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Back to the future, House work, a super bowl and another word for…

Back to the future, House work, a super bowl and another word for, the week that was week 39 posted 1 week late!

If you could
Remember the movie Back to the Future? With the help of the flux capacitor and the Delorean, Marty and Dr. Brown where able to go back in time and somehow, with out destroying the world, make some small modifications to their life back then and subsequently alter their future. In the car today, I heard “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the news, and that got me thinking about the movie, and one thing led to another and I ended up going over what I might change if I too had a gull wing door time machine. Besides perhaps buying Google stock in 1997, I would have done a better job documenting the early life of our children.

Since the beginning of my blogging life, a little over a year ago, I have been good about documenting important things that happen in our life, but all the great stuff that happened more then a year ago, is only available in my mind and the minds of those that have shared the experiences. Nathalie and I talked about it and we laughed when we remembered Jordyn as a baby and how she would make us laugh everyday. She used to steal Bentley’s hard food, and hide it in her hands, and although we never caught her eating it, it would seem possible that she might have. When Julia was 2, we called her the BGB (Big Giant Baby), she pushed every norm we understood about milestones, and did stuff way earlier then she she should have and did so because of the insane perseverance she has. One day Nathalie watched her spend more then an hour, learning how to walk over the threshold on the floor in our kitchen without falling. Each time, she went down, she got right back up and did it again, until finally she made it walking.

Re-living events such as these, through the experiences of others help too, like our little two year old niece, CC and her almost daily stories of attitude, smarts and funny happenings. The other week, when they where away with Oma and Opa and where getting ready for swimming, the little one, answering the Oma question “Where did my little baby go?” pointed at Opa and his exposed belly, and said “Opa ate it!”. And this week, when CC’s mom was talking on the phone with Nathalie, totally stressed with the kids not listening, little CC in the background adds “I know Mamma, I am driving you nuts!”

In the end, I think there is great value in documenting, and telling stories from the past and if you don’t do it yourself, make it a point to start! It is never too late.

House help
This weekend, with the help of Oma, we finished up on a bunch of the little nick nack things around the house. Some more wall patching, some baseboards (finally) and the all important painting. I also mounted my LCD TV, and we moved some furniture around. We are making improvements and we are not done, but another little step closer. Next week, some new shelves, the finishing steps with painting and we need to hang some more pictures I think.

Super bowl
For the last three years, I have taken part in a foot ball tradition, and attended a garage party in Georgetown. One of my colleagues has his garage outfitted with a sound system and LCD projector, and of course all the peripherals you need in that kind of environment. Darts, pool table, pinball machine and a shuffle board table, with all the food and drink to go with it. Thanks for another great party Tim, and apparently, the garage is open during the upcoming Olympic hockey games, so I might have to make the trek north to check it out.

In closing
Look at us, a car full of education over achievers. Coming home from a trip to see my Mom this week gave us a little more then 30 minutes in the car together, and instead of playing silly games or even sleeping, we took the opportunity to go over Homophones. The funny thing is, that it was Jordyn’s idea, not ours and she came up with the majority of the good ones. One and won, hear and here, and of course, two, to and too. We all added our own, and had a couple of laughs. Next trip – Homonyms, or come to think about it, maybe sleep would be better?

Not sure if there is another word for “thanks for reading”, but if you figure it out, you can share it with me in a comment!

Have a great and safe week!
Jim

A little oops, a sheet of ice, a leader and a sign

A little oops, a sheet of ice, a leader and a sign, the week 38 Carr blog, is up up and away, like a beautiful balloon.

Girls
Girls and boys are different. I know that seems obvious to most, but sometime the differences are not always what you think they are! This week, I was reminded that I have girls, but also, that I have girls, comfortable enough to act like boys. My girls can burp! And not the little hand over the mouth, oops, kind of lady burp, but the ohh my G-d, you almost got through the alphabet, frat boy party burp. What always gets me is that in the moment, they both have this smile and the confidence on their faces, and right after, it turns to the little girls, oops, sorry about that smirk on their faces, with a little voice “Excuse me”. For now, I am cool with it as long as we are not out in public.

Cold As Ice
A bunch of weeks ago, I talked about the first time we had the girls on skates, and how they where interested, Jordyn more then Julia, in lessons. We put our names on a wait list and 3 weeks ago started the classes. I have been meaning to talk about skating each week since they started, and bring it up now because of the progress they have made in this short time. This week, Nathalie and I could not believe how great they are doing and it is very surprising, given the fact it almost did not happen for Julia. I take you back to the first day of the lessons, 3 weeks ago.

