Unfortunately, driking cofee until 10:30pm doesn’t bode well for getting any sleep, and I tossed and turned for a few hours before finally fading into dreamland. Surprisingly enough, I was actually on the go all day and it wasn’t until Eva walked in the door, that my body finally broke down and I couldn’t do much more. About all I had energy for was making bottles and sippy cups and taking the dog for a walk - and a couple of quick blog posts as you can see.

It was another great day today. The weather has been amazing. The day started at 6:30am again. Every morning has been unique. I do really enjoy the 6:30 to 7 time slot for family time. Baby snuggles, big girl hugs and puppy belly rubs.

We were supposed to have another interview this evening, so I cleaned like a madman all day, including cutting the grass. I couldn’t believe what I was able to accomplish today, as well as keeping up with what was going on with our bid for the NHL in Hamilton today in US bankruptcy court.  Other than a minor, yet painful run in with a weed whaper this afternoon, the day was fun.

The kids went for a swim in the pool again today, and we even tried to have a picnic in the backyard but the bees were all over poor Abby again. Buggers!

Eva called around 4 to tell me the woman had cancelled the interview for this evening, but I had finished everything - including the laundry by that point so all was good.

I really don’t know how stay at home mom’s keep up this pace? I am exhausted and I am only three days into this. I am sure getting a routine going helps, but I am going to hopefully fall into a very deep sleep in about 15 minutes. I am exhausted!

I thanked the girls for a very fun day, and Emma said I was welcome. What a cutie! I can’t believe their are only two days left.

Emma loves bus trips and from our first time all on the bus together, I can see Abby does too. Abby just loves to people watch and she smiles at everyone.  The ride to downtown was absolutely packed, but we arrived at the hot dog cart no worse for the wear.

Papa was surprised to see us, although he thought the kiddies might venture down his way for a visit.  My father had time on and off between customers, to sit with us while the three of us had our hot dogs. Dad and his brother (my Uncle Brian), had already had lunch together so he just watched the girls enjoying Papa’s famous hot dogs. There was even homemade banana bread to top off our street meat meal.

The bees weren’t quite as bad today, but Emma helped me guard Papa’s pop from buzzing intruders.

We probably visited about an hour, before we made our return trip. We stopped off at the bakery on the way home to order buns for Emma’s party and our 2nd Annual Labour Day bash. We are expecting around 60ish again this year so there are a million things going on this week.

Abby took a little bit to settle, and I lied with Emma a bit until she fell asleep…Turns out, I was the one that fell asleep. I must have dozed off for about an 1 1/2 to 2 hours, but man it felt great.

Well, I was nice and refreshed and ready to tackle the world, but baby Abby had another adventure in mind for her daddy. Payback for taking a nap instead of cleaning the house.

I went in to the girls room to bring Abby downstairs, and by the smell, I thought the cats we are watching for a couple of months had messed somewhere in the kids room. Then I noticed a partially naked baby and well, without getting all graphic on this blog, I’ll just say that doodie called. Yuck! And the diaper was just like new as well. I’m duck-taping those suckers on from now on.
I ran Abby downstairs straight into the tub, rinsed her off, while I was at it, I made a bubble bath. The girls were sparkling clean when their mom arrived home.  I even had the clothes and sheets rinsed off and in the wash. All in a days work.

Unfortunately for Eva, I had my first writers group meeting last night for the new season, so dinner wasn’t quite finished when I had to leave. It was pretty close though so there wasn’t too much damage done from that stolen nap. Other than an extra load of laundry.

The kids have had breakfast, played some, watched a little cartoons, and Abby is already down for a nap. 6:30am risers makes for early nap times I guess. When is mine?

Although I am a little tired as I am not normally much of a morning person, there is something about being up with the birds that is like no other part of the day.

Blue skies, yet the sun has yet to rise above the rooftops. The living room is quiet except the soothing sounds of children taking steady gulps of their bottles and sippy cups, and the crunch of dog food in the kitchen. It is certainly one of the days briefest moments,  but definitely one of the most peaceful.

