Merry Christmas all (burp). This was finished at about 11:30PM Xmas eve. It's a puppet theatre / store front for the kids.



It was supposed to be red and yellow but apparently I brought home a quart of decade old paint - thank you HD supply chain - your stock velocity is underwhelming. Good thing our local Wally's world was one of those open for 24 hours for your holiday convenience. Bad thing, they only had this brand that, instead of drying in 30-60 minutes, was rated to dry in 3-5 hours which translated into the degrees Kelvin we use to (not) heat our house, takes a good day and a half.

And of course, the thing I had the most difficulty with, was the store bought curtains and curtain rod.

I think next year, they're getting a playstation 7 or whatever they're up to / taking pre-orders for at that point.

The elves

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

This would have been the Xmas card if it wasn't for the cutlery in the background and the evidence of child safety issues. (I was going to ID that for you, but let's play "spot the hazard".)

Canon PS next

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

A few reasons why I need the next model up from my Canon S2 IS ...

- relatively low ISO capability (tops out at 400)
- silly 1GB file limit/2GB SD card limit - which is a real problem because I tend to use this as my camcorder
- my mom has the S3 IS

Xmas concert

Copy of IMG_7987
Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

From the evening show of the girl's school concert. This was the big Vegas finish - that's her on the bottom right (in green circle). Hard to tell, but she spent most of her time on stage looking for us in the crowd.

Mine!

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

This is now designated as the girl's yak-bucket. No one else gets to use it or play with it; it's been marked.

FWIW - The boy has learned how to run to the bathroom if he thinks he has to chow.

This past Saturday, we took the kids to my workplace's kids Xmas party - Santa vs. The Snowman - in 3D IMAX! Kids, this is not your older sibling's 3D effects with the cardboard glasses that gave you paper cuts over your years and resulted in an inability to engage in strenuous activities, drive or otherwise direct large vehicles.

This was almost as good as the T3 3D show at Universal Studio's (the last 3D show I saw). Good enough to make the boy recoil and pull his glasses off every time something shot out of the screen at him. 2 for flinching, boy!

Anyways, I'm a convert - we'll see if the boy likes the Polar Express in 3D.

BTW - Kids Party Santa? DENIED!

sweet

12-05-06 Set 4 Carry 2x
Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Carry!?!? You punk-*ss, meglomania'd, whistle-toting, no talent, tri-focal wearing ...

Pretty fly for my little guy ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Cross my keyboard, but the boy made progress this weekend in the potty training arena ... wasn't that the name of the old engineering building on campus?

Saturday was ... messy. But he did great on Sunday and only had one mishap early this morning. Made it through daycare and all the way to bed time!

To think, all it took was Thomas Train gitch ... so what if they cost $30 a piece?

YARISTOCBIB*

These shirts have the biggest freaking collars I've ever seen!


(* yet another reason I should try on clothes before I buy)

This has been bugging me all day long ...

So, I get this "workforce crisis" issue; I've heard about the trend towards specialization; I've read about the next "era" of modern society being based on knowledge and that labour is the thing of the past.

Coincidingly, I know that I am moving to the outer edge, if not already beyond the window, of target demographic for consumerism. I'm aware that CRM systems have probably tagged my buying pattern as a non-profitable, possibly even undesireable customer/consumer. I know companies would rather market to my kids than to me. I know that I now shop by aisle, rather than by floor or section.

I get all that. But I can't help but find myself wondering ...

Is it too much to ask for someone working in the clothing department to know how to fold a freaking shirt!

For the record, I am neither impressed by the number of folds you can introduce into my shirt, nor by the how tightly you can pack my shirts into the smallest of bags; nor even by the variety of balloon-animal-shirt arrangements you can make before my very eyes. ("Balloon" modifies "animal" - I don't know what a "balloon-shirt" is/would be.)

Just to make sure I've covered all the angles - I am not Harry Houdini, I am not Doug Henning; I am not David Copperfield; I am neither bound by employment, nor do I dabble in hobbies that, require anything resembling strait-jacket test-worthiness of my apparel.

Damn, buddy.

Oooohhhh-trivin. Every once in a while, someone tries to tell me I have an Otrivin addiction. (I use it seasonally, so I don't think that counts. It just happens to be convenient for me to have some at home, work and in the car.)

But, I think I saw a commercial today for something called Nasanex. Not sure if this product is universal and/or the advertising rules are, but any ads for medicine now have to include disclaimers on the side effects. I swore I thought I heard that, in addition to the the standard side effects of drowziness, dizziness and dry skin, apparently this stuff can give you a viral infection!

I don't wanna hear any more noise about Otrivin.

Love that extra hour when we "fall back". But just so we don't get cocky, mo' natural is gonna throw half a foot of snow at us today.

That preceding blurb was all preface for this ... remember that episode of Happy Days where Fonzie and Pinky break-up? The line I can't get outta my head this morning is "She treated me like an em-plo-YEE."

