It's been too long...!

First up, I have a job teaching English at a local jr high school. The first month was rough, learning to teach teenagers instead of younger kids, but now things are better.

I still need more hours in the day though!

On the house front, our home is a mess. Carpet has been removed (oh, the dirt!), walls painted, and hardwood put into the living room. Doggy is having a hard time jumping onto furniture, but it is cleaner!

Laminate, finally selected by my better half, will be installed in the bedrooms...soon? Less carpet, colder toes, but less sneezing!

Wife and I gutted walk-in closet. Redesigned and installed new shelving myself. Yes, it is still standing.

But the biggest headache for me is sharing my bathroom with my wife. After getting her bathroom painted, she decided it didn't match the $$ shower curtain. So she is getting it painted again - so her mirror is not going back up. Now I have a daily obstacle course just brushing my teeth!

On the family front, my little neice Ava is growing like a weed. Here is a recent picture:

Leaving Good Enough Alone

Herrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeee horsey, horsey, horsey!
(Was I nuts doing this?)

A Windy Day

Sometimes taking scenic pictures doesn't do justice to the real thing! So maybe a short video will do!

A Summer in Pictures #1

I had a decent summer. Read papers, played softball, watched sports on the telly. Went by slowly, but once I got hired to teach at a local junior high, end came quite quickly! Here are a few snaps of my summer.

Ava. What can I say? Cute kid, even with all the farts and burps. I'll see her again this upcoming weekend at the christening. I'm 'da godfather.'


Mmmmmmmmmmmm, I drank a few of these....



...which led to a few of these....!



During wife's holidays we went out to visit her mother. Pulling into the driveway, I felt that I was in Hitchcock's 'Birds' movie. Lucky for us they didn't attack! ha


We went for a drive to Bonavista and it's surrounding areas. A beautiful, but windy day! Creatures that have the same mindset as me: relax.


Don't get too close to the edge!

Creature of Habit

We all have our routines, from how we get ready in the mornings to how we get ready to go to bed at night.

But then there are times a monkey wrench is thrown into your routine, and you want to say, "What the f*ck?"

Walmart and Dominion are renovating their stores, and this is giving many people headaches. Today I dropped into both and noticed the dazed looks in faces, as people were forced out of their usual routine. It was frustrating, and a bit funny - until it took me over 10 minutes to find Ranch dressing!

I don't know why Walmart is 'improving' their stores - it is the Mecca of consumerism: if you open it, people will come. As for Dominion, they are getting out of the electronics business (good) but putting in more clothing. Really, am I thinking about socks when I buying fruit and eggs? No.

One stop shopping. One massive headache.

tsktsk

I've been a very bad blogger. No entries in almost two months. Well dear readers, (all 6 of you) I will make a much better effort to write for the rest of this summer.

I know that you are chomping at the bit just to read my latest whim, mmm?

Video of Ava

Here is a short video!

My Trip out to Gander

First, where are ALL those people who are building new houses on Gander Bay road coming from? Is the entire community of Appleton moving in? I thought I was driving through a poor man's Southlands for a minute...! Now on to pictures of Ava, my little neice. Cute thing, dead ringer for her mother, but I won't hold that against her! ha

Life changing Moments...!

Sunday was a big day for me and my family.

My sister Charlene gave birth to a little girl. Her name is Ava. She is the first grand kid for both families and I am an uncle at 35!

Peaceful moment:


Not so peaceful moment:


I am headed out to Gander on Saturday to see the little mat of black hair and chubby cheeks. I won't be changing diapers!

On Sunday I also saw a performer I never thought I would see - Leonard Cohen. Introduced to his words and music at 18, I have lover of his craftsmanship since. What did I expect for a man who is 74? Not a mind-blowing experience, but that is what the crowd received. My wife was so-so about going, but later she used the words 'amazing' and 'fantastic' to describe it. Now I just need to see U2!


What's left for me this week? Tomorrow I am suppose to convocate - the big ceremony for my Masters of Education. But I am not going. It may sound cheesy, but I'd rather be in the class with the kids and have a pint with my colleagues after work. And not make sub plans!

I'll get my degree in the mail. And add to my collection. I'm finished with putting letters after my name!

