Wow...it has been a long time...I think. I was all by my lonesome as far as volunteers go (Tony sprained his ankle and Jen is naming limpets after Tony and I in Bamfield), but certainly not alone in the house. In the house tonight were a handful of kids...Grenadine (I know...bad name...) and her mum, sister and brother from the island, Stephen's , mum and dad, brother and sister (Brady and Insia), Jerrold and Eliza.
Dinner was awesome. Meat. I love meat.
AFter dinner I went with Stephen's brother to the Sun room. Rock band was calling our name. With Isaac and Ophelia in tow Brady and I kicked Rock Band proverbial butt for three songs. Brady kept choosing the most difficult songs. I really do sing better when I know the words.
I had promised Ophelia and Isaac that I would read them a story so I went to find them. They were upstairs with mum. Ophelia was painting in the art room. I helped set Isaac up for a paint. Elsa was with us as well. Isaac found a broom after he painted and it looked suspiciously close to a NIMBUS 2000 so I taught him how to fly on a broom.
After our time in the art room we went next door to the Schoolroom. I was bound and determined to read tonight...and we did. I haven't read a John Burmingham book for so long and we read Would You Rather... and a bunch of others. I miss reading to kids. I am so glad I got to tonight. Isaac's mum came to take him for a bath and I kept reading to his sister and Insia then it was Ophelia's turn for a bath. Insia's mum came and took her away for bed. I mosied down to the kids floor and found Eliza watching The Aristocats. I hung out with her for a while. Jerrold joined us ...he must have woken up from a nap. It was time for some of his meds so I helped the nurse. I helped keep Jerrold kind of upright while he was being "steamed" a cortizone steroid to help his lungs. ELiza got quite anxious when The Aristocrats ended. One of the nurses put the next movie. I think Eliza has watched thousands of movies!
My night ended and I quietly said goodbye to those who were still awake and around.
There are times when you feel that life is tough and you feel crappy. I am so lucky to share part of my time here. It makes me feel better. I hope that a little bit of what I feel rubs off on those I am with.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Thursday, 25 September 2008
RESULTS AND PICS FROM THE CHALLENGE
Yea!
1 metre ahead of me is a rock.
Thank goodness these are plastic.
I have never had so much fun on a bike.
I have had better runs.
Final Bib Final Kayak Bike After Bike Run FinalFrom 23rd to 4th! See what riding to work can do for you? Next year I vow to run a bit for training!
Place No. Name of Competitor Pos Time Pos Time Pos Time Pos Time Pos Time Pos Time Team Name
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 861 Mark Coates 1 3:28:25 3 49:15 4 1:36:58 2 2:26:13 4 1:02:13 1 3:28:25 Team mc bah
2 860 Billy Adams 2 3:28:25 4 49:16 3 1:36:56 1 2:26:12 5 1:02:14 2 3:28:25 Team mc bah
3 864 Nicole Akeroyd 3 4:27:30 20 59:32 7 2:29:30 9 3:29:01 3 58:29 3 4:27:30
4 865 Malcolm Chrystal 4 4:34:31 19 59:22 5 2:17:30 3 3:16:52 8 1:17:40 4 4:34:31
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
death is hard to understand
I have been at Canuck Place for about 4 years. Many of the house's kids have died in that time. Some I have known a little and some I have never met, but no matter who it is, they are somebody's baby girl, big brother, little sister, or grandchild. As a volunteer we are informed of when a child at the house dies. Recently there were two little boys who passed away with whom I was able to share a night holding, cuddling, and singing songs that I can't remember the lyrics to. When I read of their deaths there is just that little bit more familiarity, a clearer face to put a name to, and a little more sadness. It pales in comparison to what a family member feels.
On Sunday, my wife lost her little bother. Very suddenly and very unexpectantly. He is also an uncle, a son, a husband.
I have never experienced the death of anyone close to me. What I am feeling I am not able to express well. As I watch my family deal with the death of Chad it is clear to me I have no comprehension of what they are feeling.
