Suzanne and Tyrone's Family Blog

Go Giants!

2012-01-29T18:16:00.000-08:00

Miriam is rooting for the Giants. This is causing her dear father intense distress.

Miriam has also been doing more imaginative play in the tub too. She likes to work out family dynamics in her play with rubber duckies.

Fall outings

2011-10-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Relaxing with Papa and watching
Blue's Clues

"Hi, I'm Mi'm!"

Pumpkins are fun to pick up

I like being tall like Papa

Red's Eats

2011-08-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

You've GOT to go here. They make the best food
in Maine. Not just the lobster role, but fried
Haddock and so much more.

More than one lobster's worth of meat in every roll. They put the tail
meat on top so you can eat it with the butter first. It's sooooo good.

Boothbay Harbor

2011-08-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

On Burnt Island, beginning our
vacation

Having soaked her outfit, Miriam and Sophia explore the tide pool
for worms, clams, periwinkles, crabs, and starfish.

The blue kayak was floating away, so Tyrone jumped to the rescue!
He didn't get terribly wet and he saved the boat.

Making a fairy house at the beach

Miss Miriam enjoyed submerging herself in the icy waters. She also loved a good dunk!

On the porch, enjoying the morning.

After a boat trip, just before Miram went to bed.

Plymouth

2011-08-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Kissing an icon of Daddy

Beautiful Plymouth

Outside a museum in Plymouth

Do I really need to comment on this?

Boston Children's Museum

2011-08-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

Peep balances Tyrone's alter-ego on his beak and Miriam sleepily reassures Peep

Miriam's doing construction work and giving her toy "Daddy" a ride in a truck

I wonder where my next adventure will be!

Roger Williams Park Zoo

2011-08-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Shhhhh, Flamingos sleeping

A big animal, but not a cow. Hmmmmm

Papa doll with Zebras

Down in the barnyard, where's the donkey?

Providence Children's Museum

2011-07-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Tara and her baby invited us to go to The Providence Children's Museum, so we had a great Thursday. There were loads of cool things to do and see. There was even a Cape Verdean immigrant exhibit. Very cool. We'll be going again!

The water section had fish!

Miriam loved to play with water, balls, current, and gravity

Such a pretty little Mermaid

Magnetic light shapes were fun

Canobie Lake Park

2011-07-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Holy Family's youth group went to Canobie Lake park and we went as a family. Miriam's not fond of rides yet. She doesn't know how we can tell her to avoid danger every day and then try to put her on a ride that simulates danger. It is a strange concept for a baby.

She didn't have a nap and was a real trooper all day. Resting on Papa's chest during the train ride was relaxing too.

Papa hates to have his picture taken, but is willing to do anything for his little princess. Note the little doggie she holds. We're babysitting two pugs and Miriam really likes them. She's holding a mini version of Cocoa.

There are three roller coasters at Canobie. This one, the Bear, is the shortest and most intense. It begins with a past-verticle drop! Can you spot Kathy Craig in the car? She's the one screaming her head off. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The only appropriate ride for a baby is the carousel. She seemed to tolerate it but didn't really like it. Here she sits on a horse after the ride. Come to think of it, since Canobie, she's indulged in spinning in place until she falls down. Hmmmm, I guess she enjoyed the ride.

This is another one of the roller coasters. Here, Papa is riding. You can't make him out, but he's there. Miriam and I were sitting out, taking pix.

Strawberry Picking

2011-07-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

Miriam is not fond of strawberries, but, when told that Papa likes them, she picked with great enthusiasm.

She insisted on carrying the basket herself. She dropped it
a few times, the berries went tumbling, and so did she. She
carefully put all the smashed berries back into the basket.

Miriam liked to climb over the mounds of plants to the next row.

Black Walnut Tree!

2011-07-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

We went out to our yard to tame the far portion and began to prune and prune. We came across these sweet-smelling, lime-looking, pretty green fruits. "What are they?," we pondered. Well, they are black walnuts!

These trees are very valuable. This one might just pay for Miriam's college education! We can make a tincture from the immature fruits. The tincture is supposed to be a great antibiotic and antioxidant. How exciting!

Wonder what other treasures are lurking around the next gardening corner!

Romeo the Carpenter Bee

2011-05-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

Romeo

A bumble bee has been hanging out around the grill. He's a funny fellow, just hovering there and daring anyone to come closer. He's got a light yellow nose like it's always covered with pollen and he's really cute. Turns out, he's not a bumble bee but a carpenter bee. Now I've got to look through the structure and look for holes that his future girlfriend might be in.

This little guy is just waiting for his Juliet to emerge so he can mate. I'll see what I can do to prevent that.

Job Interview clip

2011-04-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Douglas Horn at work

Douglas Horn is our friend, but we've never met him. Tyrone and I watched his film, Full Disclosure, on our first date. It set the tone for our relationship. We still fully disclose.

I wrote to Doug in 2008 to find out how to show Full Disclosure at my bridal shower. He sent us an advance copy of the film! Here is a clip from a recent project of his. Enjoy!

The world's worst job interview. From Entry Level from Douglas Horn on Vimeo.

5 Reasons I love Jesus

2011-04-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

1. He never gives up on me, even when I give up on myself. He gives me hope for my family, my health, my finances, my work, and my country. He gives hope in the midst of tragedy.

2. I asked Him to show my Mom a love that she's never even imagined. I asked Him to hold her in his arms and cherish her. He's doing that right now!

3. He provides the model of a good husband that my husband looks to. I've got one great husband!

4. He always welcomes me to Him in the Eucarist and He guides and loves me through the amazing men He's called to the priesthood.

5. He shows Himself when I'm not too self-absorbed to see. In the eyes of my daughter, the hug of my husband, an email from my brother, watching my father hold Miriam, in the daffodils and other spring flowers, and in the face of every person I meet.

Carol George, 1940-2011

2011-02-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Niskayuna – Carol George, 71, passed away peacefully on her birthday February 17, 2011 in her home with her family and pets; her long courageous battle with cancer is now over.

Miriam's baptism, April of 2010

Carol moved to Schenectady as a newlywed in June of 1962. After a brief nursing career, she was devoted to raising her two children. She performed volunteer work for schools as her children were growing up and then for various community organizations; the most rewarding being her fifteen year involvement with the patrons and members of the Schenectady Civic Players. Carol was a loving and caring person who enjoyed reading, gardening, and traveling. In her last days, she asked her beloved son, "How will I know I'm dead?" to which he replied, "When your farts smell like roses." She deduced that she must therefore still be alive. Her sense of humor was in tact until the end!

Carol and Ray in Ogunquit, Maine in 2008

Carol is survived by her husband Raymond, son Tony George of Frederick, Maryland, daughter Suzanne George Gonsalves of Taunton, Massachusetts, and precious granddaughter Miriam Rose.

An Orthodox ceremony for the separation of the soul from the body was performed at her bedside by her beloved priest, Father Dennis Nagi, the day of her death. Following the service, in a final act of total self-giving love, Carol donated her body for research via the Anatomical Gift Program at Albany Medical College.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Forty Day Memorial service following the 9:30 am liturgy on March 27, 2011, at St. Sophia church on

440 Whitehall Road

, in Albany. The memorial portion of the worship will begin between 10:30-11:00am. Family will receive mourners in the church hall following the service.

Carol and Miriam in 2010

September 2009

Remembrances may be made the through Hans Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to either, the American Cancer Society,

260 Osborne Road, Albany, NY 12211

; or the Schenectady Civic Players,

PO Box 927, Schenectady, NY 12301

Deathbed Conversion

2011-02-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

My mother is nearing the end of her life. To be honest, we are all surprised that she's still with us. She's nearing her end, and, a few days ago, she decided that she would not put off her spiritual life any more.

She was Chrismated into the Eastern Orthodox Church. I was floored. This woman, who had been an atheist, was now embracing Christ. This followed other severe changes for the good. In the past few years she's embraced The Culture of Life, released pride and prejudice, showered forgiveness and asked for it too. Her soul is a glistening diamond now, ready for Heaven. I am just so floored by this transformation, I cannot tell you.

