Wow, who is to know when injuries will happen.

After a weekend with games like murder ball, full body contact duck duck goose, tubing down a hill with trees along the trail, and a night game through the bush in the dark, we have no injuries, praise God.

The next day, we are at Pastor's retreat, very low key, witha simple indoor game of giant dutch blitz. muhc less dangerous than how we play it using full gym, and blockers.. They were jsut sliding cards in when they came, a lady slipped on a card, ttwisted her ankle, and was getting a pin surgically installed to repair a break the next mornign.

I don't get it? Maybe it is not to be gotten.

Mike

Wow, who is to know when injuries will happen.

After a weekend with games like murder ball, full body contact duck duck goose, tubing down a hill with trees along the trail, and a night game through the bush in the dark, we have no injuries, praise God.

The next day, we are at Pastor's retreat, very low key, witha simple indoor game of giant dutch blitz. muhc less dangerous than how we play it using full gym, and blockers.. They were jsut sliding cards in when they came, a lady slipped on a card, ttwisted her ankle, and was getting a pin surgically installed to repair a break the next mornign.

I don't get it? Maybe it is not to be gotten.

Mike

Wow, who is to know when injuries will happen.

After a weekend with games like murder ball, full body contact duck duck goose, tubing down a hill with trees along the trail, and a night game through the bush in the dark, we have no injuries, praise God.

The next day, we are at Pastor's retreat, very low key, witha simple indoor game of giant dutch blitz. muhc less dangerous than how we play it using full gym, and blockers.. They were jsut sliding cards in when they came, a lady slipped on a card, ttwisted her ankle, and was getting a pin surgically installed to repair a break the next mornign.

I don't get it? Maybe it is not to be gotten.

Mike

Well, I am thankful.

Thankful not to get stuck even once, though I drove attridge to help a good friend at 5 p.m.
Thankful not to get stranded, though it can mean safety for the night, it never means comfort, or a good sleep.
Thankful not to be invovled in any of the many car accidents both yesterday and today.
(Why today? Have people not realized they need to compensate for the new road reality given to us?)
Thankful most of all to have my family safely in my house last night.
Thankful that my father-in-law has a snow blower I can use, and a step dad who has a truck to deliver it.
Thankful that I live so close to work.
Thankful that my wife made hot chocolate and chicken soup when i came in after 2 hours of snow blowing.
(which, by the way, was still physically tiring, though just not back breaking)
Thankful that crisis allowed for me to show a friend that I am am not of the 'fair weather' varitey of friends.
Thankful that my decision to travel attridge from preston crossing to central, on the wrong side of the road, was a goood decision.
Thankful all reports from my other friends all ended in 'safely home'.

Well, this is getting long, so I will stop, but I am very thankful for all of those things, oh yes, and teh DVD recorder to record the news of this historic day that we had.

Have a good day, if not great, and plese be safe.

Be

What is it about childhood memories at this stage in my life?

I can barely describe to you how powerful some childhood memories have been ove rthe last few months. We are not talking about life altering moments in my childhood, but getting to expereience some of the fun stuff that characterized my time. We always have fun reliving some of this stuff, but recently it has become more than that to me.

some of those things include, but are not limited to a) the re-release of transformers generation 1, which i am very excited about, though it won't change my life, ministry, or family, and b) last night i recorded and watched later on the Biography on the 'Wonder Years'. That show was the one I watched every day after school as a younger boy. I expereienced with Kevin Arnold some of the things he was going through. I gained wisdom from the voice over and it's insights, and sometimes thought in terms of that reflective voice over when looking back on some of my experiences, days. (sorry, dont think I am crazy, lol. Either know for sure that I am or leave it alone.)

So that almost brought me to tears watching key moments in the series relived in the 'Biography.' I have been recording episodes since Christmas on TV Tropolis, but they are now stopping that run too. That doesn't crush me, I will watch what I have when i have time, (maybe summer, or late at night) but for now I wonder why this stuff is grabbing me so? Open to your thoughts.

Mike

A day of firsts on the first day of the year.

Yesterday my son and I created our first indoor 'fort' in the basement. Of course he has a play tent, but nothing compares to a blanket strewn over chairs and boxes and other various pieces of furniture, with toys and pillows inside, and a giant stuffed dog guarding the entry way.

Also, yesterday wa shis first live hockey game. He has watched hockey with me on TV, and nearly came unglued when the real players came out on the ice and played. Of course his attention span lasted about teh first 10 mintues of the game. That makes it nice that we were watching form the credit union sky box and he had plenty of room to move and run and watch treehouse tv.

Opposite of firsts is lasts, and the last of my grandma's amazing cinnimon buns is on the counter at our place. Jake enjoys them, but I am wrestling to decide if he is discerning enough to have the last one, or if he would be jjust as happy with one from any bakery.

Happy New Year

Boxing is the theme of this post:

First of all, horray!, Rocky has another movie. I am very excited.

Second, boxing day. This is my time to shine, my 'Christmas' in a commercial sense. (I love the family and visiting side of regualr christmas, hate thhe commercialism) I am excited, and started my routine, which involves buying the paper the week before, not missing one. Still no ads yet. It is a wierd year cause the S.P. would normally print them on 24th, but taht is a Sunday, and they can't wait till boxing day to run it.

I was able to get some info from Futureshop. They open at 6 a.m. this year on boxing day.

I love the earlier openning times. Less waiting, and it weeds out the weak. I will aim to be in line shortly before 3 a.m. if there is something really good. Really, we are left with 2, maybe 3 good choices this year. Futureshop, visions, and maybe compu smart. And a door crasher is not a door crasher unless better than half price, and saving at least $200. We lost the legendary king of boxing day, A and B sound. They were also the only palce we had to buy non mainstream CD's.

Maybe my dad will join me this year, he will be in town. He is the one who taught me how to boxing day shop, taught me that all good deals to be had were off the shelves before 8 a.m., hopefully we reunite the team. Student and teacher.

I would tell you what I am hoping for out there, but that is generally not done in the boxing day lines, we are friends till the doors open, then jsut hope you are not going for the same thing as me.

Bye Buy, and a Merry christmas to my readers.

Staff Christmas Party

Leading up to the staff Christmas Party, I was pretyt excited, adn boasted of my unbeatable bowling game, as last time I won by a large margin, and it is my 'sport' outside of waterski season. By being prideful, I gave other staff members something to play for, and something to taunt me with every time I threw a bad ball( which was often).

I should have never talked the talk, cause by making a big deal out of it, it is a bigger deal that I did not have the high score in either game. Great sadness for me. I had a chance in teh second game but wasted a strike by hitting a 2 pin in the last frame. The next thing I know, I am in the lounge drowning my sorrows, and I don't remember anything after that...Merry Christmas.

Ah yes, the popular position of 'Point Man' or Leader.

Some conflicts on dates for an upcoming retreat. Conflict witha quiz meet. I already know what decision needs to be made. I told the peple in charge of quizing that their ministry fit under a larger picture of ministry right from the start.

Those it will impact are not going to be pleased. I think one will take it alright, being a little upset, and one will be more vocal about it. People need to understand that if I switch to another weekend, I impact others as well. I guess, even if they don't understand that, i do, and though I try to create understanding, I have never been one to wait for total agreement of everyone before making a decision.

I know I am called to this position, and sometimes it is fun. sometimes it is not. The wierd thing is, i don't feel sad about having to make the decision, I just feel it is part of life that people will need to decide between two good things. I have to do it all the time. Would love to see those concerned and how they respond when those two choices are a ministry opportunity and family. Sorry, that is not fair, I am sure there will be maturing by the time that happens. If I can 'mature' in my thinking, I am sure anyone can.

This blog is not in anyway a critisism of anyone and their concerns, simply voicing what I am feeling, the purpose of a blog.

Have a nice day.

What a wonderful day.

After an amazingly busy Sunday, I got to stay home with my kid yesterday. We went to the parent and tot swim and basically had the whole pool tp our selves. A red pool noodle submerged and popping up around jakes floaty mat served as a dragon or sea monster. He made the 'woo ha woo ha woo hahaha music as I went through the 'ring of fire' (bubbles from 'Finding Nemo') and he was tested by a life guard to make sure he was ready for an unparented swim class in january. Wow, things move fast in this life.

We stayed in for over an hour, and rented half the pool, it seemed, for $6.

gotta love Mondays off.

Mike

Who knew about this and why wasn't I told?!?

