Hola Amigos! This Is Where I've Been.

How the hell are you? I'm dandy, thanks for asking. It's turned into a glorious summer after all. Mother Nature must have been listening to all your bitching about Juneuary because it's been nothing but sunny skies for weeks on end.

I have a tan, my hair is blonder than usual thanks to the sun and swimming in the ocean, and wouldn't you know it, I look at least 15 lbs lighter {whether that is true or not is something I don't care to know - the scale has been banished}.

Our summer ritual includes a road trip to the east Kootenays, where my family comes from. It's a trip "home", though it was never really my home. When I cross the time zone, I can feel something in my heart lift.  The landscape changes from mountains to desert to mountains again and I feel like I am coming home. When I see the signs that say "Jaffray: Unincorporated", my spirits rise higher and higher until I see my first glimpse of Tie Lake and I'm really and truly home.

We detoured to Rossland for two days because our friend Sean got married at Red Mountain. We enjoyed sharing a condo with our friends Jeff and Carly and their two adorable daughters...lots of laughs catching up over wine. We swam in Nancy Greene lake, and had a hilarious time at the wedding, which was absolutely beautiful. It was SO lovely to see old friends and celebrate something as amazing as love....but on the Sunday, I was anxious. Anxious to get moving...anxious to get "home".

The last few summers there have been a lot of fun. We have shared our special place with various friends and it's been party times at the cabin. This year was quieter, just me, James, my parents and our respective fur children. It was restful and peaceful. It was 10 days of reading, walking, swimming, eating, and pink gins on the dock. I forgot I had a job. I forgot I had another life to come back to. I forgot...everything...in my blissed out state.

The morning we left, I took a long hot shower in our outdoor shower. I watched the sun come up over the mountains as I washed my hair, and the mists gently rise off the lake as the heat of the day started to settle in.

I felt my heart start to tear into two. I did not want to leave. This place will always bring me peace. It's so incredible and I love it with all of my heart, so much so, that leaving nearly puts me into the depths of despair I wanted to head down to the dock and hanging on for dear life. As I drove away, my eyes greedily took in everything, as if it was a place I'd never see again. But it's not so, I will see it again.....next year. Always next year (until we sell it, which will actually break my heart).

Happily, I had much to look forward to. Our return roadtrip wasn't taking us home quite yet....we were heading to Vancouver, the city of glass, for my little brother's wedding.

MY LITTLE BROTHER GOT MARRIED, Y'ALL!!!

We spent a crazy, hectic, but fun 4 days in our rented Yaletown condo {The Dolce}, which we shared with my parents {Yes, there was a LOT of parental time on this vacation}. We threw a rehearsal dinner the day after I got in that was fabulous {even though that morning I was in a mood to cut someone}. We saw friends Jon and Diana and their new babe Aeneas in their funky cool False Creek condo. We ate Oysters and drank wine with Vicky. My mom and I had mani/pedi's and I got toe bling because I suck at speaking Engrish.

And then the day of the wedding was upon us! I was a bridesmaid, so I headed over bright and early to the Rosewood Hotel Georgia to get my hair did, drink some bubbles, and oh you know, cut the brides dress with scissors {most terrifying moment of my life...but it was too long...so.....a sister in law's gotta do what a sister in law's gotta do!}.

Watching my little brother get married was surreal. I mean, just yesterday, he was the little shit running after me, trying to kick me with his rollerblades. Or the little boy who bravely soldiered through his older sisters games of playing dress up {usually involving make up and fancy dresses}. Or the boy, turned a sometimes difficult teenager, turned man...who has, in the past 7 years, become a friend to not only my friends, but to me. Somewhere in his early 20's, the four and a half year age difference became moot.

My brother is an incredible person. He is different than me. Less easy going, more focused, more driven than I am. I am a peacemaker, he is a wavemaker. He is someone I am proud to know, and someone I am proud to love. And he married the love of his life in an absolutely GORGEOUS ceremony, that both James and I were honored to be a part of.

From the Anglican nuptials to the Korean tea ceremony, to the glamorous reception at the Vancouver Art Gallery, it was truly a day to be remembered. Filled with love, laughter and celebration. It was a day I will never EVER forget and an amazing way to end fantastic holiday.

Acting CASUAAAAAAAL

And that, my friends, is where I have been.