When Carol George dies,she will be in a state of complete, spiritual health, cured of all ailments that really matter.

God be with her always. Mom, I'm looking forward to your intercessions. Thank you for forgiving my lack of faith in you. You are so dear. I will miss you.

Audio clips of 15 month old Miriam

2011-01-14T08:57:00.001-08:00

Miriam reading books
Singing during a diaper change

First Birthday Party!

2010-09-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

First Cake

Guess who's turning 1? Little Miriam! What a lovely day. We went to the Gertrude Boyden bird sanctuary and it was a lovely day. The temperature held in the mid 70s, the sun was shining, the wind blew the bubbles far and the charcoal hot.

The burgers were really good and the sides were wonderful. Auntie Dorinda made fresh goofond and jag. So nice to have those Cape Verdean classics at the party!

Miss Miriam is crawling around and almost ready to walk.

She's been eating organic food and very limited exposure to refined flour or sugar. We set the cake before her and she didn't quite know what to do with it. She enjoyed squishing the frosting between her fingers. She ate a little of it.

Which Costume?

2010-09-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

We weren't sure weather to take Miriam out for Halloween or not. My chorus has a fund raiser at the end of October that I can bring the family to. That would involve dressing her up. We are considering costumes. Which do you like? Vote in the poll!

Pebbles Flintstone with her curl on top of her head

Ladybug

Unicorn

Stanford Nutting

2010-09-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

We saw this on "A Deacon's Wife" blog and loved it. Enjoy.

10 Month old Maestra

2010-08-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

I think you will agree that Miriam is a budding artist. She chose to play organ instead of piano. I can respect that, though it would not have been my choice. She seems to be channeling Vincent Price at one point. Her little hand and head raise toward heaven as she plays very crunchy chords.

Buffalo Soldier

2010-08-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, Tyrone and I will break into song singing Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier." Buffalo Soldiers were black members of the US military. When Tyrone saw the video below, he got all excited about going to Yosemite National Park. Anyone who reads this post who is African-American might want to do the same thing after you see this video.

Capron Park

2010-08-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Ivy, Miriam, Saige as meercats

Zsa Zsa Bird

We forgot our camera when we went to the JFK library this week. It was a really good time. Miriam was able to get out of the stroller and crawl around in various rooms.

We went to Capron Park Zoo with Saige, Ivy, and Christin, and we had a blast. First a very bee-filled picnic lunch at the playground, then lots and lots of animals. Here are some of the animals we saw. There was a bird that reminded one of Zsa Zsa Gabor.

There was a Kookabura whose proportions were so weird that it looked like it could do a stand-up routine in the Catskills. Tyrone's favorite exhibit is the lemurs on islands. These islands are surrounded by water with ducks and geese and lots of fish. I love this sign.

Kids Echo $1 Sale TOMORROW!

2010-08-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Pink cotton dress with smocking and embroidery, $5

Kids Echo, an awesome consignment shot, is having their $1 sale in 7 days, beginning at 10am. You can get $100 dresses for $1, rompers for boys for $1. Almost every item of clothing is a dollar (some handmade items are not eligible, but there are just a few of those things, less than 1%.

Red and white dress with lady bug applique $3

For $100, you could outfit a child for 3-5 years of warm weather clothing! Think about it!

There are some very precious children about to be born into our lives and they are boys. I'm going to hit those racks hard and get stuff for the next 2 years for them. Their grandparents are dear friends of ours, and we want them to have a full set of clothing for their grandbabies to wear when they visit.

Chara is growing up fast too. Miriam will be in 2T's next year, that means her cousin will be in 3's. I can really do well with their clothing and have gifts ready when birthdays come up. I was in there the other day and there was a beautiful spring coat with a fancy lining and pretty cut. I didn't want someone to buy it before the $1 sale, so I got it for $9.

Here's the skinny!

182 Middleboro Road (Route 18), East Freetown
508-763-2744
Get there at 9:30 and wait. Good stuff goes first.
Toys and accessories are NOT on sale, so go for those anytime. You can get a travel system (car seat and nice stroller) for under $80.
Know what you want first, so go this week.
If the items you want are under $6 this week, just get them now. This week is 75% off! Do the math.

Areal Spraying for EEE TONIGHT

2010-08-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

Click here to read all about it. If it rains, things will change. The pesticide being used degrades quickly in water.

Visit to the Ecotarium

2010-08-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

"Miriam, Look at the turtle!" -Daddy

Thanks to the Taunton Public Library, we went to the Ecotarium very cheaply today. If you want to go, just click here. There are always Ecotarium passes available because people consider Worcester (the Paris of Central Massachusetts) to be too far away. Well, parking is free, there is plenty of picnic space, a great playground, lots of stuff to do and see, nature trails, fresh air, it's just fun.

As you can see, Miriam made some new friends. She always does.

We played in the sand box.

We went to a pond and fed the fish.

We walked in the woods and learned about trees.

All in all, it was a really fun outing. It didn't break the bank. It was 1/2 day of fun. There were always clean bathrooms available. It wasn't far. Miriam was able to have fun. We had fun too.

We got to try out our new stroller that we got at Kids Echo.

She will sleep well tonight!

More Birthday Pix

2010-08-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Bathing Beauty

2010-08-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

Exploring a jar cap and the fountain

Hanging with Ganzoo

Miriam has a baby pool for her summer visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandpa thought the tap water would be too cool for baby's sensitive skin. He connected several hoses together and ran them from the set-tubs in the basement, through the garage and crawl space, across the yard, to her pool, so baby's water could be tepid.

Flies on the Baby!

2010-07-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

There are three possibilities.

1. These are little horns and Miriam actually lives at 666 Whittenton Street

2. She was bitten by a deer fly AND a black fly on her forehead!

3. She needs her wounds kissed by everyone who loves her, just to make sure that she gets better!

Vote in comments

Infanticide in Ancient Britain

2010-06-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

There is a discovery of 100 newborn baby remains in a villa in Britain. The children are supposed to be victims of infanticide due to their mothers being prostitutes.

The explaination is that "there was no safe and effective means of contraception at the time...it was common to not believe that a child had a soul until it had cut it's first tooth or was even two years old" -Professor Simon Mays

What is amazing is that contraception is cited as the element that is lacking, not kindness, decency, human rights, women's rights, dignity of the human person, dignity of women in sexuality, etc. The site was first excavated in the 1920s (picture at right) and just now are the bones able to be analyzed and the reason for them being

together surmised. I wonder if the reporting on the reasoning would have been significantly different in the 1920s. At that time, artificial birth control was illegal and condemned by all Christian religions. Would the reporting suggest that prostitution was the outrage? What about men having no responsibility for their "accidental issue" because they were just there for a good time? What about the horror of exterminating girl babies?

Could the difference in perspective be because we currentlyexterminate millions of babies for convenience, to allow women to be used as objects, and to relieve men of responsibility for their children TODAY! Couching this infanticide grave site in understanding and cultural tolerance is disgusting.

Feeding Baby

2010-05-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

I have been making Miriam's baby food thus far. Some of the combinations of foods have been,

chicken, turnip, applesauce
pork, sweet potato, and pineapple (with tumeric, cinnamon, and onion powder)
Beef, beets, and apples
sunflower seeds, squash, and peaches
sunflower seeds, sweet potato, and black cherries
chicken and sweet potato with apples
veal, roasted onions, spinach, and apples
squash and sweet potato
squash, spinach, sprouts, sweet potato, green beans
asparagus and sweet potato
mixed berry sorbet (homemade)

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with her demand. Her appetite is increasing, and

our freezer isn't getting any larger. There was a sale at Shaw's this week. Organic baby food was 20 cents per jar or less! I stocked up. The baby food is very palatable and much more watery than mine. Her stools are also a bit softer and less uncomfortable for her. I'm thinking of doing more jarred food. What do you think?

