That Feel

Because we're headed for Florida on the 7th!

They have AOL at the compound, but I'm not sure how well that will work with Blogspot. So, I may not be able to add any more once we're there. And that should be fine. I've certainly covered the bases here and anything not here has been sent out to all of you in eMails.

So. The next time my words come at you...it'll be in person!

Once the wedding and honeymoon have passed I'll be updating this blog with all the news and pictures of our grand fete and tour.

Thanks to all of you for coming and we...will...see...you...soon!

Dean and Becky

I've thrown up a lot of content onto this...boy does that sound wrong!

-uh hum-

I've added a lot of content to this weblog and I don't want it to be too annoying to navigate. So I'll see if I can keep this post at the top as a sort of 'table of contents' for those of you brave enough to check this.

Content as of Feb 3rd:

Gift Registry is OPEN.
Dress Code is outlined.
Airport Info is listed.
Hotel Info is detailed.
If you're driving yourself then the MAPS are there.
If you'd like us to chauffeur you from the airport...then say so.

For our honeymoon, Becky and I are headed to Ireland. First to Dublin and then across the country to finish up in Galway. (Without actually intending to, we'll be in Dublin during St. Patrick's Day. We'll be sure to take plenty of pictures during the time that we're sober enough to still handle a camera.)

While in Dublin we'll be staying at The Kilronan House and while in Galway it'll be The Ashford Manor. Both of them look to be beautiful and centrally located to each of the areas we'll be wanting to walk around in.

So much can change in such a short time...

Firstly, the dining room set arrived yesterday (the 2nd) and it's absolutely beautiful. We asked the makers (Sticks) to include a few personal touches, one of which was the wedding date.... Well, it appears that there was some confusion around this and we now have a very lovely table with 'March 26, 2005' carved into the top of it. This was an original date Becky and I had selected that we had changed to the 12th back in September. Long story made short...the September corrections we made to our order didn't happen.

So Sweetheart Gallery is kindly going to pick up the table top and send it back to Sticks to have the '26' turned into a '12'...as in 'March 12, 2005'.

What this means is that: THE GIFT REGISTRY IS STILL OPEN through Sweetheart Gallery!

So everything that we've laid out (way down on this page) is still functional in regards to the Sweetheart Gallery website or through their phone number.

And to Norm and Lila at Sweetheart - we can't thank you enough for working this out for us. You're...well...ya know: Sweethearts!

From Orlando Int'l to Mt Dora 

You do!? Well that doesn't do me any good since I need to get to Mt Dora...and this is how you do it.

Firstly...click on the map (above) because it'll open up to a larger picture that you can then print or copy or just plain marvel at. Now that you've committed that to memory, you can get on your way.

Orlando International Airport is big: something you'll have figured out while riding the monorail between the gates and the main terminal. I can't help you out with all the car stuff, but it's pretty straight-forward. You know, steering wheel...gas pedal. Yeah.

Anyway, Airport Boulevard circles the main terminal and has interstate-style signage. You want 528 west and Florida wants you to want 528 west because they've put a handy toll on it. So have a single ready. From 528 west you'll want to connect to 91 north-west. I say north-west because I'm not positive about the label on the signs...either north or west. From there keep an eye out for 429 north to Apopka. Florida has also put a handy toll on this road...$1.00 if memory serves. Take 429 until it runs into 441/500...also known as Orange Blossom Trail. Go to the left on 441/500 and settle in for a 16+ mile ride to the hotel. The hotel, by the way, will be on your left between the intersections of 44c and 19.

In a nutshell:

Airport Boulevard to 528 west,
528 west to 91 north-west,
91 north-west to 429 north (Apopka),
Go left onto 441/500 (Orange Blossom Trail),
Ride along for 16 miles (or so) wondering why the radio stations are such crap,
And find the Comfort Inn on your left past 44c and before you get to 19.

Voila!

Mount Dora (detailed) 

This is all of the stuff that's under that big 44b on the larger area map. Like the larger area map, you can click on this one to get make it bigger. Also, the edge of the map cut off the actual road that the Barwick house is on...which is 439. 439 is easy to spot because there's a large power grid station on the left, right where you turn. But once you're at the hotel there will be plenty of us guides available to bring you into the compound safely.

And a note on my map...I went by the location the Comfort Inn website shows, but upon reflection I think their actual location is a little further on towards route 19.

It would appear that Sticks Furniture is running way ahead of schedule and, well, the table and chairs are due to arrive next week...or this week...uhm...they've already shipped. It also happens that they're shipping straight to us and that means we'll be paying them off when they get here.

And that'll close out the registry.

And I'm not sure what this means to any of you who were planning to make a payment to Sweetheart Gallery.

I really feel awkward about this. It seems 'gauche' to be discussing how we want to be 'gift-given' to. Not just gauche, but snotty. Hopefully you all know us better than that!

