It's 2 Girls

Hi everyone-

We had an online secret -- for the past 35 weeks my wife an I where expecting twins. While I generally wanted to share with everyone my fears and joy -- I decided that it would be better carma to only share with everyone once they showed up. Well on June 20th at 4:42 and 4:43 my daughters where born!!!!!!!!!!

The joy these two girls have brought us are unmeasurable.

Having fun

Great Chicken Sates

Hi everyone-

We had a great meal yesterday using a recipe we had found in the latest issue of Gourmet magazine (click the picture for the recipie -- BTW the picture is from the magazine not our creation -- although it was close). It was really quite tasty. We did remove the fish sauce and substitute 1/2 t. of Asian mustard instead. Aline is just not into the fish sauce at all. We also used a stick blender to puree everything together.

Very tasty.

We also made the ginger pineapple fried rice....no modifications.

It was a great Sunday evening meal.

Have fun

Happy 1st Birthday Ryan Daniel

Dearest Ryan,

I can't believe it ... it has been a whole year. Your Mommy and I are still terribly missing you. But for your first birthday we decided to make the most of the day. We started the day by dropping off a case of diapers, a case of wipes, and two containers of formula at the Loves and Fishes food bank. Great new facility which really serves the surrounding community. So hopefully a needy family will get some great use out of those items.

Then it was off to Harvard Outdoor Power Equipment -- definitely a Ryan-Daddy stop. The lawn mower needed new wheels and a general tune up. Well the parts are being ordered and should be here next week. So next weekend it will be time to service the snowthrow and the lawn mower.

Next stop is Cupp and Cupp Nursery. Here Mommy and Daddy decided to get you a hanging plant. Plus we got another butterfly bush. Grampa Sangrey gave us a butterfly bush last year - it did so well that we thought another one would make it all that more wonderful.

Then we went to the cemetery. We did your seasonal change over - from winter silk flowers to the living flowers for the growing season. You had Ms. Jenn stop by before Mommy and Daddy got there. I'm sure she had a touching conversation with you -- probably asked if Ben and you where getting along. I'm sure you are -- he is the one wearing the duck outfit. Mommy and I read you a few books and blew some bubbles. We hope people will stop buy and blow some bubbles.

We have been looking for little signs of Ryan around today -- saw the first dragon fly of the year. That was way cool.

Then it was back home for a quick bite. After lunch we decided to plant the butterfly bush and open the cards people have sent. We did the same thing about this time last year -- we sat and opened cards every night for about 2 weeks straight. A lot of people offered your Mommy and Daddy support -- and they continue to -- last year it was wonderful.

Father Tom from All Saint's Episcopal called and left a wonderful message. We just missed him before he is going off on sabbatical.

Then before Aunt Karla and Uncle Scott comes over for dinner - we went to Kimball's Farm for ICE CREAM. Your mommy and I have decided that we will resist going to Kimball's each year until your birthday. This will be a good tradition.

Your God parents - Ron and Rebecca sent all of us some beautiful yellow roses. They are on the Mother's table.

Dinner tonight will hopefully be Chinese from Bamboo.

Ryan -- we profoundly miss you. Ryan -- we profoundly love you.

Happy Birthday

Mommy and Daddy

The garter Snake -- Official Snake of Massachusetts

Hi everyone-

I just about fell off my chair when I saw the following:

"The Senate approved today house bill 3453 which made the garter snake the official reptile of Massachusetts."

Wow!

Now that is something that I need my elected officials spending time on....no we don't have a problem funding our school systems, or, or, universal health care funding...or, or, I don't know something other than this must be more important.

Kevin

Update: Here is the article about the introduction of the bill.

Update:Apparently exiting governor Mitt Romney signed it into law January 2007.

