On a More Serious Note...

Canada hit a milestone over the weekend of December 5, 2008, unfortunately it was a milestone that no one wanted to happen. On Friday December 5, Corporal Mark Robert McLaren, Pte Demetrios Diplaros, and Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson were killed while serving in Afghanistan, bringing the total to 100. This is not about whether Canadian Soldiers should be there, but rather this is about showing support for the soldiers who are still there, and showing respect to those soldiers and their families who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

I have gathered the names, rank, unit, age, marital staus, and whether they had children, and have posted here, all in one location. I have also included a brief description of the circumstances of their deaths. I apologize for any errors this list may contain. If you find any, please leave me a comment and I will make corrections.

I ask that you read through the list, and as you do, please take the time to reflect what this men and woman have done in the name of our great country, Canada. Do not forget those who are still overseas, serving as part of Canada's military family. Over the holiday season, remember that while you are enjoying time with family and friends, that the members of our military are in harms way, thousands of miles from home. I will let the words of Corporal Grenon explain why they are there.

A Soldier's Poem
Cpl. Andrew Grenon wrote this poem during his 2006 tour of duty in Afghanistan entitled "Why We Fight:". Corporal Grenon was killed September 8, 2008 when his squad was attacked during a patrol.

"I've often asked myself why we are here. Why my government actually agreed to send troops to this God-forsaken place.

"There are no natural resources. No oil, gold, or silver. Just people.

"People who have been at war for the last 40 plus years. People who want nothing more than their children to be safe. People who will do anything for money; even give their own life.

"I look into the eyes of these people. I see hate, destruction and depression. I see love, warmth, kindness and appreciation.

"Why do we fight? For in this country, there are monsters. Monsters we could easily fight on a different battlefield, at a different time. Monsters that could easily take the fight to us.

"Surrounding these mud walls and huts is a country in turmoil. A country that is unable to rebuild itself. A country that cannot guarantee a bright future for its youth.


Lost in action, but never forgotten...

1. April 17, 2002: Sgt. Marc D. Leger – Age 29, married, no children, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, killed by American friendly fire.

2. April 17, 2002: Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer – Age 24, engaged, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, killed by American friendly fire.

3. April 17, 2002: Pte. Richard A. Green – Age 21, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, killed by American friendly fire.

4. April 17, 2002: Pte. Nathan Smith – Age 24, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, were killed by American friendly fire.

5. Oct. 2, 2003: Sgt. Robert Alan Short – Age 42, married, two children, 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed by a roadside bomb.

6. Cpl. Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger – Age 29, married, three children, 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed by a roadside bomb.

7. Jan. 27, 2004: Cpl. Jamie Murphy – Age 26, married, Royal Canadian Regiment, killed by a suicide bomber.

8. Nov. 24, 2005: Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield – Age 24, Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed in a traffic accident.

9. March 2, 2006: Cpl. Paul Davis - Age 28, married, two children, 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry died when his LAV III collided with a civilian taxi.

10. March 5, 2006: Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson – Age 30, married, two children, 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, succumbed to injuries suffered in the LAV- III crashed.

11. March 29, 2006: Pte. Robert Costall Age 22, married, one child, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed in a firefight with Taliban insurgents in the desert north of Kandahar.

12. April 22, 2006: Cpl. Matthew Dinning - 23, 5th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, were killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

13.April 22, 2006: Bombardier Myles Mansell – Age 25, engaged, 5th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, were killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

14. April 22, 2006: Lieut. William Turner - 45, 5th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, were killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

15. April 22, 2006: Cpl. Randy Payne - Age 32, wife, two children, 5th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, were killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

16. May 17, 2006: Capt. Nichola Goddard – Age 26, married, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and Canada's first female combat death, killed during battle against Taliban forces

17. July 9, 2006: Cpl. Anthony Joseph Boneca – Age 21, Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, was killed during fighting with the Taliban.

18. July 22, 2006: Cpl. Francisco Gomez – Age 44, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, attacked by a suicide bomber.

19. July 22, 2006: Corporal Jason Patrick Warren – Age 29, Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment, attacked by a suicide bomber.

20. August 3, 2006: Cpl. Christopher Jonathan Reid – Age 34, 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, killed by a roadside bomb.

21. August 3, 2006: Sargeant Vaughn Ingram – Age 35, wife, two children, 1sBattalion Process Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, killed by rocket propelled grenades.

22. August 3, 2006: Corporal Bryce Jeffrey Keller – Age 27, 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, killed by rocket propelled grenades.

23. August 3, 2006: Private Kevin Dallaire – Age 22, and an unnamed soldier, 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were killed by rocket propelled grenades.

24. August 5, 2006: Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt – Age 31, Loyal Edmonton Regiment, was killed when a G-Wagon making a supply run collided with a civilian truck.

25. August 9, 2006: Master Cpl. Jeffrey Scott Walsh – Age 33, married, three children, 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was shot in a "weapons related accident" unrelated to enemy fire.

26. August 11, 2006: Cpl. Andrew James Eykelenboom - Age 23, 1st Field Ambulance was killed when his vehicle was hit by a suicide bomber.

27. August 22, 2006: Corp. David Braun – Age 27, 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed by a suicide bomber.

28. September 3, 2006: Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan – Age 39, married, four children, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed in fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan.

29. September 3, 2006: Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish – Age 38, married, two children, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed in fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan.

30. September 3, 2006: Private William Jonathan James Cushley – Age 21, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed in fierce fighting in sourthern Afghanistan.

31. September 3, 2006: Sergeant Shane Stachnik – Age 30, married, two children, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, were killed in fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan.

32. September 4, 2006: Pte. Mark Anthony Graham – Age 33, one child, 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed in a friendly fire incident involving an American A-10 Warthog aircraft.

33. September 4, 2006: Private David Byers - 22, engaged, fiancee pregnant, 2nd Princess Patricia's Candian Light Infantry, killed while on patrol by a suicide bomber.

34. September 18, 2006: Cpl Shane Keating – Age 30, 2nd Pricncess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, killed while on patrol by a suicide bomber.

35. September 18, 2006: Cpl Keith Morley, - 30, 2nd Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, killed while on patrol by a suicide bomber.

36. September 18, 2006: Corporal Glen Arnold -age 32, married, four children, 2nd Field Ambulance, killed while on patrol by a suicide bomber.

37. September 29, 2006: Pte. Josh Klukie – Age 23, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed by an improvised explosive device.

38. October 3, 2006: Sgt. Craig Gillam – Age 40, married, two children, Royal Canadian Dragoons, killed in a series of mortar and rocket attacks.

39. October 3, 2006: Cpl. Robert Mitchell, - Age 32, married three children, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, killed in series of mortar and rocket attacks.

40. October 7, 2006: Mark Andrew Wilson – Age 39, married, two children, Royal Canadian Dragoons, was killed when his armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside explosion.

41. October 14, 2006: Sergeant Darcy Tedford – Age 32, married, two children, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed in a storm of gunfire and RPGs.

42. October 14, 2006: Private Blake Williamson – Age 23, 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, killed in a storm of gunfire and RPGs.

43. November 27, 2006: Corporal Albert Storm – Age 36, two children, 1st Royal Canadian Regiment, killed by suicide car bomber.

44. November 27, 2006: Sergeant Maj. Bob Girouard – Age 46, married, three children, 1st Royal Canadian Regiment, killed by a suicide car bomber.

45. March 6, 2007: Cpl. Kevin Megeney- Age 25, 1st Battalion Nova Scotia, shot in what's believed to be a "friendly fire" incident.

46. April 8, 2007: Sgt. Donald Lucas – Age 31, married, two children, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed when the vehicle he was travelling struck a roadside bomb.

47. April 8, 2007: Pte. Kevin Kennedy – Age 20, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed when the vehicle he was travelling struck a roadside bomb.

48. April 8, 2007: Cpl. Aaron E. Williams – Age 23, engaged, one child, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed when the vehicle he was travelling struck a roadside bomb.

49. April 8, 2007: Pte. David R. Greenslade – Age 20, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed when the vehicle he was travelling struck a roadside bomb.

50. April 8, 2007: Cpl. Christopher P. Stannix – Age 24, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed when the vehicle he was travelling struck a roadside bomb.

51. April 8, 2007: Cpl. Brent Poland – Age 37, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, killed when the vehicle he was travelling struck a roadside bomb.

52. April 11, 2007: Master Cpl. Allan Stewart – Age 31, married, two children, Royal Canadian Dragoons, died after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

53. April 11, 2007: Trooper Patrick James Pentland – Age23, Royal Canadian Dragoons, died after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

54. April 18, 2007: Master Cpl. Anthony Klumpenhouwer - Age 25, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, died in an accident when he fell while climbing a communications tower.

55. May 25, 2007: Corp. Matthew McCully – Age 25, 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, killed by a roadside bomb.

56. May 30, 2007: Master Corporal Darrell Jason Priede - Age 30, International Security Assistance Force, died when his helicopter was shot down.

57. June 11, 2007: Trooper Darryl Caswell – Age 25, Royal Canadian Dragoons, was killed when the armoured vehicle he was driving was ripped apart by an improvised explosive device.

58. June 20, 2007: Sergeant Christos Karigiannis – Age 31, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

59. June 20, 2007: Corporal Stephen Frederick Bouzane – age 26, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

60. June 20, 2007: Private Joel Vincent Wiebe - Age262, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

61. July 4, 2007: Captain Matthew Johnathan Dawe – Age 25, married, one child, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

62. July 4, 2007: Corporal Cole Bartsch – Age 23, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

63. July 4, 2007: Corporal Jordan Anderson – Age 25, married, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

64. July 4, 2007: Captain Jefferson Francis – Age 37, married, one child, 1st Royal Canadian Heavy Artillery.

65. July 4, 2007:: Private Lane Watkins – Age 20, 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry,

66. July 4, 2007: Master-Corporal Colin Bason – Age 28, married, one child, Royal Westminster Regiment, were killed when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle.

67. August 19, 2007: Private Simon Longtin – Age 23, Van Doos Regiment, was killed by a roadside bomb.

68. August 22, 2007: Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne – Age 34, married, three children, 5th Ambulance Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (the Van Doo), was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

69. August 22, 2007: Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier – Age 43, married, three children, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (the Van Doo), was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

70. August 29, 2007: Major Raymond Ruckpaul – Age 42, International Security Assistance Force, was killed by self-inflicted gunshot wound.

71. September 24, 2007: Corporal Nathan Hornburg – Age 24, King's Own Calgary Regiment, died in heavy mortar fire.

72. November 17, 2007: Corporal Nicholas Raymond Beauchamp – Age28, married, two children, 5th Field Ambulance, Royal 22nd Regiment, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded.

73. November 17, 2007: Private Michel Levesque – Age 25 engaged, expecting, Royal 22nd Regiment, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded.

74. December 30, 2007: Jonathan Dion - 27, 5th Regiment d’Artillerie legere du Canada, was killed by roadside bomb.

75. January 6, 2008: Warrant Officer Hani Massouh – Age 41, married, one child, 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment, was killed when his Light Armoured Vehicle rolled over.

76. January 6, 2008: Corporal Éric Labbé – Age31, 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment, was killed when his Light Armoured Vehicle rolled over.

77. January 15, 2008: Trooper Richard Renaud – Age 26, married, two children, 12e Regiment blindé du Canada, was killed when his vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device.

78. January 24, 2008: Corporal Sapper Etienne Gonthier – Age 21, 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, died during a road-clearing operation in Afghanistan.

79. March 2, 2008: Trooper Michael Y. Hayakaze – Age 25, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians),was killed when his armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

80. March 11, 2008: Bombardier Jeremie Ouellet – Age 22, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, died, from a non-combat related incident.

81. March 16, 2008: Sgt. Jason Boyes – Age32, married, one child, 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was killed by an explosive device while on foot patrol.

82. April 4, 2008: Pte. Terry John Street – Age 24, 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed when his vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device.

83. May 6, 2008: Cpl. Corporal Michael Starker – Age 36, 15 Field Ambulance, was killed by insurgents.

84. June 3, 2008: Capt. Richard Steve Leary – Age 32, married, 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed in a firefight while on a foot patrol.

85. June 7, 2008: Cpt. Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Snyder – Age 26, engaged, 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, died when he fell into a well while on night patrol.

86. July 4, 2008: Corporal Brendan Anthony Downey – Age 37, married, two children, 17th Wing Detachment Dundurn Security and Military Police, was found dead on at undisclosed Middle Eastern base. The death is considered non-combat related.

87. July 5, 2008: Private Colin William Wilmot – Age 24, 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed by an explosion during a foot patrol in Afghanistan.

88. July 18, 2008: Corporal James Hayward Arnal – Age 25, 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed on by a roadside bomb.

89. August 9, 2008: Master Corporal Joshua Brian Roberts – Age not disclosed, married, expecting, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, succumbed to his injuries after enemy engagement.

90. August 11, 2008: Master Corporal Erin Doyle – Age 32, married, one child, 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was killed by insurgents.

91. August 20, 2008: Sergeant Shawn Allen Eades – Age 33, married, two children, 12 Field Squadron 1 Combat Engineer Regiment attached to the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, was killed after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

92. August 20, 2008: Cpl. Dustin Wasden – Age 25, married, one child, 12 Field Squadron 1 Combat Engineer Regiment attached to the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, was killed after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

93. August 20, 2008: Sapper Stephan Stock – Age 25, 12 Field Squadron 1 Combat Engineer Regiment attached to the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, was killed after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

94. September 3, 2008: Corporal Mike Seggie - Age, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Rifle Infantry, was killed when he was attacked during a patrol.

95. September 3, 2008: Corporal Andrew Grenon, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Rifle Infantry, was killed when he was attacked during a patrol.

96. September 3, 2008: Private Chad Horn, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Rifle Infantry, was killed when he was attacked during a patrol.

97. September 7, 2008: Sergeant Prescott Shipway - Age, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Light Infantry, was killed following a roadside bomb explosion.

98. December 5, 2008: Corporal Mark Robert McLaren – Age 23, engaged, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle.

99. December 5, 2008: Private Demetrios Diplaros – Age 24, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle.

100. December 5, 2008: Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson – Age 38, married, two children, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle.

Tales From My Wife - Stories of a Fast Food Cashier

This is the first installment in Tales From My Wife. My wife was telling me of this well to do looking woman who came in one day. The woman ass for double bacon on a bun, and my wife informs her that they do not offer that. The woman gets a little huffy and informs her that someone made one for her before. The wife tells her that she can have a bacon cheeseburger without the patty and the toppings. The woman says she will take it, and that she wants double bacon. She gets her "double bacon cheeseburger".

After she was done, the woman came back and and asked for another bacon on a bun, but this time she said make sure I get double bacon, the last was was just the regular amount. My wife informs her that the first one did have double the bacon - 4 slices. The woman replies that the last time she was in, she had eight slices. My wife told her she could get it with eight slices, but it would cost two dollars more. The woman was fine with that, and paid the extra. My wife told her the next time she comes in, to ask for a double bacon cheeseburger with extra bacon, hold the patty and toppings, and she would get the same sandwhich.

Now I'm thinking, if you want a bacon sandwhich, you do not go to a fast food restaurant, that does not even have it on their menu. Like, what compells a person to do this? It's one thing to ask for extra bacon on your cheeseburger, but to have them hold the patty and toppings just so you can have bacon on a bun?? That seems a little much. Sometimes you really have to wonder what people are thinking. Or maybe they aren't.

The Birth of the Clap Award

The Clap Award came about one day while I was out with my wife, returning from shopping. We were stopped at a red light when I saw a driver opposite us take advantage of an advanced green to make a U-turn and proceed back the way he came. He then made an illegal turn, crossing two north and two south bound lanes. All this so he could go to the Tim Horton's coffee shop. I decided that such a bonehead moved like that required some sort of recognize, so I started clapping. My wife asked what I was doing, and I replied, "I'm giving that driver the clap." And thus, The Clap Award was born.

Update

Due to a lack of time, and ideas, I have not been posting as often as I would like. I always thought it was important to post something that had substance - that had meaning, or was about something. Unfortunately, that made it hard to come up with something to post. The ironic thing is that once I start writing a posting, I find it very easy.

I hope to make regular posting a habit, and to help with that, I am creating two new features. The first is called "Tales From My Wife - Stories of a Fast Food Cashier". My wife works as a cashier for a fast food chain. Every week she comes home wild or strange stories the customers she had served. This feature will chronicle those stories.

The second feature is "The Weekly Clap Awards". This will showcase those individuals who deserve "the clap" - not to be confused with the STD, but you get the idea. The award is given out to acknowledge the actions of people who do something that makes you say "What the ...".

Stay tuned as I will start posting the new features soon.

Warning Labels

On Thursday, January 24, my family and I went shopping at the Vaughn Mills mall, just north of Toronto. One of the features of Vaughn Mills, is that it contains a NASCAR Speed Park. This has many impacts on the mall itself, some obvious, like the huge volume of people that it brings in. As well as some not so obvious, like the fact that they have shopping carts that look small race cars. And this is what today's post is about. These shopping carts allow you to put one or two children in the front of it, and at the back is a space to put your purchases. At the back of the cart, where the handle connects, is a large, mesh bag. Printed on this bag, was a sign that read "Do not place child in bag."



Now, odds are, that if the mall went through all the trouble of printing that sign on all of those bags, it was because somebody saw fit to put a child in that bag. You see stuff like this all of the time, fast food coffee cups now come with a warning advising the consumer to be careful because the contents are hot. Duhhh, what kind of an idiot need a warning on a cup to tell them that the coffee they just bought is hot? What's next, a warning on soft drink cups warning the consumer that the ice may stick to their tongues?



Now many companies will argue that they need this warnings to protect themselves from lawsuits. Many people will also argue that we have become a very litigious society. Now, that may be true, but that is a result of people not being responsible for their own actions. Is it McDonald's fault if, after leaving the Drive-thru, while you are driving 100kmh down the highway, that you spill your hot coffee in your lap and severely burn your genitals? I think not! Some people will complain that it was too and therefore the fault of McDonald's that they got burned. A lawsuit gets launched and an even dumber jury awards the person millions of dollars, all because of their own stupidity.



This whole thing of warning labels makes me wonder what is next? I can see it now, razors with warnings by using this product, you may suffer nicks or cuts that may cause bleeding.

New Feel, New Look

It occurred to me the other day that I really have not been writing about what I had intended to when I first started this blog. Many of you will remember that I started this blog to better understand the phenomenon of social networks like blogs, Facebook, and My Space. At that time, my idea was to post random thoughts that I had. You know, the kind of things that make you go hmmm. When I started, they were a lot of things going on in my life, and these made there way into my blogs. Things have quieted down a lot now, and I have been thinking that it may be time to get back to the original theme.

Hopefully, with this idea, I will be able to post more often, and maybe reach a wider readership. I am planning (hopefully) to add pictures, links to stories on other sites, etc. This is not to say this I have abandoned posting stories on exciting, or interesting things that happen it my life. These will still appear, and with the new content, I hope to provide a fuller, richer space for my readers.

So, please stay tuned for the new blog, complete with a new look, and new content.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a good time on New Year's eve. Everyone in the family is doing well, and had a good Xmas. I received a my own laptop, so I hope to be able to post more frequently (no fighting with the kids for a computer).

Caroline and I had entered the 5km Resolution Run for charity that took place at 6:00PM New Year's Eve. It was a great night for a run, clear, around -2C, and no wind or snow. This was Caroline's first 5k competition run, and she turned in an excellent time of 36 minutes. This was my second 5k, and I completed it in 30:58 - shaving six minutes off of the first 5k I ran in September's Run for The Cure. Afterwards, we went back to The Running Room for free chili and prizes. I hope to continue this, and complete my next 5k in under 30 minutes, and by the fall, I hope to complete a 10k event.

Today was the day that we dropped Justin off at college. He is in student residence, just off campus, sharing a place with two other guys. Monday will be his first day in the heavy equipment course. He still needs to pick up his text books, but he does have most of his tools. The college is only a two hour drive from home, so he will be able to come home on weekends. I think once he starts getting in the swing of being back in school, he will really enjoy it, and will come less often.

Well, that's it for tonight, please stay tuned for more posts for 2008. Have a safe New Year.