Music lessons

Playing a musical instrument stimulates the brain in a way that nothing else does. Pick one up, play around with it, even if you have no clue what you're doing, take a lesson, bang on some pots and pans to your favourite tune!

This video was sent to me by one of my daughters violin teachers.

Clearly, I need to pick up my guitar a little more often!

C, G, Am, D, B chord Darryl

Good, old fashioned Battleship!

It doesn't matter your age, sometimes all it takes is a good old fashioned game of Battleship to put a smile on a couple of faces. 

Down with a sprained ankle, it was game afternoon. The trash talk was in fine form as daddy and son dueled it out in an epic battle. Skill, strategy, luck, call it what you want, it all amounts to the same thing, FUN for both of us!

I'll let you figure out who the grand champion was today (the smile tells it all, doesn't it?)

Commander Bussiere

Drinking straight out of the carton

I don't know what it is, but it just tastes a little better, those last few gulps, when it's straight out of the carton. 

Do you agree Abs?

"Heck yeah!"

That's how we roll,

DB & crew

Running outside in shorts in Saskatchewan in February!

This is definitely a first for this guy! After work today, I put on SHORTS and went for a run. Now for those of you who are geographically impaired, let me share some facts about the weather in Saskatchewan in February....

1. It's almost always cold...sometimes bitterly cold...like cold as in if you're outside with exposed skin (face or hands, get your mind out of the gutter people!), you could get frostbite within 1 minute. If you don't know what frostbite is, consider yourself lucky  and then google it.

2. We do things in degrees Celsius in Canada...the average temperature for February in Regina (the city I live in), is about -13 Celsius (about 9 F). Brrr...hope you brought your toque (google that too if you don't know what it is, eh!)

3. The temperature isn't the only thing to consider before you go outside, you need to account for the windchill too. For example, it maybe -20, but with the wind it might feel like -34. Oh, and for those of you who haven't been so lucky to experience a winter day in Saskatchewan, there is rarely a day where he wind doesn't affect the temperature.

4. Residents flee the province to warm locations like Mexico and Cuba when the Mercury dips downs and it looks like we're in for a long cold snap. You're welcome foreign economies!

5. Although it gets so bitterly cold where cars don't start and people want to hibernate for a few days, school is almost never canceled. In fact, in all my years of being a student and a teacher, I can't recall a single day where school was cancelled. And as for snow days...the same goes for them. We're tough (and a little crazy!)! We warm up our cars for 15 minutes before we get in and make the drive across the city where the exhaust from cars is as thick as pea soup. And, we still get out to the grocery store, a movie theatre, the mall or some other place we likely shouldn't be because, as I mentioned, we're TOUGH (and crazy)!

6. We complain about the cold and threaten to move away to a tropical island near the equator but we never do because we've invested so much in winter clothing and a snowblower that we wouldn't want to give that all up! After all, we've got to get our money's worth right?

7. Life goes on, business as usual, regardless of snow, ice, temperature and windchill. Businesses stay open and gas stations hike up their prices because we clearly do not pay enough for fuel grouch out the rest of the year!

8. Many of us like the crazy temperature swings despite all our complaining. Bring on the tail end of a Chinook! You might need to put the Google machine to work again if you don't know what a Chinook is.

9. It's not really that bad. If it was, we wouldn't stay in this nearly inhospitable place...kind of like Hoth (Star Wars fans will get the reference).

10. Sometimes it's so cold that it feels like your teeth are frozen or your face is going to crack when you walk a block outside into a stiff northern wind.

So, I know that I may never again in my lifetime get the opportunity to run outside in February in shorts in Saskatchewan so I had to embrace the opportunity. I think the temperature got up to about +12 today and I can say that I loved every moment of it that I was outside because I know that next week I'll likely need my running pants with long underwear underneath, my wind proof jacket with several layers underneath, my running mitts and gloves, toque and neck tube to keep me warm as I brave the elements for a quick 12km dash.

Looks like we're not out of the woods yet with winter, but I'm not complaining.

An El Niño fan,

Crazy legs Bussiere

The opportunity to help

Proof-reading, revising, editing. Just one of my jobs. I like the fact that students come to me and ask me to help them with their writing. Sometimes it's easy and doesn't take a lot of work to get them on the right path and sometimes it takes a lot of work to turn the vessel! Regardless, it's worth it and it's nice to know they appreciate it.

