The New Floodgates of the Mind

What a weekend!

Friday night was a little rough due to finding out about some troubles James has been having at school. *sigh* Keep giving out the Love, Support, and Strong Comfort… Picking them up was quick and easy and after Chantale met up with us, we headed to Fairview to get some nice new clothes for the kids! Yup, Special Weekend required nice clothes! 🙂 Melyssa got a nice red dress and white sandals, and James got himself a nice blue shirt and tie, as well as black pants and shoes!

Saturday was rather busy but nice. After lunch, we waited around for Brault & Martineault to deliver the goods and they did! Much grunting and straining on behalf of the movers, but by 4pm or so we had our new Couch, Love Seat, Dining Room Table, Buffet/ Hutch all installed and ready to be admired 🙂 (digital pics coming soon!) Chantale’s parents came over for supper and we even cracked open the bottle of Founder’s Estate Chardonnay we had picked up in Maine last weekend. (strangely enough, it didn’t taste as good or sweet as the same ones bought here). The evening ended when some friends came over for coffee and desert 🙂

By 10pm everyone was gone and the kids were in bed. Chantale and I just lounged around enjoying the fact that we didn’t have to sit on the floor any more 🙂

Sunday morning, we all got dolled-up and headed off to church. It was a really nice service which included a lot of participation from the Sunday School students and a baptism. What we were there for was to celebrate James’ being able to take communion. It was a very special moment which actually also made it into the Church Bulletin (you can just picture James beaming when he saw that 🙂 ). When the service ended, we headed out to Chantale’s parents place as they were hosting a BBQ for James. My parents came over as well as my brother, his wife, and new baby! It was, truly, a phenomenal time. The bit of rain in NO WAY dampened our spirits as the food was excellent! My parents were especially impressed with the BBQ chicken (with my mom insisting that the “secret” basting recipe be given to her! 🙂 ). My dad cleaned off his plate (which, honestly, does not happen) and joined in for coffee and cake! Everything was just wonderful and we all enjoyed the time together. I loved watching the kids huddle around their new baby cousin (much pictures taken, of course 🙂 ). A very magical day.

After some relaxing, everyone headed over to our place to see our new furniture and in the case of my brother, to actually see the house for the 1st time! 🙂 Bit by bit they left until only Chantale, the kids, and I were alone. We had a very brief supper and I showed the kids the last Standard Life commercials I was in. Then, it was into the car to drop them back off at their mother’s. When Chantale and I got back home, we finally took a walk around the neighborhood to see how far the construction has gone on some of the other houses. It was a nice short break. Getting back into the house, I went around to close the open windows as it had cooled down some. I got choked up in the kids rooms (and am getting choked up right now as I write this) when I realized they were gone for another two weeks… :_(

*deep breath*

I didn’t get to bed too late last night as we were both wiped. Chantale fell asleep immediately after we finished reading the latest Hawkman comic. I opened the Ultimate X-Men free comic book day issue but couldn’t get beyond the first 8 pages before I gave in, shut the lights, and promptly fell asleep as well 🙂 This morning was rough to get the internal engine started…

Hmmm… I remember printing this list up in Comicopia last year. I took the idea for LJ from . The list actually comes from the AFI’s 100 Years – 100 Movies. Movies I’ve seen are in bold, any comments I have are in italics.

Here’s the List

As incredible as it seems (and let me tell you, after spending hours rummaging through boxes and NOT finding my LOMA 290 class notes and old exams, it does seem incredible), I managed to pass my exam this morning!!!! It took me 90 minutes but I walked away with an 87%, practically screaming in shock (and scaring everyone around me still doing their exam) when the message appeared!!! 🙂

I’m very very happy with this especially as I left the house this morning feeling very upset and disappointed in myself for not having been able to study more. 🙂 (I did, after all, stupidly expect to study during my long-weekend trip to Ongonquit, Maine – which, obviously, didn’t happen 🙂 )

I’m so behind in news I don’t even remember what I’ve written or haven’t written about. 🙂 Two things which spring to mind right now: I should know by the end of next week if I’ve made the cut for the commercial castings. This saturday, Chantale and I are getting our new Dining Room and Living Room set!!! Hurray! No more eating on the floor or watching television sitting on the floor!! 🙂

