June 2007

While crossing the border to New York, we got rear-ended while we were at a full-stop. On top of that it was a rental vehicle I didn’t get insurance for, and the person who hit us wasn’t driving their car.

Although we were already late getting to our destination, I thought it was refreshing talking to those in the other vehicle since it had been stop-and-go for over half an hour at the border crossing. The people were really nice and highly apologetic, and it was good that it was very clear who was at fault. I think even the nicest people can get really mean when accidents are messier and fault is less clear.

What I loved most was the grace my wife spoke to them. They had felt bad enough, damaging our car, their friend’s car, and what they needed to hear was that it was going to be okay, accidents happen. Now that I think of it, it makes me think of the opening lines in the movie Crash.

“We’re always behind this metal and glass. It’s the sense of touch that we miss, so much that we crash into each other just so we can feel something.”

Our rental car

Stellar wondering, what on earth is going on?

I think I’ll start highlighting a bit of the geekier side of me and blogging some of the technology/productivity tools that I use to do what I do.

For one, traveling has never been the same since Google maps came along. It just got better.

multiple destinations, satellite images, live traffic, and now drag and drop re-routable maps!

It’s been quite the adventure! Here’s a few pictures from The National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY.

I’m in the bottom left corner tugging the car seat because the trunk was too full to get the stroller out!

As a new parent, I’ve found that I’m constantly scouring books and the web for what’s normal. Should my daughter be doing this, or not doing that? How much exactly should she be eating? Should her #2 look like that? Is she developmentally on track? Is she normal?

The problem is, why am I aiming for normal or average? I don’t in my own life. Since when has being normal, or even slightly better than average been a worthy goal in life?

One baby formula say it helps strengthen bones, the other says it supports brain development, what do you choose?

I find so much of the marketing towards parents exploits our insecurities and our need to have the most optimal child alive. Sometimes I fall into the trap and I think, this could be it, this could be the very meal, the very food, at this very juncture in her growth and development that gives her the edge in life, that causes her to be 3% smarter or faster.

But would Stellar being that much smarter or that much quicker, really make her that much happier?

Would it really impact the content of her character?

I need to constantly remind myself that despite what everyone says, there are more important things to be focusing on.

Rather than aiming for normal, I hope that we can engage Stellar as the distinct person that she is.

We’ve never truly wanted her to be above average or even perfect, what we really want is to cultivate in her the person God has created her to uniquely be.

How’s this shot for normal?

Stellar never thumbsucks, it’s always two to three fingers of smoking goodness

How’s this for a little insane?

Is there a word for the emotion she’s displaying here?

And turn up the volume to hear what she thinks of you

Not to be outdone, Yvz secretly bought some fresh duck while I wasn’t looking when we were at the market.

She made a sweet and sour duck stir fry.  Soooo good!  I can’t even begin to explain what a blessing it is to sit down to a meals like this!

Also some of her other recent creations

Coffee coated baked chicken (we also bbq’d them for Father’s day on sunday)

Home made Sheppard’s Pie from scratch

Baked chicken, asparagus, and amazing Smashed Potatoes

Take a moment and listen to this interview with Catherine Rohr who began the Prison Entrepreneurship Program

I didn’t know who she was, nor do I really have much interest in those in prison, but this is definitely worth listening to.

It’s taken from a catalyst podcast, i just clipped out the interview portion. I hope they don’t mind.

Catalyst Interview with Catherine Rohr

With the help of my wife, my first ever Father’s Day gift. A sweet poem from my daughter!

The pink splotch is Stellar’s handprint! (Click for a larger image)

* Just realized that the larger image for this was not accessible.  It should be working now.

It’s indescribable what a splendid time we’re having as a family these days.

Sure, we’re unemployed with a mortage and plenty of uncertainty in the future, but we know it won’t always be this sweet. These have been some of the best days ever.

@ the kensington market
St. Lawrence market downtown toronto (Rated as one of the top twentyfive markets in the world

Hot dogs and milk
Stellar and a really big hat

The family, simply enjoying every moment!

http://myimn.com

I’m no tree hugger, but Yvz and I just recently watched the “planet earth” dvd series and it’s phenomenal.

On innovation check out vator.tv, ten faces of innovation, a report on the most innovative companies, and TED - ideas worth spreading.

A social networking stuff for Toronto favorites.

Someone just told me that there was something known as ‘bridal diapers’ for brides with really elaborate dresses who don’t want to use the bathroom on that special day.  I couldn’t believe it either.  Here’s a message board of women discussing it.

I love just about anything with monkeys.  Check this clip out.

Yesterday we had some quality father daughter time as we hit the mall and the library for the afternoon.

From a comic strip referenced in Shane Claiborne’s Irresistable Revolution

Two guys are talking to each other, and one of them says he has a question for God.

He wants to ask why God allows all of this poverty and war and suffering to exist in the world.

And his friends says,”Well, why don’t you ask?” The fellow shakes his head and says he is scared.

When his friend asks why, he mutters, “I’m scared God will ask me the same question.“

Yvz has been a bit sick so I cooked for the week.

Here were some of the latest creations…
(You can click on the photos for larger images and some additional shots)

Salmon and Asparagus Alfredo Penne with spinich and tomato salad

Omelette with ham, yellow bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, italian sausage, and feta cheese.

Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. This one was painful. I don’t usually follow recipes but I somewhat went with this one. It required creating a sweet stock from scratch and my first ever roux (supposedly an essential part of cajun/acadian cooking), and the ‘holy trinity’ of cajun cuisine with bell peppers, celary, and onions.

Last night we went asian with a chicken congee with shitake mushrooms with a side of pork and shrimp dumplings

In a month or so the family below will be making a road trip from Toronto to Boston…

I think we’ll be stopping through either Rochester or Syracuse (I have no idea what’s in those cities), but Stellar will need to be resting for the night there.

We’ll then drive down to Boston and crash at my cousin’s for a week

On the way back we’ll be stopping by Montreal, and Ottawa before we head back to Toronto.

Does anyone have any suggestions on things we should be doing or seeing on the way there? Particularly Rochester, Syracuse, and Boston since I’m not as familiar with those cities.

Any Voxers along the way?

This will be our first big roadtrip with Stellar. We’re really hoping it all goes smoothly…

Our daughter Stellar is a very shy and quiet girl.  She loves to stare and listen in on conversations.  She smiles and smirks a lot but people always tell us they never see her laugh.

She makes us work for it all the time.  There are secret techniques that have taken quite a bit of time and effort to raise a laugh in her (these include having her slap our cheecks with both hands, doing sit-ups, and various ridiculous poses).  It’s been an extraordinary experience learning about her without her being able to say a word.

So here’s a short clip of us capturing her odd laugh.

I big passion of mine is helping discover and unleash strengths and dreams in others.

So I was in Chapters bookstore the other day and noticed that The Gallup Organization just released a new volume to StrengthsFinder.

I’ve already read most of the material, but each book also comes with a unique code so that you can do a strengths assessment online. You can only do the assessment if you purchase the book.

Then I thought, well, I could just open up the flap in the store, copy the code, and then try doing the assessment again or have my wife try it maybe.

Then I realized that I was willing to steal for this.

What good is it discovering you have all the strengths in the world, only to find that the one thing you lack is integrity?

Just a week ago I was discussing with some friends how strength and power doesn’t necessarily corrupt, it simply reveals what’s already inside of us.