They're your gifts too.....

First I would like to thank Anna for the idea for a blog. In her comment to Steve's laziness, she said "They are your gifts too"... And you know what, that is nice to see. Though Visco was a stupid ass to blog about his laziness, which is equivalent to someone blogging about how bad work sucks and then work seeing the post.

You see, you need to listen to my wife talk to me about our wedding, gifts, finishing the basement, etc. It's funny to listen to. If she talks about something we were both a part of (like the wedding, buying a house, having babies, etc) she will speak as though she is the sole person involved. Which makes for an interesting converstation when the "having babies" talk comes around.

But seriously, she will be telling me something about the wedding and will say something like "Remember at my wedding..." Last I checked, I was there. I do believe that it takes 2 people to get married. Or maybe I really was just the last piece of the wedding puzzle. Hmmmmm... That's another topic for another blog.

My ABSOLUTE favorite conversation is when she is talking about how "WE" finished the basement. Ummmm.... what. I don't believe that I saw her down there with the nail gun, hanging drywall, mudding and taping, or anything . Oh wait, she did help paint. =)

So Stevey boy, enjoy while things are still "OURS" because within a few years they become "MINE". Even the gifts.

On a similar, but side, note. Saturday is our 6th year anniversary. Yikes. 1 house, 1 cat, 2 cars, 2 kids, and it's just the beginning.

Let's continue with the manly topics.

From America's past time to camp talk.

Over the past few years my old man has been dumping a ton of money into the camp. For those who are no familiar with my camp, it is in South Arm (lower richardson lake) in Maine. It's a beautiful 3 acre spot that my grandfather got rights to back in the 40's-50's. There's 1500 feet of beach front, a brook, and then the lake of course. Our camp is a little 18x28 structure with 2 floors. It was built back in the 40's-50's and frankly, it wasn't really touched since then.

Camp was a place where me, my sister and our 2 cousins grew up (my father's brothers kids). We owned the woods. Building forts, killing little helpless animals, swimming, fishing, listening to the sox on the radio. Good times.

But over the past 12 years, the kids grew up, the adults got more involved into their work, and camp became a place that you'd go for the beach and just leave. So it has 12 years of neglect.

Now we come to the present. My sister has 2 kids, I have 2 kids, and one of my cousins will soon have 2 kids. But the years of neglecting the camp has lead to an unsafe place for young kids.

So, how is this a manly topic. Well, it's the work we have been doing. Here's a list of what we have been doing:
-jacked up the camp to level it
-replaced the wrap around porch
-built a large shed
-built a 10x16 deck off the porch
-replaced the metal roof
-replaced all the windows
gutted the inside (removed all cabinets,sink,woodstove,etc
-made and install a large support beam by sandwiching plywood and 2x10's, built temp support, cut the rafters, placed the beam in place, fastend rafters to beam
-layed advantek flooring
-wired the camp for solar power
-insulated the walls
-installed tongue and groove
-framed the upstairs to have 3 bedrooms (used to be 1 large room)

And that is where we are at right now. My goal is to finish the tongue and groove and ceiling, then spray everything with a poly coat. Then over the winter we can get our ducks in a row for the rest of the finish work (trim, appliances, propane, cabinets,solar)

Then my friends, it will not only be safe for the kids, it will be our get away for the weekend. No phones, no computers, nothing.... That is until we get directTV up there with an internet Connection...=)

Let's talk ball.......

So as a continuation of Visco's Blog , let's talk about Barry and his chase for 756. I for one am torn. There are certain records you would like to see stand the test of time. Numbers like 2130 consecutive games played, 755 homeruns, 56 game hitting streak, .406 BA. Here are a few others I would like to add. 7 no hitters, 5714 strikeouts.

Do you see the mistake above? 2130 games..... that record held by Lou was smashed by good ole' Cal Ripkin Jr. And it is just shown to prove a point. Lou Gehrig was a great player, loved by many. When Cal approached his record, people waited in awe. They were excited to see another son of baseball loved by many break the record. By the way, Cal holds the record @ 2632 games.

So back to Barry. He is approaching/approached a record that is held by one of the greatest players of all times. And he is hated for it. Why? He's just not a good person. Steriod, arm brace talk aside. Barry is just not a well liked person. He doesn't show any respect. He is never humbled by the game. It is almost like he thinks that he transcends the sport. Well he doesn't, and the fans know this.

As for the record itself, although I like the number 755 and it has a huge meaning for the sport (Hank going thru a very racial time and still doing this) it is still an individual number, like the others above. And as we all know, baseball is a TEAM sport. So the big number now is 6.... and 26 if you are a Yankee's fan.

Grand Re-opening

Aight folks.... I'm making the blog appearance for the 2nd time. This time on a better network.

I figure, if Visco can right about crap. So can I.

So, be prepared to have a front row view in the busy world that is my life; kids, wife, work, work, work, house stuff, camp stuff, sports, and my beloved iPhone... yup... I'm that guy.

Check back soon.