Emu, otter, cougar, and porcupine at a wildlife park at Marion Bridge. Oddly enough, I didn't get any pictures of the llama that spit in my face. Yep.they do that.
B.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wildlife Park, Marion Bridge
Emu, otter, cougar, and porcupine at a wildlife park at Marion Bridge. Oddly enough, I didn't get any pictures of the llama that spit in my face. Yep.they do that.
Bald Eagle and Seals, Bras D'Or Lakes, Boat Tour
On our three hours tour of the Bras D'Or Lakes and the Bird Islands, we saw about 30 bald eagles and many seals- a morning well-spent!
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Mist on the Water
I realize some of you may have seen these pics on Facebook, but here are a couple of shots of the mist on the water. It was even prettier in person.
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Nova Scotia Trip Pic
Here's the Confederation. This is the third trip in three years that the girls have taken the ferry. The novelt has worn off the ferry, but they still really enjoy it.
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I'm Still Here!
We are having a very wonderful summer, despite my lack of posts (or perhaps because we're having such a great summer, I haven't been posting). The following are some pictures from our fantastic trip to Nova Scotia.
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Aaah... 70's Memories
Like my friend Clueless in Cowtown, I'm following the blog Plaid Stallions. Its basically about 70's toys and kids culture. Woooow. I remember this stuff. Strongly..
Two items to point out in this one picture alone:
We have my partner's Sesame Street like this one, AND my parents still have my Adventure People Safari set (our girls play with it at their place).
B.
Monday, July 27, 2009
My Luck is Turning!!!
This was in my inbox this morning: Yaaay!
Dear Winner,
This is to inform you that you have won the sum of 500,000 GBP
in the British Online Sweepstake Promo held on 20th of July 2009.
You are to contact the events manager with Your Ticket Number
05-08-10-18-20-46-{43}. To further the claims of your prize, you
are also advise to fill and submit the form below to the events
manager.
Full Names:
Address:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
Tel / Mobile / Fax #
Nationality:
Country Of Residence:
Contact: Mr. Evans Martins
E-mail: account_unit03@kimo.com
Telephone:(+ 44) 704 5747 360
Congratulations once again.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Key Jefferson
Online Coordinator
-----------------------------------------
Last Post...
Just for the record, my last post was about work. For the record, I've made my decision (to stay put) and moved on (hopefully).
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Decisions...
This morning I finally figured out how to describe what it is I’ve been feeling lately. It’s something close to feeling like I’ve been running through mud whenever I try to make a decision about my life. It’s hard to move. It’s hard to actually get to the point where I make a decision.
Please don’t think that this means I’m suffering, or hurting or depressed. I’m fine; I just feel like it’s really difficult to make decisions of great consequence. That’s not to say that it isn’t upsetting. There have been a few decisions lately (mostly in my professional life) that I’ve really agonized over. It’s never reached the point of paralysis but sometimes it feels pretty darn close. Sometimes I wonder if it would make it to that point if I didn’t have other people depending on me. I’m not sure which fork in the road to take on this as a problem. On the right, I need to "man up" and just get on with it, stop reflecting and just decide on things. The left fork involves taking a serious, reflective look at why I get myself into these twists, turns, and quandaries.
Realistically I know I need to do both. Fear of making a wrong decision, a REALLY wrong decision, has to be a part of this.
I’ll write some more about this later.
B.
Please don’t think that this means I’m suffering, or hurting or depressed. I’m fine; I just feel like it’s really difficult to make decisions of great consequence. That’s not to say that it isn’t upsetting. There have been a few decisions lately (mostly in my professional life) that I’ve really agonized over. It’s never reached the point of paralysis but sometimes it feels pretty darn close. Sometimes I wonder if it would make it to that point if I didn’t have other people depending on me. I’m not sure which fork in the road to take on this as a problem. On the right, I need to "man up" and just get on with it, stop reflecting and just decide on things. The left fork involves taking a serious, reflective look at why I get myself into these twists, turns, and quandaries.
Realistically I know I need to do both. Fear of making a wrong decision, a REALLY wrong decision, has to be a part of this.
I’ll write some more about this later.
B.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Soccer Update July 16, 2009
I couldn't be any any happier with our U-6 team this year. We won on Tuesday, not that we keep score ;-)
We've seen a sharp increase with the amount of passing and cooperative play among the players. The days of a player throwing the ball in from the sides and only throwing it far enough that he or she (yes, I once saw a girl do this, not just boys) can be the one to kick it down field after its thrown.
