May 17th, 2010 mattdaddy
Reading
By Aidan Cushing
Inspired by Robert Frost
I peer down into the foreign realm,
And see the crafting looking back.
An adventure, with me at the helm,
An adventure does no book lack.
Maybe this time I am a lifeguard
Spending my days in the sand
Or maybe even a lazy dog.
Laying around in the yard.
A pirate, a robot, a ninja too.
You can find it in a book.
All kinds of stories for me and you.
Just go to the library, and take a look.
As I peer into this foreign realm,
I think of my next adventure.
Where I am captain at the helm,
Reading is my knowledge quencher.
Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
May 15th, 2010 mattdaddy
okay, so this really sucks. I got hacked. Someone or something put something on every single php page on my website that caused browsers to forward onto another site. Not fun.
So I’m back to square one, oh goodie, lucky me. It’s cool tho, I’ve been wanting to make some changes anyway. So I’ll be playing with some settings and putting together my portfolio – websites, resume, etc so I can generate more work.
On the elbow front – I’m going to have surgery on my elbow, prolly mid june. The doc recommended it since I’ve been going for cortizone for a year now, lucky me. I’ll post more as it gets closer. I am doing it in mid june because I’m going to New Orleans for a conference 2nd week in June. Bringing the nice lady who lives in my house and puts up with me, we’re going to walk around in the French Quarter, looking for ghosts 
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
April 5th, 2010 mattdaddy
I haven’t blogged in a while now and it’s been bugging me. Maybe I don’t need as much therapy as I did before? Maybe the need to share with the world has waned?
Nah, I’m busy as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest lately Aidan and Fae’s birthdays are coming up, work is crazy busy, I’ve been doing a lot of searching in Genealogy sites, and just generally taking it easier on myself – sitting and reading books for hours with Fae and the kids, working out a little more, that kind of thing.
Biggest Loser update – been floating up and down a bit, but still down around 6lbs. Going to do a lot of things differently to see if I can break 220.
Kendo – missed the last two weeks, but looking forward to Tuesday. Hopefully my elbow won’t give me any issues. It’s been sending small signals that it might be time for another shot, we’ll see.
Life – my son is turning 13 on sunday and I’m quietly freaking out. I’m also madly putting together a D&D adventure for his party on Saturday. Should be interesting – 8 or 9 boys, all hopped up on sugar and candy running around my place killing monsters and bad guys. Hoping they’ll keep it sane enough to actually do something this year. Was almost a complete bust last year.
Anyway, won’t promise to write more, but will certainly try to be better if only for a journal of my 41st year of life:)
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
March 18th, 2010 mattdaddy
Yeah, that was my weight when we started the company Biggest Loser contest two weeks ago.
230? Two Hundred and Thirty Pounds?!?!?
Granted, I’m 6’2”, fairly bulked from the lifting and martial arts training I’ve been doing, but holy crap! I got freakin depressed. So I stopped drinking soda, stopped eating the bags of chips or the whole sleeves of Girl Scout cookies at one sitting. I’ve been doing some stretching a light aerobic exercise in addition to regular Kendo on Wednesdays with Aidan. We’re doing it according to loss percentage of initial weight.
Weigh in – 3/1/2010 – 230lbs
Week 1 – 3/8/2010 – 226.4lbs (down 1.57%) came in 5th
Week 2 - 3/10/2010 – 223.8lbs ( down 1.15%) came in 3rd
So the same person won both weeks, I’m wanting to beat her! Not sure it’s going to happen this week, but we’ll see
Goal is to be under 210lbs and stay there. 4 more weeks
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
March 17th, 2010 mattdaddy
We’re looking into new ways to post things and my boss had come across Windows Live Writer to post to blogs and newsfeeds. We have a module on our portal that allows for internal writing, so I’m trying out the interface – still need to install the module at work
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
January 15th, 2010 mattdaddy
I’ve been so busy lately that I didn’t even realize it’s been a while since I updated. I think I’ve been waiting for enough time to download the pics and movies I took the other day when I made sushi for the first time with Gillian. Tre yummy btw if I do say so. I’ll post about that tonight hopefully.
Feeling okay in the elbow department thankfully. Went through class on Wed with little to no discomfort, tho I forgot to wear the brace, but I seem to be okay still. Currently wearing it because of a twinge I felt this morning. Hoping it’ll go away. Tho I kinda feel achy all over, not sure if it’s from lack of sleep or what.
Aidan’s winter concert was yesterday, and I gotta tell you…they’re all 7th graders, but they are really pretty good. The Wind Ensemble is made up of both 7th and 8th, and they were very good. I’m really proud of my kiddo.
Anyway, Fae’s feeling much better both physically and emotionally which has made life so much sweeter knowing my honey’s back
I’ll post more about the sushi when I can download the pics.
Oh yeah, I’m designing a website too – http://campceliac.org That’s where my girlie goes for a week of camp for the last two years and really loves it.
Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
December 31st, 2009 mattdaddy
I woke up this morning to put in my half day working from home (thanks Matt!) (yeah, i love working from home) looked out the window, and saw the snow coming down. Reminded me of a day 15 years ago today when it was snowing and there was this girl upstairs in her parents bedroom getting ready to marry me.
We had the ceremony done by a justice of the peace, written by us, in her parents house. About 50 people came, relatives, friends from NJ And TX and NY and just had a really nice day. Hectic until the minute everyone started walking down the stairs. Then it was like magic. From where I was standing in the living room, I Could see everyone in the main hallway watching her come down the stairs. Seeing her when she rounded the corner was like magic, like everything was right and all the planning, stress, and nervousness was all worth it and we would be one finally. We’d lived together for a year, but this was totally different.
