TwoBlog

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 »

I’ve been playing ‘Yes’ in the car now for about 4 straight months. Partly because I’m so lazy I can’t even update my memory sticks. But mostly because they are just that good they deserve about 1/2 a year of my car driving attention. The collateral damage is that OG also has been listening to ‘Yes’ in the car for about 4 months.

The good news is that she can’t get enough of that wonderful stuff. Above and beyond Abilene and Run With The Fox, OG now can sing bits and pieces of many songs and, more importantly for a band like ‘Yes’, she likes to emulate the instruments that are being played since most songs are about 70% instruments alone. Her favourite hum-along is ‘Roundabout’. The first 35 seconds where the quiet acoustic guitar overlayed by the laser-like ‘zing’ sound. She is bang on with following along to the tune, including the ‘zing’.

So, where’s the payback? OG has become INFATUATED with anything that has a maple leaf on it. Bottles, boxes, cars, my leg, whatever has a maple leaf on it, she needs to point it out. ESPECIALLY the Canada Flag. I know for a fact that there are 12 Canada Flags on the road between home and daycare. And I know where each and every one of them are. Especially the flurry of them near the Farmer’s Market. There are 2 at the driving range and 2 across the road at the antique shop. “Do you see the Canada Flag?” “There’s 2 over there and 2 over there”. This addiction is non-stop and must be acknowledged where-ever we go.

No Responses »

This winter has been a killer on the roads. We’ve been experiencing the extremes: One day it is -20 and snowing like mad. The next day, literally within 2 to 3 hrs it’s +8 or even higher. There have been a couple of times when the temperature has swung both ways by about 30C. That is unbelievable and would think doesn’t happen in very many places on this planet. Another interesting behaviour this winter is that we haven’t been getting the consistent ‘average’ snowfalls distributed over the winter. Either we get dumped on or we get nothing at all for days. Which makes it SOOOO nice that I have a snowblower this year. Shovelling is not a problem when we get bits and pieces at a time. But this year its been 15-20 cm at a time which leads to back-breaking.

And the weather has destroyed the roads in town. I have never seen so many potholes on so many roads (including newly paved ones) and the severity of them are tailbone wrenching. The cars are taking a serious toll. I am alarmed at the amount of $$ that will need to go into the roads this year and the level of inconvenience I’m going to have to be put through. I’m partially blaming those people that put on winter tires and chew up our roads with their fancy treads. It’s irrational of me naturally but it justifies why I don’t want to contribute to the wealth of the tire industry and buy into the hype. My ‘no’-season tires work just fine. Even though the treads are worn down to the nubs. I love it!!

No 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 »

• 2 day complete thaw of all snow. 10+ weather for 4-5 days started Jan 3rd
• Jan 22 - snow is back again. 4th time using the snowblower (remember my computer programmer = laziness?)
• Christmas #3 with OG. Lots of excitement. Typical perschooler exuberance. Major gift items: Black and Decker workbench (from sister), kitchen (pre-christmas from us), little people stuff (brother), wooden cradle for dolls (mom), old fashioned sled (grandma/nonno), hockey nets (Joey/Angel), and endless amounts of toys and books and puzzles. For me: books, wallet, tickets to the fateful Bills/Dolphins game, and a kitchen digital scale
• annual repainting of room in house. This time it’s a redo of the kitchen and living room which was done when we first moved in. It’s not as satisfying redoing your own work as it makes the previous efforts ’seem’ like a waste of time (although that’s not true)
• discussions over if/when/where to go for a winter getaway. with friends to Dominican? visit brother in Bermuda? Somewhere else?
• starting the next swimming session with OG. Is this session #5 or #6. Hardly have to hold her now. Won’t be long until she’s swimming on own with/without water wings. Loves to jump into water, float on back and do ‘dunk dunk’s.
• preparing for Wonderboy It’s a tough conditioning regimen
• debating whether should spend $20/hr to hit golf balls in the new dome (that was the old SPortsworld Dome) at closest driving range. Will the urge to golf outweigh the madness to pay $20?
• contemplation: new irons this year?
• Will the Wii invade my home? Looks possible but will never supplant the classic MAME. I would now consider myself the master of Robotron: 2084 and would challenge ANYONE on this earth to supplant my claim for dominance
• OG started ‘Yabba Dabba Dance’ with Grandma. Can’t wait for the dance recital in March.
• Pre-school transition went smoothly but can’t wait for summer: what an additional effort to suit up OG for outdoor play.
  Hindsight 20/20 - would have won the NFL pool if only had went with gut instinct. Lesson learned and am pleased about how soon I was able to recover and shake off the funk.
• Oh yeah, last thing: OG has a ‘Betta’ fish (a.k.a siamese fighting fish). Feed it every morning together. Swims in the tank, don’t have to regularly change the water. Nice and cheap. And in my opinion, just as good as a dog without the ‘joy’ of having to care for it.
• Sonia starts Yoga class. Ohm. Ohm. Ohm.
• 2008 - the year of the Democrats, $2.00 gas, power shortages in the summer, and time to renew the mortgage - should I opt out now or wait until the fall?

