Dreams Unlocked

I almost died yesterday. I did the Grouse Grind - its a hike that goes straight up the face of Grouse mountain - it is so steep that there are times you are literally climbing the mountain wall. There were a couple of times I almost fell backwards (to my death) or collapsed due to exhaustiion (and died). I know I was out of shape when old guys started to pass me. I finally got to the top - time 1 hour and 9 minutes of climbing - another half hour of water breaks. I'm going to try it agian next week and try to beat my time. I am so sore today. This weekend my best friend is having his stag - i think it will be a nice time of drinking brandy and smoking cigars in our smoking jackets while discussing how things were so much better in the 50's. just kidding - should be fun - will keep you updated (though probably heavily edited) tonight is date night! dinner and a movie - going to see batman. will post a review later. will also post some pics of the grind. "Guess what? I got a...

i have a new article on relevant - it is in the life section. go to relevantmagazine.com and read my tribute to one of my heroes: billy graham. new favourite - the best coffee in town is NOT at starbucks. it is at a coffee shop at robson and hornby - they make the best double cappucciono i have ever had. drink one today! going to try to write a couple more articles today - perfect weather for writing - overcast - greay and foreboding.

Tourist season has descended on Vancouver. It will last untl the rain beings (Octoberish). I get a kick out of these groups of shorts wearing, camera toting folks following their little downtown maps like divining rods. Americans are the best - they are just SO loud. It's like they have to announce everything to everyone. We went out for dinner last night at a restaurant in chinatown - a whole pack of americans sat next to us and conversation was no longer possible at our table. One guy was sitting so close to me that we actually moved our table over. Ah-tourists - they help our economy and entertain us as well. I like playing the role of tourist in other cities and wonder if I am as entertaining to them. Strolled through gastown with Flea and Adam. Also cooked dinner tonight - I made an awesome Salmon baked in garlic, olive oil, butter, paprika, lemon juice, red chilies, basil and rosemary - also made broccoli and tomatoes. - yum yum. Tomorrow I'm going to Regent ot see if I c...

Crawl Originally uploaded by stan00 . Adam making daddy happy.

The greatest new thing with Adam is his crawling. but the absolute best thing is when he spots you, smiles and then starts to crawl towards you. It probably sounds cheesy but it is really hard to encasulate how that feels. Just incredible. What does life consist of? It consists of getting up, going to work, coming home, having dinner, playing with your kids and going to sleep. That's why a guy living in a hut in Africa can be as fulfilled as a rich suburbanite living in middle America. I can't decide which new cd to buy - the new white stripes or the new bruce springsteen. any suggestions out there?

HPIM2828 Originally uploaded by stan00 . I am a small little man.

Felicia's parents got in from Singapore yesterday morning. They are staying here for a couple of days en route to Saskatoon. Yesterday went for a nice long bike ride around Stanley Park and then swimming with Adam and Flea. Went to a party for some friends (are you happy julie? - you made it into the blog!)) who are moving away to Calgary. It was nice to see some friends that I don't get to see as much as I's like. The party was in a big house in east van that was completely made over - it wass really beautiful. Today - it is 16 and overcast - perfect day for a nice long run - if i feel inspired enough i think i'll go for a 10-12 k run. Boring post today - i'll work on something better for later today or tomorrow. cheers

I just finished an article on Billy Graham's legacy. It may be published in Relevant early next week - I'll let you know if it does. Writing is such a wierd thing. Somedays I can just sit down and an article flows effortlessly with very little editing or changes - It may take only 20 minutes to half an hour. And then other days I sit there staring at the screen with nothing happening at all - SO FRUSTRATING! Why do I sometimes flow and sometimes I am blocked? Mystery. Went shopping at Superstore for groceries for the South Beach Diet. South Beach Diet = no carbs, no fats - NO FUN. I gained a few pounds and am trying to lose them by following phase 1 of the South Beach diet - no bread, no juices - TONS of veggies and chicken, red meat and fish. It has worked once before, so I am optimistic it will work again. Today I had an egg mcmuffin and oj for breakfast - bad, NOT part of the diet. For lunch I had a chicken salad. for dinner I cooked a complex healthy meal consisting of caul...

