My parents are getting older

Tomorrow my Dad is going to be seen by a Doctor in Hamilton. He had a mini-stroke a few months back, but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him.

In talking with my Mum, it sounds like his sense of balance is off. It could be an inner ear problem, but the neurological problem is what I think of first. Maybe I watch too much TV. Maybe I've been to too many funerals and memorial services.

Or maybe I'm just a little tired, after driving up to Craighurst Friday morning, walking 18 holes at Settler's Ghost, followed by two hours of rehearsal Friday night, six hours rehearsal on Saturday, a performance Saturday night, two more hours Sunday morning, the drive back to Toronto, a full day on Monday, followed by another three hours rehearsal Monday night and a full day today.

I think a good night's sleep will help, big time.

Getting in to university (2)

Amazingly enough, on Saturday, Matt received an Offer of Admission into Computer Engineering at Ryerson. The paperwork followed yesterday, and tonight he signed the form and we mailed it in.

I'm hoping they noticed the two A+'s he got in his Math makeup courses, but I have no idea if that's true -- it doesn't matter. I do know that my wife and I had tears in our eyes when we saw the news.

Well, as usual there's more to the story: Matt was accepted into Computer Science at York last year, and on June 1 Matt and I proudly went up to the campus to pick out his courses. That's when they played the bait-and-switch card, about how his Math marks weren't up to snuff, and perhaps he should go back to high school, or come to York for a makeup year.

The Academic Advisor didn't come out and say he wasn't welcome, but the meaning was clear. I was furious, but stopped to ask Matt if he wanted to leave the room -- I was relieved to see he wanted to stay. I tried to find out why it had taken until now for York to realize Matt's academic situation, but the only response I got was that the offers were generated by program. there was no apology. That was when I stood up and said, "This meeting is over." and out the door we went.

I was saddened by all that; at least we were able to find a carrot muffin and a pop for him and some coffee for me. And maybe York will some day change the procedure it uses to offer places to first year students.

In the meantime, We're Going To Ryerson!!!

Getting in to University

I'll make this short -- I'm at work -- but the daughter of a colleague just accepted into Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She's absolutely over the moon about it. I was thrilled the same way when I was accepted into the University of Wateroo's Math program -- my letter arrived July 3, 1976, and two days later my Dad and I were in Waterloo arranging for off-campus housing (the residences were all full) and a meal plan.

My Step-Son Matthew just finished a makeup year at Ryerson (his two high school Maths marks were low -- yet he was still an Ontario Scholar), and was accepted at Ryerson in Computer Science, contingent on receiving at least a C average in his second course. He got an A+ on the first course in the Fall, so when the mark for the second course arrived -- another A+! I did shed a tear or two, knowing that my tutoring had some small part in that success.

Now if we could only get him a summer job.