Halloween Total

 

We ended up with 74 kids..... about average. 

The first year we were in this house (like 14 years ago), we had over 100, but 70 is closer to the average now.

Anyone beat 74?

Go do this!!!

 

For the second straight year, Sari and I got to participate in an anti-bullying, self-awareness event at the High School in town.  It is called "Challenge Day" and it is run by a group from southern California.  If you ever hear about it coming to your town, get involved.  They need adult leaders from the community to make it work.  It is a powerful day.

I was absolutely shocked at what some of those kids are going through and what they have had to endure.

I was also shocked to see the "Big tough guy" in my group, who would not talk about anything at the beginning of the day, open up and tell us what he is scared of and how he really feels.

I was shocked that the pretty, smiley girl who sat beside me, within an hour, was bawling and talking about how hard things are at home... how her parents' marriage is on the rocks and how lonely she feels (I would never have guessed any of that by looking at her at the start of the day).

I was shocked too at how close I felt to a bunch of 15 year old grade nine kids at the end of the day.


In many ways, the caring, the openness, the love and the compassion felt like what I think church should feel like (but too often doesn't).

People - no matter who they are, how old they are, how "put together" they look - all need love and support... maybe more than you will ever realize.  You can be the solution to that problem just by really caring and daring to get involved.


This video was shot somewhere else, but it looks exactly like our day yesterday.

If you ever get the chance, go do it!  You will be glad you did! (Or - just start doing it.  You don't need a program to care about each other)

The most Terrifying 15 Minutes of my Life... or "Why I feel more like a Pippus now than I ever have"

The "Career Ed" group at the High School is creating a video to be used by  the "Southeast Cornerstone School Division" (and possibly province wide).  They are asking people from various walks of life to come in and talk about their careers and how they got to where they are now.  Questions included things like....

When you were a teenager, what were your dreams for your future?

Who helped you get to where you are?

What obstacles did you have to overcome and how did you overcome them?

What advice would you give to a teenager considering their future right now?

I was asked to be one of the participants, so I went to the Comp at 1:45 on Wednesday afternoon to do my interview.  When I got there, the nice lady who was doing the project with kids took me down to the "TV studio" and got me set up.

The studio itself looked like something that you would see at a hockey rink when they do interviews with players.... black backdrop.... lots of lights.... three cameras.... only instead of standing for the interview a single chair was placed in front of the backdrop.

I sat in the chair.... they hooked up the mic..... turned on all three cameras..... turned on all the studio lights..... and then turned off all the rest of the lights in the room.   Like all of them!   All I could see was this.....

Well that is not exactly true.... I could also see the red "recording" light on the camera right in front of me, but other than that..... nothing! 

Then - out of the blue (or in this case - the "black") came this voice..... "When you were a teenager, how did you imagine your future?"

"Well.... ummm.... I am not much of a dreamer so..... "

"Who helped you get to where you are?"

"Well .... gosh .... there were lots of people. (Gulp!) Like the preacher from my home congregation.... he was really nice and ......"

"Do you still keep in contact with him?"

"Umm - ya sort of.... by email and such at least.  I see him once in a while but...."

"Where does he live now?"

"In Kentucky.... but I am not sure where exactly and....."

"How long have you been in Estevan?"

"22 years"

"What did you do to get here?"

"Well - I am not sure.... I just sort of kept doing the next logical thing and it kinds of worked out that I came here for the summer and I guess I am still here"

"What have you learned about yourself that you did not know previously?"

And on and on it went..... It was THE MOST bizarre feeling and it was a little terrifying!

Now some may think, "You stand up and talk in front of people all the time, how could that have been terrifying?"    The thing is, most of what I do is not taped.  Once it is over, it is over.  There is no evidence of how badly I did, or how stupid I sounded.  Here there were THREE cameras recording every little thing and that makes it scary!! Recorded images don't go away!

Sari still laughs about the cable TV show I did as a 19 year old preaching intern in Moose Jaw.  I used to sit in this cheezy studio and do my weekly sermon for broadcast the next week - and (25 years later) Sari still busts a gut thinking about that tape much less watching it (Though I did get recognized one time b/c of that show.  I was at the Mac's store on 9th ave in Moose Jaw one morning and this teenage boy came up and said, "Hey - I know you!  You are that dude with the cable show.  I saw you on there yesterday!"  Then he shook my hand and left...... He was SUPER excited to see me.... so there SARI!!)  :)

As for the "being a real Pippus now" part:   My joke about my family is always that my mom's side is religious and my Dad's is anything but..... In fact, we don't have family reunions on the Pippus side, we just get together whenever there is a parole hearing.   :)

Sitting in that chair, under those bright lights, with someone firing questions at me.... I felt strangely at home.... as if my Pippus DNA was perfectly tuned for this experience!   However, I really had to fight the urge to say, "Ya know what?  It is none of your business how I saw my life as a kid, or what I do now!!  Where is my lawyer????" but I didn't.   I do feel closer to my uncles and my cousins now for having this experience though.

