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The End is Nigh

Good Thing We Get to Start Over Again Tomorrow

That’s the wonderful thing about our species. We are so fixated on redo’s that we created a cyclic calendar.

Seriously.

Some medieval jackass probably screwed up things with his wife and invented a calendar to allow himself to achieve redemption.

But enough about my theories of history…

What was this year all about?

Challenges.

Moreso than any other year, I would say.

Certainly last year, the year of Two Thousand and Suck (as coined by Dave), was a challenging year.

But this year was insane.

Let’s review things that I have learned…

  • When they say that contractions are a certain amount of time apart, they are referring to an average, not that every contraction is exactly five minutes apart.
  • If your first baby arrives after four hours from the onset of active labour, you should consider preparing to have your second child at home.
  • The strongest friendships weather any storm. Even ones thrown at you by the devil himself.
  • Sometimes you find a new friend where and when you least expected it. Most likely closer than you might have imagined.
  • While friendship is the glue that binds us all together, WhyNattes is the solvent that melts away life’s problems.
  • Having a child makes you want to live forever.
  • No matter how little you change when you have a baby, almost everyone will treat you differently. Sometimes this is good. Sometimes this is bad. Just be ready to be considered different.
  • Life is never as bad as you think. And while it could always be worse, being passive about improving it is stupid. You need to get your hands dirty.
  • I never get to see the Biologist, Turtle Woman, the Mife, the Blife, or Farley and Company very often. But we’re all still close, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
  • I do get to Manchu with Shatton on a regular basis, which is awesome.
  • Achieving a Black Belt is more about sacrifice than hard work.
  • Achieving a Black Belt while landscaping your back yard is not only tiring, but probably idiotic.
  • Grandparents are fueling the housing market. Seriously, if you have ever had the thought where the hell are we going to put all of these presents?, you’ll know why the suburbs are so populated.
  • Toronto Thumbs is awesome. And not just because I write for it.
  • No matter how awesome your spouse is, if they get you a Nintendo Wii for Christmas, they will become creatures of legend for the duration of your natural life.


Not really a long list, but I don’t want to get all teary-eyed on you.

This has been a year of learning and wonder. I wish you all the very best for the New Year.

May you make all of your dreams come true.

MehWii Christmas!

Luckii

I thought my wife was tops for our collaborative Little J project.

Apparently she has iced the cake with a little electronic device that I was trying to figure out how to save up for next year.

While not so outwardly demonstrative, you can bet your bottom dollar that what I’m doing on the inside kinda looks like this…





Just replace the words “Nintendo 64” with the words “Nintendo Wii”.



🙂

Keeping it Simple

Just a simple wish that all of your wishes come true, everyone.


Unless, of course, your wishes involve harming people.


Then you’ll have to deal with me.



🙂

Phenomenal Woman

Birthday Girl

A friend of mine recently turned seventy.

This woman is simply amazing.

Not only is she vibrant and fun, she’s also driven. For instance, she just received her black belt this year. That’s right. THIS YEAR.

She is an inspiration to us all, a shining example of the saying you are as old as you feel.

She recently threw a party for her birthday and invited her friends.

I was slow dancing with her at one point, and she mentioned that she used to stay out until four in the morning. I joked about her cutting down to calling it a night at three A.M., but she laughed and said that it was because the venue was closing at eleven that she couldn’t stay out longer.

She read us a poem by Maya Angelou that, in my opinion, suited her perfectly…


PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care.
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.


Happy Birthday, Eileen. You are an inspiration to us all and you make every day a better one! Thank you for making seventy look amazing!

🙂

A Lurve Story

Yes, You Heard Right!

Welcome to the fourth wedding of the summer. This was our last wedding of the year, and it was a great do.

My fishing buddy/wilderness mentor/practical joke nemesis got hitched to his gorgeous bride at the end of August in a beautiful ceremony in the mysterious place known as Black Creek Pioneer Village.



Phung and the ladies getting ready to make a grand entrance.
Photo by David Lucas.
Click to enlarge…



And the Band Plays On…

The ambiance inside the church was warm on account of it being an old structure, full of wood and memory. Also it was a pleasant contrast to the weather, which was beginning to turn towards a wetter disposition.

Brad’s Great Uncle was the Officiant, due to the inconvenience of their original choice becoming suddenly unavailable. The priest had a great sense of humour, and after they had quieted down the string instruments, they proceeded to become an official couple.



The magical moment where two became one…
Photo by David Lucas.
Click to enlarge…



Rainy Day Sunshine

After the wedding was done, the couple signed the registry and went off for pictures. Unfortunately, the sky was crying for joy at this point, and the wedding party had to make their way out into the wet fray.

Someone had the foresight to bring a plethora of umbrellas, so they were relatively dry during their brief journey to to the photo destination.



Good thing they had Spartan Phalanx Training™…
Photo by David Lucas.
Click to enlarge…



A Warm Reception

The reception was great, with a delicious buffet spread and great company. There was a lot of family there, leaving us friends on the outlying tables. It was actually a great way to see the whole thing.

The tables were also covered with all kinds of origami stylez. Stars, frogs, canoes and other objects were scattered about. These different objects represented aspects of the bride and groom.



Our table had a little fun with the centrepiece…
Click to enlarge…


I went up to do a quick word for Brad and Phung that ended up turning into something a little bit longer than I would have liked. In any case, I meant every word, and am glad that they understand how I feel about them.



How lucky am I? I snagged the bride for some fancy footwork as the aunties look upon our moves with approval…
Click to enlarge…



Rockin’ Out

A live band played a few sets in between the play list chosen by the happy couple. Lots of people were slow to start, but once they got going, it was a lot of fun.

This made it hard to leave. Even though we had left Little J with Mrs. J’s mom for the night, we were pretty tuckered out. A full night’s sleep is hard to come by at the best of times, so we ducked out at around midnight or so, taking the opportunity to get some pics with the stars of the show.



We did thirty seven takes. These were the best ones…
Click to enlarge…


It was a great day, and I’m very happy for the two of them. Congrats, guys!



Epilogue

Several weeks later, they held a friends-only party up North. Unfortunately, due to Karate-related commitments, we couldn’t go, but I hear it was a blast. How many people can claim two receptions?

Awesome.

🙂


This time Brad was more than ready for the rain…
Click to enlarge…