PA Weekend

I've been in Port Angeles since late Saturday night and I'll be here until next Saturday or Sunday. I came with my friends Caitlin and Stefan because they were photographing that wedding at Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Sequim. Now, I didn't attend the wedding, but getting prepared for it turned out to be quite the ordeal.

It all started with a bunch of photography equipment. Caitlin had to get up super early to take her mom to the airport on Saturday morning, otherwise we would have left on Friday. We decided the night before that she would come and get me at 11:00. However, one of her best friends was moving to California, and leaving on Saturday to drive the 18 hours to get there. So, she visited with Kayla first. She got to my place by about 12:00 or 12:30. The traffic was so bad (STOPPED) all the way into Seattle, that she got off of the freeway early and had to search around for a way to get to me. We got all of my stuff into her car and headed for the photography rental place near the Seattle Center. Remember, it was a HOT day. The place felt nice walking in because of the AC, and when Caitlin gave the emaciated looking guy at the front desk her information, he had her equipment all ready and waiting. Then he told her that she had to supply a credit card to hold the equipment. She asked the man to check his E-mail, because the groom had scanned his credit card and driver's license and sent them to the shop. He printed them off and proceeded to tell her that the card was declined. This sent Caitlin into a bit of a panic and we spent the next hour and a half making calls. First, she called the bride, who was in line for the ferry and had been for awhile. The bride couldn't get ahold of the groom. Or her dad. Or the groom's dad. Or anyone...and neither could Caitlin. Apparently they didn't think that the shop would RUN the card! Why would they ask for a credit card if they weren't going to make sure you could pay for the equipment? The charge is just to hold the equipment, and is erased when the equipment is returned, and then the rental fee is paid. Apparently, the groom didn't have a credit limit high enough, or didn't have enough available. The sum was $3,500! The man renting out the equipment didn't seem to be capable of emoting, and was completely apathetic. He didn't say anything at all as Caitlin called everyone she knew, hoping that they either had a credit card or the appropriate camera. Finally, we asked my dear mother as a last resort and she agreed to send us the copies to rent the equipment. It was so wonderful of her and really saved the day! However, she was at the lake and we had to wait for another 30-40 minutes before she could get home to the computer. So, we went to get a drink at a really cool place, called the Little Red Bistro, nearby. I think we're going to go back there for dinner sometime. My mom E-mailed her info to Caitlin, who forwarded it using her phone that was about to die. Luckily, we got it all straightened out...and that got us to Port Angeles at about 10:00 that night.

We spent the night at my parents' house and then they went to Sequim that morning. We were going to go out to breakfast, but then Caitlin realized that they didn't bring Stefan's memory chips with them. They left about an hour early and drove to Costco to buy some before they had to be at the wedding location at 10:30. I went with my family to the lake (it was the hottest day of the year!) and had fun there with them and some friends. Everybody and their dog was out at the lake that day!

I've just been hanging out, getting some things done around here. Today, my mom and I picked a bunch of blueberries in Sequim. It was really nice, and delicious! I also just finished reading a book recommended by Boompie and then my mom. It's called The Art of Racing in the Rain. It's one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend it!