Well, with just a few days of "summer" left, I thought I better give a report. Much has happened, which explains why I have not written hardly anything on it. I thought I would take some time today to recap what has been one of the most memorable, exciting, busy, and positive summers of my life.
In June I went to Vulcan Days in Vulcan Alberta. I know, many of you are a bit shocked because I am such a Trekkie that I haven't gone yet, but I did. It was much fun. I enjoyed the small town feel and the visit back to my old Trekkie days when I wouldn't miss a convention for anything. We met Tim Russ of Voyager fame (Tuvok) and I got a signed photo of him. He was a very gracious guest and very talented. I commented to Heather recently that while I enjoyed that day, I couldn't help but feel that I had in many ways outgrown my obsession with Star Trek. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a geek, I just don't feel that I am as much of an Uber-Geek as I used to be. I have outgrown much of it. I still watch the DVDs every week and look forward to new stuff, but I feel that it has taken its rightful place on my priority list. Maybe it has always been there, but I finally recognize it now.
One week before classes ended, Heather and I received the clearances from Salt Lake that we were hoping for that allowed us to get married in the temple. We decided on a date, July 27th, and a place, Cardston, and we got started on the plans. It's amazing how much can get done so quickly.
School ended with June, and July became a very hectic time. While the first couple weeks had nothing really planned, I spent a good part of it moving my stuff out of Tara's and into my new house. It was a strange feeling moving most of my past two years, and while I was excited about where I was heading, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad about leaving what had been a good home for Annie and I. One thing that is for certain is that I am grateful and blessed to have Tara, Bryan, Amy, Connor, Kaleigh, and Liam as a part of my family.
On the 15th I went to Orlando for a teachers conference to learn about a new style of teaching involving cooperative learning from the Kagan Institute. I was there for ten days. Being close to Disney World I was able to visit Sea World for a day, as well as Epcott Centre. It was a lot of fun. I gave me some great ideas for what to do with the family this Christmas. I was able to see some great sights that I had never seen before. I was particularly impressed with Sea World. I really enjoyed the shows and the animals. I think the "Believe" show featuring the killer whales was my favourite. Epcott was great as well. My hotel was right next to Downtown Disney so I was able to do some good shopping and eat at some nice restaurants. I found this beautiful crystal of Cinderella and Prince Charming that I had engraved for the wedding. My only complaint about Orlando was the excessive heat and humidity. Temperatures of 90+ degrees Farenheight (I think that is in the mid-30s in Celsius) was excrutiating. I was at least able to avoid any sunburns.
My trip home was a real trial. I missed my connecting flight in Houston because some snobby Air Canada gate person wouldn't let me on the plane because I was at the gate 9 minutes before departure instead of 10. Worse than that he wouldn't book me on a connecting flight to Toronto that would have gotten me home that evening and instead expected me to spend the night in the terminal until 7am the next day. Suffice it to say, I am no longer a fan of Air Canada. There were some helpful people, but too many of them need a lesson in customer service.
Back home, it was a quick couple days until the 27th. That's right, the wedding day was finally here. Heather was amazing at planning and preparing everything while I was gone. While I helped out as much as I could before I left, most of the work was hers. Dan Oler was my best man, with Matt Harker and Ricardo Perez as the other groomsmen. Heather's sister, Melodie, was her maid of honor. Since her other choices for bridesmaids had just had babies and couldn't be there, so Amy and Ella (Melodie's daughter) filled in. In addition to the wedding party we had a full sealing room. All of our parents plus Shelly were my side of the family. Heather's Aunt Connie and Uncle Darryl, her cousins Christina and Jennifer, as well as her brother Barrett and his wife Kari made up Heather's side. Mindy was able to come with Dan, and Matt's parents were also there. Clark and Elayne Lybert came, as did Alex and Carol Schwarzer. While the room was full with our friends and loved ones, it felt like there were so many more from beyond the veil. It was the most spiritual experience I have ever had in the temple. We had a great lunch at the Cobblestone Manor for all who came, and then after a lengthy photo shoot Heather and I went to the Harker family cabin outside of Magrath for a couple of days. That Friday we had a wonderful reception in Calgary. So many wonderful people came, and so many other people helped. It was a great experience, and very special.
August 4 saw us fly out to New York City where we spent a few days before our Bermuda cruise. I must admit that NYC surprised me. I really enjoyed that city. It is so vibrant and wonderful. The people there are extremely polite and helpful. We went to the Bronx Zoo, Times Square, Chinatown and Little Italy. We saw the Lion King on Broadway, went to the Temple (although we did not go in because I forgot my temple reccomend), and ate at some great restaurants. We had a blast, and we would love to go again. On the Sunday we went to church then caught a cab to the cruise line. The crusie was an absolute blast. We met some great people who were so warm and friendly. The food was wonderful (except for my putting on a few extra pounds), the service impecable, and the entertainment was fabulous. Bermuda was also very lovely. We went to some nice beaches, saw the zoo and aquarium there, and just enjoyed ourselves immensely. When it was finally over, we were more than ready to get home.
