Here's The Answer......

.... to the aforementioned teaser.

But first some music befitting the day. Happy Valentine's Day! Hugs and kisses all round.

So, my son Russ had emailed and asked me to phone him last weekend; that tipped me something was up. When I called I wasn't able to reach him and left a message as to when he could contact me. Another email, another plan to phone. Russ and I aren't in frequent contact, get along fine face-to-face but our phone conversations are always awkward and stilted. A pair of gifted conversationalists, we aren't.

Lynda and I were sitting here last night when I recalled that I was to have called him. A little after midnight here; 10 p.m. there - no problem. He picks up and we yack back and forth catching up on recent events and the conversation is quickly running out of steam after just a few minutes. So I ask the question - 'Well Russ, do you have some big news for me?' Yeah Dad; actually I do. You're going to be a grandfather again at the end of July!

Originally Lynda hadn't planned to talk to him, not wanting to horn in on our time on the line but ... as soon as I said to him 'So when is Melissa due?' she was just abouncin' and wanting the phone. Between the two of us we got the full story to date - she's 17 weeks along; the pregnancy has been going fine; was having an ultrasound today; they're undecided about whether they want to know the baby's sex, or not; are looking for a place to live; are talking about marriage but no decision as yet.

I'm really pleased for them - they make a great couple and I think they would be terrific parents. I wonder if I can get a deal through one of the airlines for these upcoming frequent trips to Vancouver and Calgary. Gotta BE THERE!!!

**Note** to cousin BJ - You know that family tree you and our fave Aunt did?? Best add another branch, darlin'.

Ramble on

My assignment to cover for a sick collegue is over; I started back on nights Wednesday night. That's fine, too. I knew it was a time limited thing and it was good while it lasted. I enjoyed taking an active part in the guys early recovery. Last night was a busy one getting organized for the balance of the week. It's a short one - just 4 nights instead of 7. Even with being busy I had an opportunity to write here but chose not to as I was in a pretty lousy mood. I put it down to my lingering cold - I can psych myself to put up with one for a week or so but when it drags on into 11 or 12 days well, enough is enough. 'Nothing that a big bottle of rye wouldn't cure.' - stinking thinking.

I took time to check in by phone tonight with my son Russ in Calgary and daughter Sarah in Vancouver. Russ is busy working 2 jobs getting himself into better financial shape and fitting a busy social life around his work. Sarah is struggling through this early stage of pregnancy; she's prey to sudden mood swings and admits she's hard to live with and be around. I encouraged her to make a conscious decision at the beginning of each day to make the best of it.

One thing I've been thinking about a lot lately is making another attempt to quit smoking. The plan is coming together but needs more work. The date has been chosen but I need to sit down and write about positive expectations & benefits as well as minimizing the negative aspects i.e. severity of withdrawal. It was brought home again today when talking on the phone to Lynda - a good friend of hers at work was in remission from one type of cancer and has just been diagnosed with another in both lungs. Death sentence. She's younger than us and has never smoked. Lynda is coming up on 4 years smoke free and is very supportive of me quitting. If I get much more 'cleaner-living' I'll soon be eligible for the sainthood. What's left??

After lights out tonight I had a long wide-ranging discussion with one of the clients who was having trouble settling for the night. What I'm finding is that it's often harder to lead someone back to faith once they've lost it rather than introducing a faith-based solution to someone who has never had it. I wound up telling him that we'd have to change his name from Peter to Thomas (of the doubting variety). If you've ever read 'Games People Play' - this guy was playing a perfect game of 'Yes, but...'. Always another challenge, doubt or question. Close your eyes, believe, get off the gunwale of the boat and start walking. When you open your eyes and see you're walking on the water you'll have your proof that faith works. Don't ask for assurances up front. Believe and then find your own evidence.

Enough sermonizing for now - must check on my charges.

In reference to.......

.....my last post.

(I've been absent....mea culpa....[and very busy])

Russ did come out Sunday evening for a visit. We spent a while trying to download a program so that I could download movies and TV episodes but it kept dying so we quit - it was eating up too much time. Lynda had run out to pick up some dessert so we had a good feed on pecan pie, ice cream and brownies - diabetic heaven. He made it back home to Calgary Wednesday evening; about 40 hours of driving. My main concern was deer and moose through northern Ontario - a deer will wreck your car and likely injure you. A moose will kill you if you hit it broad-side. Ahhh, home safe.

I got my wish - I was asked to do a relief day shift Wednesday and an overnight shift Friday into Saturday morning. The shift ended at 9 and I was back here, in time for the first night shift of my week, by 7. And so it goes...getting organized for the week at hand.


"Think globally. Act locally."

