Please take a moment of your day today to remember the people who gave their lives on this day back in 1941 defending our country. If you ever go to Hawaii, I highly advise going over to Pearl Harbor and doing the tour (I've been twice).

It will leave you speechless.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

What is Winterball Baseball?

Winterball is a 9-inning baseball game fundraiser played the first weekend of December each year. This is the 11th straight year of the game, and the 8th straight year this freeze-fest will be held to benefit Toys for Tots and the United States Marine Corps. The Boston Amateur Baseball Network is hosting. Upwards of 100 adult amateur baseball players from several local baseball leagues are expected to attend.

Winterball participants are required to make a toy donation to Toys for Tots to get onto a roster. Since inception, the average game temperature has been 39 degrees.

Date/Time:  Saturday, December 3, 2011

10:00AM – Batting Practice
10:30AM – United States Marines arrive to collect toys
11:00AM – First Pitch

Location:  Maplewood Park, 99 Crystal Street, Malden, MA

This year, those aged 18+ will battle those aged 30+ to see if age is truly eternal, as the Young Bucks take on the Aging Stallions.

About Toys for Tots:

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

Photos and game info from past years is at: www.bostonbaseball.com/winterball.php

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

With my brother suffering an injury surfing over the weekend in Hawaii and having surgery on Monday, I will be heading out there for the next two weeks to help him out. I know tough life going to Hawaii for two weeks.

Fortunately given my current employment situation (if you’re hiring, I’m interested), I am able to go out there and help out.

With that being said, the site will continue to function as normally as possible while I’m gone with the exception of Tuesday. I’ll be spending most of my day on a plane so there more than likely won’t be any posts tomorrow.

I’m going to my best to keep it business as usual around here after Tuesday. Given the six hour time difference, it won’t be easy but I’m a smart dude, I’ll figure it out.

Please take a moment sometime during the day today to remember the victims and countless heroes of the fateful day known as 9-11-01.

Happy Birthday to all those born on this date. Let our celebration of life be a reminder to those that attempted to break us that we are still standing proudly and believe that America is the best place to live!!

Please don’t forget our troops who are overseas defending our great country and those who gave their lives.

I found this very moving video on YouTube aptly named “9-11 World Trade Center Memorial – Jeff Buckley/Hallelujah”

And even though my mom doesn’t celebrate her birthday anymore on this date, I am still going to wish her a Happy Birthday.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

During a live spot from Virginia Beach, VA on The Weather Channel, a few idiots decided to run across the shot with one of them losing their pants. There may be a male body part shown so you’ve been warned.

{flvremote}http://cdn.ianbethune.com/streaker.flv{/flvremote}

Well after working on the computer essentially for the past two days straight, we’re just about there. I am going to try my best and work through what lag there is to get the site back to normal.

In the meantime, I’ll be working to get the computer back to where it was before the problem started last week.

Please bear with me, I do apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Believe me when I say I’m frustrated about this. But things will get back to normal and I hope quickly.

If you were wondering why the posting here has been erratic as of late, I’ve been experiencing some computer issues. Ever since last Friday, my computer has been very laggy when typing.

This causes things to take a lot longer than it should. The two posts I do before the daily Red Sox News * Notes post usually take about 20 mins to do. Today, it was over an hour. Same with when I tried to do them on Friday when the problem first arose.

What’s funny about the whole process is that each time it’s fixed, it’s mainly because the computer is running without antivirus. So while diagnosing that as part of problem is a good thing, it’s not the ideal thing to do. Part of the process right now is trying to find an antivirus solution that works the best with my computer.

I honestly do feel bad about not being able to post. Just know that I’m doing everything possible to get my computer back to normal as fast as I can. If in the next day or so, I can’t get this thing under control, I will move what I need to a spare laptop.

It kills me each day that I miss so I hope this thing gets under wraps sooner rather than later.

And just so everyone knows, I’m still watching the Red Sox games. It kills me not to be able to talk about them or even be out there on Twitter with everyone.

