Tomorrow I leave to go hunting for 4 days. I'll be totally off the radar until Wednesday night, being a "bambi killer" as the ladies at work now call me. Though I like to think of it as doing my part for wildlife management (but that's for another post).
Well, no matter, I'm going to be enjoying myself out in the woods for the next few days and hopefully I'll come home with a doe to fill our freezer. :D
So until Wednesday night...
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Daddy Blog - What's in a name?
What's in a name?
Choosing a name for a baby is a daunting task. A name is a powerful thing. It is your identity. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to know if we've chosen a name yet.
No, we haven't chosen a name yet. We know we are having a boy, and that's narrowed things down greatly (though I have a million more girls names that I like, and a paltry few boys names), but we are still a very long way from making a decision. Mama Bean would like to name him after he's born, an idea that I at first found preposterous, but is now growing on me, but we definitely need to get it down to 3 or 4 name sets (first and middle).
There are so many things to consider:
How many ways can it be misspelled?
How many ways can it be twisted into something that can be made fun of? Are those possibilities acceptable?
Is it too heavy or formal?
Does the first, second, and last name flow well? Is the cadence nice?
Is the name difficult to pronounce?
Do we like the shortened version of the name? (I'm a big fan of Tobias, but not so much of Toby)
I don't want a name that my child is going to have to constantly spell out for people, though with everyone wanting their baby to have a "unique" name, they are twisting even the simplest names into some monstrosity. For example, the name Madison. It is a really cute, simple name. But those who loved the name, yet wanted their child to be unique came around. Madison/Madysyn/Madisyn/Madyson/Madesen
Madesin...seriously? That poor child is going to be correcting people for her entire life. Why would you want to do that to your child?
I am a fan of older names, but you have to be careful of the weight that name carries, and the history behind it. For example, the name Moses. Moses is a pretty heavy name; it carries a lot of weights, especially in the Judeo-Christian culture that is North America.
Many names also carry some serious history. Names like Adolf, Jesus, etc... are not really names you want to give your child.
Names of popular TV and movie characters are also things you need to take into account when choosing a name.
We've started writing names on our bathroom mirror that we like. And linking them to those that work well together as first and second names. It gives us time to try them on for size and see what we think without forgetting. :)
I'm really excited about our little bean, and am confident we will choose a name that suits him and that he'll be proud to wear.
Choosing a name for a baby is a daunting task. A name is a powerful thing. It is your identity. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to know if we've chosen a name yet.
No, we haven't chosen a name yet. We know we are having a boy, and that's narrowed things down greatly (though I have a million more girls names that I like, and a paltry few boys names), but we are still a very long way from making a decision. Mama Bean would like to name him after he's born, an idea that I at first found preposterous, but is now growing on me, but we definitely need to get it down to 3 or 4 name sets (first and middle).
There are so many things to consider:
How many ways can it be misspelled?
How many ways can it be twisted into something that can be made fun of? Are those possibilities acceptable?
Is it too heavy or formal?
Does the first, second, and last name flow well? Is the cadence nice?
Is the name difficult to pronounce?
Do we like the shortened version of the name? (I'm a big fan of Tobias, but not so much of Toby)
I don't want a name that my child is going to have to constantly spell out for people, though with everyone wanting their baby to have a "unique" name, they are twisting even the simplest names into some monstrosity. For example, the name Madison. It is a really cute, simple name. But those who loved the name, yet wanted their child to be unique came around. Madison/Madysyn/Madisyn/Madyson/Madesen
Madesin...seriously? That poor child is going to be correcting people for her entire life. Why would you want to do that to your child?
I am a fan of older names, but you have to be careful of the weight that name carries, and the history behind it. For example, the name Moses. Moses is a pretty heavy name; it carries a lot of weights, especially in the Judeo-Christian culture that is North America.
Many names also carry some serious history. Names like Adolf, Jesus, etc... are not really names you want to give your child.
Names of popular TV and movie characters are also things you need to take into account when choosing a name.
We've started writing names on our bathroom mirror that we like. And linking them to those that work well together as first and second names. It gives us time to try them on for size and see what we think without forgetting. :)
I'm really excited about our little bean, and am confident we will choose a name that suits him and that he'll be proud to wear.
It's my birthday!
I enjoy my birthday. Today, I turn 27. Now that may not seem very old to some, but it kind of scares me. Well, it doesn't really scare me as much as it makes me a little more aware of my place in life. Where am I? What am I doing? Am I where I thought I'd be 10 years ago? 10 years ago I'd be just about to enter grade 12. There were big plans and grand ideas floating around in my head of where I'd be by now. Plans and ideas that often changed with the direction of the wind, but plans and ideas nonetheless.
I woke up early this morning so that I could sit and watch the sun rise.
Last night, as I was showering, I decided that I wanted to wake up and watch the sunrise on my birthday. It'll by my last one before I become a dad and want to start recording things.
Some things that I learned this morning before 7:
- A large French Vanilla Cappuccino and a toasted everything bagel with herb and garlic cream cheese is $3.81 at Tim Hortons.
- Though it says sunrise is at 6:30am, the sun is above the horizon by that point. It is already starting to get light out at 5:50am.
-
I woke up early this morning so that I could sit and watch the sun rise.
