Bob and Rett Wedding

Here are some pics of the bride and groom with respective parents. As always, click for larger pics.

Here's Mom and Dad with Bob and Loretta.

Here's Ralph and Mary with the happy couple.

Paul - Age 12

Mom made the shirt.


What puppy-dog brown eyes :)

Dinner Time

Here is a pictures with (clockwise) Al, Joan, Stephen, Dad, Mary and John (back to us).


Isn't Mary cute and Dad extremely skinny?

Stumped

Here's a pic of their Tewksbury lot with Clary and Dad working out a stump using a couple of axes. I've tried to axe out a tree stump and it is one of the hardest things in the world!


More power to ya, Pops!

The "Backyard"

These are pictures labelled The Backyard. Exciting? No. I'm assuming they are from the land in Tewksbury that my parents used to build their first house.

UPDATE: I'm up here with my Mom and she's teling me that this first picture is of the backyard in Tewksbury... they had to cut all of the trees by hand. They built their house by hand, living in a tar paper shack until the basement was completed, then they moved the shack over on top of the basement and they lived in that as they built up their house around them... and I think I have problems!

This is another picture of the backyard that shows a stone wall they were building, a hand made ladder my Dad fashioned and a burn barrel used to dispose of garbage. The boulders and rocks were actually dug out from where the basement was built and on the left hand side you can see a stack of cinder blocks that were to be used for the basement walls.

1964 - Richmond Airport

Here's the family, pre my existence, at the Richmond Airport.

L ro R: Loretta, Steven, Marie, Mary, Paul, Mom, Charles, John

1966 - Me And My Parents

Being the last of eight kids there are less than five pictures of me under the age of 13. Here's one of them.

That's me in the lap of my Mom. My Dad looks SO happy to be there, doesn't he... like, "didn't I do this seven times already?"

Mary And Steve's Wedding

Here's some pics from Mary and Steve's wedding... I wasn't invited. But I'm not bitter. Much.


Okay, so maybe it wasn't that I didn't get invited as much as my parents didn't take us with them. Either way, I'm completely over it. I think...

John Bauer

This is a picture of my older brother John. Amazing how much his daughter Laura takes after him.

1944 - My Parents

Here are two pics of my Mom and Dad from 1944. Eight kids and 21 years later, I came into the picture.

Pin-Up Mom

Here's a picture of my Mom from 1943. I'm sure she's embarrassed right this second for me having posted it.

Curb Appeal

After eight years of redesigning the interior of our house, we decided to invest a little (or more than a little) on the outside of our house. The updates included a new vinyl fence, new landscaping and a lot of pavers. The paver work included adding a front patio and walkway, changing out the pavers around the front oak tree, an extended paver driveway that continues into a walkway to the back of the house, and a new patio in the backyard. They should also help a lot with some previous drainage problems.

Front of the house.

New walkway and front patio.

New pavers around the oak.

New paver driveway.

Driveway pavers extend down the side of the house.

New paver patio in the back yard.

We've wanted to use the exterior of our house for so long, now we'll be able to sit outside and enjoy. After the winter we're going to sod the back yard and then it will be complete.

Me And Noah

For all of those who prayed for Noah after his birth, here is a picture of Noah and me at Thanksgiving. Sorry it's not a more clear picture.

Flatulence Forces Plane To Land

From AP...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence, authorities said.

You can read the entire article here.

Editors have to love when they get to write headlines for stories such as these!

Aunt Hannah and Uncle Rasimir Reiser

Click on pic for larger image.

Aunt Elizabeth Buckley

Click on pic for larger image.

Albert Buckley & Bill Carmody

Click on pic for larger image.

Father Paul Merrill, Passed Away 11/28/06

My Uncle Paul, a priest and my mother's brother, passed away this Tuesday. He was a passionate man who blessed, literally, everyone he met.

He will be truly missed.

(Here is Father Paul at his Ordination)

Update: Here is the obituary from the funeral home website... you can login there and sign the guestbook if you'd like.

*****

Waltham - Rev. Paul C. Merrill, C.S.S., a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers), died Tuesday November 28, 2006 at the Sancta Maria Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cambridge. He was 74.

