I'm not anti-social; I'm just not user friendly
// February 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Site Updates
It took a little more than 7 years but I finally got around to updating my blog’s About Page and Curriculum Vitae (Résumé). I’ve been meaning to deal with my procrastination tendencies for quite some time…
// February 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Natalie Quotes
Discussion on the drive home tonight:
Natalie: “Can I watch the news tonight?”
Lisa: “Why would you want to watch the news?”
Natalie: “To see if the groundhog saw his shadow.”
// January 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Natalie Quotes
Conversation on the way out the door this morning:
Adrian (joking to Lisa): “…Natalie is pretty much fully reared now isn’t she?”
Natalie: “You’re the weird one Barnes!”
// January 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Natalie Quotes
Conversation on the drive home this evening:
Natalie: “When I turn 6 I’m moving out!”
Lisa: “Really?”
Natalie: *Pause*
Natalie: “Maybe I’ll stay…but I’m making my own rules.”
// January 10th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Family & Friends, Home Videos
Another video from the family home video archives. This was taken in February, 2006 (Natalie would have been two and a half at the time) and shows Natalie sliding down a snow bank. Pay particular attention to the?mischievous glint in her eyes…foreshadowing of terrible threes and fours ;)
// January 10th, 2010 // No Comments » // Entertainment, Family & Friends, Home Videos, Music, Photo Album Updates
Added U2 Concert Album to?Picasa Web Albums. I have been a dedicated U2 fan since the early 90’s when I got into Achtung Baby so this mini-review is more than a little biased. I caught U2 live in Toronto during the PopMart Tour in 1997 but, due to varying circumstance, regret not being able to attend their last few tours. There was a lot of fuss in the media with regards to the 360? stage concept and it’s been widely reported that U2 won’t break even on this tour until mid-2010 which, if nothing else, demonstrates their commitment to putting on a good show (and /or poor business sense). However, in my opinion, the 360? stage with all it’s bells and whistles, was a silent partner in the overall production and did not distract from the music. All in all, it was a great show that Lisa and I will remember for years to come. Below is some video footage we took of the concert.
Part I: U2 hitting the stage with Kingdom of Your Love (rumoured to be on potential U2 2010 summer album called “Songs of Ascent”) then breaking into Breathe off New Line on the Horizon (released February, 2009).
Part II: U2 finishing up Get On Your Boots from No Line on the Horizon (released February, 2009). Incidentally, this song was the lead single for the album (to mixed reviews) but it broke through in the 5 year-old demographic as Natalie was running around the house singing “let me in the sound” for a few weeks.
Part III: Bono injecting some “Torontoisms” into the concert between Magnificent and Beautiful Day.
Part IV: Arguably, one of the most fun parts of the show (for band and audience alike) with remix of I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.
// January 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Home Videos
Dug this video up from family video archives (February, 2006). Lisa (girlfriend at the time, now wife) narrates Natalie observing me (Barnes) shoveling snow after a bad storm. Pay particular attention to Natalie’s fearless “one boot” fashion statement…always a trend setter.
// December 26th, 2009 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Home Videos
Natalie participating in her kindergarten Christmas Concert. Sorry for the poor video quality (taken via digital camera).
Part I: Natalie reciting her Christmas poem:
Part II: Natalie and her kindergarten class singing “Reindeer Love to Boogie”:
Part III: Natalie seeing us in the crowd and waving while her friend (Erica) tries to discourage her (as per teacher’s instructions not to wave). Always a rebel:
// November 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Photo Album Updates
Added Hockey Hall Of Fame Album to?Picasa Web Albums. I have a confession to make…I lived in Toronto for 5 years and never made it to the Hockey Hall Of Fame. I hope the honesty and sincerity of this admission of guilt offsets any automatic Canadian citizenship review based on this fact coming to light. Needless to say, I made the Hockey Hall Of Fame a priority when Lisa and I visited Toronto a few weeks ago. One would assume I’m a Montreal Canadiens fan as there are a number of pictures of me in a replica Canadiens dressing room but, rest assured, I’m of sound mind and solidly behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ok, I admit the timing and believability of that last sentence could be better…
// October 14th, 2009 // No Comments » // Family & Friends, Photo Album Updates
Added Targa Newfoundland Car Show Album to?Picasa Web Albums. As should be expected with any red-blooded, 4 year-old boy, Aiden (Natalie’s cousin) was excited to go to the Targa Newfoundland Car Show but I wasn’t sure how Natalie would fare with the event. Natalie ended up having a great time asking everyone within shouting distance for an autograph. In the spirit of politically correctness, she was very indiscriminate in whom she approached for autographs; equally relentless in pursuing autographs from co-patrons and hot dog vendors as the drivers and navigators. Natalie and Aiden had a chance to hop in and pretend to drive a few cars which gave Todd (Aiden’s father) and I a glimpse at what we have to look forward to in 10-11 years when they hit the open roads. I predict you’ll retire quite comfortably if you make an effort to include insurance companies in your stock portfolio prior to 2020.
