Heather & Thor’s Weblog

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

Thor had an ah-ha moment earlier this Friday morning at the YMCA, of all places. You should have seen it. Everyone thought it was funny. But not Thor. He looked a bit… well, he looked a bit surprised.

In fact, his ah-ha moment wasn’t as much a light bulb coming on to realize that what he sought was right in front of him. That happens quite a lot, but this wasn’t one of those. This was more a ‘Holy Christ!’ moment, or maybe even a ‘Oh shit!’ or like being awoken in the middle of a really good dream. Let me explain…

So this morning, Friday morning, Thor heads off to the local Y to grab a swim with his buddy John. Did I tell you that this is the same buddy who will officiate his wedding? It is.

So Thor goes to the Y to meet up with John. Upon arriving, Thor swipes his card and heads immediately to the reception area. “Hi,” he says to the friendly lady sitting behind the desk, “I’d like to change my membership from Single Adult to Family so that my fiance can start working out here.”

The lady pushes aside some papers, then a few more, and finally extracts a single form. “We just have to fill this out,” the lady said. “What’s your fiance’s name?”

Heather Sinopoli.

“Same address as yours?”

Yup.

Miss YMCA paused a long moment then scratched head a few times as if it helped the thoughts settle in her head. Finally she spoke again. “When are you getting married?”

Thor pushed a little closer and said, “In a few months.” Thor said it as if there was plenty of time.

Miss Y wasn’t satisfied with the answer. “Like when — in the summer?”

“No,” Thor said, “in April… April 5th to be precise.”

“April 5th,” Miss Y reflected back, “that’s soon…” Before Thor could tell her she was wrong – ”no, it’s not so soon,” he wanted to shout — she got to further business. “In that case, I’ll just put her in the computer as Heather Kirleis.”

Thor’s mind went blank. He wore an expression of deer in headlights, or maybe one of a deer run over by headlights.

Miss Y seemed to pick up the whirl of emotions. If her confused expression could speak it might say, “Was it my mention of the wedding being so soon in April… or was it when I said Heather Kirleis.”

Thor spoke not a word further, signed a few dotted lines, and then dissappeared into the locker room. Rumor has it that he swam much faster than he usually does.

This past Saturday (January 19), Thor had the great idea of going to the jeweler to look at wedding bands. Both Heather and Thor have been very busy, and they know their free time on weekends is at a premium. So when Thor saw a half a free evening, he said to Heather, “We should go to the jewelry store.” Heather didn’t have to be talked into it; sparkly wedding bands flashed in her eyes, so off they went to the jewelry store to look at all things sparkly.

It should be noted that Heather, thanks to such a wonderful fiancee, is addicted to diamonds. Ever since Thor slipped a rock on her finger back in Madison, Wisconsin for their dance with engagement, Heather has been consumed by all things sparkles. Then Thor drove the passion deeper by getting her diamond earrings for Christmas. Sometimes Thor is a slow learner.

Hand in hand, Heather and Thor skipped with joy into the jewelry store as each sales person’s eyes trained on their every move. From out of no where, King Harry, Thor’s personal sales slave from previous purchases, came waltzing over, eager to sell-sell-sell and sell some more.

Heather looked at a bunch of wedding bands for her as Thor all of a sudden got all quiet, as if he was pondering just what Eternity meant. “It’s an eternity band,” Heather and Harry were saying. As if that were a good thing. Thor wiped sweat from his brow and tried to look engaged. After what seemed four days and thirty three hours… okay, maybe 4 days and a few hours… Heather decided that she was undecided. She needed more time to think. Meanwhile, Harry extracted yet another sparkly band from the showcase. No, really… Heather was undecided. Thor got excited at the prospect that they could now leave.

But wait! Heather wanted Thor to try on wedding bands. Thor rolled his eyes but otherwise served as a noble pin cushion, as King Harry and Heather jabbed rings on any available digit. The King seemed pleased with a certain selection. “I really like this one,” Harry blobbered. Thor pretended to look in the showcase as if the atrocious looking ring Harry held up so proudly didn’t exist.

Heather seemed to like all the rings while Thor started yawning again. He hunched over the showcase and peered in. Over the next several minutes, the showcase started supporting more and more of his weight. A few more yawns and soon Thor would be snoozing asleep. Until Heather ribbed him. That’s when Thor mumbled he wanted something differet. “Plain bands are ugly,” he said. “In fact, I think they’re all ugly. I don’t want a ring.” Heather insisted: “You’re getting a ring.”