I can see what they have lost: I have shaken his hand, hugged him, laughed at his corny humour, and danced his silly clotheswasher dance, but I don't know what it is like to lose someone who has alwasy been a part of your life, or you theirs.
When we hear of a death at the house it is from Leanne. She always signs off by saying "take care of yourselves, and each other"
Do that. Always.
On Sunday, my wife lost her little bother. Very suddenly and very unexpectantly. He is also an uncle, a son, a husband.
I have never experienced the death of anyone close to me. What I am feeling I am not able to express well. As I watch my family deal with the death of Chad it is clear to me I have no comprehension of what they are feeling.
I can see what they have lost: I have shaken his hand, hugged him, laughed at his corny humour, and danced his silly clotheswasher dance, but I don't know what it is like to lose someone who has alwasy been a part of your life, or you theirs.
When we hear of a death at the house it is from Leanne. She always signs off by saying "take care of yourselves, and each other"
Do that. Always.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Canuck Place Video
This is the reason I volunteer at the house:
Garghttp://canuckplace.com/news_events/video_gallery/articles431.php oyles, Grotesques and Chimeras Gargoyles, Grotesques and Chimeras
Garghttp://canuckplace.com/news_
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Race Day Over $201 000 Raised
What a day! Absolutely freakin' fantastic! Calm waters, cool bike, and the run was ok too. Cramping legs for me and a number of others today!
I get to introduce to you the 'Adventure Cam'.
I get to introduce to you the 'Adventure Cam'.
Images of the bike trails from a very deftly mounted camera atop the handle bars of "The Bike".
This year I think I have an idea of how I did compared to all these young, agile, and superfit individuals in the race. Last year I had know idea what happened and was very surprised when I won the 'Solo Mens' category. This year 'The Bike' was a tool of absolute precision and awesomeness. Thank you to Leslie and her guys at Dizzy Cycles who did some things to 'The Bike' for $90 and made it run like a $150 bike and made all the difference in the world. Mercer...I will get you the $90...soon!
If my oxygen and electrolyte depleted body figures correctly: 2 young guys completed this years race way under 4hrs as a team. In third place there is Nicole who is a Thursday Night family volunteer at the house (so she wins the Women's Solo), and then me who represents the Friday night family volunteer shift (and I win the Men's Solo!). The house was well represented on the podium!!
Leah from North Shore Orthodpedic massaged my legs after the race....and she kept telling me I was "damaged". The massage helped to get the post race gunk out of my achy legs but that I needed way more massage therapy....damaged....sigh....
I raised over a thousand dollars this year again. Next year I hope that I can do even better in raising funds. There were 3 or 4 racers who raised over $8000. Top fund raiser did over $11 000.
Thank you to anyone and everyone who helped in sponsoring a competitor this year.
The House is an magical place where the kids are the magicians. The staff and volunteers get to be assistants in a wonderful show.
Ps If you missed doing a donation before the race it appears the sponsor page is still open (!!!).
More Adventure Cam:
This year I think I have an idea of how I did compared to all these young, agile, and superfit individuals in the race. Last year I had know idea what happened and was very surprised when I won the 'Solo Mens' category. This year 'The Bike' was a tool of absolute precision and awesomeness. Thank you to Leslie and her guys at Dizzy Cycles who did some things to 'The Bike' for $90 and made it run like a $150 bike and made all the difference in the world. Mercer...I will get you the $90...soon!
If my oxygen and electrolyte depleted body figures correctly: 2 young guys completed this years race way under 4hrs as a team. In third place there is Nicole who is a Thursday Night family volunteer at the house (so she wins the Women's Solo), and then me who represents the Friday night family volunteer shift (and I win the Men's Solo!). The house was well represented on the podium!!
Leah from North Shore Orthodpedic massaged my legs after the race....and she kept telling me I was "damaged". The massage helped to get the post race gunk out of my achy legs but that I needed way more massage therapy....damaged....sigh....
