tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289432442024-03-07T23:06:50.076-05:00Urban DaddyWelcome to my blog. Urban Daddy is a parenting blog meant to give you a blunt view of parenting, politics, sports and whatever pops into my mind, as seen by a Dad in Metropolitan Toronto.
If you're looking for fast cars, fancy houses and thousand dollar bottles of wine, Google again. I'm not that UrbanDaddy. I'm The Urban Daddy!
If you are looking for The Urban Daddy, click the tab below and come to my active blog on Wordpress.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-62442741360075893712016-09-28T11:29:00.001-04:002016-09-28T11:29:05.666-04:00Happy Meal... Unhappy Meal<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n2saC7jEcLw" width="459"></iframe><br />
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Folks, this is life! <br />
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When you need to explain to children how life gives you pretty flowers and then the flowers die, just show them this 15 second video and say no more. It's all about the good in life, and then the reality.<br />
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PS, we cleaned up the garbage in the laneway after because we're that kind of family!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-53217107026831728532014-04-25T16:41:00.001-04:002014-04-25T16:41:15.321-04:00Korn - Spike In My Veins Official Music Video, Featuring Toronto Mayor Rob Ford<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gcACvjXuclA" width="480"></iframe><br />
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I came across this video by pure accident and I like the song and found it interesting that our Mayor, Rob Ford was featured quite a bit in this video. I mean sure he's the mayor of the 5th largest city in North America, but this video features Barak Obama, Vladimir Putin, Miley Cyrus, Edward Snowblen, Ellen, Chris Christie and a host of other characters.<br />
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Yes, he looks like a fool in the clips and yes, he's acted like a fool in real life, but I've actually spoken to the man and he's a great down-to-earth guy who would do anything for the citizens of Toronto. My friend has met and hung out with him many times and has commented about how great he is and how people love him. <br />
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Nonetheless... He's in the video and we know gets lots to eat at home...<br />
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Yikes.<br />
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Would you like to order in tonight, or eat out. LOL. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-68991145718526345912014-04-25T09:37:00.000-04:002014-04-25T09:37:38.930-04:00Are Your Family Conversations Just Like Ours? I Somehow Doubt It.<a href="http://urbandaddy.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/are-your-family-conversations-just-like-ours-i-somehow-doubt-it/">http://urbandaddy.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/are-your-family-conversations-just-like-ours-i-somehow-doubt-it/</a><br />
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I’ve always wondered if other families have the same conversations that we do at the dinner table. Take last night for example.<br />
I brought up the fact that I caught a glimpse of Avril Lavigne’s new song and video called “Hello Kitty.” I thought the video was terrible but the song was worse so I turned it off after about a minute. I guess after watching a nude Miley Cyrus swinging on a wrecking ball, how could I possibly compare…<br />
My daughter then piped up with this; “Mummy. Can I have a Hello Kitty costume?”<br />
<a href="http://urbandaddy.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Hello... Kitty" class="alignright wp-image-3061 size-thumbnail" height="150" src="http://urbandaddy.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/images.jpg?w=127&h=150" width="127" /></a>“Sure” was the reply, “If one exists.”<br />
“YAY!!!” she screamed.<br />
“… and I want a Kane costume too. I’ll be you didn’t think I was going to ask for one of those, eh, Daddy? Kane’s my FAVOURITE wrestler. He waves his arms and sets fire to things.”<br />
…<a href="http://urbandaddy.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/devils-favourite-stepchild.jpg"><img alt="Kane, aka the Devil's favourite stepchild" class="alignright size-full wp-image-7829" src="http://urbandaddy.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/devils-favourite-stepchild.jpg?w=620" /></a><br />
Speechless.<br />
In a world of princesses, my princess is Princess Leia.<br /> In a world of princesses, my kid wants to be Kane.<br /> She’s cool.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-4447362373055366872013-10-01T21:12:00.000-04:002013-10-01T21:12:23.791-04:00Would you? Have you? Watch this: Girl Quits Job By Making Kanye Dance Video At WorkI saw the title of this video and the first thing that came to mind was that this was yet another example of a kid who wanted to leave their job with a bang and that this was their way of doing it.<br />
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But I still clicked through to see it anyway and I'm glad that I did.<br />
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You must watch this video.<br />