After a few days at home, we went to Edmonton. We visited the Edmonton Zoo with Heather's brother Adam and his daughter Alexia, did some sealings at the temple, and attended some great plays at the Fringe Festival. We spent some great time with Matt and Sharon Harker and their kids. It was a great time, but again, we had to get home. I started school the day after we got back where I had received some training to become a coach for other teachers at my school.
The long weekend of September was the Muscular Dystrophy walk. It has been a year since we lost TJ, and I was grateful to be able to do something for him. After all this time I still miss that guy, but I know that he is in a better place and that thanks to the blessings of the temple, we are brothers forever.
Well, this has been too long of an entry and I cannot make anymore sense of what I write, so here is my Top 10 List
Top 10 Best Things About This Past Summer
10. Meeting Tim Russ at Vulcan Days
9. Making pancakes at CISN
8. Cruise food
7. Horseshoe Bay at Hamilton, Bermuda
6. The Pretenors at the Fringe
5. Lion King on Broadway
4. Weird Al Yankovic concert in Orlando
3. Sea World in Orlando
2. Seeing an okapi, indian rhinos, manatees, malaysian tapirs, gallapagous tortoises, small clawed asian otters, sea turtles, Pere's David deer, and killer whales for the first time at various zoos and aquariums
1. Getting sealed to my soulmate, sweetheart, and true love for time and eternity.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
The End of an Era
Wow, I really blew it with keeping my blog updated throughout the summer. It was a very busy one, I'll just say that, and that I plan to blogg about it in the next week, but something happened very recently that will take a precedence to that.
22 years ago, my family moved to Lamont, just outside of Edmonton. I loved listening to 1220 CJOC in Lethbridge, and was hoping to find a great radio station in Edmonton. After a few months, I found CISN 103.9 FM. What originally drew me to this radio station was the morning program, featuring Bruce Bowie as the main DJ. Over the next 21 years, I tried to listen to Bruce every morning. Obviously there were periods of time that I couldn't listen (my mission, for example), but I took every opportunity to tune in online, via satellite, etc. It was more than just being a listener; he also accepted random phone calls on just about anything.
When I first listened to Bruce, I found his show very funny and enjoyable without being too over the top nor the least bit offensive. I was a very shy teenager at the time, but I got up the nerve to phone up and give him a joke or make a comment every now and then. To my surprise, Bruce played them on the air. Over time, he came to recognize my voice, and a cool friendship was formed. through these phone calls, I gained confidence in myself and came out of my shell a bit more each time. Bruce made me feel important and welcomed my contributions, and I cannot fully give my appreciation for that.
Over the years, Bruce had many people on the show that came to mean a lot to me as well. Some of the listeners like me who may or may not have had a great social life were also regular callers, like Ramblin Rick, Earth Daddy, and the Trivia Man (who suspiciously bore a verbal resemblance to Edgar) also became welcome favourites. CISN employees included Warren Henderson, Don Daniels, Tracy Gray, Jimmy Carter (not the US president), Jennifer Martin, and this guy named Jimmy the Intern were all great parts of this program. Bruce had two special co-hosts that also became like friends to me: the lovely and feisty Cheryl Brooks and for the last 8 years the wacky and lovable Sean Burke. Both of these individuals were amazing personalities that added so much to the show, yet throughout the whole time, there was Bruce. One thing I admired about Bruce is that with working with all of these individuals he played to all of their strengths, and seemed to genuinely appreciate all that they contributed. Bruce is a humble man who does not hog the spotlight and glory for himself. He share willingly and graciously.
Another impressive feature of Bruce is that he was very funny without being offensive. Often his jokes were silly and absurd, but they got me cracking up. I never heard him go somewhere that one shouldn't. In the world of radio I hear a lot of stories that try to push the envelope just to get noticed. Bruce never went there, and I could feel safe listening to him with anyone else in the room (Sean is another story, but I still love the guy). Bruce also loved to laugh and it seemed like he was one of the lucky few who seemed to truly love his job.
Now, I know that it seems like that Bruce has retired or expired with this, but he has not (thankfully). He is, however, leaving CISN Country to take over the morning show at 630 CHED, a talk show format. I am looking forward to this, although I feel like the child whose parents have split up, as I will be listening to CHED one morning and CISN the next, but I cannot wait to hear what Bruce does in this new challenge. Still, I could not let his leaving CISN go without comment, because for 21 years of my life, Bruce in the morning on CISN has been a constant in my life.