Last night, as I was showering, I decided that I wanted to wake up and watch the sunrise on my birthday. It'll by my last one before I become a dad and want to start recording things.
Some things that I learned this morning before 7:
- A large French Vanilla Cappuccino and a toasted everything bagel with herb and garlic cream cheese is $3.81 at Tim Hortons.
- Though it says sunrise is at 6:30am, the sun is above the horizon by that point. It is already starting to get light out at 5:50am.
-
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Almost my birthday
Tomorrow is my birthday.
Is 27 the end of the mid-20's or is it the beginning of the late 20's? Either way, that's what I'll be tomorrow. It feels kinda weird. It feels more grown up. Not as much as 28, but certainly more than 26. 26 is definitely mid-20's. 27 is a little more ambiguous. More is expected of you. But that's okay, I give enough to take me through into my 30's. ;)
A lot is going to happen during my 27th year. Big things. I'm going to become a father not far into it. I'm going to go on parental leave and become a stay-at-home dad, breaking lose from the societal norm. Though I don't often fit in there anyway. I'm hoping to get back into school and get things rolling on my Theology degree. I will celebrate my third wedding anniversary with my wife, and our 9th together as a couple. It will mark my 7th year blogging, read: airing my dirty laundry for the world. It will be a good year. I'm really looking forward to all the planned, and unplanned, events that will happen.
It's nice to have people to share them with as I go. :)
Is 27 the end of the mid-20's or is it the beginning of the late 20's? Either way, that's what I'll be tomorrow. It feels kinda weird. It feels more grown up. Not as much as 28, but certainly more than 26. 26 is definitely mid-20's. 27 is a little more ambiguous. More is expected of you. But that's okay, I give enough to take me through into my 30's. ;)
A lot is going to happen during my 27th year. Big things. I'm going to become a father not far into it. I'm going to go on parental leave and become a stay-at-home dad, breaking lose from the societal norm. Though I don't often fit in there anyway. I'm hoping to get back into school and get things rolling on my Theology degree. I will celebrate my third wedding anniversary with my wife, and our 9th together as a couple. It will mark my 7th year blogging, read: airing my dirty laundry for the world. It will be a good year. I'm really looking forward to all the planned, and unplanned, events that will happen.
It's nice to have people to share them with as I go. :)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Movie Review: Shortbus
So right now we are watching Shortbus.
It's a little strange, but there's something very real about it.
But a disclaimer about this movie. There is a lot of sex in it. Real sex. Not the kind of sex typically seen in movies. It's porn sex. But not even porn sex, it seems realer than that. But it's not just straight sex. There's gay sex. And lesbian sex. And masturbation. And group sex. And fat naked people. And cross dressers.
There's A LOT of cock. And vagina.
But it's so WEIRD. Like beyond weird. But maybe that's just because I'm unaccustomed to this sort of stuff. Maybe this shit's normal, but... not in my realm of comfort.
It's not porn, it's artistic. But seriously. It's porn. But porn, interspersed with indie film. But it's not porn like porn you'd watch to masturbate too or anything, but porn like artistic porn.
Artistic, not erotic. One of the reviews I read sums it up nicely, "Porn tries to titillate, this movie only tries to stimulate your thoughts and feelings, not your libido."
I'm a monogamous kinda guy, so I'm not a big proponent of promiscuity, but that's just me.
Oh, and the "couples counselor' is Sook-Yin Lee, a Canadian actress and host of CBC's Definitely Not the Opera.
It's a little strange, but there's something very real about it.
But a disclaimer about this movie. There is a lot of sex in it. Real sex. Not the kind of sex typically seen in movies. It's porn sex. But not even porn sex, it seems realer than that. But it's not just straight sex. There's gay sex. And lesbian sex. And masturbation. And group sex. And fat naked people. And cross dressers.
There's A LOT of cock. And vagina.
But it's so WEIRD. Like beyond weird. But maybe that's just because I'm unaccustomed to this sort of stuff. Maybe this shit's normal, but... not in my realm of comfort.
It's not porn, it's artistic. But seriously. It's porn. But porn, interspersed with indie film. But it's not porn like porn you'd watch to masturbate too or anything, but porn like artistic porn.
Artistic, not erotic. One of the reviews I read sums it up nicely, "Porn tries to titillate, this movie only tries to stimulate your thoughts and feelings, not your libido."
I'm a monogamous kinda guy, so I'm not a big proponent of promiscuity, but that's just me.
Oh, and the "couples counselor' is Sook-Yin Lee, a Canadian actress and host of CBC's Definitely Not the Opera.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Baby Blessing
Ever since Mama Bean and I first found out that we are expecting a little one, we've been overjoyed. A little overwhelmed at some points, but mostly just full of joy.
One thing I am learning, is how blessed we are. From the moment we started telling people that we were expecting the love that has been flowing our way has been amazing and unceasing.
We have been blessed with amazing friends, an amazing church family, and amazing family. We've been given so much, and offered so much more.
Danny and Des (Jo's brother and sister-in-law) gave us a ton of clothing that our little nephew Josh grew out of. There's a good 2 dozen onesies from newborn to 12 months. Almost as many sleepers, some hats, booties, socks, pants and shirts. There's also another box full of clothing 12 mo and up. Jo's parents will also be bringing out a few more boxes when they come out when bean is born.
