Restful Weekend

Well, to be honest, the weekend wasn't too restful because I had to turn in edits for my book on Sunday (the request came in on Friday, eek!), so much of the weekend was spent reading, but there was some time for fun!

Friday night, Eric and I went out to Ristorante Maria di Napoli, a small Italian restaurant in Newton that smelled like my grandma's apartment. It had a cozy interior and was run by an older Italian couple who were amazingly sweet people. I had pasta and Eric had eggplant parmigiana and for dessert, we split spumoni and a cannoli. The food was so traditional that it really felt and tasted like my grandma had cooked it all. Talk about perfect comfort food! It was also a great way to celebrate the official end of my exams--that afternoon, I had my oral, which is the culmination of the comprehensive exams you take before writing a dissertation. I sat in a little room with my two advisors, who asked challenging questions about my previous exams and my dissertation ideas. Then I stepped out of the room while they deliberated whether to pass me, which, thankfully, they did! I can honestly say that I haven't been nervous like that in a long time--I was so lightheaded I almost couldn't answer their first question--but hearing the exams were over and I could move onto the next stage of the degree was really exciting!

Saturday morning, I woke up early to do some edits and go to yoga with a neighbor. After a quick lunch at UFood (where they had egg nog frozen yogurt--yum!), Eric and I went to see the new film Tangled with our friend and her five year old daughter. The movie was great, but the best part was watching the little girl standing up and just staring at the screen, completely enthralled by what was happening. The light in her eyes and her rapt attention just made the film-viewing experience really special for us. Not to mention her sitting on her mom's lap was really cute!

We all went out for hot chocolate afterward, and when we came home, we felt like we'd just had a really great Saturday filled with friends of all ages and smiles!

Little Miss Communication

Well, it has been way too long since our last blog! We promise to provide updates on our 22 hour, one passport trip to Montreal and a Thanksgiving where both our families joined up, but for now, we wanted to tell you about our latest adventure: going to see The Ego and the Oracle.

Our friends Priscilla and James offered us their ticket to this iPod shuffle meets psychic reading event because they'd already gone and wanted to spread the glee. We had no idea what we were in for! In line with our Driving to anyplace in Boston is horrible but the anyplace itself is great motto, the 20 minute drive took an hour, we couldn't find parking, and we barely made the start of the show, which was in the back of a cozy pub.

Here's the premise: everyone turns in a card with a question and a fake name (mine was Brand New Bride). Then the band comes out and a Wheel of Fortune (the oracle) and a guy who moderates. He pulls questions out, the person who asked the question comes up, spins the wheel, and then the oracle reveals a song, which the band plays, and then the moderator interprets how the song answers the question.

So, they called up Brand New Bride (aka, me) and my question was: "I'm newly married. Will my husband I be happy." Then I spun the oracle and the song that came up was...Miss Communication! Ha ha ha! The song was about all the miscommunications in relationships. Super perfect! Eric got called up as well (and was given the name BNG--Brand New Groom). Oh, and did I mention the band was good? Because they were awesome--their songs were clever and fun and catchy.

Afterwards, we went to a little crepes place and I got a lemon and sugar crepe and Eric got one with Belgian chocolate. It felt thoroughly magical to get to have crepes at 9pm on a school night in an area of Boston we rarely explore. A truly perfect evening. Thanks Priscilla and James!

Healthy Peanut Butter Remake For Everyone But Meredith, Who Is Still Allergic To Nuts (Hi, Meri!)

When I was a little girl, I used to go to the house of Julie--mother of Elle and Aidan of A&E Wedding Consultants, Inc.--in Ohio. I remember one visit when we made these peanut butter treats, and though I haven't made them in ages--perhaps you will surmise why in about 2 seconds--I still have the recipe memorized. Observe:

Julie and Danielle's Completely Unhealthy Childhood Peanut Butter Delight:

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Karo light (in color, not calories) corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups Kellogg's cornflakes

Melt peanut butter, sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla in a saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Mix in cornflakes. Spread onto wax paper and cool in the refrigerator until your sugary snack becomes of peanut brittle-like consistency.

So fast forward 20 years to Watertown, where the local Boston Sports Club sells peanut butter balls to restore energy post-workout. They're little balls of peanut butter, vanilla whey protein, and honey and they are to die for yummy, not to mention a total bargain at 75 cents per ball (and one ball is all you need). So this afternoon, I had this idea: what if I tried to make a Boston Sports Club healthy version of the childhood snack Julie and I created (even though I'm pretty sure we didn't create it and that it came off of the back of a cornflakes box)? So I warmed up my inventive cooking skills, took out measuring cups (a truly rare display) so could write down the recipe and not drive Julie crazy with my "Uh, just a bit of that...I don't know how much...maybe a 1/4 teaspoon, maybe a cup or maybe it wasn't olive oil but rice wine vinegar" style of cooking, and when I was done, Eric took one bite and went, "Aw yeah, that is amazing!"

So here it is, folks:

Danielle's Revision of Julie and Danielle's Completely Unhealthy Childhood Peanut Butter Delight as Inspired by Boston Sports Club and Endorsed by Eric:

1 cup unsalted peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened whey protein powder
3/4 cup agave nectar (or to taste)
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups Kashi 7 Whole Grain Flakes, crushed

Combine peanut butter, protein powder, agave nectar and vanilla extract until stiff dough forms. Add whole grain flakes and mix until well-blended (this will be a challenge, as the dough is very stiff). Place on wax or parchment paper and roll out until 1/4 inch thick. Slice into squares (this is a very calorie dense food, so a little goes a long way), wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator, or just skip straight to the eating and enjoying part!

Our First 10K!

Every year, Eric's company sponsors a 10K run/walk, so we decided to do it together. Eric planned on running the whole thing, but since I didn't train at all (and have never run vast distances), I figured I'd walk. Initially, Eric said he'd walk with me, but I know he loves to run, so I encouraged him to do the course on his own and wait for me at the end.

Yesterday was a beautiful morning for the event. The run didn't start until noon, so we studied a bit before heading over to Boston Common, where the race commenced. It was a bit insane, to be honest--approximately 10,000 people (mostly women, since it was an event to sponsor women's health) were filing through one staircase onto Beacon Street. When the race finally did begin, it took us about 5 minutes just to get to the starting line! Then it turned out that, though we thought we were with the walkers, we were still with the runners. Eric ran on ahead, and since I didn't want to get trampled, I thought, "Okay, well, I can surely run a little while until this breaks up."

It wound up not breaking up until halfway through the race, and I felt hugely empowered that I could keep up with the group!

Anyway, the course was beautiful--we ran across the Longfellow Bridge and then down Memorial Drive in Cambridge. We came back over another bridge and ran down Commonwealth Avenue back to Boston Common. You could see runners going on both sides of Memorial Drive, and at one point, I saw the winner zooming in the other direction and me and all the slower runners cheered her and the other faster folk along. I also saw Eric running on the other side at one point, and we both got excited when we got to wave to each other!

Eric finished about 20 minutes before I did, and he waited at the finish line for me. He was cheering me on when I got there, and it made me feel like I had the best husband in the world for believing in me and my absolutely abysmal running skills!

