Remembering someone special

In my teaching career, I have been blessed to have met and taught some pretty amazing students. Some stand out more than others for various reasons and it's the events over the past week that have reminded me of how truly special these kids are and how fortunate I have been to have been a part of their lives. 

Sometimes things happen that bring an end to a life that is far too short. Unfortunately I've been through this several times, hearing that a past students life has ended prematurely and today I attended the memorial of a student who I will never forget. 

Kenton was in about grade 3 or 4 when I first started teaching at Coronation Park and let me tell you, he was not a kid that you could miss out on the playground! His grandfather dropped him off at school almost every day and I remember speaking with him and Kenton on many occasions. You see, Kenton was always an energetic ball bouncing from game to game. His mischief found himself in trouble on various occasions but as I remember, he was just doing what he should be doing, being a kid. 

After 3 years of teaching at CP School, I moved on and taught at a couple of other elementary schools before landing at Thom Collegiate. In the spring before I started at Thom, I was visiting the school and one of the first faces I saw in the halls was Kenton. He greeted me with the same big smile I remembered from several years before. He remembered my name (as did I of his) and we chatted for a few minutes before I went on my way. In the fall when I started my new position at Thom, Kenton was there, to welcome me again with his big smile. 

Over the next 2 years, I always exchanged hellos with him in the halls and saw him successfully graduate in 2011. Kenton had a big heart and a soft soul. He was talented musically and was always surrounded by friends from all walks of life and as I heard today, this didn't change at all once he graduated from high school. I had only seen him a couple of times since he graduated and when I did, he was always willing to stop and chat. Last year, his younger brother Tyler entered grade 9 @ Thom. As I've gotten to know Tyler, I can see the definite impression that Kenton had made on his life and you can definitely tell that family is so important to them. I was lucky enough to be able to recognize Tyler at an assembly about 6 weeks ago for his football achievements. Following the assembly, I was able to chat with Kenton and briefly catch up with him as he was beaming with pride over his little brother. It was great to see him again and hear of how well he was doing.

Kenton's life came to an end last Friday as a result of an allergic reaction. I can only imagine what his family is going through as I knew the wonderful young man that Kenton had become. I'm truly blessed and thankful that I was able to know Kenton and that we have shared time together in our lives.

It's with a heavy heart that today I say good bye to a student, brother, son, and young man who touched so many lives including my own. 

Rest in peace Kenton

Public transit

Long story short...when inEdmonton last week, I had to take a cab to the airport. Now you're thinking, taking a cab isn't so bad right? No, it isn't. However, I thought that $63 for a cab ride was a little much, regardless of how far the ride was. So, rather than take the cab back to meet up with my group, I elected to enquire about the bus. 

After running to catch the bus before it left from Edmonton International Airport to the South Edmonton Commons bus terminal, I paid my $5 and hopped on with 1 other passenger and enjoyed the ride into Edmonton. At the South Edmonton Common terminal, I then paid a whopping $3.50 to catch the city bus which wound its way through southwest Edmonton, eventually taking me to my destination, the West Edmonton Mall where I met up with my group. 

The ride was quite pleasant I must say! It even wound its way past my brothers first place when he moved to the community of Riverbend! I got to see all types of people, and several different communities that if never been in before. Overall, it was a pleasant way to spend an hour or so.

Meandering Darryl

Coaching

It's a lot of work, but it's all worth it. Every single minute of it! 

Why do I do it?

* so I'm involved

* because my kids like when I coach

* it's rewarding to see the improvement of individuals and the team as a whole

* because of the smiles on the faces of the kids I coach

* because it helps keep me grounded

* because I love it

* because I can!

Coach D

Impromptu football game

So, I decided to just pick up my flag football coaches bag and skip the meeting. I went last year, what could I really miss? Instead, I came home and the kids and I went to the park to play catch with the football. As we're playing, some neighbours from down the street strolled by with a soccer ball. After exchanging hellos, we asked them if they'd like to have a little game....the response, GAME ON!

We decided on girls vs. The boys with me playing QB for both teams. Abi & Cindy vs. Noah and Kaden.

It was a seesaw battle of acrobatic catches and stellar defensive plays by both sides! Who knows what the score was in the end but I declared it a tie game. A battle for the ages! It left both teams excited for the next match (hopefully sooner rather than later!).

Great way to spend the evening with some great kids and a couple of great parents if I do say so myself!

Go Browns!

Can't wait for the flag football season hey Abi?

QB Bussiere

Finding that shirt that screams your name!

As soon as I saw it, I knew she'd like it. I didn't show her, she found it herself and immediately pulled it off the rack and said "this shirt is awesome dad! Can I please get it". 

How could I say no?

Love this kid!

