One: Well, the Royal Wedding has finally taken place! I will say, in the time leading up to yesterday, I had felt kind of like, "You know, this is probably what DVR and the internet are for - to make it so no one has to wake up at four AM anymore just to see a television event." (Clearly, I had forgotten about the World Cup. But sporting events are different, right?) But anyway, eventually Carrie and I discovered that the actual wedding didn't start until six. And Reverend Anne, who despite being born and raised in Africa has a deep personal connection to all things British, was really excited about the whole thing, and really wanted Carrie and me to come watch it with her.
So we did, arriving at her house at five-thirty. We ate a fairly lavish breakfast (in my case, it was mango cobbler, wheat buns, and lots of decaf tea, but I could also have had some reheated crepes, Yorkshire pudding, and/or lots of regular tea) and gave most of our attention to the wedding and the rest to the flock of Kennedylets, at least half of whom were essentially oblivious to what was going on. And then the kids went off to play, and the three of us hung around and talked to Matt and amongst ourselves and watched a little more of the commentary and waited to see the balcony appearance. All in all, it was definitely more social and fun than my trying to watch it alone on a website livefeed would have been, and I am glad I went. ...Oh, and also, Princess Kate's dress looked thoroughly lovely. As did she, though that's not a surprise, since as far as I can tell she's just a lovely-looking person.
Two: All that said, if you feel like praying that neither Carrie nor I comes down with the latest chez-de-les-Kennedy stomach virus (seriously, I love those kids, but, as I've tried to describe to a few people before, do all of you who went to public elementary school remember that kid - every class must have one - who could always be counted on to throw up at the slightest provocation? At least two of the Kennedy kids appear to be like that), we will surely appreciate your goodwill.
Three: Anyway, I also haven't written since the beginning of Holy Week, which was good. Saturday night was the best part: not only is Easter Vigil my favorite service of the whole year (guys, for real: it starts in the dark, we light a fire in a biggish bowl on the altar, there's an epic and beautiful chanted song, and we get to rejoice that Christ is risen because in the ancient world Saturday night was really the start of Sunday morning), but afterwards Carrie and I had some people back to our house for fondue and other tasty treats. Both events were joyous and fun.
Four: Also, here was the practically-perfect moment I had last Saturday: during its pleasant and sunny midafternoon, I went out to Nezuntoz, bought myself a delicious hot roast-beef sandwich (which had on it, among other things, mild banana peppers, which I discovered this semester that I really like) and a drink, sat in the corner (the sun coming through the big glass window and falling across the table), and, while having this late lunch, began the even-more-delicious first chapter (well, prologue, really) of the fantastic Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy Sayers, the last in her Peter Wimsey detective-story series. I'd conveniently forgotten my phone (not that anyone needed me, which was just as well), and everything was great, and I hope the café staff couldn't see me grinning and probably reading under my breath (probably in badly-imitated British accent), though they probably could.
Five: And then there was Sunday: I went over to Aunt Cathy's for a nice Easter dinner with her and Jay and my parents, followed by a trip back to Syracuse, where my mom and I lounged around and watched a TLC reshowing, now with added commentary, of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding (done in a style reminiscent of Pop-Up Video, with little factoid bubbles). And my indulgent mother presented me with, as Easter candy, a bag of Lindt dark-chocolate truffles, eating three of which is basically the nutritional equivalent of consuming an entire Snickers bar. (Or should that be "equivalent to"? I am sure that at least one of you knows, or will find out.)
Six: And as though all that feasting weren't enough, on Monday afternoon I went to Rochester and had take-out Chinese (well, sort of - what do you call take-out Chinese that you eat at the restaurant?) with Julie, Glenn, and Matt, the latter of whom was back temporarily from his relief work in Haiti. It was a good time with them, and I still miss Rochester - and, oh my gosh, the guy near my old neighborhood, the one who's basically tried to recreate a miniaturized medieval German castle-type scene in his front yard, appears to be in better form than ever. Next time I pass by it, I will try hard to take a picture so I can show most of you what I mean.
Seven: I have, I think, about twelve research papers to grade before Tuesday. They are the only ones I received from among the thirty-sevenish students who are still officially enrolled, though at least half of them shouldn't be, given that they haven't come regularly since before midsemester. But the hardest part of grading, of course, is starting.
And with that, I think I'm going to take a nap - if you want more quick takes to read while I'm asleep, check out the series's founder, Jen!