I raised over a thousand dollars this year again. Next year I hope that I can do even better in raising funds. There were 3 or 4 racers who raised over $8000. Top fund raiser did over $11 000.
Thank you to anyone and everyone who helped in sponsoring a competitor this year.
The House is an magical place where the kids are the magicians. The staff and volunteers get to be assistants in a wonderful show.
Ps If you missed doing a donation before the race it appears the sponsor page is still open (!!!).
More Adventure Cam:
Friday, 5 September 2008
thank you
thank you to absolutely everyone who has donated.
today i received an veritable flurry of donations. my sister in law barb, my principal russ klein, and ....to mr bob murphy! No offense intended....but who is bob?!!!!
bed time!
today i received an veritable flurry of donations. my sister in law barb, my principal russ klein, and ....to mr bob murphy! No offense intended....but who is bob?!!!!
bed time!
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
apology to kyle
I teach science, not English.
Everybody should be like Kyle because he did NOT forget to sponsor me before he left for Med School. It just came out funny below!
Sponsor me.
Everybody should be like Kyle because he did NOT forget to sponsor me before he left for Med School. It just came out funny below!
Sponsor me.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
one week before the race
Less than a week before the sure to be eventful Adventure Challenge. Get on the bandwagon and sponsor me here:
SPONSOR MALCOLM
Your heart, the kids, your tax credit and I thank you!
The race is at Panorama Cove in Deep Cove on Saturday morning.
Training? I need to thank my most awesome wife Cindy for getting me to the pool everyday this week, otherwise I would have done absolutely nothing. I know there is no swimming unless I tip the kayak but stranger things could happen!
Don't forget to sponsor me...like Kyle...peer volunteer extraordinaire who has left BC to become a doctor. Rumour has it that he will specialise in pediatric oncology. Every kid in the future will benefit from him going down this path. Kick Alberta behind Kyle.
SPONSOR MALCOLM
Your heart, the kids, your tax credit and I thank you!
The race is at Panorama Cove in Deep Cove on Saturday morning.
Training? I need to thank my most awesome wife Cindy for getting me to the pool everyday this week, otherwise I would have done absolutely nothing. I know there is no swimming unless I tip the kayak but stranger things could happen!
Don't forget to sponsor me...like Kyle...peer volunteer extraordinaire who has left BC to become a doctor. Rumour has it that he will specialise in pediatric oncology. Every kid in the future will benefit from him going down this path. Kick Alberta behind Kyle.
Monday, 1 September 2008
A quiet night at the house
There was no Garage Band tonight! Pretty quiet at the house as they are gearing up for the annual shutdown and renovations. The Kid's Floor (aka Nurse's Station & Main floor) is getting a makeover for a little more room. It can get pretty tight in the alcove when there are more than 2 or 3 kids that need, or want, to stay close to the best nurses on this earth.
In the house tonight were Carol, Nichole, and Gaston (where do I get some of these names?) who represented the older kids, Richie and Mathew are about 2 and under. Mathew is full of beans and doesn't stop for much despite having a ticker that holds him back. Mathew's dad is in the house for a bit and this is the part that makes Canuck Place so awesome. It will be the first time that they are leaving Mathew in the house by himself. He and his wife are hoofing it out of town for the weeked for a little relaxtaion. Not an easy thing to do when you have never left your child for a night, but that is what the house can do for families.
After dinner Joan and I took Carole, Nichole, and Mathew outside to the playground. Gaston's sister Leyla joins us after finishing her book. A little bit of hockey, and little bit of ball, a little bit of spinning on the merry-go-round. It sounds a little strange to say that your are playing hockey with a couple of girls who are in wheelchairs, non-verbal, and have limited or no use of there hands but sometimes you can catch a glimpse of something in their eyes that tells you they are playing too.
One by one the kids are rescued from us by a nurse. Joan, Leyla and I are left with Nichole outside. I have a great idea! There is this strange sit down contraption that you can move with little tiny wheels that rotate independently. Very difficult to use. I challenge the girls to a race around the house! Joan is up first and finishes in a painfully slow 6m 15s. I dominate and complete the course in 2:45 (or was it 3:45?). Leyla kicks Joan's butt and finishes in 4:30.
