Little Questions

When do those younger than you stop being annoying little kids and start being potential friends?

Where is the line drawn between relying on someone and having control over them?

Some Advice

• Don't take more than you need.
  
• Everything you do (good and bad) has consequences.
  
• Try to read more and then think about what you've read.
  
• If you're not sure about something (actually, anything), go for a 20 minute walk.
  
• Give someone a hug.
  
• Try to be tidy.
  
• Put things back.
  
• The truth is a lot easier to remember.
  
• Leave everywhere in as-good- or better-shape when you go.
  
• Don't wait for someone else to make you happy, you need to do it yourself.
  
• If you're feeling sorry for yourself, help someone else who is in worse circumstances than you are and you'll find things are better for you, too.
  
• Now is the time.
  
• As your amount of 'stuff' increases, so does the amount of time necessary to take care of and maintain that stuff. Keep that in mind before getting more stuff.
  
• if you can do better, then do it, or shut up.

Sorry, but I've had that building up inside of me for some time now. Better out than in, you know.

Things to Learn

There are some things everyone should know. I've got some of these things already, have plans to work on some and have a few lessons on the go. Here's my list.

• how to dance really well
  
• how to swim
  
• how to graciously accept a complement
  
• how to teach an animal a trick
  
• how to be still for more than an hour
  
• what you want to be doing when you are seventy-five years old
  
• how to make some form of music
  
• what your comfort food is
  
• how much sleep you need
  
• how to count to ten, say please, thank you and how much in the language of each country you visit
  
• how to make at least one fantastic three-course meal
  
• how to dress for extremely cold weather
  
• basic first aid skills
  

Seventeen

It's been a big year for Banana. She's just turned seventeen and I'd say some significant learning took place in this past year. I won't go into great detail, but suffice to say that I'm pleased with the outcome of the many lessons that have occurred. It feels like I've aged ten years for this past one, but not all of that is her fault. :-)

She has an exciting year coming up for a number of reasons. I have confidence that she'll make mostly good decisions, and she'll see the messages that result from the incorrect choices.

I have faith in you, kiddo.

Christmas Past

Christmas has come and gone in a relatively quiet manner. Kate and I spent it at home without the company of Banana and McMonk. I don't exaggerate when I say that Christmas and Boxing Day were spent entirely inside. While I claim it was quiet, we had guests - plenty of them, in fact. We hosted eleven people (with me as the only Canadian at the table) for a big post-Christmas turkey feast. Phone calls and greetings were sent back and forth to siblings and parents. The day before Christmas Eve had us visiting with a friend fom New York who was back in town for the holidays. Christmas Eve brought my folks over for a gift exchange. The cold (-20 celcius or worse) weather and 40 cm of snow that had us socked in lifted for Christmas Day, but we never found reason to venture out. Even the lure of ultra-crowded malls, half-baked attempts at sales and quenching of consumerism weren't enough to lure us out of our comfy surroundings yesterday.

Today saw us tidying the house and making up the guest room yet again. We're very excited to see Hillary (one of Kate's friends) who is coming for visit. She'll be staying in Calgary for a few days before we all head off for a New Year's ski in BC.

Moving to this new house and neighborhood (along with meeting up with this lovely Aussie with a vast social network) has meant that we always seem to be having people over or preparing to have people over. You'd think it would exhaust me, but I am whole-heartedly enjoying the thrum of activity that the house contains.

Life couldn't be better these days.

Holidays

Things are quickly drawing to a close at my little company. I've cleared out my desk and hanging files; delegated all my responsibilities and now have to wait for something to happen that I can fix or take care of.

I'm starting to feel some sadness at having to go, even though I know better, more challenging times await.

NOTICE

Banana noted that this sign is unintentionally deep.