Changing kids writing, 1 paragraph at a time.

Revisor extraordinaire,

Mr. Bussiere

Productive meetings

It doesn't happen all the time, but it sure is nice when it does happen. 2 meetings this afternoon and I walked out of both of them thinking we accomplished what we set out to. A good way to wrap up a Wednesday at work.

D

Things that brighten your day

It may be small, it may be big. It's that thing in your day that puts a smile on your face and makes you think, life is good!

I'd forgotten that my daughter and her friend decorated my board in my class. It out a smile on my face and made me walk with a little extra spring in my step!

Darryl

Stupid people

You might think that it is quite bizarre that I'm thankful for stupid people but here's my logic. I'm smarter and look smarter because of them. True story! Now I'm no certified genius but compared to a handful out there, I practically am!

Long story behind this one and let's just write it off as being a Monday. Enough said from this guy with an average IQ.

Darryl

Movies that make you think...

I don't watch a lot of movies. That being said, I think I've seen more movies in the past 2 months than I've watched in the past 2 years. Now don't get me wrong, I like watching movies but I sometimes have a difficult time justifying 2 hours in front of the tv. Going to the theatre is a little different but at home, I'll often find something else to do or make the excuse that it'll be too late by the time the show is done. So, when I do watch a movie at home, I want it to be worth my time and I really want to enjoy it.

This weekend, I watched 2 movies....I know, crazy! Well, actually, one of them was a documentary that was only 36 minutes long, but for the sake of this entry, I'm calling it a movie. On Friday night, I finally popped this one into the dvd player after it had been sitting on my coffee table for the past 2'ish months.

The Fence...quite an interesting watch. This one is about the fence that the US government built along the US/Mexico border. Obviously, being a documentary, this speaks to one side of the argument on La Barda. Let's just say that this is not a pro-government documentary on the success (or supposed success) of this very expensive fence that stretches over a fraction of the US/Mexico border. I'm not going to share my opinion on this topic but I would recommend anyone to watch this documentary if you are at all interested in US/Mexican relations, immigration, and smuggling (people and drugs). An interesting topic considering some US politicians have recently brought up the topic of building a fence on the Canadian/US border to the forefront in their election platforms!

The second movie I watched took me back a few years. See, back in high school, when my buddies and I got together and all piled into someones car, we often had rap music blaring so that we couldn't even hear one another speak. One of the most common groups pumping out of the tape deck was NWA. I'd been wanting to see "Straight Outta Compton" since it came out this summer and I finally decided to rent it last night on pay per view.

And, WOW!

You see, unless you have a little history on rap and what NWA did for gangster rap on the west coast, you probably would simply see NWA and this movie as just a movie about a rap group with their explicit lyrics and controversial content that would offend the majority of the population. But it's much more than that. Eazy-E was a pioneer of rap on the west coast of the US and their explicit lyrics are reflective of the world they came from and lived in, racial tension, discrimination, drugs, violence, communities in turmoil and much more. Their music reflects a world that most of us will never know and certainly do not want to be thrown into. It's a story of hope, resilience, overcoming the odds, triumph and failure. Many of us can relate to these words in our own world and this is the story of how NWA rose to the top of the music industry in America.

Now, if you don't like a movie with sex, drugs and a lot of profanities, this one isn't for you. But, if you want a movie that will give you a glimpse into the world of the music industry, more specifically, the arguably, most famous rap group of all time that included Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, Arabian Prince and The D.O.C., definitely check this one out. As a result of NWA and its founding members, other iconic rap stars emerged such as Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy, and many more. An interesting, gripping story about NWA and the world of rap.

Gangsta D
Peace out!
Word.

Running comradery

It's a beautiful morning so I decide to hit the road and go for a run. I plan on going out a little longer than I usually do just because it's Saturday morning and there is nothing that I absolutely need to do this morning. 

It's cool, crisp, mostly sunny and just a light breeze is stirring. The puddles are frozen ( I love the sound of crunching ice beneath my shoes!...just like when I was a kid!) and the streets are quiet except for the odd car loaded with the kids taking them to practice at the local rink or gym. 

Running is my "me" time.  Now that's not to say I don't enjoy running with someone else, because I do occasionally, but for the most part, it's that sacred time that I have to myself where I can let my mind go blank and just run. Sure, sometimes I think of "life stuff", but usually, I can block out all the things that make my life busy and just out one foot in front of the other for 5-20 km, depending on the day.

Now, even though running is my "me" time, there is something that makes me smile each and every time I lace up my shoes, and that is coming across another runner(s). For those of you who don't run, I don't expect you to get it, but you might. It's quite simple really, as you cross paths, pass one another and share the road, path or trail, you simply give one another "the wave", the "hello", the "good morning", or the "beautiful day for a run" greeting.

 It's a quick exchange between runners (and walkers) that unites us and makes us hunk to ourselves, "yup, I'm a runner". Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, speed, physical stature, etc, at that moment we are all the same, we are equal, we are runners! We may not share anything else in common except for this one thing but that doesn't matter because we all belong to the same tribe and we get one another.

This is just one reason why we run.

"One Tribe, one time, one planet, one race

It's all one blood, don't care about your face

The color of your eye or the tone of your skin

Don't care where ya are

Don't care where ya been

Cause where we gonna go

Is where we wanna be

The place where the little language is unity

And the continent is called Pangaea

And the main ideas are connected like a spear

No propaganda, They tried to upper hand us

Cause man I'm loving this peace

Man, man, I'm loving this peace

Man, man, I'm loving this peace"

One Tribe

Black Eyed Peas

D

Nights where you can do whatever you want

It's one of those nights that doesn't come along too often, no plans! That means the night is mine and I have got to say, I'm kind of looking forward to it. The options are limitless. There is nothing that I need to do leaving my evening completely in my hands!

What should I do? I could...

Get together with some friends

Go to a movie

Go to the book store

Watch a game on tv

Catch a movie at home

Read a book

Channel surf

Or, anything else I want to do!

Happy free Friday night!

D

Birthday Parties

Young or old, big or small, who doesn't like a good birthday party? Whether it's yours or someone else's, cake, presents, laughs, games, smiles, it's all good!

Yup, this could be you, your friend, a brother, cousin, distant relative, maybe even someone who isn't your close buddy but you got the invite because your mom knows their mom and yada, yada, yada!

In the end it doesn't really matter. As long as fun is had by all (and sometimes tears are shed, but they're quickly forgotten with copious amounts of sugary icing and cake), a birthday party is a guarantee to put smiles on everyone's faces! 

So, sing it loud, sing it proud. Put your own spin on it! After all, it's a birthday party, it's your right to act a little silly and eat more than you are supposed to! Just enjoy the party and crash on the car ride home!

Woohoo!

Happy Birthday to whoever's birthday it is!

Darryl

Charles M. Schulz

Creator of Peanuts. Books or tv specials, they're all good. I grew up reading these clever little cartoons and still appreciate them today. Whether it's Snoopy battling the Red Baron, Charlie Brown trying to muster up the courage to go talk to the little red haired girl, or Lucy staring adoringly at Schroeder as he plays Beethoven on his piano, they all have a special place in my heart as they bring back many fond memories as a kid reading the newspaper comic strip and rereading the many books I had in my collection.

Found a few of these gems at Chapters and I live that my kids now get the same pleasure out of them as I did and still do!

Darryl

Indoor golf

It's mid February, winter in Saskatchewan. Even with El Niño making this winter unseasonably warm, and very little snow on the ground, I can't golf at this time of the year. 

Or can I? 

What's that you say, I can? 

But how?

Indoor golf? 

And I can golf anywhere in the world? From the old course at St. Andrews to Hawaii and anywhere in between?

Hmmmm....sounds interesting....enticing....expensive...

Well, it's a lot cheaper than taking a warm weather holiday, especially with the limited, expensive flights departing from Regina and our plummeting Canadian dollar! 

Noah and I golfed 9 holes in Hawaii this morning and made it back home in time for lunch. Not bad considering the time zone change!

If you like golfing and have the itch to get out, play an expensive, exotic course and only have 2 hours to do it in, indoor golf may be the solution for you to get out and swing the cobwebs off those clubs. Other than the awful feel of those first few swings, a pretty fun way to kill a couple of hours. And, it makes me dream of the upcoming summer!

I can almost smell the fresh cut grass and the feeling that your club makes as it brushes the top of the dewy grass when the face of your club connects with that magical dimpled ball sending it straight toward the pin. (At least that's what it looks like in my mind!)

Bring on spring!

3 putt Bussiere

Belly laughs!

