Adjacent to the hotel in which I stayed this weekend was a restaurant called "Axel's". My twin brother, Dean, who shared a room with me, had read in the materials provided by the hotel that Axel's is "world-renouned". I'd never heard of it. He'd never heard of it. "It depends on whose world," I suggested.

We were in and around the twin cities to witness the wedding of the world-renouned Alissa Luepke, whom we knew from high school, to the seemingly-respectable Brent Pier, whom she'd met at the University of Minnesota. I'd met him a couple times, and heard about him for years -- they'd been engaged for at least two -- but I don't really know him.

Nor did I know many of the other guests. There were around 150 people, of which I knew:
Alissa,
her brother Latham,
to some extent, her parents and her sister Valeri,
my brother,
and Kevin from Ankeny High School.

I got into Minnesota on Friday evening, called my brother (who was still in Chicago) to verify when his flight was coming in, rented a car, and drove to the hotel. After I checked in and left my luggage, I drove to a rehearsal dinner, already in progress. Kevin and Latham were near the entrance, engaged in conversation. Eventually I sat down, across the table from Valeri and her Paneet (I think that name is right). Eating and discussion ensued, the most memorable part of which was Valeri's new pro-squirrel parody (I think) student group at U Nebraska, acronym NUTS.

[to be continued]

I pay more attention to the Patriots than to the Packers -- it's easier around here -- and occasionally have doubts whether I'm really still a Packers fan first, as I've maintained. My immediate reaction to learning that they've finished the third quarter ahead of New England 21-3 has confirmed that my loyalties are still solid.

Kind of a bummer to see the Pats lose three straight, though.