Some time ago Irene and I noticed this hives-like bubbling of paint on the ceiling near the front door. Uh oh. After getting some advice from the ever helpful Jeff Allingham, we decided to task me with opening it up for a look see.
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cmkl: My fifteen seconds of fame
I’m in an Ottawa Sun weather story dispensing advice on biking on a snowy day.
Continue readingcmkl: Language instructors and scientists. That’s who they’re firing this week
From Environment Canada, no less. And from the training institute that, among other things, is supposed to help improve the level of bilingualism in the civil service.
Continue readingcmkl: Mallory and her friend C built a snow fort tonight
Before dinner. From the heap of snow built up at the end of the driveway. It was all that Irene and I could do to convince her to come in for pizza. Pizza for crying out loud. That’s how much fun they were having.
Continue readingcmkl: Content inventory: what if it all just “went away”?
The flagship site at work – the one I’m mainly responsible for – needs a complete overhaul. Near as I can tell, it’s more than 3500 static pages composed mostly of little news nugget items about various rounds of bargaining between us and the various employers who sit across the
Continue readingcmkl: Numbers or it didn’t happen: measuring the impact of a social media campaign
In my little corner of the social media participant universe we’re just digging into this issue as we pursue my employer’s first ever social media campaign. I can’t speak for where I currently work – I’m still too new – but at other organizations, the whole issue of campaign objectives
Continue readingcmkl: Wanted: a readability calculator that doesn’t offend writers
All my life I’ve considered myself something of a writer. It always got me my highest marks in high school, it came easily to me and for a long time I fancied a career as a journalist. And it is part of what I do for a living. But there
Continue readingcmkl: Fun in the snow
Today was skiing, playing in the snow, playing crafts and generally playing. Irene coached Mallory brilliantly out at Nakkertok, showing her how to herringbone up hills and snow plough down hills. It was amazing to see how quickly Mallory picked things up. And she also demonstrated serious determination and enthusiasm
Continue readingcmkl: Birthday party at Midway
Mallory had her official birthday party this morning at Midway, one of 22 parties the indoor amusement palace was hosting today. Pancakes, cake, bumper cars, jungle gyms, friends and presents. Morning was actually a pretty good time to host a party there, I thought. There weren’t a lot of other
Continue readingcmkl: Postaday2011: the metapost
Around this time last year I heard about this meme aimed at reviving blogging as a ‘thing’ on the interwebs called Postaday2011. Guess what it was about. Yes. Well done. A commitment to put up one post per day in 2011. Sounded like fun. I’d done the same thing with
Continue readingcmkl: Recidivism
So Mallory’s back to co-sleeping. It started a night or two after she and I got back from her grandfather’s.
Continue readingcmkl: Skate skiing at Mooney’s Bay: my new favourite thing
I had a 90 minute intro to skate skiing lesson this evening at Mooney’s Bay ski centre and I think I’ve discovered my new favourite thing. Technically speaking this lesson was about free skating. No poles. The idea is to get the basics down – the stance, the weight transfer,
Continue readingcmkl: Mallory loses her first tooth
I know the last few days have been a string of Mallory pictures and that’s going to get a bit tedious for those readers of mine who are not Mallory’s parents. For that I apologize. So for the sake of variety I’m offering up a different perspective on Irene’s and
Continue readingcmkl: Two hours and ten minutes from now
Mallory will be officially six years old. On this day, at 10:23pm January 2nd, 2006, our daughter was born. What a wonderful journey it has been. I speak for only for me – but I’m sure Irene has similar words – when I say that it’s the best decision I’ve
Continue readingcmkl: Mallory as polar bear
So. Birthday party one, complete. In actual fact it was more like a New Years Levée family gathering than a full-on birthday party. Inviting J, one of Mallory’s friends was a master stroke on Irene’s part though. Allowed the hosting of a dozen or so other people to go on
Continue readingcmkl: A big box, tobogganing and happy birthday Irene
Most of the world knows today as “New Year’s Eve” but to our family it’s Irene’s Birthday. Our family began by another round of presents, for Irene this time. Mallory decided to give herself as a present, so Mallory and I were up early, installing her in a box, taping
Continue readingcmkl: Skiing
We had good skiing weather today, so Irene and I took Mallory cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park today. This is her third winter on cross country skis. Her second where she actually does some skiing. Our first attempt – pre-walking – was an unmitigated disaster. Our second effort was only
Continue readingcmkl: Home again home again jiggity jog
So is there anything cute than a kid playing in the snow? I think not. But then, I am biased.
Continue readingcmkl: Snow, firewood and giggles
Today was me squeaking in the smallest of chores, getting ready for hosting dinner with my cousin and her family, playing with Mallory and enjoying life. All in all a great day.
Continue readingcmkl: Suddenly snow
I was quite bummed to arrive yesterday and find the farm almost completely snow-free. Mother nature sorted that for us today. It snowed pretty much all day.
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