Maestra!

2010-05-26T19:05:00.001-07:00

Little Miriam is growing so quickly. She is interested in doing what mama is doing. She wants to practice with me on the piano. She wants to pray with mama and papa. She is full of joy and love.

A new Christian! Congratulations, Miriam!

2010-04-28T18:58:00.001-07:00

This is the most important day of her life.

Our little girl has the Holy Spirit with her now. She will never be alone.

God, Family, and the Sox. These are the values we teach her. Lord protect our little Sox-fan and keep her always!

Trip to the Beach

2010-03-31T18:16:00.001-07:00

Miriam likes the beach. She likes the sand and the sun and the shells.

She also had fun being the favorite team member at the retreat. Now she's catching up on her sleep.

She's growing

2010-03-09T17:05:00.001-08:00

Miriam can now play with toys. She grasps things and enjoys manipulating things with her hands. Thanks to her Auntie, she has a lovely exersaucer. She's sleeping well, and she's eating solid foods for the first time. Our little girl is growing up.

Her baptism is going to be on Divine Mercy Sunday after the 11:45 mass at Holy Family. Hope you all can attend. Her gown was made from my wedding gown. I'll get a picture of it in a future post.

Tyrone and I have both developed hand problems from picking her up so much. Tyrone needed to go to the doctor and receive a cortozone injection and a brace!

The confirmation retreat is this weekend and I'm scared! Last year we got enough sleep most nights and went to the gym regularly. Tyrone still was aching from the jumping around and dancing for days after the retreat. It took us a week to recover last year. This year we have a new baby. We are already sleep-deprived and we don't go to the gym anymore. Please pray for us!

Miriam is going to retreat with us. She loved it last year with me jumping around for her. This year she gets to experience it up close!

I had other pictures of Miriam to post, but, since there are no filters on this site, I'm going to put them on facebook. She's getting bigger and so pretty. I only want those close to us to see. Please post in comments if you want us to send you pix personally via email. Otherwise, I'm going to not put more pix of her up on this site.

Churching Baby Miriam

2010-01-03T15:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry this took so long. Here's the video of Miriam's churching. Churching is an Orthodox Christian custom which goes back to Christianity's Jewish roots. Remember this custom when you say a Rosary on Mondays and Saturdays, the Presentation of Jesus to Simeon is one of the joyful mysteries. Here you see little Miriam presented to Christ and Mary via Father Michael Abdelehad to the icons of the Panagia and the Theotokos. The script is as follows.

Father Michael: "The servant of God, Miriam Rose, is

churched in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Everyone: "Amen"

Choir and Everyone: "God grant you many years!"

Here are some pretty pictures of Miriam's first Christmas.

Come and meet Daddy's Little Girl

2009-10-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

It's raining all weekend. Why not pay us a visit?! We'd love to see you. My nesting instinct has finally kicked in and I cleaned the bathroom! Yeah! We have cake and coffee and movies to entertain you, plus THE MOST ADORABLE BABY IN THE WORLD!

Miriam Rose is here!

2009-09-30T10:48:00.002-07:00

Labor took a while, but here she is. Everyone in the family is elated. She's a sweet tempered baby. Enjoy the pix.

It's Time!

2009-09-26T04:40:00.000-07:00

Labor is under way. With contractions 6 minutes apart and increasing in intensity, this will be my last post as an expectant mother. Ty will tweet from the hospital.

Since baby will probably come today, I just wanted to give you some visiting news. I can't wait to introduce you to Miriam or Raymond. You've all been so supportive and loving. Thus far, your prayers have also paid off. Labor has gently increased in intensity and has been merciful by letting me sleep.

Visiting the New Baby

Please keep your visit brief. I'll need to nurse very frequently and visits longer than 15 minutes (in the hospital) can interfere with that. If I am nursing when you arrive, just hang out down the hallway and the nurse will tell you when we're free.

If you are sick, please wait a few days to visit until you are 100% well again. I'm happy to receive visitors at the condo during the next days and weeks. Please keep in mind that I'll need to nurse frequently. Please gague your visit time via your comfort level with me nursing near you.

Keep praying for us. We're so psyched!

O Where o where has my little babe gone?

2009-09-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

Well, most of you were wrong on the last poll. It's the 25th and still no birth. I also messed up on the dates I gave you and made it impossible for you to be right if the baby is born on September 26 or 30. Sorry about that. Please vote again in this new and improved poll. I've also made up another mad libs about the birth, enjoy!

1. Location in Taunton
2. Verb ending in -ing
3. your name
4. verb ending in -ing
5. exclamation
6. adjective
7. your name
8. exclamation
9. person in healthcare field
10 adjective
11. emotion
12. number
13. adjective
14. adjective

"Our Baby" Mad Libs

2009-09-21T04:25:00.001-07:00

Jot down these words on a sheet of paper, then click on comments to read the mad libs you just created. While we are waiting, we might as well have some fun! If you write a good one, post it in comments.

1. number

2. number

3. date in Autumn

4. name of a hospital

5. adjective

6. adjective

7. verb ending in -ing

9. relative's name

10. exclaimation

11. name of another family member

12. adjective

8. adverb

13. another family member

14. boy or girl's name

Due Date!!!!

2009-09-20T14:40:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm typical. Most first-time moms go past their due date. The average is 4 days. My body is already changing do deliver, just not very fast. I've been learing how to express milk with a loaner Medela pump. This should help bring on labor.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY: No news is no news. If there is a birth there will be twitter, facebook, and a post here. There will also be plenty of chatter in the form of phone calls among you all. Vote in this week's poll. One of you is bound to be right about the birthday.

Until the baby comes, his/her kitty siblings are keeping the bassinet warm.

2009-09-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

Dorinda threw me a gorgeous shower

at the end of August. Many loved-ones were there and my favorite color, green, was the star of the decorations.

Everyone brought some food, and it was delicious. From goffong to "bitch"rice, Cape Verdean cuisine was represented, as were delicious brownies, cookies, and an amazing cake from School Street Bakery.

Ty and I danced to the 70's classic, "She's havin' my baby," and we opened loads of gorgeous presents, among them some lovingly crocheted blankets and clothing items, toys, survival kits, supplies, and oodles of gift cards.

Sincere thanks to all who attended and all who sent us things even though you couldn't make it. The baby is DUE IN 7 DAYS! It's exciting. We have the condo ready for our little sweetie. A swing, bassinet, rocker, diapers, toys, and snuggles are ready for the little body.

Please keep us in your prayers. Deacon John from Holy Family Parish blessed the baby today and prayed that I stay calm and patient in these final days of waiting. I am "jofantioch" on twitter. If you want to know when labor is on, just request to follow me. You can also follow Ty on facebook, he's going to use ping to keep everyone updated.

Thoughts on Kennedy

2009-08-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

As Massachusetts mourns the passing of her Senior Senator, many Catholics are of mixed feeling. Pride in our native son is mixed with disappointment that he didn't join his late sister, Eunice on life issues as his own life drew to a close. Perhaps these are judgements best left to Christ. Here is an interesting take on Teddy's life legacy. I'm sure you'll find it edifying.

BTW, ths priest has a wonderful podcast called "Word on Fire."

The next post will have pictures and information about the AWESOME shower last Sunday. We are still awaiting those pictures and will get them up asap.

The Baby's Gender

2009-08-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, we have held off on knowing the baby's gender. I have been a bit impatient and last night tried to figure it out. I put my wedding ring on a piece of string and suspended it over my belly via a music stand. I waited for movement (circular for girl, linear for a boy). Guess what!

Bupkiss. Nadda. Ziltch. The darn thing just hung there. The baby was kicking and rolling the whole time, if there was an energy to move the ring, it would have done so. So much for that.

