The time of my life, and the life of my times

A few weeks in...

2010-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

...and still no end in sight. I hate being a perfectionist when it comes to home repair. I can't leave anything "good enough". It must be an ingrained thing. I take my time doing things to make sure they are done correctly (and safely) the first time...Maggie doesn't get this OCD I have about it.

It strikesme as odd becuase she suffers from a mild form of either OCD or fixation...I can;t tell which, but clutter triggers the panic attack and she will go off the handle cleaning and organizing until she is satisfied. Now I have lived with neat freaks, clean freaks and plain old freaks...but its beyond normal. I have learned to stand still or appear to be busy cleaning that way she freaks less.

I have to finish moving from the apartment tonight and begin painting the front 2 rooms this week. Once those are done we will be able to start putting everything in its place. That will be a nice change.

Welcome to the world of Home Ownership, John.

2010-06-18T05:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of Home ownership, John. Just slap some paint on it and tweak a few things and it"ll be move-in ready.

In a weirdly convenient turn of events, we closed on the house on 6/7/10 and Maggie was shipped to Florida and Georgia from 6/8/10 through 6/18/10. In the mean time I have been doing maintenance work. If it weren't for my parents and my mother in law, we'd be so far behind it would be silly.

We taped, primed and painted the 2 bedrooms, bathroom and family room. There is one issue I have with the paint color choice, but I can easily live with it. To make the small room look bigger, we painted one wall a light blue and the other three a medium gray. The room I LOVE is the family room that was a dull tan. We painted the half wall and the back wall a dark gray/blue that makes the brownish fire place really pop out of the wall.

We, OK I, took off the door jambs, and found there was 1/32 of an inch of paint covering some really beautiful woodwork. So now I will be looking into removing all jambs and moulding and stripping them, sanding them and varnishing them. I will be posting pics, but I forgot my camera.

The previous owner has painted over the electrical plugs. I have had to replace each receptacle and began work on it yesterday. However, there is no rhyme or reason to how the circuits are set up. For example, in the 2nd bedroom there are 4 outlets on 3 separate circuits...one of which is on the same circuit as the basement lights. Makes ZERO sense. So lets add that to my list.

Welcome to the world of home ownership, John. Firmly grab your ankles and kiss your wallet goodbye.

2010-06-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

So all the paperwork is in, all the ducks are lined up...now we wait. Not my strong suit. Its painful to have my future in someone else's hands and not have a say in it from this point until signing. I guess I will just enjoy this weekend and hope for the best.

I got a call from a friend, Q, the other day, and we hadn't really seen each other since he got married in the fall. We decided to get together at this new bar in town and have a drink. I heard about this place because a friend from high school bar tends there.

side bar - How I met up with her was interesting. I posted something on a mutual friend's Facebook page, she saw it, said "Oh my God! Haven't seen you in over 10 years" and a few pleasantries later, it was done. Then we ran into each other at the local supermarket. Apparently, Heather lives in the same town I do now. So we talked for a while and now we chat more often. -

So Q and I decide to go to the bar and have a drink and chat. We the found out that we have a mutual friend, Zwick, who is a cook there. It was an interesting night all around, and a well needed steam release.

Earlier in the night, I spent time with Mom and Dad. We searched through ancestry.com and found a few interesting items that we didn't know before. We found out that my grandfather, Gunny, was born in the US and went back to Ireland to live, then came back to the US in 1936. Dad and I theorized that Matt, Sr., being a stone mason, probably found a job during the Great Depression with one of the Public Works Projects. Since Gunny was born in 1931, a new mouth was added to the family, the Depression hit hard, and Matt, Sr. most likely had to leave NY to get work, taking the children back to Ireland was probably the most prudent thing. At leas that is what we were theorizing happened.

Speaking of Matt, Sr. we also found his SS#, date of birth and death. We can now send for records to learn more. This is so nerdy exciting!

...we trek on...

2010-06-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

I was informed that the closing may have to be Tuesday morning. This could not be worse timing. Well it *could* be worse, it could not happen at all. The closing would have to be done by noon so we can still get Maggie on her plane to Florida for work. I feel bad she will miss out on this first day. She'll be gone a few days, but she will have to sign and fly. Literally.

I did fine yesterday with 600 fewer calories, however I weighed in 2 lbs heavier today. I am going to chalk that up to the natural flux and keep moving forward. I just have to find things that peak my interest so that I think less about food and more about anything else. I hear owning a home will keep me busy.

Until such time as I am busy with my house, I have taken up genealogy. I have traced my father's liniage back to the early 1800's and my mothers back to around the 1850's. Its very interesting to see the pedigree of yourself and other family members.

I have traced it back far enough back with my father's side, that I may have traced down the original Whiffen that came from Wales to Newfoundland to settle the island where they landed. Apparently there were 3 brothers that set sail for the New Continent looking for fishing grounds. Story is the 3 brother's loved it so much in Newfoundland, that the 3 jumped ship and stayed: Maurice, William, and another who's name I am not sure of. We are descendants of William, and my dad has met the descendants of Maurice I think.

I have also found all sorts of Immigration papers and Census forms, and draft cards for all members of my family. I did it through Ancestry.com and it has been fun. We've even connected the Whiffens to a family tree of the Shave-Fleming family in NFLD. I wonder if we can go back further and further.

Weird to think about 200+ year old blood coursing through our veins, isn't it?

Moving day will soon be upon us

2010-06-02T05:57:00.001-07:00

We recieved word that we "might" be closing Monday morning. I was estatic. We went to Lowes and Best Buy to look at refigerators and some home items we have on the wishlist. For the first time, this actually feels like its going to happen. So odd.

Me? A Homeowner?

How am I going to make sure they don't take my house? Will I be a good neighbor? Will we get burgled? Do I want a dog? Where the eff are we going to put 6 rabbits?

Exciting and terrifying all in one. So I am not sure what I am going to do.

On the weight loss front, I cut out 600 calories before noon. It pays to look at the nutritional menu. I was getting a reduced fat blueberry muffin and coffee every monrning, and I thought it was a good choice...it was not. 450 calories and 90g of fat. OUCH! So I cut that out, and I also changed from a 12 oz. can of Sierra Mist for lunch at 150 calories to a zero calorie 24 oz. Pepsi Max.

Make sure those labels are read.

Post-Memorial Day Update

2010-06-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

So it has come to this. The road here has been an odd one over the last 6 months. Though filled with trials and tribulations, it has forged my path forward. I know my goals, and the road I need to take to get there....lets just hope there aren't any snake oil vendors standing roadside. I do get distracted easily.

The foundation of the road is weight loss. Not only for me, but for my family as well. You see I am the match for my dad, and it is my right, privilege and duty to get healthy enough to lend a hand...kidney, whatever. I started back 2 months ago at the peak of my weight...245. Now with a daunting goal of 170 ahead of me, I knew this was not going to be easy, but I had a plan. First thing is to change my eating habits. Did that, and 2 months later I have plateaued at 230. This tells me that now I need just a little more push. Starting this week, I will be hitting the gym regularly. I have also looked into the P90X program. THAT looks intense.

Adding onto the foundation, making up the substrate of this road is my endeavor into home ownership. This has been a turbulent road to say the least. You see I am much like my father, in the fact that I don't like to negotiate. Not that I can't or won't, I just hate it. You see I tell you how much I want to pay, and you tell me if you will take that amount. I hate haggling. Not to mention we are haggling with someone who is extremely inflexible (though they believe they are being overly flexible according to their lawyer).

It started with the electrical, it was at 60 amps, we wanted 200 amps. The homeowner told us the fuses were at 100 amps and that is all she would update. Well she signed something saying the amps were 150, so we finally cornered her at 150 and agreed upon that...3 weeks ago. Well our funding runs out on the the 8th and she is JUST starting the work now. Putting us against the wall. I do not like that feeling one bit and have had numerous "discussions" with Maggie about my unhappiness. She says I am overreacting. We will find out soon I guess.

The pavement of my road, where the rubber meets the road, I guess you could say, is my friends and family. They have been great with making sure I can be included in all the gastric-goodness without hurting my long term vision. Though I have had to give up Jiu Jitsu (saddens me more than you can know) I still get my dose vicariously, through Jor. He's the male half of the J&J couple from the Salem Halloween post.

