Retiring this webpage,...

My new space on the World Wide Web will be:

http://darryltandrews.blogspot.com/

Curling Season

Week 1 - W 9-1
Week 2 - down 5 after 2 ends; came storming back to W 8-5
Week 3 - toughest test yet against an experienced team; looked abysmal first three ends losing all three and being down 0-6.  Team rallied and won 7-6 picking up two in the final end,..without the hammer!
Week 4 - Team members suffering from flu, aches and pain; post a score in the first end!  Ice is extremely difficult to judge; myself throwing thru 3 consectutive ends (yep, 6 straight rocks).  Megan can't get a rock into play, Christine misses easy two rock takeout in 3rd end and Mike has no miracles.  L 3-6  A team we should beat; disappointing,...
Week 5 - L 0-7.  Learned how a good skip can change the game in every end.  Had three rocks in the house with a big end looming and two throws later found us giving up a point.  Happened time after time.  Mike still suffering effects of a cold just couldn't match the experienced curler's weight and curl.  Incredibly, this score could've been reversed - it wasn't a complete blow out like the score would suggest.
Week 6 - L 2-6.  Was away at TTV training in Surrey, BC.  I heard the contest was closer then the score would suggest.
Week 7 - L 5-4.  Last end tied 4-4, us with the hammer, but failed on a combination hit that would've bumped our rock into best position.  A very surprising loss.  One of the teams better efforts.

Fiction v. Fact

FICTION

FACT

1

Most children are satisfied with how much time they spend (or spent) with their fathers after their parents’ divorce. As long as the mom has enough money, kids don’t pay a price for too little fathering after divorce.

The vast majority of children say they want – or wanted - more time with their fathers. Those who don’t get enough fathering after their parents divorce are more likely to have social and psychological problems throughout their lives

2

Divorced parents obviously can’t get along well enough to share parenting so it’s better that mom raise the kids.

Most parents can cooperate well enough to share parenting and most become more cooperative after attending parenting programs. 


3

Infants and kids under five should live full time with their mom because they are too young to spend nights at their dad’s.

Infants and young children should not be away from either parent for more than a few days and are not disrupted by spending nights in both homes. 

4

When kids spend more time living with dad, they will be worse off financially because their father will have to pay so much less child support.

The more time dad gets to spend with his kids, the more money he usually spends on child support and on voluntary expenses such as clothes, camps, and college educations.
5

Most divorced fathers don't want more parenting responsibility or more time with their kids.
The overwhelmingly majority of divorced fathers want to spend more time with their kids and have more parenting responsibility

6

Kids would rather live with mom than hassle with living in both parents’ homes.

Kids who lived in both parents home on a regular basis preferred this to living with mom. Young adults who lived mainly with their mothers wish they had lived more with dad.


7
Fathers could have their kids live with them much more of the time if they really wanted to share the parenting

Fathers often don’t have enough money to set up a home suitable for kids to live in regularly or to hire lawyers to fight for shared parenting time.

~ Dr. Linda Nielson, ACFC

10.10.10

Representing,...

the kids, all three of them in fact, were lined up to see Hedley (Stephanie) and Max & Ruby (LG & Cash).  Circumstances prevented them from witnessing, what would have been pure joy to each of them, a memorable experience.  On their behalf, I took task to make sure I would stand in for them and somehow, fill the void created by their absence.

musing...

...heard the song, "Fool for your Lovin'" on the radio today; haven't heard that song in years....my life really is a movie!

My Proper Young Man!

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff with his wife Suzanna is greeted by my one year old gentleman upon arriving in Vernon.  Cash is truly a special little man!  (Photo courtesy of Peter Davidson)

40...

Both Father Dan and my cousin Mike have reached 40 years old.  I spoke with both of them this past week (their birthdate's are one day apart) and learned different things about turning 40 from each of them.  One was to really take stock in looking after yourself;  a healthy lifestyle must be paramount.  The second observation about turning 40 was the absolute settling of the 'not being a kid anymore' debate.  I appreciated both comments and as a single man moving into my fourth decade; will be sure to adopt both principles into my life.   With each passing day, I will be honest and reveal that I find myself to be a little more reflective on my life and the people who have helped shape me.  I am looking forward to my 40th birthday celebration and am making plans on how I want to spend it.

Fatherhood: A Picture is Worth One Thousand Words,....

Dude, I know what you mean,....