We found all sorts of myths about determining the gender, but alas, they all seem to contradict one another. The baby's heartrate is strong and within normal range, according to many predictors, it's a boy because of this. Other myths put this heartrate in the girl range. A friend of mine just had a baby girl and she carried a huge basketball-like pregnancy. According to "the old wives", she should have had a boy, but she did not. Ty's mom wasn't protruding very much when she had him, but was for Dorinda, this also goes against the prevailing myth of gender determination.

This week's poll will see how good you all are at guessing.

41 Days until the Due Date!!!!!!

2009-08-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

According to my doctor, there are 41 days until my due date. According to the computer program that helped me figure out cycles so I could get pregnant in the first place, there are 33. Either way, it's getting close, Baby! The countdown is on.

We're Registered!

2009-08-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

Babies R Us and Target have our list of items. We've made sure that there is a large variety of cost and that everything on the list are items we really need.

We had a check-up this week and baby's heart is very strong. Baby's squirming and rolling kept me up (along with the heat) last night. Urgh. Thank God Dorinda has a pool. Gonna definitely use that resource to keep cool this month. Maybe I'll figure out a way to sleep in it!

Pray for us

2009-07-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

In Worcester, my old stomping grounds, a woman was murdered and her 8 month fetus was cut from her womb few days ago. The news just broke because her body was just discovered. I'm sure you can see why I, in my 8th month, would be a bit freaked out by this news.

The horrible truth is that many expectant and new mothers are murdered. Human life becomes less and less precious. Please pray for women who are pregnant under tough crcumstances. Pray for those who would take their children, that they find another way to deal with their stresses.

Iraqi Christian Relief

2009-07-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

While listening to the podcast "Light of the East", I was touched by the discussion of the plight of Iraqi Christians. I know that many of us think of Iraq as an Islamic country but Christian's have been in Iraq since the beginning of our church (this pre-dates Islam). The christian population in Iraq is a dwindling minority under constant threat of persecution and death. Many have been forced to flee in order to protect their lives and the lives of their families. They are now refugees in other countries living in poverty. If the persecution continues it is possible that there will no longer be a Christian presence in Iraq. I believe that if this is allowed to happen we will all suffer as a result. It has been said that Christians in Iraq are a buffer between the Islamic east and Christian West. If there are no longer any Christians in Iraq anti-western sentiment will grow unchecked. The Muslim families will no longer have a personal connection with Christian neighbors and Christian families. It is easier to hate the unknown than someone with whom you share a common nationality and history. I ask that you visit the Iraqi Christian Relief Council website to learn more. You can find this documentary on the site as well as others.

Tradition holds that the church in Iraq was founded by St. Thomas and these were the first people to convert as a nation. Christian's in Iraq have a special connection with our Lord Jesus Christ through their language; Iraqi Christian's speak Aramaic the same language Jesus spoke. As Christians living free from persecution I believe we have a responsibility to help in any way we can: through prayers, raising our voices, and if possible monetary support. As a Church we are one body in Christ and if one of us is threatened or wounded we are all threatened and wounded.

Please pray and spread the word.

Pax

Happy Father's Day

2009-07-02T18:20:00.001-07:00

To Tyrone from the Misses and Junyor Bear

Nixon tapes

2009-06-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

Roe v Wade, the landmark supreme court decision of January 22, 1973, was not the banner headline of its day. The death of Lyndon Johnson lead the news, and the subject of abortion was not considered very controversial. Today some 30,000 pages of transcripts and hundreds of hours of tapes from January and Febrary of 1973 were released, , among them discussion of the Roe decision.

Richard Nixon is a fascinating character. He dedicated himself to integrity and honor, yet is remembered for neither. Nina Totenberg reported on the contents of the tapes, specifically on Nixon's reaction to the Roe decision. We think you will find it both enlightening and disturbing. Take a listen. I don't think Mr. Nixon would be pleased with our baby, or with the whole of the Cape Verdean population for that matter.

Be careful about becoming a one-issue voter. Keep in mind that all issues flip flop between parties and that constancy belongs to God alone. All great presidents fail, and all failed presidents have their greatness.

Bringing our baby into a world at war?

2009-06-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

North Korea is a nuclear power. This power has been tested and pushed lately in the form of tests, the latest of which will head toward our shores. Hawaii, Japan, and Guam (a US territory) are the proposed targets. This story was a small one on today's news, but it sure got my attention. This is deeply disturbing news. We all need to pray very fervently, and pay attention to the news stories about this international threat.

Childbirth Class

2009-06-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

Tyrone and I attended our first childbirth class. It was extremely basic. We heard instruction like this...

"The female body has ribs and lungs, the male body has ribs and lungs too."

"The female body has three holes, the urethra, the vagina, and the anus."

We learned some good positions for comforting during contractions, but I was hoping for more detail. We'll see how next week goes. We'll get a tour of the hospital and see the environment.

Up: Movie Review

2009-05-30T05:28:00.000-07:00

Don't pay the extra bucks for 3D, Up is a great work of art. 3D glasses will just make it more challenging for you to dab your tears. The movie is surprisingly touching. We will own it when it comes out on DVD. Bring tissues.

Father Mom

2009-05-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Father Joseph Huneycutt's Orthodixie podcast featured a letter by me this week! I was so excited to listen to him read the letter and reply to me. I laughed and cried at his response and found it very edifying. The title of the episode is "Father Mom", click this link to listen. If you are into Christianity, I'm sure you'd enjoy Father Joseph's podcasts.

The central question of my letter was "How can I go into a situation of intense pain, i.e. labor and delivery, without fear?" I asked what kinds of life situations also share this paradox. He was wonderful. You'd love to hear it. He even addressed my Bohemian Rhapsody earworm.

Thanks, Father Joseph.

Viability

2009-05-24T04:27:00.000-07:00

Today marks the beginning of the week that our baby is viable! According to dictionary.com...

Viable
/ˈvaɪəbəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [vahy-uh-buhl] –adjective
1.
capable of living.
2.
Physiology.
a.
physically fitted to live.
b.
(of a fetus) having reached such a stage of development as to be capable of living, under normal conditions, outside the uterus.
3.
Botany. able to live and grow.
4.
vivid; real; stimulating, as to the intellect, imagination, or senses: a period of history that few teachers can make viable for students.
5.
practicable; workable: a viable alternative.
6.
having the ability to grow, expand, develop, etc.: a new and viable country.

Baby is very skinny and has red and wrinkled skin under a greasy coat of protective linugo. Over the next weeks, s/he will put on brown fat and plump up. The most important thing for me to do now is eat lots of good fats. Avacados, nuts, and my omega 3 vitamins will help baby's brain grow, body plump, and make him/her even more of a little dancer. Here is a very sweet story about a little girl who was born at 24 weeks.

These are pictures of infants born at 24 weeks. We can all agree that it's best to leave them to grow a bit longer. Still, they're pretty cute!

Movie Review: Star Trek

2009-05-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

**** We saw Star Trek last night, and it was worth every penny! What a joy to see the origins of the characters we love.

The price is high, but I suggest that all AAA members go to their local AAA office and pick up tickets in packs of 4. These tickets are matinee prices and can be used anytime. I'm going to pick some up tomorrow.

We strongly recommend this film. We gave it 4 stars. The beginning was very loud and scared the baby. S/he jumped and tumbled during the opening sequence. Then I cried and cried as the opening scene had to do with a woman in labor who is separated from her husband. We all calmed down after that. Lots of laughter and fun and suspense. Must see!

We're Registered for the Baby

2009-05-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

Dorinda brought us to Babies R Us and told us to also register at Target. Click on the store name and you can find our registry. Our little angel is moving a bit, especially when I receive communion. S/he loves communion, Orthodox or Catholic. Thank you for the Mother's Day greetings you have given to me. Many thanks also to Our Lady for being the perfect mom.

Silence is Golden

2009-05-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm just now getting my voice back. In about a week, I should be able to sing again. This cold is in its 6th week, and I look forward to it leaving me at last. During this latest cold, I lost my voice completely for a few weeks. It was very difficult, and I thought that my communication with Tyrone would suffer, but I was surprised.