As is always the case with those quiet moments, they come to an end, and suddenly the sounds of sucking air and an empty bottle, the dog gorging on an after breakfast drink of water, the oldest switching on the televsion and the crashing of toys to the floor, the the house is alive again until nap time.

“Super califragilistic, espialodocious.” Not sure if I spelt that right, but that is about the only sound in the background now except the gentle splash of water in the still fishless fish tank. I am 36 years old, and I still love the sounds of cartoons in the background. I get that from my 94 year old grandfather. I actually bought him Song of the South a hanfull of years back for his birthday. The magic of the internet and EBay. He had tears in his eyes as he watched it again. It would seem the key to living to 100, is watch more cartoons.

It was a bit of a rough start to the morning. The dog breaking out of her crate and jumping into bed with me while my wife was getting ready for work, was actually a cute way to wake up. Nothing like a face wash and a snuggle from an otherwise rambuncious mutt.

However, because our local supermarket is closing and not re-opening in the new store until September 10th, their stock is very low and there wasn’t a bag of milk to be found anywhere. I just figured I would walk to the corner store in the morning, but I hadn’t contemplated the kids waking up before I had a chance to buy some milk. So, we had a couple of cran-pots on our hands at 6:30am. Luckily, my wife was quick on her toes and mentioned a little leftover formula in the cupboard that we could use, and she was able to calm down the oldest with a dollar store gift for waking up with a dry bum, so as mommies do, Eva saved the day.

Well, breakfast this morning was just a piece of toast for the kids, and some chocolate chip Weatabix for me, and for the most part, other than a couple of bum changes, bottles and sippy cups of milk, it’s been a lazy morning thus far.

It’s another beautiful day out there, so I think we’ll take our chances on the bus and visit Papa at the hot dog cart. My fathers retirement career. Hot dog maker/socialite. He loves it.

Close my eyes or clean the kitchen? big YAWN

Seriously though, I could not have asked for a better day. I am absolutely exhausted, but the fact that I was up until 1am this morning didn’t help.

After a I did the dishes (the handful I actually had to do by hand thanks to our relatively new dish washer), I took a few minutes to sit with Emma and watch a bit of a movie. 

Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. The first 20 minutes were good, but that’s about all I caught between head bob’s, so I quickly shook my head, jumped up, and did a little more cleaning.

Tonight was our first interview for childcare since my wife decided to quit her job to be a full-time mom and daycare provider. It’s a friend of the family but still, I had orders to make sure the place was presentable for our first potential client. Well, I think the deal was already done, but none the less, I had my work cut out for me on my first day as Daddy Daycare.

Around the time I figured Abby was going to awake from her nap, I starting prepping lunch. I grabbed the leftover barbecued chicken from the dinner I made the night before, some wraps, and I found some herb & garlic cream cheese for a sread. I like to imporovise. It makes things interesting. My wife and kids don’t always agree.

I let Emma try the spread first before I made her wrap, but she liked it.  I threw some peppers and onions on mine, placed a handful of crackers and carrots (and peas for me and Abby), on the side, made a bottle for the baby, woke her up, and then we had a feast.

After lunch, I decided it was finally time to use the pool the kids hadn’t the chance to use yet, so I dressed them in their suits, grabbed a bucket of water toys, and into the backyard we went .

The kids had an absolute blast! Abby is big enough now, that I really didn’t have to worry about her. I still kept a safe distance and all, but that kid has no fear. Her big sister had her giggling uncontrollably and they played so well together. Emma would go down the slide and splash Abby, and Abby would smile and laugh her little heart out. I have some recordings and photos from the day, but I haven’t the energy. I posted a few on my Facebook. Perhaps I’ll create an album for my week in review.

I don’t recall how long the little fishes plopped around in the pool, but I do know that poor Abby’s little lips were blue when I did take her out. Nice dad I am.

After I dried Abby off, I put her in her stroller with the play-tray I made for her and a handfull of the water toys for her to suck on, while Emma continued to splash and work on some blue lips of her own.

