Beautiful

This morning, in between buildings, highway overpasses, hills and tractor-trailers, I had a glimpse of a giant red-orange ball of fire to the east.

It was so breathtaking, I almost missed my exit and I had to cross four lanes of traffic in order to get off the highway in time.

A beautiful sunrise, coupled with mild weather, makes today a great day.
Happy Monday, everyone.

Pet Peeves Tuesday

I try not to let too many things bug me otherwise I turn into a frustrated, annoyed person. However, I thought I would list some of the things that continue to bug me.

In writing
• That.
In most sentences, you do not need to use the word that. It’s a redundant word. Read your sentences and take out the word that as often as possible.
• Brand new
This one really annoys me. It’s not a brand new car. It’s just a new car.
• Very
He was angry. End of story.


Driving
• People who do not signal or who put their signal light on as they are in the process of turning.
• People who jump the lanes so they can sneak into several cars ahead. I realize they are in fact saving themselves some time, but it’s rude and it pisses me off.
• Tailgaters have always annoyed me. Now they also scare me. If I have to stop suddenly, I will likely be successful but they won’t.

Behaviour
• Negativity. It drags you down.
• Backstabbers. Don’t be nice to my face and then be awful behind my back.
• Tattle-tellers. If you have a problem with me, let me know and I will try to be accommodating. Don’t talk to others without talking to me first. Remember what you tell you kids: if you are only telling to get me in trouble, don’t bother.
• Respect. Try it.

On a different note, yesterday I saw a mom fox and her two babies. They were so cute. Hence, the picture.

I was so excited.

I was reading a fellow Secret is in the Sauce member's blog – Humes, Party of Three – and discovered a feature she had discovered on another blogger’s website – http://thedailydribbles.blogspot.com

The feature allows you to “thank” those people who ticked you off.

Sarcastic thank yous. Brilliant really.

I thought a Monday morning drive down the 404 would allow me to create one or two thank yous. I then thought a day at the office would provide ample opportunities.
But I was disappointed on both counts.

Instead of: ‘To the driver who felt his time was more valuable then mine and proceeded to go through a seconds-old red light before Christmas, thank you’ or ‘To the driver on the highway who proceeded to cut me and everyone else off, causing us to have to slam on the breaks in a snowstorm before Christmas, thank you’, I have had to create real heartfelt thank you.

So to the drivers who were courteous, who obeyed traffic laws and let me in, thank you for a good drive in Monday and Tuesday mornings.

To my coworkers who made me laugh and listened to me vent, thank you for making my first real week back at work since my vacation a good one.

Sorry It has Been a While

Hello blog readers,

Sorry it has been so long. I have been sick since Dec. 27. It started out as a traditional cold, which was starting to wind down around New Year’s Day.

Unfortunately, on the first Sunday of the new year, I woke up with a sore throat.
Then Monday arrived with a headache that reminded me of the sensation I had after jaw surgery - if I leaned over my head felt like it was going to explode into a million pieces.

I also had teeth and eye pain. I stayed home Monday. Dragged my sorry self to the office for three hours Tuesday, stayed home Wednesday, then went to work for the whole day Thursday.

Friday I woke up in what can be described as agony. My head still felt like it was going to explode, but this time the sensation was there if I was standing up, lying down or making any moves. In addition, my eyes feel like they were going to pop out of their sockets; the bones around my eyes were in pain as well; my jaw was tender; and of course my nose was still running.

I thought about going straight to the hospital, but waited until 9 a.m. to call the doctor’s office instead. I gingerly walked around the house with my hands planted firmly on the sides of my head until we had to leave. Because the pain was so bad, I got my stepdaughter and her boyfriend up to drive my son and me to the doctor where I was diagnosed with a sinus infection, given antibiotics and told to take Tylenol Sinus. It was instant relief.

I hope never to get another sinus cold again. I hope you don’t either.

Happy New Year.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Why can’t workplaces get the temperature correct?

I am sitting at work with a sweater and my jacket on, wondering if I should slip out of my shoes and put on my outdoor winter boots. Often I am so cold I get all-over body shakes and I use the heat from my lunch to warm my hands and body.

