Jude & Jama

Jama, Spring 2007

HO HO HO

We’ve decorated, baked, wrapped, crafted, shopped, listened to seasonal music, read the favourite stories, burned yule logs, snipped paper snowflakes, sucked on candy canes, shoveled snow, and sipped hot rums. Pretty much the only thing we have yet to do this holiday is write to our friends and family and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

No big events to report for 2006. Both Jama and I continue to grow older. In Jama’s case it’s a kind of celebratory adventure, in my case, it’s not quite as joyful - many of you will understand! However, we’ve been healthy, fit, and happy all year long.

Jama is in grade six, going on 12 years old. She’s a great kid and a talented writer as well as artist. She sings with the school choir, swims like a fish, has a pack of friends, and seems to never stop. Downtime for Jama is writing a 5 page journal entry or building an empire on her computer. Hopefully she’ll be getting in a lot of skiing over the winter, thanks to her dad who keeps her outfitted in the latest gear. We live close to her school now, so are able to ride our bikes together although lately the weather has been very cold, dark, and rainy - usually we hop into our old red Trooper and stop at the warm coffee shop on our way for a steamy cocoa. Jama and her dad enjoyed a few trips over the year culminating with a trip to Hawaii in November!

My own life has been exciting. In 2006, I had a book of cartoons published, really a collection of all the bridge cartoons I’ve produced between 1982 and 2006. My business is growing steadily. I produce websites as well as desktop publishing. But most exciting, I’ve become a published poet and hope to have a book of poems published in 2007. I took part in the forming of the Squamish Writers Group and we have a great time challenging each other and doing public readings etc. I travelled too this year - my brothers took me to visit Ross in Bermuda. We had an awesome time, lots of beach, blue blue water, and time with my family.

In other news, my grandsons have had a revealing year. Coram, now 7, was diagnosed as autistic in the fall. The family will be looking at options and alternatives for the new year. Although this is a difficult diagnosis, in a way it has helped tremendously. Now we all know what is going on, it has lifted weight from many shoulders. Lucas, now 8 and in grade 3, is a busy little guy himself, diagnosed ADHD. I’m really hoping the family will be able to move to Squamish this summer so I can help out more. There are lots of programs and lots of help for kids up here. And Steve (their dad) works in North Vancouver so the commute would be better, especially once the roads are completed. Jewel, of course, has her hands full with the boys, but manages to find time to continue to work part time and manage her scrapbooking business (Creative Memories).

Oldest daughter, Sky, is doing great, still in Fine Arts, creating some incredible sculptures and other works of art. She and life partner Keith and Keith's son Aidan live in Vancouver but always talk about moving up to Squamish.

Speaking of Squamish, everything is booming here. Everything. More stores, more houses, more roads. But still a beautiful place, mountains, river, lakes, and oceanfront. What more could a person want? OK, maybe a little less water falling out of the sky...

Just over a year ago, a friend and I started a little paper called What’s On Squamish. It’s done well and we have big plans for it in 2007, including a website. Whoopee!

I am hoping to enter the Test of Metal again this year, although I didn’t race last year so the full year off might be a challenge to my fitness level. And I also hope to run my first 10k race as well.

Well, enough for now. (The dog and the cat and the hamster are good too.)

Love you all ... Jude and Jama

judejama.blogspot.com (pictures)
judegoodwin.com
goodwinstudios.com

Go Ahead, Laugh -

My new book! Published in time for Christmas.
WARNING: If you don't play bridge or card games, you'll have no idea what's so funny.

Click on book.

Back to School

Whistling Tree Frogs

... can keep you up at night.
Click here for sound.

Bermuda

Bermuda Day 5

Bermuda Day 4

Introducing LUNA

Jama

Jama writes. She has had two public readings so far, and her works are wonderful. Some of her earlier work is online, jamaswritings.blogspot.com, and I hope to add in her more recent pieces. She writes all the time, on any piece of paper available

Jama draws. Her dragons, her mythical creatures, her nature scenes are awesome.

Jama rides. This year she is a keen to mountain bike. She entered her first race last Sunday - didn' t like it much, but has agreed to try it one more time. We ride to school whenever it isn't raining. We also take rides on the various trail networks around Squamish. She is entered in the Junior Triathlon, as the rider in a team of three.

Jama collects and researches herbs. Jama creates scrapbook pages. Jama paints wooden boxes. Jama is in French immersion and can speak conversational french.

Jama wants to be an engineer. Her goal is to work on space stations.

Jama loves theatre. She was recently cast as Elvis in a Youthfest production and did a great job! She has attended one Stagecraft camp - which ended in a production of Little Shop of Horrors - in Whistler and plans to return this year. She is a natural onstage, speaks out, moves smoothly, and she really enjoys the rehearsals, the backstage activities - she tells me all the people in theatre are really nice. I'm hoping theatre will be a good activity for her during her high school years. She thinks it might be a good part time job during university.

Here are some pics
…

Jama shows her Artwork

Jama reads at Squamish Wild At Art

Backstage - Elvis waits for her cue

Jama likes to hike with her dad

Jama is the shopkeeper in Little Shop of Horrors

Jama entered her artwork in a local Talent Show last year

I love my bike

I love my bike. I love my bike friends, all their bikes, their jerseys and helmets and shorts. I love the mud! I love it on our faces, all over my legs and my shoes. I love the muddy rocks, the slippery bridges. I love breathing. It can be green, it can glisten or slime, it can get muddy. I love the sweaty chill at the finish line, the hose, my muddy bike, leaving my shoes outside on the porch, a bath, a beer. It's true.