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.

Thank You! American neighbours

Wednesday, my parts of the world are expecting a major snowstorm.

According to news reports, we can thank our American neighbours, particularly Texas, for this latest snowstorm.

So thank you, neighbours, for the likely really crappy commute Wednesday morning.

But on a non-sarcastic note, if the snowstorm pushes out this incredibly cold weather, I really do thank you. I will take a three-hour one-way commute over this bitter cold any day.

Thank you, SITS
Thank you SITS for featuring me Friday and thank you to everyone who popped by. I have responded via email to everyone who commented and plan to visit each of your blogs soon.

LisaDay

Pause to Remember

Today, Canadians across the world will be honouring those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause for two minutes of silence to remember the men and women who left behind their loved ones to join in the fight for freedom.

The day marks the end of the First World War on Nov. 11, 1918 – the war to end all wars, which of course did not happen.

So on Nov. 11, we also remember men and women who fought in the Second World War, Korea and those still fighting in Afghanistan.

Remembrance Day should not be political. Whether you believe in Canada’s role in Afghanistan or not, Nov. 11 should be a day of thanks. Thanks to the people who thought of others before themselves; thanks to their families for sharing their loved ones with others; and thanks to people who stand up to bullies.

Thank you, veterans – Canadian and otherwise – for fighting to ensure we can speak out for what we believe.


A Special Thanks
I received a phone called from a woman from The Source, and not the Sources book, a contact resource for journalists, which I asked when she called.

No, this was an employee from The Source, the electronic store, who noticed a weird order placed on my credit card and who was kind enough to call not only my house, but my work, to question the more than $300 worth of Playstation equipment charged to my credit card.

Thank you to the employee from The Source, whose name I didn’t catch, for being so diligent and saving me a lot of time, grief and money.

Sick Babe
The babe was sick last week, hence the long absence from my blog.

We went straight to emerg when his fever hit 102, his body going into seizures with projectile vomiting and a little boy who really wasn’t with us.

He is only now getting back to normal.

Thank you to our wonderful daycare providers and the doctors and nurses at Markham Stouffville Hospital. Again.

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.

Quick to Criticize, Slow to Thank

My apologies to both Huggies and Pampers. It seems that I am also guilty of being quick to criticize and slow to thank.

I try really hard to say thank you.

When I receive gifts, I always follow up with a thank-you card. When I read a reporters stories, I try to call to say ‘Great job’ almost as often as I call to ask questions.

People like to be recognized for a job well done. Human nature, I suppose.

So with that, I apologize to both disposables diaper companies. I wrote several blog entries complaining about sitting in puddles after my son peed through his diaper. As my friend pointed out, as I use cloth all day, my son has not grown with the diapers so it is hard to know which size to buy. And I had no idea the weight range was just a guide.

So you could see why I was having troubles.

So I wrote some nasty blogs about both Pampers and Huggies, tried another size and then was silent. I was no longer sitting in puddles, but I didn’t tell anyone that either.

And then the coupons started, with both Pampers and Huggies responding to my email and sending me coupons in the mail.

My son is in Size 5 diapers – first Pampers, now Huggies – and usually stays dry for most of the night.

So thank you Pampers and Huggies for responding to my email, teaching me the ways of disposables and for continually sending me ways to save money.

Thank you.

Appreciation

Week 1 at the office is almost over. And I can't tell you how happy I am. Forty hours away from my son is a long time, particularly since I don't think I had been away from him 40 hours in his life up this point.

Friends and family will know that I had proposed working from home two days a week and having flex hours the other three days. Those same people will also know how disappointed, although not surprised, I was when I was turned down.

However, I have been remiss in the fact that I haven't publicly said thank you to my boss who has allowed me to have different flex hours. I thanked him personally this week but I think the world needs to know that I appreciate his generosity. I have been bitter since the news.

So thank you to AT who has allowed me to come to the office at 7:30 and work through my lunch three days a week so I can leave at 2:30 and be home by 3:30. This gives me three hours a day to spend with me son. Not great, but better than a hour.

A Note to Drivers

Dear Drivers,

As you know, our street is a dead end; it’s not a busy road.

So can you do me a favour? When you see me pushing my son in the stroller, move over a whole lane. It annoys me when drivers sped past us, moving over only slightly.

If I can reach out and touch your car, you haven’t moved far enough away. If only half your car makes it over the yellow line, you still haven’t moved far enough over.

When drivers move into the other lane to pass, it makes me feel more confident that if something happened - a blown tire, a distracted driver - the car wouldn’t hit us. As a mother, that makes me happy.

So thank you to the drivers who move over to the other side of the road to pass me; who slow down when approaching me; and who wait until the car coming toward them goes by so they can move over a full lane to get around me.

These drivers get a grateful wave, a smile and a word of thanks. The others - not so much.