We (read Cuppa, the indefatigable camera woman), take a lot of video clips as well as pictures. There are too many to post to YouTube, even if they were all good and non-repetitive, which they're not. So for January, I decided to cut and paste a bunch of clips from our various efforts into one file. For your incredible viewing pleasure, I present the month of January condensed to less than three minutes of video footage. Tada! (Although one sincerely doubts that a digital file truly can be said to contain footage.)
See on YouTube
Friday, February 05, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
My Two Cent Review
Guess what we did yesterday.
Give up?
How about ...
In our last week of freedom before we start babysitting full time again next week, we took a few hours off to visit the planet of Pandora and its Na'vi inhabitants. Since everyone and Oprah are talking about Avatar, we had to see for ourselves. Thinking that we might as well go all out, we drove far past the nearest theatre that was showing the movie in 3D and all the way to East Ottawa to see it on the large Imax screen.
Frankly, misgivings about the plot aside, it was so worth it. The visuals are stunning; at least in Imax 3D form they are. In my almost worthless estimation, it's a seminal movie that has forever moved the bar and advanced the goalposts and .... well just go ahead and insert your own favourite cliche because at 2:30 AM, I'm running on empty.
What I think: go see Avatar in 3D on the largest screen that you can find, and sit back and enjoy the incredible visuals without letting the thinness of the plot get in the way of the WOW factor.
That's my opinion, which has got to be worth something if I can recommend the film after having to drive home at night in a blinding snowstorm. Okay, it wasn't blinding all the way, but when the snow did abate it didn't matter because by then the road had disappeared, and it was all just a teensy weensy bit nerve wracking.
Give up?
How about ...
In our last week of freedom before we start babysitting full time again next week, we took a few hours off to visit the planet of Pandora and its Na'vi inhabitants. Since everyone and Oprah are talking about Avatar, we had to see for ourselves. Thinking that we might as well go all out, we drove far past the nearest theatre that was showing the movie in 3D and all the way to East Ottawa to see it on the large Imax screen.
Frankly, misgivings about the plot aside, it was so worth it. The visuals are stunning; at least in Imax 3D form they are. In my almost worthless estimation, it's a seminal movie that has forever moved the bar and advanced the goalposts and .... well just go ahead and insert your own favourite cliche because at 2:30 AM, I'm running on empty.
What I think: go see Avatar in 3D on the largest screen that you can find, and sit back and enjoy the incredible visuals without letting the thinness of the plot get in the way of the WOW factor.
That's my opinion, which has got to be worth something if I can recommend the film after having to drive home at night in a blinding snowstorm. Okay, it wasn't blinding all the way, but when the snow did abate it didn't matter because by then the road had disappeared, and it was all just a teensy weensy bit nerve wracking.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Princess or Ballerina?
Or is it Flower or Daisy?
Actually, when she gets dressed like this, it's supposedly to be a ballerina. She'll dance and in her little way, try to do a ballerina twirl. But it's really more fairy-princess-like to me.
She's donned this outfit any number of times, but not being the most observant guy in the world, yesterday I exclaimed in surprise that the tip of her wand was a flower (see below).
She corrected me. "It's a daisy."
No, honey. It's cute. As are you.
Actually, when she gets dressed like this, it's supposedly to be a ballerina. She'll dance and in her little way, try to do a ballerina twirl. But it's really more fairy-princess-like to me.
She's donned this outfit any number of times, but not being the most observant guy in the world, yesterday I exclaimed in surprise that the tip of her wand was a flower (see below).
She corrected me. "It's a daisy."
No, honey. It's cute. As are you.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Boops and Brains
Sometimes, I am surprised by how smart kids are; I shouldn't be, but I am. For example: Nikki Dee, who is still several months away from her third birthday, has surprised me twice recently, basically over the same meal served several days apart.
I had prepared tuna casserole when she visited last week. I thought it seemed like a good idea because she loves it, but then I thought again and realized that she actually loves her mother's version. Knowing that my recipe was different, I was fearful that if we called it tuna casserole, she might be dismayed by the different taste of my rendition of this standby recipe. Therefore, because I am exceedingly clever, I decided to tell her that the dish was called noodle boops. In the event, however, she took one look at the dish and declared that it was tuna casserole, and no amount of proclamation on our parts could shake her conviction.
As it turned out, she didn't like my dish no matter what we called it: I think because it contains crunchy celery and pepper as opposed to her mother's mushy peas.
