I need to bring a camera to these things...

This weekend marked the last of our out-of-town trips of the summer. Hallelujah!

This week it was a 9 1/2 hour road trip to Louisville, KY for the marriage of David (Tony's best friend) and Patty. The ride wasn't too bad: West Virginia is still green and loaded with hillside views (and a subsequent number of vehicles which have rolled down the sides of those hills, blocking the roadside).

Oh, it's also just loaded with all sorts of Christinsanity (my word for the extra-strength crazy common among fundamentalist types). I'm talking billboards that read things like, "Become an organ donor. Give Jesus your heart." And "Abortion is forever," accompanied by a family portrait with one blank outline where one of the kids has been photoshopped out of the picture. Nice touch.

The kicker, however, was the road-side construction project by God's Ark of Safety. For those of you who prefer your Christinsanity in super-sized doses, this group is currently busy reconstructing a life-size version of Noah's Ark. I shizz you not. I didn't have our camera ready in time to snap a photo of the mayhem, but not to worry! God's Ark has a Web site:

I'm actually more impressed than anything else. Nothing like a literal interpretation of the Bible to prepare one for a wedding ceremony were a dog is escorting the ring bearer. The weekend was a treat overall. Several of Tony's childhood friends were together for the event. While I love seeing all of them together, it's a wonder they all survived their childhood. Honestly - the shizz they tried to pull as kids...

Louisville - minus the constant humidity - is a beautiful city. It reminds me of Baltimore in some ways. The ceremony took place on the roof of the Glass Works, which is quite stunning.

It's also windy as hell. So I apologize to whomever I inadvertently flashed that evening.

The wedding itself was gorgeous. Patty wore a beautiful sky blue gown. Our buddy Scott got himself ordained online and officiated the ceremony. The maid of honor, Aubry, hand-made all the pottery glasses and centerpieces for the reception.

The highlight of the evening, however, came when Tony stood to do his part of the ceremony readings. Tony was responsible for the "Passion" portion of the readings.

Did I mention that by "reading," I actually meant "singing?"

Oh yes - the congregation (as it were) was treated to the dulcet tones of my husband crooning an a capella version of Elvis Presley's "Love me tender." Just to address your questions early on: Yes, he knew for months he had a part in the wedding. And, yes, the groom specifically requested that Tony sing.

I'm not sure how many of you have heard Tony break into song. While he does a killer Louis Armstrong impersonation (it's rather eerily accurate), his regular singing voice is a cross between Miss Piggy and that pimply teenage side character on the Simpsons. Tony is well aware of this, but sang his heart out anyway. I could not have been more proud.