We both felt so proud of ourselves at the end! Eric completed the race in 52 minutes, with an average mile of 9 minutes 25 seconds, which was faster than his goal of 10 minutes! I finished with about 12 minute miles, which isn't too bad, considering that I walked about 2 miles of the course. Eric said he'd help me and maybe next year we'll run the whole thing together!

Anyway, we felt really, really proud of ourselves and proud that we supported each other for the race. We celebrated with a Cheesecake Factory trip that was kind of hilarious in its healthiness! On one side of us, a group of men got three plates of fried chicken and the fourth guy got salmon topped with French fries and onion rings! On our other side were two women who ordered avocado fried spring rolls, an avocado sandwich, and enchiladas. In between them was Eric--who ordered a salad with cranberries and feta cheese--and me--I got a salad with no dressing that had beans, corn, chicken, and pico de gallo. Then for dinner, we made ourselves fresh pasta with yummy fresh vegetables, chicken, and a balsamic glaze. We felt it was a healthy ending to our healthy day!

Danielle and Eric Originals!

Eric and I both love to cook and love a steaming, homemade meal. We also like to experiment in the kitchen, so we thought we'd include some of our favorite impromptu, composed by us recipes! Hope you enjoy!

Danielle's Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai with Marinated Tofu for veryone but Meredith, who is allergic to nuts

Ingredients:

For Marinated Tofu:
2 containers extra firm tofu
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp olive oil or sesame oil

For Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai:
1/3 cup peanut butter
3.5-4 tbsp water
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp brown sugar
1 clove minced garlic
1.5 tbsp fresh ginger
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 very large spaghetti squash
1 red pepper, chopped lengthwise
2 cups snap peas
green onions (to garnish)
cilantro (to garnish)
extra lime juice to spritz on top (as needed)

1. Drain tofu from and press between two plates lined with paper towels. Leave for half an hour.

2. Slice the tofu into 1/2 thick pieces. Toss with soy sauce and olive oil. Marinate for 30 minutes.

3. While marinating, preheat over to 350 degrees. You can also begin the spaghetti squash at this point. Feel free to prepare the spaghetti squash however you are used to doing it. I puncture holes in mine with a knife throughout the surface and then microwave it for about 12 minutes. When you do this, it softens the rind so it's easier to cut, and it also reduces cooking time. When it's done in the microwave, I cut it in half, wrap each piece in seran wrap, and microwave it for another 6 minutes. Make sure to handle the squash with oven mitts; it gets pretty hot!

4. While marinating, you can also make the sauce for the pad thai. To do this, combine the first seven ingredients in the pad thai recipe, and that's it!

5. When done marinating, place tofu on a lined and greased (I use Pam) baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip. Bake for another 10-20 minutes, depending on your oven. The tofu should be brown at the edges when it's done.

6. Scrape out the seeds from the squash (which you can use to make roasted squash seeds--see Eric's recipe below) and scoop out the spaghetti squash into a bowl.

7. Heat oil in a wok (if possible--if not, a large frying pan will do) and add onion. Saute until brown.

8. Add in spaghetti squash. Saute for about a minute.

9. Add in sauce and toss.

10. Add in snap peas; saute another 2-3 minutes.

11. Add in red peppers and tofu (I really don't like mushy peppers, so I don't cook this very long, only about 2 minutes until the pepper is warm but still crunchy, but you might want to leave it longer).

12. Remove from heat. Service with generous helpings of green onion and cilantro. Add in extra lime juice as needed!

Serves 6.

Eric's Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds

Ingredients:
Seeds of one spaghetti squash
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
Pam or vegetable oil or olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Separate seeds from remaining squash. Works best if you try to remove the squash from the seeds, not the seeds from the squash.

3. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Coat with Pam or oil.

4. Spread seeds on sheet. Sprinkle with salt.

5. Put seeds in preheated oven. Should take about 20-25 minutes. Check on them every ten.

6. Enjoy!


Danielle's Inventive Pasta

Ingredients:

whole wheat penne or rotini (as much as seems appropriate for 2 people)
2 cortland or macintosh apples
2 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
3 cups of freshly chopped kale
(here's where I start really estimating):
1.5 tbsp olive oil
1.5 tbsp smart balance/butter/butter equivalent (I used smart balance light)
1 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/3 cup white wine (I used a pinot grigio; a riesling probably would be fine too)
salt and pepper to taste

1. Boil water for pasta; add pasta when necessary.

2. Mix oil and butter (or butter equivalent) and heat on medium-high.

3. When butter is melted, toss in cubed chicken, salt, and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes.

4. Add apples, sage, and thyme and cover for about 5 minutes.

5. At this point, the chicken should be basically cooked; if it's not, wait a few minutes while the cover is still on for it to finish cooking through.

6. When the chicken is finished cooking, add the kale and mustard and cover again under the kale is slightly wilted (not overly wilted!)

7. Remove cover and add white wine. When alcohol has burned out of the wine (and presumably the pasta has been finished by this point), the meal is done! Mix pasta with everything else and enjoy.

Serves two, if you're hungry, three if you're not!

Eric's Indian Extravaganza!

Ingredients:
1 cup brown or basmati rice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 potato chopped into 1 inch cubes
1 onion, chopped
8 plum tomatoes, diced
3 bayleaves
1 cup chopped carrots
2 small breasts chicken (or one large), cut into 1 inch cubes
1 small eggplant (or half a large), sliced and quartered
1 tsp cumin (add to taste--D likes less; E likes more)
1 tsp curry powder (add to taste; see above)
2 tsp ground coriander (add to taste; see above)
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp fresh minced ginger
1 red pepper, chopped lengthwise
*Omit or add additional vegetables as the mood strikes!

1. Prepare rice as your rice container indicates.

2. Heat oil in a wok (or a large skillet) on medium heat.

3. Saute onions and tomatoes with bayleaves.

4. Meanwhile, microwave the potato until it's done or almost done (about 8 minutes). Don't forget to pierce holes to keep it from exploding!

5. Add chicken, carrots, eggplant, garlic, and spices (except ginger) and cover for about 8-10 minutes.

6. Add pepper, potato, and ginger. Heat for about two minutes.

7. Remove and serve with rice.

8. Add additional spices to taste.

Serves two, with leftovers.

Forgot something...

Forgot to mention that dinner was courtesy of Delaine, Rick, Michelle, Larry, and Sandy. Thanks for your gift! We had a wonderful dinner and thought of you on our one monthiversary!

Reflections on the One Monthiversary

Yesterday, it felt so strange to imagine that only 30 days ago we were with all our friends and family in New York. As the hours passed, we could recall where we were and what we were doing, how special every moment was. Around 12:30, I thought, "Leonora started my doing my hair around now," and around 8pm, we danced in our apartment, this time a relaxed Latin dance Eric taught me called the bachata. There was no applause, no friends to jump around with afterward, but we remembered them in that moment, and it made us smile.

It's surprising to us that even though we were only married a month ago, it feels like we've gone right back to normal life, a kind of normal life that we've been living forever. Eric goes to work; I study. We're definitely trying to figure out how to balance all the demands and constraints of married life and work with fun and social time and vacation. I think we'll get there.