(yes, we've been labeling the drawers with sizes)
Deb and George from church supplied us with a matching crib, change table and dresser, that also happen to match the existing decor in the room. They also gave us an exersaucer, high chair, swing, and more.
This is our new nursery. :)
Dan and Des also gave us an infant car seat (below, left), some toys, a jolly jumper and more.
Jeff and Char (also from church) gave us another car seat (above right) and stroller. It just so happens that the two car seats have matching bases so that we can put a base in each car and that seats can cycle between them. They also both fit on the stroller, which is so awesome.
And finally, here is the stuff that we bought. We picked up a crib set from Sears which happened to be 20% off. It's a pretty cute set, and I can't wait to see bean in it.
Tomorrow will mark the beginning of Jo's 32nd week of pregnancy. In about 8 weeks we will be blessed with a great little boy who will become the center of our lives. Jo's doing really well and planning on working until October 16th, 5 days before the estimated due date. She's planning on taking approximately 6 weeks off of work in hopes of putting in a few weeks of work before we head back to Calgary for a couple of weeks for Christmas with family and friends.
Effective December 1st, I will be taking advantage of this wonderful program that our government offers and turn in my laptop bag for a diaper bag. I will be on paternity leave for 37 weeks, and take on the responsibilities of a stay-at-home dad while Mama Bean continues to grow her chiropractic practice. I'm really looking forward to it, though I'll miss my job. Taking paternity leave is a bit of a bittersweet sort-of thing, as there's talk of an opening that is taking place in the central IT staff with the division. I'm one of the school-based techs and they'll be hiring from our group for this central position. It's a huge step up, and would be an almost $20k/yr raise. It would be an Apple Specialist position, where I'd get some amazing training, and could easily move on to bigger and better things in the Mac world. It's an opportunity that I'm pretty sure I could get if I worked for it over the next few months, but I'm passing it up to raise my family; a sacrifice I'm more than happy to make.
One thing I am learning, is how blessed we are. From the moment we started telling people that we were expecting the love that has been flowing our way has been amazing and unceasing.
We have been blessed with amazing friends, an amazing church family, and amazing family. We've been given so much, and offered so much more.
Danny and Des (Jo's brother and sister-in-law) gave us a ton of clothing that our little nephew Josh grew out of. There's a good 2 dozen onesies from newborn to 12 months. Almost as many sleepers, some hats, booties, socks, pants and shirts. There's also another box full of clothing 12 mo and up. Jo's parents will also be bringing out a few more boxes when they come out when bean is born.
(yes, we've been labeling the drawers with sizes)Deb and George from church supplied us with a matching crib, change table and dresser, that also happen to match the existing decor in the room. They also gave us an exersaucer, high chair, swing, and more.
This is our new nursery. :)
Dan and Des also gave us an infant car seat (below, left), some toys, a jolly jumper and more.
Jeff and Char (also from church) gave us another car seat (above right) and stroller. It just so happens that the two car seats have matching bases so that we can put a base in each car and that seats can cycle between them. They also both fit on the stroller, which is so awesome.
And finally, here is the stuff that we bought. We picked up a crib set from Sears which happened to be 20% off. It's a pretty cute set, and I can't wait to see bean in it.
Tomorrow will mark the beginning of Jo's 32nd week of pregnancy. In about 8 weeks we will be blessed with a great little boy who will become the center of our lives. Jo's doing really well and planning on working until October 16th, 5 days before the estimated due date. She's planning on taking approximately 6 weeks off of work in hopes of putting in a few weeks of work before we head back to Calgary for a couple of weeks for Christmas with family and friends.Effective December 1st, I will be taking advantage of this wonderful program that our government offers and turn in my laptop bag for a diaper bag. I will be on paternity leave for 37 weeks, and take on the responsibilities of a stay-at-home dad while Mama Bean continues to grow her chiropractic practice. I'm really looking forward to it, though I'll miss my job. Taking paternity leave is a bit of a bittersweet sort-of thing, as there's talk of an opening that is taking place in the central IT staff with the division. I'm one of the school-based techs and they'll be hiring from our group for this central position. It's a huge step up, and would be an almost $20k/yr raise. It would be an Apple Specialist position, where I'd get some amazing training, and could easily move on to bigger and better things in the Mac world. It's an opportunity that I'm pretty sure I could get if I worked for it over the next few months, but I'm passing it up to raise my family; a sacrifice I'm more than happy to make.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
OneSmarmyMama's Parenting 101 Advice
Becoming a parent for the first time can be more than a little overwhelming. What do I need to buy before the baby comes? What can I live without for a while? Money is a little tight, I don't want to end up buying a bunch of crap that I don't need, but what if there's something I'm missing that'll make life a million times easier? There are a million options when it comes to strollers and car seats, how do I know which is best for me? I want to minimize my impact on the planet, how can I do that while bringing another one into this world? Are cloth diapers worth the hassle for the savings?
Everyone likes to think they have it together, but secretly (or not), all first-time parents are a little nervous. Here are 4 amazing posts that I would (and do) recommend to all my friends that are having babies, or have recently had one.
Last month, my friend over at onesmarmymama.com wrote a series of posts labeled, Parenting 101 about things you'll need to know (or will find quite handy) following the birth of your child. They are super informative and helpful, especially for first-time parents.
1. Car Seats: She gives a great rundown on the different types from travel systems up to booster seats. She gives pros and cons of each, as well as her opinions as a mom who has done this before.