Play Ball

It took 35 years but I finally got drafted...by a men's slow pitch softball league. Ok, I DIDN'T get drafted, but my name was picked out of a hat after a couple of guys dropped out.

I even got a uniform. It's grey. Fits my personality, as certain people may say.

Tonight was our first game. All arms and legs were rusty. I managed to reach base 2 for 3 and only make one error - which resulted in a nasty bruise on my chest. Better than a broken face!

Time for bed. Legs already sore!

Me Mudder

Well, one would think with the extra time I have now that my studies are over, I would be bloggin' me little heart out. Alas, no.



But today is mother's day. As my father repeatedly said growing up, "Every day should be mother's day." He has a point. They put up with a lot. Especially certain sons who never call.......but today he was the first of the three kids!

My mom was/is pretty quiet. Compared to dad and the rest of us, she is mute! ha I think the phrase she uttered most was, "Wait until your father gets home!" It was pretty effective.

Even through I get compared to dad because of my voice, height, mannerisms, etc, I look like mom. Which ain't bad, considering she is youthful and cute. Plus, I am a LOT quieter than my father and sisters.



Loves ya mother. See you this upcoming weekend. Gonna bake bread?

Free Time

I have finished my Masters of Education!!

This week I found out I received 90 and 91 percent on my last two courses. I kicked ass, metaphorically speaking. Family and friends are happy for me. This week I will do the certification paperwork to GET MORE $$!

But what do I do now? Besides spending more time with wifey (who was super supportive the past 5 semesters) and walking the dog, I am already a bit bored. Ice hockey is over, and I don't think one game of ball hockey a week will cut it.

So today I went to the (gasp) gym. Felt good. Maybe I'll go tomorrow after work. Maybe.

Wife thinks I'll end up trying to do my PhD. Uh, no. I already have three degrees and one diploma from MUN (it will always be MUN, not MU to me) so if I WERE to think about a PhD, I would need to leave this rock and my wife.

No.

So for the rest of Spring I'll walk the dog (and eventually pick up the vast amount of sh*t in our back yard), watch sports, hang out with wife, and teach half time.

I'm free.

Play off Season has Arrived

My wife sometimes tells the story, 'When I first met Chris, he said he plays sports but don't watch it on tv........"

hehehehe

I rely that I would rather play sports than watch it, but it hasn't worked out that way.

So with my Masters almost out of the way (one last paper to finish today) and my wife working evenings, I have LOTS of time to watch Ron & Don on CBC or anything else I want:
-NHL playoffs
-basketball playoffs start soon
-baseball (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
-sport shows
- etc

This past week I got into 2 hockey pools. One on Sportsnet with some ball hockey guys. Other with teacher team. I basically need Nasville and Washington to pull off some upsets for me to win.

Here's to holding my breath!

A Busy Week

Easter break ended and it was back to school to work with the kids for the last three months of the school year.

No, I didn't miss them. And they didn't miss me. But we still like each other. ha

Monday I finished my second-last Masters paper. Had to interview a classmate and write a short story or analyze 'meanings.' Naturally I wrote the story - my first! It was like pulling teeth. Only one more paper left!

Tuesday I had ball hockey. Tried out me new sneaks. Been playing with running shoes for the past year. Legs burning after each game. Finally, the rubber starting peeling off the bottom. So off to Sport Check! When I told sales girl that I was playing ball hockey with running shoes, she looked at me funny. Then smiled. So now I am wearing cross-trainers.

Funny thing. Legs didn't burn after game. But it certainly didn't improve my game!

Wednesday was our last ice hockey game in the teacher league. Another cut lip and stitches, but it wasn't me this time! During the game my left skate felt 'off.' At the end of the game I noticed a nasty crack in the mold which holds the blade. Gee, I replaced the right mold last year for the same reason.

So do I go out and buy a $40 new mold or get new skates? Will either help me put the puck in the net? Alas, no. I was given the skates back in 2003. With the technology today, I don't have a clue on what is considered a 'good' skate.

