Subtle, universe

June 26, 2013 | Blog

I swear to God this is true. With no prompting from me, my computer just interrupted the CBC radio stream in iTunes to play Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. Subtle, Universe.

More:

Loons keening

June 21, 2013 | Blog

I just heard loon calls referred to as loons keening. I’ve never heard it described that way before. It’s perfect.

More:

Parenting is like peeing in a room full of people

June 6, 2013 | Blog

If a young couple were to ask me what it’s like to be a parent, I’d tell them it’s like peeing in a room full of people, because I swear to God I haven’t been without an audience in the bathroom since 2009, and all that’s missing are score cards and applause. 10!

More:

And I didn’t even lose a nail

May 2, 2013 | Blog

Know what’s better than getting your fingers caught between the articulated panels of a closing garage door? NEARLY ANYTHING ELSE EVER.

More:

C is for Cookie

April 30, 2013 | Blog

C is for Cookie, that’s good enough for me. Cookie, cookie, cookie, starts with C.

Cookie Monster
More:

Death and taxes

April 5, 2013 | Blog

Death and taxes. At least death doesn’t come with paper work.

Tax form asks “Were you confined to a prison or similar institution for a period of 90 days or more during the year?” to which every parent in Canada replies “Define similar institution.”

Also, to the wife: “…is Ryan dependent upon you because of a mental or physical impairment?” which raises interesting questions about the nature of love, and attraction, and possibly sexual deviancy, but ultimately the answer is no.

More:

Raccoon on the roof

April 4, 2013 | Blog

Its 4:30 am, do you know where your raccoon is? It’s on my roof eating frozen death from my garden hose, that’s where. Ryan 1, raccoon 0.

After a bit more sleep, I climbed onto the roof to see the damage. That ring tailed bastard ate through the vent pipe flashing!

Being on the roof reminded me just how much I dislike being on the roof. Therefore hiring somebody to fix The Bastard’s handy work on the vent flashing. Probably.

More:

Parenting is like a sci-fi fantasy epic

March 6, 2013 | Blog

A young couple asked me what it’s like raising children. I told them every day was like living a sci fi fantasy epic. The 2 year old is goose stepping around the kitchen island with a bath towel on her head yelling ZOMBIE! over and over and over. The 4 year old, who has totally conquered the child locks on the junk cupboard and is entertaining a spectacular sugar high, is running circles around her, buck naked, and screaming at the top of her lungs, because omg zombies. Also, she’s a rocket ship. The baby is sitting in her high chair, wide eyed, and thinking faint past life memories that were a lot like this, but not really, and possibly with more Mardi Gras beads, and whatever where is my chewy thing, nom nom nom. That was Tuesday evening, roll credits, fin.

More:

No ordinary cat

January 31, 2013 | Blog

The old cat has a psychological prowess. A way of the mind. An uncanny ability to motivate bloodless ends to misdirected mice who find them selves inside this house. And so it is, that I find myself thinking I should feel badly for the mouse who just now went scurrying across my basement floor. Is a breaking of the mind not a far worse torment than claws and teeth? Can she not just crush it’s skull and be done with it? The horror! Yet it is too late for these thoughts, for the game has already begun. See? A calm blankets the old girl. She looks to be napping, but no – she schemes. THE HUNT IS ON.

More:

Public school gulag

January 30, 2013 | Blog

True story. While signing Kid A up for school today, a girl walks into the office and asks the admin for the key to the dungeon.

I like this place.

More: