Post Easter Recap

 For the past 10 years or more, my buddy John Coups and I have always made it a point to have breakfast together on Good Friday.  It must have started with going out late on a Thursday night, and then crashing over at his place, and continuing on in the morning with eats.  It has morphed from house to house, and other guests too.  Now, family, kids, and it is quite different from yesteryear.  However, the tradition continued this year and John and his family were over, Steve and Hellen, and for a first time this year Phil Dalton and his family.  It was a great get-together.  It was a scoff worthy of any $20 buffet breakfast at a restaurant.

On Saturday morning the family and I took in the annual Easter Egg insanity on the square in Goderich.  It is quite the event.  It is narrated with a mircophone by someone who thinks he calling a monster truck show.  The announcer is trying to get the crowd and the kids all wound up - like it is necessary.  Anyway, something was proclaimed about 20,000 eggs, and then the sound of a marine air horn.  Pandemonium ensued.  Kids and parents rushed to the treasure.  I don't think many parents knew what to do; take pictures, or take the candied eggs.  Wally and I just hung back in the peripherals, Molly eased into the ruckus and scooped a few eggs, Shelly was sussing it all out, and then it was over.  It was quite a cold morning too.  We walked the square a bit.  I got a new watch battery, we got some pepper for the pepper grinder, and then made our way home.

Sunday was the most impressive weather and social day of the weekend.  I went out for a relaxing run for 95 minutes or so.  I crossed paths with a coyote, about 40 yards away, I pushed a turkey for a bit, but then it flew off, and of course I say lots of geese, and rabbits.  Molly and I went for a swim at the YMCA, and then we packed up our provisions and went to Sarnia for an afternoon of family company and food. Suffice it to say the weather was awesome, the food was superb, the drinks were quenching, and all was right.  Wally was rather clingy and didn't seem himself.  Molly was herself; being a decent sport at times, being a bit of a bossy pants at times, and basically holding court as her typical self.

Monday was a rainy day.  A cold, wet hard rain until mid afternoon.  As it let up I got on the phone and called Phil to see if he wanted to go out for a run.  Shelly and the kids had long taken off for a bit of an adventure up to south Bruce county.  Phil was keen to go, so we hit the trail for an easy and mostly dry run.  Not to our surprise, there was a pretty big tree down across the path, so I return later that afternoon and diced it up...  My contribution to maintaining this public space.

Now I won't have to worry about that impediment during the next run....

That is about it actually.  Molly's school or class had a sports themed day last week.  It was "Jersey" day or something. She doesn't actually have any professional sports team clothing at all.  No Leafs or Jays gear.  Nor Raptors or any other professional team wear.  But I think she wore the best jersey ever to be drawn!

Post March Break

Another long wait in between a posting or two.  There is always lots that happen, then again maybe it isn't to news worthy for this forum.  I was sending a few emails today and got thinking I should at least update with a few pictures and some stories.

Shelly and I went to Toronto over the March Break.  The kids were in Lucknow, and they would be just fine without us for a couple of nights.  We took a very leisurely drive on Hwy. #86 getting to our destination, but there would be a few stops along the way. 

Elmira was the first braking point as it was the noon hour and lunch was calling.  We then stopped again in Guelph to see those crazy Tremainiacs.  Teressa was all to happy to load up our empty vehicle with toys-once-used.  We caught them de-cluttering, and there stuff became ours.  however I will say that the doll house and racetrack, despite looking a bit rough, were an instantaneous hit with Molly and Wally.  The doll house especially.  So before anything else could be loaded into the Jeep, we were off to our resting point of the Chelsea Hotel on Gerrard.

Toronto was fun for the two of us.  We crossed paths with mutual friends, had some great eats, went to a few bars, and pubs, listened to some live music, went to a movie, watched the St. Patrick's day parade, went to Canada Blooms, did some basic shopping, and walked around.  There were some misgivings about not having the two donkeys with us, but nothing that made a lasting impression on me - maybe a bit more on Shelly.  So feeling like we did what was needed to do in Toronto, we returned home and picked up the the kids.

The rest of the March Break was time spent in and around Goderich = a bit anti-climatic maybe, but there were some longer then usual sleeps, a big dump run with a buddy, a trip out to the farm to see how it weathered/wintered, and that is about it.....

I did however play in a St. Patrick's Day concert with my dad's pipe band - The Teeswater Pipe and Drum.  They held a concert in the town hall on Saturday the 19th, and I played along.  Over the past few weeks I went up to a few rehearsals, and my dad and I would practice an hour here and hour there, just to get the tunes in my head.  Indoors, these pipers simply play chanters and indoor bag pipes because, obviously, a bag pipe is simply too much inside.  Especially 8 or 10.  The guitar wouldn't even sound over a bag pipe, even plugged in.

