Sunday, April 30, 2006
Timing Is Everything
When Kai woke up this morning at 5:10, half an hour ahead of schedule, the thought crossed my mind that in a week's time, that would have been 6:40 in Newfoundland. Maybe keeping them trying to keep the kids on our Ontario schedule might work to our advantage. Although I learned that attempting to discuss this possibility with Shelley at that moment was not the best idea I've ever had. As mentioned, timing is everything.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Half-Samson
It's a sure-fire sign of spring when I conduct my self-shearing.
Rei is not so impressed; she wants me to put my black hair back on.
Rei is not so impressed; she wants me to put my black hair back on.
Friday, April 28, 2006
The Shot Heard around the World
I went golfing again this afternoon, I shot 5 better than my last round with fewer mulligans needed.
My best shot was one I didn't see, off the fairway behind a tree on #9 (yes, my tee shot put me closer to the 1st green). I lined up with my 3-iron and, with an easy swing, blasted off. It went out and up like a rocket, I lost sight of it but it sounded sweet and looked straight. With no idea where it might have gone, I trudged off in search of my ball. Golf really is a silly game if you stop to think about it; I don't.
And there it was, my ball, right in the middle of the fairway beside the white marker, 150 yards from the flag. With the hole being 509 yards in length, taking 2 shots for 359 yards was the highlight. From there, I overshot the green and double-bogeyed which was the theme of my outing. I won't quit my day job.
My best shot was one I didn't see, off the fairway behind a tree on #9 (yes, my tee shot put me closer to the 1st green). I lined up with my 3-iron and, with an easy swing, blasted off. It went out and up like a rocket, I lost sight of it but it sounded sweet and looked straight. With no idea where it might have gone, I trudged off in search of my ball. Golf really is a silly game if you stop to think about it; I don't.
And there it was, my ball, right in the middle of the fairway beside the white marker, 150 yards from the flag. With the hole being 509 yards in length, taking 2 shots for 359 yards was the highlight. From there, I overshot the green and double-bogeyed which was the theme of my outing. I won't quit my day job.
Down the Fairway
Back to the beginning of this week, Rei broke in her birthday golf set.
She insisted on wearing a golf glove; perhaps she's looking for a duel.
She insisted on wearing a golf glove; perhaps she's looking for a duel.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Homo Erectus
The Boys' Day entertainment today was standing Kai up on his feet and letting him bounce. A few times he took some steps, but that was more accidental than anything. The look of delight on his face indicated it was the greatest thing in the world. He's growing up so fast.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Forward Momentum
Kai's spending more time on his belly now, repositioning himself for his next adventure. Usually, he logrolls himself all over the place. Now he is making some forward progression; is crawling that far off?
Wi-find
It seems that another household in the neighbourhood is wirelessly high-speeding along the information superhighway.
My practice has been to turn off our router at night, lessening the unlikely chance of someone else using our signal for their own surfing needs. Plus, one less device emitting invisible rays throughout the house is, in my mind, a good thing. Whether it makes a difference, given all the radio, satellite and wireless signals, is another point.
Sometimes I forget to turn the route back on in the morning, remembering only when the internet browser or email fails to connect. This morning, my download of iTunes' Free Single of the Week was exceptionally quick and then I remembered that our router was still unplugged. Checking the iBook's settings I found a "linksys" network that is nearby, judging by the strength of signal.
Arkona is on-line, with a vengeance.
My practice has been to turn off our router at night, lessening the unlikely chance of someone else using our signal for their own surfing needs. Plus, one less device emitting invisible rays throughout the house is, in my mind, a good thing. Whether it makes a difference, given all the radio, satellite and wireless signals, is another point.
Sometimes I forget to turn the route back on in the morning, remembering only when the internet browser or email fails to connect. This morning, my download of iTunes' Free Single of the Week was exceptionally quick and then I remembered that our router was still unplugged. Checking the iBook's settings I found a "linksys" network that is nearby, judging by the strength of signal.
Arkona is on-line, with a vengeance.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Sorrow
Sad news from our friends, Jeffy and Cheryl. This past weekend, Cheryl had a miscarriage and we're left with little more than appreciation for the fragility of life and the miracle of birth. How often we take for granted the health care we complain about.
In the face of absence, we hold on to what we know and have. So we find solace in our routines and our circles of support. Send kind thoughts to Cheryl & Jeffy and their kids.
In the face of absence, we hold on to what we know and have. So we find solace in our routines and our circles of support. Send kind thoughts to Cheryl & Jeffy and their kids.
