Almost Rugby Time Again...

February Blues...

I don't really Know what it is with February - maybe it's that there is no Stat. Holiday, maybe it's that it is a short month and people are just trying to get through it, maybe people are a little put off that the 29th only happens every forth year, or maybe it is still winter and it seems like Spring is never going to arize - what ever it is, it is apparent at work and at home - February is a long boring month.

I work hard at being positive everyday - some days it's easy, some days it's a challenge, in July the easy days are plentiful, in February the Challenging days seem to out number those easy days - but they do make those easy sunny days in the Spring way more appreciated.

Last week we did a self assesment called Insights it told me that I was Yellow Red Green Blue - and it provided me with a entire book about me - it nailed my personality to a T - a little Eerie Indiana if you get my drift. But overall it was very cool - learned alot about my team here at work and why my style doesn't always work for everybody.

Back at Fort Awesome - we finally found some Childcare for the Munchkin - we finished with the Antibiotics and we got some full nights of sleep. Nic has finally come out from under the sickness cloud as well - so My folks took care of TTW so that we could go cross country skiing - it was the first time in two years and our bodies and minds were thankful (except for our heels -which have since blistered) The weight loss continues - I'm down 21 lbs as of Tuesday- we'll be going shopping this weekend to get me some smaller pants.

Alot of people (Nic's Folks and The DHB for example) are heading south and I'm a little envious- but I'm reading a Jimmy Buffet Novel and he paints a nice picture - and has been influencing my dreams for a couple of weeks now.

Dreaming of the February Blue water of the south seas...

Closer to fine? Already There...

CLOSER TO FINE

I'm trying to tell you something about my life

maybe give me insight between black and white

and the best thing you've ever done for me

is to help me take my life less seriously

it's only life after all

yeah

well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable

and lightness has a call that's hard to hear

I wrap my fear around me like a blanket I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it

I'm crawling on your shores

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains

there's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line

and the less I seek my source for some definitive

the closer I am to fine

I went to see the doctor of philosophy

with a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee

he never did marry or see a b-grade movie

he graded my performance, he said he could see through me

I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind

got my paper and I was free

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains

there's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line

the less I seek my source for some definitive

the closer I am to fine.

I stopped by the bar at 3 a.m. to seek solace in a bottle or possibly a friend

and I woke up with a headache like my head against a board

twice as cloudy as I'd been the night before

and I went in seeking clarity.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains

yeah we go to the doctor, we go to the mountains

we look to the children, we drink from the fountains

yeah we go to the bible, we go through the workout

we read up on revival and we stand up for the lookout

there's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line

the less I seek my source for some definitive

the closer I am to fine

~Indigo Girls

I heard this song the other day and I forgot how much I really enjoy it - it's worth a listen if you haven't heard it in awhile, or even if you have. On the eve of Valentine's Day - alot of people are looking for answers in their lives - maybe the answer (and what this song/poem is trying to relate) is to stop looking and just let things happen, they will anyways - Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely. Probably that’s what Mick was singing about – “You can’t always get what you want, but you’ll find sometime you get what you need.”Maybe the most famous example was Columbus discovering North America while looking for India, but smaller more personal “Happy Accidents” are happening everyday.

It Doesn't Matter Where You Are in the Rat Race, You're Still a Rat...

A Different Drummer...

Why should we be in such desperate haste

to succeed and in such desperate enterprises?

If a man does not keep pace with his companions,

perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.

Let him step to the music which he hears,

however measured or far away.

Dad has this poem by Thoreau in his office-

it's one of those "to each their own" kind of message - I like it.

It's good to know where you belong, where you're really needed and who you really are at the end of each day.

Just a quiet thought for a cold winter's night - with dreams of Little Forks, Heat wave Alabama and the Promise of Summer as the fuel for tonight's mid-winter's nap. Sophie is on the mend, Nicki is still battling hard with this Flu - Hopefully both my Girls are back to 100% soon, heartbreaking to see how bad they are feeling.

Sick as a Dog...

Since Superbowl Sunday Morning I've felt like crap (even more after the Bears lost) - This expression jumped into my mind, so I started thinking about it - when dogs get sick they eat grass, throw up, eat the throw up and throw up again, I'm not that sick - but I do have a sore throat, a headache and a fever - and luckily so do Nic and Sophie - we are a bunch of Sickies here this week - So sick in fact that on Wednesday poor little Sophs was diagnosed with Impetigo and put on antibotics - while whatever this virus is hit Nic the hardest on Saturday - Daddy was left to care for his sick girls which he did with pleasure - this does explain the lack of Blog Postings - and I apoligise - so back to this expression

- I was also led to think about another of dad's expressions,
"Half Chicken, Half Pig" … We never had dogs growing up, we had these Hybrid Creatures – that Malcolm lovingly referred to as Half Chicken, Half Pig – because they we’re afraid of everything,but they’d eat anything.and we had lots of them – When I was born my parents got a dog as a gift – they called him Nick Danger, a black Lab, he was a great dog - slept in the doorway of my bedroom to keep out the baddies – then there was Tug, a Huge Newfoundlander – who belonged to my Grandparents, he would share his Dog house in Oromocto with my cousins and myself whenever we came to visit – then Maxine (originally Max) , then Raggs and Zoe - we got these guys and thier sister Skye - who lived with Brian and Brenda in Moncton when I was in grade 12 – My parents now have Hannah and Lady and we have our own Hybrid Creatures – Simon and Max.

There's nothing better than having a couple of these wonderful creatures around on these cold Winter days - they make a great blanket - but that's a different expression and 2/3's of a band.

The "Gap"...

The Gap I speak of is not that excellent clothing store in Moncton, but it is the excellent feature that many of us Macs share between our front teeth. Big Jim once said "you can always trust a gap toothed man" - I agree with Jim and by the looks of it we'll be able to trust Sophie, not that we wouldn't anyways - but it does give us some extra reassurance.

What an odd thing to see yourself in someone else - to know that they are an extension of you, and that you are an extension of your parents and so on, back to the beginning - this leaves me a feeling of connectedness. Which is nice, because some days I feel so disconected from all the awful things that are happening in our world, and to our world - then I get to look at the lovely little Sophie as she falls asleep in my arms, and I'm left with a feeling that things will somehow be alright...

The Invitation...

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by life's betrayals or
have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own,
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be
careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself;
if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless
and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
even when it's not pretty, every day,
and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine,
and still stand on the edge of a lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes"!

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and
despair, weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

- Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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