D is for Dad

I'm super excited to be testing my blogging stamina by taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Started by the awesome Arlee Bird, the challenge is to write a post every day of the month (except Sundays) based on the appropriate letter for the day. Sound confusing? Stick with me throughout April and you'll get it. My theme is: Things that inspire me.

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My Dad is the best. Sure, every kid says that, but I really mean it.

In the summer, we spend lots of time doing father/son stuff, like fishing, waterskiing, and sometimes, running, which isn’t my Dad’s favourite thing to do. He just does it to hang out with me when I’m training. Pretty cool, right?

This winter, Dad even went snowshoeing with me in the mountains. It was a great weekend trip, just the two of us. We followed a trail to a cabin, and slept overnight, roasted marshmallows and played games. I even read by candlelight!

Of course, Dad does more than sports stuff with me. We cook together, play the occasional game of chess (he’s still the champion), and watch the same TV shows. (Except American Idol, I watch that with Mom. Dad thinks it’s silly.)

My Dad is funny, friendly, and successful. And he sure loves my Mom. But most of all, my Dad is the best person to talk to when I have something on my mind. He’s an awesome problem solver and one of my best friends.

Most dads are great, right? Tell me, what’s the best thing about YOUR Dad?

Gotta jet! 

- Chase Superman Duffy

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C is for Coach Taylor

I'm super excited to be testing my blogging stamina by taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Started by the awesome Arlee Bird, the challenge is to write a post every day of the month (except Sundays) based on the appropriate letter for the day. Sound confusing? Stick with me throughout April and you'll get it. My theme is: Things that inspire me.

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You know how you sometimes have a special person in your life who pushes you to be your best, to do something you never thought you could do?

Well, Coach Taylor is that person for me. It’s because of him that I started training for track and field, and he inspires me to do my best, every time I go out on the track, or run around my Grandpa’s canola field. (Ha! C is also for canola, since it’s a very important part of my life – my grandparents are canola producers, we cook with canola oil all the time, and canola biodiesel is used to fuel my very favourite Biodiesel Jet Funny Car.

Coach Taylor can be pretty strict sometimes, but I think that’s because he wants me to do my best. He always tells me I can be anything I want to be – and right now, that’s a track star. The competition is stiff, even at my own school. That’s okay though, because I have Coach Taylor in my corner.

Who’s that special person in your life? Who’s in YOUR corner? 

Gotta jet!

- Chase Superman Duffy

B is for Books

I'm super excited to be testing my blogging stamina by taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Started by the awesome Arlee Bird, the challenge is to write a post every day of the month (except Sundays) based on the appropriate letter for the day. Sound confusing? Stick with me throughout April and you'll get it. My theme is: Things that inspire me.

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I love books.

I know reading is really important if you want to be a writer, and that literacy is a big deal – my teachers say “being literate” actually increases your happiness. Not to mention, the opportunity to get better jobs later in life.

Books are great for those reasons, definitely. But the reason I love books is because they INSPIRE my creativity. I remember the first book my Mom read to me when I was little. Love you Forever by Robert Munsch. What a great story!

Of course, I read all kinds of books now – spooky stories, adventures, fairy tales, even the classics. (I don’t read the mushy stuff though…except the Princess Bride, because that’s just a great story.) Every time I read, my brain fills up with ideas. I start writing them down, and before I know it, I’m creating characters, building plots, even writing chapters!

Yep, I love books. What’s YOUR favourite?

Gotta jet!

- Chase Superman Duffy

A is for Alberta

I'm super excited to be testing my blogging stamina by taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Started by the awesome Arlee Bird (a perfect A name for today's letter!), the challenge is to write a post every day of the month (except Sundays) based on the appropriate letter for the day. Sound confusing? Stick with me throughout April and you'll get it. My theme is: Things that inspire me.

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I have a pen pal that lives in Greece. We send handwritten letters every month (yeah, I know, emails would be faster) We write about everything – including about where we live.

Spilio says Greece is beautiful and warm. Not anything like the cold temperatures we get in Alberta, sometimes even in the spring. (One year, we actually had snow in JULY during Stampede!) I know I sometimes complain about our weather, but the truth is, I love living in Alberta.

Sure winter can be cold. You just have to know how to make the best of it. Like this year, I discovered snowshoeing and I love it. What a great way to pass the time – and get exercise, too. At my Grandpa’s house, I can snowshoe from right outside his back yard. Not everyone gets to say that. Another reason to love Alberta.

In the summer, my province boasts a big, blue sky and fluffy, white (cumulus?) clouds that encourage deep breaths while I run – and of course, bright yellow canola fields. Alberta is spectacular and beautiful, even more impressive than the pictures I’ve seen of Greece. No, really!

Greece sounds (and looks) pretty exotic and maybe someday I’d like to go visit. But living in Alberta is inspiring – and I couldn’t imagine home anywhere else.

How about you? If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Gotta Jet!

-        Chase Superman Duffy

PS – A is also for astronaut, because I have always wanted to visit outer space. Who wouldn’t? I’ve really enjoyed seeing astronaut Chris Hadfield’s tweets from space. Do you have Twitter? Follow Chris @Cmdr_Hadfield. And while you’re at it, follow me @SupermanDuffy

Hunt Eggs!

When I was young, Mom used to charge into my bedroom Easter morning, jump on the end of my bed, and yell, “Hunt eggs!” I think Easter is actually my mom’s favourite holiday – she puts a lot of effort into hiding those little chocolate treasures.

But, let’s face it. I’m getting older and really, too much chocolate isn’t good for my training. I know dark chocolate is better for me…but it’s not quite the same. So, I’ve decided to skip my share of eggs this year and just focus on my sister. Oh sure, Mom will get me one of those big chocolate bunnies, so I won’t totally be missing out.

But the whole hunting eggs thing? That’s for kids. Younger kids.

It got me thinking, though. Why do we hunt eggs at Easter? I mean, I understand the real meaning behind the holiday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and stuff. I just couldn’t get what chocolate had to do with it.

So, like Mrs. Kratky taught me, I looked it up.

Turns out, hunting eggs dates back to Roman mythology. Long ago, the Easter Bunny was called the Easter Hare, and hares are a symbol of fertility. Back then, children believed that the hares laid eggs in the grass. The Roman people believed that “all life comes from eggs” and Christian people considered eggs to be the seeds of life. So, they are considered to be symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus.

Makes a little more sense…

I’m just not quite sure how chocolate got involved. Whoever thought to make those little eggs wrapped in coloured paper was super smart!

Anyway, I’ve gotta jet. I’m helping make up the clues for the big Easter hunt. Mom says I can write poems and riddles to give my sister hints. Just as long as I don’t make it too hard.

Of course I won’t! <wink>

Happy Easter to you and your family. Now, go HUNT EGGS!

- Chase Superman Duffy

PS - Starting Monday, I'm taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. For the month of April, I'll be writing a blog post every day except Sundays, with each day corresponding with a letter of the alphabet. So, Monday is A. My theme is: Things that inspire me. Follow me!