The last hour of the night I got to sit with Richie. First, while he had to wear a 'vapouriser' that steams in meds for him to inhale and then while he got his dinner (via his tummytube). It came as an awful shock to me that I have forgotten the words to almost every song I used to sing to my own kids as I struggled to put together enough Stompin' Tom Conners songs to keep me singing along. Sometimes just sitting with the little ones is my favourite time.
In the house tonight were Carol, Nichole, and Gaston (where do I get some of these names?) who represented the older kids, Richie and Mathew are about 2 and under. Mathew is full of beans and doesn't stop for much despite having a ticker that holds him back. Mathew's dad is in the house for a bit and this is the part that makes Canuck Place so awesome. It will be the first time that they are leaving Mathew in the house by himself. He and his wife are hoofing it out of town for the weeked for a little relaxtaion. Not an easy thing to do when you have never left your child for a night, but that is what the house can do for families.
After dinner Joan and I took Carole, Nichole, and Mathew outside to the playground. Gaston's sister Leyla joins us after finishing her book. A little bit of hockey, and little bit of ball, a little bit of spinning on the merry-go-round. It sounds a little strange to say that your are playing hockey with a couple of girls who are in wheelchairs, non-verbal, and have limited or no use of there hands but sometimes you can catch a glimpse of something in their eyes that tells you they are playing too.
One by one the kids are rescued from us by a nurse. Joan, Leyla and I are left with Nichole outside. I have a great idea! There is this strange sit down contraption that you can move with little tiny wheels that rotate independently. Very difficult to use. I challenge the girls to a race around the house! Joan is up first and finishes in a painfully slow 6m 15s. I dominate and complete the course in 2:45 (or was it 3:45?). Leyla kicks Joan's butt and finishes in 4:30.
The last hour of the night I got to sit with Richie. First, while he had to wear a 'vapouriser' that steams in meds for him to inhale and then while he got his dinner (via his tummytube). It came as an awful shock to me that I have forgotten the words to almost every song I used to sing to my own kids as I struggled to put together enough Stompin' Tom Conners songs to keep me singing along. Sometimes just sitting with the little ones is my favourite time.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Back to the House!
Wow! It has been almost a month since I have been at the House. The bike accident preventing me the first time in August. Since I was unable to work I took advantage of the time and went to Penticton and the Cariboo.
The Race approaches! Having done no training in the last month it could be very interesting! I hope to set up my camera so I can take pics while on the ride and run. SInce I am not so good at at the Kayak...I might leave it on shore!
The Race approaches! Having done no training in the last month it could be very interesting! I hope to set up my camera so I can take pics while on the ride and run. SInce I am not so good at at the Kayak...I might leave it on shore!
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Friday, 1 August 2008
Me hit. They run
After over 2500km this year on my bicycle the inevitable event happened: I was involved in a car accident. Not just any accident! A HIT AND RUN!
This car decided to turn left in front of me while I was travelling East on Fourth Avenue. It was the slowest turn in the world. He had NO idea that I was there. I smacked into his side rear and catapult over the back end of the metallic blue car. I can confirm the metallic blue because I pulled a paint chip out of my cut finger. I landed about 7m from the point of collision only to find that the car had decided to continue his forward motion and DRIVE AWAY! Yes...I said drive away. I was way to foggy to read his plates as I attempted to chase the card down the road fueled by nothing but adrenaline I was so mad I was yelling profanities not to be recorded on this report and I sensed that the driver was seeing if I was ok. I guess I scared him because he would NOT stop.
My wife came to collect me and take me to the hospital.
