I do not often use my blog to address current event topics, but this past Friday in Newtwon Conneticut, a gunmen walked into the local elementary school where he proceeded to kill his own mother, 5 other adults, and 20 elementary school aged children. This is the most horrendous act of evil that one can commit in my opinion, and I need to say something about it.
As with Columbine, Virginia Tech, and other senseless killings, we as a culture and society debate the pros and cons of gun control, the effects of violence in the media, and the state of mental health. And after a lengthy debate and much posturing, we go back to our lives. Nothing truly changes, and we have yet another senseless mass killing. We take our positions again, and we repeat the process. Once more, no real change.
My friends, we must make a stand. I say this as a former university student who was horrified when 12 students and one teacher were ruthlessly gunned down and killed in their high school and another 21 were injured. I say this as a new father who wants his little girl to go to school without the fear of being hurt. I say this as a teacher who, like the brave men and women at the Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday would gladly put myself in the path of bullets to protect my students. I say this as a 37 year old man who wants the maddness to end. During religious services the following weekend, there were threats of violence towards mourners as they sought healing from their religious beliefs and practices. People debate this on the internet and insult each other on a varied list of irrelevant issues. At the end of it all, I just want to see some real change.
I will not mention the name of the gunman. He does not deserve my publicity. Instead, I will work on forgiveness. I will not list the names of the fallen. I have read them, and it broke my heart. I cannot reprint them, but I will honor them. I will thank the Lord for the example that those brave staff members gave by shielding and protecting the little ones they cared for. I will pray for the families who will have one less precious soul this Holiday season. I will ask my Father in Heaven to give a hug for the 20 precious young, innocent souls who were taken so early from this world, and a hug for the 6 adults who did what they could. I will pray for peace to the souls of all men, women, and children who were affected by this tragedy. I will weep for the loss and resolve to make real change.
I will call upon the elected officials of my country for tougher gun laws, increased funding to mental health issues, and real punishments for offenders. I will encourage citizens of the United States of America to call for the ban of needless assault rifles, whose sole purpose in manufacturing is to kill people. I will call upon media to be responsible in their portrayal of violence. I will encourage others to do likewise. I do not say that gun laws and mental health awareness will prevent all future problems, but can anyone tell me how these measures will hurt the future of our children? I do not delude myself with the idea that I can single handly change things for the better for the whole world, but that is not an excuse to not try to make the world around me a little bit nicer. I ask those that read this to do likewise.
This issue is not a gun control issue, nor a mental health issue. This is not about violent video games and movies. This is not about the place of God and religion in our society. This is not an issue of any one of those things in isolation, but as parts of the bigger issue. This is about the idea that violence is OK until it affects us directly. This is about the idea that it is more important to win than it is to be fair. This is about the belief that one can't change the world with a law, so why bother. This is not about arguing over who is right but over what is right. This is about allowing people to vote for the candidates and parties without mocking them. This is about allowing people to believe in God as they choose, which includes not believing in H(h)im at all. This is about one person deciding that he or she is going to be a bit better at living along side others, and then encouraging others to do the same. This is about tolerance in the truest definition of the word. This is about reaching out to the ostracized, the down trodden, and the lonely. This is about not responding in anger when someone offends, but to express your offense with the goal of forgiveness for the offender. This is not about letting people walk over you, but neither is it about beating down those you see as your opponents. This is about living the idea that we should love our neighbours as ourselves, and not worry about whether this was said by the Son of God or not. It is still a good philosophy! This is not about pushing religion on anyone, but sharing what we think is good and wholesome without offense. This is about 20 new angels that joined the heavenly throngs on Friday, and the countless other children who have either joined them since them or welcomed them home. This is about asking us to stop debating about the right to bear arms and ask for the right to let our children go to school in safety! This is about being more than just the commentator on the internet, but being the change in your part of the world. This is about putting aside our differences and coming together and being better people.
Yes, there will always be criminals that will kill and destroy. There will always be the greedy who will by hook or by crook do what they want to get gain. There will always be evil in the world that will prey upon innocents. It is when we decide that we can live with that as the norm that we have truly lost the war. It is when we say that we are powerless to stand up to evil that evil truly wins. It does not matter if it is guns that kill people or people that kill people or people with guns that kill people, it does not change the fact that PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED! CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED! We must stop thinking that we are powerless to stop it.
My friends, I have never asked for this before of anyone, but please pass the link on to this posting. Once you have done that, please think about how you can be nicer to those around you. Please ask yourself if it is necessary to resort to insults when faced with someone who politically, culturally, or spiritually is different from you. Ask yourself if giving some food to the begger on the street is something that you can do instead of ignoring them. Ask yourself if, at this time of Christmas you could find one person that you can reach out to that you have never reached out to before. The wrongs of the world will still be there, but we should not just let these things happen. The time is now, or we will just have this debate the next time a derranged soul decides to massacre another group of innocent children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZrb45SeJXE&feature=share&list=LLQqsD2ix9x4kFYD45NJtKHQ
Monday, December 17, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
A Tale of Haters and Trolls
I noticed a few months ago that whenever a Taylor Swift song came on the radio, Dayton would start ranting about her. It surprised me that he was so...venomous about it. I also noticed that in our society there are those who have to make a huge deal out of spewing hate about various celebrities and well-known figures. Now, I'll be honest, there are some things in this world that I wish would go away: Jersey Shore, gangsta rap, and Two Broke Girls being my top "Do Not Like At All" list, but I am amazed by the vitriol that people on the internet when it comes to the likes of Taylor Swift, Nickelback, and Justin Bieber. In Chicago there is a nasty teachers strike, and the mayor has become a target. On striker has been shown holding a sign saying that the mayor is a Nickelback fan. Apparently that is something unforgivable.