We celebrated last night with a trip to Not Your Average Joe's, a restaurant here in Watertown that has some pretty creative cuisine. We split two appetizers (fresh veggie spring rolls and Korean BBQ chicken tacos) and one entree (chicken in a teriyaki orange glaze with sweet potato canneloni). Then we came back home, studied, and watched this awesome show called The Choir. If you haven't seen it, you must. It's a documentary about a British choir director who goes to a lower class British town and starts a town choir (actually three choirs really--one of adults, one of kids, and one just for men) to boost morale. It's a wonderful true story and definitely worth watching (it's on On Demand, for those of you with that feature).

Finally, at dinner, we sat down and told our waitress we were celebrating our anniversary.

"How many years?" she asked.

"One month!" I replied with enthusiasm, and Eric laughed.

We agreed after that to celebrate our marriage at every milestone possible, and to try to do as well in month two as we did in month one!

Danielle & Eric in Muppet form

Tonight we learned that you can make your own Muppet at FAO Schwartz. Not wanting to spend $100 per custom Muppet, we decided to design our own and take a picture of the computer screen instead!

So here are our doppelgangers: Muppet Eric and Danielle (respectively)

We made it to New Orleans!

At approximately 3:30 yesterday afternoon, we rolled into our hotel, the W. When we touched down at the airport, we had no faith that our luggage would be there, but amazingly, it was in the lost luggage room, staring at us through the glass.

Unfortunately, the office itself was closed, but once we got someone to open it, all our troubles melted away and off we went! The folks at our hotel were so gracious--they welcomed us with huge smiles and listened to our woes and even refunded the night we weren't there and gave us $125 worth of credits for dinner and drinks! Oh, and did I mention that there are doors that open automatically when you come in, and then a set of curtains that part automatically as you enter the lobby proper? Super chic. Also, Eric noticed that on the floor of the elevator is a mat saying, "Good morning," "Good afternoon" or "Good evening" depending on the time of day.

New Orleans made Las Vegas look like a Buddhist monastery last night because there was an Ole Miss vs. LSU game, but we still managed to procure some beignets and a frozen cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde (thanks to everyone who recommended that), wander around the French Quarter and Jackson Square, peek into some voodoo shops, reprise our first dance in the middle of Bourbon Street because we could hear people singing it inside a karaoke bar, and check out the cathedral on Jackson Square (there's a free concert tonight, so I think we're going to go back--hey, Matt, Kat, and Erica: Eric wanted to know what all the flags hanging from the cathedral were about and I said, "You know, I don't know, but I'd bet they're all the flags that have hung over the state of Louisiana, like at the Alamo and 6 Flags," and I was totally right! Yeah San Antonio 2010!).

Then we got dressed up and went to dinner at Galatoire's where I had poisson meuniere amandine (really good, but Julie, ours was better) and Eric had a red fish sauteed with mushrooms and crabmeat that was really amazing! We shared turtle soup as an appetizer that, well, was really made with turtle but tasted like beef, and the whole thing kind of disturbed me (especially when the waitress described them grinding the turtle) but it did taste really good. (Thanks to Delaine, Rick, Michelle, Sandy, and Larry, btw, for our dinner!)

I cannot describe how welcome and at home we felt when we arrived at the W. It's like we were finally able to take a deep breath and relax. So, to commemorate the occasion, we penned yet another set of lyrics to a first dance reject. Here is the song, accompanied by, of course, a link:

Broken Tarmac

We set out on a honeymoon many hours ago
Hoping we would find smooth travels from Boston to NOLA
Our bags got lost a time or two; stuck in DC, we did push through
We couldn’t see how every delay pointed straight to you.

And every long lost plane
Led us to where you are
Airlines that broke our hearts,
They were like southern stars
Pointing us on our way,
Into your loving arms
This much we know is true:
That God blessed the broken road that led us to the W.

We think about the day we spent
Just passing through
We’d like to have the day we lost and spend it here with you
But you just smile and take our bags
Give us a bed to sleep off jetlag
So we can spend our honeymoon, happily here with you!

And every long lost plane
Led us to where you are
Airlines that broke our hearts,
They were like southern stars
Pointing us on our way,
Into your loving arms
This much we know is true:
That God blessed the broken road that led us to the W.

We’re now finally walking in
Into our hotel room,
This much we know is true:
That God blessed the broken road that led us to the W!

In Need of a blue Robin Williams' voiced Genie!

Dear friends:

We are back at Dulles this morning having spent in a nice hotel that was hard to appreciate because, well, we wanted to be in the Big Easy! Plus, they were out of king beds and so they gave us two doubles--how ironic for a mini-moon!

Anyway, here's the latest composition from our trip, lyrics composed to one of the first dance rejects. Click on this link to the song, so you can follow along:

Eric:
I can show you the airport,
Shoddy, shabby, and sad
Tell me princess, now when did you last see our dear old bags?
I can open your eyes,
Take you airport to airport,
Don’t you wish we had gone instead on a magic carpet ride?
A whole new airport!
A very tragic point of view:
Everyone tells us no!
Not where we want to go:
“New Orleans? You must be dreaming!”

Danielle:
A whole new airport!
Another place I never knew!
And when I’m way down here, it’s crystal clear,
I don’t want to be here, though I’m with you!

Eric:
Now I’m a whole new airport with you!
Danielle:
Unbelievable service,
Often not in the good way,
They sent us on trains, and pods, and to a shuttle to a hotel!
A whole new airport!

Eric:
Don’t you dare close your eyes!

Danielle:
100,000 delays to be had!
Eric:
Hold your breath, it gets better!

Danielle:
Wish I had a shooting star to take me far
away from the airport where I used to be
Every delay a surprise,

Eric:
with few horizons to pursue

Danielle:
(‘Least the hotel was red letter)

Eric & Danielle:
I’ll chase our connection anywhere, no time to spare,
let me share this new airport with you.
Eric:
A whole new airport

Danielle:
(A whole new airport)
Eric:
That’s where we’ll be
Danielle:
(Yup, where we’ll be!)

Eric:
A crazy chase

Danielle:
A tiring place

Danielle and Eric:
For you and me!

Mini-Moon Woes

And now, friends, the world premiere version of our mini-moon woes, composed to the First Dance hit: 500 Miles. (Here's the Youtube link if you want to follow along!)