Super Girl (our daughter, age 5.5) has yet to score a goal but does get into the paly regualrly. She's still timid a lot of the time, but we're working on that. She is palying well and I let her know that often.
Action Girl (8.5 years) regularly gets a goal and seems to be on a strong team this year. She is liking soccer very much, although still perhaps seocnd to figure skating (which she is NOT doing over the summer). In August, after soccer finishes she is off to five days at a local children's camp, ALL ON HER OWN. We'll manage, but it is a big step.
B.
We've seen a sharp increase with the amount of passing and cooperative play among the players. The days of a player throwing the ball in from the sides and only throwing it far enough that he or she (yes, I once saw a girl do this, not just boys) can be the one to kick it down field after its thrown.
Super Girl (our daughter, age 5.5) has yet to score a goal but does get into the paly regualrly. She's still timid a lot of the time, but we're working on that. She is palying well and I let her know that often.
Action Girl (8.5 years) regularly gets a goal and seems to be on a strong team this year. She is liking soccer very much, although still perhaps seocnd to figure skating (which she is NOT doing over the summer). In August, after soccer finishes she is off to five days at a local children's camp, ALL ON HER OWN. We'll manage, but it is a big step.
B.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Futurama News
Link from an Entertainment Weekly article:
Six years after getting axed by Fox, Futurama is being resurrected on Comedy Central.
A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television confirms that the cable net has ordered 26 new episodes of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's late, great animated series to air beginning in 2010. The studio cites Futurama's "blockbuster" performance on DVD and in reruns on Comedy Central as the reason for its rebirth.
Hmmm... sound familiar?
A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television confirms that the cable net has ordered 26 new episodes of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's late, great animated series to air beginning in 2010. The studio cites Futurama's "blockbuster" performance on DVD and in reruns on Comedy Central as the reason for its rebirth.
Hmmm... sound familiar?
"When we brought back Family Guy several years ago, everyone said that it was a once in a lifetime thing -- that canceled series stay canceled and cannot be revived," 20th Century Fox TV Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden said in a joint statement. "But Futurama was another series that fans simply demanded we bring back, and we couldn’t have been happier when Matt and David agreed that there were many more stories yet to tell."
Adds Groening: "We’re thrilled Futurama is coming back. We now have only 25,766 episodes to make before we catch up with Bender and Fry in the year 3000."
I have a hunch Groening isn't the only one doing a happy dance. (That's your cue to start filling up the comments section.)
Futurama is one of the funniest comedies on TV. This is good news for anyone who appreciates well-written TV. We can watch Futurama episodes over and over again and still laugh, a lot.
B.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Monday, June 08, 2009
End of a Playhouse
As any of you who ever visited our house know, the log playhouse in our backyard came with the house and was a pretty distinctive feature of our yard. No more, faithful readers... Playhouse no more...
Here's what it looked like:
Does it look like it was leaning to you? Here’s a different angle:
Maybe this will help:
With my father-in-law’s help, chainsaw, maul, and pick up truck, we tore down what had become a potential hazard and eyesore. Once the supporting poles started to rot, the whole structure has been doomed. The truth be told, the three hours of quality time with a 15 pound maul was the healthiest morning I’ve had in a while. :-)
There’s only another truckload of debris left. While doing real work, its not cool to stand there with a camera. It gets in the way of the 15 pound maul. That said, I snapped a new pic with my new (crappy) phone:
Good bye old friend.
B.
Technorati Tags: Change Play house playhouse chainsaw maul
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Tiananmen Square Memories
An event twenty years ago tomorrow shaped my view of the world. The ill-named People’s Liberation Army massacred an indeterminate number of student protesters.
I’ll skip the long-winded reflections about why they were protesting and the change that they so desperately wanted to see. What sticks with me is that people my age or a little older believed in some of the same things I did and they were slaughtered for it. Their government chose to protect itself rather than them. This has been the single biggest reason I think as much as I do about the role of government in a society. It’s either for itself or for the betterment of its citizens. The rule of law helps, but it’s really one or the other when you get down to the essence of society.
Incidentally, June 1989 was also the month I graduated from high school. This event, live in my living room, added to my whole coming of age experience. It didn’t ruin the month, but it was a sobering aspect of the whole time for many of us.
B.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Last Tiananmen 'hooligan' freed [from the BBC]
Last Tiananmen 'hooligan' freed
China has reportedly freed the last activist still jailed for "hooliganism" relating to the Tiananmen Square democracy movement of 1989. Liu Zhihua was freed in January, but news of his release has only now been confirmed, according to the Dui Hua Foundation, a US-based pressure group.
Mr Liu had been jailed for life for leading a strike at a factory.
His reported release comes two weeks before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen protests.
The events on June 1989 are still considered a highly sensitive topic by China's Communist authorities, and the anniversary is unlikely to be publicly marked in mainland China.
Inciting crowds Mr Liu was one of several workers who were given long jail sentences for organising industrial strikes.
According to Dui Hua, he was accused of inciting crowds with anti-government speeches.
The strikes were linked to weeks of student-led pro-democracy protests in the spring of 1989.
Six weeks into the protests, tanks and troops were sent in. Hundreds - possibly thousands - of people are believed to have been killed, but the government has never allowed for a full accounting of the events.
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8057624.stmPublished: 2009/05/19 12:57:29 GMT© BBC MMIX
China has reportedly freed the last activist still jailed for "hooliganism" relating to the Tiananmen Square democracy movement of 1989. Liu Zhihua was freed in January, but news of his release has only now been confirmed, according to the Dui Hua Foundation, a US-based pressure group.
Mr Liu had been jailed for life for leading a strike at a factory.
His reported release comes two weeks before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen protests.
The events on June 1989 are still considered a highly sensitive topic by China's Communist authorities, and the anniversary is unlikely to be publicly marked in mainland China.
Inciting crowds Mr Liu was one of several workers who were given long jail sentences for organising industrial strikes.
According to Dui Hua, he was accused of inciting crowds with anti-government speeches.
The strikes were linked to weeks of student-led pro-democracy protests in the spring of 1989.
Six weeks into the protests, tanks and troops were sent in. Hundreds - possibly thousands - of people are believed to have been killed, but the government has never allowed for a full accounting of the events.
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8057624.stmPublished: 2009/05/19 12:57:29 GMT© BBC MMIX
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Pre-Kindergarten Class Homework May 2009
There is a mascot in Super Girl's pre-kindergarten\kindergarten class. "Mister Bear" comes with a bag containing a blanket, his toothbrush, a pillow, and his teddy bear. The assignment that comes with him involves doing stuff with him and writing in "his" journal about his evening.
This is Super Girl's latest Mr. Bear story. It reads as follows.
"I pulled Mr. Bear in the wagon. I pushed Mr. Bear in my baby swing."
Not bad for five (and no meddling parental help).
B.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Terminator/John Connor(s)
For the record, I am a huge Terminator series fan and am really pumped about Terminator 4 opening in a week's time.
Here's a link to an article:
When I found this article, I had been writing something similar. This article is better than I would have written.
I would actually go so far as to put the Terminator franchise in the top seven science fiction film/tv dynasties of all time, along with , in no order, Star Wars, Battelstar Galactica 2003-09 version), Star Trek, Babylon 5, Firefly, and Lost. The idea of a holocaust that all humanity faces at the hands of our own creation has teeth and resonance. The Stalingrad-like view of the Earth after "Judgement Day" is one of the bleakest future visions ever put to screen.
John Connor is the center of the series. He is flawed and fallible, preordained and ultimately victorious. If you've never seen any of the Terminator films or the TV series, John Connor is the leader of the human global armed resistance to the Skynet computer system that triggers a nuclear war and then enslaves the survivors, with a view to eventually exterminating them. Remind anyone of a certain world war?
John (with humanity) is eventually victorious, sometime after 2029. In response, Skynet sends a number or "Terminators" or killer robot/cyborgs back to kill him, at least four different stages of his life. More than any other series, these movies and TV programs have presented time travel in a way that says "yeah, they traveled back in time- get over it and enjoy the story."
For me, the best single aspect through the entire series has been the urgency, the pressure, and the burden that John and other characters feel in face of the realization that their actions may cause either humanity or Skynet to succeed. That's a lot to live with for anyone. I'll avoid the usual Christ parallels for Connor's character, except to point out the parallel to Jesus' "wholly divine/wholly human" dichotomy to John Connor's state of simultaneously being at pre-ordained to be the leader of the resistance and able to mess things up.
Three movies and a season and a half of television have actually lead to a number of different timelines for how John goes into the future, when the nuclear war/robot attack occurs, and other important details. I was one of only three fans I know for the now cancelled TV series (Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles). The writing was solid and the urgent burden I explored above was very present.
I'm almost finished re-watching the movies and will write about that when I finish. Terminator: Salvation opens on May 21st and I can't wait.
The above picture is an image from Wikipedia of the different "ages and stages" of John Connor.
