Back To School

First day of school. My family had just moved to Nashville. We were familiarizing ourselves with Brett's school and Crystal's school.

I remember a scarey moment on the first day of school. Crystal was taking the bus to school. We're telling her, "ok Crystal, you don't get off the bus until you get to YOUR stop. Mommy will meet you at the bus stop."

So I'm at work. It's after 4:30. School's been out for an hour. My wife calls me at work - panicking - "Crystal didn't get off the bus!" So, was she ON the bus at all? Did she get off at the wrong stop? Or, did something worse happen?

I remember feeling frozen and helpless. Maybe ... someone KIDNAPPED OUR KID WHEN SHE GOT OFF THE BUS!!!!

So my wife is freaking out on the phone. She had already called the school and we were told that Crystal did in fact get on the bus.

And, in walks Crystal. Late.

"Crystal! Where were you?"

"I forgot to get off the bus and had to wait until the end of the route and he drove me home."

Ahhhh. A memorable day. First school day in another country and we thought we lost our kid.

So, if it's your kids first day on the bus - don't panic. It's gonna be a good day.

Molitor Wins!

Friday night was fight night!

A fight? Whaaaat? Is it a Christian fight? Hahaha. Not exactly.

They call it "Rumble At Rama". Steve Molitor is the hero in the featherweight class (122 pounds) and laid a whoopin' on Dario Azuaga from Argentina. Having seen Steve a few times already, I don't think Azuaga was much of a competitor. Maybe because Steve lost his world title in November they are matching him with less worthy fighters. If that's the case, that's lousy. I hate fixed stuff.

Steve is amazing to watch. He bounces around the ring like a rabbit. And his punches are real fast. It's evident that he's a trained professional because of the speed and concentration.

It's gotta take a lot of fortitude to climb in a boxing ring and take blows to your head and torso, over and over, until you, or the other guy, can't take it anymore. From my boxing club last year, I felt totally spent at the two minute mark and ready to pack it in. I can't imagine how these guys have the stamina to go 8 or 10 or 12 rounds of three minutes, hammering away at the other guy as your power decreases and all the while trying not to get the snot knocked out of you.

But it was fun. And Steve won. So we all left happy.

Ottawa

The Top 10 Things I Love About Ottawa

10. Elgin street - busy! Professionals hurry to work by day; a club scene of
partiers by night

9. The Byward market - a congestion of pedestrians

8. The Rideau Canal - barely a ripple as it coils through the city, pouring into the Ottawa River. The bridges connecting Ottawa U to downtown. The late afternoon joggers and walkers enjoying the uniqueness of the canal through mid-town.

7. The red maple leaf on the OC Transpo buses. So patriotic in the capital!

6. The view of Parliament Hill and downtown skyscrapers from Gatineau

5. The hot air blips hanging in the blue sky over the city

4. The guys have man-bags!

3. Smoked meat at Dunn's.

2. Rendezvous with friends at Zakk's.

1. Really fast cyclists screaming with speed through the city streets and stick-handing the stalled traffic on Bank Street!

Mmmmmm....I love this town!

Blogging From Ottawa

A vacation week. One of my favourite things to do is hang out in Ottawa and spend my day biking thru the city. Yup. And the sun's out!

Listening to: CHRI
Thinking about: biking along the Rideau Canal for 3 days.
Reading: Psalms and "Teamwork" by Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Elvis

Elvis Costello - "My Aim Is True" - 1977. It was the beginning of the new wave era, which was a softer branch of punk. Not today's pop/punk, but real punk. Punk like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols.

Back then his act was a bit angry, a bit Buddy Holly, and a bit mysterious but over the years, he's mellowed and almost, debonair. His stage character is a little less enraged as he's branched out to become a connoisseur of music appreciation. While I have not followed Elvis since the early 80's, I have known him to dabble in country, big band swing, jazz and indie rock. He's played with Burt Bacharach and Alison Krause.

Friday night, Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes played Massey Hall in Toronto - the same venue where I, as a 20-year old, watched him play "Alison" and "The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes."


This show was without a fancy set, no video, no pyro. Just solid craftsmanship.

Elvis walked out at 8pm - no opening act. In the middle of the stage waited their instruments - a fiddle, an accordion, a mandolin, a flute, a couple guitars, double bass - no drums. It was all about the music, played by masterful musicians who backed-up Elvis, yet still let him have the spotlight.

So the set opened with "My Resistance Is Low" made famous in 1948 in a film by Jane Russell followed by a similar sounding but new Elvis song "My All Time Doll". The old hits "Blame It On Cain" and "Red Shoes" were re-vented by the impeccably tight 6-piece Sugarcanes that left me with the feeling that this was a band of polished musicians.

Always one to know the set list before going to a show, I was not expecting to hear "Happy", written by the Rolling Stones. And I was half-hoping that Elton John would appear during an encore, since Elvis and Elton are close friends, and Elton spends a lot of time in Toronto with his partner David Furnish. But that didn't happen.
In the encore, Elvis gave me what I wanted - "Alison" - but it was the new track -"Sulphur To Sugarcane" - that I'll remember most.

Elvis is 55. He's musically inventive. He knows a lot more than a 4/4 new wave beat. And that inspires me.

It's All About The Bike (sorry lance)

Considering this summer has been cloudy, rainy and, for the most part, kinda cool, I've gotten some good miles on my bike. I make a note each day of my mileage and I seem to be averaging about 200km a week, often more. I'm pretty happy with that.

Sadly, I haven't been part of any organized rides this year. I'm not much for early mornings and most group rides start at 8am, and most are out of town. Maybe I'll do the Lindsay "A Place Called Home Ride".

As someone who likes doing things differently all the time, it's odd that my biking route is predictable. Same route, almost every day. I wonder if the residents in Shanty Bay and Hawkestone set their watches with my routine.

In the saddle - which by the way IS comfortable - I can put the rest of the ride on auto-pilot. The ride is therapeutic for me - I get a lot of stuff sorted out mentally. New ideas for LIFE. Sorting out problems. While I ride, I make audio notes in my cell dictaphone. Then, when I get home, I have a major "to do" list that I gave myself! Haha! Well, I'm a detail-type of person so that's how I keep it all straight.

Here's a quick video of my on the bike.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP AT THE GYM

I've had a couple of crappy days. Down, lonely, unhappy and a bit disconnected with God. A friend told me to re-charge by reading one Psalm in the morning and another at night. Sounds like a good plan so I'm doing that.

After my 40 km on the bike, I went to workout at the gym. (Stop bragging!) I usually listen to a mix of Christian songs or some classic rock but last night I selected my "praise and worship" playlist. I know - not exactly gym material! Guitars and rockin' band - that's real gym music.

My playlist went something like this:

"Everyday" Hillsong
"God Of This City" Kris Allen
"Banner Over Me" Vineyard
"Arise" Don Moen
"Hallelujah To My King" Paul Baloche

I bet the 20 year old gym-rats would be surprised! Haha! Anyway, the songs picked me up. Oh ya - doubling the meds is helping too!