travel

the world is a big beautiful place

there are so many wonderful places to visit

One of the great things about Ottawa is it`s proximity to many other wonderful adventures.

Toronto is nice and close. New York is only a hop skip and jump away. Recently Janice and I went for a nice little day trip to Montreal.

Only 2 hours away, Montreal offers beautiful architecture, outdoor cafes, and much more. On this little outing we visited parts of Old Montreal ... looking at the beautiful buildings and wandering through shops and cobblestone streets.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park as horsed drawn carriages went by ... later in the afternoon we stopped for a beer at a roof top restaurant.

This was my first trip to Montreal, and I look forward to returning to see more...

youth

Lately I've been lucky enough to be working with young kids in schools.

Grade two classes and kindergarten kids have something that most of us seem to lose somewhere along the way. It's promise. Promise of potential.

The future is unwritten for them, and the potential limitless.
As time passes for us, we become who we are. Our experiences shape us.

For the very young, it is more of a blank slate.

I love the opportunity to be encouraging and patient. I am honoured to be able to assist and participate in the process of their development. It is a joy, and I know that it's a chance to perhaps occasionally make a small positive impact.

I like who I am as an adult. I am happy with where I have come, and who the person that I am maturing into; and working with children is a beautiful compliment to that in ways.

Sometimes, I remember snapshots from my youth ... good (and not so good), and it inspires me to look for positive opportunities.

I am enjoying working as an Educational Assistant, and I hope that I might be lucky enough to land a permanent position at a nice elementary school not to far in the future.

I am a wealthy man

On days like today, I can't help but count my blessings.

Th sun is shining, I'm healthy and things are great.

I feel like I'm a wealthy man ... not financially, but in other, more important ways.
The bills are paid, there's food in the kitchen and summer is around the corner.
I live in a nice house, in a great neighbourhood, in a fantastic city.

It's like my life is coming into balance.

But ... what really makes me truly wealthy is Janice.
Nothing can bring one peace, joy and happiness as a loving supportive partner.

I am a lucky, lucky man.

work

I am working again as an Educational Assistant.

It feels good. It's nice to feel like I am contributing again ...
helpful and productive.

It's on a casual basis right now, but it's a step in the right direction.

Today I worked at a high school, and earlier in the week I was assisting at an Elementary School.

I am confident that at some point in the future, a wonderful opportunity will allow me to secure a more permanent position.

Working makes one appreciate down time more. The evenings and weekends become a time to recharge and relax. It puts things back into balance. We appreciate leisure time more when we work.

Also - tomorrow I will be shadowing a Dee Jay at an Ottawa music service ... he will school me in the ins and outs of their way of providing recorded music as I prepare to join them to play on Saturday nights.

I am looking forward to Dee Jaying again ... it's something I am good at, and enjoy ...
it feels good to be able to provide quality entertainment at important events such as weddings.

It will be a good opportunity to get to know the city better, and experience new adventures as well.

Things are falling into place...

connections

I like how one thing leads to another sometimes.

I was organizing some of my online bookmarks a couple of days ago, and came across a link to a site that allows users to construct their family tree.

So ... I've started to plug in family members and some of the information needed. It's a bit of hunt at times, trying to fill in dates and places ...

The process has also stirred up memories of my parents who passed on years ago ... stirring memories from my childhood ... and as I add some of their connections to the family tree I try to imagine Europe and the origins of some of my relatives.

It is an interesting learning experience ... clarifying connections and preserving important information for others.

I look forward to finding out a little more about some of the people I am connected to as the tree evolves.