My Family
My Work
My Friends
My Interests
My Favourite Parenting Links
All the world is a stage...
I first made the scene at St.
Michael's Hospital in the mid-day of December 25th, 1966. As I was
not scheduled to appear until early February, the rest of the cast was
forced to improvise. My siblings got to find out that the grinch really
had stolen Christmas, as they were not permitted to open their gifts until
I came home from the hospital. (Just what the world needed an outcast from
Who-ville who is a Thespian wannabe)
I am the fifth child in my family. God bless them, my parents had two more after me (I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers). Suffice it to say that living in a group that large breeds a need to set oneself apart in some way. Every personality test I have ever taken indicates a high level of extroversion. For the Star Wars fans, you can find my personality profile here. For those of you with psychology and organization behaviour backgrounds, my Myers Briggs profile (ENTP) may be more enlightening. I find it very interesting how parenthood has affected my personality. I was a rock solid ENTJ each time I took this test over the past 10 years. I wonder how I will score when my babies are teenagers.
Where does the audience sit?
Unlike most of my friends, I live
in the same city in which I have always lived. That is not a complaint,
merely an observation. If I had to choose a city to live in, it would be
Toronto.
I can't imagine living anywhere else.
I have recently become a Certified Training and Development Specialist. There are very few schools that offer this kind of programme. Fortunately for me, Ryerson Polytechnic University is among them.
I lead the 1950's stereotypical life.
Married, 2 kids, 2 cats, 2 cars and a house in the suburbs. However, I
am very grateful for the 1990's bend on that lifestyle. My husband shares
in the child rearing and housework, and is supportive of my commitment
to my consulting business and community service.
Life just doesn't get much better than this.
After 10 days of labour (yes, days...but only 20 minutes of "hard" labour), Gareth William arrived at 18:18 on May 5, 1996. Gary is 3 years old now, and brings more joy into my life than I imagined possible. He is frequently possessed by the imp-of-the-perverse, spends far too much time sharing "bathroom humour" at the supper table, has a frighteningly rigid sense of right and wrong, and is frustratingly self directed. Harald and I spent much of the past few months wondering if he would make it to his third birthday before one of us was forced to kill him...the terrible twos are not adequately named...but the omigod-i-can't-believe-he-is-doing-that-and-won't-listen-to- -anything-anyone-tells-him-about-what-is-safe-or-reasonable twos doesn't have the same alliterative quality.
After 14 days of labour (yes, longer the second time...but only 10 minutes of "hard" labour), Charlotte Leigh was born at 10:30 on September 5, 1998. She is more of everything than Gareth is. At 8 months old she is already too adventurous for her own good. Charlie has decided that she will seek out only the most difficult to reach objects...and if that means deliberately somersaulting off the futon, then that is what the task requires. She will not be redirected.And she can throw a temper tantrum in a way that would make even the most resolute disciplinarian capitulate. She is very attached to her mum and dad, but imprinted most on her brother.
Charlotte and Gareth share a remarkable bond. He is protective and loving, she openly adores him and already mimics everything he does. The best gift we ever gave Gareth was his little sister.
I have been blessed with two healthy,
happy and charming children. Whenever I feel like the world is conspiring
against me, my friend points to the kids and says, "Ya, sure Mick. Whatever
you say." Rob
can be awfully smug when he is right.
When time permits, I will "publish" the tales of my friends. For now, here are the stories they tell about themselves.
Harald Koch: Husband par excellence. He does laundry, dishes, is a wonderful father and puts up with a sap for a wife.
Reid Ellis: I go to meet my boyfriend at work. He has already gone home, and the sole remaining occupant of the 10X10 office is someone I have never met before. He is very cordial and engages me in conversation. 6 hours later (yes, hours) we go to Harald's dorm to find him. Thus began my 13 year friendship with Reid.
Luisa Perrella: Reid had regaled me with stories of Luisa for 2 or 3 years before I actually met her. He never had anything negative to say about her. After 7 or 8 years of calling her friend, I can see how that happened.
Karen Reid: You would need to search the world over to find a better friend than Karen. She is genuine, unselfish and a wholelotta fun. Just like Luisa, I cannot think of anything about spending time with Karen that is negative. Karen is both intelligent and talented. Click here to see what her other fans have to say.
Carol Fisher: I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Carol is one seriously weird chick. That's probably why I like her so much.
Rob Quinn: Rob and I are kinda like Thelma and Louise...buddies who go on road trips and listen to loud music...only without all of the angst. (this link leads to the page that Carol composed on his behalf...perhaps it is time for PIFORGAWP) And because I love him so dearly...GO RIDERS!!!!
Anita Kilgour/Woodard: Anita and I are two of the most resourceful and well networked people I know. In spite of the fact that we are both control maniacs, we manage to work in tandem and remain friends at the end of the day. Remarkable.
Paul Woodard: Paul is funny, intelligent and more complex than one might guess at first glance. I am also told he is in need of a new suit. Some of you may not need a rocket scientist to get certain things done, we keep Paul on-hand just in case. (this link leads to the page Anita composed on his behalf. When is own page finds a new host I will update the link)
David Brake: The ocean that separates us has done little to dampen my affection for David. He is a multi-faceted kinda guy and I think that he would make a wonderful subject for an Doctoral Thesis in Anthropology.
Eric Dirks: I first met Eric in 1987 when we were co-workers. I listened to the imp-of-the-perverse and chose the fastest way to break-the-ice...he was on his knees under the desk dealing with network cables...you figure it out. Our respective busy schedules mean that we don't see each other very frequently these days...je suis desolé.
William Rucklidge: Too few people recognize the heart and soul that are packaged with William's exceptional brainpower. Aunt Mona and Uncle William sent Charlotte her first tie-dye along with advice about living-free (no they did not send her that Baz Luhrmann song). Even though they live on the other side of the continent, I hold them close in my heart.
Bob Shaland: Just about everyone I know experienced like-at-first-sight with Bob (apparently Joanne was immune and needed more than one encounter to make up her mind). Bob has enough charisma to completely hide the geek within. And the geek is interesting enough that he doesn't bother to hide.
Andy
Beaton: Andy is one of my favourite kilted folk, and he celebrates
Robbie Burns day faithfully. Sharing a dram with Andy is oft accompanied
by the tale of the Pogues concert. We have been friends for a long time.
After convincing him to stay at the party for a little while longer, Andy
caught the garter at my wedding. He has a wicked smile. From spending many
late-nights with him long ago, there is one thing I can tell you for certain....the
spirit of Elvis is with him.
What are you doing all the way down here....that's all...really...you can go back to the top now :-)