No Responses »

I have continued my committment to exposing Olivia to the great music Juggernauts of our time (and just before my time). During her existance she has absorbed the likes of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin (not a huge fan but I’m working on it), ABBA and more. Currently we are absorbing the power of Yes. Thanks to the mp3/USB capabilities of my car deck, I have the entire Yes anthology literally at my fingertips. She is now working her way through these great musicians and has become very fond of ‘Abiline’ and ‘Run with the Fox’. After a few listens she can keep up with the lyrics and hum to the guitar solos.

Now I’m looking for the next great band to expose her to. Any suggestions.

At home, she has become a massive Julie Andrews fan. She loves to emulate her by whirling and twirling through the Sound Of Music. Particularly the ‘Do-Ra-Mi’ song. She loves the pose at the end of the song where ‘Maria’ points her finger in the air a la Saturday Night Fever.

2 Responses »

About a year ago, there was a car in the parking lot at work that always had the wiper blades sticking vertically up off of the windshield during the winter days. Now, if you visit the parking lot you will see close to or even more than a 1/3rd of the cars with their blades upright in similar fashion. It is embarrassingly amusing to see all the wipersin this prone position ready for some hooligan to run around and snap them off.

The obvious ‘reason’ that people do this is that they don’t want their wipers to become fused against the windshield if/when the weather calls for freezing rain or some level of precipitation. But people are doing this EVERY day regardless of the forecast. Working at a tech company and being able to relate to the ‘common’ personality of the people that work there, here are the plausible reasons why there’s a plethora of ‘wiper salutations’ in the parking lot:

- effort avoidance: computer programmers/developers typically seek the least effort path to existance. Which is what makes them great programmers. In their disdain for having to manually repeat steps and work efforts a developer will automate or seek effiencies so that they never have to revisit the problem again. The wiper thing is their attempt to forgo the minimal effort required to unstick the wiper blades when the rare occurrence comes up. I wonder though if they evaluated the effort they spend each morning lifting up the blades and then placing them down in the evening vs. the one or two times they would actually need to unstick the blades. Unless these people simply lift them in December and lower them in April which explains the increased # of reported traffic accidents
- Lemming-itis. We’re all Lemmings to some degree, let’s admit it. But I wonder if the tech industry has a higher occurrence of Lemming behaviour. I asked a colleague a couple offices down why he raises his blades to the car each morning. And his response, and I’m not making this up, was: “Because I saw other people doing it”. I wonder, do these people lift their blades up in their driveways at home or have they been brow-beaten by some obscene form of peer pressure?

So, I am really interested in knowing if other parking lots exhibit this behaviour. I have NEVER seen this behaviour beyond 1 or 2 cars in ANY other parking lot I’ve loitered. Have you seen mass wiper-lifting anywhere?

One Response »

In the USA, maybe! I’ll let you decide. Here’s the scenario:

Say I was charged with oh, I don’t know, say running an organized dog-fighting racket. And then say I was charged with 2 yrs prison sentence.

Now, say I failed an official drug test due to usage of Marijuana. Then, instead of serving the ‘hard time’, I would be eligible to enroll in a drug rehab plan that takes place in a minimum security facility. This program lasts about 6 - 12 months after which I would be eligible for early release even though my conviction was NOT drug related. Sounds pretty sweet, huh?

Now, say I was a professional athlete and this early release allowed me to play my sport again while still in my prime. If I’m a really good athlete I could probably turn that 12 months or so I avoided in prison into several million dollars. Sounds really sweet, huh?