Today Adam was really grouchy which threw our plans out the window. So we lounged around at home - then we went for a walk and had a bite to eat on the beach. Came back and went swimming - swimming is quite a relaxing activity. Somehow the free movement in the water just releases stress - and the boy likes it too. I'm hoping to do the grouse grind someday soon. Felicia's parents come in on Saturday from Singapore en route back to Saskatoon. They are with us until Friday. Having trouble finding a pair of jeans that fit me - apprently short and fat is rare among denim designers. And what's with these $200-300 jeans? I was looking at one pair in Holt Renfrew and it literally felt like paper in my hands - sheesh. Saw our friends baby yesterday - real cutie pie - only 6 days old! Baby's look so funny at that age - they're always blinking and their head just kind of wobbles around. Talk to you later

HPIM3204 Originally uploaded by stan00 . 9 mths old and already a frequent flier!

HPIM3217 Originally uploaded by stan00 . Ninan clan - June 2005 ReginaSK

Greatest sound in the world - Adam laughing Worst sound in the world - Adam crying Adam's crying is now on 2 pitches - sort of a longer wail that goes from low to high - it is the saddest sound in the world. Adam now crawls all over the place - the greatest thing in the world is when I am away and then I come back and Adam cralws towards me. I'm going to post some pics.

Yesterday was my first Father's Day and it was pretty great. Church was good - good sermon, saw lots of friends. -went to my favourite new restaurant: Fatburger! -took a very long walk around the Seawall back home - this city is so beautiful -stopped at Starbucks for coffee - Felicia and Adam wnet home and I stayed and did some reading -came home and then we all went swimming! -had supper -picked up some milk-shakes for desert All in all quite a nice time. Our friends had a baby girl on Thursday - she looks quite cute in the pictures. We are going to see her on Wednesday. Was in a conference in Surrey today. I went with 2 other pastors and another intern - I was supossed to give directions and got us hopelessly lost - I felt like such a dummy. The conference was good - it was about what it means to be a missional church. Came home and went for a walk but it was quite hot, so we came back and went for a swim. Another family that lives on our floor were there with their 2 yr. old twi...

bono Originally uploaded by stan00 . The other man!

graham Originally uploaded by stan00 . The man!

At a time when religion so often seems to get in the way of God’s work, with it’s shopping mall sale pitch and its bumper sticker reductionism, I give thanks just for the sanity of Billy Graham – for that clear empathetic voice of his in that southern accent. Part poet, part preacher. A singer of the human spirit, I’d say. Yeah, I give thanks for Billy Graham. Thank you Billy Graham. -Bono – giving the introduction to a new song and video by Pat Boone called Thank You Billy Graham.

cw.sopranos Originally uploaded by stan00 . Greatest show of all time?

Felicia is working tonight. Just me and the boy - he fell asleep instantly in my arms after she left. He woke up a couple of times but is now sleeping soundly - what a kid! so how do i spend a friday evening home alone? A couple glasses of white wine and the first three episodes of the 5th season of the sopranos. at least 2 regular readers of this blog will concede that the sopranos is the greatest tv show. I think it's strength is the nuanced portrait of the characters. You also have to pay close attention to minor details. Songs, tv clips and other devices are often used with double meanings attached. i know some of you can't get beyound the language, the violence and nudity. I agree it can be hard to stomach but the excellence in the medium tends to overwhelm those concerns. Tomorrow is family day! The day after Felicia works two shifts we spend together as a family - its going to rain all day i think which means we will probably head indoors to a mall or chapters. It's ...

i wrote a good post and then los tit somewhere - i'm not going to re-write it. Here are some lyrics from a song instead: "Prayed in the ghetto with my face in the cement, Heard the last moan of a boxer, seen the massacre of the innocent Felt around for the light switch, became nauseated. She was walking down the hallway while the walls deteriorated. Try to be pure at heart, they arrest you for robbery, Mistake your shyness for aloofness, your shyness for snobbery, Got the message this morning, the one that was sent to me About the madness of becomin' what one was never meant to be. But I know God has mercy on them who are slandered and humiliated. Put your hand on my head, baby, do I have a temperature? I see people who are supposed to know better standin' around like furniture. There's a wall between you and what you want and you got to leap it, Tonight you got the power to take it, tomorrow you won't have the power to keep it." So chew on that tonight.