My dad pushes me, and Maggie reminds me that I "Don't need a hamburger AND a hot dog". Jack prods at me and makes fun of me. Over all that Baby V, my niece, is a big factor and she can't speak yet. I am doing this because I want her to know me, I want to be healthy enough to see her grow up and I want my dad to be there as well. He deserves to basque in her smile as much as any of us do, maybe more.

Wish you could see him with her...definitely not the father I grew up with. interesting how that happens...

I'm back....again.

2010-05-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

After some prodding, and pushing...I have been motivated to write again. This is short because the day has been too long already. Things on the docket for future posts: my home purchase, my weight loss and summer projects. Talk to you all soon.

Valentine's Day: Many things to many people

2010-02-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

To some, Valentine's Day is just another retail holiday that is made up as an excuse to extort money from the working class. To other's its a day to sit with another single friend and curse the happiness of others. Then again to others, its a day to make small gestures to the ones we love. As I have said in other posts, that is something I strive to accomplish every day.

To me, Valentine's Day is all of these things, and much more. It is a day of unconditional, undying love and profession of that love, through monetary or verbal means...well that's up to the individual. Maggie and I invited our 2 closest friend-couples over for a late brunch. Everyone brought something...especially thankful for the mimosas...and we chatted about the lone married couple at the table, and what we had to offer the 2 other "soon to be married" couples. It was kind of my muse for this blog.

I don't come from a family that celebrates things on a grand scale. February 14Th, however, always reminds me that love is temporary, permanent, and timeless...all at once. My father himself might be proof of that statement just through the circumstances his own existence. Its my father's birthday, for one, and my parent's anniversary as well. Happily married for 34 years yesterday. I feel like at this point they should be giving me gifts for their anniversaries, but that is another topic for another time.

et al.

2010-02-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

I'm not even sure what to write about, but I am trying to avoid going weeks without a post again. My creativity must be bottled up, and maybe some free flowing thoughts will coax it out. So please bear with me as I write in a stream on consciousness. No guarantee that it will make any sense to anyone but me.

I played a game last night, and although we lost by 5, I have to say that I think I played pretty well. You see, at least 6 of their goals came from defensive gaffs or plain old letting the guy shoot from dead in front of me, about 10 feet out. That is a bad place to be allowing shots from. The few I did scramble for, I got...including a diving save with my stick and one where I jutted my leg out and thwarted 3 consecutive shots from my belly. They asked me to return for their last 2 games, plus playoffs. I just might.

Woke up this morning, and it turns out I am down around 7 pounds from this time last month. It doesn't look like much, but I know how hard it is to lose weight. Its a healthily weight loss too, I am drinking tons more water, and eating a few smaller meals during the day. I am trying not to snack as much as I used to, and I run 2 miles 2 -3 times per week, if I have hockey that week, I usually only run twice.

I had to give up Jiu Jitsu already. I am deeply saddened by this, as I was having a blast! Between the $135 per month, and the 40 minute drive AND trying to save for a house and pay our bills down, it was the first thing to go. I will miss it, and I promise I will go back just as soon as I can. The house is a more important goal right now. We won't have the cash gift that my brother and Maggie's sister both got from their respective in-laws. Its another hurdle we'll have to problem solve around, but we have some leads.

Speaking of houses, Jack and his wife bought a townhouse. I wish them well, and hope it works out for them. Maggie and I discussed how it felt as though they rushed into it. Maybe its because the two of us are such planners. She looks at everything with such a careful eye and I agree with her. I think that's what husband's do, right?

As for being a good employee, apparently I do that well, too. My boss pulled me aside yesterday and asked if he could put my name in for a temporary position on our finance team. Of course I said yes because it is good exposure, especially since there is an expected expansion coming up, and even though my pay wouldn't change, there is a slight chance this could become a permanent position. So we will have to see how that goes.

Other than that I have just been playing my PS3 online and working my two jobs to keep myself sane. Its a boring life, but there are worse alternatives.

2010-02-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

I have been in deep retrospect since my trip to Lake Placid. As I do more often these days, I have contemplated hanging up the pads for good. I'm short, which hurts my ability to cover the net and made me rely more and more on reaction and reflexes, which have also diminished as I have gotten older. I play so infrequently lately, due to schedules and money woes, that it's not fair to the team I play for, when I actually do play.

That's been heavy on my mind, especially the last part, since Placid. If I can't give my team a chance to win, why do I play? Then I look back and again realize its not how I play, but who I play with. I have a good set of guys, that support me no matter how poorly we play. Willing to say "I should have had him" or 'That's on me" even when its clearly my fault.

As I said in my last post, I am my own toughest critic, second only to my father. I can find fault in every game, and it weighs on my mind that I haven't had a shut out since 1994, in summer league. I remember everything about it, a 6-0 Shut out I was on the Black team and we shut out the Gold team, who was backstopped by Spencer Jones. I haven't had a game that memorable, or an achievement that elusive since. I remember my first College game, I was put it to replace Tim Mahon down in Seton Hall in a 10-6 win. Then there was my first start, a 5-0 loss to Ryder college in which I had the save of my life. Even, the second start against URI we lost 6-1, but URI had outscored us by 12 the previous 2 meetings. However now memory has been as clear or as hard to recapture as my perfect day.

I've learned to play "older". I am more patient and stand up more. I play my angles and am not a foolishly aggressive as I used to be, but the spark is still there and I want to rekindle the fire again. I need a steady place to play and hopefully give me a chance to chase 1 more perfect day.

We've returned, battered and bruised...

2010-02-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

We got to Lake Placid around 4:30 just as it got dark. I can't describe how cold it was, but we got inside played our hearts out in the 1932 rink, but lost by 1 goal. Not a good performance by any means. We scored 9 but I allowed 10. Not only embarrassing, but heart breaking and I managed to cut my teammate's chin open for what could have been a stitch or 2.

I'm extremely hard on myself when I play. They guys were supportive as always, but it helps little and ruined my night. We left the rink and were we embraced by a -9 degree ambient temperature. Woke me RIGHT up! We went to the hotel room and aired out 4 sets of gear to dry (I think they had to fumigate the room honestly) and went out. The temps bottomed out to -15 when we left the bar at 1 am.

Needless to say when we woke up Saturday to positive temps it felt like a heatwave had set in without leaving single digits. We got a really overpriced, terrible breakfast buffet and got off to out 1 o'clock game. They were good, their goalie was good and we were not. We allowed 6 and scored 1. That 1 coming with 4 seconds left in the game. Props to the guys for not quitting until the buzzer. This one was on the 1980 rink so it sucked to lose there. I played better but still had some issues tracking the puck.

Overtime Hockey was 0-2 and out of contention. So what to do next? Half of the team turned to the bottom of bottles to get a jump start on the night. It was not the prettiest game but we finished with a 11-7 win. I am glad we didn't go 0-3 but I really hate losing.

The big win was coming home last night and spending the evening with Maggie and not going back out. At some point I am sure my legs will stop hurting and I will get back to my old form. Not playing anywhere this year hurt my skill set.

Tourney Weekend...No wives...gulp

2010-01-29T06:41:00.000-08:00

So its that time of year again, the USA Hockey/LaBatt's Blue Adult hockey Classic in Lake Placid, NY. Home of the Miracle on Ice and all the lore that goes with it. The same core group of guys goes every year and we have a blast. Usually my Jiminey Cricket (Maggie) attends with me. She enjoys the quaint Adirondack town and the small shops and hates the cold. She keeps me in check at times and pulls me home when needed.

This year is different, she is staying home, as are most of the wives. I like to think she is doing it because she trusts me. I think it has more to do with Saturday being Hockey Day in Canada than anything else. I'll spend all day glued to the games on TV, the celebration from our northern neighbors of the game I love so much, and playing 2 games that day.

The highlight of the tournament every year is when I step on the ice in the 1980 Rink. The same place Herb Brooks coached those young underdogs to the height of hockey. We have yet to procure Gold since, but that last time was enough to last. This being an Olympic year and 30 years later, it'll be with some reverence that I take the ice this year. I might even pause to reflect and request permission from the USA Hockey gods to take their ice.

So a game tonight at 7pm (4 pm for you left coasters), 2 tomorrow (1:45pm and 6pm), this is my yearly hockey weekend. I can't wait, and for those of you curious, you can check out how we're doing at http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=PL_04_20_01&ID=274680.

They update it regularly I think. We are Overtime Hockey, in the Silver division.

Good luck, and here we all come Herbie!

Global warming? PSH!

2010-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

I drove home from Jiu Jitsu class with the radio up and the windows down...its was 53 degrees outside and slight drizzle. What's so wierd about that? Look at the time stamp on this entry...1/26/2010.