Movie Review: The Rookie

Hi everyone-

Last night we watched the movie entitled "The Rookie". It was a very interesting movie -- full of the struggle between a Vietnam era father figure who was in the Navy which moved the family often and the main characters struggle for a passion to play baseball. The struggle continued into his adult life -- trying to realize his dream of play professional baseball. Then what he does when he realizes his dream is also an amazing turn in the movie. The movie was based off a real life story depicted in the book " The Rookie: The Incredible True Story of a Man Who Never Gave Up on His Dream ". I was really hesitant to watch the movie at first, but I found the film to be better than I first thought. A definite watch -- 3 out of 5 stars.

Have fun,

Kevin

411 on Cingular

Hi everyone-

Well I am certainly frustrated with Cingular right now. Over the weekend I wanted a phone number for my insurance representative -- I knew the city and state and the representatives company name. Well the nice cingular person asked for "What city" -- spoke and spelled the name, "What state", spoke the name -- Massachusetts....not to many other states, "What listing", spoke and spelled the name. "I'm sorry but I don't have a listing in that city but I have one in Wellsley"...Strange their office is not in that city. Can you please check again..."sorry only that listing". Fine give me the number. The number you requested "AG Edwards" ... I asked for Everrett and Sons Insurance -- How did you get AG Edwards? So then I called back and did the same thing. This time I got the right answer!!! Okay to batting .500. Not so good when it costs $1.25 per instance. So that is why I am pushing -- 1-800-FREE411. Granted you have to listen to an ad for a product but what the hell....cheaper than the $1.25 and they got the answer correct on the first try!

Sounds like I need to do an experiment.....

Stay tuned.

Kevin

Driving -- what's that?

Hi everyone-

Can you say "Has it already been 6 months" and now you can drive again. Yeah. So after 6 months I can drive again. What a relief! Also wow there are crazy people on the road. I guess it give you a new sense of awareness.

Safe driving everyone.

Kevin

Jury Duty

Hi everyone-

Well yesterday I called to do my civic duty -- Jury duty. Yes the famous/imfamous call that is truely a sign of a democracy. Being called to be a juror is sometimes daunting - especially when it is a criminal instead of a civil trial. After the case is decided I will get into what exactly the case was about - but to be fair to everyone going through the process today and for the next several days I will wait for the results.

If everyone thinks that it was a problem to be a juror think again. It is not that bad - yes they do put you in a room and not much goes on - but it is great for people watching. And if you are into people watching it can be a real blast. For me it was a real blast.

So if you get called to be a juror -- just go and people watch.

Kevin

Friday Night Lights

Hi everyone-

Well we have finally done it -- watched a movie that we found entertaining then relized the next morning that it was about our generation...yikes! Yeah we thought that the movie was done well -- we thought that the interviews on the DVD were great when they started to talk to the real people. Yeah then this morning my wife and I figured out that the football season was Sept-Dec 1989 -- our senior year of high school. We thougth last night that the people on the screen where in the late 30's or early 40's. Wrong they are our age. Wonderful. Anyway a good movie to watch non-the-less.

Friday Night Lights

Bose Headphones -- WOW!

Hi everyone

For my birthday I got:

I must say they are simply the best. When I am at work it keeps all of the background noise to a minimum and I can have my iPod playing on a low volume. I don't usually do product recommendations but this is a really great product.

Bose QuietComfort 2 Noise Cancelling Headphones - Headphones and Headsets

Taxation inequity

Hi everyone-

I am just getting through my son's stillborn death in May and tax season has brought up all of these emotions telling me how unfair the tax code is. If my son had taken a breath and lived for just a little bit we would have been able to claim my son for just this year as well as deducting the funeral expenses. But because my son was 39.5 weeks into our pregnancy and stillborn we can't claim anything -- not even the funeral expenses. Hell I can claim a car as a deduction....something is really wrong with this. Grrrrrrr...... well time to write my representatives and get this changed.

Kevin

StopBadware.org

Hi everyone-

I know that many of us have to fight ouf adware, spyware, or other things that we really don't want on our computer. The website StopBadware.org is a place for people to come together and collectively fight all of thise bad software hence badware. Check it out.