Tyrone communicates mostly through non-verbal communication. My silence put us on even footing and made us closer. I learned to say "I love you" with a hug or a gesture. I learned to read him better instead of asking what he was thinking or doing. Sometimes God shuts us up to make us listen!

18 Week Ultrasound

2009-04-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Don't you think he/she looks like Tyrone? All indications are that our little one is healthy in every way. Full speed ahead.

If you hear of any nice pieces of land for sale at a reasonable price, let us know.

Christos Anesti!

2009-04-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

Alitos Anesti!

Susan Boyle

2009-04-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

A 47 year old Scottish spinster named Susan Boyle blew the judges of "Britain's Got Talent" away. Click this and see this wonderful video. IT WILL UPLIFT YOU, IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY, IT IS A GREAT THING TO HEAR. This is for all of us who have felt washed-up, dumpy, and past our prime. Listen and be amazed. Our best days are ahead of us!

Some other little gems, though not quite as serious and fine as Ms Boyle, are now included. Some Greek/Celtic dancers, a stripper who brought Simon to his feet, A group of friends who are flawless dancers, Singin' in the Rain by a tween boy dancer, a 13 year old boy who had suffered bullying and loved singing Pie Jesu (see his final performance in the sidebar).

Stupid Health Care System

2009-04-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

I'm sick again. Same old story. Cough, runny this and that. Been going on for weeks. Doctors hesitant to do anything. Unable to see my primary care physician. Frustration, days off work, inability to talk or sing. Urgh.

Tyrone is sick too. We both are sharing our misery and, I must say, it's much better to do this with a partner than alone.

Because my primary couldn't see me today, I went to a walk-in clinic in Andover. Walk-in clinics are cheaper and more efficient than emergency rooms. Even so, my primary doctor didn't want to write a referral for the walk-in clinic. "We don't do that," said the secretary.

I asked "Why?"

She said, "If you need to go to a clinic, just go to the ER."

"But that's a complete waste of money and resources," I retorted.

She rolled her eyes and said she'd do it "this one time."

We need major health reform. If in nothing else, in logic! Maybe the man suffering parinoid delusions in New York wouldn't have blown those people away. Maybe we'd have fewer illnesses at work and school if people were treated. Maybe we'd save billions at a time we really need to save those billions!

5 inches long

2009-03-31T06:17:00.000-07:00

The baby is about 5 inches long. That's about as long as this frog instrument. The size of a very large petunia blossom.

The baby weighs as much as a morning dove.

Drugs are bad M'kay

2009-03-30T00:42:00.001-07:00

We've all heard this mantra from adults, government, and yes, Nancy Reagan. But let's make a decision to not use illegal substances until they are legal, regulated, and taxed.

There are probably 10-100 or so readers of this blog, most of them have probably tried pot and other illegal drugs in their lives. If we all choose not to use this stuff, a huge financial incentive for drug lords will vanish.

The recent uptick in violence at the Mexico/US boarder shows the kind of people we support when we light a joint. We support kidnappers, mass-rapists, and torturers. We support the corrupt Mexican police, child slavery, and other horrors that we never see but cheerfully fund.

I remember driving around several sheet-covered bodies with new sneakers peaking out, during my life in Los Angeles. These kids ran drug deals for older drug lords. Kids are used because their jail sentences would be less harsh. Taking drugs kills kids.

Save your money. Save your health. Save lives, M'kay?

Housing help?

2009-03-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

We are trying to sell our condo. Please pray for us.

I wrote to my Washington DC representatives. So far, I've only heard back from Barney Frank. His rep, Lisa, agreed that families like ours, buying larger homes, are exactly the types of people who will help the economy get going again. She also said that there are no pieces of legislation that could help us, since we are current on all bills. She said that "if Countrywide drags its feet answering you, should you have a buyer, please contact the Congressman's office. We can call them. This can be very helpful."

The Obama administration is allowing citizens to submit questions. I was going to contribute one, but there were already many people who had submitted questions that were similar. There is outrage among our people about responsibility and home ownership. Some of them were...

"Why do I need to fall behind in payments before I get help?"
"Why do banks still approve people for mortgages that they cannot afford. We were approved for $450,000 and we know we can only afford $230,000"
"Where is the help for people who have been current with their payments, but are underwater?"

Let's see what happens. The first order of business to to stop people from becoming homeless. Help for our family will be in phase two, getting the economy rolling again.

Baby Timeline

2009-03-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring!

The seasons roughly correspond to the trimesters of my pregnancy. The baby was conceived around the Winter Solstice. Spring marks the beginning of trimester #2, and the end of June will be the beginning of trimester #3.

The baby is due on September 20, 2009. (the Autumnal Equinox)

Right now, the baby is about the size of this little chick! He/she is about 3 inches long, cute, and precious.

Hello!

2009-03-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

Our little one is healthy, and there is almost no chance of a chromosomal abnormality! Hurrah! There are pictures. Here is our baby waving "hello".

I think he/she has Tyrone's hands. I think we have a pianist on our hands! I also think he/she has my Dad's profile. Hmmmmmm

Here's a nice profile.

Gran Torino

2009-03-01T04:36:00.000-08:00

Ty and I are surprised that this wasn't nominated for Best Film in 2008. Gran Torino is a masterpiece! The characters are well-developed, and more than 5 have a distinct arc in the story. We could not keep our eyes off this. Even my pregnancy bladder didn't call me away!

A few notes:

Virtually every racial slang for an Asian is used in this movie. It's offensive, but compelling. Any young person easily influenced by such language should not see this picture.
The film is very Pro-Catholic. This was a nice surprise.
If you are squeemish or easily upset about rape scenes and the like, go to the bathroom when Sue comes home. You'll feel this build in your gut, just be warned. (1 minute should do it)

Enjoy!

Morning Sickness

2009-02-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

I've got morning sickness! There's not a lot of vomiting involved, but there are many near-misses, and some memorable stories. Here are two.

Valentine's Day

Tyrone took me out for a lovely 4-course dinner at a local restaurant, and we had a lovely time. He showered me with thoughtful gifts, got me flowers earlier that day (delivered!), and was generally wonderful. We planned to see a movie after dinner, but I started to feel queasy right after dinner and said that it's probably a better idea to watch something at home. No sooner were we in the door, but my dinner was in the garbage can. Ty took out the trash and proceeded to get me some ginger ale and saltines. He wasn't angry that our beautiful Valentine's Day was ruined. He was just sweet. It made me love him all the more.

Coming Home

We took a trip to Maine (one overnight) to see a friend. Upon entering the house, I was slammed with the smell of the cat box and ran for the bedroom and shut the door. As I wretched over the garbage can, Ty cleaned the cat boxes and aired the condo. I ended up keeping my food down, but it was highly unpleasant.

Suzanne's Morning Sickness Prevention Tips

Exercise: if I workout hard every other day and moderately every other day, I am more regulated with my hormones and get less sick
Eat something sour and some protein to begin a meal: Pickles, water with lots of lemon, salad with oil/vinegar, and and egg or piece of cheese will settle my tummy
Small Meals: 1-1.5 cups of food. NO MORE!!!
No fried food, no chocolate, no coffee, no refined carbs unless it's ice cream

Slumdog Millionaire!

2009-02-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Virtually every other film available in the theaters is drivel, shallow, uninteresting, lobotomized, trash, in comparison. Do not waste your money on garbage, the economy is too crappy. SEE THIS FILM!

I insisted that we see this movie on our date last night, and Tyrone wasn't sure.

"Is it a gangster thing?" he said.
"No, Bollywood," I said.
He crinkled his nose, but went anyway to please me. (I get away with everything just because I'm pregnant. Sweeeeeeeet)

After the film, with tears in his eyes, he agreed that he should have trusted Mark Kermode's review more. Click on the link to hear what The Good Doctor has to say about a film you might be interested in seeing.

