Night Hawk into Early Bird

I am not an early bird. I have no interest in catching worms. I would rather sleep a little longer than spring out of bed. I shave my head largely for this reason - it cuts down on early morning preening!!

I don't know why, but I signed up to play in an early morning hockey league (www.scrhl.ca) and so once a week I am out the door before 6am to play!! I am enjoying it but it relies heavily on three pieces of equipment:

(1) Crocs - these things are ugly as sin, but as comfortable as heaven. I swore I would never wear these affronts to foot fashion but somebody gave me a pair and I love them!! They are a must in getting out the door at that time.

(2) Old Man's Gatorade - I can't get up early enough to operate machines that involve electricity and produce hot liquids before 7:30am so I am truly grateful to live uphill from a Starbucks. Gatorade worked in my early 30s but now I need Cafe Americano with three shots to get the brain going (that and a Melaleuca "Access Bar")

(3) iPod blaring something that my wife feels I should have grown out of a decade or two ago - lately it has been RHCP, Chess blues or something with a reggae vibe to it. I cashed in airmiles to get this baby and I opted for the 80gb classic rather than the Touch because I wanted more room to put more stuff on it (Mandarin lessons, grad school lectures, eclectic music and way too many podcasts of obscure talk shows). I can't believe how much it holds. I may even rip my collection of 80s dance music just to see if it will hold my entire cd collection!!

In a strange progression I decided that if I can get up and play hockey before heading into the office (as do all the other guys I play with) I should also be able to get up early and do stuff before 'heading into the office' on other days. I approached a few people from church and now I will lead a Bible study on Thursdays from 6:30-7:30am. In a city that is getting increasingly fast-paced you have to make time for the important stuff - so this is one nighthawk that is becoming an early bird...but I still don't want any worms.

Ehkosit
Migwec

38 Years Old and Never Kissed a Girl...

I turned 38 yesterday. I have spent the last year (almost to the day) in a bit of a funk and so even though it marked getting older, it also marked coming back to life. It was nice, I had lunch with two of my best friends (one in from Regina and the other back from China). This always makes a fat guy happy. Had a quick supper and birthday cake with my family before I had to head out again. The kids got me new hockey skates for my birthday (I have started playing hockey again after a 20 year hiatus).

All in all I'd rather be 38 in a happy space than 37 with a chip on my shoulder!!

Ehkosit
Migwec

Summer is winding down and we might be heading into a real cold winter (according to the Farmers' Almanac or a pig spleen or sumthin). Before everybody headed back to school we were drawing double digits into our back yard - lots of kids trying to 'get their hammock on' before going back to the daily grind of elementary school. It cracks me up because all of the kids have passes to Calaway Park (local amusement park), every gaming console that has come out ever, and more channels than they can possibly watch, but there they are on my hammock swinging it and trying to knock each other off.

It is pretty quiet around the house, thoughI should qualify that statement. My daughter and our puppy both miss the constant commotion and playmates of the summer months. Unfortunately they also happen to be the loudest of the lot and so it is quieter but not by much.

Part of my summer was spent with my good friend and former business partner. Even though we don't work together we still find ways and places to be in each other's life. Its good - I am actually a fairly private person and so I don't let many people into my thoughts, feelings, etc. Clayton is one of those few and so it was nice to spend some time with him talking and exploring some 'stuff' that was rattling around - new challenges colliding with old thought patterns. Not a good combination. Something about getting the boy off of the rez but never getting the rez out of the boy.

I am getting set to start up the new ministry year and it is exciting - lots of new opportunities. As I looked back over the books I read in the summer they all had a common (unplanned) thread - the idea that the moment is where it all happens...right now...and now..and even now. The books were a mix of secular, Christian, business and academic. Anyhoo, that is what we are going to dig into over the next year - the power of decisions, actions, reactions and how to look back on the past, look forward to the future but how to live life right now to its fullest. I am excited , but I don't want to use up anymore moments cuz I got stuff to do.

Ehkosit,

Migwec