I was tempted to sleep with the windows open last night but thought better of it. Good thing, too. I came out to ice on my windshield and 30 degrees. Its currently snowing and I am not sure where the rest of the night will go. I'm not as avid a weather watching fan as my grandfather was.

Only my mother....

2010-01-25T06:42:00.000-08:00

My parents took a needed vacation to Florida for the weekend. They went to visit my Uncle and celebrate my aunt's, mother's 80 th birthday. ..oh yeah and see The Maple Leafs play in Florida.

My mother is one of those innately kind people that will talk to anyone about anything. A trait my brother has become adept at as well. I received my father's "quick to judge but still usually accurate" gene. (This is all in homage to Jomama's blog on genetics apparently.)

Well she went to the lobby of the hotel for coffee and literally bumped into a man while they were getting their coffee. She recognized him in an instant, being the loyal member of Leaf Nation, as Brian Burke, the Toronto GM. They exchanged pleasantries and sat at separate tables.

Mr. Burke got up, walked over to her and invited her to sit with him. Of course she did! They talked about my dad being a cop, the reason they were in Florida for a game and not Toronto (Maybe he thought they held the map up side down or something), and her family, and his family.

After an hour he took his leave, gave her his email so she could attend a game closer to home. I was blown away by the story. I also was sad my father missed the exchange. I did find out that later he got a few minutes to speak with Mr. Burke, and I can tell it made his day.

Thank God for those people that can make such a big difference to a random stranger....and actually do it.

Will I inevitably be Scrooge?

2009-12-18T06:32:00.000-08:00

I have been wandering around since Sunday in a fog. Its been that kind of week. I've been mostly muttering: "The worst part about the inevitable is that it always happens". Since it is more common knowledge now, I can more openly talk about it.

My father has had kidney problems for quite some time. He shared his issue with me years ago, but I am sure they have been going on much longer than I ever knew. On Sunday we had breakfast with Jack and the baby, Maggie and my Parents. After breakfast my father made an announcement. He said it in such a matter of fact way that I was reminded a bit of his father's manner of speaking. He told us, "Boys, your father is dying."

Needless to say I lost my composure for a second then, in my usual fasion, looked for facts, reason, and "where do we go from here". Jack was obviously flabbergasted and speechless. He looked at the baby and began to cry. The statement was then ammended that his kidney's were failing (duh dad, we knew that) and that he will need a transplant (again, duh!)...i think he wanted attention :) .

The real schock came on Monday when my work phone rang. My mom was taking dad to the hospital...that was it...the inevitable was here. Our friend is one of the emergency room doctors there, and even though he was off, he came in to be my dad's ER doctor. We had good care from good friends.

They found water around his heart and kidneys, and began discussing options for treatment. After all was said and done, dad had surgery on Tuesday morning and began dialysis. This is now something he will have to do 3x per week and he can't mule things around anymore. He has to be careful of the ports they put in.

We gave each other our words: He promised to ask for help and I promised to not treat him liek a cripple. My dad is a strong man, stubborn, bull headed and set in his ways...I really hate being like him sometimes. It was tough to see him feel frail and vulnerable. We have done our best to make him understand that it's not the case at all.

The worst part is, even medically, I am just like him. My kidneys are still fine but my blood pressure is not. That was an aggrevating factor in his condition.

Is this my ghost of Christmas future? Ebenezer changed his ways, must I?

Updates Galore - Well maybe a few

2009-12-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

I have never been this sore in my life. Jiu Jitsu is kicking my butt, and I love it. Maggie is also doing the same, with a different result. I don't love it nearly as much.

She is a Christmas nut! Not Chestnut...ear-to-ear grinnin', certified christmas looney. I remember the days I would work in the Mall and shop during breaks, usually the week of christmas. Now, due to marriage, my shopping was done last week and my cards are all sent out. She reminds me of my mother.

My mom relishes family SO much that any holiday, or even breakfast get together, is reason to go overboard. Like my dad, I shake my head at my wife and grin. I don't understand what goes through her head, but anything that can make her light up like Christmas does is alright by me.

Tonight I am going to see "Wicked" at the theater in Schenectady. Should be a blast. I have wanted t osee that for ages. After that its a whirlwind few days of nit picky things I need to get done. I want to pick up my apartment for christmas eve at my house for my family, I have to get everything to gether for christmas day breakfast at my house for her family.

Oh yeah and it's Ms. Nessa's first christmas. She won't remember it, but she is getting HUGE! She looks more and more like Jack each day. Its very scary.

its everywhere if you look

2009-12-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

Due to circumstances both in and out of my control, I am eating, alone, in a McDonalds. I noticed this couple in their 50's, sitting across from me, first her than him. You can tell she was mighty tired, must have been a tough dinner rush. He walked by outside and she sprung up from her seat to wave to him.

She had a different light to her now. He stayed outside doing whatever it was he was doing: garbages, having a smoke, I'm not sure. I can tell he was working hard too. He sat with her, smiled, and took a sip of her drink. They began to talk.

I'm not sure that even if I was eavesdropping on the words, that I would have even understood them. I think it was chinese. The tone of their voices was unmistakable, she was worried. He stopped his fidgeting and paid 100% attention to her. He took her hand and spoke in an assuring voice.

Any married person would know that voice. She was worried, about what I don't know...money, how they were getting home, her parent is sick, where they were gonna sleep...but he took her hand and assured her. She seemed happier having his hand. They looked at each other and for all I know are gone for good.

it was beautiful, and touching, and all over my grilled chicken sandwich and halk diet coke half, root beer.

Its been over a month???

2009-12-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

I had no idea. Time has been flying between my 2 jobs, and my new niece. I have been running around like the proverbial chicken minus the head, so much so I have been not-sleeping myself to death. This was evident by the event of my first night off in weeks:

I sat down with Maggie, made dinner and hunkered in to watch Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, like we do together every year. Don't tell her I look forward to it, I cover it by rolling my eyes and huffing. Some things never change! I went to sit on the couch at 7:30...out like a light. She woked me for Rudolph at 8, and I was promplty asleep at 8:30 and I woke up at 9:40. I went in to the bedroom and woke at 7am. That's right about 60 minutes short of a 12 hour night!

To add to this, I haven't had time to really visit with my parents or even my brother for much quality time lately. So what is a guy to to in this hustling, bustling world where time is at a premium? I say add more to my schedule! Yup. So, that's what I did.

I will be studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu starting Monday. Its always fascinated me but I always felt as though my limbs were too short to be of any real use in leverage. Until I began hanging out with a friend, the same friend we went to Salem with. He's my height, weighs a bit less but he seems to do pretty well. He's enthusiastic about it, without being cult member-esque.

I toyed with the idea of going back to Tae Kwon Do, which I loved. I felt as though it would be less fun if I didn't know someone and I stand a better chance of torquing my knee with TKD. I can tap out of a knee lock in BJJ, I can't tap out of an awkard landing as I relearn kicks. So BJJ it is. If you are unfamiliar, you should check out some things on You Tube and Wikipedia about it. It's alot like chess in a physical incarnation.

I did drop a day a week at my part time job, but in lieu of it, I began running the hockey league. So my schedule is not impossibly filled...just filled.

Return from Salem

2009-10-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

What a trip! The 4 of us (Maggie and I and another couple with whom I have grown close to that we will call MJ and FJ) traveled out to Salem, Mass for the weekend before Halloween. We figured that next weekend would be an unreal amount of people with not that much more added to the ambiance.

We started by travelling separate and Maggie and I stopped to have dinner with some old friends that I have been putting off far, far too long. They announced that they were pregnant! So exciting. I wished upon everything I had, that we could have stayed longer and spent more quality time. Sadly we did not. We did however enjoy a fantastic dinner and dessert.

We arrived about 15 minutes behind the J's in our Hotel in Danvers, Mass ( about4 miles outside of Salem. We learned quite a bit about Danvers later on, but for now it was home-short term- home. We headed directly to Salem to scope out our plans for Saturday and grab a drink. We walked around looking for a bar, and found this one with very beautiful Calypso music playing.

"We're going in there!" I said emphatically...not good. Have you ever seen Animal House? Remember when they walk into the bar and are the only white people there? Yeah that was the 4 of us. We backed out with as much dignity as possible, and the small Hispanic man outside giggled with what seemed to be understanding. That's when we found Murphy's Bar. That was a small bar that we ended up closing down.