When you laugh so hard it hurts! And, let's hope you don't have a mouthful at the time, hey Abi!

Here's the progression...

LOL!

Darryl

NBA All Star Weekend

I haven't tuned into this beauty regularly over the years but with Abi's love of bball and Kobe Bryant being her favourite player and this being his farewell season, we've recorded and rewatched the skills competition and the game this weekend. 

And what a beauty it has been!

TO had been a great venue for the festivities this weekend and it's always great to see the lone Canadian city as the host of the best bball players in the world as they showcase individual talents and the fun that the game is.

Records set, dunks that defy gravity, and players having fun while competing with one another are what make this weekend so entertaining to watch. It's great to watch my daughter in awe of the skill and talent of these players. And what a better way to pay tribute to one of the best to ever play the game, #24. Love him or hate him, there is no denying what he has brought to the game of bball throughout he world.

And, who are we kidding, any time we get to watch Curry play, is a treat! 

Thanks James Naismith!

Darryl

McDonalds

It doesn't happen very often but when it does, it just feels right. On the way back from Moose Jaw for a hockey game, everyone's tummies have the rumbles. What can everyone agree on? Yup, you guessed it....the Golden Arches!

I know it's so not the healthiest dinner choice but tonight, convenience wins out and the drive thru window is just too darn convenient. Grease marks start to stain through the brown paper bag by the time we pull up to the house, the smell of fries overtakes the odour of the hockey bag. And by the time I sit down to dig into my quarter pounder with cheese, Noah has already almost polished off his McChicken and Abi has a healthy start on her double cheeseburger meal. Not a lot of conversation going on other than "dad, this is a little bit of heaven in my mouth" from the peanut gallery. 

Funny how sometimes it's something as small as a fast food meal to put a smile on everyone's faces!

Da da da da da, I'm lovin' it!

DB

James Bond movies

There is a loooooong list of them and I certainly don't claim to be an expert by any means but I have seen quite a few of them over the years and they are always entertaining. Just finished watching this beauty with the kids!

It was their first taste of James Bond and I think I've created a couple of new Bond fans! Ive also seen the most recent Bond flick,

And it definitely doesn't disappoint either!

There is something about 007 movies that just keeps you coming back for more. Sure, you have a pretty good inkling that Bond isn't going to finally meet his match, but there are always some unexpected twists along the way that keep you on the edge of your seat!

Here' a short list of my reasons why I keep tuning in to the next Bond movie.

1. The intro...there's always an epic battle scene to kick the movie off!

2. The end of the intro...you know where the Bond silhouette walks across the screen, pulls his gun, shoots and blood falls across the screen...CLASSIC!

3. Bonds gadgets....always cool (must be a guy thing!)

4. Bonds cars...some pretty sick rides!

5. The hot women Bond always seems to "stumble" across.

6. The numerous epic hand to hand fight scenes that would kill the normal human like 10 times over!

7. The final battle scene. It's always worth the wait and never disappoints!

8. The way he says....."Bond, James Bond"

Don't pass up the chance to see a Bond film, classic or new, you won't be disappointed.

Nothing like a good Bond action movie,

Bussiere, Darryl Bussiere

(Yeah, I know, it's not quite the same, but a guy can dream!)

Longer days....more sunlight

On my way out to Vibank for Noah's hockey practice tonight and it was so nice to drive out in the daylight still. 

Longer days means more sunlight which means spring is around the corner! Can't wait for those evening runs, bike rides, walks in the evening with the sun still high in the sky!

#springandsummerarearoundthecorner!

Darryl

My amazing birthday boy!

Where have the years gone? 11 today and I couldn't be any more proud of this little guy than I am today. 

Even with his goofy sister photo bombing his bday pic, he still has that million dollar smile on his face!

So blessed to have been able to spend breakfast, after school and supper with him. Love you to bits Noah!

And, who scored a hat trick on his birthday? #17! That's who!

You rock little man!

Happy birthday Noah! You are everything a father could ask for in a son!

Love you,

Darryl 

Aka daddy

Drugs

Ok, perhaps that doesn't sound great as a title...let me clarify. What I meant to say is good drugs. Oh oh, that did't make it any better did it? Let's try this again.

Good over the counter medication that makes you feel a little better. How is that? That's what I thought. Achy joints, sore throat, rattle in my chest, a head ache and just an overall feeling of blah.