2. What you NEED, What you DON'T need, and What you WANT: A very informative post on the various items you'll need when you have a baby.
3. Going Green (and staying green) with Baby: How to do your part while raising your child to minimize your impact. Great stuff for those that don't live much of a crunchy granola life, and those that do.
4. Cloth Diapering and SLEEPING!: All about cloth diapers, and how you will not be sleeping much once that little one comes. :)
Everyone likes to think they have it together, but secretly (or not), all first-time parents are a little nervous. Here are 4 amazing posts that I would (and do) recommend to all my friends that are having babies, or have recently had one.
Last month, my friend over at onesmarmymama.com wrote a series of posts labeled, Parenting 101 about things you'll need to know (or will find quite handy) following the birth of your child. They are super informative and helpful, especially for first-time parents.
1. Car Seats: She gives a great rundown on the different types from travel systems up to booster seats. She gives pros and cons of each, as well as her opinions as a mom who has done this before.
2. What you NEED, What you DON'T need, and What you WANT: A very informative post on the various items you'll need when you have a baby.
3. Going Green (and staying green) with Baby: How to do your part while raising your child to minimize your impact. Great stuff for those that don't live much of a crunchy granola life, and those that do.
4. Cloth Diapering and SLEEPING!: All about cloth diapers, and how you will not be sleeping much once that little one comes. :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Healthcare discussion/debate
What happened to the days of being able to have a decent debate or discussion with those whose views don't align with our own? Why does ignorance have to get in the way?
America is currently in the throes of unrest due to a bill on the table to create a government controlled healthcare, socialized healthcare. There are a lot of people that aren't too thrilled with this idea, mostly those well off enough to afford health insurance and Christian's who get hung up on the idea that socialized healthcare will pay for abortions, and that means the world is going to end. :p
I took part in a group blogging project a couple of months ago and it was hosted by a great guy, Dan King (aka: bibledude). He recently did a post on why Christian's shouldn't be surprised that socialized health-care is happening because there is a void, Christian's should have filled it, we didn't, so the government stepped it. You can read it here.
I commented on this post in the comments section, as well as on his facebook status promoting it, as there had been a couple of other comments there as well. I was hoping to start a decent discussion, but all I got was defensiveness and what I will call ignorance. Now I've been learning a lot about diplomacy over the past little while, and am learning to exercise it when possible to allow things to flow smoothly. I don't always do so well, but I like to think that I'm getting better. Here's the conversation: (i've included extra comments in italicized brackets)
H: I completely agree with the article...If we want to be
Christ-like...we should be feeding the poor, caring for the sick, and taking in the orphans. The basic principlwe is that if we all contribute we can accomplish more. Also, Christians can't just be Pro-Life without addressing the needs of the lives of children that are saved, but still need care. If anything this a call to the church to be more self-less. How about being more concernend about others than ourselves for a change! (great points, it's nice that someone else is acknowledging that if you choose to be pro-life, you need to address the needs of those you are "saving")
A: Interesting & great thoughts! The problem is, if the government gets its way, it won't matter how much money a church raises for a person's illness. The socialistic turn of the US will cause people to be denied healthcare depending on their heath situation. Just downright scary. The church does need to be concerned about these issues and proactive. Pray! (why do so many american's automatically think the word "socialized" is so evil?)
Me: I do not understand all the controversy and fear-mongering that is taking place in the US surrounding socialized health care. The would "socialist" is thrown around like it is a bad thing. Everything about socialized health care is Christian, heck Christianity is more like Communism then Democracy.
I don't think the church has the scope, nor the ... Read Moreability (at least not in it's current or past state) to do what the government is able to by creating socialized healthcare. Sure it would be great, and in theory it would work perfectly. I just don't think the structure is in place, nor could it be in the foreseeable future.
I don't understand why people figure that turning to a socialized system will result in denial of care for those who need it. Right now the system results in the denial of care for all that can't pay. I don't see how this can make it worse, it is going to change so that anyone who needs it has access to it, not just those with the money.
S: I couldn't disagree with Christopher more! As Christians we, should be adamantly against what is going on in Congress right now. If you read the bill, you will see that this will allow the government - our tax dollars - to pay for abortions! Not to mention that EVERY country that has a plan that looks like this one in failing in all aspects. I live in Michigan and can tell you that Canadians come here when they need the critical care their government denies them. (Think about that, your government saying you can't get that pace maker - or whatever. How Christian and loving is that?!?!?) Contrary to what the president is saying, you will not be able to keep your own insurance plan! As soon as anything changes, like your premium or any detail of your coverage, you will be forced to take the government plan. I don't know about yours, but my plan changes a little every year! This is not fear-mongering... this is all STRAIGHT from the bill. I encourage you to read it!
Me: I live in Canada, I know what socialized healthcare is like. I've read what the bill is about, and what they are going to do. People don't cross the border because the government denies them adequate care, they cross because they can afford to pay out of pocket for speedier service. For those that can't, healthcare is more than adequate.
The negative side-effect to socialized healthcare that I regularly experience is that of longer wait times to get in to see specialists and for things like MRI's. But I would take this over having a huge chunk of population that doesn't have access to adequate healthcare just because they can't afford it.
