Bringing in the New Year...

I've had the week off work, so I have accomplished very little lately. I've played video games, board games, finished a book, played Lego, and watched a lot of hockey and TV.

And now on the eve of a new decade, my kids are busy laughing their heads off, Erin is watching some TV and I'm getting ready to watch the Canadians play the Americans in World Junior hockey.

Then we'll likely make the long trek upstairs to play some board games and ring in the New Year with my in-laws. We picked up a copy of a board game called Ticket to Ride that we're itching to try out.

So, how are you bringing in the New Year?

Passive-Aggressive...

Josh, you'll appreciate this one.

You'll need some backstory though to fully enjoy this one.

My neighbor seems to be physically & emotionally pained when someone parks in front of her house. The curious part is that anyone who parks in front of her house is also legally parking in front of our house, but she seems to have claimed ownership of this specific piece of public property.

I should also note that we have had "run-ins" with her about this in the past where she vents about the need for us to park elsewhere. Something that is difficult to do on a street where most houses have basement suites and that means multiple vehicles.

In fact, she called bylaw officers a week ago to report an abandoned car, which happened to belong to my brother-in-law and his wife who were visiting from Alberta for a few days over the holidays. The bylaw officer showed up knocking on the door and was apparently a little irritated when he heard what was actually going on.

Either way, I usually try to park on the other side of the driveway just to avoid the headache. (I'm not a big fan of confrontation.) But, arriving home from church on Sunday the only spot available was that infamous piece of public property. So I just parked it and haven't moved the car since.

Well, it just so happens that Erin found this on the windshield this afternoon.


Is this passive-aggressive?

I'm so annoyed right now.

It's hard to live at peace with people when they do silly things like this.

Maybe I should just move my car...

Merry Christmas...

Sorry, no video here. I ran out.

But I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

As for us, we're cooking some goodies before we gather round the table to stuff our faces and spend some quality time playing games. And maybe...just maybe...a midnight (or post-midnight) showing of Die Hard.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas (part #3)...

Thanks to Laurie for this one.

(But I'll give you a fair warning about some mild language in the clip.)

Merry Christmas (part #2)...

Another video that's been circulating on some student ministry blogs lately. If you've never seen the original wedding version of this, you will likely find this uninteresting.

Merry Christmas (part #1)...

With things slowing down a little I thought I'd grab a few minutes to post some odds and ends that I've stumbled across lately.

Like this one that I found via The Resurgence Blog:

What to do with Christmas...

As a church we've been going participating in Advent Conspiracy. If you're not familiar, the basic idea is to encourage people to spend less and give more (money & presence). (And yes, we've already heard the comments about how encouraging people not to spend in a poor economy is not wise. I'll spare you any social commentary because I'm bad at math.)

So I'm trying to figure out what my place is in all of this. As a family we decided to cut back on the family spending this year. That's a great first step, but I need to be a little more proactive on the second step which is give more presence. Specifically, I need to give more of myself this Christmas season, particularly to my family.

I also found myself challenged by Mark Driscoll's recent blog post about how dads need to make sure they don't drop the ball this holiday season and how they need to get out there and do some family stuff.

So, that's pushed me to try and think a little more creatively. What can I do with my family to create a few Christmas memories this year?

So, here's a few things:

• We curled up on the couch last Sunday and watched The Santa Clause 2&3 (we're all a sucker for Christmas movies). I discovered that mom is the preferred cuddler of choice by both kids.
  
• A local bowling alley had $1 bowling games, so we went 5 pin bowling. I discovered my son is just as competitive as his dad (and maybe even his mom).
  
• I took my kids for "coffee" after school yesterday. I discovered that Jones Soda beats out hot chocolate any day of the week.
  
• We're breaking the bank tonight to take in an Abbotsford Heat game tonight as a family. I hope to get us there early enough so we get our free Santa hats! Woohoo!
• Hung out with some great friends on Wednesday night, ate supper and played Phase 10.
• Hanging out with more great friends this Wednesday to eat pizza and ride the Christmas train.
  

I've also got some time off in the next couple of weeks, so I'm hoping to use that wisely and not just be a vegetable.

So, what are you dads doing with your family this Christmas season?

Email exchange...

Remember the guy who tried to pay a bill with a picture of a spider?

This new one is probably funnier.

Book #43...

The Road of Lost Innocence
Somaly Mam

I picked up this book as part of prepping for a recent Sunday morning message about sexual exploitation and human trafficking. And I can only say that this book seriously messed me up. The night I actually finished it I was tossing and turning until after 3am. My brain wouldn't stop.

Much of what I read was completely horrifying and it's difficult to imagine that it can even be true. But wow...to hear this woman's story and how she came through a life of being sold, abused, and resold. To see her come to the point where she now helps others escape and experience freedom...it's inspiring and overwhelming. And it makes me feel like my contribution to helping fight injustice in the world is insignificant.

Ridiculous...

On Saturday our soccer team (ranked #2 in the league) played the team in last place (they have yet to score a goal this season).

In all my years of playing soccer I have never been involved in a game like this. This portion of a team email should explain:

Hi guys;

I have the scorers as,

Stew - 4
Taka - 3
Mike - 3
James - 3
Vic - 1
Kevin - 1
and one own goal that was almost Chris's.

Did anyone else get one?

Vic, you just got the one, right?

Chris, did you score a legit goal as well as that one they put in their own net?

Let me know if anyone else scored.

At least 16 goals are accounted for (11 in the 2nd half alone...some of which we played with only 9 men to match their 9 guys) and not a single one against.

I credit the other team for not walking off the field, but this is still ridiculous.

I was sitting with one goal midway through the 2nd half when I sent a shot wide from a few yards out. Some smarty pants on the other team decided to smack talk me about not getting my hat trick that day. (Seriously, who smack talks when they are down that many goals?!?!) So, I scored 2 more.

Anyways, not a good game to play the week before we take on the top ranked team.

'Tis the season...

I don't know this guy, but it's the greatest Christmas music video ever. Ever.