Anyway, apparently the teacher was happy with the interview (She was telling others how well it went) so I guess it was ok.....

At least I didn't end up in jail!  :)

Funny Motorcycle Article

If you have a bike, you will get this.  One of my favorite lines..... 

"Touching someone else’s motorcycle is pretty much on par with stealing a hug from the Queen: It doesn’t matter if you understand why you’re not allowed to do it, you just don’t do it."   :)

From Cycle World, by Peter Jones.... 

The Natural Law of Motorcycling Why you never, ever ask to ride somebody else’s bike

 Ps.  Jerms... I commented on your comment on the last post re. Peter Egan.... if you did not see that, go have a look.

A love/hate relationship at its finest

At times, I hate the internet!!!    (Can you actually say that while using the internet to broadcast that message???? Is there some sort of "Internet Screening protocol" that will flag this post and then send the "Internet police" to my house in the middle of the night, so they can kick down my front door, haul me out of bed and take me to some unknown "nerd location" where they will stick me under a bright light and keep slapping my face until I take back all the nasty things I have ever said about the internet??? We will see I guess...... If you do not hear from me after this post.... tell my motorcycle that I loved her!)

Anyway, twitter, Facebook.... the Kardashians.... need I say more????  The internet can be the greatest waste of time ever invented!! And then.......

One time, about two years ago, in Minot, I bought a book by a guy named "Peter Egan". Egan is a writer for "Cycle World" magazine and this book (called "Leanings") is a collection of his CW articles. It was great! I LOVED that book so much that I have read it three times already (and - no - not, as my kids suggested, because I did not understand it the first few times... ha, ha, ha!) :(

Well, Egan has another book out there, cleverly entitled "Leanings 2" (Creative dude, no?). For more than a year, anytime I am within 100 miles of a bookstore, I stop and ask about it and no one ever has it. Lots of copies of the older book, but none of the new one.

Enter the internet.... specifically Ebay and "Plumcircle" (whatever that is) in "West Mifflin, Pennsylvania". Btw,West Mifflin is way better than "East Mifflin" - you don't want one of those, trust me! (I am not sure what that last bit means... so you can just fill in your own blank there).

Brand new, hardcover, book.... cover price: $28.95 Cnd..... delivered to my door, shipping/taxes/etc in..... $12.53!!!!

 $12.53!!!!!!

How can I stay mad at you, internet, when you bring me cheap motorcycle books???

I can't!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!! :)

(Until you bring up Chris Brown and Rhianna.... or Ellen again.... then you are out!)

A trip, an adventure and a bedtime

The trip was driving Katie and a bunch of her friends to their soccer regional playoff game in Weyburn.  Sari was going to do this, but then could not go, so I got drafted.  Let me tell you, if you have not spent three hours (2 "trapped" in a vehicle and another in a restaurant) with 5 giggly teenaged girls... you need to give it a try.  It was loud... there was lots of singing to the radio.... laughing was plentiful.  The girls lost their game and soccer season is now over, but they had a lot of fun.... and I had a fun time on the last big road trip.


The adventure.... yesterday we went to Rafferty Dam and ran around throwing rocks in the water and generally exploring.... here are some shots.

And the bedtime.......
I put my motorcycle to bed for the winter after 7779 kms this summer. That is not a big year for some people, but for me it is huge. A trip to the Black Hills with Lenny. A trip to Dauphin. Up to Regina.... out to Carnduff and all over the place.... it was a great summer.

It has begun......

 

 So our annual "Winter Scrabble Challenge" has begun....... over the course of the next 6 months or so I will be keeping you informed (because I know you care) regarding our overall record which currently stands at.....  

Tim 1    Sari 0

As a side note:  I was going to describe for you all the attitude with which Sari lost.... however she told me that if I posted anything about her actions and/or her conduct during the final few moments of the game... well - lets just say that she made clear that I would regret it.   