B.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Sleep Over Adventures This Weekend
I am a fair-to-middlin' sleepover facilitator... I mean grapes AND marshmallows- who else would have thought of that as a movie snack? Good for five year olds, good for Moms and Dads.
On a less positive side, we were up at 6:25 on a Saturday... Its better than the last one our eight year old had, they were "up" (to stay, they claimed at 2:30AM).
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On a less positive side, we were up at 6:25 on a Saturday... Its better than the last one our eight year old had, they were "up" (to stay, they claimed at 2:30AM).
B.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
R2D2 Soap 1
Found in my parent's basement... I have a few boxes of weird old stuff still in my parent's basement, fifteen years after I last lived there. A recent discovery in one of those boxes was this Star Wars soap. R2D2 is made of hard plastic, BUT you have to use the soap to get him to play with... Tricky! B.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Last weekend's scorecard
Last weekend's scorecard:
- Playdates: 1
- Trips to the beach: 1
- Birthday Parties: 3
- Family Outings to Supper: 1
- Low-Key lunchtime dates for parents: 1
All in all, a very busy but successful weekend. This is why I can never find time to write!
B.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Excellent Photo Essay on Afghanistan
Here's a photo essay of Afghanistan that I stumbled upon. Its really interesting.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/04/recent_scenes_from_afghanistan.html
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http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/04/recent_scenes_from_afghanistan.html
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Thursday, April 02, 2009
Is this for Real?
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Missed Opportunity: "Will Canada Arrest George W Bush For Torture?"
I guess it didn't happen, but it gives a fella hope...
Friday, March 20, 2009
BSG Finale Thoughts
Okay, after a day of indecision, I've decided to watch the BSG finale, despite being in the midst of five year-old sleep-over chaos.
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11:12PM Wow... that is not how I thought the war would end on BSG...
11:57PM Okay its over, allllllll ooooooooover. Bizarre but tasty!
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11:12PM Wow... that is not how I thought the war would end on BSG...
11:57PM Okay its over, allllllll ooooooooover. Bizarre but tasty!
B.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Lost: Season 5 Ep. 9 "Namaste"
Okay is it just me or is Sawyer twice the leader Jack ever was? Maybe he needed those three years to come into his own (or fully develop a conscience). I like the whole Juliette and Sawyer in domestic bliss vibe, but fear that his misguided feelings for Kate will screw it up.
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UN Battlestar Galactica Conference
With BSG's last episode airing this Friday, I'm not the only one that thinks its been one of the best written, most thought-provoking shows in television history.
B.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30217&Cr=television&Cr1=
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/galactica-un.html
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http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30217&Cr=television&Cr1=
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/galactica-un.html
Best Part of March Break?
Well, the best thing is time with family... The SECOND best thing is: TWONNIE MATINEES!!!
We're going to see the Tale of Desperaux this pm. A dollar an hour? Seriously, people... :-)
We're going to see the Tale of Desperaux this pm. A dollar an hour? Seriously, people... :-)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Chronology of an Eight Year-Old Sleep Over
3:15 PM
First friend arrives with Super Girl. They have both been at birthday party.
4:30 PM
Second friend arrives. Trio appears to be getting along well, despite the fact that nature abhors trios. Playing and singing of most songs from Mamma Mia ensues
5:00 PM
The girls have a "spray fight" with a bottle of Febreeze air freshener. They use the whole bottle. I start to have an asthmatic reaction which peaks at about 4:30 the next morning despite over-dosing on my Ventolin inhaler.
5:30PM
Supper- hamburger wraps. More singing.
6:30PM
Movie starts- Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (the girls' choice). Snacks and the ritualized wearing of extra underwear on their heads ensue. Fumes are bad but don't seem to bother anyone else.
7:45PM
Orange pop and vanilla ice cream floats are a hit.
9:00PM
A bed time of sorts. Air mattress and flip out kids' chesterfield are used in a dizzying array of all possible combinations of girls pillows and blankets. The girls settle on The Beatles' Abbey Road. Deep down I am bursting with pride at this classy choice even as my lungs feel like they may burst.
9:15PM
The first of many, many, many "Now its time to quiet down and go to sleep" speeches. The girls are VERY well-behaved, but very wound-up...
10:30PM
Girls are finally asleep. I am more choked up than ever. Not bad...
1:25AM
My breathing has calmed enough that sleep is a good and possible idea.
1:26AM
Super Girl (age 5) is awake and says she thinks that she is going to be sick. Happily she is not but she does have a fever (and has had one on and off most of the evening).