Yesterday,when she visited once again, we had enough leftovers to try the dish one more time. Once again, she surprised me by declaring at the get go that she didn't want any boops. Why she would recall that name, when she had originally insisted that it had been tuna casserole and not boops, is beyond me. But it does give one pause to realize just how much kids absorb and retain. Whatever her name, she wanted nothing to do with those cursed boops even though we had thought to remove the crunchy bits. Fortunately, after much futile cajoling, we were able to sneak a bit into her open mouth, and as she chewed she figured the boops were now okay and happily consumed the rest of the dish.
The point, however, is my surprise at what she is able to absorb and retain at her tender age, and I think that I had best be careful about what I say from now on. After four decades of sailing The Seven Seas under The Jolly Roger, it will be difficult for me to give up my sailorish manner of speech, but I guess I'll have to try.
I had prepared tuna casserole when she visited last week. I thought it seemed like a good idea because she loves it, but then I thought again and realized that she actually loves her mother's version. Knowing that my recipe was different, I was fearful that if we called it tuna casserole, she might be dismayed by the different taste of my rendition of this standby recipe. Therefore, because I am exceedingly clever, I decided to tell her that the dish was called noodle boops. In the event, however, she took one look at the dish and declared that it was tuna casserole, and no amount of proclamation on our parts could shake her conviction.
As it turned out, she didn't like my dish no matter what we called it: I think because it contains crunchy celery and pepper as opposed to her mother's mushy peas.
Yesterday,when she visited once again, we had enough leftovers to try the dish one more time. Once again, she surprised me by declaring at the get go that she didn't want any boops. Why she would recall that name, when she had originally insisted that it had been tuna casserole and not boops, is beyond me. But it does give one pause to realize just how much kids absorb and retain. Whatever her name, she wanted nothing to do with those cursed boops even though we had thought to remove the crunchy bits. Fortunately, after much futile cajoling, we were able to sneak a bit into her open mouth, and as she chewed she figured the boops were now okay and happily consumed the rest of the dish.
The point, however, is my surprise at what she is able to absorb and retain at her tender age, and I think that I had best be careful about what I say from now on. After four decades of sailing The Seven Seas under The Jolly Roger, it will be difficult for me to give up my sailorish manner of speech, but I guess I'll have to try.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Zach's Photo Album
"So, wacha bin doin AC? Yiz haven't bin hangin rown here much?"
Well, since you ask so nicely, I confess to being pretty busy AC: creating a photo album of Zach's first year. I had made one for his sister, and it was time to come up with the goods for the boy, and as it was his birthday [party] on the weekend, the time crunch was on.
Three years ago, when Nikki Dee happened into my life, I pretty much put her album together as her first year unfolded. She was the first grand after all and everything was new and fresh. I was in love with her, and she didn't haven't an older sibling to distract me and demand my time, so it got done.
With Zach, it was different. With his sister requiring much energy, I never quite managed to get around to making the album as the year progressed — at least that's my official excuse. But I always planned to present one on his first birthday, and as the day drew nigh, I began to get busy. Here are a few samples of what I have put together with the slideshow of the whole album below, including a link to the larger view directly on Flickr.
From week 2 ...
One thing I did realize, for perhaps the first time, in creating such albums is that a collection of head shots without lots of extraneous background makes for more pleasing composites than a group of dissimilar shots with different backgrounds. Since one must work with what's available, and since you want to show representative pictures, you can't often put together such pages, but here is another grouping of a somewhat similar style ... from week 3 ...
And a less busy collage from month 4 ...
Finally, this is the last page in the album: month 12. When lightning strikes, I may add a page or two for the party. Meanwhile, if your are family (or just curious) and want to see more, see the slideshow of the whole album is below, including a link to the large version.
Click here to view the slideshow larger.
Well, since you ask so nicely, I confess to being pretty busy AC: creating a photo album of Zach's first year. I had made one for his sister, and it was time to come up with the goods for the boy, and as it was his birthday [party] on the weekend, the time crunch was on.
Three years ago, when Nikki Dee happened into my life, I pretty much put her album together as her first year unfolded. She was the first grand after all and everything was new and fresh. I was in love with her, and she didn't haven't an older sibling to distract me and demand my time, so it got done.
With Zach, it was different. With his sister requiring much energy, I never quite managed to get around to making the album as the year progressed — at least that's my official excuse. But I always planned to present one on his first birthday, and as the day drew nigh, I began to get busy. Here are a few samples of what I have put together with the slideshow of the whole album below, including a link to the larger view directly on Flickr.
From week 2 ...
One thing I did realize, for perhaps the first time, in creating such albums is that a collection of head shots without lots of extraneous background makes for more pleasing composites than a group of dissimilar shots with different backgrounds. Since one must work with what's available, and since you want to show representative pictures, you can't often put together such pages, but here is another grouping of a somewhat similar style ... from week 3 ...
