The Idiot Box...

I don't know how many of you enjoy TV, but it's been a great friend of mine for many a year - to this day I can't be in a room with a TV unless it's turned on. Sickness? perphaps but it also provides some great information and entertainment.

It's official Monday is the new Thursday - no doubt, pound for pound the best line up of quality TV Shows. My night starts off with Heroes - a great show about something that I've always secretly wished had happened to me - I somehow developed a super human power - If I could choose any power it would be the power of flight - that would be awesome, but monday night isn't all about Super Heroes

It Also has a healthy dose of Laughs - Dougie Howser is money in this show

And then The class is reminicent of Friends - and Ritchie Vetch makes he laugh out loud more than once a show.

Then Comes the Real Hero - Jack Bauer - Jack Kicks Ass, enough said.

Then Studio 60 ends the night with some brilliant writing and some very smart humour - maybe the best show on TV.

So there you have it - Monday is busy, and if they could somehow manage to put Lost and Grey's Anatomy on Monday night I might not have much use for the TV until - the Simpsons come on the following Sunday night.

The great thing about TV is that as long as it's on, no matter what is on, I'll watch it - we now have 700+ channels and there is less on than when my parents bought that TV with 13 channels on it when I was in grade 4...

Capital O...

I don’t know how I missed this, I guess I was asleep at the wheel last week– but one of my best friends Chris “Can I buy a Vowel” Aaen had a birthday and turned 31 – which is still young, by my standards at least. The cool thing is that he forgot his Christmas gift at our house, so that when he picks it up now we’ll call it a birthday present – win –win.

For a few years there when we young and foolish we’d stop drinking altogether from January 2 – March 17th – which must have made for some crappy B-Day celebrations for O – we’ve since abandoned this practice, as it can lead to kidney stones later in life – but there were some very dry times on those January 24th evenings.

Aaen is looking for a job in Freddy Beach and has quite an impressive resume, he’s trying hard not to listen to the call of the west, but the offers are getting louder and better – So if you know of anyone looking to stem the tide of the brain drain and you need a geological engineer with a Viking heritage, give Aaen a call.

We’ll be having them over this week to help us polish off their generous Christmas Gift to us and celebrate his birthday in fine Yellow Label Style.

The coolest thing about Aaen has to be his ability to bring things (anything really ) to the next level – if you know him, you know what I mean, if you don’t he can turn a Good time into a Great time (and always does) - he can elevate a “going through the motions” rugby training session into a “Smashmouth” event by the intensity that he brings to everything he does. Kinda like this scene from Seinfeld.

Happy Belated Birthday Punk...

You Are What You Eat...

This was said to me alot by various people in my life over the course of my formative years - this isn't a whole truth - you are what you drink would have been more appropriate - as discussed previously (human body being 80% water and all) but it does bear a gem of a hidden truth as most of these messages do if you dig deep enough.

If you eat crap you'll feel like crap, if you eat too much fat, you're most likely overweight - if all you eat is potatoes, you'll most likely bear a slight resemblance to a potato - but I digress. The point of this expression was to encourage me to eat healthy so I would in turn be healthy - makes alot of sense. I'm constantly amazed at how many miracle diets, and 7 minute workout dvds I see advertised on TV - weight loss isn't rocket science, or maybe it is - if you want to get your body to perform, give it the appropriate fuel, it will takes months to get to where you want to go, and you'll need to surround yourself with a good crew to be successful. If you eat healthy food (In healthy portions) and exercise more than you relax - you'll probably lose weight.

I've been trying to be better for a month now - my diet hasn't changed dramatically - I no longer eat three mcmuffins for breakfast, followed by two or three PB and J sandwiches after I eat my lunch - I try to control how much I eat of the foods I love and exercise daily - so far so good - i've been to the gym every weekday morning for the past 19 weekdays and I've shed 14 lbs. I'm aiming to lose 12 more - so I'll keep watching my portions. I'm not trying to say that losing weight is easy - it really isn't, the theory is simple - the practical aspect and the follow through is the hard part. Like anything difficult it has it's rewarrds though.

Sophie is doing amazing - she is very close to saying "dada" - she has 8 teeth on the way in and she is standing all by her self without holding onto anything.