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Then you must tell me this; Have you ever quit a job with style? I for example, once got up from my desk, took my jacket, turned off my computer and walked right out of the building at about 2pm on a Wednesday.<br />
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I never went back. I was there for 10-years.<br />
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Watch this video then tell me how you quit your job?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xcv82ntxJO8" width="459"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-44688428040292715592013-09-26T05:30:00.000-04:002013-10-03T01:10:13.879-04:00Thursday 13 repost from August 2012: Things that Bug me!Have you noticed that it is usually easier to come up with a list of 13 things that bug the crap out of you than it is to do the same type of list about things that you like, or that make you happy? Parents... Not so easy right? I mean once you get past the obvious, like more sleep, or some sleep, or having your kids clean their rooms... It's not so easy.<br />
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But with that being said, here are the 13 Things that bug the crap out of me today - and probably every day;<br />
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13. Drivers who do not signal! – Do they not realize that by not indicating which way they are going they can cause accidents like the idiot driver who made a right turn on to the street I was driving along. That right turn cut off a car coming through the intersection and that dumb ass, clearly frustrated, just pulled into my lane to go around this car. Problem is that I was there. I swerved, she quickly zipped into the oncoming traffic and made a quick left off the street (again without signalling). <br />
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12. Lack of feedback – in work, play and in life. The world would be a better place if everyone spoke their mind and helped others succeed instead of surprising them with bad news. Would you not want that same courtesy extended to you? For sure!<br />
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11. Judging a book by its cover – I’ve done it and been shocked at how stupid that was. Give people a chance and let them show you what they can do. This leads into the next point…<br />
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10. Listening to others without making your own judgement – Another faux pas. I have always taken into consideration feedback from others but never used that to formulate a decision about others. Especially in a work environment, I have found that those folks who others need to "warn" me about - the ones described as “loners”, “troublemakers” or as "strange" usually have as much to offer if not more than others but no one gives them a chance…<br />
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9. Pretentiousness - I see the Lululemon pants, and the skin and bones and I know when I see people walk around with their noses in the air that they are doing so to shelter themselves from having real conversations with real people. Yes you may drive a nicer car, have more money, richer parents, wear trendier clothes, but the only people who think you are the cat’s meow are those who look, dress and act just like you. The rest of us wish you would get real, eat some food and stop being so unhappy…<br />
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8. How the pump at the gas station reads "pump is ready" but when I squeeze the handle I do not get gas, instead the pump clicks. Then I have to wait 5-10 seconds until it is ready. Is it so damn hard to program a pump to tell me it's ready when it really is ready?!?<br />
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7. How creativity comes and goes – One week I post 3 articles and stick 7 in the draft folder and some weeks I’ve got nothing. What’s up with that?<br />
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6. Why in the world are people unable to utter the words, “Excuse me". This one I don’t get… I’m walking in a mall, or store and I’m carrying a basket and a child and out from an aisle walks someone right in front of me that it almost knocks me over. No excuse me. No sorry. Where has etiquette gone? No app for that??? for kicks if I'm blocking someone and I know they want to get buy and they are trying their hardest to squeeze by me, I won't move until they say those magic words. <br />
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5. Cutting me off in traffic then slowing down – Another pet peeve. Me, on the road and very few other cars around when all of a sudden speedy Gonzalez comes up the rear, cuts infront of me, then slows down back to the speed limit. Would it have killed them to pull in behind me? Odds are I’m already speeding (slightly).<br />
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4. Tailing me in the diamond lane when I’m doing 120km/h – It’s the diamond / carpool lane and there are specific spots to enter and exit it. I’m doing 120km/hour and I cannot leave the lane so back the fuck up and stop sitting on my bumper. Where do you want me to go??? These types of drivers are the same who pull to the left to look around me because they think I’m happy doing 20 under the speed limit.<br />
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3. I told you so people – Yes, telling someone to “Fuck Off” can cause problem for you down the road but having someone over your shoulder telling you “I told you so” is not going to help the situation. Please take comfort in knowing we both know it do don’t say it.<br />