I have been asking people about their dislike for these and others, and from what I can gather, nobody has a good reason for being so hateful. I can dislike Jersey Shore because it glorifies idleness and entitlement and it is vulgar, I can avoid gangsta rap because it is derogatory to women and and it is vulgar, and I can tune out when Two Broke Girls comes on because it lowers my IQ level while watching it (haven't seen it enough to see if it is vulgar), but I am not on the internet constantly trying to trash talk them into world wide web oblivion (barring this blog post, but that is merely to illustrate a point). No, in fact, I figure that if I draw less attention to them, then I will not be giving them any free publicity (again, barring this post to make a point). As far as I can tell, Nickelback is hated because they always sound the same (and yet I can say the same thing about so many other bands), Taylor Swift us hated because she writes songs about her life (which is what most songwriters do), and Justin Bieber is hated because teen-aged and younger girls love him (which fits the NKOTB regime from my youth). So really, they are hated because they are popular, successful, and talented. They are hated because they make a lot of money doing what they love. Smells like jealousy to me.
So, for the last several months, I have been doing some informal research into this cultural phenomenon of posting horrible things about celebs and the like. I have found that there is much on the internet that is...well, to put it mildly, crap. Here is my hypothesis: because people are allowed to post things on the internet anonymously, they feel that they can say whatever they want, however they want, and to whomever they want. They may even be saying horrible things to someone they love and they do not even realize it. They know that to be like this face-to-face with someone is wrong, but hiding behind their screens they can de-evolve into something more carnal. I found two main categories that really get my proverbial goat.
First, there are the Haters, who will spend countless hours surfing the web looking for their sources of hatred. these are the ones who will go onto every YouTube video that even mentions Taylor Swift and dislike it, simply to fight some sort of good fight. These are the ones who will watch the "I'm a Mormon" videos that my church has out and make so many negative comments with the deluded idea that by posting their hatred that they are winning. These are the ones who get all riled up whenever a teachers union goes on strike believing that all teachers do is babysit. These are the ones that you cannot have a good discussion with. Actually, you can't really have a discussion at all without them degenerating into potty-mouthed tirades erupting. To put it simply, I find most Haters to be uninformed and happy to remain that way.
After the Haters you have the Trolls. These are a bit different than the Haters because Trolls purposefully make comments to get people upset. Haters are trying to prove a point. Trolls are trying to get you to react. These people will step into any debate and say inflammatory things, just to see how many dislikes or thumbs down they can get. I guess you can say that I am a Troll-Hater. It seems like the only thing that gives them any meaning in life is to cause others become incensed. Perhaps the Trolls have always been lurking under the bridges of life, but I must say that it makes being on the internet less fun. I enjoy sharing and reading intelligent thoughts, but I find the Trollish comments to be very tiresome.
Before I finish with the Top Ten, a little song that sums up my feelings.
Top Ten Ways to Deal with Haters and Trolls
10. Don't bite the bait. Walk away, turn off the monitor, whatever you must, but don't reply.
9. Thumb down/spam-block the hate. Even if you agree with their point, but they are saying it in an offensive and vulgar manner, vote them down. In some sites, such as YouTube and Yahoo, it actually blocks or hides things that receive too many negative votes. And once those are hidden...
8. Keep the Hate hidden! enough said on that.
7. Be polite, not reactive. If you really feel that you must respond to a Hater or Troll, just say what you need to without stooping to their level.
6. Vote up the good comments. The ones that have reasonable ideas, respectful discourses, just vote those up. This tends to put those comments higher up in the list.
5. Priorities. If you set you filters to show only the most popular comments, you can remove most if not all of the hateful comments.
4. Block the Trolls. Facebook, YouTube, and other networking sites allow you to block certain users. If there is someone who is constantly being hateful and mean-spirited, block them. You typically never read their statements again.