This is NOT an easy film to watch, especially if you have never seen poverty before.
This is a film that will leave you feeling wonderful, but it's NOT a "feel good" movie.
The love story is beautiful, but it ain't Disney. Don't expect roses and perfection.
This film is for adults, kids won't understand. Respect the rating!

Drugs, drugs, drugs

2009-02-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

I've (Suzanne) been suffering from a hacking cough for weeks. This week I developed a fever and then an earache. I'm miserable. I went to the doctor, but saw a Physician's Assistant. I usually prefer Physician's Assistants because they can give more TLC than doctors in most cases. Well, I wasn't examined.
"It may be reflux if you're not coughing up anything," she said.
"We've had walking Pneumonia in my school," I said.
"Just take what's on your list of drugs. There's nothing I can do."

She said I could take plain Robitussin and Tylenol and sent me on my way.

I was miserable. My cough was leading to vomiting (violent), and I lost my voice. I had to call in sick to school and I sound like a bass-baritone man. In desparation I took a Mucinex tablet.

I was wracked with guilt. This wasn't on my list. It's a category C drug. Tyrone will never forgive me. I fretted and cried and cursed myself while enjoying a loosening of the vice on my chest and the ability to keep food down.

Tyrone came home and held me. "You really are a Catholic mother. All this guilt."

What a sweetie.

"Didn't you tell me that women smoke crack and have healthy babies? Let it go, Mama. You're a good mama." He held me close and kissed me.

Our baby will be okay. But I learned some interesting facts as I read up on crack, heroine, marijuana, and other illicit drugs in pregnancy.

In Massachusetts a woman can be charged with a criminal offense if she takes illicit drugs during pregnancy if she seeks prenatal care and intends to carry her child to term
In Massachusetts a woman can take drugs, not seek prenatal care, and get an abortion without consequence
According to "American Pregnancy", some use of illicit drugs may not be harmful to a fetus early in development.
Some people think that sudafed is unsafe during pregnancy, yet it's on my list of safe drugs from my doctor.

It's all rather confusing and stressful to sort out. Suffice to say, being a mother is a huge responsibility. This is beginning to dawn on me.

Guess What!

2009-02-02T05:22:00.000-08:00

There will be a new Gonsalves in September! We won't know if it's a boy or girl until birth. Many thanks to those who prayed for us to conceive. Without your prayers it would not have happened. I'm reminded of the opening of "It's a wonderful life" when the planets and galaxies are talking to one another because of all the prayers for George Bailey. Statistics were against this happening, but God said "yes".

Suzanne's mother, Carol is CANCER FREE. Her "incurable form" of cancer is not there anymore. She's being written up in medical journals. What a great week of wonderful news.

FYI, our home pregnancy test looked like this one. The second line was very very faint. If you take such a test, just know that any line is a positive. It need not be bright.

The Fabulous 70s!

2008-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

We had our holiday open house, and it was a smashing success. Lots of fun. We watched some Christmas movies, laughed and talked. Some who couldn't make the wedding were able to come to the open house. Holy Family parish was well represented. It was wonderful.

It was the first time we had hosted a party, (the wedding reception doesn't count, we didn't do the actual work of the day). Neither of us had ever been so stress-free when hosting. How wonderful it is to make a list of things to do at home, and another list of things to get at the store, and have both lists done by different people at the same time. During the party, one of us could sit and enjoy, while the other would greet guests and pour drinks. We switched all day. Being married rocks!

I'm posting recipes that were requested. They are all from the 1970s, the pinnacle of entertaining food. A time when full-fat cream cheese was king, and yummy chocolate, queen. I respectfully ask the Gradys to post their buffalo chicken dip recipe in the comments. There were multiple requests for the recipe.

The Big Dipper (a cheesy, meaty, taste explosion)

2 tablespoons butter
1 pound lean ground beef
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 teaspoon each: oregano, basil, fennel, and rosemary
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1/2 cup cooking wine
1 package cream cheese

Brown beef in butter, add garlic and fry garlic until brownish. Deglaze with wine and tomato paste. Add rest of stuff and stir until melted. Serve hot with crackers.

Mable Hoffman's Hot Cranberry/Wine Punch (from a cookbook published in 1975)

1 pint cranberry juice
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
2 sticks cinnamon
6 whole cloves
1 bottle burgundy wine
1 lemon, thinly sliced (unpeeled)

Stick the lemon or an orange with the cloves. Put in crock pot with everything else. Simmer for 1-2 hours and stir so sugar is dissolved. Recipe doubles well. I used boxed wine and orange. It was delicious!

The Best Hot Fudge (you can always eat it straight)

4 tablespoons butter
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
2/3 cup espresso or strong coffee (or boiling water)
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
2 teaspoons vanilla

Melt chocolate and butter on very very low heat. Add coffee, sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil. BOIL WITHOUT STIRRING FOR 8 MINUTES. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Store in a tight container in the fridge. If you are silly enough not to eat it quickly, you can stir in some hot water if it gets grainy. I don't understand such people, but it takes all kinds to make a world.

Holiday Open House

2008-12-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

We're having a holiday open house on December 13 from noon-into the night. We're going to have lots of nice munchies. Hope to see you there. Give us a call if you have questions.

An interesting thought for today. The Heat Miser bears a striking resemblance to the late Richard Nixon. What do you think? Check out the link in the sidebar.

Movie Review: Bolt
We've been waiting with baited breath to see "Bolt" because of the trailer. I must say, it was a lovely, heartwarming tale of a dog, his person, and his sycophantic hamster fan. If you want to just laugh, GO. The pigeons are fantastic. You'll have a great time. 4 1/2 stars!

Photographer slashes prices!

2008-11-12T15:17:00.000-08:00

Rich Morgan has slashed his prices for prints. They are now competitive with regular prints. The new rates are

4 wallets $6.95

8 wallets $13.95

3.5x5 $4.95

4x6 $5.49

5x7 $6.95

8x10 $ 10.95

11x14 $29.95

16x20 $67.95

20x24 $98.95

We were pleased to hear about these new rates. He cut them a couple weeks ago. There are also albums and proof books that are available. Please ask us if you are interested. I know the market for them is very limited.

So, if your shots all came out with Zombie eyes, fear not, you can still get some photos if you like. Follow the link to the site and print in the password "bliss" to select your prints.

Formal Shots Set 1

2008-10-27T10:28:00.001-07:00

The Wedding

2008-10-25T16:36:00.001-07:00

We are crowned as King and Queen of our new household. The crowns were made for us by a lady named Anne. She hand engraved the design and the inscription (which you can read at the top of the blog)

Our maid of honor and best man hold candles in support of our life together. They lead us in our first steps as husband and wife.

After sipping from a common cup, a kiss seals the deal!

The Betrothal and entrance

2008-10-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

In an Orthodox wedding, the betrothal (formal engagement) happens first. In our wedding, we honored the Russian tradition of the bride's family going to the groom's home. The priests kept Tyrone behind the iconostasis (icon screen), in the alter for an hour before the ceremony. Suzanne's parents and her attendants walked outside and in through the front door to meet the priests and Tyrone at the entrance of the church. At that point the rings were officially exchanged. The maid of honor (Lisa) took the rings from the bible and put Ty's on Suzanne's hand and Suzanne's on Ty's hand. Then she exchanged them three times and put them on the proper person's right hand. Many prayers were said, answered with "lord have mercy" by the choir.

Once the rings were exchanged, Tyrone and Suzanne, carrying candles, entered the church behind the priests and followed by their attendants. Since women don't go into the alter, a portable alter is used for weddings. After the betrothal, Ty and Suzanne marched in to the portable alter.

Many friends have asked me, "How do you reconcile the fact that women aren't allowed in the alter and can't be priests with your feminism?" My answer is "love". In His wisdom, God made us different. There are many places where I can go and Ty cannot follow. Ty can't have girls night out, a pregnancy, friendships as a female with a female mind, a connection to the cycles of the earth that is natural for women, etc. Likewise, there are places Ty goes that I cannot follow.