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2. Those spots on my floor that creek and wake the kids – I have them, you have them, they’re the spots on the floor that creak when I’m tip toeing around at 2am checking on my kids. One creek and the kids are up and yelling, waking up the rest of the house.<br />
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1. Back fat – This one pretty much explains itself. but I saw a security video clip of myself and while I’m coming to grips quickly on the lack of hair the back fat caught me by surprise and was utterly gross. UGH.<br />
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So what bugs you today?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-25400895368035859482013-09-13T09:42:00.001-04:002013-09-13T09:42:38.569-04:00I have a story: A full circle Yom Kippur<a href="http://yyztravelgal.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-full-circle-yom-kippur.html?spref=bl">I have a story: A full circle Yom Kippur</a>: About a month ago, I read a post on a friend's facebook profile posting about someone he knows who is in need of a stem cell transplant ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-78258029229739064702013-08-30T17:24:00.001-04:002013-08-30T17:24:16.995-04:00Teemu's Decision - The YouTube Video. A must watch!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sRkcl_RHwoc" width="459"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-22551242187477242152010-03-04T20:55:00.002-05:002010-03-04T20:55:55.277-05:00I'm still here.Well, not HERE, but I'm still around.<br /><br />If you have not found me by now, you should look at www.urbandaddy.wordpress.com.<br /><br />Come by and say hi.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-47424174096364080382009-05-01T20:23:00.002-04:002009-05-01T20:29:05.293-04:00Happy Friday!The Toronto Blue Jays are in first place and winning. The NHL playoffs are underway and I'm HATING my former employer. What could be better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-51384292388894300722008-12-27T18:06:00.001-05:002008-12-28T08:16:07.732-05:00Happy Birthday LinusToday you are 4 years old!<br /><br />WOW.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-69221839669954904432008-12-27T08:15:00.003-05:002008-12-27T08:30:31.266-05:00Only the good die young... Too young...A friend of mine passed away Christmas day after a 2-year long battle with cancer. His second time fighting this terrible disease. He was only 33 years old. He left behind a young wife, and 2 very young children. <br /><br />Him and I got to know each other through ball-hockey. Him and a few of his teammates (including his brother) joined my team. We eventually won a few championships. Over the next 5 years we bonded. He met his wife, I met my wife, both of us married and the team continued to thrive. Along came children and both of us too time off from playing to spend time at home. Our paths crossed again at functions for the children. He was a good guy. Considerate, always willing to stand up for a teammate and he was respected by everyone. He had the job, the house, the wife, and the sense of humour. <br /><br />We had spoken several times in the past few months just to see how he was doing while fighting this terrible disease and each time he would sluff it off. He was sick, he knew that, and he knew beating this disease would be a hard battle but he was very positive and didn't want to dwell on his illness because it was like imposing his misfortune on others and that was not what he liked to do. Always positive, always considerate of others.<br /><br />In the eulogy his wife gave, she mentioned the same things. He left them with a confidence that they would be able to continue without him. We all will. But we will never forget him for the person he was. He was a great guy. <br /><br />Incidentially, his brother chose not to attend the funeral. Apparently old grudges are more important. I also feel sorry for his parents. They lost their son and have to deal with people talking about the poor decision their other son made. It is not about him but he wants people to talk about him, and they did. He's pathetic. <br /><br />RIP my friend, my teammate. I'm sorry we never got to have that one last ball-hockey game so you could have retired on your terms. Everytime I go to play, I'll remember you and your number 12.<br /><br />Gone but never forgotten.<br /><br /><br /><br />I have cross-posted this post to my new blog as well. If you would like the URL for it, please send me an email and I will forward it along.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-79169860667245928202008-12-20T09:14:00.003-05:002008-12-20T09:17:28.404-05:00SnowmageddonI survived! <br /><br />Anyone else have any experiences with the storm that rocked the Southern Ontario / North Eastern USA? Only took me an hour and a half to make it home from the office yesterday... The ploughs made it out at 11pm last night... Nice! It's not like they didn't know it was going to snow, right?