Saturday - It was "Up 'n at 'Em". We had a quick breakfast at D&D and hustled to catch our Boat. We parked down by the pier and after paying a lot for parking we learned the pier we needed was about 2 miles down the road...we hoofed it! The boat was this little dinghy. It had a bar (SCORE!) and a grill. We had These delicious drinks called Spiked Cider (2 kinds of Rum, Apple Brandy, and Cider). There were some ghost stories and some great times had and we never left the boat :)

We went to a small bar for lunch, called "In a Pig's Eye". It came highly recommended and it was worth the wait! We went shopping then home for a nap.

We returned for the Terror Tour and saw the The Ward House among other things. We spent an hour or so in the Salem Witch Museum. Then out for drinks and food. We had some Witch City Ale and Pumpkin Ale (Maggie swears it tastes like Pie) and Blueberry beer....with blueberries in it. I even tried Fired Pickles...sound gross, taste delicious.

We learned that Danvers was where the Witch Hysteria started. We visited and paid respects to the Rebecca Nurse House and the Salem Witchcraft Victim's Memorial.

I have never been so relaxed and had such a good time. We are already talking about planning our next couples' adventure.

Family Visits...brings new foods

2009-10-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

As seems to be regular practice these days, I have been too preoccupied to blog. Damn you Bejeweled! There's been quite a few things going on these days. I've been spending time with my awesome niece, my second job has started up again so I am there 2-3 nights a week, hockey season has started, and my Aunt from California visited.

Jomamma came to visit via her trip to Long Island for her High School reunion...something like her 50th or something ( just kidding...love ya!). The first night she was in town I had to work all night, so I didn't get to see her interact with Jack now that he is a father and with her new Grand-Niece (ok so maybe the 50th isn't too far off hee hee). However she did make us some Korean food on Thursday. It was very good. I know my wife and I enjoyed it a TON. My parentes are not the most adventurous eaters, so they tried it and my mom learned that she liked Korean BBQ marinade.

We did a lunch at a Korean style restaurant, too. It was excellent. The presentation and colors and tastes were great. I learned some of Korean table etiquette and tried Kimchi, which I had always heard about but never tried. Its a spicy cabbage dish that is uniquely Korean. Its hot, but not a hot like I have experienced with Buffalo Wings and Hot Pepper Sauce where the heat is on the sides of the tounge, this was a heat on the tip of the tounge.

It was tough to see her go since I rarely get to see her...mostly beacuse she is shorter than me and has to stand on her tippy toes during pictures to level herself off with my towering 5'5" frame.

On a personal note, I have been both productive and devious. I am trying to move around in the company, so I have been trying to take on new tasks and learn new aspects of how our process works. I have also been sneaking around behind a freind's back to set up a picture montage at a dinner for them. Its been fun, but I can't be too detailed yet.

what seperates us from animals?

2009-09-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

"For millions of years, man had lived just like the animals...Then something happened, which unleashed the power of our imagination...we learned to talk. - Pink Floyd, "Keep Talking"

That which separates us from the animals can just as easily separate the race. I will speak in general term in this rant...if you are offended, look inward first before lashing out.

One can argue that it is or power of speech and imagination that has propelled the human spirit. An indominable spirit that bring us heroes in the news and villains on TV. In this age of multimedia, we get our news from all sources...from Perez Hilton's Gossip page to MS NBC online, to things as primitive as talk radio and *gasp* newspapers. Is it really healthy to be bombarded with all this information at once?

I feel like it leads to ideas bouncing off us like radiation, and constant bombardment with radiation leads to cancer...why not this? (In a rhetorical sense). So I am off and running...

Let's start with TV and move on...I have almost 1,000 channels at home and focus on only a few, The Food Network, the NHL Network, YES Network, Spike, and a few others. I can't help but think education abounds on TV, but its not the shows targeted for the everyday person, its the ones targeted at our darker sides that bother me. The ones we find morbid enjoyment in. One of Maggie & Jack's personal vices is "Cops" and any show about murder investigation. These are entertaining, but cancerous. Some jamkoe sitting in his Section 8 living room, bored, poor and working too hard for $7.15 an hour watches "Cops" and says "That guy is stupid for getting caught that way" (much like I would), but the wheels spin and they formulate better ways to not get caught in them. Ideas form, turns to friendly bragging, then to commitment of the idea, then to carrying it out. TV formed a criminal from entertainment for our future entertainment possibly.

Now does this happen at every juncture? No. Some of the best police officers I have ever met were 1 choice away from being on the other side of the handcuffs they carry. My point is that we are teaching people how to NOT get caught doing something. Then Police work harder, we are all more scared and paranoia grows.

How about You Tube? My personal favorite website for guilty pleasures. You don't automatically think role models when you watch the video of the guy trying to skateboard over a ravine, or the goof balls jumping off their roofs and into pools...but celebrities are role models. They are always on Youtube and watched constantly. Like this one I saw yesterday that blew me away, Lady Gaga's MTV Music awards Performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAr7Z6ufcUE

This is on the VERY front and foremost page of YouTube. Theatrical? Yes. Shocking? Yes. Appropriate for the audience it targets? No. She not only features a male dancer wearing a thong on his head, but portrays a suicide...actually a few different types. The song is "Paparazzi"and talks about having an obsession with someone. In it she begins to bleed from her abdomen and they portray her hanging herself. Unaceptable TV watching for most ages, but this is what young audiences look at, idolize. No wonder teen suicide rate is up these days. Just for giggles I wanted to let you know this video has almost 100,000 views already and was uploaded on Tuesday. That's approx. 25,000 people watching it PER DAY. Did it make me want to jump on a chair, tie a knot and jump for Jesus? No. I can see how a prozac induced medi-coma could see it as a plausible escape, if its good enough for Lady Gaga.

REALLY? This is what we look to for entertainment now? Give me more shock, more Awe, more...more...more.... The song also closes with an ode to communication and how it can fix what ails us, too. If you feel soemthing inside, talk to those you love, those who care. Be it known that there is always someone who cares about you enough to listen. Don't turn to the above, listed crap.

"It doesn't have to be like this, all we need to do is keep talking" - Pink Floyd "Keep Talking"

Next blog - The lighter side of Media

The Blogger Strikes back...

2009-09-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Its been over a week and my fans are clammering...well murmering...ok would you believe no one noticed :) Its ok I suffer for my art. So the last 2 weeks has been rediculously busy. I have been planning a vacation, preparing for a hockey tournament, visiting my niece, covering 2 1/2 portfolios at work and basically feeling like I am SCUBA diving with a snorkel.

I crashed through my work, and a few late work days and sweat, I am clear....until the bosses decides to return the work I sent them. So in the mean time I will try and bring you all up to speed.

I have been fawning over my niece, even though I have seen her less then I want to. I have been trying to give Jack and his wife some time to get used to having a baby now. Apparently not all have been respecting their need for bonding time, but that is a rant for behind closed doors. So I got to see her last night and Jack and I watched the Leafs play the Bruins while I held Nessa. The first of many times I hope. I think she's looking more and more like Jack but I will reserve my judgements for a few months out.

I have been desiganted as the point of contact for preparing a weekend in Salem, Mass. We are set for a "Terror Trail" tour, and a wharf party. We'll spend some time there and enjoy ourselves I am sure. I have only been there once, but I liked it alot.

That's really about it for me. I have been keeping my eye on flights to and fro...be on the look out.

"Oh Nessa...Nessa, I have something to confess..."

2009-09-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

These are words I will most likely be singing to my newborn niece as she grows up. Its from "Wicked" but she is anything but.

She joined us at 3:16am, Wednesday, September 4th, 2009. She came in at 6.94 lbs and just over 18 inches. She hasn't cried much, except for food (definitely my side of the family), and has this Wide eyed wonder about her. She'll be my pride and joy for sure. Jack and his wife are now proud parents.

It never occurred to me that she'd be so small and have such a lion share of my heart after only 9 hours.

For posterity's sake...gas was 2.77 on the way here, Obama's the president and Patterson is the Governor. Its Sunny and mid 70's. The headline this morning was "Orbiting junk to miss the space station". Eggs are 1.89 and Bread is 1.99.

This moment: priceless

Vacation planning

2009-08-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Maggie and I have determined that we have not taken a non-hockey vacation since our Honeymoon...and by "we" I mean: "You need to plan a vacation". So I decided I should plan one...or be nagged into oblivion.