Well, I have to get ready for a meeting so I’ll just check in later 🙂

Ack! Been up since 5am in order to get ready to head off to Ongonquit, Maine for the long weekend! Chantale and I slept over at Francisco and Line`s as we`re going together! 🙂

I tell ya, it`s rough waking up so early from a deep sleep. Especially after a long week!! Weird co-inky dink is that when Chantale and I get back to work on Wednesday, it`ll be to both of us starting at new offices! She in Cote-Vertu, me on Stanley 🙂

Long weekend weather is supposed to be quite amazing. Let`s hope it is. And, let`s hope we don`t end up being stuck at the border for too long 🙂

Ciao peoples! be good!

I’ve always been a nature-guy 🙂 Long live the Ents!! 🙂

Dryad

What type of otherkin are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Oooooo!!!!

John Travolta has taken a lead role in Artisan Pictures’ adaption of Marvel Comics’ long running character THE PUNISHER. Thomas Jane has taken the lead role of Frank Castle, a man who turns extremely violent vigilante after his family is murdered by the mob. Travolta will play Howard Saint, the villain of the piece. Saint is a man that appears to be a fine upstanding citizen to the world at large, but is really heavily involved in the criminal underworld. When his son is brutally killed, Saint’s darker and vengeful side emerges.
Source: Hollywood Reporter

I love John in villain roles! He’s so good at being nasty (see Broken Arrow and Face Off as examples) Ooooo!! 🙂

my Team took me to lunch today for my birthday 🙂 and yesterday they got me a cake and card! really nice 🙂

just bla bla.

1- Took the afternoon off yesterday since it was my Birthday 🙂 Went to Komico to get my batch of comics (yowtch! and then I picked up the Xenozoic Tales trade! yay!). Afterwards, headed to the kids’ school and had a friendly chat with the Principal 🙂 The kids finished class and I took them downtown to pick up Chantale. From there, we headed off to Picasso’s for a Birthday Supper! (thanks Sweetie! 🙂 ) and after that wonderful meal I drove the kids back.

2- After we dropped off the kids, Chantale and I headed to Guzzo on Sources to watch X2. Yeah! Loved it 🙂 Saw lots of the “nuances” way in advance (having knowledge of the source material obviously helps 🙂 ). I look forward to X3 !!

3- bday gifts included a new Epson Stylus 82 printer (yay! thanks, love!) supper and movie of course 🙂 , and an electric screwdriver from my in-laws (you don’t realize how useful it is until you own one! 🙂 ). I haven’t seen my parents yet so I don’t know what they got me!

bla bla continued

1- I went to court on the 13th. It was quite an interesting experience if at times nerve wracking. Things are settled and now I have to dish out more money on a monthly basis. c’est la vie and expected. Until the kids are older, of course.

2- I gave another performance review on Monday. I’m very much getting the hang of it all, being my fourth 🙂

3- last Sunday (mother’s day) Chantale and I ushered at church. always fun 🙂 Followed by a feast at my parents, coffee at our place, and supper at her parents.

encora bla bla

1- I took last friday off as a moving day. what a busy day it was.

2- I went for the second Casting for the next batch of Standard Life commercials on the 7th. Fun and I hope I did well. I’ll know in a few weeks if I’ve been chosen. Here’s to finger-crossing and good-wishes-sending!!! 🙂

final bla

1- have to pack up the desk tomorrow. we’re moving this weekend to our new offices on Stanley and Maissonneuve. So, not only a casual friday tomorrow, but a packing one as well 🙂

2- we’re holding a wine and cheese 5 a 7 tonight. gonna chat briefly and then head off as Leon’s finally opened in the West Island today and Chantale and I have living room and dining room furniture to buy!!! 🙂

Chantale got me a large French Vanilla coffee from Timmie’s along with a Chocolate Croissant! Yummy Yummy Yummy!!! I got love in my tummy! 🙂

At work, my team presented me with a card and an incredibly sweet and rich chocolate cake! Holey Moley!!!!

I’m flying on a sugar high and can’t get down! down! down!

