Thursday, July 20, 2006
Emily´s Wedding
Hi
I am way behind on the blogs, so I Hill just have to drop in a few stories at a time.
First….
EMILYS WEDDING
I was recently in Ireland for my sisters emily´s wedding. It was nice because I arrived about a week and a half before the wedding, so I got to spend some time with the Emster. I went to her hen night, and met a bunch of her cool and funky friends, being a mix of Irish, English, and New Zealanders. So typical hen night in England/Ireland involves making the bride war some sort of headband with bobbly pink penises and a big learners permit sign, and all of the hen night friends is slightly less obnoxious and embarrassing garb. We did not do this. And I am not sorry. Instead, we went for dinner and a swanky parlour restaurant, and actually got good table service, which apparently is a rarity in Ireland. This is because they don’t work for tips. Yet neither do bartenders, and they are generally pleasant. Go figure. We drank MUCHO VINO and then headed out to Samba night at some undisclosed location, where we danced the night away and ogled beautiful sweaty shirtless men doing displays of capoeira, a brazilian martial art done to music so it looks like dancing. It was developed by slaves in Brazil so that their masters would not know they were training.
Anyhows, between hangover and jet lag, Emily and I spent a pretty tranquilo following day, shopping chatting, visiting museums. It was nice, and I like cultural stuff, yeah, and I a cultural sorts gal I am. And in between times I helped Emily out with things for the wedding, which mainly involved small tasks and just being a supportive voice during decision making. Emily and Des showed me funny comedy videos. And animation from where Des works. I like Des, he is a funny man with good taste. Obviously, he married Emily.
I managed to get away for a few days and visit the Aran Islands, where I rode a bicycle around and looked and sheep, and ponies and rock walls and didnt talk to anyone. And a big giant rock fort on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. It probably doesn’t sound that fun, but it was, its just its so hard to describe the tranquility and beauty of the place I wont even try. Just go. And I met a little Irish boy who showed me around a cemetery and shouted “Hullo Mummo, hows heaven?” at his grandmothers grave. He was cute as a button and I wanted to take him home with me. But I figure if I was to steal someones child I should do it in a country with less law enforcement.
Back in Dublin, I met up with my friend Sadie and we boozed and toured for a few days. I love Sadie. You should all love her too. We had kabobs, where some Irish witch tried to correct my pronunciation in a not too kind way. I told her I wasn’t making fun of the way she speaks and she said its pronounced kabab, welcome to Ireland. To which I replied, yes, that’s exactly what you want, planeloads of American tourists doing their BEST irish accent while visiting your country. That would be WAY less annoying than them talking in the nasally American accents. Right.
Then the fam arrived, and we chatted until the cows came home, and it was so good to see my family, at least those who could come. Especially the cousins, who are all so big now, its crazy. I went with the cousins to go see Pirates 2. I was disappointed, which is hard to do in a movie with both Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. BTW, I respect Johnny decision not to change his name once he moved into ADULT roles. That shows hutzpah. I got to see all the men folk together at the pubs, and give a special shout out to my home boy Ray, who my mom dragged all over Paris, and probably walked more in a shorter space of time that is recommended by the Surgeon General
Anyways, the days before then wedding I got to spend some time with my mom and Sara, which was nice, and we had some girl talk, and I am sure I just said things that make my mom worry more, but it was the truth that’s all.
I also got to hang a bit with Allie and Sara and Emily, just the girls together, which was nice and yes, we bonded, I wont go into details, but I liked it.
I also got to take a little tour with Lucy and Paula and co. all whom I haven’t seen for a very long time. We went to Kilmanean Goal, which is where a bunch of important people were interned or executed. Very interesting. On the way home, Lucy and I brought home two servings of fish and chips which fed 6 people as my mom made us fruit salad, to combat the grease, and we watched gaelic football, which is the best game, because there are no rules, just get the ball to the other side. violent
I spent Emilys last night of freedom with her, and we got strippers… just kidding….. all we did was eat pizza and make some CD´s for the DJ. Which was good, busy time to keep distracted, although she kept saying “I cant believe I am getting married tomorrow”.
The day of the actual wedding Emily and I made an awesome fruit salad and Emily had bread and juice and coffee ready, and Mom and Sara and Allie, and the hairdresser came over. It was nice, we all got ready in a very leisurely way over the next three hours, and at the end of it all we LOOKED GORGEOUS. The bridesmaids all had a very breakfast at tiffanys hairdo, with a little less poofiness, which looked very classically elegant with our simple black dresses and embroidered shawls. My mom looked so lovely in her dress, a long soft lilac gown with beaded shawl, and professional makeup and hairdo. I never get to see her dressed up like that and it was beautiful.