I am angry. Bruised, cut, stitched, x-rayed, tired, and incredibly angry.
ps yes. I was wearing my helmut
This car decided to turn left in front of me while I was travelling East on Fourth Avenue. It was the slowest turn in the world. He had NO idea that I was there. I smacked into his side rear and catapult over the back end of the metallic blue car. I can confirm the metallic blue because I pulled a paint chip out of my cut finger. I landed about 7m from the point of collision only to find that the car had decided to continue his forward motion and DRIVE AWAY! Yes...I said drive away. I was way to foggy to read his plates as I attempted to chase the card down the road fueled by nothing but adrenaline I was so mad I was yelling profanities not to be recorded on this report and I sensed that the driver was seeing if I was ok. I guess I scared him because he would NOT stop.
My wife came to collect me and take me to the hospital.
I am angry. Bruised, cut, stitched, x-rayed, tired, and incredibly angry.
ps yes. I was wearing my helmut
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
The Tally
The total funds collected to date: $995!
A big thank you to everybody who has donated! The bad news is that I will not, at this point, be able to participate in the big race. Very sad. I do not know what I will do now. I suppose I can find a fiver somewhere. Am I able to make $1500 this year?
A big thank you to everybody who has donated! The bad news is that I will not, at this point, be able to participate in the big race. Very sad. I do not know what I will do now. I suppose I can find a fiver somewhere. Am I able to make $1500 this year?
Cheques found!
I have found the missing cheques safe in my knapsack.
Big news of the day is the $50 I am dropping on 'The Bike'. I phoned a former customer of mine, Leslie at Dizzy Cycles, and asked her if she could help me with 'The Bike'. She is a little hesitant as I gather that everybody and their dog is always on the lookout for a freebie, me included. Nonetheless I took 'The Bike' down to her and she gave it the once over. She is going to do a service on it and hopefully a little bit more! In the end I will have to fork out $50 on 'The Bike', but still a bargain after the mileage I have put on it! Now I am going to ride my Craparotti road bike for the next week. Whoo hoo! Skinny tires!
Back to the house on Friday. I always look forward to going to the house.
Big news of the day is the $50 I am dropping on 'The Bike'. I phoned a former customer of mine, Leslie at Dizzy Cycles, and asked her if she could help me with 'The Bike'. She is a little hesitant as I gather that everybody and their dog is always on the lookout for a freebie, me included. Nonetheless I took 'The Bike' down to her and she gave it the once over. She is going to do a service on it and hopefully a little bit more! In the end I will have to fork out $50 on 'The Bike', but still a bargain after the mileage I have put on it! Now I am going to ride my Craparotti road bike for the next week. Whoo hoo! Skinny tires!
Back to the house on Friday. I always look forward to going to the house.
Sunday, 27 July 2008
More Donations...but where did i put the cheques?
Phillipa and Gordon Wenstob have also bucked up $100 for the Adventure Challenge (Thank you!!) but I appear to have a small problem. I can't find the two cheques from Judy and Phillipa. Yikes!
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Whoo-hooo! Big Day for donations!
Whoo-hooo!
First of all I would like to than David Long, CEO of The Terminal City Club of Vancouver for their $150 donation. Secondly, Judy Walsh who donated her $100 BC Carbon Credit to Canuck Place.
What an awesome idea!
Thank you David and Judy!!
First of all I would like to than David Long, CEO of The Terminal City Club of Vancouver for their $150 donation. Secondly, Judy Walsh who donated her $100 BC Carbon Credit to Canuck Place.
What an awesome idea!
Thank you David and Judy!!
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Garage Band on Friday
It has been a month since I had been to the house and I always feel like I am missing something, and I was: GARAGE BAND!
In the house tonight were Karina, Jeffrey (who seems to be there the most when I am there), a couple of little ones, Lucy and Ricardo. Ricardo is new to me. He is another boy with DMD (Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy) and we had some fun!
Tony was away tonight and Joan and I held the fort. Roberto the chef had to go home so the Nurses ordered out: Chinese food galore! After we stuffed ourselves silly Jeffrey got ready to go the Football game with his dad leaving Karina, Lucy, Ricardo, Joan and me to play Kick the Can.