So three or four weeks ago I got my mid-life crisis guitar!!!!!!  Gibson J-45 Custom Koa.  To say it is awesome, would not be saying all there is to say.  It is such an incredible thing.  It is art, instrument, class, and beauty wrapped together.  I got it used....  So happy.   So anyway it, and I, both had our stage debut.

Back to the concert = I chorded and accompanied along with a number of songs.  The Ministrel Boy and Loch Lomend, Paddy McGuinty's Flute, Britton's Glory, Doug's Jig, and the Skillet Jig.  I played along with a soloist singer as well.  Someone might have a picture - but I didn't get one - or a recording. but I will post a picture in the future of the new axe, and a video of us playing....  It was pretty fun.

We finished off the break, like I wrote, out at the farm to check on it.  The field looks amazing!  Tiling does work and it soooo worth it, but my trails are wet in places.  Some of the places are nearly knee deep of water.  I kind of expected that....  I don't know what I can do = It is a wet area....  But I started the lawn tractor and it worked, I started the generator and it worked, and the weed wacker started as well.  3 for 3 basically. 

That is the basic rundown of the last week anyway.  I got out on my motorbike for 10 minutes, then I poured rain on me...  I have got in an incredible amount of running and i feel great about that.  Phil and I knocked off a 5km tempo in 17:30 on the trails a week ago, and it felt super easy.... Coups and I had a huge dump run a week ago and we threw out so much crap!  Unreal how crap creeps up on you in a house.

Tribute to Dennis Fairall

*All pictures taken from the Windsor Star newspaper website....

A month ago or so word got out that there was going to be a celebration of longtime Windsor Lancer track and cross country coach Dennis Fairall.  I immediately put the event on the calendar, and no sooner the phone was ringing and the emails were getting set to go to the festivities.  So fast forward a few weeks, met up with my very good pal Drew Barisdale, room was booked at the Casino, and it would be off to Windsor for a quick, but very important 36 hours....

So I met up with Drew in London.  We were roommates for 4 years in Windsor, we both ran on the track and cross country teams, and we remain very good friends.  I see Drew 3 or 4 times a year, which is actually quite a lot considering this has gone on for 15 years, 4 kids between us, marriages, and full time work.  So wasting little time, I parked the truck in a parking lot in London, and we drove down together .  We wasted little time getting to conversation.  It was a more formal catch up from last crossing paths at Halloween just before going to Virgin Gorda, and the odd phone conversations over the last few weeks.  He is doing fine, and no complaints from me.

It was a incredible turnout of former and current athletes, work colleagues from the University, other coaches, and there was his family and friends there too.  There was about 500 people there.  I couldn't begin to name the notables, but I saw hundreds of people from yesteryear - it seemed like it anyway.  It was so many people.

In no particular order - it was a blast to see Johnny Cress and Phil Mathias, though I do see them every other year or so at different events. I saw Michelle, Dana, Missy and Tina.  4 (stunningly) great girls with so much beauty and life among them.  Duper and Marnie were there.  I ate dinner with O'Brian Gibbons, Kevin Far, Andy Hahn, Mike Gingras and Donny Garrod.  90s Lancers were not complete without mentioning those 5 names.  Also Mike Kainz, Dave Weston, Tom Beale, Jeremy Carbonarro, Billy Lessard, Zeke, Giller, Haller, Enver, Joe, Kevin O'Conner and on, and on, and on.....  I have missed a lot of names.

Wow....  It blew my mind seeing everyone.  And I will tell you everyone there looked absolutely terrific.  Beyond terrific in fact. I can't underscore this enough.  If looks could kill - this room would have slayed!  Nobody seemed to have let themselves go, or look like they had gained weight or popped out a double chin.  People were in their finest, and I was totally in awe.  I would swear time had forgotten these former athletes. There was the token balding guy, someone going a bit grey, a waistline that was bigger, but these were exceptions, not the norm.

The unfortunate thing of it is, however, Dennis himself is having health problems and is retiring as a result of his diminishing state.  Although he looks terrific - way more grey hair, sadly he is no longer working in his former capacity because it is too much.  He is however doing a bit of coaching and guidance for a few athletes still.  But physically he looked okay.  I can image it was an overwhelming night for him.  I know he had a great time.  I am fortunate to have had a great chit chat with him back at Halloween in Waterloo for 10 minutes with him.  And I was also happy that throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s he was up in Goderich during the cross country teams training camp.  Looking back I am thankful for those times, just as much as the time I spent with him from 1994 - 1999 as an athlete.

