John Biggs's blog

What A Day

Crazy, challenging day for me - and my family - yesterday.

The story is here: http://jb-justnoodlin.blogspot.com/

 What it may mean for me is that I'll miss my chat this coming Tuesday.

If so, I'll re-schedule it for another day for this week only. Had a great conversation with a sports editor from the National Post last Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to the next one. Hopefully, if you have some time, you can join in this coming week's chat. I'll let you know if the time changes from the usual Tuesday at 11am, because I'll have to take Liam to the fracture clinic that morning.

For Moms Everywhere

I was 13 when my Mom died of a heart attack, at home. It was a horrible and frightening time for a 13-year-old boy. My Mom and I were very close. My Mom doted on me. I was very lucky to have such a wondeful Mom, and very unlucky to lose her as early in my life as I did. She was only 48.

Conversely, I was 48 when I first became a father. Two and a half years later, I see my wife becoming a such wonderful Mom to our twin boy and girl, and can't imagine my life without any of them, and can't begin to fathom the twins ever being without their Mom.

My Mom was born in Scotland, but her family emigrated to Canada when she was five years old, and she grew up in Quebec. Her early years were spent in Levis and Lauzon, Near Quebec City, on the St. Lawrence River, because my maternal Grandfather built ships at Davy Shipyards for a living. Then, when he retired, the family moved to Montreal. My Mom's growing up there, and her love of that city, is why I'll always be a Montreal Canadiens. Sorry, Leaf fans. My Mom trumps any other reason I'd ever have to root for a hockey team.

I've always had a soft spot for all my friend's Moms, and have even chastised a couple of my closer friends when they've been ...less than ideal - toward their Moms. Knowing what it's like to not have a Mom for so long gave me a greater appreciation for how important having a Mother is, and I tried to instill that in any of my friends who would listen.

The Cat House On The Kings

Guys usually don't like cats. Guys are usually dog people. So sue me. I love cats. Grew up with about 20 cats through my childhood. My Mom loved 'em. Our cats were 'outdoor' cats, for the most part, because we lived rurally. Not that I don't like dogs. Just made friends with cats first, and I just happen to think they're cooler. Smarter. Not as 'needy' as dogs. But, like any 'housepet', they do need love, attention, and a safe place to live. Which brings me to this. Check out this video on You Tube about an incredible cat sanctuary. The woman who runs this place is not your stereotypical 'cat lady'. Just a concerened human being and animal lover with some space and a lot of common sense and good will.

Terry Sumsion's Benefit On Youtube!

If you couldn't be there this past Sunday (and I was lucky enough), the videographer at Terry Sumsion's benefit in Paris at the Fairgrounds was good enough to put up a clip of the show - with a little bit from each of the day's performers - on youtube.

To save you the time of finding it, here's a direct link to the clip:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=L1tfGmbFS98

It's about 22 minutes long, and Terry is performing at the end of it, which - considering everything he's going through with esophageal cancer - daily treatments through the week, and a paralyzed vocal cord - it's pretty darn amazing.

Don't Forget! Tuesday Is Chat Day!

If you're around at 11am or so, log into our chat page. I'll be there - as I am every Tuesday at 11am - to just talk about ...whatever, really. Just click on the 'chat' tab (it's on the far right), click "I agree" and sign in. See you there!

Almost Over It

Completely astounded by how long this particular virus has been hanging around my family.

Our kids (although partially due to being repeatedly misdiagnosed at a walk-in clinic to which we'll never return) were sick for a month, and it caught up with both my wife and I. At one point, I thought
I was over it, but then it turned into a sinus infection - which turned into a double lung infection!

I was having trouble catching my breath just walking up stairs, and decided (finally) I'd better go see my family doctor, having at this point given up on getting a correct diagnosis from any walk-in clinic. After examining me, my doc almost immediately handed me TWO pieces of paper. One for a very powerful prescription, the other a note to take a couple of days off! Not JUST for my OWN sake, but because I was also highly infectious. I didn't have to cough to spread germs at that point. Since both my lungs were infected, just breathing on someone could make them ill...so I dropped into the boss' office on the way back from my doctor's, explained the situation, and went straight home.

The Top Floor

We work on the TOP FLOOR of our building, here at 880 Upper Wentworth St.
Quite often, we complain about how slow - in this little 4-story building - the elevator tends to be
- but, honestly - if it were THAT bad...

 ...four stories up or down? Not that much trouble to take the stairs...

HOWEVER - in an effort to spin this top floor existence in an even more positive light
(he said, with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek) -

Here are THE PERKS of Working on the Top Floor of Your Building...         

Trying It Again

Tuesdays at 11am is "my time" for chatting on here somewhere, and although it wasn't what you'd call "busy" in here last week, I'm going to try it again tomorrow morning at 11...

Come on by, we'll talk...about (almost) whatever you want.

See you then!

CHAM CHAT on Tuesday!

Hey! See you here (somewhere around here, anyway) tomorrow (Tuesday 15th April) for a chat between 11am and Noon. We're just getting things up and running, and this will be Chat #1 on the 820 CHAM website for me.

If you can join me, I look forward to 'seeing' you here.

Cheers! 

Back In The Swim

Hi!

With the weather improving by the day, I thought I'd try put an even bigger smile on your face with a little polar bear swim.

Literally.

A little polar bear, going for the first swim of his young life. It's pretty cool.

It's amazing how the creature known as the most violent on Earth can start off so sweet and cuddly. 

Enjoy!

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/04/baby-flocke-tak.html