I probably shouldn't even be talking about this, but I feel I owe my faithful readers an explanation before I disappear from public view.Here's the deal.  CSIS, Canada's top super spy organization, has chosen me as their latest international man of mystery.  Effective immediately, I will be going into hiding.First, I will be going to a remote and desolate Canadian outpost to learn all about Canada's latest spy techniques... like how to use maple syrup to get evil doers to admit defeat, and how the term "desolate Canadian outpost" is actually code for "Winnipeg in the middle of Winter."After my... More »

For over 5 years, my favourite television show was LOST.  This was the only appointment viewing I made... even though we had a PVR, I would still make sure that I was sitting in front of the television when the show started Wednesday evenings.I recently decided to start re-watching my LOST DVDs while I surf the internet in the evenings.Much like you would see on the show itself, I have found myself falling into frequent flashbacks while re-watching episodes for the first time in years (except, my flashbacks don't contain the creepy music, the smoke monster or actual movement through... More »

I knew that my time as a father would be filled with gross moments that would test my gag reflex.  Well, tonight I was pushed to the limit.  And I survived. Barely.We enter this scene with my little Pea gleefully taking a bath.  She's imploring her bath time friends to take their spots for circle time, so she can tell them a wonderful story about her day.Also in the bathroom is me, Pea's father. I am gathering her towel and pyjamas, and preparing myself for the imminent power struggle that would arise when I advise Pea that bath time is... More »

I was giving Pea a bath this past Sunday, and as per the normal process, she was playing with a bunch of her friends along the edge of the tub.  In this particular instance, Tigger, Dr. Duck and Woody from Toy Story were all playing together.Then, I overheard the following:Dr. Duck: "Alright Tigger, you need to go to the office."Tigger: "Ok, I'm going."(Tigger bounces from one side of the tub to the next.}Woody: "Hi Tigger, you are in the office."Tigger: "Yes."Woody: "Why."Tigger: "Because I wasn't listening."Woody: "Ok, good."Let's recap a few salient points to this story.  My wife watched Pea... More »

In Toronto today, a funeral was held for Sgt. Ryan Russell, a police officer who was killed last Wednesday in the line of duty.  Since the news of his murder broke, there has been a constant stream of stories, all of which have tugged like hell at my emotions.  On more than one occasion, news reports had me welling up as reporters told of his widowed wife, his young child (roughly the same age as Pea) and the fragile life of a policing family.It's easy to understand why this story has so many of us emotionally affected.  A man who... More »

I was speaking with a colleague of mine recently, who was concerned because her 2.5 year old started uncharacteristically waking during the night and throwing tantrums.  Her daughter would wake frequently, sometimes for up to 2 hours, and would be inconsolable.  The more we spoke, the more eerily familiar her story seemed.  As it turns out, both of our kids, of roughly the same age, seem to be experiencing the same problem. So I'm calling on all Moms, Dads, and in the best case scenario, paediatricians who are also Moms or Dads, to help us figure out what the hell is... More »

This Christmas, my wife bought me a new lens for my digital SLR camera.  From what she told me, the lens is used to take portrait shots... it does a better job at focusing on certain areas of the frame, while doing a better job at blurring everything else.  A week and a half after receiving this wonderful gift, I now need two things:A new laptop, because there are now way too many photos on our computer and it is starting to get really slow!Photography lessons, to make sure I am using this stuff properly. Here's what I have managed to... More »

I've been AWOL for a while... and for anyone who actually reads my stuff with any regularity, I apologize.  At some point in the next week or two, when I muster the courage and the right words, I will explain exactly why I have been neglectful.  But for now, I shall stick to some happier fare.Last time I posted, my wife and I were working with a 25-day potty training deadline.  We had to get the task completed before Pea started pre-Casa, which as it turns out, was today.  I am pleased to report that we pulled it off (pun... More »

We have 25 days to potty train Pea.That's because Pea starts montessori school in the New Year and they require her to be potty trained by the time she arrives.  So yeah, game on.Now, we're not starting from scratch here.  Pea has been going pee-pee and ta-ta in the potty for quite some time now.  And we had fallen into a good rhythm for a while, with her asking to go and succeeding, much to our delight.But like any belligerent toddler who senses that her parents really need her to do something important for them -- a solid, if you... More »

We all love taking photos of our kids, right?  Well, Pea also loves taking photos.  And truth be told, she takes some pretty good ones.While I might not be off to buy her a digital SLR this Christmas, I will certainly be keeping an eye on her photographic prowess as time goes buy.  After all, who doesn't love Annie Leibovitz?... More »