Thursday Thirteen

My Thursday Thirteen for this week is thirteen honest questions asked to me by young children, mostly my young children…

13.  Why are there no apples in the Apple store?

12.  Do they wear ties in thailand?

11. What are those? (points to cemetary) Are they mailboxes?

10. What are those? (points to cemetary one week later). His 5 year old brother replies, “They are stone monuments. There are dead people living under the ground under each stone. Living people live in houses. Ghost-is-is live under the ground.”

9. Why can’t I have chocolate at 10pm? (wailing)

8. Can I drive?

7. [brother} said I'm a baby... Am I a baby?

6. [brother] said there is a soup named after me called slow {brother} soup… Is there?

5. Can I go to your work instead of going to camp? [Me to him: Can I go to your camp instead of going to work?]

4. My 3-year-old is wailing, “Daddy… Is there really a flower called the Stewie-is-a-baby flower?” Me, “no”. Him to his 5-year-old brother, “SEE! I TOLD YOU!!!” Then he attacks him.

3. My 3-year-old is wailing, “Daddy… Is there really a game called the Stewie-is-a-baby game?!?” Me, “no”. Him to his 5-year-old brother, “SEE! I TOLD YOU!!!” Then he attacks him.

2. My 3-year-old is wailing, “Daddy… Is there really a food called the Stewie-is-a-baby food?!?!?” Me, “no”. Him to his 5-year-old brother, “SEE! I TOLD YOU!!!” Then he attacks him.

1. My 3-year-old is wailing, “Daddy… Is there really a place called the Stewie-is-a-baby place???” Me, “no”. Him to his 5-year-old brother, “SEE! I TOLD YOU!!!” Then he attacks him.

Good thing both boys are taking karate! My 5-year-old has learned how to defend himself from his 3-year-old brother’s attacks.

I thought he was going to thrown him down the stairs a couple days ago…

Good times indeed.

You are 8 months old today!

Happy 8 months to my little girl.

You are so different from your big brothers… You can sit on the bed, happily and play for around an hour. You love to happily warble away, while yanking at your feet, rolling front-to-back, then back-to-front, clapping your hands, or on your hands and knees rocking back and forth. You never stop… Like your big brother, Stewie.

Now you love to try and stand up (holding on to me very tightly, of course. You are so proud of yourself.  The world looks so different when you are standng, eh?

You toy with me when I feed you, pretending to sign the word, “more”, while saying it only to me, never to mummy.

You have that one little tooth on the bottom left of your mouth and have bitten me and mummy, although where you bite mummy hurts way more than me!

You love your brothers and your dolly (and bunny your brother bought you, and the ball we’ve passed from brother to brother to you, and your links…)

Your face lights up when you see your nanny, and her sister. You hated the cat, but are now becoming buds.

You are my princes. But not Ariel, or Cinderella… Princess Leia. You get to carry a blaster!

Happy 8th month birthday, sweetie. And thank you for finally showing signs of wanting to sleep through the night!

An urban daddy’s unhealthy product alert…

I wanted to re-post this article on a “nutritional” drink that I used to drink thinking it was good for me. I felt duped after reading this and will no longer be drinking these types of drinks.

One of my staff members was drinking this brand a few weeks ago and once I pointed out to him the wasted calories in this flavoured sagar-water, he too now refuses to buy more of it.

Please give this article a quick read and see how the marketers manipulated the ingredients to make it look healthy when in fact it is just flavoured sugar-water.

http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/05/24/how-vitaminwater-xxx-uses-its-ingredient-list-to-market-health/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Fooducate+%28Fooducate%29

Will you buy this product again?

Apparently a lot of people won’t be buying it either and a lawsuit has been launched against Coca Cola, the manufacturer, by a non-profit organization which feels Coke made “unwarranted health claims” through this product.

Read attached;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/the-dark-side-of-vitaminw_b_669716.html

I could not agree with the author more. When I saw the product was called “Vitamin Water” I assumed it was healthy, not akin to a soft drink with 33 grams of sugar per serving.

