ASU Baby Shower

I have been surrounded by babies this week. Everywhere I turn. It has been a few years since I have cradled my own babes in my arms and smelled the sweet smell of newborn newness. I have been feeling the lure. Just born - miracles of life - so innocent, so sweet, so sleepy. I miss the soft sweetness of a newborn. I realize that while that newborn time was perfect (and horrible and crazy), each day gets better and better with my girls as they get older. More challenging in some ways, but definitely better.

She Was Born To Rock

Brooke has inherited her fathers love of music. They spend their weekends scouring the fleamarkets looking for albums. She will sit with him for extended periods while he spins tunes and looks over the new found treasures. Recently she asked her Dad to teach her to play the drums. It has been two weeks and she practices frequently. The girl is a natural.

Movie Review: Casino Royale

This film for me was more fun than the last few Bond films put together. It is full of physical effects and human drama. Daniel Craig brings back the raw physicality to the role that Sean Connery introduced. Some of the latter Bonds focused more on the gadgets, gunplay and big chase sequences than it did about physical combat.
Daniel Craig has the benefit of our maturing curiosity, we are not so easily amused by explosions, gadgets, girls and exotic locales, but in need of understanding how Bond became the suave but ruthless and hardened 007. I'm glad they finally decided to unwrap this man of mystery even if it took them over 4 decades to get there.

A Weekend Retreat

I just spent an extended weekend visiting my parents in Brantford. It was great being able to spend time with my parents and I am grateful that Garth was willing to go solo with the girls for the last few days while I roughed it in the separate apartment off my parents home. It was tough having to sleep in a queen sized bed by myself and waking up without an alarm clock. I fumbled through using the bathroom and having baths without having to share facilities with others. I think I'm a quick learner tho' and embraced this new concept. It was difficult for my mind to handle the constant and nagging noise of ....Quiet!!!!
I had to adjust my way of thinking while I was away at my parents....there was no fighting over the remote control due to the fact that I had my own 56" Television and limitless supply of DVD's. If I could make it through them then my Dad has his endless recordings off the television I can watch. ( And I think I'm a TV Junkie) If I was feeling parched from my tiresome and exhausting days of rest and relaxation then I could refuel with a limitless supply of tasty bevarages or ice cream delights.
In all seriousness, I had a great time and was able to make a dent on my Christmas Shopping while spending some quality time with two of my favorite people. Thanks Mom and Dad. I love you both.

Municipal Election Results

Mayor ... Jim Abernethy (With more than 49 per cent of the vote, Mr. Abernethy almost doubled incumbent John Mutton, who received about 26 per cent.)
Ward 1 and 2 Regional ... Mary Novak
Ward 3 and 4 Regional ... Charlie Trim(Returning)
Ward 1 Local ... Adrian Foster(Returning)
Ward 2 Local ... Ron Hooper
Ward 3 Local ... Willie Woo
Ward 4 Local ... Gord Robinson(Returning)

Clarington's council will look quite different when it resumes in December. There will be three new faces, while three councillors will return to office.

Voter turnout is being reported at 38% and even with that figure a
strong statement has been made by the voters.

Wise Words

In an April interview of Maya Angelou. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words! Maya Angelou said this:

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

“I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.”

“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”

“I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.”

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.”

“I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”

“I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

“I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.”

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.”

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Another Milestone: My Baby Loses Two Front Teeth

My mom commented to me today that when she viewed the Halloween pictures that I recently posted, she didn't realize that Alley had lost both her front teeth. I had just assumed everyone knew because it was consuming the whole house while it was happening. Alley worked so hard at getting those suckers out and she had trouble with the one because the tooth had fractured previouly. Here is a picture that I took of her on October 18.

Halloween 2006

My Halloween observations this year.....What a perfect Halloween night. It was warm, dry, partly cloudy, complete with a half moon. It should be a universal rule that trick or treating starts at 6:00. It gives us time to get our act together before kids come around begging for sugar. At 7:00, the cute little kids are slowly being replaced by the middle-school age kids. I begin looking at my watch at this point. By 7:30, the older teenage kids begin showing up with a plastic bag and no costume. They are not trick or treaters they are jackasses!!! Speaking of which, Sweet Jimmy Swinghammer was in the neighbourhood and was sporting his Johnny Knoxville look. The kids scored a major haul and I will be sharing it with the crew and patients at work this week. My little devil doesn't need any excessive amounts of sugar as you can tell from the photos.