A 100 Weddings and One Funeral

R.I.P. Grandpa K. October 14, 2011

As the Patriarch of a large family that spans five generations your life has touched so many lives, most you never knew. That is the irony; although a lot of us may not have had a close personal relationship with you; your life will live on through your incredible family. From your wife Dora, our Matriarch, to your children, to your grandchildren, to your great grandchildren, to your great, great, grandchildren, your family touches lives in so many incredible ways.
The 130+ living descendants, spanning 5 generations, still actively try to gather multiple times a year, which started from Sunday pilgrimages to a little house in Kleefeld, MB.
Again our relationship may not have been close, but I do thank you for the family that has developed from your marriage to my Grandmother. I am very proud of my family roots of Kleefeld, MB. I am proud of the people I get to call my relatives and tradition of gathering as a family.
Please do not worry as you watch over us, this large and uniquely close family will watch out for each other as we grieve the significant passing our Patriarch. I personally will find the gathering of our family together for our first funeral will be a different experience than we are used to.

Jamie

Walking Miracle?

I've been away from the Blog for a while. I didn't go any where but with my computer being in the other room I never use it and I lost my job sitting behind a desk. Boo hoo right?
I have to continue today because I am not sure how to deal with an event that happened at Thanksgiving. First some background.
Through a series of lifestyle commitments, including exercising, eating sensibly and having discipline. My latest job has been a major time sucking blackhole. After three months I am still struggling to get home at a normal time, normal by my standards. I realize some people consider 7 am to 7 pm normal, I don't. So with that I have also found it tough to find time to get stuff done during the day like I would have at my previous jobs. I haven't cooked anything in months! My wife has not enjoyed this change. I'll be honest, neither have I. Its bad enough, that to ensure we have time to celebrate her 40th birthday I booked a Saturday evening with her two weeks ago just to be sure. I also haven't found time to get to the gym either. This has been very frustrating for me because of the lifestyle changes I made to be more healthy, which yielded an 80 pound weight loss. I do get a great deal of exercise on the job but it is different, mentally for sure. Both exercising and cooking were cleansing for the mind. I won't mention the details of how my volunteering time is almost gone.

This past month has been the worst ever for me and food since this journey began in 2008. I have not had control of my eating habits. In a moment when I can determine the negative food choice is bad, my hand reaches out and grabs it. Almost like an out of body experience. I've consumed so many calories this past week that I am certain I gained nearly 10 lbs. I've also noted my inability to stop when I'm full, I am still "hearing" the signal, but ignoring it and stuffing it in. Things are getting out of control. Its like if I'm not exercising, why bother? Its nuts, but it is what it is.

Then "it" happened.......

I was told I was "a walking miracle".

Wow! How does one digest that? I inquired further and I determined my "miracle" status was gained due to my apparent ability to keep the weight off. Although I thanked them for the compliment and we discussed the topic, I felt terrible about my last few weeks and my current weak mental state. Besides I don't think miracle is a fitting word for this. Miracle? Really? Is it because the World we live in suffers from so much obesity that no one feels being a healthy weight isn't possible? But "miracle"? I should note that this comment was from a family member who is quite spiritual. It carried weight with me.

I have reacted poorly to this added mental weight, by trying to match my physical weight to my mental weight. I seem to be trying to sabotage my health. I can only call it sabotage because I know exactly what is happened and seem powerless to stop it. I'm in a bad place. I just not sure how to turn the corner this time. I thought by now I would have figured it out by now and developed a new routine to marry my work schedule and lifestyle of exercise, sensible eating and volunteerism.

I'm worried about the fact that I haven't.

My Two Cents
Jamie
Sent from my Rogers BlackBerry

Technology Curfew?

   Being a parent of a preteen or teenager in 2010 is not like anyone could have truly predicted 20 - 25 years ago. Think back for a moment, a brief one, as to how we communicated with our friends. Internet? What's the Internet? We had no cell phones, no text messages, no instant messages and certainly no Internet and if we had Internet (in our later teens) we certainly did not have the Internet in the palm of our hands! The Internet seemed to be reserved for the rich and famous or the school computer lab; you know this Internet thing is just a fad right?!? No, we had to make a phone call, from a phone attached to a cord! Of course we only could make that call if we were given permission from our parents and our time was limited.