At any rate the night was a huge success.  Speeches and tributes flowed from the podium as many fine guest speakers took the stage and reflected.  Drew and I continued with a bit of reflection ourselves with all of the great teammates, friends, coaches and acquaintances.  There was the past, but the future is ahead of us all and it was time to start making new memories for the next time we get together again.

So congrats again Dennis.  It was a great event.

New Doors

We have a wide selection of doors, as it is, already in The CoachHouse; regular doors, sliding glass doors, patio doors, a set of french doors off the garage, a cat door, a trap door for the bar, dutch doors, and even saloon doors.  They all open and shut, they add privacy, have some value of insulation too, and just generally do as a door should.  For the longest time both of us have been thinking about adding an interior sliding barn door on the inside brick wall in the living room.  We have the space, and thought it would look cool.  It may also add a bit of a sound barrier too.

Low and behold there was a feller in Blyth who could fabricate such a door, and the track system.  A few emails were sent back and for, he came to the house to take some measurements, we went to his house to shore up the particulars, and he even returned once more to remeasure and reevaluate the project.  In the end it would be two doors for us.

The second door would be in our bedroom.  It is the partition into the ensuite bathroom.

The big door is most impressive.  It is about 6.5ft x 8ft.  The track is about 13 ft long.  He used tongue and grooved worm maple wood, put a dark stain on it, and then a finishing clear coat so that it doesn't pick up finger prints and whatnot.  The perimetre is edged in steel.  It was heavy too.  Over 200 pounds....  Well over.  He drilled into the bricks rather then the mortar to set his holes.  He put a lead expanding tap into the brick, and then the track went up.  There are rubber bushings against the wall.

The door is on a bit of a hidden sliding track on the floor as well to keep it true.  Also, it is impossible for it to become undone at the top because he put some more rubber bushings up there so it can't get lift.  At each end of the track there are, again, rubber stoppers so the door cannot be slid off of the steel.  During the process he mentioned a couple of times that one really needs to know how to hang this just perfectly - and he was that guy.  If they aren't dead-straight, gravity will slide the door and it can't stay in a neutral position.  Also they can't rub on the floor, they have to clear trim, and so on and so forth.  Let's just say he did a super great job.

The bathroom in the bedroom is in need of a major overhaul = it was finished in 1982, and the tiles are falling down....  It is in a pitiful state.  The picture is just meant as a before and after reference...

 

So we are super happy with it - The colours and the nitty gritty were all on Shelly....  I probably would have choosen a darker honey coloured stain myself, but I really, really like the dark stain as it is.  I wouldn't change anything about how it was done.

Up next, at some point, is some bathroom overhauling.  They are in quite a state.

Halfway & Beer and Pancakes

Today marks the halfway point/portion of the time off of work.  I might be a day or two plus or minus, but it is the halfway point of the school year at least.  My friends Scott and Leanne start work today for the first time since last June, my friend April starts her half-year off today, and my buddies Rich and Joel are continuing with their full year leave.  It really has seemed and felt like an incredibly long time since July 1, and I just hope this second half feels as long.

There has been silly weather around here.  Quite a bit of rain, more sunshine then usual, and temperatures well above freezing.  I had an hour or two to myself yesterday afternoon and I was going to go for a run outside, but instead I jumped on the KTM and went for a spin around town.  It was nearly 9 centigrade!  The salt, sand, dusty roads and slippery corners are no concern for me.  Not many people would get out this time of year because of all the extra bits of stuff on the road which otherwise scuffs up the bikes and makes riding less (safe) enjoyable, but the KTM doesn't mind such infractions.

I have been running though quite a bit.   I ran every day in January except for 1.  Inside Monday to Thursday, outside for Friday and the weekend - I am pretty sure I have a race coming up at the end of May.  The last time I raced I said never again, why the hell am I doing this nonsense, but it is going to be a relay race with some buddies from university - out on the Cabot Trail, so it should be fun.

Everyone is good around here - School is going well for Molly.  I may have written this, but she seems to be doing very well with the traditional reading, letters, and math awareness - but her printing and letter formation, colouring, cutting, glueing - fine motor stuff, seems suspect.  There is a report card that comes home during the last week of February, so we'll see what it says.

Wally isn't walking unaccompanied yet.  Lots of pulling himself up and meandering around the perimetre of things.  He stands without an aid for 5 seconds or so...  But not walking.  He is always saying good-bye, mom, and dad, but nothing else really.  He is eating lots with his hands, and has 6 good sized teeth to tackle whatever is in his mouth.