<br /><br />Even had a chance to blog about it on the National Post live blog. Followed it on twitter as it became the top trend for most of yesterday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-81440424081539502842008-09-19T21:29:00.003-04:002008-09-19T21:41:41.276-04:00Change happens for a reason.I've had a hard time posting here because I've had a lot going on, I haven't been feeling myself lately, I've been sick, the kids have been sick, UrbanMummy has been sick... It's been, UGH. I took some time off of work for vacation and decided I really didn't want to go back, so I'm not! At least for now. I've taken a leave of absense. <br /><br />I have been doing some other writing of sorts on a business blog and on a marriage blog and if you have any interest in keeping in touch, drop me an email / post a comment and that way as things change I can keep you in the loop. Right now I'm going to continue to post privately and find my way.<br /><br />Enough babbling... <br /><br />I'll still come visit!<br /><br />See you soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-56106730065963723792008-09-12T23:48:00.002-04:002008-09-13T00:08:36.736-04:00I did it!I finally managed to break the hour mark tonight from my run. I really need to find a way to keep all that sweat out of my eyes and off my face. <br /><br />Now, if I could only stop eating so much and finally start losing some weight... It's getting so bad that my children's caregiver told her friend that I was "fat" because I "never stop eating"... Nice!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-1422554293229177072008-09-11T12:51:00.000-04:002008-09-12T23:47:50.423-04:00Thursday ThirteenThirteen News Stories that have captured the attention of this UrbanDaddy...<br /><br />1. Body Dumped From Car on 401 - Toronto police are questioning a woman after a bizarre attack where the body of a man who had been shot was dumped from a speeding car on Highway 401 yesterday afternoon, creating traffic mayhem. Now, news is slowly trickling out that it may not be a woman, and that the man may have been getting out as he was shot. Whatever happened, it worries a lot of people and gives a lot of wingdings some crazy ideas.<br /><br />2. GM to auction off Hummer line of cars - Bout fuckin' time.<br /><br />3. Kim Jong, Part 2. So some stories out of North Korea stated that their wack-job leader may have had a stroke and was in ill-health. What that means for the communist country, no one knows, but then I hear reports that this guy may have died 3 years ago and they are using body doubles that look like him to come out and wave, and they have old recordings of him they play to make it seem like he is still alive. I have but one question... Why?!? Is there no one in that whole country that can replace him? I mean if he's dead, that stiff from "Weekend at Bernie's" could do the job, no? Is this country really better with him, or the a pretend him in power? I don't know. I guess as Canadians, we kind of had that with Jean Cretien as our PM. He was there, but not really there... <br /><br />4. North Korea has a massive missle launcher. So with, or without, a leader, some images from satellite's have turned up a massive missle launching base in North Korea which could be launched 4 times a year and could reach North America, I believe. I got an idea... North Korea, Iraq, Iran, the Taliban, Neo Nazi's, those chicken suicide bombers who cover their faces, and all the stupid street gangs can all go party in the mountines of Afghanistan - where Bin Laden is calling home, and all the good countries can blow the shit out of them... Make the world a better place, no? <br /><br />5. The NDP lured attendees to a rally for their leader Jack Layton by misleading them into thinking that they were attending a presentation on their pensions. Nice. So the place was full there was a lot of noise and the NDP appear, on TV, that they have a ton of support. Well, forget it Jack, you will never be the PM, even if you try to make up shit about your family to impress the province of Quebec...<br /> <br />6. Conservatives agree to cut gas taxes. Yay. Not that I need a reason to vote conservative... Look at the options... Or lack thereof.<br /><br />7. Liberal leader Dion... errr, yeah. I would vote green first. He talks and talks and talks and half the time I can't tell if he is speaking French or English. That being said, most of what he says never makes sense anyways. I would NEVER vote for him.<br /><br />8. Jack Layton tells a news conference in Quebec that his Dad and brother created the first hybrid car in the 70's, in Quebec. Ummm, sure Jack... And you'll be the next PM too. See above note about never voting for a leader... <br /><br />9. Credit Card companies "Sticking it to Canadians" with high fees. I'm shocked. Have they met the scumbags who set gas prices?<br />How can they sleep at night?!? <br /><br />10. Theo Tams wins Canadian Idol... Yeah, and... I'm supposed to care? IKE is coming...<br /><br />11. 9/11 - Sad, so very sad, still 7 years later.<br /><br />12. A nine-year old boy was hit at a cross walk, while another 9 year old and a crossing guard with a bright orange jacket and 2 stop signs managed to just get out of the way. Why does this not strike me as being a driver who was distracted, maybe talking on their cellphone? Those are the same people who are too distracted to stop at stop signs, notice other cars around, can't change lanes properly because they can't signal... I hate these people and I want the use of hand-held cell phones in cars banned and drivers fined. Now. :)<br /><br />13. Gas prices go up 13 cents overnight because... because why? Hurricane Ike is heading towards Texas, not there yet, done no damage yet, but on the way, so on speculation the gas companies all agree to raise prices...Fuckers! 