Heather & Thor’s Weblog

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!

Heather and Thor thought long and hard over several months for a theme for their wedding. Heather insisted on a personalized theme rather than a canned rendition of a bland make up, and Thor… well, let’s just say that Thor thought all weddings had the same theme, and that is to get married and, if you’re lucky, turn it into a college party theme with an open bar and a lot of dancing.

In spite Thor’s help, a theme still eluded Heather. Until one day it hit her. Where she had searched high and low and down dirty dark alleys for a theme, there was one, fitting as ever, right before her. So close was it that she was living it even as she thought about it.

The theme was the story of their coming together as one. The theme was how she helped Thor reach for a childhood dream and how he, with Heather’s support, came to find love before him much like Heather did the theme. It was perfect.

After presenting the idea to Thor, Heather got busy on a design for a Save The Date for their wedding. What follows is her design of their theme.

Save The Date – FRONT

Save The Date – INSIDE

Quick: What’s the most popular selection for children’s entree at a wedding?

If you answered Chicken Nuggets, you’re right — but don’t get too up on yourself because, after all, we already gave you the answer in the title to this message. But it’s true, Chicken Nuggets is the number one selection for kid’s menu at a wedding, at least as far as weddings held at Butternet Farm are concerned.

On Saturday, January 12, Heather and Thor took another step toward planning their wedding by meeting with the Wedding Coordinator at Butternut Farm Golf Club, site of their wedding only a short few months away on April, 5 2008.

Heather thought the meeting was great as she got many items checked off her to-do list, while Thor seemed interested only in the occasional joke he made, though it was obvious by his constant yawning and the glazed over look in his eyes that he was otherwise bored. Still, Heather was happy he came for nothing else than the one decision he was actually able to help with. “Go with the Butternut,” he suggested. “Butternut Squash at Butternut Farm… seems only fitting.” Heather, along with the event planners assigned to us by Butternet Farm, laughed.

Heather and Thor finalized many of the smaller details such as dinner selection (beef, fish, vegetarian) and of course the Butternut Squash, salad option (Caeser over bland Garden), wedding cake as desert, champagne toast over wine, color selection for theme of table runners and napkins and candles oh my, and many other things.

They also talked about the flow of the day. From ceremony to cocktail hour to reception, they discussed in rough form how the event would unfold. Thor showed he was still awake by asking how long the bar would be open, while Heather took notes and gave a lot of answers. The Wedding Coordinator kept repeating herself. “That would be beautiful,” she’d say with a surprisingly geniune expression of happiness. Heather liked to hear it, as it gave confirmation of her decisions; Thor thought she would have said it even if they had said they wanted army green table runners among wild black and purple confetty. “That would look beautiful,” Thor imagined the Coordinator saying. “That would really look beautiful.” Uh, miss? We were kidding.

All in all, it was a productive step toward April 5th. If nothing else, it only made Heather much more nervous. This was evidenced the next morning as she got up early to get to work on designing the wedding invitations. Thor didn’t really care. He was just happy to be by Heather’s side as she stressed the small things. It’s her job anyway, or so he voiced. Guys, they have it so easy!

After the meeting, Heather and Thor decided to drive into the heart of Hudson, a town just to the south of Stow, to pay visit to the Horseshoe Pub which, with over 100 beers from all over the world on tap, one of which was, with no coincidence, Fullers ESB, Thor’s favorite, was a candidate to host their Rehersal Dinner the night before the wedding.

After a quick tour of the upstairs of the restaurant section of the pub, Heather and Thor agreed the Horseshoe was a great possibility! Friendly, clean, pub-styled, and very relaxed, it was just what they wanted, and plus it had 100 beers on tap, including Thor’s favorite. Or did we mention that already?

Just to be sure, Heather and Thor decided to slip into the bar and make one final check — to see if the taps were clean. The only way to do that was to sample a pint or two, so Heather grabbed an Allagash White (a Belgium beer) while Thor, of course, sampled not one but two pints of Fullers ESB.

By the time they were content on the beer flow, they hurried home to catch the Patriot’s stomp the Jaguars to earn right to the AFC Conference Championship game against the Bolts. It was really Heather who watched the game while Thor, he multitasked between watching the game and studying the insides of his eyelids. Heather wanted to wake him in the third quarter when things were really heating up but thought otherwise. But Heather gave him credit for coming around full circle to watch the entire 4th quarter.

Welcome to Heather & Thor’s space on the Internet!

Stay awhile to catch up on our happenings as we plan our wedding, build our lives together, and plan our future.

Feel free to leave a note or drop a line. We would love to hear from you…

Thanks for reading!