And a less busy collage from month 4 ...
Finally, this is the last page in the album: month 12. When lightning strikes, I may add a page or two for the party. Meanwhile, if your are family (or just curious) and want to see more, see the slideshow of the whole album is below, including a link to the large version.
Click here to view the slideshow larger.
Friday, January 29, 2010
How's That?
About three quarters of an hour before we get to the cottage where we turn the car north from highway 7 to 62, there is a Tim Hortons. After several hours of driving it's a welcome stop, which we always visit both going and coming. This time, as we pulled in on the way to the cottage, we were amazed to find very few people there, for despite the fact that it is located in a pretty rural area, there is much driveby traffic that feels compelled to stop, and it's always busy. There was no lineup as we entered and headed into the restrooms.
I was stunned to emerge to a large crowd of high school kids who were on their lunch break. Obviously, there is a high school in the nearby village, and I asked, stupidly asked, the girl behind me how long it took to walk from the the school to the coffee shop. "About ten minutes," came the reply, "but I drive because I take the car to school." Silly me, of course she does.
What I again heard from the kids as they made their orders was the word BAGel. Over and over, a kids would order a BAGel, not a BAYgel. It seems that every kid of every generation automatically does this. Do they never hear adults saying the words correctly? Also, as far as I understand the rules of pronunciation, the a should be long, as in bay, so they should get it right regardless. But, no: they forever insist that it's a BAGel. And I continue to scratch my head.
I was stunned to emerge to a large crowd of high school kids who were on their lunch break. Obviously, there is a high school in the nearby village, and I asked, stupidly asked, the girl behind me how long it took to walk from the the school to the coffee shop. "About ten minutes," came the reply, "but I drive because I take the car to school." Silly me, of course she does.
What I again heard from the kids as they made their orders was the word BAGel. Over and over, a kids would order a BAGel, not a BAYgel. It seems that every kid of every generation automatically does this. Do they never hear adults saying the words correctly? Also, as far as I understand the rules of pronunciation, the a should be long, as in bay, so they should get it right regardless. But, no: they forever insist that it's a BAGel. And I continue to scratch my head.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Last Cottage Pics
Before I move on completely from our little winter vacation, I want to post a few more cottage photos. It seems appropriate to show winter photos as we head back into colder temperatures in this area after experiencing some fairly mild ones in the past two weeks. Just the other day, I was almost basking as I waked through a parking lot with my coat unzipped with the sun making an appearance of sorts.
We found quite a few fallen trees this time, particularly on the less trodden pathways which probably haven't been cleared in the past few years.
Although snowshoeing can be quite exerting it can also be a lot of fun. Here Cuppa turns to bless me with her happy countenance.
It's amazing how one can find comfort in the great outdoors even in winter regalia. The cat-like Cuppa is a master of creature comforts.
One day, I found myself in the nearby hamlet shopping for provender and stopped to take a picture of the restaurant that we had visited while waiting for the cottage to thaw out. Also, a few days before, my BIL and I had cause to drive past, and there must have been two dozen snowmobiles parked outside. Seriously, the upper parking area was overflowing to the point that many of the machines were forced to park by the road. Sadly, I didn't have my camera at the time, but I did this time and had just taken a picture when the logging truck went by. I thought how Canadiana it was, and if the snowmobiles weren't going to come out to play on a work day, I could at least get something authentic. I managed to squeeze the trigger just before the truck roared out of sight.
On the way back to the cottage, I stopped the car by a little valley and took these pictures. While I'm not totally happy with them, they do show you more of the local geography: snow, trees, and water.
We found quite a few fallen trees this time, particularly on the less trodden pathways which probably haven't been cleared in the past few years.
Although snowshoeing can be quite exerting it can also be a lot of fun. Here Cuppa turns to bless me with her happy countenance.
It's amazing how one can find comfort in the great outdoors even in winter regalia. The cat-like Cuppa is a master of creature comforts.
One day, I found myself in the nearby hamlet shopping for provender and stopped to take a picture of the restaurant that we had visited while waiting for the cottage to thaw out. Also, a few days before, my BIL and I had cause to drive past, and there must have been two dozen snowmobiles parked outside. Seriously, the upper parking area was overflowing to the point that many of the machines were forced to park by the road. Sadly, I didn't have my camera at the time, but I did this time and had just taken a picture when the logging truck went by. I thought how Canadiana it was, and if the snowmobiles weren't going to come out to play on a work day, I could at least get something authentic. I managed to squeeze the trigger just before the truck roared out of sight.
On the way back to the cottage, I stopped the car by a little valley and took these pictures. While I'm not totally happy with them, they do show you more of the local geography: snow, trees, and water.
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