I thought I'd make it to lunch at work today but my body said otherwise. A quick print off of lesson plans fr my classes and I was on my way to Shoppers Drug Mart for some acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and halls cough candies by 8 am. Now I'm good to go. 

When in doubt, Dr. Gerry always said 2 acetaminophen and 2 ibuprofen and that'll help almost anything (thanks doc). After a fitful sleep this morning and this afternoon and a little food in my belly, I'm ready to repeat. Here I come bed!

Yes, know the pic is crooked but that's about how I feel so there!

Waiting for the Sandman,

D....zzzzzzzzzz

My warm, comfy bed

When you're not feeling 100%, there is nothing like your warm, comfy bed. Have a snooze, read a book, solve all the worlds major problems, it's all doable from the cozy confines of your bed.

Slightly medicated, but still thankful,

D

Super bowl Sunday

There are many traditions out there and this is one that I look forward to and enjoy each and every year. Whether it's getting together with a big group, a few close friends or just hanging out watching the game on your own, it's a football fans pinnacle of the year.

Good food, tasty bevys, commercials that you actually pay attention to, and a hyped up halftime show that always has the critic in everyone offering their opinion. Oh, and let's not forget the game itself! It's on my bucket list (along with every other sports fan). It's been a great game the last few years and I'm going this year follows the trend.

Enjoy the game everyone!

A fan of the game (and Coldplay, the halftime performer),

Darryl

Daddy daughter days

A one of a kind day! Just like my one of a kind little girl. We packed a lot in today and I couldn't have asked for a better day when it comes to spending my undivided attention on my amazing little girl.

Puffed wheat squares before lunch? Yes we did!

I was then treated to a grilled cheese sandwich with a pepperoni stick for lunch made by Abi. Delicious! Couldn't have done it better myself!

After lunch, After going through my entire recipe box, Abs decided she wanted to make "Smartie Infused Brownies". So, she got at it...

Look out Martha Stewart!

And, what are brownies without icing of course?

At least we took them off the mixer first! And yes, that is icing on her nose (I likely have some on mine too!).

Next up was planning supper. Chef Abi decided she wanted Italian sausage on pasta shells with tomato Alfredo sauce and garlic bread. Excellent choice Abi! We'll need to pick up a few supplies but first lets hit the town kiddo!

So off to check a few places out. We came up empty in our search for a basketball pic for her bedroom but we managed to find some smokin' deals on a few pairs of pants for Abi at Lululemon! Check these deals out!

3 pairs of pants for less than the regular price of 1! Sweet!

When we thought it couldn't get much better, Abi and I spent about an hour going through the Mackenzie Art Gallery. We had some great chats about the several amazing exhibits on display there from the Group of Seven to some modern acrylic work that gave some ideas to my little artist! Can't wait to see what she creates next...

Giant snowflakes and rain (yes, rain in February in Saskatchewan!) didn't damper our mood as we hit Safeway for a few groceries to create an amazing supper. I must say, our teamwork in the kitchen is pretty awesome!

Mmmmm! A masterpiece followed by her smartie brownies with ice cream!

That smile is absolutely PRICELESS!

When I thought the day couldn't get any better, we settled in on the couch, snuggling while watching a movie together followed by watching a little bball game on tv...the Golden State Warriors vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. Curry vs KD. Hanging with my girl, chatting about anything and everything without a care in the world. This is what it's all about. I couldn't have asked for a better daddy daughter day than today. I'm one lucky dad!

Chubby photo bomb!

Lol!

A lot to be thankful for today!

D

Friday

Whew! Man that seemed like a long work week. I'm not sure what it was, meetings, lots of running around, knowing that the February break is around the corner, or something else, but it felt like Friday would never come! Thankfully it was a great day so the end of the work week wrapped up nicely. My classes were good, had a great lunch, got to hang out with my little girl, and then a nice evening to look forward to!

Dear weekend,

Please take your time now that you're here. I don't want you to be gone in the blink of an eye. There are too many things that I want to enjoy before Monday comes!

Sincerely,

Darryl

My new chairs!

Ordered in July, manufacturer maintenance shut down, missed the boat at least once from overseas and numerous mix ups in communication but low and behold, they're here! 

Unoccupied chairs

Breaking them in!

Livin' the life!

Worth the wait!

Thanks Tim and Arlene! You rock!

1 happy customer,

Darryl