Thurs – July 16th: My cousin Lois picked me up and took me to Ponzio’s for breakfast. Then, we went into Philly and walked around Chinatown, Reading Market, & South Street. I got a mani/pedicure on 4th, after going to the Famous 4th Street Deli and Digital Ferret (music store: got the new Project Pitchfork CD).
Once back in NJ, we picked up Faye (Lois’ sister) and went to Franco’s Place for Panzarotti’s. YUM! It stormed and I got to see lightening!
After dinner, we hung out with Vivienne & Gabriel for a bit, then they headed out. Viv, Gabe & I watched “New in Town” before bed.
Fri – July 17th: Enterprise picked me up at 12pm and I got the rental car to head to Pittsburgh. I had lunch with Susan (Emmett’s mom) at Friday’s, then drove the PA Turnpike (76) for hours!!!
I took a nap at the oldest rest top in the country, then continued my drive. I got to the Marriott around 9:45pm. I passed out in Lyse, KC, Gavin & Heather’s room for a bit before joining everyone downstairs at the bar. Justin invited me to crash in his room at the Sheraton down the street (where I’d have my own bed), and I happily took him up on that!
Sat – July 18th: Justin & I went to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast, then to Walmart, then Dollar Tree, then Marshall’s, then Dress Barn (looking for a jacket for me to go with my dress). Finally found one at Dress Barn! It was super cute!! Justin met up with everyone at the Marriott, and I headed to Gibsonia to meet up with Brooke.
Photographed Brooke & the bridesmaids getting ready, then took pix at the ceremony and some group pix after. I had an amazing time at the wedding! Mike & Brooke looked amazing, and their ceremony was so beautiful! The venue was so serene and secluded!
The ceremony was outdoors and in beautiful weather. Once in the reception, it rained lightly, leaving behind a beautiful rainbow! Later in the night, we saw hundreds of fireflies, a few deer, some bats, and a pretty sunset!
I spent most of the night on the dance-floor and hanging out with Heather, Gavin, Lyse, KC, Ankur, Angela, Mark, Mike W. Nate, Justin, Casey, and the official photographer. I met some great new people too!
After the wedding, we all ended up at Quaker Stake & Lube in Cranberry, PA. We were definitely in Steeler’s Country! I texted Greg, and he told me he’d only been to that bar over a million times! There was some fun karaoke going on and lots of people were drinking giant vats of beer. Crazy times!
Around 2:20am, I headed back to the hotel and Justin came in 40 min later. We looked through pix, and each of us passed out shortly after 3:30am.
Sun – July 19th: Wandered around Pittsburgh in the morning, some some sights: bridges, PNC Park, the Strip, the lookout, downtown… Very cool city! Very beautiful! Met up with Lyse, KC, Angela, Mark, Mike W., Justin, John, & Dave for lunch at Market Square at Primanti’s. I got cheese fries & a rootbeer.
After lunch, KC, Lyse & I headed back down the Turnpike to Cherry Hill, NJ. I saw lots of groundhogs, a few hawks, a deer, hundreds of silos, many barns, and lots of grassy knolls. I slept most of the way back. Lyse drove.
Once back in Cherry Hill, we met up with Viv & Gabe for dinner at Ponzio’s, then went to Sprinkle’s for some frozen yogurt. Back at the house, I imported pix into Lightroom from both weddings, and have been watching Pump Up the Volume on tv. Lyse & KC just went up to bed, and I’m about to crash myself…
Tomorrow, we’re planning to go to the Mutter Museum in Philly, then to Ponzio’s (again) for dinner. I hope to also get some water ice tomorrow night. I head home on Tuesday. I have had such a great vacation! I wish I didn’t have to go back yet, but I do really miss my kitties!!!