I got Karina (who can't speak but sure laughs alot) and Joan got Lucy. Ricardo runs a powerful chair so he was on his own.
Believe it or not it can be quite challenging to find a boy and his chair in a big garden. When we (Karina and I ) did find him...we had to race to the tether pole. I kept losing....
A little later we made our way into the house to fetch the Garage Band game...holy crap is that fun. Joan and I had to sit back for a little bit while Ricardo did his drums solo. Boy did i want to play. Lucy hung out beside Joan who got to do Ricardo's bass drum for him. Karina and I just held hands while I tried to sing to guns n roses.
Finally we all got our turn when I masterfully sang to Radiohead's 'Creep', Joan struggled with guitar AND Ricardo's bass drum, and Ricardo kicked fanny on his part. Joan left early and Ricardo and I played for another hour. Karina just kept smiling and smiling.
I love playing at the house!
In the house tonight were Karina, Jeffrey (who seems to be there the most when I am there), a couple of little ones, Lucy and Ricardo. Ricardo is new to me. He is another boy with DMD (Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy) and we had some fun!
Tony was away tonight and Joan and I held the fort. Roberto the chef had to go home so the Nurses ordered out: Chinese food galore! After we stuffed ourselves silly Jeffrey got ready to go the Football game with his dad leaving Karina, Lucy, Ricardo, Joan and me to play Kick the Can.
I got Karina (who can't speak but sure laughs alot) and Joan got Lucy. Ricardo runs a powerful chair so he was on his own.
Believe it or not it can be quite challenging to find a boy and his chair in a big garden. When we (Karina and I ) did find him...we had to race to the tether pole. I kept losing....
A little later we made our way into the house to fetch the Garage Band game...holy crap is that fun. Joan and I had to sit back for a little bit while Ricardo did his drums solo. Boy did i want to play. Lucy hung out beside Joan who got to do Ricardo's bass drum for him. Karina and I just held hands while I tried to sing to guns n roses.
Finally we all got our turn when I masterfully sang to Radiohead's 'Creep', Joan struggled with guitar AND Ricardo's bass drum, and Ricardo kicked fanny on his part. Joan left early and Ricardo and I played for another hour. Karina just kept smiling and smiling.
I love playing at the house!
red bull rejection
I cannot believe it. I am truly devastated by the decision of the RedBull Pit crew to reject the Canuck PLace Soapbox of Doom plans outright. Depite the email candor developed between a rep of the Pit Crew we were ungraciously dumped with a "Thank you very much, P.F.O." letter and 4 RedBulls.
What now?
What now?
Sunday, 6 July 2008
the super duper plans
Here is the final engineered drawings I sent to the RedBull people.
Thay are crazy if they don't let us in!!
PLANS FOR SOAPBOX ARE HERE
Thay are crazy if they don't let us in!!
PLANS FOR SOAPBOX ARE HERE
Friday, 4 July 2008
No house tonight
I was a busy boy today and did not make it to the house. I wonder what happened?
I was riding my bike home today after a day of hard labour** shredding trees into mulch and realised that I have ridden my $10 bike more than 2000km this year. Last year for the triathlon and Adventure challenge I think I cycled about 140km in preparation!
I will be at the house in two weeks. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to see if the Canuck House Soapbox of Doom is going to be accepted into the RedBull Soapbox Derby. I am going to figure out how to post my plans....
**i am available for hire. i do hard work that nobody likes to do...but it costs money.
I was riding my bike home today after a day of hard labour** shredding trees into mulch and realised that I have ridden my $10 bike more than 2000km this year. Last year for the triathlon and Adventure challenge I think I cycled about 140km in preparation!
I will be at the house in two weeks. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to see if the Canuck House Soapbox of Doom is going to be accepted into the RedBull Soapbox Derby. I am going to figure out how to post my plans....
**i am available for hire. i do hard work that nobody likes to do...but it costs money.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Summer Solstice Night
What? No pagan ritualistic ceremony celebrating the longest day of the year event?