Unfortunately, I can’t hold onto my lunch forever and as soon as it is consumed, the heat is gone and I am back to being frozen.

The only thing that works is to get into my car. crank the heat to high and drive for a hour. By the time I get home, I am usually warm or at least thawed. Sometimes, I require a hot chocolate and a sweater or two.

I commented to my boss this morning that I was wondering why I bother to dress up. No one can see what I wear any way so wouldn’t it make more sense for me to wear jeans, a sweater and running shoes so I could be comfortable and warm?

His response was what I was expecting - you are probably right but you can’t wear jeans.

Getting To Know Strangers

I love personalized license plates.

I should state here that I do not want to one for Christmas. However, I do like the fact that other people seem willing to spend more than $200 on a personal message for their car.

While I see no point in having one’s name on one’s license plate, I do like the plates that are a puzzle. I like following these people until I have figured out what they are trying to say. I am always impressed by people’s cleverness.

My favourite aspect of personalized license plates is feeling of familiarity you get.

For example, on the way down Hwy. 404 this morning, I saw Baby Dol. I haven’t seen Baby Dol since before my maternity leave and as I was passing her, I smiled and said good morning.

Also prior to my maternity leave, I would follow IM Woodsy down Warden Avenue. We obviously had to be at work at the same time and it always pleased me to see him each day. He was like my morning routine. So you can imagine how excited I was when I ended up following IM Woodsy home. We obviously left work at the same time as well. And we obviously both rushed out of the city so we could spend time in the country.

And then there is 8 Legs.

I am not sure what 8 Legs does, but I have also followed him north on the 404. Then, while on maternity leave, I discovered 8 Legs is a neighbour. What a small world.

I also have a neighbour who is a Diamond.

Now Diamond, and other people who have personal license plates, should be a little more cautious. I know who Diamond is. I know his vehicle. I know where he lives. So when you pass me at high speeds or tailgate me, it makes me want to knock on your door and tell you to smarten up. You don’t treat your neighbours that way.

Driving Pet Peeves

When you drive as much as I used to, there are things that other people do that drive you crazy - and vice versa I am sure.

The Swooper
There is nothing worse when you are driving along and some moron in a big SUV comes speeding up behind you and sits there as if waiting for you to move over. That really annoys me. I drive a Sunfire. It’s not that big. Surely if you are driving that fast, you can plan it so you can swoop around me. If not, continue speeding but slow down a safe distance away and then pass.

The Tailgater
If I can’t see your headlights, you are too close. If I have to slam on my brakes, you are going to hit me. I have a baby in the back. If you hit me, you will regret it.

The Signaller
The purpose of a signal light is to signal your INTENT to turn. Don’t put it on after you have already moved into the left-hand turn lane and perhaps you should put it on before you turn into the driveway.

The Impatient One
If you go just more than 80 kilometres per hour, you can actually stretch a tank of gas a lot longer. However, sometimes 80 feels a tad ... slow. So I tend to go about 90. If that speed is too slow for you, I understand. However, please note The Tailgater and the Swooper. Don’t make hand gestures at me. This is the speed I am travelling. Get over it. Pass me. But if tailgate me, I am going to go 80.

The Inconsistent One
I don’t care if you want to go 70 km/hr but then go 70. Don’t go 70, then 100, then 80. And if I am trying to pass you because you were going 60 but then speed up as I move to pass, that’s just rude. Saying that, I apologize. Sometimes I am inconsistent. I miss cruise control.

And a couple of other notes:

* When I took Young Drivers of Canada, the instructor told a story that has stuck with me all these years.
Someone was trying to pass a dump truck. Instead of keeping back for a clear view around the truck, he would swerve into the oncoming lane to see if it was OK to pass. It wasn’t and he hit the instructor’s friend who was in the other lane, killing him instantly.
* A couple of years after I got my license, a car-full of ex-classmates were killed when they were hit head-on by a moron who passed up a hill.
Nothing is so important that you need to pass up a hill.