TwoBlog

A couple of weeks ago when I was on leave from work, Sonia, Christien and I went to the Bay to pick up some baby clothes. When it came time to pay, the closest sales desk was too busy for me. So, we walked over to the main sales desk to pay for our merchandise.

Lo and behold there was a CTV camera there doing some filming of the store. As we were about to pay we were approached by the host of CTV ProvinceWide to do an interview on the Bay going ‘green’. In particular, the Bay’s encouragement to use re-usable cloth bags instead of plastic.

Reluctantly, since we were not at our best with a 7 day old child, lack of sleep and general concern for our appearance, we agreed to be filmed and I also agreed to be briefly interviewed about my thoughts of the Bay going green and the general ‘green-ness’ of other stores.

I was as bland as could be and gave the standard cookie cutter responses instead of jumping on my soapbox and putting to light the cost (environmentally) of the Bay creating all of these cloth bags in lieu of plastic and how their solution is only moderately green. Yadayadayada.

I’ll see if I can post the video on the site as soon as I can.

But, THE coolest part of this is that I convinced the camera guy to grab some footage of Christien. And then he USED it in the article. Christien was on province-wide TV only 7 days into his life. And not only that, I found out last week that the clip was promoted to Canada AM and thus he was on NATIONAL TV only 7 days into his life. How cool is that?

The show aired recently (2 Sundays ago) and I’ll see if I can post the video here.

No Responses »

I was thinking of a ‘problem’ that might come up if we go on trip away from home for more than a day or two. How will we feed Chewie? I thought of a simple solution and was wondering if other ‘creative’ Dads have come up with the same plan: ‘free’ Chewie to the pipes below and then buy a replacement when we come back. Is this ethically an ‘improper’ decision? Oh, and just so we’re clear: Chewie is a ‘Betta’ fish, not a puppy.

A sidebar: I’ve had this bird stuck in the radiator grill of the CRV for about 3 years. It has been reduced to to skeletal remains for quite some time now but finally it has gone to its resting place. I just thought I’d mention this because some of you have noticed it in the past.

3 Responses »

When I was a wee lad, there were many things my Dad would do that puzzled and baffled me at the time. Yelling at the TV when the Expos were losing. Scoring the baseball game on paper. Or how about organizing and usually losing the annual NHL Playoff pool. There’s also the comments he would make about the behaviour of celebraties and how he would scoff and scorn the idiotic self-absorbing prima-donna actions they would exhibit. And this was before E! TV et al. ran 24hr dedicated broadcasts committed to adoring and worshipping the decrapitude that is Hollywood.

But the thing that I remember most beyond the sageness, wisdom, profoundness, was his constant musical ambience. There was never a moment, literally, when my Dad wasn’t humming, whistling or singing a tune (especially when on a walk). Usually folk music but everyone does have their faults. He would often sing/whistle/hum the accompanyment (sp?) portions of the song (as Sonia calls ‘the backup’ parts) but would be also known to sing the lead. In fact, with his acoustic guitar in hand (he never really did like the Rock’n'Roll but sometimes I caught him humming to a Robyn Hitchcock dirge) Dad would play at church, in bands, and back home in Lafontaine when the brothers would get together for a good time (Note: I was sure to be tip-toeing around Memere’s house the next morning).

So, what brings back these memories? Well, on the way home from swimming lessons with OG, while singing ‘back-up’ to a some Boney M Christmas songs (in February) it dawned on me: I’m my Old Man! (Sidebar: BoneyM was one of the rare ‘new stuff’ my Dad enjoyed along with Neil Diamond, John Denver and Roger Whitaker). I was doing the ‘low-baritone’ stuff when it hit me like a brick. When I think about it, well, I believe I am more often than not singing, whistling, humming, improvising about 24 hrs a day at the sacrifice of Sonia and OG’s well-tuned ears. Yes, I am a toneless singer no doubt but I am always caught doing the ‘backup’ sounds to any and all songs. Admittedly my tastes are most definitely better than Dad’s: I listen to Neil Diamond, John Denver, Robyn Hitchcock AND Echo & the Bunnymen. But life has come full circle and here I am singing to OG constantly until she tells me to stop (often).