Monday, April 24, 2006
HoCho at LoCoYoFo
After 4 days with 100 youth and their leaders, and missing Rei's birthday on the weekend, I'm settling back into the wonderful routine that is home.
In attempting to impress the importance of curfew and self-care in a youth retreat setting, I related the true story of a youth suffering from the side effects of no sleep, little food and too much running around. His body reacted strongly to this mistreatment and I summed up the anecdote with the diagnosis: "hopped up on hot chocolate and good times".
This became one of the running jokes throughout the event; but even as I share it in this cyber space, I know it is another case of "you had to be there". Should you care to discover more about the vibrant ministry for youth in our London Conference of The United Church of Canada, pictures, videos and shared stories await at LoCoYoFo.com.
In attempting to impress the importance of curfew and self-care in a youth retreat setting, I related the true story of a youth suffering from the side effects of no sleep, little food and too much running around. His body reacted strongly to this mistreatment and I summed up the anecdote with the diagnosis: "hopped up on hot chocolate and good times".
This became one of the running jokes throughout the event; but even as I share it in this cyber space, I know it is another case of "you had to be there". Should you care to discover more about the vibrant ministry for youth in our London Conference of The United Church of Canada, pictures, videos and shared stories await at LoCoYoFo.com.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Welcome Back, I'm Off!
Shelley's parents returned from their winter away in the American south. The trailer pulled into Arkona at supper time where I had a chance to awake the barbeque from its winter slumber. And proceeded to run out of propane as the burgers finished.
We played a bit of catch-up over the last 4 months and I was presented with a University of Kentucky baseball hat, just like the one I couldn't find anywhere around these parts. The kids were happy to see Grandma and Papa and it will be nice to have some extra pairs of hands and eyes here while I'm away at London Conference's Youth Forum for the next 4 days.
We played a bit of catch-up over the last 4 months and I was presented with a University of Kentucky baseball hat, just like the one I couldn't find anywhere around these parts. The kids were happy to see Grandma and Papa and it will be nice to have some extra pairs of hands and eyes here while I'm away at London Conference's Youth Forum for the next 4 days.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Sweet Dreams are made of these
For some particular reason, my dreams of late have been especially vivid and memorable.
Last night, I dreamt that Prison Break's Michael Scofield rigged himself a jet pack to escape from Fox River Penitentiary and spent the rest of the series trying to spring his buddies. How bad is it that I'm dreaming up TV episodes, don't I watch enough?
The night before, I dreamt I was golfing and in a high pressure situation (large crowd, sizeable wager on the line) made a marvellous approach shot with my 3-wood to garner fame, fortune and a feeling of satisfaction.
The night before that I was at The Airport waiting to catch a flight - it's a common dream of mine, the same airport, accompanied with a sense of me needing to be somewhere else, waiting, hoping I'm not late.
Not to be outdone, Shelley dreamt that Rei woke up at 10:30 p.m. and I, in an attempt to get her back to sleep, gave her a can of Coke. Then I was frustrated that she was up until 2 a.m. and unable to figure out why.
Last night, I dreamt that Prison Break's Michael Scofield rigged himself a jet pack to escape from Fox River Penitentiary and spent the rest of the series trying to spring his buddies. How bad is it that I'm dreaming up TV episodes, don't I watch enough?
The night before, I dreamt I was golfing and in a high pressure situation (large crowd, sizeable wager on the line) made a marvellous approach shot with my 3-wood to garner fame, fortune and a feeling of satisfaction.
The night before that I was at The Airport waiting to catch a flight - it's a common dream of mine, the same airport, accompanied with a sense of me needing to be somewhere else, waiting, hoping I'm not late.
Not to be outdone, Shelley dreamt that Rei woke up at 10:30 p.m. and I, in an attempt to get her back to sleep, gave her a can of Coke. Then I was frustrated that she was up until 2 a.m. and unable to figure out why.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Good Gravy!
The spring cleaning bug hit today; Shelley moreso than me, not surprisingly. She made a roast beef supper (featuring some stellar gravy) and some baby food. With the help of Rei, they cleaned out and reorganized the fridge.
As for me, I did a couple loads of laundry. I also wiped the dust off the keyboard of the PC so that I could play some Carcasonne online with a still-awake Ursula.
As for me, I did a couple loads of laundry. I also wiped the dust off the keyboard of the PC so that I could play some Carcasonne online with a still-awake Ursula.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Glitches and Bloopers
The Jeopardy game that was crafted for a regional youth worship service apparently couldn't make the Macintosh transition and so my favourite question/answer remains unoffered. I present the cyberspace unveiling of said question, inspired by Cheryl's dad and Shelley's grandmother:
Category: Biblical Characters
Q: The Baha-Men may have borrowed the title from their hit song from these last words of Jezebel.
