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^/\^ PeaK /\^/\

LINUX flies...Pentium not required

Steve Wozniak of Apple fame made a remark to the effect that most individuals are pretty much determined in the first 8 years of their life. I was "determined" in a city called Toronto that was best known as a placed that was affordable to live in the period from 1959 to 1967. Toronto todays enjoys the reputation of having won the World Series "back-to-back" and has changed considerably from time in which I grew up. Today I find myself back in the city in which I grew up. In case some of my old acquaintances run into this page and wonder if I am the same guy....here is a short BIO of public schools I went to:

Huron Street Public School (Mrs. Lofthouse, Mrs. Carter, Mr. Brown)
Jesse Ketchum Public Schools (Mrs Applebaum, Mr. Prowse, Mr Mason, Mr Sperry)
Jarvis Collegiate (Miss. Patterson, Mr. Pearl, Mr. Cushman, Mr. Nash, Miss Turnbull, Mrs. Coombs, Mr Wright, Mrs Wei)
U of T EE 8T2
U of W EE 8W5

While study is important, physical activity is a great way to balance off the stresses involved with study.

1996 ATI Wildcats

I came back to Toronto in 1992 and begain again at 32 to play the sport that I began to love when I was at Jesse Ketchum. We had official NHL notebooks noting the complete Leaf schedule in which we duly entered the scores of each game. Henderson was always a favourite Leaf in our household nicknamed The Postman for the number of times he would "ring" one off the post. In September of 1972, the Summit Series pitted Canada against Russia in an 8 game series that came down to a best of seven due to one game coming to a draw.

The best part of JK was the "unofficial" after school pickup ball hockey (or floor hockey with a felt ring puck). In 1972, the senior class had some of my closest friends partaking in this weekly event pitting us against Mr. Mason and Mr. Sperry. They referred to us as little pip squeaks as "gentlement" and we threw everything we had at them...even when they brushed up against us with their drenched sweatshirts. For me it (1971-1972) were the best two years of school.

2001 Ranging Bulls Champions

Fast forward some 24 years later in the Seniors Men Ball Hockey League (Scarobrough) In 1996 our team had been together for a while but our forwards
were generally the weakest part of our team. The could be fed a perfect pass, in the clear, and not even get a shot on net. I played center mainly to limit our defensive liability with these forwards on...but when I got shifts with the better players, we go end to end with some beautiful 3-way passing plays. We had three other JK alumni. With a bit of scouting and the weaker players getting tired of their own play. The ATI team finally wond in 2001 Season.

Two more consective championships followed with the last team picture shown below in 2003 season:

A torn ACL received in 2004 has temporarlily halted weekly Thursday night pickup sessions at Etobicoke Olympium, I'm at at the mercy of the Health system for when my number comes up for this elective ACL surgery.

2003 ATI Raging Bulls Champions

/\^/\ "Mom" ^/\^

My family grieved much this last week with the lost of our mom from this world. She passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday October 17, 1997 at the Woman's College Hospital.

"Mom"..."Mrs.Chau".."Ma Ma"

She was a very giving woman whose heart and generosity touched all those that had a chance to get to know her. Many people had such an opportunity during the course of My mom's life: dear relatives, neighbours, siblings friends, classmates, checkout cashiers at Loblaws, and merchants in Chinatown. The only beings not touched by my Mom's irresistable smile were the street cats that she always shooed away.

Mom was born in 1933 in Sanhoi, China. She was orphaned at six years of age and adopted and raised by her grandmother together with two other siblings. She grew up in an era with tremendous love around her where common flus were major concern. She lived under the same rooftops during here 64 years on this planet with grandmothers, aunts, nephews and truly treasured those moments to associate and mingle with them.

For me, she was a a nice warm blanket that never smothered my direction in life. I was spoiled the whole time I was young and never realized it. In the last few years, I took here being somewhat for granted....I am a dreamer with many succesful dreams. I came back to Toronto after having worked in Ottawa for seven years to fulfill a promise to my mom to come back. I had opportunities to travel with her to my in-laws in the U.S. but had always wanted to go on a trip of discovery with both my parents to a place not seen by any of us and to explore together. I am sad to say in the end that I failed in this dream:

"Mom ....thank you for re-arranging my priorities and balancing out my life in the last little while...I'll have that kid really soon...We'll definitely visit. Mom...I know that you had a tear in your eye when you left us for heaven...but am comforted in the thought that you will be happly in the company of Peter, Grandmother, Grandfather and your parents that you have not seen in such a long time. Thank you for allowing us to grieve this last week as I know we would all like you to here for our own selfish reasons. You have had a full life down here and now you are free to travel anywhere your heart desires. Last, do not worry about me...I will never forget you and everything that your heart taught me"

Love, Ray

Mom

...by Rebecca
...translation by Lilian

She is in the room as the sun shines in the spring
Like the song of a finch on a branch
Like the sound of a warm stove on a cold day.
Mom, she is like the good bread one craves
Like the shadow and the bed, after a day of sorrow
Like the spring water on scorching afternoons...
A roof for a lost child...
Mom; she is everything, that is good, noble and gentle.