So.... I am not going to mention anything about it..... you can ask her yourself.  :)   

(And please note that you can leave any questions, comments or even suggestions on how she may lose more gracefully in the future in the comments section below)   :)

 

She is everywhere

Sari is in the paper again..... the picture above was on the front cover.... click here to see more.

Radio story by Sari

The paparazzi won't leave her alone.... the radio station called today wanting an update on the breakfast program.  See the story here

Translator by Bing....

For the past three years, every Wed night, I have been helping a really nice guy named "Juwon" practice his English. 

This past week, he came in and informed me that he was moving to Edmonton.... this weekend. 

I was a little shocked, but he said that he would keep in touch.  In fact, he gave me his email address and told me that he would contact me and give me his new phone number.  Best of all, though, he made me his "friend" on "Facebook" (Well, technically he is Sari's friend since I am not a "Facebooker").

I don't know if you have any friends who post things in foreign languages on Facebook, but Juwon's stuff is all in Korean.  Fortunately (Not only so I can understand, but b/c it is hilarious), you can use the "Bing Translator" to convert the posts to English...... though I am not sure it works that well.  

Here are some examples......

From today.... "I bought the rods of the sixties, why the song-songwriting better?? Are done by one of the Tao, this must one ..;;;;;;;;;./;"

Or consider...... "use the social security number records submitted by won 130 immigration and personal information leakage prevention of damage caused today! ... ... ... ... ... ...I I;;;;"
 
Or the ever popular..... "Thanks to the next Cafe is, and all the obscene ads by restraining Yen online games have their clothes Kerik  .....Grateful for it;;"

Think about that for a while!

I am really going to miss Juwon..... but I think I am going to look forward to (sort of) reading his posts.  :)

A reminder

So Megan forgot her binder this morning.

The one I saw on the floor last night and said, "Hey, is this your binder?"

The one to which she replied, "Ya it is mine.  I will put it in my backpack tomorrow... No, I won't forget!"

Then, just as I am going out the door, the call came, "Can you bring me......"

I was a little annoyed (In former days, I would have been mad.... this time I was just a little annoyed).  However, I told her that I would meet her near the front of the school and give it to her.

As I rode up to the school on my motorcycle, I could see a handful of kids standing near the flagpole.  Then I remembered, "Oh ya, it is 'Meet me at the pole' day today" (For those who don't know - that is a day where Christian students around the world meet at the flagpole of their school to pray for their school, their teachers and their friends).

Then I looked again..... and saw both of my daughters standing there.

Sometimes it is easy to focus only on things that could be better, right?  My kids aren't perfect and neither are their parents.... we have disagreements and see things differently at times.  We misunderstand each other and have to go "make up".  We love each other but not everything is smooth and easy.

But this morning was a good reminder.... "I have some good kids!"

That may sound like bragging.... and it is.  But it is not arrogant bragging..... it is thankful bragging.  I am glad for their hearts.  I am thankful for their friends.  I am thankful that they can make good choices and that they are brave enough to be themselves (It takes some guts to stand there with the "Christian kids" while all your teachers and friends walk by).

I know that the end of the story is not yet written and that we have a long way to go.... but for that moment when I pulled up at the school, I thought, "I am glad those are my kids.... and I am glad for their mom who, mostly, made them who they are".  And I told them that too.

It was a good way to start the day.  It is an image that will go with me for a long time.

And I am glad Megan forgot her binder.

This made me smile.....

Dude gets his first kiss, on stage, from Carrie Underwood! Can you imagine? That is a story that will he tell for the rest of his life. Good for her! That was sweet! :)

Walk to breakfast kickoff

Just a few more shots from Sari's school year opening "Walk to Breakfast"

Soccer stuff

Some soccer pics..... just for fun! 

Happy Birthday

We celebrated my mommy's birthday a few weeks ago.... I won't tell you how old she is..... but get a good look at the cake picture and you can find out for yourself. :)

Mom and Laurie

 Posing for the appropriate picture

Mom and some some of my uncles and aunts

The cake (one of several).... Yum "Dutch Bakery" (if you are ever in Moose Jaw.... mmmmm)

 

One with some of the kids and grandkids....

You can write the caption for this one (In fact, please do... comment section is open for business!)  :)

Um, ya sure!

