Work, Weddings, and other Wildness

I've been a bad blogger recently, so apologies to any of you who have been eagerly awaiting updates on my life. I looked back at my newest post previous to this one and it's dated May 8th, the day before I started work for the Forest Service. Starting work has been a blessing and a curse in that it's wonderful to start working again and putting away money for school this Fall, but dramatically shrunk my free time. Alas, my career as a ski bum and free-lance writer has come to an end. Creative writing quickly took the back burner to more pressing things like sleep, training, church and friend activities, and Denali preparation.

Work has been great so far. Our crew was in a sort of pre-season mode for much of the first couple of weeks since the snow on the ground prevented us from getting very far off the valley floor on system roads. Once underway though we've made a great deal of progress on all our projects. I'm specifically in a semi-leadership position on a small crew that is surveying old logging roads acquired by the Forest Service in the past year. We are to map the roads on a GPS, record any important features along the way, and judge the soil erosion/water management risk level of the road.

The past month has also been a whirlwind of traveling, as is evidenced by my current location: on a hotel bed in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The first big trip cam Memorial Day weekend with a trip to Dallas for my college roommate and good friend's wedding. Marc and Bonni are finally hitched after what seemed like ages of holding off until both had graduated college, amidst two separate years of being apart. It was a giant reunion for my group of friends from ACU and what an incredible joy it was to see familiar faces. It was the hottest day in Dallas/Ft. Worth yet that year (it hit 104 the afternoon of the outside wedding), but we wetted some eyes in a touching ceremony and then burned the house down in a rockin' dance-party reception dinner.

This weekend I am in Los Alamos for another of my best friend's wedding. Nathan and Sarah are some of the coolest people I know: their love for adventure, each other, and God is infectious. I had never been a Best Man before and with the honor came some responsibilities that induced some stress. The other Groomsman and I creatively delivered the ring to the Groom via a frisbee and tradition had it that I gave a toast during the tea-time reception. However, never have I been to a more fun wedding! Everything about it was a great reflection on the type of people Nathan and Sarah are. It was a huge family/friend reunion all over again and my spirit is soaring in the clouds. Just as a heads up, single ladies and aspiring matchmakers alike, I caught the garter...

Abbey Road anyone? Marc, Nathan, and Ryan heading to the baseball stadium, just one part of a sweet Bachelor party.

The Rangers stadium. An interesting conglomeration of the facades and styles of several other ballparks around the Country.

Me and my escort for the Marc's wedding, my good friend Amanda.

First dance!

The groomsmen at Nathan's wedding. I humbly claim that we were the "life of the party..." 

Both weddings were great excuses for reunions. Amanda, myself, Marc, and Bonni.

The debut performance of "The Pickles and the Groomsmen" during the wedding reception. We sang "All I Want is You" from the movie Juno. 

The happy couple with the BM.

The decorated car. We made it as gaudy as possible and hid the keys. With both of them thoroughly confused, Sarah's dad drove up in a new Mini-Cooper for them to drive to Albuquerque.

Saying goodbye in the hotel. 

Tomorrow begins the journey back home, where I will frantically make last minute packing and gear decisions with my dad before we head out to Alaska on Tuesday. Start your "praying engines," because we're going to need them all.