Shinjuku Night and Earthquake, Tokyo 2016

After the show on Monday, we went to dinner in Shinjuku. Kevin had looked up some ramen recommendations so we went to Fuunji. Probably we should have gotten the tsukemen (the dipping noodles) instead because that's what they're most known for, but we got the ramen. We ordered the special ramen from a vending machine by the entrance and then gave our tickets to the chef when we sat down at the bar. Everyone sits at the bar and we decided not to wait for three seats together so Andrew- who eats ramen like a Japanese man now- volunteered to sit by himself and was done in half the time it took us.

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Kevin and me in Shinjuku

Fuunji Restaurant

Vending machine choices

Eating my ramen at the bar

I also got extra seaweed and an egg

Kevin ordered different ingredients

After dinner, we coordinated with Chow via Line App to meet up with him and his wife Marci at a little hidden fancy bar called Ben Fiddich (ベンフィディック pronounced in Japanese Ben Fi-dick). It was a cool bar and it was really fun to chat with them for awhile. Everybody ordered delicious whiskeys.

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Chow and Marci on their honeymoon!

Discussing whiskey choices

Then the room started shaking. I asked tentatively if we were having an earthquake. No one seemed worried except me. I was very worried. Then everyone's cellphones started beeping with an earthquake alert. Um, too late. We were on the 9th floor and the buildings are built to bend and not break so it felt very real. It was a 5.6 on the Richter Scale. So that happened.

Cheers!

Cory and Robin's Wedding 2010

Robin and Cory started dating in 2003, after meeting at job where she was temping and he was interning. I met them in 2006, shortly after Kevin and I started dating.

Picture from when I met Robin for the first time, October 2006

Robin and Cory's wedding took place at the Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast in Virgina. The ceremony was outdoors on beautiful Saturday afternoon. The ceremony was very touching, and Kevin and I were both thrilled to participate in the wedding. Kevin was a groomsman, and the bride and groom had the significant others of the wedding party come down the aisle right before the wedding party came down the aisle. And I believe that our best friends' loved ones are our family too. So it's fitting.

Bridal party and spouses


Everyone, yay!

Everything was very personalized. Robin's sister designed the wedding invitations and the design on the wedding favor mugs. On top of that, she brought back lovely pashminas from Turkey for all the ladies. I have worn mine every day since the wedding. I chased around the server carrying cheese rangoon during the cocktail hour for seconds, and oh, fourths. I have seen photo booths at weddings before, but the booth attendants put copies of the photos directly in an scrap book and guests signed next to their photos. Best guestbook ever.

Lukas and Kevin gave beautiful and funny speeches at the reception.  (Sadly, Jinsoo did not give a speech.)  And I loved when Robin and Cory danced, Cory's parents danced, and Robin's parents danced all at the same time. Almost as beautiful as when Dancing Queen came on and all of the UVA men ran out to the dance floor and sang and danced together while the UVA Wives Club stood back and watched transfixed.

Congratulations Robin and Cory!

Bachelor Parties Woo! 2010

For all the things my wife complains about, you would think she would object to my attending three bachelor parties in fifty days, but she doesn't complain about this. To her everlasting credit, she understands how important it is for me and my Brown College friends to gather every few weeks to eat steaks and ride inflatable water slides.

Cory's bachelor party was in Vegas during the first weekend of March Madness. As a result of unspeakable hours of gambling preparation, I won 9 of 11 basketball games. As a result of unspeakable numbers of Manhattans, I went on a remarkable blackjack and craps run with Brady, who lost every other time he touched a card. The hot tub was just right. Lucky Robin!

Cory's bachelor party in Vegas

Lukas's bachelor party was in Cooperstown in mid-April. This did not prevent it from snowing. Fortunately, we stayed in a warm cabin where we played cards and cooked hamburgers in the oven and drank beers. There were several bear sightings, as well as statues of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and James Fenimore Cooper. Lucky Sarah!

Lukas's bachelor party in Cooperstown, NY

Jeff's bachelor party was in Palm Springs last weekend. Mostly, we stayed in a palatial estate hurting each other and ourselves with water balloons and kegs and bacon explosions. Everyday it was cloudless and sunny. Several people fell asleep in the pool. Only once did we venture into town, where we scared everybody. Lucky Inga!

Jeff's bachelor party in Palm Springs

Fun with numbers!

Personal round-trip bachelor miles logged: 10,962

Average day-time temperature in Palm Springs: 95

Average day-time temperature in Cooperstown: 30

Total pounds of steak cooked Friday night: 18

Total bachelor party attendees: 17

Total dune buggies rented: 13

Personal wins betting on teams named "Bears" in 4 games: 4

Bachelor parties attended by Brady and Cory: 3

Bachelor parties attended by Briggs and Jeff: 2

Total grills burned into ground: 1