🙂 Ok, actually, after a couple of hours of work, I’m doing much better 🙂

My draggy! Get one!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Happy Birthday to

Happy Birthday to ME! 🙂

Another year older…. and still as sexy and shagadelic as ever…. yeah, baby! 🙂

On Thursday May 8th, 2003, a Great Man passed away.

In total, I may have spent less than a day (24 hours) with him in the many years I’ve known him. But, I have spent many years thinking and talking about those hours and the time we spent.

In recent years, an attempt was made to try to revive his best-known creation and grant him the status he is due. Now, that legacy of keeping him remembered will fall to his son and fans.

His Biography From the Guardians of the North web-site:
Leo Bachle was born in Toronto and was educated at Danforth Technical School and the Ontario College of Art. Late in 1941, while a student at Danforth Tech, Bachle was recruited, to work for the Toronto comics publisher Bell Features. In February 1942, Bachle’s national superhero, Johnny Canuck, made his debut in Bell’s Dime Comics. During the next two years, Bachle would also create a number of other heroes, such as Wild Bill, the Brain and the Invisible Commando.

Bachle’s talents were eventually recognized by several American comic book companies, who lured him to New York in 1944. In the 1950s, Bachle left the comics field and became a night-club entertainer, changing his name to Les Barker. He has since appeared in numerous movies and television commercials. Today, Barker looks back fondly on those years when he entertained a generation of Canadian kids (and himself) with the exploits of Canada’s second national superhero. In 1995 Canada Post commemorated Johnny Canuck in its Superheroes/Superhéros stamp issue.

The background for his character states:
Leo Bachle’s involvement with Bell Features began late in 1941, when, as a sixteen-year-old high school student, he met John Ezrin, Bell’s major financial backer. Ezrin noticed Bachle browsing through some Bell comic books and asked the young man for his opinion of the publications. Bachle, an aspiring comic artist who had been drawing his own strips for several years, didn’t hesitate to criticize some of the Bell artwork. Ezrin was amused by Bachle’s brashness and challenged the young man on the spot to draw an action scene depicting two men fighting. Ezrin was sufficiently impressed by Bachle’s drawing that he told him to dream up a comic book character and to bring his idea to the Bell Features office the next day. That night at home, Bachle created “Canada’s super hero” – Johnny Canuck. The next day, Ezrin and Bell Features publisher Cy Bell were favourably impressed with Bachle’s creation and the young artist joined the Bell team of freelancers.

For more information on Johnny Canuck go to The Guardians of the North web site.

_______________________________________________
Yes, Superman was co-created by a Canadian.

The second Canadian national comic hero, Johnny Canuck, first appeared in the February 1942 issue of Bell’s Dime Comics No.1. Johnny Canuck was created be Leo Bachle when he was only 15 years old. His character had no superpowers whatsoever. As Bachle explained:

I drew Johnny Canuck and he had my face, and everybody at my school ( Danforth Tech) read it, and I was popular. I drew the teachers, and all the kids read the books to see whose name I was going to mention.

Bachle made Johnny Canuck tall, strong, and brave and endowed him with a good right hook. Just as Superman had devoted his attention to the Axis powers, Johnny Canuck was Canada’s answer to Nazi oppression. He served as an air force captain and secret agent on the front lines working with partisan and guerrilla forces. Like Captain America, he met Adolf Hitler face to face and almost succeeded in eliminating him and ending the war.

Like Nelvana, Johnny Canuck was one of the Canadian Whites. Canada Post’s stamp shows him in color, dressed for action in his air force flight jacket, goggled headgear, and boots as he appeared in the comics. He wears no super hero costume and has no bulging muscles, but he is incorruptible and fearless in his fight for democracy and what is right.

Near the end of the World War II, Bell realized that to compete with the soon-to-be reopened American market in Canada, he would have to shift to color printing. To do so, he borrowed large sums of money and bought the necessary equipment. War had made newsprint scarce, and Bell discovered he couldn’t acquire enough paper to print his publications. Between 1947 and 1952 Bell sold all of his equipment and stock, and the original Canadian comic heroes fought their last fight.

(taken from www.skypoint.com/members/schutz19/jcanuck.htm)

____________________________________________________________

Back in happier days, here is a photograph of Les and myself from 1997…

Rest in Peace, Mister Bachle… You’ll always be remembered by me.