Electronic Notices, a Potluck and The Anniversary of my Birth

Electronic notices, a potluck and the anniversary of my birth, stories from in and around week 18 with the Carr’s

Birthday
There is something to be said about those who thrive on change. A new opportunity transformed into an adventure by moving, or a fearless leap of faith, magically turned into change for the better at work, are all wonderful examples of great things that happen when you are able to benefit from change. Truth be told, I just have never been a big fan of it, in general. Now I am a realist, and understand that things cannot remain the same forever, but it sure is nice when you realize that some things don’t change.

For the last 21 years of my life, my Birthday has basically been the same and I have to thank Nathalie and her family a tremendous amount for that. For as long as I have been with her, all but for one of these 21 years, we have spent it in Whitby at her parents place (one year her parents went to Curacao for Christmas!). Piles of presents fill the living room, with the sound of a crackling, well maintained Opa fire adding warmth to the room, and the joy that comes from taking turns opening presents, one at a time, one by one. Time spent to enjoy and acknowledge the feelings that each gift brings to each receiver.

I get that there is something else happening on the 25th of December, that has a way of taking over things, but for me, the day always seems to be about me. Even my 3 year old niece CC, didn’t want to take a nap this year, saying she was too excited for my birthday! Nathalie and the girls always do a great job of making me feel special and reminding me throughout the day that Jesus may be the reason for the season, but it is little old me, that is the reason for the happiness on this day.

P.S HAPPY birthday to my little twin sister also!

Cake by Lisa Wong - Bakergirl0029@yahoo.ca
Have your Cake
I have spouted off at least three times over the last year or so, about the wonderful “Cake Artist” we count among our friends, Lisa Wong. Now, I get to brag about her again, because Thursday night, just after the kids went to bed, I got to answer the door to a surprise delivery for MY birthday. The whimsical nature, speaks directly to my heart, and I sometimes feel just like a snowman in, sitting around watching the world go by, waiting for a dog to pee on me. Thanks for the gift Lisa, and I am happy to say that it tasted just as wonderful as it looked! To order your own cake for any occasion, send her an email Bakergirl0029@yahoo.ca.


Potluck

This week Nathalie’s company had a pot luck lunch to celebrate the holidays, and it was also to raise some money to help one of the employees who’s daughter has been diagnosed with leukemia. Because I have been helping out with the redesign of the company website, I was able to crash the party, and sample some of the wonderful food prepared with care and love for the occasion and I felt special to take part in the day. Touching was witness to Carlos’s speech about his daughter and how moved he was to be working for such a wonderful company and working with so many caring people who donated money and purchased raffle tickets, all in support of his daughter.

Notice
I LOVE that I received more then 50 wall posts and a couple of messages on Facebook, acknowledging my birthday, as well as several more email messages form various sites I have signed up for memberships over the years. Carnival Cruise lines sent me an animated card, NBA All-Access sent me a 15% off discount coupon, and 680news Insider club sent me 680 points for my fan club account. I even got a message from a site I forgot I signed up for on a whim, using an alias, wishing Jack “a Very Happy Birthday”. I love that people take the time to say hello and happy birthday at this busy time of year, even if it is some automatic message generated by some program, running on a server some place. It makes me feel special, and I just wanted to say a big Thank you to all those who sent along birthday wishes to me. I truly am blessed!

In closing
I once heard a joke that goes something like this… There is a religious guy stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean, and he starts to pray to God, “Please God, give me a sign that you are there, and help me.” A short time later, a little boat arrives and the man says to his would be rescuers, “Don’t worry, I am fine I have my faith” and so the boat turns away. The man continues to pray and a short time later, a bigger boat arrives, and again, the religious man waves on the crew on, in lieu of a grand sign from his savior. Following more praying, an even bigger boat arrives, and yet again the man tells the crew that he will be OK, because of his belief in a higher power, and again they leave him to his solitude. When his boat later capsizes, and he dies and is greeted in heaven by God, he is crying when he asks the all-important question, “God, why did you not show me that you existed, by helping me?” and all God says is, “I sent you three boats!”

This week, I felt a little like the guy in the boat, and what I thought I would see is some grand sign that my Mom was with us, celebrating Christmas as she always has been, but I saw nothing of the sort. No grand sign or big “Ahh ha” moment of her presence, instead I realized that she WAS with us in the tradition, and smiles, and laughs and stories we all told about her over the last couple of days. All this, in of it self IS a sign that she WAS with us and for that I am truly grateful. Merry Christmas to all and have a great New Year!

Next blog, the year in review!

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

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