I’m Unhappy

Canadians are going to the polls – again – to vote for the prime minister of this country.

While I appreciate we live in democracy and we have the right to vote for who we feel is the best person to lead, there has been too many federal elections these last few years for me to feel remotely happy about the fall of Parliament.

Sigh personally. (Oh, who to vote for.)

Double sigh professionally. (About the amount of work a federal election will mean to journalists across the country and the thought of listening to the promises made by politicians for the next two months.)

Sigh.

The Pickup

We live on a street that dead-ends into a lake. The closest town to us – about a 15-minute drive away – is a small place of about 6,000 people. I have lived on this street for 10 years in May. Despite the length of time we have lived here, we do not know a lot of people, although I do recognize people I have met at the grocery store or the library, for example.

Yesterday, the Focus needed some work so after picking up my son at daycare, we drove to the garage, located about five minutes outside of town. My son and I decided we wanted to go to the library to ‘pick books.’

My guy almost made it until the end of the garage’s driveway when he said ‘Mommy carry E’ so I did.

It was cold yesterday, below seasonal. My guy, who doesn’t like mittens, tucked his hands into my shirt and put his head on my shoulder. And we walked, mommy carrying the almost 30-pound babe, a purse and the diaper bag.

We got almost to town, when a wonderful woman, driving a recognizable reading program van, pulled over and asked if we wanted a ride.

I was grateful but taken back and unsure what to do. Part of me thought a ride would be lovely. The other part questioned if I was crazy excepting a stranger’s ride.

The part of me who apparently is more trusting then I thought said yes and I began to put my guy in the car seat. My guy decided he didn’t want to go in and hung on tight. The smart me took the escape. I said thank you so much but would just walk.

A hour later, we made it to the library and my son picked books, played with the computers and rearranged the chairs.

We also met up with the lady who I again thanked.

I do thank this kind woman who saw someone in need and offered her a ride. But I must remember to always listen to that inner voice when it says ‘Don’t accept rides from strangers’ particularly when it will soon be time to teach my son the same lesson.

Pretty Good….for Crackers

As most children do, my little guy loves Goldfish crackers. He was introduced to these cheesy cracker delights by my parents, but he must also get them at daycare because he can spot the ‘fish’ package half way down the grocery aisle.

I like crackers. I try to buy the most nutritionally dense, lower in fat variety and I try not to eat them too often.

My son often asks for the ‘fish’ crackers. At the grocery store I have picked up the Goldfish package, looked at the nutritional information and put them back down. They aren’t awful, but they aren’t that great either.

Saying that, we have both Goldfish and the President Choice’s Penguin variety in our house.

We now also have Bear Paws Crunchy crackers.

And they are pretty good. They are the same amount per cracker as the Goldfish and Penguins but they seem bigger and have a nice crunch to them. I thought they were shaped like moon, but my son said it was a hand – more accurately a bear paw. (Yes, I am blond, why do you ask?)

And in the nutritional department? There is one per cent more saturated fat and 10 mg more sodium than Goldfish and Penguins, but the Bear Paws have more vitamins and minerals — vitamin A, calcium, iron, folate (15 per cent), thiamine and niacin.

Dare Paws Crunchy crackers also come in original and vegetable, but I think the cheese is my family’s favourite.

So while my son will still only get crackers as a treat once in a while – usually for long car rides – I may reach for Bear Paws for him and me.

Happy It’s Friday

I wonder if anyone is every unhappy that it’s Friday?

Does anyone every wake up Friday morning and think ‘Man, it’s Friday. I wish it was Monday.’ I am thinking probably not.

But I am extra happy it’s Friday. It’s been a hectic, unusual week and today's Friday means fresh beginnings and hopefully things getting back to normal.

Happy weekend, everyone.

And Happy upcoming 30th birthday, SK.

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Spring (to the tune of It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas)

Bulbs are pushing their way up through the garden; we saw – and heard – about a hundred honking Canadian geese flying in formation; the house was set for 68 degrees but with the sun, it was at 70; and, of course, lots of rain.

Welcome back Spring.

Vacuum Cleaner Challenge

I challenge you, vacuum cleaner companies.

We have lived in our across-the-street-from-the-lake house for 10 years this May. In that time, we have destroyed four vacuums. I am currently borrowing my brother-in-law’s standup vacuum and it’s not cutting it.

Each of the vacuum cleaners we have destroyed have been about $300 plus. Two were standups, two were canisters; two were bagless, two were not.

To be fair to the dead vacuums, we are a house of windows and doors and red carpets. We, the people, are also rough on our carpets. People – and I am not mentioning names here – often walk through the house with their shoes and boots on. The dining room is carpeted and the babe likes rice.

The carpets are old and are in desperate need of replacing.

However, three dead vacuums in 10 years seems excessive to me.

And the fact is even when the vacuums were in their primes, they didn’t do a fantastic job, just a mediocre one.

So I am issuing a challenge. Vacuum cleaning companies take note: do you have a vacuum you think can conquer my floors? Will your vacuum cleaner do what no vacuum cleaner has done before?

Let me know, vacuum cleaner companies, if you accept my challenge.

It’s a Diaper Miracle

People who have read this blog know I have had no shortage of troubles with disposable diapers.

I use cloth during the day, but at night I have to use Cruisers size 6 with a cloth diaper inside in order for my son to stay dry through the night.

But on Saturday, a friend gave me Fisher-Price nighttime diapers, size 5. I tried them Saturday and Sunday night.

My son was dry – not even a wet spot – for 12 hours.

It’s a miracle, people. It’s worth the cost to switch to Fisher-Price.

Happy Friday

Well, it finally happened and not a moment too soon.

Another sleepless week and a start of a cold ends the first week of March.

But the weekend includes visiting and hanging out with my guy. It also includes warmer temperatures and rain, followed by colder temperatures and snow.

Ah, spring.

Happy Weekend, everyone.

Important question

Will. This. Week. EVER. End?