Lukas graduation speech at Thorncliffe Park

Lukas graduated from Grade 5 today. He was also asked to give a speech about life in a Thorncliffe portable:

The Sayings of Sylas - his first short story

Well we all know Sylas is the creative genius in the Cuthill family. While I usually post interesting sayings of his or one-liners, yesterday he discovered that typing out a story on the computer is much faster than writing by hand. He wrote out his very first short story that I'd like to share with all of you. Ejoy:

once there were 3 mice that lived in a shoe. one day a cat came to the shoe. 3 more came, the mice have backup. 8 more came, cats were outnumbered. 4 more cats came 11 for the mice and 7 for the cats. cats still were outnumbered by 4 so 4 more came 11 to 11. cats werent winning the mice werent winning either. no one knew who was going to win. then an ape came, the fight stopped.
the end.

Thorncliffe Public School Council notice to parents

As my faithful athensBLOG readers know (if there are any of you still left!), we love our neighbourhood - Thorncliffe Park. It's a fascinating neighbourhood that is full of people from so many backgrounds. 35 apartment buildings, 30,000 people, the largest elementary school in North America. There is never a dull moment.

As you may also know, according to Monday's National Post "Toronto (is) the city with the highest concentration of Muslims in North America". And Thorncliffe has the highest concentration of Muslims in Toronto - making Thorncliffe quite an Islamic zone.

Yesterday our kids came home from Thorncliffe Park Public School with a notice about a parenting seminar put on by the school council. This is a great step as many have challenges adjusting to the parenting styles of Canada. You may have seen Russell Peter's youtube video about this :)

What was unfortunate about this parenting seminar is that there was a component titled "Islamic Perspective of Parenting in a Muslim family". Now this is where I start to wonder. I didn't think they were allowed to promote a religious view in a public school?

Below you will see the poster that was handed out to every child in the school:

Thorncliffe Park is a public school. As such I'd like to outline my problems with this seminar. I'd be interested to hear from others in the public school system to see if I'm off base:

1. For me this is a school issue. Not a Muslim or Christian issue. We could be discussing the Baha'i faith or Druze.

2. The school board has to chose to have a "no religions" or "all religions" stance

3. My understanding is that their current stance is "no religions" as they cannot even mention "Christmas" or Easter. There are some variations of this when it comes to holidays like Ramadan.

4. The issue then with this particular incident is that the flyer was sent home *by the school* inviting *all* parents to something that favours one religion.

5. The issue is not even the school hosting the event, but for me sanctioning it and promoting an event which favours and promotes one religion.

This, to me, is unacceptable.

I'd be quite open for comments and will attend this seminar and report back on what it was all about

Blogging from my blackberry!

Well well athensBLOG readers. I have been away for quite some time but not even a new blackberry and twitter account can suppress my need for blogging!

I'm not sure how this will work but wanted to ask the community for tips about blogging from your phones? Or are the days of blogging over? Is there an app I can download? How do YOU blog from your phone?
___________________
ShawnCuthill.com

*Sent from my BlackBerry

The sayings of Olivia v5 - Michael Jackson

At breakfast this morning we were talking about Lions. Out of the blue Olivia looked at me and said:

'When Michael Jackson comes back to life he can teach us how to train Lions? Can we go to his house mommy?'

I think its time for a little talk with that girl

The Sayings of Olivia v4 - boys

Olivia was looking pensive after prayer time. She looked at mom and wondered:

"If God made me, does that mean Satan made the boys???"

I'm sure many sisters have wondered that about their brothers Olivia

The sayings of Sylas v28 - midgets

Sylas came to me the other day with a revelation!

Dad! I know how people became midgets! They drank too much coffee when they were kids!

The sayings of Sylas v27 - Meat shop

The other day we were walking past the local butcher shop and Sylas let me in on a secret:

Sylas: Dad! I know how the meat stores kill the animals!
Dad: How?
Sylas: They have pet alligators in the store!