Mythbusters

Hi everyone-

My wife and I are huge Mythbusters fans. It is a great show on the Discovery Channel. The basic premise of the show is prove whether an urban myth is true or not. It is a great show and certainly works well with the scientist in both of us.

The just put out some "Lost" material from some of their episodes. Enjoy the material.

Kevin

History of Computer Security

HI everyone

I have always like to dabble in computer security ... nothing illegal just facinated how you make these computing thingys protected from unwanted visitors. These are the early papers stem from work done by the DoD and others to protect those computers. Many of the "new" computer security things have come out of these papers.

History of Computer Security

Also for those of you who might want to find the "Rainbow series" look here.

have fun,

Kevin

Happier New Year

Hi everyone-

Happy New Year -- and with a new year it means a new outlook on life - or at least putting away last years problems. So with that lets just say that 2005 was a very tough year for myself. The birth and death of my son. The seizure. Lets just say that it is enough to rip some people apart. I would like to look at it as an opertunity for growth both emotionally and spiritually.

So far the year is starting off GREAT!

Looks like we will be getting some more snow today. So far this winter we have gotten an 18" storm, a 12" storm and a 2 inch storm. Today's storm should bring with it anywhere from 3-6 inches. Some are saying a foot -- we shall see.

Today is just cleaning up the office and getting ready for tax season. You know I actually enjoy doing them with the help of some tax software. Getting everything in order puts last year in perspective and starts you thinking about what you need for next year.

I personally would like to see myself get better at investing our money.

So go have fun,

Kevin

Tis the season ... sorta

Hi everyone-

Well it has been a very interesting year. Christmas is upon us and while I know that Christ is with us all of the time - this time of year you are reminded about the birth. Well this year I am very mindful about Jesus' birth and what that means but this year the birth of my son and death of my son way heavy on my heart...

So for this I pray that with a new year (the church year starts at the beginning of Advent) the weight on my heart is lessoned.

Peace.

Winter is here

Hi everyone-

Well after the "white" Thanksgiving that we had - today was another snowy day. Maybe this week we will have our first nor'easter...and then maybe not.

Just watching the Mummy Returns -- one of the favorite movies and hanging out.

I have stopped taking the anti-seizure meds -- in conjunction with my doctor's approval. So far so good. My SVT's appear to be more frequent - so now trying to work with the cardiologist some more. We shall see what happens.

Other than that we had a wonderful time this weekend just laying low. This week I need to get working on my Christmas shopping.

Have fun

Being Thankful

Hi everyone --

Well my family has a bunch of things to be thankful for -- my health, my marriage, my family health, my relationship with my God.

Today's grace:

"We are thankful for our family and friends near and far...we are thankful for things which we are provided and things that will be provided for us in the future."

With 2005 coming to an end we hope that 2006 will be much better.

Halloween

Hi everyone-

Three years ago my wife and I moved into a wonderful neighborhood - the first Halloween we had 92 children come buy saying "Trick-or-Treat". This year we are happy to report that while not at 92 the number is 79. But that is up from last years dismal 38. The difference between this year and last year was the weather. It was a lovely evening in New England - not a cloud in the night sky but temperatures hover around 65 degrees. Last year conversly it was misting and 40ish...not so good.

As far as costumes - someone came as a book - but the problem with the book costume while unique the boy's arms where not outside the book. Therefore limiting the ability to choose and gather ones candy. A corpse bride - our neighbor's child very nice costume. And a few medival costumes which where very nice.

All in all a very nice Halloween around our house.

Now if you want a scary event check this out.

The Holter Monitor Test

Hi everyone-



The Holter Monitor test came and went. The last two days I have not been able to take a shower and had to carry around a device the size of a pager to record my heart beats. It was very interesting. I am including a link about the Holter Monitor. But the very interesting this was that they said that there is no pain - sure no pain with the test but when you go to remove the pads for the leads - very painful for a human man with a hairy chest.....can you say ouch.

Should know the results of this test in a couple of days.

Then I have an MRI coming up next week. But Halloween is next bit of fun...can't wait to see how people dressed up this year.