been a while

So it has been a while since I've really posted and kept up with my blog, but now its back. If you haven't heard, Amanda and I are expecting our first child, due Jan 25, 2011!! We are very excited. She is about 11 weeks now and the baby is the size of a lime. It is fun to compare the baby to fruit as it gives you a good idea of the size. It is also exiciting that she is just starting to slightly show and before we know it we will have a new baby boy or girl....of course i am hoping for the blue blanket but i would very happy with the pink blanket as well.

So in preperation for the baby, operation office/nursery conversion is starting. I have begun clearing out the basement room to create the office, we need to:

-clear it out
-rip out MORE green carpet
-choose paint colors
-paint
-build built in desk
-re-carpet room
-move stuff in
-rewire room

then phase 2 will begin and that will consist of converting the current office into the nursery!!


so check back for more updates and photos as the work progresses!!

until next time....

Relay for Life

American Cancer Society Relay For Life

I am taking part in an American Cancer Society Relay For Life this year. Whether it is through a friend, family member, the neighbor down the street, or our own personal experience, we have all been touched by cancer in some way. No matter who the person is, or how close they are to you, cancer is a very scary word. This year, cancer hit very close to home for me as my grandfather and mother-in-law were both diagnosed with cancer. I am participating in this event in honor of my grandparents, Ray and Marion. A few years ago my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, and she is a Survivor. More recently, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. He overcame it, beat it and is also in the recovery and healing phase. He is a strong survivor and has never let anything get him down. Also, as some of you may know, Amanda's mother was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months back. She was diagnosed and within weeks had surgery to remove the cancer and now is in the recovery stage. She has had a strong attitude and bright spirit throughout this hard time. Amanda decided to start a Relay for Life team to honor her and help raise money for cancer research so that others can have the same great experience she has had. So that is the reason for our team name, Ruthie's Rockstars! I also have had many other family and friends affected by cancer and I am doing this for them. I understand that times are tough right now and donations can be hard to come by. I am asking if you are able to, to make a donation to our team in any amount. We will be "relaying" June 11-12 in Franklin Mass. There will be more than 230 Relays happening throughout New England this year, and more than 5,000 across the U.S., each uniting communities against a common enemy: cancer. Amanda, myself, our friends, and family will be cheering the cancer survivors who kick off the event by taking the first lap around the track. Then, everyone else will join in and the goal is to keep at least one member of our team on the track all night. Lighting the way will be hundreds of luminarias - lighted bags bearing the names of loved ones who have faced a cancer diagnosis. Relay is a time of reflection, a time to celebrate survivorship, and a time to pledge to take some kind of action to fight a disease that roughly 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with in their lifetimes. It might be a pledge to wear sunscreen, quit smoking, volunteer with the American Cancer Society to drive patients to and from treatment, or remind a loved one to get their annual mammogram. As a Relay participant, I am committed to raising as much money as I can to help ensure that the American Cancer Society continues to meet the demand for its programs and services for cancer patients and their caregivers help finding clinical trials and affordable health insurance, temporary lodging during treatment far from home, summer camps for children and teens with cancer, and much more. I am proud to be part of Relay, can you tell? And I'm hoping you find the cause as worthy as I do. If so, please take just a few minutes to make a donation on my personal Web page. I would be so appreciative. Thank you! Sean Matthews Click here to visit my personal page. If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10NE?px=14317090&pg=personal&fr_id=23347&fl=en_US&et=7lCiAbn0mLTgKoXlh0F0LA..&s_tafId=444199 Click here to view the team page for Ruthie's Rockstars If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10NE?team_id=661513&pg=team&fr_id=23347&fl=en_US&et=uJSEo-Cefqb120ryvaXT0w..&s_tafId=444199 This message has been sent by a friend who thought you would be interested in information about the American Cancer Society's special events. If you no longer wish to receive emails messages sent from your friends, family members or colleagues on the subject of the American Cancer Society's special events, please click here or paste this URL into your browser: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=a103ffc4ed26640f1b854cdfa1a2f0fac157793613dbaef5

Joslin Fishing Derby

Got SKUNKED!! No fish, but great fun, last weekend I embarked on my first fishing derby and we caught nothing but bait. We had a great time as Team Basshole did have one of the best snowman (snowgirl) made by the one the only Ciarra, the Ice Princess. I was out there with Rob, amandas Bro, Tom, Amanda's dad and Ciarra our niece.

