Pete Nickeas

What better way to dust off this blog than to announce that Erin and I were married this weekend.

It was a beautiful ceremony at the Birdhaven Greenhouse in Joliet. It rained a good chunk of the morning, and on the ride between the wedding and the reception … but the sun was out during the ceremony.

Erin was wearing a stunning ivory dress with muted designs across the midsection. The classy and elegant dress was a reflection on her physical beauty as much as her character.

All the men were wearing gun metal gray tuxedos with white shirts. The groomsmen were wearing green vests, the ushers and our fathers were wearing black, and I was wearing ivory.

The wedding party walked into “Here Comes the Sun,” by the Beatles. Erin was walked up the aisle by her father to the theme song from Forest Gump. When our 10 minute ceremony was complete, we walked back down the aisle to Sweet Home Chicago.

We took a limo from the wedding to my grandfathers house. He fell ill a few weeks ago and is recovering but unable to attend - so the whole wedding party crammed into his apartment for photos.

We departed his house for the reception at a VFW hall in Villa Park. The wedding party walked in to Eric Clapton’s “Layla” and Erin and I walked in to Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day.”

Before dinner, we toasted to my younger brother Mike — serving in southern Afghanistan in the 1st Marine Battalion of the 2nd Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps. He is halfway through his second foreign deployment and was unable to attend the ceremony.

Erin and I scarfed food and started stopping by tables and talking with people. I only had a brief opportunity to drink in the limo on the way up — my guys were carrying flasks full of Jameson and I had a couple sips but had to keep composed while we made the rounds later that evening.

After touching base with 130 people at 16 tables (and sneaking a shot from the bar), we danced.

Our first dance was to Nina Simone’s moving “Feeling Good.” Erin danced with her father to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

After that, all our Public Affairs Reporting friends and the Mack family on Erin’s side tore up the dance floor something serious. I’ve never seen so many people dancing so enthusiastically in my life. Many people danced. But the PAR people and their dates were something else.

At that point, Erin and I fell into a routine for about 3 hours — dance, run to the bar, get held by whoever was there for shots (”He’s the groom, get him a shot of Jameson” or “Come here Erin, you look beautiful, let’s do a shot”), down the hatch, back to the dance floor.

I don’t know that I can adequately describe the immense feelings of happiness both Erin and I felt that evening. We are blessed to have so many people we consider friends.

Photos in the days to come.

Until then, I’m going to start jacking fools on their way from the ATM.

Just joking.

If nothing else, not having enough money has taught us a lot. I feel like I’m ahead of the game anyway because I’ve never really had a ton of money and have been paying for some of the “necessities” since like 5th or 6th grade. I feel more responsible, more self sufficient, and more in a position to build a future based on my experiences and I’m grateful for all of that.

BUT DAMN I’D BE GRATEFUL FOR SOME MORE MONEY TOO!

Here’s the thing. I was half stupid and half broke in college, so a chunk of my credit card debt is 40’s and handles of whiskey. The other chunk is rent, tires, books, moving costs, etc.

One of the things I’m most proud of personally is not having incurred any debt since living in Wyoming. Erin and I have been out like 4 times since being here (more than three months now), and our recreation consists of at-home-drinking. Which, I’m good with. In my personal life I’m very fiscally conservative.

I just gotta get rid of some of this interest bearing debt. It’s a joke. It’s amazing what percentage of my monthly expenditures are from credit cards.

Work is going well, though. This last week was a grinder but I loved it. I didn’t feel like, at the end of the week, that I worked as much as I did. It flew. I was out of the office a lot, met a ton of people, etc. Plus, what I’m working on is material of consequence. I’m not pissing in the wind.

Here’s a random string of sentences:
Erin just started working full time. I’m debating the idea of getting another job. If work stays this busy I won’t have to, so I’m hoping that it does. My two brothers aren’t gonna make it out for Thanksgiving, I don’t think. That saddens me. I’m going back to Chicago for Christmas and my brothers will be there. Big ass party on the 26th. Everybody’s invited, as always. I’m glad winter is around the corner. I’m sick of people warning me about the Wyoming winter. GET ON WITH IT MOTHAFUCKA! I’m ready.