"1531 Miles" (from Boston to New Orleans)
By Danielle and Eric

When I wake up,
Well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be going to the Big Easy with you!
And when I board the plane,
Well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be boarding the tiny seats with you!
And when they delay the flight,
Well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be exchanging doubtful looks with you!
And when they cancel the flight,
Well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be calling customer services with you!
But I would walk 500 miles,
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the spouse who walks a 1000 miles to build another person’s door!
When they seize our bags,
Well I know I’m gonna be,
I’m gonna be saying goodbye to them with you!
And when they say,
when they say they will return
I’m gonna exchange another doubtful look with you!
When they put us
[when they put us]
On another later flight
I’m gonna be the one excited with you!
And when the fli----ight
Is delayed another hour
I’m gonna nearly avoid a meltdown next to you!
But I would walk 500 miles,
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the spouse who walks a 1000 miles to build another person’s door!
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
But United is gonna help to save the day
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
But United may not take off anyway
When I’m hungry,
Well I know I’m gonna get
I’m gonna get a closed restaurant to cook for you!
And when our new flight
When our new flight is further delayed
I’m gonna laugh until my belly hurts with you!
When United
Offers to check our lost luggage
The tragic turns to co---mic with you.
And when dessert calls,
Well I know I will be sweet
I’m gonna charm them for some free fro-yo for you!
I’m gonna charm them for some free fro-yooooooooo [slow down music]….for you!
BUM BUM BUM BA DA DA DA BUM BUM….
But I would walk 500 miles,
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the spouse who walks a 1000 miles to build another person’s door!
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
But United is gonna help to save the day
US Air sucks
(US Air sucks)
US Air sucks
(American too!)
But United may not take off anyway.
NOLA Mini-
(Moon, New Orleans)
NOLA Mini-
(Moon, New Orleans)
We’d get there if walk the whole way
NOLA Mini-
(Moon, New Orleans)
NOLA Mini-
(Moon, New Orleans)
It just may take an extra few days.
But I would walk 765.5 miles,
And I would walk 765.5 more
Just to be the spouse who had to walk 1531 miles because airline quality was no more!

The New Wedding Rules

So here it is, long-awaited: the wedding post. Originally I had planned on recounting the day, providing a minute-by-minute blow of the event. But you don't need that--you were there, and the memories are more alive in our hearts than I could possibly express here.

So what I'm going to do instead is to give you my new list of wedding rules (this is a mix of rules for couples and guests alike):

To the couple:
1. Spend as much time planning the ceremony as you do on the reception. The ceremony is the most important part of your day; even if it's simple, make it yours to make it holy.
2. Spend twice as much time with your future spouse as you do on either of the above.
3. Realize your wedding dreams whatever they are, but be mindful of your guests.
4. Consider your wedding to be a gift to your guests; it's not about the gifts they're giving you; it's about the gift you're giving them. Think of it as your first dinner party as a married couple!
5. Get a good DJ and, if possible, friends who like to dance!

To the guests:
1. Remember that weddings are stressful. E and I had no idea about what weddings are really like from the inside until we planned one ourselves. I now wish that:

A. I had given more generous gifts to everyone
B. I had given money to most of the people I gave physical gifts to
C. I had smiled and clapped and danced more and judged less

2. RSVP. The cards may seem silly, but they're essential for counting guests and seating them.
3. Pretend to be excited, even if you're thinking, "Why are they making me eat lobster covered in chocolate?"
4. Dance a lot, preferably around the bride and groom with huge smiles and laughter!
5. If you are not going to come--unless you are ill or there's an extenuating circumstance (ahem, hurricane)--let the bride and groom know two weeks before the event so they're not stuck paying for your meal.
6. Be generous with your gift, but more importantly, write something nice in the card.
7. Only be annoyed if you're not invited with a guest if you don't know anyone, and know that if you are invited without a guest, your friends who are getting married wish they could have done it differently.
8. Tell the bride and groom it was the best wedding ever--even if it was bleeping awful.
9. Tell the bride and groom if the DJ is too loud so that it won't be bleeping awful! And don't be shy about unplugging the speakers if the DJ doesn't listen.
10. If more than a couple of people are talking to the bride and groom, don't crowd around them. I repeat--do not crowd the bride and groom, especially right when they arrive from the ceremony. They are completely overwhelmed. (This does not mean: "Don't come and say hello." It just means, "Don't come and say hello if there are already 8 people doing so.") If you want to come over, though, it's always good to ask if you can get them drinks or cocktails they'd otherwise never see!
11. Do attend pre-wedding dinners and post-wedding breakfasts if invited--there's more of an opportunity for intimate conversation and likely there's also good cake!
12. Do travel more than 100 miles and stay in a hotel for the couple...but only if you love them!
13. As one of my parents' friends said: "I don't go to weddings to have a good time. I go to support the couple in their new life together. No one actually expects to have a good time at a wedding." Keep that in your heart, but also hold out for a stellar cake and a smile at the end of the night!

That's what we learned along the way. Thanks to all of you! We did it!

Clear and Sunny!

According to the Weather Channel, there is a 0% chance of precipitation for Saturday! Yippy!

Goodbye Earl!

Dear Hurricane Earl,

We would appreciate it if you would not attend our wedding. We did not invite you; you didn't RSVP; you didn't even send a gift. While we would have been entertained by the presence of your compatriots (Hurricane Danielle and the as yet unnamed Hurricane Eric), you leave us cold and rainy on the inside of our sunny happy souls.

We would also appreciate it if you had a chat with the good folks over at the Weather Channel to explain your upcoming travels. They are clearly confused, as they are simultaneously reporting a hurricane on Saturday morning and sunny weather with a high of 77 degrees.

We hope you enjoy your as yet uncharted trip out to the Atlantic, far away from our happy wedding. Perhaps you and Hurricane Danielle will find--out on the blue, tumultuous seas--the same joy that we have here on dry, sunny land.

Thank you and goodbye!

Sincerely yours,
D&E

Mike and Gail arrive!

Yesterday we greeted Mike and Gail (Eric's parents) here in Watertown! They drove all the way from Iowa and wanting to make sure our place was a calm, relaxing respite after the long drive, we both were cleaning non-stop! I made chicken glazed with real Vermont maple syrup and Dijon mustard that was topped with roasted apples. Then I made penne with my dad's cheese sauce, added a little nutmeg, and lots of broccoli and peas, and yum! A meal! We topped it off with some homemade ice cream and a Vicar of Dibley episode about when the Vixter first meets her husband. Oh, and Gail and Mike helped us take pictures of us with our eyebrows at the same height for the New York Times submission I sent in four weeks too late! Of course, none of us believe it'll actually get in since I missed the deadline, but you should have seen Mike going, "Okay Danielle, about an inch up; oh no, Eric, now you have to go up too! Wait, now, Eric, slouch a little." It was pretty awesome and well-worth the laugh even though the photo won't be appearing in public anytime soon!

Last Date Night!

Last night, after picking up Eric's ring, we went out to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. After sitting down and scouring the menu for something reasonably priced and healthy (so we will look beautiful in our gown and tux), we realized that we had reached a huge milestone: our last date night before marriage!

That changed everything. We ordered an appetizer that was full of fat. We ordered whatever we wanted--even if it was the priciest thing on the menu, which neither of ours was. We even let ourselves order drinks in souvenir cups (but it turned out that neither of us wanted them, so we skipped that part).

We were seated next to this mist-creating vent, so romantic wisps of white air kept whooshing around us! What a send-off to married life!

A&E Wedding Consultants, Inc. Update

As many of you know, A&E Wedding Consultants, Inc. have been an integral part of our wedding planning process, and as always, their customer service is impeccable! Recently, they traveled up to Boston to take care of some last minute responsibilities. Here they are making a home visit:



CEO Aidan taking our mystery first dance CD to the DJ.



