carmanahwoo

Hi everyone. Seems like we spend all our time posting pictures these days and not much writing. Well, since I will be starting my Master’s in Creative Writing this July, I have to decided to get the writing muscle in shape.
I’m very excited about this new turn in my life. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than this. So, I am pushing myself through my last session of teaching before I begin. I would like to start reading some things written by the teachers (mentors) in the program. Check out the profs – scroll down to optional-residency program.
http://www.creativewriting.ubc.ca/faculty/index.html
I have to decide whether or not to focus on non-fiction or children’s writing during the July workshop, so if you have any suggestions, let me know! I hope to take courses in both during the fall.
I feel a tiny bit intimidated, like I’m moving up to the big leagues, and maybe everyone else will be really good.

As for Morgane, we’ve chosen a school for her entry into kindergarten in September. It’s an alternative school – still a public school, that happens to be only a few blocks from our house. It’s a little nervewracking choosing a school, maybe even more so since I’m a teacher. I have certain expectations, fears and desires. In the end, we chose this school because we think it will be similar to homeschooling, but at school with other kids. They have very few hours of structured regular classes, and these are small classes. Mostly, they work on projects of their own choosing.

Apparently there are no tests until the end of the 6th grade, and no marks either, but the children present their projects and receive feedback on them from teachers and other students. I think this is probably more valuable than tests anyway. I am hoping Morgane can integrate other languages into her projects, too (Spanish and English).

The school has a strong community and it is assumed that the parents will be involved. Everyone is welcome in class, and parents must volunteer a certain number of hours per year. As well, they are putting on a circus next year (every two years) and also going to an outdoor camp (every three years), so we hit a good year! We like the idea that it’s close and that the kids are encouraged to take charge of their learning and to be strong individuals.

As well, school finishes at 1:30 on Wednesdays, with the other days being a bit longer. I like this idea of a mid-week break.

We were very lucky to get in; Morgane’s name was drawn third and there were maybe 12 spots available. We also had to fill out a questionnaire and have a family interview. We will be invited, later this year, to observe some classes.

I still feel odd being in the school. Sometimes a place can feel so impersonal and all you see when you visit are the physical elements, but when you know a place, you see the people and the atmosphere. I felt the same way about Morgane’s daycare, and I ended up being really happy with it.

Whenever we have doubts about our decision, we ask ourselves: Are we an alternative family? The answer is a resounding YES!

I am still enjoying my trampoline lessons (twice a week now), and I have muscles in many novel places. Ghis gets out for tennis at 6am on Saturday mornings. I’m hoping I’ll do some outdoor stuff over Spring Break since it’s supposed to be a little more mild.

This week, we went to a CBC taping of Routes Montreal. We saw David Usher and it was super. The sound was much better than at a concert and it was a really small studio. We remarked how good we are at finding free concert tickets. I always feel inspired when I see an artist perform. There’s something powerful about someone expressing their voice.

Ghislain and Morgane went to Ottawa to skate on Rideau Canal. Maybe that’s why I’m finding the time to write. But I will try to be more faithful to our blog. It remains a record of our lives.

And today, I’ve been thinking that you can move or stay put or be rich or poor or be busy or bored, but you can’t escape your life. Wherever or however you live it, it’s still you and your life.
Does that make any sense?

Take care everyone.
Heather

Enfin, nous sommes sortis aujourd’hui pour notre première en ski de fond de l’hiver. Pas une très belle journée, mais nous étions bien heureux de nous retrouver dans la neige.

Décembre avance très rapidement. Heather part avec Morgane dans 2 semaines pour Vancouver. Elles vont me manquer mais je suis très content qu’elles puissent passer ce noël avec Andréa et Glen.

Samedi soir, minuit. Je suis fatigué mais je n’ai pas envie d’aller me coucher. J’ai le goût de passer une nuit blanche et je le ferais si ce n’était pas de me lever et avoir assez d’énergie pour suivre Morgane demain. Elle en a à revendre.

Après le ski de ce matin, nous sommes allés voir “la ferme en folie”. On s’est bien bidonés… Ensuite, nous sommes allés nagés à mon gym. Je crois qu’elle va bien dormir ce soir.

Bonne nuit.
Ghislain

Saturday morning, Fall 2006

We’re staying at home this week-end. It seems like it has not happenned in a long, long while.

