Turkey Anyone?

Saw one of these guys closeup this morning chowing down some road kill. As ugly as they might appear, they are very graceful fliers and skilled hunters that work very well together.

Who'd a Thunk It

Who'd a thunk I would have wound up with such a beautiful wife and have two beautiful girls with her. Have a lovely home in a picturesque little town. Nearing completion of a University degree and soon to be a teacher. Who'd a thunk it of "ol Rich? My wife and kids for starters. Obviously I do. Thats all I need.

Recipe for a Nature Treat

Take one kitchen window overlooking deck. Add a shrub just under the window. Add two cardinals; one male and one female. Have the male sit across from you and look curiously at his surroundings. Have the female sit under the window within two feet of you on shrub and eat buds. Be amazed at the colourings of both birds and the novelty of having the couple together in plain sight. Be thankful.

Gotta Love the Country Music

The custodian at Theo's school likes to pump out country music at the end of the day through the P.A. system. Walking down the hall yesterday afternoon towards the staffroom I heard these lovely lyrics wafting through the air:

We got cowboys, we got truckers
Broken-hearted fools and suckers

I could not help thinking as I walked through the halls of an academic institution that this lyricist could have used a little more attention in the classroom and a little less time learning how to make beef jerkey. I was reminded of that joke about what happens when you play country music backwords----> you get your house back, your wife back, you find your truck, your dog comes back to life and there are no tears in anyones beers.

You Idiots

Why the hell would you vote Bush into office a second time you dumbass Americans. Seriously, do you take a look at the reality of whats being created by getting your source of news from Fox and CNN? Who owns these "News" stations and who gives huge amounts of cash to politicians? "Uhhh the same people?" It is one thing to be patriotic and entirely another thing to be zealots blinded by patriotism to the point where it becomes an effective tool to dupe the masses into backing immoral (unchristian) wars. And if you are going to blame these opinions (as many have of others of the ilk) don't even try with the "jealousy" copout. Believe me when I say the rest of the western world is quite content with their way of life and harbour no desires to be the "greatest" country in the world. Understand this; if you were English then England would be the best country in the world. If you were French then France would be the best country in the world. etc... You get it?

Nukes

This is why your forefathers wanted the seperation of church and state. They foresaw religion as a cause of destruction (which is entirely accurate). This is heaven right here pals. Earth. Don't fuck it up!

Settling In

Theo has an Ed. assistant for her program named Helen who is just the nicest person. The two of them get along famously and have fast become friends. Yesterday Helen held a scrapbooking party *cringe* at her home to which Theo was invited. Having my parents back from Arizona (hurrah) we left the kids with them and off to Cheapside we went. While the hens scrapped and ate chocolate, Helens' husband Brian decided it was time he and I looked at some tools. He drove me to three different tool stores in search of a portable planer. There is a part of me that finds the whole thing comical (the manly search of tools, the womanly pursuit of bordering pictures with frilly things) yet, Theo and I enjoyed ourselves and the company we were in. We also spied a house nearby that was for sale which got our wheels turning. Since we have grown accustomed to what life has to offer in these parts, we have been contemplating a move into the country where we could have more property to set up a greenhouse or two powered by wind and solar energy. Dreaming is free.

On another note, I happen to play Counter-strike:Source and often play on a server that carries a specialized tournament called "gun-game". Last night I played and was rewarded with my first victory. I am now ranked 45 out of 1067 players which I take pride in being that my reflexes are no longer as sharp as they were when I was 20 which is around the average age of players.

Ten Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

1) I am often a walking parody of the world around me.

2) I will never win a popularity contest. If there was a contest for "People that people love to hate" I would not be an underdog.

3) I believe my greatest accomplishment is being a father and a good one at that.

4) Of the few people who know me it is the consensus that I will most likely never grow up.

5) I am very lazy when unmotivated / hyper-active when motivated (trouble is that I am rarely motivated)

6) As great a hockey player many thought I was, I was not very talented. They mistook my anger for skill.

7) I am very uncomfortable in large crowds.

8) Lines that have stuck with me through the years "Always a playground instructor, never a killer", "Quite capably murderous", "Imagine the odds".

9) I am horrible at being a phony. I realize it is a necessary social evil to wear our masks, but mine always slip, often with dire consequences.

10) I am now 40 years old and have begun to reminisce about my past. Next I will be putting the cat in the fridge and taking the milk outside.

Houston We Have Touchdown

An update on our lovely little robin. She managed to erect a nest after many failed attempts and has begun to nest. She has opted for the sportier nest design which incorporates tinsel, string, plastic bags along with the more conventional straw and mud. She also seems to enjoy the smoke from the barbecue (as long as it isn't chicken) and seems unfettered by us humans walking below her. I wonder if other robins in passing make comments on her home. "Yea, she may be pretty, but just look at that dive she lives in."

