Our newest family member!

Meet our newest little addition:  his name is Bilbo Baggins and he is a 6 week old orange tabby tom.  He is very friendly, playful, loving, and sweet.  I can't pry the children off of him for even a minute to brush their teeth!  Truthfully, I want to hold him and snuggle him all day too.

How to maximize a backyard:

I have something to say.

Let me start by saying that I am horrified by the bombings at the Boston Marathon.  The loss of innocent life and the tragic impact on many lives is terrible.  It was an act of pure hostility not to be taken lightly. 

In the wake of this event, I have seen many declare their support for the victims (as well as for Boston in general) all over the internet.  Posts pop up depicting a candle or religious photo with the caption "like and share if your thoughts and prayers are with Boston".  The underlying message is that if you don't like and share immediately, you are a heartless, terrorist-loving, asshole.  Posts like these perpetuate the drama and hype around an event like this, as well as the fallout and aftermath.  How dare they?  We are outraged!  What is the world coming to?  I must show the internet how indignant I am!

I suppose the person who created the first post had good intentions.  To spread a positive message.  To inspire support and comraderie among the masses.  Good.  I am sure Boston is happy that your thoughts and prayers are with it. 

However, I feel the need to point out that horrible atrocities are committed every day.  As I type this, people all over the world are suffering pain, indignity, trauma, and humiliation at the hands of their fellow human beings.  To name just a few examples:
-Women and girls are being exploited as sexual slaves.  They are not free to choose to change their lives.
-Men and boys are being exploited as cannon fodder for guerrilla armies.  Their families will never see them again.
-Parents of missing and abducted children are agonizing over the welfare and safe return of their little ones. 
-People are dying slow, painful deaths of hunger, disease, abuse and violence. 
-Governments are sanctioning the squashing of the rights of their peoples, sometimes violently enforced. 
-Children are being bullied to the point of suicide, and innocents are being mown down due to lack of mental health care for their attackers.
These things are not just happening in some faraway country we've never been to and can easily ignore.  They are happening right here.  At our doorstep.

Why is the suffering of all these people ignored while the Boston event carries such weight?  Is it because the victims are American?  Is it because they are marathoners?  Is it because it was a surprise occurrence that hasn't been lurking under the surface our entire lives? 

I don't suggest that we should start "liking and sharing" posts about victims of exploitation and the rest.  But I do suggest that we give up "liking and sharing" as a method of mild adherence to the current internet phenom.  If you truly feel strongly about something, then do something about it.  Research.  Educate.  Investigate.  Share your findings.  Take some steps toward a change you would like to see.  Get involved. 

No time or passion for moving mountains?  Fine - start small.  Be positive.  Make someone's day better.  Take care of yourself so you can take care of your family.  Smile.  A simple, genuine act of kindness will go miles farther than simply clicking a button to pass along another stock-photo-like-if-you-agree "issue".

Hash Report

Kent and I have been members of a running group in Penticton for the last year or so (me more peripherally than Kent, who is a regular).  The group meets every Sunday to run, drink, and generally carouse.  Every time we run, one member runs ahead to lay the trail and plan the route, while the rest of the pack follows flour marks they left behind.  This feels like a big responsibility because the marks must be intriguing enough to entertain, but easy enough to follow.  That, and the pack usually complains loudly about it nevertheless. 

Last Sunday (St Paddy's Day) was my first turn to plan and lay the course.  I had prepared some activities and refreshments to delight the attendees, and was proud of the results.  I may do another one before the year is out. 

To read their account of how it went, visit:  http://shiggydusters.com/?p=2891

Here's a recap...

I know.  It has been SO long since I posted.  And it was pretty long before that too.  But what can I say?  I've been busy.  Here's what I've been up to:

Last September I embarked on the short but intense adventure of getting my CEA certification at Okanagan College.  It took 5 months, and I finished fully qualified at the end of January.  The course was very interesting, and refreshing even; after more than 10 years since I had been in school.  I made some good friends there, learned a lot, and tried my hand at actually studying for tests and preparing for assignments in my wise old age.  

When the door hit my backside on the way out after my last day of classes, it was time for The Job Hunt.  I applied for the casual CEA list in our district, hoping against hope that I would be hired and could then start the slow-but-steady process of full time employment here.  This took longer than I had anticipated but many weeks, and more than a few anxiety attacks later, I was hired!  Hooray!  They way it works is this:  as a newbie, I will cover sick days and med leaves for CEAs in any school in the district.  When I have enough seniority, I will be able to bid on continuing positions (someday).  For now, though, I am getting familiar with the on-call automated phone system, and have worked every day since I was hired.  I am loving the work, and being on call isn't as bad as I had feared.

School/practicum/work full time this year has been busy.  The kids are all still doing their regular stints at Tae Kwon Do, skating, drawing, playdates, etc.  There have been bake sales, recitals, pot lucks, and special events.  Some days I feel like that circus act where the woman spins all the plates on all the different poles and has to keep them all going at the same time.  The housework has fallen by the wayside of late, but no surprise there. 

In my few spare minutes per day, I have been slowly ramping up training for the Tough Mudder event in Whistler this June.  This is more than just a distance event, with challenging obstacles along the way designed to put teamwork, physical and psychological strength to the test.  I am squeezing in a few runs a week, nothing too long or grueling - this is not a speed race.  I have also added 3 days of upper-body strength (though not regularly enough to brag) per week, and have continued with regular TKD classes.  Closer to the date, I will hopefully do some trials and simulations, but for now I'm just trying to hold my ground without going backwards fitness-wise. 

What's up next?  Tough Mudder - June.  TKD testing - April?  Autism course in the LML - Also June.  Madison's birthday party - May.  Kent's marathon (and his birthday) - May.  

Madison's Haida Art

Sun

Art work by Caylie

Portrait of our Family

Seascape - Caylie's favourite muse is TURTLES!

Caylie also wanted to show off some of her artwork.