3. Don't Do It. Just do not read the comments if the Trolls and Haters always get to you.
2. Happy thoughts. Surround yourself with good friends, postivie images, anything to keep the negativity at bay.
1. If you ever meet a Troll, pick up a Hater and smack them off the bridge Billy-Goat-Gruff style.
I have been asking people about their dislike for these and others, and from what I can gather, nobody has a good reason for being so hateful. I can dislike Jersey Shore because it glorifies idleness and entitlement and it is vulgar, I can avoid gangsta rap because it is derogatory to women and and it is vulgar, and I can tune out when Two Broke Girls comes on because it lowers my IQ level while watching it (haven't seen it enough to see if it is vulgar), but I am not on the internet constantly trying to trash talk them into world wide web oblivion (barring this blog post, but that is merely to illustrate a point). No, in fact, I figure that if I draw less attention to them, then I will not be giving them any free publicity (again, barring this post to make a point). As far as I can tell, Nickelback is hated because they always sound the same (and yet I can say the same thing about so many other bands), Taylor Swift us hated because she writes songs about her life (which is what most songwriters do), and Justin Bieber is hated because teen-aged and younger girls love him (which fits the NKOTB regime from my youth). So really, they are hated because they are popular, successful, and talented. They are hated because they make a lot of money doing what they love. Smells like jealousy to me.
So, for the last several months, I have been doing some informal research into this cultural phenomenon of posting horrible things about celebs and the like. I have found that there is much on the internet that is...well, to put it mildly, crap. Here is my hypothesis: because people are allowed to post things on the internet anonymously, they feel that they can say whatever they want, however they want, and to whomever they want. They may even be saying horrible things to someone they love and they do not even realize it. They know that to be like this face-to-face with someone is wrong, but hiding behind their screens they can de-evolve into something more carnal. I found two main categories that really get my proverbial goat.
First, there are the Haters, who will spend countless hours surfing the web looking for their sources of hatred. these are the ones who will go onto every YouTube video that even mentions Taylor Swift and dislike it, simply to fight some sort of good fight. These are the ones who will watch the "I'm a Mormon" videos that my church has out and make so many negative comments with the deluded idea that by posting their hatred that they are winning. These are the ones who get all riled up whenever a teachers union goes on strike believing that all teachers do is babysit. These are the ones that you cannot have a good discussion with. Actually, you can't really have a discussion at all without them degenerating into potty-mouthed tirades erupting. To put it simply, I find most Haters to be uninformed and happy to remain that way.
After the Haters you have the Trolls. These are a bit different than the Haters because Trolls purposefully make comments to get people upset. Haters are trying to prove a point. Trolls are trying to get you to react. These people will step into any debate and say inflammatory things, just to see how many dislikes or thumbs down they can get. I guess you can say that I am a Troll-Hater. It seems like the only thing that gives them any meaning in life is to cause others become incensed. Perhaps the Trolls have always been lurking under the bridges of life, but I must say that it makes being on the internet less fun. I enjoy sharing and reading intelligent thoughts, but I find the Trollish comments to be very tiresome.
Before I finish with the Top Ten, a little song that sums up my feelings.
Top Ten Ways to Deal with Haters and Trolls
10. Don't bite the bait. Walk away, turn off the monitor, whatever you must, but don't reply.
9. Thumb down/spam-block the hate. Even if you agree with their point, but they are saying it in an offensive and vulgar manner, vote them down. In some sites, such as YouTube and Yahoo, it actually blocks or hides things that receive too many negative votes. And once those are hidden...
8. Keep the Hate hidden! enough said on that.
7. Be polite, not reactive. If you really feel that you must respond to a Hater or Troll, just say what you need to without stooping to their level.
6. Vote up the good comments. The ones that have reasonable ideas, respectful discourses, just vote those up. This tends to put those comments higher up in the list.
5. Priorities. If you set you filters to show only the most popular comments, you can remove most if not all of the hateful comments.
4. Block the Trolls. Facebook, YouTube, and other networking sites allow you to block certain users. If there is someone who is constantly being hateful and mean-spirited, block them. You typically never read their statements again.
3. Don't Do It. Just do not read the comments if the Trolls and Haters always get to you.
2. Happy thoughts. Surround yourself with good friends, postivie images, anything to keep the negativity at bay.
1. If you ever meet a Troll, pick up a Hater and smack them off the bridge Billy-Goat-Gruff style.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Summer's Bummer
Well, here we go, my last weekend of the summer. While this summer has been very light on the traveling front (a trip to Spray Lake and a trip to Drumheller), it has been a good summer overall. Most of it was spent with my beloved little Barbara. Hard to believe that tomorrow she will be 2 months old! She is already fitting into some of her 3 month clothes. She is starting to notice things now. Annie is her favorite, but the old dog still won't notice her. She has started watching TV, so it's time to make sure we know what is on the TV when she is in the room with us. She is also loving it when I sing her goofy little songs. Ah, things to enjoy now because she'll hate it when she's a teenager.
Most of all, I am heading back to work on Monday. It will be tough, as I have enjoyed spending most of the day with my wife and our little girl. Still, at least work is fun. Bonus is that it is now closer. We were at the Market mall today and I decided to drive by the new school, then drive home from there. It took about 15 minutes. Most days it would take me about 30 minutes when the school was in Ogden, and that was only when traffic was light. I often found myself at least 45 minutes on the road. I know that this will be hard on my colleagues who lived in the south, but I think that having a much bigger school will be worth it. Heather has said that she will bring Barbara by often to visit.