Thursday I had parent-teacher interviews. The first 2 attempts were cancelled by bad weather. Isn't it funny that the parents you really want to see don't show up? We even went as far as sending notes home, requesting to see certain parents, and telling other parents that don't need to come. But the opposite basically happened. With three months left, some of the kids are already starting to coast. And they are only in grade 5!

Lastly, I went to my FINAL MASTERS class last night! It has been an intense 5 semesters. But it is over. I won't be going back to get my PHD. But I will miss the intellectual challenge.

On a side note, I have set up a blog on wordpress.com. I am planning to transfer the content of this blog to my new one soon. Wordpress has more options.

Driving

To the guy I accidentally cut off on the outer ring road on Thursday while driving home from school - sorry.

But was there any need to keep pressing on your horn, raising both middle fingers in a frantic gesture (tsktsk, no hands on wheel) and cursing on me? (I couldn't exactly read your lips, but I strongly doubt you were wishing me a happy Easter)

But then you tail-gated the next vehicle, a little blue truck. Once again you pressed down on the horn and waved your hands while your rap music boomed. I think you are lucky the guy in the blue truck did not slam his breaks. You would have been f**ked.

So you continued on, swerving in and out among the cars in both lanes at high speed. Did you need to pee really bad? Was your favourite show about to start?

A word of advice - relax. I know the word out there is that Sin John's is booming with oil $$, but there is no reason to drive around town like we have a 401.

Kid's lyrics to rock songs

I was surfing among the NL Blogroll and came across this video on 'Missing the Rock.' Very funny.

Teachers vs Society

This week is Education Week. The theme is 'Learn...Respect...Grow.'

That is a kettle of fish, for sure. With that theme in mind, go to VOCM's website (www.vocm.com) and click on question of the week and do the survey about teachers doing duty.

Then read the comments posted by adults. Nasty.

Personally, I don't mind doing lunch duty. And being involved with kids. But the misconception that 'teachers don't work' and 'get paid in the summer for nothing' really bothers me.

And I don't see a change a comin' soon in attitudes.

A Teacher Rants

It is an interesting time, to say the least, to be a teacher.

In the past couple of weeks, Education Minister has compared teachers to police and correction officers after a study on school violence was released. Her justification was that we (teachers) deal with the public. Ah, yes. BUT we deal with some children who are treating like sh*t and our hands are tied. Not ‘lifers’ in the pen.

The question is, “What is mommy and daddy going to do about it?”

A local lawyer stated that an alternative school is needed for all the dropouts in the city – students who can’t handle traditional schools. He also complained that his clients can’t read or write and socially promoting them is wrong.

Yes, socially promoting kids is wrong. It gives a false sense of security to both kids and their parents. If little Johnny can’t read in the warm and fuzzy years of elementary school, and the parents don’t take him to get tested (yes, it is their responsibility, not teachers – once again our hands are tied and we can only suggest testing), how do you think the junior high years are going to be?

Johnny is going to be frustrated, angry, and probably act out and quit. And the parents may say, “I don’t know what to do with him.” He is in Grade 8, but reading at a Grade 4 level. Why stop now. Let’s promote him to Grade 9.

I am not saying that teachers are blameless. It is the time of year that teachers think about who may not pass. I have a couple in my class who probably won’t, but the final say comes down to the parents – once again my hands are tied.

Boat Building & Poetry

In the Sunday editon of The Telegram there was a good article on older men (and women) on Fogo Island keeping their traditions alive, epecially the tradition of boat building.

I am not related (that I know of) to the Combdens named in the article, but I still feel a kinship to them, remembering my days as a young child visiting pop and nan in Barr'd Islands and other relatives in Joe Batt's Arm.

I think it is great the old are showing the young 'ways' of the past before it is too late. Each time I visit Fogo Island (and that's not enough) I see less and less punts floating in the little harbours. I hope the program at the local school is a success.