And yes, it will pay for abortions, but the world isn't going to end because your tax payer dollars pay for that.
The only people complaining about socialized healthcare are those that can afford privatized. The big thing here, that everyone seems to be forgetting, is that EVERYONE will have access to healthcare.
(trying to keep things lighthearted)But the nice thing about living in a Democratic society is that both sides get a say. People get a vote. And everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and each opinion is valid. :) I appreciate that.
S: Well in the REPUBLIC in which we live, I have the right to say where I want MY money going and I do NOT support nor will I PAY for someone to take the life of an unborn child. IT IS WRONG! As wrong as someone not being cared for who needs it! Which is why NO ONE in our country is denied healthcare - that is the fear mongering LIE that our government is spreading! The majority of the people who do not have health care insurance are choosing to not have coverage. Those who cannot afford it are covered by Mediaid. We are taking care of our sick and poor! I agree that insurance needs to be reformed, but this is NOT the way to do it.
The other difference is that your system in Canada is not being headed up by a man who during his short political career voted FOUR times to deny care to babies who were aborted in the third trimester. These are babies who, if given care, were viable human beings. But instead, they were left to die in a janitor's closet a slow and agonizing death. That is not the Christian love and compassion that I want making decisions about my health care and who deserves to receive it!
Me: (quoting S)"The majority of the people who do not have health care insurance are choosing to not have coverage. Those who cannot afford it are covered by Mediaid. We are taking care of our sick and poor!"
I'm not sure where you are getting this info, but my research would show otherwise. Approx. 60 percent of poor Americans are not covered by Medicaid(1), and "According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007."(2)
45 million people aren't "choosing to not have coverage," they can't afford it.
While abortion is a hot-button topic, and a contentious issue at best, I don't think it outweighs the fact that millions of people are without adequate healthcare. And yes, while you live in a republic, it is still a democratic nation, so while you get your vote, the majority still says where your money goes.
I'd love if there was a way Christians could supplement the healthcare system, in every country, not just the US; there sure are enough of us. As Dan mentioned, Relational Tithe is a great idea. So is no longer paying pastors 3 figure salaries.
While I don't think the Church is in a place to do much in the healthcare realm, I think it could be done with a lot of hardwork, dedication, and heavenly help.
(1)http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml
(2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid
(I worked my butt off to stay diplomatic here, and not use the word ignorant. I thought I was laying things out nicely and was hoping for a decent rebuttal.)
S: Show me in the constitution that it is the GOVERNMENT'S job to provide health care. I agree that we need to look at healthcare and reform to take care of those who cannot afford it. But that is NOT what the government is supposed to do. With the bill the way it is written, not only will the poor not receive care - NO ONE will!
And this is where is ends. I'm not going to reply to that, as she's just getting worked up, and this discussion can't go anywhere productive. I was hoping for more, but sadly, am leaving disappointed. I was initially a little annoyed that it ended this way, but such is life, and I will continue to engage folks in discussion other places. :)
Can someone please tell me why people don't seem to think that "it's not the government's job" to take care of the sick and needy? In my books that's the perfect thing for the government to do, but what do I know, I live in a "socialist" country. :p
What do you guys think? Yes or No to socialized healthcare?
America is currently in the throes of unrest due to a bill on the table to create a government controlled healthcare, socialized healthcare. There are a lot of people that aren't too thrilled with this idea, mostly those well off enough to afford health insurance and Christian's who get hung up on the idea that socialized healthcare will pay for abortions, and that means the world is going to end. :p
I took part in a group blogging project a couple of months ago and it was hosted by a great guy, Dan King (aka: bibledude). He recently did a post on why Christian's shouldn't be surprised that socialized health-care is happening because there is a void, Christian's should have filled it, we didn't, so the government stepped it. You can read it here.
I commented on this post in the comments section, as well as on his facebook status promoting it, as there had been a couple of other comments there as well. I was hoping to start a decent discussion, but all I got was defensiveness and what I will call ignorance. Now I've been learning a lot about diplomacy over the past little while, and am learning to exercise it when possible to allow things to flow smoothly. I don't always do so well, but I like to think that I'm getting better. Here's the conversation: (i've included extra comments in italicized brackets)
H: I completely agree with the article...If we want to be
Christ-like...we should be feeding the poor, caring for the sick, and taking in the orphans. The basic principlwe is that if we all contribute we can accomplish more. Also, Christians can't just be Pro-Life without addressing the needs of the lives of children that are saved, but still need care. If anything this a call to the church to be more self-less. How about being more concernend about others than ourselves for a change! (great points, it's nice that someone else is acknowledging that if you choose to be pro-life, you need to address the needs of those you are "saving")
A: Interesting & great thoughts! The problem is, if the government gets its way, it won't matter how much money a church raises for a person's illness. The socialistic turn of the US will cause people to be denied healthcare depending on their heath situation. Just downright scary. The church does need to be concerned about these issues and proactive. Pray! (why do so many american's automatically think the word "socialized" is so evil?)
Me: I do not understand all the controversy and fear-mongering that is taking place in the US surrounding socialized health care. The would "socialist" is thrown around like it is a bad thing. Everything about socialized health care is Christian, heck Christianity is more like Communism then Democracy.
I don't think the church has the scope, nor the ... Read Moreability (at least not in it's current or past state) to do what the government is able to by creating socialized healthcare. Sure it would be great, and in theory it would work perfectly. I just don't think the structure is in place, nor could it be in the foreseeable future.
