Honeymoon Story #2 – Sweet Edleweiss April 28, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Honeymoon.add a comment
Location: Marlboro, MA
Place: Dougherty Hotel Room
Date: April 5, 2008 – Night of our wedding
Edleweiss was me and Heather’s wedding song. It holds deep meaning for the two of us, especially for when we first started dating. So meaningful it was that I wrote my vows around the theme that Heather was my bright little Edleweiss — “small and white, clean and bright,” beaming with the glow of excitement, always happy to meet me.
After the wedding, the party returned to the hotel in Marlborough, where most of our guests were staying. Heather and I, after cleaning up, headed over to the Dougherty rooms, where a party was already launching into tune.
The hotel room quickly filled with mostly Dougherty’s, many friends, and people from the Kirleis side of the wedding. Laugther was had, chatter ran rampant, and even song and a semblence of dance broke out. But it was the song that was the oh sweet for the memories inside.
As I sat on the arm of a couch in the room, chatting with Mike Travis (my best friend from high school) and Lord John (our good friend and the wedding officiant), the women Dougherty’s sang with passion and poise.
A minute later, the noise in the room began to slowly lower as a flowery tune, small and white, floated softly in the air, as it grew a touch louder with each verse. And that’s when a tear struggled to my eye as the song of Edlewiess, sung by my family in tune, crafted a moving tribute to Heather and I.
It was a moment I will never forget. I only wished that Heather was there to share in the moment. It was special.
Thank you, ladies.
Honeymoon Story #1 – Chelsea Pensioner April 28, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Honeymoon.add a comment
Location: London, England
Place: The Albert pub
Date: April 13, 2008
An hour after crossing the finish line of the London Marathon, just after I met up with Heather and had time to change, the chilly rain returned. Since we knew The Albert, a pub in London, wasn’t far, we decided to head over there for a post-marathon celebration.
A half hour later we were all comfy at one of the foursome tables right in front of the circular table where we had met a friend only days earlier. This time was no different as we each had a token Fullers London Pride in our hands.
We mixed, we mingled, and we met a bunch of other folks in town for the marathon but still awaiting their finishers.
Before long, two Chelsea Pensioners walked in and headed straight for the table where Heather and I sat.
The younger chap pictured on the right asked, “Might we join you?” Of course. Before long, we were swapping stories, rubbing elbows, and even trading jabs. But these guys liked to talk about their past. And who can blame them.
Tommy, the red coat on the right, all of 83 years young served in WWII in the British Army. He was held prisoner of war in Poland for 4 years. The stories were intense. He showed me a few tattoos the guys held captive all gave to each other as they wondered if they would ever be set free or left to rot or, worse, be shot.
Knobby, the red coat on the left, a ripe 87, was in the British Airforce and got to meet many of the higher-ups in the British army and airforce and even in Parliment.
You should have these guys in action. Knobby had a endless card and coin tricks stuffed in his pockets. He loved the ladies but was a man of few words. He pulled off no fewer than 10 card tricks and at least 3 of the coin variety in our 2-plus hours with them. You should have seen him light up like a Christmas tree when I teased him by saying, “I know your type… you’re a charmer… I bet the ladies like you.”
By this point I was taken for a fool’s boy and had already bought them a round of drinks. I was assured by the bar keep that it was okay. “They’re regulars,” he told me while holding back laughter. “They could probably drink all of you under the table.”
Tommy was much a talker and told stories about Sir Winston Churchill, which was really cool because he nailed down some of the stuff you had mentioned to us.
The beautiful thing was that here we were in London, a place rich with deep history, and we were not only hearing about it but we were also seeing it, taking to it, and sharing a drink with it.
Priceless. And now we have a picture to remember it from.
Wedding Photographs – Bella Pictures April 25, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Wedding.Tags: Wedding
add a comment
Official wedding Photographs from Rupert, the lead photographer, and his helper, both of Bella Pictures.
To view as photo journal, click link above then click on “Your Story” to the right.
Wedding Photographs – Rupert’s Blog April 25, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Wedding.Tags: Wedding
add a comment
Rupert, the lead wedding photographer at our wedding, used our wedding photos on his web blog.
There are some good ones there… like a photo journal.
http://rjwphotoblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/wedding-in-lovely-stow.html
Wedding Update: Thursday Before… April 3, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Uncategorized.add a comment
Wedding Updates…
We’re doing our best to get the ceremony to be outdoors, but with weather in New England a total crapshoot, we’re realistic that it might not happen. We’re also trying to be considerate to our special guests, because we wouldn’t want them to be inconvenienced. It’s a party — and there will be a ceremony — so we want everyone to be comfortable and happy.
Of everything, we have one regret. Our wedding song is a waltz. Neither of us has ever learned to dance the waltz, and we ignorantly let planning the wedding and life get in the way of us taking lessons or even learning ourselves. We tried on a few separate occasions but will resort to a regular arms-around-each-other waddle dance. Just not enough time. And it’s a shame, because we would have loved to learn and do the waltz. Regardless, it’s a small detail. The wedding will be a great party. We won’t dwell on it.
Weddings are very expensive. Ours will have just under 100 guests, which is small by some measures and medium sized by others. For us, though, it’s just perfect. I can’t even begin to explain the weight that has been lifted from our weary shoulders by selling BOTH of our old houses. We can no go on our honeymoon and drink and be merry. Thank you to whatever power I owe this magnificent aligning of good fortune.
I have completed the writing of my vows, which was actually pretty easy. The hard part will be memorizing them. I am now in the middle of writing down an outline for the number of people who deserve public thank you’s. That’s going to be a hard one to get out. Hopefully I’ll hit the ground with it running. Where I first thought it might run close to an hour (joking, but not really), I know realize, after a few basic words on down on paper and in my head, that it will be much shorter than I at first feared, which is a good thing.
Special call out to Lord John, who really has been outstanding. There has not been a day that has gone by when either myself, the Ironmate, or both have said: “That’s why we chose him to officiate our wedding.” He has taken the initiative to do much more than just the role we had for him.
Waltz Anyone? March 31, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Uncategorized.add a comment
Last night Heather and Thor broke out their customized wedding song thanks to Dave Becker, the DJ/one man music man of their wedding, and for the first time EVER tried to learn to Waltz.
It wasn’t pretty. And not just because they were in their sweats and wearing socks as if ready for a long night’s slumber.
It wasn’t pretty because, well, neither of them can dance. But they tried, and they had fun. They have a few more nights to get it right. But word was heard between them that they realize it may be robotic, clumsy, and not at all romantic and attractive; that there might be more stepped on toes and miss-earned steps with knees bumping than any fluent flow across the dance floor.
But whatever it will be, it will be them and it will be fun!
Transitions March 28, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
With just over a week to go until our big day, this last week was one of transition for both Heather and I. Let me explain.
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Heather has been very busy planning and plotting and aligning logistics for the wedding. As you might expect, there’s a lot of stress involved. Anxiety and nerves have been floating through the Kirleis household. But we’ve done a very good job of keeping it under control. Heather goes out of her way to tell Thor she loves him, while Thor pushes out his chest and mumbles a few words that, although not the three magic words, ring true just the same. That has helped a lot. But the theme is anxiety.
Until this week. Entering two weeks to go until the big day, anxiety has been replaced by extreme excitement. Things are really coming together, and that which doesn’t, oh well… it’s the people and party that matters, because this, we realize, our wedding, will be the biggest party we will ever throw.
It’s a special time for us. A little crazy with trying to close on our old houses and Thor with jury duty, but we realize that this time is one we will look back on with fondness and smile for the amazing way our love focused to pull us even closer together.
One week from today is the Rehearsal dinner!
Stag Run – “Slightly Late to the Party” March 27, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Uncategorized.add a comment
Check out this travelogue from my dear friend Jim, who I call der Kaiser out of great fondness for all things soccer in the Fatherland.
http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25071
der Kaiser and his lovely fiancee took Heather and I along with them as they vacationed in Scotland. Like gnomes, Heather and I played with them, drank with them, had fish and chips and tried to spot Nessie with them.
Our guests were so nice that they even made sure we were safe and secure on the plane ride home with our seat belts.
Stag Run – Photos March 26, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Uncategorized.add a comment
Stag Run – Thank You! March 25, 2008
Posted by ironboy in Uncategorized.add a comment
A great big thank you to all who participated in the Stag Run to help me celebrate my last days (and marathon) as a free man. Each loop of the course was filled with great conversation and even better friendship. I set two PR’s in this marathon: I chatted more than in any other marathon, and I know I held a smile through the duration. I mean, I think my jaw and the muscle required to smile hurt more at the end of the 26.2 miles than did my legs.
Although the Stag Run was no ordinary bachelor party, with hosts as gracious as Shawn and John Intorcio, it proved to be even better and more fun and certainly more memorable than anything other. For me it was fitting, fun, and filled with the friendship of you all, my training buddies, many of whom have become, over the years, good friends.
From the planning stages when Shawn and John enthusiastically offered the warmth of their home for the celebration, to John helping me sort through event logistics, to marking the course, the event got a jump start in a fun direction.
From the starting line ceremonies complete with a BAF (Big A$$ Flag) that supported a proper National Anthem and even an official flyover, to a few hills on loops one and two and the company to be held, to the wild and crazy and very crowded loop three, and to the beer lap of 2.2 miles to round it out, and finally to the finish line festivities and on to the party that ensued, it was a very fun and definitely memorable time.
I will never forget rounding the final corner into the Intorcio driveway and seeing police caution tape marking the finish line, behind which sat the smiling faces of so many friends. It was honestly enough to force a tear of joy. Although my pace slowed as I broke the yellow tape, the truth is by then I was just trying to stay on my feet for the warmth and kindness shown me. It was a beautiful day, and I thank each of you who played a part to make it memorable.
You guys have me still smiling. Thank you!
Thor
