Gabby's video short

Gabby made this video playing around with Animoto...

Animoto

Just discovered this website... this is my first video short!

Good times in Upstate NY

Thanks everyone. What a great time we had!

Welcome to Toronto, Yankee Fans

Roy Halladay puts on a clinic for Yankee fans. A complete game 1 hitter with the Roger's Center roof open on a beautiful night. Look at their dejected faces as run after run cross the plate for the Blue Jays in a 6-0 routing.

To their credit, they sat through all 9 innings as fans booed Alex Rodriguez and chanted "STEEERRROIDSSS" everytime he came up to bat.

You all are welcome here anytime!

Gaston's 80th Birthday in 2011

I overheard at the camp last weekend that a trip to Trinidad is planned by Gaston's immediate family for his 80th birthday in 2011. I say we make it the next family reunion. Those in favor say aye...

September 2009 Birthdays and Anniversaries

Sorry I am late again this month and several birthdays/anniversaries have already passed.

4th - Nicholas - six years old
8th - Richard
9th - Pa Trejo at 84 and going strong
10th - Karen
16th - Helen (John's wife)
20th - Nicolas the new pilot
23rd - Linda the BIG 70

Anniversaries
2nd - Mike and Camille 14th anniversary
10th - Michel and Eva - 26th anniversary
28th - Jay and Karen 7th anniversary

Congratulations to all!!!

This is your life stories!

Hi Everybody!
I've been nose to the grindstone lately, head in the sand and working hard on my new business venture. It's called This is Your Life Stories. What it is is a custom made comic operation where I make comics of the important events in people's lives.
Please have a look family and tell me what you think. I'd especially appreciate any help with spelling errors (ahem Auntie Julie) and grammar mistakes. As well anything that doesn't work or look good please let me know. As well I could do with some frank critiquing of the artwork (ahem Sean) too!

:-)
Woooohoooo I'm excited!!

P.S. If you're wondering where my mom's 70th birthday comic is it's being redrawn and will soon be posted. Hopefully I may be able to get Auntie Linda's done in time but I need a story to work with!!

August 2009 birthdays/anniversaries

Oops!!! I'm late again but not much going on this month. Roger's son(New Mexico) turned 15 on 2 August and Marc (Trejo) also celebrated on that day. Ashely will turn 21 on 15 August.

For the anniversaries we have:

1 Aug - Tina and Leon (17)
17 Aug - Carol and Claude (40)
20 Aug - Elise and Chris (4)
22 Aug - Ginger and Andre (22)

Congratulations to all!!

Photography

I have been learning as much as I can about photography, experimenting with lighting, attending photo shoots and covering events for our church magazine. I'm having fun at it too. Thanks Karen for being my only model. I need family volunteers to build a portfolio. Any takers?

Have a look at my Flickr account and feel free to comment!!

July 2009 Birthdays

OK so I'm late this month and some important birthdays have already passed:

1 July - Julienne (almost a teenager)
6 July - Sammy - who is now a teenager
7 July - Andrew (aka Hurricane Andrew is eleven))
12 July - Roger (Germany)
16 July - Nathaniel out there at MIT
20 July - Jen
22 July - Janice
24 July - Marianna
26 July - Elise
28 July - Marisela - one year old

Anniversaries
26 July - Genevieve and Terry - 23rd anniversary
31 July - Charity and Garnet - 5th anniversary

Congratulations to all!!!!

Possibly the fastest Duchaussee EVER?!?!?!?!?!

Video of Maddy in the 50 Yard Dash final at field day. She is officially the fastest girl in first grade!




Maddy also took first in a very close Spoon Race!