Symptons of a Sick World

Theo and I watched a CBC news program today which dealt with issues relating to cancer as an industry. It was a little horrifying to see the attitude displayed by pharmaceutical companies at a cancer drug convention. When a reporter asked of one of the convention goers "How's business?" the reply was "Excellent." Every booth that was approached had the same thing to report (a little more subdued, but beaming just the same) adding the sales pitch of course. Apparently there is no money to be made in the prevention of cancer, but, drugs to treat the disease are a multi-billion dollar money maker. With all the carcinogens floating around from air quality to livestock to agricultural pesticides to household cleaning products, cancer is on the increase, yet we are told to eat healthy, exercise and quit smoking. Do you not find it just a little condescending that we are told to live healthy, yet government controls so completely lack any teeth when it comes to placing limitations on big business and the products they market to us? Government for the people? The 1975 version of the movie "Rollerball" was on the other night. The premise is a futuristic arena where teams battle for corporate giants. It is a look at how controlled society has become by business and the ruse of government. It is unfortunate that a good portion of this world chooses to remain blind to the reality of how the world works or feel powerless to change that reality. As for cancer, it will in all likelihood continue to blossom into a revenue juggernaut and we will, being a captive participant, be forced into forking out our life savings and/or retirement at a chance to be cured of something that quite possibly could have been prevented.

Lump

I recently developed a lump between the lower abdomen above the pelvic bone which, though not painful, was causing me discomfort. Being a somewhat milder hypochondriac than my sibling, I was, nevertheless, having visions of ailing from the dreaded "Big C". Flashes of idiocy danced before my eyes; how so few people would attend my funeral, how those close to me would air out all our differences, how I would leave instructional videos for my kids on how to cope with a world of pitfalls. I had made an appointment to see my Doctor for the 10th of April, but, I had to know what this lump was. So, today I went to the Walk-in Clinic and was examined and given the prognosis "You have a hernia. I feel no lymphnode swelling. If it begins to bother you so much that it interferes with your way of life you can then opt for surgery." I about jumped off the table and kissed this man. There is nothing like a brush with death (real or imaginary) to put perspective on ones life. I have begun to eat healthier the last few weeks, have quit smoking again and have decided my new addiction will be exercise. No matter my relationships in life, I want to be around long enough to see my kids grown.

Pride

Rain has sewn together a little bunny which she has named Kelly. Its a little blue bunny with pink ears, belly and mouth, white nose and a little cottonball tail.

Rain: I made it for me, but Cassidy is trying to get it. I am going to leave it with you, Daddy. Its because your the funniest and best Dad in the whole world.

Dad: Oh my. What a great bunny. I can't believe you made this. What wonderful work, Rain.

Rain: You have to read me two stories at bedtime now. Now!

How could I argue?

Mother Nature Has a Sense of Humour Too

It is that time of year when the weather begins to warm up that birds begin to migrate back to us. There are numerous grackles, robins and the odd cardinal flittering about eyeing up possible nesting sites in preparation for mating season. A rafter of our back deck has been chosen by a very lovely robin who has some of the brightest markings I have ever seen of the species. She/he also possesses heavily white flecked rings around its eyes making its eyes seem larger than they really are. The robin is continually bringing dried grass to this spot in attempts of fashioning a groovy love pad, however, with every fresh load of grass 99% of the last batch goes overboard and onto the cover of our pool. It has been trying to build a nest for the last four days, yet every night I spy through our kitchen window to see of any progress made only to find dried grass floating on the pool cover or strewn across the floor of the deck. It has become a constant source of amusement for my family to watch the ineptitude of this robin and to comment on how Mother Nature has seen fit to gift us with a blonde robin.

Trees Lounge

Sit here in Trees LoungePour it in my mouthI Need something to forgetWhat got me in this messI'm feeling less and lessMy Judgement is not clear I do things that I fear,I would never doSit here in Trees LoungeOrder one more roundYou have a pretty name,Pretty like your nameLets play a drinking gameAnd If I win I get to,take you home and if you, win, you go home with meCause I need something to forget,what got me in this messFeeling less and lessMy judgement is not clear I do things that I fear,I would never do

--Hayden--

Where were you when I was in my early twenties? I could have used a little perspective.

A Day at the Beach

We drove the half-hour to Port Rowan to a pizza place and had lunch before making our way to Long Point. A bird sanctuary, village and Ontario Park, Long Point boasts some of the nicest beaches in Ontario.