Yesterday I phoned Bruce at CISN for the last time to express my appreciation for what he has come to mean to me. Among my feelings of being special, I also must thank him for being there for me during the best and worst times of my life. I loved to share great news with him, but most importantly he was there for me on the darkest parts of my life. When my mother passed away, Bruce spoke some very kind words about her on the air on the day of her funeral. He paid her a wonderful tribute. That helped me with so much healing. When Jen left me, Bruce sent me a very encouraging email that helped me get up off my feet and keep going with a smile. When my brother TJ passed away last year, I phoned him and Sean up the following morning. While Bruce was not supposed to play any requests, he played "I Believe" by Diamond Rio for me. It was a small thing, but it brought so much healing to me that morning.
So Bruce, if you happen to read this, please know that your work as an ambassador for Edmonton, morning funny guy, and overall great person has touched so many lives in so many ways. I am only one out of many that will miss you on CISN, but you won't get rid of me just yet.
My Top 10 Bruce Moments
10. Allowing me to cook pancakes for him and Sean during the Fringe Festival the last three years
9. Phoning him from the Salt Lake City airport on my way to France at the start of my mission
8. Delivering homemade truffles at Christmas with my mother
7. Talking to him at concerts, radio picnics, etc.
6. The Crazy phone where Bruce and Sean convinced some poor guy that they had canned the swordfish that he had caught and was hoping to get mounted
5. My phoning in as "Preston" and wanting to "R-E-F-O-R-M!" things in this country, and Bruce playing along with it
4. Having him get me in on the last two April Fool's jokes that he and Sean played on CISN listeners
3. TJ and I spending a morning with him at the station as part of TJ's job shadowing
2. His letter he wrote me when Jen left, his tribute to my mother, adn his playign my request when TJ passed away
1. 21 years of making my mornings that much better.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
That Time of the Year Again...
I always have a bit of dread with springtime. It isn't the weather or anything like that, it's how quickly summertime is coming. I usually find this time of year very stressful and hectic, with this year being no exception. Heather and I have successfully moved her and the boys into the new house, but I have no idea as to when I can finally move myself in. Yup, no word from Salt Lake yet as to when we can get married. There were a few delays beyond our control, so now we just hope that it will happen before July hits. It's hard to plan a wedding when we cannot nail down a specific date.
School, which is the source of normal anxiety this time of year, goes ever so quickly, and I wonder if we will get everything finished like we want to. I am behind on marking, keeping my lower lip above water for lesson planning, and just getting a bit below minimum sleep it seems. Add to that a number of students who are under their own pressure that decide to respond to it with acting out, shutting down, cheating, or just plain melting down, and it makes this time of year especially hectic and nerve-racking. Still, there are some reprises like grad that helps things go more smoothly. I just wish fewer students would not give up so close to the finish line.
I had the whole summer planned out for this year...and now there are several uncertanties, mostly associated with the uncertainty of being married or not. Heather and I had been hoping for a cruise that would include staying a few days in New York City, but we'll see. Maybe Christmas...SMACK...don't say that! I am going to Orlando for a teacher's conference (CHA-CHING!) but again, we had hopes to have Heather and the boys come with so we could make it a bit of a family vacation. The biggest thing was just being married! ACK! Sometimes I wish that patience did not take so long to learn. Sigh. Well, we keep going forward. As long as we know that it is a matter of when and not if, we can handle it.
One other nice thing about this time of year is...TV FINALE SEASON! Yup, my favourite shows have wrapped up for the season. I found that I only really followed two shows this year, while others I had a more casual interest in. Survivor was good this time around, and CSI has been...good, but not great without Grissom. I enjoyed V and am glad that it is back for another season. Of course, the big one for me this year was Lost. It is done for good as of a week ago, and I was very happy with the finale. I know many people out there in internet land are very unhappy about it, but I was satisfied with a very happy ending and all the characters that I had come to know and love over the last 6 years having relatively happy endings was great. So, for my Top 10, I give you my Top 10 favourite Lost moments...
10. In another life, brother! When we first found out that Desmond, the man Jack had net years ago jogging, was in the hatch, I did not know how much this character was going to mean to me. He slowly became a great addition to the Losties, and I was happy to see that he has a good ending.
9. Death of Frogurt. Neil was the name of an annoying character that made frozen yogurt (hence his nickname of Frogurt). He was very obnoxious and loved to antagonize others in the Losties group, especially Hurley. In his last "moment", he was berating Sawyer and Bernard, calling the former an inbred and telling the other he couldn't make fire. One second later he is struck by a flaming arrow. Sweet!
8. Hurley, meet Charlie Pace. This is a scene that takes longer to describe than to watch it. In the last episode, when Hurley, after years of not seeing him, sees his good friend Charlie again, alive and well, the smile on Hurley's face is priceless.
7. ***SPOILER FOR LAST SEASON!***
The last of the Kwons. When Sun and Jin share their final moment together, with Jin refusing to leave his wife to die alone, I was touched by their devotion to each other. To have been only reunited so recently and then to go down together, I thought that I understood Jin's decision to stay. Yes, many complained about not having one of them live to raise their daughter, but I understand how they decided to end it.
