A Good Year

2006, a round-up of sorts. As much a selfish exercise, i read thru all the posts i'd made in 2006 (Good times) as it is a public exercise: to hilight what junctures (and relating blog posts) this year were important, or pivotal in my mind.
You'll likely notice a real trend which takes shape on July 27th. Care to guess?
The below list starts in January of 2006, and follows chronological order, thru to November 2006 with the last link in the round-up.

January: CoD2 is installed on my computer video games take root, again.

February: 2006 was a good year for the League of Southern Alberta for World Dominance. Don't just take my word for it, click the link ;)

Mission work in Africa with AIA. That caused quite the blogging silence, conectivity was weak in the Horn this year.

March: Coffee leads to greatness... Med Hat Blog is started, and in under a year, has really made a strong valuable presence as a voice in the community. Good show guys! Keep driving debate & commentary.

April: April fools gag we pitched to the MH News garnered a huge response, greatly increasing the chatter about the company i was employed with at the time: Pitch Outdoor Advertising.

July: Change in Working arrangementsi left Pitch for CCL.

Change in living arrangements Elijah Reuben is born July 27, 2006. 1570 grams. (thats kinda tiny)

September: Elijah Reuben is home.

November: Elijah Reuben is dedicated at church!

In review, maybe i should suggest a theme for 2006 and the posts i chose to blog about. Considering the number of pictures i loaded post July 27... this blog has, since 2006 entered a new era. (pun intended)

/and now i'll leave all the counting (and streamers and champagne) to these folks. i'm going to sleep. God bless.

A Good Day

It is a good day to be a Chargers fan. The NFL season is all wrapped up, and the post season is set. Chargers are first in the AFC. That's a decent place to be... bring on the superbowl. Congrats to the Chiefs (enjoy their run, Sean) who backed into the playoffs when the Broncos lost their must-win game.

It's also a good day to wear shirts. i wore shirts today (actually, only one shirt), did you wear shirts today (yes, this is how i talk to era). i wish i wore the shirt i have pictured below, i likey. House Party classic.



I didn't much like Kid n' Play, they are weak pop culture icons (like Kriss Kross) that get worked into my vocabulary... a lot. And for that, i would love to wear this shirt. Respect.

Elijah Bear

2006 is winding down. Out like a lamb... (or was that May?) No matter, i'll try not to mix my stories up. i'll stick to fact.
fact: Elijah, or era (pronounced air-ah) continues to captivate.


The first pic is era kicking it with his new buddy "Vern the bear". Elijah bear is glad to know he's not the only bear at home.



This is as close as era got to the tree prior to our Christmas Eve unwrapping. Next year, i don't expect him to be so... stationary.



Elijah and i gawking at the big gift, a train set. I don't know about era, but i can't wait to open it up!



Heh, Renee and the boy clowning around. Silly era, he thinks he's a seal. We had to remind him he was a bear.


Over 5 months old, weight beyond 15 pound. All is well.
"Prospero Ano Nuevo" (spanish, i don't know how to say Happy New Year in Dutch!)

Nash Reaches NBA Milestone

Two time (so far) NBA MVP Steve Nash became the 39th player in NBA history to top 10,000 points and 5,000 assists in his career. He is the sixth active player to reach the mark.

Victoria, British Columbia product does well. Really well.
/Steve has been told to cut down on his philanthropy, as he'd already given so much. He's unfazed, and continues to give, even preparing to build a hospital in South America.

Hussein & Fortress America

Saddam Hussein has been hanged in Iraq.
We've all followed, with varying degrees of interest, the process in Iraq. i pray it all works out.

Something we may not be familiar with, something i'm rather fond of, is Saddam's mysterious appearance on the cover of Milton Bradleys "Fortress America" board game. The game was released in 1986, at the height of the cold war, and prior to the first gulf war. I've got this game (re-shrink wrapped even), and regardless of what the folks at MB use as their talking lines, it IS Saddam. No doubt.
Pop, iconic culture. You dig?

"...no discussion of Fortress America is complete without mentioning the "Saddam Hussein cover" issue. What this refers to is that Milton Bradley apparently changed the appearance of one of the faces displayed on the box's cover—which looks strikingly similar to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. At some point, this was changed, and the face got a big pair of sunglasses, which hid this resemblance. " - Rob Burns (2002)

/visit the above link to see images of BOTH game covers. With, and without Saddam Hussein.