I guess what I'm trying to get 'round to is: traditionally the wedding gifts are there to help the 'young' couple get their household started. Becky and I are already there. We're furnished, booked, music'd, toweled, tooled, and fully kitchened. The dining room set is our 'luxury item of choice'.

So, if the quick closure of the gift registry has caught you by surprise, we understand. Caught us that way, too. Not sure what to say about it without feeling as though I've crossed some line of propriety...especially when it comes to 'traditions' that I didn't have a hand in designing.

I'm not sure what Miss Manners would say is the right thing to do in this case.

Oy!

This is another of those things everyone is probably asking themselves and it's a good thing, because the two of us will be dressing more 'relaxed' than in a traditional wedding. No tuxes. No gowns with yards of lace and miles of train.

Because Becky and I both have 'comfortable' shapes, we're opting for layers! Layers are our friends! I'm not exactly sure what Becky would call her dress - I'd say Easter Day going to church dressy without the big hat - but what do I know? I'm just a guy. What I do know is that I'm wearing something certain to get our folks to shaking their heads, along with mutterings about 'shouldn't have let that boy out of the house without a helmet when he was younger'.

Yeah, yeah. I know what you're thinking and it's not about what I'm wearing, but what you will be wearing. You, dear friends, will be wearing dress casual. Again, I can't speak for women's fashions (until I confer with the matriarchs), but I can say that Becky's dress includes the colors of ivory, plum, and green (all softly subdued). The flowers around the house and on the arbor are going to be predominantly white and - I expect - so are the various decorations. I also know that my mother has chosen a yellow with flowers and my grandmother a white. I am wearing ivory and black.

As to you guys, I suspect you should consider shirts (short sleeve/long sleeve - your choice) and slacks and comfortable shoes. Personally, I hate ties, but I'm not the only one with a say here so...pack a tie and bring it with you. I also don't feel that everything should be black and white and grey in color. This is our happiest day and if you want to be wearing some color, then be yourselves. But, if you show up in your favorite Hawaiian shirt...well, Becky's mom knows this spot she can grab on the back of your neck that will make you wet your pants like you're 5 years old again. So don't give her an excuse to go there.

And keep in mind that last year's temperatures in March were in the 70's.

'Nuff said until there's more to say.

We need you to tell us what your plans are once you're on the ground in Florida.

Are you planning on renting a car?
Do you need us to come and get you at the airport?
If so, at what airport? What airline? What time?

We'll be happy to pick you up and drop you off, but the sooner you can tell us what you'd like/need, the easier it will be for us to plan. Becky and I will be renting a car at Orlando International and if we think we'll be picking up a couple of you at one time, then we'll rent something big enough.

So...we need to know. Call us. Comment here. Communicate.

Because of our non-traditional arrangements, we haven't set out a wedding party, per se. No Groomsmen or Bridesmaids or other collections of folks whose titles sound like the names of '60's bands.

But we still have family and our officiant, Sherie, to consider. So it's forward with a Rehearsal Dinner.

We've chosen a place called Dead River Vic's for this 'do'. We know. We don't name 'em, we just gotta select 'em. Anyway, our plan is to include Sherie and her husband, our immediate families, and anyone who has come in from out-of-state. Tentatively we're going to schedule dinner to run from 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday the 11th.

After that, we'd like to extend an invite to everyone who might like to get together for some drinks and some noise after dinner. We're open to suggestions, but we were considering somewhere in Mt Dora (Icelandic Pub or the newish Irish pub) or perhaps just stay at Dead River Vic's, but move out into the bar.

For those of you flying in, you've got two choices:

Orlando International Airport (MCO)
-or-
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)

Jet Blue will get you straight into OIA, but Orlando International is huge and I would expect any carrier could get you into this one. It's about 40 miles from OIA to the hotel (according to the Comfort Inn web site), but much of it is interstate style driving, so it moves fairly quickly. I've provided a link to OIA, just click to skip past the intro page and you're there.

The Orlando Sanford Airport is quite a bit smaller, but still nice enough. Not certain of all the airlines they handle, but they're actually a bit closer to Mt Dora than OIA is. Follow the link above to get a look at them, if'n you'd like the info.

Directions to and from will be coming...really.

The invites are out...and all of you should have received them by now. For those of you who are planning on coming in from out-of-town, you'd probably like to know where to stay. We've talked to the folks at the local Comfort Inn and have blocked out a set of rooms and here's what you do:

Call the Comfort Inn of Mt Dora, phone number 352.383.3400.
Tell them that you're going to be with the Dean Derby Wedding.
You'll have a choice of rooms - either 2 queen beds or one queen bed and all non-smoking.
They should offer you a $65.00 rate per night...plus tax (of course).

We've told them that folks will be checking in on March 11th and checking out March 13th, but that was just to give them some general parameters. When you show and go is up to you. For those of you arriving on Friday the 11th, we're planning the rehearsal dinner to include all out-of-staters. I think we'll be setting that dinner time to start at 7 pm...so plan your flights/driving accordingly and allow an hour of travel from Orlando International Airport to Mt Dora.