6. Super Walt...or was he? There was a moment early in Season 1 where Michael was on the beach with Walt. It was raining and Walt was complaining that his dad was not going to look for Vincent, his dog. Michael told him that he would go when it stopped raining. Walt looks out onto the ocean, and then it stops raining. It was very subtle, but I always thought it was cool.
5. Hurley to the rescue! I believe that it was also at the end of season 3 that Hurley, after being told that he would only get in the way, would end up saving Jin, Sayid, Bernard, Jin, and Sawyer by driving the Dharma van into the Others (literally for one of them), our favourite husky multi-millionaire showed us that courage comes in literally all sizes, including plus ones.
4. Locke's revelation. While I felt that Locke should have lasted longer than he did, his first revelation stands out as the most powerful moment in the first season. To see where he had been before the crash and what he became, the whole idea of "Don't tell me what I can't do" became a rallying cry for this character.
3. The reunion of Rose and Bernard in Season 2. I know that most people will say that Sun and Jin, Kate and Jack, Hurley and Libby, Claire and Charlie, Sawyer and any girl that moved may have been the most romantic/special relationships on the show, but I thought that Bernard and Rose were the personification of true love. When they were finally reunited, after weeks (for them) and years (for us) of being apart, with Bernard worried about finding her and Rose confident that he was OK, to see them finally reunite was for me the most touching moment of the whole show.
2. The final scene. I know there are a few people who have not seen this episode yet, so I will not place any spoilers. I will just say that it gave me much satisfaction to see a very nice bookend and have a final good-bye to all my favourite people on this show.
1. Charlie's sacrifice at the end of Season 3. I really felt that Charlie was one of the best characters who ended up having the most heroic and meaningful death. We had been forwarned about it for weeks leading up to it, but it was still a shock when it finally happened.
Finally, the alternate endings to the finale...
School, which is the source of normal anxiety this time of year, goes ever so quickly, and I wonder if we will get everything finished like we want to. I am behind on marking, keeping my lower lip above water for lesson planning, and just getting a bit below minimum sleep it seems. Add to that a number of students who are under their own pressure that decide to respond to it with acting out, shutting down, cheating, or just plain melting down, and it makes this time of year especially hectic and nerve-racking. Still, there are some reprises like grad that helps things go more smoothly. I just wish fewer students would not give up so close to the finish line.
I had the whole summer planned out for this year...and now there are several uncertanties, mostly associated with the uncertainty of being married or not. Heather and I had been hoping for a cruise that would include staying a few days in New York City, but we'll see. Maybe Christmas...SMACK...don't say that! I am going to Orlando for a teacher's conference (CHA-CHING!) but again, we had hopes to have Heather and the boys come with so we could make it a bit of a family vacation. The biggest thing was just being married! ACK! Sometimes I wish that patience did not take so long to learn. Sigh. Well, we keep going forward. As long as we know that it is a matter of when and not if, we can handle it.
One other nice thing about this time of year is...TV FINALE SEASON! Yup, my favourite shows have wrapped up for the season. I found that I only really followed two shows this year, while others I had a more casual interest in. Survivor was good this time around, and CSI has been...good, but not great without Grissom. I enjoyed V and am glad that it is back for another season. Of course, the big one for me this year was Lost. It is done for good as of a week ago, and I was very happy with the finale. I know many people out there in internet land are very unhappy about it, but I was satisfied with a very happy ending and all the characters that I had come to know and love over the last 6 years having relatively happy endings was great. So, for my Top 10, I give you my Top 10 favourite Lost moments...
10. In another life, brother! When we first found out that Desmond, the man Jack had net years ago jogging, was in the hatch, I did not know how much this character was going to mean to me. He slowly became a great addition to the Losties, and I was happy to see that he has a good ending.
9. Death of Frogurt. Neil was the name of an annoying character that made frozen yogurt (hence his nickname of Frogurt). He was very obnoxious and loved to antagonize others in the Losties group, especially Hurley. In his last "moment", he was berating Sawyer and Bernard, calling the former an inbred and telling the other he couldn't make fire. One second later he is struck by a flaming arrow. Sweet!
8. Hurley, meet Charlie Pace. This is a scene that takes longer to describe than to watch it. In the last episode, when Hurley, after years of not seeing him, sees his good friend Charlie again, alive and well, the smile on Hurley's face is priceless.
7. ***SPOILER FOR LAST SEASON!***
The last of the Kwons. When Sun and Jin share their final moment together, with Jin refusing to leave his wife to die alone, I was touched by their devotion to each other. To have been only reunited so recently and then to go down together, I thought that I understood Jin's decision to stay. Yes, many complained about not having one of them live to raise their daughter, but I understand how they decided to end it.
6. Super Walt...or was he? There was a moment early in Season 1 where Michael was on the beach with Walt. It was raining and Walt was complaining that his dad was not going to look for Vincent, his dog. Michael told him that he would go when it stopped raining. Walt looks out onto the ocean, and then it stops raining. It was very subtle, but I always thought it was cool.