Gracie was being a good little dog the whole while, so I let her into the yard to play in the water too. I put her in the pool, but as soon as Emma started pooring water on her, she was gone. She was still tramatized from her bath the night before I think because she loves getting sprayed with the hose.

Even the stray cat who adopted us, hung out in the yard with us and caught some sun. That is until the dog noticed him and all heck broke loose. Those two have their moments.

I was finally able to get Emma out of the pool so we could get cleaned up for company, so we all headed inside and the kids played around for a bit while I did some more cleaning up from lunch. Dishes and toys, and more dishes and toys. No rest for the wicked.

I attempted to get Abby down for a nap around 4pm, but Eva was home just after 4:30 and Abby was still fussing around.

I managed to get the house all clean, swepted and vaccumed,  before the company arrived. If only Eva had seen the place about a half hour before she arrived. It wasn’t too far off the aftermath of the party on the movie Weird Science.  No rockets in the livingroom though or smelling piles of … well, you know.It was a mess though.

The place was a disaster again after the new daycare child left, but the kids all got along well and had lots of fun. Having a boy Abby’s age is going to be so much fun for her. Now we just have to find a child Emma’s age (which me may have), and we are all set. If spending the day with the kids today wasn’t reminder enough of why it’s so important to have Eva home with the kids, seeing Abby and the new boy play was just more proof.

I give my wife credit. 2 is crazy. I can’t imagine 3 or 4?

We cheated on dinner seeing as though that was the one thing I didn’t have ready when my wife arrived, as by the time our interview was over, the kids were driving us up the wall with hunger so I ran to McDonalds and ruined our healthy eating day.  You really understand why the wives some times just ask for takeout some days. There is no relaxing lunch out under a shady tree or hanging around the watercooler talking about the Tiger-cats.  Rest just means there is more to do when you get the motivation to get back up again.

I can’t wait until tomorrow. So far I am leaning towards “I wish it was me.” I wouldn’t have thought that? Although, that’s just the end of day one. I did have an idea of how to make a business out of this that goes beyond just a daycare. I wish my mind would stop working sometimes. I really need to rest my brain this week. A week off was way beyond over due.My motivation levels at work were bordering on zero by about 3pm Thursday; and I still had just over a day of work to go before my ‘vacation’.

Well, that’s it for today. I am going to bed!

]]> http://shakingthetree.ca/lawrencethomas/blog/?feed=rss2&p=126 http://shakingthetree.ca/lawrencethomas/blog/?p=121 http://shakingthetree.ca/lawrencethomas/blog/?p=121#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:52:22 +0000 Lawrence http://shakingthetree.ca/lawrencethomas/blog/?p=121 Well, I had planned on getting up early enough to take the dog for a walk before my wife left me alone with these two monsters (I mean, er, cute little girls), but this insomnia kept me awake until almost 1am. Not a good way to start Daddy Daycare week - already tired before I opened my eyes on day 1. In fact, I didn’t even get a shower before my wife plopped the baby beside me, plugged her with a bottle, and said goodbye and good luck.

Here goes nothing.

Well, it’s 30 minutes to lunchtime, and daddy managed to sneak in a quick shower with the kids locked in the living room, made scrambled eggs, pancake hash browns and mini-bagels, had a tea party, got the kids dressed, found a wet spot on the floor, then a wet spot on the baby’s arm, changed the baby again, packed a diaper bag, some snacks, the dog, and the double stroller just in case my three year old grew tired of walking, and we headed out for our first adventure of the week. With the weather we have had this summer, I couldn’t pass up the chance at this sunshine.

We made our way to the Tim Horton’s on Ottawa Street no worse from the wear, other than a sore arm from the dog pulling me. We loaded our buggy with a large regular, double-cupped coffee, and a small pack of Timbits, the baby had a bottle, Emma and the dog had some water, and I took a sip of my coffee, and we were on our way back home.

We found a park on the way back, so I thought it would be nice to find a shady spot for the dog, let the kids run around the playground, and relax for a moment and enjoy my coffee.

