Everything changes.
I have been burning the candle and both ends and in the middle lately, frantically trying to complete some contracts before their due dates. Yesterday afternoon, however, I closed the ol' laptop to take in some much needed family time.
We went to the hotsprings where, with the assistance of her floaty suit and a little bit of encouragement, Jade discovered that she could make her way around the pool on her own steam. Her smile was huge as she pedaled with her feet all around the pool.
It hasn't been easy getting Jade to feel more comfortable and confident in the water. Normally, she clings to me and freaks out if I try to get her to swim on her own. You see, it wasn't that long ago that swimming was a very risky activity for us.
Jade used to have atonic, myoclonic, and absence seizures. One moment, she could be swimming along happily, and the next, she'd have a seizure and be face-down in the water. Unnerving. And Dangerous.
Now her seizures are under control and we've been able to let go of a little bit of that fear. In fact, the hotsprings were downright fun. It was wonderful to see her regaining that confidence - one little paddle on the way towards learning how to swim.
Really, there are a lot of things that we've started taking for granted again. We can let her play on the playground equipment without having to hold her around the middle in case she has a seizure. We know that she's able to learn and develop without constantly being interrupted by seizures. We can sleep at night without worrying about her having seizures. Oh, we still get woken up at all hours, but seizures aren't the reason.
We're lucky. This summer she'll be on her bike and, hopefully, she'll learn how to ride without training wheels. That would have been nearly inconceivable just over a year ago.
She is doing very, very well.
_______________
I got a message from a friend the other night. He was up very late. His daughter had just been diagnosed with Generalized Absence Epilepsy. They're a very active family. Swimming, riding bikes, playing at the playground, and everything else they've known just became a lot more complicated and a lot more dangerous. Nothing is normal anymore.
I'm sad for them because I understand what they're going through. If they can't get her seizures under control, their lives will dramatically change.
I also know how much epilepsy can steal from a family. (Please read that last link.)
________________
Epilepsy is more common than autism, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. You know a lot more people with epilepsy than you realize. What you may not know is how it has affected their lives.
March is Epilepsy Awareness Month in Canada and I'd like to ask a favour of you. If you know someone with epilepsy, ask them about it. Ask them how it has affected their life.
If you don't know someone with epilepsy (and trust me, with more than 1 in every 100 people having some type of seizure disorder, you do), visit epilepsy.com or wikipedia and learn a little more about seizure disorders. Then, share it on facebook, twitter, your blog, or wherever.
Please, post in the comments section what you've learned.
It's time we started paying more attention to epilepsy - and finding ways to put an end to seizure disorders.
We went to the hotsprings where, with the assistance of her floaty suit and a little bit of encouragement, Jade discovered that she could make her way around the pool on her own steam. Her smile was huge as she pedaled with her feet all around the pool.
It hasn't been easy getting Jade to feel more comfortable and confident in the water. Normally, she clings to me and freaks out if I try to get her to swim on her own. You see, it wasn't that long ago that swimming was a very risky activity for us.
Jade used to have atonic, myoclonic, and absence seizures. One moment, she could be swimming along happily, and the next, she'd have a seizure and be face-down in the water. Unnerving. And Dangerous.
Now her seizures are under control and we've been able to let go of a little bit of that fear. In fact, the hotsprings were downright fun. It was wonderful to see her regaining that confidence - one little paddle on the way towards learning how to swim.
Really, there are a lot of things that we've started taking for granted again. We can let her play on the playground equipment without having to hold her around the middle in case she has a seizure. We know that she's able to learn and develop without constantly being interrupted by seizures. We can sleep at night without worrying about her having seizures. Oh, we still get woken up at all hours, but seizures aren't the reason.
We're lucky. This summer she'll be on her bike and, hopefully, she'll learn how to ride without training wheels. That would have been nearly inconceivable just over a year ago.
She is doing very, very well.
_______________
I got a message from a friend the other night. He was up very late. His daughter had just been diagnosed with Generalized Absence Epilepsy. They're a very active family. Swimming, riding bikes, playing at the playground, and everything else they've known just became a lot more complicated and a lot more dangerous. Nothing is normal anymore.
I'm sad for them because I understand what they're going through. If they can't get her seizures under control, their lives will dramatically change.
I also know how much epilepsy can steal from a family. (Please read that last link.)
________________
Epilepsy is more common than autism, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. You know a lot more people with epilepsy than you realize. What you may not know is how it has affected their lives.