Cold as a Whore’s Heart…

It’s getting cold out, and I don’t like it one bit- besides the fact that I have yet to find a suitable winter jacket, it’s dark by the time I leave work and you can no longer get away with just wearing shorts when you leave the house.

Other expressions for being cold that make me smile are "Brass Monkey Weather" - first time I heard this it was uttered by Mal's dad - we laughed about it a bunch, but we laughed about everything. Another more puzzleing expression is "cold as a Witch's tit" - that makes no sense at all.

I’d always almost rather be warm, than cold – except when you’re trying to sleep then being a little cold is awesome.

I think that I've got some island blood in my veins - I'd love to be laying in a hammock on some desserted Island rignt now. I think Sophie could also appreciate the Hammock, if she ever stood still for a second.

Summer is only 4 or 5 months away, although we did BBQ Steaks tonight so how far off can summer actually be.

I love a good snow storm but I'd always rather be hot off the press than cool as a cucumber, if you catch my drift...

We Want Your Information, Not Your Name...

Now if you recognise the title of this post, you can thank my Father-in-Law, or rather my Father-In-Law Enforcement, I won't name names, it's not his style, but today we let one of the good guys go. After 38 1/2 years of dutiful service to St. Pierre, MB, Montreal, PQ, Grand Falls, NB, Fredericton NB, Moncton, NB, New Brunswick and Canada - Rick retired today. Sophs, Nic, Louise and I made the trek down the Trans-Canada to visit with Poppie for his last day "On The Job" - and what a last day it was - he was once again, for one last time in the media spotlight, as he was for so many years as the pioneer and face of Crimestoppers (we all know the number) and more recently for hitting the Bad Guys where they hurt the most - In the pocketbook. For his last Hurrah his unit used a little Night Magic today and seised a Moncton night spot.

I would like to thank you Rick, not just for being a great friend, father in law and grandfather, but also for the fact that you have been directly responsible for solving 6587 cases and taking $32,693,160 worth of drugs off the streets, impressive statistics since 1985 - bringing Crimestoppers to Canada was visonary, and more recently with all your proceeds of crime work - you have been making the world a little easier to sleep in for a long time. Even if your grand daughter has stopped sleeping during the day.

Rick was honoured with an induction into the Crime Prevention Association of New Brunswick Hall of Fame some time ago, and they have a nice little write up about his acomplishments here.

I know that we will be seeing more of you when you return from your well earned vacation, so that's good news for all of us, and we were honoured and proud to be part of your final day - sounds like a great excuse to lift your feet, relax and raise a glass, we'll see you on Saturday night. - Well Done and Great Work

Everytime His Ass Hits Something Flat…

This is an expression that Malcolm uses for people that eat a lot – the full expression is he’s got something in his mouth everytime his ass hits something flat – which always reminds me of being in France with Jackman – because they had baguettes with real ham and cheese on what seemed like every other street corner – and they were only 10 francs – which was nice and cheap – so we ate them, a lot of them and truly lived up to this expression – it was a good trip.

Anyways, part of my quest to be better, was to eat better, so last Tuesday, we stopped eating crap, and I stopped eating everytime I sat down – I started going to the gym (every morning from 7-8) and going to bed earlier – It’s working – I’m losing weight, feeling stronger and fitter.

Sophie is also doing great – she got sneakers and is (with the help of her walker) walking up a storm. She also learned to give kisses and zerbert – very entertaining stuff.

So 2007 has been good so far – we had a visitors on Sunday – Mom and Dad dropped by after breakfast and Katie and Megs dropped by in the afternoon – then last night Aunt Jenn made a trek up to the Fort as she had a Microsoft Vista Launch to attend today.

Picture taken on Saturday along the Old Springhill Road - or was it from Mordor? (I'm a fan what can I say) - then we got hammered with Snow on Monday.

That’s it, that’s all - There's snow on the ground and it finally feels like winter...

P.S.
I had posted an nice picture here - I guess it was a photo was taken by a local Artist, and I got it in an e-mail from a co-worker - so to maintain copyright laws the original is here and it's worth a look.

My Bad...

Go placidly amid the noise and haste...

