It is an "Island Baby"!!!!

Check out this video of a new island being formed off the coast of Japan.  Very interesting!

PS.  "25 Blogs till Christmas" is about to start.... tune in for all the..... whatever it is that you find here.  :)

Ummm - Maybe I Need Some Help!

I am not exactly why, but ever since I was a kid, I have been interested in the JFK assassination.  I have read books about it.  I have seen the news reports and I have watched the "Zapruder film" countless times..  I saw the movie "JFK".  I even went to Dealey Plaza in Dallas (the site of the shooting) and have toured the museum in the former "Texas School Book Depository" building. 

The 50th anniversary is coming up (it happened on November 22, 1963) and so there are tons of specials TV specials coming out in the next few weeks.  Yesterday I recorded one called "JFK: The smoking gun".

Since I was busy and hanging out with friends all day yesterday, I did not start watching this show until 11:30 last night.  Two hours later, I was TOTALLY FREAKED OUT!!!   You see, I am home alone....  Sari and the kids are in Dauphin..... and the house is very creaky and dark at 1:40 in the morning.

Now you may be thinking "Come on!  You are like 44 years old!!  This happened like 50 years ago.  You weren't even born then!!  Why would it bother you????"

Let me just say...... maybe my imagination is too active..... or maybe watching 45 replays of someone getting shot is not the most calming thing to do before going to sleep (very rarely have I seen that as a recommendation on the lists of "How to get a better night's sleep")

Now - I am not trying to make light of this.  Even if it was 50 years ago, it is still a sad and scary event.

But I think it brought back some other things I obsessed too much as a kid.  Like watching Canadian Formula 1 drive Gilles Villeneuve die in a wreck in Belgium (I watched that so many times I could hardly sleep for 3 or 4 nights that time).... or President Reagan getting shot (I was in grade 7 then and I could draw you a map of where everyone was and how they got hit - including James Brady Reagan's Press secretary who also was hit and survived).... or the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger (I was at home sick that morning - watching something on TV - when they broke in with that news).

I am not sure why I am drawn to big, tragic stuff like this (any free psychoanalysis here in the comments section would be appreciated), but I know this.......

I am not watching another JFK thing unless someone is in the house with me.  :(

It is only "slightly used"

So, here is my latest project.... a 1974 (or 75... the guy was not sure).... Suzuki 185 dual sport, two stroke.  I won't tell you what I paid, but lets just say that the gas to go out to Alameda and back to pick it up likely cost as much as the bike itself.

Dude said it ran when he put it in the barn 8  years ago.... we will see I guess.

If you want to be the "proud" owner of this beauty when she is finished, contact me now and I will make sure it gets painted to your liking.  :)

Hmmmm - this doesn't seem right to me!

Sari sent this to me today..... is she hinting at something????? I cannot tell! :)

credit Penny Pelot.

Official Rules
Rule #1: National men make dinner day is always celebrated on the first Thursday of each November.

Rule #2: Man agrees to participate in national men make dinner day. Bonus points if he does so without seeking promise of night out with boys in return.

Rule #3: Man, completely un-aided, chooses a 'published' recipe from any source, or Internet. Getting the recipe from 'her' cookbooks is allowed, but man gets bonus points if the recipe isn't already somewhere in the house.

Rule #4: Main meal must include minimum of 4 ingredients and require at least one cooking utensil other than a fork

Rule #5: Man goes shopping for 'all' necessary ingredients. Bonus points if he takes inventory of cupboards and fridge first, before shopping trip. So you don't end up with two 64 ounce jars of pickled pimentos.

Rule #6: Man organizes all necessary ingredients in order of importance on kitchen counter. At this point, he may need to make a phone call or shout out the word 'honey'! Followed by a question. This is not allowed.

Rule #7: Man may, if desired, turn on radio or his favourite CD. Man agrees not to be within 30 feet of TV remote during cooking process. At this point, spouse and any other family members should not be anywhere near kitchen. (unless smoke detector goes off!)

Rule #8: Following recipe carefully, man starts to cook dinner! Apron is optional, (bonus points if recipe includes one of the following : capers, saffron, or the word 'scallopini').

Rule #9: Man must use the 'clean as he goes along' rule! Following each completed use of utensils, cookware, half-used jars of anything, spice bottles, etc., everything is rinsed, cleaned and put away

Rule #10: Man sets table, candles are lit, beverages are poured, no ketchup bottles, sour cream containers, or big boxes of salt on table.

Rule #11: Spouse and/or family members are served! This is an opportune time for a photo. Man is 'allowed' to gloat no more than three times during the meal. Family is encouraged to congratulate man on job well done. Family dog is not allowed to be secretly fed man's cooking.

Rule #12: After meal, table is cleared by man, dishwasher is loaded. Man returns to table for stimulating after-dinner conversation. At this point, man is told how much his meal was appreciated. He, in turn, describes the joys and challenges of the experience. He is given a hug, and his TV remote is returned to him.

Sari at "We Day" in S'toon

We Day once again an amazing time. 15000 inspired teens in one place and seeing them 'get' being the change. Got to hear Martin Luther King  3rd and cried through his whole speech. Beautiful.

Sari coaching Volleyball

Thanks to Susanna for the picture (even though I did not ask if I could use it)  :)

My Style is Catching On!!!!!!

I have news for all you "haters" out there.... you know who you are.... you who used to think that I knew nothing about fashion or what was/is cool...... guess what???????

I was invited to do a "fashion talk" at one of the local schools tonight!  Me!!  Not Sara..... Tim!!!!   A talk about how to dress!!!!  Can you believe that????

Ok - it was actually a class about "How to dress for winter"....... and it was to a group of "newcomers" to our country...... some of whom - admittedly - did not really speak or understand English all that well..... and some of whom - admittedly - didn't have a choice (they have to be there for the residency stuff), but never-the-less...... I am counting it!!!

So if you see "the Tim look" sweeping Estevan, don't be surprised!

They seemed especially taken with the long underwear onesy that I showed them! (Though I am not sure that they understood that it is to be worn "under" your other stuff..... so if you see people wearing their long underwear on the outside.... they may be my students!!!)

But - hey - a signature look is all you need!  Soon everyone will be doing it and you will know who to thank! 

Making my mark on the world, one step at a time! :)

Good Advice!

Keep your own counsel and don't be overly attentive to the opinions of others.  High praise can cultivate and inflated ego.  Heeding negative criticism can destroy your self-confidence.  So form no attachment to external commentary - good or bad. 

In a similar vein, never compare yourself with others.  You are on your own journey