5. Hurley to the rescue! I believe that it was also at the end of season 3 that Hurley, after being told that he would only get in the way, would end up saving Jin, Sayid, Bernard, Jin, and Sawyer by driving the Dharma van into the Others (literally for one of them), our favourite husky multi-millionaire showed us that courage comes in literally all sizes, including plus ones.
4. Locke's revelation. While I felt that Locke should have lasted longer than he did, his first revelation stands out as the most powerful moment in the first season. To see where he had been before the crash and what he became, the whole idea of "Don't tell me what I can't do" became a rallying cry for this character.
3. The reunion of Rose and Bernard in Season 2. I know that most people will say that Sun and Jin, Kate and Jack, Hurley and Libby, Claire and Charlie, Sawyer and any girl that moved may have been the most romantic/special relationships on the show, but I thought that Bernard and Rose were the personification of true love. When they were finally reunited, after weeks (for them) and years (for us) of being apart, with Bernard worried about finding her and Rose confident that he was OK, to see them finally reunite was for me the most touching moment of the whole show.
2. The final scene. I know there are a few people who have not seen this episode yet, so I will not place any spoilers. I will just say that it gave me much satisfaction to see a very nice bookend and have a final good-bye to all my favourite people on this show.
1. Charlie's sacrifice at the end of Season 3. I really felt that Charlie was one of the best characters who ended up having the most heroic and meaningful death. We had been forwarned about it for weeks leading up to it, but it was still a shock when it finally happened.
Finally, the alternate endings to the finale...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Say Hello to the New Home Owners!
I could not believe that March went by so quickly. I thought a quick update is in order.
Heather and I are still waiting for the papers from Salt Lake clearing us to be sealed. In the mean time, we have taken posession of a wonderful home. As of last Friday, we are home owners! Since that time we have been removing wall paper, painting, other quick renovations, and moving her and the boys into the new place. I of course will move in when we finaly get married, which will hopefully be soon.
It amazes me as to how quickly everything has progressed. Yes, there have been some bumpy roads in the last few months, but over all everything is falling into place. I so look forward to finally being married to the most amazing woman there is and having a family with her. While I am eternally grateful for my older sister and her family for allowing me to stay in their basement these past two years, I am looking forward to having a home of my own.
Just wanted to make a quick entry. Here is the Top 10 List:
Top 10 Things I Have Always Wanted to Try
10. Skydiving. Yes, I am afraid of heights, but for some reason falling out of a plane has appealed to me.
9. Performing in a theatrical play. No, I do not mean in some amateur type thing like is done in church (although those are fun). I mean a professional play.
8. Watching surgery take place. Since I am a biology teacher, it would be very cool to see it being done.
7. Alligator meat. Actually, there are several animals I want to sample, including bear, kangaroo, and snake.
6. Traveling to every state in the US and every province in Canada. I'm just missing one province but almost all the states.
5. Attending a big show biz award show...wearing a pair of jeans, T-shirt, sandals, and asking where the BBQ is at.
4. Interviewing a famous person. Don't care who. I just want to ask them what their least favourite song from the 80s was and then sing it to them over and over again.
3. Visit the grave sites of all of my heroes who have passed on. This includes Jim Henson, Johnny Cash, Joseph Smith, and Gene Roddenberry (which will be difficult as his ashes were sent into outer space)
2. Sit in on a session of Parliament with a friend of mine and heckle the politicians like the two old guys on the Muppet Show.
1. Parenthood. At least that one is on the horizon.
Heather and I are still waiting for the papers from Salt Lake clearing us to be sealed. In the mean time, we have taken posession of a wonderful home. As of last Friday, we are home owners! Since that time we have been removing wall paper, painting, other quick renovations, and moving her and the boys into the new place. I of course will move in when we finaly get married, which will hopefully be soon.
It amazes me as to how quickly everything has progressed. Yes, there have been some bumpy roads in the last few months, but over all everything is falling into place. I so look forward to finally being married to the most amazing woman there is and having a family with her. While I am eternally grateful for my older sister and her family for allowing me to stay in their basement these past two years, I am looking forward to having a home of my own.
Just wanted to make a quick entry. Here is the Top 10 List:
Top 10 Things I Have Always Wanted to Try
10. Skydiving. Yes, I am afraid of heights, but for some reason falling out of a plane has appealed to me.
9. Performing in a theatrical play. No, I do not mean in some amateur type thing like is done in church (although those are fun). I mean a professional play.
8. Watching surgery take place. Since I am a biology teacher, it would be very cool to see it being done.
7. Alligator meat. Actually, there are several animals I want to sample, including bear, kangaroo, and snake.
6. Traveling to every state in the US and every province in Canada. I'm just missing one province but almost all the states.
