Happy Lent?

The words 'happy' & 'lent' really don't seem like they should go together, but I don't really know how else to phrase it.  'Merry Lent'?  'Blessed Lent' maybe?  Or 'Suck it up & get over yourself'?  Ok, to be fair I'm just as bad at getting over myself as the next person.  Whatever way you want to refer to it, it starts today.

For lent this year I am giving up t.v. shows.  It might actually be more accurate to say that I am giving up shows on iTunes or streaming tv via computer.  I never get home in time to watch most shows (because of my job usually and now due to building a house), so I catch up that way.  Either way, they are gone for a while.  It's only around 20-40 min of tv most late evenings, but it has slowly crept into time spent on better things (time with Super Lu, homework for my class that is now due in 5 weeks & I'm out of extensions with, sleep, reading, exercise, etc.)  It might sound ridiculous to you, but those 40 minutes have really stolen away some important things in my life.  The flip side is that at least I laugh more often (which is good too!).  Did any of you decide to give something up?

On the dad front, Sparkles asked me yesterday what 'sexy' meant.  She's in Grade 2.  She already had an idea as I asked her what she thought it meant - I just explained a little more.  I wish I could remember the words she used because it was quite entertaining.  It seems like the phrase 'doing all that there' came up a few times.  To clarify: she was talking about hair & makeup & clothes.  I'm really glad she feels like we can talk about these things though!

On the house front, I feel like a different man this week.  Having Mouth here helping for a few days was a huge boost.  And it worked out that I put in over a full week of work before he even showed up, so I didn't even need to take vacation days.  Nice!  I sometimes forget how acclimated I am to working in the frigid cold - it felt balmy this past weekend hovering around the -22C mark, but Mouth reminded us early (& OFTEN) about how cold it was!  I think our record was making it out the door 40 seconds one morning before he started complaining about it.  Putz was even out with us for a couple days too!  Super Lu was again awesome in taking care of the kids while we worked hard.  I really enjoy working with results orientated guys.  We get stuff done and laugh while we do it.  But we do get stuff done!

Here's me & Mouth putting up exterior walls.  

I'll get a few more pictures posted of our progress soon, but overall it was a very productive weekend!
Later,
I.B.

Momentum, thy name is Mouth

My Boss knows what I need.

He arranged a pretty cool phone call late last night from Mouth (one of my best friends who, along with his wife K-Kacang, form one side of Sparkles godparents).  And yes, the new nickname of Mouth is a shout-out to the movie 'Goonies'.  It had to be every pre-adolescent boys' favorite movie when it came out!!  They should have made a sequel!  I'll have to watch it soon for old-times sake.  One time Mouth & I were being dragged on an inflatable behind a boat that was being driven by a maniac and out of the blue he starts spouting off Chunk's confession when he thought he was going to die in the movie ("and then, I pushed my sister down the stairs, and I blamed it on the dog!" - here are more Goonies quotes to relive your youth).  We were laughing so hard that we could barely hang on.  Anyway...

Here's me, Super Lu, our newest god-daughter, K-Kacang, & Mouth this past summer.  Their son Toothpick was getting into trouble with Mario while we were trying to get this picture taken...  Shocking.  If they are anything like their dads, Mario probably came up with the idea and Toothpick was doing it and then took the brunt of the punishment.

The call went something like this:

Mouth: "Hey.... (long pause)...oh right..., I'm calling (I.B.).  How's it going man?"

I.B.: "Hey! Good.  How's it going out there?"

Mouth: "Really good.  Listen, you gotta pick me up at the airport on Thursday night"

I.B.: "What!?"

Mouth: "Yeah, the ticket is booked.  It's literally the only time I could come out and help you before the end of summer"

I.B.: "Seriously?!"

There's a lot more discussion (and laughing), but some of it censored because it's Mouth talking.  And by his estimation, anyone thinking of going to a bootcamp workout or interested in losing weight should just come out to help us this weekend.  The cold mixed with lifting lumber should do the trick nicely.

Mouth with Dude this past summer.

Long story short, he's coming for a few days (with the support of his very cool wife & kids) to help me out no matter what the weather is like.  He lived in Yellowknife for a year, so he laughs in the face of cold....  Or whines about it constantly.  Hence he lives in the Okanagan.  Seriously.  Now he complains that the Okanagan is too cold.  I'll have to get my Oma & Dziadziu (not nicknames, but what I actually call them - their identities remain safe!) to give him a talking to since they live in the same city.

Did I mention that building homes to lock-up stage is what he does for a living?  He's also a part time youth pastor (yes, my censorship comment still stands).  He also just barely moved into the house that he built for his own family, so life has been crazy for him.  

So here's to pushing when there is momentum - thanks Boss and thanks in advance for coming out this weekend Mouth!  The help & laughter is perfect timing.

Later,

I.B.

Building progress? (of different sorts)

Well, there has been very little progress made on the house in the last couple weeks and it doesn't look good for the rest of this week either.  Partly because of work, partly because of weather... here are a couple of pictures of what the weather has been like:

Believe it or not, this was the nicer day (temperature wise) out of the two pictures.  Our house is out there somewhere!  I even enhanced the photo so you could at least see the power box!

-48 when this picture was taken.  Nice.  The sun is great here, but so deceiving when it comes to temperature.

And little work has been done on the house partly because I was away with my bride on an annual getaway (continuing to build toward a great marriage):

This sure beats a weekend in Edmonton like we've done a few times!

And because of the weather I get a little extra time to build my kids up & build with them (lego!) instead:

Building a tow truck with Mario!  

