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October 2, 2007 - 5:43 PM  Man — so much has been going on in my life these days I feel like I'm going to burst if I don't start writing at least some of it down somewhere! Probably the biggest news would be that I went on a date on Sunday... At least - I think it was a date... Boy, girl, food consumption in each other's company, smiling and a lot of laughing, a delayed parting involving her hair getting caught in my velcro-beard. I think that adds up to a date, don't you?  But then if you apply that same definition (minus the hair catching beard) then I also had a 'date' Saturday evening. My old junior high
friend Kristi was in town for the weekend. (Those of you who were at Jacquie's wedding would have met her there.) When it rains - it pours I guess!
Kristi has invited me to come visit her over the Thanksgiving weekend coming up right quick. So do I ditch two sequential family gatherings (Jamie's
wedding and now Thanksgiving / my birthday party) to hang out with her? How bad would that look? What would my date think if I took off for the weekend
with another girl? I don't want her to think I'm not interested... Quite the opposite in fact. When I first met her, I thought she was out of my league.
I didn't think I had a chance. It's been so long since I've dated anyone it's been like starting all over. I've actually been nervous! Perhaps even a
bit scared! But whenever I'm around her, all that melts away and we can't stop smiling - even bursting out laughing for no apparent reason when
we're together. Remembering the last time I saw her makes me long to see her again.October 4, 2007 - 6:24 AM It's amazing what 12 hours of sleep can do... I've got to start getting to bed earlier. I go and go and go and go and then CRASH! Last night was the
crash. But today's a new day, and with a four-day weekend looming on the horizon, things are looking up!I've got almost all the bugs worked out of a whole-home web-based music distribution system. Basically, you can play any song on any computer in the house or the respective stereo's they're connected to, (nothing spectacular there) but you can also synchronize them, so they all play the same thing at the same time! The primary purpose for this was to get music out to the hot tub, but it naturally got expanded once I found out all that the system could do! Winter is much more bearable when you have a hot tub, and now with music available out there as well, it's all the more pleasant. Of course, nothing can all work at the same time, and as one system is approaching the mark of ready - another has plunged straight down the tubes. *sigh* I really hate computers sometimes... October 6, 2007 - 1:55 PM Happy Thanksgiving Long Weekend!  We are trudging down that road to winter, that's for sure. Last night we lit our house furnace, a sign of the colder temperatures to come. But with a long weekend (plus an extra half-day of holiday on Tuesday) I've got three Thanksgiving dinners to go to! Today at the Millers', tomorrow is a recovery day and then our family's on Monday plus Rob & Lee's if I can make it out there in time.  I reckon it is fitting to mark down a couple of things that I am thankful for on this day devoted to gratefulness of our overwhelming blessings. (This will by no means be an exhaustive list!)
We really have it good, you know... October 7, 2007 - 9:53 AM  My first Thanksgiving gettogether of the year took place at Barb & Ed's last night. A wonderful turkey dinner followed by delicious pies packed the participants past the point of pleasurable partaking. Still, 'tis better to have and not need than to need and not have. And last night - we had without need. Of course, following the meal various games and traditional pastimes broke out. It was a warm, fun time for all and a terriffic way to commemorate this year's spirit of giving thanks.          Boy, no question of the genetics in THIS kid!      Of course, what would Thanksgiving be without a bit of work on a computer? Sean had this old PC that was given to him so he bought a hard drive for it, I gave him some ram and a CD burner and we set it up and got everything installed on it for him. But why is it sitting on the floor? We didn't have the proper mounts to secure the motherboard into the case. October 12, 2007 - 7:24 PM Thanksgiving 2007  This year our extended family's Thanksgiving get-together was at my Uncle Jim's place.          After just finishing this one meal I drove out to Carstairs to join Rob & Lee for the last of my four Thanksgiving dinners. Seeing newfound beauty in roadside scenery I'd driven past a hundred times before, I managed to snap a couple of pictures along the way.   October 18, 2007 - 8:42 PM   The other day Bo and I went to Humpty's with Maddy, who of course got to enter their coloring contest.   