13 cents?!? These assholes are the same ones who decided to cut production of barrels of oil because the price was dropping at the pumps, thereby driving up prices again. I really wish there was a way to stop using oil/gas for like a week all over the world to force these guys to compete with each other and lower prices drastically.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-45387375153891253542008-09-06T23:31:00.002-04:002008-09-07T00:09:27.849-04:00Again, I ran...This time I tried something a little different, I slowed down my pace, took a longer route and viola, 50 minutes later I was back at the house, having a drink from my metal water bottle, walking around the block to cool down before stretching. <br /><br />I've been running for 30 minutes at least twice a week, but I found that I was running at a very fast pace and coming home completely spent. Tonight, however, I came home and was not that tired, so I am wondering if I am getting in better shape or my "run" tonight was just a glorified 50 minute walk/job.<br /><br />In other news, we went down to the Ol' Spaghetti Factory tonight for dinner - the place opened August 1971, 6 months after I was born, and it doesn't look like it has changed one bit. The food was... good. The place was great for kids, and the parking wasn't even that bad. We walked around after but it was getting chilly and the neighbourhood a little less friendly so we came home.<br /><br />This morning I took Stewie to his first Sportball session - Dad and Tot - which meant a lot of Dads and no one talking. I said hello to several Dads and some didn't even look at me, let alone reply. I have previously been to three Sportball sessions with Linus, yet all with Moms, and enjoyed that much more. :)<br /><br />While Stewie and I were @ Sportball, UrbanMummy and Linus were trying out Karate today. Not sure he liked it. Besides the fact that when asked, he never likes anything, he thinks he is going to learn to kick and punch there. Just what we need. This morning he took UM's belt from he bath robe - he likes tying it to everything - tied it into a kind of noose, then proceeded to wrap that around his brother's neck. Joy. He was VERY unhappy when I took the belt away - not because I took it away, but because I didn't say please. OY.<br /><br />Well so much for being in bed before mid-night. I have the unveiling of my Uncle's headstone tomorrow morning and ball-hockey Monday and Tuesday. Can't wait for the kids to start school on Monday. So exciting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-51564414815293344842008-09-03T23:00:00.003-04:002014-01-21T09:48:41.662-05:00How Many times Do I Have to Tell my Kids to "Go To Bed!"Seriously!<br />
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Parenting community: How many times do I have to tell my children to either Go To Bed or Go BACK To Bed? Or is this the life I have now only to embrace?<br />
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That was me last night to both of my boys after they combined to wake up 5 times - and stay up for a total of 4 1/2 hours - resulting in me getting a whopping 3 hours sleep.<br />
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Yet, probably stupidly, here I am still awake at 11pm blogging about it.<br />
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Why?!? <br />
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Well, for one thing I am looking for a title for this post but my brain conked out at 10pm, so I have nothing to type in that top subject box. <br />
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I even was so desperate that I Googled options for clever titles which will attract readers and get more traffic, however, the most popular suggestions are not so closely tied to this post or anything else in my life;<br />
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"Hot Sex Inside"<br />
"Free Porn Movies"<br />
"Hot Girls For You"<br />
"Learn to be Hard and Thick"<br />
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well, maybe this one...<br />
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"Go All Night Long"<br />
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If by "go" they mean "Say awake with your kids all night long", then I'm good with that title.<br />
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But if I use those titles, all the perverts arrive and I can see what they were searching for to get here... UGH. Then the comments. double UGH.<br />
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But the real reason I am still wide awake at 11pm is because I had a ball hockey game tonight and after the games I need a couple of hours to settle down before I can sleep. (I wonder if I can still say that when my kids are older and I'm still exhausted all day). My team was short-handed and it was really hot in the arena which means I need to play a lot to eat up minutes, and hopefully help out with the offense (without sacrificing anything on the defensive side). That means up and down the floor each shift, fast and without hesitation.<br />
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Well, I made it through almost all of the game without incident - taking a screaming hard slapshot right off my upper thigh a few inches away from ending my hopes of having more children. It must have hit a nerve because the second it hit me my toes went numb for a minute. It's going to be quite a bruise!<br />