It is a marketing ploy gone wrong.

Personally, I would like back all the money I have ever spent on this product…

XM Radio success!

This post is about XM Radio.

I love my XM Radio. I’m addicted to it and the more driving I do, the more I realized how much I needed to have this.

My love of XM Radio stated when we bought our hybrid vehicle and it came with a six-month free satellite radio trial. I blogged in the past how I found stations like #48, Octane to be right up my alley, as well as my love of stations like Lithium (alternative rock), and Spectrum, which has the Jason Ellis show on it. The more I listened, the more addicted I got to the great quality sound and no commercials.

Anyways, not too long ago, the six-month trial ran out. I called the dealership,checked online, then called XM Radio to enquire about renewing the service.

They told me at that time that there was no promotion currently available and that the current prices were as follows;

1 year – $164.89 + tax
2 year – $329.78 + tax
5 year – $464.69 + tax
Lifetime – $549.99 + tax.

So I did not renew.

I have been, however, looking for a coupon code and calling back periodically speaking with different reps trying to score a deal.

On Monday of this past week, I came across this website;

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/xmradio.ca

They have a coupon on the site for $99.99/year, a savings of $65.00.

So I called them.

Apparently the coupon expired June 14th, but before I could say anything, the kind rep asked to place me on hold and less that a minute later came back saying if I would pay by credit card, they would accept that coupon.

The caveat to this deal is that after 1 year, if I do not call to cancel, they will automatically renew my service at the $164.89 for another year.

So I ran to my car, tuned into channel “1″ and viola! 20 minutes later, I’m back in XM.

Since my morning and afternoon commute now hit the 40 minute mark, this luxury was even more important to help me keep my sanity.

Yay!

I really felt like I needed to treat myself to this service after swearing up, down and sideways that I would never pay for radio.

With this additional expense, I have cut a magazine subscription that I had for almost 20 years, so I’m saving trees, saving $30.00 a year AND have kick-ass radio in my car.

Happy days in-deed.

City of Toronto Garbage / Recycling and Organic Waste Policies…

If you have been following my posts – or my status updates in Facebook, or my tweets, you would be aware that we recently packed up the family and with nanny and cat in tow, we moved.

Our new – more urban – house is great and we love the neighbourhood, but this house came without a garbage can, a recycling bin or a wet (organic) waste bin.

I think I could break into fort Knox faster than I could get this matter resolved.

Here is what has transpired…

Day one. Garbage piling up. Kids dirty diapers and wipes stinking up the joint. No garbage disposal so there are food bits and fruit flies everywhere. Boxes and recycling piling up. So I call the City…

Day two. City calls back and tells me that there was a medium recycling bin and a medium garbage can assigned to that house. They give me the serial number on the bin and ask me to… “investigate” the neighbourhood, including the neighbours bins to see if they took ours…

Day three. I walk around the mini block looking at garbage cans. They first 5 I see are not mediums, nor are they ours. Neighbours think I’m nuts.

I retreat back into the house but not before dropping the paper that had the serial numbers on it into a recycling bin.

Day four. I call back the City. They tell me that the City now needs to send inspectors out to look for the bins too and if they cannot find them (dead in a ditch somewhere?!?) then replacement bins will be on my driveway within 2 to 3 weeks.

Now I totally understand the City here, but let’s go back to day one and see what I wrote about the conditions of my new house… stinky kids diapers, rotting food…

So I wait… 3 weeks now… Taking my garbage

Until Thursday.

After escalating the matter on Wednesday, a City bin inspector (not his official title, but it’s what we need him to do) came by our house and found the bin! Yup. In our neighbours back yard where they are in the process of building a house.

So now we have a recycling bin.

The City bin inspector said he would bring by a garbage bin next week if he could not find it and since my wife was so excited and appreciative, he’ll bring by an organic waste bin too.

Cool.

Now I just need the door on the space under our front stairs to keep the raccoons from opening my bin before I start filling it with wet, organic waste.