I think I'll brace myself and head out to the site on Saturday - no excuses not to (I'll have already put in more than enough work hours before then).  I've been getting pretty frustrated & discouraged with the lack of progress on the house.  I told Super Lu in the fall that I need to learn (with life in general) to push hard when there is momentum and be disciplined when there isn't.  I'm definitely being tested on that!

Later,
I.B.

Interesting news

Got some interesting news from our adoption agency today.  I think it's really quite positive (unless I'm missing something - which obviously happens quite frequently!).

Here's my read of the situation: simply put, I think the whole thing reads as a vote of confidence for our agency & it's director/board.

Here's the short form:
Agency 'A' (another agency) goes through scandal and bankruptcy a year and a half ago.  Families are shocked and broken over the news.  A temporary board and structure is put in place to try to work with families who are caught in the middle as they try to navigate the international adoption process in spite of bankruptcy.  The province where agency 'A' was located tightens up all protocols, procedures, reporting, etc. because of the mess.  HUGE MESS.  Skepticism abounds.  Pain & a national spotlight.  Families try to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward.

FAST FORWARD:  Now "our" agency has been approached to have those adoption cases come under their scope and create a merger of sorts (while virtually keeping the 2 spheres separate for now in completing adoptions - thus not affecting services to families in either 'sphere').  The province where these agencies are located is aware of (and presumably supportive) of this based, I would assume, on the credibility, transparency and experience of "our agency".

What's also positive is that this could create opportunity for further expansion in the agency and also provides a stable experienced presence to guide and facilitate the adoptions & children who were caught in the mess of agency 'A's bankruptcy (hence being very positive for those families who were caught in the middle).  The negative is that agency 'A's families need to begin to work with new people in new offices.  On the positive side, it also allows "our" agency to hire/diversify in bringing in more specialized positions (a lot of organizations fail to grow and thrive because they hit a ceiling due to being stuck with a bunch of generalists in positions - their consideration & administration factors almost handcuff them from making the necessary jump.)  I think families already working with "our" agency will probably already have started to see a shift toward the positive in these areas (without realizing it) as the agency recently began preparing for this move.  Again, just a guess, but I've noticed some changes.

Bottom line: YOU GET HELP FROM PEOPLE YOU TRUST, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND WHO YOU KNOW CAN REALLY HELP.  (I'm a clueless idiot trying to build a house with no experience - I don't ask random people how to put in a foundation).  Agency 'A's temporary leadership partnering with "our" agency seems to speak volumes about this.  Maybe it might also suggest that "our" agency may have a lot less to do with a review being conducted by CIC than most people think?  Especially since a hyper-alert provincial authority who was made to look bad in the press 18 months ago has no objections to a partnership being created that involves them.

Or maybe I'm just reading the situation all wrong.  We'll find out in the months ahead!


Now on to things I do not have to guess about...
In other news, we're beginning to gear up for RUN 143 again!  Looking forward to advocating for orphans, raising awareness, and financially helping a family & organizations involved with adoption & orphans!  Stay tuned for more details (or send me a message if you want to get involved)!  It's been great to hear of a few people who already excited to help out!

Later,
I.B.

With Or Without Lu.... I can't live... with or without lu

Okay, only part of the title is right.  I can live with Super Lu.  Very easily actually.  I don't know what I'd do without her.  That's about as sappy as I get.
I realized that part of what's odd about this build is that Super Lu has not been over to help.  I guess that's what happens when a family has 4 kids!  If we didn't have kids, I'm positive she'd be out with me every time.  She's one of the hardest workers I know.  She's cool.  I like her.  She's a great mom too.

Here she is cooking/cleaning with the kids in our rental:

Here she is at a Ravens football game with her best friend in November:

I also recently got to go watch Sparkles at ballet.  Here she is:

In other news, my brother-in-law Tackleberry (did anyone else watch the Police Academy Movies as a teenager?) came out this weekend from Calgary.  He helped me build a bit even though the weather was frigid.  More than anything, it was great to hang out with him since he's a good friend.  Putz is too, but don't tell him.

In other building news, I had a really tough day last week.  I lost my Bono glasses (my protective glasses).  Not even a Martin Sexton concert could pick me up.... okay maybe it was awesome!  And then on Saturday I found the glasses again.  Life is good.  I may retire those Bono glasses when I'm finished.  Oddly enough, no one has stopped by to try them on and feel like a rock star.

Later,
I.B.

Forever...

Forever....  That's how long it takes a floor package on a house when you've never done it before.  But it is basically finished (have to hang the landing soon).  Finally.  I can't even track how many idiot mistakes I made or problems there was.  And the -45 with wind didn't help much in January either.  I didn't go out then Oma, don't worry.  The coldest I've been out working is around -35.  

Started framing the main level this past Saturday too!  I'm looking forward to this part.  My goal was to have the outside walls framed by Feb. 18th.  Not sure if I'll make it, but at least I don't have to worry about waiting for warmer weather to use the floor glue.  I'm away for board meetings this weekend, otherwise I think I could have done it over the next week & a half.

And I can soon call to have electricity brought to the house.  Just waiting on the electrical permit.

Here's Super Lu & I on the main level of our house (my study in the back of the picture - facing the street):

 Me and the kids where the living room will be.  They've been excited to come over and stand on the main level for the last couple weeks.

Here's Putz & I standing on the kitchen.  You can see my service rig in the background.  I'm thinking about making it into Dually... or not.  I want to see a minivan like that though!  I'm a bit of a hillbilly since I leave the generator run in the back of it when I'm working by myself.    All the dirt piles in the back are in our property - it's nice and big for our brood of kids!  If you look closely, you can spot a couple of them playing.

Later,
I.B.