Mount Daddy Olympus

A recent ritual from my young son:

• I arrive home and my young son proceeds to ask to climb up the dad.
• He quickly scales my body with, as yet, no permanent damage done.
• He pretends to plant a flag in my head, and proclaims:
• "I have climbed Mount Daddy Olympus, and fallen from it",
• as he immediately then enacts a fall and laughs as he slides down to my feet.

I have enjoyed these small moments of fun with my son and record it here that I might not forget a little boy full of life creating a homecoming for me.

Ethan Reads

My son loves to read. Here are few of the books he has read lately:

• Vordak the Incomprehensible - How to Rule the School
• Big Air
• Ender's Game 
• Hunger Games 
• Catching Fire 
• Mocking Jay 
• Serpent's Shadow
• Michael Vay
• Nerds (Book One)
• Nerds (Book Two)

I am amazed at how much he reads.  I am glad he does.  We are always looking for good books to suggest to him.  Based on those books above and his age, twelve, please feel free to leave recommendations for books as a comment.

Happy New Year!

While Janus seemed to balance his two faces evenly in looking back and looking forward, I seem to have a slight bias to looking ahead at the time of New Year.

My family and I have had a very nice New Year's weekend.

With my children, we like to celebrate Nova Scotia New Year because it comes earlier. The kids get to bang pots and pans, shout and go wild and then go to bed before it is too late.

This year, both my two older children made it all the way to Times Square New Year. My daughter even honored the New Year's kiss tradition, but she didn't choose to kiss me, she kissed the dog!

Our family has many good goals for this year. The most looked forward to event at this point is the upcoming birth. My wife has the nursery all ready. She is due on Groundhog's Day, but is hoping he comes earlier than that. If the groundhog sees his shadow, would it mean six more weeks of pregnancy?

Week Weak Again

What is it that makes me feel not quite ready for the week ahead? Or is that just an excuse layered on top of some stubbornness I reawaken from childhood, akin to "But I don't want to go to bed"? And why is it when I feel this way I think a string of stilted questions will make anything better? Would statements, perhaps, be more in order?

I think it is out of my system. A good tomorrow will be helped by sleep tonight.

Good night.

Great are the words of Isaiah

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Sleep

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet.

Forgive a brief poem

To Songs unsung, I Hum

A poem never read
was one I thought I heard

though soon the sound escaped me,
it left me still disturbed.

A poem never written
was one I longed to hear -

yet on, the page stared blankly
at the words that stood so near.

A poem never realized
may seem an unclear thing

without a phrase definative
just a voice re-echoing.

A song to me familiar
while all the lyrics hide

I welcome and attempt the tune
of a melody deep inside.