In other baby news...

Big congrats to Kenji and Shelley! Kenji's post reminded me that I too have an announcement - a long overdue one at that. My husband Shane and I welcomed our baby girl into the world on April 4th. Charlotte Jean was almost 3 weeks early and weighed 6lbs 3oz. She is now a healthy and happy 10lb baby who has grown 5 inches in length already! She is going to be a tall girl just like her daddy. We are so blessed to have her after trying to conceive for over 2 years and we couldn't be happier!


Please excuse the fact that I look like crap. It is rather inevitable after 19 hours of labour.


Charlotte Jean Mackenzie at 7 weeks

Thanks for sharing our joy!

Stephanie Smith

The latest TA baby

Shelley, Reiko and I are pleased to welcome a bouncing baby boy into this world.

Kaede (pronounce it "ka-EH-dey") Baker Marui was born yesterday morning, Sunday, 12 June, 2005, at 9:23. 8 lbs. 8 oz. 21". We're going to call him "Kai" to keep it simpler.

Head over to BuddhaKenji for fuller details and some pics.
Everybody is doing well and trying to catch up on sleep.

Bathroom Buddies have been stolen!

Anyone ever noticed how much the MSN instant messenger logo looks like the TA bathroom buddies?
Two person-icons beside each other/intertwined, one of them light the other dark. hmmm...
Call the lawyers!

You say you want a reunion, well you know...

Date? Time? Place?
Let's get it started.
My vote is for sometime in summer, so we can use an outside venue. DO we want to do a whole day - fun in the sun and then dinner and dancing under the stars type thing?
I will help - tho despite the post, I'd rather not lead - any kind of a committee or group to get this done.
Who's in?
Who wants to the the Grand Poobah of Reuinionville?

Links to our Sites

Hey everybuddy,

I've created a little section for links to personal webpages and blogs. Should you have something to submit to this listing, I can make additions (or subtractions ... Jon, Vic: I assumed you wouldn't mind links to your blogs, but I have been wrong before).

Happy Friday,
Kenji

(Pssst. HI KYLE!!)

Say Cheese!

Hi all,

There was a suggestion about a group account at Flickr to share pictures. I've created a public group called Toc Alpha (what else?) and I think you should be able to post, download and comment on our pictures there (although you may need to create a free Flickr account to do this).

It is open to anyone and everyone cruising the Net (just like this weblog) so if you're partial to protecting your privacy: be wary. Perhaps re-visiting the existing Yahoo group might be an option for our discussions, pictures and privacy.

We'll go with the Flickr photo group for a few weeks and determine whether we keep it going or not. (Unless everyone's uploads eat into my monthly account limit ... then we'll have to talk sooner than that).

All in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Would you like that noted?

Have you seen....?

Are you wondering where a particular TA buddy is or what they are up to?

I know that many of us are in contact with TA people who others maybe be curious as to what they are up to.

If you're looking for someone, post their names here and maybe someone has seen or heard from them!

What have you been up to?

Now that we have a good list of people on our little blog, I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we catch up on what has been going on in our lives since TA ended.

So what have you been doing?
Where are you now?
What's new and exciting?

Posting Pictures

There are a couple options for posting pictures. Blogger (here's the help page) suggests Picasa Hello or Flickr. This involves installing some more software, but either program is easy to use. (Actually I can only speak for Flickr, the Canadian, doesn't-have-to-be-Microsoft option).

Your pictures are stored online and are linked to your blog entry. It does take some muddling around and some trial and error, but the results are worth it as these happy TA alum campers (Pinery Provincial Park, 2004) can attest....

Back row: (l to r) Loralyn (nee Wild), Samuel (Loralyn's husband), Alan Berry, Jason Stinson, Jennifer Stinson (nee Van Doorn), Joann Wiltenburg, Len Wiltenburg holding Emma Wiltenburg, Kenji Marui, Shelley Marui (nee Baker) holding Reiko Marui, Marilyn Arthur (nee Mackenzie), Jon Arthur holding Rory Arthur.
Front Row: (l to r) Victoria Berry (nee Jackson) with Olivia Berry, Rob Damen with Cole Damen, Paula Damen (nee West)