2007 - it's a new year and with anything new they take a bit of breaking in. I think everyone always has great intentions for the new year - we call them resolutions, and are often screamed out on New Years eve, as regrets from the previous year. They usually involve losing, gaining, doing something less, doing something more, quitting something or starting something. They are almost always something that we've discovered about ourselves that we want to be different come New Year's eve 2007. Last year I made such a list - I did the easy stuff and I'm still working on the hard stuff - afterall if I accomplished everything on my list what would 2007 hold - life is in the living - we are all "works in progress" and New Year Eve is report card day - which is always followed by a laundry list of things that you'd fix, or change, or do better.

So for 2007 I simply resolve to be better.

That is easy to say and hard to do - I realise that - so this is how I intend to do it - I have the instuction manual on how to be better right in front of me - this poster on my wall here at work – I read it often – there is some deep magic in it.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

I noticed this poem at Bill Thorpe's visitation a week ago - so maybe it truly is a guide to living well...

Auld Lang Syne 2006…

As with the passing of any year - it's a good idea to look back at the events that shaped, touched and forever changed us as we get ready to take on 2007.

What a year it has been – Sophie was born on March 23rd , the rest of the year is a sleep deprived blur, but seriously 2006 was a great year- Here are some of the big moments that that come to mind when I think of 2006.

First and foremost Sophie came into and filled up our lives – she’s a wonderful little munchkin, and has turned us from a couple into a family. Thanks Sophs.

Next highlight that came to my mind is The Loyalists, we started last winter at the Dundee dome in Moncton, took our show on the road to Boston, Edmonton, St. John’s and Kentville – along the way playing 24 games, losing 4, winning 20 – we won our 8th Provincial Title in 9 years, our third straight Caledonia Cup (Maritime Championship) and our 5th Atlantic Championship in 6 years (We won Back to Back Games on the rock to do it this time) – we also placed 9th at the National Club Championship, losing close games to teams from BC and Alberta, and defeating the Champions of Ontario and Manitoba. We gained some Loyalists over the year – Cameron Hickey, Ava Slipp, Sophie MacAfee and Ethan McIntyre – and we lost recently one of the greats– William Wellington Thorpe who was laid to rest on Dec 28th in front of a packed house at Christ Church Cathedral – the sheer number of rugby personalities that were dressed to the nines was a great tribute to Bill’s legacy – he always said that Rugby was a Hooligan's Game played by Gentlemen, and on Thursday the rugby community definately lived up to such a gracious billing.

Simon bought a house - He's a Devonite and Proud of It.

Jamie Flynn Got Married, Randy Flynn had a Son, as did Brian and Tracy Donahue and Jen (Flynn) Manuel had a Daughter.

Big Jim had a stroke and is currently going through rehab – he’s a genuine tough guy and definitely on the mend. He’ll need all his energy to keep up with Molly and Emma.

The Conservatives won the Federal Election, and just so we New Brunswickers could stay at odds with the reigning federal leadership - the liberals won the Provincial Election. Good work Shawn.

The Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, and we were right there in the middle of that Oil Rush, but they eventually lost to the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, The Miami Heat won the NBA Finals, St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series and Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl, Italy won the FIFA Soccer World Cup and New Zealand Women won the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Tiger Woods also had a decent year.

Every year is filled with bad days - they are there to let you know when you're having a good day - I touched on the good ones already- here are some of the bad ones from 2006: Simon's Uncle Dick passed away, so did Brian Robichaud and Dave MacDonald- like I said before, heaven must have been in need of some great guys.

So as we get set to celebrate the passing of 2006 - I hope you all had a good year filled with more ups than downs and go to sleep tonight confident in the knowledge that 2007 is going be a great year - Happy New Year...

The Original Loyalist...

Here are the details of when you can say Goodbye to Bill.

Visitation – Wednesday December 27th – 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 at MacAdam’s Funeral home.

Funeral Service – Thursday December 28th – 2pm at Christ Church Cathedral.

Celebration of Bill’s Life – Thursday December 28th - 8pm at the Loyalists Rugby Club

Through The Years We All Will Be Together...

If the fates allow?

Christmas 2006 – This is Sophie’s first Christmas – I figure that she’ll be a huge fan of this holiday as both her mother and father are. In fact here is a list of what I like best about Christmas, in no particular order.