5. Attending a big show biz award show...wearing a pair of jeans, T-shirt, sandals, and asking where the BBQ is at.
4. Interviewing a famous person. Don't care who. I just want to ask them what their least favourite song from the 80s was and then sing it to them over and over again.
3. Visit the grave sites of all of my heroes who have passed on. This includes Jim Henson, Johnny Cash, Joseph Smith, and Gene Roddenberry (which will be difficult as his ashes were sent into outer space)
2. Sit in on a session of Parliament with a friend of mine and heckle the politicians like the two old guys on the Muppet Show.
1. Parenthood. At least that one is on the horizon.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Love is in the Air (So That's What That Smell Was)
OK, the title may seem like I am feeling cynical but I'm not. Heather and I are having a wonderful Valentine's Day together. In fact, this is the best Valentine's that I have had in a good long time, maybe ever. She is making me a romantic dinner as I speak, and we have spent most of the day together; attending church together, watching Fox and the Hound (I have never seen it and quite enjoyed it). Later on we are having family over for birthday cake (it was Thursday. I took her to Japanese Village for dinner and she loved it).
On January 29 I officially proposed to her. I sent her on a scavenger hunt at the zoo. Her sister, Melodie, was at the Australia building, then she went to the South America building where Tara, Amy, and Kayleigh were waiting. Her next clue sent her to the Elephant Crossing, where Bryan and Connor were. She was then sent to the Rainforrest where her parents waited. They sent her to the Volunteer Resource Centre, and there she was given the final clue to head to the new Conservatory. I got down on one knee, asked her to marry me. She said "yes" (of course) and then we took some pictures and had the whole family meet us at Tony Romas for dinner. Was she surprised? Nope. She had it all figured out. Did she enjoy it? Absolutely! We are hoping to get married in April, but we need to wait for our sealing clearances to come through. Hopefully the wait will not be too long. This puts us in the interesting situation where we are telling everyone that we are getting married and having them be on standby so that we can all rush up to Edmonton as soon as possible. We are also house hunting. It has been a long time since I have been in the business of being a home owner, and I am looking forward to it.
School started a new semester in February, and everything is going well. I am having a blast with all of my classes, especially a very keen group of Grade 9s in Science. Life at FFCA is good. I am growing in my profession a lot, and look forward to the growth to come.
So, for the Top 10 list, I present...
The Top 10 Things That One Should Not Give For Valentine's Day
10. Vacuum cleaners... that gift just sucks
9. Power tools... she might use them to change the locks
8. Spatulas, wooden spoons, or any non-electric kitchen things
7. Blender, toaster, or any electric kitchen appliance
6. Self-defence lessons... she may use you as her "dummy"
5. A maid outfit... not the sexy kind, just the one where you expect her to clean the house
4. A one-way ticket to Nunavit... for her mother
3. A one-way ticket to your house... for your mother
2. Underwear... not the sexy kind, I'm talking "Granny-Panties" type
1. Weight Watchers coupons
On January 29 I officially proposed to her. I sent her on a scavenger hunt at the zoo. Her sister, Melodie, was at the Australia building, then she went to the South America building where Tara, Amy, and Kayleigh were waiting. Her next clue sent her to the Elephant Crossing, where Bryan and Connor were. She was then sent to the Rainforrest where her parents waited. They sent her to the Volunteer Resource Centre, and there she was given the final clue to head to the new Conservatory. I got down on one knee, asked her to marry me. She said "yes" (of course) and then we took some pictures and had the whole family meet us at Tony Romas for dinner. Was she surprised? Nope. She had it all figured out. Did she enjoy it? Absolutely! We are hoping to get married in April, but we need to wait for our sealing clearances to come through. Hopefully the wait will not be too long. This puts us in the interesting situation where we are telling everyone that we are getting married and having them be on standby so that we can all rush up to Edmonton as soon as possible. We are also house hunting. It has been a long time since I have been in the business of being a home owner, and I am looking forward to it.
School started a new semester in February, and everything is going well. I am having a blast with all of my classes, especially a very keen group of Grade 9s in Science. Life at FFCA is good. I am growing in my profession a lot, and look forward to the growth to come.
So, for the Top 10 list, I present...
The Top 10 Things That One Should Not Give For Valentine's Day
10. Vacuum cleaners... that gift just sucks
9. Power tools... she might use them to change the locks
8. Spatulas, wooden spoons, or any non-electric kitchen things
7. Blender, toaster, or any electric kitchen appliance
6. Self-defence lessons... she may use you as her "dummy"
5. A maid outfit... not the sexy kind, just the one where you expect her to clean the house
4. A one-way ticket to Nunavit... for her mother
3. A one-way ticket to your house... for your mother
2. Underwear... not the sexy kind, I'm talking "Granny-Panties" type
1. Weight Watchers coupons
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Looking Back While Moving Forward
Another year has come and gone, and also another decade. As always, this is the time of year to sit back and reflect upon what has happened and what is to come. I must say that this year has been one of the most interesting, with many ups and downs. I saw my marriage officially end, a new relationship begin (more in a moment), some great gains, a few sad losses, and much in the way of personal growth. As I ponder about what has happened and what is to come, I must say that this year has had many more positives than negatives, yet regardless of all of that, I am happy to report that I am a much better person today than 365 days ago. I made many mistakes, but I can also say that I made a lot of progress in my personal life. I know that there are many great and wonderful things that await me in 2010.
