Alexandra Vaillancourt

Dateline Boston — As a wedding gift, H and I received a City Pass for Chicago, where we honeymooned. I know it meant that we got discounted prices (or in our case, free admission), but what I didn’t realize was that we would get celebrity status as well. For many tourist spots, having a City Pass enables you to skip the long lines inevitable in the summer. I didn’t really understand what that would mean until we went to our first stop.

Dateline Boston — At the Lincoln Pak Zoo in Chicago, one feels as though one has stepped back in time. When H and I entered the big cat house, I felt like I was visiting a zoo from the 1960s. The cats were in cages with concrete walls that were painted to look like the outdoors. The blue sky and green grass did nothing to appease the cat who was pacing back and forth restlessly. It made me so sad.

Dateline Boston — H and I just returned from our honeymoon in Chicago. It was a blast, and we had many adventures. One of the most interesting days we had involved Swedish food and cops, a yuppie panhandler and a free zoo.

Dateline Boston — I had a strange dining experience a few nights ago. A group of seven of us met at a restaurant. The waiter was great. He was attentive, remembered who had been drinking what, and was funny.

Dateline Boston — I can’t seem to write a comprehensive essay about my wedding. I’ve decided to go with whatever comes off the top of my head. In no particular order, my wedding:

Dateline Boston — I got married three weeks ago. It was wonderful. We had a blast. We were dressed in true hipster style, from our matching custom-made Converse to his fedora hat, to my fascinator, to our shiny platinum rings.

Dateline Boston – The man I have lovingly referred to in my essays as S.O. has a new name. He is now H, as in, Husband. We were married last Saturday. It’s hard to believe, yet easy at the same time. We’re like the proverbial two peas in a pod.

I’m getting married in less than two weeks. My last day of the school year is over. I don’t have to go to work. Then why am I sitting on the couch, watching What Not to Wear reruns?

Dateline Boston — I’m getting married in four weeks. The other night I had my first wedding anxiety dream, which I thought was pretty good, considering I hadn’t had one before that. In my dream, everything went wrong.

Dateline Boston — I’ve been to Heaven and back. I have achieved Nirvana. I know what’s on the other side of a rainbow. It is spread with a knife, and it comes in a jar.