The New Floodgates of the Mind

All rightee then! I’m finally announcing this to the wild (although there is a small handful of you out there who already know), but the OTHER reason this year was going to be a very busy one for me is that…. (dramatic pause) …

Chantale is pregnant! I’m going to be a Daddy again! Wooo-heeeee!!!! 🙂

We went for her first doctor’s appointment yesterday and found out that she is 12 weeks and 3 (now 4) days pregnant (technically, the baby is due in July). After getting to know her doctor, we went into the exam room and got to listen to the baby’s heartbeat!! To me, it almost sounded like “It took – it took – it took” 🙂 All I know is that it felt amazing to hear that little heartbeat going and I had to hold back the temptation to push the doctor out of the way and plaster my ear onto Chantale’s belly 🙂

It was a long and exhausting day as we did end up waiting over 90 minutes to see the Doctor, and this after having to walk around the hospital to get a new hospital card. Chantale, not very big on needles, was very brave as we went downstairs for blood tests afterwards. I was very proud of her 🙂 And then, when all was said and done with the hospital, we went home to play with Casey (who, incidentally, turned 1 year old yesterday!) and then headed out to Chantale’s first pre-natal swimming lesson 🙂

When the day finally ended, I took her out for supper and we really enjoyed ourselves just chatting and laughing about the events of the day 🙂 At home, we watched the Quantum Leap Season 2 finale and by the time I came back into the room (after having brought the DVDs downstairs) Chantale was already asleep 🙂

Today, I spread the news! First to all the Team Leaders who were at the Change Management Meeting this morning, and then afterwards to my own Team. (I scared them by telling them I was taking a new position 🙂 They were very shocked but when I mentioned that it was to be a Father, they were very happy 🙂 )

So, now it’s your turn! Hello world! My beautiful wife is gonna have a BABY!!!! 🙂

I’m jumpy and jittery. Life’s been quite busy/ hectic lately and I don’t see any true stoppage. I’m looking forward to the weekend… and to sharing some more information tomorrow! 🙂

Until then, here’s another piece of Fast Fiction. Every time I start to consider revising the format in certain cases (to allow more words), I realize that I should just continue to stick to it. After all, in the very end, some of these pieces could easily be expanded into longer works of fiction. They are, in the barest sense, jumping on points to a larger universe.

My Eyes Burn: I Can See My Wreckage

Hola! The expected snow storm has begun! And thus I must brace myself to shovel tonight! Yuck! But until then, let’s try to stay awake 🙂 Here’s my first FF for 2005: My Eyes Burn: I Can See Your Isolation

Back a few months now, I’ve made mention that the beginning of this year was going to be quite a busy one. Well, I’m finally in a position to speak a little about one of the projects that will be taking up my time. Continuing my on-going love affair with Canada and Canadian Comics, I’ve agreed to be one of a panel of judges for The Shusters – The Canadian Comic Book Awards!

Here’s a bit from the announcement: “With permission from the Estate of JOE SHUSTER, the PARADISE COMICS TORONTO COMICON 2005 is proud to announce that it will be the site of the 1ST ANNUAL SHUSTER AWARDS, honouring THE CANADIAN COMIC BOOK COMMUNITY – Pat, Present and Future. The SHUSTERS will consist of 10 categories – 8 for Comics published in 2004, 1 for excellence in Retailing in 2004, and Inductees to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame winners will be decided on by a panel of renowned Canadian Comic Book Historians. All other categories will be selected by a nominating committee of selected individuals from across Canada (Bios will be made available when the Nominees are announced). NOMINEES MUST HAVE HAD A CREATIVE WORK PUBLISHED IN 2004.”

To learn more, please visit The Shusters page on the Toronto Comic Con web site.

Obviously, I’m thrilled and excited to be a part of this! 🙂

Cartoonist/graphic novelist Will Eisner died last night, January 3, 2005, in Florida following quadruple heart bypass surgery. He was 87.

You can find more info at the Newsarama web site.

I’m stunned and speechless. Regardless of the fact that it was expected… :_(

My son caught me crying the other night. “Why are you crying, Daddy?” he asked. I couldn’t answer. “You know, you should be honest with him if you want him to be honest with you in the future,” said my wife. He had time to ask me 2 more times before I finally was able to swallow that ball that had lodged itself in my throat. “I don’t want you guys to go back,” I finally confessed to him. “I miss you so much when you’re not here…” “Oh,” he replied, understanding. Then, he gave me a hug and I held him for a bit…

My New Year’s Resolution is to slowly disappear.

My horoscope for today stated that I should “Be thinking about ridding yourself of the people and things that are no longer to your benefit. It’s time to start looking ahead. Prepare to experience new things.” which almost fits in exactly with my New Year’s Resolution.

And so, farewell.

I used to believe that I was everything to everyone. Turns out I was nothing to no one.
-Anonymous

Still experimenting with my Fast Fiction pieces. I’m trying to explore just what my main character can do. Here’s today’s piece: My Eyes Burn: I Can See Your Scam

I just spent some time on the phone talking with an old friend of mine. She told me that her eldest daughter was the victim of domestic violence Christmas night when her boyfriend (now obviously EX!) viciously beat into her. She was luckily saved due to a man who saw this when it spilled out of the bf’s house and into the streets who immediately called 9-1-1. She is pressing charges and he truly deserves it, but this poor girl has already been through so much in her short 18 years that you have to shake your head and wonder at it all.

God why do people have to be such total fuck-ups? It’s a Neanderthal response, but I would have bashed HIS head in myself had I been there. And thus we never get far enough away from our cavemen ancestors…

My horoscope for today says: “Don’t take anyone or anything too seriously today. You will get the wrong idea if you overanalyze.” so I think I’ll just go bounding around the neighborhood looking for flowers to smell. 🙂

Mondo-quick updates: Working from home today. Kids with me, have paperwork to catch up on, good chance to do it. Yesterday was spent mainly lounging – watched morning tv (sesame street, etc) in bed with the kids 🙂 Sunday Chantale and I went hogwild on Boxing Day. Mondo loot! 🙂 Christmas day was relaxing, Eve was spent at in-laws.

Going forward: work tomorrow, thus dropping the kids off at my parents place. Day off on Friday which will be spent preparing the house for guests as we are hosting this year. Yay! 🙂

Enjoying the holidays? I am!