BOO

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... at the Zoo/2006.

Shotgun

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

After Calloway park - I don't think the travelling grocery store parking lot Fair really cuts it anymore. (I know I said this was at the zoo, but I recognized the carney's "responsible" for the rides from their stop at the local Safeway.)

Maybe the thinking is, this is more exhilerating when you throw in the threat of frostbite.

To answer your question ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

With the boy, it's all about the trains. So if he had his choice, he'd probably opt to go as Thomas or Sir Topham Hat.

When I was just ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... a little boy, I asked my mother, why can't I be what I want to be for Halloween?

So, should it be this ...

... or this.

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Or does it not matter because we're going to make him wear a parka and moon boots so no one will see any parts of the costume anyways?

Like the guests who won't leave ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

I don't know what they spray in these balloons - for what they charge I'm assuming it's some class of balloon-grade plutonium - but these suckers are like a bad smell.

In hindsight, we should have gotten christmas colours.

Fall supper

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Happy Turkey day ... or vegetarian facsimilie if that's your "taste".

A crisp weekend, but nice enough to get out a few times. Everyone's in the same boat - looking back thinking of the nice summer and how little they took advantage.

But it's look fwd time ... the girl's trying new things: karate and soccer and sticking with the swimming that she's been doing pretty well at since the start of the summer.

The boy is in gymkids but is having some problems grasping the concept of group activities. On the other hand, he's learned to sulk at a very advanced level - the co-ordinated triple threat: grossly exaggerated arm-crossing; a decisive "hmmphh"; followed by stomping to some corner of the room. Too bad the comic effect overshadows any of the intentioned reactions.

Brrrr ....

happy is ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

A girl and five (minus one) of her best friends dressed as their favourite princesses with free run of the house, some games, a lil brother to boss around ... and dishes of candy cupcake decorations and no rules ...

Happy birthday sweetie.

hey, uncle K. This one's for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9acGBQhbbk0

Cheese

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

The girl is quite the shutter bug. That's grandpa, caught in the act.

open letter

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

To whom it may both concern and be possible to affect change,

Please stop shooting your allies.

RP

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Robaxacet Platinum ... goooood

summer update

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Couple of lazy weekends before the girl starts school. She (wtf - my apostrophe key takes me to seach in Firefox) has done really well in swimming. Had a week of Sunfish in Canmore and another session when we got home, and she is ready for the next level ... crocodile I believe. This from starting the year, not happy about having to put her face in the water ... to going down the big slide in the deep end.

Clearly not from my side of the family. Anyone within the shared gene pool out there who would call themselves a strong swimmer?

summer 2006

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Spent a little over a week in Canmore with ye-ye and nai-nai. Really relaxing.

Callaway

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

I think the season passes to Callaway were a hit. The second day we went, it was cold and rainy, but the kids didn't complain a stitch and held out for 3 hours.

the thrill of it all

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

The girl couldn't decide which ride was her favourite. They both liked the (smaller) roller coaster. But the girl said her favourite was either the whirl-around ( no pic 'cuz I had to take her on the ride ... twice) ...

wimmin drivers

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... or the bumper cars. It took her two tries but by then, she was pretty much able to cruise around and discrimenently pick off other drivers ... and by other drivers I mean her brother.

once around the track

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

The boy's experience was less than fulfilling. They need to supply phone books to sit on so he can reach the pedals.

back to reality

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... but now we're back home, trying to make the most of last day of vacation.

D U C K !

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

This was the pool ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... we blew up last year and served us fairly well. It's got two small rings that blow up relatively quickly and it holds enough water to have fun in, but small enough that I can empty it without feeling too bad about water conservation ... beyond what it does for the lawn.

But it developed a mystery leak ... coulda been when it blew into a tree last weekend; coulda been rough use ... who knows. It lasted a year, which was about 50 weeks longer than I expected it too.

So now we've got ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... an inflatable crodocile - the rare Canadian prairie croc that appears to have a spout. And a giant hollow snail, good for rolling, sliding, jumping on and all other forms of activity that are detrimental to it actually lasting beyond a week.

New science

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

I hated chemistry in high school and thermodynamics in University. It just wasn't logical - like Physics. I'm tempted to challenge all the snotty prof's who told me to memorize the table, with explaning the property of a kids nose that allows ice cream to stay there for 2 hours - the same ice cream that when served in a four litre cone, can't last 30 seconds in the sun without ending up as a pool of schlep at the boys feet.

Then on to the English dept to taunt them with my sentence structure - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Da Da

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Happy Canada Day (weekend).

Poser

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Actually, she's not posing for the camera. She's posing for some other unfathomable reason. Don't ask me to explain - I cannot fathom it.


fathomfathomfathomfathomfathom

This was taken at the Circle of Celebration down where the two rivers meet. (I just finished the ubiquitous book brun ... I'm gonna to learn to speak in vague references and using symbolism.)