A: What is "Who let the dogs out?"
The giggle-inducing highlight/miscue was an overlap of a documentary video clip of Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate and the Passover featuring scholars from Harvard and other highbrowed ivory towers with the less scholastic audio rendition of "O Holy Night". I don't think anyone realized things were amiss until the computer screen windows started minimizing and closing; the carol was silenced and the video re-started.
The pew was shaking from my internalized mirth which, I think, kept those around me in chuckles. Who said church isn't fun?
Category: Biblical Characters
Q: The Baha-Men may have borrowed the title from their hit song from these last words of Jezebel.
A: What is "Who let the dogs out?"
The giggle-inducing highlight/miscue was an overlap of a documentary video clip of Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate and the Passover featuring scholars from Harvard and other highbrowed ivory towers with the less scholastic audio rendition of "O Holy Night". I don't think anyone realized things were amiss until the computer screen windows started minimizing and closing; the carol was silenced and the video re-started.
The pew was shaking from my internalized mirth which, I think, kept those around me in chuckles. Who said church isn't fun?
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Tip Off
Tonight I got back into the basketball groove, playing in a pick-up game in Grand Bend, administered by the Youth Centre there. For $2 per person per night, it was worth the drive for me to get out and shoot some hoop.
It's been a long time since I've played against people; naturally there was a bit of rusty play on my part, but all in all, I felt good about my game. Mind you, there was only 6 of us, so it was just halfcourt 3-on-3. Although we tired quickly too. I managed a few slashing drives to the basket, a few 3-pointers, and even some low-post play. Most importantly, I finished relatively injury-free: a minor cut on my pinkie and I bit my tongue.
Who won? Well, we all did! (Although I suspect that had we kept score, ours would have been lower).
It's been a long time since I've played against people; naturally there was a bit of rusty play on my part, but all in all, I felt good about my game. Mind you, there was only 6 of us, so it was just halfcourt 3-on-3. Although we tired quickly too. I managed a few slashing drives to the basket, a few 3-pointers, and even some low-post play. Most importantly, I finished relatively injury-free: a minor cut on my pinkie and I bit my tongue.
Who won? Well, we all did! (Although I suspect that had we kept score, ours would have been lower).
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Babyproofing
It was just a matter of time before Kai got into the CDs.
Jeffy would see this as karmic payback for the times I'd rearranged his extensive CD collection.
Jeffy would see this as karmic payback for the times I'd rearranged his extensive CD collection.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Bon Jovi Day
"Ohhh, we're halfway there. Whooooaaa, livin' on a prayer..."
I'm halfway done Parental Leave, 9 weeks down, 9 weeks left. It's safe to say the novelty's worn off, but I love and cherish every laughing moment with the kids. Even the frustrating, head-shaking, episodes of meltdown and zero patience are not all that different from the workings of church governance (dare I comment about Presbytery or Conference or General Council? I guess I have).
In the weeks ahead, I'll be keeping busy with London Conference's Youth Forum, a family vacation to St. John's, Newfoundland, and endless references to Dora the Explorer.
I'm halfway done Parental Leave, 9 weeks down, 9 weeks left. It's safe to say the novelty's worn off, but I love and cherish every laughing moment with the kids. Even the frustrating, head-shaking, episodes of meltdown and zero patience are not all that different from the workings of church governance (dare I comment about Presbytery or Conference or General Council? I guess I have).
In the weeks ahead, I'll be keeping busy with London Conference's Youth Forum, a family vacation to St. John's, Newfoundland, and endless references to Dora the Explorer.
Biker Grrl
Her feet now reach the pedals. However, she has yet to use them to propel herself; mostly, she just scoots along.
She does, however, have the facial expressions down pat.
She does, however, have the facial expressions down pat.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Echo
In the car, on the way to greatgrandma's house for supper, Kai abruptly gave a little shriek-shout. Reiko reprimanded him with the familiar words, "Kai, we don't yell in the car". Glad to learn she's picked up some parenting tips from us...
The internalized feedback hasn't been all negative. Earlier in the afternoon when I handed her some juice, she accepted it with thanks and the words, "Good job Daddy!"; high praise, indeed.
The internalized feedback hasn't been all negative. Earlier in the afternoon when I handed her some juice, she accepted it with thanks and the words, "Good job Daddy!"; high praise, indeed.
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