March is Epilepsy Awareness Month in Canada and I'd like to ask a favour of you. If you know someone with epilepsy, ask them about it. Ask them how it has affected their life.
If you don't know someone with epilepsy (and trust me, with more than 1 in every 100 people having some type of seizure disorder, you do), visit epilepsy.com or wikipedia and learn a little more about seizure disorders. Then, share it on facebook, twitter, your blog, or wherever.
Please, post in the comments section what you've learned.
It's time we started paying more attention to epilepsy - and finding ways to put an end to seizure disorders.
Alex and Luke Go to Yellowknife.
If you haven't heard of Alex and Luke, you should really check out their site. They traveled to every continental US state and to every Canadian province and territory, making their stops based on the advice given to them by their readers and viewers through social medial.
Unsurprisingly, they became so enamored with the north that they're back. People frequently ask me, "What is there to do up there?"
Alex and Luke are about to find out.
Here's their first video from Yellowknife - and they're just getting started.
Unsurprisingly, they became so enamored with the north that they're back. People frequently ask me, "What is there to do up there?"
Alex and Luke are about to find out.
Here's their first video from Yellowknife - and they're just getting started.
Give a kid a hand.
A young blogger in the NWT recently attended a culture camp. As part of the culture camp, they caught, cleaned, and ate muskrats. The young blogger was given a muskrat paw to take home. Click on that link to see it and read his blog entry.
He thinks it's cool. I do, too.
His mom, however, does not want the foot in the house.
I can't understand why.
Can you?
Discuss.
Image of a "Black Forest Hunting Relic" borrowed from a store on etsy.com. Click the image to view the original page.
He thinks it's cool. I do, too.
His mom, however, does not want the foot in the house.
I can't understand why.
Can you?
Discuss.
Dawson City Caption Contest Winner Announced!
After nearly forgetting to have it judged, I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Dawson City Caption Contest can now be announced!
There were some interesting entries, both on the Official Michael's Meanderings Blog, and on the facebook.
On the blog, the leading entry was Opa's "deceptively realistic paint job", but the overall winner is Jerome Stewart, with his entry that evokes the wonderfully-sometimes-themepark-ish feel of Dawson City.
Jerome receives heaps of praise and a link to his blog, Yukon Science Fiction Writer.
Looking at that picture, I can just imagine the conversation that happened before the exit sign was installed...
There were some interesting entries, both on the Official Michael's Meanderings Blog, and on the facebook.
On the blog, the leading entry was Opa's "deceptively realistic paint job", but the overall winner is Jerome Stewart, with his entry that evokes the wonderfully-sometimes-themepark-ish feel of Dawson City.
"You are now leaving the wilds of Dawson City, please exit through the Daycare...."
Looking at that picture, I can just imagine the conversation that happened before the exit sign was installed...
Worker: Hey, boss!
Boss (very busy): What?
Worker: Where should I hang this exit sign?
Boss: Over the door! Where else would you hang an exit sign?!
Worker: Uh, okay...
Talk a walk through history.
This photo was poached from the YHMA website. I hope they don't mind.If you visit downtown Whitehorse in the summer, you might see somebody dressed in old-fashioned clothes being followed by a flock of people (locals and tourists alike), Pied Piper-style. If you do see this, you have just spotted the Yukon Historical and Museums Association's summer historical walking tour.
But walking tours? That's so... old-fashioned!
That's OK, though, because the YHMA is hip. They're with it. They've got walking tour podcasts!
And they're good. Like, really good. So I just had to spread the word. Because of how good they are.
So, if you're visiting downtown Whitehorse at any time of the year, download the YHMA's audio walking tours and enjoy!
Sports Marketing.
I just couldn't resist any longer. I took this picture last fall, but didn't want to post it because, well, I don't know who this is and didn't want to cause him any undue embarassment. I've gotten over that. The picture must be shared.
I wonder if the jacket and the crutches have anything to do with each other? He represents the sport of speed-skating well.
I hope his foot is feeling better.
I wonder if the jacket and the crutches have anything to do with each other? He represents the sport of speed-skating well.
I hope his foot is feeling better.
Caption Contest!
Notice anything... unusual in this picture, taken outside the daycare in Dawson City?
If you do, you're eligible to enter the Michael's Meanderings Caption Contest! There are no prizes, but the winner - to be determined by a judge who will be designated by Meandering Michael - will receive heaps of praise (the size of the heaps will remain at the discretion of Meandering Michael)!!!
Caption away!