We’ve got odds and ends to look after but mostly, we are trying to not plan too much and sieze the day (comme dirais l’autre)…

Right now, the girls are in bed for a nap. I am looking at our rebuilt computer. 3 gigis and a new motherboard. I don’t care about the speed. Just give me stability. For a long while. Please?

We went for breakfast this morn and were talking about our friends Nancy and Sean O. and Keenan are less than a year away from coming back to Canada. Celebrate, good times, come on! ( Iamjustcheckingtoseeifurereadingthis…)

OK, I should go off for a nap as well and hopefully for a kayak outing later.

Catch you later.
Ghislain

Old friendships don’t grow old…

We’ve talked about our friends Dustin and Julia in the last little while. Thanks to the magic of Skype, I found out that Julia had an account and I sent her a message.

Today, when I came home from work, there was a message from Julia. I connected to Skype and buzzed her up. Not only she picked up but an image of our long lost friend appeared on my screen. She looks great and healthy.

I love technology…

Morgane nage seule…

Dimanche soir, Morgane et moi sommes allés nager à mon gym. C’est là qu’elle suit des cours de natation pour la session d’automne.

Je lui demandé si elle voulait essayer de nager sans sa ceinture d’hipopotames. Elle a dit oui. J’ai sauté à l’eau pour me préparer à l’attraper lors de son saut innaugurale. Quand je me suis retourné, elle était déjà à l’eau!

Je l’ai supporté en mettant ma main sous son ventre pendant quelques minutes et elle m’a bientôt dit qu’elle voulait “nager tout seule”. Avec un peu d’appréhension, j’ai retiré ma main. Elle s’est enlignée vers l’échelle, a fait un peu le sous-marin en nageant en petit chien et s’est rendue toute seule.

Nous avons nagés comme cela pendant une heure et demi… Quand nous sommes rentrés à la maison, elle n’a pas discutée quand je l’ai envoyée brosser ses dents et au lit. Le temps que j’aill la rejoindre dans sa chambre et elle était déjà couchée, la lumière éteinte. elle m’a dit “bonne nuit papa”. Puis elle s’est soulevée sur une coude et m’a dit: “Papa, t’es mon plus préféré Papa dans le monde! Je t’aime beaucoup.”

Que dire de plus. Sniff…

Le 4 octobre? Ça se peut pas. Pour utiliser un vieux cliché: Où est passé le temps.

Bon, je pense que l’été est vraiment terminé. Les couleurs sont arrivées. Il ne manque que l’habituel beau temps d’automne.

Ce week-end à l’Action de Grâce, nous partons (beau temps, mauvais temps) pour notre voyage annuel dans le Maine. Nous en avons de besoin car on sent un peu le renfermé. On a bien besoin de prendre l’air et quoi de mieux que l’air de l’océan.

What a busy summer. Lots of travelling. Sandbanks. Toronto. Visiting my Dad and Madeleine and Glenn. My writing workshop at Humber College. Vancouver with Morgane, visiting my Mom and Glen. Kayaking with our little family for three days at Parc la Mauricie. Grandes Bergeronnes and camping and watching whales with my brother and family and Chandra and Quentin.

Now I’m back at work. First classes today. We have some new classrooms, but otherwise it’s the same-old, same-old.

Morgane is off spending a couple of nights at her Mamie Céline’s. We still have one more trip to come. The labour day weekend, we are heading to Maine with Louise. It’s our tradition every year.

So maybe summer is not quite over yet.

I am applying for UBC’s distance fine arts master’s programs. A little over a month to get my portfolio together. I’m scared though because they only have an acceptance rate of 18%. Yikes!

Take care everyone. Hope you’ve been enjoying our summer photos.

Morgane et moi sommes de retour de Toarino, allez voir les photos…

Morgane and I are back from Toarino. Go see the pictures.

“Bumptop” on gizmodo.com

You have to take a look at this. I now know I am a geek.

When can we get one of these?

We’re on our way to TO

But before we get there, we’ll stop by our favorite spot in Ontario: Sandbanks.

The bags are packed, I’m ready to go.
The girls are sleeping and I’am all alone.
The road is calling, the traffic is slow.
You wake up, eat and we’re gone.

Bon voyage…