I don't have a lot else to report on. I just wanted to have an update to celebrate Barbara's two months. I cannot say enough how amazing it is to have a daughter. I have had students in the past tell me that they never want to have kids. I must say that while I get what they are trying to say ("I'm scared of responsibility", "I'm not ready to grow up yet", or in a few cases "I'm to focused on me to think about others"), but I hope that they will eventually realize that there is no happiness like that of having a little one that is your own. Yes, there are going to be tough times. She will not always be a little darling, but I believe that as she grows older we will grow closer. I see so much of my mother in her right now, and I know that my mother and I were close (and that was by no means easy). Looking at my daughter I am starting to understand what my parents went through with me. I understand their patience while I went through my difficult years. I guess I hope that I will remember this when Barbara goes through tough times.
Top 10 List time! I thought I would go with the Top Ten favourite Music Artists:
10. U2. gotta have a little rock on this list.
9. Garth Brooks. I so wish I could have gone to his concert this past July.
8. Lady Antebellum. their songs "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Hello World" have been personal anthems of mune at some time.
7. Huey Lewis and the News. They taught me that it was hip to be square!
6. Weird Al Yankovic. Greates parodist of all time. It is a shame that he is not in the R and R hall of Fame.
5. Johnny Cash. His Greatest Hits Vol 2 was the first country music tape I remember my parents getting for me.
4. The Arrogant Worms. They are an absolute riot in concert. I think I have seen them more times in concert than any other group.
3. Brad Paisley. On country radio right now, no other artist (except for the next one) has had songs that mean so much to me.
2. Keith Urban. This was a close one between him and Brad Paisley for the #2 spot, but as my wife just pointed out to me, he did sing our wedding song.
1. Alabama. They will never lose this spot with me. I have been to four of their concerts, and can never get enough of their music.
Most of all, I am heading back to work on Monday. It will be tough, as I have enjoyed spending most of the day with my wife and our little girl. Still, at least work is fun. Bonus is that it is now closer. We were at the Market mall today and I decided to drive by the new school, then drive home from there. It took about 15 minutes. Most days it would take me about 30 minutes when the school was in Ogden, and that was only when traffic was light. I often found myself at least 45 minutes on the road. I know that this will be hard on my colleagues who lived in the south, but I think that having a much bigger school will be worth it. Heather has said that she will bring Barbara by often to visit.
I don't have a lot else to report on. I just wanted to have an update to celebrate Barbara's two months. I cannot say enough how amazing it is to have a daughter. I have had students in the past tell me that they never want to have kids. I must say that while I get what they are trying to say ("I'm scared of responsibility", "I'm not ready to grow up yet", or in a few cases "I'm to focused on me to think about others"), but I hope that they will eventually realize that there is no happiness like that of having a little one that is your own. Yes, there are going to be tough times. She will not always be a little darling, but I believe that as she grows older we will grow closer. I see so much of my mother in her right now, and I know that my mother and I were close (and that was by no means easy). Looking at my daughter I am starting to understand what my parents went through with me. I understand their patience while I went through my difficult years. I guess I hope that I will remember this when Barbara goes through tough times.
Top 10 List time! I thought I would go with the Top Ten favourite Music Artists:
10. U2. gotta have a little rock on this list.
9. Garth Brooks. I so wish I could have gone to his concert this past July.
8. Lady Antebellum. their songs "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Hello World" have been personal anthems of mune at some time.
7. Huey Lewis and the News. They taught me that it was hip to be square!
6. Weird Al Yankovic. Greates parodist of all time. It is a shame that he is not in the R and R hall of Fame.
5. Johnny Cash. His Greatest Hits Vol 2 was the first country music tape I remember my parents getting for me.
4. The Arrogant Worms. They are an absolute riot in concert. I think I have seen them more times in concert than any other group.
3. Brad Paisley. On country radio right now, no other artist (except for the next one) has had songs that mean so much to me.
2. Keith Urban. This was a close one between him and Brad Paisley for the #2 spot, but as my wife just pointed out to me, he did sing our wedding song.
1. Alabama. They will never lose this spot with me. I have been to four of their concerts, and can never get enough of their music.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Parenthood and the Joys Therein
It has been a great month with baby Barbara. For not doing a whole lot, this sure seemed like a busy month.
At the end of June, we learned that the FFCA High School would be moving its location to a bigger, better, (and for me at least) closer school in Montgomery. So instead of a 30-45 minute drive, it will now be about 15. That is great for me. My heart goes out to the staff and students who are now facing a longer commute. I know exactly how you feel. The good side is that we are in a school that better fits our needs. I am looking forward to getting into my new classroom.
On a work related note, props to my colleague and friend Liz Amer for getting married the day after Heather and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary. We were able to attend the wedding. Liz looked fabulous and so very happy. She looked like she was in7th heaven. Congrats Liz, and I apologize in advance for the number of times I will mispronounce your new name.
Barbara has been quite the joy of my life. It has been a great month so far. This past Sunday I had the privilege of blessing her in church. I had been anticipating this event eagerly for many years, and I loved the experience. In the circle with me were Bishop Davis, Ricardo Perez, Dan Oler, Matt Harker, Barrett Swendsen, and both my father and Heather's father. Violet, unfortunately, couldn't make it, but I know she wanted to. Shelly was there with the kids...and a new boyfriend! No word on how serious it is, but she seems happy, the kids like him, and that's fine with me. After all these years, she deserves happiness in this department.
