Men Dreaming of Kids - WHO EVER THOUGHT!?!

This is Vinnie.

Vinnie is an old, dear, hilarious, rowing friend whom I have not seen 

since 2009.... perhaps longer?

I can't remember.

Anywho, 

RANDOMELY

we met outside a coffee/pastry place in Ottawa

but he had

TWO KIDS!

LOOOOOOOVE it!

This is VINNIE the "Dad"

changing diapers in the middle of a "patio-restaurant"

(Really, it's a friggin parking-lot but who cares right?)

and I was forever stunned, impressed and utterly giddy with excitement.

WHY?

Because I witnessed a 

rower turn husband, 

a husband become a father, 

and a father turn into a BOSS.

This Dad knows how to change diapers in a parking lot like a BOSS!

And all I can say is "Wow"

Wow because a lot of my friends have gotten married, have had babies and 

the transformation is incredible.

WHY?

Because someone like Vinnie has 

completely changed and yet, he laughed once and the "old" Vinnie was back.

Time doesn't really change people, yet it can improve them.

Again, case in point.

Love your work Vinnie.

Trying to Get Back in Biking Shape (a.k.a. Tina killed me)

No where on this sign does it say how much longer 

my bike ride will...not helpful!

But gosh-darn-it, I love this little Bee-of-a-bike!

Braveheart would be proud of this face.

Roads aren't as smooth and gentille as I remember.

Next ride is with THIS guy...died, twice!

She is SUPER fast on the downhills and I feel like one of those

"hot-dog" dog's trying to catch up with her but 

I have NO LEGS!

Angry face.

(Again, Braveheart would be proud!)

Then there was THIS awesome morning ride...

...nice view, eh?

Ohhh well, back to the road for some steep decents and more climbs before getting home.

And really, that is as far as my bike-lingo-talk goes.

So...yeah.

Leaving A Place I Call Home: Ottawa

It's time to go.

Bye-bye 

Ottawa parliament buildings that I have never actually 

been in.

It will happen someday...

...but not this time.

Tourist shots from the car.

Classy Lauren, classy.

One of my favourite places in the world...

As for THIS guy,

he is one of my most favourite curmudgeon I know... 

Yes, YOU Brian Adams!

Bah - hahahah!

Just kidding Bry-guy, I love this guy...

Nothing like having dinner with the sounds of rower cracking blades 

against each other while racing and Brian Adams whaling on the mike.

Bah - HA!

Probably the best dinner-people-watching-view-I-had-on-this-trip.

Boom.

It's The Little Things...

This is a story of a dog and his owner.

Harry waits outside as his "Mom" gets a coffee. 

He peeks in the window, looking for her.

He sits and waits calmly.

He hears a sound coming from the door of the coffee shop.

Could that be her?

Nope.

It's not his mom, just some guy who left with a cake but then came back 

because he forgot his "keys".

Sigh*

Harry looks again for his Mom.

And suddenly. 

He thinks he see her.

Harry stands up.

HE DOES SEE HER!

Now Harry is jumping up and down.

He is PULLING on his leash because he cannot control his excitement!

Is it she? It is my Mom?

Mommy is coming, MOMMY IS COMING!

(again, I am projecting my words onto Harry and the situation but 

I figure, it's about 100% perfect translation)

(A lot of acrobatics happened next - Hahahah!)

Wait, maybe I got it wrong.

(thinks Harry)

Maybe she ISN"T coming?

Where is she? Where is my Mom?

Here she COMES!!!!

Re-united at last...but no extra hands to pet him with!

(Which I found cruel but kinda hilarious - MOUahahhahahhahhah!)

Kisses on the leg instead.

Like I said, it's the little things in life that are wonderful to watch.

Fact.

A Typical Day Working @ Jacobsons~!

Why did I ever leave this place???

p.s. Meghan I love your work

p.p.s. Teddy, we need to work on your focus...just saying.

p.p.p.s Does anyone else notice a lovely lady spying on us from the window?

BAH - Hahahahhahahah.

Shout out to Sue Jacobson - love your (sneaky) work!

"Last Time I Played Jenga Was 16 Year Ago" said the Old Mare (a.k.a. Wellsie)

Some people are just naturals when it comes to 

destroying good construction...

Steady, steady....

Then there are those who need a little more time to FIND the holes or

the "easy" pieces.

Sometimes taking TOO long....

(Cough - cough - Allen and JL - cough - cough!)

The skills of Jenga don't always come so naturally for men.

Yes, that just happened.

I made an ABSURD generalisation.

(MOU-hahahhhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahaha!)

Ohhh look at the pretty lights.... focus Lauren!

So pretty.

What were we talking about again?

OH YEAH.

JENGA.

To sum up?

Jenga is really NOT a man's sport because well let's face it,

they don't have the small, lovely, soft, dainty, fingers that so many women have

to find all those "loose" pieces NOT to mention 

those important fine motor skills...

WOW.

Lauren, are you asking to get negative backlash or just a PUNCH in the face?

Both.

(Don't worry, I do not include myself in the above statement, 

I have hands the size of mitts and cute little FAT sausage fingers to go with it....)

Let's just say this was not a good move for him.

JL might have been the biggest loser that night 

(he lost a total of three times)

HOWEVER

he was the only one who took the most risks and 

played the game to the MAX!

I salute you JL.

(small applause)

When was the last time YOU played Jenga?