I don't understand why people figure that turning to a socialized system will result in denial of care for those who need it. Right now the system results in the denial of care for all that can't pay. I don't see how this can make it worse, it is going to change so that anyone who needs it has access to it, not just those with the money.
S: I couldn't disagree with Christopher more! As Christians we, should be adamantly against what is going on in Congress right now. If you read the bill, you will see that this will allow the government - our tax dollars - to pay for abortions! Not to mention that EVERY country that has a plan that looks like this one in failing in all aspects. I live in Michigan and can tell you that Canadians come here when they need the critical care their government denies them. (Think about that, your government saying you can't get that pace maker - or whatever. How Christian and loving is that?!?!?) Contrary to what the president is saying, you will not be able to keep your own insurance plan! As soon as anything changes, like your premium or any detail of your coverage, you will be forced to take the government plan. I don't know about yours, but my plan changes a little every year! This is not fear-mongering... this is all STRAIGHT from the bill. I encourage you to read it!
Me: I live in Canada, I know what socialized healthcare is like. I've read what the bill is about, and what they are going to do. People don't cross the border because the government denies them adequate care, they cross because they can afford to pay out of pocket for speedier service. For those that can't, healthcare is more than adequate.
The negative side-effect to socialized healthcare that I regularly experience is that of longer wait times to get in to see specialists and for things like MRI's. But I would take this over having a huge chunk of population that doesn't have access to adequate healthcare just because they can't afford it.
And yes, it will pay for abortions, but the world isn't going to end because your tax payer dollars pay for that.
The only people complaining about socialized healthcare are those that can afford privatized. The big thing here, that everyone seems to be forgetting, is that EVERYONE will have access to healthcare.
(trying to keep things lighthearted)But the nice thing about living in a Democratic society is that both sides get a say. People get a vote. And everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and each opinion is valid. :) I appreciate that.
S: Well in the REPUBLIC in which we live, I have the right to say where I want MY money going and I do NOT support nor will I PAY for someone to take the life of an unborn child. IT IS WRONG! As wrong as someone not being cared for who needs it! Which is why NO ONE in our country is denied healthcare - that is the fear mongering LIE that our government is spreading! The majority of the people who do not have health care insurance are choosing to not have coverage. Those who cannot afford it are covered by Mediaid. We are taking care of our sick and poor! I agree that insurance needs to be reformed, but this is NOT the way to do it.
The other difference is that your system in Canada is not being headed up by a man who during his short political career voted FOUR times to deny care to babies who were aborted in the third trimester. These are babies who, if given care, were viable human beings. But instead, they were left to die in a janitor's closet a slow and agonizing death. That is not the Christian love and compassion that I want making decisions about my health care and who deserves to receive it!
Me: (quoting S)"The majority of the people who do not have health care insurance are choosing to not have coverage. Those who cannot afford it are covered by Mediaid. We are taking care of our sick and poor!"
I'm not sure where you are getting this info, but my research would show otherwise. Approx. 60 percent of poor Americans are not covered by Medicaid(1), and "According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007."(2)
45 million people aren't "choosing to not have coverage," they can't afford it.
While abortion is a hot-button topic, and a contentious issue at best, I don't think it outweighs the fact that millions of people are without adequate healthcare. And yes, while you live in a republic, it is still a democratic nation, so while you get your vote, the majority still says where your money goes.
I'd love if there was a way Christians could supplement the healthcare system, in every country, not just the US; there sure are enough of us. As Dan mentioned, Relational Tithe is a great idea. So is no longer paying pastors 3 figure salaries.
While I don't think the Church is in a place to do much in the healthcare realm, I think it could be done with a lot of hardwork, dedication, and heavenly help.
(1)http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml
(2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid
(I worked my butt off to stay diplomatic here, and not use the word ignorant. I thought I was laying things out nicely and was hoping for a decent rebuttal.)
S: Show me in the constitution that it is the GOVERNMENT'S job to provide health care. I agree that we need to look at healthcare and reform to take care of those who cannot afford it. But that is NOT what the government is supposed to do. With the bill the way it is written, not only will the poor not receive care - NO ONE will!
And this is where is ends. I'm not going to reply to that, as she's just getting worked up, and this discussion can't go anywhere productive. I was hoping for more, but sadly, am leaving disappointed. I was initially a little annoyed that it ended this way, but such is life, and I will continue to engage folks in discussion other places. :)
Can someone please tell me why people don't seem to think that "it's not the government's job" to take care of the sick and needy? In my books that's the perfect thing for the government to do, but what do I know, I live in a "socialist" country. :p
What do you guys think? Yes or No to socialized healthcare?
Thunder Storms
I love the power of a good thunder storm.
I love the violence of it.
I love the sharp crack of thunder that accompanies a particularly bright fork of lightening.
I love the low rumbling thunder that rolls across the sky and shakes my house following those big cloud-to-cloud lightening bursts.
I love the crackling of the sky as the lighting sucks the oxygen from the atmosphere.
I love sitting in my house watching the majesty of it all as these forces fight for power in the sky; watching the lightening flicker across the sky, followed by the ominous sounds of thunder.