While we are both icons of Christ (made in His image), the corporate Jesus was a man and therefore men have a special role in the church. Christ wasn't a man because he thought little of women, He just is. Men are priests. They have that special role in the church. Father Adam (the Greek one with the glasses), said to me, "when Jesus went into Jerusalem he was on the back of an ass. The ass carried our Lord to the people, a sign of peace. As a priest, I'm the ass carrying Christ to the people. If I thought they were waving palms for me, I'd be a fool." Priests are messengers and stand-ins for Jesus. Some clergy don't have humility in the presence of Christ. None of them officiated at our wedding. Such priests generally find another, better paying, line of work before completing seminary.

Back to the pictures. Many of our pictures have "white eye", and we cannot use them. Please send us pictures of the attendants, the guests, and the betrothal if you've got them. Thanks.

First Pictures!

2008-10-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Our photographer went on a 3-week vacation on October 13, so our pictures and even our names are not on the photography site yet. I am in touch with the studio and trying to rectify the situation. I'd like our names to be up there so you can get email notice when the pictures go up.

In the meantime, friends have given us photos of the wedding and we are sharing them with you in installments. Enjoy!

This batch is photos taken just before the wedding. The men just dressed, the flowers being pinned, the bride waiting at the Narthex with mom and dad.

Please take note of Darren's brilliant smile. How adorable is Tyrone in his tux?!!! Paul is sweet as he helps Ben get his tux and flowers just so. We don't have any pictures of the ladies primping, but will get them to you as soon as we have them.

A thank you note has been given to the choir. We have passed along your good reviews of their performance. I must admit, the singing made the wedding glisten.

Father Paul, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Melekite Catholic Church, was instrumental in helping the photographer g et into the best places for wedding. He also gave a beautiful reading of the epistle for the wedding. At the reception, Tyrone and I were touched by Father Paul's comments. "You were so into it," he said. "So many couples are under such stress, that they don't appreciate the ceremony as it happens, but you two were right there the whole time." Thank you, Father Paul.

In the next post we'll share pictures of the betrothal ceremony and the entrance into the Nave of the wedding party and Ty and Suzanne.

Please email us more photos.

We did it!

2008-10-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for coming! The day was joyful and beautiful in every way.

We are going through cards and gifts. Everything you gave us is thoughtful and beautiful. Your thank you notes will be arriving soon.

Photos of our wedding will be on the Rich Morgan Photography website asap. So far, there is nothing there. It should be up presently.

The honeymoon was very sweet and wonderful. No, we won't tell you details of that experience. Suffice to say, he's a great guy.

I'll write more later his week.

We love you all.

Nerves

2008-10-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Tyrone and I are frazzled. There are so many loose ends to tie up. We are being pulled in all directions. We had a talk after the rehearsal. OUR PHONES ARE TURNED OFF. If you need to communicate with us, do so via the best man or attendants. If you don't know who they are, ask someone who is not us. Please do not ask us any questions that require memory. We cannot think. We cannot recall. We cannot remember anything you say for future events. Please do not take this personally. We are suffering temporary lobotomies. It's a result of lack of sleep, stress, errands, lists, bills, logistics, etc.

Here's how to help.

please be on time
please enjoy yourself
please remind us to take a deep breath
please bring us a glass of water
please pray for us

Wedding Day Schedule

2008-10-10T03:04:00.000-07:00

8:00 Women meet at the Marriott Residence Inn in Worcester to go to breakfast
9:00 Women go to the salon for their appointments
Men wake up
10:00? Men have breakfast at the IHOP in Shrewsbury
12:00 Women are done at the salon and make their way to the church
12:00-2:00 A couple attendants check the reception hall to make sure everything is going well
1:00 All members of the wedding party (female) will be at the Cathedral
1:30 The choir begins to sing
2:00 Children and adults to the bathroom LAST CALL
2:10 Here comes the bride!
3:00 ish Ceremony ends NO RECEIVING LINE
3:15- guests to the reception
4:15ish Bride and Groom to the reception
5:00 dinner
8:30 reception ends, bride and groom to their honeymoon, attendants take any gifts, etc.
10:00 Bride and Groom arrive at their honeymoon suite

Salon Appointments

2008-10-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

The next post will be the schedule for the wedding day.

Here are the salon appointments for the wedding day.

9:00 Audrey: manicure
9:00 Cidalia: hair
9:00 Dorinda: hair
9:00 Suzanne: pedicure
9:00 Lisa: hair
9:30 Margaret: pedicure
10:00 Audrey: hair
10:00 Anne: hair
11:00 Maria: hair
11:15 Anne: pedicure
11:30 Maleah: hair
11:00 Suzanne: hair

Rehearsal dinner FAQ
When is the rehearsal? Friday, October 10, 6:30pm
When is the dinner? Immediately following the rehearsal.
Where? Saint George for both the rehearsal and the dinner.
What do I do? Whatever the priests tell you to do.
Do I need to go to confession? If you are an Orthodox Christian or Roman Catholic and are in the wedding party, you should receive confession sometime in the week prior to the wedding.
What do I need to wear? Wear clothing appropriate for a church. Work clothes are fine.
What are we having? We are getting food from Vinny T's.

Salad
Apple and Gorgonzola Salad
Chopped Salad

Pasta
Cheese Ravioli

Entree
Chicken Marsala
Chicken Parmesagne
Eggplant Parmesagne

Dessert
Tiramisu
Chocolate cake

Will there be booze? We are providing non-alcoholic punches and drinks. Due to a severe allergy in the wedding party, NONE of these drinks will be sugar-free. If you want wine with dinner, it's BYOB.

Odds and Ends

2008-10-09T04:24:00.000-07:00

Andover Montessori School Faculty: Gave Tyrone and me a wonderful surprise cake and gift. It was very touching. Thank you so much!

Margaret Boisvert: is arriving today! Hurray! She was a cyberhead at the shower. Now she'll be incarnate! I can't wait to see her.

Kevin the Florist: is in Boston today, picking up the flowers for the wedding. I'm so excited.

The apples are shined and ready for transport. The place cards are loaded into a box and with the apples. There are a few people whose names we never got. They will have a place at a table, but no card to show them the way.

I'm moving out: and to the hotel in Worcester. Hurray! It's getting so close.

Pre-Schoolers' Wedding Ideas: The following are conversations which I had with real pre-schoolers this week. Enjoy!

Keeping Guest List managable
(little girls on the playground)

"Can we come to the wedding? Yeah, can we, can we?"

"I wish I could have you there, but the guest lists were in a few months ago. It would be cool to have 50 flower girls though."

"Yeah, we wanna come. We'll only eat cake, don't worry."

"It's in Worcester."

"That's too far, never mind."

Adult Playdates
(little girls at lunch)

"Miss George, Miss GG, Misses GG, we want a playdate with you."

"I can't, I need to get married first."

"Can we have a playdate after?"

"I need to have a long playdate with my new husband. When you get married, you get to take a really long and fun playdate with your husband. It's called a honeymoon."

"Oh yeah, I heard of that." "Me too" "Me three"

Forecast for Love

2008-10-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

The 10 day forecast looks good for our wedding day.

What should I wear for a coat?

a jacket
a mink stole
a rabbit cape
wool suit jacket
medium to heavy poncho

Foliage forecast?

According to Yankee magazine's website, our foliage is near peak. Our original plan to have autumn leaves on the tables could not come to pass because the leaves are still on the trees. We weren't able to collect and press them. The reds are just beginning to come out. They should peak the weekend after our wedding. Our honeymoon in Southern Maine, however, will be at peak. Hurray!

700 Hits, Yeah!

2008-10-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

Can we get to 1000 by the wedding? Tell all your friends!

Seating Plans

2008-10-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

We did the seating last night. Our goal was to make you comfortable, while introducing you to new people we think you'll enjoy.

You will each have an apple with your name and table number. The apples are all different, not like the uniform ones shown here.