Jobs, Bean There!

After the kerfuffle over at Apple, and the subsequent statements regarding what appeared to be stock-option indiscretions. It's nice to finally learn that Steve Jobs, the galactic leader (and co-founder) of cult classic Apple Computers made a dollar in salary last year. In fact, according to this article over at Market Watch, Steve's been making a dollar a year for 4 years now. I don't know about you, but i need more than that. Apple is NOT that cool. :)

Besides that, i am sitting back enjoying a fantastic cup of coffee. Tanzanian Peaberry, freshly roasted just prior to Christmas. I bought coffee beans from Bean There! Roasting Company in Medicine Hat, Alberta for a couple gifts. Decided to keep some too. Yeah me! B.K. imports green beans from all over the world, often from places he's actually bean (er, been). There really is nothing better...




The pics above are from the Munali coffee plantation in Zambia. Through AIA, B.k. & i were fortunate to visit this picturesque site. We visited, and drank coffee too. Woot!

Visionary Leadership

Friend, blogger (and pretty good basketball player) Aaron Gordon has taken it to another level. You may remember Aarons' blog Visionary Leadership. You may recall his comments on this humble blog, until recently he was a local, living just down the road. Now tho, he and his family are off to the East. And it appears that he is off to the East in a big way. Kudo's Aaron Gordon, who is now a Business Columnist at Baytoday.ca North Bay, Ontario's site (slogan: "we do news differently")
This comment is a little late, as Aarons' first column was Early November of this year. Better late than never, especially for heaping on the public acclaim. His comments have always been a valuable read (tho i did prefer the conversations over coffee, being just a little selfish)... and now, Aaron is poised to impact North Bay in an even bigger way.
Go! Read! Comment! Encourage!

/way to go Aaron. a good friend, and a good read ta'boot.

Domain for Sale

Why didn't i think of that:

"if you want to buy this domain for $10,000 i may be persuaded to sell it to you."

heh.
/let me know if it works.

Newest Love

Era isn't the only christmas baby, i see. Here is the "newest love" of someone elses life... a christmas baby pic on flickr. Great pic, great title.

Since i'm back (or still) on talking about era: We were advent readers at church this morning (getting up on Christmas eve is hard work). Renee and i got speaking parts... Elijah was just there for stage presence. Tho next year, he wants a speaking part! (hear that Mike?)

era - Weight Tracker

era - Weight Tracker: 15 pound.

/Christmas goodies are contagious... even for bebe's.

Happy Christmas Baby

Brand new era (actually, almost 5 months old already).
Merry Christmas, God bless & have a safe, warm holiday with family & friends. And if you manage to find the time, get a game or two of CoD2 in! It is Christmas after all.

Mad Hatter, Foodbank & Danger Mouse

It's only days now until Christmas, just a couple more sleeps.
Danger Mouse, the secret protagonist over at local site MedHatBlog just blogged a phenominal post. i enjoy his writing consistently, regardless whether i personally agree or not, tho i do seem to agree a fair bit. He mixes the season with a historic look at Micro Credit, something i have enjoyed following for a few years now (in greater intent since my first visit to Eastern Africa).
And then, like the digital orater that he is, Danger Mouse drives an immediate, emotional response. One i am sure i won't be alone in responding to. Micro donations to our local food bank. Not as a guise to collect user fees ( by DM) and not in an attempt to grab one more tax receipt before years end (for us, the generous ones lol) but because... before we turn our back completely from our fellow man, both near and a world away, before we forget them, we give. Don't give out of guilt, unless you can't find the willingness to give otherwise. Families need... they need in December, just like they need in June. Now is as good a time as any, don't put off helping your neighbor. You can't afford it.

Transformers

"Some will come to defend us...
Most will come to Destroy us!"

Saturday mornings were always intense. This looks like it *could* take it to another level. Jury is out.

Chuck Taylors

My folks were over to look at era the other day. That seems to pass as excitement lately, just looking at era. It's that good. Anyways, they brought over a gift for the boy. Good call on the gift folks... awesome call actually. i likey.




Chuck Taylors... yeup... some old skool Converse Allstars. From generation to generation. Way cool. (haven't said, or typed, that in years and years).
i wore tons of Chucks growing up... and now era is going to start early too.