D

Trying on that ridiculously expensive item of clothing you have no intention of buying

Hmmmm....I wonder what I'd look like in that $3000 blazer?

"Would you like to try that on sir?"

"Yes I would, thank you."

Sweet!

The sales lady takes the security cord off and I slip the blazer on...yup, right over top of my Lululemon hoodie!

Sweet indeed!

A guy can dream, can't he?

Stylin' DB

Being that shoulder to lean on

Sometimes you need the shoulder. Sometimes you are the shoulder. 

Sometimes there are many shoulders.

It doesn't make sense sometimes and you may never know why things play out like they do but being there for someone and having others there for you when it is most needed is what makes us thankful for one another.

Today we faced a tremendous amount of adversity and although it was tough, everyone was there and did what they could to help out and do what they could to support one another. I was thankful for some amazing people around me and I'm so very thankful that I was able to do what I could for those who needed it the most.

Darryl

Awesome new socks

Montreal Expos socks....AWESOME! 

Thanks Simon's in Edmonton!

What else could I possibly say? The picture tells it all!

Darryl

Dinner theatre

85 students, 10 chaperones, dinner theatre at WEM. An opportunity that many of the kids would ever have. The smiles on their faces was priceless! A great time was had by all!

Thanks Sarah!

DB

Long days on a bus with people who make you laugh

8:00 am departure

Regina to Saskatoon

Saskatoon to North Battleford

Concert in North Battleford

NB to Lloydminister 

Supper in Lloyd

Lloydminister to Edmonton

9:15 on arrival

Sitting with an awesome colleague who for several years has invited me to chaperone on the annual music tour sharing stories and making one another and the parent chaperones laugh over and over again on every leg of the trip...priceless!

And the great thing is that we get to do it all over again on the trip home Friday night! (I'm sure we'll share some lights in between then too!)

Trippin' Darryl

School field trips

3 day trip to Edmonton with 85 students!

Let the good times roll!

Highway man Darryl

Warm paper right off the photocopier

I know, it's odd but you've got to agree with me that it puts a smile on your face when you pull the paper off the tray right after copying. It's warm and it smells good. Well, it put a smile on my face this morning!

Double-sided Darryl

Slurpee days!

Beautiful sun shining spring day. Tennis for nearly 2 hours with my little guy. What better way than to sit outside slurping a Slurpee with him?

No brain freeze here,

Darryl

Minot part II

Noah's turn to play. 

3 games in 1 day makes for some tired boys! Overall,  a good tourney with some good games. 

Proud of my little guy and his hustle out there along with the rest of the Thunder crew.

Can't wait to watch them play again in their final tourney of the year in 2 weeks time.

Go Thunder!!!

Coach Darryl

Tennis with my little guy!

It was cool and windy, only +7 Celcius but when I asked Noah what he wanted to do tonight, there was no hesitation. Tennis. Ok, let's grab the racquets and head to the nearest courts.

May have been the French Open, could have been the US Open, or perhaps it was Wimbeldon. It was an epic battle from the moment these 2 fierce competitors hit the court. They rallied, exchanging volleys, aces, forehands and backhands that would make your head spin! But in the end, after over an hour of intense competition, 2 winners emerged. Noah and his dad. 

Can't wait to do it again!

Darryl "backhand" Bussiere

Really good art...NOT!

Needed to do a quick geography lesson with a class and I didn't have a map of the world so.....

Yup, nailed it. Sure they mocked me but it got the point across! 

By the way, did you know that according to my map, Antarctica is now just a giant rectangular block of ice? Well, according to cartographer Bussiere, it is! Oh, and Japan has apparently disappeared...likely a giant tsunami. 

Bring it on Magellan,

Darryl

Walks after a rain

This evening I was able to go to the park and play catch with Abi and then go for a walk together. It had rained earlier and you could smell the freshness of spring all around. We had the park and the streets to ourselves and had a blast chatting about this, that and everything. I love that she's almost a teenager and still loves to walk with me and hold my hand❤️. It's times like this that I'll always treasure as I know the day is coming when friends will occupy time that I've been so blessed to have with my  little girl. No matter what, she'll always be my little girl!

I love you Abi!

Daddy

Beautiful spring evenings

BBQ

Games in the park

Photo shoot

Tim's hot chocolate

Trip to Chapters

Watching a little volleyball practice

+18...what an evening! (Hence the late post!)

Darryl

Getting "schooled" in cards by your daughter

Teach a 12 year old a card game and look out! After the first couple of games, she's whooping your butt and showing no signs of mercy!

The game is Speed. It's pretty simple.  Get rid of your cards before the other player does by laying down cards one at a time in numerical sequence in either direction. I guess having 2 teeth pulled first thing this morning wasn't enough to slow Abi down!

Looks like I'll need to sharpen my skills up before our next bout!