President and Founder Elle helping me pick out a post-wedding breakfast dress. "You have to make sure it's mature yet relaxed" was her mantra.



CEO Aidan with the proof of the bulletin, "I'm glad to see that you made those changes I suggested."



President and Founder Elle off to the printers. "We need 200 copies, stat!"



A&E Wedding Consultants, Inc. know how to keep their customers happy. They make sure to comp a meal for all their clients:



And also to sneak in a round of golf or pool time!



In fact, so committed to their clients are they that they hire a rising middle management official to chauffeur their vehicle, so as to allow them more time for important business matters.



And they take their in-house butler with them on out of town trips to pack their belongings and bring them drinks.

Self-Made Wedding Cake

When we first started planning, before I found the perfect wedding cake, I thought several times about baking my own. Dissuaded by many, I did not attempt it, but now that NPR did a report on self-made wedding cakes, I might just give it a shot for our, uh, six month anniversary or something! Here's the link!

Trader Reverend Joe, the Officiant!

Our Trader Joe's newsletter came today, and on the back was a picture of a bride and groom getting married with the minister saying this to them: "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may combine shopping lists and share a cart."

We're officially grocery wed!

Hurricane Danielle

I'll have to talk to my hurricane to let it know not to swing by on our wedding day!

Translating Genesis

Yesterday, my friend Alexis and I got together to relive our time studying biblical Hebrew in Israel and to do a little translating. The task: translate the first reading for our wedding from Hebrew into English. The text we were looking at was the beginning of Genesis 29, where Jacob first sees Rachel, and we quickly noticed some differences between traditional translations and the Hebrew in front of us.

Case in point: in the Hebrew, Jacob approaches a well with three flocks of sheep, and Rachel is quite literally introduced as "Rachel who came with the sheep," as if she was a member of the flock! Of course, that's not really what it meant--the gist is more like, "Rachel, who was traveling with the sheep." We were also quite surprised to find Rachel described as a shepherdess, a detail that gets left out of English translations.

This made Alexis exclaim, "Wow, Rachel the career woman! What a great idea for an ancient Barbie doll!"

I followed with, "Indeed--and it would totally transform the traditional Bo Peep poem. Imagine: 'Shepherdess Rachel did not lose her sheep, and knew exactly where to find them!"

This all brought us lots of laughter, and it made us nostalgic for the days when translating was our full-time gig! But it also was a great occasion for us to think about how to best translate the Hebrew into English in a way that both kept the spirit of the ancient text and also brought it to life for us today. Hope we succeeded!

Welcome (almost) to New York and our wedding!

In preparation for your travels, we put together a guide to New York City area attractions and restaurants, as well as some important times and directions for our wedding day. Those of you staying at the Yale Club will get a printout of this when you arrive, hence why all the directions to sites are from the Yale Club. I'm also including links here when possible.

Hope this is helpful, and we are so excited to see you in a few weeks!

Wedding Specific Information

Directions to the Church of the Incarnation:

Walking: Turn right out of the Yale Club and walk to the corner (44^th Street). Turn right onto 44^th Street and walk one block to Madison Avenue. Make a left onto Madison Avenue and walk 9 blocks down to 35^th Street. The church will be on the corner of 35^th and Madison. Estimated walk time: about 15 minutes; New York City blocks are not long.

Subway: Cross the street from the Yale Club and head into Grand Central. Within Grand Central is a subway stop for the 4, 5, 6, and S trains. Take the 6 subway to 33^rd Street. When you get out of the subway, you will be at 33^rd and Park. Walk two blocks north along Park Street to 35^th Street, then turn left. Walk one block to Madison Avenue and the church will be on your righthand corner.

By cab: The Yale Club valets standing outside the club can hail you a cab. When you get inside, request Madison and 35^th Street. Fare should be $5.00. It is customary to tip cab drivers (in this case 1 dollar would be fine). Also, cabs in New York do take credit cards.

In case you are running late and are wondering which mode of transportation will be fastest, depending on traffic, it will most likely be cab, subway, walking. That said, because the church isn’t too far from the Yale Club, they will all take between 10-15 minutes (or 20 if you walk slowly), so there isn’t a huge difference.

List of Planned Wedding Events:

Saturday:

3:30: Prelude music begins at the Church of the Incarnation (Madison & 35^th St.) (the choir is amazing, so definitely try to get there early to hear them!)

4:00: Wedding Ceremony. Weather permitting, following the wedding, we will be walking back to the Yale Club for the reception accompanied by a bagpiper playing Scottish tunes, to commemorate the place where we met!

6:30: Cocktail hour

7:30-11:30: Dinner and dancing!

Danielle and Eric’s Engagement Guide to New York

As many of you know, we got engaged in New York! On engagement day, Eric planned a scavenger hunt-style trip to many of Danielle’s early childhood faves. Here is a list of them in case you’d like to visit yourselves!

St. John the Divine: The first stop on our engagement day was St. John the Divine, one of the largest cathedrals in the world. We both thought the building was beautiful and haunting. It is still a work in progress, so you will see that some parts of the Cathedral still aren’t finished (there was also a fire a few years ago that damaged one of the transepts, so they are fixing that as well). It is a striking piece of architecture and a rare quiet place in the city. St. John the Divine is situated next to Columbia University, so it might be a good time to stroll through the campus there as well. Open 7-6. To get to the Cathedral, take the Shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square, then transfer to the 1 or 9 uptown. Exit at the 110^th Street stop and then walk east down 110^th Street to Amsterdam Avenue. The Cathedral will be right in front of you. If you want a quick bite to eat after your Cathedral visit, consider stopping in at Tom’s Restaurant, the place that Elaine, Kramer, and Seinfeld frequently ate on the hit show (there it was known as Monk’s Café). You’ll recognize the façade if you were fans of the show. It’s located at 112^th and Broadway.

Museum of Natural History: The second stop on our engagement day! Be sure to check out the dinosaurs and the giant blue whale room—those are definitely our favorite locations! The building is beautiful, the atmosphere light-hearted, and it’s a great place to learn about everything from redwood trees to fossils to human evolution. We both highly recommend it! Hours are 10-5:45 daily. To get there from the Yale Club, take the Shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square; transfer to the C to 81^st Street and Central Park West. When you get out of the subway, walk two blocks south along Central Park West to 79^th Street. There is a suggested donation of $16 for admission ($12 for students and seniors).

Central Park: After visiting the Museum of Natural History, we lunched at Tavern on the Green, but since it is currently closed, we suggest a daytime stroll in the park itself. The easiest way to get to Central Park is to take the 4, 5, or 6 from Grand Central to 59^th. You will exit at 59^th and Lexington. When you exit, walk three blocks west along 59^th Street to 5^th Avenue and voila! You will be right at the entrance! At this southern corner of Central Park, you will also see The Plaza Hotel and, if you turn left down 5^th Avenue, halfway down the block on your left is FAO Schwarz.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: This is the place where it all started—the location where Eric proposed! This museum is well worth a full day, but if you’re strapped for time, be sure not to miss the medieval art gallery, the room is the Tiffany stained glass windows, or the Egyptian art area, especially the room with The Temple of Dendur. This is the room where Eric proposed! Plus, it’s exceedingly beautiful! To get to the Metropolitan Museum, take the 4, 5, or 6 from Grand Central to 86^th Street and walk three blocks west along 86^th to 5^th Avenue. Hours are 9:30-5:30 (Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday) and 9:30-9 (Friday and Saturday). Recommended admission is $20 for adults; $15 for seniors, and $10 for students.