So, either The Office is more than halfway through its tenure or it will last longer than Friends.

Friends went ten seasons and The Office just aired the first episode of its 6th season.

Now, I wasn’t old enough when Friends was popular. I was merely a punk ass sixth grade kid that didn’t give a shit when the teachers were talking about their infatuation with Joey.

So, is it too early to talk about the end of The Office? Or is it not yet halfway through, and will it outlast Friends?

I have no clue. And, having watched every episode of both, I’m not sure which one I like more. Damn.

I’ve covered parts of the North Platte River for work - a free bridge, long-range planning, and free money.

Today was actually the first time Erin & I really tried to take in the scenery. We ran from point A to point B on this map but along the river instead of along the road. About two miles, and we kept a 10 minute / mile pace despite the last quarter mile (by my estimation) being uphill, which is good.

Getting up that hill was great, because the view above the river just keeps getting better and better. We walked the two miles back and detoured to a hill to the north of the river (we were running a path halfway between the hilltop and the shore) and got a great view of Casper. I wish I had a camera, because it was really something else.

We’re going to hike this weekend and there will definitely be pictures. When we went up the mountain yesterday, there wasn’t a ton of good views but we didn’t venture around the trails much. More just scoping the place out.

In other news …

This giant zucchini will be turned into two types of cookies and three types of bread over the next day or two, and half of it is going to Jake, since he hooked it up with lots of vegetables.

We cooked a lot this weekend too, and I was surprised how well grilling went Saturday night. Grilled chicken, barbecue chicken, burgers, plus Erin made crab Rangoon type pastries and there was beverages to be had.

So, we’ve got leftovers for most of the week and Erin’s making bread.

And, I bent the shoe horn I have. Who knew those things could bend?

And I always know when he leaves a voicemail there’s going to be at least 16 bars of some shit he just wrote.

I can’t think of a time he left me a voicemail without rapping. And I can’t think of a time he left me a voicemail that had a refined verse.

But it’s always good shit because it’s always fresh. And sometimes it’s random-ass voicemail raps, like, rapping about what he actually meant to call me about. Then other times he calls me with an unpolished verse and it’s great because you just get 16 bars acapella. Good shit all around, for real.

It’s actually inspiring to hear someone who’s still raps like they’re hungry. And it’s not like he needs to do it, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t gotten rich off of hip-hop.

Anyway, I’m supposed to call you back Cojack. My bad for not doing so. I’ll give you a call tomorrow probably.

Runner Blog Day 8:
We ran the hills today instead of the distance, which was good. That was Erin’s call.

We ran it all the way through again, like yesterday, which is good.

My Aunt (dad’s brother’s wife) commented on the last post. Apparently she’s running a half marathon. I’m not even close to that point yet!

In time though. In time.

It’s Saturday afternoon, and though there’s “responsible” things to do, I don’t want to. Damnit, I’m tired.

I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for a long time … because, probably about a month ago, I knew how the time-line for this move to Wyoming would work.

Drive to Wyoming one weekend, find an apartment, drive back. Later that week, load up a truck, drive to Chicago, pick up Erin’s car and attach it to the truck, drive to Wyoming. Unload the truck, return the truck and the trailer Erin’s car was on. Drive from Casper to Denver, fly to Chicago, party, zpick up my truck, drive back to Denver, get Erin’s car, drive back to Casper.

Home.

Then, three days of work.

Which brings me to this weekend! Had a few drinks last night with some coworkers. They’re funny. Erin just told me that I was farting and apparently, they were too. Which is good, because for a split second, I was worried I was the only one farting. But that wasn’t the case!

Then, of course, there was the hangover this morning. It did hurt. I slept in the hallway on the floor. We don’t have a couch and I snore like a furry beast when I’ve had a drink or two so I just knocked out where there was room.

And now I’m feeling kinda burnt out.

Yawn.

I’m gonna play X-Box, productivity be damned.

I’m gone from Springfield.

And, I thought the town was kind of dumpy when we arrived and moved in.