Born in Boston on September 16, 1932, he was the son of the late John C.J., Sr. and Mary A. (Buckley) Merrill. Father Merrill’s home parish was Saint Matthew’s in Dorchester. He attended Saint Matthew’s Grammer School, Dorchester, Cathedral High School, Boston, The Stigmatine Minor and Major Seminary, Waltham and The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Fr. Merrill entered the Stigmatine Community in Waltham on September 16, 1951, made his first profession of vows on June 22, 1954, his perpetual profession of vows on June 22, 1957 and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at Saint Matthew Church, Dorchester on June 6, 1961 by Bishop Thomas J. Riley, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston.

Father Merrill served in the following assignments: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Springfield, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Milford, Saint Joachim Parish, Ontario, Canada, Saint Joseph Parish, East Longmeadow and Elm Bank Seminary, Wellesley. He also served as chaplain at Maristhill Nursing Center in Waltham. Due to poor health, he retired to Saint Joseph Hall, Waltham, in 1991.

Fr. Merrill was a very devoted Religious and Priest. He served to the very best of his ability, despite many illnesses. Never one to complain, he offered himself to God in his many years of sickness and was a fine witness of identification with the Passion of our Lord. He truly lived the suffering Stigmata of Christ. May God now generously reward Fr. Merrill with peace and joy in his holy kingdom. May he rest in peace.

Fr. Merrill was the brother of the late Louise Westpfal, John D. Merrill, Jr. and Lorenzo D. Merrill.

He leaves two sisters, Mary J. Johnson of Bucksport, Maine and Catherine Bauer of Hayesville, North Carolina.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 4th, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Espousal Center Chapel, 554 Lexington Street, Waltham, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Milford, at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to The Stigmatine Mission Office, 554 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452.

Polar Opposites

Some things just strike me as funny... like popping onto the Fox News website to see one pic of the pope visiting Turkey flanked by another picture of Britney Spears hanging out with Paris Hilton. Nothing screams opposite ends of the moral spectrum than those two pictures side by side...

(click pic for larger image)

In the mean time, Pope Benedict is certainly an impressive figure. In such a volatile time between clashing faiths, the pope is venturing to Turkey, who's 72 million people only contain 32,000 Catholics. So, his mission is far greater than stirring up support from the Catholic masses (as there aren't really enough people to be considered as such), but instead to bridge the gaps creating violence between faiths.

Talk about walking into the lion's den!

I strongly suggest you visit this great special website hosted by the Catholic News Agency about the pope's trip, the history and the reasons behind it all. Great info.

Aunt Kate Fitzsimmons

Some of the pictures I get are REALLY beat up. I do my best to clean them up. The one below has been one of the worst so far...

Before

After

As always, click on the pics for larger images.

Al Reiser, Nana's Cousin

This is a picture of Al Reiser, Mike's brother and my Nana Merrill's cousin.

Click on pic for larger image.

Mother's House off of 7th St.

Mother's House off of 7th St. Not sure of which mother, but I'm sure Mom will let us know.

Click picture for larger image.

Last Pic of Gramma Bauer?

This picture is accompanied by a note which reads:

To Chiz and Kitty,
I think this was
the last picture mother
had made in 1941, I think.

Love Eileen

Gramma Bauer is pictured with John Lee McClain

Three Little Bauers Sitting In A Row

I am not sure who is who in this picture.

Update from Mom: Alice on the left, Frances in the middle and Eileen on the right.

Catherine and Johnny Merrill

Edward and John Bauer

Two of my uncles, on my father's side, died on Valentines Day (not sure of the year) when their sled went under an ice truck... at least that's the story as I remember it. Mom, feel free to correct me.

Their funeral.

As usual, click on all pics for bigger images.

The Benefits of Family

So my wife and I were taking our daughter to a local Catholic high school for an open house. Once my wife and I got past the idea that our daughter was entering high school, we scoped out the school for a certain teacher... a very very smart lad... my nephew Phil.

The weird part of getting older is that all of the little kids in your family, the nieces and nephews, grow up. Whenever I think of Phil I think of this little boy who had trouble saying "truck!" It's hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that he is a college graduate, incredibly smart and now a teacher at his high school alma mater. Time flies once you pass thirty!