Here is a poem I wrote many years ago; a boy with his grandfather and his punt:

In The Harbour

old man
boy
in the boat
“It’s me punt”
rowing
about in the harbour
oars cutting water
slow
fluid motion

gulls
screaming overhead
diving
to the water
“d’ere eatin’ fish guts”
trying
to count them
but
too many

water
cold and black
“how deep is the water `ere pop?”
“over our heads me son, over our heads”
sees reflection
rippling
over the side

waves
rocking them side to side
“do ya want to row?”
small hands
ready
for instructions
fears
to let go

boy
old man
in the punt
“take yer time, you’ll git it me son”
punt
drifting in the harbour
oars
splashing
with the sound of their laughter

Turning 35

My knees are starting to ache more after hockey. My ankles are tender after hockey. A tendon in my wrist is inflamed...but I blame that on the keyboard.

I am getting older.

Thank god I still have my (sorta) youthful face. And hair. ha

Tomorrow I am 35. I am ok with it, because even though my body is getting older and hairier, I still feel young. I think it is due to my very prolonged youth and university "career." :)

As for my plans tomorrow, ball hockey is cancelled due to Mt. Pearl's Frosty Festival. So it will be the traditional dinner and a movie with my wife. Maybe she will even let me pick the flick this time!

Giant Killers & Sport Talk

I never watched football growing up. It was hockey, hockey, and hockey. Then a little basketball.

But since I lived in Manitoba for two years, I have started watching it (much to my wife's delight). But it is not the CFL that I watch, but the NFL.

I don't know why. Am I a sucker for the mammoth NFL machine? Probably. But I don't care. I just know it is now harder to get school work done on Sunday than it use to!

So last night was the games to end all games. The greatest team verus the greatest underdog. I wanted to see perfection happen. But I also have a history for supporting the underdog.

The Giants didn't get the respect they deserved. And Brady got the sh*t knocked out of him repeatedly. New England's defence let them down.

Was it a pretty game? No, but full of suspense. A blow-out would not have had the same drama. Glad to see you are out of your brother's shadow Eli.

On another note - I watched the Habs on Saturday. A very fast team. Then there is Ryder. I don't know if he is hurt or just not giving it 100%. I wasn't shocked to see himin the press box Sunday. At this rate, he will get traded for nothing more than a bag of pucks.

More pics of dog aka I have no life.

Oh. mommy's soft expensive blanket is so soft....and chewy.

Wha? Is it time to get up now? I was already up at 4am to pee!

Sigh. I have no one to play ball with.

I come from a planet called Vulcan. I command you to give me milkbone.


Someone got a little cold during our 'cook-up' in Baytona during Christmas. I had to wash my jacket. And my wife said short haired dogs don't shed!

Milo. Casey. Casey. Milo. Please get along at your 'grandparents.'

Old Lady Drivers and Rush Hour Traffic

I stayed a little longer in school today, deciding to work there instead of bringing it home.

So I got caught in end-of-the-day traffic.

*&@%@

The outer ring road is OK on the best of days. Today was nuts. On the inside lane a plow was clearing the shoulder of the road. That was ok, although I wondered why the road crew decided to do this now...!

Then there was the old lady in the SUV. She was doing 60. In the frigging PASSING lane. As cars were speeding pass her in the SLOW lane, horns were "punched" and she didn't change a frigging thing.

Because of her, two accidents almost occured as people were trying to pass her. Would she have been charged? Hell, no. I just wish a cop would have seen the danger this lady was causing.

Tomorrow I think I will take my school work home with me and beat the traffic.

Dominion Rant

I buy my grub at the local Dominion. It is second nature to go there now. I had no problems, until yesterday evening.

Pulled into the parking lot and thought, "mmmm. Quite a few cars here."

I went on, did my usual routine and got the food on my list (always have a list!). Couldn't get eggs though, 'cause there were NONE in the store!

Then I saw it - the "traffic" jam at the checkout. There were only THREE aisles open, including the express lane.

I was in the line-up LONGER than what it took me to push the cart around and get all that I needed! Crazy! All the customers had a look of disbelief on their faces as no new aisles opened up.

A case of not enough workers or poor management? Maybe the workers got sucked up by Wallymart's nightshift!

Walmart 24/7

"Really, is there any need?"

That was my initial response to the news that the THREE local Walmarts were going to be open for 24 hours.

C'mon. Are the oil dollars trickling down the all us minions that fast, to the point we need to go to Wallyland at 3am to buy a pair of socks and some water for $8.57?

No.