YouTube comment of the day - volume 1

Well I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks! The dear old athensBLOG has been idling here on the web for the past few years. I haven't spent much time on her but today I came across something I have to post. The old blog now has a new feature "YouTube comment of the day"!

For the past 5 years I've had a YouTube channel www.youtube.com/shawncuthilldotcom. Most videos I post are of my kids or trips I've taken. None of the videos has gained much traction except one. The video below has over 500,000 views and is quite a touching story (originally emailed to me by Uncle Russ). The story is about an autistic basketball player who sinks 6 three pointers at the end of a game. There are hundreds of comments on this video but recently someone posted this beauty:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zENySdFr7M4

I spent quite some time going thru the comments to see if anybody else noticed what I noticed. 6 three-point shots IS NOT 20 points. 6 times 3 is 21. Basic multiplication. So I wonder, how does a video have over 500,000 views and nobody notices this? at least i didnt see any other comments correcting this math. This is a special video, and the ignorant ones make it less enjoyable.

CLASSIC! To read the comment yourself check out the video on my YouTube channel here

The sayings of Lukas v47 - hovercraft

Last night we were dragging the kids inside after they had fallen asleep in the car. Parents, you know the drill. For us with 3 kids it means usually Lukas has to walk since he's the oldest/biggest.

Last night he was quite upset about this and said in his whiniest voice:

"Why hasn't anyone invented a hovercraft chair yet!"

Thorncliffe library to finally re-open

The ground breaking for this project was back in 2005! I wonder if the process would have gone any faster in other neighbourhoods where people know how to hound politicians. We have the largest population of children in Toronto and the largest school in North America and the most people who need ESL and our library is closed for 2.5 years!? I'm thankful it's back open, but to me it is obvious that the project was not high on any of our local politicians priority list

"After nearly two and a half years, the Thorncliffe Park community is finally getting its library branch back...The library closed in December 2007"

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/660755

The sayings of Olivia v 3 - laughing cows!

Sitting at the table this morning for breakfast when Olivia had a revelation...

Olivia: When cows laugh, milk comes out their nose!!

Blackberry or iphone?? That is the question

It's a sad day in Cuthill land. I've finally decided to move into the 21st century and ditch my palm treo. :( I just can't handle the incessant reboots, amateur graphics and limited web browsing.

Loyalty is one of my highest values however I cannot be loyal anymore to the treo nation. Ever since I worked at BMO i have been using palm pilots but with the advent of the Palm Pre it seems that my beloved Palm OS has breathed it's last and i just have to move on.

So my question for all my friends out there in cell-phone land:

Blackberry or iphone??

The sayings of Sylas v26 - Let's go!

The other day we were walking in the rain and Sylas was falling behind jumping in puddles as usual. I looked back:

Daddy: "Come on Sy! Let's go!!

Sylas: "Ok!! I'm let's going!!

The sayings of Lukas v46 - mice

Tonight I was tucking the kids in to bed when out of the blue Lukas had a thought:

Daddy, if mice believed in God they would give back all the cheese they stole

Crowded, stressed in Canada's most populated immigrant neighbourhood: Thorncliffe

Amazing article appearing in Toronto Star today:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/748969--thorncliffe-park-community-crowded-stressed#article

Severe overcrowding and poverty is heightening stress and ethnic tensions in Canada’s most populated immigrant neighbourhood, says a study of the Thorncliffe Park community released today.

The U of T study of changes in the Toronto neighbourhood between 2001 and 2006 found more than 30,000 residents — mostly newcomers — are crowded into 34 highrise and lowrise apartments in a 2.2-square-kilometre concrete jungle behind Don Mills Road and Don Valley Parkway. Front-line workers are worried the population is outpacing programs and services, hindering their ability to quickly integrate.

“Thorncliffe Park will continue to attract high volumes of newcomers, relative to most neighbourhoods across Greater Toronto. Settlement services, therefore, should remain a high priority,” says the report. “If population and household numbers continue to climb at the same rates, overcrowding and other issues will present increasingly greater challenges.”

The study found each household has an average 1.4 bedrooms compared to 2.7 across the city, but twice as many sleeping in a bedroom as in an average Toronto home. Half of residents live below Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off, three times the rate for Toronto.

