Babyo #3

I thought that I would give quick mention of the newest coming member of the vanBreda family. Babyo is now 17 weeks old and growing. Babyo is fully formed (eyelids and brows, functioning bladder) and is now going to spend its time getting bigger.

Exciting news is that I can now feel the baby moving! This is my favourite part. I still sleep on my belly (for as long as I can) and that is when I can feel best the baby moving and rolling around. Steve has tried to feel too, however baby is too small.

We have also heard the baby's heartbeat and have another midwife appointment next week. We are forgoing the ultrasound with this baby unless necessary - so no cute picture to send out. I feel ok about that since Nadine's ultrasound picture was so scary. It was fun to see her moving around with those tiny toes? and fingers? or spinal cord? or was that her kidney?

Anyway, babyo is good and happy. I am doing well and feeling less and less tired - bedtime is now 10!
Have a great week all!

Sarah.

She was lost, and now is....come back!

Sumi's back! She returned about 2:30 am, this morning. We heard some persistant meowing outside our bedroom window, and there was a cat that looked exceedingly similar to Sumi, and increased the intensity of her meows upon hearing us call her name.

She's much thinner, but seems to be in good health. We gave her a flea treatment before we went to bed, just in case.

Sure wish I knew what happened to her....

Missing Cat

I thought I'd let everyone know that our cat has been missing now for almost two weeks. She escaped out of our screen door (or rather through the screen door), and just took off. I assumed that she'd come back (she did this about 2 months ago), but we've left our back door open for every night since then, and nothing.
I've gone out looking for her a couple times, but didn't really expect to find anything.

It's weird. I know that she's only a cat, but at the same time, I really miss her. She's been a part of our lives for four years, and now she's gone.

Just thought I'd let you guys know.

Steve

Family Christmas

So I"m going to be home for Christmas vacation, and Brian shall be joining the family Christmas. Do we know yet when family Christmas is going to happen? When do we want to draw names?

New Posting!

(There are two lines, in case you can't see it..... Eeeyayee!)

Today's the day

Wow... Evan is a pretty fair-size baby for his age-- today was his due-date! Just thought y'all might wanna see some pics...

Evan William Renkema

Visit here for the webshots gallery.

Where's the pictures?! I want to see Evan!

the countdown begins...

I just got something today that tells me that I will be required to be in toronto on July 29th for orientation, and then I will fly out to Japan on July 30th. So. That's 72 days from now. Scary, very scary. I think that I'm going to quit work after the second week in July at the latest, I'd like to have some time to see people and stuff before leaving for a year. And since Jet will be paying for my flight out, I don't have to have as much saved as I thought. Which is good.
Brian and I are going to be going to Steve and Sarah's place for dinner tonight and then heading over to the festival theatre to see As You Like It. I'm pretty excited, I haven't been to this stratford since Grade 12, and I haven't been to a play since England, I think. Hurrah for these people that want to involve the "youth" in cultural experiences though, in the past six months I've been to the TSO three times and stratford once, all for under $50 in total. Not bad, eh?
Well, I have the day off today so I don't really have anything that I need to go do, but I think that I'm going to go sit down and finish reading a book. Have a good weekend, all!

Vaccines.....

Greetings, all!

Lately, largely due to the Rubella outbreak in Norwich, I've been seriously thinking about the issue of to vaccinate or not. And it's a big question. Sarah seems to have less doubts about it than I do. And it's a terrible dillema-- Do you vaccinate, and potentially protect your children from all sorts of harmful diseases (conventional wisdom) or not vaccinate and protect your children from a whole host of potential side effects (the dissenters). Either choice, you're trying to protect your children.

And now, the outbreak in Norwich.

All this would be relatively harmless (Rubella, from what I've read, is pretty much on par with Chicken Pox), except for the number of pregnant women that have now been exposed to it and, assuming they have not been imunized, there are now a number of unborn babies at risk of growth defects or even miscarriage.

So when does one person's decisions about their health cross into the realm of public safety?

I don't know. But I have just found out yet another angle on this complex issue.