I have learned much from being a Daddy. I have learned to place the new diaper under the old one before taking the old one off. I have learned that it does not matter what you read to the baby, she just loves to hear my voice read. I have learned that baby does not need to be held every time she cries, but it is still nice to hold her when she does. I learned that babies can bring the most amazing sense of love into the home. I learned that complete strangers will come up to you and ask about your darling little one. I learned that one can function on little sleep, but I an happy that I am not working. I learned the real origin of the term "pooped" in respect to being tired by watching her work really hard on a poop, then immediately falling asleep when it comes. Most of all, I learned that life is a little bit sweeter with a little one. I have known many people who, for one reason or another, have decided to not have kids. They prefer to pour their energies into a career, a hobby, pets, fame, power, etc. At the end of the day, I feel sorry for them. The best legacy that brings the most joy and personal satisfaction is being a good parent. You retire from your career, fancy cars break down, possessions can be taken from you, pets will die, fame is fickle, and power corrupts, but at the end of your life, it means so much to have loved ones gathered around you.
Top Ten List - Top ten things Barbara like to spit up on...
10. The spit up blankets (and we have lots)
9. Her onesies (and again, we have lots)
8. Her crib sheets
7. Her church clothes
6. Her Daddy's shoulder
5. Her Mommy's shoulder
4. Her car seat
3. Her car seat
2. Her car seat
1. Her car seat (yes, it happens a lot)
At the end of June, we learned that the FFCA High School would be moving its location to a bigger, better, (and for me at least) closer school in Montgomery. So instead of a 30-45 minute drive, it will now be about 15. That is great for me. My heart goes out to the staff and students who are now facing a longer commute. I know exactly how you feel. The good side is that we are in a school that better fits our needs. I am looking forward to getting into my new classroom.
On a work related note, props to my colleague and friend Liz Amer for getting married the day after Heather and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary. We were able to attend the wedding. Liz looked fabulous and so very happy. She looked like she was in7th heaven. Congrats Liz, and I apologize in advance for the number of times I will mispronounce your new name.
Barbara has been quite the joy of my life. It has been a great month so far. This past Sunday I had the privilege of blessing her in church. I had been anticipating this event eagerly for many years, and I loved the experience. In the circle with me were Bishop Davis, Ricardo Perez, Dan Oler, Matt Harker, Barrett Swendsen, and both my father and Heather's father. Violet, unfortunately, couldn't make it, but I know she wanted to. Shelly was there with the kids...and a new boyfriend! No word on how serious it is, but she seems happy, the kids like him, and that's fine with me. After all these years, she deserves happiness in this department.
 |
| The education has begun |
I have learned much from being a Daddy. I have learned to place the new diaper under the old one before taking the old one off. I have learned that it does not matter what you read to the baby, she just loves to hear my voice read. I have learned that baby does not need to be held every time she cries, but it is still nice to hold her when she does. I learned that babies can bring the most amazing sense of love into the home. I learned that complete strangers will come up to you and ask about your darling little one. I learned that one can function on little sleep, but I an happy that I am not working. I learned the real origin of the term "pooped" in respect to being tired by watching her work really hard on a poop, then immediately falling asleep when it comes. Most of all, I learned that life is a little bit sweeter with a little one. I have known many people who, for one reason or another, have decided to not have kids. They prefer to pour their energies into a career, a hobby, pets, fame, power, etc. At the end of the day, I feel sorry for them. The best legacy that brings the most joy and personal satisfaction is being a good parent. You retire from your career, fancy cars break down, possessions can be taken from you, pets will die, fame is fickle, and power corrupts, but at the end of your life, it means so much to have loved ones gathered around you.
Top Ten List - Top ten things Barbara like to spit up on...
10. The spit up blankets (and we have lots)
9. Her onesies (and again, we have lots)
8. Her crib sheets
7. Her church clothes
6. Her Daddy's shoulder
5. Her Mommy's shoulder
4. Her car seat
3. Her car seat
2. Her car seat
1. Her car seat (yes, it happens a lot)
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Baby Barbara
I am so much more in love with my beloved wife. She has endured so much to bring this little bundle of perfect joy into our lives, and she did it willingly. I had difficulty understanding how a man can abandon his family for any reason. Now, even more so. During that magical moment I found myself entranced by my wife's sacrifice. I knew that she was paying a heavy, painful price to bring our daughter into the world, and I was powerless to take that pain for her. I used to wonder why birth is often so painful, but when I saw my wife's face when I told her we had a little baby girl, I had a better understanding. Mothers tend to have a much greater and often deeper capacity for love. I am happy that I could provide what little support I could for her. I wished I could have taken her pain as my own, but I will settle for being as supportive in all things instead.