We have a "Doctor Table" for those with PhD's and other educators. There is a "Men in Black" table, where the clergy will be seated, it's a mix of Antioch, Rome, Constantinople, and a little bit of USA. There's an "I love to talk about Religion" table, here we seated friends who are Orthodox and Catholic who are respectful of others' beliefs, but lovingly passionate about their own. Most tables are simply "Family" tables.

There are two head tables, one on the dais and one on the dance floor. The lower table will be struck after dinner for the dancing. Those people will join other tables after they eat.

I was fretting about my wedding slippers. I spoke with Isotoner, and they will get them to me by Wednesday.

I spoke with Kevin. He's done with the pew decorations and doesn't want me to fret or work too hard. If you are helping with him, your jobs will be lite.

The Jordan Almonds are a pain. We cannot get the pretty ones in fall colors that I had hoped. Darn! We'll settle for white.

Examine the girls!!!!! I saw Olivia Newton John on TV today, she's spreading awareness about breast cancer and self-exams. Ladies, examine yourselves! You're about to display your gorgeousness in pretty dresses at the wedding. Please insure that you'll be healthy and alive for the next wedding. Click on a link in this paragraph or stop by a Curves to pick up a kit on breast self-exam.

Apple Picking

2008-10-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

John and Lisa joined Tyrone and me for a morning of apple picking on Saturday. You will see the apples at the wedding. You'll even get to taste them! We picked many different varieties, shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors; over 100 pounds of apples will grace our reception. Although the idea for using the apples came from Martha Stewart, the lack of uniformity is not. That's pure us.

This video is excellent for children under 8. Enjoy!

Updo Anyone?

2008-10-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

I went to the hairdresser today for a trial run of my bridal updo. It was a bit shocking. The updo had structure. It was shiny and cool and not too much but definitely more than I have ever done for myself. Here are some cool ones I found online.

If you are getting an updo for the wedding, search the web and bring an idea for the stylist. Their ideas will be much more complex and grand than anything you think up. It's pretty cool.

COME WITH DIRTY HAIR! If the hair is not freshly shampooed, it is much easier to make an updo, it is shinier, and generally prettier.

Your hair should be dry and, if you need to flat-iron it, please do so the night before. If you want to add pieces for volume, please bring them.

Smelling the Roses

2008-10-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

Most of you probably already know that Tyrone's personality is very very different from my own. He's much more laid back. He has more faith that details will just work themselves out. There's a reason God chose him for me. He balances me.

The past few weeks, I've been worrying and fretting about the move, finances, festivities, seating plans, and other details. I haven't enjoyed this time as I should I haven't allowed myself to do something I'm famous for; stopping and smelling the roses. No matter what, I've always been able to detach from my stresses and notice flowers, sunsets, smiles, and beauty. I need to reconnect with that part of my core.

There's just one week left of the old life. Just one week to enjoy the engagement and court Tyrone. I don't want to blow it.

I will make time for daily prayer instead of forcing myself to finish seating plans.
I will regularly just sit with Tyrone in silence and look in his eyes without wedding agenda or moving woes
I will appreciate the joys of school more. Today an autistic boy had a wonderful verbal breakthrough, he was so cute, I thought I'd burst. We collected leaves for the reception during recess. I got lots of hugs. The kids practiced calling me Mrs. GG. They liked the way it sounded when they sung it. It made them giggle.

If you see me, please don't hesitate to remind me to stop and smell the roses.

600 Hits!

2008-09-30T06:05:00.000-07:00

We'll reach 600 today. Glad you are enjoying our wedding blog. Here are some lovebirds whose video we liked.

Moving and Marriage

2008-09-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Moving is a right-royal-pain-in-the-ass! Literally! Tyrone and I are walking like Fred Sanford. I'm covered in bruises from the boxes and heavy things. It looks like I'm either doing smack or getting roughed-up by my future hubby. Tyrone quipped that the music for our ceremony will have to be changed to the Theme from Sanford and Son as I limp down the aisle in my wedding dress, covered in bruises. He's made me promise not to move heavy stuff tomorrow. "Take a day to rest," counsels Ty.

I might just do that.

Just imagine how we'd be walking, were it not for John. Our angel, our saint, our friend who arrived at the storage place ready to kick some ass and take some names. He unloaded, heaved, and hauled until the truck was empty. The rain didn't stop him or even deter him. Thanks, John.

If anyone is interested, in November, Ty and I would like to get a care package together to send to John's old battalion in Iraq. There's no other way to thank him for his help with the move.

Which one is your favorite?

2008-09-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

The sound to this video music only. Its audio is work-safe. Enjoy!

The Cake is Ordered

2008-09-24T03:34:00.001-07:00

We sent the request for our cake. Smooth frosting with autumn leaves cascading down. We'll have three layers, and miniature wedding crowns will adorn the top.

Love CDs

2008-09-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

We will be driving up to Maine for our honeymoon and need some tunes for the drive. I have some Barry White and Teddy Pendergrass, but just 3 songs. There must be some funny and sweet songs that would be good to have too. If you like, make us a CD with the tunes you think most appropriate for Ty and me to listen to as we transition from our party to our honeymoon.

Please label your CD with your name so we know who thought up that particular mix. You can give them to Darren or Dorinda for placement in our car.

Bridal Shower

2008-09-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Pictures, CLICK HERE!!!

We had my bridal shower! Hurray! It was a cozy, intimate group. The following people were in attendance.

Christina Ryan (Suzanne's friend, and hostess of the event)
Suzanne George (bride)
Carol George (bride's mum)
Christine Gonsalves (Tyrone's mum)
Dorinda Korlacki (Tyrone's sister)
Audrey White (bridesmaid)
Maria Isaak (bridesmaid)
Anne Salloom (Suzanne's Goddaughter)
Margaret Boisvert (bridesmaid, attended via skype)
Melody Smith (Suzanne's sister in-law, sent an edible arrangement, but could not attend)

Christina laid out a very elegant spread of crustless tea sandwiches of cucumber, smoked salmon, chicken salad, and tomato/mozzarella. She also made fabulous scones and cookies. Audrey brought her famous meatballs, yum. There were elegant teas, served in very elegant, silver gilded cups and saucers. Anne brought some fruit, and Dorinda and Christine brought a huge cake which was elegant and delicious.

The gifts ranged from practical to slightly naughty. All were generous and greatly appreciated. Ladies left with a mum in the color of their choice. All the "mums" got a mum, thanks to Mria. Guests also received favors of tea bags in mini pastel chinese cartons, thanks to Christina.

Thank you all for treking out to Medford and spending your afternoon with me. It means the world to me. You are precious.

Suzanne

Cell Phone Pledge

2008-09-22T02:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the husband of one of Ty's close friends was killed when a person on a cell phone ran a red light. My prayers are with Ty, Christine, and all who are close to Marta. I can't imagine what you all are going through. My dearest friends were safely with me at my shower, their husbands were at home.

I spend way too much time on my cell phone in the car. I don't pay attention to the road all the time. If I ever did this to someone, I would have trouble ever living my life with joy again. No phone conversation is worth that. So I pledge the following.

I will not dial my phone in the car
I will not fiddle with my phone without pulling over

Please take this to heart and consider making a similar pledge.

The importance of reply cards!!!!

2008-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Reply cards are an important part of planning our wedding. This is the journey of a reply card to Suzanne and Ty's wedding.

Ty picks up the card in the mail.
He notes the name and the number of people accepting or not accepting the invitation.
He hands the card to Suzanne when he sees her.
Suzanne mixes up her inks and chooses a painted "leaf" that will fit the name well.
Suzanne writes each name in calligraphy on the leaf (place card)
Each leaf has a toothpick affixed to it and is catalogued in alphabetical order for later.
The leaves are used to make seating plans

The caterer needs solid numbers because final payment for the wedding is due next week. After that time, no new names will be added to the guest list. If you have a response card and plan on attending the wedding, PLEASE get it in within the next few days. We want to be able to have a meal for you, but we need that card to do so.

400 Hits!

2008-09-19T05:27:00.001-07:00