What a Christmas

WOW, what a Christmas.  Too much to talk about. 

What I can say is that it was a wonderful time spent with family. 
Got out just before and visited Marc and Lori and that was great too.

Kids look good.  I get a sense that they are all coming into their own now. 

Spent boxing day with Nancy and Ron and their kids.  Jill and Diana are  both engaged now.

Got a cool toy for Christmas.  It is called an Autographer.  It is a wearable camera.  See the youtube link here.

Another sleepless night

Damn, I had another sleepless night last night.  Too many of these are happening.  I guess I have a lot on my mind.

I had positioned Chelsie the night before for Sirena.  This morning I asked her where she was and she said I don't know.  She then took my hand and started to slowly walk through the house.  And TaDaaaaaaa  there was Chelsie.

Got up early today and came to work.  Sitting in my office I have a fantastic view and man does it look friggin cold outside.

I believe my wearable camera has been delivered to "my" address in Niagara Falls, New York.  Since today is my last day of work for this year.  I can hopefully go over the river and pick up my new toy.  It is an Autographer.  A camera which I look forward to be using.

 
 

Monday Mania

Well Monday Mania has come and went.  Big day for the college and for the Ontario Wine Industry.  We had to basically clear out the WVEC retail store to hold all the people coming for the announcement. 

Store got cleared out, Premier Wynne came and had a tour of the winery with our student Jessica.  Jessica show her how to press ice-wine and the Premier tweeted it.

Premier Wynne then announced to the crowd that the Ontario Government is putting up 75 million dollars towards the grape and wine industry.  The who's who of the grape and wine industry was there.  The event went off without a snag and everyone was happy.

After the event I stopped at the presidents home.  He was having a small gathering of managers of the college for Christmas cheer.  I made an appearance, had a nice conversation with Saundra Patterson and left.



I wonder if he has been like this since he was a baby?

Also during the day it was the reoccurring battle with a Travel Agency that owes Plan A Vacation money.  No matter what invoice I send the so called president of the company, he wants something changed.  He is only trying to delay everything and make everything as difficult as possible for Karen and I.  He is changing the procedures for reconciliations and offered for us to go in.  I said GLADLY and now I think he is having second thoughts.  It appears he is having cash problems since some of his best people have either quit or were fired. 



Got home to hear that Gosia is acting up and starting to give Dustin a hard time about Sirena.  Gosia is such an unbelievable mess.  She should give all parental rights up for the good of Sirena.

Tuesday I got to work a bit late.  I had a bad night of sleep.  Mankind came off at about 2 am.  Got up and I feel exhausted all day. 

We got the retail part of the WVEC back in order and just in time for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities; Minister Brad Duguid.  He toured the winery, brewery and new research facility at the school.  He announced $400k in research funding for Niagara College.  He was a very likable and nice guy.

What a day

Need to do some catch up.

During the day last Friday I found out that Premier Wynne is coming for a big announcement at the WVEC for Monday.  Now I know Monday will be crazy.

Friday night Karen and I didn't do much.  Slept with mankind all night.  Feel like I am starting to get used to it.

Got up Saturday and enjoyed a coffee with Karen before I left to go to  the Niagara College Teaching Brewery and Winery open house.  On the way to the open house I stopped and bought a cheater log and barbeque lighter for the firepit.

The weather outside was frightful and the fire I made was so delightful, the weather scared many off from attending.  Too bad.  We did pretty well considering.  I had Josh pickup some firewood the day before and with the cheater log and hardwood on top, it roared all day.

Saturday was tiring, I drove home and Karen and I watched Dustin become Santa Claus.  He had a costume to wear to a party.  Karen and I ended up going out in the bad weather to Dani's Bistro for dinner.  What a great place to eat.  Karen had oven baked ribs and I had salmon.  Delicious.

Sunday, Karen and her mother wrapped gifts for most of the day.  Dustin and I moved in a new dresser for Sirena.  Karen, her mom and Dustin got her room all set up.

I made dinner that night.  Had oven baked pork chops, baked potato wedges, corn and salad.  It was yummy. 

After dinner we went to Roger's house for Chole's birthday.  Chloe had fun and Roger's mom didn't look to good.

Dustin took Uncle Al home and Dustin went home early because he has to get up early to do icewine.  I brought Lorraine back to our house and she and Karen finished the wrapping. 