Of course, the biggest thing to have happened was my meeting a lovely young lady named Heather Swendsen MacDonald. We met online through LDSMingles, one of two LDS dating sites I thought I would give a try. You see, back in July I was getting frustrated with the dating scene. I wanted to meet some people and start getting my social life back into the swing of things. Unfortuantely, there was little going on in the Single Adult scene in Calgary, so I was feeling discouraged. There were several activities, but they were not attended by as many single ladies my age that I would have liked. I met a couple nice ones, but nothing seemed to click. I gave the internet a chance to make some connections, and after a few weeks of looking through profiles and sending out feelers to some interesting candidates, Heather came in as one of the most promising (although at the time I did not feel that much would come of our getting to know each other).
After chatting online a few times, we decided to go on a "date". Dinner and Star Trek (already sounding promising). We got to know each other and, thanks to some interesting circumstances, we found ourselves in love. Only one problem: we both still had our respective divorces to get finalized. so, after counselling with our bishops, we maintained a close yet distant relationship. While we did not always follow the counsel we were given to the strict letter of the law, we did the best that we could do. As of December 18, both of our divorces were finalized and we went on our first official date (complete with first kiss...and many others that followed). While things have moved along fairly quickly, we both feel that we are following the Lord's timeline for us. I have never felt more certain about anything. I have never been more happy and more in love. It is a wonderful feeling, and although we both know that there will be some trials ahead of us with respect to merging our families (she has 2 teenage boys, and I have a dog), we are happy and hopeful about our futures together. Yes, we have already talked about marriage. I'll be sure to post when we are engaged.
There are many qualities about Heather that have endeared her to me. She has everything that I had ever hoped for in a girlfriend and companion. She is caring and kind, beautiful and lively, shy and fun-loving, and she has a great laugh. Most of all, she is able to give me freely what I have always wanted from a spouse: unconditional love, a desire to attend the temple with me, and accepts me for who I am with all the good, bad, and ugly that I bring. She is the dearest thing I have ever found and her love for me is one of my most precious treasures. I have only had a short time to really get to know her sons, but they are really good kids who I am happy to have in my life.
Of course, there have been hard times this year as well. Most of all there was the passing of TJ. I miss him terribly, but I know that it pales in comparisson to how much his beloved wife and children miss him. His youngest son, Hyrum Joseph, was born on what would have been TJ's 31st birthday. While the young child will never know his father personally, he will know of his father through the family. I was happy to get to know TJ's children better this past year (mostly before his passing, but much after as well), and I have promised to do my best to be there for TJ's family in his absence. One of the highlights this year was being able to participate in the blessing of little Hyrum. When it was originally scheduled there was a terrible snow storm that left me in Calgary. Thankfully Shelley reschduled it for Dec. 20, and I was able to spend a delightful day not just at the blessing, but with her entire family. I know that TJ's children are going to be well looked after.
So, for today's Top Ten list, I thought I would list the Top 10 most important events or hapenings of this year in my life. While not all are good, all led to my growth.
10. Learning the true reason for my divorce. I mention this because it reaffirmed what I had worked hard at during months of counseling: the divorce had almost nothing to do with me, but it provided me a chance to make me a better person, a stronger person. When I learned that my ex-wife had abondoned her beliefs to live and embrace an alternative lifestyle, I knew that this ending was inevitable. The nice thing is that I chose to make myself into a much stronger person in spite of what Jen had done to me.
9. Called to work in the primary. In January I had to be released as a seminary teacher because a new job would make it difficult to continue in that calling. Instead, I was called to work in the primary with the 9 year olds. It has been a challenge, and I still prefer working with teenagers, but I have grown to love my calling and the precious souls I teach in that class.
8. Full time employment. On January 31 I started a full time teaching contract with the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy as a high school biology/science teacher. This is a great school, and although I still miss Sir Winston Churchill High, I do enjoy FFCA. I have made some great friends, and have an opportunity to be the Science Department co-ordinator (our closest thing to a department head). I have had many growing experciences prfessionally and personally.
7. Hyrum's baby blessing. That weekend has brought me muchcloser to TJ's family, especially his in-laws. The Richardsons are great people and I am grateful to have them looking after Shelley and the kids.
6. Volunteering at the zoo. This year I was able to be a zoo keeper (sort of) in the summer. I helped out Ingrid, a warm and fun lady, look after the camels, red pandas, pot-bellied pigs, caveys, peccarys, and asian wild horses. I also had a great time helping out at Boo at the Zoo, Zoo Gala, and Zoo Lights. Heather has also started there, and it is a great place to be. I think the zoo is my favourite place in Calgary now.