Apparently a number of popular MMR vaccines, both in the U.S. and Canada, are manufactured using inactivated human diploid cells, derived from aborted fetal tissue. It's not the only one, either. There are also polio, tetnus (sp?) and rabies vaccines manufactured using the same process.

I'm trying to find out which brands are used here in Ontario, and if they do indeed use this process.

These are the thoughts that I've been having of late about this issue. I thought that I'd share them, as this Norwich situation has probably got some of you wondering how Sarah and I have been reacting to this.

Some web-references are below.

Steve

To find the relevant sections, press ctrl-f and type in fetal or diploid.

http://www.eadshome.com/vaccines.htm

http://autism.about.com/cs/vaccinations/l/blvaccsecret.htm

http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_06.htm (questionable)

http://www.aspartame.ca/page_vaccs1.html#Vaccination%20Myth%20#1:

Re: Ever Wonder? Well, Wonder No More!

You asked, and the Master of Trivial Information answers!

> EVER WONDER ~~~~

> Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

The apparent lightening of hair color noted to occur with individuals who
have prolonged sun exposure during the summertime is an example of
photochemical damage to the hair shaft.

As you know --- color of hair is due primarily to melanin. It is
synthesized by melanocytes scattered in the matrix of the bulb and passes
into cells of the cortex and medulla. Dark colored hair contains mostly
true melanin, blond and red hair contains variants of melanin in which
there is no iron and more sulfur. Greying hair is the loss of pigment
believed to be progressive decline in tyrosinase (an enzyme necessary for
the synthesis of melanin), white hair results from accumulation of air
bubbles in the medullary shaft.

Chemical and mechanical injuries to the hair or scalp can produce a number
of different effects. These effects can be divided into two very broad
groups; abnormalities of existing hairs and abnormalities of hair
production.

Typical chemicals intentionally used to alter hair include bleach, dyes,
relaxers, and agents usd for permanents. Almost any type of
chemical used to alter hair will cause damage, but most cosmetic products
if used in moderation will produce minimal unwanted side-effects.

Mature hairs are biological filaments with various compartments composed of
dead cells that are dehydrated, filled with insoluble proteins and held
together by strong attachments between the cells. Chemicals that are
applied to hair can sometimes damage the structure of these biologic
filaments and cause the hair to have an undesirable appearance, be less
managable, or be more vulnerable to breakage. Once this occurs, the damage
to existing hair cannot be fully reversed. Some cosmetic products may prove
partially beneficial in repairing damaged hair but normal quality of hair
will only be achieved with the production of new hair to replace the
damaged ones.
Damage to hair fibers may also occur due to chemical or harsh
conditions,not intentionally applied to hair. Examples of such situations
include normal weathering that occurs to the ends of long hairs that have
been exposed to the environment for many years or exposure to chlorine in
swimming pools.

As for the skin, when the skin comes in contact with UV radiation, pigment-producings cell or melanocytes produce extra melanin, which is the pigment that gives us our darker colour, in order to absorb the nasty UV radiation and protect the inner cells from damage.

> Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

There is a direct correlation between keeping the mouth open and keeping the eye open. If we keep the mouth open, it will keep us from blinking.

> Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?

If you had the winning lottery numbers, would you advertise that information?
Maybe the real “psychics” know but are smart enough to cash in quietly.


> Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

Coincidence.

> Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?

practice (v.)
1392, "to do, act, or perform habitually," from O.Fr. practiser "to practice," from M.L. practicare "to do, perform, practice," from L.L. practicus "practical," from Gk. praktikos "practical." The noun is from 1421, originally as practise, from O.Fr. pratiser, from M.L. practicare. Also as practik, which survived in parallel into 19c. Practiced "expert" is from 1568; practicing (adj.) is recorded from 1625 in ref. to professions, from 1906 in ref. to religions.

> Why is it that to stop Windows 98, you have to click on "Start"?

Because you are starting the application that will shut down the operating system.

> Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid is
> made with real lemons?

Most lemon juice *is* made with real lemons (check your refrigerator). Alternate explanation is that artificial lemon flavour is cheaper than real, so in regard to taste, many people would rather save a buck with artificial flavour than have the real thing. Advertising "real lemons" for dishwashing is more of an advertising gimmick. (Plus, they never tell you how much real lemon there is in the liquid, or if there's any artificial stuff as well....)