Well, Emma had fun, the dog was the benefactor to some loving from all the kids running around, but poor Abby was being attacked by bees. Turns out, honey dipped donuts and the park are not a good idea. Actually, the other mother had also brought Timbits for her bunch, so needless to say memories of my childhood and being chased by a nest full of Yellow Jackets came flooding back.

They were everywhere! On my baby’s hands and face and legs. The dog was trying to eat them and I was trying to figure out what to do to the box.  I tossed a couple donuts on the ground, but I didn’t want to throw them all out after getting the kids all excited for Timbits, so I left the box on the picnic table and ran back every couple of minutes to grab a chocolate one for Emma.

I found some baby wipes and cleaned the baby all up, but then I noticed they were also all over our sticky stroller. The other mother had already wisely packed up her kids and ran for the hills. I was faced with the upset of no Timbits and leaving the park earlier than anticipated.

Luckily for me though, Emma understood that we had to leave (with a little persuasion), and we made our way. Not before how ever, I left my empty donut box in the park after realizing there wasn’t a garbage can in the park area and I had had enough of being attacked by those relentless bees. Believe me, I felt bad about it.

To make matters worse, the big kid was now faced with a few tag along bees that were after my coffee. No sooner had we crossed the road, when I finally lost it and threw my coffee on the street. I wasn’t proud of that moment, but by that point I had had enough. I’ll go to the park later and make up for it I promise.

Okay, now that confession time is over, the rest of the trip was good. A few more moments with the dog pulling my arm off, but other than that, Emma made the whole trip on foot, Abby fell asleep somewhere between the park and home, and now Emma is reading a book, the dog is passed out on the floor, and Emma is reading a book.

Now to just clean up the morning toy playing session. How do two kids make so much mess? Never mind the kids though. Look at the kitchen! How does one adult make so much mess?

Well, I almost survied the first morning. 8 minutes to go. A little water on the floor and on the baby, a few more teeth marks in the kids toys, and a brief run in with some bees. Not a bad day so far.

We are in transission, as my wife enters her last week at her current job, and as we prepare for her new position of Mommy Daycare and we fill this place full of kids.

At weeks end, I will either be (as my mother would say), ready for basket weaving, or, wishing I was the one to stay home and watch these two beautiful girls grow.

Basket weaving, or old pro by weeks end. All I can hope for is at least, a happy medium.

Never mind good luck to me. Good luck to the kids.

I must run before the dog east any more toys.

As I drove downtown mid-morning, I spotted a CBS truck making its way towards Copps Coliseum. Then I remembered. It was Friday. It was Make It Seven day.

When I returned home a short while later, I stuffed my pack with a recent garage sale find, The Rink - Stories from Hockey’s Hometowns by Chris Cuthbert and Scott Russell, several drafts of a short story I am in the final stages of writing about growing up a hockey child, and a folder full of double sided sheets of foolscap paper on which I wrote my first novella as a child, about the dream of professional hockey in Hamilton. At the front of the stack, a Sports Illustrated magazine with an image I had waited 22 years to see, of Raymond Bourque holding the Stanley Cup. Mission 16W (Wins). A true image of determination, and what it means to never give up on your dreams.

Chris Cuthbert & Scott Russell

Denver Post / The Sporting News

I felt the need to keep what hockey has meant to me all my life, close to my heart this day. A note pad, pen, and my laptop, all weighing me down, but I was ready to feel hockey in my bones.

I walked up the stairs to the top of Jackson Square with supporting Jim Balsillie and the dream of the NHL on my mind. I don’t usually attend rallies, but this entire battle has had me intrigued since the early stages. Something inside of me just had to be a part of this.

As I approached the main stage, closer to the Coliseum, I found it encouraging to see hockey so alive in Hamilton in June.

There were Tiger-Cats fans and Argos suck signs; a foreshadow of what would surely become another animated cross-highway rivalry. I see the McMaster Marauder’s mascot, many corporate sponsors, radio and television crews and a sea of signs and posters made by hockey fans from all walks of life. I see NHL jersey’s like the Jets, Bruins, Pens, Team Canada, and many others. There are families and business people a like.

Some were on celebrity watch. ‘Hey, isn’t that so and so?” one man whispers to his wife; pointing at someone just over my right shoulder. One father dances with his daughter, energized at the thought of the NHL finally coming to town.

A couple of fans carried nets and hockey sticks to the top of Jackson Square, looking to get a good game of street hockey going. There were quite a few different characters in the crowd, but for the most part, they were all there to support professional hockey in Hamilton.

I walked around to enjoy many different vantage points; to get a good look at all the faces and what was going on around the rally. Overhearing fans all around me talking hockey; people watching, all the while taking in what the various speakers had to say on the main stage.

I attended Friday’s event with the thought of writing something about NHL hockey, but then I started to notice a lot of jersey’s from the professional hockey team that already calls Hamilton home, and has done so for the past 13 years.

Throughout this entire bid to re-locate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton, I have wondered about the fate of the Bulldogs, but it wasn’t until reading that Mike Andlauer was considering the possibility of moving the Bulldogs to the Mile One Centre, and bringing hockey back to the passionate and hockey hungry fans of St. John’s, that I realized that the Bulldogs have been neglected throughout this whole process.

Hockey Night in Hamilton

My Ticket to Game 7

The Dogs are the first and only team for which I have been a season ticket holder. Even the early years that I wasn’t a season ticket holder, I still attended most of the games. The AHL is great hockey. Fast paced, physical, and loaded with talent. Guys fighting to make it to the big show. Working hard every day to realize their childhood dreams of playing in the NHL.

The first time I was ever published in the Hamilton Spectator, was a story I wrote about the Bulldogs and the excitement in this city and in the hearts of area hockey fans, when we hosted the Houston Aeros in a game seven of a winner takes all professional championship game. The game, and the moment I held my first published article in my hand, will always hold a very special place in my heart. If that wasn’t extraordinary enough, the Bulldogs also published an extended version of that story with photos, on the home page of the their website. I stared at the Bulldogs website on and off for weeks; enjoying my moment in the spotlight.

I am a father of two young girls now so I haven’t been to many games over the past few years, but I still love the Bulldogs. I remember sitting with my dad and my first born when she was a baby, and watching the television as the Bulldogs finally brought championship hardware to the great city of Hamilton.

I was hoping this coming season, that I could finally take my oldest to her first professional hockey game. I would like it to be the Bulldogs because they have been there for us, when the NHL continually denied us the opportunity to realize our National League dreams. She loved her first Tiger-Cat game last season, and I know she would love the Bulldogs and bruiser and seeing all the other kids as well. I also realize now more than ever, that her first hockey jersey has to be a Bulldogs jersey. They deserve to be remembered for everything they have meant to this city, and for everything they have given back to this community.

The Bulldogs have given me some fond memories. I hope there is some way we can make them part of our long term plans. I can’t imagine never again hearing the announcer calling out over the PA at the Dog Pound, “Hear are YOUR Hamilton Bull-dogs”.

How long can we continue to support and fight for something, that won’t even give us the time of day? I realize this is truly the fist time a bid actually makes business sense in a revitalized Hamilton, and with someone with the money, support, and devotion to make this happen, but I am not sure I can continue to sustain my appetite to see the NHL come to Hamilton, when they continually turn up their noses on something that on paper, makes business sense - never mind a passion for the game kind of sense.

After the GMO’s played one final song to end the rally, I looked into the crowd for the Bulldogs jerseys, and made my way over to chat with some of them. I was curious as to what their main reason for attending the rally was.

“We want to see the NHL come to Hamilton just as much as the next person, but we also wanted to show our support for the Dogs. I think it stinks that the Bullodg’s have been overlooked throughout this process. I heard them saying things today like Let’s bring a hockey team to Hamilton,’ ‘un-served hockey fans,’ and I think to myself, but we do have a professional team. We are being ‘served’. How many great players have we seen develop right here in this city? We seem to be forgetting that. You know, they didn’t mention the Bulldogs once. I just think they deserve more respect than that.”