- Eating Turkey Dinner
- Oh Come All Ye Faithful and Joy To The World at Christmas Eve Mass.
- Looking for the North star on the Way home from Church

- Christmas kids shows (Rudolph, The Grinch and Frosty in particular)
- Breakfast Christmas Morning
- When the Grinch’s dog Max goes under the sled, jumps up on the back of the sled, then shrugs and waves.
- Going to bed late, waking up early
- Small treasures in the stockings
- Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve
- Saying “Merry Christmas” to everyone you see from the 20th of December to Christmas Day
- Never ending Supply of Chocolates
- Getting Hugs from Friends and Family
- Seeing the shine in people’s eyes as they open the gift that you got them.
- New Toys

- The Line “Good News of Great Joy” in the Christmas Story
- That Happy Exhausted Feeling
- Thoughtful Gifts
- Phone Calls to loved ones far away on Christmas Morning
- Snow Storms and Christmas Lights
- Being surrounded by those you Love

The lead up to Christmas has been stretched out for the entire month of December, sometimes you’d think that the day won’t live up to the hype, yet every year it does – Christmas Rocks.

Loyal to the End...

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I write this post, one of the great ones has passed away – Bill Thorpe died this morning at the DECH.

Bill was the founder of the Loyalists, a caring, brilliant man and a wonderful father. He was a historian, both locally and globally - he loved Fredericton and was a champion of our trail system.

I've been deeply honoured to know Bill my entire life, early on as Matt and Jenny’s Dad, later on a Vice Principal, then as a friend, clubmate, fellow tourist and historical advisor – but always as a coach.

I fondly recall a conversation with Bill on the train from Paris to Caan, an indepth explanation of the allied D-Day offensive, we we're getting ready to trace the footsteps of one of the greatest days in history and Bill was as giddy as a school girl - immersed in history surrounded by rugby players - he was right in his element - it was a great trip.

after talking to Megs this morning - trying to process the events and give her some big bro cheering up, I was struck with sadness, remembering those loved ones that won't be around this Christmas - but then I thought and shared with her that Bill was an extrodinary man who led an extraordinary life filled with lots of people that loved him– and maybe at the end of our days that’s the best we could ever hope for. see you on the sidelines Bill, Godspeed...

I Am, Because You Are...

Aaen said this to me earlier this year – It was a cool slogan for our rugby team, my initial take on it was that we are who we are, because of whom we associate ourselves with, and what rubs off on us. Then I got to thinking about it more, and as today is my parent’s 36th Wedding anniversary, it definitely applies to us.

and here is the newest addition to our Gang


I think the same goes for every family – but I am definitely the product of both of my parents. I owe a lot of who I am to who you are – so Thanks Mom and Dad, I appreciate it, and Happy 36th Anniversary.

T.T.W...

T.T.W. stands for Teeny, Tiny Wonderful - That's one of the names we call Sophie.

Only 8 More Sleeps until Christmas

Cool as the Other Side of Your Pillow...

That is cool - I always liked this expression, mostly because as a kid it was always hot in my bedroom, so on those steamy summer nights the only reprieve I could find was the other side of my pillow.

Funny that it was always cool, no matter how often you flipped it. Which is sorta like Christmas, no matter how many you've gone through before each one is cool, and special - This will be Sophie's First Christmas, and althought she is too young to be bombarded with the overt commercialization of the event, she's old enough to appreciate spending time with the people you love, and being able to rip open packages with youthful exhuberance. I don't know when the tide shifts so that you are more excited about giving presents than receiving them - but that's a good day - because we get a glimpse of the true spirit of Christmas.

This is the tree in my front yard, and I'm always blown away how cool it can look when the night is just right.

Only 12 Sleeps until the big day...

Dance with the Girl that Brung Ya (Reprise)...

This expression is deeply implanted in my psyche, I discussed it before, talking about the untimely passing of my uncle, but it wasn't until this morning, laying in bed that I got a new perspective on it. I had always thought of it as a kind of "Roll with the Punches" kind of expression - Rolling with the punches is from boxing. To avoid a direct hit you "roll" away from the punch in an attempt to avoid the blow or at least create a glancing blow. It is very reactionary by nature - while the girl that Brung ya expression has a subtle taste of ownership, responsbility and proactiveness to it all.

You are not choosing to avoid the "direct hit" that life is throwing at you, rather you gather life up in your arms and make the most out of it. I guess it is about flexabilty - a fantastic, almost magical quality that enables us to make the most out of any sitation.

