Long time no bloggy

It was brought to our attention that we haven't updated our blog in a long time. I actually forgot about it and Sean has started up his political blog again, so we've neglected this one. This is my attempt at reviving this thing so that you, our loyal readers (are there any out there?), can read about the daily excitement of our lives.

Sean is in the final stretch of school. He should be finished around the beginning of January and enter the workforce. He has accepted a job with his advisor, working at the university again, and will be working on an industry partnership project. After 9 years of university, it will feel good to be working instead of doing school stuff.

It's now 3 months into the school year and I'm busy getting to know my new students and staff members. The Grade 7/8 Arts Ed and Keyboarding courses that I was so petrified about over the summer have turned out to be a lot of fun. I still find it odd that I don't have to guide them through absolutely everything like I did with my kindies last year. Whaddayamean, the 7/8s don't like Robert Munsch?? And they can occupy themselves for 10 minutes without my assistance?!

The weekday evenings are generally pretty busy. Sean and I have started taking music lessons on Monday nights. Sean is formally learning how to play the guitar and I've picked up piano lessons again. This teacher is different from my previous ones; she is very particular about my technique and analyzes a song in incredible detail in order to play it perfectly. I originally just wanted to get back into it for fun but I'm enjoying the challenge it brings. I've gone back to grade 6 songs in order to practice the technique, then I will tackle grade 8 and 9.

Tuesday nights involve a fiesty curling game with Chad and Nicole. We're curling at the Nutana in an open league, which seems to be more of a superleague some nights. This is Sean's first year curling and I'm somewhat peeved since his skills are going to surpass mine soon. I'm enjoying doing this "couple" activity.

I've also joined the NDP Wanuskewin executive with Sean. I figure I might as well join since we have the meetings at our house anyway. Sean does much more with the executive than I do.

The Saskatchewan Down Syndrome Society was looking for people to join their executive and education committee, so I decided to join them as well. I have two, soon to be three, students with Down Syndrome and I have a feeling I'm going to learn a lot about DS and how to teach these kids. We're organizing a conference for April that will focus on communication. Our keynote will present a reading program that works well for kids with DS, and we will also have a couple of SLPs talk about speech, language and oral-motor skill development within the regular classroom. I'd also like to find someone who could present on sign language.

The last thing I've joined recently is a book club with two other colleagues. We're reading the book "Trauma Through a Child's Eyes", by Peter Levine. It's an interesting read, though it makes me realize how easily a child can be traumatized and how much of a responsibility parenting is. The book applies to adults too, so people who don't work with kids may find it a good book too. I highly recommend it!

So all in all, life is busy and fulfilling. I promise that I will TRY to maintain this every once in a while, so stay tuned!

Ya, ya, we have been bad bloggers!

Has it been three weeks already?

Okay a quick run down of our developments since last we posted:

1. Megan and I are teaming up with cousin Nicole and fiance Chad starting October 2nd to curl in the Tuesday evening 840pm Open Curling League at the Nutana Curling Club. Every Tuesday night from now until March will be spent throwing rocks down a cold sheet of ice.

2. Last night Megan and I started (well Meg started weeks ago) are respective weekly guitar and piano lessons at Long and McQuade's Education Centre.

3. We finally received our final piece (for now) of furuniture from Leon's. We are the proud owners of a new TV Credenza....

4. Megan is busy, busy, busy with her new job, though stressful at times as proven to be a great step up from her last position in Invermay.

5. Just today I accepted a job offer for big $$$$ and believe it or not I have decided not to enter the world of mining consulting, instead I will be staying in academia as a Research Associate for at least the next two years. The good news is we will remain here in Saskatoon for the foreseeable future.

6. House buying plans have been discussed, however, we are currently leaning to waiting things out for 6-12 months to get our money in order and figure out a game plan. I am voting for a place in one of Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods as I don't want to contribute to the horrible and ill-planned urban sprawl currently griping this city.

Someone has to go back to work this week

Megan is officially back at work today, though the kids don't arrive until Thursday. I am still spending 8 hours a day in front of my computer screen trying to write paper #2 (Paper #1 was submitted last week, horah!).

This past weekend was our first low-key (i.e. no plans, no shopping for apartment stuff) since getting back from the BC honeymoon three weeks ago, and it was great.

We have finished the Thank-you cards from the wedding and shower, they are right beside me hear at work, and will be off in the mail pronto. However, there are still a few that we have not figured out addresses for.

We are currently plotting how to knock-off our next door neighbours dog who seems to think it is kosher to bark at everything that walks, runs or blows down the street. We are happily accepting ideas.......


True story: Megan and I were sitting down to dinner with Tyler this week and telling him how we had the Civic advertised for 2 weeks in the paper and not a single person had called about it when the phone rang. It was someone asking about the Civic they saw in the paper, but we told her we were no longer selling.....sigh....oh well.

Things you do while NOT writing your paper

1. Search for new music from your favourite bands:
Nothing to report but here are a few albums currently in high-Sean-tation:
Ryan Adams - Love is Hell Pt. I & II
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Lucinda Williams - Live at the Fillmore
Matthew Good - Hospital Music
The National - Boxer

2. Search for new books from your favourite authors:

Douglas Coupland - The Gum Thief (Sept 25, 2007)******
Anne Michaels - The Winter Vault*****

(* - denotes level of "Yeah" for each item, on a 5 "Yeah" rating)

3. Search for new movies to download:

Everything's Gone Green (written by Douglas Coupland****
Fracture
Zodiac
Mr. Brooks
The Lookout

4. Search for new TV series seasons to download:

Weeds
Californication
Big Love
The Tudors
Rescue Me
Six Feet Under



Oh yeah, on the Meg and Sean side of things:

1. Meg and I started writing out our mountain of thank you cards last night....coming to a mailbox near you soon.

2. We have purchased the following items since the last blog post:

Coffee Table
TV Stand
Micro DVD Entertainment centre (DVD, CD, MP3, etc...)
Queen Size Bed
Steak knifes
Travel mugs
Sheets
Comforter

Just the bedroom remains in a state of student-furniture.

3. We are not selling the Honda anymore, instead we will buy winter tires and see how things go this year.

4. Sean was in Vancouver last week for a 3rd interview with a local consulting firm....fingers crossed everyone.

Wedding and Honeymoon Pictures coming!

Just in the process of re-vamping the wedding blog into the new Sean and Megan Shaw blog. You will notice the Flickr photo-montage on the sidebar, in the near future this will direct you to our archive of wedding and honeymoon photos...

So give us some time and you won't be dissapointed!

Thank You Everyone from Team Shaw!!!!!!

The wedding was amazing, perfect weather, perfect guests, perfect dinner and a perfect party for the rest of the evening.

Thank you to everyone who attend, sent their regards and shared in making it a perfect day for the both of us.

The generosity of your support and gifts was overwhelming and I doubt we could ever thank you enough.

We are headed off for a two week honeymoon tomorrow morning, so pictures of the wedding will probably not make it up for your viewing pleasure until mid-August. However, we will put something together ASAP!

If you have pictures/video that you would like to share with us, give us an email or a phone call, we would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you a thousand times over and we will see you all when we get back from B.C.


TEAM SHAW

Problem Solved

Tables and chairs have been found.

A big thanks to Rick Macauley of Whitefox, the same person/place we are getting our toilets and tent from.