5. Brent's wedding. Brent, my youngest step-brother, married his long-time girlfriend Pam in August. I took this opportunity to make a solid effort to connect with Violet's children. I can honestly say now that I am glad to have Violet, Matthew, Renee, and Brent as a part of my family. It was a great day.
4. Temple attendance. I attended the temple six times this last year (my goal was four). I have found much spiritual growth in regular temple attendance, and I really look forward to attending with Heather and when the Calgary temple opens up.
3. Rapport Leadership Breakthrough 1. This was one of the most intense and original training sessions I have ever gone through. It was worth it though. I was able to rediscover who I used to be and found a renewed zest for life that still is alive in me today.
2. TJ. While I had always known that this day would come, I must confess that when it hapened I was not wanting it. I had really become close to TJ in the last couple years, and did not want to say good-bye, especially with all the good that was happening in my life. Still, it allowed me growth, and I learned much from my little brother that I have been able to carry on itno all aspects of my life.
1. Heather. Big surprise there. She has become my closest friend, my greatest love, and my most enduring inspiration. I love her so deeply and passionately that I look forward to what the next year brings for us.
Happy New Year everyone!
Monday, October 19, 2009
How Much Fun Can One Man Have on YouTube!
So, after last month's very difficult event, I thought I would lighten things up a bit. One thing that I have been having alot of fun with recently is YouTube. Of course, part of that is the fact that I post videos there, usually zoo related, but I also enjoy some of the fun videos I have found. I have to be careful as it can surely eat up alot of time, but I am impressed with what YouTube has to offer. I look forward to watching old Whose Line clips, being able to watch some of the Family Guy clips that are funny and not offensive (although those can be tough to find at times). I thought for this month, I'd post a list of ten of my favourites that I have found. Feel free to peruse them, and look for others from the same posters. I decided to only include those that were made for YouTube, not just clips from old TV shows or music videos. So here we go with my Top Ten Favourite YouTube Videos!
10. We'll start off with the Injured StormTrooper, as this fan made video shows the never before heard of dilema of a Stormtrooper that is only injured, not dead.
9. I'm A Marvel, I'm a DC. This take of the Mac commercials using everyone's favourite comic heroes has Batman, Superman, and Spiderman debate who is better. Check out the various versions of this.
8. Simon's Cat. Great animation, very true of cats.
7. Sneezing Panda Baby. Very short, very funny.
6. It's Great to be a Nerd. This takes my least favourite character arcs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and makes them awesome with one of my favourite Arrogant Worm Songs. Very well done!
5. A Steve Irwin tribute. One of my all time favourite people that I wish I could have met. One of many great tribute videos. Sometimes, a good slideshow with a good song makes a good video.
4. Star Trek meets Monty Python. There are several really good ones like this, but this is my favourite.
3. The Evolution of Dance. A classic. The follow up is good too, but this is my favourite.
2. The Mysterious Ticking Noise. The Potter Puppet pals have their best episode. Careful, the tune will get stuck in your head forever.
1. Nobody's Watching - Diet Coke and Mentos. This funny duo is best known for their spoofing and critique of popular TV shows, and there are dozens of funny Mentos-Diet Coke videos out there, but combining the two results in my all-time favourite YouTube video.
Speaking of Diet Coke and Mentos, this is an honorable mention...
Feel free to suggest some of your favourites.
10. We'll start off with the Injured StormTrooper, as this fan made video shows the never before heard of dilema of a Stormtrooper that is only injured, not dead.
9. I'm A Marvel, I'm a DC. This take of the Mac commercials using everyone's favourite comic heroes has Batman, Superman, and Spiderman debate who is better. Check out the various versions of this.
8. Simon's Cat. Great animation, very true of cats.
7. Sneezing Panda Baby. Very short, very funny.
6. It's Great to be a Nerd. This takes my least favourite character arcs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and makes them awesome with one of my favourite Arrogant Worm Songs. Very well done!
5. A Steve Irwin tribute. One of my all time favourite people that I wish I could have met. One of many great tribute videos. Sometimes, a good slideshow with a good song makes a good video.
4. Star Trek meets Monty Python. There are several really good ones like this, but this is my favourite.
3. The Evolution of Dance. A classic. The follow up is good too, but this is my favourite.
2. The Mysterious Ticking Noise. The Potter Puppet pals have their best episode. Careful, the tune will get stuck in your head forever.
1. Nobody's Watching - Diet Coke and Mentos. This funny duo is best known for their spoofing and critique of popular TV shows, and there are dozens of funny Mentos-Diet Coke videos out there, but combining the two results in my all-time favourite YouTube video.
Speaking of Diet Coke and Mentos, this is an honorable mention...
Feel free to suggest some of your favourites.
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