Got back in to Vancouver tonight. Adam did very well on the flight - no crying, no fussing. This blond lady who sat across the aisle from us from Calgary was away from her 1 yr. old daughter for the first time - so she was admiring Adam to a great deal. It's awesome to be home, although I also really enjoyed seeing the whole family together. The next time will be in San Diego for Christmas. Should be really fun. Still not making any headway on this decision that lies before me. Hopefully I will gain some clarity in the next few days. Last night we went to my niece's soccer game - she is only 4 - the game was totally hilarious - the kids just run for the ball wherever it is. After the game Felicia and I went for dinner compliments of my parents at this really nice restaurant. This was our first dinner date since Adam was born! I am continually amazed at the generosity of my parents. They actually gave us a camcorder! I guess they knew that we really really wanted one to film mor...

Quite a busy day - Costco shopping with mom, and then went to the soup kitchen that she works at to show Adam off to the volunteers there. And then went for lunch with Dilip and Dad. Gillian (my sister-inlaw), Felicia, Asha (my sister) and my mom also all went for lunch. And then Dad took us to the intensive care unit at the hospital that he works at to give Adam a check up and show him off. We came off as the jury delivered the verdict in the Michael Jackson trial. Not Guilty! Innocent! Basically he was not guilty becaue of the lack of the evidence. I think most people think he is guilty except for the few dozen die-hard fanatics who quit their lives to hang out in front of the courthouse for the past couple of weeks. I am going to deliberetly avoid any of those rabid celebrity "news" shows like entertainment tonight who will no doubt have a whole army of self professed experts who will analyze the verdict to death with such scintillating comments like "juror #3 looked ...

Me, my sister and my brother and our spouses took my parents out for dinner last night. It was a really nice restaurant and el vino did flow! And then today we took a family photo in their backyard. It must be a real blessing for my parents to have their kids doing reasonably well with their lives and to have three fun grandkids to play around with. I've been trying to do some reading but movies and shopping have gotten in the way. We went into downtown Regina last night adn I was struck at how empty this town is! Mid afternoon on a Saturday and barely anyone walking around. Real contrast to Vancouver where you are bound to pass a few dozen people on any day of the week. Stay free.

We flew into Regina last night for a brief family reunion - my brother and his wife are here from Boston. Adam charmed all the flight attendents with his cute smile. He did fine until we started to descend into Regina - A combination of pressure on his ears and sleepiness led him to scream for about 10 minutes straight. Westjet now have mini tvs for every seat - they have 24 channels - i watched csi and part of the basketball game - nice touch. It is great to see everyone again. Living apart makes our times together that much sweeter. Unfortunately my dad had a board meeting in Calgary so he is away part of today and comes back tomorrow. He and my mom were supossed to attend a farewell dinner for the outgoing president of the University of Regina. I was given my dad's ticket and escorted my mom. It was quite the affair - 750 people including speeches from the lietenent governor, the premier, the mayor and other big wigs. I felt slightly uncomfortable as this is not a social circle...