3:45AM
The girls are awake and noisy. Happy, but noisy. I go downstairs and lay down the law about how they are not to be up before 6:00AM. They don't settle for a while and I end up on the downstairs love seat for the better part of an hour.
7:30AM
Sound of cartoons come from downstairs. We don't know this for a while, but one girl called her parents at 7AM to announce that she had made it through the night. Over breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, the girls claim to never gone back sleep since 3:30AM. After breakfast, the girls pick Star Wars III as their movie of choice, followed by craft time and pick up by their respective moms.
Phew,
B.
Updatey Post
As you may have noticed, I haven't been a very faithful writer lately. This is due to several reasons.
- I've just been very busy at home and at work.
- I've been in a very funny headspace lately. Basically, I'm having trouble letting things go at work. This is far from being a terminal condition, but things seem to be getting to me more than they have in a long while. Its that and and the fact that I'm really, really tired of my work. All of that is tied to some lingering feelings I have over the job I lost a year ago- yeah I know I need to let that go.
- Also, I guess I'm not sure what I should write about.
All of that self-obsessed musing aside, life is good. Its great, actually. The four of us are happy and healthy and I'm still fascinated by how the girls are growing every day. Grade two and kindergarten are going well and the girls have solid wonderful friends. And, soon it will be spring! I've tried, but I'm still not a winter person.
All for now,
B.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
E-Bay Item of the Week: Big-Ass Zombie-Smashing Truck
Okay, here is what I want to be driving when the Zombies rise. (I see them as a distinct species/national identity, so therefore I will insist, for now, on capitalizing "the Zombies" when I feel like it). Its big and a little rusty, but worthy of my last stand to gather up the world's remaining supplies of canned food.
Here it is:
On a "more" serious note, I read recently that the world basically has an 80-day supply of food. In the event of a world-wide event that causes food production to cease, past that point there isn't enough food to go around. How fragile it all is...
B.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Birthday Cake Jan. 2009
Birthday Cake Jan. 2009
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
Only Sponge Bob would do for Action Girl's 8th Birthday Party!
We had it at the pool and it was a wet and wonderful success. She has a wonderful group of not-so-little-anymore friends.
B.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Big Enough For...
This weekend was a great reminder of just how quickly our daughters are growing. Indoor amusement park rides are now something they go on entirely without parents.
We had a little overnight get away with Action Girl's (now age 8!) best friend and her parents and little brother (who is only an little younger than our Super Girl).
The whole "going on rides alone" thing may sound like a small point, but its not. It’s a very big deal, What's more its an even bigger sign of things to come.
B.
We had a little overnight get away with Action Girl's (now age 8!) best friend and her parents and little brother (who is only an little younger than our Super Girl).
The whole "going on rides alone" thing may sound like a small point, but its not. It’s a very big deal, What's more its an even bigger sign of things to come.
B.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Zombies? Told ya so!!! Get Ready, People!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Unexpected Daddy Day of Galactic Proportions
Pretty well everyone I know close to my age has kids or is close to friends or just as commonly doesn't but is close to relatives or friends who do.
If you're in the later group (or neither), let me introduce to the exciting world of "family leave" days. Or, "my kid is sick and I can't go to work days."
Rules/The Finer Points of Family Leave:
1) An eight year old child cannot, no matter how smart and charming she is, stay home alone when sick. Don't laugh- it does come to mind every time.
2) Kids throwing up is bad. It is much better than fever. Throwing up while they have a fever is worse still. Worst of all is trying to figure out IF your child has a fever. If she does, somehow this makes you a bad parent. No, that's not rational- it just does.
3) The secret to manging a successful sick day appears to lie in balancing TV and sleep.
4) Call work. If nothing else, this will make you look very conscientious.
5) Somehow sick days can be wonderful day of daddy-daughter bonding. Caring for someone you love can never be anything but great even when its unexpected.
6) Having your eight year old pick Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace as her sick day movie choice rocks. It really is a great kids movie.
B.
If you're in the later group (or neither), let me introduce to the exciting world of "family leave" days. Or, "my kid is sick and I can't go to work days."
Rules/The Finer Points of Family Leave:
1) An eight year old child cannot, no matter how smart and charming she is, stay home alone when sick. Don't laugh- it does come to mind every time.
2) Kids throwing up is bad. It is much better than fever. Throwing up while they have a fever is worse still. Worst of all is trying to figure out IF your child has a fever. If she does, somehow this makes you a bad parent. No, that's not rational- it just does.