Bottled Water

All you bottled water drinkers check out this site and stop wasting money!!!
http://www.solarfasttrack.com/latest/bottled_water_facts.htm

Road Trip

To celebrate our wedding anniversary, KB and I are off on a road trip (short one) across what National Geographic called "One of America's most scenic drives" - Route 6 which runs from Cape Cod, MA to Long Beach CA. We are not going the full distance - only from Milord, PA to Erie, PA on the shores of Lake Erie. We plan to stop along the way and camp at Wellsboro in what is called the Grand Canyon of PA. The route goes thru state forests, state parks and the Allegheny National Forest with lots of quaint little towns in between, antique shops, covered bridges, lakes and rivers. We plan to take lots of pictures to post when we return.

LLW Club

Waiting for an update from Jay. It's been a month now?

June 2009 Birthdays

Happy birthday to the following for the month of June:

3rd - John
12th - Sherwin
14th - Michel
18th - Garnet
20th - Marc (Duchaussee)
24th - Eva
26th - Raoul - the Scrabble King
27th - Leon

Three members of the FLA Duchaussee family (Papa Michel, Mama Eva and son Marc) are celebrating this month. Should be one BIG party.

Happy 43rd wedding anniversay to Tonton Gaston and his better half Yvonne.
KB and JB are also celebrating (for a second time this year) 41 years of married bliss!!!! on 15th June.

Some pictures.....

Which of these (if any) do you like the best?

http://picasaweb.google.ca/shutterpriorityphoto/SamplePhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCLnq56PVusnM7gE#

Auntie Linda turns 70

I am sorry I forgot to mention that any input which you may have, should be sent to Janine through her email: janine.carrington@gmail.com
Cheers

Auntie Linda turns 70

As many of you may or may not know, Auntie Linda turns 70 on September 23rd. Janine would like to put together a comic book depticting her life, and as such would welcome any anecdotes that any of you may wish to contribute. This should be fun, so we look forwrd to receiving your input, the sooner the better. I have used this medium to reach you as she does not yet access DNN. Thanks

DNN Sports:Move to Chelsea ruled out for Saratoga Striker

Age restrictions and Homework have nixed a possible move to the Premiere league for the the Saratoga Striker Gabrielle DuChaussee. Parents, though not completely ruling out a future with the high profile squad, have made it clear that this year they will not send the 11 year old abroad to play with Chelsea or any of the world class soccer teams interested. Instead they appear to wish to explore other career options for the child before deciding on anything final.
This has come as a great disappointment to many who are witnesses to the young lady's skill on the pitch. Examples such as her remarkable performance in the recent grueling 4 game May Day tournament. The youngster was a key element of the team's offensive arsenal, spending the maximum amount of time on the pitch and setting up the score for a 1-1 tie. "And if you would like to add it to the story, she scored in Saturday's game too" the girl's mom adds in the casual manner of those accustomed to high performance.

Gabby's blend of intelligence, power and co-operativeness on the field has led scouts from around the world to seek contact with the DuChausesees . However, to the shock of many, it seems that parents are quite uninterested in signing any contracts, especially ones coming from overseas. Numerous email offers of millions of pounds and dollars have been sent to the DuChaussee inbox from the UK, the middle east and even as far away as Nigeria. Many, however, suspect that the parents simply delete these messages without even reading them.

Instead they have chosen to focus on a strict and some would say cruel educational regime. Unabashedly they admit to sending the young girl to school for more than 5 hours a day 5 days a week. Her mother who has made public the knowledge of having read hundreds and some say thousands of books in her lifetime apparently has the same aspirations for her daughter.

As for her soccer education? “I don't think she's ever even heard of Julius James!” one fan laments.

Despite pressure from soccer afficionados around the world the parents remain firm. “Eleven years old is simply too young for a full time soccer career” they stubbornly insist. This attitude has led to ridicule by some who point out the fact that if she was living in Honduras or the Philippines she might already be a senior management.

Unfortunately for footballers around the world, international law forbids the signing of any player under the age of 18 without a parent or guardian's consent which means that the world of soccer will have to wait for the professional debut of the Saratoga Striker. For how long? No one but Gabby and her parents can know for sure. The only thing that soccer fans and supporters of the young prodigy can do is appeal to her parents through well wishes, birthday cards, money and wait.