Last night we had an amazing thunder storm. It lasted for hours as there was little-to-no wind. For the longest time there was no rain either, and I was able to watch the skies, my vision unimpeded by the torrents of rain that were to follow.
It was pretty much awesome. :)
I love the violence of it.
I love the sharp crack of thunder that accompanies a particularly bright fork of lightening.
I love the low rumbling thunder that rolls across the sky and shakes my house following those big cloud-to-cloud lightening bursts.
I love the crackling of the sky as the lighting sucks the oxygen from the atmosphere.
I love sitting in my house watching the majesty of it all as these forces fight for power in the sky; watching the lightening flicker across the sky, followed by the ominous sounds of thunder.
Last night we had an amazing thunder storm. It lasted for hours as there was little-to-no wind. For the longest time there was no rain either, and I was able to watch the skies, my vision unimpeded by the torrents of rain that were to follow.
It was pretty much awesome. :)
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Acoustic Bass
Last weekend I went to one of the music stores in town and rented an acoustic bass for the month. It's only $18 for the month which is pretty awesome, though it's been a bit of a challenge to learn to play.
It plays quite a bit differently from my electric, and is taking some getting used to, but I'm really enjoying it. It has a totally different tone from my electrics, but I'm really enjoying it. It doesn't quite have the same deep end, and it isn't quite as smooth, but it has a richness about it that I find intoxicating. And it feels really cool to play a set with a couple of acoustic guitars and fit right in. :)
I am realizing the importance of a properly setup instrument though. The intonation is so far off so that by the 12th fret I'm a 1/4 tone off. It also vibrates off the frets pretty bad if I play too hard. But since I only have it for a month, I'm not really going to spend any money on getting it setup. I will make sure I let them know when I bring it back though. What does suck though, is after playing today the jack fell out of the end so I'm going to have to bring it in for them to put it back together. It's only the 3rd time I picked it up, so that was annoying.
I can't afford a new guitar, but it is fun to play around with for awhile. :)
It plays quite a bit differently from my electric, and is taking some getting used to, but I'm really enjoying it. It has a totally different tone from my electrics, but I'm really enjoying it. It doesn't quite have the same deep end, and it isn't quite as smooth, but it has a richness about it that I find intoxicating. And it feels really cool to play a set with a couple of acoustic guitars and fit right in. :)
I am realizing the importance of a properly setup instrument though. The intonation is so far off so that by the 12th fret I'm a 1/4 tone off. It also vibrates off the frets pretty bad if I play too hard. But since I only have it for a month, I'm not really going to spend any money on getting it setup. I will make sure I let them know when I bring it back though. What does suck though, is after playing today the jack fell out of the end so I'm going to have to bring it in for them to put it back together. It's only the 3rd time I picked it up, so that was annoying.
I can't afford a new guitar, but it is fun to play around with for awhile. :)
More land!
So I have been offered more land to hunt on! :)
My dad has a cousin who owns some land (1/4 section) down around Pilot Mound, about 2 hours south west of here. It's mostly farm land, but there are some trees and such for the deer to bed down in. I'm not sure what they have in the way of deer, but.../shrug. As long as there is something. :D Apparently there are a bunch of guys that hunt the land during rifle season, but during archery season, it's just me. :D
That gives me from August 31st until October 18 before the guns come out. Well, muzzleloader season starts sometime around the beginning October, but come that point bean will be almost here, and I probably shouldn't be heading out for the weekend in the middle of nowhere.
I'm kinda nervous about going hunting for the first time, though. There's a lot that I don't know, and I'm not so good at taking it slow. I mean, I only took up archery in May and I'm so into it. I have all the gear [well, not all, I still have more to buy ;)] and go to the range a couple of times a week. I've fully immersed myself in the sport.
It'll be good though. I'm heading out in 3 weeks for 4 days and it's going to be a blast, whether I get a deer or not. It'd be better if I did, because I love me some deer, but I'm still going to love the experience.
My dad has a cousin who owns some land (1/4 section) down around Pilot Mound, about 2 hours south west of here. It's mostly farm land, but there are some trees and such for the deer to bed down in. I'm not sure what they have in the way of deer, but.../shrug. As long as there is something. :D Apparently there are a bunch of guys that hunt the land during rifle season, but during archery season, it's just me. :D
That gives me from August 31st until October 18 before the guns come out. Well, muzzleloader season starts sometime around the beginning October, but come that point bean will be almost here, and I probably shouldn't be heading out for the weekend in the middle of nowhere.
I'm kinda nervous about going hunting for the first time, though. There's a lot that I don't know, and I'm not so good at taking it slow. I mean, I only took up archery in May and I'm so into it. I have all the gear [well, not all, I still have more to buy ;)] and go to the range a couple of times a week. I've fully immersed myself in the sport.
It'll be good though. I'm heading out in 3 weeks for 4 days and it's going to be a blast, whether I get a deer or not. It'd be better if I did, because I love me some deer, but I'm still going to love the experience.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Defies explanation
Now, I'm an advocate for the right to own guns. This issue alone can affect who I vote for in an election. But then I watch a bunch of IMMATURE FUCKING MORONS pull this kind of shit.
Video of said morons
Now, what these guys are doing is illegal on so many levels, and let me remind you, this is not in the US, these are a bunch of inbred, redneck Canadians.