Emily of course, was the crowning feature, and with her ruched silk gown, she looked every bit the film siren. As a surprise, Emily had arranged for us to arrive in a horse drawn carriage, and although the skies threatened rain, it held off until we arrived.
The ceremony was lovely, although we walked down the aisle a little quickly, that being my fault since I was holding hands with a nervous ringbearer, the ever cheerful and sweet Christopher, and we were both anxious to get up front.
The ceremony was short and very couple centered, with three very different, yet appropriate readings, which really set the tone for the whole thing. I know it was difficult for some very Catholic members of des´s family, but I thought they did a good job of keeping the emphasis on the couple, which in the end, love ruled the day. I started to cry. And I am not usually a crier.
After the ceremony and some quick pics and salutations, off we went in a wedding bus to the hotel, just outside of Dublin, where the reception was held. We were met inside at the drinks reception by a great jazz duo, belting out the Django classics, and good finger foods…AND…wait for it…. A CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN. Will wonders never cease. You could dip fruit or marshmallows or giant meringues in there. It was wicked awesome.
I was running around a bit in the beginning, making sure the tables were all done up nicely, and that people knew where they needed to go. Then I calmed down and enjoyed the whole thing. My cousin Stacy and her husband John were there, and it was nice to see them too, especially since I hadn’t made it to their wedding.
We had a super dinner, before which Emily and Des were ushered in with bagpipes. Not too much conversation at the head table though, since they had set up pretty far apart, maybe with the anticipation that more people would show up, forgotten members of the wedding party, but it was still cool to be up front and gaze around Emilys wedding empire.
We had some great speeches, some funny (Uncle Mike, best man, Ger), some touching (Ray, Ger Sr.) and some weepy (mine, or course)
After dinner, we did take a mandated break to watch the end of the world cup, wedding be damned, and were back in time for the first dance, which was to a great Sam Cooke Song.
Then, details be damned because this blog is too long already, we danced like crazy people until 1am. At which time I was forced onto the bus, but some very hardy souls drank the night away in the bar until 330 am
The next day all the family went to the Wicklow mountains and Powerscourt, which you can look up in your guide book, and the following day we went and saw Riverdance, all of which were very cool, very irish things to do. In a nutshell, my family is rad, and I love them and miss them, and it was a great time to see everyone.
I will maybe write more details later, but right now my fingers are tired.
Love
Melissa
">Link
I am way behind on the blogs, so I Hill just have to drop in a few stories at a time.
First….
EMILYS WEDDING
I was recently in Ireland for my sisters emily´s wedding. It was nice because I arrived about a week and a half before the wedding, so I got to spend some time with the Emster. I went to her hen night, and met a bunch of her cool and funky friends, being a mix of Irish, English, and New Zealanders. So typical hen night in England/Ireland involves making the bride war some sort of headband with bobbly pink penises and a big learners permit sign, and all of the hen night friends is slightly less obnoxious and embarrassing garb. We did not do this. And I am not sorry. Instead, we went for dinner and a swanky parlour restaurant, and actually got good table service, which apparently is a rarity in Ireland. This is because they don’t work for tips. Yet neither do bartenders, and they are generally pleasant. Go figure. We drank MUCHO VINO and then headed out to Samba night at some undisclosed location, where we danced the night away and ogled beautiful sweaty shirtless men doing displays of capoeira, a brazilian martial art done to music so it looks like dancing. It was developed by slaves in Brazil so that their masters would not know they were training.
Anyhows, between hangover and jet lag, Emily and I spent a pretty tranquilo following day, shopping chatting, visiting museums. It was nice, and I like cultural stuff, yeah, and I a cultural sorts gal I am. And in between times I helped Emily out with things for the wedding, which mainly involved small tasks and just being a supportive voice during decision making. Emily and Des showed me funny comedy videos. And animation from where Des works. I like Des, he is a funny man with good taste. Obviously, he married Emily.
I managed to get away for a few days and visit the Aran Islands, where I rode a bicycle around and looked and sheep, and ponies and rock walls and didnt talk to anyone. And a big giant rock fort on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. It probably doesn’t sound that fun, but it was, its just its so hard to describe the tranquility and beauty of the place I wont even try. Just go. And I met a little Irish boy who showed me around a cemetery and shouted “Hullo Mummo, hows heaven?” at his grandmothers grave. He was cute as a button and I wanted to take him home with me. But I figure if I was to steal someones child I should do it in a country with less law enforcement.