   This small stroll down memory lane isn't intended to appear as a complaint or a longing for simpler times; not at all. No diatribes about how I walked ten miles in six feet of snow, uphill both ways to school here. But this sure begs the question, "What frame of reference does a parent (do I have) in 2010 to the unique environment our young people find themselves in?" Let's face it, we have no clue what it's like to be a teenager living in an instant 24/7 access World. How are we expected to know how to be a parent or how to "govern" this technological World our kids are growing up in? I know the same complaints are made by all parents from generation to generation. We get stuck trying to compare our teenage years to theirs and wonder why the same set of rules we grew up with don't seem to work or apply here. Seriously, the advent of the TV and it's like technology did not have the same type of impact on the teenagers of it's time, as the Internet is and will continue to have on it's generation. The exponential advancements in technology have changed everything about what it means to become a teenager. A paradigm shift if you will...

    In an effort to give our kids as much freedom as we're comfortable with, helping them to grow up and learn to be responsible, we try to supply them access to the technology available. At the same time, hopefully not giving them more then they can handle. Basically we need to perform a perfect juggling act.

Enter here: the BIG World of technology. 

   Technology surrounds our teenagers, freedom is everywhere whether we are there to guide them or not. 24/7 access is a very real possibility and I wonder if the teenagers of the 21st century are ready for it. I know, like all teenagers, they think they are invincible! It has to be overwhelming though for a child hitting puberty. It has to be! Everything in their life is changing, all at once and at break neck speeds. New school, new friends, body changes, new freedoms, the list is long and technology just adds a very interesting dynamic to the mix. 

   That is the challenge, isn't it. How do 21st century parents protect their children without being crowned the technology police, unreasonable, over protective, outrageous or simply unfair? A high wire act without a net, set over a bed of explosives if I ever saw one. Parents be warned.

   Looking back, for my youth, week night curfews seemed to work. It  brought the kids home and had them unwind before getting to bed on a school night. If after curfew we had to talk to a friend we initiated the chess match that was determining how long we could talk on the phone. Ya see, call waiting wasn't available so us being on the phone meant no one could call the house! This game's degree of difficulty was greatly increased by the factor known as "a sibling". Now although curfews are in place for my teenager to have him home at a reasonable hour during the week; it just isn't the same. With the addition of cell phone calls and texting, along with iPod touches with WiFi access to the Internet; my teenager isn't really "home" even after he walks through the door. Its not entirely his fault, we provided him the technology, he is simply using the devices placed in his hands.

   These devices we introduced as tools for us as parents to offer more freedom. Freedom given because we can have instant access to them. In addition, technology is also a tool used to teach responsibility to our teens. Problem now is, it has also created a potential for disaster too. To combat the potential problems and overwhelming concept of "always on communications" we have added a technology curfew on school nights. This seemed like a viable solution that was pretty fair, I'd say. Again, I have no concept of what it is like being a teenage boy with all this "stuff" at my finger tips. Thank God, I went back to school to be educated about the technologies of the 21st century. I thought I went back to school to start a new career, I'm beginning to think it may have been just to have a hot clue what my kids are dealing with!! This curfew (no cell phone, no iPod, no computer after a certain time) should provide an opportunity for him to slow down and relax before bed; thus improving his sleep. A bonus is actually having him "home" for a portion of the evening we us. Surprising to me was his reaction. He actually felt this to be fair. We had a long conversation that felt a lot less like Dad suppressing his son and more like a friend honestly looking out for a friend. I think he got "it". I suspect he too found the continuous access his friends have a pain and this way it's easier to blame his parents and their stupid rules. The alternative would be for him to ask his friends to back off, but that isn't easy for a growing teenager.

   Even though that went well...I am still struggling with how I handled it. My fear and concern for him as he continues his journey towards becoming a man is not going to be lessened by one success. In an effort to do right by my kids I am constantly questioning if I made the right decision about nearly everything. Which sucks! HaHa! Oh well, the next three to five years are going to be tough on me, I wonder if they will understand that; as this chapter of our lives unfolds. I hope so...

My Two Cents

Jamie

Writer's Unblock

As I sat there at the sports injury clinic contemplating my potential 5+ hour wait (turned out to be 6 hours) to have my groin strain looked at, I decided to take out my scratch pad and scratch. I had an itch and needed to write about something.