> Why the man who invests all your money is called a broker?

broker
1377, from Anglo-Norm. brocour "small trader," from Anglo-Fr. abrokur "retailer of wine, tapster," perhaps Port. alborcar "barter," but more likely O.Fr. brocheor, from brochier "to broach, tap, pierce (a keg)," from broche "pointed tool" (see broach (n.)), giving original sense of "wine dealer," hence "retailer, middleman, agent." In M.E., used contemptuously of peddlers and pimps.

(For interest's sake....)
broke
obsolete pp. of break (variant of broken); extension to "insolvent" is first recorded 1716 (broken, in this sense, is attested from 1593). By coincidence, O.E. cognate broc meant, in addition to "that which breaks," "affliction, misery;" but that sense died out long before the current one began.

> Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Because everyone is in a "rush" to leave their place of work.

> Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

How many cats do you know that regularly eat mice?

> When dog food is new and improved tasting, who tests it?

Believe it or not, it's people. Although pet food companies have control animal groups, they also have a human taster, to determine if it really is a "real chicken flavour."

> Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

Through strength and self-control that can only come by the Holy Spirit.

> Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

Many individuals supporting the death penalty believe that no other care should
be given to such dangerous criminals. However, there are a few
considerations that maybe you might want to think about. One of these is
for the safety of the individuals administering the injection, or more
importantly the individual inserting the needles. Sometimes despite how
careful someone thinks they are being, one can receive a needle prick. Now
for the criminal, most would say no big deal. But what about the
individual responsible for inserting the needles? Any infectious or
unsterile needle would then be a hazard to this individual (a doctor or law
enforcement individual). There are all sorts of dangerous diseases out in
our world today and quite a few are transmitted through and/or by the use
of unsterile needles. I do not think you would want to unintentionally
injure any other individual associated with this process? To
unintentionally give this individual a disease, maybe even fatal, to
themselves? Also, if for some reason the lethal injection process did not
work the first time due to a bad needle (clogged or bent), the
administrators would again put themselves at risk for an additional needle
prick when they had to change out needles. So by using sterile needles, it
is a safety measure for the other individuals involved in the process and
not necessarily the criminal.

And despite this being a criminal, they are still human beings. There are
rules of ethics in our society. There are different rules for different
societies and in ours, we would like to think we afford everyone some since
of dignity, compassion, and safety; even if they are a convicted criminal.
Some societies do not think this way and do unspeakable things to convicted
individuals. It's called cruel and unusual punishment. In our society, we
like to think everyone has a right to a dignified death by a method that
does not create excessive pain or is long and drawn out. The use of
sterile needles plays into the philosophy of a dignified death and not a
cruel or unusual punishment. The individual, even though a dangerous
criminal, is afforded the opportunity for a dignified death by a swift,
clean method. The use of sterile needles fulfills this requirement.

Also, in one sense, it may be a legal issue not to afford the criminal an
opportunity to file an appeal against the use of dangerous, unsterile
needles. The thought of being stuck by an infectious needle may create
undue mental torture for an individual - cruel and unusual punishment. For
some individuals, they have no problems facing the death penalty; but it
may be quite upsetting for them to think about being stuck by an infectious
needle. It's not saying our legal system is outrageously flawed, but the
individual condemned to die still has the right to appeal and if the court
found that the mental torture the individual endured by the thought of
being stuck by unsterilized needles was cruel and unusual punishment, the
sentence may be commuted to life in prison or day of execution delayed
until another more humane execution method is identified. This affords the
criminal to live longer, file more appeals, and may not have to die at all.

> You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't
> they make the whole plane out of that stuff?

Their strength lies both in the composition of its material and its shape and size. Small objects are far less likely to sustain damage in traumatic circumstances than large ones. (compare a squirrel and a full grown human falling the same distance from a tree.) (By the way, the black boxes are actually flourescent orange, easier to spot in a crash.)

> Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

First of all, wool doesn't shrink, it "felts." Wool fibers are like human hairs and fish-- covered with a layer of overlapping scales. On the hoof, the wool strands are oily, growing in neat rows, with all scales pointing in the same direction. This keeps the fibers separate and fluffy, even in a rainstorm. But then we come along and buzz-cut the animals; wash, comb, and card the wool; and then spin it into yarn. After all that aggravation, the wool fibers are stripped of lubrication and mixed up, some pointing one way, some pointing another. As the wool strands rub against one another, the up- and down-pointing scales lock together. At the manufacturing stage, this helps make a strong wool fiber. But heat and water lift the scales on the wool strand, and agitation increases the interlocking, which is why you risk turning your new lamb's wool sweater into cardboard if you wash it in a machine. This is felting. The fiber doesn't get smaller or shorter; you don’t magically lose a yard or two down the drain. It just tangles into a stiff mass.

> Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

apartment
1641, "private rooms for the use of one person within a house," from Fr. appartement, from It. appartimento, lit. "a separated place," from appartere "to separate," from a "to" + parte "side, place" (see apart). Sense of "set of private rooms in a building entirely of these" (the U.S. equivalent of British flat) is first attested 1874.

> If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

No, because: "con" is not always the opposite of "pro." In this instance, "con" is derrived from "com" meaning "together"
congress
1528, from L. congressus "a meeting, hostile encounter," pp. of congredi "meet with, fight with," from com- "together" + gradi "to walk," from gradus "a step." Sense of "meeting of delegates" is first recorded 1678. Meaning "sexual union" is from 1589.

> If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Terminal's meaning here, as seen below, means "situated at the extreme end of something"

terminal (adj.)
1459, "relating to or marking boundaries," from L. terminalis "pertaining to a boundary or end, final," from terminus "end, boundary line" (see terminus). Meaning "fatal" (terminal illness) is first recorded 1891. Sense of "situated at the extreme end of something" is from 1805. The noun sense of "end point of a railway line" is from 1888; that of "device for communicating with a computer" is first recorded 1954. Slang meaning "extreme" first recorded 1983.

> In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through
> stupidity, here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods.

Yeah, no refutation to these, but the following. Though I know that human idiocy has no known bounds, has anyone actually read any of these labels personally?

> On a Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping. (And that's the only time I
> have to work on my hair.)

> On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details
> inside. (The shoplifter special?)

> On a bar of Dial soap: "Directions: Use like regular soap." (And that would
> be how??...)

> On some Swanson frozen dinners: "Serving suggestion: Defrost." (But, it's
> "just" a suggestion.)

> On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom): "Do not turn upside down."
> (Well...duh, a bit late, huh!)

> On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: "Product will be hot after heating."
> (...and you thought????...)

> On packaging for a Rowenta iron: "Do not iron clothes on body." (But
> wouldn't this save me more time?)

> On Boot's Children Cough Medicine:” Do not drive a car or operate machinery
> after taking this medication." (We could do a lot to reduce the rate of
> construction accidents if we could just get those 5-year-olds with
> head-colds off those forklifts.)

> On Nytol Sleep Aid: "Warning: May cause drowsiness." (And... I'm taking this
> because???....)

> On most brands of Christmas lights: "For indoor or outdoor use only." (As
> opposed to...what?)

> On a Japanese food processor: "Not to be used for the other use." (Now,
> somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

> On Sunsbury's peanuts: "Warning: contains nuts." (Talk about a news flash)

> On an American Airlines packet of nuts: "Instructions: Open packet, eat
> nuts." (Step 3: maybe, uh...fly Delta?)

> On a child's superman costume: "Wearing of this garment does not enable you
> to fly." (I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

We are the champions!

Here's a link to the Rivertown Sports site summarizing the play-offs (our team is the Black Dragons)


Here's a link to my blog where I detailed our playoff experience

And here's a picture of our winning team! (Yes, I know I look goofy :) But who can look good after playing almost two games worth of periods in the final game)

For everyone but mom... (sorry mom...)

So, check out www.stratfordfestival.ca/playon : anyone under 30 can get tickets for select performances at the Festival theatre for only $20. I think that Brian and I are going to see As You Like It on May 14 -- the musical score in it is composed by the BNL! Fun, eh?

