Ok, first of all, let me say it was a dynamite event, in spite of the weather. There were some great '70s theme outfits. Barb, John & I wore dashikis, and Paty had a great caftan. One of Paty's nephews wore a gold lame'/tiger-striped jacket, 4-inch platforms (and he was already 6'5"!), a huge afro, bling-blings, and a gold tooth! There were at least three afros. Keri (the bride)'s dad showed up unexpectedly in John Travolta's outfit from Saturday Night Fever. Keri was so surprised she burst into tears. There were thigh-high boots and platforms everywhere. Even Phil's dad--who's a bit of a stick in the mud (and honest, I like the guy) wore a purple shirt and black-and-white harlequin-checked tie.
The wedding was to be held on the shore of Orange Lake in Newberg, NY. Phil has this great apartment that has a huge back lawn that slopes down to the lake, where there are boat docks and jettys. Phil was going to cross the lake in a pontoon boat (this is a BIG lake) to meet Keri and the minister on the near shore. Later, the reception was to be in a tent on Phil's dad's property. But this is where the WEATHER comes in.
The weatherman had been predicting a 30% chance of rain, plus high winds and temperatures in the '40s. Well, the rain held off, but the wind hit in force. Keri was gorgeous in a shoulderless white gown with acres o white skirt, but when the wind hit she looked like a galleon under full sail! It was all she could do to keep from being blown into the lake. Meanwhile, Phil's boat kept being blown back from the pier!! The boat's pilot finally got it close enough that Phil ws able to scramble ashore. They said some short vows, and then--the best man dropped the ring in the grass!
After a short scramble to retrieve tghe ring, Phil couldn't get it on Keri's finger! He even tried licking her finger! She finally grabbed it anc twisted it past her knuckle. Meanwhile, the entire crowd is howling!
Fortuntely, for the reception, hey'd added clear walls with archways onto the tent--which was big enough for a small circus--and that at least cut the wind. They had a live band and a hard dance floor laid on the grass. There was a huge barbecue pit where they were cooking turkey and a side of beef right on the spot. Waiters with trays of appetizers roamed through the crowd. Later on, after we left, they had a bonfire and shot off fireworks. I'm told the party ran on until about 3:30am.
In order for me to get around, we'd brought my black-and-ydllow power scooter, 'the Whizzer'. John--Barb's boyfriend--parked me in a chair at our table and then took the Whizzer away, threatening to sell rides on it. This is a threat I took seriously, be cause one of Phil's fireman buddies had already asked what kind of speed I got out of it.
Later on, John pointed suddenly and said 'Hey, I just saw a kid go by on the Whizzer!', then laughed uproariously when I did a double take to make sure it was still parked where it was supposed fo be.
Unfortunately, the cold was getting to us old farts--especially me. I was wearing THREE shirts and two jackets, and I was STILL shivering and freezing my buns off! So, shortly after dinner we said our congratulations and farewells and made a break for the warmth of the motel. And I manged to retrieve the Whizzer with a minimum of extra mileage on it.
One jarring note--shortly before we left the motel for the wedding, Paty flushed the toilet and it overflowed! Fortunately, she's a fast thinker--she turned off the water to the toilet and threw towels down, then called the desk and repoted the problem. 'Uhh...' came the reply, 'do you want a plunger?'
'No, I want a PLUMBER!' she said. 'We're about to leave for a wedding! I want you to get someone in here!'
When we got back from the wedding some three hours later, to get ready for the reception...you guessed it, the toilet still hadn't been fixed. Paty blew her stack. She went to ghe front desk and read the clerk the riot act. He gave us a different room. And as far as we know, the toilet STILL hasn't been fixed.
On the other hand, the ice in the motel's ice-maker was so delicious I couldn't stop eating it (I'm addicted to chewing ice) and I put on about ten extra pounds in water weight.
On the whole, though, it was a great trip--and the first vacation Paty and I have had in about 20 years. I'll post pictures as soon as Barb gets me some.
[Edited on 15-6-2006 by Dark Bamf]
[Edited on 15-6-2006 by Dark Bamf]