I am going to make my kids watch this over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over until the memorize every word and REALIZE WHAT WE DO FOR THEM!!! (Or "did for them" as we rarely have to cut their food and feed it to them any more..... but that money part.... fo shizzle!)  :)
Parents rap about maintaining their household by videosonlytube

Another Breakfast Story

Click here to see another story about the Hillcrest Breakfast Program.  Also, click on the picture in the story and you will be able to see a few more.

A Converstation Conundrum

So it is my Mom's 65th Birthday.... well, it was a couple of weeks ago but none of us could get there on time to celebrate with her (that and the fact that we thought she was expecting a big party, so we did not give her one on the right date), so we are having a party for her this weekend.

While planning this event with my siblings, the matter of a gift came up.  In the meantime, mom's husband's birthday has come and gone as well, so we thought we should get them a "together gift" (Putting them together means one bigger, more substantial gift.... and it means less thinking on our part so it is "win-win" right?)

"Let's give them a one way ticket somewhere" my siblings both snarled.

Needless to say, I was shocked!!!

"We can't do that!" I bravely said.

Kurt and Debbie would not relent on this "run them out of town" idea, saying some of the nastiest things I have ever heard anyone say about another two people.  But I did not give in....I stood my ground (Mom - if you ever get to read this - don't listen to Kurt and Debbie when they say that I made that whole part up to make myself look like the best son.... it is all true and I have the transcripts of our conversation to prove it.... as soon as I make them up).

Anywho..... with the "one way ticket" idea defeated by the handsome and brave eldest son, the conversation moved to the idea of buying them a gift card from a major hotel chain.  That way they could use it whenever and wherever they wanted.... with the added bonus that they would be able to drive themselves home and would not have to live like drifters for the rest of their lives.

The task of getting the gift card fell to me.  Since we use Best Western Hotels most of the time, I decided to call our local one to see if I could buy a card there or if they could only be ordered online.  The following is my conversation with the nice girl from Best Western.....

Me: "Hey, I was wondering, can I buy Best Western gift cards at the hotel in town or can I only get them online?"

Best Western Girl (BWG - from now on):  "Yes you can purchase them online"

Me: "No, I know that.  What I want to know is whether I can buy one from the hotel in town"

BWG:  "Are you a Best Western Club member?"

Me:  "Yes"

BWG:  "Then you can go to the website, enter your card number and order a card there"

Me: "Ok - but I don't want to do that!  I want to buy one in person... at the front desk of the hotel in Estevan.  Can I do that?"

BWG:  "Are you using "Best Western Club" points to buy the card?"

Me:  "No. I will be paying with cash"

BWG:  "Because you can cash your points in online for many different things.... including gift cards"

Me:  "Right - I understand that but....."

BWG:  "Like  Starbucks gift cards. Do you like Starbucks?"

Me:  "Wa??  No actually I HATE Starbucks.... Who wants to pay $250 for a black coffee with some stupid name that I can't pronounce??  Huh????  Tell me that!   And, I really hate the ones in the bookstores where all the "novel nerds" gather to spout what they think they know about things.... 'I really liked Tchaikovsky's treatment of the wind in the fourth chapter.... making it part of the fabric on the novel was simply an inspired moment'..... SHUT UP!!!!!"

BWG:  "You can buy a Starbucks card online.... just go to "bestwestern.com" and enter your membership number to......"

Me:  "I DON'T WANT A STARBUCKS CARD!!!!"

BWG:  "Oh - I see.  Then why did you call?"

Me:  "I want to know if I can buy a Best Western Gift Card at the front desk of your hotel"

BWG:  "Can you hold please?".......... (5 minutes later) "You can buy it here"

Me:  "I can?"

BWG:  "Yes"

Me:  "Ok... thank you!" (hang up the phone)

Now, the only problem is..... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHE SAID "YES" TO.   I think she just said "yes" to get rid of me.

"Happy Birthday Mom!!!"

_____
PS..... (the rest of the story).........

Sari and I went to said Best Western this evening and lo and behold guess who is behind the counter?  BWG!  And guess what..... she was terribly nice and helpful!  Everything was great..... "Yes you may buy a card here".... "We would be glad to help you"..... "Would you like a free coffee while we complete the transaction?"

And then..... the machine would not take Sari's credit card..... or my credit card.... or Sari's other credit card....

BWG kept looking at us with a look that said, "Oh you poor people" (not in a sympathetic way... as in "I feel so badly about this for you" but in a "You hillbillies have no money.  Maybe now that your credit cards are cut off you will stop playing those 'video lottery terminals' for good! ").