To puzzle me even more, the news stated that this was going to happen to 25 stores across the COUNTRY. And yet all THREE on this side of the overpass will be open? Has Danny wielded (H)is influence on this mighty American company? ha

Or is it a combination of corporate greed over consumer demand? I pitied the workers at Walmart before, due to a lack of a union. Now I pity them even more, with the situation of having to work nights...........or else.

And then there is the effect this will have on other local companies. Oh my. Maybe we should go back to the days when stores closed at 8pm and nothing was open on Sunday. Except church. ;)

Stuff

Rambling and Rumbling

My holidays are fast coming to an end. I'll be seeing the kids on Monday mo(u)rning, and I'm sure they would rather be in bed or playing in a snow bank. Me too.

After making excuses for 6 months, I finally went to the gym yesterday. This morning my arms feel like they are going to fall off and my legs are rubber. Perfect for ball & ice hockey that starts up next week. Another batch of middle-aged men trying to maintain 'da dream' and fighting off the spare tire.

While watching her CSI/Without a Trace/Cold Case/yada yada yada shows last night, my wife got frustrated with all the news interruptions about the voting in the states. Then I tried to explain to her the system of delegates. Thank god I had the Globe and Mail with a diagram to explain the crazy system in the states and past stats on primarys.

After explaining how Iowa is important because it is the first, not the biggest primary, and it is more about media predictions and $$, she simply and sufficiently declared, "Then this voting in Iowa means nothing."

True. But not true. Even as Canadians, it will be an interesting year, with people choosing to either vote for Oprah's man, Bill's other half, Mr. 9/11, and all the other pretenders.

With the writers' strike, it won't be so bad that political news interrupts all those CSI/doctor/lawyer/cop shows. Except Lost. At least that is going to be new!

10 Years Later

10 years ago I woke up in Harlow, England. I went there to complete my teaching internship.

Wow. It is hard to believe when I think of my experiences of beating the streets on Saturdays in London, visiting ancient churches and cities such as Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Paris, and Amsterdam, all this time has passed.

I'll never forget the weekend Mike, Jamie and I rented a car and ended West, seeing Stonehenge, the Tor, Cardiff castle, and other sights.




Walking throughout London and across London Bridge at 3am while waiting for our ride to Amsterdam was freaky - in a city of 8 million people the city was silent and we only saw a handful of people.

Amsterdam was great as well, visiting the house where Anne Frank hid (very small), seeing the countless museums, and walking throughout the red light district. As for the attempted mugging, with the knife only inches away from my gut as I called out to Jamie and Mike, well, that wasn't so great. I kept my innards and wallet in tact, and the beer I had immediately afterwards tasted SO good.

Taking in the surrounding cultures, especially in the pubs across the street every evening was great.


As for the teaching, well, it was challenging. I am just happy Newfoundland doesn't have the same British education system.

To all the friends and acquaintances I made, I hope you are all doing well. I think I will go look at some pics and reflect!

Christmas. New Year. Ugh.

Time out around the bay was well spent, although getting rain on the night of the 24th put a bit of a damper on the seasonal feeling.

Gifts given and received went well. Wife surprised me with all her presents while she knew most of the ones I had for her. But she didn't have a clue about the emergency car kit! Who says romance is dead! haha

Hanging out with my folks was nice. I have not seen them since August and I won't see them again till next summer. That is the life of many Newfoundlanders as they work out of the province. This time, my father swears it is his last year teaching.

My mom's reply? "I've heard that one before."

Now it is the new year. My resolutions? Same as always:
- go to the gym, since I DO have a membership!
- drink less coffee. But compared to what I see consumed at work, I am already doing ok!
- use time more wisely for Masters (last semester!), work, wife, dog, and myself. Not necessarily in that order.
- read and write for pleasure (maybe this will be the year...!)
- try not to ignore my wife on Friday and Saturday when I have The Independent, Globe and Mail, and The Telegram in front of me. (Sorry honey, don't hold your breath!)

I know my failure rate for resolutions is holding at 99%. Maybe in the year that I turn 35 (wow) I will find the time to grow up a little more.

Last resolution? - try to make my wife smile. Think I'll bring her coffee in bed!