The only thing I remember about the ceremony was her. I was so nervous, I almost wiped off the still drying nail polish from her fingernails. That and her dress came undone about halfway through and someone had to refasten it. It was just a collar button, so it wasn’t anything tragic. Everyone had a good chuckle.
Now it’s 15 year later, we’ve moved from Texas to NJ, We’ve had two wonderful children, and I’ve had about 3 or 4 jobs. It’s never been easy, and sometimes it’s been work. It’s always been full of love, friendship, and care. I pledged myself to this wonderful woman long ago in that livingroom across town and I would go back and do it in a second.
I love you my Fae, now and always. These are for you:
You turned life around
made me realize the man
I always could be.
You said yes to me
long ago. Say yes every
day till end of time.
Watching you come back
from numbness and hopeless
is seeing you born.
My partner my friend.
Stay with me now and always.
Put your hand in mine.
Happy 15th baby.
Yours now and always,
Matthew
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
December 22nd, 2009 mattdaddy
Yes, I know I have titled several of my posts like that. It’s my blog, tough crap.
Some of you know, but for those who don’t, I was in a car wreck in May of 2007 in which I was hit by an inconsiderate a-hole and some how, after rolling my car three times, I managed to get out of the car and start screaming bloody murder at him. Glass in my hair, my crap strewn all over Route 22 in Bridgewater, yea, I was pretty steamed.
Fast forward to this afternoon where I RE-cursed the a-hole’s name as I got my cortisone shot for the 5th time in my left elbow. Some days it’s just a dull ache. Other days, you breathe on it and it’s excruciating. I got one back in August but went to Kendo camp the next day with my son for 6 days, so needless to say, I didn’t give it enough time to kick in or to do it’s work. We’ve got no class for the next two weeks, so I figured now was the time to do it. I talked to my doctor and he recommended one more and if it didn’t work, he said we could try another procedure called PRP – “The method, which is strikingly straightforward and easy to perform, centers on injecting portions of a patient’s blood directly into the injured area, which catalyzes the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone and other tissue. Most enticing, many doctors said, is that the technique appears to help regenerate ligament and tendon fibers, which could shorten rehabilitation time and possibly obviate surgery.”
I’m not going to go to the dictionary, but I think obviate means I wouldn’t have to have it, which is just freakin fine with me. Going to see what happens with this round of cortisone, then possibly do the PRP, and then if needed, surgery, but he wants to wait a total of 18 months of which 12 is now past.
We’ll see.
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
December 11th, 2009 mattdaddy
We were called early this morning by an automated message from our school system telling us that the High School was canceled because of a bomb threat (all other schools were open). I shrugged it off. I shouldn’t have.
This is the town in which I grew up. WE had bomb threats here when I was in high school, called in by a student who didn’t want to take a test or as a prank. This school is 4 miles from our home. It’s never real, when you see it on TV. Thank goodness it didn’t get played out. Thank goodness for the student who turned him in.
From MyCentralJersey.com -
BRIDGEWATER — A 16-year-old junior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School was charged Friday with attempted murder after authorities found an arsenal of weapons at his home after the school resource police officer learned of threats made by the student to commit a “Columbine” at the school on Monday.
The student, whose name is being withheld by authorities because of his age, was also charged with possession of explosives, possession of a destructive device, and attempted widespread damage or injury. The student has been lodged at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Facility.
Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said during a search of the teenager’s residence, police seized various shotgun shells, bullets, black powder and explosive devices, as well as materials that could act as explosive device components, illustrations on assembling explosive devices, tools, lists of materials and the juvenile’s computer. (ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?!?! ”No Jimmy, I won’t disturb your stockpile…”)
A preliminary search of the high school was conducted early this morning and a decision to close the school was made until a more thorough search could be conducted. This afternoon a thorough search was conducted by K-9 units from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The search of the high school did not find for any explosives.
The investigation is continuing by the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridgewater Township Police Department at (908)722-411, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”.
Update on HS Bomb Threat, 12/11/09, 5:00 PM The police completed a full search of the high school facilities, including Basilone field house at approximately 4:00 PM today. Nothing was found and the school has been declared safe. All Friday evening events are still cancelled. Saturday events will be held. There will be a police presence at the high school on Saturday and Monday to provide an added sense of comfort and security for students, parents, and staff. The principal will address the student body Monday morning regarding the incident. As I stated before, a BR student is in custody, but I can share nothing more at this time. I would like to thank the Bridgewater Police Department for responding so quickly and conducting a very thorough investigation and search. Finally, I must once again thank the student who came forward and reported this information. We are all very proud of this student for doing the right thing and acting in the interests of fellow students and staff.
Sincerely,
Michael Schilder, Superintendent
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
December 11th, 2009 mattdaddy
Too many times we sit by and let things pass and don’t bring attention to them. Well, at least I do. Am I lazy? Am I afraid of bringing attention to myself?
Regardless, I’m not going to do it today. Today is the 20th anniversary of my wife getting clean and sober. Yep, she was 21 yrs old and already had the need to give up drugs and alcohol, so needless to say, it was a big deal. After all of the roadblocks the universe has put in her way – alcohol & drug addiction, overeating, anxiety, depression, and now health issues with iron and ferratin deficiencies – she is so much more now than when I first met her.
She’s grown, changed, slid back, pulled herself up by her bootstraps, succeeded, failed, and yet through it all is that desire, that will, to be better than the day before. I know that it’s been rough, especially the last year or so with trying to get her anxiety/depression meds right, and her iron levels, but I see more of the woman I fell in love with, wanted to marry, now than I have seen in a long time. She’s understanding, caring, and loving in a way that just hasn’t been possible before. It’s good to see her come out of that battered and unemotional shell.
And she’s been clean and sober now for TWENTY YEARS!
You amaze me honey, I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become and I look forward to the future with you.
Your,
Matthew
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »