Check out the pictures of our recent family vacation in Newfoundland. In there are a bunch of pictures including the highlights from the Labour Day Christmas celebration in Witless Bay. I wrote about this before, but it is essentially a weekend of fun and games for kids and adults alike. In particular, members of the family who have not participated in the celebrations before are subject to a battery of initiation abuses, all of which involve ensuring the target stays wet for as long as possible. If you think you’d enjoy watching me be the target of the Witless Bay Bucket Brigade, then click on the photos and check out the whole pile.

It was hectic getting him ready that first week, driving him around to buy supplies, snacks, bedding etc. and trying not to forget anything. His first couple of nights in the dorm were a little rough on him. He is a fairly quiet kid, not really getting into too much rowdiness growing up. The other kids in the dorm pretty much let loose that first week… all week… all hours. Between dealing with the noise, sleepless nights, broken heat in the rooms (it was on high and wouldn’t turn down), cafeteria food and a huge lifestyle change, our son was not having a great time. It was difficult to drop him off the night before we left Newfoundland. I got a lump in my throat and my heart was pounding, but I managed not to break down and cry. Later on while driving home, I DID hear a pretty sad song that managed to make me sob my eyes out. I mean why, WHY must that continue to achy break that poor man’s heart? Really sad song, but at least I didn’t wuss out while watching my son walk into adulthood.

Later that week, our son continued to struggle with the adjustment to dorm life. His buddy from down the street who traveled to Newfoundland to attend the same university and who happened to be my son’s dorm roommate decided that he wanted to quit and return to New Brunswick. Wow! I was so afraid this might give our son fuel for giving in to his misery and asking to do the same. However, I think it made him stronger. He pushed his friend to change his mind and put forth arguments that sounded a little like, well, me. Now, while he is still not really enjoying the whole dorm life thing, he has a stronger attitude about it. He is determined to make the most of it.

Am I missing him dearly? Yes. Am I worried about him? A little. Am I proud of him? Most certainly.

Good luck, Garrett my son. Good luck.

It was awesome… I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

Oh, and boy am I delicious! Especially with maple syrup.

He has spent the last two years with what I consider to be a very cool job for a kid his age. Two years ago he walked into Future Shop and dropped of an application. Within a couple of days he was their newest employee and also their youngest. He spent the next two years learning how to be responsible, prepared, and professional. He really had a hard time saying “so long” to his friends and colleagues down there, not to mention the employee discount!

This job helped pay his way through a European trip with his school, gave him spending money, gobs of gas money, Christmas money, helped him save for university, countless electronic gadgets and gizmos, and gave him an experience he’ll always remember.

In two days we hit the road to send him off to university. The adventure begins.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For those of you reading this from Newfoundland… there’s still time for you. The show will be at Mile One stadium in St. John’s from June 19 through June 28. Check it out… you won’t regret it!

You heard me.

She is in the final five candidates in a national competition to be a television music station host! As impressive as that is, it’s not good enough. We can’t rest until she is the winner. Same deal as before folks. Go to the CMT casting call website and vote for Melissa. And don’t vote just once… vote over and over again. Click that mouse until the fingernail on your index finger falls off. The voting window is from today, June 8, until June 29. There will be a finale show on June 29 at 8 pm Eastern Time Zone featuring all five finalists. The winner will be announced June 30 at 5 pm ET on CMT.

What are you waiting for? Go vote! My wife can’t do this one by herself!

Here he is, in all his glory! Happy Birthday (yesterday), Garrett!

]]> http://www.ohmenerves.com/20090601/birthday-boy/feed 1 http://www.ohmenerves.com/20090527/empty-nest http://www.ohmenerves.com/20090527/empty-nest#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 20:54:24 +0000 Steve http://www.ohmenerves.com/?p=1247 My son is in his last week of school, not just for the year, but forever. He’s about to do his final exams and he plans to go to university in the fall at Memorial University back in Newfoundland. In the last three years, since grade 10, he’s really turned it on with regards to his school work. He does his homework without my help or my wife’s nagging rightful prompting. He takes time to study and pays attention in class. His grades in high school have gotten better every year and they are running about 15% higher than when he was in middle school. I think he’s well prepared for the work required from university and has a good head on his shoulders. He’s a good kid and we have a lot to be proud of, but he’s leaving us soon. He’s entering his final summer holidays of adolescence and will be off to university in the fall.

My wife has been in Newfoundland visiting family since last week. My almost-18 son has his own social life and has spent a good portion of his time out with friends, leaving me with nobody but the dog. Aaawwwwweee. I’m not looking for sympathy, I’m just saying I’ve had a lot of quiet time to think. I always thought that as our son grew into a man and left the house to start his own life I’d simply turn a page in my life and start the next chapter. I thought that we’d miss him if he went to another town for university (thank GOD he’s planning to do university) or if he moved out on his own, but we’d go with the flow and enjoy the next phase of our life with lower grocery bills and less laundry.

But as the date gets closer and he hits more milestones spelling out in flashing neon the inevitable day that he moves out my anxiety levels increase. Just like my 40th birthday a couple of years ago, what I thought would be a simple life gate I would walk through is setting up to be a mental and emotional boot camp obstacle course run by some sick drill sergeant yelling obscenities at me. I know it won’t kill me, but it doesn’t calm the feelings of dreadful melancholy that haunt me when I think about it.

We’ve always joked that when he’s 18 he’s outta here, but that always seemed so far away. Somehow, I think I’m gonna hate the sight of that empty laundry basket…

Went to my first concert in years last night. The Newfoundland super group Great Big Sea was in Moncton. I could go on about how great the show was and how Alan Doyle, the lead singer coerced the audience to their feet from the third song through to the end of the concert. But anyone who knows the band knows that a singing, bouncing, clapping crowd is par for the course with this awesome stage band, so I won’t waste your time by saying it needlessly here.

What I didn’t know before, was that the band has been together for 16 years. In fact, the concert date (March 11, 2009) was the 16th anniversary of their inaugural gig held at Memorial University in St. John’s. Great Big Show!!!

Elsewhere last night, in my absence, my recreational pool league team clinched first place in regular season play with two weeks yet to play. As captain of that team I’m proud that my truancy assisted them secure that distinction for us. I couldn’t be happier! Good job guys!

Oh, almost forgot. My big bro turned 46 yesterday too. Happy Belated Birthday Bill.

All in all, a Great Big Day.

Thanks Gerry and Cindy!