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

Costumes......

Lucy from "The Chronicles of Naria"

Megan from "The Chronicles of Estevan" (along with her nerdy friend Tayler)

And, of course, Mary and Katelyn Poppins.....

The girls did their own costumes this year..... and I think they looked Super.... califragilisticexpialidocious!  :)
 

One more GBS video (not the best quality but interesting song/harmonies)

A Great Date Night That Costs Nothing!!!!

Sari and I just had the best "Date night" ever and it was super cheap!!  Here is how you can do the same......

1.  Have some very nice friends give you, as your Christmas gift, a free night at the spa in Moose Jaw.  This should include both the jacuzzi tub for two (with the rubber ducky that sits on the edge of the tub) and the breakfast for two the next morning!  For all the times we have been to Moose Jaw (of course my family lives there) we have never been to the spa so that was super nice!

2.  Go out for a nice supper (unfortunately you will have to pay for this part).

3.  Get your wife to win tickets on the radio to the "Great Big Sea" concert that is in town.  Go.... yell.... scream.... cheer.... jump up and down.... act like an idiot and have a great time (just because it is a ton of fun.... more about this in a minute).  Stand for the entire show!!

4.  Watch all the interesting people around you like the guy two rows ahead who knows and sings every word to every song (literally) and the girl with the long blonde hair who is "Irish Step Dancing" in the aisle. 

5.  Make sure the band plays for over an hour in the first set.... does an intermission.... comes back and plays for another hour plus..... goes off.... comes back for an encore and does two songs.... leaves....then comes back for a second encore!! 

6.  Make sure that the band tells some funny stories and sings a good mix of their songs and some of the old Irish drinking songs..... both with each of them playing several different instruments and also singing acappella in a way that I have never heard before!  Amazing! (More later on this too).

7.  After concert.... go back to hotel...... make up your own details here.

8.  Breakfast in the morning..... visit some family..... head to Regina and shop and bit and then come home after supper.

Now - granted - it may be hard to arrange the free room, breakfast and concert tickets.... but I highly recommend it.   It was a great getaway!!!!  :)

PS.  We have liked GBS for a long time.... but we have never seen them in concert and therefore have been unaware of how incredible they are live.  Not only do each of the guys play several instruments each, but they do several acappella numbers with super tight harmonies and rumbling bass lines.  Growing up in church, both Sari and I have heard tons of acappella singing and acappella groups.... but their are very few - if any - that match these guys.  Even in a big arena with so-so sound, they were really impressive.  Here is a sample (though not done quite as well as last night eve).  Listen for the bass line.  Sari liked that best!!!

PPS.  This is the set from last night too.

PPPS.  I had never heard this song before and I really liked the sound and the harmonies.  Enjoy!

Who doesn't love Minions????

Challenge Day

Today I (TKP) spent the day at the high school taking part in "Challenge Day".

Challenge Day is an "good self-esteem/anti-bullying" program that is presented to the grade 9 students at the Comp in the hope that if you change how they see people in their first year, it will change how their entire high school experience goes.


It is a highly intense day.... both physically and emotionally.  Physically because the theory is that more silly and fun you can be at the start, the better chance that the kids will open up at the end of the day.  Therefore, the day starts very loudly with games and "bad dance moves" (I excelled at that).... by the end of the day, kids are talking about stuff.... crying.... hugging.... apologizing to others.... and generally dealing with things they haven't talked about much before. 

 Two facilitators from California come in to do the presentation and they are aided by approximately 25 adult volunteers and a handful of older students who have been through the program before.  Sara and I have participated in the first two years it was here..... I did it today..... Megan is helping out with it tomorrow.


It is a very cool program and if you ever get the chance to participate.... go do it.  Just make sure you get lots of sleep first!

 

Speedway Supper

As most of you know, our family volunteered out at the "Estevan Motor Speedway" this past summer.  Last night was their awards banquet and volunteer recognition night, so we went and here are a few pictures (By the way, these are courtesy of of "Byron Fitcher Fotography".... if you like racing photos check out his Facebook page here).  Anyway, on to the pictures......

This is the contingent from Minot.... they decided to "class up the joint" for us......


This picture is just odd..... the "runners up" in each of the three divisions.... an eclectic mix of looks, no?


One of the guest speakers..... former NASCAR driver Randy La Joie


Random shot of the crowd.....


Look past the track president and Mr. Beeter and see who you see peeking in-between them (I even got to do a speech at this thing..... no picture of me...... but Sari and Megan get in one!  What does that tell you??????)


So that is it!  Sadly the year is officially over!  But it was a great time!  If you live in the area and have ever thought of volunteering at the speedway - do it!  It is a great group of people who are a ton of fun to work with (and next year you too could wear a pink tux to the banquet!)  :)

Introducing the "P.A.T.A.I.C.S.P"

So I am forming a new action committee called the "P.A.T.A.I.C.S.P" which stands for ..... "People Against The Anti-Inflation Crime Stoppers Payout".

Why is the payout for turning someone in still $2000???? 