Salem, Mass right around Halloween. That sounds like a great idea, right? I have been charged with planning it stem to stern. We are going with another couple which should make it even more fun.

There is a nightly "Haunted Pub Crawl" and Haunted Trolley Tours. There's a Wharf party one weekend, where they Wharf is turned into an outdoor dance club. Mind you I don't dance, but watching others dance *cough* girls *cough* is alright by me.

I love ghost stories and I enjoy being tested psychologically in terms of fortitude. I enjoy suspense movies, Maggie likes the gore, I like the twisting of peoples minds. Sick I know, but that makes us both enjoy the Saw movie line. I love watching "Ghost Hunter's" because they go at it trying to disprove, not to prove, the existence of supernatural phenomena.

I have had an encounter, not many people know and fewer know the story. I feel dumb telling the story honestly and so few believe me. I was a kid, but I know what I saw as it is as vivid today (28 years later) as it was that night. Piqued my fascination with all things unexplained very early on in life. Do you believe?

Who are you?

2009-08-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

If you were given the opportunity to re-write your own story, what would it be? Where would you start? Who would be your parents? Where would you live? Go to school? Amass monetary or spiritual wealth? Be a playboy, or a shut in?

This goes to the very heart of happiness. Are you happy enough with your life that you wouldn't change it? Or are you happy with your life and would never dream of changing it? If you answered the latter, you are either extremely lucky or you are lying.

I would have to say there are a few chapters I would re-write, but the storyline would remain the same. I feel as though I need to put myself out there since I asked the question.

What would I change? Honestly not too much...we'll start with the tangibles. I'd love to be about 6 inches taller (still putting me under 6 foot), I'd like to drop around 50 pounds (again nothing Earth shaking).

On the less heavy side, I would like to be a better speller, maybe a bit more creative, and I would love to know how to play the guitar or sax (a la Clinton). On the heavier side I could be a better son, a better husband and a better Catholic.

After all that, I am happy where I am.

2009-08-21T08:28:00.001-07:00

I know its been a while since I posted...probably a lack of original idea added in with zero free time. For those who love John Stewart, here is your moment of zen...

Very_Serene

Track day

2009-08-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

We are heading to Saratoga today for a day at the track. I can't bet, but at least I can enjoy the people watching I love so much. You see, Saratoga is a major horse racing track but it is only open 1 month out of the year. I think that makes it special and being in Saratoga in the summer time doesn't hurt either.The only bet I will be making today is the 10 cent bet I make every race I can. Its a Superfecta (pick the first 4 horses in order) that only runs on certain races. I play 3-4-2-6, my dad's shield number. Someday it'll come in. Even at a 10 cent bet, I stand to make over $100.

If you have never been there, I suggest you give it a shot. The track is so many things. There are debutantes and "trailer trash", there's wine and beer, there's hope and despair, and then there's Hat Day. There are people in $1,000 suits and people in cut off jeans and t shirts. Its got something for everyone. We went once and walked past a group of 30-somethings that had wine, olives, cheeses, and the like spread out on a fold out canvas table. 10 feet from where they walk the horses through the paddock and 5 feet from a family with 3 kids in diapers (that I wasn't wholly sure were not at full capacity) and no other clothes on.

Other then that I am house sitting again for the weekend. Not too much going on, Maggie's family is throwing me a birthday dinner before my game tomorrow. Wish me luck all around.

Addition by subtraction.

2009-08-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Family has become more and more of a focus these days as my family shrinks some, even with one on the way. I contemplate "How did we get here?", "How did this happen to us?"..."Is my mother OK?"

She received a crushing letter that I will not go into detail about, and she came out relatively unscathed. The persons' attempt to claw at her heart fell on semi-deaf ears. Sure it hurts when family openly writes you off in a letter and tells you that they think you are a horrible person, but to come out of it able to cope with it...that's character. As many of you know, my mother is definitely a character.

Its in these days that our family shrinks a bit, that I realize our family is actually growing. Growing closer, gaining a new member, reconnecting with members that we don't talk to often, even members I have yet to meet in person. We are truly richer for getting poorer.

I know the lynch pin that held us all together with that part of the family...it was my grandfather. The anniversary of his passing is this Saturday. Its given that part of the family one full year to drive a wedge, which has been done successfully. I feel sorry for them. I feel substantially lighter. I feel its gonna be a happy new year.

what garbage?...oh THAT garbage!

2009-08-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

Work has been eating my soul. Well that and its early in the month and my copious free time suffers.

I spent my weekend up at Maggie's Aunts watching her 17 year old dog and baby kitten. They have satellite Internet and I had no cleaning obligations so I was ready, computer in hand, for one or 2 5 hour long WoW sessions. I am learning a new role so the time is greatly needed to practice. I was dug in, I brought my router so Maggie could do some computer stuff, too. I set it all up..excited...ready...and dial up speed. BWAH! What am I supposed to do with that? Not to mention it was 4 nights worth of staying there...Turns out half of their channels don't work, so I spent the weekend twiddling thumbs and playing wit the kitten. Oh and Maggie found excuses she couldn't meet me at the house, so I was alone.

Finally got to sleep in my bed last night for the first time in 5 nights. I slept very soundly. We woke up for work and during our passing we wished each other a Happy Anniversary. I remember Maggie saying that we weren't exchanging gifts because we were short on cash. As I left she said "I can't wait to give you your gift later" GLUP WH-WH-WHA- WHAT!!?!? I answered "me neither" and left. So I am in a good position, I have to go get her gift in the half hour break I have.

I am back from that break (writing as the day progresses) and I climbed into my car on this 90 degree day and smelled something funky...this morning's garbage that I left on the floorboard in the back. I meant to throw it out as I drove by the dumpster, but got to talking and forgot. So in addition to my purchases for my wife, I bought a lot of air fresheners, cracked the windows and am currently praying.

Coming of age, coming together

2009-08-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

My aunt's blog got me thinking about brothers and the bond they share. Jack and I are 4 years apart and have pretty much been bitter enemies until I was 19 (and Jack as 15). I realized that I kinda had to be a role model for him and he looked up to me, despite my 4 inch height deficit.

We bonded over sports, it was our glue, we get together whenever we can for it. Hockey, or baseball, or golf...it really doesn't matter. He was my best man before I had a bride, and he's my child's godfather before one is even a thought. At some point we will be the patriarchs of our family. I just hope we do as good a job as our predecessors.

There are so many things that I couldn't do without him, or at least would not have done. I never would have picked up golf clubs without his love for it. I would still be retired from hockey. I quit for 3 years after college and he talked me into playing on his team. Now here I am, still not as good as I once was, and a bad back and legs....thanks Jack! I'm kidding!

Those injuries came with so many memories that no one can ever take away. When I tore my ACL the first night of a 3 game weekend, I spent all weekend trying still trying to prank my teammates and keeping the beers flowing on the bench. When I tore my hamstring in Lake Placid we spent the night with friends cavorting through the town. Like I've said before, I play for the friends, not the score.

Jack is the reason I went back. Like I said at his wedding: "there is nothing I wouldn't do for him, and nothing he wouldn't do for me....so we spent our whole lives doing nothing for each other." It got a laugh, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Busy, busy, busy

2009-08-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

Its the beginning of the month, and I am once again as busy as it gets so to tide you over, here is a serene video of the world's 2nd largest aquarium. Its very cool and the music its put with was perfect.

"I don't own emotion, I Rent"

2009-08-03T13:01:00.001-07:00

Maggie and I went to dinner with a couple on Friday night to a new location for a favorite restaurant, Bomber's Burrito Bar. It was a hectic night in Downtown Schenectady. Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp back playing the Main Characters in Rent, the Tony award winning musical (yeah yeah yeah I like musicals, get over it) at Proctor's Theater. I really wanted to see it this time around but as you all know, we have been on the tight side with money. So we opted for dinner instead.

We got sat at a table overlooking State Street. We watched the people going in and out of theater, and I kept and eye on my car since it was parked out front. The food was great, as was the Smithwick's, and as I flagged the waitress over for a second round before Happy Hour was over, Maggie asked for the check. I got a little heated and told her I wanted another beer. She then informed me that there was no time to have another round (which I debate, its like jello...there's always room for more and just when it seems like you are full, you body makes room). She handed me my tickets for Rent.

She is fantastic yet again. It was my birthday present. She is REALLY bad at keeping secrets. She's kept this one for months. The other couple knew too, they were a cover to get me down to Schenectady.