Thor looked defeated. ”Seriously,” he started saying as if nobody would listen, “I think all wedding bands are ugly. Especially the tradional ones. They look stupid.” Just then a sales person standing next to King Harry started playing with is rather plain looking band. He made eye contact with Thor a few times but otherwise tried not to give an evil eye.

That’s when Heather spoke up. “Like that ring,” she said as she pointed at the ring worn by King Harry’s counter part. “You think that’s ugly?” Thor bit his tongue to bid time. As soon as the salesman with the ugly ring looked the other way, Thor shook his head with a resounding up and down swoop. Yup! It’s butt ugly, his expression yeilded. Heather and Harry looked at each other. Harry shrugged as Heather seemed to say, ‘Now tell us how you really feel.’

A half hour later Heather and Thor walked out of the jewelry store with a wedding band for Thor — Heather was still undecided on hers. The wedding band was the one King Harry kept thrusting in Thor’s face as, “I really like this one.” Granted, the ring was one of the twenty three Thor declared as “I guess that one’s okay.” But still, Thor thinks the ring looks like it has tire prints on it.

Although Heather and Thor have had the ring for a few weeks now, Thor refuses to look at it. Heather thinks Thor’s in denial. Heck, even the damn cat thinks Thor’s in denial.

Heather has been great. She tells Thor every chance how nice a ring it is he selected. “It’s so pretty,” she says. Thor wiggles and moans. Yeah, he says, “Pretty-schmitty… like I want a pretty ring.” Then he flexes his muscle as if to show off to his guy pals and says, “Look guys, I got me a pretty ring… I bet mine is prettier than yours.”

Thor is still undecided on his pretty ring. He’s contemplating another one — one with a Celtic weave. It’s a bit more masculine. In the meantime, he’s free to brag about his pretty ring to his friends. But he doesn’t.

Heather and Thor are very excited to announce the time, date, and location of the Rehearsal Dinner for their wedding.

What: Rehearsal Dinner
Where: Horseshoe Pub & Restaurant (directions)
When: Friday, April 4, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. (immediately following Rehearsal at Butternut Farm)
Why: They have nearly 100 beers from all over the world on tap. That’s why!

After very little debate, Heather and Thor decided to have their Rehearsal dinner at the Horseshoe Pub & Restaurant located in Hudson, MA, only a short 10 minute drive from Butternut Farm Golf Club, site of their wedding the next day and the wedding rehearsal that same night. The Rehearsal at Butternut will start at 5 p.m. and last roughly an hour, maybe more. Add on a drive time and we figure 6:30 p.m. for the Dinner.

Deciding on the Horseshoe was relatively easy. It wasn’t because of their catchy slogan “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends.” And it wasn’t exactly for the proximity of the Horseshoe to Butternut and the hotel where most out of town guests will be staying. Although those are all true, we aren’t going to hide it: We selected the Horseshoe because of the amazing selection of beer they have on tap.

Last Saturday eveving, Heather and Thor happened upon the quaint little pub with wood bar and even a function area on a second floor loft overlooking a warm fireplace below.

Heather’s quest was to make sure the place was clean and the space for function was big enough. For extra credit, she even scoped out the restroom. Yep, it had running water. But the cautious wife-to-be wasn’t so sure on the cleanliness so she asked the rather handsome husband-to-be to check the men’s room. Yep, running water their too.

Thor, he didn’t care about running water or cleanliness. Heck, he didn’t even check to see if there was extra toilet paper in the bathroom. His task was to make very sure the taps from which the beer would pour some three months later for the Rehearsal Dinner were clean. It took not one but two — count ‘em, two — beers to make very sure all was well in the house that will rock them all.

And so the decision was made to book the Horseshoe for the Rehearsal Dinner.

Thor wanted to let you all know that they have a rather tasty Fullers ESB on tap. ESB is his ultimate favorite ale. His brother’s know this very well because on all holidays and birthdays and special occasions, they always get him one or two or even a six pack. Like when he got his tattoo… what, you didn’t know about the tattoo?! Well, when he got inked, his older brother had a bottle of Fullers ESB to mark (pun intended)  the special occasion. ESB… Extra Special Bitter. Have a taste of Thor’s before you order one for yourself. Or better yet, get a sampler. The Horseshoe has those too!