Crazy thought, School Yearbook, and Happy Happy Birthday

Crazy thought, School Yearbook, and Happy Happy Birthday, stories from the Carr family for one of the last weeks of the summer, fully protected with sunscreen.

Thoughts
I think all research and development into space exploration should be stopped. Add to that renewable energy and possibly all spending on the production and creation of reality TV. All this time, effort and money to be refocused into the development of a device that would allow us to record our dreams, like some kind of “mind-PVR”. Think about it. If we could roll out a 15 foot HDMI cable, and just lift up some skin coloured flap, at our hair line and “plug in” and see what it is that is going on in our mind at night, we may just be able to solve all the worlds’ problems.

I was having one heck of a time sleeping one night last week and while listening to Nathalie dream, I got to thinking about some of the crazy dreams, I think I have had. I say “think” because I can very rarely remember the wild worlds I have traveled to, or things I have done while REM’ing. I do know that sometimes, while just getting ready for bed, in those moments before you close your eyes, that your most creative ideas and answers to probing questions float around in your head. One of my mentors used to tell me that you should always keep a pad of paper beside your bed for jotting down the things that you come up with in this state.

I am sure, if we could somehow capture this information, more than some kind of chart and brain scanned plot on some graph paper showing increased activity, we would discover some wondrous things about our world and ourselves. Maybe, just maybe it would become the new reality TV.

Yearbook
What kind of student where you in high school? I have all my yearbooks from East York, and the other week, one was discovered and the girls where looking through it, trying to find pictures of me. It was from 1986, my grade 10 year and that particular year I was the background kind of student, not much of a center of attention. So other than my class photo and the stage crew picture, I think I am only found in the very background of a football game crowd shot. My sister Janey is in there a bunch, but not me.

The girls got a kick out of it none-the-less, and wanted to show it to all who crossed their path. They asked the question, “Will we have a yearbook when we are in high school?” and that got me thinking about them growing up and actually going to high school, and that was a little scary! They also seemed genuinely upset when I told them when the book came out I was mad because I was missed in the picture of the group that did the school musical, “Hello Dolly”. I was in the production, even had a line, but was not in the picture for whatever reason. I wasn’t even named in the, “Absent” section. I was able to turn it into a lesson about getting involved, and I sure hope they do… just not too soon.

Buglia!
Birthday
This blog is a re-cap of things that both pop into my mind in any given week, and of course a log of significant events in and around the Carr house. When I write something about this part of August, I have to talk about an important anniversary, of the birthday variety. 10 years ago, the biggest little girl came into our lives, and the joy we have felt in her presence since that day is significant. When anyone who meets our girls, tell us afterwards how wonderful they are, when they describe Julia they use words like funny, old sole, smart and entertaining. I think the best complement to parenting you can receive is how well liked your kids are and the truth is we must be great parents!

I did not write a blog back in May when my oldest turned into a teenager, so I am happy to include a mention of her in this post. Jordyn is aging finer than an expensive bottle of wine, impressing us each day with her sensitivity and kind heart. 13 and 10, both in double digits. Wow, time is just racing by.

Wonderland
Last year in some kind of idiot savant, forward thinking decision; we purchased 2012 season passes for Canada’s Wonderland for the whole family. Nearing the end of school, when the commercials started airing, the girls where pumped about spending a lot of time there this summer. Well, one thing leads to the next, and before you know it is August and we had yet to go to Wonderland. In the last two weeks, we have gone twice, and have had a blast. Think we will sneak another couple of visits in before the park closes for this year too.

The girls are not too adventuress when it comes to thrill rides, so we can avoid the longest lines most times. This last time we went, we took one of the girls’ friends, so Nathalie was able to go on some of the more crazy rides with her. Drop-Zone was the last ride of the night and I some how got involved in the lineup, and although I am not afraid of heights, or averse to going on rides, it is not normally my thing. The ride was fun, but the look on the ride attendant’s face at the end of the drop, worried me a bit, when my release got stuck and would not let me out. Nathalie laughed and said to the attendant… “Does that mean he has to go again?” “Umm… ok?” Guess she wasn’t as worried about the safety issues as I was. So I got to double ride… and lived to tell about it….