The machine finally took Sari's debt card..... and all was well.  (And we credit card worked at the next store we went to so we are not actually destitute) 

I hope the trip (wherever it is) is more fun than the buying of the card for the trip.  :)

Sari is making a difference.... and other stuff

Above is a picture from Sari's "Walk to breakfast" kickoff at Hillcrest.  The morning included dignitaries like the Minister of Education, the Mayor and several others.  It was a lot of fun and I will post a lot more pictures and stuff later, but here is the report from the radio station.  Sari, the "School Community Council", the parents, staff, supporting companies and volunteers are making a big difference in the lives of these kids and it is fun to see. 

Watch for more announcements in coming weeks as there are several more big gifts lined up for the school.
_____
In other news.....

- Katie played her first two soccer games in Moose Jaw this weekend.  They lost both but she said that she played "Like a boss" (which I think is a good thing).  She is looking forward to the rest of the season.

- Megan made it happily through her first week of High School.  Things seem to be going well... no major meltdowns so we are proud of her for that and hope she has a great year.

-  I spend all day Saturday at the football field at the high school.  I started by watching one little kid that I knew and then I knew a kid on the next team that played... two on the next one ... and finally a lot on the high school team.  It was a beautiful day to be outside and I had tons of people to visit with (that is what I love about small towns/cities.... no matter where you go you see people you know).  So - while I should have been working on my Enduro car - I wasn't.  However, I had a good excuse for being lazy so I did not feel too bad about it. 

- Friday night we went to the rodeo and ran into a couple of good friends and visited with them while enjoying the show.  That was really fun too.   As well, a little boy was sitting beside me and he said, "Hey, I remember you!  You are funny!"  He had been to our VBS a few years ago.... he proceeded to talk to me for the next hour STRAIGHT!   Seriously, I had to tell him to wait while I tried to talk to my buddy Darren.  It was funny and it was another reason I like being here.

So, more about Sari and what is going on at the school later.... but that is the update on our weekend for now. 

The Chinese lied to me... and other happenings

Most of you know about the fact that last month I dropped my Motorcycle at a railway crossing just outside of Bienfait after surviving 68746878436 kms of road construction (I know... you are probably haunted by this fact.... nightmares, sudden bursts of tears for no reason.... I understand).  If you are not up to speed, please go discover the previous post detailing this horrific event.

Anyway, I had to order a new foot peg for it so I got looking at Suzuki parts..... $30 for one side and that is just the metal piece (no top rubber part, no spring, nothing).

Then - just for fun - I went on Ebay...... 2 complete foot pegs (with top rubber parts, new springs, new pins, new everything) for........ $8.  Eight bucks!!!!!!!

Not to mention FREE SHIPPING!  FREE!!!!

Did I mention this was coming from China?  They are shipping me 5 times as much stuff for $8 (if I bought all the same stuff from Suzuki it would have been closer to $200 - seriously)....... from China!   I did not think that you could send an empty envelope from China to Canada for $8 much less 10 motorcycle parts.

So after waiting a month, guess what showed up in my mailbox yesterday?

The lying part?  Well, the measurements that they gave made them sound exactly the same size as the originals, but they are not.  They are a little bit smaller.... but overall - for eight bucks - who cares?

So as they say "Seek and ye shall find" or in this case "CHEAP and ye shall SAVE"  (or something like that)  :)
_____
In other (non-motorcycle related news)..... the girls all had relatively good days at school.  Sari is getting ready for her big "Breakfast Kick-off" tomorrow.  She has the Minister of Education coming and a bunch of other people with really large cheques.... both financially large and actually large as in those big cardboard cheques.  (How do you get those anyway?  I want like a whole book of them!  You are standing in Wal-mart... "Nine ninety five, you say?"..... then you whip out this big cheque book.... it takes up like three lanes and knocks over 3 old ladies in the process.  You have to get the cashier to fill out the other end of the cheque because you can't reach it..... and you have to yell to her so that she can hear you from so far away.  Then you try to stuff one into the ATM and well......... but I digress). 

Sari's breakfast thing is going to be great..... more about it later in the week.

Katie has her first soccer game this weekend (in Moose Jaw) and Megan had a good second day... she successfully found her way around the school and back out to the car to come home.... what more could you want than that?

Me.... I am still waiting on someone to sponsor my Enduro car..... cost is heap.... nothing!  (That is even a better deal than Ebay foot pegs).   Get in touch with me soon... space is limited (I am painting monkeys all over the thing and there is only so much space so.......)