My wife received the H1N1 vaccine yesterday, which leaves me as the only member of my household to do so. Still, I'd seemingly have an easier time finding Whitey Bulger than I would the vaccine in Massachusetts.

According to the state's Department of Heath and Human Services, Massachusetts has received just over one million doses of the H1N1 vaccine - less than one third of the amount the state ordered.

However, there does seem to be a light. According to commissioner John Auerbach, the government projects a significant increase in the volume of doses by the second week of December. However, Auerbach writes, "given the changeability of the production processes we don't know what amounts or what formulations of vaccine doses will become available ahead of time. This makes it very difficult for clinical practices to plan ahead or to notify their patients of what to expect."

The best bet? Utilize the state's public flu clinic finder for updates, and be sure to call ahead.

It's certainly been a pretty temperate November so far, but winter is indeed on the way. So, grab your skates and head to Boston Common, where Frog Pond opens for the season Thursday night.

Mayor Menino will help kick off the rink's annual opening with a gala featuring many of Boston's top national and international figure skating competitors, including Brittany Rizo and Curran Oi, as well as many local up-and-coming young skating stars. Opening night will also feature raffles for season and night passes and special guests Frog Pond Freddie and Blades from the Boston Bruins. Mardi Gras masks and beads will also accompany a special musical performance by the Hot Tamale Brass Band.

Admission on opening night is free, while normal skate rental rates will apply.

The 2009-2010 Frog Pond hours of operation are as follows: Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (except Monday when the rink closes at 4 p.m.), Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, open Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., New Year's Eve 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and New Year's Day 12 noon to 5 p.m. On December 28, and February 15, 2010, Frog Pond will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit the rink's official web site.

Photo courtesy Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Maybe we just can't get the Patriots off our mind after that devastating loss to the Colts, but instead of the Lions and Cowboys every year, shouldn't the Patriots play on Thanksgiving?

After all, the first Thanksgiving Day celebration took place on Massachusetts shores back in 1621. What did Detroit ever do?

Nevertheless, this weekend does offer a fine opportunity to commemorate the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, where the American Hometown Celebration will take place. The celebration includes a parade, food festival, concert series, and other activities, including a historic village re-enactment, all to commemorate the Pilgrims' landing at Plymouth Rock. If anything, it's a great way to escape the already-overbearing Christmas presence in retail America, and get back to understanding the historic importance of Thanksgiving.

Click here for complete information.

In Belichick we trust? Uh...

Even the overwhelming blind faith of Patriots fans is having a hard time justifying head coach Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth-and-two on New England's own 28-yard-line last night. Leading the Colts, 34-28 with 2:08 to play, a punt would have forced the Colts to drive the field for the game-winning score. A first-down would have enabled the Patriots to take a knee and savor the win over their rivals.

Neither happened. Tom Brady's quick pass to Kevin Faulk might have been a first down, but Faulk juggled the ball on the catch, and the ruling on the field was that he was short. The Patriots could have challenged the call, had Belichick not erroneously already burned his team's final time out.

Whoops.

Of course, the Colts scored, kicked an extra point, and won. That's five out of six times that these teams have met now that the Pats have come away with an "L," and Belichick's decision to try and finish the now 9-0 Colts off last night in gutsy - albeit stupid - fashion can only prove that Peyton Manning is in his head.

Remember when it was the other way around?

Even prior to Belichick's gaffe, the game was another classic in the storied rivalry between these two. Still, the loss pretty much assures home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is gone for the Patriots (6-3), who are still in the driver's seat for the AFC East. If the AFC title game goes through Indianapolis, it will be one of the more anticipated rematches in NFL history.

It should have been in Foxborough.