Winter is definately here

Well yesterday I got a lot done.  Went to the Presidents Christmas reception.  I find this reception very interesting.  You learn a lot about people when they show up to events like this.

Never heard back from the vineyard guys today.  I think our window of opportunity is quite large right now so I am not that concerned. 

Still  cold out and it is really snowing this morning.  I went to bed last night with mankind and woke up with mankind on the floor.  I guess I had a fit in the middle of the night.

When I got out of bed Lucifer was stuck in Karen's office.  I let her out and she was very appreciative.

Man it is cold outside

Well I have to catch up on yesterday and then today.

Yesterday Dec 11 was a busy day (all my days are busy). 
First of all I got to sleep in a bit.  That always feels great.  I also for the second night in a row slept with my mankind mask.

I slept in because I was going to Lydia's church to see Sirena sing.  Dustin last minute couldn't go because he had to start preparing for ice wine.

Well I went to the church and had to sit through a "drama" that the old ladies of the church put on first.   OMG it was unbelievable.  First of all I am sitting in a church with all women except for me.  First mistake.   Then I sat through this unbelievable bad "drama".  I felt like creating more drama by freaking out.  It was awful.  Finally, Sirena sang with some other kids.  She did sing at the top of her lungs and was very proud.  I had on the biggest smile on my face watching her.  As soon as the kids were done I left.  I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Went to work and did paper work, had a construction meeting at the brewery.  That construction is going very slow.  Drives me nuts.

Also had a PAC (Program Advisory Council) meeting for the Winery and Viticulture program.  Very well attended.  Dr. Tom was ridiculous at this meeting.  Speaking out of turn and complaining.  He just doesn't get it.  Overall the meeting went well. 

Got home and Karen and Leeann were out shopping for Leeann's birthday gift. 

Karen left me some stir fry to eat.

Karen got home and looked at me and said, "Are you ready to make changes?"  I looked at her and said "I dunno, Are YOU ready to make changes?"

She gave me an early Christmas gift.  A fitbit.  You wear it on your wrist and you track what you do to get healthier.  I like it.  I am glad Karen got one for herself too.  She needs to take better care of herself.

Went to bed with Mankind and slept all night.

Woke up this morning to Sirena telling GiGi and Bampa that we have to get up.  Sirena then showed me where Chelsie was hiding (hanging on a ceiling hook in the bathroom).  She also told me not to touch her because if I did her magic would be gone.  Sirena said " I love her magic."


It was cold enough to pick Ice wine grapes last night.  The college's didn't get picked and are on the list.  I have contacted the boys today to find out their plan.

Working for a living

Today is Tuesday and I am already ready for this work week to end.

Yesterday I ran around to city hall, Hamilton, and Chamber to get some paper work done for some wine we are exporting to China and Tawain.  This running around is a pain in the ass because I have to be the one to go for now. 

I will always have to go to City Hall because I have to sign the documents in front of the clerk.  Hamilton and the Chamber, as long as we have enough notice, it can be scheduled in our delivery runs.

Had a meeting with Dan Patterson and Craig Youdale this morning.  Part way through the meeting Dan called in Rob Walters.  What we are talking about is important for the college but it always seems that I get an uncomfortable feeling from these meetings. 

I need to win the lottery.

My family can drive me nuts.  Karen goes on about things sometimes, Dustin hides in his bedroom, Rob causes me nothing but worry and Rebecca ignores me. 

Work drives me nuts, but I have to remember that if they want to waste money then it is their money to waste not mine.  I have to deal with so many egos at work and self promoting individuals that don't seem to care about the greater good. 

I slept last night all night with the mankind mask.  Hopefully I am closer to getting used to it.

Sunday Funnies

Well last night Bruce and Gubby came over.  Bruce brought some French Onion Soup for us all to try.  I just happened to have a bottle of Vidal Icewine chilled in the fridge and we paired it with the French Onion Soup.  This is one of the best wine and food pairings that you can do.  Both were delicious.

Gubby brought her rummoli game.  We played and had a lot of laughs until 1:30 in the morning.  A great night with great friends.

Slept in on Sunday morning.  Got up at 9:30.

Had a bit of a lazy morning drinking coffee. 

