Christmas Greetings

Well, the tree is up, my gift wrapping ability has been questioned and Marla and Connor are fighting over the electric blanket so it must be time for our annual Christmas greeting (Of course trying to cover up that once again we have not been organized enough to get out Christmas cards in time.)

It has been a great year for us. Coming off another awesome summer (see Summer Recap post) the fall has flown by. Connor is grade one and enjoying being a full-time student, or at least he is enjoying having lunch and recess with more time to play. Graeme is having a fantastic start to grade four. I think getting letter grades has really motivated him as he was pretty proud of his report card this year. Interesting, that even at that early age students are motivated by the mark but that is a topic for another post. He has the same teacher he had for grade three and is really enjoying it. Marla and I were both involved in volleyball again this year, which is always rewarding but makes for a busy fall, especially after getting used to the slow pace of summer. Graeme is playing basketball again this year and has become quite a player. I guess I am going to have to learn a little more about the intricacies of the game as it looks like I will be coaching it for quite a while.

We are really looking forward to the Christmas break and getting out and doing some skiing. Marla missed out last year with her knee surgery so she is anxious to get out and see the progress the boys have made. Of course, we are hoping it warms up a bit here as it is a little cold out to consider anything other than curling up by the fire, which has its upside as well. While we are enjoying some fun in the snow, we are heading back to Sayulita this year for spring break so it is hard to keep from looking ahead. I must admit I do spend a far amount of time checking out the newest Sayulita photos on Flickr during these cold days.

As I write this I realize, as I am sure you do as you read it, that our family seems to follow familiar patterns. I attribute it to the fact that our life is great and why change something if it isn't broke. Of course, it might also be that we are incredibly boring and lack adventure and spontaneity. I am going with the life is great theory.

We really do appreciate everything in our life and that especially includes our family and friends. We hope the holidays find all of you well and provide a well deserved break and some time to spend with family and friends.

Love the Lewis'

The Email Challenge

There was a time in the dark ages, the period before Napster (the first Napster, not the subscription sell out version we have today), when the world was introduced to email and our heads spun with the limitless communication possibilities it held. How could it be that we could actually send a message and communicated in nearly real time to people all over the world for free? No longer would we be slaves to the postal service and the phone companies. No more birthday cards lost in your car for months because you didn't have a stamp on you. No more watching the clock while you talked to Gramma because the call was costing you a second mortgage. This was a new world where we would stay in contact with friends and family like they were living next door. We could become more efficient and productive as email would streamline our workplace communication. Imagine the time we would gain as email freed us from walking around and having to talk to people individually. Now we could make a mail list and send out a memo to as many people as we wanted. We were giddy as we thought of the great things we could accomplish with this gift of reclaimed time that email would give us.

Now as we are into the second decade of commercial, global email we have become slaves to email, not using it for meaningful exchanges with those people distant but important to us. Instead, we spend our days shifting through mailboxes stuffed with messages from the person down the hall (who you haven't actually spoke to in months, I think his name is Pat, or maybe that is the lady in the room downstairs). The vast majority of theses messages don't actually apply to you but you haven't been taken off the 45 person mail list created 3 years ago so you not only get the original message but then 44 other messages from people replying with things like "Ok", "Thanks" or "Sounds, good". Then of course there is the very hilarious "forwarded" messages from people you have never met but they somehow intercepted a message with your email address on it and thought that you would enjoy the dancing monkey with the erection (OK, that was actually a good one). By this time you haven't even began to deal with the 14 messages questioning your manhood, girth and stamina (not mine of course, I don't get those, its like they know) and the 12 more messages pleading for financial assistance or offering you a chance at a guaranteed millions (if only these people could get together). By the time we have sorted through all of these messages we don't actually have any time or energy to read, let alone respond to the messages from people you care about. Then just as you are about to close your mailbox up pops a new message introducing a new workplace policy that seems to counter the last memo on the same subject and confuses and angers you so know you have to spend the next half hour figuring out what the hell is going on only to find out that the message was sent in error by some one new who didn't know a previous email had gone out a day earlier on the same subject by the guy in the next office. It is about this time that we begin to wish that email would just disappear so.........

I am challenging you all to take back your in boxes and free yourselves from the bonds of meaningless email.

For one week:

• Do not email anyone within a 5 minute walking distance or yourself (just go talk to them).
• Do not respond to an email unless it specifically asks you a question.
  