It was great to have not only the boys but both sets of grandparents come to the hospital to visit. While Dad and Violet were there, we were told that we could take her home. So not even 24 hours later we brought our precious darling daughter home. The next day, my birthday, I was able to spend most of it with my amazing family. In addition to the best birthday bundle I could ask for, I was given a nice camera by Heather. The boys got me all of my autographed Star Trek photos framed. I was very happy. Pam Stovel, the Relief Society president, brought us over a wonderful dinner. All in all, best birthday ever.
Top 10 List: Things I Look Forward Most To Doing With My Daughter
10. Trips to the zoo. Hopefully she will want to volunteer there with us.
9. Daddy-Daughter dates. I'm thinking walks in the park, Dairy Queen, movies, etc.
8. Watching Muppets and Trek. Mom will get her on Tinkerbell and Disney princess stuff, but I will help balance that out.
7. Baby blessing. July 29 is the day
6. School recitals, plays, functions, etc. This is assuming that she does some sort of performance art, which I suspect she will.
5. Trips to Glenwood to visit her namesake. I want my daughter to know the grandmother that saw her off into this world.
4. Disney World. My princess deserves to be a real princess for a day. Plus, I know Heather will be all over that.
3. All the birthdays, Christmas times, Thanksgivings, Halloweens, etc.
2. Baptism. Only 8 years to go!
1. Taking her to the temple. Whether it is for baptisms, her going on a mission, or marrying a man who is deserving of her, temples are where families are eternal, and I want her to know that.
10. Trips to the zoo. Hopefully she will want to volunteer there with us.
9. Daddy-Daughter dates. I'm thinking walks in the park, Dairy Queen, movies, etc.
8. Watching Muppets and Trek. Mom will get her on Tinkerbell and Disney princess stuff, but I will help balance that out.
7. Baby blessing. July 29 is the day
6. School recitals, plays, functions, etc. This is assuming that she does some sort of performance art, which I suspect she will.
5. Trips to Glenwood to visit her namesake. I want my daughter to know the grandmother that saw her off into this world.
4. Disney World. My princess deserves to be a real princess for a day. Plus, I know Heather will be all over that.
3. All the birthdays, Christmas times, Thanksgivings, Halloweens, etc.
2. Baptism. Only 8 years to go!
1. Taking her to the temple. Whether it is for baptisms, her going on a mission, or marrying a man who is deserving of her, temples are where families are eternal, and I want her to know that.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Happy Earth Day
I would like to thank the Earth for everything that it has given me today, but I will talk to that more in my Top Ten List. It has been an interesting few weeks. Heather and the baby are coming along quite well, with about 11 weeks left to go. I really want to meet this little one that has become such a miracle to me. They say that children teach their parents as much as they learn from them. This one is already teaching me patience, because I can't wait for him/her to arrive, and wonder, because I wonder what she/he will be like.
Speaking of babies, my friends Dan and Mindy Oler welcomed their fifth son into the world today. I am very happy for them. No word on the name yet. If we have a boy, then I am hoping that the two will be great friends like their fathers are. If we have a girl, then one can hope that perhaps the two will...join their respective family trees.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching our school's entries for One Act, and they were all wonderful. Each one has something that is unique and great, but I have a hard time figuring out which is my favourite. They all brought something great to the table. I was put on a roller coaster of emotions. I was laughing, entertained, brought to tears, scared, moved, and just overall very satisfied. I hope they do well this week with their performances and the competition next Saturday. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be there on Saturday, as I will be at the Comic Expo. It features the entire cast of Star Trek The Next Generation! Awesome!
Here is my Top Ten List: The Top Ten Things Earth Has Given Me:
10. Oxygen. Can't breath without it. Well, not very well at least.
9. Sunsets. A beautiful way to start each day.
8. Fruit. All kinds. I thought I could pick one, apples, grapefruit, oranges, kiwi, strawberries, but I love just about all kinds.
7. Forests. I have always loved just tromping through the woods. As a child, I remember just walking through paths in the trees that ringed our property in Fort Macleod. Still enjoy a trek through the woods every chance I get.
6. Birds. Again, all kinds. I like the ones that sing, the ones that swim, the ones that have pretty feathers, and the ones that taste good barbecued.
5. Pets. Yes, animals are going to feature heavily on this list. I have almost always had a pet of some sort or another. Snoopy the cat, Tasha II, Midnight the rabbit, and of course my darling Annie. Pet animals, especially dogs and cats, are always very comforting and educational.
4. Spring time. I love this kind of year. I love having the dreariness of late winter replaced with green, freshness, and life. Having the leaves appear on trees, flowers appear in fields, and sleeping critters emerge.
3. Wildlife. I believe that this is why I love places like preserves, national parks, and zoos. All kinds of wondrous animals have been placed on this Earth. From the elusive okapi in the Congo, to the industrious beaver of Canada, they are all wonderful. I have a special place for birds, but all wildlife is precious. Especially...
2. Platypus. Come on, did you think that I would leave out my favourite all time critter? But what could be better than a platypus?