3) The secret to manging a successful sick day appears to lie in balancing TV and sleep.
4) Call work. If nothing else, this will make you look very conscientious.
5) Somehow sick days can be wonderful day of daddy-daughter bonding. Caring for someone you love can never be anything but great even when its unexpected.
6) Having your eight year old pick Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace as her sick day movie choice rocks. It really is a great kids movie.
B.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
My Random Wikipedia Quote of the Night:
"Bolik and ZIB Bolik (Болик) ran away just days before her flight in September 1951. A replacement named ZIB (a Russian acronym for "Substitute for Missing Bolik", "Замена исчезнувшему Болику" Zamena ischeznuvshemu Boliku), who was an untrained street dog found running around the barracks, was quickly located and made a successful flight. [edit]Otvazhnaya and Snezhinka Otvazhnaya (Отважная, "Brave One") made a flight on July 2, 1959 along with a rabbit named Marfusha (Марфуша, "Little Martha") and another dog named Snezhinka (Снежинка, "Snowflake"). She went on to make 5 other flights between 1959 and 1960."
I offer this to you because couldn't we all stand to know a whole lot more about "Soviet Space Dogs?"
B.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Remeber this? Its back.
I bought this blast from the past at Zellers last Staurday night. It wasn't in a case full of different flavours like I remember when I was a kid, but a few different flavours were availible.
Anyone else remember the cases of Pop Shop Pop?
B.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Christmas Pics 5 (Finally!)
IMG_0663
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
This was Action Girl's main Santa Present. Her name is Jenna and she is a Maple Lea Girl.
B.
Christmas Pics 4 (Finally!)
IMG_0669
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
Here's proof he came...
The carrot was for Rudolph...
B.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Battlestar Galactica 4.5 Webisodes 4-7 "The Face of the Enemy, Part 4-7"
Okay, back to business. So far seven "webisodes" have been released as new Battlestar Galactica content, the first since last spring. Here are my links to the first three episodes. The last 10 episodes begin to air this month. These are a prequel of sorts to those episodes.
Webisode #1
Webisode #2
Webisode #3
And, here are the next four.
#4
#5
#6
#7
Webisode #1
Webisode #2
Webisode #3
And, here are the next four.
#4
#5
#6
#7
New Blog I'm Following: Dawn and Joe's Excellent Adventure
My friend Dawn and her husband Joe have a new blog. Their adventure is not off to a great start, but they will prevail.
http://dawnandjoesexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/
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http://dawnandjoesexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/
B.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
All Ready!
Phew... Presents are out and wrapped... Cookies and milk, out for Santa. Kids asleep.
Merry Christmas to all of you out there. May your Christmas be as magical as mine!
B.
Merry Christmas to all of you out there. May your Christmas be as magical as mine!
B.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Storm Day!
Yahoooooooooooo.... I have a storm day!!!!!!! No work today (but lots to do). I don't think this happened at all last year.
:-)
B.
:-)
B.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
New Battlestar Galactica Content! -- BSG 4.5 Webisode 001
Oh blessed day- this intially missed my attention but NEW Battelstar Galactica content has been released prior to the show's return in Januray.
Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 Webisode 001 - The Face of the Enemy
Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 Webisode 001 - The Face of the Enemy
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Decision Made
For the past few weeks, I've been trying to sort out a very difficult decision: whether or not to switch jobs. Yes, its the kind of decision people make every day. We make them and then we live with them.
Basically, I was faced with staying in my present position or moving back to a different job in our system, doing very different work. I had this job from January 2007-March 2008 (but was unable to get it permanently due to a really crappy, half-arsed interview I did- never assume you have a job "in the bag," kids).
The issues for me seemed to come down to the prospects of returning to a more glamorous job with slightly less pay as the bottom guy on the org chart. Or, I could continue where I am (and have been since 2001) given progressively more specialization, responsibility and leadership.
I'm staying put. I feel pretty good about this decision. After thinking about it until my head hurt and getting no where but a continuous set of flip flips back and forth, I had to go with my gut. I'm pushing forty and I need to continue on my path to be an expert in what I'm doing. I have a an utterly unique position in the province. No one else does exactly what I do and I'm doing new things all the time. I'm in a good spot to grow into a position of leadership in my team and my other option was to return to a place that had already rejected me. It was gratifying doing a decent interview this time- makes up for the humiliation I caused myself last time. But, I'm off (for now) to be an expert.
B.
