Growing Up in Rhode Island

I originally hail from Rhode Island and graduated in 1993 from Bishop Hendricken High School. For all you geography buffs, Rhode Island is not an island at all (you knew that I hope). Roger Williams wasn't too swift when he named the place "Rogues Island" because heck its not an island at all although much of the state is surrounded by water. It is run by a bunch of rogues, thieves, mafia, etc., so Roger Williams was half right! No wonder why the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony threw his butt out! The guy was clueless at the time. It's a nice state, however. Very quaint. You can even see many parts of the capital city, Providence on the NBC drama of the same name.  I do however tend to wonder about all those Rhode Islanders and their Rhode Islandisms like Quahog (it's a clam), a cabinet (not the things in the kitchen, but rather a milk shake), Awful! Awful! (another milk shake), a bubblah (a water fountain), frozen lemonade (just like it sounds...lemonade that's frozen..something like if 7-11 had a lemon slurpie), coffee milk (No not chocolate...COFFEE MILK...try it! The syrup is now sold in Super Stop & Shop stores across New England) and their lack of pronouncing "R's" (i.e. sistah, brothah, mothah, fathah). Since I have been out of the state for about 9 years, I realize that damn they have an accent! However, I get harassed to this day by my family for some how managing to loose mine. I now pronounce things wrong! Go figure! The first time I came home from college they thought I was from another planet because all of a sudden I pronounced my "aahs" like a "New Yorkah." Also, it's "too fah" (i.e. too far) in Rhode Island if you have to go to the grocery store more than 10 minutes away! Nuts huh! For more about Rhode Island, check out this little joke "You Know you are from Rhode Island if..." or view some of my photos. Enough about my former home state, I really like it. Well at least like to visit. It is really a beautiful little state. I've taken several great photos of the capital city and Newport, RI if you are interested in seeing more.

Undergraduate Years

I graduated from Fairfield University in 1997 and I was a psychology major. Yes, yes, maybe all this mess is due to my scattered thoughts and you're probably half right.  Not sure if its the left hemisphere or the right hemisphere but, one of those parts of my brain has something to do with it. Must you jump to conclusions! Oh right, the first impression thing. You got me! I was originally a biology major and then I came to my senses. All those chemicals in chemistry lab threw me for a loop. At the time, I had wanted to become a pediatrician. I still love kids and enjoy working with them, but medical school just didn't seem right. Well, I work at one now, but that is irrelevant. So I meet this ultra cool professor (for all of my friends reading this shhh!!). She introduced me to psychology and her background in community psychology really interested me.

Graduate School

I am currently a public health student at the University of Connecticut. I am almost finished. Thank GOD! I can't take much more of this edumacation stuff. Right now I am working on my thesis and then that's it! I'll be able to put those three important letters, MPH, after my name! I can't wait. Hopefully it will be all over in May of 2002 or I think I will be all over!

Hobbies

I do have a few hobbies. One is HTML, graphic, and web design. I have designed a few pages including the Community Psychology Network and the Fairfield University Student Psychological Association's home page. All of my graphic design and HTML coding skills have been self taught through reading books. I am also a web design consultant for AgeVision and run my own web design consulting company called WDBC. Would you like to see a picture? Check out my MattCam! I am also a big fan of volunteer work and community service. Currently, I spend about 5 hours a week volunteering with the Big Brothers/Big Sister's Program in Connecticut. I work with a little boy named Devin. Check out our escapades! I have also worked with the Connecticut Special Olympics summer games held in Fairfield, CT as well as the Family Literacy Project of Fairfield University. Other interests include ice skating and watching college basketball especially the University of Connecticut Huskies!

Pets

I also have an iguana as a pet. His name is IGOR or "Iggy" for short. Real original huh, heck I didn't name him. I was going to rename him when I got him but, the only suggestion I got was "Do you wanna the iguana." I thought that was a little too "up front" for a name so Iggy it is and it remains. He's about 3 1/2 feet long and takes up much of my living room. When I got him he was about nine inches long and was in a 10 gallon tank. Now the tank is like 150 gallons or something. He is a cool pet. Definitely not for everyone. If you would like to learn more about Iggy and other iguana's check out Iggy's home page (He was jealous alright! It's better than all those people with cat home pages, at least my guy is unusual. Everyone and their grandmother has a damn cat!). Heck he graduated from college too...he majored in lounging! Well since I couldn't someone had too! I also have a pair of ferrets but they haven't built their page yet, since they are only babies. 

Well, enough rambling on my part. Thanks for putting up with my dry humor. Please stop back soon as I seem to be tinkering with these pages all the time. I guess you could say I got wrapped up in the web. Alright, I'll stop! Since you now know a little about me use this link so that I can learn a bit about you. Have a good one and thanks for stopping by!