Before you ask, I did repay her. I went outlet shopping with her for 3 hours. Then drove her home from Rochester the 3 hours while she slept. Lucky guy.

Now its my turn to plan something.

The home of (some of) my ancestors....

2009-07-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

We decided as a family that we are going to embark on a trip to Newfoundland. We are going to make stops at Placentia Bay, Long Island, Signal Hill, Cape Spear, and George Street. I am pretty excited about the prospect. Hopefully Jack, his wife and the baby come, it wouldn't be the same without them. I even hear rumor that we may have some companions from the Left Coast. The main hold back would be the 2 tween boys falling off of rock cliffs...to which I said, "there are ships everywhere, someone will pick them up".

It exciting to me, and somewhat spiritual, to go to Newfoundland. Being partly Newfy myself it would be nice to see the"homeland". Its the same way I feel about Ireland (sidebar: Maggie and I may go there in 2 years). Its so much a part of me that I even have it decorating parts of my goalie helmet. You can see it in the picture on the left at my feet.

The yellow band on the chin says "Skipper" for my late great grandfather. On the left side of the helmet is a ship breaking up, named "Amy B. Silver"...that was a ship Skipper lost at sea. On the right (Which you can't see) is the Cape Spear Light house, which was the light house he would have sailed out under. On the back plate is a Maltese Fireman's cross for my grandfather, and the other side has something similar to the picture on the left, which is Gunnery Sargeant, in honor of my grandfather Gunny and also this was the same rocker set up as my father had on his Trooper Uniform. Also in the back are a shamrock, in honor of Jim Craig and the 1980 Miracle_on_ice, and 1 single word: gambit, which Webster's defines as "An opening in chess in which a minor piece, or pieces, usually a pawn, is offered in exchange for a favorable position." or singular sacrifice for the benefit of the whole.

So I am excited for the prospect of going back and relating visuals to the places I have only heard about. The fact that it is with family makes it that much better.

Dumbest....person....ever

2009-07-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

I don't have much to write about, or time to wrte it today. So as not to get harassed ofr skipping out on writing, here is a link that will tide you over. Her free flowing words come out like my first drafts of these blogs look:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1917596

Makes sense...she's a Left Coaster

No, I say NO!

2009-07-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

I wanted to offer my apologies for not being here, but as much as I am a lime lighter (if I had to categorize myself by my Aunt's Blog) it fits that I am equally as much a people pleaser. I try to never let anyone down, and I hold onto things much longer then other people just to lend support. I have found myself run down lately. I am supposed to do 8 things for 7 different people, and not one of them is Maggie or I. On the list of those I promised to help: Jack's Father in Law, Jack (twice), my parents, my Mother in law, both of Maggie's Aunts, Maggie's Grandma. I have no time for myself and it caught up to me today...I was sloppy at work (getting caught on a non-work website) and I have been so overly tired it's been silly. I need to learn how to say no, and I end up ignoring some things (not on purpose of course) and disappointing some people. I feel like I can never win.

On a good note, MAGGIE GOT A JOB!!!!! Sure its not Perry Mason type glamorous, but its a steady paycheck none-the-less. She'll be doing document review for a corporate law firm. So now we are looking to move into a bigger place since we are bursting at the seams. We both agree that this needs to happen. What we don't agree on is how much we should spend on it. I try and hold fast to the 1/3 rule: Housing should be 1/3 of your income. Maggie holds to the "ooooo that's pretty" rule. I find things like "who pays for garbage removal" and "who pays for snow removal" important. She wants to know if there's a bathtub for baths and a place for her bunnies. For being the same height, we almost never see eye to eye. I don't really know much, but it keeps things interesting.

This week has dragged on so far, being its the end of the month for me, and its only Wednesday. I keep looking forward to my trip this weekend to Rochester. Not that there is much out that way, but my friend is having an engagement party and I am in the wedding. I can't wait. They are having a luau style party with private after party to follow. They even put us up in his family's house to save us hotel fees.

Facebook: Good or Evil?

2009-07-23T08:03:00.001-07:00

"Whatever happened to the Sunday Papers?"

"Oh, I still get it, for the coupons...I read it online."

I just got the rant of the day from my Aunt's Blog....thanks Jomama...now my Blogger's Block is subsiding.

There's something to be said about connectivity in this world. Twenty years ago we lived without cell phones, without WiFi, without internet, and with a primitive version of email. Facebook is the target today, but this can be globally, exponentially expanded.

I remember a time when my parents used to schedule time in their lives to call their parents and family. I used to have to "Call when you leave" and "Call when you get there". I wrote letters and my family knew my handwriting. I remember having to write "Photos. Do Not Bend" on the the envelops to share pictures, after waiting three days to get them developed at Waldbaums or Genovese. Now some of you who read this are of the "I remember when" age group and will call me a young un' for not remembering when I walked to school uphill both ways, but this is my "I remember when" rant..so like Yosimite Sam on a mud flap....BACK OFF!

Does this make us disconnect while connecting? Think about it, when was the last time you talked rather then "shot an email" or told someone outside your home how you felt before you Twittered or FB'd it?

Don't get me wrong, I love that I have reconnected with my Aunt more readily, and we can talk when we are both busy and on separate coasts. This World Wide Interwebz is fantastic for my family, we are in NY, AZ, FL, MI, CA, and OH. What I don't understand is why this is replacing family get togethers locally. Maggie and I go through great efforts to make sure we have family dinners a few times a week.

When was the last time you even thought about sitting down and writing a letter. It takes too long and no one can read it. Be damn sure they'd appreciate it.

No matter how many times you get a new message in your Inbox or Voicemail or a new text, it never replaces the feeling of getting a letter in the mail from friends and family, and opening it.

I wanna feel the car crash...

2009-07-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

It's been an uneventful week thus far. I've spent a lot of time on my computer and catching up on movies: Harry Potter's new flick was decent. I've been neglecting to clean the office at the house and avoiding the bathroom cleaning all together.

I walked into the office last night and after a few moments of palpitations I realized that I might leave it that way for a reason. I enjoy chaos. Controlled chaos, but chaos none the less. This new introspection made me sit outside on my tiny 4x4 deck and have a beer and contemplate chaos' place in my life. Hell, even one of my closest friend's has a cat named Chaos for Pete's sake.

So I sat and took stock of the chaos in my life and the amount of Yuengling left in the bottle. The sun was setting over the trees in the distance (I live on the top floor of a building on top of the hill..great view of the valley). Maggie is chaos with her OCD and her ADD and I love her. She has 9 rabbits at Myrtle's house. That is a recipe for disaster. So I leave my little corner of the chaos that I hold so dear, like a familiar child's blanket, and let her clean the rest of the house.

I'm too old for this &*@^!!!!

2009-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend was jam packed, hence no posts. Friday night we saw the fights at our friend's house...WOW! Great fight night, well done Dana & the UFC. My favorite part was when Dan Henderson dropped a right on Michael Bisping and flattened him. Sent Bisping a message about opening his mouth. Brock had an interesting post-fight interview...he called out Bud Light. Never really heard that before.

Then Saturday night I met the Best Man in a wedding I am in next year. I think we will get along swimmingly...our buddy on the other hand may be in a bit of trouble. We gave him the choice of doing the batchelor party in January or April. January will give him 3 months to apologize for it, or April will be so close to the wedding that the officer's paperwork may not even be filed yet. Either way he is in trouble >:)

The Summer hockey league started last night and what a motley crew we have. We have about 10 guys, average age is around 30. We played a team last night that had a roster of around 20 guys, with an average age of I'd say 20-21. There are three 25 minute run-time periods... needless to say I am exhausted and I have a nice puck shaped bruise on my ribs. We lost only by three, which was a shock. Then I thought about what my father used to tell me growing up: "Age and treachery will always overcome youth and exuberance". It was true last night. we had good team play, let the puck do the work and played solid defense. The other team kept coming and coming and coming, but a smart play and we were heading the other way just as quick with half the energy wasted.

We had some beers in the parking lot afterwards and I realized why I still play. I am no where near as good as I once was, but it isn't about the wins and losses, its about the guys. That's what I miss from college. I don't miss playing, I miss playing with those guys. These guys will do just fine, even though we're 0-1.

It's finally fight night

2009-07-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the long (week) awaited fight night at our friend's house. I am excited to see it and to hang out with everyone. We are bringing some buffalo poppers and nacho cheese dip....yum! I just have to wait until 8:30 to head to their apartment downtown.

