Asses, cocks and balls on bike seats

As my pal anne marie in philly requested, here is a news update.  To explain today's pictures:  after I die, I want my face to reincarnated as a bicycle seat. Nuff said.

1.   I am LOVING my new teaching situation, having changed schools after sixteen years at my previous one.   My new school is spacious and loaded with the latest high-tech innovations;  such a change from the elderly, crumbling school where I used to work! 

All my classes are great, not without challenges, but the vast majority of my students are sweet.  My new colleagues are excellent;  helpful and supportive.   But I will forever miss my crazy, dysfunctional colleagues / friends from my former school.

2.   My mother (79) had a successful knee replacement operation last week and her recovery is proceeding normally.  But it won't be easy; she's now started weeks of painful physical therapy.  Since my father (80) doesn't cook at all, I now visit them once or twice daily to cook their meals, clean up and otherwise keep my eye on things.  Another plus:  my new school is quite close to their home.

My parents have provided me with unequivocal support for many decades, so it's a pleasure to help them out.  Besides, we really enjoy each other's company.  We've now reconnected after years of tension between my entire family and my ex-wife, entirely caused by her.

4.   My son, now 18, is loving his commercial diving programme, over 2,000 miles from home.  He said that his instructors have been very impressed with his maturity, physical skills and commitment to the programme.   We exchange news (via texting) about once a week.

5.  Middle daughter (20) is thriving in her third year of university some 1,000 miles from home, and is involved in various extracurricular activities such as the student newspaper.

6.  My eldest daughter (22),is in her final year of chef's school and living in a pretty loft apartment.  She loves living on her own away from her parents!  Her neighbourhood has one of the highest rates of violent crime in all of Canada .... a great concern for me, but she seems nonchalant about it.  

She also works as a sous-chef, five shifts per week, at one of our top gourmet restaurants.   So..... as a full-time student holding down a full-time chef's job, she is busy all day, every day of the week.  We have dinner together once every two weeks at my parents' house, cooked by me.

And what about my new life as an out gay Daddy living alone for the first time in 25 years?  Mixed reviews, for sure!   I'll save that discussion for my next post.