My new Calculator

Hello all! Follow this link to see a picture of the calculator that I just bought at a rummage sale (75 cents, too!)

Bigger is better, right?

Steve

http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com/comp16.html

Neat new thing...

I've proposed a column to a local newspaper here in Stratford, and the editor said about it, and I quote, "I did find your column well-written, informative and amusing."

The column is about answering people's trivia questions that have been bugging them, things that they've always wondered about. I love this kind of stuff, and have got around 10 books for reference.

The thing is, is that they don't have enough room in their little fledgeling paper for the column, so they'll be publishing it on their website!

As soon as I find more info, I'll pass on the website so you can see what's up.

JobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJobsJo-

Wow, when you see the word like that, it actually looks quite silly, rather than stressful.

Anyway, as I have only received three calls for teaching since the beginning of January, I have decided to apply for a maternity position at the Christian school, teaching a 1-2 class, from March Break till the end of June. I realise that it will take me out of the public and catholic system again, but I need to work. Please pray for conviction that this is what I should be doing, and that if it is, I will get the job.

Thanks!

Snow!!!

I'd just like all o'you to know that we've got about a foot of snow on the ground, nice wet, packy snow, 3 snowmen in the yard, one nearly completed igloo/snowfort, and one unbelievably big driveway....! [....my back, my back]

Why an angel sits upon the christmas tree

A long time ago, angels did sit on top of the traditional Christmas tree. This is the story of how the tradition started.

It was a long tough Christmas for Santa. The worlds population was increasing exponentially thusly increasing the amount of toys that had to be produced. To compound this the elves were on strike so Santa & Mrs. Claus were force to put in many hard, extra hours in the workshop to keep up the production of the toys.

Soon it was two days before Christmas and Santa still did not have enough toys. If that was not bad enough half of the reindeers had come down with food poisoning and were not fit to fly on Christmas Eve. Then to add to Santa's frazelled nerves and ever rising anger, Amnesty International came through the door to deliver a citation of poor working conditions on behalf of the Elves. At that moment a small, sweet angel came into Santa's workshop with the Christmas tree. She looked up at Santa with her small, innocent eyes and ask "Santa, where should I put the Christmas tree?"

And, well the rest is history.


Also, just to let you know, I have made additions to my Christmas list, just incase anyone who had my name was wondering what to get me.

What y'all (cept for Dave) missed...

So, Friday night's preformance was a train wreck, which is why I'm very thankful that Dave came to Sat night, because we have *never* sung anything so well! Some of the choir members who have been in for five years said that they haven't ever had a performance that was so together and powerful as Sat night was. The Amen was absolutely incredible, I think that I shall get shivers for the rest of my life when I hear that chorus. And we made Dr T cry. Not that that's anything special, but while we were singing the Amen, there was a portion for which he was doubled over his stand, not directing, not looking up at all, because he was absolutely sobbing. :) Sigh.

Anyhow. My Christmas list is rather late in coming, and I"m sorry to report that the only reason why I'm actually posting it tonight is because I'm supposed to be writing a paper. And I really don't want to do that. (surprise, surprise...)

Scrapbooking stuff:
-circle and oval cutters (you can get a set of them)
-corner punches
-nice scrapbooking stickers of various things and alphabets

a plane ticket to England

Any of the seasons of Due south on DVD

It's a wonderful Life on DVD

A sewing machine

An iron (yes mother, that does sound very domestic)

...and that's all that I can think of for now. I thought of some other things as I was going to sleep last night but I can't remember what they were... I'm sure I'll come up with others before this paper is finished... Tata!

Marya & Eric's Lists

Hello all...here they are.

Marya
-DVD Runaway Jury
-scrapbook supplies (a corner punch, a large circle punch or cutter, stickers and paper)
-"Ici" perfume
-fun socks
-anything else fun or interesting - sorry I'm not more specific

Eric
-MAG-Lite flashlight (the kind that takes D batteries)
-D batteries
-Lord of the Rings Return of the King extended version (4 discs)

I think that's all. Not feeling very wintery out here. All our snow got rained out yesterday, and another section of our fence blew over last night!