In closing
When the previews first came on the television for “Here comes Honey Boo Boo” both Nathalie and I stared at each other, mouth open, saying in unison, there is NO way we are watching that crap! Cut to a month later, and we have actually watched a couple of episodes, some all the way through! Now for judgment purposes we are not fans and don’t have a “rush home to watch” mentality with it, we look at it more like a train wreck, that you can’t look away from. In this week’s episode not only did the train crash, but there was a couple of cars and a 4 wheeler in there for good measure too. The best, though made it to Nathalie’s FB timeline in the form of a picture of the TV screen, in an “I can’t believe it moment”. The picture is of a sign above what looks like any common general store in the south US except for the spelling. “Kuntry Stoe”. We could not believe our eyes, and if we hadn’t rewound the show and snapped the picture, we might never have. Still makes me laugh when I think about it!

Well off to check some sign speelin’ of my ohwne!

Thanks for reading and have a great and safe week!
Jim

In-box, Belief, lots of Birds, and a Big Big Boat

In-box, Belief, lots of Birds, and a Big Big Boat, a week in the life of the Carr’s in the form of a Blog, apparently brought to you by the letter “B”!

Belief
This week while watching the Olympics, I have been thinking a lot about the whole concept of believing in one self. Some of these incredible athletes, having trained for 5 or 6 hours per day, for the last 5 or 6 years and lay it all on the line for a 1 minute performance, and they do so, obviously because of the support of their friends and family, but mostly because of an internal system that allows them to believe in themselves.

I see my job as a teacher as one that is designed to not only teach, but also to help build this self-confidence in my students. In fact, one ex students was always their own biggest hold back, when it came to accomplishing anything. They would get so overwhelmed with self-doubt, that had obviously been built from more than 20 years of what I can only guess was too many people telling them, that they could not do it. “Why can you not just believe in yourself, as much as I belief in you?” I would say to them. I think we are all guilty of letting this creep into our mind at times and it is a bit sad.

This is NOT a new concept at all! Remember The Little Engine That Could from that book when we where kids? “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can?” Why do we so easily forget it? So, whether it is running a 10-minute mile, or finishing the New York Times crossword puzzle or even riding a bike for the first time, we just need to think we can and find a way say “I CAN DO IT!” because the truth is, you CAN.

Box
Since starting to teach, summers have always been for recharging the batteries and getting set for the fall. Much needed of course, when your mind works as hard as mine does throughout the school year (tongue firmly in cheek!). Going in to the warm months, I had a couple of things on my “Jimmy list” and I am happy to say that I am half way there! I wanted to purge my inboxes, organize my contact lists, and arrange and cleanup my computer files, to better allow for backup and ease of finding things. Well this week, my once 1500+ inbox is down to a manageable 50. Think I’ll take the rest of the summer off and sorry if I erased your email without responding to it!

Birds

Just after the rain, so no birds… but they do love it! And so do we!

It would seem that the great dollar store purchase this week, of a bird feeder and some birdseed has resulted in almost standing room only conditions in our backyard, or in bird terms, go sit on that fence and wait. It started with an expansion of the actual planting space a couple of weeks ago, and a re-arrangement of the garden lights and the birdbath. Speaking of the birdbath, I think our feeder is as popular as it is, because of the fabulous bath that also gets a lot of attention these days! Thanks to Nathalie for her vision and to her mom for logistical support and execution!

Boat
We are so fortunate to have friends with a big boat. We have been invited a bunch of times, but for whatever reason, have never been able to take them up on climbing aboard. That is until this past weekend. The weather was awesome, the drinks cold, the food amazing and the water warm, for what we hope will turn into an annual long weekend event! Even Island girl Nathalie threw caution to the wind and tackled her fears of swimming in a lake, even literally jumping in and out of her bikini top a couple of times too! Thanks to L & L for a great afternoon!

Birthday
This coming week our little BGB will enter double digits. I will of course, recap the event in next weeks blog, but I wanted to talk about her birthday list. You see, Julia has taken to writing us both little notes, neatly tucked into envelopes, complete with opening instructions. A few weeks ago, she gave us two, one labeled “party” the other labeled, “list” with a “don’t open until August.” I love her list! Pants, Jewelry, 2 books and 3 scarves and Barbie hair strands (print your own design on hair and pin it into your real hair kind of thing). But without a doubt, my favourite is number 6-Aunt Janey, Uncle Earl, Chandler and Colby.

