Well, it's back to work after 4 days off. About as much as I am able to take right now. Friday was a vacation day and the rest was weekend and civic holiday so not a bad deal. Do you find it somewhat difficult to get back into the groove of work, even after only a couple of days off? Me too. It helps to make a task list BEFORE you take to time off so when you get back to it you don't even have to think or remember what you need to do. Just remember where you put your list! Even that…you get the idea.

My buddy Glen and I took all our kids to a conservation area yesterday. I think people perceive men as brave when they take out 5 children, including two very little ones, into the world. It's kind of funny really. We're very good at it and can calmly handle the occasional melt-downs that inevidably occur. It's like when women are out and when asked "Where are your kids?" and they reply that they are with their Dad and the person says "Oh, he's babysitting." Uh, No. He's being a Dad, a parent.

We took them canoeing with 2 canoes and one kayak and it was amazing. They were very quiet when it was required. A few strong strokes of the paddle and we were able to glide silently up to a great blue heron and, later, an egret. There is no comparison between children experiencing nature on TV, in books, or at a zoo, and getting out into the real world.