Let’s hear it for 311 (the city’s hotline).  So if you move and need a new bin, or a larger one, or you need to replace a broken one, and you live in the greater Toronto area, all you need to do is call 311 and you are connected to the City. 

Who knew?!?

Urban Daddy Recommends – Java Joe’s Richmond Hill

This urban daddy recommends Java Joe’s for all your breakfast, lunch or coffee needs.

Specifically, I recommend the one up in Richmond Hill, Ontario, at Leslie and West Beaver Creek Road.

What I like about Java Joe’s;

1) You can pay by debit whereas at any of the 4 Tim Horton’s around this area you cannot.
2) Their sandwiches are real big and really tasty. My company has used them for catering on numerous occasions and the favourites are the chicken parmesan, veal parmesan, Montreal smoked meat, tuna, egg, turkey BLT wrap… I could go on. There is not one sandwich that is over $6.00.

3) They have salads, chili and soups for the healthier folks.

4) But what I really like is the coffee… Let’s talk about that coffee. They have the regulars; baja blue, bold (dark) and decaf but it is the flavours where this Java Joe’s stands out. Jamaica Me Crazy (chocolate, cinnamon and, Irish Cream), Banana Cream, Chocolate Buttercrisp, and coming soon – Jamaican Rum, Chocolate Raspberry, Creme Brule and a couple other new and exciting flavours.

The owner of this location was kind enough to ask me to select the flavours I would want to drink and he was going to use that to serve to his clientele. I enjoy a good flavoured coffee (and am not afraid to say that), and as such try to introduce this to other who may enjoy it too.

Cute, friendly staff, an owner that is on premises, and clean location with WiFi, a TV and a patio for the summer – fireplace for the winter.

If you search through my blog and find my coffee rankings, you’ll see that for 2010 Java Joe’s was my #2. If any of their new flavours taste as amazing as the banana cream, I predict they could wind up at #1 for 2011.

So go in, tell them urban daddy sent you. They’ll look completely lost and you won’t get any special deals, but I might.

Oh, and try the mango smoothie! It’s wonderful.

Update:

The first coffee I picked is in and is FANTASTIC!  On Friday I had a large cup of Toasted Marshmallow coffee.  It smelled and tasted devine.

Remember… It’s best to drink flavoured coffees with some cream and sugar… I’m just saying!

T.G.I.F.

Ahhhh, The weekend! A nice, warm, sunny weekened…
Well, today is audience participation day at this Urban Daddy’s blog.

I thought a good discussion topic for today’s post would revolve around me getting to know you a little better. Short of asking people to talk about themselves, I think I have a more creative way to get to know you better.

I have blogged about some current events (in my Urban Daddy bias, of course) and would love to hear your thoughts about these news items. This might help me better understand who is reading my posts. And don’t be shy! Someone just comment on an older post of mine that; “This blog contains the biggest pile of bullshit I have ever read!”.
I replied with the followng, “Thanks Mom!”

So don’t be shy.

The hot topics:

1) Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff makes a stop at a Tim Hortons just off the 401 in Napanee July 14, as he crosses the country on a summer long tour.
Urban Daddy says: Someone needs to contact Iggy and tell him to stay home! Seriously, man… Why bother?!? He’s just wasting gas and… What exactly is this guy going to say / do that is going to make anyone care about him… In the summer. Iggy, you missed your spots. Go run the University of Toronto!
Conclusion: Going to Tim’s was the best decision he has ever made as Opposition Leader.

