Thursday Thirteen

Today is my human dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! In honour of his birthday, I present:

#16 - 13 Things About My Dad

1. He is an engineering officer in the Canadian Forces. He serves in the Canadian Land Force (regular army) and currently holds the rank of major. The red uniform that my dad is wearing in the photo to the right is called "Mess Kit" or "Mess Dress". It is the formal, dress uniform for army officers. It is the military equivalent of a civilian tuxedo.
   
   
2. He is currently posted as a Verbindungsoffizier (exchange/liaison officer) at the Pionierschule (German military engineering school) in Munich. In summer 2009, he will be posted back to Canada. We won't know where until early in 2009.
   
   
3. He has served in a lot of missions overseas. He was in Kuwait during the first Gulf War, and opened up the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait after the Iraqis were forced out. He has done peacekeeping tours in Haiti, Bosnia, and Eritrea, and spent 6 months in England studying at Schrivenham, doing graduate-level work in explosive chemistry. He has also served in domestic operations, such as during the Winnipeg Floods in 1997. When we are posted back to Canada, he will probably end up doing a tour in Afghanistan, unless Canada has a change of government before then, and we pull out of that country. But under the current government, Canada is in Afghanistan for the long haul.
   
   
4. He was born on April 19, 1965 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. He is 7 years older than my mom.
   
   
5. Although he is from Newfoundland, he doesn't have a Newfie accent. Well, mom says he only has one if he's had a lot of beer to drink! It is funny that he doesn't have an accent because both his mom and his sister do!
   
   
6. He studied chemistry at Memorial University (in Newfoundland) and has a Bachelor of Science degree. To be an engineering officer in the Canadian Forces, you do not need to have an engineering degree. You can have an engineering degree, or a degree in physics or chemistry
   
   
7. While at university, he served in the Reserves, first as a sapper, then as an officer, in 56 Field Engineer Squadron. When he graduated from university, he applied to join the regular force, and was accepted.
   
   
8. He has his "jumper's wings" which means that he has passed the military parachuting course. One of his first postings was as an airborne engineer.
   
   
9. He loves running and is a lifelong runner. He's a fast runner, even though he isn't built like a typical runner. He has run a bunch of half-marathons, one marathon (with another one coming up on April 29th), and many, many shorter races. He is also a basketball player, and currently plays with one of the local leagues here in Munich.
   
   
10. He is an avid comic book collector and has collected and read them throughout his life. He also enjoys reading books, both fiction and non-fiction, especially science fiction, military history, science and current events books.
    
    
11. He is allergic to cats, but fortunately isn't allergic to Sphynx! Which is why I came to live with my humans.
    
    
12. He is a good dad! He makes a good perch and I often perch on one of his legs, either when he is sitting up on lying down. He feeds me every morning, even though I wake him up a few minutes (or more) before the cat food alarm goes off.
    
    
13. I am very proud of my dad, and of the job he does! He has helped people all over the world, and he keeps us safe. I love him very much!

I would like to thank all the military personnel who serve and keep us safe, like my dad, and the Cyclone Cats' Man in Green. All of the military personnel serving overseas, away from their families, are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag Papa!
Happy Birthday Dad!

Tags: Thursday Thirteen, Canadian Forces, military, Canada, happy birthday, birthday