Tag Archives: Patriots

Recovering from the Collapse & New Milestones

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I'm eating rice cereal now!     Hangin' Out in My Overalls

I think I have recovered from the greatest upset in NFL history, finally. It took a day or two to lose that sick feeling that started around midway through the third quarter. I can’t remember the last sporting event that made me feel physically ill, as I watched. Even more eerie, Hadley began wailing inconsolably after Randy Moss caught the Patriot’s go ahead touchdown with just under three minutes left in the game. It was as if she sensed New England’s bid for sports immortality was ebbing and waning under the Giants final, game winning drive. Although, maybe she was just overly tired, hungry, and sensing the heightened tension in the room. In the spirit of Super Bowl betting, I say it’s a “pick ‘em.”

Getting Ready for the Game with Grandpa

Watching the Game with Grandpa

There is great news from the Haas household as little Miss Hadley reaches more and more milestones. Two weeks ago she began rolling over like it was her job. She had already flipped from her back to her belly a few times, but didn’t seem terribly interested, favoring a twisted, half flip, allowing her to look around without having to completely turn. Then one day she just started rolling onto her belly without a hitch and was nearly incapable of staying on her back. A week later, Ali had her mastering the next flip, from belly to back. So now, Hadley is a rolling stone to be sure, flip-flopping over and over again, rolling to various areas all around the room. She looks terribly impatient about crawling by the way.

What's that you say?   Don't bother me, I'm thinking.

Getting Some Love from Dad

Mid-roll   Watch Me Play!

Since the last post, Ali has begun a life of leisure with our baby girl, having left her job to stay at home to live on my teacher’s salary. Of course, her two biggest concerns are alive and well. That she will forget how to speak with adults and that Hadley will think staying at home is infinitely more boring than the day care center. Undoubtedly, Hadley will miss the level of stimulation some. The staff commented that they nicknamed our daughter Nosy Rosy, because she was always craning to see what was going on in the room with all the other kids. This is not terribly surprising, considering how distracted she can be when Ali is feeding her, scanning the room for me, if I am there, or just to eyeball her toys, making sure they are still where she left them.

Napping with Dad While He Works

Look, Dad! I like computers too!   I'm Getting Good at This

All in all things have been going rather well for all of us. Both Ali and I just keep marveling at how fast our little girl is growing and learning, while trying to get the house more prepared for her graduation to mobile.

In the New Toy!     Always Posing

Digging Out in New England

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Well, it has been an exciting last week here in New England. Today, was a good day to do some catching up on ye old fritzwinkle. In the last four days we have been slammed with somewhere over a foot of snow.

Half of it crippled the whole region Thursday smack in the middle of the afternoon rush. It was by far the worst conditions I can ever remember being a driver. It was absolutely ridiculous. My trip to pick up Hadley and head home took over two hours, and I nearly didn’t make it. This is a trip that normally takes about twenty minutes or so. Beginning about 1 PM somewhere between 6-9 inches fell fast and furiously until about 8 PM. The interstates were parking lots where it was not rare for people to simply put the car in park, get out of the car, brush off the snow, get back in and start driving again. The occasional abandoned car was not out of picture either. Ali, having to head west from the city spent five hours to travel about eight miles, before deciding to whole up at Keri’s for nearly the evening. She eventually, restarted the trek after 11 PM and pulled in around 12:30 AM. Luckily she doesn’t work on Fridays, but I do. So, after a fortunate delayed start I finished the week at school.



snow in new england

Originally uploaded by chrishanaka

Then today’s morning greeted us with an expected Nor’easter that dropped another 6+ inches on us. This leaves us up to our knees with the winter’s downy. Fortunately, our two great neighbor’s hit most of our driveway with a snowblower, which meant that I only needed to spend an hour and half with shovel in hand to clear the rest of the area and get the cars capable of use. While it sure looks pretty, it no doubt complicates just about everything. Yet it made for a good day to shut in and play with the baby and watch some football, with the sweet smell of Ali’s Christmas cookies in the air. Unfortunately, today’s odd mix of snow, then freezing sleet, and windy conditions thwarted the anticipated Patriot drubbing of the Jets, in the much anticipated Spygate Bowl, a mere 10 point victory when everyone was waiting for something in the neighborhood of 50.



Go Patriots!

Originally uploaded by fritzwinkle

Needless to say that the last couple of weeks have been hurried to say the least. As we prepare to head home for the holidays to show off the new addition, we’ve been doing all the last minute shopping and such. Ali even got the tree up and decorated to ring in Hadley’s first Christmas right. The way this season is going though, we are beginning to refer to the holiday as Hadley Day! Now that we have a baby, it is stunning how many gifts continue to arrive. My mother has particularly lost her mind with a gift giving fever for her one and only granddaughter. It is a good thing that we bought a house, because we need a place to put everything! Still, we couldn’t be more grateful. If only people could gift us some time. Then we could finish moving into said domicile.

But enough chatter here are some more pics of the golden child!

Super Bowl & Super Ali

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Well, much has happened since I last posted any mental meanderings. Of course, the Patriots cinched another Super Bowl victory to their growing dynasty. I am officially the envy of my family and friends, having moved to a location that suddenly seems to be basking in the perpetual glow of athletic championships. My mother, of course claims that I am a traitor. Ironically, the charge came not because I in any way abandoned the Chicago teams. Rather, when I admitted I was pulling for my new local team in the Super Bowl, according to her, I abandoned the team of my birthplace. Having been born on the south side of Philadelphia should have sealed my allegiance. My hopes certainly rode on their ill-fated match-up with the Raiders in 1981. Even if they were playing someone other than New England, I may have hoped for their victory. However, there was never a doubt in my mind that the Patriots were going to continue their reign. Now that they did, it almost seems like just another parade through the city of Boston. It is becoming almost more of an expectation.

On a different football note, Patriot linebacker Teddy Bruschi was hospitalized this week after a stroke. All I can say is that I hope it is not too serious. Aside from the concern one might have for his fellow man, he quickly became one of my favorite, if not absolute favorite player, on the team. He is a model player; the kind of selfless team player you hope you have on your team. Now that he got out of the hospital, the information is pretty scant. My suspicion is that his time is done in the NFL.

On a more fun note, Ali celebrated a birthday this week. It took her a few weeks but she caught me in the age category, poor thing. Being that is right on the heels of Valentine’s Day, she makes it very clear that there should be no doubling-up on festivities and gifts. Well, this year she got three celebrations; a birthday with the family, Valentine’s loot, and another birthday celebration with me on the day. I think she made out well. Although I am not sure that she would agree considering that the revelry of the last two were cut short by fatigue. Here are some visuals.

Photo: Ali with Valentine's Day Bouquet
Photo: Ali Showing Gift

Photo: Ali with Birthday Cake

Also, here is a lovely representation of Ali by her younger brother Willie. As you can see, the resemblance is uncanny.

Photo: Willie's Drawing of Ali