So let’s review the other stuff: the Expos are no more but I can sure get a serious debate going with the ole boob tube when a call doesn’t go my way. I discreetly scratch down the plays on the scorecard when at the Jays game, and contrary yet akin to the Old Guy I am a superstar at Fantasy Bball/Fball,etc. (boy would he have been into that stuff had it evolved into what it is now during his day). And man o man do I hate Hollywood.

And here I am now about to bring in that very same acoustic guitar to get it fixed up and tuned. I have classical piano experience but it’s time to follow those footsteps and learn some good ole’ pumpin folk music.

I often get teary thinking what an injustice it is that OG was unable to meet her Poppy. But what a crock that is. She sees her every day. Now if only I can convey a fraction of the wisdom and intelligence that set him apart from the rest.

3 Responses »

I left my Mom’s house about 7:00 pm last night.  Just after Biff’s home town I could see some headlights making there way up behind me.  They weren’t moving too fast but it was noticeable.  About 2 minutes it took to narrow the km or so between myself and ‘him’ (maybe a her but let’s just assume a him).  I had been only going about 95km so I wasn’t at all surprised. 

By the time he had caught up, I was the last in a line of about 4 cars going about 90km.  Not surprisingly as I assumed he was an aggressive driver, he was right on my tail looking to make a pass.  He was tailgating fairly close but not enough to alarm me.  Unfortunately for him (and I guess me), there was no opportunity to make the pass before the next town. 

Through the town we lost a couple cars in the line but gained a couple more.  So, for the next 10km to the next town he did not have a chance to make the pass and he was now tailing me closer than my comfort is accustomed to.  As I am a fairly aggressive driver I can relate somewhat to the driver behind me, but this was closer than I’ve ever experienced and closer than I would ever do myself.  With OG in the car it was somewhat disconcerting.

There were a couple of times where I could have let him pass me and begin his leapfrog but my foolish pride prevented that.  I just couldn’t make the gap between me and the car in front large enough for him to make an attempt.  In fact, we were tight enough that he would have had to pass 3 cars to succeed and this road doesn’t really provide that opportunity.

So in town, still behind me, I could sense something beyond simple frustration.  When we got to the only light in town, 1 car peeled into the right turn lane and 2 of us continued through.  It looked as if my tailgater was going to proceed to the right as well and leave my life.

Alas, and alarmingly, at the last second he swerved back into the through lane and proceeded to ride my tail as we proceeded through town.  I contemplated turning off to a side street or just pulling over but quickly shooed the thought from my mind. 

As we worked our way to the edge of town, eventually I became the lead car.  Nobody in front as far as I could see, but somebody behind me.  Right behind me.  As we left town and the speed limit bumps to 70 he was still unable to pass (and I’m not sure now if his motive is to even pass anymore).  And just before it hits the 80 again the road is ALMOST clear to pass.  One more car.  My tailgater nudges ever so close in what appears to be an anticipated pass although it seems odd that he’d be so close just in order to pass. 

It’s at this moment where I think of all those times that I hear people say “Damn I wish that guy could get burned by the cops.  Where are they when you need them?”.  And then, out to the left at the crossroad I see what is usually the disturbing and familiar reflections of an O.P.P. cruiser.  Still in the 70, I’m going 100 so I have this uneasy feeloing that he’s not just going to sit there.

And I was right.  As I’m passing I notice 2 things:  1)  The cop pulls out from the intersection and 2) The tailgater is STILL riding my bumper.  The next thing I see are the cherries flashing.  The tailgater slows down and nudges to the side, clearly to me he’s assuming that the cop is about to nail me.  Through the rearview mirror I see that the cop is following the tailgater over to the side and clearly it’s time for my friend to pay the piper.  As I had thought, if the cop is gunning me at 100km but notices somebody INCHES behind me, he probably has more interest in that person as should be his wont.

Now, at night in the boonies with a daughter in the back seat, the imagination can run a little rampant.  But I can’t help wondering how this roadtrip would have panned out if the friendly neighbourhood smokey hadn’t been at the right place at the right time for one of the rare goodside karma O.P.P. moments in my life.

One Response »