One couple, talked about traveling to many away games and the support for the AHL in places like Syracuse and Manitoba. There was also talk that perhaps we could support both the NHL and AHL like Philadelphia and the Flyers/Phantoms.

Perhaps if Hamilton played home to its own farm team?

Many of the people I had the pleasure of chatting with this past Friday were true hockey fans. Fans of the Fincups and Hamilton Canucks; the Steelhawks, and the Bulldogs. They remember the Dukes and have been to many Kilty B’s, Real McCoys, and Hamilton Red Wings games. They have been supporting Hamilton hockey all this time, no matter what team the organizers put before them, or whether it was professional or otherwise.

Oddly enough, every Bulldog’s fan I talked to was a season ticket holder. They have been supporters of the Bulldogs through good and bad, for the better part of the past 13 years.

The Cities AHL Future Looks Bright

When I go to a Bullodgs game, I see a lot of special needs, kids groups, youth hockey teams and large families taking in the games. I wonder how much they will be able to support an NHL team? How many games could they or community groups, be able to afford?

I’d love to see an NHL team here. I think of the jobs that could follow as a result, perhaps less eastbound QEW traffic if more people could find work locally instead of having to travel to the GTA. I think of a revitalized state-of-the-art Copps, and a new waterfront home for the Cats. There are so many thing that excite me when I think of what this could mean for Hamilton, but I can’t help in the back of my mind, thinking of what we might be sacrificing to bring something to Hamilton, that really hasn’t shown any interest over the years to include our city; our home, into it’s plans.

The NHL isn’t ‘hockey’. I think that is the main thing we have to realize and remember. Hockey is in our hearts. On the streets, in parking lots, in the family room on a Saturday night. It’s not about one league, it’s about what the game means to our communities.

Maybe it’s time to take a long, hard look at our professional hockey dreams, and what we stand to lose; not just what we stand to gain.

Now with the talks of a possible move of the Bulldogs to St. John’s, and a few obstacles in our NHL plans, there is a chance of having no professional team in Hamilton. That wouldn’t be good for this city on so many levels.

I thank Mr. Balsille for his determination and what he is trying to bring to the City of Hamilton and Southern Ontario in general. I truly appreciate his efforts. I am a supporter, but I just think there is one important thing we are forgetting about.

Let’s give our existing professional hockey team the respect they deserve. They are and have been, hockey Hamilton for as long as I can remember. I am not sure I am ready to watch 13 years of history thrown away.

GO Dogs GO. No amount of time will ever erase the memories you have skated into our heartts.

My first For Dummies book arrived in the mail on Friday as well. I was so excited. Man I need a life. Chapters.Indigo must have the fastest shipping around.  I have only read the intro and forward and such, but I am looking forward to digging much deeper this week.

If you know of any good WordPress powered blogs/sites out there, please send them my way.

Have a great day. Looks like we are in for a gorgeous week.

Cheers.

I love getting parcels in general, but I am also excited to learn something new.

Yes, I am a nerd. Last mammoth manual I read was the MS Access 2002 bible. It is sitting on my work desk with many tabs that I created, sticking out of the pages.  If reading the book didn’t make me a big enough computer geek, the tabs certainly do the trick.

WordPress for Dummies is only 408  or so pages so it’s not quite as long-winded as the 1500+ page Access bible was, but I think this is going to be a little less drag and drop than I thought it would be.  As I struggled through adding a simple signature pic, I quickly realized that I have a lot to learn.

As you can see, I have now added a share button, signature image, and a profile pic, but I have yet to figure out why it doesn’t add that photo to my comments.

Bare with me, or better yet, come laugh with me;  or at me if that is more fun.

Short list:
Husbands for Dummies
Fathers for Dummies
Dog owners for Dummies

I leave it at that for today.  So many cool little gadgets (I think they call them Widgets), that I have seen on other sites that I want to add, but to be honest, I don’t think I want anyone ‘Stumbling Upon’ this post.

Have a great day,
Lawrence