.
I left my apartment at 5 something on Friday morning. Almost 24 hours later i got home at 1 pm the same day! It felt like i had been traveling for a week yet only 8 hours had passed on the clock! things like that really make you realize what a man-made fabrication time actually is!
.
My dad picked me up at the airport, took me to get my tux fitted and finally i got to get home and see the family and my little blue kitty! I unpacked and had only a couple of hours to settle in before it was time to start setting up for the poker game at my parents' house that would take place as the start of tony's bachelor party. We had a SOLID group of brothers, and brother-like cousins and friends; and even one adventurous uncle Deaner! Tony cleaned house all-around by taking down the tourney, the prizes Brian chipped in and a bunch of money donated to him from the guys - just the way we all would have had it, i imagine tonz! We headed for a bonfire and drinks at Broey's house, spent a couple hours at the Sherwood Lounge and then back to Broey's where it was every-man-for-himself to find a place to crash.
.
It was the first time EVER that all four of us brothers got to party together and an uncontrolable riot of a night!! Hugemongus thanks to Brian and Joe for putting everything together while i was struggling from the other side of the world!!!! was a great night with most of the best guys i know!
.
The rest of the week was a whirl-wind barage of my favorite people, places and restaurants without hardly stopping to breathe! i even got to see not one, but TWO Twins game at the wonderous Target Field tuesday and weds nights! We even ran into one of my favorite teachers ever, Mr. Doepner, who happens to be the biggest collector of Twins gear in the history of Twins gear and also the curator of Target Field! i had no idea, but it proved to be to our advantage when he gave us the VIP intimate tour of the different areas of the new park!
Taken just moments after ariving at our seats for the first time at Target Field.
We are 2 and 0 when i am in attendance at the park! ... they'll have to give me season tickets next year if this continues!!
.
.
Thursday was the wedding rehearsal, dinner and then some late night swimming at tony and michelles beautiful apartment in Woodbury. ...... which brings me to.... THE WEDDING!! :)
.
The cermony was beautiful and ran smootly. I really enjoyed the fact that it was at Blessed Sacrament in St Paul - the same church where i used to attend grade school, was an alter server and sang in the choir. very nostalgic and comfortable being there!! the priest commented as the ceremony concluded on 'Tony and Michelle's beaming happiness and energy that they give off' and noted that they were the 'happiest looking couple he'd ever married'!! I couldn't agree more guys! :)
.
We put the 'PARTY' in 'wedding party' (just for you tonz) as we got onto our trolley - cooler locked and loaded - and headed into St Paul for pictures at Mears park and the capital. with the buzz rolling, we piled into the coolest reception hall i've ever been to! It looked more like a fancy restaurant/dance club than it did a hall for rent! I was thrilled to see hundreds of family, including DOZENS of tiny little Adrians i hadn't seen forever, one Smiley Marie out walkin' and dancing around, my nieces-in-law JJ and Em and Nearly all of the 50 odd cousins that I have. It turned out to be, truly, one of the best nights of my life!! Thanks to my parents and Michelle's awesome family for making it all possible!! Picture perfect!!!
the very talented and super cool friends of tony any schmelle's; The Limns. Put on an awesome show and must have played for almost 4 hours it seemed like?? everyone was having such a blast that we had a tough time ever letting them off the stage! such a great addition to the party!!
This has recently become one of my more favorite schwenny photogs! love these two for all time!! :)
Finally, we were able to let go and allow the guys in the band to pack up their stuff as we took over and belted out a few of our favorite tunes... then they picked their instruments back up and played behind us! if you missed the late-night karaoke, you should feel great shame!! ;) a fantastic finish to the eve.
.
Through a brilliant appearance from the wedding singer (Mr. Broey Hart!), limbo, congo line, crowd surfing, hours of dancing and dance-offs, karaoke and 10 hours of drinking, you'd have thought we'd be about ready to crash, right?... that's why you don't party as hard as we do! 3 hours after bar-close and after having had more than one gentle conversation with the hotel security guard; the day was done. it is certainly on the all-time list!! :D
.
I made it back to the D a few days later and jumped right back into work to the realization that we had no supervisor - she had walked out with a one day notice while i was away! I managed my way through what was left of the week and was starting to get caught up. Our weekend plans for a King of the Mountain Race in the South West of the country were foiled by severe weather so we packed up and headed east instead toward Pohang where we met up with one of my good friends from college, Amy Matthews. Luck would have that it was her birthday the following day! That fact combined with the South Korea and U.S. world cup games happening in the middle of the night, AND a nice hot following day to spend playing beach volleyball at the beach made for an awesome last minute substitution plan!! Thanks Amy!!! great to see ya! ;)
.
Then came a true work-place disaster. An over-night flood of a bar two stories above our school caused me to be greeted by ankle-deep standing water throughout most of our school! with a few buckets, some extra hands and a whole lot of teamwork, we managed to somehow carry-out the entire school day! one of the leakiest spots in the building happend to be our teachers' office and there seemed to be a steady stream coming down directly over my desk all night!!! All of july's books, finished graded homework, my schedules.... everything totally ruined. Of course it happens on end-of-the-month testing and recording day... and when we have no supervisor. DISASTER. although there was a strange feeling of accomplishment in over-coming the chaotic circumstances, i hope to NEVER go though anything like it again!!! things are now getting back closer to normal now.....
.
The school week is finished now here just hours ago and i head into a 4th of july weekend again filled with travel, new places and a half-marathon PR in mind! The 'Ansan Li-Ning Half' will get conqured on Sunday! Hopefully Sarah can run her 10K that she's registered for despite a 2nd degree burn on the top of her foot acquired from her hair straightener the other day!! poor thing; i told her that her foot hairs looked fine curly!!! ;) We are doing great and she can't wait to someday meet everyone back home!!!
.
HAVE AN INCREDIBLE 4th at the cabin!!!!!! i will be there in spirit! love you guys!!!!
.
aw :)
No comments:
Post a Comment