Times Square: Following our engagement, we capped off the day with a visit to The View Lounge at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The View is the only revolving restaurant in the world, and while its menu is pricy, you can go and sip a beverage in the lounge for a more reasonable price (though still above normal). The atmosphere is relaxed in the lounge and you can sit for hours as it revolves; wait staff provide napkins with a map of the New York City skyline, so you can tell what you’re looking at. The View is also a great place to go for a nightcap after seeing a Broadway show…speaking of which…TKTS offers half-price same day tickets to Broadway shows and is located right in the center of Times Square (Broadway & 47^th, to be precise, right under the red steps). Be ready to queue up early and be flexible, in case your show isn’t available. For evening performances every day except Tuesday, the hours are 3-8; on Tuesday, they are 2-8. For matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays, hours are 10-2, for Sunday matinees, hours are 11-3. This is a great way to see a show and save some dough (hey—that rhymed)! To get to Times Square in general from the Yale Club, walk west along 42^nd Street (10 minutes) or take the Shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square.

Other Sites:

We couldn’t get to every single New York great in a day, so here are some of our other suggestions for activities!

The Empire State Building (33^rd and 5^th Avenue): Approximately a 20 minute walk from the Yale Club. Alternatively, you can take the 6 downtown from Grand Central Station to 33^rd Street. The Observation Deck is a great way to see the New York City skyline. Admission price is $18 ($16 if you’re a senior) and is located on the 82^nd floor of the building. For an additional $15, you can go to the observation deck on the 102^nd floor. Hours are 8am-2am (last elevator goes up at 1:15am). We suggest going to the observation deck at night to get the most romantic views! Plus, it will likely be less crowded than during the daytime. Located on the 2^nd floor of the Empire State Building is the New York Skyride, a virtual tour simulator (adventure tour) of New York narrated by Kevin Bacon. Tickets can be purchased alone or along with an observation deck pass. Hours for the Skyride differ slightly from the observation deck (8am-10pm). Fun fact: the lights at the top of the Empire State Building change depending on the time of year. For our wedding, lights will be red, white, and blue in honor of Labor Day.

Grand Central Terminal: Located right across the street from the Yale Club, Grand Central is one of New York’s two train stations (the other being Penn Station). In addition to transporting commuters to Westchester and Connecticut, Grand Central has a beautiful interior that is definitely worth popping in to see! The ceiling of the terminal has constellations that seem to glow in the dark at night, mirroring the night sky. In the basement of the terminal is a food court serving everything from Kosher to Indian cuisine. Though a bit pricy by food court standards, the food is usually very good, especially the gelato from Caio Bella. We strongly recommend trying the dark chocolate sorbet if it’s in (which it seems to rarely be). Also of note is the store Oliviers & Co. which is located on the main concourse of the terminal and sells high end olive oil and vinegar, which they will be happy to give you tastes of! Open 24 hours a day. Handy Fact: There is a subway station located within Grand Central Terminal. This is the closest subway stop to the Yale Club.

New York City Bus Tours: We’ve never done one in New York, but we’ve both done them in other cities and have had great experiences. There are a variety of companies with bus tours that leave from Times Square and buses leave pretty regularly throughout the day. Eric’s parents are doing a Gray Line tour; their office is at 1560 Broadway at Times Square.

Rockefeller Center (5^th Avenue between 49^th and 50^th): At Christmastime, this is the location of the famed ice skating rink and Christmas Tree. There is an observation deck located at Rockefeller Center called Top of the Rock, but we would suggest visiting the Empire State Building instead. Instead, it’s best to visit this site along with Radio City Music Hall (Avenue of the Americas and 49^th)and St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5^th Avenue and 50^th). All are about a 20 minute walk from the Yale Club.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (53^rd and Avenue of the Americas): Wonderful modern art museum located near Rockefeller Center! A definite must for art and museum lovers. At the time of our wedding, there will be a special exhibit on women photographers, New York’s Waterfront, and London subway posters. Hours are 10:30-5:30 except on Thursday, when they’re open until 8:45, and Friday when they’re open until 8. Closed on Tuesdays. Admission is $20 ($16 for seniors, $12 for students with ID). Free audio tours are available at the museum.

Lincoln Center (65^th and Broadway): An architectural wonder To get there from the Yale Club, take the S (shuttle) from Grand Central to Times Square, then take the 1 uptown to Lincoln Center (66^th Street). Concerts are pretty limited at this time of year, but on the upside, there is free Wi-Fi on the plaza at Lincoln Center if you want to sit outside and people-watch!

United Nations (42^nd and 1^st Avenue, right on the East River): About a 10 minute walk from the Yale Club. Tours are conducted at the United Nations from 9:45-4:45 and last about 45 minutes. Guests have an opportunity to see the General Assembly Hall where the UN Security Council meets as well as historic objects, such as remnants from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Prices are $16 ($11 for students and seniors).

Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum: To be honest, neither of us has ever been here (or at least remembers going), so we don’t have much in the way of knowledge or recommendations to offer. What we can say is that the Intrepid was an aircraft carrier that has been transformed into a museum, and exhibitions include everything from old concorde jets to G-force flight simulators. It’s located right on the Hudson River. To get there, you can either walk from the Yale Club for about 25 minutes straight down 42^nd Street (you will pass Times Square along the way), or you can take the subway from Grand Central (the S or the 7) to Times Square, and then either walk for about 15 minutes down 42^nd Street to the water or take the M-42 bus (just ask someone at the subway where the bus stops). Hours are 10-5, except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays when it’s 10-6; admission is $24 for adults; $20 for students and seniors.

Chinatown/Little Italy: Chinatown has encroached upon Little Italy in recent years making it more like “Tiny Sicily” but both neighborhoods are definitely worth walking around for their cultural atmosphere. Ask at the Yale Club for directions and restaurant suggestions in these neighborhoods.

Brooklyn Bridge: No trip to New York City is complete without a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge! It was the first suspension bridge in the United States and the longest in the world until 1903; it connects Brooklyn and Manhattan and can be crossed by foot or car or bike. It’s a great walk if you have some energy! After you get back, walk a couple of blocks to Chinatown for a yummy meal to restore your energy! To get there, take the 4, 5, or 6 from the Yale Club (about 20-25 minutes) and get off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop. Open 24 hours—great activity for sunset!

Circle Line Cruises: These boats take you around Manhattan on a variety of different tours. Some leave at sunset for romantic views of the city, some go entirely around the island and show you the Brooklyn Bridge, all 5 boroughs, etc., and some focus just on the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. They range in time from 75 minutes to 3 hours and in price cost between $26-35 (senior citizens 23-30). For detailed information, ask the concierge at the Yale Club or visit their sales office at Pier 83, off of 42^nd Street. They can also be reached at 212-563-3200.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: It’s the site many of our relatives saw when they first reached this country and the historic entry point to the US. Boats leave regularly for both sites from the southern tip of Manhattan at Battery Park. To get there from the Yale Club, take the 4 or 5 Express to Bowling Green. You can walk from there to Battery Park. Plan to go between 8:30-6 (the last boat back from Ellis Island/Liberty Island is around 6). Ticket and ferry price is $12 ($10 senior); audio tours are available for an addition 8 dollars ($7 senior).

