Extenze

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I guess being out of the country I miss lots of new medicinal improvements and their marketing campaigns. Well I saw this late night commercial for this product called Extenze that 'extends' (clever huh?) a 'certain part of the male body' ... they constantly skate around the actual 'part' the product was intended for in multiple creative ways ... I think it would be funny if they were actually talking about another 'certain part' of the body. Insert.

Eight Happy Years

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For our 8th Wedding Anniversary I took Carrie to see Iron Man and then went straight home. I mistakenly thought that the 8th wedding anniversary gift was iron. We were going to see the M Night Shayamalan movie but "the baby" was not ready to sleep. I know Iron Man is not as romantic as The Happening, but she's always had a thing for Robert Downey Jr. or so I thought (it's actually Vinn Diesel she likes but I thought Jeff Bridges was quite fetching sporting the evil shaved head and beard look) . June 17th 2008

Speed Stacking 'Relay'

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Happy Father's Day

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Happy Father's Day!

Now this greeting card holiday has a little more of a significant meaning to me, even though it seems now that everyday is father's day. Well ... I still deserve a card and some cheese cake once a year just because.

Deadliest Catch

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We were watching Deadliest Catch, the do-or-die crabbing reality show when I remembered that a friend of mine and I were going to try and work on the fishing fleet in Alaska for summer employment during college. I think he actually paid $25 for the catalog of the ships and information. Although it would have been fun freezing to death, working 20 hour shifts, playing with dangerous sharp instruments (they were jobs like grinder and fish masher) and of course smelling like ripe fish, we decided that it probably was not the greatest idea.

Until Recently a Father Tip #1

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Nursing bra pads make excellent absorbent drink coasters also.

Parking Garage Karma

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During our hospital stay we parked the car in the garage. We left Wednesday night after Carrie was discharged for a few hours and we went to see all the family congregating at the Farthing house but did not think about paying for parking until we were at the gate and he was asking for $20. On a whim I decided to act surprised that they did not take credit cards and feign the fact that we actually had a few dollars and some change because I was hoping for an easier way out. I really did not want to park, get out of the car, walk to and use the ATM (which was very very far away). Luckily, they wrote a bill to pay the next time we park and exited. Great! Karma was with us. But leaving the hospital with Elizabeth I decided that I would do the right thing and pay the bill, even though I was pretty sure we could make a clean getaway and that $20 could go to Elizabeth's college fund. I handed the new ticket and the bill to the lady at the gate but was not able to pay her. I was forced to park, make a Bataan death march to the parking garage office and pay the bill, which delayed me a maximum of three minutes. You just can't win with parking garages ...

Elizabeth Arrives!

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We are happy to announce Elizabeth Madeline McEwen was born June 8th at 5:35pm. She was born by cesarean in a rather surprising and rapid fashion. I thought they were going to send her home telling her to come back when she was having real contractions, but Carrie's intuition was right and the baby was a little distressed (high heart beat and less movement). Within the hour there was baby Elizabeth. I have to say she is an adorable 6lbs and 10 ozs. and something like 19 inches (about a foot and a half) but I have not measured her myself. Mom and baby are just fine, more details to follow.

For more pictures visit: Life with Elizabeth

Little Creepy?

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Facebook just announced the the world that I bought Don't Mess With the Zohan tickets on Fandango. Since Carrie bought the tickets under her credit card and in no way connected it with Facebook or my name it's a little disconcerting. It's the greatest marketing and advertising scam to disguise itself as a people networking platform yet. Zohan was only slightly funnier because we lived int the area for four years. I also feel obliged to announce that I've also seen the Indiana Jones movie, Kung-Fu Panda (first five minutes were the most entertaining), and the Narnia movie (so very dark Disney). Any movies I have to see?

Generations

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Last night Carrie's Grandma and mom, Carrie and I went out to Mexican (Casa Azteca ... I know, I know but Grams loves it) for dinner. I took the camera along because I thought it would be a nice to have a generational photo before the baby arrives. Well coming out of the restaurant, Grandma fell and broke her arm. She's doing OK, but I did feet a few pangs of regret for not being more helpful because at the time of the incident I was window shopping at a toy store. Well while waiting for the ambulance, I suddenly remembered the camera and snapped this photo. Carrie said it was tacky but I think it's fairly poignant. Notice everyone laughing or smiling? That's Robin from the restaurant by her knees (she called 911). We were at the same hospital that Carrie will go when the time comes until 1am but Elizabeth decided to let Grandma have her night. Again Grandma remained humorous, elegant and kept her composure as always. She is doing fine. Oh .. and the Mexican food was typically typical.

Best Gift Yet

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Carrie's Grandma came through again with the gift of this glamorous fox wrap. This will really help during those fashion conscious winters in Dhaka.