So, last week, shortly after telling my wife there is nothing I really want for Christmas, i see in the Walmart Flyer that they have re-released classic transformer characters. (I won't name any, want to see if any of my readers can name the classics, post comment)

I told her then that I wanted some of these, to collect, as this is huge part of my childhood and did not keep any from way back. So yesterday, just to see where this re-release was going (more characters or something) I googled the word transformers. THat brought me to a movie page. Not the 1987 cartoon movie, but a real transformers movie (I guess as real as a Semi that turns into a fighting robot can be). They showed a quick preview. I can't believe it.

This is my child hood, transformers and Turtles, there was nothing else on that level for me. (and transformers were more important to me than turtles.

If my wife has been diligent in searching the walmarts, then I may have at least one, hopefully more of the classic figures to set up in my room (guitar room.)

Jake would be allowed limited play time with them when he was old enough to understand. We were watching the movie (robots, as he calls them) and the car who becoems the leader later was running and transformed to a car. Jake said 'where did the robot go', and I thought 'that's the beauty of it all, amazing'.

Anyways, no tiem for all the new transformers and toys out there, if you see a classic, pick it up for me, please. And I will have a big party to go see the movie on April 4. Anyone want to come?

Mike

So those winter tires saved a big accident yesterday.

Travelling over the attridge overpass at 60 (posted limit) towards Canadian tire, an older couple in a truck come in off the freee way ramp, and do a tripple lane change right in front of me doing 30 and never speeding up. I slammed on the brakes (it was not the kind of close where you could just slow down) and my car angled a bit but continued to travel forward, slowiing down pretty quickly, while I layed my chest on teh horn. I came easily within 18 inches of them, and they never tried to change bakc or speed up. I am sure the other tires would have had me spin more around or continue faster forward.

Here is where the human side of me comes out. i intentionally parked right beside them in the lot as we were headed to same store, and as we got out, i asked him if he had any clue how dangerous that lane change of his was. they put their heads down and walked away quickly into the store. I think they could have at least appologized, but I will try not to cling to my rights, I guess. I have asked God to forgive my anger, but my attitude still is that they can at least say something about their stupid move. I make lots of mistakes, but at least I can admit when I did.

Would it have been 'my fault' in the eyes of SGI, since technically it would have been a rear end collision? Anyways, I hold to my belief that hesitant and slow drivers cause as many accidents as overly agressive ones. It is not a snotty arrogant statement, but teh truth, unless this day we all agree to drive 30 on 3 lane major roads during fair conditions.

That is my thought for the day, happy driving.

Mike

As of yesterday, our car is now winter ready.

Winter tires, winter 'reflex' wipers. The wipers come as Robyn asked me repeatedly while I drove her somewhere this week if I could see out my side cause she could nnot from hers. I agree it was a challenge, but not impossible. If I was on my own, I may try to stick it out and drive with a streaky windshield and normal all seasons, and invest that almost $600 into a snow blower. But with my son and wife, whom I love so much, I will error on the side of safety for the car, and continue to shovel with my back and arms. not being a martyr here, just saying it was tough to spend that much on something that I normally wouldnn't. last time I had winter tires, my dad was buying them for all our vehicles 7 years ago. Back then, he put studded tires on ym '86 Capri. That rocked.

Even if I changed my mind, tires are probably unreturnable if they did the job properly. Even for the guy who can return anything at any time.

In other news, I sold a Nintendo Wii at my cost, how stupid was that. It was to help a parent in youth group, so I did not try to make money, but then i saw what they were going for on E-bay.ca, ouch.

Just like the tires, the deal is done.
so long for now.

No dice?

so Jake has had fun playing with the dice (or number cubes) from our risk game. Last night, he was rolling them in the big jetted tub, cause it made nice sounds, (and I had closed the drain so as not to lose them). I could not find them later, but it was time for bath and bed for Jake, so I started running the water, but decided to use the big tub. It has a fancy faucet witha goose neck curve tha teh water comes out of, and while running the water, a die pops out, lol. I turned the flow up and the other four come out, one at a time. Jake thought it was the greatest thing ever.

What else will be stuffed in there?

Hope all of our new parent friends are excited about stories like this.

So my heart sunk last night....
They announced the plans for the 'Dance team' at the U of S ballroom dancing club, and how next semester they will perform a medley of 8 dances in 4 minutes. (this team works ona choreographed program for the big year end dance, like a half time show) It will either be a really good show, or a bust to get that much into one routine. I looked at Amanda and we talked through the idea of joining next semester, but it lands on the night that we do small group. It also, our instructor said, would be a steep learning curve if we don't have lots o time to work on it during the week.

