Out with the old

As all good things must come to an end so does my relationship with my trusty steed and machanical sidekick for the past 9 years. I bought Action Jackson (aka my black, 2dr, honda civic) on October 10, 2005. I remember the date vividly because I had to hurry up and rush over to Qualcomm for the Monday night Charger v Steerler game (Steelers won by 2...)

It was my very first new car and the purchasing process was easy peasy. I had already done my research and knew exactly what I wanted. A friend of mine, who dabbles in car sales on the side, was there to help me through the whole transaction. He knew the right Q's to ask, did all the negotiating and all I had to do was sign my name a gazillion times. We were in and out in less than an hour. Thanks Jeff!  

I drove off that lot w/only 4 miles on my car, and sold it almost exactly 9 years later with 102,645. With the exception of a handful of miles when someone else needed to drive my car for one reason or another (mostly alcohol related, safety first!!) I pretty much drove all those miles by myself.

And what a weird concept if you think about it. It's approx 240,000 miles from here to the moon and the circumference of the earth is about 25k. So that would mean distance wise, I've single handedly drove around this planet 4+ times and made it almost half way to the moon (providing there was such an infrastructure to actually allow you to do that). 

Not only did Jackson and I share thousands of miles together, the adventures I've had in that vehicle were priceless. On the West coast we traveled as far north as San Fransico and way down into Baja.  (That car has gone south of the boarder and cruised around Mexico more times than I have ever admitted to my mother.)  Conversely, on the East coast we've traveled as far south as Georgia, up into the great state of Maine.

As sad as I am to have to part with this fine piece of machinery, it was time.  Action Jackson is definately a California car.  And at the time of purchase, I had no intentions of ever living back in the Northeast. But now that I'm here (with no significant plans of changing that anytime soon) and need to drive in ridiculous elements, I need a car that can safely preform in weather. 

KB just bought a new SUV so I bought her Jeep Cheerokee (newer than Jackson w/about 30 k miles less) It was a tough decision but I think it was the right one. And when I need to throw that jeep into 4wd for the 1st time, there will be no question that I made the right decision. 

Besides, if I ever do decide to drive back to California, the jeep will be just perfect for my Mexican road trips :))

Wedding Bliss

Last weekend marked a milestone in the Brooks family.  My younger brother Ryan married his beautiful bride Marissa Baggarly. Congratulations to you both! 

Weddings are always  a blast and fun to attend, but being part of the wedding party is even better.  I can't even remember the last time I was actually in a wedding.  (Karen Roy O'Driscoll maybe? Circa 2004??). Most of my friends have been married with children for years. In fact some, married and divorced, and even married again.  (And the rest of us? Well, that could be a blog in and of itself... )

Weddings are like snowflakes in the sence that no two are exactly the same.  They literally come in all shapes and sizes. Is it an outdoor or indoor wedding? Whats everybody wearing? What's for dinner? Cupcakes or cake? Dj or band? Photo booth? Gifts for the guests? After party?  All things to consider, never exactly the same, and elements that make every wedding special and unique. For those that are interested, here's the 411 on the Brooks/Baggarly Wedding, 9/06/2014...

The wedding party: Giant = 8 bridesmaids and 7 groomsmen. 

The bachelor/ette party:  Boys to New Orleans, Girls to Ocean City, MD. (It was a blast, but one must consider I am at least 10yrs older than most of these girls. Keeping up is never an issue, it's the bouncing back part that I strugglewith.)

The attire:  Boys in black suits, pink shirts, black ties (w/the exception of the groom who wore white shirt/hot pink tie). Girls in black satin dress of their choice (thank you!!!).  Sassy hot pink heels which later transformed to hot pink flippies (thank you!!!).  And we were all armed with a sexy pink and black garter flask to be filled with our liquor of choice (thank you again!!!). 

Rehersal dinner:  Brattleboro Country Club.  Beautiful night, beautiful backdrop, super delish... thanks Jess :)  

Hair and makeup:  Enright in Brattleboro. Girls did a great job, but most of my makeup had melted off by the time of the wedding, it was so stinkin humid. 

Ceremony:  Our Lady of Fatima church in Wilmington,VT.  Beautifully officianated by Father Bernie, aka our Uncle Brian :)

Reception: Jackson Gore Inn at Mt. Snow, where most of us had rooms and spent the night. There was a buffet, Dj, cupcakes, photo booth, open bar, personalized MnM's and can coozies for guests, too many after parties to choose from, and did I hear someone had a bonfire??

So crazy that you take so much time to plan, so many details to consider, spend obscene amounts of money, and it's all over, poof, just like that. But the truth is, it's not all over.  It's only just begun.

  

I couldn't be happier for Ryan and Marissa. Not only are they a ridiculously handsome couple (my family calls them Ken and Barbie) but It's obvious that they are truely in love.  

I'm happy to be part of the Baggarly clan, what a fun bunch and good hearted people. It saddens me that our Dad couldn't physically be there.  But he was definately there in spirit and I know for a fact Jimmy Brooks is damn proud of his son. 

So there you have it folks. It was touching, it was beautiful and it was FUN. Congrats again to the bride and groom!  And it's finally official, Lil' Ry-Guy's all growns up!  Now if we could just get his big sister to do the same... :)