Life

Life’s Wake-Up Call

Posted by on September 28, 2011 at 11:00 am

Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part [...]

Life vs. Apps

Posted by on September 28, 2011 at 10:36 am

I sometimes wish that changes in human relationships visually prompted us to re-accept the terms of service before proceeding. I doubt that any of us would bother to read the terms of service anyway, but at least when things went wrong the blame would rest solely on us for not understanding what we’d agreed to.

Growing older

Posted by on February 8, 2011 at 1:48 pm

I’ve finally reached that time in my life where it’s become tempting to lie about my age. While this has long been an accepted if not celebrated custom of women, it’s not been as popular among men.  Of course, consider that men have benefited enormously from the (probably male-perpetuated) notion that age on a man makes [...]

Dr. Govlove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blog

Posted by on December 1, 2010 at 7:00 am

(or even: Why you should join Twitter or start a blog immediately) Note: This post contains GCPEDIA links only accessible within the Government of Canada network. Not long ago, I made the acquaintance of a young, energized public servant.  I was impressed by their1 enthusiasm, imagination, expression and boundless drive to create.  I encouraged this [...]

The Bad Samaritan Chronicles – Episode 1

Posted by on November 25, 2010 at 2:00 pm

I was out for a coffee over the lunch hour with a friend of mine. On the walk back to my office I noticed the parking patrol was on the prowl. The officer slowed, came to a stop, then started backing slowly to put himself in line with a black SUV next to an expired [...]

Phase IV – Ottawa/Gatineau Time Warp

Posted by on November 8, 2010 at 3:15 pm

IMAG0047, originally uploaded by toddlyons. I love the architecture of Place du Portage IV. It’s still so unabashedly 1970s; evocative of a time and place out of childhood where Ottawa was remote and near-mythical. I never believed as a child, nor as a young adult, that I would ever live or work in the National [...]

Children Really Are Animals

Posted by on November 4, 2010 at 9:24 am

IMAG0030, originally uploaded by toddlyons. I walk past this sign every day on the way to my office. Am I the only one that’s struck by the amusing juxtaposition of children and animals? Thankfully, my kids are allergy-free, but just the same I’d prefer if they weren’t fed by passing strangers.

Get a Grip

Posted by on October 16, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Get a Grip 1, originally uploaded by toddlyons. My wife loves me, This I know, For her gag gifts Tell me so. Just about ever Saturday, my wife brings me home something from the second-hand shop she works at.  Often it’s clothes, but occasionally it’s a novelty gift like this one. Yeah, sometimes I do [...]

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-22

Posted by on August 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm

RT @anildash: Because of their track record of killing Americans, I can’t support the construction of a Ground Zero McDonald’s. # RT @SLJT06: Make sure your kids are asleep before you do the nasty!! OMG! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PpYasA94sU # Vegetables have plenty of protein, and even potatoes are a complete protein http://bit.ly/aaCA5k #vegetarian #vegan # Survey: 98 [...]

Desparately Seeking Social Life

Posted by on August 14, 2010 at 11:26 am

Moms,  Dads:  Consider yourself crowdsourced. I’m a happily-married father of three girls (two, four, and six) who’s witnessed his involvements outside work, home, and family dwindle from some to little, then from little to nothing, and more recently from near-nothing to near-something.  I could use some perspective about what a realistic expectation is because for [...]