Back in Dublin, I met up with my friend Sadie and we boozed and toured for a few days. I love Sadie. You should all love her too. We had kabobs, where some Irish witch tried to correct my pronunciation in a not too kind way. I told her I wasn’t making fun of the way she speaks and she said its pronounced kabab, welcome to Ireland. To which I replied, yes, that’s exactly what you want, planeloads of American tourists doing their BEST irish accent while visiting your country. That would be WAY less annoying than them talking in the nasally American accents. Right.
Then the fam arrived, and we chatted until the cows came home, and it was so good to see my family, at least those who could come. Especially the cousins, who are all so big now, its crazy. I went with the cousins to go see Pirates 2. I was disappointed, which is hard to do in a movie with both Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. BTW, I respect Johnny decision not to change his name once he moved into ADULT roles. That shows hutzpah. I got to see all the men folk together at the pubs, and give a special shout out to my home boy Ray, who my mom dragged all over Paris, and probably walked more in a shorter space of time that is recommended by the Surgeon General
Anyways, the days before then wedding I got to spend some time with my mom and Sara, which was nice, and we had some girl talk, and I am sure I just said things that make my mom worry more, but it was the truth that’s all.
I also got to hang a bit with Allie and Sara and Emily, just the girls together, which was nice and yes, we bonded, I wont go into details, but I liked it.
I also got to take a little tour with Lucy and Paula and co. all whom I haven’t seen for a very long time. We went to Kilmanean Goal, which is where a bunch of important people were interned or executed. Very interesting. On the way home, Lucy and I brought home two servings of fish and chips which fed 6 people as my mom made us fruit salad, to combat the grease, and we watched gaelic football, which is the best game, because there are no rules, just get the ball to the other side. violent
I spent Emilys last night of freedom with her, and we got strippers… just kidding….. all we did was eat pizza and make some CD´s for the DJ. Which was good, busy time to keep distracted, although she kept saying “I cant believe I am getting married tomorrow”.
The day of the actual wedding Emily and I made an awesome fruit salad and Emily had bread and juice and coffee ready, and Mom and Sara and Allie, and the hairdresser came over. It was nice, we all got ready in a very leisurely way over the next three hours, and at the end of it all we LOOKED GORGEOUS. The bridesmaids all had a very breakfast at tiffanys hairdo, with a little less poofiness, which looked very classically elegant with our simple black dresses and embroidered shawls. My mom looked so lovely in her dress, a long soft lilac gown with beaded shawl, and professional makeup and hairdo. I never get to see her dressed up like that and it was beautiful.
Emily of course, was the crowning feature, and with her ruched silk gown, she looked every bit the film siren. As a surprise, Emily had arranged for us to arrive in a horse drawn carriage, and although the skies threatened rain, it held off until we arrived.
The ceremony was lovely, although we walked down the aisle a little quickly, that being my fault since I was holding hands with a nervous ringbearer, the ever cheerful and sweet Christopher, and we were both anxious to get up front.
The ceremony was short and very couple centered, with three very different, yet appropriate readings, which really set the tone for the whole thing. I know it was difficult for some very Catholic members of des´s family, but I thought they did a good job of keeping the emphasis on the couple, which in the end, love ruled the day. I started to cry. And I am not usually a crier.
After the ceremony and some quick pics and salutations, off we went in a wedding bus to the hotel, just outside of Dublin, where the reception was held. We were met inside at the drinks reception by a great jazz duo, belting out the Django classics, and good finger foods…AND…wait for it…. A CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN. Will wonders never cease. You could dip fruit or marshmallows or giant meringues in there. It was wicked awesome.
I was running around a bit in the beginning, making sure the tables were all done up nicely, and that people knew where they needed to go. Then I calmed down and enjoyed the whole thing. My cousin Stacy and her husband John were there, and it was nice to see them too, especially since I hadn’t made it to their wedding.
We had a super dinner, before which Emily and Des were ushered in with bagpipes. Not too much conversation at the head table though, since they had set up pretty far apart, maybe with the anticipation that more people would show up, forgotten members of the wedding party, but it was still cool to be up front and gaze around Emilys wedding empire.
We had some great speeches, some funny (Uncle Mike, best man, Ger), some touching (Ray, Ger Sr.) and some weepy (mine, or course)
After dinner, we did take a mandated break to watch the end of the world cup, wedding be damned, and were back in time for the first dance, which was to a great Sam Cooke Song.
Then, details be damned because this blog is too long already, we danced like crazy people until 1am. At which time I was forced onto the bus, but some very hardy souls drank the night away in the bar until 330 am
The next day all the family went to the Wicklow mountains and Powerscourt, which you can look up in your guide book, and the following day we went and saw Riverdance, all of which were very cool, very irish things to do. In a nutshell, my family is rad, and I love them and miss them, and it was a great time to see everyone.
I will maybe write more details later, but right now my fingers are tired.
Love
Melissa
">Link
