Published

Thanks to the BC Lottery Corporation, I now have published photograph. This week, the BCLC has released the latest edition of their Sports Funder scratch-and-win tickets and has broadcast a commercial series to go with it.

Inside the ticket, buyers (or gamblers, rather) must scratch 7 picture boxes to see if they can win a truck-load of cash. And one of these picture boxes (box #6) contains a photo I took at one of Kristina's games during this past season. The player is Christy Bentall, the Westside Renegades goalkeeper from the '05-'06 season.

Of course, I had to go out and buy myself a couple of tickets for posterity. The only problem is now I've got these $5 tickets that I can't scratch. Maybe they're winners, and maybe not. I'll never know!


June 28, 2006: Box #6 is my photo!

Since When

Just as I was pulling into the driveway today, I heard a BC Government advertisment that denounced the teachers' bargaining stance and urged listeners to side with them instead.

Since when is it the government's job to advertise to and try to persuade the general public over a bargaining situation? Why are my own tax dollars being spent to try and persuade me on something my union dues are already trying to fight? Moreover, why are uninvolved tax payers also funding advertising on something that they have no say or impact on?

The bargaining situation is coming down to the wire. Neither the general public nor I will have any impact or say on what happens over the next three days. So why is the government wasting money trying to say otherwise?

Two words: public relations. And I think it stinks.

Seven Is Enough

We had guests this weekend. Catherine and her friend, Deb, came down from Williams Lake to compete in the Richmond Dog Show. Catherine brought Briar, Chaos, Will; and Deb brought Bailiff and her new puppy Beamer. Of course, with Kirby and Indy in the mix as well, it made for a very full house -- lot of action, lots of panting, and lots of drooling mouths.

For the competitors, it was a very successful weekend. Bailiff, Briar, and Chaos each won a number of ribbons. In addition, thanks to Chaos, Catherine won several prizes including a chair, soft kennel, toys, and other treats. Everyone was very happy with the results.


June 25, 2006: Deb & Bailiff -- retrieval.


June 25, 2006: Bailiff -- two-foot jump.


June 25, 2006: Yeah! Chaos!


June 25, 2006: Good heel!


June 25, 2006: Briar -- jump & retrieval.


June 25, 2006: "Don't worry... I'll stay here."

Of course, with every visit from Catherine and the dogs we have to do the requisite poses. This time the ribbons made for the purpose -- and what a great reason!


June 25, 2006: Briar & Chaos.


June 25, 2006: Winners.

And inbetween trials, there was always some time to do a little extra training and socializing.


June 24, 2006: Chaos practicing some jumps.


June 24, 2o06: Indy meets a grown-up Red Heeler.


June 24, 2006: Indy makes a new friend in Beamer.

Missing Parts

There are certain biochemical triggers missing from our dogs. It is has been quite some time since we first realized that Kirby sorely missing the part of her brain that would tell her that she's eaten enough, but it's also becoming apparent that Indy has yet to develop the sense of exhaustion.

Maybe it's a trait that all puppies have. That is, she doesn't seem to know when she's tired. She just goes and goes and goes. And goes.

I hope, for her sake (and ours), that this part is still growing inside of her.

[Edit: Later this afternoon, I can see I've been proved wrong again. See photo below.]


June 21, 2006: Out to lunch.

Puppy Class

Last Friday was Indy's first of six puppy classes. She's a superstar when it comes to learning commands and instrutions, but her timidness of other dogs is something she still needs to work on. It's learning process, yes; but we just hope he won't become traumatized by every over-exuberant dog that comes to say hello.

Meanwhile, she's really giving Kirby a heck of time.


June 15, 2006: "I'm not quite sure about all this..."


June 15, 2006: 11 weeks -- doubled her weight since she arrived.


June 15, 2006: "Why are there so many big dogs here?"

Evil

The reason I married a woman.

