The old hangout

I want to start this off by congratulating my cousin Kara-Lynn who just got married.  I was far too busy with homework to attend the church service (anything to get out of going to church) but did find the time, in between nervous breakdowns, to attend the reception afterwards, at my old stomping grounds, the University of Manitoba.

The year was 1994.  Most of my current classmates were still in diapers, not alive yet, or possibly in nursery or grade school.  Smoking was still allowed in doors and packs only cost around 5 dollars.

There were two lunch rooms on the second floor of university centre, and the one where people were allowed to smoke was not a very nice place to eat a meal.  The walls were yellow and the smell was...

The room being used for the wedding reception was the same room I used to have lunch in 5 days a week.  It was right across from the 'smoking' lunch room, with a taco bell in the middle.  In honour of the great mexican restaurant I have never tried, we would call it 'hanging out at Taco Bell', which we did a lot, in between classes.

Sadly, Taco Bell is no longer there.

 A lot had changed at the University in the 10 years it had been since I was a student there.

Before anyone starts doing the math let me just say that yes, I went to the U of M for about 8 years, and no, I am not a Dr. (thank you very much, David Spade)

I'm just really good at procrastination, and I have a major Peter Pan complex.

It was an open bar for my cousin's wedding and I was able to enjoy a couple of bottles of free beer before dinner.

They started by serving some buns.  I was very hungry and they tasted very warm and fresh.  As always, I had mine plain, without butter.

After the bread they served this very strange looking yellow soup.  In retrospect, I wish I had tried it, but I wasn't feeling very adventurous.  Everyone I talked with said it wasn't very good, so I guess I didn't miss anything.

My cousin Kelly was there with his kids. They were served chicken strips and french fries, so momentarily I got very excited.  This was immediately put to rest when I was told that only children were going to be served this.

I wanted to stand up on top of my table, cry and throw a hissy fit.  For a moment I considered this option, and whether or not it would get me what I wanted.  Worked when I was six.  Besides, I'm more like a big kid than an adult anyway.

I should be able to have french fries with my dinner.

Not to be.

Instead, I had to eat what the big kids were eating at the grown up table.  It was chicken served in a kind of sauce, with a potato side, peppers, and asparagus. (I didn't eat the peppers or the asparagus)

It was different, but I liked it.  Afterwards I didn't get sick so I must not have been allergic to it.

I felt a little bit guilty about leaving early around 9:30, and while my uncle, the father of the bride, was introducing another public speaker.  I just didn't have anymore time to spare.  I needed to get back home to hit the books.


We drove home with the light on in the car, so I could study my notes in transit.

I wish I could've stayed longer to share in my cousin's big day.

bon appetite,

rymr