Cloisters: The Cloisters is not easy to get to by public transportation but it is well worth the trip if you have some time. Located at the northern tip of Manhattan, it houses the medieval art collection from the Metropolitan Museum. The Cloisters building itself is a piece of medieval art—five medieval European buildings were disassembled, transported across the Atlantic, and reassembled to form the current structure. The Cloisters not only houses spectacular art, it also is home a peaceful garden to some of the best views of the Hudson River. Hours are 9:30-5:15 (closed on Mondays). Admission is $20 ($15 for seniors; $10 for students). (Tickets can also be purchased jointly with a Metropolitan Museum of Art pass). To get there by public transit, take S (shuttle) from Grand Central to Times Square, then take the A uptown to 190^th St. Walk North along Margaret Corbin Drive for approximately 10 minutes and you will see the entrance to the Museum. This trip will take quite some time—probably about an hour or slightly longer—but it is definitely worth it. It’s one of the most peaceful places in the city and a favorite of the Tumminios!

Restaurants:

So, so many to recommend! Here are just a few! If you want further suggestions, feel free to ask us or the concierge at the Yale Club!

Ray’s Pizza: Mmmmm….best pizza in New York. Period. Best. Prices start at about $2.25 a slice and vary slightly based on what toppings you get. One or two slices is definitely a meal. Lcations are all over Manhattan. Ask at the Yale Club (or anywhere else you might be in Manhattan) for the nearest Ray’s! And if you want to be really New York, there’s no time for forks and knives—fold the pizza slice, pick it up, and take a bite!

H&H Bagels: Can’t do New York without a bagel, right? Many, many places in New York have amazing bagels, but this place is reputed to be the best. There are a variety of locations within New York, so ask around for what’s nearest to where you are at the moment where the bagel urge strikes! Your bagel will likely cost between $2-4 dollars, depending on what fillings you put in it.

Ollie’s: A quick Chinese restaurant that’s a high school favorite of mine (Danielle’s). I came here with my high school chorus and high school friends here. It’s a fast and reasonably priced New York restaurant. I’m a huge fan of the sesame noodles with peanut sauce and the veggie dumplings (both of which are appetizers but together constitute a meal) and the orange chicken. Pretty much everything here is delicious! Ollie’s has two locations—one at 68^th and Broadway (near Lincoln Center) and one at Times Square (42^nd St. near 9^th—the restaurant recently moved from another location, so I’m not positive that’s actually where it is, but the internet tells me that’s where it went!) Expect to spend $7-10 on entrees; appetizers are less. There is never a wait here and service is very quick, so it’s a great place to stop in for a bite without too much stress on your wallet or your time!

Max Brenner: Chocolate heaven! It’s a chocolate restaurant, and while it does have real food (everything from paninis to salads to French toast), it’s the fondues and cakes and everything else chocolate that’s amazing. We highly recommend it. To get there from the Yale Club, take the 4, 5, or 6 from the Yale Club downtown to Union Square/14^th Street. The restaurant is on Broadway between 13 and 14. Be prepared to wait at peak hours; there’s usually a line, especially on weekends. Expect to spend $12-$15 per entrée (no menu was online, but this is what we remember paying).

Peanut Butter & Company: We came here with our friend Michelle on a trip to the Village, so if you want to explore Greenwich Village and then sit on a bench at Washington Square surrounded by erudite NYU students and have some luxurious peanut butter sandwiches, this is the way to do it! Though there are a few seats inside the small restaurant, it’s mostly for takeout. They have a variety of peanut butter flavors and toppings and bread types. We’re big fans of the fluffernutter, the Elvis (with bananas and honey), the sample peanut butter platter, which comes with veggies to dip in all the different peanut butter flavors, and the death by peanut butter sundae. Prices for sandwiches are about $7, but the sandwiches are large and quite filling. There are non-peanut butter options for those with nut allergies or those who (gasp) do not like the stuff! To get there from the Yale Club, walk west down 42^nd Street to the Bryant Park stop (near the intersection of 42^nd and 5^th). Take the D train downtown to W. 4 Street/Washington Square. Exit near the intersection of W. 3^rd and 6^th. Walk East along West 3^rd Street for about 3 blocks and then turn right onto Sullivan Street where the restaurant is located (240 Sullivan Street).

Some Final Tips

New York City consistently ranks as one of the top 10 safest cities in the country. That said, here are some quick safety precautionary measures:

1. Don’t flaunt your wallet or carry it in an easy to access place (i.e. inside of an open bag).
2. Keep your cell phone handy
3. Don’t travel to areas of the city that are less safe in the late evenings. Fortunately, less safe areas of the city also usually coincide with minimal tourist attraction parts of the city, so it is unlikely you will be in them. Areas to avoid include Harlem and the Bronx, both of which are north of Manhattan.
4. The subway is quite safe and a fast and convenient mode of transportation, the caveat being the occasional pickpocket—hence, #1 above.

We hope this guide will be helpful to you as you organize your time in New York. Please let us know if you have any questions and thank you so, so much for coming to our wedding!

Update

Paula is now instructing Miss Rosalynn to pour a stick of melted butter onto brown sugar and then add toffee pieces. Mr. Jimmy is cutting out pieces of high fat dough and talking about the development of the second atomic submarine.

I am still drinking my smoothie.

Eating with Paula

In an effort to be like every other bride, I am watching my meals prior to the wedding (not in the least because I plan on making Marilyn's chocolate chip cookies tonight!), so I am having a smoothie with soy nut butter, blueberries, whey protein, and cinnamon while--in the ultimate act of irony--watching Paula Deen cooking with Jimmy Carter. She has just instructed him to melt what appears to be an entire container of butter!

New York Sightseeing Pass

Just thought I'd pass this link along for out-of-towners!

Oh Darn!

D to E this evening: Oh no! My dress doesn't do this!

E to D: That's okay, babe--you've got class!

Judge for yourselves. Here's the link to the video in question.

We have a Mini-Moon Destination!

My Aunt Ronnie and Uncle Carmine encouraged us to get going on our mini-moon, and--after some encouragement from Kat and her friend Dave--we finally booked something! We're going to New Orleans and staying at the W! We can't wait to let you know how it is!

The Choir

Last week, I went out to Ivoryton, Connecticut, where the girls' choir that is singing at our wedding was at choir camp. They were spending the week rehearsing music for our wedding, and when I arrived, the girls exclaimed, "It's Danielle!"

