Post Dad's Day

It came, it was here and now it's gone. Yup, Dad's day came and went just like any other day. C and the kids gave an hour and a half of extra sleep, a book, a new watch and some cool things made at school / preschool. We all went out to brunch and then to the zoo in the afternoon.

I can't really speak to other dads, but I'd rather spend time with the family than by myself on Father's day. To me, that seems more like the point. You wouldn't be a dad without a family and having all of them around is what makes the day that much cooler.

Preview of What's to Come

Just read in the Seattle Times that Steven Harper is scrapping the gun control program in Canada. Now, I can appreciate doing something about programs that are over budget and behind schedule, but when the intent of the program is sound, why not reform it rather than scrap it?

A mini soap-box moment:

Call me a liberal or my views as "garden variety" Canadianesque, but I view the possession of firearms as a priviledge and something that should bestowed upon people who require them to do their profession (police for obvious example). Possessing a tool that was intended to kill living things is NOT a right and should be monitored and controlled.

{stepping down now}

The only solice in seeing this headline is that when we're back in Canada, we'll be able to vote..

Preparing for the Weekend.

Today's going to be a combination of things - doing some touch-up on the paint outside, mowing the lawn and finalizing the score for the recording session this weekend. I don't know what I'd have done if I had to write out everything with pencil and paper. Thank the gods of technology for applications like Sibeius!

Father's Day 2006

Tomorrow's the big day... Father's Day.

This'll be my sixth. It's traditionally been a pretty decent day in the past - usually pretty quiet, get to sleep in a bit and spend time with the kids. It's going to be pretty similar tomorrow I'm thinking. Except, we now have the prospect of moving back to Toronto hanging over our heads.

It's pretty well decided. It all came to be about two weeks ago when C was starting to get the "not-so-warm-and-fuzzies" from the immigration lawyer. He apparently had some doubts that her TN visa could be renewed easily. The only real options he gave us were - you'll have to leave at the end of the visa, or try to file for the extention and see what happens. If it doesn't go through, then you'll have two weeks to leave...

I'm sorry, but WTF! This is the second immigration lawyer who's had this attitude of ... oh well, if it doesn't work out, then you can always just go back to where you came from. I can't really get over how inconsiderate these people are of what kinds of impact this has on not only an individual's life, but the family.

After we chatted about it, the only option that seemed to offer us the most control was to file for the extention and move back earlier than expected.

Another pet peeve I have with the US imigration program - there's no non-green card option to stay here - even if you wanted to become a citizen. We've contributed to the economy in this country, we've paid taxes, didn't give a whoop about not being able to vote - been anything BUT a drain on the country's resources, but have no way to continue on without going through a barbaric work-visa system. Don't get me started on the annual visa application process with the border guards...

Anyway, if I try and keep all that out of my mind tomorrow, then it should be a pretty decent day...

My Picture Post

This is a post so that I can have an image dangit!