what i did on my summer vacation.

The good news: I got a job. Starting Monday, I will be joining the team at Dixon Schwabl. I'm excited as my two-day test drive gave me a taste of what it's like to work there and I had a great time.

The bad news: this is my last week of what I've come to call my summer vacation. It's been great, I couldn't have been laid off at a better time of year. I had plenty of time to get things in order for the wedding and I also had some time to just unwind and enjoy my life.

While I still have my week in August with the family, it still feels like that final week before school resumed. So here's the rundown of what I did on my summer vacation.

• Just Married - This one deserves an entry of its own. I promise. One will come.
  

• Shenanigans with Laura - Partners in unemployment, Laura and I spent the first few weeks of vacation enjoying all that was denied to us in the working world. Matinee movies, long lunches and daytime television. In the ultimate shenanigan, we took a roadtrip to Boston when Laura got her new job. I rode shotgun while Laura looked at apartments and had a fun, whirlwind trip in Beantown.

• Puppy Time - One of the best things about being home during the day is spending time with the dogs. I don't know who will be more upset when I rejoin the workforce, me or Clark. Maggie, like always, is relatively indifferent to me being home. Activities like going to Ellison today while everyone else is in neckties and khakis have been some of my favorites. Also over the break, Clark graduated from sleeping in his kennel to earning his bedroom privileges.

• The Grass Is Always Greener - This is mundane, but it was a big deal to me. I repaired the dead spot in the lawn! This is my first house and therefore, my first time dealing with yard work. Leaves covered by snow all winter long had killed a spot in the yard and I nursed it back to life. I've also planted flowers, re-mulched the front garden and planned more green-thumb activities for the summer.

• A Rose By Any Other Name - With looking for work and dealing with a change of name I had to update not only my resume but EVERY PIECE OF PAPER OR PLASTIC with my name on it. Also, my website. It's weird to sign something new after the "Kara" bit, but I'm getting used to it.

• Created Life - NOT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. I downloaded the Spore creature creator and have been creating critters with Anna.
  

wedding bells, both present and future.

This past weekend, Matt and I made the four and a half hour trip home to attend the wedding of one of my best high school friends, Katie. I say four and a half hours, yet if you think you're going to be late -- you can apparently make the drive in three and a half. Imagine that! Thankfully the 'staties' were busy last weekend.

Katie's wedding was absolutely gorgeous. The ceremony and reception were held at a small resort/party house called Twin Lakes. The ceremony was held on the shore of one of the namesake bodies of water. While Rochester is still debating on changing the colors of the foliage, Hurley had opted to show off its brightest reds, warmest oranges and brilliant yellows. The sun was out, the water was as calm as a mill pond and the bride was beautiful (the groom was looking mighty spiffy as well).

Matt and I had an amazing time. We socialized with my dad and stepmother (who were also invited), until they had to depart to attend another wedding that evening. I had the chance to catch up with another high school friend, Kari, who I'd not seen in ages. When we finally got to our table, we were seated with a mix of Katie's Marist friends and their dates. All of whom were an absolute blast.

When the music started going, and everyone started dancing -- it was all the fun of prom with none of the drama. Everyone was just so incredibly happy. Matt also danced. Yes. It's hard to imagine nevermind believe, but he does dance. He's pretty good at it too. He was up for a slow song just about anytime and even a few fast ones. Oddly enough, he took a seat when the Grease MegaMix came on. It was like all the musical demons of my high school days were coming out to play -- I just HAD to be up there with Katie, Kari and everyone else; doing my best rendition of the moves from "Greased Lightning". Thankfully, it was too dark for any good pictures of that. Darn.

Not unlike the bridal show Mom A. and I went to, it kick started me into wedding planning mode all over again. In the past two days I've managed to finish the design of the wedding website. Now it's in the capable hands of Bill to actually set up. If you've seen my portfolio site, you've seen the current limit of my HTML wizardry. I want to learn more, but that's the subject of a whole new post.

In the coming days, the site should be ready to be launched.

I'm excited.

We're really getting married.