Old Man Cream really works.

After going in the lake yesterday, I'm covered in spots.  I'm itchy.  I'm prickly.  My mother gave me some Old Man Cream (anti-itch something-or-other that smells like menthol and liver spots) and I'll be darned if that stuff doesn't work!  I guess smelling like Grandpa Waddlebutton's kneecaps isn't all that bad after all.

In other news, the river up by Entiat that flows from Silver Falls is a wild and crazy playground if you're a dog who thinks that frolicking in glacial runoff is a great idea.  I can't believe Lucy the Adventure Dog didn't go over a steep edge a few times.  She looked a little surprised to find herself up to her shoulders at one point, but she jumped right back in for more soon after.  We didn't do any sub-zero skinnydipping, this time; there were children present. 

At Grandma and Grandpa's house in Manson, WA

Kelly and Fifi in Grandma's kitchen

We didn't tell Grandma that there was a chicken running loose in her house.  After a day or so though, Grandma bonded with Fifi and started bringing her all over the house with her.  

Chillin' on the back porch

Mamere and Fifi became good friends right away

deflating the air mattress was a group effort

I could have brought the chicken.

Danny jokingly asked Seattle Danny if we could add one Insectivore Plate to our party at the wedding reception.  Turns out, Seattle Danny would have been perfectly happy if we had brought a chicken to his wedding.  Most of the other guests had heard about our traveling chicken (Fifi's fame has spread far and wide) and I was asked repeatedly, "where is the chicken?". 

I could have brought the chicken.

I have decided to learn from this and try harder to get kicked out of a wedding, next time around.

Danny and Alex's beautiful wedding

We found a Starbuck's near the wedding, where we changed out of scampering-around-Seattle clothes and into scampering-around-a-wedding clothes 

Nope.  Not possible to get four people to smile charmingly all at the same time.

Seattle Danny (not to be confused with Texas Danny) used to call me "Chris with a silent 'P'".  Seattle Alex (not to be confused with either of the Texas Alexes) hand-lettered the name cards and the invitations.

That at least clears up one of the potentially-confusing Alexes.

It was really nice to see DJ and his sweet wife Amy, along with a handful of other friends from long ago.

Danny walking up the aisle

Alex and his mom

Seeing these two kiss in public was adorable, because neither one of them is the PDA-type.  It was a positively beautiful ceremony, and extra-interesting because it was the first secular wedding I've been to.  I'm so very happy for Danny and Alex, and for Washington State for finally making their love and commitment to each other legal.

All of the food at the reception was 100% gluten-free, including the cake(s)!

DJ and Annie Oakley

Danny and Alex made gift bags for all of the guests, which included individualized goodies for each guest.  They must have put so much time and energy into doing that!  I got, among other wonderful treats, an Annie Oakley Action Figure.

Danny patching up his third eye

This is my special super-sexy look.  I have to beat people off with a stick when I flash this expression at them.

Mini-Mozart with Annie's mirror and gun

"MEAT!"
Lumpy was beside himself when they slapped down a giant steak in front of him.  I don't think he had ever been served such a gigantic piece of beef before, and he ate almost the entire thing.  

It was too daunting to cut without the assistance of a very strong helper

Kelly was pretty happy about getting to toast with what appeared to be champagne but was actually sparkling cider for the kids

Anna was thrilled to get to have TWO ciders.  There was an extra, apparently, and the waitress let her have it.  

Toasting the happy couple

Steak coma.

Turn the disco light OFF and get ready for bed.

Brief overview of last night through today:

Kelly spent a chunk of the evening with her head attached to a bowl of steaming water, attempting to breathe through the effects of cats and/or hedgehogs.  In the morning when she was feeling a little better, the only critter left who was calm enough to cuddle and not allergenic enough to send her into fits (Fifi) ended up pooping all over her.  Twice.  Kelly is now looking into the possibilities of bonding with a plank of wood.

The car broke.  Something about a hose that attaches something to something else that needs to not leak.  Oh, and a nail.

The ferry ride to Seattle involved the festive tradition of holding a chip up in the air for a seagull to grab out of your hand.  After the first time, some other people on the ferry said "do it again!" so they could get a picture.  We all gave it a try, even after Lumpy was practically devoured by a man-eating seagull (that's his version - mine involves a dose of "you really don't even need a band-aid for that, you know").

Seattle Underground Tour was entertaining - the highlight, as always, was the story about Thomas Crapper and the sewage geysers of Yesteryear Seattle.  I don't have any pictures of people flying into the air propelled by raw sewage, so you'll have to settle for an Engravograph:

We met Kristin and Mike in Pike Place Market, saw the gum wall and the original Starbucks, then went to a less-crowded Starbucks to drink various health tonics.  There was the fabulous map store, and a statue-lady with creepy eyes.  Some amazingly spicy shwarma joined us for a delightful time before we headed back to the ferry.

Starbucks encourages composting in Seattle

Oh, that broken car?  Yeah.  The taxi back to Karen's house cost $60.  Next time I'm going to try to barter with a friendly chicken or something (sorry, Fifi).