California Day Five!!!!!

I was the first awake, and the first to discover...IT WAS RAINING! We all know how bad luck that is in America! Mark was a bit panicked this morning. Probably the first I have ever seen him like this! We got our breakfast (and I got some for Sayaka too, and took it to her room), got dressed (while the photographer and videographer took pics and video of us preparing) then went downstairs to take pics.

All of the pictures were taken in the hotel lobby since it was drizzling and very overcast! After our pics, it was time to get ready and head down to the wedding location!

I went up and got Sayaka and by the time we were leaving the hotel, the rain had stopped! LUCKY! We made it to the place and the waves were crashing pretty hard, because of the weather, but it made a beautiful backdrop.

As the best man, it was ALSO my duty to escort women to their seats, so I showed Sayaka to hers, and helped a few other people with their seats before it was show time.

Mark was nervous...Haha! We were pretending to spot snipers on the roofs and quote one of the million video game related moments in our lives to laugh while the music played and we were lined up waiting for the bride. When she arrived, the first thing Mark said was "Looking at her is making ME nervous". The wedding went on, I didn't forget their rings (I wouldn't be here to type this if I did!) and the rain never showed again!

We took pics after the wedding with the photographer, and Phong and his gf Lynda took pics of Sayaka and I, and vice-versa. Now it was time to party!

We headed to the hotel to check out and get Mark's stuff. This took a good 45 minutes to organize and get together, then another 25 minute drive to the reception place. When we got there, the bride and her dad were dancing. Mark came up to us and asked what happened, because they did an introduction of everyone, and pretty much ALL of the guys were checking out and not present! Ooops!

The reception was moved inside, because of the rain, but the weather had improved, so we moved outside! The weather and view were great! The DJ at the party was def the corniest man on the planet and made us laugh at him, not with him. I gave my speech and made people laugh as I did a small trek through Mark and I's 20 year history. After me, more speeches were made, and it was time to party harder! Sayaka ordered a TALL Pina Colada, and Phong and I got tall Long Island Ice Teas! The music started and we had to go down and dance, which was funny, but I felt like I needed more alcohol! We all kinda formed a group and just stopped dancing after 3 songs. After the music, we watched the bride and groom cut the cake and smash it into each other's faces! Soon after, that was that!

The bride gave Sayaka and I all of the table decorations, which we gave to my mom (and she loved them!). After we gathered everything, we made plans to go out to eat that night. So Sayaka and I returned home to give her the decorations, change clothes, and headed to the RITZ CARLTON, where Mark and Ashley had a NICE ASS room, with an amazing view! We hung out a bit and headed to a restaurant called Sarducci's in Laguna Nigel (I think). A few people from the wedding party were there and we had a good time just winding down.

Everyone began to feel sleepy and we called it a night. We met with Mark and Ashley and they opened their present from us and thanked us. We did our tearless but heartfelt goodbye hugs (who knows when we will see each other again...hehe come see this blog in a week, OR after Christmas for an interesting surprise!) and Sayaka and I headed home.

But not YET! We made a stop at a few stores to do last minute shopping, Blockbuster to buy some DVDs, and In-N-Out to get a LARGE Strawberry Shake! We got home late and exhausted, but I uploaded all of the pics from the day, set up the laptop to be charged and began packing!

In the morning my mom had made my fav food that she cooks (potato skins!), but I am really bad with time and airplanes and I was too nervous to eat, as I prepared, so Sayaka and my mom sat and ate together! I called my dad to say bye, and my aunt called and spoke to me a bit too! Called and left a message for my sis who said she would meet us at the airport, and we were officially heading out of my mom's apartment to head to LAX. We loaded up the car and took pics of it and Sayaka got to drive it in reverse for 5 feet! Haha! After that we hugged my mom and were off. Not even 1 minute later, Sayaka was crying because she missed my mom! Too cute, and sad...

We made it to the car rental place pretty quick, and the process to return it was smooth as silk. The bus to take us to the airport also arrived early so we were making good time! At LAX, we checked in rather quick, and some guy, Japanese American might I add, pulled Sayaka and I out of line to take our suitcases to get them checked. His coworkers were so mad at him, because they closed that line, but JUST Sayaka and I got our bags taken. We were a little worried if we would ever see them again, but happy we didn't have to wait in a loooong line!

We went to the food court, and I got us a chicken quesadilla and Dolce De Leche milkshake from Haggen Daaz! Sayaka was in love with the In-N-Out shake from the night before, but I swear, she was ready to have an affair with the Haggen one! We both loved it sooo much! I kept looking for my sis and ran down to see if I could see her, but couldn't at all! It was about time to board the plane so we got in line!

The line was ridiculously long and again, as fate may have it, we were ushered to the front by JAL staff so we could board our plane that was leaving shortly. We bought some omiyage for friends and my school, and boarded the plane.

As soon as we could, I ordered as much liquor as I could drink so I could sleep on the way back, and I definitely slept like a baby! It felt like we were in Tokyo in no time!

Honestly, it felt great to be back in Japan again. I loved being back home, but being in Narita airport, just made me happy to be HOME again!

We boarded the transfer train to Nagoya, and after a 50 minute flight, we were the closest to home we had been this week!

We took a train to Kanayama, where I fought drowsiness and fatigue, and when we arrived there, we got a cab to our apartment, which was great because we brought back about 5x as much stuff as we left with.

When we arrived we took 2 trips to get our luggage into the apartment and as soon as it was there, what did we do?

We went to yakiniku (Japanese BBQ. Not much different from Korean BBQ)! Yes! I had missed Japanese food soo much, that I didn't spend 5 minutes in my apartment, before I headed to the nearest yakiniku restaurant! We ate, unwound, and headed back home to sleep the last week, and our meal off!

What a trip!