I was reviewing an earlier entry touching it up when I came to realize something else (A.D.D. Anyone?), SQUIRREL, what was I saying, oh ya, my conclusion was I want to be a writer! I love writing, its fun. I enjoy writing, proof reading and touching up a series of thoughts intended to make a specific idea complete. Whether it's current events, personal opinion, sports or random musings of a crazy person; it works for me. I find it easy to scroll out words and create something that will evoke an emotion of some kind, both positive and negative reactions are a good thing.

I used to write. Back in the early years of school, I think grade sevenish. Around juinor high was a big boom of writing for me, from poems to short stories, I wrote it all. Naturally at that age I wasn't confident enough to share my writing with too many people, you know, it wasn't cool. Now of course, the Internet provides a place for any goof ball with a thought running through their empty heads to rant. Hey wait a minute! Nevermind.

The Internet equals the perverbial Global soapbox if you will. But that in of itself also provides ME a place to "publish" my writing in a way that gets it out there, but protects the fragile ego of wanna be writer. The down side in this scenario is finding an audience not only consisting of family and friends! They are great and I appreciate their comments but touching more lives would be ideal. Right now, its more about if the bigger audience can find me, then me finding them. If they find me, great, but it is a slow ride.

I've considered writing a book many, many times. Self help/motivational and fiction are my favorite to tinker with. I actually have a number of pages and parts of chapters started for a work of fiction. I basically have plenty of substance for book based on making lifestyle changes for a healthier life, due largely to my own personal reflection about my successes over the last couple years. How does one get published? How does it all work? Writing a column for a newspaper would be great too.
For now I guess I'll continue to write here, in my World renoun Blog! Ha Ha. No worries, I am writing for myself, not anyone else. Without a doubt I'd like you have a large audience that I write to regularly, but I think writing for myself rather an audience will produce better quality reading material. Finding the audience will have to wait. I can be patient....at times!
My Two Cents
Jamie
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Excuse My Drooling, It Isn't Intended For You

   Can we talk about chocolate covered pretzels for a moment? Of course we can; who doesn't want to talk about this little gift from God to the pretzel World!
   In particular, I am referring to the chocolate covered wonders found at your local Starbucks. Now, it should be mentioned that I am not one to promote the $5.00 cups of coffee or the pretentious way the patrons order a coffee or the insulting way they package up irregular shaped pieces of wood and attempt to convince you they are in some way more special then other deformed pieces of wood you could stack (true story), BUT man them pretzels are goooood!
    I am sure other fine establishments make their own version of the breath takiing chocolate covered pretzels, however, there is something about the exquisite morsels found at Starbucks that has my full and complete attention. All Starbucks jokes and stereotypes aside, let's hone in on the beauty of this delectable treat.
   It's worth noting the pretzels in question have three distinct layers of glorious goodness. First you have a salty, dry, crunchy pretzel stick; not one of those tiny little ones you can stuff a couple dozen in your mouth at once either (at least I can)! NO WAY! I'm talking a real pretzel, about a half inch in diameter and a half dozen or so inches long! Then dip the pretzel into a vat of ooey gooey caramel so it envelopes the salty stick, so when it cools it forms a thick, sweet, chewy protective coating for the precious salt inside. If that weren't enough, let's now take this already awesome snack and dip the sucker in milk chocolate!! Who doesn't love anything covered in chocolate?!? People eat insects dipped in chocolate, far beit for a pretzel to seem odd!
   What you are left with is this soft and chewy yet, hard and crunchy, salty yet, sweet, taste and texture sensation in your mouth. At is all pulled together with the silky sweetness of milk chocolate. WOW! It's an incredible blend of textures and tastes that is confusing and delightful all at the same time. Flavors seem to be war...yet...not. It isn't a sophisticated culinary masterpiece (not sure the Starbucks brain trust would agree), but it is a fantastic example of how food can be a delightful blend of conflicting textures and tastes.
   All and all this not so unique treat is one of my favorites. One I have a hard time passing up when they sitting there waving at me through the showcase glass at my local Starbucks. Try one today! Take your time and savour the various simple components coming together in one tasty adventure.

My Two Cents
Jamie