The good life is what I need

Too many people stepping over me

The only thing that's been on my mind

Is the one thing I need before I die


All I want is a little of the good life

All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life

All I want is a little of the good life

All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life

The good life


I don't really know who I am

It's time for me to take a stand

I need a change and I need it fast

I know that any day could be the last


All I want is a little of the good life

All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life

All I want is a little of the good life

All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life


Hold on, hold on, I always wanted it this way

(I never wanted it this way)

Hold on, hold on, I always wanted it this way

(We didn't ask for it this way)

I always wanted it this way


The good life

All I want is a little of the good life

All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life

All I want is a little of the good life

All I need is to have a good time, oh, the good life

The good life



- Adam Gontier

How 'bout a wee update?

My brother Mark is a proud father.  I had planned on doing a post with comments about his joys of fatherhood.  I won't need to now as Mark has begun what looks to be, an excellent blog of his own:  " Tales of a new Dad".  It promises to be a great read.

I won't be posting many more updates on "Kelowna Diaries".  I decided to use that time to focus on some new writing I am doing.  I am posting it to a blog site, but it won't be found connected to this page.

I finally joined a fitness club again; it's been way overdue and I'm jakked about pushing weight again.

I generally feel excited, content, energized and ready to begin "Life at Forty".  The best is yet to come...

Happy Canada Day!

A Lesson in Experimentation

I attended this event over one month ago, but finally had the picture to post for it.  I would suggest to anyone who has children to attend this touring seminar.

Former Canadian Heavyweight Boxing Champion George Chuvalo has faced many of the best fighters of all time including Muhammad Ali & George Foreman, but his fight against drugs brought Mr. Chuvalo to Kelowna's Parkinson Community Centre Sunday. Warmly received by the few hundred people who attended; both young and old alike; were immediately compelled by Mr. Chuvalo's stories about drugs and how he lost 3 sons and a wife as a result of substance abuse. His graphic recollection of events and his expressive nature enable him to convey his powerful message that, "Addicts always begin with experimentation", "Respect for one's body is paramount"; "The genesis of all things being the love one can always find at home".
http://fightagainstdrugs.ca/

3X

I was outside, next to an orchard, getting some fresh air.  On the other side of the road walking, were two young teenage boys.  I was in the shadows and they didn't see me.  I could hear them approaching and talking quite briskly.  The one lad had just shown his penis to his young girlfriend who commented on it's small size.  The boy was most upset telling his friend this story and asked his friend to agree that his own penis was silly small when not erect as well.  The other young boy, being a good friend, agreed and went further to comment that all non erect penises are silly small.  That seemed to satisfy both boys for a moment.  The friend, not wanting to end on the thought of having silly small penises added, "It grows to three times as big when it's erect".  "Yeah", echoed the first boy, " All penises are 3X bigger when they're erect". 

At this point, the boys had caught up to me and I was no longer hidden in the shadows.  Embarrassed they turned back in the direction they had come from and disappeared into their own shadows. 

Kelowna, British Columbia

Never.  Never.  Did I think I would leave Ontario.  Seriously.  I was born there, I thought I would die there.  I didn't have any peers that went so far to leave the province.  Perhaps they left the city or town, but nothing so drastic; nothing so far.  My brother really was the trailblazer.  I suppose in some way he had to make a big move for himself, that's only for me to speculate.   I can say, however, that Mark  was a big reason why I moved to BC.   One month into this new journey; I'm very pleased.  To date, it is without a doubt the smartest move I have made in a long time.  I struggle when thinking, did I really have to move away from loved ones?  Did I have to relocate my family here for real, to gain that better life?  It would appear to be true.  My future wasn't the same back in Ontario.  I see real promise in BC.  I suppose, only now, am I thinking selfish of how to get my loved ones out here to BC.

Keeping Sanity

SKYPE. A wonderful invention. How in the World did people survive long distance relationships in the past. Whew! I care not to imagine. I can talk in length of how my kids would lose their minds, were it so that they could not see me, but really it is the other way around. Being the Scout of this adventure is both exciting and sad. The truth is that it is incredibly lonely. People would argue I'm lucky; being away from the stress of the family back home; that I'm in the better place. That would make them grossly wrong. If being in the 'eye of the storm' means being apart of a dynamic family - then into the storm I would go. The hard work and sacrifice is only for the benefit of the family. I wouldn't choose to spend anytime apart from them for any other reason. I'm glad that I have SKYPE to bridge this gap.

Proud Father

I had absolutely nothing to do with this, yet share in the excitement that my life-long friend's book, "Prayers for Healing" has sold out it's first print run in less then one month from the official book launch date. I can share with readers of this blog, that I have in fact read and used this valuable resource during recent ill periods of my youngest children. Don't just take my word for it; please read the review posted in this link http://news.anglican.ca/news/stories/2168?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+acc-news+%28Anglican+Church+of+Canada+News+Stories%29

Haiti Receives My Help

Now, nobody can say, I'm not compassionate...