Let’s go one step further: I would never have qualified for the drug rehab program had I not previously failed a required drug test. Therefore, that failure can more or less be attributed to the potential millions I could earn should things go as planned.

Summary: failing a drug test made me my millions! Now, do you think it’s worth botching a drug test so that you can put that failure to good use down the road? You never know when you might need to use it to your advantage.

2 Responses »

• Bills game on snowy cold Dec 9
• End of swimming lessons
• More snow than ever seen in area before Xmas. 3 times with the blower already
• won the grand prize at work’s ‘holiday’ party: weekend for 2 in TO to see ‘Dirty Dancing’
• Fun at Wheel’s Inn with the Freak family. Lots of carnival rides
• Are we working on a trip to the Caribbean
• finally, a new washer/dryer
• confirmation: moving OG to pre-school room for Mon,Tues and Thurs. She’s certainly ready for it
• ‘most’ of my Xmas gifts arrived in mail. This year, am almost completely online dependant. 0 trips to the mall so far
• launched the Wonderboy website: Wonderboy Central
• Contemplation: is it time to invest in real estate back home?
• Tix to Mazola Pony this weekend. I haven’t seen them in years
• Cooking Class part 2 is a bust. So much so that I haven’t bothered to blog about it. Liaison School here I come
• Plans for an amatuer “Iron Chef” battle early next year

2 Responses »

Went to see the playoff hungry Bills (6-7) take on the lowly and history destined Dolphins (0-13) with my brother in law Joey. We loaded up the CRV with the Coleman, some propane, beer and jumbo hotdogs. Thermal socks, fleece and winter jackets as the temperature was expected to be a few degrees below freezing, windy and ‘precipitous’ (a mix of freezing rain and snow).

We left for the game at 8:00 am sharp with the hopes of being parked and tailgating by 11:00. We were bang on. There was little traffic and it’s unbelievable how easy it is to get to Orchard Park once crossing the border at Niagara Falls. It’s about 20 minutes from border to parking most of it on major highway.

Here’s a valuable trick for parking: When you get onto 179E/Milestrip Expwy, instead of following it to Abbot Road and finding parking in that mayhem, turn R onto McKinley Pkwy which is before Abbot Road. Then, turn left on Big Tree Road. Find parking on any one of the many houses that charge you only $10 (instead of $20) to park on their lawn. We parked on the right side of the road about 200m before Abbott Road intersection. I think it was 5287. Backed in so that the car was facing the road and ready to just boot it after the game. Benefits of this spot was: not a busy road after the game, close to a couple restaurants down the street in case you need to go the washroom. About 20 cars could park there so you get a mini-tailgate feeling. Or just meander over to one of the restaurant parking lots for a bigger experience.

We were able to pull out the rarely used picnic table that comes with the CRV and set up the Coleman to cook up the dogs. It was cold out but it was fun. Had a few beers and listened to the high-powered stereo they had set up on the porch to catch the pre-game.

About 12:30ish we packed up and walked to the game. About a 15 minute walk at the most. Unfortunately our gate was at the far back corner of the stadium so we had to navigate through all of the crowds to get there.

After entering the gates I found a quiet-ish spot and called home to confirm whether Galloway was playing for TB. I was in the playoffs and needed to make a change if he were listed as inactive. Unfortunately he was listed as active and I continued to play him instead of subbing in Marshall for DEN. I consider this THE mistake of my ‘07 run for the championship as it turns out this decision alone cost me a trip to the finals.

We had seats near the top of the stadium in a corner of the endzone. Not bad seats at all and well worth the price. The game was 24-0 for Buffalo by the end of the 1st quarter. Although Miami did score 17 pts, it ended up 31-17 and was never really in doubt. That gave me some time to watch the scoreboard and guess how I was doing in the pool. My guess was that after the 1st set of games, I had a fairly good lead.

On the way home (and yes it was that easy to get out of Orchard Park thanks to the primo parking location) we stopped at Jack Astors in Stony Creek to watch the remainder of the 4:00 games and then made it home by 9:00.

Yeah, it was cold and wet and windy, my toes were frozen but it was a fun day and can’t wait to go again. Earlier in the season would be nice but not necessary. Just looking for the matchups will be the deciding factor.

One Response »