• Do not send a email as a way to avoid talking with someone.
• Do not send an email that you know will upset someone (if you are going to piss someone off have the courtesy to do it in person).
  
• Do not forward any email to an address that you cannot identify.
  
• Do not read any messages from an address you cannot identify (just delete them don't let your curiosity get to you)
• If you are part of a mail list that you don't want to be email the sender and ask to be removed.
  
• Check your own mail lists to ensure accuracy
• Send at least one email to someone meaningful in your life with whom you have lost contact with (even better call them if you can).
  
• Do not spend more time on your email in a day then you do talking to someone who is important to you.
  

Boston Bound

Well I did it! In Kelowna yesterday I ran the marathon in 3:19:20 and qualified for the 2010 Boston Marathon which will take place two weeks after my 40th birthday. I have always wanted to visit Boston but have never had a reason. So at the start of the summer I decided I would try and qualify for the Boston Marathon and that would give me reason enough for a visit. The only catch was I had never run a marathon before. After a trial run in Edmonton in which I had pacing issues which lead to cramping and missing the time by 6 minutes I ran a smarter race in Kelowna on a fairly punishing, hilly course. I know it is a nice accomplishment just to finish the marathon but I must admit that making the time for Boston gives me some extra satisfaction and seems like a really nice way to spend my 40th birthday.

Summer Recap

It has been a while between postings here at the Lewis Chronicles so I thought I better give a little update on a summer filled with travel, relaxation and recreation.

This summer marked the first official summer back from the admin/management ranks of education and after a year back in the classroom I can firmly say I made the right decision. One day I may right a book about the experience but I think it is enough to say here that I am glad I had the experience but even more pleased that it is over.

The summer began with the hottest Canada day weekend in several years and we played, ate, drank and swam (not necessarily in that order) at the lake. It was the perfect way to kick off the holidays after a very cold spring.

One of the highlights of the summer was going back to Gabriola Island to stay at my friends place on the ocean. We had a week of perfect weather and filled our days with walks to the beach, playing in the sand (OK, the boys played and my wife and I napped), and eating. It was a great week just hanging out together with no phone calls, email or any other of the distractions that are so much part of our daily life.

From Gabriola we were back in town for a few days before we headed out to our annual family vacation at McLeese Lake. It was another great time with my wife's family and the boys had a great time playing with their cousins.

After Mcleese lake we headed straight to Kamloops for a week to visit grandparents and soccer camp for the boys. The weather was, as usual, incredibly hot and the boys had a great time at soccer in the mornings and visiting in the afternoons.

After Kamloops we were back home again for a week to mow the lawn and get in a little lake time before I headed to Edmonton to compete in my first Marathon. I had just decided while on Gabriola Island to enter Edmonton as a tune up for the Kelowna marathon on October. I have set a goal of running a 3:15 time in Kelowna to qualify for the Boston Marathon and I hoped that I might even make the standard in Edmonton if I had a good day. Well, for most of the race I had a good day but struggled over the last 10 kms and missed my time by 10 mins. It was a good experience and I learned a little about pacing (tip: don't try and stick with the leaders for the first half of the race when you have never ran that distance before) for Kelowna.

After Edmonton we could start to see work looming in the distance as I had to go in for a few days to run a summer camp and my wife goes in for a few days early to register kids. I did, however, manage to sneak out to the Babine river with a good friend of mine for a little Salmon fishing. There is really not too many things cooler than standing in a pristine river with Salmon rising all around you waiting for one to hit.

Yes, it is tough finding time for all the recreational activities, BBQs, travel and down time. If only we had one more week ;-)

Great Day!

What could be better than skiing with your best friend on your birthday.

No Mas, No Mas

I tried my hand at surfing today, taking advantage of the full-moon surf and the small crowds on the beach. After all if you are going to flail away in the ocean it's nice to have as few witnesses as possible. Anyways, I thought I was fairly well prepared having watched a video on u-tube demonstrating proper technique and spending the last several days intently studying the surfers while I drank my beer. Sure people have mentioned that I might want to try a lesson but come on I snowboard, ski, skate, boogie board, waterski, rollerblade, pretty much any sort of balance sport other than surfing I have given a go so how hard could it be. Well as the photos below illustrate perhaps a lesson wouldn't hurt.