In closing
The Carr family has a bit of a food rule when it comes to trucks, specifically animal carriers of any kind. So, if we see a truck on the highway, say with a load of chickens, that particular white meat will NOT be on our table that night. Strange, yes, but it has worked for us over the years. On our trip this week to see Oma and Opa for a BBQ no less, we had to pass a big 18-wheeler, with little pink snouts poking out of those little holes! Nathalie and I share a glance, and a laugh and say aloud, “I guess no pork tonight” to the girls, and Julia replies, “Awww piggies!” We both chuckle a bit and then I say, “Hey Julia, how was that bacon this morning?” Without missing a beat she says, “Delicious, I love animals… they taste so good.” Funny, when we had thought for a while, that with Julia’s love of vegetables she would become a vegetarian.

Off to make a sandwich!

Thanks for reading and have a great and safe week!
Jim

I’m back, Work, a Little Attitude, the Crazy House and some 9-year old Fashion Advice

I’m back, Work, a Little Attitude, the Crazy House and some 9-year old Fashion Advice, story’s and laughs from the Carr’s for another week.

Back
Just the other week, I was chatting with a friend online, and I had used the past-tense-statement, “I used to write weekly blog” as if I was waxing poetically about growing up in the old days and walking 2 miles to work.  It struck me odd and I forgot all about it until I received an email tonight, notifying me of a “new” blog comment.  It would seem that one of my regular readers, just wanted to remind me that it has been almost a year since I posted the comings and goings of the Carr family.

This will never catch us up on the missing months, but over the next little while, if I can keep at it, and you continue to enjoy reading it, I will try to get you caught up on other exciting things that have happened with us, but for now, I present the first crack at a blog in almost a year!

Work
This blog started as a weekly recap of what was happening at my work back in January 2009, so it would seem like a good idea to start with what’s going on work wise.  I had an amazing semester, with a great group of hardworking and smart students.  A great reminder of what I truly love about my job.  Add a new supportive Boss and a new-realigned school of programs, so all is well for me.

Attitude
Over the last bunch of months, I kept sending myself email “nuggets” with blog ideas, based on things the girls would say, or things I would see.  And this story comes from a weekend if I remember correctly, a weekend that was filled with some cleaning and us (the parents) arguing with them (the kids).  Julia possesses an interesting attribute of mine, and I say interesting, others might call it annoying, but why quibble.  Julia will show her displeasure with a situation, not with words so much, but with body language and facial expression.

Imagine having two parents, totally on your case about your room, and picking up stuff and always giving you a hard time about the way you leave it.  This is nothing new for any 9-year old I would think, so I only bring it up, by way of painting a picture of her frame of mind, when I called a flustered little girl to see me to talk about her seemingly bad mode.  After a short conversation I ask her, “What’s with the attitude Julia?”  Without missing a beat, she says, “What attitude?  You mean YOUR attitude that I have?”  I did what any parent, worth their salt would do… I walked away!

Crazy
When we are “ON” we are very fun.  The crazy house.  The place that I think, all the kids’ friends love to hang around.  On one such day, with music on, and our door seemingly open to whomever.  There was some dancing going on in the kitchen, some conversations going on and of course laughing.  Everyone was enjoying themselve.

Now Jordyn is an old soul, and although she is not always willing to be in the center of things, or performing, she has such a great awareness of things. And with me, sitting back, a little proud of the mayhem, my eyes lock with hers and we share a knowing moment. And with a big smile, she says, “Our family is better than cable!”  I love it!

Fashion
As is the case with so many of my stories, this next one takes place in the car. Well, I guess it started about 30 minutes, before we jumped in the car for the trip to the girl’s school, when I was selecting what pair of shorts to put on for my workday.  The cleaner ones of course!  So, just as I pull out of the driveway, my phone goes bing, and a reminder of a more formal meeting after work today.  Looking at my clothing choice, I decided to go back home and change, informing the girls of my mistake and telling them I need a nicer shirt.

Inside the house, upstairs, change and run back downstairs.  Out of breath, I jump in the still running car, only to hear Julia ask a question, in typical Julia style.  “Dad, is your nice shirt under that one?”  Oof that hurts!

In closing
For the last couple of weeks, we have been watching a 5 and a 7 year old for a couple of hours a day for friends of ours.  Having a little one around the house is fun in a bunch of ways, not the least of which is it’s a great reminder of the “out of the mouths of babes” syndrome that comes with the innocents of youth.  This week, after telling everyone, including the 5 year old, that I was running out to Tim’s for a tea!  It would seem that she totally gets me, and understands that I need guidance and reminding of this often.  “Don’t do anything crazy James!”  Of course, I love that she calls me James, but I also that she feels the need to remind me to keep my cool!

Trying hard not to do anything too crazy!

Thanks for reading and have a great and safe week!

Jim