5 Boro Bike Tour

The 5 Boro Bike tour was held on May 3rd of this year. It was 42 miles of New York City sights and sounds. I have done this tour before about 15 years ago so I was a little intimidated by the distance and the anticipated crowd of 30,000 New Yorkers on their home turf. Would I have to stop from exhaustion somewhere on the BQE? Would I be punted off the course somewhere in Harlem by an angry Brooklynite? Would I fall off the bike and be pushed to the curb and be run over repeatedly by callous residents of the Big Apple? It felt good to look at Jen, Gerry and Uncle Gaston for familiarity and comfort.

The day started at 5am when we woke up and dragged ourselves out of bed. The day was overcast as we headed for Staten Island where we would take the ferry to the starting line. On our way, it started to rain ever so slightly but we were not worried - we were bicycle warriors!! The tour started and wound its way through Manhattan. As we progressed, so did the rain. It fell steadily for the entirety of the tour and with every drop, it seemed like our will to live was being washed away. We stopped at the rest stops and ate bananas and crackers. For some reason, those bananas tasted so good!! By the end of the tour, we were all soaked to our socks. Our bicycle warrior status had been replaced by hunger, fatigue and misery. Disoriented, we wandered to a gas station close to where we parked. We were greeeted by a homeless man who extolled the virtues of gas station nachos. We took his advice and enjoyed processed chilli product and a reasonable cheese facsimilie that seemed to retain heat contrary to the laws of thermodynamics. They were really good!!
The bottom line? I had a great time and I am looking forward to the tour next year and every year thereafter....rain or shine!!!

May 2009 Birthdays

Since I will be in Amsterdam on 1 May and won't have access to a computer, here is advance notice of May birthdays. This month we have two doubles and a triple.

8th - Terry
13th - Chelsea (12 years)
16th - Tamara (John's daughter) 20 years
16th - Camille
16th - Isabella (2 years)
17th - Gregory
18th - Gaston
18th - Sheung
19th - Jason
22nd - Renauld
22nd - Wendell
26th - Omey (the BIG 80)
30th - Allison (5 years)
31st - Mike

18th - Happy 13th anniversary to Sheung and Lisa
19th - Happy 54th anniversary to Raoul and Omey

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!

A cousin's reaction to the LLW syndrome....

I will say I was shocked to see that Garnet was afflicted with the LLW syndrome!!!! I know back in the day it was all about who had the tighter six-pack. And from his soccer days, his legs were like tree trunks and his calves were like solid, ripe fruit stuck under stretched plastic wrap. Then at one point he confessed to me his odd work schedule and the bad habit of buying fast food very late and then....going to sleep afterwards! (After reading Garnet's analysis, this sounds like a BIG NO-NO.) He was still strong like an ox, but his skin was noticeably "smooth" as fat had begun to cover those chiseled muscles.

Fast forward to roughly a week ago when he posted pics from his "Daddy & Daughter Day" on Facebook, and I couldn't help but comment saying he looked like the teenager I knew from back in the day. I had to give him props as I know how hard he worked to get that way. Not that he did it to get props from his cousin (I admire his true reasoning about Marisela whole-heartedly) but I imagine the props he gets from Charity is the true icing on the cake. Marisela will dish out props when she's old enough to know what props is. =o)

And I can testify that Sandra is living the LLW life to perfection. Not that any of you needed more evidence by the fact that she looked 25 years old at the reunion. But I clearly remember at a family gathering at Lisa's house (I can't remember what it was for), she didn't give in to the fact that it was a family gathering and she should simply eat what everybody was eating. No, there was separate bake made (with no salt I think) and separate chili prepared (using turkey I think) that she diligently consumed to LLW standards. Hardcore I thought to myself, but you gotta be hardcore about it to be serious. The payoff is that huge laughing smile on her face in the picture Janine posted. LOL

Jay, I got your back 100% cuz! Although coming from me (and all my 120 pounds) it may not mean much, but I know you can do it! I too remember back in the day that you too also had the symptoms of fruit-like calves and I was impressed because it was from all the riding you used to do. (My legs were like twigs and I knew I would have to walk a bike up the hill near your mom's house.) Going out to clubs, you'd get all the ladies attention as your clothes fit just right. I felt like an assistant: "Make way ladies! Tall, Dark and Handsome coming through! Coming through! Please, give the man some room ladies!"