1. Birth. Again, a wondrous event. 11 weeks to go. See you soon, little one. Love, Dad.
Speaking of babies, my friends Dan and Mindy Oler welcomed their fifth son into the world today. I am very happy for them. No word on the name yet. If we have a boy, then I am hoping that the two will be great friends like their fathers are. If we have a girl, then one can hope that perhaps the two will...join their respective family trees.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching our school's entries for One Act, and they were all wonderful. Each one has something that is unique and great, but I have a hard time figuring out which is my favourite. They all brought something great to the table. I was put on a roller coaster of emotions. I was laughing, entertained, brought to tears, scared, moved, and just overall very satisfied. I hope they do well this week with their performances and the competition next Saturday. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be there on Saturday, as I will be at the Comic Expo. It features the entire cast of Star Trek The Next Generation! Awesome!
Here is my Top Ten List: The Top Ten Things Earth Has Given Me:
10. Oxygen. Can't breath without it. Well, not very well at least.
9. Sunsets. A beautiful way to start each day.
8. Fruit. All kinds. I thought I could pick one, apples, grapefruit, oranges, kiwi, strawberries, but I love just about all kinds.
7. Forests. I have always loved just tromping through the woods. As a child, I remember just walking through paths in the trees that ringed our property in Fort Macleod. Still enjoy a trek through the woods every chance I get.
6. Birds. Again, all kinds. I like the ones that sing, the ones that swim, the ones that have pretty feathers, and the ones that taste good barbecued.
5. Pets. Yes, animals are going to feature heavily on this list. I have almost always had a pet of some sort or another. Snoopy the cat, Tasha II, Midnight the rabbit, and of course my darling Annie. Pet animals, especially dogs and cats, are always very comforting and educational.
4. Spring time. I love this kind of year. I love having the dreariness of late winter replaced with green, freshness, and life. Having the leaves appear on trees, flowers appear in fields, and sleeping critters emerge.
3. Wildlife. I believe that this is why I love places like preserves, national parks, and zoos. All kinds of wondrous animals have been placed on this Earth. From the elusive okapi in the Congo, to the industrious beaver of Canada, they are all wonderful. I have a special place for birds, but all wildlife is precious. Especially...
2. Platypus. Come on, did you think that I would leave out my favourite all time critter? But what could be better than a platypus?
1. Birth. Again, a wondrous event. 11 weeks to go. See you soon, little one. Love, Dad.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Catching Up. Happy St Patricks Day
Well, here we are, part way through March, and I am sitting at my school’s Parent-Student-Teacher interviews. I have one appointment at 10, and that’s it. I thought; let’s polish off a blog post!
The baby is coming along just fine, but my poor wife is still getting a bit nauseous. Last night she also thought she was getting a cold. I am thankful that she is playing it safe and not taking medication, but this is teaching me a lot about how much the mother goes through carrying a child to full term. We men cannot possibly understand it because we cannot experience it ourselves, but it simply re-enforces to me that we need to be as supportive and compassionate to the mothers of the world as possible. So, I try to make her as comfortable as possible. July cannot get here soon enough.
School is going well. Unexpected challenges give me pause from time to time, but I continue. Next year looks to be interesting. Kurtis, my principal, is taking a sabbatical to work on his PhD courses, and Preston (the current assistant principal) will be acting principal. Kurtis has been (and continues to be) the best principal I have ever had the honor to work with. He is more than just a leader; he inspires us to strive more, he serves us, and most of all he cares. I will miss him, and hope he has great success.
I also just bought Seasons 4 and 5 of Night Court on DVD. They have some of my favourite episodes. It has been a lot of fun. They just do not make great comedies anymore. The only descent ones in the last ten years have been Corner Gas and the Big Bang Theory. Sometimes I wish I could just only have the TV shows of the past. On a similar note, The Muppets comes out on DVD this Tuesday! YAY!
My Top Ten List for the Day has become a fun one to put together. As you likely know, I love zoos and seeing the amazing animals in them. Some of my favourites include Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sea World, the Bronx Zoo, and the Calgary Zoo (of course). I also appreciate the smaller ones like Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Hogle Zoo, and the Bermuda Zoo and Aquarium. So, with a little research, I present my Top 10 Zoos I want to visit. This is more than just a wish list, it is a goal.
10. St. Louis Zoo. Admission is free, but there are admissions to some exhibits. You can get a day pass to all those exhibits for $10, so it is very affordable. Some of the attraction critters include the Andean bear, jaguar, black rhino, the interesting echidna, and one of my personal favourites, the okapi.
9. Greater Vancouver Zoo. Zebra, giraffes, addax, scimitar-horned oryx, and more await you 30 minutes east of Vancouver. It is also a bit closer than most zoos.
8. Dallas World Aquarium. It is a great combination of aquarium animals and small animals. Tree kangaroos, electric eels, fairy penguins, and harpy eagles are just a sampling of the many wonderful fish, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species.
7. Toronto Zoo. I may need a couple days for this, but I would like to see this place. Hopefully I can see it while they have the giant pandas that will be coming to Calgary later. Plus, other than the airport, I have never been to Toronto. May have to check out the CN Tower as well
6. Montreal Biodome. An interesting concept that has visitors walkthrough various exhibits that are based on American biomes (polar, rainforest, etc). Lots of colourful birds, primates, etc. to see.