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After the game, I got changed, came home and thought a good way to unwind might be to take a nice long run - bad idea! 30 minutes into the run, the spot where I blocked that shot began to tighten up. I made it home - soaking wet from the heat and having to walk/run for 10 minutes to get back. I showered, then came to kitchen to type this blog post, half-asleep, now unable to move. :)<br />
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At least I'm still on vacation!<br />
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I can look forward to being achy tomorrow while I accomplish my daily routine which includes; some household errands, washing windows, cleaning up the cars, and possibly painting 2 rooms in the house. <br />
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Can't wait. Errr, Ready to Take It Deep All Night Long.<br />
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Nite all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-8985246813385188162008-08-31T12:42:00.005-04:002008-09-02T00:18:07.825-04:00Tonight... I ran...... 40 minutes. I really need to start keeping track and running on a regular basis. My 5K run is right around the corner. I noticed on Facebook that a "friend" of mine just rant something like 16K. 16K!!! Geez!!! As if. I get bored driving 16K let alone trying to run that far. But I sure as hell hope that my route is over 5K because boy would I be surprised to find out that all this running is only, say, 3K. That would suck - especially at the Toronto Marathon when I run out of gas after 3K and all these other people are racing by me.<br /><br />Some thoughts:<br /><br />Why exactly are fortune cookies, kosher?!?<br />Does it not seem a little odd that most of us order Chinese food for items that have pork in them, and anyone who is ordering pork really doesn't care if the fortune cookies are kosher. I don't get it! Do you?<br /><br />119 people drove 50K over the limit on Friday and had their cars seized by the Ontario Provincial Police... why? Are people that stupid, or in that much of a hurry? 50K over? If you really want to speed, try 45 over. Idiots.<br /><br />This is the question my son asked me as him and I cut some of my neighbour's tree which hangs into our yard; "Why does your tummy hang over your denim shorts, Daddy?" Hmmm. So off the cuff, I told him that when I was his age, I ate bad food like cookies and cake and lots of processed foods and didn't exercise. Nice, eh? He thought about it, then lifted his shirt and said, "Daddy, if you eat vegetables and fruit like I do, you will be like me". I think he gets it. Nice. I remember being skinny... When I was in grade 4. <br /><br />So now that labour day has come and is almost gone, I can finally look forward to a few items;<br />- Baseball playoffs - no Jays :(<br />- Hockey season - Leafs suck. YAY.<br />- New TV schedule<br />- Getting to know the kids school and extra-curricular schedule<br />- A new schedule for me to create to get me more sleep, be more productive and be able to be productive during the day. <br />- Next month Stewie is going to be 2. Already.<br /><br />Last, but not least, comes from yet another rapper who would rather make up a name to use, than use the one he was born with... This guy is called P.Diddy, or P. Daddy, or Puff Daddy, or Puff the Magic... Ah, you get the point. Turns out this guys ask "Saudi Arabia" (nice reporting, eh? He asked the whole fucking country, lol) Anyways, he asked the Saudi's for free gas - why?!? Because it's getting too expensive to run his private jet. GAG. Here I thought it was for the poor, or to reduce gas prices world-wide, but nope. For his own needs. Dude... Lose the jet!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-58364734749584424662008-08-29T23:46:00.002-04:002008-08-30T00:17:00.241-04:00MeEvery now and then I think about me, the kind of person I have become compared to the person I want to be and that bums me out. I really feel like I have accomplished very little and as I get older, it becomes clearer. Yes, I am married to a wonderful woman and we have 2 awesome kids, but I assumed life would include that for me, but there was always more.<br /><br />Today, I had the pleasure of being interviewed for a former neighbour's Master's thesis on community involvement in the planning process and I was picked because she found that most of the politically active residents at the local level were quite old, and it was slim pickings at my age. <br /><br />It was during this almost 2 hour long interview when I realized that for as little as I thought I have done politically, I have actually done quite a bit. That led me to thinking about my interests and accomplishments and I realized that I have achieved some things that I had quite frankly put behind me while searching for something else. <br /><br />So here is a mini-bio about me;<br /><br />Male 37yrs old<br />Married 2 kids, almost 4 and almost 2.<br />Runs - registered for the 5K @ The Toronto Marathon<br />Plays baseball and ball hockey<br />Reads - When not textbooks, I like Dan Brown<br />Runs a promotional business and/or consulting biz, when people come to me<br />Have a MBA - which I started when my first son was born and completed three years later<br />Like municipal politics - started a residents organization and have been involved in local events like the community clean-up and development related discussions<br />I write - obviously - like this blog<br />I have been working on a reality show concept, a sit-com (Canadian style) and a book. <br />I like to bake, and would LOVE to take a cooking class, get my motorcycle license and I can drive standard (Thanks UM).