But after spending a year there, I’m convinced that it’s about as close to a good mix between urban and rural as you’re going to get. All the big city stores aren’t there, but we’re broke. So, that’s probably good. There’s a few nice bars downtown, and Floyd’s will always be near and dear to my heart. JP Kelly’s, too, if only for the few times we went there in the waning days of our (Public Affairs Reporting) careers.

The fact that it’s the hub of the immensely far-reaching Illinois political scene makes it all the more attractive. If it weren’t the state capitol, the metro area would probably be out around 20,000 state workers and their kids/families, and the town would shrivel up a bit. Springfield is nice.

The people I met there were great. As a rule, I generally don’t like people. But I met a lot of people here I like - in the PAR program mostly. It’s easy to “like” politicians but a lot of them are, well, I suppose politicians is the best way to describe them.

But in all seriousness, I’m geeked to have met so many cool people. I didn’t keep up with anyone from high school really and I don’t keep up with too many people from college but the people I’ve met here, I do think I will keep in contact with - be it mass email chains or random facebook activity. Good people.

So the only reason I can’t wait to leave Springfield is because I want my life with Erin to begin. And in Springfield, it can’t.

So it’s off to Wyoming we’re going. This may be the last blog for at least a week while we get situated but we will be checking in as soon as possible.

Until then … PEACE!

Damn am I tired.

I’ve been moving shit out, with the help of friends. Got three truck loads hauled to storage plus some stuff moved up to another buddy’s apartment, where I’ll be crashing for the next couple weeks.

But! We’ve also been working 12 hour plus days. So the only time I can move out is after dark.

Just updating everyone … I feel really bad about not writing here. I’ve been neglecting my journal too. Speaking of which, I’ve kicked around the idea of transcribing random journal updates … just a date, and the corresponding entry. And I’m not sure yet I want to give people that much access. That, and I do use profanity. So we’ll see. Often the journal is used as a means of letting off some steam, or sorting through emotions and figuring out a good course of action.

We’ll see. Off to work!

I’ve been at work for about an hour and I’ve got way too much going on right now.

- I was walking down 5th street this morning towards home (and also yesterday at one point) and there’s the nasty formaldehyde smell (or other embalming chemical) coming from the Ellinger-Kunz & Park Funeral Home & Cremation Service building. It’s very distinct, extremely disgusting smell.

- It’s going to rain all day. I didn’t move yesterday because of threatening rain and I didn’t want to risk getting all of my stuff wet. It’s going to be in storage for awhile and I don’t feel the need to pre-soak my furniture on the ride over. So now we’re gonna try and get all of it out in increments this week I guess, whenever time permits.

- I feel like I should be more psyched up for this week but I’m not. I’m actually kinda bummed right now and I don’t feel well. I’m more interested in following the capital plan money than the prospect of an income tax hike or any other budget scenario.

- I talked to a guy about a job a couple weeks ago, and he seemed pretty cool. And I talked to another guy about a job last week (same company) and he also sounded like a good guy. So here’s to hope.

- I’m moving out of the first apartment I had with Erin. We moved in on our one-year anniversary last year. It’s sad. I’m going to miss Springfield. Learned a lot here. Last night I was walking a friend’s dog (the two of them tripped out to California for a couple days) and I was thinking, no way I pictured myself being cool enough with anyone I meet in Springfield to house-sit for them for three days. I mean, it didn’t even enter my mind that I’d meet people here that I’d be cool with. Just kinda figured I’d come, work for a year, and jet. Which is what’s happening anyway. But I’ve met some really, really cool people here too.

Or was an old author trying to write his own closing scene?”

On a rainy day, when I can only reiterate my love for thunderstorms and the tranquil peace that they bring, I give to you …

“Word from the big bad, fat ass, motherfuckin, Brother Ali! Ugh!”

This is one of those songs I feel privileged to have stumbled upon. Can’t even begin to recite all the quotables from this song. I’ve quoted extensively from this song in my journal entries, on my facebook/myspace pages, and in random ass conversation with people and they don’t even know about it. Also, when you get drunk and talk with one of your buddies about life stuff? This is one of those songs that spurs conversation.

This is gotta be one of the most introspective and insightful songs I’ve heard.