They say that life is a Journey, not a destination - I agree, it's all about the events along the way, a constant adventure renewed with each challenege that arises in your life. Think of them as a girl that you can dance with, so doesn't it stand to reason that the more you get to dance the more fun you'd having, The more dances that you'd learn and the better dancer that you'd become -

Maybe the trick to it all is in the perception, because difficulties can be seen as either a fight or a dance, something that can be endured or celebrated, so it's up to you to decide what kind of girl that they brung to the party a ballerina or a scrapper...

You have to Amember before you can Remember…

I’m on a committee that deals with most of the youth organizations in the Fredericton area – and we had a meeting yesterday, do discuss last year’s event and to plan for the coming year. I think whenever you host an event it’s important to de-brief after the event, so that you don’t make the same mistakes, should you undertake a similar event in the future. These discussions flowed quite naturally into questioning of what messages we wanted to impart to the youth of today (and the leaders of tomorrow) these messages (one of the committee members suggested) could be– “Don’t do drugs, Wear a condom, Stay in School” – then we got talking about how to reach the youth, then we got talking about bringing in a motivational speaker, then we got talking about Matt Foley…



Upon returning to my office I had a great conversation with a co-worker, about messages that we found useful over our own youth, and the activities, events and influences that combined to make us the people that we are today – It was a kind of a de-brief of our lives, trying to derive some rhyme or reason – that has led us to where we are.

After the conversation I was left with the feeling that these posts that I write – was somehow my own way of de-briefing myself – trying to figure out how I got to be the way I am, how I was influenced to behave, think and feel the way I do, so that I will be able to convey some of it (The good parts) to Sophie. I think that we are all just constant “works in progress”, or at least we have the potential to be, if we are open to new ideas, new experiences and new people. Mind you if we take on the role of the “Old Dog” and get stuck in our ways, we will remain the “Old Dog” and not let ourselves learn any new tricks, and that really would be a shame.

The same goes for those that continue to do the same things expecting different results – I think that that is the simple definition of insanity.

I realize that I am a culmination of all those people that I’ve met, that passed on a story or a joke, or simply a kind smile, whether I’ve spent a lifetime with them or only a few short moments in passing, because I am different for having met them, the exact ways I changed are unknown, they could be very subtle of glaringly obvious – but I am different and I have changed – so thank you.

Dad always said that you have to Amember, before you can remember… and I think it’s implied that you have to remember what/where you come from so that you’ll be able get where you want to go…

Carry On...

It’s easy to fight when everything’s right,
And you’re mad with thrill and the glory;
It’s easy to cheer when victory’s near,
And wallow in fields that are gory.
It’s a different song when everything’s wrong,
When you’re feeling infernally mortal;
When it’s ten against one, and hope there is none,
Buck up, little soldier, and chortle:
Carry on! Carry on!
There isn’t much punch in your blow.
You are glaring and staring and hitting out blind;
You are muddy and bloody, but never you mind.
Carry on! Carry on!
You haven’t the ghost of a show.
It’s looking like death, but while you’ve a breath,
Carry on, my son! Carry on!
And so in the strife of the battle of life
It’s easy to fight when you’re winning;
It’s easy to slave, and starve and be brave,
When the dawn of success is beginning.
But the man who can meet despair and defeat
With a cheer, there’s the man of God’s choosing;
The man who can fight to Heaven’s own height
Is the man who can fight when he’s losing.

Carry on! Carry on!
Thing never were looming so black.
But show that you haven’t a cowardly streak,
And though you’re unlucky you never are weak.
Carry on! Carry on!
Brace up for another attack.
It’s looking like hell, but – you never tell.
Carry on, old man! Carry on!
There are some who drift out in the desert of doubt
And some who in brutishness wallow;
There are others, I know, who in piety go
Because of a Heaven to follow.
But to labor with zest, and to give of your best,
For the sweetness and joy of the giving;
To help folks along with a hand and a song;
Why, there’s the real sunshine of living.
Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true;
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;
There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you;
And at last when you die, let this be your cry!
Carry on, my soul! Carry on!

A Gorilla Picture and a little Robert Service inspiration for those weary Christmas Shoppers amongst us...

K103 Plays The Mountain's Best Movies Now give Me My Monkey...