If you're curious about the Comfort Inn, well clickee clickee on the highlighted text or go to the links in the sidebar.

And if you're really adventurous and want to do a Map Quest to plot out your route from your airport of choice to the hotel, the address for the Comfort Inn is:

16630 US Highway 441 W.
Mt Dora, Florida
32757

But good luck. I tried it and the damned thing didn't recognize Orlando International Airport as a location without the street data...which I found to be pretty stupid design. So, to help you out with that, the airport addresses are:

Orlando International Airport
One Airport Blvd
Orlando, Fl 32827

It would appear that the answer to that - at least for the last 3 months - is: no one! Well, that's about to change because we've got some news to add...although I think each bit of news will need it's own entry.

Not much to add at this point. Made some small changes to the Registry post since Sweetheart has changed some of their website layout. We're still in the process of selecting a caterer. We've sent in a modified menu to one of the caterers and need to put together a similarly altered menu for the second. Not sure where we stand on cake negotiations. We've also been getting in the goodies we're going to be giving you,our guests, and we've roughed in our ideas for the invites. All in all we're getting there one short step - with many pauses to rest - at a time.

Becky 

Because we're building this blog using Dean's account, it looks like this blog is all about him, when we really know this blog is all about me! So. Here's me. And because I don't want you to think that I have anything to do with those other blogs, we're going to leave it just like this...until I change my mind.

(If you haven't figured it out yet, this is being posted by Dean...a guy who likes to keep up the illusion of 'being in control' even when he knows he's not. Man, am I gonna get it for this. Tee hee.)

It's a common cliche that every couple has a 'their song' and so it is for us. Although in our case the 'song' happens to be a Tom Waits/Keith Richards collaboration and is about how it feels to be either hung over, craving, or both all at once. Not the usual sort of 'love' song, but it captures something - something gut and heart level - that speaks to us.

Cross our wooden legs and swear on our glass eyes.

For anyone interested in the full lyrics of "That Feel", you can find them at the bottom of the page here.

For those of you who tried posting comments, but were unable to, we've resolved that issue and set the permissions to "OK". I believe the actual terminology they use is: "Any Tom, Dick, or Harry may post. As if anyone is ever going to want to read this stuff of yours, anyway." Search me. I don't design these things...I just report 'em.

Anyway, if you see a post you wish to comment on, click on 'Comment'. On the next screen there's an option to 'Post Anonymously', which is there for all of you who don't have - or want - Blogger accounts. From the next screen you can comment away to your heart's content. If you want everyone to know who you are, then toss your signature into the text box. It's that easy.

We've been talking to a baker about our cake. We have lots of great ideas because we want this to be as special as everything else. As I say, we've been talking to a baker because it would seem that talking to a chef could get you this.

Come to think of it, this guy is local...hmmm.

Woo yay! Glad to see you. Come on in. Between the two of us, Becky and I should be able to keep this updated. You may even find useful information in here, but that's only if we're really on the ball. And if The Muse should actually tap one or the other of us on the shoulder, then you may even find this entertaining. I know. Hard to imagine that.

So, once again, Welcome! Have a look around. We'll try to get cracking here and give you something to look at. Although there may be times when you wish we hadn't. Chuckle.

We've talked to most of you about the gift registry, but for those of you we haven't spoken to - and as a reminder for the rest of you - we're keeping it stripped down to a single item: a dining room set from Sticks. We're purchasing it locally from Sweetheart Gallery, so if you head on over to their website you can view the specific piece we've chosen.*

Becky and I come to each other with complete households. We are potted, panned, linened, arted, and generally furnished to a perfect balance for the lifestyle we have. Which already makes it tough on you come Christmas, eh? So we opted for a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece that will last our lifetimes. Something we'll cherish. Something we're already joyfully committed to buying in celebration of our wedding day.

We freely admit that it's a pricey item. By doing this we aren't implying that we expect any of you to break the bank trying to cover the cost of this thing. It's about the emotion attached to the gift, not about the loot. But you already know that about us, anyway.

So our gift registry consists of asking for a contribution towards this one gift. Any amount is a perfect amount. This is an item to celebrate our love. A thing of beauty to remind us of all of you: the people we've shared so many parts of our lives with.

Word.

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(Edit done on 10-17-2004)
*Many of you already know the routine, but I'll just add the details of how to view it right here. Click on the words Sweetheart Gallery here or over in the sidebar under 'Links'. Once you're in their website you'll see 'Gift Registry' in the upper right corner. Click on that text. On the next page you'll find our names...and only our names (hmmm?). Give our names a click and there you are. You can click on the various pictures to get larger versions of each.

And 'cuz I know it's the next logical question...Sweetheart will be setting up the payment methods in the next couple of weeks (or longer). We've asked for it to be credit card friendly, but there is a tag you can click on labeled 'Contact Us' that will give you all of Sweetheart's contact methods. As soon as I'm sure of how the mail should be labeled or the checks addressed, I'll post it here.