The little things are everything
Next time you're at a family gathering, pay attention to who chips in to clean off the table or wash the dishes. Likely it’s the same...
Abundant Gratitude
During a recent trip to the dental office, Karina observed the dentist leaving for the day. As part of his exit routine, the doctor...
Make it personal
The independent coffee shop we frequented on our recent trip to Vancouver was a simple and cute little nook in the side of one of the...
Failed assumptions
“Dad I can’t remember what direction letter ‘d’ goes?” Hazel asked me during her most recent bedtime destroying crafting session. Using...
Fire at the agenda factory
Elementary schools are still in the habit of sending kids home with agendas to connect parents with important dates, and help students...
Sharing is Caring
As I brought Hazel’s friend home after a recent play date, the mother asked me to wait while she grabbed a plate of ‘spring rolls’ that...
The Likeability Factor
One of the best parts about attending the Edmonton Folk Fest last weekend was running into two of my favourite teaching colleagues from...
ASK, even when the answer might be NO
My instructions were “KEEP BUILDING!” as my youngest daughter went out for a walk with her mom during our recent lego building project to...
Avoid overwhelm
I own a briefcase sized metric and SAE socket and wrench set that accomplishes 95% of the mechanical duties that I encounter. I know...
Mechanical advantage
Normally a request to help move a piano is an immediate NO. Leave it to the professionals, I have hurt my back too many times. This week...
Conversational threads
I had an amazingly awkward conversation with an older neighbour recently, where after exchanging multiple goofy surface level...
Forced Fear Facing
I cringingly watched my daughter Hazel catching crabs at the beach with her bare hands, something that I have never done in my 43 years....
Better by design
I was recently in awe of the engineering and efficiency of a portable espresso press that I’ve owned for multiple years, and had yet to...
Lost and found
There was a four hour search today where Karina and I ‘toe-combed’ every bit of sand and scum in a ten thousand square foot section of...
Low Visibility
During a recent flight, I had to make do with some less than ideal visibility. While still technically legal for VFR flight (2 miles), it...
Over deliver
I’ve had to make pre-work stops at our local Peavy Mart on two separate occasions recently. Although the sign proclaims ‘8:00am open’ in...
Hang Loose
There is a sweet kindergarten girl in the room across the hall from me at school that drops me the ‘hang loose’ (thumb and pinky extended...
Apologize NOW!
An apology is a beautiful thing. It is from the heart. It shows remorse, reflection, and empathy. It expresses the desire to do better....
Robot Lawn Care
My Instagram has been inundated with ‘robo’ lawn mower ads lately. I’m not sure how it knows that I am obsessed with automating menial...
Keep me in the loop
As Karina patiently waits to find out if she is the successful candidate for a permanent teaching position, the stress levels around our...