That day started with 20 minutes of a crying 7 year old! “But I changed, my mind, I don’t want to learn how to skate.” Julia says after she woke up, and the tears are real and they continue to flow. “Yesterday you said you wanted to, we paid and you need to try it” seemed to be a reasonable comment by Mommy, but she was not to have it. I then add, “Well Julia, you have to come anyway, Mommy has an appointment, so we have to all go. You don’t have to skate, but we ARE going! More crying the whole trip there, we park, make our way in, and find the check in, and something happens. After we had to borrow a helmet for Jordyn, Julia starts to warm up to the friendly teacher as they practice off the ice, going over how to fall, and how to get up. Julia tugs at my coat sleeve to ask a question.

“Daddy, I think I may try it next week.” Not sure what my tone was, but something short, firm but sympathetic, “Julia, you don’t understand, if you don’t go on today, there will be NO next week, because daddy is going to call the lady today and see if I can get the money back.” She agrees to try, and we borrow a second helmet and she is there stretching and learning, then on the ice herself. The best, was her attitude, after the first lesson, “Daddy I had fun, I liked it, but I will let you know later this week if I want to continue.” Are you kidding me? You are going to LET US know? On Wednesday, Julia confides to Nathalie, “I liked skating, and want to keep going Mommy.” So that is why the amazing progress they are both making is just that much more special.

Hey Mr. DJ
You might notice, that I am referencing a bunch of songs this week and this is because I am writing most of this while playing dinner music at a DJ gig. In a bit, I will be cranking out the hits, but for now, between the salad and the main course I am wrapping up this week with my thoughts about life and love with a song in my heart.

Follow The Leader
This week at work, we had our goodbye party for the boss I have had for the last 11 years. An event, designed to be a celebration of his accomplishments and that it was, but for me it was also I time for reflection, and the following is a summary of what I said to him on the DVD they presented to him.

“Many people will likely use this time to talk about all the amazing accomplishments you have achieved over your time here at Seneca, but because they are well known and talked about I would like to spend the time talking about the accomplishments I have made over this time under your leadership. When you started with Seneca, I was in my late 20’s, teaching part-time and newly married. In just over 11 years, I am now in my early 40’s, I have been hired full-time, I have become a Program Coordinator, I have had 2 children, and have bought my first home and whether you believe you have had a tremendous hand in this or not, the fact is, that without you in my life, I would not have grown as much as I have over the years. You have given me trust, knowledge and confidence, and I call on these skills every day. I have always known and felt that you had my back and you have challenged me to be a better at my job and for this I have to thank you so much.”

Signs
From an early age, our girls have been able to read. Well let me be more specific, they have been able to recognize words on signs through the window of the car, as we drive. I think it was one of the very early proud daddy moments, when Jordyn, just learning to talk, would say “pizza” or “donalds’s” when we passed the big orange letters or a golden arch on our commute. So to this day, we laughed when Jordyn remarked, “Used cars, why would people want used cars?” No question goes unanswered, so I reply “Well Jordyn, sometimes you can get a better deal on a car if it is a couple years old, so lots of people buy used cars”. Jordyn starts to laugh at my answer, and I am thinking it was not that funny, then she adds, “Hey, I guess we are used Carrs’”.

In closing
Tonight, while DJ’ing, I saw love on the dance floor and I smiled. The event, a church social, so the age range, and demographics closely resembled that of a wedding and I will have to admit, I was not sure what to expect when I watched a lady in the walker make her way across the dance floor, to her seat. She had to be in her 80’s or more and I didn’t see her move from her seat, until I played “Unchained Melody”, by the Righteous Brothers. She stood, and in the arms of her partner, made her way to the dance floor, and held each other the whole song, so tight as to say I love you and I have you. Love is nice to see, in so many ways.

Dancing my way through another week, thanks for reading and have a great and safe week!
Jim

Getting Old, Grade 5, Some Naked Fish and a Little White Stripe

Getting old, grade 5, some naked fish and a little white stripe, the week that was 37 in the life of the Carr’s

Grade 5
So far, Nathalie and I are enjoying the grade 5 curriculum, just about as much as you can helping with home work and through the eyes and ears of your child. Now, I am a realist, so I knew the hard stuff was coming, I just though we still had a couple more years. Over the last couple of weeks I have heard glimpses of content from Jordyn’s health class and let me tell you, it is no longer the food groups. Things like, “Daddy, today we saw a penis in class”, beg the question, how do you respond to that? “Ahh, that’s nice Jordyn, sounds like you are learning interesting things”. Jump to the dinner table this week, and somewhere between salad and Cannelloni, our little girl drops another P word, in the form of a question. “How old do you have to be to get pregnant?”

