MAY 23 DENVER/PARKER CO

I attended my first bridal shower today, thrown by Jenny's aunt Pat. Felt fairly out of place. Had to rescue the ladies confused and daunted by the task of opening a champagne bottle for mimosas (um, excuse me, I'm sorry, you really shouldn't use a corkscrew...)
It was a tightly run ship--I got busted for talking with my drink in hand (if I gestured with my cup, there was a slight risk of spillage on carpet!) and was consequently the only bridal shower guest relegated to, whenever speaking, having to place her cup on a mini-tv table set brought in and set up just for me. Slightly humiliating.
I was also appointed the gift-hander-over-person when I sat too close to the wedding gifts. The bride-to-be received a serving platter, shower curtain rings, and about 6 hot pink striped victoria's secret boxes, the contents of which I'm fairly sure were shocking and quite scandalous to a few in attendance (namely, those that gave the serving platter and shower curtain rings). Below: Jenny super stoked on that platter.

Later in the day, attended another milestone soiree: the high school graduation party of a distant cousin I didn't know I had! I got to see my favorite New York-Italian relatives George and Ann. I'm not quite sure how we're related exactly, I think they might be cousins of my grandparents. Regardless, they make me feel closer to my Italian roots. A lot of squeezing hugs, cheek-pinching, hand-holding, proclamations of how Italian! I look, encouragement to eat the pasta dishes they made, and when she was across the room, Ann would wave at me with one little finger. Before I left, George hugged me and gruffly proclaimed, "have a wohn-duh-ful life." Love it!