Casa de Piatra

Casa de Piatra is what you wish newlyweds in Romania. It translates to 'House of Stone' symbolizing and wishing a strong marriage.

I would like to wish my best friend Danny and his new wife, Heidi, 'Casa de Piatra' as I was honored to be next to him at the altar while he celebrated one of the most important days of his life, marrying the beautiful Heidi. On his wedding day, he was the one taking care of me, picking me up, and making sure I was all dressed up and ready to go. He's always been like that, making sure that I was set. Outside of my family he is definitely one of the people in my life closest to me, knows my humor, and can probably anticipate my next move (if he hasn't already done it himself). I was always welcomed to be part of his family and celebrated many a holidays with them and have always been accepted no matter what I did (made my share of mistakes). His family is incredibly close and has definitely defined Danny into the solid individual he is today. Just to name some of the few things; He is the person who I bought my first case of beer with (waiting outside the liquor store for someone to buy it for us), went through the growing pains of meeting girls, figuring out that maybe we weren't the best skaters in the world, brought me to my first skiing experience, and in turn I brought him to his first surfing experience, experienced Bourbon Street when we were 18, traveled to Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg together and the only person who I can say is better looking than me (just kidding). Definitely one person to try anything once, unless it is riding the American Eagle backwards. He was also there, with Heidi, cheering me on during the cold and dreary marathons and never really had to question my motives for joining the Peace Corps, he just knew the person I was. I've only had fun when I'm with him as he (we) would settle for nothing less and can always find the comic relief in everything, and thus discovered the 'Gluken Spoochen' (inside joke from Germany) at the same time. I wish and can only hope that I could be as supportive as he was to me. He truly was the best man. I can only wish him and Heidi the best and to thank them again for involving me on their special day.

Thanks Dan and Heidi, and you know I love you bro.

p.s. I know I'm trying to teach diversity here in Romania, as my sister pointed the amount of diversity at Danny's wedding. Danny and Heidi, you guys can definitely teach them about diversity more than I can.

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I would also like to wish John and Becky L, 'Casa de Piatra' as they are also recent newlyweds. John has been my good friend since college and we've always kept in touch. Now here is a person that would definitely find the line with everything and pretty much do everything before crossing 'that line' and having the cops called. He did not get labeled the 'Assman' for nothing in college and not because of the obviousness of the name, just the opposite. He was definitely the person who drew a lot of people towards him, as all his friends could testify he has that smooth charismatic personality. He is the person who honestly tried to teach me the Jedi Mind trick, but alas, I can only use it on truly weak minded people as I still have to throw the wave (he doesn't). If that didn't get you, than either his playing the sax or the guitar would, but wait, that's not his true claim to fame, it was KARAOKE ! I discovered this talent actually when we were in Morocco, there was a small karaoke battle, needless to say, John wiped the floor with them. The times I've seen him sing (should've been that lead singer in a band), the crowd (including guys) were going nuts, talk about pure electrifying stage performance (while smoking a cigarette for effect). Something not to be missed if you have the chance to witness.
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Honestly, I feel blessed in life to have such good entertaining friends, I only pray I can keep them and make new ones here.