So I had another day alone with the boy. Here's a breakdown: 8:00 - Adam wakes up giggling and I give him breakfast 8:15 - I shower and change and make my breakfast. Adam plays. 8:30-9:00 - I read the paper. Adam sits next to me in his little chair and rips apart a magazine. 9:00-10:00 I read my bible and Calvin's Institutes. Adam is rolling around on the floor, he spots me and starts yelling. So I sit him next to me and he reads his book which I think is about a rabbit that buys a new hat. 10:00 - Adam goes to sleep. I go on-line and answer 8 e-mails. 11:00 adam wakes up and I change him and we headoff for lunch with mom. 11:30 - Arrive at VGH. Have lunch with Felicia in the hospital cafeteria. We have sandwiches and Diet Cokes. Adam has yogurt and milk (from mommy). 12:45 - We leave the hospital and Adam immediatly falls asleep. 12:55- Arrive home. Adam stays asleep even though he is taken out of the car, put in the stroller, taken out of the stroller, put in his b...

the pics below are me and adam biking the seawalll and adam having a great time during his first haircut.

HPIM3168 Originally uploaded by stan00 .

HPIM3189 Originally uploaded by stan00 .

Turtles can fly is the first feature film to be shot in post saddam iraq. I saw it this afternoon. It is pretty somber, all in greys and browns. It is basically a look at the difficult life faced by children in Iraq. Most of them have lost limbs to land-mines. There is one scene of a gang rape of a young girl by Saddam's soldiers. I like going to off-beat films like documentaries or foreign films like "turtles". They serve as an antithesis to blockbusters like star wars or spiderman. i like those popcorn flicks as well but find these less accessible films far more rewarding. after the film i took one of my regular walks around the downtown east-side. i've probably gone on a few dozen of these walks but i am still shocked at the amount of open air drug use and drug dealing that goes on. it is like nothing i have ever seen before. as i walk i usually pray for the people i pass and for the area in general. the feeling of hopelesness is in the atmosphere down there. apart...

Photos are coming! I am slowly figuring out how to post photos on this thing so you can look forward to that. Went to the park today with some friends of ours. they have twin girls who are a bit older to Adam. They are very cute. Tonight I went to a church plant called Mosaic which is run by a good friend of mine who I have know for almost 20 years. Gave me some food for thought for my own move into full-time pastoral ministry. Had an interesting couple of days. Thursday night I heard through a few people that it looks like i will probably be offered the position of evening service pastor at our church. And then Friday morning I got an almost identical offer from another church! So two similar offers from 2 great churches! - Very interesting. How do we decide? Prayer, Reflection, talking to friends - thats the only way I know. I iwll follow both paths until I notice something blocking one of the paths. Reading - Continuuing to crawl my way through Calvin's Institutes. I really enjo...

HPIM2880 Originally uploaded by stan00 . Here I am playing the role of an angry young man.

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Ha - what a title! sucked you in, didn't i? So anyways, I had the boy this morning while Felicia went to a mom's group at church. We're strolling around downtown when the left back wheel comes off. Now this is abou the 5th time this has happened. And for some reason this time it is the wheel that break's Santosh's back. I lose it and let out a string of expletives - thank goodness the boy was asleep. I half carry and half roll the defective piece of crap back to the church. I drop Adam off at the day-care and walk/carry the thing back home, drive back to the church, wait for felicia to come out. When she does I announce that we are buying a new stroller and are going to spend up to $700. (Our previous one was $300 and included a carrier and a car seat). But money did not matter anymore - I had had it with this piece of crap and wanted the best stroller we could get. So after grabbing some fatburgers we went on a mad dash on a quest for the best stroller in the world...

Today is the 2 yr. anniversery of the death of my brother in law, Oliver Tham. Oliver died in a canoeing accident in northern British Columbia. His body was never found. Without a doubt this is a difficult day for Felicia and her parents as they ponder his loss today. Felicia declared this morning that she wanted to do something fun. This turned into Adam's first bike ride - we rented bikes and a bike seat for Adam so he could experience the thril of biking the sea wall. 20 minutes into the ride he fell asleep. So we pulled over to let him rest. When a little kid is sleeping on a bike seat he looks like his head will fall off at any moment - scary and funny at the same time. We rented the bikes from the store where I bought my bike and I get all my repairs. I used to know a couple of the guys that worked there but they have moved on. We had to deal with this total jerk who was so uncooperative and unfriendly. There were some people waiting outside and another employee asked him if ...