for her by captnsparrow and Bettina, so it fit perfectly. She looked lovely, like a fairytale princess.

The ceremony combined spiritual traditions from Pagan, African, and Jewish religions. Some I had seen before (handfasting, the breaking of the glass), and some I had not (jumping the broom). michaelsproject and scarletravynn wrote their own vows, which were beautiful and heartfelt and which made me cry. I felt like I knew them better after the ceremony than I ever had before. All day yesterday I found myself reflecting on their vows and thinking about the differences between my wedding ceremony and theirs and my relationship and theirs. We talk about love as though it's the same for everyone, but really, it wears so many different faces. As long as it is present, and its value appreciated, that's the important thing.

After the ceremony, we all walked up to the clubhouse for the reception. We got drinks and talked; I sat at a table with Cathy and Charles, whom I knew, Nancy, whom I knew a little, and three friends of Nancy's, whom I didn't know at all. They called themselves "the ex-wife contingent," and I thought it was really cool that they were there. Aren't modern weddings great? After michaelsproject and scarletravynn were announced, we ate (an amazing Creole buffet prepared by scarletravynn's father), and then the Zydeco band started up. Now, I once took a class in Cajun and Zydeco dancing, and I remember all the Cajun dance steps, but I can't remember how to correctly dance to Zydeco. At first, I tried to do a two-step, but it's too fast. I did remember that Zydeco was kind of dirtier than Cajun; you dance really close together. Anyway, Mark Zohn and I faked our way through something, and it was really fun to dance with him again; it had been a while. I was having a lot of fun, but I had to leave early because droid18's band was about to go on at Club 29, and I'd promised that I wouldn't miss their first ever Atlanta gig. So, as it was getting on towards 9:00, I gathered up my purse, said goodbye to everyone, and headed out the door, but I stopped when I realized my hands didn't feel full enough. Then I remembered that my guitar was under the piano bench and that the reason it was there was so that I could play a song! scarletravynn had specifically asked me to play at the reception, so I had written a song for her and michaelsproject, but it was clear that that wasn't supposed to happen yet. But I couldn't miss the gig! So, feeling like an ass, I had to bother the bride and groom, force the band to take an early break, and play my song so that I could then turn around and leave. "Here ya go, happy wedding, 'bye!"

I wish I could have stayed for more of the reception; the party was just getting started when I left. I am anxiously awaiting reports on any drunken shenanigans and/or hook-ups I might have missed, the dancing, the drum circle, and the taste of the delicious-looking cake, which karmakeys informed me hid a different flavor in each of its white-frosted layers.

The Speechless gig at Club 29 went really well, and I arrived exactly 5 minutes before they started. Perfect! The guys were all at the tops of their respective games, and droid18's drum solo was perfect - just long enough without being too much, made all the more impressive by his seamless transition into the opening of the next song. YEAH!!! I love to watch him play. As we've been discussing in my depressed entries from last week, it is easy for artists to forget that they have intrinsic value as human beings separate from their talent (and their compulsion to wreak that talent upon an unsuspecting public), but, the thing is, it is also true that that talent is indeed valuable and that to not use it feels like a waste. Drumming feeds a part of droid18 that exists solely to do that. Behind the drum kit, he's happy, completely at home, and totally in control, and, on top of that, he seems to blend with what he's playing, to become the music. It's not like the beats are an extension of him, but the place where music comes from comes down to meet him, and he reaches up to shake its hand, and that's what makes it happen. It's a special thing.

I expected to see Speechless put on a great show, but I liked the band that followed, too. I think they were called the Mic Levine band. They played hooky pop/rock. They called up some guest artists, and that was really cool, to get to hear so many local people in one night. I've been feeling out of touch with the local scene, so this was the perfect opportunity to hear what's been going on. I finally got to meet Lindsay Rakers. I also met a friend of droid18's who is starting an all girl punk rock band that needs a singer, and that seems like a promising possibility. Finally, I met the guy who does the booking for the club and talked to him about booking the Lindsay Smith band. Finally, things seem to be moving forward! Excellent.

'Course, the only thing about an action-packed Saturday like that is that you need your entire Sunday just to recover. Luckily, droid18 and I had no plans other than some minor errands (most of which we blew off), so we lazed around the house all day, making several unsuccessful attempts to get out of bed before we finally did, only to collapse on the couch and watch TV. I feel some remorse about having wasted the day, as I am still very behind on all of my life goals. However, droid18 and I have both been needing a day to relax, so I'm glad we got one. We slept so much yesterday that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep last night, but I was worried for nothing. If there were a championship for sleep, I feel certain I would be a contender.