Licence Plates and Diapers?

On my way home from work today, I saw a vehicle with this licence plate: 2WDS4U.
I thought it was quite clever.

I have decided I like the smell of disposable diapers. They smell, obviously, like baby or I guess baby smells like them. When we were waiting for our little guy to make his appearance, I had the top drawer of his change table filled with everything I might need - lotion, shampoo, body wash, a package of newborn disposable diapers and wipes. I loved opening that drawer and letting that smell waft through the room. Baby. It can only be described as baby.

Leave The Car At Home

I heard on the news today that a government think-tank has suggested road tolls to help with the GTA’s gridlock problem. The news report suggested gridlock is responsible for loss productivity and increased food prices, among other things.

I agree that gridlock is a problem, and one that is only getting worse.

However, rather than taxing motorists, with the idea that an extra tax on roads and parking will get them to leave their cars at home, how about providing tax relief to businesses that allow their employees to work from home or have flexible hours?

Or perhaps the government can create a provincewide transit system that makes it more convenient to take a bus, train or subway rather than a car.

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.

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.

What The?

I saw the most ridiculous thing on my way down Hwy. 404 this morning.

It was an old Dodge Caravan with an after-market fin. Yes, a man who was old enough to know better put a fin on a minivan.

What was he thinking?

Studies Say ...

Studies say that children who go to daycare are more social and do better in school.

Quite frankly, I don’t care what the studies say.

And isn’t it insulting to the generation of children who were raised by their mothers? Were we social-inept, stupid children? I don’t think so.

So perhaps the study isn’t telling us all that we need to know or maybe it’s telling us this so we don’t feel bad about plunking our children in daycare for 10 hours a day while we get “me” time.

Let the Sadness Begin

Tomorrow I begin to pay someone to have the privilege of looking after my son.

Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t someone pay me to give up the privilege of raising my son?