The Morning After - 7/8

The wedding reception ended at 5:30AM(!!!!!!!). As late and long as the reception went (time-wise), the hours passed quickly. At no time did I feel tired.

As we exited the hotel, the sun was coming up. The last of the guests and family scattered to their various sleeping quarters. Maike & Johann gave Jim & I a lift back to Hotel Hahn. We slept so late, we missed the free breakfast at the hotel. This despite the best efforts of the sun to wake me at 9:30 by shining directly into my face as it laid on the pillow. We finally rose around noon, and strolled the Stadtweg in search of lunch - a bit of a struggle given very few businesses are open on Sunday in Germany. Most of the day was spent sleeping off the previous evening's festivities.

Paul informed us of the following day's excursion to Denmark, announcing that he would come to the hotel to collect us "at 10:30 or 11:00". That was the clue that Johann would not be joining us- Johann would likely tell us, "Be waiting outside the hotel at 10:47." After a late supper at Bistro Marvil on the Stadtweg, we retired for the night.

Message in a bottle - Part II

Well, the Police concert was fun. No pictures, since the ticket expressly said "NO CAMERAS" I didn't bother with bringing one. That didn't stop other scofflaws and ruffians from snapping away with their cellphone cameras during the concert. I would like to petition the Greater Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce to get some more restaurants near the Palace.

I went with Dennis, his friend Clark, his coworker Pat, Pat's teenage daughter, and her friend (both unintroduced to Dennis, Clark & I). The trip got off to a rough start - Pat's JAMbulance was knocked out of commission by a short in the brake lights.

The crowd was fun and friendly - there was a little bit of tailgating in the parking lot before the concert. There were a few songs I wasn't familiar with, but I did enjoy the songs I knew well.

I had a blast, although the experts seemed to be a little disappointed:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070718/ENT01/707180412/1033

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070718/ENT04/707180420/1035/ENT

Horsing Around - Part 4

A rough night for Sister Kathy in Oak Harbor last night. Details here:

http://racing.ustrotting.com/race_result.cfm?race_id=1928454&target=893187

I have a message in a bottle....

I'M GOING TO SEE THE POLICE! Tonight, I am going to the Police concert in Detroit with my friend Dennis & some of his cohorts from Dana. More to come tomorrow.

Trouble comes to Schleswig

If you look hard enough, you might see that I am proposing a toast to Paul & Katrin. That's what happens when you forget to turn on the flash.
Tim, Paul, Mark, me.

More from the reception - the Presentations

In Germany, wedding typically feature a number of presentations from the friends and relatives of the couple. Presentations can take many forms - songs, skits, quizzes, slide shows, gifts. Not pictured here, unfortunately, is the slide show presented by Onkel Peter & Katrin's cousin Michael.

The ladies from Klensby perform a skit for Paul & Katrin
Some of the neighbors presented "Katrin & Paul in Oel", a picture of Paul & Katrin suspended in a bottle of rapeseed oil.
Some other neighbors presented Paul & Katrin with an oil painting.
Cousin Sina sang a happy tune for the couple.

Dancing the night away

Paul & Katrin do the Schleiertanz under the wedding veil. At the end (provided the veil doesn't catch fire), the veil is brought down over the top of the couple and torn into pieces. The number of pieces is supposed to equal the number of children the couple is supposed to have.

Johann & Katrin enjoy a dance together
Maike & Johann
Maike & Paul

As you can see, there was lots of dancing at the reception. I noticed that the German men were almost all excellent dancers. Apparently, ballroom dancing is taught in the German schools.