Here is just a start of what is wrong with these fucking retards:
1. Discharging a firearm from a vehicle is illegal.
2. Shooting migratory birds out of season (which it currently is) is illegal.
3. Shooting ducklings is illegal.
3. Shooting migratory birds with a rimfire rifle (which they are using) is illegal.
4. Shooting at a body of water is dangerous to yourself and others due to ricocheting bullets/fragments.
5. Wounding an animal and leaving it to flop around and suffer while you laugh with your buddies is cruel and unethical and morally reprehensible.
6. Posting a video on the internet of your fucking stupidity, complete with shots of your face and voices is fucking stupid.
They were arrested and I hope they get thrown against the wall and made an example of. Their actions are unacceptable and just give more ammo to those who would take our guns away.
I think there needs to be some sort of gun legislation, and I know that the only thing that will stop these types of events from happening is to take them all away, but I really wish we could find some middle ground. I write this on the heels of a post by my friend C Lo at One Smarmy Mama.
Idiots like this need to be hung out to dry.
Video of said morons
Now, what these guys are doing is illegal on so many levels, and let me remind you, this is not in the US, these are a bunch of inbred, redneck Canadians.
Here is just a start of what is wrong with these fucking retards:
1. Discharging a firearm from a vehicle is illegal.
2. Shooting migratory birds out of season (which it currently is) is illegal.
3. Shooting ducklings is illegal.
3. Shooting migratory birds with a rimfire rifle (which they are using) is illegal.
4. Shooting at a body of water is dangerous to yourself and others due to ricocheting bullets/fragments.
5. Wounding an animal and leaving it to flop around and suffer while you laugh with your buddies is cruel and unethical and morally reprehensible.
6. Posting a video on the internet of your fucking stupidity, complete with shots of your face and voices is fucking stupid.
They were arrested and I hope they get thrown against the wall and made an example of. Their actions are unacceptable and just give more ammo to those who would take our guns away.
I think there needs to be some sort of gun legislation, and I know that the only thing that will stop these types of events from happening is to take them all away, but I really wish we could find some middle ground. I write this on the heels of a post by my friend C Lo at One Smarmy Mama.
Idiots like this need to be hung out to dry.
Daddy Blog - 08/08/09 - He Moves!
One of the coolest experiences in my life was (and is) feeling my unborn baby move inside of Jo. I've been able to for a couple of weeks now, but only recently has it started to become very real to me.
I can feel him rolling around, I can feel his little kicks and punches. We don't know what position he's in, so we just make stuff up and go with it. He's really active between 9-11 at night (give or take), and I'll often catch Mama Bean just sitting there watching her belly as it moves.
She hit the 30 week mark this week which seems like a whole lot further along than 29. At 29 she was still in her 20's, but 30! Now 30 has a whole other number in front. It is the home stretch; 10 weeks give or take a couple.
10 weeks...
10 weeks isn't very long at all. It's rather short. 2 and a half months. That's nothing. We've been in Winnipeg 1 year (celebrated our 1 year Pegiversary last week) and that has flown by. 10 weeks is less than 20% of that! Crazyness...
But I'm so friggin excited. I talked to my boss and let her know that I will be taking parental leave starting December 1st. Jo's official due date is Oct 21st, and she wants to be back at work for he beginning of December. This will give her a few weeks to start seeing patients before we take off for a couple of weeks to visit family and friends in Calgary.
So as of December 1st I am going to be a stay-at-home Dad for 37 weeks on the government's dime, which is kinda nice of them. It's a paltry 55% of my wage, but hey, I'm not complaining. They could give me nothing.
My boss took it quite well, though she was sad that I'll be gone. I'm friggin awesome, and she knows it. ;)
I can feel him rolling around, I can feel his little kicks and punches. We don't know what position he's in, so we just make stuff up and go with it. He's really active between 9-11 at night (give or take), and I'll often catch Mama Bean just sitting there watching her belly as it moves.
She hit the 30 week mark this week which seems like a whole lot further along than 29. At 29 she was still in her 20's, but 30! Now 30 has a whole other number in front. It is the home stretch; 10 weeks give or take a couple.
10 weeks...
10 weeks isn't very long at all. It's rather short. 2 and a half months. That's nothing. We've been in Winnipeg 1 year (celebrated our 1 year Pegiversary last week) and that has flown by. 10 weeks is less than 20% of that! Crazyness...
But I'm so friggin excited. I talked to my boss and let her know that I will be taking parental leave starting December 1st. Jo's official due date is Oct 21st, and she wants to be back at work for he beginning of December. This will give her a few weeks to start seeing patients before we take off for a couple of weeks to visit family and friends in Calgary.
So as of December 1st I am going to be a stay-at-home Dad for 37 weeks on the government's dime, which is kinda nice of them. It's a paltry 55% of my wage, but hey, I'm not complaining. They could give me nothing.
My boss took it quite well, though she was sad that I'll be gone. I'm friggin awesome, and she knows it. ;)
Monday, August 03, 2009
My Lunchkit
Last year I posted pictures when I got my new lunchbox in a post entitled, Shaving, where I also shared my awesome shaving kit, which I'm still loving, btw.
So yeah, I've pimped it out a bit, and this is what it is looking like now. :)
This is the front.
This is the back.
So yeah, I've pimped it out a bit, and this is what it is looking like now. :)
This is the front.
This is the back.
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