Have A Great Summer

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The American School of Dhaka is officially off for summer! To all the AISD teachers and friends teaching around the world and in the states, have super safe summer fun and keep in touch! Woo! As my friend Lauren says, "I love my job, but I also love that my job comes with 7-8 weeks of vacation" ... June and July makes it all good! See you in August!

My Mom

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I just wanted to give a shout out to my amazing mother who is in New York this week with two of her high school art students who are being awarded the National Gold Key Award for their art. She is a just a ultra super cool mom. She is also an accomplished artist and fabulous teacher. This is her last year of teaching because she is to retiring to become a full-time grandmother (well not really). Love you MOM!

Athena Glass Jewelry
Visit Houston to see her ceramics ...

Beer .. Sans Baby

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Today we were in Wegmans (an interesting New York grocery store) and they had CascaZilla beer (monstrously hoppy) from the Ithaca Beer company, which sports a imitation Godzilla breathing fiery hops on it (G3: The Wrath of Godzilla). I also added a six pack of Red Stripe but still have to visit Beers of the World to get my Shiner Bock. You might ask "Matthew! Why so much excitement about beer?" Well living in Bangladesh severely restricts choices in almost all categories, including beer. When Carrie and I get back to the states, we usually just wander stores in awe of all the choices. So well ... it's nice to have a variety and ... tasty beer. Next time you are drinking a Joseph Holt Hunmdinger or a King Billy Bitter, remember there are people in Dhaka drinking Heineken ... when they can get it. I will give a shout out to Leon's MIB (Made in Bangladesh), an award winning home brew. Carrie just made me promise to not drink around her Grandma because it will mean us not getting into the highest level of heaven. At least not until after we convert to Mormonism ...

Oh Spacious Skies

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On our way into Rochester not only did I just avoid a large gray squirrel, a tiny field rabbit, and two deer crossing the street, I also drove into what must be the only roundabout in the states on some farm road out in the middle of nowhere. At first Carrie was giving excellent directions and then the next thing I know, BAM I'm going around in circles. Where do they get off putting a completely foreign road implement like a roundabout in America?! We Americans have a right to being stopped at traffic lights in the middle of nowhere for no particular reason! ... I'm pretty sure if you looked hard enough in that area there'd be an Al-Queda training camp close by. Remain vigalent and vary your routes to work!

Games games games

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My sister in law Dori is always in the search for fun, wacky, and rules complicated games. Yesterday we played Quelf, Munchkin Chathulu, and Killer Bunnies. Lots of silliness, group interaction, and backstabbing. I still can't forgive Dori for killing my only bunny when everyone else had several ... she claims it was an extremely 'dangerous' bunny but as the rules were still nebulous to me, I really don't know. Then we played some crazy four deck group solitaire which I think they called squib or squish. I still like Time's Up (uh Mensa Select winna) and Go Fish. I also think making up games would be on my top ten list of dream jobs. http://www.quelf.com/
Killer Bunnies
Steve Jackson Games
Just for giggles here's a list of the Mensa Select Games
Even funnier BoardGameGeek.com comments and their picks

Wildlife

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Carrie's parents live outside of Rochester in a little town called Pittsford. The Erie canal is just outside the main road, we are surrounded with trees, and it's cold, way too cold. With the cottonwood trees (I think ... in Texas we have pine pollen) releasing their floating seeds into the air it's almost like snow in June until you inhale and choke on one. We are also surround by an abundance of wildlife: woodpeckers, chipmunks, raccoons, hummingbirds, lots of other birds that are pretty and I can't name, and lots of deer. I was up one morning and was stunned to see a deer just outside the living room windows. She just turned and watched me. My father-in-law came around the corner and I mentioned the deer and asked if they usually come this close. As he headed outside in his bathrobe, I remembered the camera and ran downstairs. Of course by the time I returned the deer was gone. Apparently they are a big nuisance and eat new tree shoots and flowers. They say people use firecrackers and motion sensing sprinklers, and they have been talking about purchasing a slingshot. My in-laws have already captured, relocated and released at least two chipmunks and a raccoon. I think of the capture and release as a twisted form of animal hazing.

Ceramics and Bluegrass

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Yesterday Carrie and I went with her father to a cool warehouse commune where he takes pottery lessons. They were having a kind of open house trying to raise money for a scholarship they fund. Besides meeting lots of interesting people, one of the teachers also plays in a bluegrass band. So as the banjo, mandolins, and stand up bass were cranking out some sweet bayou music, there were 12 wheels cranking out tea bowls for the fund raiser. I also got to taste a eclectic variety of local beers. My favorite being Caszazilla which had Godzilla on it. I'm currently on a 'beer' hunt (1st grade humor).