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Tuesday, April 12, 2005 · posted at 3:39 AM

To have and to hold. This weekend was my roommate's wedding. Yay. A long-awaited day in many ways and truly a privilege to share in part of this couple's love story.

Seeing as how this was my first "friend" wedding (versus family-friend or co-worker), I thought I'd write a laundry list of lessons... so I can promptly forget them by the time the next wedding (estimated 2007) rolls around.

What I learned from my roommate's wedding weekend:

I left my cell phone at home. The first and last days without it were withdrawal-inducing and proved anti-climactic when I returned to two missed calls and a text message. Apparently I can live without my cell phone and the world can live without me.
Two days without internet is fine, but three is pushing it. I ended up desperately traversing hotels at 5am on the third night searching for a computer with internet access. Which I finally found but it was password-protected!! I felt like I was trapped in a "Got Milk?" commercial... so close yet so far...

The emergency exit aisles of the airplane get an extra 8 inches of leg room. Not that I need that much leg room, but it's not a bad trade-off for the small chance of disaster striking and having to crack open a door.
Trying to sleep on airport terminal seats while in the presence of a fluorescent-clad cheer squad is an impossibility.

Orlando has a 6.5% sales tax.

Californians are spoiled when it comes to the plethora of estheticians. We went to four different salons advertising nail services before finding one that was actually able to do a walk-in mani/pedi. This also happened to be the only time we'd see Asian people during our trip as well.
20 minutes is the amount of time one can walk in the paper sandals before the rocks start breaking through.
4 hours is the approximate time I was able to keep my nails pristine from chipping.

"Indian clothes" is the correct answer to the question "What will everyone else be wearing?" when attending a function with a predominantly Indian audience. I lost count of how many times I heard the phrase, "you must be the bride's roommates."
Placing a bhindi on your forehead is an art - particularly if you have asymmetrical features. The long bhindis versus the round ones makes this task easier.
Every wedding should have a baraat, the groom's processional, where the groom's family sings and dances towards the bride's family. Very West Side Story - minus the tragedy.
There is money to be made at Hindu weddings. This can be accomplished by stealing the groom's shoes or literally standing in the way of the departing couple. Example in the argument for cultural sensitivity: the limo driver tried to "Red Rover" his way through the human chain and was greeted with a tangerine in the windshield.

Every conversation starts with "So how do you know the bride/groom?" or "So when did you get into town?"
There are two things English guys can do like no other:

Drink. For the out of town guests, it was a whole week of Bacchanalia.
Dress. I've never seen pastel on pastel look so damn good.

How to tie a Windsor Knot.
Bhangra and booty music are not too far apart on the music continuum.
You haven't lived until you've seen women in saris, salwars, lenghas, and kurtas doing the Electric Slide...

I cry at weddings.
A s***-load of vodka tonics will make a banshee s***-faced.

All that being said... can't wait for the next one. Anyone? Anyone?



	Tuesday, April 12, 2005 · posted at 3:39 AM To have and to hold. This weekend was my roommate's wedding. Yay. A long-awaited day in many ways and truly a privilege to share in part of this couple's love story. Seeing as how this was my first "friend" wedding (versus family-friend or co-worker), I thought I'd write a laundry list of lessons... so I can promptly forget them by the time the next wedding (estimated 2007) rolls around. What I learned from my roommate's wedding weekend: I left my cell phone at home. The first and last days without it were withdrawal-inducing and proved anti-climactic when I returned to two missed calls and a text message. Apparently I can live without my cell phone and the world can live without me. Two days without internet is fine, but three is pushing it. I ended up desperately traversing hotels at 5am on the third night searching for a computer with internet access. Which I finally found but it was password-protected!! I felt like I was trapped in a "Got Milk?" commercial... so close yet so far... The emergency exit aisles of the airplane get an extra 8 inches of leg room. Not that I need that much leg room, but it's not a bad trade-off for the small chance of disaster striking and having to crack open a door. Trying to sleep on airport terminal seats while in the presence of a fluorescent-clad cheer squad is an impossibility. Orlando has a 6.5% sales tax. Californians are spoiled when it comes to the plethora of estheticians. We went to four different salons advertising nail services before finding one that was actually able to do a walk-in mani/pedi. This also happened to be the only time we'd see Asian people during our trip as well. 20 minutes is the amount of time one can walk in the paper sandals before the rocks start breaking through. 4 hours is the approximate time I was able to keep my nails pristine from chipping. "Indian clothes" is the correct answer to the question "What will everyone else be wearing?" when attending a function with a predominantly Indian audience. I lost count of how many times I heard the phrase, "you must be the bride's roommates." Placing a bhindi on your forehead is an art - particularly if you have asymmetrical features. The long bhindis versus the round ones makes this task easier. Every wedding should have a baraat, the groom's processional, where the groom's family sings and dances towards the bride's family. Very West Side Story - minus the tragedy. There is money to be made at Hindu weddings. This can be accomplished by stealing the groom's shoes or literally standing in the way of the departing couple. Example in the argument for cultural sensitivity: the limo driver tried to "Red Rover" his way through the human chain and was greeted with a tangerine in the windshield. Every conversation starts with "So how do you know the bride/groom?" or "So when did you get into town?" There are two things English guys can do like no other: Drink. For the out of town guests, it was a whole week of Bacchanalia. Dress. I've never seen pastel on pastel look so damn good. How to tie a Windsor Knot. Bhangra and booty music are not too far apart on the music continuum. You haven't lived until you've seen women in saris, salwars, lenghas, and kurtas doing the Electric Slide... I cry at weddings. A s*-load of vodka tonics will make a banshee s*-faced. All that being said... can't wait for the next one. Anyone? Anyone?	Recent Posts Troy: See Lainy, this is all we need. A couple of ... The past is a foreign country. So as much as I lo... Me (researcher): I'm trying to get an idea of how ... You know it's bad when you hear, "Man, I don't env... If you woke up tomorrow and your world was perfect... Raise your hand if you're sure. I got another acce... The age of invention. Sliced bread. Lipgloss tha... Star Search. There is a huge difference between g... I get so weak in the knees... I was sitting in th... gambling makes funRound 3 question: What is a sure... Morning news babie goose ryan bluemouse daves son dawntaught desiree diorama emily escadawg galveric high entropy invisible cube jepgato kyellow lilly mhuang mogbert nudream starfish + coffee verbivore Archives March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 January 2007 March 2007 April 2007 November 2008

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