Some old pictures from my cell phone's card I have procrastinated posting due to one thing or another coming up (hence - the procrastination.) Today was a bit of a frustrating day at work as I was pulled yesterday from one job where I am desperately needed (and highly useful) to go to another site today where I sat around all day, read some magazines and walked aimlessly about the site between coffee breaks. So unproductive, so wasteful (of both the company's time and mine) and hopefully a day that is not duplicated. The entire sum of my productivity today was that I moved several boxes from one room to another and I cleaned up the kitchen area. That's funny, I seem to have been hired on as an electrical apprentice who's been thrust into a service roll and ends up doing housework. As long as they pay my bills I guess... My day got better on the way home however, when Kristi phoned me because "she wanted to hear my voice." Can you make a guy feel more special? If so, I don't know how... But if there is a way I'm sure she will find it. So much I could say on that matter but I'll leave it at that and let the rumour mill's wheels churn for a while. Sorry Aunty Becky, that's all you get for now! :P I've learned my lesson the hard way in regards to certain cats being best left IN bags... October 20, 2007 - 2:11 PM  RASCAL FLATTS - "Bless The Broken Road" I set out on a narrow way many years ago Hoping I would find true love along the broken road But I got lost a time or two Wiped my brow and kept pushing through I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you Every long lost dream led me to where you are Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars Pointing me on my way into your loving arms This much I know is true That God blessed the broken road That led me straight to you I think about the years I spent just passing through I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you But you just smile and take my hand You've been there you understand It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true Now I'm just rolling home Into your loving arms This much I know is true That God blessed the broken road That led me straight to you That God blessed the broken road That led me straight to you. October 24, 2007 - 10:32 PM Today is the first day of the rest of your life. I'd heard these words in a song years ago and mused at the rhetoricalness in their message. Of course, one might say, that goes without saying. But tonight as I prepare to pack for the weekend, I can't help but wonder if it is moments like these that phrases like that were really written for. Kristi has invited me to come visit her in BC, and in order to make the most of the journey, I've taken Friday and Monday off, with the plan being to drive out tomorrow after work and then postpone the journey home as late as possible on Monday morning. Although I'd be reluctant to affix a title to the current status of our relationship, it could be appropriately said that this weekend is the Meet the Parents weekend, not to mention meet the kids! The ramifications of this have been forefront in my mind of late, but everything else in both our lives has brought us to this point, and I can't deny the unlikely series of events which appear to have conspired to lead us here, almost as though they were quietly nudging us along a path that neither of us could see at the time. Coincidence and irony abounding, we've had many a chuckle at how every minute detail of recent events has played a significant roll in the big picture. Today IS the first day of the rest of my life. Incidently, on a completely different note, as I was browsing the lightbulb isle at Walmart this evening, gathering some last minute supplies and household goods while I'm shopping anyways, a fellow customer approached me amidst the bulbs and says, "Excuse me, but do you happen to know anything about lightbulbs?" Hahahaha I can't even say I didn't chuckle a bit at this question, and informed him that "I may know a thing or two, yes." He was looking for a replacement for a bulb he'd brought with him from home but couldn't seem to find. Within seconds I had addressed the application, the wattage requirements, the fixture type and the differences between different manufacturer's model numbering schemes, and had in his hand a suitable replacement for the lamp he sought. What are the odds though, of all people he could have approached - that he would get a former professional lightbulb changer? October 30, 2007 - 1:01 AM A Sign of Things To Come?  Back from BC, I think it's safe to say that life as I know it will never be the same. October 31, 2007 - 6:17 AM It would seem that yesterday's entry generated a significant amount of interest amongst the readers of this page. And while I've obviously got a lot to write about, time is not on my side right now and as such I will take the easy way out and post a bunch more pictures from my weekend. (In no particular order.)                                      October 31, 2007 - 7:27 PM Wow. Where to begin? The original plan for this weekend was to drive to Mission and back to visit Kristi. Since that may be pushing things on ol' Rusty, my dad volunteered his van for the journey, so it was to be my transport to and fro. However, (What are the odds?) Interstate Batteries, the company Blair works for, had a vehicle that needed delivering to Vancouver this weekend. They would pay for his gas, time and expenses, plus a flight back to Calgary if he'd drive it out there. So he did, and I went with him. Booked a flight back to Calgary on Westjet - cost $160.77. And so the adventure begins.  