<br /><br />So maybe I need to finish some of these open ends, but at the end of the day, I'm beat. I jump into bed, hoping not to be waken up by one of the kids, ready to begin a new day with a bang. I think if I could get into better shape that would make me feel better physically, and if I could find something to do that was challenging<br />for me mentally, I could enjoy life and redce my stress to take care of myself emotionally, but then again, what would I have to complain about then???<br /><br />Tonight, for example, I ran. 30 minutes. Felt good. Now I'm ready for bed as we have a crazy busy weekend - Centreville, the Zoo and a BBQ with the in-laws. But, hey... I'm still on vacation. :)<br /><br />Nite all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-53193941097213652862008-08-27T20:46:00.002-04:002008-08-27T21:02:54.362-04:00What exactly is the protocol?I just don't know.<br /><br />When someone posts a comment on your blog are you supposed to email them a reply? Reply to them in the comment section? Or ignore it because, damnit, it's your blog? Or... Are you supposed to then run over to their blog and post a comment? <br /><br />I have no idea.<br /><br />I appreciate when people comment, I try to read their blogs and return the favour, but I rarely, if ever email someone a reply because in most cases, their email address is something like "no-reply@blogger.com". <br /><br />I need your help...<br /><br />What is the protocol???Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-19955204986730976162008-08-26T15:58:00.000-04:002008-08-26T15:58:00.754-04:00Thoughts...So you are Air Canada Jazz and you need to find yet another way to save money. You've taken away food, charged extra for baggage, and added a fuel-surcharge... So what next? Some wise-guy decided to save fuel, they need to make the planes lighter and to do that all they need to do is remove the life jackets. Yup. It's not like your going to survive anyways, right? Yikes, Yikes, Yikes!<br /><br />I'm on vacation and I'm tired and getting fat... What should I do? Exercise more? Nawwwww. I took off my sideburns that I've had for 8 or 9 years, in order to make my face look thinner. Didn't work. I have sideburn tan. Looks silly... and my face looks fatter.<br /> <br />Maple Leafs Foods has been found to be the producer of food with the deadly Listeriosis virus - and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment has been found to be the producer of a terrible hockey team... Hmmm. Coincidence? I think not.<br /><br />Stewie got a letter from the tax department this morning - in the US. He's 22 months old. I'm thinking of calling them and letting then send up an auditor to count the money in his piggy (turtle) bank. <br /><br />I'm also thinking about scheduling. My kids are uber-scheduled, and my wife loves to keep calendars in the kitchen for the family and her own, and my own, and we try to make sure they are properly updated. But what about for us, the adults? One big relationship concern for me - and maybe for you - is trying to find time to spend with your spouse / partner, to actually do something. So I think I have come up with a solution... Every Thursday night from after kiddy bedtime, to about 10-10:30 will be out of the house time. Every Thursday we are going to go out for coffee/tea/a drink/walk either by ourselves or with our friends just to get out and have some adult time. <br /><br />Any takers for week one? :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-90031956728731241212008-08-25T12:41:00.000-04:002008-08-25T12:41:23.345-04:00Things overheard on a Monday...Just a few more gems for this Monday;<br /><br />"I bought bran flakes. They good? Lost 5 pounds this week".<br /><br />"I went through the pantry and threw out 6 items this weekend. Not healthy. Wife bought ‘em and tucked ‘em away nicely, but I found ‘em and threw them away."<br />(Wont she be thrilled, eh?)<br /><br />"We are way behind on the nutrition list…"<br />(... and maybe on the evolutionary chain too)<br /><br />"I’m starting to make meals that are interesting…"<br />(Because before today, everything he was was boring?!?)<br /><br />"They are claiming that leeches are safe to swim… in Lake Ontario…" <br />(Safe for the leeches, or safe for us?)<br /><br />"They don’t want them to appear a toxic dump."<br />(I just write then, I don't say them. Who are "they"? What do they not want to appear as a toxic dump? I suspect they were referring to Lake Ontario)<br /><br />"I’m thinking of making vegetarian spaghetti."<br />(Maybe that is what he is calling more interesting?!? Veggie spaghetti... WOW. What a novel concept.)<br /><br />"It gets harder as you get older- nutrition – yeah, the brain gets slower…"<br />(Uh huh. Nuff said)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-49686792159476676282008-08-24T19:39:00.002-04:002008-08-24T19:57:37.373-04:00With a sickening thud...... I watched Stewie topple, with his chair at the kitchen table, face first onto the granite floor. I thought for a moment that I would be able to get there before he hit, but in reality, there was no way I would even be close. Seconds later - while he was screaming in pain and holding his nose, UrbanMummy appeared to take him and calm him down. <br /><br />That was 6 hours ago.