We are looking for apartments now, I hate this process. I just want to buy a house but the money just isn't there. We'll get there someday. I can't wait for my own home. I learned a lot from watching and doing as far as home repairs go. I have a lot to learn still, but I have time.
So for now we will do the apartment thing while it burns me to know that what we are paying to rent is more then it our friend's are paying on their mortgages. I know they have other costs, and its right around the same amount. *sigh*

We went out for ice cream after dinner last night to my favorite place, there goes my being good on my diet. We did decide that we wanted to make it an "every other week" thing. Its gets Grandma out of her house for a night and she eats a good dinner. My mom needs the distraction. There are some catastrophic unpleasantries going on and it hurts her so deeply. It pains me to see her hurt that much and how it affects my parents as a couple.

However, it IS Friday, and never before have I been this happy for TGIF. I just need to unwind all weekend. I get to meet the best man for a wedding I am a groomsman in. I have been looking forward to it, and I was told that him and I are a lot alike....except for the height thing...thanks to the Cahill's for that one!

You are stuck with me

2009-07-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

The weekend can't come early enough this week. I just need to unwind with a few good friends a few cold beers and talk about everything. Topics shall include: Life is good; the beer is cold; people are crazy. That should get us through the night.

We are all getting together for a reprise of Saturday night's UFC 100. We have all been avoiding the results of the fights like they were plagued. This is none-too-easy in this day and age of multimedia.

That is the beauty of summer time, I can go to a magical place. There is this thing in the Northeast that comes out between April and August...I hear its called "Outdoors" in other places in the world. I just like going out to the lake or to an outdoor concert. I love the Drive-in's, too. We took Miss B to see a double feature: Night at the Museum 2 and 17 Again. I wasn't a big fan of either, but we weren't there for me. Miss B fell asleep exactly 5 minutes into 17 Again and I was forced to sit through that terrible movie because every time we started to move the car, she'd wake up and yell at us that she was watching it! I hope I never did those horrible things to people when I was younger. The only Drive in I remember was when my uncle took me to see Return of the Jedi.

Maggie and I took a night off from everything last night. It was nice to just melt into the couch and relax. I remember looking at her for a few minutes, and I apologized to her. She laughed for a few minutes and asked "Why?", to which I replied, "You do realize that you are stuck with me for the rest of your life." It was her answer that confirmed my choice in wives. She said "I am no picnic either...besides who else would have either of us?" We are a good fit.

Tonight it's dinner at my parent's house, with Myrtle and Maggie's grandma. I love family dinners. Dad and I disappear and work in the yard or the basement and Mom, Maggie, et al. sit in the dining room and, well I am not sure what they do really. Nor do I feel like I want to know.

Don't give up, don't ever give up.

2009-07-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Valvano, or Jimmy V as he is more widely known, is being celebrated today through out the sports world. He was a college basketball coach at North Carolina State University. He won the 1983 NCAA championship against astronomical odds. I remember seeing it on ESPN, watching him run up and down the court in such elation. He was looking for someone to hug in celebration. The Wolfpack beat the University of Houston team lead by future NBA Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Akeem Olajuwon on a 26-game winning streak and it had been almost 10 years since the Wolfpack's last NCAA win.

Oh yeah, he had bone cancer that took him from the sportsworld in 1993. Shortly after he gave his "Don't give up, don't ever give up!" speech at the ESPY's sports awards ceremonies. He gave the best closing to a speech I had ever heard. I got this quote from Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_V): "...During his speech the teleprompter stated that he had 30 seconds left, to which Valvano responded, "They got that screen up there flashing 30 seconds, like I care about that screen. I got tumors all over my body and I'm worried about some guy in the back going 30 seconds.""...

You have to admire the courage. So today on ESPN, ESPN.com, and ESPN radio, they are actuioning off expereinces for the Jimmy V Foundation. You can bid on the morning show being done at your house, to memoribilia, or even sports outings. It usually WAY out of my price range but there are always dreams.

We are criminals

2009-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year in our household. Maggie and I both received tickets not too long ago, so I spent my early evening in Town Court. What a menagerie that is! There are folks in suits and folks in mesh shorts and a T-shirt. I am not 100% sure what goes through their mind..."Maybe I should try and squeeze in the gym before I go to court" It makes no sense.

You are what you outwardly portray. If you project confidence, you will seem confident. Maybe its my BA in Psych that makes me lean that way, but I have seen it work first hand. For example, the company I work for now had called me in to interview. The night before I made sure my suit was wrinkle-free, pressed my shirt (light on the starch) and had Maggie pick out my tie (my red tie is my favorite for interviews). I pulled out my glasses that I barely need for long distances because Maggie says it makes me look "smarticle". I do not have a lick of experience in housing, but I looked confident, I spoke confidently and related the questions to my experiences. Now I am learning everything I need to know about housing, and then some.

I am off point, I looked and projected confidence and so far since I graduated college I have gotten every job I interviewed for, with the exception of one. That works in court, too. Justice may be blind, but the judge isn't. You can't expect any person to put aside first impressions.

(Dismount Soap box gracefully)

Again, for the second time in as many weeks, I find myself turning back to thinking about my grandparents, and accepting my own parents mortality. A gentleman I work with, Gene and I talk to a lot about computer stuff since we are somewhat on the same page...and it never hurts to befriend the IT guy. So I stopped by his office today with the intention of calling him a computer nerd, and proceeding to prove it. I could tell he was upset about something, so we began to talk.

Gene just had his future father-in-law pass on after a 13 year battle. I found that his fiance's father was also military, Air Force in Vietnam, he used to man the guns that were in the cargo doors for helicopters. We found out that her father and Gunny were a lot alike in the military aspect and I told him stories that I hear second hand about Gunny. My personal favorite was how he ended up a poster boy for the Marines. Gene had a good laugh, it looked like he needed one. It was nice to be able to relate and help someone out.

We also talked about family that we butt heads with. Its more prevalent then anyone ever wants to talk about. Maggie has vast experience with Trust and Estates, and like she says, she sees people at their worst and at their best. She told me about a little old lady that came to her to leave her entire estate to the wife of a grandchild. The little old lady has 3 kids of her own that are still alive. They got nothing because they'd call once a month to see how things are going, while this young wife would come to her house and share coupons and have tea and take her shopping if she needed it. I had an evil giggle when I heard this story.

I told Maggie that I want a keg at my funeral. I have always had the same view on death for as long as I can remember: "Celebrate that I was here, don't mourn that I am gone".

I celebrate those that pass daily, through a thought, a toast with my Dad ("To our crowd" an old Newfy toast), or just a passing smile when I think about them. Doesn't make it easier, just makes it a bit better with each grin.

Amen for a "Chicken Fried" life

2009-07-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

"...And my house it`s not much to talk about
But it`s filled with love that`s grown in southern ground
And a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I`ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love
And its funny how it`s the simple things in life that mean the most
Not where you live or what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There`s no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I`ve come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me Raise you glasses for a toast
To a little bit of chicken fried

I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice
All the things we love..."

- "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown

I think that says it all. This is something I listen to when things become too hectic and I've lost my place.

Edit for Link

The music moves me....to be licked in the back of my neck

2009-07-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

I have found myself listening to country music more often lately. I have always considered myself eclectic in my musical tastes. I like everything except "New Age" music...I can not get past Yanni's mullet. For me, nothing invokes such powerful memories nearly as much as music does.

Country music remind me of growing up. Every Sunday morning we listened to Bill Kingsly count down Country's Top 40, while Dad made toast, Mom set the table and Jack and I made fun of Dad. I get many weird looks from Maggie when a random old country song comes on and I know all the words. I don't mean Kenny Rodgers' "Gambler" or Garth Brooks' "Friends in Low Places"...I get looks for knowing "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Fishin' in the Dark" and Sammy Kershaw's "Queen of my Double Wide Trailer". I can see why, and half of the time I do it simply to invoke that look out of her.

The Platters and The Glenn Miller Band remind me of my grandparents. While I used to play them a lot to just sit and think about them, I have recently relegated them to 3 days a year right now. That came to pass because I found myself listening to it at work on my iPod, and I could not hold back. Do you have any idea how hard it is to explain why you, as a man, are crying at work over music? If you knew my Dad, you'd know that you men don't cry...well maybe at their sister's wedding...and then we don't talk about it ever again.