So, during the open house we eventually spied Phil, his back to us working on a computer. My wife walked up to him, put her hands over his eyes and asked him to guess who it was. Phil's mind was swimming... recognizing the voice slightly, thinking it was family, but certain that no family would be stopping by his school that day. Much to his surprise (or disappointment) it was us.

We had a nice chat as he juggled catching up with us and keeping up with his duties during the open house. It was great to see him and left us even more impressed by his accomplishments.

On the drive home my daughter confided that entering high school is a scary proposition, but knowing her cousin would be there in case of an emergency gave her a lot of comfort.

The perks of being part of a large family.

At this point, we're not sure where our daughter will go to high school, but that Catholic school certainly has an edge... we hear one of their teachers is pretty dang good!

Virgin Birth

My wife and I have been going to a bible study over the last few months and, when studying the Old Testament, there are numerous examples of God intervening to allow women previously barren to produce off spring.

It occurred to me that, for Jews raised with that understanding of God's participation in such events, that the idea of a Virgin Birth, with Jesus being conceived in Mary, would not be that dramatic of an event, or that unique. Where for New Testament focused Christians, we may not understand that God has allowed or brought life into the wombs of women throughout history, this may be a singular event, for old school Jews, this is just another example where God stepped in to allow his covenants to continue.

Just a thought.

UK's Christ-less Christmas

The UK Postal Service releases it's Christmas stamps... none of which have Christ on them! I guess offending Christians on one of the holiest of holidays is okay.

Ah, hypocrisy still runs strong.

You can read more here: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/nov/06111001.html

Quick Takes

Poseidon (2006) - The remake of the 1970s disaster flick, the film is enjoyable, but unbelievable in a Hollywood sort of way. The cast is solid, but unspectacular. Worth the time if you're looking to burn two hours on an above average action flick.





The Family Stone (2005) - This film is awful. It's supposed to be one of those quirky holiday films about a normal person entering the weird world of a wacky family. The problem? The family is full of people you actively dislike. The only person you identify with is the normal person who is the butt of all of their shallow, mean jokes. It's a film with conflicting messages and a horrid script. Avoid this film at all cost. I wish I did.



Silverado (1985) - Silverado is one of those great films that just never caught on upon its release. It's the ultimate homage to the classic Western, brought up to today's sensibilities without losing the texture of the original classics. The film holds up exceptionally well and is just good fun. Especially good is Kevin Costner as the excitable Jake. It's his best acting performance ever... unfortunately it was his first big film (excluding his cutting room floor performance in Big Chill). He's never been this good since.


Mean Girls (2004) - A clever, well written mature teen film about high school politics, bad parenting and the struggles of well meaning teachers. The film is written by Saturday Night Live writer Tina Fey, who also portrays one of the main teachers, and her script is inventive and very funny. We follow a new student (Lindsay Lohan) who comes from being home-schooled in Africa by her parents to the uber-important politics of today's high school arena. Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Lizzy Caplan play the popular girls who teach Lohan the ropes. Also nice was to see other SNL alum Tim Meadows and Amy Poehler in roles larger than their SNL skits, showing they can really act. It's PG-13 and earns it, so its not for some younger teens, but its a very funny flick.

War Games (1983) - War Games is interesting because it holds up well, especially considering the dramatic changes in both technology and global politics (fall of Soviet Union, growth of radical Islam). I watched this with my thirteen year old daughter and, despite the obvious technological differences (no cell phones, no internet, slow DOS-based computers, big-big floppy disks, etc.) and she was in it from the first time he typed "Let's play Global Thermonuclear War." A great jaunt back to my high school days and still a good time on the movie screen.

Vote Today

Don't forget to VOTE today! We can't complain about our politics if we don't vote for our politicians.


God bless America!

John Bauer, Sr. and Charles Bauer, Sr.

Here's a pic of my Dad during WWII with my late grandfather, John Bauer.

Mike Rieser, Nana's Cousin

This picture states that Mike Rieser is my grandmother's cousin and is in the middle of the picture.