When we got home from class, I looked at our calendar, and Amanda works either right before or during 4 out of the first 5 classes for dance team. We will stick to our regular intermediate class, and just continue to get better at that.

Anyways, that is what is in the news today.

I love dancing.

So yeah, i get to play Sax on worhsip team tomorrow. I am very excited about that. It has been a long time, and the last time I played, the team leader was always telling me to play less. Lol. The new leader on this team is much more hip to the Saxophone scene, and though I am not going to take any attention from the heart of music, I love adding to the feel and sound. It is a team I wnated to play on because of members on it already.

anyways, I will probably have many more short posts.
Later

So, I usually don't have trouble getting out of bed. bu this bed, now has a goose down duvet(from amanda's birthday last march), and a feather bed mattress topper (picked up from jysk rain check last night) and now it is very tough to get out of bed. At least jake let us sleeep till 8, unfortunately the cat only let us sleep till 7:45. for the record, the mattress topper was $39 on sale, rain check, and today it goes back on sale for $59) (reg . $89)

In other news, yesterday i returned a pair of 2 month old shoes, worn outside, no reciept, and got an exchange. I move beyond futureshop returns now.

A four level spilt, a two car garage, and a drive way that would fit 5 of Joel's car's end to end and still leave room for the mailman to walk. My wife and I have never liked the design of a garage jutting out in front of the house, so that you see the garage as more prominent than where the humans dwell on a property. That is one of the reasons we bought our house. But a garage hidden in the back of the house alos results in a long drive-way to stare down from the side walk.

Why do I blog about this now? cause, as many of you know, we had our first dumping of snow. I heed the advice of my boss who last year advised me that he would take 3 shovlings of the drive that are smaller than waiting for it all to be done at the end of the dumping...pushing snow is easier than having to carry it cause there is too much to push.

Already by the time i arose this morning, there was a heavy load. I did my best to clear some of it, knowing full well that there would be more to clear cause it was still falling.

but I shall not complain. I am thankful that we have a house that holds lots of friends and their cars as well. (though Joel typically still parks on the street). I am thankful tha tmy wife said thanks when i cam in (I may not be the fastest dish do-er, but managing the outside of the house at this time of year is as important as the inside.) I am thankful for leather winter boots that were warm enough to keep my father's feet toasty during minus 30 days in construction. and I am thankful that half way through my struggle, my son came bundled up to the hilt, dust pan in hand, out the door and headlong into the blustery snow fall to help his dad. At that point, it all became less productive, but more meaningful.

It was even enough motivation for me to shut off the car and tug him in the toboggan to his day care. I thought he would like it more.

anyone care to start a pastoral snow blower fund?

He's coming to town soon, I am so excited! (and I am not talking about some old guy with a weight managgement problem, who wears solid red, with only a bit of white trim for relief)

Colin James is returring here for Little big band 3, adn the last time he was here was LBB2, 8 years ago, and i was there. There are concerts to get excited about, and this guy's name is small compared to others who get mor radio play, but I appreciate him cause he is not commercial, going for radio play. he is an artist. he has reinvented himself for CD's at least 8 times (totally diff style on each) His live act is so amazing (walking through crowd soloing, etc) and each song is done differently each time you see him (cause he is an artist, not a live recording wearing shoes). Last time I saw him, he played songs from 7 diff albums, and 3 songs I had never heard before, which is wierd since I ahve owned every album from each release date.

So I purchased 8 seats in a special fan club presale, which are great seats, but tried again today, and was able to purchase even closer. Now I have some seats to sell, so let me know if you are interested. (9 rows back, not bad at all). I will ask around before putting them in the paper.

Anyways, that's my news, go visit www.colinjames.com and click on discography if you are interested in seeing a journy that spans styles far beyond most any 3 bnads combined.

Mike
thanks for reading, who is aware I am back online again?

Well, it's official.

After a phone conversation this morning, I have now bought out the ownership of a JAS arm brace. a piece of equipment so revolutionary that it is supposed to fix complicated elbow problems in 8 weeks or less, while other machines may take 12 weeks. I ahve been renting this unit (almost mortgaging it) for 12 months now.

If it perks your interest, my many readers who don't even know I blog any more...
www.jointactivesystems.com
I will rent it to you for $450 a month if you ever need one. I will give you a deal, 400.

Mike