So the wedding last night was fun! We went with 2 of my co workers, and sat at a table with 2 others. The wedding was short and very nicely done, except the candles would not cooperate. We did notice that a few folks at the wedding, did not show up for the ceremony, did not bring gifts (we know for a fact), and ate dinner and lapped up the open bar...then left. I just felt it was rude. That's just me. Maggie and I are not in the best of financial situations, but we still mustered a gift and danced with a couple we know until about midnight. Then the pumpkin appeared and it was time to go.

I ended up house sitting at a friend's house because they have a dog. It silly to board it for a night when we can just run up and sit with it. So I got there at 1 am and let the dog out, cleaned up after it and prepped for bed. I let the dog in and laid down on the couch at 1:30. I woke up to the dog licking the back of my neck. If you have never had that happen...all I can say is "eeeeewwwww". An hour later I wake up to the two cats chasing each other around my bed/couch. Then I wake up to the one cat having an asthma attack. At that point I was awake and that was the end of it.

A wedding and some fights

2009-07-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Today is a co worker's wedding in Troy. It's been interesting watching the planning stages from the outside. I was kind of involved in my brother, Jack's wedding and obviously had the "normal" husband role in my wedding (Maggie has a touch of OCD, so I let her do what she needed to...PS it's really fun to watch her go crazy with it sometimes. I do love weddings, and the food and booze that comes with it. Tonight I have to behave though as I will be there with coworkers. I also have to watch our friend's dog, too.

It seems as though I have one more wedding to add to my list of "must attends". My sister-in-law, Janie, got engaged to her boyfriend of two years, Chuck. They just bought a house together so I thought this was coming. He treats her well, and it makes her happy so good luck to them.

With all these weddings coming, I can't help but know that I need to make sure I renew my vows with Maggie everyday. Not verbatim, but through my thoughts and actions. For example, I woke up late for work yesterday, a whole hour late! While I rushed in the shower, Maggie (who had no business being awake that early) made my entire lunch for me. Granted it was made half asleep so I got a PB&J with a blob of jelly in the middle of the bread, but it was delicious in body and heart.

So while I shopped the local Hallmark for a wedding card, I found a little stuffed elephant. Now Maggie loves elephants. In fact, it was her friend's nickname for her as kinds because she walks so heavy for being such a small woman. I brought her home the elephant and she fell instantly in love. I think these little things can overcome many marriage problems. The simple act of thinking of one another through out the day. I am not saying this will fix any major problems, but I feel as though it is a good preemptive strike. It's a marriage's "apple a day".

In a complete 180, tonight is the UFC 100 fights. I have always been fascinated with martial arts. I used to study Tae Kwon Do until Green belt, until hockey pulled me away. I am fascinated with Ju Jitsu, Kung Fu, and Akido. I won't be able to watch tonight's pay-per-view, but one of my coworkers is DVR-ing it, so we can watch it next weekend. I hope it proves to be an amazing night of fights.

I know to some it seems barbaric and I can completely understand that. I choose to see it as two consenting men who are enamored with the glory of battle. If you listen to them, there is a reverence for competition and testing their skills. They train very hard and they strategize and train for hours. That's just one man's point of view....

Dinner and.....a movie?

2009-07-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

How come I always get stuck watching chick flicks when FC comes over? Not that I mind, I love having FC over I just hate watching Chick flicks. We ended up watching some Jennifer Aniston movie with Kevin Bacon and Jay Mohr. Jennifer hired Jay to be her pretend boyfriend so she could entice Kevin's character to like her, since he only liked attached women. Then Jen ends up with Jay and all is right with the world.

Those kinds of romantic comedies are ruining relationships. They portray every guy in that Jack Burger kinda light (yeah, Sex in the City reference...forced to watch that too). Then when guys are not like that, women think they should be and it becomes a tug of war.

Reality is trumped by motion pictures once again. Orson Wells got arrested for his role in the War of the Worlds radio farce, I think action should be taken immediately. Its high time we round up these purveyors of lies and deceit forced upon the American Dating scene and charge them with impersonating, and ruining, the dating scene in modern America.

On a separate note, I did whip up a fabulous dinner. Some pan-steaks sliced into strips, cooked with onions, peppers and some beef gravy, with Brown rice. It was tasty. FC brought over some of my favorite wine, Riesling, and all was right with my world. My world being, World of Warcraft.

WoW is how I escape watching chick flicks, and still be engaged in the banter. I play on my laptop...while it severely impairs my ability to play efficiently, I can still be present when my wife and I are watching TV together or talking about our days, now if could only avoid watching the painful shows on television.

And what is Maggie's obsession with "16 & Pregnant" on MTV? For someone who never wants to have kids, she sure watches a lot of shows about childbirth and pregnancy. Maybe she has the same fascination as I have with shows about the Apocalypse or "Life After People". Mostly morbid curiosity sprinkled with some entertaining ideas on how things might go.

OK I just got handed a HUGE project so I have to end here...

2009 - A wedding year

2009-07-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

2009 began just as every year has in my life...12:01 on Jan 1, 2009 we say "Where did 2008 go?" and we all laugh and move forward. This year is far from typical though...we have had 2 weddings so far and have 3 more to go this year and 1 or 2 next year.

First up, was the woman that introduced Maggie and I, and her long time beau. It was at a quaint little church in our town, and the reception was at a beautiful Country Club. I haven't had that much fun at a wedding in a while. Maggie was even dancing! I am sure that had to do with the open bar but that's fine by me.

Second on the trail was a couple we knew when Maggie and Tay(Maggie's college roomie and best friend in the whole world) were in college (though they weren't together until after) were getting hitched. Tay flew in from Ohio to meet us for our 3 hour trek to Burlington, Vt.
It was a very fun wedding on top of a hotel overlooking Lake Champlain. It rained on an off for most of the night, but we got to see the city fireworks just over the tree ridge to the north.

Next up is one of my co-worker's weddings this weekend...I'll keep you Blogged...

New Era in Blogging (the names have been changed to protect the innocent)

2009-07-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

I swore I would never get into blogging. Its redundant if you have Facebook, and its time consuming, I am a horrible speller and have the grammatical prowess of a five year old. In defiance of all those things, here I am.

My aunt has been blogging for sometime, and after reading all about the fireworks, and my cousin's headache, her obscene tomatoes and new bird-baths, I realized that there are so many things that I missed out on being so far away from family members. There is also much strife in being so close to them, too.

You may ask what have I been up to all these non-blogging years. I can't go too far back or you'll sleep, so there are a few things to bring you up to speed. I have been married to my wonderful wife, Maggie, for almost 2 years now (August 11th) and have been blessed with a truly wonderful set of in-laws. They are as crazy as my family and just as down to Earth. Its great to see them all get along so swimmingly.

I am still playing hockey...though at a less fervent pace then I was a few years ago. I play 2 hospital benefit Tournaments a year and 1 big blowout tourney in Lake Placid every year. I am working as a subcontractor for the government...all the poor pay, without the numerous holidays. We are expanding though and the opportunities should be many and all over the US. We may be coming to a city near you! (buy insurance)

Maggie officially became a lawyer, but like so many these days, she can't find a job. She's been keeping herself busy with her niece, Miss B. She has been doing activities and going to movies with her. It was weird to marry into a family with a niece all ready for me, but its even weirder to know my brother is having a child, too. I am excited that the two of them are having a baby. It is going to be spoiled rotten by my mother!

On a sadder note, over the past years, I have lost all but one of my grandparents. I am blessed to not only have them as part of my life, but to have had them for so long. First my Dad's Mom, then his Father...I wish they could have met my wife. I am sure my grandmother would have loved her. Maggie likes to shop and bicker with me, and is a smart woman, just like Grandma. Gunny was as good a man as has ever walked this Earth, aside from my father of course, but where do we get it from. That relationship right there is a great case for the Nature vs. Nurture argument. Four children that he would move heaven and earth for. Then I lost a huge part of my life with Pop passing last August. I was lucky enough to be there and see him before he left us. So many things have gone wrong since then, but I can save that for another post since this is dragging on.

My father has since retired from the police force, then rejoined it, got screwed over because he wouldn't play political ball, retired again and came back home. I am so happy to have them home with us. We are a very tight family unit and it was hard having them away from us. Mom has spent her new found free time attending our hockey games and knitting blankets to keep her warm in the rink. She's been busy decorating the new house with all our stuff. Its beginning to feel like home again.

Since this has run on far too long, I will wrap it up and use the overflowing ideas for more blogs.

*edited for dumb spelling mistakes*