This has always made me Laugh - it was a contest they ran some while back in Moncton - Where the Radio station would call your house and you'd have to answer by saying "K103 plays Moncton's best music now show me the money" and you'd win $100000 or something like that. I think it must have been the start to many awkward telephone conversations, but money makes people do stupid things - as for the post title - that's what someone would say when they messed up the phrase - it was part of the ad campaign around the contest- Always made me laugh.

When I was in Grade 12 I was the co-Chair for the FHS Safe Grad - which turned out awesome- and as a part of my duties we had to go down to the radio station (CIHI - 1260 on your am dial) and do publicity spots to encourage our classmates to attend the overnight, alcohol free event. The Spot was fairly simple - but I kept messing up - first I said "Saf" instead of "Safe", then I said "Grade" instead of "Grad" - and by the end of 20 or so takes I had managed to somehow say all the words (including my own name) incorrectly - so I went for one more try - I started "Hey I'm Skip macrame co cheese of this year's Saf Grade committee..." Needless to say that my spot never made the air - I did get some good laughs from those that were there though, which is something.

We're off to Moncton this morning to do some Christmas Shopping and celebrate Trevor's birthday - hopefully the roads clear up soon. I've been remiss as of late I've missed a pile of Birthdays - so here's my atonement - Happy Be-lated birthdays to Lauren Madeline Ayotte, Emily Manuel, North , Robyn and Trixie...

Nahgem Eefacam Xtreme Traveller...

Megs has just returned from her trip to New Zealand - and from the pictures (Besides this first one) it doesn't look like a relaxing event, but rather her own private Amazing Race. She had a few amigos along for the ride: namely Katie, Sandra and KELSEY - and they look like they had fun every single moment.

Caving/Blackwater rafting/absailing in Waitomo. Zorbing in Rotorua

Sledging in Rotorua

Quad Bikes on 90-mile beach

Pictures of The Bungee Jump and the Flying Fox to come shortly - glad that you're back home and in one piece...

Early to Bed and Early to Rise...

Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise... That's the expression - The expression that I seem to be working on lately is "Late to bed, early to rise (after getting up 4 or 5 times in the night) makes a man Sleepy, Anxious and frankly a little numb... Sophie is again cutting teeth, her front uppers - the ones that she's obviously asked Santa for. So in return he must have told her that she must wake up between 3 and 6 times throughout the course of the night, just to see if her teeth have dropped - and the best way to tell, is by crying really loudly - so being the nice little girl that she is, she obeys; as an update she still only has her two bottom teeth - but Santa doesn't usually give advances in my experience so it looks like another month of this - sweet.

I thought of this expression this morning as I woke up at 6:45 am - which doesn't sound early but when you were also up at 1, 2:25 and 4:30, it really is - I was lying in bed pondering going to the gym. I've decided that I don't want to wait until I am 20lbs heavier to start working out this year - So I got up and was going down the stairs until my favorite little girl gave a call, I responded and now it's too late to get to the gym, workout and get to work - So I've set my sights on Monday and I'm hoping for good things.

That's the healthy part I think they were referring too, and getting to work early and keeping your job is the wealthy part, but what about the wise part? Are you smarter when you get up early, or is everyone else simply still half asleep, so you seem brilliant? OR does the fact that you have a couple more hours of living in each day going to add up eventually, say you get up 2 hours earlier than the average Joe or Jane, and you go to bed at the same time they do, after a week you've got 14 more hours of living (and learning) - So over a year you'll have added 30 more days to you're life (of waking time) which works out to over a life expectancy of 77 years to be about 6 more years of life - so I ask - are you smarter in Grade 1 or Grade 7 - I guess the expression could hold a bit of hidden ancient wisdom.

I also find this odd that this post comes hot on the heels of my napping post - but I guess that's how brains work. Here's the Bard's take on life -
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more:
it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

I had to memorize this passage in Grade 12, then recite it in front of the class, I knew it backwards and forwards, but when I went to present it, a guy at the back of the class was laughing at me for something and it totally threw me off - I yelled at him and sat down, got a crappy mark, and later apologized - I can still recite it to this day and if not for that guy making fun of me I may have forgotten this beautiful thing like all of my high school algebra - The really funny thing that I later realized - I was actually living the poem - I fretted and strutted my two minutes in front of the class, I was that idiot full of sound and fury, but in the end it was really nothing...