Wisdom 102 years in the making...

A few years ago Hayley sat down with her grandpa and wrote a notebook full of information about his life. From this book she compiled the following for his funeral:

Letter from Hayley

I want to share some things that I think grampie would like to say if he were here. Five years ago he gave me a journal full of his memories and reflections on his life. Those writings seem more precious now than ever before. Here are some of his own words:


About life he writes:
“My philosophy in life is to do the best I can for as long as I can.”
“There have been many high points in my life and some low ones. I feel I have achieved a great many things in my lifetime and climbed a few mountains.”


About his wife he wrote:
“The best thing in my life that changed things for me was when I married my wife, Phyllis.”
“Our wedding vows were the usual ones…I was awful proud of my wife to be.”
“I liked my wife’s looks, her attitude, her friendly ways, and the loving attention she gave me.”
“My feelings of love go to my wife for being steadfast with me for over 60 years”


About his children he says:
“I am always proud of my children for their many accomplishments.”
“When my children were young I was busy providing a living and did not have the time to spend with them I’d have liked to.”
“The best part of being a parent was watching my children develop and grow into teenagers and responsible adults, and (later) parents.”


To his grandchildren he writes:
“My wish for my grandchildren is that they live good lives, be generous, make the best they can of themselves and always believe in God.”
“I’d like my grandchildren to respect their heritage, respect their parents, and be true to themselves. I’d like them to remember me for any kindness (I’ve done) and my love for them.”
“I would like to pass on traits of honesty, God fearing, and family closeness.”
“Believe in our Savior (Jesus) as a mediator between us and God.”


“Regarding my Epitaph:
"I would want to be remembered as a just man who did unto others as he would have them do to him.”
“I appreciate that I was able to live my life taking care of my responsibilities and family.
I am proud of my wife.
My happiness has outweighed any regrets.”


“My note for future generations:

Put your faith in God and in Jesus as your Savior
Be honest and trustworthy
Honor your commitments
Be a good a neighbour
Cheat no one,
Help those in need,
Thank the Lord for a true conscience and listen to it.”


Signed,
Daniel H. MacLeod
September 18, 1907- December 24, 2009

Compiled by Hayley on December 27, 2009

The sayings of Olivia v2 - India

Today we were walking through the mall when Olivia said to us:

"Mommy, can we stop at India on the way home? I want to buy something"

Then she pulled out the rupees i had brought back from our trip this summer :)
Some day Olivia, some day.

Remembering Daniel MacLeod 1907-2009 (Hayley's grandpa)

On Christmas eve, Hayley's grandpa passed away. He was 102. Hayley was able to be at his 100th birthday party a few years ago.

http://www.inmemoriam.ca/announcement-29234-Daniel-MacLeod.html

Daniel MacLeod

Peacefully, at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Thursday, December 24, 2009, of Daniel Harris MacLeod of Charlottetown and formerly of Hopefield, age 102 years. Husband of 65 years of Phyllis Campbell MacLeod. Father of Verna (Bob) Delahunt, Leamon (Florence) MacLeod and Gerald ( Sharon) MacLeod. Grandfather of Danny, Kimberley, Roberta, Gary, Mark Brenda, Cathy, Matthew, Ryan and Hayley. Great-grandfather of 23 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren...

Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

_______________________________________________

Please pray for Hayley and the MacLeod family in their time of grieving.

More pictures on facebook of our final visit in the spring:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1759440&l=19f2e3f2bd&id=505085417

Sayings of Sylas v25 - Santa

Well it's appropriate that Sylas' 25th "saying" is about the 25th of December! The other day we were talking about Santa Clause:

Daddy: So Sylas do you believe in Santa?
Sylas: Of course!
Daddy: But Sylas we live in an apartment, how does Santa get in without a chimney?
Sylas: He comes down the garbage chute!

So now you know! Merry Christmas everyone!! Hopefully Santa brings you something nice tonight, whether he brings it down your chimney or down your garbage chute!!