“Are you kidding me, PREGNANT, Jordyn you will not get pregnant until you are married and that will not be until you are 30, because that will be the first time I ever let you kiss a boy, PREGNANT are you crazy, stop that crazy talk”. The only problem was that this is what I said only in my head, because my mouth was full! Nathalie jumped on it, and in true Mommy, honest fashion, without flinching says “Well, a girl can get pregnant after her first period.” Me with my mouth still full, shaking my head in anticipation of the obvious next question. “When does a girl get her first period?” she asks, and just as calm and collected as the first answer, Nathalie replays “somewhere between 13 and 18”. I still liked my answer, but I guess Mommy had it right, because that was the end of that conversation, for now.

Jordyn and Chandler
Reflections
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been in a very reflective mood. Perhaps because there are some changes afoot at work, and I have had to remember back about 11 years ago so I can talk about when my boss started working for the college. It occurred to me that not only was I in my late 20’s, and I had more hair, but I also had no children and neither did my little sister Janey, but she was pregnant. You see 11 years ago this week, little baby Chandler came into our lives and we are so happy he did. Chandler is what I would call an old soul, being smart way beyond his years, and leading the way by example, not only for his little brother, but also for his younger cousins – my girls. I sure do miss him, now that he is in Newfoundland, but I look forward to keeping in touch with him, now that he got a netbook for Christmas. Congratulations Chandler on your 11th birthday, and all the Carr’s send a boat load of hugs and kisses and can’t wait to see you soon.

Naked Fish
There is something to be said about trying something every once in a while you don’t like, to either remind yourself you don’t like it, or perhaps even to change your mind. This week, that’s what happened to me and my feelings about sushi. Nathalie is a big fan, and I have tried it in the past but just never acquired a taste for the naked raw fish thing. This week, I was asked to try it again, and although I am not running out to buy the “I heart Sushi” T-shirt anytime soon, I can admit here and now, that it was not as bad as I remember, so there is a lesson to be found in here somewhere. If you have something in your life that has always been a NO, give it a try someday, and it might change to a yes or perhaps at least a maybe, like me.

Ying Yang
This week as I often do, I solicited blog ideas from people that I meet who I know are regular readers. There are 4 or 5 people on the list, so running into any of them is not that hard really. So one suggestion was the incredibly odd weather we have been having in and around us theses days. Yes, I am so happy that the broken snow shovel we have has not need to be used much or replaced, but I can’t stop thinking that like any good fortune, the payback most be up around the bend somewhere. But for now, I guess we have to enjoy the fact that the mercury is on the plus side of things and forget about the yang.

The other idea, came from a conversation I was having with a couple of students. In the talk, one of my fourth semester students admitted that she is not very good about asking for help with her production. This lead me to a great solution, and it is this I wanted to share. I told her to stop calling in help. Lets collaborate, or share ideas or work together. That is not nearly as hard to do as admitting you need help. Sometimes I amaze even myself!

Animal love
While I love most animals, there are some I could do without. It is possible the reason is because I don’t understand them, but the truth is I just don’t have any time for the skunk. I may have not minded them so much, other than your occasional whiff of one as you drive up to Caledon, but the truth is that I had never come into close contact with one. But since moving to our new house, Bentley has been hit twice by this little black and white striped rodent, twice that is, until tonight, when we added another run-in to the list. Apparently, according to Google, the little buggers need to leave their winter dens at least one time to, you guessed it, empty their scent glands. Well, we are certainly happy that Bentley was able to help them with this task – NOT.

At least we’ve learned the following: a) As soon as you smell it, take/keep the dog OUTSIDE, do not bring him into the house, b) wash with a Hemp-based skunk removal shampoo immediately (again, doing this outside, no matter how hot or cold it is out there, c) after a thorough wash, spray the dog with Nok Out! (you can also use this on the curtains and any other fibers in your home that might have gotten a little of eau-du-skunk on it, and d) light candles, EVERYWHERE! Lastly, e) If you figure out how to keep the skunks out of the backyard, and out of the general area of your dog, ignore steps a through d.

In closing
I have cool children and I have talked about it before, but sometimes I just get back as much as I put in, and that is nice. While driving in the car tonight, the conversation centered around Julia’s classmates reacting to her Webkinz presentation as part of her Show & Tell and she was very proud of herself, and the fact that they liked it so much. In my usual supportive daddy fashion I said “Well Julia, you are cool!” and without a hiccup pause, she says “Daddy, you are cool too and you do cartwheels”. Thanks Julia!

Well this ‘cool dude’ is cartwheeling into the weekend, thanks for reading and have a great and safe week!
Jim