Shelly is back at work.  As I wrote the new semester starts today and I gather her 3 classes are all music; a ninth grade instrumental, a guitar only class, and a senior level instrumental too.  Shelly and Molly are in music class on Thursdays.  It is a parent-tot class, a introduction and awareness to Music.  It is called MYC - Music is for Young Children....  They sing songs and get a feel for the notes on the staff, get an understanding of tempo and beat counts, and just get familiar with the discipline.  They both have fun.  It is an hour a week on Thursdays...  Wally and I wrench on the motorbike during this time!

That is about it - Just hanging out really.  I figure the day is only about 6 hours long with Wally; 9:00 am until 3:00 pm.  We are at the YMCA for 90 minutes, he'll sleep for two and a half hours, we eat, and soon enough we are back walking to get Molly.

This was years ago - over 12 anyway, but my brother told me a story about how, and I think this is how the story goes, he was at a tree planting camp and in some capacity they got to a point where all they had to eat/drink was pancakes and beer.  Morning and evening - beer and pancakes.  I don't really think it is that bad of a meal to be honest.  So the other day we had pancakes for dinner, and I just had to crack a beer and tell the family the story of their uncle Trevor and how he used to eat beer and pancakes at some tree planting camp of yester-year...

Update

More then anything I am passing time with a bit of writing.  I have done my reading for the day - "Collingwood Fakeout" by a Windsor author Rick Hundey.  I love my Windsor authors, Collingwood is a decent enough town, and the recommendation said it was funny, witty, and had an element of mystery too.

Wally and I have been to the YMCA nearly every day.  He only cried for 30 seconds today apparently.  So good for him!  But it is just as Chris, the child minder, said = just keep trying and bringing him back.  So it is all good going to the Y, and running indoors.

School has been cancelled quite a lot in the past 7 days.  Brookside has crept up on 4 snow days....  So maybe they'll see double digits as per usual.  I kind of miss them to be honest.  It is a nice break in the action when working.  But seeing as though I am not even at the half way point of the time off, I am doing just fine.  Shelly's school has had the same 4 snow days, but she goes to work and there is more of an attendance expectation for in-town facilities.  She doesn't mind them of course.  Kids don't show up for studies, and therefore it gives teachers a bit of bonus time to check off items on the ever-expanding to-do list.

All in all the days are kind of long and dragging on, but I have been on-top of the music a bit more, and of course just chores around the house.  Wally has been sleeping from ten thirty to one thirty pretty consistently.  Or at least he is up in his room having a bit of alone and quiet time.  There is always a minor errand to run, which I can drag out and have it take up more time then necessary; going to the library, going to the bank, getting some milk, and the like.

So that is about it for now - Ever since Molly was a wee toddler she and I took off our shirts eating pasta/spaghetti.  It was originally because of the potential mess on the clothes.  There is still an element of that, but now it is kind of funny and makes a good picture.

First Real Day of Winter

At 8:00 this morning it was about 6 degrees and pouring rain.  As I write, it is just after eight at night, minus 6 degrees, and it is snowing quite a lot outside.  The day sure has changed.

A bit of this and that so far for 2016; a back to school in the house, a birthday, some movies, swimming and skating at the YMCA, and lots of running.  (Although I did excuse myself in the rain this morning and I know Beaser was quite upset at me for doing so....)

Shelly returned to work on Friday the 8th.  I don't think it was much of a problem for her.  Apparently, however, her co-workers ditched her and left her hanging at the pub after work to drink alone.  Never to be alone, Shelly met up with some other friends by happenstance and had a welcome back to work drink with them.

On Saturday it was Wally's first birthday.  I remember Molly didn't have much of a first birthday as I was at a buddy's wedding, and Shelly was at an art show, so in similar fashion there wasn't much planned for the second born.  Molly and Shelly made a cake, I bought some hot dogs and chips, and that was going to be it.  I also called my dad to pop over, which he did.  Well it wasn't long before my buddy Drew stopped in with his kids with a bad of clothes for Molly, and Steve and Hellen were also in the neighbourhood.  Seeing all the cars, they stopped too.  Before we knew it there was a full fledged impromptu party going on. 

After that party was cleaned up and people had left, the door ringer is going off and wouldn't you know it, Shelly's folks came in to say hello. 

I went to London this week with my buddy Scott.  I had lots of questions to ask about his 40 day Africa and Asia trip, plus there was some consuming to do, dinner to eat, and a movie to watch.  We had a great day.