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.

What sucks about Hip-hop is that it’s such a kid’s game that getting back into the music after a few months away from it is difficult.

And, you don’t need to preach to me how you don’t need to be young to appreciate music, or any of that. Because really, there’s no excuse for not listening to music.

Maybe it’s because I don’t have hours each day at school during class to look up new music but I’ve had a hell of a time finding new music. It’s been a blessing of sorts because this People Under The Stairs album basically got me through my last semester of schooling … that just ended about a month ago.

And now, I’m listening to a lot of Pharoahe Monch(o - the head honcho) because, well, it’s dope. That’s it. I know the Internal Affairs album front to back and there’s a sense of familiarity about it.

But I’ve really, really been missing out on that feeling of anticipating a release. It just doesn’t happen. I was kinda geeked about the “new” Atmosphere album but not really before that.

I mean, for a few years there, there was at least one album every month worth spending money on. And that’s just not the case anymore.

There’s all of that … and I haven’t been to a show in years. I miss that. I just became accustomed to going to shows when I was near Chicago but being in Wyoming, and before that, Springfield, made all of that very difficult.

I guess I’m getting old. Shit.

Part of it has to be that I’ve been moving around a lot. Over the next couple months as we get settled in, I do plan on digging through all the releases that have just slipped by me over the past couple years and maybe there will be a gem in there. Who knows.

In the mean time I’m all ears if you have suggestions … but this just came on and I don’t know how soon I’ll get to ‘em.

Stay up. Peace!

Last weekend, we got rowdy. And that’s the only way to say it.

First off … apparently, to Marines, the 4th of July is not only an extremely important holiday, but also an excuse to get ridiculously drunk.

I’m not a Marine, but my brothers are. And they both came back to Addison for the weekend. Erin and I made the trip from Wyoming, Mike came from South Carolina, and Jack from Maryland. Grandfather came, uncle too, and other family friends. Tony too.

Plus, D came from Milwaukee. Erin’s parents made the trip up from the south suburbs, and my boy Donald from the south side.

Everyone important in my life was there, except a few PAR folks who couldn’t make the trip up, and a couple family members who stay distant.

It was great. It was amazing. It was probably one of the best nights of my life. I mean, it was what a celebration of life should be. Everyone was smiling.

My father cooked like 10 pounds of Italian sausage with green peppers, 10 pounds of ribs, five pounds of burgers, there was all kinds of chips and snacks and other delicious food. I think there may have been hot dogs.

We started early … before 4. And we went til about 2 before everyone knocked out.

We got left for El Burrito and one of Jack’s buddies was laying on the sidewalk in front of the house, hurling, but he couldn’t stand. He wanted a burrito though so we picked him up one. But when we got back, him and another one of Jack’s buddies were passed out on the floor.

El Burrito was delicious, as it always is. I don’t think I’ve been there during daylight in years.

We had to bounce the next day, and it sucked. Not only did we have to drive back to Denver, then to Casper … we knew that was coming. Lucky for me, the hang over wasn’t so bad so driving to western Nebraska, where we stayed for the night, wasn’t so bad.

But I have no idea when that’s going to happen again.

We’ve all graduated … Mike and Jack from bootcamp, me from school. There’s a good chance they’ll be deployed next year when Erin and I get married.

And that, it’s saddening. For real, it’s something that weighs on me. The positive side of all this is, I was fortunate enough to realize how much my family means to me in time to have big ass parties with them. And now that everyone’s gone - my father is basically alone in Addison - the prospects of us convening again don’t look good … at least for a few years.

It’s not for nothing though. Jack’s career in the Marines is something that’s going to help him when he gets out. Mike is like … a Marine’s Marine, I guess. He lives for his job. It’s who he is. And I love my job. We’re doing well for ourselves. The price of that is, though, being distant.

I like to think that at some point, we’ll be back in the general vicinity of each other. Who knows though.

Oh well. Last weekend was great, was the point I was getting at.

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 think that, because I’ve never had a real office job before earlier this year, I’m probably a bit too excited about having my own half cubicle.

Before this, I worked as a reporter in Springfield, IL, cut grass and did a bunch of other grounds-related-things at Illini Country Club, worked for Pace Setter Tree Service, did stringer work for a chain of weeklies in the south suburbs of Chicago, worked at a flower shop, owned a landscaping company, worked at a couple convenience stores, and worked at a baseball card shop.

See the workspace? I’m already making it my own. That’s a Dwight K. Schrute bobble-head over there, to the right of my fan.

And yes, that’s Outlook. Not a fan, personally, but what can you do.

Worked on a few stories today, and it was a lot faster-paced than I figured my third day to be. Good times though. OH! ALSO! I did my first blog post. The interface is kinda chunky - probably the only thing ever that doesn’t work in Firefox but works in Internet Explorer - but here it is.

As you can imagine, being three days into the new job, it’s a bit thin.

Check back Monday night for a post about how this job is different from the last one. I gotta get a flick of something hanging in the bathroom. Some of the differences between the jobs? Bathroom signage, the sum of personalities, importance of the internet, and compensation.

This weekend? Got some family stuff in the hopper I’ve been thinking about writing. Definitely a few photos from last weekends wild ass party.

We got goofy, and that’s the only way to say it.

More to come!

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!

Woo hoo!

I don’t feel like I have a master’s degree but it’s probably for a variety of reasons … mostly because there’s another month or so of work coming up.

What would be super-dope is, if the lawmakers get done a couple days early. Apparently, people that matter at the capitol have kids or grand kids graduating college or high school on the Saturday or Sunday before or on the budget deadline. There was a lot of “either ors” there but you get the point. They could bang out a budget on the 29th and leave everyone with the weekend … the weekend, we wouldn’t have off anyway but at least the budget would be done and maybe we could come in at 9 on Monday instead of the normal 7:30 or 8.

Anyway, out tonight to celebrate with some friends.

I’ve covered these guys twice in Chicago. The second time, I remember this live performance vividly. If you can imagine everyone on stage dropping to a short squat when the beat drops out before the second verse when that … whatever the hell it is, when that thing’s just tweaking away, then hopping right back up and shaking the stage because they’re jumping so high, and it’s only two of em!

I’ve said it before, but anyone from Chicago or anywhere could really learn a thing or two about rocking a live crowd from west coast acts like Blue Scholars, Zion I, and Dilated Peoples. Don’t know what it is but apparently, a dope live show is a prerequisite to putting out good music.

“Breakin all the shit that I don’t want to hold. Makin all the slumbers inside me flow! So in all the seasons can make me grow … And I’m breathin … I’m breathing slow.”

Enjoy.

This is the scene in the Nickeas/Devers household right now.

Among the items present:
Chicken enchiladas (good shit man)
Spinach/Tomato Pasta (delicious!)
Rolls
Potato Casserole
Old Chips
Roasted Potatoes
Broccoli in a pie pan
Sour Cream
Wine
Bourbon for Mint Juleps (it is, in fact, Kentucky Derby Day)
More Wine
Vodka + mixers
About a dozen people

Gooooood Timeessssss

Later today I’m tripping back to Chicago to see my kid brother Jack, who is a marine.

Looking forward to the weekend away. No updates til Monday morning!

PEACE!