From Pools To Potties, We're Flushed With Excitement

Well someone wears underwear now!! Ahem..Eabha!!! For the most part Eabha seems to have moved from diapers to a more sedintary, seated relief style. Yay!



Also, we had our last class of the first session of swimming lessons. We went hoping with a "wait and see" approach that Eabha might walk away with her first swimming badge. Well, we walked away with three!!! Not only did Eabha meet all the requirements of the level she was enrolled in, but she also exceeded the requirements of the next two levels!!! So two months before her third birthday, Eahba has been refered to the level which is usually reserved for three year olds! I guess you can click on the picture and read for yourself all the things she has now learned.

The photos I've posted have nothing to do with Eabha's accomplishments. In fact they weren't even my photos (thanks Caitlin), as I neglected to bring my camera. The photos are from the 10th anniversary of FOOD NOT BOMBS in Halifax. If you don't know what FOOD NOT BOMBS is...well you should!! The event was hugely popular and very well attended. There was hula-hoopin', rope jumpin', face paintin', speeches and of course...lots and lots of free Vegan/Vegetarian food!

Hey, know what else I've been up to? Haha. Well..I ran into two Mormons the other day on my walk back home. I told them I was in a hurry but left my contacts and well...as Mormons do...they stopped by. We spent four hours talking about Anarchism, Christianity, the Christian Left (Catholic Workers, United Church..) verses the Christian Right (Neo-Conservatives..), Leo Tolstoy, Agnostics, Trinity and many other topics as well. Well they gave me a copy of "The Book Of Mormon", which I promised to read some sections of, and they said that they'd be back this comming week to discuss what I had read. Well can I just tell you how happy I am to be recieving their company again? I've found this video that I think I can save them with (it debunks the racist foundation of their separate belief system). Hopefully the truth will set them free. Either way, those Mormons should know that if Jesus were asked if money should be spent on mega churches like this one here in Utah, or spent on the poor...well, I think we all know what he'd say:



That's it for now, hoping you are well..

John D

Faery Fort, Happy Birthday Muin and The North End Pub/Dinner Up In Flames

This post won't be as long as I'd like it to be, or as long as it ought to be but that sleeping issue I mentioned in the last post hasn't exactly cleared up, and therefore, neither has my cerebral landscape.

The 3rd set of photos are of the very impressive "Faery Fort" that Emily built for Eabha; you can see the excitement and appreciation on Eabha's expression(s). The 2nd set of photos are of Muin's 3rd Birthday Party. The 1st set of photos were taken around the block from where I live about two weeks ago when a flash fire brought an end to the North End Pub/Dinner - two cornerstones of the community in which I live. It also shut down my power, phone and internet for the day..the news reported the flames reached 4 stories into the air; I first saw the smoke on my drive home when I was a 15 minute drive away!

Eabha's last class of her 1st set of swimming lessons will be this Sunday. Eabha has done really well with them. She has learned to jump off the side, blow bubbles under water, kick with a flutter board, do a front/back float, crab walk and aligator crawl, as of last week she can hold her breath underwater for about 5 seconds!!!, and she has developed a familiarity with a number of aquatic related children's songs.

Kyna is doing well, I can't believe how big she is now. At just over a year she is still quite boisterous, however she is well trained and ulitmately her behaviour makes her a good companion for me.

Apparently Eabha got her photo in a local paper at a recent (global day of action) anti-war/anti-occupation demonstration here in Halifax. Eabha had spontaneously grabbed the corner of a large banner and the attention of several photographers and demonstrators.

Hoping You Are Well,

John D

Here comes the sun, little darlin'

It's starting to feel like spring here. Despite last night's storm, today was sunny and +7!! Everyone's demeanor was better for it; people were happier and more relaxed. I'm sure it will get cold and snowy again yet..but nothing beats that first day when it really is starting to feel like spring.

I think I've got a sleeping problem. I can only ever seem to get about 5 hours of sleep at night. It's not necessarily that I'm so busy (not that I'm not), but I seem to just stay up late enough and get up early enough..that I'm always quite sleep deprived. It's starting to get to me..and then I read this article. It's not about when I get to sleep..the problem is about when I wake up!

If I can't dance I don't want to be part of you revolution -> click this link!



Be Well,

John D

Here's a drole video for all the students or lovers of street theatre out there:

Where to drive..

Cracking me up

Driving me crazy

Being elfish

Eabha points to the...stereo dial?..in 'our car'...maybe it's solar powered?

Taking in all that sunshine

Bewildered

Side shot

Eabha background, Marinda foreground

Eabha foreground, Marinda background

Tuning the stereo at a 'rest stop'

Having a quiet, 'Eabha - Dadad' talk