Fundamental Shift

Every generation has its list of criticisms. Their music is too loud; fashions too wild; activities too dangerous; and, of course, behaviours too extreme. It is a fact of life, as cyclical as the seasons. As one generation ages, it matures only to find fault with all those that come after it.

I’m certain that parents had just as much to complain about Mozart’s music as other parents did about Elvis’ gyrating hips or Hip Hop’s misogynist lyrics. Is this all just a fact of life, or is there something really to it all?

Despite the fact I am not yet a parent, I am convinced that society has indeed undergone a dramatic (although subtle) change in attitudes towards morality, justice, and acceptable behaviour. As a teacher and a member of Generation X, I am amazed – daily – at the use of vulgar language in our schools. It isn’t hearing students swear that bothers me, it’s the fact that they don’t seem to censor themselves around adults that does.

How are parents permitting their children to speak these days? Do they not realize that by condoning this language in their presence, they are in fact teaching them that this language is acceptable to others in all situations? The fact of the matter is that most adults will agree that when we were all that age, swearing in the presence of our parents (let alone any adults at all) was simply not done. Period. But these days, I hear 12-year-old children regularly using vulgarities as common expletives and parts of speech.

We’ve changed.

Wealth

I stumbled across an interesting article about what true wealth really is -- some good advice on living life. Sure, most people hope to be financially successful during the course of their lifetime, but there must certainly be more to life than that. Written by Robin Sharma, the article describes seven forms of self-wealth individuals should look to improve before being able to call themselves "rich". They are:

Inner Wealth
This includes a positive mindset, high self-respect, internal peace and a strong spiritual connection.

Physical Wealth
Your health is your wealth. What's the point of getting to a great place in your career if you get sick doing it? Why be the best businessperson in the hospital ward? Why be the richest person in the graveyard?

Family and Social Wealth
When your family life is happy, you will perform better at work. No one gets to the end of their life and regrets making their family their first priority. Related to this is the imperative of forging deep connections with friends and members of your personal community (including mentors, role models and trusted advisors).

Career Wealth
Actualizing your highest potential by reaching for your best in your career is incredibly important. Getting to greatness in your profession bring a feeling of satisfaction on a job well done. It helps you make your mark. Being world class in your work is so good for your self-respect.

Economic Wealth
Yes, money is important. Not the most important thing in life but very important. It absolutely makes life easier and better. Money allows you to live in a nice home, take beautiful vacations and provide well for those you love. And as Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the outdoor gear company Patagonia, has said: "The more I make, the more I can give away."

Adventure Wealth
To be fulfilled, each of us needs mystery in our lives. Challenge is necessarly for happiness. The human brain craves novelty. And we are creative beings so we need to be creating constantly if we hope to feel joy. Lots of adventure (ranging from meeting new people to visiting new places) is an essential element of authentic wealth.

Impact Wealth
Perhaps the deepest longing of the human heart is to live for something greater than itself. Each of us craves to be significant. To make a difference. To know that the world has somehow been better because we have walked the planet. Think of what Richard Bach once wrote: "Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't."

The Beach

Craig, Jen & Dingo came to visit over the weekend; they were attending a wedding Saturday, so Kristina, Kirby, Indy & I had the opportunity to meet them down at Spanish Banks to play in the water and sand the next day.

It was Indy's first experience in the ocean. Well, five inches of ocean, anyway. She and Kirby were having a great time, so long as the water didn't get to high. Meanwhile Dingo was tearing up the joint as he raced back-and-forth and back-and-forth, from bird to new dog to his Kong-Toy to the water, and on-and-on-and-on. Three dogs slept very well for the rest of the day.


June 11, 2006: Mom & her children.


June 11, 2006: Kirby explodes into Dingo's world.


June 11, 2006: Indy's first time in the ocean.


June 11, 2006: Dingo in his zone.


June 11, 2006: Proud parents.


June 11, 2006: Self-drying mechanism.


June 11, 2006: Pompous Albertans.


June 11, 2006: The princess shalt go no deeper.