<br /><br />Right now he is sitting back at the kitchen table having a pre-bed snack, while again trying to tip his chair (still not on purpose) while fidgeting around to see what is going on. He's either fearless or really dumb, and since all signs point to him having his mummy's smarts, there is NO way he's dumb. He is just intent on being the death of us. <br /><br />Today alone he already jumped on the bed and hit head to head with Linus, walked into a wall, fallen twice on his face and wiped out at the hands of his brother. This is why he has learned to make "that" face and pinch. It's his self-defense mechanism to prevent getting killed by his brother. He's had a very rough tummy - poo'ed through 5 diaper wraps this weekend, cried a lot, had a low-grade fever and wouldn't let anyone touch him except Daddy.<br /><br />Now the little dude bites his finger while eating snack. More tears.<br /><br />OY<br /><br />Thank goodness he's off to bed, not so much for my sanity, but for his health.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-72838960641604119882008-08-19T20:02:00.005-04:002008-08-20T00:57:13.583-04:00Thoughts...So rumour has it that Mats Sundin wants to play for the New York Rangers, eh? Hmmmm. Turn down $10 million a year from the Canucks. I don't buy it.<br /><br />Why I love my son. Linus knows that we ask him what he did when he goes to see Grandma and Grandpa for dinner. He knows exactly what we want to know and he is usually spot on. Except tonight. Tonight he knew we wanted to know of he had cookies or chocolate while there - a no no, and he admitted to having some and that he liked it! That's new. He also said he had a bath. Liked that too. Then he said he went for a ride... in the black car... in a car seat... with no seat belt, he held it shut. Gulp. He was joking. Funny kid.<br /><br />Last night at Sportball soccer, Linus actually kicked the ball twice during the game as he took time from sucking on the front of his shirt. I'm SO proud of him. I yelled and clapped and he looked really excited. I don't care if he ever touched the ball (not really) but I just want him to have fun (again, not really). :)<br /><br />Why am I stressed out? I'm on vacation until September?<br /><br />Anyone know where I can buy tax books? Like on GST, and stuff like that? Can't get them from a library...<br /><br />Spent most of the day trekking around downtown Toronto with UrbanMummy looking for jewelry supply companies and silver beads... Found a few, she picked up quite a beautiful haul. Look for some of her fantastic stuff posted here. <br /><br />What is the best way to get a child into a different school district? I've heard about buying a house in that area as an option, as I've also heard that tears work... Suggestions anyone?<br /><br />Had my last softball game of the season tonight - and by far our team's best game although we lost due to some HORRIBLE umpiring. I went 3 for 4, my one out was a rocket to deep left field and I threw 2 runners out at second base from the outfield on singles. Made a few catches... All in all a great way to end a season. Ball hockey begins Thursday!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943244.post-26401971263301336102008-08-18T15:23:00.002-04:002008-08-18T15:34:01.367-04:00Things overheard on a Monday morning...Actual snippets of conversations heard by me, on a Monday morning.<br /><br />On people losing weight;<br />"Imagine being 600 pounds, eh? Now he’s like 160… He is a walking testimonial."<br />"Yes, that is true. He’s a star traveller…" <br /><br />About a woman each one met;<br />"What about that woman, she was, like 57?"<br />"She had cold hands. Maybe she’s hypo-glycaemic?"<br />"She’s nice. Actually, I thought she was pretty cute."<br />"Oh, I liked her car."<br /><br />General... stuff;<br />"People that eat McDonald’s get parasites ALL the time… <br />(from no vegetables)." <br /><br />"...Makes your brain get a little bigger…" <br /><br />"It’s only one part of your blood. Microscopic cellular…" <br />(not a real description of blood)<br /><br />"Can I get the hair taken off my back? My backside?<br />(UGH!!! Too much information!!!)<br /><br />"I’m just telling you the story of engineering… of education… we’re not even near it… It’s money…" <br /><br />"It’s all inter-connected… Some of it is inter-connected… It’s way out there…" <br /><br />Politics;<br />"Did you hear the one about Harper? Harper the defence guy? It’s all about energy fields and so on…" <br />(I think he meant Harper the Prime Minister of this country)<br /><br />"Alien is not the name of a creature, it is the name for something foreign to your mind." <br />(Believe it or not, this has to do with the assasination of JFK... Read on and you'll see)<br /><br />"JFK was killed because he wanted to stop the war. He could do that. He was going to tell the world that there was alien life. They didn't’t want that to get out, so he was killed." <br />(Errr.... Yeah... NOT)<br /><br />"The Dali Lama’s are fighting all the Chinamen right now… Can’t freedom speak?!?" <br />(WTF?!?)<br /><br />Darfur. That’s a problem over there. They are killing each other over economics. Took them 8 years to get people over there. Could have been stopped. It’s disgusting.<br />(Over economics, eh? Wonder which one... Macro or micro?)<br /><br />"I had a muffin. A muffin, the other day. A little one… Sugar rush to my head. Sugar is bad for you. Sugar and homogenized milk." <br />(OY VEY)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4