Blair and I set out about 7:00 on Thursday evening. By the time we had passed through Calgary it was already 7:30 and we drove through the night straight to Revelstoke. Once there, we stopped for gas and continued on our way to Mission. When we got to Abbotsford, we were going to stop for breakfast at the same restaurant we'd stopped in when the whole family was out that way a few months ago for Jacquie's wedding, but found that it had closed. As nothing else was open this early, we continued on to Mission and arrived there about 4:00 am. Although Kristi had offered her couch to us should we arrive early, Blair felt that showing up at four in the morning might be a bit uncomfortable so we parked in front of the Salvation Army in Mission and slept for a couple of hours. Traffic began to pick up around 7:00 and the noise must have roused us from our sleep. By now, Kristi was up so we drove the rest of the way to her house and rang the doorbell. I could see the three of them sitting around the kitchen island eating breakfast so I knew they were up already. Kristi greeted us at the door and Blair came in briefly where we were introduced to her two girls who were quietly eating their cereal on the counter. Blair only stayed a few minutes before continuing on his way, leaving me there in BC in what could have been a very long, awkward weekend had things not gone well. Fortunately, things couldn't have gone better. In the kitchen I stood with Kristi and the girls who started telling me all kinds of interesting facts. Kristi offered me breakfast and after acquiring a bowl full of crunchy squares I started eating opposite the three chairs, the two outer of which were occupied by small bodies. The older one told me I could sit in the middle chair and eat there, so I took the invitation and sat down between them. Pretty soon I was being bombarded by stories from both sides, and breakfast was quickly winding up. Kristi looked on as only a proud mother could, her face adorning a warm smile the entire time. She had to drop one of them off at school so Kristi suggested I could take a shower or nap, since I'd been up all night, both of which I was going to do until the youngest one asked Kristi why I wasn't coming with them to school. She told me later that this was incredibly out of character for her, that she was usually VERY shy and standoffish, and the fact that she'd asked if I was coming was huge. How could I say no? I went with them to the school, the little one turning away quickly in an embarassed smile every time I caught her staring at me. This soon became a game and the weekend progressed from there. Much of the rest of the weekend seemed very full. Friday afternoon we managed to carve out one pumpkin for the older girl, but ran out of time to complete one for the other. (As well, I had no idea how to draw a princess on a pumpkin!) We'd opted for a kitty on the first one, a task much less daunting! There was a service Friday night at the Fousquare church her dad pastors which we went to, and afterwards we went for supper with mom and dad. Of course, by this time I was exhausted and ended up sitting very quietly whilst eating my Chinese food that evening. It was a battle between wanting to make a good first impression and wanting to go to sleep. Saturday morning Kristi and I dropped the girls off at Grandma's house, where we also toured the other house her dad is fixing up. It will be really nice once it's finished. They've pretty much gutted the inside and opened the whole place up, giving the building a whole new feel from it's original boxy '70s design. I wrote 70's but I can't help but wonder if the house was actually older than that. Maybe Kristi can correct me. (ahem!) After dropping the kids off with Grandma, Kristi and I drove around White Rock where we found a wonderful Fish & Chip shop to have lunch in. Our waitress came over wearing a blue T-Shirt adorned with tufts of cotton balls and a water pistol around her neck. Are you curious as to why? We sure were! She explained: I'm BC weather: Partly cloudy with a chance of rain! I am SO going to use that some day! haha Needless to say the little restaurant had character. I'm pretty sure she was one of the owners, and various articles and awards on the walls boasted thirty years in business. The name on the shop was Moby Dick's. An infinately better Moby Dick's experience than that of the one in the Nanaimo hotel of the same name a few years back at Jaimee's wedding! Yikes! Kristi and I went for a walk along the oceanfront street, a delightful hand-in-hand stroll before our parking expired and we found ourselves making our way along unfamiliar roads and streets, trying to find our way back to the familiar and not caring in the slightest that we were lost. Eventually we found the highway and wound our way back to Mission where we rented a movie, Evan Almighty, and spent the rest of the evening at home. Conversing in person is such a treat - not only is it far more expressive and satisfying but it doesn't cost by the minute either! Sunday morning we went to church, the same one we'd been to Friday night. There we traded back kids and cars and resumed life at home. The next morning I awoke early to strange thumping and scratching noises at the door to my room. It took me a few minutes to gain my coherence, but then I realized that the noise was first of all real and second - coming from the door. I got out of bed, opened the door to find two smiling girls awaiting my awaking. "Do you want to come play camping with us?" they asked. "I would love to!" I groggily replied. Taking my hands, they brought me to the living room where Kristi had slept and together we fought off the remaining remnants of early morning darkness by playing camping. A blanket for a tent, much tiny feet running around, pillow-fights and giddy laughter all around - I have to say - it felt like home. BACK to Journal Index |