2) Mel Gibson. Punches, threatens and is downright nasty to pretty much everyone in real life, but on-screen seems like a pretty even-keel guy, even likable…

Urban Daddy says: … Until now… What goes around comes around! Hollywood is going to make this racist pay! At first when he insulted the “Jews” he was drunk, now he has been recorded (on 5 different tapes) verbally abusing and threatening his wife. Hollywood will not forgive him this time.
Conclusion: No amount of celebrity re-hab is going to save this senile Aussie. Although I do hear that the KKK are hiring…

3) Lindsay Lohan is going to jail for violating her probation. In court she was caught by camera with the words “fuck u” painted on her finger nail. She has hired OJ Simpson lawyer Robert Shapiro.
Urban Daddy says: 90 days is not enough time for this malcontent. Set an example with her sentance… Please!
Conclusion: For someone who had not “allegedly” killed someone or done something horrible (unless slowly killing herself with alcohol, drugs and making bad movies) she really brought out the big guns in hiring Shapiro. What happens in a year or two when she’s busted again? Not more tricks up her sleeve… I want to see her in jail.

4) Tiger Woods is golfing at the British Open…

Urban Daddy says: Does anybody care anyone? I know the whole PGA surrounds every breath Tiger takes (but not every move he makes, LOL) but why? I really had no interest in golf when he was the next best thing, the role model, the prodigy. Now?!? I care even less. I’m happy now to see other guys winning because I care that little about Tiger. Although I did see that one of his mistresses, Rachel Uchitel is entering that reality show called Celebrity Rehab. Talk about capitalizing on someone else’s misfortune (or really bad judgement) although this might not be the best venue… Or it was the only one.

Conclusion:
The PGA needs a Tiger free event.I need a Tiger free news day. Rachel needs help!

2010 Blogger Choice Awards

Let me begin by saying that it really is an honour just to be nominated.

The last time any of my blogs were nominated for any such award was back in 2007, I believe. If I recall correctly, I received 13 votes that year (and you cannot vote for yourself).

So how did I get nominated – and is this real or is this a joke, I’m sure you are all thinking (eh, Nat?). Well, I received an email the other day stating that I was nominated – and had received votes for – the 2010 Blogger Choice Awards in the following categories;

1) Best Parenting Blog
2) Hottest Daddy Blogger
3) Best Blog about Stuff

The links to these awards in order to vote for me, if you would like to, are on the right.

Heck, I’d like to crack, at least the top 10.

Update: Thank you to those of you who took the time to point out to me that the code given to me was incorrect. Now, if you would like to take the time to vote for me in any of those categories, the codes are updated and your vote would actually be for me.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I like about our new house / neighbourhood

13. The neighbours. Not that the neighbours in our old neighbourhood were no good, it’s just that there were not that many kids on our end of the street. Our new neighbours have a ton of kids and nannies people walking in the streets. As well, while moving we left the doors open and neighbours actually came inside to welcome us. Very nice!
12. Stores – The stores, especially the restaurants, are way better in our new neighbourhood. Lots of good stuff to do, see and buy.
11. Parks – While our old neighbourhood had 4 parks within a 10 minute walk from our house, our new neighbourhood has 2 super-parks within 5 minutes from our house AND a mega-park 6 minutes away.
10. It’s more urban and I am, afterall, the Urban Daddy…
9. Schools – One of the main reasons to move was to be close to my son’s (and eventually kid’s) school. We are now within walking distance which is perfect as I walked to school, my wife walked to school and our kids should be able to walk to school.
8. Big basement – Without a garage, the basement is big, clean and functional. Plenty of room for the kids and the nanny and my wife’s crafts.
7. Toilet seats / cabinets – I know, I know, but hear me out. The toilet seats and cabinets cannot be slammed. All my kids have to do is slightly more the seat or lid forward and the damn thing slowly shuts itself… HOW COOL! And the kitchen cabinets, if someone – like my kids – try to slam them shut, the cabinets whip shut be a couple of inches before they would slam, they slow down and shut themselves silently… WOW.
6. A community orchard – This is right up my alley! A block away from our house is a community orchard which is nearing completion. I cannot wait to help grow raspberries and strawberries and waterchestnuts in this orchard – stuff which comes year after year.
5. Cool City Councillor – no offense to our older City Councillor, Karen Stintz who I think is awesome and will be mayor one day (if she wants to be). I helped raise some funds for Karen once she got elected and she has been great for the community, but our new City Councillor, Joe Mihevc has impressed me right away.