We met a new peer volunteer tonight and her name is Brittany. She goes to the same school as Joan and is in Grade 11. See Kyle...they need to replace you with not one, but two peer volunteers.
In the house we have Aldo, Jeffrey, Julian, Vanessa, Emily.
I have known Julian for a while. He has been in Children's for the last couple of days and is in the house after being released from there. His mum and dad are with him and they watched the EUFA World Cup together on the Kid's Floor.
Some neat things happened tonight.
First off a great idea came from a conversation about chairs. Brittany suggested an event called "Pimp my Ride". I was complaining that few of the kids take their chairs and really do them up. Other than a few stickers they are very cool rides without the panache. What about lights? Sound systems? Most have hydraulics so they are already in the low riders category. I think that we can have a teen night for both boys and girls to do up their chairs. Get some sponsorship for the event and I see great things happening!
After dinner we went to the TV room to figure out what to do. Brittany had asked what we do on Friday nights because on Teusday it is Movie Night. Movie Night? There is a Tuesday Movie Night? WHat about Friday? I told her that we hang on Fridays. We figure out what the kids want to do and go from there.
Vanessa, being a nearly 15 year old wanted to escape the grounds, Jeffrey is pretty much keen to do anything, Aldo wants to play on the computer, and Emily is just hanging. How far can we go? Vanessa just wants to roll down any steep hil so she is thinking about getting to Granville and Broadway as a destination. A quick check with the nurses lets us take off, but we had to leave Aldo and Elisabeth at home; both are still having supper through their tummy tubes. Aldo, Tony, and Joan caught up with us a little later.
We made it all the way down to Strabucks where Vanessa bought a tea for herself and a hot chocolate for Jeffrey. Then we turned around and made our way back up the hill. Vanessa's chair is not a power chair so I got a bit of a workout going up Granville!
Back at the house we ended up in the school room playing a trivial pursuit Disney game: boys against girls. It was all going in favour of the boys until Aldo joined the dark side. His final answer won the game. I thought it was boys against girls?
We met a new peer volunteer tonight and her name is Brittany. She goes to the same school as Joan and is in Grade 11. See Kyle...they need to replace you with not one, but two peer volunteers.
In the house we have Aldo, Jeffrey, Julian, Vanessa, Emily.
I have known Julian for a while. He has been in Children's for the last couple of days and is in the house after being released from there. His mum and dad are with him and they watched the EUFA World Cup together on the Kid's Floor.
Some neat things happened tonight.
First off a great idea came from a conversation about chairs. Brittany suggested an event called "Pimp my Ride". I was complaining that few of the kids take their chairs and really do them up. Other than a few stickers they are very cool rides without the panache. What about lights? Sound systems? Most have hydraulics so they are already in the low riders category. I think that we can have a teen night for both boys and girls to do up their chairs. Get some sponsorship for the event and I see great things happening!
After dinner we went to the TV room to figure out what to do. Brittany had asked what we do on Friday nights because on Teusday it is Movie Night. Movie Night? There is a Tuesday Movie Night? WHat about Friday? I told her that we hang on Fridays. We figure out what the kids want to do and go from there.
Vanessa, being a nearly 15 year old wanted to escape the grounds, Jeffrey is pretty much keen to do anything, Aldo wants to play on the computer, and Emily is just hanging. How far can we go? Vanessa just wants to roll down any steep hil so she is thinking about getting to Granville and Broadway as a destination. A quick check with the nurses lets us take off, but we had to leave Aldo and Elisabeth at home; both are still having supper through their tummy tubes. Aldo, Tony, and Joan caught up with us a little later.
We made it all the way down to Strabucks where Vanessa bought a tea for herself and a hot chocolate for Jeffrey. Then we turned around and made our way back up the hill. Vanessa's chair is not a power chair so I got a bit of a workout going up Granville!
Back at the house we ended up in the school room playing a trivial pursuit Disney game: boys against girls. It was all going in favour of the boys until Aldo joined the dark side. His final answer won the game. I thought it was boys against girls?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)