With the wedding at T-minus 4.5 days and counting... I'm running out of excuses to run to the sanctuary of the "40 Watt" and get some stability.

(It's going to be an interesting week... slightly OCD bride-to-be , slightly freaked Mom , about 30 soon-to-be-relatives in-country from Ecuador, "difficulties" with the Church being double-booked on wedding day/photo time  , and 2 (possibly 3) backyard parties to host)

I don't look good in orange... I don't look good in orange...

Time for some adult beverage and just smile!
Don't forget the extended runs to the auto parts store for those much needed items you probably already have on the bench. 

Jon... that is so weird.
A long time ago Sheryl related a story about her Dad (on the farm).
Ken would come up from the barn/shop and say "I'm going into town for parts". What that really meant is he was getting a .49c clevis pin at the hardware store, then going to hang with his buddies at the elevator and crack into the breakroom fridge stash. (Came home without a care )

I've already taken a few "breaks" from chores. The downstairs bathroom (mine) shower doors are sparkling, my 1/2 of the bedroom is cleaned to within an inch of it's life, and I've got a load of folding tables & chairs in the back of the truck.

-- Edited by John D on Monday 27th of July 2015 02:47:01 PM

It is my honor to announce Domenico & Samantha Polo    


We had a perfect day, surrounded by family and friends for this glorious occasion.


(I'll get some pics up when we get them compiled).

Congrats!!

Congrats!  Now for the post event recovery period... 

No Kidding!! I am spent.

(Other than 1 SMALL "Bridezilla" meltdown at the Church before the Ceremony getting ready for pictures/dress/makeup/hair/too many people/arrggg everything went off without a hitch.)

The Ceremony & Mass was beautiful.
Fr. Dufner (the priest that's been with Sammy for 99% of her life) was transferred to a new parish a few years ago. He Confirmed her, offered her 1st Communion, and was a huge influence on her spiritual upbringing. She asked, was given the OK to go outside the parish, and asked Fr. Dufner if he would marry her. "Absolutely!"

(Both Sammy & Sheryl have been members of the choir for years. Our new Priest has different ideas about the Word, Chanting not singing, and no instruments... so the choir has been pretty much systematically disassembled over the last year... New director, new program, other than organ NO instruments... most members left like rats on a sinking ship.)

A few months ago, a few phone calls and "The Old Choir" came back IN FORCE just to sing for Sammy. All the music had to be approved by the current director & Priest, but there was no way they could say "no" to 40+ people and the old director staring them in the face flat-out stating "We are going to SING. On this day, this hour, for "our Sammy"... and there's going to be a trumpet". It was wonderful. (Our Church was built for the acoustics of voice, and a full choir is just incredible to hear in there.)

I have to give HUGE kudos to the staff & servers at Jax Café for the reception. They were awesome!!
Easy to work with. Their Event Coordinator is an absolute gem, and they had no problem working with with our linens provider, the DJ/Music, Florist, and us.(!) If they said it'd get done, it was. The staff catered to our every need, helped us tear-down and box up the "personal" stuff we had there... they were just great.

And the food was incredible.

(Jax has been a fixture in "Nordeast" Mpls for decades. If you want a genuinely old-school restaurant, where you are served, attended to, and appreciated by people who really enjoy making another's evening/meal/experience something special... this is where you want to go. It ain't cheap, and unfortunately the times have negated the proper "dress code" for an evening out... but it is a step back in time to when a night out meant a jacket & tie/evening dress, and several hours to enjoy drinks and a great meal.)

Today was a backyard party with all the family for gift-opening and good bye's.
The "40 Watt Garage" became a "testosterone stability check-zone", and the men seemed to gravitate in here throughout the day. Blackie was in there, and became the focus & bridge to the cultural/language/un-easiness between my new Ecuadorian family, and the Americano's. Nothing like a BBQ, some beer, and a hotrod to get guys to talk to eachother!

Sammy & Dome head off to Italy tomorrow for their honeymoon. 1-1/2 weeks of touring the peninsula and Sicily, then back here for a day - then back to Ecuador... Both of them start work again within days of getting "home" - they'll be wiped out.

I'll get some pics up soon.

That's great John!  Congrats to Sammy and Dom!  You had perfect weather this weekend!  Jax is great! Shannan and I have gone there for a few special occasions of our own.  Last time I caught a trout out of the "stream" which they cleaned and cooked while we sat out streamside!

Sammy has asked everyone to "refrain from posting on social media"...

A lot of this is due to the fact that a big portion of Dome's family couldn't make the trip to the US for the wedding & reception. They'd like to compile all the amateur photos & vids, and then the professional ones onto a website, and let everyone see them at the same time.

I can understand this, but I'm gonna let one slip by for my NCC family. (just don't repost or share please).