Sum'in-Sum'in

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

I was struggling to finish this entry based on the - something old, new, borrowed, blue - theme. Too much of a stretch for me, so let me return to my comfort zone ...

I betcha that outfit is really sweaty.

Nu-moronics

So it wasn't until mid-day yesterday that I realized it was June 6, 2006 - the date of the beast. Everyone else in the office who reads the newspaper in real time, listens to those insipid morning radio shows on the way into work, or knows which station broadcasts news rather than puppets - had already made their jokes. So I was left on the sidelines, becoming increasingly worried that I had noticed the date of my own accord, rather than having to be prompted.

Now I've got a few really busy days coming up and I have to focus so here's my joke, and hopefully we can leave this all behind (if you haven't already left)...

Today - it's 6-6-7, the number of the beast's neighbour.

BTW - in case you aren't making the connection, the photo is "the boy" spending the last half hour of our dinner out, outside getting 3 time-out's in a row, to be followed by waiting in the car because "I've had enough". I suppose I should be worried that the girl will scold the boy using that phrase too.

Houston, we have a problem.

What are the early warning signals for a mullet? Is it too soon to panic?

Ba-rumpa-bum-bum

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... and back to the kid's museum. Except, this is the first time ever that we've availed ourselves of the outdoor music area. They've got huge windchimes; these "kettle" drums; some sort of combo zither-metal drum thing; and these long plastic toobs that you play with paddles.

(I know it's "tubes", but if I spell it "toobs" then you can "toobs" like Ah-nawld.)

Clearly, we'll be spending more time there.

Safe Grad 2006

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

The girl thinks that she's been "congraduated". We won't even try "matriculation".

All better

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Turned out to be a one day thing with the boy. Today, his breakfast, lunch and supper - hotdogs outside no less - all stayed where they were intended.

Turn your head ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... and growl.

I think I mentioned earler that we have a season's pass to the kid's museum? Well, we have one b/c we got it with a season's pass to the zoo too.

This was from our 2nd visit this year so far. For some reason, they had the grizzly and the polar sharing space, like a bruin co-op or something. Anyways, the grizzly had a stash of fish and was not sharing, so mostly they were slapping each other. Here, it appears that the polar bear was trying a more diplomatic tact. I have more slapping photo's that follow this shot.

That was yesterday ... today, the boy has failed to keep his food down 6 times.

Meanwhile, I continue to debate whether or not I should buy Johnny Marr and the Healers - after listening to about 8 seconds of all the tracks several times. How come blogger doesn't have a polling feature?

Chez Chaise

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Our new club chairs. I only get to sit in them after the kids have gone to bed.

Soooo ... has anyone heard anything about an upcoming Tom Hanks movie? Heard a rumour on the down low, that it's about museums or churches or some such ... must be a documentary.

Glass half-full

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

So the last episode of West Wing that I thought I had taped? Not so much. No one's allowed to talk to me about Season 7 of the West Wing until the end of the summer repeat season. Booooo

But, my DVD Box set of Seasons 1 - 5 (won off e-bay) showed up this week. Booooo-Yaaaaaaaa

Weekend Report

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Well, it's not France, but the kids still like the playground at the school. It's beyond me how long they can amuse themselves playing with rocks.

Somewhere along the way, the boy's decided he likes baseballs. And, even though I've never played catch with him - he's figured out how to throw one.

Hat girl

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

For some reason - she's into hats now.

HUG

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

New favourite

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

The boy has a new favourite hat.

Characterized

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

Here's the boy copying the girl some more. He had to get some books and lie down because she was lying down with her book.

Only, she wasn't reading - she was making lists - like her mother - of things she had to get done for tomorrow.

I've got a video clip that I'll link once I get it posted too.

Here is the evidence ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiVpQrDNZG8

Look familiar?

wheee
Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

The boy still loves to do everything the girl does. I hope we have a nice summer so I can complete "The Boy Jumps Off ..." series.

BTW - about 32 lbs and 37". He's about the size of an average 3.5 year old.

In case you're wondering ...

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

... this is not a special moment of close bonding, there's bird poop on the bench.

Please Hammer, don't bug me.

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Originally uploaded by Lao Er.

For the last time, I CAN touch this and it's NOT Hammer time.

STOMP

The boy and girl were jumping on me as they oft do. This time, while I'm covering my head because the boy has elected to employ the "Rikshi" on me, I distinctly hear the girl say "C'mon, let's jump on dad until he cries!"


A few minutes later, she swings her leg around and catches me on the bridge of my nose - bringing tears to my eyes.

I've decided they're not allowed to read Supremookie's blog any more ... at least not until I figure out how to setup our firewall to disallow content containing the phrase "Grand Theft Auto" or "GTA". I know they'll miss out on all the Greater Toronto Area content, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice.

I don't have a picture to go with this entry - so here's a duck that visited our yard on the weekend.