June 11, 2006: Back on dry land.

Ausgezeichnet!

Day One has come and gone with a bang!

With a sensational, goal-filled, 4-2 win for the Germans over Costa Rica as well as a 2-0 upset of Poland by Ecuador, the first day of the 2006 World Cup has promised great things to come. So if you're trying to get a hold of us between now and the 9th of July, you may want to put your plans with us on hold.


June 9, 2006: Party-time in Germany.


June 9, 2006: Lahm (16) celebrates his astonishing tournament-opening goal.

Show & Tell

At long last, I've got my sorry butt in gear and have started to attend to some of these pictures of Indy. She's starting to grow like the weeds I need to dig out of the front yard, but there are few that'll show you how small she was when she arrived.


May 28, 2006: Her first full day in British Columbia.


May 28, 2006: She'll tug on just about every plant she can find, including roses.


May 28, 2006: And then she'll sleep the evenings away.


May 29, 2006: Once the Head Girl set the appropriate ground rules, they were ready to play.


May 29, 2006: Atttaaaaaack!


June 6, 2006: 9 1/2 weeks.

High Expectations

It disappoints me to have to say this, but it seems that Indy is, in fact, a little more average than we first reported on the The Latimer Free Press. Within the initial report, we mentioned that she (we) hadn't yet suffered an accident in the house and that she was becoming quite the superstar. Alas, our high hopes have been dashed by only slightly better-than-average results.

During the week and a half since her first full day at her new home, Indy's had a few household accidents -- averaging about two per day. Luckily, however, we've managed to stem that tide with only a single (knock on wood) "solid" event.

Otherwise, her behaviour training is going well. Her "sit"s are developing nicely; "come" is not too bad; and "down" is also looking positive. "Ouch" is used frequently, and "N000000!" isn't much of a stranger either -- particularly when we catch her quickly squatting on the living room rug.

People Are Strange

It's funny what people will do or let others do to them when certain situations arise.

Today I allowed a complete stranger to not only fiddle around with my ears, but when she stopped I even let her give me a better head massage than Kristina has done in a while. Under normal circumstances, though, few people would let a stranger touch them so intimately. So why today?

A couple of hours ago, I went to get a haircut. Aaaahh, you say. But think about it: isn't it strange how we do certain things -- often very intimate things -- when society says it's OK?

There are women's cheeks I have kissed only once and I expect to never kiss them again. I didn't particularly desire to before hand, nor do I necessarily want to again. But at a Christmas party, wedding, or even just in another family's house, the rules change.

Why do we feel compelled to follow rules that would otherwise strike us down in heaps of trouble? You have to smirk at the fact that enjoying a brief snuggle with someone at 2.15 on a Tuesday afternoon is COMPLETELY different from the same embrace three days later at the staff Christmas party. And if you want to the social niceties more complicated, then just consider the effect of NOT touching someone when you're supposed to.

It was just something I was thinking about in the barber's chair.

Unimportant Things

Time came to pass and a decision had to be made.

Creating and maintaining a personal website on takes time. And while I enjoy updating the site with various musings and going-ons, the little-behind-the-scene-intricate-details of making it look the way it does is a bit of a pain to deal with when all I want to do is take a quick moment to update you on the low-down on our down-low.

Sometimes, I just want a quick word.

Thanks to my very good friends, Chris and Rick, I've decided to take their lead in using this 21st Century method of keeping you all in the loop. But will the all too-famous Cornwall Times continue? Of course. However, first, you'll find that it's be rebranded as The Latimer Free Press in order to reflect our new habitat. There, you'll be able to read up on the more significant events -- puppies, moving, championships, and such and such.

Here, on the other hand, is where you'll have (yes, you HAVE to) to keep up on the insignificant, daily excitment (and exciting it shall be). Also, as seen on Chris' blog, this may turn out to be a quicker way of getting pictures out to you. And everyone knows how I like pictures.

Get it? Got it? Good.

See you tomorrow then.