Meandering again

Last night I decided to follow my grandmother's advice - 'If you haven't anything good to say, don't say anything at all.' Not that I was in a particularily bad mood; just in a strange mix of emotions and thoughts. I whiled away the hours catching up on some emails that needed attention and following links on others blogs. Interesting stuff. Solbeam has a unique manner of writing and some beautiful photos of her trek.

We'd headed into the east end of Toronto Friday evening to meet Russ for dinner and had a good visit with him for a couple of hours at Casey's bar & grill over steaks. I'm hoping he can come out to the house for the evening Sunday and spend a bit more time with us. He's to leave Monday now once he gets a few loose ends tied up. He's made me really proud again this week with the way he's attended to Reada; always within reach or nodding distance. Just as he was with my Mom when we lost Dad a few years ago. Incredible.

It's been a weird week; full of ups and downs so I was hoping it would be a quiet night here at work to wrap up the week. The gods had other plans. It's a good thing that on the drive up here I had a good hard think about what it is I have to offer the residents. Act and react appropriately. Do the next right thing and the next thing right. Stir thought not emotion.
It was visiting day so the natives are restless tonight; lots of thought and emotion awakening, lots to process.

The change in the weather has been swift; a definite shift to wintery stuff the last couple of nights. Supposed to be mild for a day or two - we'll see. Looking out our back window this afternoon I could see streamers of snow falling here and there. Nothing that would last for more than a minute in any one place and certainly wouldn't accumulate but it's on it's way. I was outside for a smoke awhile ago and heard an owl hooting which is a rarity around here. Either passing through or settling into it's winter range. I'd rather have owls that the coyotes I heard about a month ago crying in full hunt mode - gives me the shivers hearing that. Another rarity, thank God.

I have no idea what next week holds. I'm hoping to get some day shifts filling in for a coworker who is off sick. It'd be good to have more contact with the guys inhouse and do some meetings with them. There's still lots to accomplish at home, both inside and out. If I'm going to write it'll probably be over cereal and coffee in the morning. We're to have a business meeting after our regular 'open' meeting on Monday night and we're to have elections for various committees so I'll likely be taking on a different role supporting the group function.

There are some things I have in mind for this blog when I have time to spend on it. More links, add the automated blogroller, add a site meter, thought of the day and on, and on....What's the deal with 'Ad Sense'?? Worth bothering with or just a scam?

Time to check on my charges and finish up my nights work.........Later.

Wool-gathering

Here it is, the wee small hours of Friday morning, back at work. I didn't work Tues or Wed nights so as to attend Shorty's funeral Wednesday afternoon. As funerals go this was a good one and aptly so - he was well loved. The clergy did a good job with a thought provoking talk about life and loss, celebrating a life while grieving. Five people gave brief eulogies including my daughter Sarah. If I'd tried doing that at her age (25) I'd have been a puddle. (good job!)

Still sorting out impressions of people who were there; a few I've seen fairly recently, most I hadn't seen for 15 to 20 years. Among them were high school friends and old room-mates. Time and circumstance have been much kinder to some than others. A motley crew raves on.

Following the ceremony and reception Lynda and I took Sarah to collect her things and had a quick dinner at an Indian restaurant in north Toronto. Sarah is vegan, Lynda is omniverous and I'm a carnivore - we were all happy. Great breads, spicy sauces, tender veggies and meats. We then dashed to the west end to drop Sarah at the airport for her flight home to Vancouver. She was to repack, get some rest and fly off to Hawaii with her new fiance Daniel for a week.

Yes, I didn't blog about that before - I wanted to talk to Sarah a bit more about her engagement before writing about it. Over dinner we heard about their early plans for the wedding. Then she pulled out her cell, rang him up and handed me the phone for a quicky introduction. What can I say? He sounds like he truly loves her ... she's happy and obviously loves him ... good enough for me!!

Tonight we meet up with my son Russ for dinner and a chat before he leaves town Saturday morning for Calgary. He thinks he can drive it in 3 days - I think he's pushing it. 1 day to Wawa, another to the Manitoba border and another straight across the prairies to Calgary. I dunno; it's an awful lot for someone who isn't used to driving much. That's what young people do though, isn't it? Push their limits to find out what they're capable of. Anyway, I'm looking forward to having some time with him - it doesn't happen often enough.

Work has been fairly quiet tonight with just a few restless souls getting up for a drink or a smoke; walking off the effects of bad dreams; having a quick talk with me. They sure aren't lingering outside - the weather has turned cold and wintery. Snow in the forecast - oh joy!!

Actually one of my occassional favourite winter moments is to pick a windless night when it's snowing, take a flashlight outside and point it straight up, tilt my head back and watch the snowflakes fall randomly about me in absolute silence. Mesmerizing; I could do it for hours if it isn't too cold. The visual is so strong that.. it's...difficult....to.....think.......a........complete.........thought.
Imagine that...............................bye.