See how carefully I study the surf break. The guy on U-Tube said this was essential for a successful surf experience and something many beginners don't take enough time to do.

Ahhhh....... here I am wading out my weapon firmly in hand ready to do battle with the Posiden and his minions.
















Looking good paddling out, confident, nice form, possibly a high point of the whole experience right here.

Yes, just like I had visualized on the beach, spot the swell, feel rise, paddle for the break.....

Houston we have a problem! I am not sure what went wrong I just know that it kept going wrong over and over and over. Apparently when people say you should try a lesson they are not always full of crap. Either that or I had a faulty board, which at this point I haven't entirely ruled out as some 11 year old girl was beside me and she seemed to have no problem getting up so obviously there was some equipment issues.

Of course, at least I would be able to stand proud in front of my boys having shown them that the only true failure comes in never trying. That was until I saw the photos of their reaction to my surfing, I think they missed the lesson.

Troncones Daycare

Well we arrived in Troncones to find a secluded little paradise. It is incredible the lack of people on this little strip of beach and how amazing the sand and surf is. We are just down the beach from Troncones at Manzanillo Bay and it feels like our own private resort with only a handful of other people around. As you can see it is quite a task to keep an eye on the kids among the throngs of beach goers. The people have very friendly and our house is amazing. I think it took the boys at least 2 minutes upon our arrival to jump in the pool and since they have spent more time in the water, either the pool or the ocean, than on land. There are several top notch restaurants literally within yards of our place and I am on my second batch of margaritas this afternoon so what could be better. The best thing is really we are only on day three and I am just beginning to move into relaxation mode.

Heading South

Well, we are a few hours away from beginning our journey south to Mexico for spring break. I am done teaching for the day and despite having several things I should be doing I am staring at the clock willing it to hurry up. As excited as I may be the boys were just crazy this morning they are so excited. I must admit it makes the effort and expense even easier to take when you see how much they enjoy it. The sun, surf and Pacificos help as well. I can't believe that it is actually spring break already, it seems like Christmas was just a couple weeks ago. Perhaps there really is something to the old adage "time flies when you are having fun" as we have been having just a great year.

I am not sure what the internet connectivity in our place will be like but if I can find a connection I will posting some vacation pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kinglewy Because I know everyone really enjoys other people's vacation pictures.

If you have any spring break pictures to share send a comment with the link as we would love to see them.

Adios

Fight the Borg!

Today my oldest son brought home a questionnaire from his school's Parent Advisory Committee indicating that they are looking into school uniforms and asking what we, the parents, thought. Here is my response:

I would like to express my vehement opposition to the idea of school uniforms!

School, by its very nature, is already an institution of conformity where individuality is at odds with the need for order and process. A student’s need for self-expression, while valued, often must be put aside to ensure we are: lined up straight, colouring within the lines, not pushing or shoving, not running in the halls, quiet when working, not looking out the window, putting our hand up, using blue ink not purple and sitting quietly (unless it is discussion time then you must have something to say). While we accept the many rules and processes of school as necessary in providing a safe and functional learning environment for our children I have to ask what is the purpose of school uniforms.

If the reason is that parents are feeling pressured by their children to buy them the latest in-style fashions? I say don’t put in a school uniform because you can’t, or won’t, say no to your children. If the reason is that some children feel left out because they can’t afford, or their parents won’t buy them, the latest LuLu Lemon hoodie or Nike shoes? I say we should be educating our children to look past the superficial while acknowledging that we live in a world that some people will have more material goods than others. We don’t teach students to value what is on the inside by pretending that everybody is equal on the outside.

I work at a school which has the most diverse student populations in our city. We have students who can’t afford food and their clothing reflects that poverty to some of the wealthiest and most affluent children who have never wanted for anything in life. One of the things you learn quickly in our school is that there is an understanding, tolerance and respect for one another that comes not from all dressing alike but from working together and looking past the clothing on each other’s back to the person inside.

Clothing is a basic human right and one of the most important methods of self-expression for youth and you are asking me to allow an arbitrary group the right to dictate how my children dress. I am sorry but to this I must say NO! Diversity is a great thing and something which our children should grow to honour, respect and appreciate. The world, our city, our province does not all look alike, dress alike or act alike so how do we expect our children to look beyond the superficial if we take the easy road and hide our differences. In addition, if this does go forward to an open meeting I will be organizing a formal opposition to this motion.