Crayons Melt

In a car on a hot day, crayons will melt.

This may seem obvious to most people. Apparently, I am not most people.

But on a silver lining note, when hardened, melted crayons make a shiny, pretty mess.

Turn Your Headlights On

It’s 8 a.m. It’s dark. It’s raining. Hard.

During the drive down the highway this morning, the rain was coming down so hard even with my windshield wipers on high, it was barely keeping my windshield clean.

Despite that, there was a person driving a SUV without his full headlight system on.

Daytime running lights are a great thing, however, please turn your full headlights on in the rain.

Last day
Despite this being my last day before two weeks of vacation, I am excited to be here.

I have a list of things to do including finishing off my article on living donors, learning a new job and striking off my pre-vacation to-do list.

Happy days.

Living Donor

I have back-to-back interviews this morning about the living donor program at St. Mike’s Hospital in Toronto.

I have thought about doing an article about the selfless people who donate a kidney or other organ to loved ones in the past but it went to the top of my list when I read through Designing DNA about Cathy at The Stylish House, who was desperately searching for someone to save her daughter who is dying of liver disease.

While her story made me sad, I couldn’t imagine giving up an organ or part of an organ. What if I needed it later?

There was an update on Cathy's blog. Someone, a stranger, has stepped forward to save Heather.

It was then I decided I would do what I do best – provide people with information about the living donor program, why it’s important and the risks associated with it, so people can make an informed decision, and not one based on fear, about how they can make a difference in one’s life.

Communication Pet Peeves

Despite, or perhaps because of, the advances in technology, there are several things that annoy me when communicating, or not, with people.

Acknowledgement
It takes so little to acknowledge someone.

In most email programs there is something called a signature, which adds whatever information you want to an email.

I have a signature for almost every occasion, which means I do not have to type out the same message each time someone emails me looking to promote his event, for example.

I simply click a signature, which greats the person and tells them I have forwarded their email to a managing editor, with that editor’s email address. I always personalize the email with the sender’s name, respond to specific questions or add condolences or congratulations when necessary.

It takes a couple of minutes and people always email back to say thank you for responding so quickly.

Voicemail
There is nothing worse than reaching someone’s voicemail only to hear they are in the office today and to leave a message.

Are they in the office or are they on vacation?

I change my voicemail every day. I figure if I am sick one day, the fact my voicemail says yesterday’s date is an indication I am not t here. My voicemail also tells people how to reach someone who can help them.

This is not a pet peeve but rather a note to self.
Not everyone remembers to take out people’s personal message before forwarding an email along.

So while it’s tempting to make a smart-mouthed comment to your coworker, you might want to rethink that strategy unless you are OK with everyone, including the author, reading your words.

Only One Person to Blame

I have a summer cold.

It started Monday morning with a new voice and today I have the accompanying running nose.

I didn’t bring my trusty Vaseline jar, which means I will be less shiny but more red and raw.

There is only one person to blame for this summer misery – my little guy who grabbed my head on Saturday and pulled me in for multiple full-mouth kisses.

This cold is so worth it.

Vacation Time
It’s vacation time. I can see my vacation on the horizon and it’s calling my name – ‘Lisa, come spend two weeks just playing with your son.’

I am ready vacation. Bring on the sun and bring on two weeks of happiness.

I am expecting, bloggy friends, that I will not be writing nearly as often, particularly during the second week when I am RVing with my parents and brother and family, but know that all is well and I will be one happy mom.

Oh Yes, I Remember Now

Saturday night I broke many of my own rules. I went outside after putting the baby to bed and I went out of my house wearing only shorts, a T-shirt and sandals.

That will learn you.





Praise to Cosmo
On a non-itchy note, our four-month-old kitten got lots of praise when we got home from the grocery store Saturday morning.

Cosmo caught – and killed – his first mouse.

Way to go, Cosmo.

Thursday’s Tidbits

Hot, Hot, Hot
It’s going to be a hot one today.
Yippee.

Air Canada Response
I recently posted about an Air Canada commercial I heard on a local radio station. The commercial was talking about how wonderfully first-class people are treated by the airline.

I was disgusted by the commercial and sent the blog posting directly to Air Canada.

A representative of the airline did respond.

Here is what, in part, they said:

“We regret to learn of your disappointment with the commercial you heard on radio station 680 news. While we are unfortunately unable to recreate the commercial and its details, we certainly apologize for any misunderstanding that may have occurred.

“Please be advised Ms. Day, that Air Canada is committed and strives on providing the same exceptional service to all of our customers despite the class of service each individual chooses to travel in…"


My response to this email:
“I am glad to hear Air Canada strives to treat everyone equally…Remember, we may not have lots of money, but we travel, usually in groups.”

In response to that, I received a ‘token of their appreciation’, five per cent off of the base fare of my next booking at aircanada.com

Wow. Thank you Air Canada. Five per cent! I wonder what first-class passengers would receive if they offered a complaint?

Picture Day
It’s picture day at my son’s swimming lessons tonight. Last time he took swimming lessons, it’s was picture day whenever we wanted.

When I brought my camera to my son's first swimming class July 5, the lifeguard in charge took it away from me, to protect children from sexual predators.

I appreciate they are trying to protect our children, mine included, but as pool staff does not confiscate cameras at the door nor do they take away people’s cellphones, many of which have cameras installed, I do not see how taking away my camera and not allowing me to take pictures of my son in action in an area where there are lots of people watching, is being protective.

I tried to argue and reason but I gave up. I will bring my camera tonight and take pictures of a jumping, climbing and swimming little boy.


Sideswiped
I was almost broadsided while coming to work yesterday. My heart thumped wildly for the rest of the drive.

Today I must be really tired because I almost hit the cars in front of me several times because while I noticed brake lights, it didn’t click as to what those meant. You know, I should slow down.


Self-promotion
I was excited about a piece was I was going to write about green cleaning.

And while it turned out OK, it could have been better if one of my sources was willing to have a conversation rather than being so worried she would only quote from documents.

I learned from my mistakes and said no to another person who I knew was going to be the same way.

For those interested in cleaning the Guide to Less Toxic Products is a fantastic resource.

Click here for the green cleaning article.