We follow a path strewn with needles through the piney woods towards the sandy dunes of Long Point. We are all smiles with a bounce to our step. Rain and I find deer tracks (a doe and her fawn) and we follow them until the sand is unsheltered and the wind has reshuffled the grains smooth once again. The sound of ring-billed gulls is heard over the surf and wind creating that illusion of summertime when their shrill voices fight over the greasy fastfood feast left by sunburnt sunbathers. Trees have there branches swaying in the breeze and appear to want to bud once again in the not so distant future. A couple sit on a bench back from the beach and look to be cooing at each other; holding hands, smiling and planting the odd kiss. Theo begins scouring for stones for her next project and Rain collects shells. Cassidy digs in the sand until her hands become too wet which chills them. She runs to me to warm them up by blowing on them and rubbing them. Rain and Cassidy climb a dune and roll down it over and over while I spy a log half buried in the sand where I lay down to soak up the sun. Theo is still searching for stones. I fall into a reverie feeling calm and peaceful. The world is a beautiful place and I feel we are in paradise. I get up and look around. Theo is still at work and the girls are out of sight. I walk up a dune and call for them. No answer. I call a little louder and Rain responds, but no Cassidy. I call out very loudly and still no answer. I frantically search the landscape to no avail. I begin to panic, but force myself to remain calm. Rain begins to search for her and Theo finally realizes the situation and begins to help search for Cassidy. The trees are leafless and dead looking. There are plastic bags hanging from branches in shreds from the winter wind. Other people out on a Sunday stroll all are all evil doers just waiting to snatch my child away. I remember seeing a scruffy looking couple earlier in our walk and wonder if they have run off with Cassidy. He looked like some deadbeat biker with his dyed blonde bimbo who was trying to hang onto the last vestiges of a youth long gone. Theo spots Cassidy and I can breath again. "We're going home" I say. I berate Cassidy for going too far away from her family, but this is just my fear in its death throes. I am relieved and happy to be on the piney path once again, sheltered from the harsh open world.

100th Post!

This is my 100th posting since Dec. '02.

The Life of Pi


Written by Yan Martel, this book is a must read. I enjoyed it so much that I will read it again (and perhaps again and again). A look at the capably savage human being under duress that left me, after I pieced it together, in awe. There are many great contemporary books out there, but this is an instant classic.

Walter

Rain: Guess what daddy?

Dad: What?

Rain: Walter loves me. Nolan told me because Walter was too scared.

Dad: Oh my. And who is Walter.

Rain: This guy. Nolan makes me laugh alot. He put his foot in a garbage can and was pretending to fall saying "Whooaaaaaa".

Dad: He sounds like a real funny guy.

Rain: He is. I don't have to love Walter do I?

Dad: No, but it never hurts to be nice and be friends. Besides, there are many different ways to be in love. There is love like I have for your mom or for you, Cassidy or Micmac. I loved my old van. I love our swimming pool.

Rain: Well, maybe I can love Walter like the swimming pool.

Dad: Sounds good.

And so the boy trouble begins already. This is going to age me for sure.

Uncle June

My wife grew up in Toronto knowing her mothers close friends as her aunt Nannette and Uncle June. June was an OB so when Theo became pregnant we of course turned to June. He was so easy going and confident and made us feel so secure in his abilities. When one particular nurse began giving Theo a hard time June was there to put her in her place and made sure Theo got the highest level of care. We knew he would never allow anything bad to happen to Theo. Although we had our second with a close friend who was a midwife, it was not a reflection of our confidence of June. At that time his health was a question and we did not want another OB to replace him, especially when it was time for the birth. He helped us through a tough birth for our first daughter and for that we will always feel indebted to him. Uncle June, your grace, kind-heartedness, skill, humour and easy-going manner will be missed. Thank you so much. May you find your way easily and peacefully.

The Case of the Cursed Curry

I made roti last night. Pureed chick peas with potato, chicken and vegetable(s) (I like peas) spiced with curry. Today I feel absolutely hellish. Why does something that tastes so good with healthy ingredients make me feel like my intestines are experiencing a severe tornado.

Our Weekend in Ottawa (Winterlude)

Went to Ottawa the weekend before last. Theo's brother lives in Aylmer so we go down every Feb. with his son (who lives with his mom in Toronto) for Winterlude. This year we also went with Theo's dad so we rented a van for the drive down so we could all fit together nice and cozy at a not so nice and cozy cost (as if I had any choice in the matter where Theo and her father are concerned). What a catastrophe. When it was just me and the girls it was a lot of fun, but where Theo's family was concerned it was hellish. My bro-in-laws girlfriend turned into this giant freak who was completely intolerent, bitchy and domineering in a passive/agressive way. She tried to lecture me on how to raise my children as if she were some great authority (if you met her kids you would understand). She put onions in meals (I have a real hard time with onions and sometimes get sick) and said she did not. She treated my oldest like she was a spoiled princess who could be righted by her wisdom. My bro-in-law pretty much abandoned us (except for meals) to play computer games with his son. When we got home I told Theo that when it comes time to go to Aylmer again next year that I hope she has a great time while the kids and I go to Arizona or somewhere warm.