City donates $10,000 to Haiti relief
(PETERBOROUGH) Last week’s earthquake in Haiti has left thousands dead, spurring Councillor Ann Farquharson to ask her fellow councillors if they’d vote to donate $10,000 from the City to help relief efforts. “This is about humanity,” she said at Monday night’s Council meeting. She went on to say that many communities stepped forward and made donations to Peterborough after the flood in 2004.

“The cost to the taxpayer is 40 cents,” added Coun. Jack Doris.


Though he feels compassion and sympathy for the people of Haiti, Coun. Eric Martin said it is outside their job to send the money. He suggested the City organize a fundraising event instead of donating taxpayer money. Director of finance Brian Horton told councillors the City had donated $10,000 for victims of the tsunami in south-east Asia, $5,000 after Hurricane Katrina, and $5,000 after the 1996 floods in Quebec, among other donations. Coun. Patti Peeters mentioned the City faces a tight budget for 2010 and challenged councillors to donate $100 from their wallets.
“People are starving, people are dying as we speak,” said Coun. Dean Pappas.
Since the City donated to the richest country in the western hemisphere (United States), Coun. Henry Clarke asked councillors how they couldn’t donate to the most impoverished. “I think we have to,” he emphasized.
Coun. Farquharson countered the argument that it isn’t within Council’s mandate to make a donation by saying councillors’ mandate is to decide how to spend tax money, which they do every Monday night. Taxpayers, she pointed out, aren’t consulted on each funding issue.

Haiti shouldn't get a thing

If you live in a high risk area - you shouldn't be surprised when it happens! I'm sick and tired of World relief efforts for "people who build homes next to volcannos". If you choose to live someplace - then you choose to accept those living conditions. I've included a CNN article as evidence to my arguement.


(CNN) -- Scientists have warned for years that the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, was at risk for a major earthquake. Five scientists presented a paper during the 18th Caribbean Geological Conference in March 2008 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, stating that a fault zone on the south side of the island posed "a major seismic hazard."

Tuesday's potentially disastrous 7.0 earthquake occurred in Haiti along the same fault line, known as the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone. "We were concerned about it," said one of the paper's authors, Paul Mann, a senior research scientist at the University of Texas' Institute for Geophysics.

"The problem with these kinds of strikes is that they can remain quiescent -- dormant -- for hundreds of years," he said Tuesday evening. "So it's hard to predict when they'll occur."
The findings by Mann and his colleagues followed a 2004 study in the Journal of Geophysical Research in which two geologists found a heightened earthquake risk along the Septentrional fault zone, which runs through the Cibao valley in the northern Dominican Republic.

"This is seismically a very active area of the world," one of the geologists, said Jian Lin of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. "Geologists should not be surprised by this earthquake." Lin co-authored the study with geologist Uri ten Brink of the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of Tuesday's quake was 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Price, the Haitian capital. Its proximity to the country's population center had scientists concerned Tuesday night.

"Because the earthquake was so close to the capital city, because the city is so populated and because the country is so poor -- the houses are not well-built -- it could cause significant casualties," Lin said. But Mann believes that Port-au-Prince's modest skyline could work in its favor. "Port-au-Prince doesn't have high-rises," said the geologist, who has visited the city. "It's mostly a low-rise kind of place. And that may be a fortunate thing for them."

The Enriquillo-Plaintain Garden fault is similar in structure and character to the San Andreas fault of California in that both are strike-slip in nature, meaning the plates move past each other in a horizontal direction, Mann said.

"The island of Hispaniola is caught between two techtonic plates," said Michael Blanpeid, associate coordinator for the USGS's Earthquake Hazards Program. "The North American and the Caribbean techtonic plates are shearing the island, crushing it, grinding it. And as that occurs, earthquakes pop off."

A dozen major earthquakes measuring 7.0 or greater on the Richter scale have occurred in the Caribbean near Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the island of Hispaniola in the past 500 years, scientists said. The last major earthquake near Hispaniola, a magnitude 8.0 in 1946, caused a tsunami and left 20,000 people homeless, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The last large earthquake based on historical records in the Port-au-Prince area was in 1770, Mann said.

End of the Decade...finally

To those who know me well, this past decade has been very difficult. Even for these knowing people they only have their perception of what happened. Mine, naturally is different and hopefully will be documented in length and detail in the book I've always talked about writing. I have been told recently that a marked difference in who I am has been growing more obvious over the past 5 years. I suppose this is a good sign since I can't control other people's perception. To say I am happy to see this decade end would be false; since while it saw me experience the most difficult challenges in my life, it also showered me with some of my life's greatest memories. 2010 will bring huge change and opportunity into my life. I know, "man in the mirror" know, the best is still to come.