Basically, I was faced with staying in my present position or moving back to a different job in our system, doing very different work. I had this job from January 2007-March 2008 (but was unable to get it permanently due to a really crappy, half-arsed interview I did- never assume you have a job "in the bag," kids).
The issues for me seemed to come down to the prospects of returning to a more glamorous job with slightly less pay as the bottom guy on the org chart. Or, I could continue where I am (and have been since 2001) given progressively more specialization, responsibility and leadership.
I'm staying put. I feel pretty good about this decision. After thinking about it until my head hurt and getting no where but a continuous set of flip flips back and forth, I had to go with my gut. I'm pushing forty and I need to continue on my path to be an expert in what I'm doing. I have a an utterly unique position in the province. No one else does exactly what I do and I'm doing new things all the time. I'm in a good spot to grow into a position of leadership in my team and my other option was to return to a place that had already rejected me. It was gratifying doing a decent interview this time- makes up for the humiliation I caused myself last time. But, I'm off (for now) to be an expert.
B.
Blogger's family confirms his arrest
Here's a broadly similar story from Iran...
Blogger's family confirms his arrest
The Globe and Mail Dec. 9, 2008
B.
Blogger's family confirms his arrest
The Globe and Mail Dec. 9, 2008
B.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Unabahsed Cuba Bashing
At different points in my life I've been close to people who were prepared to excuse away Cuban repression because Cuba:
1) Has reasonably good health care and education systems,
2) Is anti-American,
3) Is an affordable place to have to sun-cation in (if you're from the True North Strong and Free, not the True South Stronger but not so free), or
4) Was co-founded by Comrade Che.
As much as I disagree with 45 years of the American embargo, lets remember that even post-Castro, Cuba is a still in a state of Stalinist repression. If people have no ability to criticize their government, they have no ability to be protected from it. If they have no ability to be protected from it, it can do anything it wants to them. That's wrong.
Here's a story to remind us all that Cuba is far from a free or open society.
Read this article from the Globe and Mail "Cuba says blogger ran afoul of the law".
B.
1) Has reasonably good health care and education systems,
2) Is anti-American,
3) Is an affordable place to have to sun-cation in (if you're from the True North Strong and Free, not the True South Stronger but not so free), or
4) Was co-founded by Comrade Che.
As much as I disagree with 45 years of the American embargo, lets remember that even post-Castro, Cuba is a still in a state of Stalinist repression. If people have no ability to criticize their government, they have no ability to be protected from it. If they have no ability to be protected from it, it can do anything it wants to them. That's wrong.
Here's a story to remind us all that Cuba is far from a free or open society.
Read this article from the Globe and Mail "Cuba says blogger ran afoul of the law".
B.
Friday, December 05, 2008
News stories
Here'a a couple of interesting ones:
"Firm makes one billionth mouse."
"Solar Taxi goes round the world"
"Firm makes one billionth mouse."
"Solar Taxi goes round the world"
Monday, December 01, 2008
What I'm Watching... (Dec. 1, 2008)
Here's what I'm watching lately:
1) How I Met Your Mother: Still one of the funniest things on TV.
2) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I know a few of you may think less of me for really liking this show, but this is one of the best dramas of the last few years. Its better than the three Terminator movies. Its a family drama about a family that's trying to stop the world from ending.
3) Season Two of Heroes: Yeah, I know- I'm waaaay behind and season two is not all that great, but I want to get caught up and watch season three.
4) House: It still rocks.
5) Bones: Its our new "watch it together" show. B.
1) How I Met Your Mother: Still one of the funniest things on TV.
2) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I know a few of you may think less of me for really liking this show, but this is one of the best dramas of the last few years. Its better than the three Terminator movies. Its a family drama about a family that's trying to stop the world from ending.
3) Season Two of Heroes: Yeah, I know- I'm waaaay behind and season two is not all that great, but I want to get caught up and watch season three.
4) House: It still rocks.
5) Bones: Its our new "watch it together" show. B.
New Car, Eight Months Later
New Car, Eight Months Later
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
So far, our Corolla has over 16,000 kms on it and no problems.
Its averaging 7.5 L/100 km or 37.66 miles to the gallon Imperial or 31.362 miles to the gallon U.S.
About 99.9% of the time I ecstatic that we bought a car and not the Mazda 5 "Microvan" that we also test drove. I'm always happy that we paid just a little bit extra and bought the LE trim with keyless entry, keyless ignition, wood trim, cruise control, and automatic climate control.
I think we'll get a brand new car every ten years, "whether we need it or not" :-)
B.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Busy Week Past
This week has flown by in some kind of confusing flash... It wasn't a bad week just a busy one.
