Ever since moving to Doha, America has called my name more times than I thought it would. Whether it is for conferences, graduations, or in this case weddings. I was lucky enough to be invited to the wedding of Miss Erin Lavey (now Erin Andrews...but not the one you are thinking of) and Mister Kyle Andrews. Not only was I invited but I had my second go-around as a "Bridesman" along with Brennan Biddle and Mister Michael Shea Kelly. While I was in the US I figured it would be a good idea to spend some time at home so I made a little trip of it.
The trip started with visiting my parents on Long Island for Easter. Brandon was able to work from home a few days so we had a long weekend together in Massapequa. It was great having some quality time with them, much less rushed than my previous visits home had been. While I was home I had the chance to catch up with fiends, family, and even my high school guidance counselor (many of whom I had not seen in over a year). Felt great to be back on the old stomping grounds but things really got going once I arrived in Austin.
I got to Austin on a Wednesday morning. I was picked up at the airport by Erin, Kyle, and Brennan. Once in the car we went immediately to the cowboy boot and hat warehouse. I picked out my attire for the rest of the week, a pair of brown cowboy boots and white cowboy hat. It was perfect. After a few hours Kristal arrived from New Zealand (some 33 hours of travel to get there...and with a smile on her face no less) and we could properly begin celebrating. The first big story from the trip was the Air BnB room that Kristal and I stayed in. We have used Air BnB on nearly even trip we have taken and have had great experiences. This time we couldn't find a private apartment or home so we rented a room in a house of two girls, Iris and Hope. They were incredibly kind, had a quaint little house, but the decorations were a bit odd. The entire
house was covered in Dia de lost Muertos dolls, which was fine enough until we got to the bedroom. Over the closet door, written in chalk was REDRUM (shout-out to Jack Nicholson). I even tried to erase it before Kristal arrived so it wouldn't freak her out, and it wouldn't erase. The rest of the week we referred to it as the "Murder" room and actually did stay there. We survived two nights before checking in to our cabin with the rest of the crew for the wedding.
Speaking of the wedding, Erin and Kyle have set the bar incredibly high for any future wedding I attend. Not only was this a 2 day, 2 night affair...they also had a food truck serve on sight, had a full catered BBQ from Salt Lick, had us float the river the day of the rehersal, had corn hole and ladder golf, had cabins for all the guests, and Erin even wore Cowboy boots with her wedding dress!!! It was incredible. Not only was the wedding a huge hit but it was the first time in YEARS that myself, Matt, Brennan, and Shea were all in the same place. Brennan, I get to see all the time. But Shea and Matt?!?! It had been too long. I wish the wedding could have lasted a week, but like all other good things it came to an end.
After Austin, Kristal and I made our way back up to NY to start celebrating her birthday week. Her birthday was May 6th so we figured might as well start the celebrations in NY! We had dinner with Uncle Bill and Aunt Eileen, we made dinner for my parents, we visited vineyards and farm stands, we saw the statue of liberty, we rode a broadway bus through times square, and even trucked through freezing rain and winds all day in NYC!!!! Kristal, being the small town girl that she is, just LOVES New York City and it was so much fun watching her light up even when the weather was miserable. It was a huge contrast from the hot and humid Austin we had been in days before. As our time in NY came to a close it was time for Kristal to head off to Minnesota and me to make my way back to Doha.
I am so privileged and thankful for being able to visit home as much as I have and still be part of the lives of friends and family back in the states. It was an amazing trip and definitely made me miss home and the people that are there. My hope is to come home from the Christmas holidays next and do my best to see people I didn't get the chance to see while I was stateside this time. My next adventures on this side of the world are taking a group of students to Oman for an Outward Bound trip next week (http://www.outwardboundoman.com/), followed by a potential visit to Egypt to visit the one and only Amrou Kotb as he finishes his time in Cairo. Thanks for checking in and until next time!!!
The trip started with visiting my parents on Long Island for Easter. Brandon was able to work from home a few days so we had a long weekend together in Massapequa. It was great having some quality time with them, much less rushed than my previous visits home had been. While I was home I had the chance to catch up with fiends, family, and even my high school guidance counselor (many of whom I had not seen in over a year). Felt great to be back on the old stomping grounds but things really got going once I arrived in Austin.
I got to Austin on a Wednesday morning. I was picked up at the airport by Erin, Kyle, and Brennan. Once in the car we went immediately to the cowboy boot and hat warehouse. I picked out my attire for the rest of the week, a pair of brown cowboy boots and white cowboy hat. It was perfect. After a few hours Kristal arrived from New Zealand (some 33 hours of travel to get there...and with a smile on her face no less) and we could properly begin celebrating. The first big story from the trip was the Air BnB room that Kristal and I stayed in. We have used Air BnB on nearly even trip we have taken and have had great experiences. This time we couldn't find a private apartment or home so we rented a room in a house of two girls, Iris and Hope. They were incredibly kind, had a quaint little house, but the decorations were a bit odd. The entire
house was covered in Dia de lost Muertos dolls, which was fine enough until we got to the bedroom. Over the closet door, written in chalk was REDRUM (shout-out to Jack Nicholson). I even tried to erase it before Kristal arrived so it wouldn't freak her out, and it wouldn't erase. The rest of the week we referred to it as the "Murder" room and actually did stay there. We survived two nights before checking in to our cabin with the rest of the crew for the wedding. Speaking of the wedding, Erin and Kyle have set the bar incredibly high for any future wedding I attend. Not only was this a 2 day, 2 night affair...they also had a food truck serve on sight, had a full catered BBQ from Salt Lick, had us float the river the day of the rehersal, had corn hole and ladder golf, had cabins for all the guests, and Erin even wore Cowboy boots with her wedding dress!!! It was incredible. Not only was the wedding a huge hit but it was the first time in YEARS that myself, Matt, Brennan, and Shea were all in the same place. Brennan, I get to see all the time. But Shea and Matt?!?! It had been too long. I wish the wedding could have lasted a week, but like all other good things it came to an end.
After Austin, Kristal and I made our way back up to NY to start celebrating her birthday week. Her birthday was May 6th so we figured might as well start the celebrations in NY! We had dinner with Uncle Bill and Aunt Eileen, we made dinner for my parents, we visited vineyards and farm stands, we saw the statue of liberty, we rode a broadway bus through times square, and even trucked through freezing rain and winds all day in NYC!!!! Kristal, being the small town girl that she is, just LOVES New York City and it was so much fun watching her light up even when the weather was miserable. It was a huge contrast from the hot and humid Austin we had been in days before. As our time in NY came to a close it was time for Kristal to head off to Minnesota and me to make my way back to Doha.
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