If you do, you're eligible to enter the Michael's Meanderings Caption Contest! There are no prizes, but the winner - to be determined by a judge who will be designated by Meandering Michael - will receive heaps of praise (the size of the heaps will remain at the discretion of Meandering Michael)!!!
Caption away!
Purchasing insurance for the family.
Oh, JAB Recreational Products, Inc., your wooden sleds are lovely, but I hardly think you're in the business of insurance. Perhaps you should ensure that you're using the proper words on your products before you get yourself into trouble.
Over the Top
If you eat, sleep, and breathe the exhaust that is the sport of snowmobiling, you should probably check out Trek Over the Top, an annual 200 mile snowmobile run from Tok, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon.
It attracts a few participants...
It attracts a few participants...
The Art of the Klondike
While in Dawson City, I dropped by a painting workshop at the Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture. Paints were supplied, but participants had to bring their own surfaces to paint on. I found a piece of box outside one of the local grocery stores.
The workshop was overseen by Mary Dolman, whose artwork you really should check out. Go on, I'll wait.
Mary Dolman (right) and a participant discuss a painting.
There is a lot of talent in Dawson City, so it's not surprising that the community can have it's own institute, gallery, and be the catalyst for the creation of the Yukon School of Visual Arts. If you know a budding artist, get them to check out that site. Go on, I'll wait.
It had been a couple of years since I had done any painting (other than house painting). While the other participants were using acrylics, I stuck to watercolours. One day I'll get past my monochromatic, non-acrylic mental block.
Here's my painting. I call it "Fresh Medjool Dates".
The workshop was overseen by Mary Dolman, whose artwork you really should check out. Go on, I'll wait.
Mary Dolman (right) and a participant discuss a painting.There is a lot of talent in Dawson City, so it's not surprising that the community can have it's own institute, gallery, and be the catalyst for the creation of the Yukon School of Visual Arts. If you know a budding artist, get them to check out that site. Go on, I'll wait.
It had been a couple of years since I had done any painting (other than house painting). While the other participants were using acrylics, I stuck to watercolours. One day I'll get past my monochromatic, non-acrylic mental block.
Here's my painting. I call it "Fresh Medjool Dates".
Tantalus Butte
Just north of the Village of Carmacks, stands Tantalus Butte. If you're traveling up the North Klondike Highway to Dawson City, you can't miss it.
While it may not look like much here, it has made its mark on Yukon history. And it may continue to do so. You see, Tantalus Butte is on fire.
Off and on over the past century, the mountain was worked for its coal. The coal heated cabins, powered river boats, and fueled mines. In 1978, an abandoned section of the workings caught fire and the Butte has been burning ever since.
On occasion, you can see evidence of the burning.
Today, sections of the mountain are collapsing into the burning seams. The coal that once heated homes and powered river boats is now fueling the collapse of its mountain home.
As Tantalus Butte burns, I cannot help but wonder what role it will play in the future of the Yukon.
For more on the history of Tantalus Butte, swing by Murry's blog at explorenorth.com
While it may not look like much here, it has made its mark on Yukon history. And it may continue to do so. You see, Tantalus Butte is on fire.
Off and on over the past century, the mountain was worked for its coal. The coal heated cabins, powered river boats, and fueled mines. In 1978, an abandoned section of the workings caught fire and the Butte has been burning ever since.
On occasion, you can see evidence of the burning.
Today, sections of the mountain are collapsing into the burning seams. The coal that once heated homes and powered river boats is now fueling the collapse of its mountain home.
As Tantalus Butte burns, I cannot help but wonder what role it will play in the future of the Yukon.
For more on the history of Tantalus Butte, swing by Murry's blog at explorenorth.com
Great combinations.
I believe that our greatest innovators are the ones who make connections between the seemingly disparate and find a way to fit them together. Einstein combined space and time. Henry Burnett Reese combined peanut butter and chocolate. Nita Collins has combined big band with bellydance.
Fawn will be singing, too!
Fawn will be singing, too!
What are your favourite combinations?
Bon Voyage!
Air New Zealand posted their Top Ten entries today. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to garner enough votes to make the list. It was a good run, though, and I'd like to thank everyone who helped - especially those who shared the link over and over and voted and commented as often as they could.
Even though I didn't win, it means a lot to know that I have friends who will take a little bit of time out of their day to help me in a long-shot bid to take my wife on a vacation.
Thank you.
Even though I didn't win, it means a lot to know that I have friends who will take a little bit of time out of their day to help me in a long-shot bid to take my wife on a vacation.
Thank you.