I have a big decision to make (I think) about work. A while back I took a temporary position in a job and held it for about 15 months. I had decided to stay permanently and then under-performed in the job interview because I thought I had it "in the bag." You can guess what happened.
Now, six months later I've interviewed for that job again after six months spent back on the job I've held since 2001. Its been a happy time, but frustrating with respect to some things in the organization with which I disagree strongly. At the same time, I probably have more future opportunity where I am, organizational warts and all. If I'm offered the second job, I'm not sure what I should/will do.
Decisions, decisions...
B.
I have a big decision to make (I think) about work. A while back I took a temporary position in a job and held it for about 15 months. I had decided to stay permanently and then under-performed in the job interview because I thought I had it "in the bag." You can guess what happened.
Now, six months later I've interviewed for that job again after six months spent back on the job I've held since 2001. Its been a happy time, but frustrating with respect to some things in the organization with which I disagree strongly. At the same time, I probably have more future opportunity where I am, organizational warts and all. If I'm offered the second job, I'm not sure what I should/will do.
Decisions, decisions...
B.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Possible Outcomes of Madagascar 2
I recently saw Madagascar 2. I was pleased it was as funny and witty as the first (although some jokes are now fully over). Here's where I think things are going from here:
1) Mellman and Gloria struggle through years of a "physically" uncertain but ultimately happy relationship.
2) Giving in to the real reason for the tension between them, Marty and Alex struggle through years of a "physically" uncertain but ultimately happy relationship.
3) King Jullian thrives in Africa and Lemurs become the dominant species on the continent (through a weird Jullian-Penguin-Chimp Alliance). Stranded New Yorkers thrive and in time become number 2.
4) There will be a Madagascar 3...
B.
1) Mellman and Gloria struggle through years of a "physically" uncertain but ultimately happy relationship.
2) Giving in to the real reason for the tension between them, Marty and Alex struggle through years of a "physically" uncertain but ultimately happy relationship.
3) King Jullian thrives in Africa and Lemurs become the dominant species on the continent (through a weird Jullian-Penguin-Chimp Alliance). Stranded New Yorkers thrive and in time become number 2.
4) There will be a Madagascar 3...
B.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Two Clans of Seven Year-Old Girls
Ordinarily I'm not one for categories with people. Individual differences always trump any groupings inn which we humans attempt to fit ourselves. Aside from gender, they all break down in the end.
That said, there are two categories of seven year-old girls. As a parent I have not come to this conclusion easily or without thought. Enough equivocation. The tow types are 1) Hannah Montana Fans, and 2) Sponge Bob Square Pants Fans.1) Hannah Montana Fans: Much more than being fans of Ms. Cyrus and her work, they are much more likely to have pierced ears, makeup, and large blond wigs. High black boots and matching clothes are common. They assume that everyone likes Hannah Montana just as much as they do, to the point of giving Hannah Montana wigs to other little girls as birthday presents (irrespective of which of the two types the recipient may be).2) Sponge Bob Fans: Much less likely to hold on to a con-temporized little girl look: clothes don't match as much, fewer pierced ears, far, far fewer dresses and skirts. They wear pretty brown and blues.
As you might have guessed, we have a Sponge Bob fan. She is happy and well-adjusted and doesn't like Hannah Montana, whom she thinks is silly. She likes the Beatles, the White Stripes, and once came to breakfast signing Paradise City by Guns 'n Roses.
Culture is a funny thing.
B.
That said, there are two categories of seven year-old girls. As a parent I have not come to this conclusion easily or without thought. Enough equivocation. The tow types are 1) Hannah Montana Fans, and 2) Sponge Bob Square Pants Fans.1) Hannah Montana Fans: Much more than being fans of Ms. Cyrus and her work, they are much more likely to have pierced ears, makeup, and large blond wigs. High black boots and matching clothes are common. They assume that everyone likes Hannah Montana just as much as they do, to the point of giving Hannah Montana wigs to other little girls as birthday presents (irrespective of which of the two types the recipient may be).2) Sponge Bob Fans: Much less likely to hold on to a con-temporized little girl look: clothes don't match as much, fewer pierced ears, far, far fewer dresses and skirts. They wear pretty brown and blues.
As you might have guessed, we have a Sponge Bob fan. She is happy and well-adjusted and doesn't like Hannah Montana, whom she thinks is silly. She likes the Beatles, the White Stripes, and once came to breakfast signing Paradise City by Guns 'n Roses.
Culture is a funny thing.
B.
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