I reached out to Joe to see if there were any community groups / organizations which I could volunteer on and within an hour I had received an email from his executive assistant (EA) and then from him providing his personal contact information. He gave me a list of organizations and would like to meet with me to discuss involvement. Very cool…
4. Piano – We received a beautiful piano as a gift from our Real Estate Agent.
3. We also received a really big – not extremely big, but bigger than I have seen HDTV as a gift from my in-laws for the new house.
2. This house completely wired for everything so there are no spots in the house where I cannot get a wireless signal for my laptop as opposed to our old house where there was no where I could get wireless service.
1. It’s our 10-15 year home!

Thoughts and musings of a run-down daddy, after a weekend of unpacking and organizing

In today’s post, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things. I’ve been out of it lately, under the weather for most of the month of June with a nasty sinus infection and now feeling very run down.

I was chatting with my wife and she recalled how she was always the one getting sick and I was the healthy one, but recently it’s been the complete opposite. I don’t like being sick. Not sure people “like” being sick, but I detest it!

So in order to get back on track I am taking a few draft posts and throwing them into this one big post to get this stuff off my back and into my blog.

Here are my random thoughts for the past week…

(Monday) I’m not sure if I can drink my large double, double from Tim Horton’s so long as they have a picture of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats logo on it. Double Blue, man!!!

(Weekend) So LeBron James speaks… First he holds a press conference and tells the world how great he is – in the middle of prime time TV slot, with the interview taking place in a boys and girls club.

Then he shuns his former team by saying how much he did for them.

I’m thinking he’s the biggest asshole in the world.

Then…

He goes on Larry King live – interviewed in the courtyard of his palatial estate in front of the waterfall, and tells Larry how great he is.

I’m thinking, now I know he’s an asshole.

Then…

He talks about his mom. Having him when she was 16 and how he doesn’t know how she did it, and that everything he does is for her.

Awwww.

While I still want the Heat to lose every game, I’m softening my stance on the whole LBJ thing.

I’m also softening my stance on the collusion aspect where other league execs are calling on the NBA to investigate how the Heat could re-sign Wade, and sigh Bosh and James.

I mean come on. The Heat must have arranged this over a year ago for the Heat to draw up and execute their plan to dump contracts and make room for these guys. If Bosh, Wade and James go elsewhere, the Heat have 4 guys signed for the 2010/2011 campaign.

While that did seem suspicious, the Knicks and Nets pretty much did the same thing. I’m also sure the Bulls had room.

But how much would I have laughed if LBJ announced that he was joining the Toronto Raptors… We have a monarchy in Canada, so “King James” could have met Queen Elizabeth who is on tour right now in Toronto.

(Tuesday) If you help someone get their career started, what do they owe you, if anything?

(Sunday) So I’m coaching both my boys soccer teams and after the first games end the convener / referee comes to me and tells me that each kid on the team requires shin pads and soccer cleats or they cannot play.

Hmmmm…

My kids don’t have those…

So last night before bed, I take out my sons soccer uniform (my 3-year-old plays on Brazil, the 5-year-old on Portugal) when my 5-year-old tells me to put the uniform back in the drawer because he cannot play.

“Why?”, I ask…

“Because I don’t have soccer shoes”, he replies.

DAMN!!!!
DAMN!!!
DAMN!!
DAMN!
DAMN

So off I run on Monday looking for them. Wal-Mart, nope. National Sports, nope. Canadian Tire… BINGO.

But I don’t know what size the boys wear so I bought sizes 11, 12 and 13.

OY. I guarantee one of the kids will completely melt-down upon trying on their cleats or shin pads…

Update: Linus completely melted-down last night. Then, once I got him calm enough to play and stop holding hands of the female coach, he was dilly-dallying on the field, not paying attention to the ball or the play and the referee stepped on his ankle sending him wailing to the sidelines. Real big tears flying off his face. At first I thought we was just selling it in order to not have to play but once we got home and he took off his sock, I saw a scratch. Poor kid.