Sirena has an elf that she named Chelsey.  Chelsey flys to the north pole every night to tell Santa if Sirena is being good or not.  Sirena is freaked out about this elf.  I will have to take a picture of it.

Dustin got out our Christmas trees and of course one would not fit in the family room.  Karen was in a mood all day.  She was yelling at me about christams decorations when Dustin pipes in and says Merry Christmas to one and all.

We HAD to go out and buy another tree.  Karen can’t find her coat and starts yelling at everyone.  We all look for it and then as she is wearing flip flops (yes, during the winter) and my sweater (yes, I told her it was a good thing we weren’t planning on going to Walmart) I saw this coat right in front of everyone on the coat rack.  I say to Karen, is this not your coat?  And guess what, it was!!!

Now she is mad about the hood not being on it because she couldn’t recognize it.  Dustin and I just looked at each other.

We go get another tree and put it up.  More yelling and more rolling of the eyes.

We go to Ron and Nancy’s for Ron’s 65^th birthday.  Nice meal and everyone there was Ron, Nancy, Spencer, Diana, Ed, Dustin, Leeann, Sirena, Kare and I. 

It was fun.  We gave Ron a gift certificate for the Stone Road Grill. 

I was happy to hear that the deMan family had invited Nancy’s kids to Christmas.  Seems that they have had a change of heart and want to include the kids in their lives and exclude the sperm donor (Gus).

That’s if for now.  Tomorrow we will see what the day brings.

What to do, what to do

Happy Saturday.

Karen has gone to a 31 Gifts meeting in Vaughan.  She should be back this afternoon.  We plan on going out and running errands.  Niagara College Teaching Brewery is at the 13th Street open house this weekend.  I will probably stop by there with Karen when she gets back.

Looks cold outside and I am sitting here drinking a coffee and thinking about what to do.  I really do not feel like doing anything useful today.

Dustin is running around cleaning.  He really does have OCD.

Sirena is playing in her room.

Karen and I met at the 13th Street Winery open house today.  I dropped in to see our beer students sampling NC beers and Karen showed up.  Saw some people that I know.  Bought a bottle of pink sparkling wine.

Karen and I then went to the Watering Can and picked up a winter urn for our front porch.  We then went to a tea house in Jordan Station for tea and scones.  It was actually very good.

Came home and Karen took Sirena out to get a xmas elf.  Sirena is a bit scared of it.

Bruce and Gubby are coming over tonight.  We were invited to Gubby's house be we are sitting Sirena because Dustin and Leeann are going to a Christmas party.

TGIF

Thank god its Friday.

Seems to have been a long week.  Got a lot done at work this week.  Working on a deal for wine to Taiwan, inking selling grapes to Sticky Inc.


Karen Gill

Karen got home from Jamaica on Wednesday, good to have her home.

I came home last night to a very messy kitchen right out of an episode of "I Love Lucy".

Yes, you guessed it, Karen was doing some Christmas baking.

I wore my mask (sleep apnea mask and for now on known as Mankind Mask) last night for about half of the night.  I was getting used to wearing it but then when I got sick it was hard to deal with.  I will keep trying.

Today I have a fairly busy day at work.  Tonight we have a dinner for members of the different boards of Niagara College.  Should be an interesting dinner.

I will sign on later to tell you all about the board dinner if it was worth talking about or not.

Well the dinner was excellent.  Many of the courses were prepared by students from the college that are also part of Junior Team Canada.  They will be competing in the Culinary Olympics next year.

We sat with Mike and Manuela Scott.  Manuela and Karen are going to get together for lunch next week.

Great dinner and home by 9:30.  A good way to end a long week.

Allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste.......

Well taste maybe but wealth??   Only if you measure wealth in family.

So this is my latest attempt to start a blog of my life.  Why am I doing this?  I would say that putting my ideas and thoughts in writing will help me blow off steam, take the time to understand things better and have a guide of my life to refer to once in a while.

What do I plan on writing about?

1. Family stories, issues, dynamics and memories.
2. Work stories, issues, dynamics and bullshit.
3. Day to day things that I do
4. What ever the hell else I want to write about.

I plan on posting lots of pictures on this blog.  I want to track my life and the lives of the ones I love. 

So if I am not on here everyday, that's ok.  But I do plan on making this part of my daily routine.  

So hold on to your hats, I am about to enter the world of blogging.......

(looks like I have googly eyes)