Janina Gavankar & BotNet

This post over at instapundit points out a new interactive website... msdewey, a quasi-library experience. Funny stuff, in the vein of other equally tacky attempts at pure online interactivity. Good times. "Safety first...and make sure you get it on film" hehe. Be sure to type "get me a beer". And no, i'm not going to try and explain that one to you. Typing "nintendo" is rewarding too.

Spam... Got any? Notice a recent increase? I have, and now i know i'm not alone. Local personality (dare i say genius) has an email subscriber newsletter "The Wagging Tale" (mentioned previously here). Here's an exerpt from his most recent issue. I'll suggest he post these tidbits on the web... like a blog maybe... no, a blog might just be too trendy (superficial) and besides, it will never last.

"Well if you did notice the increase, pat yourself on the back for being so perceptive. Worldwide spam volumes doubled over last year... The surge...was traced to a Russian network of hackers running 70,000 computers remotely (a botnet). The computers were located in more than 160 countries.

So like the title of the article asks: “Is it your fault? Are you one of them?” - To read the whole thing, ask for the email forwarded in the comments section. That way i won't be spamming any of you (knowingly).

Spellbinding era

Elijah Reuben is preparing for his first Christmas. Or at least, i am seeing Christmas in this way (thru his eyes?) for the first time.




That second pic is spellbinding... AMAZING pic Renee... well done!
wow.
/his eyes are pretty great, aren't they? This can't just be daddy fever... can it?

Zebra Shopping

Got a couple pics sent to me of my boy era. Seems that Elijah and his mom went shopping the other day. The first pic is him just ready to go. The second one, is era and his new toys. We've been looking for some Zebra's for ever. We have one, in a frame above his change table, and he loves to look at it. Now he has a couple to play with. Good times.





Still as happy, and suave as ever. For those of you keeping track at home, the era weight tracker rang in at over 14 pound for the first time last night.

101.7

101.7 Mhz FM. Pure static. Perfect for lulling era to sleep.
/i hope that radio programer never changes his tune.

Excel Advanced... Mm Mm Good

i learned things tonight. Good things. It's nice when that happens. Memory LaneComputer Trainning. Thanks Dave.

LT for MVP

"SAN DIEGO (AP) -- With chants of "L.T! L.T!" pouring from the stands, LaDainian Tomlinson delivered a record and a division title for San Diego.

Tomlinson scored three touchdowns Sunday, including the final two in a span of 47 seconds late in the game, to break the NFL single-season record with 29 TDs. He led the Chargers to a 48-20 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Tomlinson had three scores overall." - ESPN NFL recap

/Couldn't have been more fitting against any other team.

era - todays baby vlog

era TM

Not trade marked, tho i could give it a go. No, tonight was our local chapter Toast Masters club Christmas party. It was era's first. He loved it, but passed on the Table Topics. Seems he doesn't have that much to say quite yet. i find that hard to believe.

CRA SR&ED & The Falafel King

Good times. i would have liked to blog this from downtown Calgary this morning, would have liked to, but didn't. i spent this morning in a seminar at the CRA learning about SR&ED and form T661 (or was it T116) either way, i'm not going to tell you. If you care, go ahead and google it. Not a big deal either way.
The big deal tho, was my mandatory visit, every time i get downtown Calgary, i want to walk Stephens Ave to see my good friend the Falafel King. I don't know the King personally. His swarma is as good as it gets in Canada (Lusaka's is much better, but i digress). i walked into the cramped little kingdom over lunch, the place was bustling, Falafel king is NO secret. The King himself( Falafel, not this one) walked up, and smiled, "it's good to see you again my friend". It's been a year, at least. i'm not nearly spectacular enough to recall. He's just that nice. And his business shows.

Paint ball

THAT is gonna leave a mark.

Brown re Ups

Brown re-signed with the Eskimos.

Great news!
/sorry i missed it when it happened. i've been a little pre-occupied. :)

Alberta PC Leadership

From King Ralph to Honest Ed. I love this province!
/ i really do.

Elijah & Renee

Today was a good day. A very good day, and i have the pics to prove it.
era hangs out with the little people. And with Renee too. ;)






OH, and since his weight is being tracked, i might as well share.... he's 13.2 tonight!