It was $2000 when it started back in the 1980s.  What about inflation????  The $2000 that you get paid now would have been like getting paid $13 985 back then.

So they expect me to turn in my relatives for way less than I could have turned them in for back in 1984????  Why would I do that????  Shouldn't I get paid even more to turn them in now because of all the other stuff they have done between then and now???  If they are more wanted now, shouldn't that add up to more of a payout?????

Is it set up as a trust and that is the upper limit for all time's sake???? 

Seriously, if someone knows the real answer here, let me know.  I am confused!

PS.  If you are interested in going the "P.A.T.A.I.C.S.P", please call "(306) CASH"... you will not have to give your name and calls are not traced or recorded.  If your call leads to you becoming part of the group, you could receive a cash reward of up to $2000 (in 1984 monetary values!).  This message is a public service message and is broadcast on this station to show support for "P.A.T.A.I.C.S.P".

PPS.  I actually had the Estevan "634" extension on the front of the number above, but then I checked and it is actually someone's home phone number.  Please do not call it..... I don't think Joanne will know what you are talking about and she may call "Crime Stoppers" on me.  :)
__________________
In other crime related news......

My kids sit in the living room with the curtains open at night!!!!

Don't they know that is the easiest time for a sniper to get a bead on you??? 

I tell them that every time I close the curtains!

How to know when you are raising middle-class kids, hey????

Back in the hood, you don't have to teach this stuff.... kids just know!   :)

A big announcement

So we woke up this morning to a cold house. Our two year old furnace had quit.  After some investigation, I decided that the pressure switch was cooked and we had to call the plumber.

Sari met him here.... he was here for 10 minutes.... changed the pressure switch.

Sari asked, "Why would this go bad on a furnace that is 2 years old?"

He said, "Pressure switches on these things last 6 months to 2 years.  If you got 2 years out of it, you are doing good!" (Sad - no?  Old furnaces ran for like 40 years with no trouble!)

Sari asked, "How much is the part?"

He said, "$50"

"How much is your time worth?"

He said, "$105/hour!  And they will likely charge you for the whole hour!"

Now, remember, he was here for 10 minutes (literally) and I diagnosed the problem for him!!! (Yes, I know about "shop time" and "driving time" and that the shop takes most of that money and blah, blah, blah..... but come on, man!!!  10 minutes!!!!)

So - the big announcement....... the girls are going to become plumbers!!!!

Only three things to know, right? 
1.  Stuff runs downhill
2.  Don't lick your fingers
3. Payday is Friday

Actually - I am not even complaining..... I have a warm house.... I have the money to pay for it (we do have the money, right Sari????  Not like when we were first married and a $200 bill would upset our whole world)..... and they fixed it within hours...... what is not to be happy about?

Oh - and the kids found their career path!!   Win-win-win!

Weird stories and some other junk (30 of 30)

I am not sure why, but it seems we have been super busy lately.  We were away on the weekend and then every night this week has something going on.  Yikers!  Anyway, none of it is really all that "blog worthy" (unless you want to hear a detailed account of my tearing apart of the carburetor on my snow blower last night - twice..... no real improvement...... anyone wanna buy a snow blower?????)

So, for the time being, here are a couple of things for you to consider.  Read and discuss........

Just in case you get lost in the woods somewhere, 21 survival tips you need to know (I thought #18/17/15/6 were particularly interesting.

As well, there is this.......

Who wouldn't want a 7 foot Spongebob gravestone (or two of them) in their cemetery???? 

Ps.  I know this is the end of the 30 days/blogs but I will keep writing - as long as someone keeps reading.

A Little Eye Candy for you (29 of 30)

So I found this website a while ago..... extreme closeups of people's eyes.  Cool or gross.... you decide!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quick Update

I am not going to count this as one of this "30 blogs in 30 days"(ish) as it is more of a weekend update and an explanation of why I have not been writing the past few nights.

On Friday night, Sari and I went to Weyburn for the start of a conference at the church there.  You will note that it was just Sari and me and that is b/c the girls were in MJ playing their last soccer game of the season.  Since we were alone, we decided to make a night of it and went up for supper ahead of time (the pizza at the "Town and Country" is pretty good).  Nice to see a bunch of people from other places and times in our lives up there.  It was good.

Saturday morning, I was on the road at 8 to go back to Weyburn as I was teaching three classes throughout the day.  The soccer kids slept in and then Sari put them to work raking leaves and cleaning up the yard all day.  I got home after supper and we watched the Rider game and hung out.

Today (Sunday) was good.  A buddy brought some kids down to get some clothes from our clothing outlet.  They loaded a trailer and they are handing the stuff out in North Central Regina tomorrow.... a really good thing to be part of.  Class tonight went well and the weekend is over.

I am hoping my week is a little slower this week.... I have more days in the office and much less to prepare for so I am hoping for a good week of reading, study and maybe even some time to hang out with some people.

Anyway - if you have been wondering why I have not written... there is your answer.  Have a great week!

This is something.... have a look!

Dude survives a parachute failure from 2 miles up.