Before we shared dinner together, they sang some of the music for me that they'd been rehearsing. The first piece they sang--The Father's Love--was the first anthem I sang with my choir growing up as a little girl. I remember coming home from that first rehearsal and singing it every day until our next rehearsal, including in the shower! So it was incredibly moving to hear a new generation of girls sing it, some of them for the first time. They made wonderful eye contact while they were singing and smiled at me, and I definitely got a little weepy! They also sang John Scott's arrangement of How Can I Keep from Singing, and I joined them to sing John Rutter's For the Beauty of the Earth; it was a real privilege for me to blend my voice to theirs, as they are incredibly disciplined, talented young ladies. It was also really special to me that the girls and their choir director had put in so much time and energy into making beautiful music for us and our friends and family. What a gift!

At dinner (which was preceded by a multi-part sung blessing), I asked the girls whether they liked the music that we'd picked and they got so excited. One girl even said, "I love the anthems so much! They are so, so...so....so....so....um....they're really so nice!" I tried to pick the music I had loved as a child, so I was glad to hear they loved it too.

Another girl asked whether I had sung with their choir as a child. I said to her, "This choir didn't exist when I was little girl. I sang with a girls' choir on Long Island." Without missing a beat, she then said, "Oh, so they were your family?"

What a very powerful comment and a true one in many ways: I didn't always get along with the other choir girls, but we had to learn to sing together, to be together three, four, sometimes six or seven times a week. And even if we didn't particularly like each other, the music seemed to bind us together and affect us all in such deep ways.

After returning from that evening at choir camp, I sent facebook messages and e-mails to the girls from my choir for whom I still have contact information. I told them about the music for our service, and several of them who are already married responded by telling me how they had chosen the same pieces or other ones we sang as children. Some had corralled fellow choristers from our childhood to sing; some had hired our Cathedral's choir, with its new group of girls. Some, like me, looked to other musical voices with whom we had become acquainted in our adult years. A couple even asked if they could come to the service because they never got to hear that music anymore, and they missed it.

All amazing stuff! We hope you enjoy the music from the girls choir and the adults who will be joining them! If you can, make sure to get to the church around 3:30 to hear the prelude music!

Musical Prelude

Just to foreshadow some of the beautiful tunes at our wedding, here is a youtube clip of one of the pieces we're playing! Si Te Quiero is a piece I sang in 9th grade when I was away at a New York State program for high school singers. The soloist from when I was at the program will be at the wedding and reprising his performance!

Something old, new, etc.

Today we completed the items needed for the old superstition: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. We already had something old (my grandma's wedding ring, which I had sized to fit me), something new (my dress), and something blue (Maid of Honor Meri bought some blue items for under the dress). Remaining, however, was the something borrowed.

So after going to New York to talk with the florist and do a makeup trial run, my mom and I went to Julie's, where we went through all of her bracelets to find the perfect one for the wedding day! We settled on a beautiful opal bracelet that her mom and dad gave her one year for Christmas. It matches the dress really well, and will definitely remind me of her presence on the 4th!

In other wedding news: I had my first fitting yesterday. There wasn't much in the way of alterations--they added straps and measured for the bustle. They also had to adjust the hoop a little. We're also getting close to complete with the bulletins. Yippy!

Less than a month to go!

The Mennonites on Marriage

When I was walking along Boston Common several weeks ago, I saw a Mennonite choir singing and stopped to listen. They were dressed in old fashioned suits and long cotton dresses. They sang traditional hymns interspersed with Bible readings. While listening to them, my eye caught this pamphlet, one among many that they had set up nearby:

Thinking about Marriage

Well, I am, I thought, and took one as I was leaving. The bulletin was set up with a list of right and wrong conceptions people have about marriage, with an explanation of both. Here are some of the highlights (accompanied by personal commentary):

Wrong: You marry for what you get out of it.

Marriage does have much to offer, but sometimes people only want to get and not give. In the end, both suffer.

Right: Marriage requires love, loyalty, and sacrifice from both husband and life.

Each must seek to bring out the best in the other person. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" (Ephesians 5:22). "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Peter 3:7). All the ills of marriage can be cured by following this advice.

Commentary: All the ills of marriage? Really?

Wrong: Marriage is bondage, which only makes the grass greener on the other side of the fence.

Some people seem to think marriage puts up a fence between them and real living. So they cross the fence sometimes or wish they had the nerve to do so.

Right: Marriage protects the purity of the race.

Adultery, fornication, and cohabitation are cheap substitutes that destroy the moral fiber of society. "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4). "To avoid fornication let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Commentary: Hmm...when was the last time I've heard the word whoremongers? And was race really the right word to use in this context?

Wrong: Marriage is based on feelings of love.

This is a common misunderstanding. Certainly, love belongs in a marriage, but the sensation of love is not the glue that holds a marriage together. If it were, any marriage could fall apart at any minute.

Right: Marriage is based on legitimate commitment.

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed" (Ecclesiastes 5:4). The bride and the groom give their word before God to love and cherish each other, to share the joys and sorrows of life, and to keep themselves only for each other as long as they both shall live. They know that God holds them to that promise. The love of God in their hearts i the basis for that commitment and makes it work.

Commentary: Oh, well this just solves everything.

We're not Luddites anymore!

Just a quick post before our morning bootcamp because I haven't posted in awhile. We didn't have internet until yesterday, and we celebrated last night by watching cable television--which we haven't had in over a year! Eric took responsibility for the remote, flipped through the channel guide three times. We gave Ace of Cakes a shot; we tried the season premiere of 19 Kids and Counting, but it was all too overwhelming for us.

As Eric said: "Hundreds of channels, and there still isn't anything on!"

So what did we do? How I Met Your Mother DVD to the rescue!

Secret service won't be at our wedding, but bagpipers will!

And that totally makes ours better!

Seriously, though, while I wait for the movers, thought I'd post this so you can learn about another wedding! Also, click on the link about hard feelings from those not invited--the cartoon and article is pretty funny!

Michelle sipping water, Eric through the glass, Danielle on the go, a partridge in a pear tree, and it's moving time!

Some of you may remember earlier pics of 10 Faxon Ave from Easter lunch--but sadly, Apt. 314 no longer bears much resemblance to that. Tomorrow Eric and I will start a lease in Watertown, in an apartment close to Eric's work. It's an exciting move--we'll have a second bedroom for guests, hopefully with the same style bed by my cousin Lydia has in her guest bedroom that I've been coveting for about 8 years--but it's also pretty nostalgic. Seems like just yesterday that Matt and Meri came on moving day and helped me unpack and assemble furniture, or that Dawn helped me exchange my full size bed frame for a queen one at Ikea with the help of her Jeep (that was an adventure) because my uncle told me that a full size bed was bad luck for meeting a husband.

There have been murder mystery dinners, and birthday dinners, and birthday murder mystery dinners, and shrimp in a giant pumpkin, and card games with Michelle--who always wins--and my parents' anniversary brunch with amazing cake, and nights watching Big Love and Doctor Who with Eric. It's been a quiet space to study Arabic and Hebrew, and a playful environment for house guests. I, at least, will miss it.

But memories aside, it is time move to a new part of Boston where Eric and I can start our new lives together! In the meantime, though, here are some pics to mark the event:




Eric through the glass



Boxed up apartment!



Michelle and I having one last friend bonding session--or rather, she's talking, and I'm a moving blur, probably frenetically reaching out to tape a box shut!