Pink Flamingos

When my sister turned 40, I wanted to do something special for her. Something that would tell the world (or the townhouse complex) that her Birthday was something to be acknowledged. So I got to work on a couple of projects. The first was a big sign that read, you guessed it, "Lordy Lordy look who's forty!" I made sure it was huge and painted with bright colors, so that all who emerged from there townhouses would see it. My next project was my favorite of the two. I took a few sheets of green foam that I had bought at the dollar store, some pink pipe cleaners, and eighty tiny googly eyes and got to work. Out of each pipe cleaner, I fashioned a perfect little pink flamingo standing on one leg. After this long job, I put a spot of glue on the bottom and poked all forty of them into the foam sheets so that they stood up. Then I glued two little eyeballs on each little flamingo. I couldn't have been more pleased with how it turned out, so on her Birthday morning I sneaked over to her door, hung the poster with some balloons, and lay the sheets of flamingos on the hood of her car, so that they would be the first thing she saw when she opened her door. She got a real kick out of that, and brought them to work to show her coworkers. One of the things that I requested of her was that she pay it forward. The next person that she knows who turns 40, she has to pass the flamingos on to and they have to do the same. I think it would be funny to see how many people will get the flamingos. Our girlfriend Daveen will be turning 40 next, so we are going to pass the little flamingos on to her next month. Sheryl was suggesting that whomever gets the little guys, write their date of birth on the bottom of the foam mats and sign it, so if they make their way around the lower mainland, people can see the journey they have had!

Ball season!!!

Aaaaaah, ball season begins. We had our first practice on Sunday, so I had the chance to meet some of the new team members. It's funny how the ball team evolves through the years. When I started on the team, ten years ago, I was one of the youngest players and we all had kids running around. Then as the years passed, the oldest members left, and were replaced by younger ones, and our children all grew to the age that they no longer come out to watch. So for the last few years, we really haven't had many little booger-nuggets around. Now it seems to have come full circle. I'm one of the oldest on the team now, one of our players gave birth since last year, and one is pregnant! One of our newer players from last year also has a little toddler, so now she'll have other kids to play with at ball in the coming years.

Kelly and his daughter came with us to the practice. It was a beautiful sunny day. Eventually, Drew turned up and made some stupid bitter comment to me, but I don't really give a rat's ass. I tried to extend the olive branch by approaching him and greeting him, but he responded in a rude, combative way, so I left him to it. Oh well.

Other than that, life is grand. I'm in love, I have friends and family...what more could I ask for?

You're never too old to put a hole in the wall

You might think that once someone grows and matures into adulthood, they leave behind the childish impulsive behaviors that separate the children from the grownups. Well, you couldn't be more wrong...

I must have been in my early twenties, if my memory serves. That would put my sister Sheryl in her late twenties. The night in question was spent at the house that belonged to the parents of the guy I was dating at the time. They were away on vacation and this guy, Bob, had been staying with them. So there we were, hanging out with my sis, his sis, and his bro in law, having dinner and some cocktails. We spent our time laughing and joking and just being light hearted until my sister had announced that she needed to visit the ladies room. To which I casually replied that I also needed to go. There was a silence...we locked eyes...and then suddenly we both jumped up and darted in the direction of the bathroom, each trying to reach the bathroom door first. I have a teeny bit of a competitive side. We tackled each other down the hall, both fighting with all our might! When we reached the bathroom, still wrestling and struggling, we slammed into the door sending it forcefully flying open with a bang. Suddenly there was silence again as we realized that we had flung the door open with such gusto, that we forced the inside doorknob right through the bathroom wall, leaving a gaping hole. Oops. We both retreated like two guilty puppies that just pooped on the carpet. Sheepishly, we shuffled back out of the little bathroom and back into the kitchen where everyone stood with their eyes open wide and their hands over their mouths.

Thank goodness Bob's brother in law was handy with household jobs such as fixing huge-ass holes in the wall. He fixed it up nice, but not nice enough to hide that it had happened. He didn't have the paint to match, so even though he did a great job, the evidence was undeniable. So you can imagine when Bob's parents got home (of course Sheryl was nowhere to be found for this occasion) how uncomfortable it was. "um...ehem...sorry about the bathroom wall. Tee hee...You're really gonna laugh when you hear what happened..." You know, that kind of thing.

So, I guess there are parts of me (and Sheryl...don't forget about Sheryl) that will just never grow up. I could still see myself tackling the poor bastard that would dare to mention they have to pee when I'm thinking the same thing. Clearly, I haven't learned anything from this experience, except maybe to learn to run faster for next time.

A sad day

PARFORD-KEYS _ Matthew Ryder Parford-Keys (McKee), May 21, 1984 - March 22, 2007, passed away in his sleep, succumbing to an 18 month battle with Leukemia. He is survived by his loving mother, Geri Parford, (Ray Jourdain) and numerous loving family members, too many to list here. Memorial date April 02, 2007. Richmond Funeral Home. 8420 Cambie Rd, Richmond, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations to blood bank or to the Cancer Agency.


I'm so sad today. This is my neighbor Geri's son. When we moved in 7 years ago, he played his music until 1:30 in the morning on a work night. I went over the next morning to ask (very nicely) that in the future, he shut it down a little earlier. What I wouldn't give to hear him wailing to his music today.

Geri has raised this boy by herself from day one, which was two months after she turned 23. He had downs syndrome, so you can imagine how rough it would have been for her. She was so great with him and he was a beautiful boy. Now, two months before he was to turn 23, he is gone. When she came to my door over a year ago and told me that he was diagnosed with Leukemia, we were all optimistic about his prognosis. Then one day while I was highlighting her hair, she told me that he wasn't going to make it. I've seen him go from a chubby playful boy, to a very sick young man, needing my help to get him from the car into their townhouse. You should have seen her standing there after the service greeting and hugging all of the crying guests. She was such a trooper, smiling and laughing with everyone. The tears fell from my eyes continuously throughout the service and then some more on the drive home. I got home from the funeral about a half hour ago and I sit and write this with a heavy heart. I'm glad his pain is over, but the rest of us are so sad to see him go and so sad for his mom. Rest in Peace Matthew. The world will miss you.