Not as fast as I used to be,

Darryl

Happy kids

Sometimes it doesn't take much. Hanging out watching a game, coaching them, watching them play, or just a conversation on a 4 hour drive home from a successful basketball tournament. You can tell when they're really happy and have enjoyed spending time with you and friends as much as you have enjoyed the time with them. 

Loving every minute of it!

So thankful,

Darryl

New shoes

Finding a new pair of shoes on sale! Just what I've been looking for!

Happy feet, 

DB

Basketball road trips

Tourney in Minot. Why not Minot? Quick trip down on a Friday night...snack pick up at Target then eating on the bed. 

Good times!

Basketball bright and early in the morning  @ 8:00 am. 

Go Junior Cougars!

#1 Fan,

Daddy Darryl

Smiles

It's a simple thing. A smile. Sometimes we need it. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes someone else needs it. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes we don't realize that we need it and when it happens, it changes your mood, puts a little extra jump in your step, makes you forget all about what isn't making you smile. It could be a friend, family member, colleague, an elderly person or a child. Regardless of who it comes from or who the recipient is, you can't help but feel good for even a brief moment. Hopefully it lasts for longer than that, but if it doesn't, you know it made a difference in someone's day for at least the briefest of moments.

So take the time to make someone smile tomorrow at least once. Trust me, you'll make someone's day and you too will feel great about it! In fact, it's almost a guarantee that it'll put a smile on your face as well. You see, smiles are contagious. Start it out. Watch it spread. And wait for it to return to where it began.

🙂

D

The Mexican Fisherman

Sometimes we need a reminder of what really matters in life and that what we already have, is all we really need.

Thankful for all I have.

Darryl

Disagreements

Thankful for disagreements? You're thinking this guy is crazy! What's he talking about? 

Most people like to avoid conflict. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan but I think it's good for the brain to think about the different opinions/perspectives on a topic that you don't see eye to eye with someone on. I'm a processor. I need time to think before I state my case. I don't necessarily need a lot of time but I like to think about what I'm going to say before I say it. Others are the opposite. They blurt out the 1st thing that comes into their mind, often reacting emotionally. I don't think that this is bad, I just prefer to try and remove the emotion, especially when it is sensitive topic. Now, that doesn't mean I'm insensitive (at least I don't think so), but I I like to carefully consider all the options before responding so my response isn't as emotionally charged as some may respond. Now don't get me wrong, I get fired up sometimes too and the emotion definitely comes out in my response/opinion.

Neither is right and neither is wrong but I sometimes get a sort of satisfaction out of a good disagreement or debate over something, even when nothing is resolved. Sometimes you need to agre to disagree but yet somehow come to a resolution, which is often easier said than done.

In fact, if it makes you feel better, you can disagree with me on this post! I dare you! I fact, I double dog dare you to disagree! Tough to resist that isn't it?

Disagreeing Darryl

Elections

Yes, we are very lucky to live in a free democratic nation. Today was provincial election day and whether or not you agree with who was elected, you had the right as a citizen of Saskatchewan to cast your vote for who you would like to represent your voice in our fine province.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, I believe that it is important that you take the time to cast your vote. It is a privelidge that we have in our fine country that many throughout the world would love to have the right to do.

And, if you don't take the time to vote and cast your opinion, I believe you don't have the right to complain about who was elected! So, I hope all you Saskatchewanians took the time to vote today!

Darryl

Finally getting the last book in a trilogy that you've been waiting what seems like forever to read!

Could be my longest blog title of the year.

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to read the latest and greatest and sometimes not so greatest books. As an added bonus, I get to read some of the same stuff that my daughter reads. 

I love a good story with a twist and this series is no exception. It's a modern day twist of life after The Wizard of Oz. im not going to spoil it for you but all I will say is that the real Dorothy is not who you thought she was. Check it out if you want a good teen fantasy to read for your kids (or for yourself!). It's by Danielle Paige and the first book is called Dorothy Must Die.

Darryl

BBQ days

+21 Celcius today...pretty awesome for the beginning of April in Saskatchewan. What better way to cap off the day than a BBQ for supper. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you BBQ. It could be a steak, pork chops, burgers, souvlaki, or just a good old fashioned hot dog. It's great to sit outside in the sunshine while your supper cooks on the BBQ. That way you can enjoy the smell of your supper being grilled while you wait. 

It's shaping up to be a great BBQ season!

D

Badminton

I haven't played this game for quite some time! Both kids are playing at school these days so we decided to go up to the gym and hit the old birdie around.

I was quite surprised at how good hitho f them are at this timeless classic. It was an absolute blast playing with these 2 this morning. 

It brought back some good memories of my playing days too! 

Just in case you're wondering, I've still got it!

DB