Every day, I CHOOSE to be a Tigger

In the past year I've had quite a few people comment on how I've managed to stay positive despite all the physical and emotional setbacks that have come my way. It's because every day I choose to be a Tigger instead of an Eeyore. I've had a role model recently whom I would be lucky to emulate.

Have you heard about Randy Pausch. He was a professor who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was told in 2007 that he only had 3-6 months to live. He lived almost a year. He gave an amazing lecture, wrote a book...and he passed away this last Friday.

He said in his now famous speech that we all have a choice. We can choose to be a Tigger or an Eeyore. He has TRULY inspired me. I chose, every day, to be a Tigger. And I hope that when my time comes I can say what he did: "I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying... and I'm having fun". It's been my mantra every time something comes up that challenges me...I choose to be a Tigger. Not I AM a Tigger...but I choose to be.

If you haven't listened to his lecture or read his book, check it out:
http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/

Tomorrow when you wake up...what do you want to chose, Tigger or Eeyore?

What an honor!

My brother and sister-in-law have done me the ultimate honor. They've given my name to Mia as her middle name! Chandra's a GREAT name, and I hope she likes it too. I was so happy, and touched, when they told me, it made me cry. :)

Here's Kai being a great big brother. Gee, think he likes her?? :) :)

Mia's birth, from her daddy's perspective

I love my brother's story. Especially the part where he passes out...
"At 9:45 Saturday morning Jennifer produced a beautiful baby girl (or, to those without child-bearing experience, a squidgy caracature that turns from blue to pink faster than - and not completely unlike - a squid does.)

With my svelte build it was no surprise when she weighed in at a meagre (ahem) 8 lbs 9 oz. Yes the real father is quite possibly from the water buffalo family, but we love her just the same, of course.

Mom's in rehab after a drug mixing effort that would've earned her 'cred' in Hunter S Thompson's circles. She is, however fine and facing neither remission nor the shakes.

Possibly the best part (knowing you sadistic lot) was when, after a night of no sleep (nor Red Bull Vodkas) and little to eat, just when the anesthesiologist was preparing the epidural, dad fainted, plopped in his seat, out cold, and thereby provided mum's laughing gas with some brilliant material. We've named her Mia."

Welcome to the world Mia!

My new niece was born this morning...a week late! Her name is Mia... which in Italian means either "wished for child" or "rebellion". I think she's both, since she refused to be born when she was "supposed" to. Hee hee. Here are a couple pictures, but check out my Flickr site for more.

interesting book

I just finished Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. Wow. Now that's one mind-f*#k of a book! Here's what the description is: "When Eric Sanderson wakes from a lengthy unconsciousness, he has no memory. A letter from "The First Eric Sanderson" directs him to psychologist Dr. Randle, who tells Eric he is afflicted with a "dissociative condition." Eric learns about his former life—specifically a glorious romance with girlfriend Clio Aames, who drowned three years earlier—and is soon on the run from the Ludovician, a "species of purely conceptual fish" that "feeds on human memories and the intrinsic sense of self." Once he hooks up with Scout, a young woman on the run from her own metaphysical predator, the two trek through a subterranean labyrinth made of telephone directories (masses of words offer protection, as do Dictaphone recordings), decode encrypted communications and encounter a series of strange characters on the way to the big-bang showdown with the beast."

A conceptual shark???? What the hell? Interesting book...but I have no idea what i think about it. We're reading it for book club, so it will be very interesting to see what others think. I'm not sure it's amazing literature, or if it even succeeds in it's attempt...but it did keep me interested, so that's something at least.

I said I was going to blog more about the Cascade Cycling Classic...but to be honest I'm too tired. We did have our Story Stars program today with Todd Parr...I think he's my new favourite author! He's a great guy, and I really enjoyed getting to know him. If you haven't already, check out his books with your kids.

Some of my favourites are Underwear Do's and Don'ts, Reading Makes You Feel Good, the Otto series and It's Ok to be Different. Oh heck, I love all his work :)

It was great. the Staff all wore underwear on our heads like one of our characters! Hee hee. We had dinner with him, and I got some books autographed, which was great. Definitely check out his work.

Cascade Cycling Classic

Wow, busy but great weekend! I officiated for the CCC on Friday at the crit and Sat on the Cascade Lakes road stage and Sunday on the Awbrey Butte circuit. Sat and Sun I did the Cat 2's and on Friday I did them all except the pro men and pro women. I'll update more on another day when I'm not rushing off to a Board meeting.

It was super-fun. Stressful, but fun. I learned a lot in preparation for the High Desert Omnium which is in a couple weeks. If you want to check out the pictures I took of the CCC look at my Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chandravan

Another fun day at the library....

So here's what I've been dealing with the last couple days. We've had two instances of vandalism in the men's bathroom - feces smeared all over the walls, toilet paper rolls soaked with urine, toilet paper rolls stuffed into the toilets, wads of paper towels and toilet paper on the ceiling...YUCK!!!!!

So we called the sheriff...and it's a felony! We know who did it, two boys from out of town that come in to use the computer. We have their parent's cell phone number and the sheriff is tracking them down! Whooboy are those two young men in TROUBLE!

As they should be. That's just disgusting!!!! Who does that? Who on earth wants to play/touch their own poop!!!! Have I said "Yuck!" yet?

No WAY!!!!

I seem to be very into the videos the last week or so! :)

There's NO WAY I could do that. It made me shudder and look away just watching a couple of the sections!

I had a great weekend, but I haven't downloaded my pics yet. Fun fourth, Bella ride, then Sunday rode from Swampy to Bend again with Barrie and then floated the river... I'm telling you, there's NO better way to spend a weekend day!

Awwwwww!

I can't help it, I'm SUCH a sucker for these types of things.
I'll do a little research to see if I can find out whether this is real or not...

Ok, did my research. It is indeed true and that is real footage. The whole story is pretty amazing.

Cat vs crayfish

Cat vs Crayfish


Not only do I LOVE the choice in music, that crayfish has got quite the fighters stance! And the dog in the back is just bored...