5. The Columbus Zoo. Jack Hannah is well known world-wide as being an animal and zoo lover, and this is his home base. Some cool critters to see here include koala, okapi (BINGO!), and komodo dragons. They also have a connecting waterpark (which costs extra) Sweet!
4. Granby Zoo. A great zoo in Quebec. They have lots of cool creatures, including red panda, tigers, snow leopards, gibbons, and hippos. So big that in the summer they often have two-day passes.
3. The Cincinnati Zoo. Okapi (always a plus), sumutran rhinos, and what looks like a really cool layout. Plus, I want to see if WKRP is still on the air. I will have to wait until at least 2015 when they finish some great sounding African exhibits.
2. San Deigo Zoo and Wild Animal Park. I was there about 15 years ago, but I hear that much has changed. Once again, okapi tops my interest list, but their reputation alone is what has me wanting to go back.
1. The Taronga Zoo in Sydney Australia. Yes, the Taronga zoo is in Australia, which is on my “Must Visit” list, and yes, it is world renowned as being an excellent zoo, but most importantly, they have platypus. That alone puts them as my #1 zoo I must visit.
The baby is coming along just fine, but my poor wife is still getting a bit nauseous. Last night she also thought she was getting a cold. I am thankful that she is playing it safe and not taking medication, but this is teaching me a lot about how much the mother goes through carrying a child to full term. We men cannot possibly understand it because we cannot experience it ourselves, but it simply re-enforces to me that we need to be as supportive and compassionate to the mothers of the world as possible. So, I try to make her as comfortable as possible. July cannot get here soon enough.
School is going well. Unexpected challenges give me pause from time to time, but I continue. Next year looks to be interesting. Kurtis, my principal, is taking a sabbatical to work on his PhD courses, and Preston (the current assistant principal) will be acting principal. Kurtis has been (and continues to be) the best principal I have ever had the honor to work with. He is more than just a leader; he inspires us to strive more, he serves us, and most of all he cares. I will miss him, and hope he has great success.
I also just bought Seasons 4 and 5 of Night Court on DVD. They have some of my favourite episodes. It has been a lot of fun. They just do not make great comedies anymore. The only descent ones in the last ten years have been Corner Gas and the Big Bang Theory. Sometimes I wish I could just only have the TV shows of the past. On a similar note, The Muppets comes out on DVD this Tuesday! YAY!
My Top Ten List for the Day has become a fun one to put together. As you likely know, I love zoos and seeing the amazing animals in them. Some of my favourites include Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sea World, the Bronx Zoo, and the Calgary Zoo (of course). I also appreciate the smaller ones like Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Hogle Zoo, and the Bermuda Zoo and Aquarium. So, with a little research, I present my Top 10 Zoos I want to visit. This is more than just a wish list, it is a goal.
10. St. Louis Zoo. Admission is free, but there are admissions to some exhibits. You can get a day pass to all those exhibits for $10, so it is very affordable. Some of the attraction critters include the Andean bear, jaguar, black rhino, the interesting echidna, and one of my personal favourites, the okapi.
9. Greater Vancouver Zoo. Zebra, giraffes, addax, scimitar-horned oryx, and more await you 30 minutes east of Vancouver. It is also a bit closer than most zoos.
8. Dallas World Aquarium. It is a great combination of aquarium animals and small animals. Tree kangaroos, electric eels, fairy penguins, and harpy eagles are just a sampling of the many wonderful fish, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species.
7. Toronto Zoo. I may need a couple days for this, but I would like to see this place. Hopefully I can see it while they have the giant pandas that will be coming to Calgary later. Plus, other than the airport, I have never been to Toronto. May have to check out the CN Tower as well
6. Montreal Biodome. An interesting concept that has visitors walkthrough various exhibits that are based on American biomes (polar, rainforest, etc). Lots of colourful birds, primates, etc. to see.
5. The Columbus Zoo. Jack Hannah is well known world-wide as being an animal and zoo lover, and this is his home base. Some cool critters to see here include koala, okapi (BINGO!), and komodo dragons. They also have a connecting waterpark (which costs extra) Sweet!
4. Granby Zoo. A great zoo in Quebec. They have lots of cool creatures, including red panda, tigers, snow leopards, gibbons, and hippos. So big that in the summer they often have two-day passes.
3. The Cincinnati Zoo. Okapi (always a plus), sumutran rhinos, and what looks like a really cool layout. Plus, I want to see if WKRP is still on the air. I will have to wait until at least 2015 when they finish some great sounding African exhibits.
2. San Deigo Zoo and Wild Animal Park. I was there about 15 years ago, but I hear that much has changed. Once again, okapi tops my interest list, but their reputation alone is what has me wanting to go back.
1. The Taronga Zoo in Sydney Australia. Yes, the Taronga zoo is in Australia, which is on my “Must Visit” list, and yes, it is world renowned as being an excellent zoo, but most importantly, they have platypus. That alone puts them as my #1 zoo I must visit.
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