New term, new classes, new office

I started teaching 2 compressed summer courses at McMaster beginning the very next morning after returning from our trip. After almost 2 years without a place to sit, I finally moved into my new office!

I added my own photos for decoration.
The globe on the table rotates on its own (solar powered). I bought it in Sausalito California.

This is the view when entering through the glass door to the office.
The photo on the wall is one I took in Hawaii.

A little bare, but all the essentials are in place. It will take some time to make it look lived in...

The new office with all the tech connected up! I use my laptop with a docking hub to turn it into a desktop.
The desk also rises to allow me to work at standing height.

In the second week of the courses, I finally had the surgery (for my prostate) that I was supposed to have in the early spring. This time it didn't get changed on me, and it didn't mess up my teaching schedule!

In the recovery room - well enough to take a selfie!

Arrived home, having some changes

The last post that I had made was the final evening in Amsterdam. That next day we walked around and did some souvenir shopping then checked out of our hotel. If you ever go to Amsterdam, definitely consider staying at the Die Port Van Cleve. It was a fantastic place, the staff were very friendly, and it is in a great location. We took a train to the airport from Centraal Station and had lots of time to wait for our flight. The KLM flight home was very comfortable and the food/wine was reasonable. I came home with about 38 gb of pictures... they will take some time to process before I post some of the good ones.

On landing in Toronto, I texted Wendy and determined that she was at a baseball game. Parker wasn't umpiring - he was playing! He joined a team part way through the season after 1.5 years of not playing. He is on the Dundas Dodgers in the Dundas Minor Baseball League.

Parker at bat

Bugs flying around the lights during a late game

Tournament game

Yesterday we had a most memorable event for our family! Our driveway got finished!!!!

After having gravel and mud since mid May, we now have a real driveway. Next week we might actually be able to use it. Too bad Adam and Wendy were not here to see it done - Adam is at Borden working for the summer and Wendy is shopping in Michigan with Mel and her mother this weekend. I am doing the unemployed single father thing for the weekend while Parker competes in a baseball tournament.

Half finished

Done at last!

Yes, you read that correctly. I am unemployed. Due to a nasty mix-up with an expected faculty appointment, I am out of work and haven't been paid since July 1. I am now looking for academic work (I've applied to a university in Australia already) but am hoping that McMaster can come up with a compromise solution. The offer I received last week amounted to a $30,000 decrease in salary, no faculty appointment, and no benefits. Not happening. My old job was also not available due to finances. As a result, I applied for EI benefits a few days ago, so we will have to take things day by day.

Disney picture time!

Here are a few pictures from Wendy's cell phone taken during the Disney World trip that Wendy and Parker went on with Mel and Murray. They also took in Universal Studios while they were in Orlando. They stayed just outside of Disney itself at the Bonnet Creek Resort.

Since I wasn't there, I won't be able to explain any of the details of the photo locations, but it sure looked like they had a good time.

Here they are:

At dinner the first night

At Disney Quest

Parker doing some virtual reality game

Mel and Parker (with a smile!)

Temperatures pushed over 40C with the humidex

Still smiling

Mel and Wendy

Wendy in a tail costume

Parker's with Berti Bott's Every Flavour Beans (Universal Studios)

Parker's must see location - Diagon Alley. He is still very into Harry Potter.

Parker trying Harry Potter "Butter Beer"

Interesting...

...seems OK....

...I think I like it.

More please...!

More smiles!

Mel being a little Goofy with Woody

Cooling off at Universal

Soooo tired...

Mel and Murray having fun on the Dumbo ride

Halloween celebrations start in September at Disney - Murray and Mel flank Parker and Pluto (it was raining)

Murray with his best grin ("reason my wife drinks")

Just for fun, here is a quick video of Mel and Parker on the Teacups ride.

Another slow week as fall begins

Not much happened this week other than my toothbrush broke, the batteries died in the clicker for the garage door, and my belt broke.  Annoying little things, but it took time to deal with them. At least I got the lawn cut, the garbage out, the food cooked, the dishwasher cleaned, the laundry to the basement (I won't go as far as to risk doing the laundry!), the kitchen floor washed, the groceries done, etc.

Maddy has been more playful than normal. Maybe it is the cooler temperatures (one morning it was 2.4C) and the good sleep she gets during the day with nobody home much. On the other hand, it could be the fact that she sleeps spread out on three quarters of a queen bed, with her feet against me trying to regain the last quarter of her space... her nose will probably be out of joint when Wendy returns tonight.

Maddy and her rope ball - she hadn't played with it for many months!

I took Maddy on another photo hike in Dundas at the main trail area this morning. The weather was fantastic - reaching about 25C as we finished. She met the usual assortment of dogs and interested children. The fall colours were not really spectacular, but I took a few shots anyways. Still figuring out the new camera.

The Dundas Trail Centre

These will get better as the colours change in the next few weeks.

Fall has started, but just barely

More for our previous fungus theme...

Tonight is the night that I drive back to the Buffalo Airport to pick up Wendy, Parker, Mel, and Murray after their Disney World/Universal trip. It will be a bit of a shock when they feel the temperature (about 20-25C less than they are used to), bu they probably deserve it for going somewhere warm.  Should be able to post a few images from Wendy's phone camera in the next few days, once they have unpacked. All reports are that it was a fantastic trip.