A little while back, I was offered a chance to try out the recovery drink Code Blue. Since I was just getting entrenched into my workout program at the gym, I figured maybe this would help me out after the gym.

For those who don’t know what Code Blue is, it is an all-natural recovery drink. It contains no caffeine and has three times more electrolytes than the leading sports drink. It’s designed to help the body fight dehydration, replinsh the vital nutrients you’ve lost, reduces the toxins in your system and also will help fight inflammation.

Code Blue can be used after the gym, after a long night of drinking and will also help you out stay hydrated if you’re flying. For me as I said above, I used it after working out.

I’ve been watching what I eat and during the time I tried out Code Blue I was in Phase Two of the South Beach Diet. So I was a little worried about the extra calories the drink might have. But there was really no worry as one serving of Code Blue has 40 calories (a can has 60).

If you’re not a fan of citrus tasting drinks, then this drink might not be for you. To me, it tasted like that first sip of a Fresca, a little citrusy but definitely something I could get used.

Over the course of 12 workouts, I drank the Code Blue at different points. 

For the most part, I drank it after the workout. I did try it once before the workout and once during. I can honestly say that for me it was most effective after the workout. Within maybe an hour or so of working out after drinking it, I felt refreshed. My legs didn’t feel as sore as they normally would (I walk around four miles on the treadmill every day). Whatever body part I was concentrating on that day at the gym didn’t feel sore either.

You know how sometimes your body feels tired after exercising, I didn’t feel like that after having the Code Blue. And when I ran out, I did notice the difference between not using it and using it.

I’ve tried a few other sports drinks while working out and after but to me it didn’t have the same effects as the Code Blue did.

So consider me a believer of Code Blue and what it does. I don’t drink alcohol all that often (once in a blue moon) but if/when I do, I’ll be sure to try Code Blue to see how it works.

Now if I could just get them to send me some more for free. I kid, I kid.

Be sure to head over the Code Blue website and check it out for yourself. You’ll also be able to find a store in your area that sells it.

Much like September 11, 2001 people will never forget where they were on May 1, 2011 when they heard the news of the demise of Osama Bin Laden.

Last night was full of emotion from the crowd outside the White House singing God Bless America to the 45,000 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia chanting U-S-A! U-S-A! To the peaceful quiet vigil at Ground Zero and the FDNY members gathering in Times Square.

Some rejoiced, some mourned, even myself I spent nearly two hours crying over the news.  Tears of happiness of the news, tears of sadness over those that were lost, tears of joy for the survivors of September 11, those that made it out of those buildings and those who were there and provided emergency services.  They were for the families of those that were gone but mostly they were for my “brothers” the gone but not forgotten 343 officers and firefighters of the FDNY.  They were for the NYC EMS workers, the NYPD, the Port Authority PD and anyone else who came and provided help.  They were for the emergency workers in DC and in the field in PA.

It’s been nearly 10 years since that cowardly act and in many ways, New York City, Washington, DC and Shanksville, PA have healed but it never truly felt like it was complete.  Last night President Obama told the American public you can now remove your Band-Aid.  Let air get at those wounds, the person who was responsible for this can no longer hurt you, hurt us or anyone else.

I never served in the military, but like many others I have family and friends who did and are currently serving and they deserve our respect and gratitude today and everyday.  We are all proud of you, for unselfishly serving your country for way little pay and not enough recognition.  These men and women allow us to do the things we do, to be the America we have become.  They do things at all hours of the day and night that you and I can not begin to fathom.  Today America is a better place because of a small group of those wonderful military personnel took on a job and accomplished it.

It is my wish that all those who were affected by September 11, 2001 can now be allowed to move on with their lives.  The pain of that day will always remain it will never truly fade away but maybe now they can enjoy a beautiful early fall day and think of the good times they had with their loved ones and not how they left them.

If you don’t follow us on Twitter, then you wouldn’t know that we’re taking a vacation for the next three days. We’re off for a little rest and relaxation. But we’ll be back either late Thursday or back in full swing on Friday.

I do apologize for the inconvenience as I know a lot of people count on us for information.