A moment for Andre

Last weekend I was down in Indiana with Melike et al to see Andre (nee Neil) take his initial vows as a friar - it was a really lovely ceremony, with an amazing lunch to follow at a convent.  Those with me in Italy know I have a thing for nuns.  I have often been heard to bemoan the fact that nuns in the US don't wear habits anymore - I just think the whole nun thing is cool.  Also cool, however, initial vows - naturally, I took pictures:

Bells and Whistles Anyone?

I'm in the office this morning (Saturday) typing up my own charts for the weddings today - today we have a wedding which features *all* of these items (weddings usually max out at about 3 - possibly 4 (if the couple is very young) of these features):

1. (Large group of attendants) 6 on each side

2. (Children) 4 flower girls and one page

3. Greeters (as distinct from ushers)

4. Unity candle (which we have been informed we should remove from the box carefully as the couples names are on it - in gold)

5. Pew cards for those not being honor seated, but seated up front nevertheless

6. Brass Quintet (one trumpet is more common)

7. Kneeler

8. Bagpiper

9. Wedding bells (although it is tricky whether to count these at it is almost everyone chooses this - but then again, it counts in most people's 3-4 extras)

10. Bubbles

11. Cathedral length train

12. Cathedral length veil

13. With blusher (this is my first wedding with an actual blusher)

I told A (the wedding director) yesterday that I wanted to be selling these people entertainment equipment.

Happy Independence Day!

I'm at Starbucks, with a mint-mocha-chip Frappucino, my computer, and my external hard-drive, preparing to do the mother of all photo uploads.   In preparation for that, here are a few shots from my July 3.  Here in Chicago, they do the big city fireworks on the 3rd - I've never been before - the thought of all those people - but happily, Sparks talked me into it (with an assist to the thought 'hmmmm, I could take my camera.')  Here are a few views of the scene.