We met some great guys from the IceShanty website and enjoyed some DELICIOUS Clam Chowder made by Lisa

The derby was to benefit Camp Joslin, a camp for kids with diabetes. So in the end it was fun and for the kids, they gave away tons of great prizes, Grampa Tom won 4 tickets to the Worcester Sharks!! so i guess we did catch 4 sharks out there!!

BANNERS

Great banners, check out this website http://www.esigns.com/ I can design something for you or if you want you can design it on there website. I ordered a 2ft x 4ft banner, full color and looks great!!! Check them out for a great deal, again i can design it or you can have them do it for you.

Ice Fishing

Been a while since I've posted. Winter is here and that mean ice fishing season too. I've slowly become more involved and fishing more frequently!!! Caught 40 + fish with rob, tom and ciarra on saturday!!check out facebook for some great pics.

Snow

Winter has begun, and that means snow. I love the snow, i love to watch it fall I love to shovel and use the snowthrower, I love to ski in it and play in it, i just love the snow.....but one thing I don't like is the cold air that comes along with it. I have always dreamed of having snow in a warmer climate without it melting. wouldnt that be great!!!!

Fenway is getting used tot he snow, seeing as though i have to shovel him out spots to play and go to the bathroom, he is enjoying it, the snow is about 12 inches deep, he is about 6-10 inches tall, you do the math, he's a short guy.

He had a fun Hanukkah, got some new toys, some treats and even got to play with bailey. We had a nice hanukkah too, spent some time at my parents with latkes and candles.

Went to Rob and Lisa's for an extended family christmas, Fenway got to play with Oliver and Mark & lauras new dog, Hercules the hot dog, another long dog friend.

So now its almost Christmas, quiet at work, everyone is off shopping and worrying about what cookies to bring to the holiday party. I thought, what a better time to take a moment and write in this trusty ole blog of mine. If you get bored of this, jump on over to Craigs page and read about some boston sports over at 4sportboston.com

Speaking of boston sports, the Bruins are playing at Fenway next week on Jan 1 for the Winter Classic. Tickets for that game were impossible to get and/or extremely expensive. So I bought a few raffle tickets to win some to benefit Travis Roy's foundation. The raffle was oringally to be pulled Nov 1...delayed to Dec 1.....delayed to Dec 18.....which brings us to to the final dealy of Dec 22....TODAY....I still have hope that I may win these tickets. It would be AWESOME....although we would have to cancel our plans we already made with friends.

And speaking of the winter classic.....this is one thing that is crazy, the city of boston gives 3000 free tickets to families in the city to skate on the ice, a once ina lifetime oppurtunity....and people are out there selling them on ebay/craigslist for thousands of dollars......thats insane....where is the fun in that!?!?!?!?!




So in the end, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season....Happy Hanukkah...Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!

SNOW????!!!???

SO as I said in my last post.....snow...was a different story. Now earlier last week we had a very brief little snow squall where we woke up and had some snow dusting in the yard....not soo bad for October...i mean it does get chilly sometimes..... but Sunday was something totally different.

If any of you watched the patriots game on sunday you know what I am talking about.
The picture to the left was taken by a random FB friend, and i stole it for blogging purposes. As you can see, the grass is white and the grounds crew were shoveling off the lines and had piles and piles of snow on the sidelines.

Now this is something you would expect in ...say January or even March, NOT OCTOBER!!!! (side note....I am not hating on snow, i love snow, just not this early)

At our house it snowed all afternoon, it covered the ground but didn't have the chance to stick around for morning. We took Fenway out in it and he wasn't quite sure what to think of the huge flakes that were falling from the sky.

Now this week the weather is gettin back to normal, mid 60s right where it should be for the fall.....but i heard a forecast for rain again saturday.....ENOUGH WITH THE RAIN on the WEEKENDS!!!!! this whole year of weather has been crap. give us a break!!! We work all week and want to enjoy our weekends with nice weather.


well thats my weather rant for the day.