Sunday August 23rd 8:24 AM

 

I haven’t been consistent with my view photos recently.  Still, I haven’t given up on them.  

It’s my son Tony’s Birthday today.  19 years ago:

Also Today:

Changed my profile on Facebook:

Some interesting images I either came upon or created:

Tony’s High School Graduation Video

 The moment Tony got his diploma accompanied by a Social Distortion song.  I listen to them in the car sometimes.

Tony’s Graduation from Neelin High School

The convocation was held at Brandon University.

 Below is the view from where I sat.  I didn’t talk to anyone.  For speeches, I listened to the principal complain about the students not getting to class on time; and the class valedictorian, who Tony didn’t know, admitted that the students skipped classes.  

Tony’s name is in the middle of the roster.

Once a Spartan, always a Spartan.  We’re both Spar-tanes..

Tony: Class of 26.

Dad: Class of 82.

To be honest, Tony never felt a part of the school, this year, as I did,  all those years ago.  We both finished our high school with one year in Brandon after puttering around in other places for the eleven previous years: Tony in China; I on military bases. I never really felt part of Brandon.  I had to get out after graduating. Tony now feels as I did.  So there are parallels.  

Thankfully, we missed the summons for baby pics.  Most of the other students had two photos of their panel: a baby photo and a grad photo.

We left the ceremony as soon as we could.

When we got home, his grandmother was full of complaints about him.

Ho hum and dreariness.

Tony is sitting at the end.

34th Street Heading South

 I dropped off my son Tony at his graduation rehearsal..

—La decisión que no sea un poco demente no merece

respeto.

—A decision that is not a little crazy does not deserve

respect.

Sunday 19:00 Mass

 This Mass was special because my son Tony accompanied me.  I was thankful to him for coming.

Father John who presided over the Mass.  

That Tony came to the Mass shows that the Lord works in mysterious ways.  It was a strange set of circumstances, which I can’t and won’t get into that compelled Tony to come.

And then an even more miraculous thing happened.  After Mass, Father John saw Tony, knew Tony was my son, and recalled having seen him over ten months ago.  Tony was astounded that Father John remembered him, as was I.

Tuesday 12:20 PM: Shoveling

 We shoveled the driveways, walkways and puddle points around my Mom’s house.  When I say We, I mean me & my son Tony, who went out and shoveled without my having to prompt him.

To Gladstone and Back

 Highway 10 North.

Highway 16 East.

Highway 16 East.

Highway 34 South.

Highway 34 South.

Look who’s driving!

Number 1 West.

Number 1 West.

Tony got his bobble head doll

 My son Tony went to Tonight’s Wheat King game.  He was one of the first thousand fans to get a bobble head doll.

Wednesday of the Last Week of Christmas

 The view from Tony’s room.

Third Day of Christmas: Tony’s second day of driving

 Tony did well today I thought.  He progressed from driving on empty parking lots to driving on the street.  He was at four way stop signs, and traffic lights.  He crossed busy roads.  He backed the car onto the driveway and into the garage,

Tony passes his knowledge test

 Like father, like son.  Tony has passed his Class 5 driver’s knowledge this year,

Minnedosa: Look at me #3

 I drove my son Tony to Minnedosa for a Sunday drive.

I took the following photos:

The town has tracks.

Tony thought the icicles were quite a sight,

The Little Saskatchewan River ran through the town,

The town is located in a scenic valley.

I took Tony to a community hockey arena. He wished that he could have grown up in Canada and played hockey,

Tony’s first real day of Winter?

 Tony told me he went outside today to experience the snowfall.  The snow was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

Tony has Black Friday off

 Black Friday wasn’t a thing in 2003 as far as I can recall.  But in Elbows Up Canada, it is a thing.

And my son has another day off on accounts of a second PD day at school this term. Never had those in China.

Monday 7:39 AM: Called Tony in sick

 Called the school and left a message telling them my son Anthony was sick and thus wouldn’t come to school.  In China, I would have sent such a message on WeChat.

Monday morning 6:33 AM: all in one entry

 

When I came home last night, my son Tony had a fever.  He was worried. I told him not to be.

I am not feeling so hot myself. I have a sore throat. I need to conserve my voice.

The weather:  

It will get colder.  Maybe, we’ll be shoveling snow.

Today, I’ll make a bank deposit.  I’ll have a noon hour online class.

Tomorrow will be busy.  Seven hours of teaching and a RCIA class.

This morning’s video upload is an NGD quote about love:

Tony & The Manitoba Premier

 

That’s my son Tony doing a selfie with Manitoba Premier Webb Canoe.

Tony wears a poppy

 We went to Walmart to do some shopping.  That be my son Tony & I.  The legion poppy stand was closing up but I got the lady to bring out a poppy and pin it on Tony.

Tony likes the big sky.

 AKIC’s son Tony finds the skies of Manitoba to be quite something.

And driving south on 18th street from the Correl Centre, he liked the look of Brandon’s Rosset Avenue skyline.

Do they eat dogs?

 Upon others at his school being told that he is from China, my son Tony has been asked twice if Chinese eat dogs.  Tony tells me that he has responded that some do.  I wonder about the spirit in which these questions are asked.

I have been told by many an adult student in China of their losing a loved pet dog and their suspicion that the dog was taken to be eaten.

Having lived in China so long, I had forgotten that trope. It’s neither here nor there for me.