But if there's one thing that stands out to me about your situation....it's that fact that your wife is afflicted with LLW!!! You should be able to catch the disease just by being around her! At the reunion Karen was looking fab and chic....shades and earings in the water and everything! Marriage is a team and you two should team up to live the LLW life! Do like what Garnet said, gut the fridge and stock it with good healthy stuff. Can't eat it if it's not there to eat, right? She can lead the way as she's already living it. Look to her for inspiration as well as motivation to look good FOR her.

Taking on a life-altering mission is so much easier if it's done tag-teaming with a partner. Sure you'll have the whole DNN family behind you, but it starts with you and the people you see everyday. And with Terehz, imagine the good habits you will be instilling in him (as well as De Andre as I'm sure he's already thinking about looking good for the ladies.) Heck, take De Andre with you to the gym and tag-team Father & Son-style. Have the whole family get bikes, get a bike rack and take trips to the park for riding excursions. With the warm weather coming around, start a plan and go for it. You've got two LLW lifers willing, ready and able to give you priceless advice on how to start the plan the right way. Then you, Karen, De Andre and Terehz will be taking family walks for lunch eating a shopping bag full of grapes....and talking about, "Damn skippy we all look good." =o)

-Your cuz, Chris

An Open Letter To My Family

An open letter to my family;


Not to take anything away from the accomplishments of those in the LLW article but I think it's time I asked my family for their support. I currently weigh about 252 pounds and I would like to lose about 40 of those. For the last few years, I have been able to hide it pretty well - or so I thought. Lately, my clothes don't quite sit right and with the new season, the shorts that fit me last year are a little bit tight. The shorts from last year were bigger than the shorts from the year before. I wear sport jackets over my shirts and ties even on the httest days. There are not too many pictures of me out there and I realize that I avoid them for a reason.

As a kid, I rode my bicycle everywhere. It was my method of transportation. Now? Not so much. Its easy to jump in a car and drive.

So now that I can admit that I have a problem, I have a plan to try to correct it.

1) I loooove to eat and that love affair may have to end. I know that when you eat, it takes 20 minutes of so for your brain to register "full" on the gauge. But I keep eating anyway. I can control that or I ought to be able to control that.

2) I have a fairly good bicycle. I look at it and admire it, I shine it up and repair it but don't ride it as much as I should. I drive to places around here that are easily accessible by bicycle. I can control, or ought to be able to control that.

3) I also know that to achieve results, they must be measurable. Using my current weight as a starting point, I can keep everyone posted on the progress.

So I come humbly to my family - and with a bit of shame - for their support.

If anyone would like to join me as a sponsor (kinda like AA), let me know.....

Wish me luck folks.....

....and thanks Garnet for saying what you said about losing a parent. I will look to Rezzy and DeAndre for inspiration too.

Your cousin/nephew/brother/son/husband/friend;

Jay

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN

Sean, Sorry I can't make it for the party today. You see, I wasn't invited. However, if you can wend your way up north to TO, I will escort you to a Yankees game or, if you prefer I will arrange for someone else to do so. The schedule is as follows: May 12/14, Aug. 4/5 and Sept 4/7. September sound like a good time as you could probably take in the game on Friday night and then meet the rest of the family upstate as it is the labour day weekend. Please say "WER'E ON".
Whatever you do today have fun and enjoy it.