 | Diary Navigation:
|
March 5, 2003
I can’t believe that another week has passed already. Where the heck does the time go?
Some Major Revelations~
Mike quit his job. Yes it was just as abrupt as that. Let me give you the run down of the company that he worked for. First of all let me clarify that I am not naive. I never for one second thought that working in the trades would involve being acquainted with all wonderful, wholesome people. I knew that many of the people that Mike worked with would be…well…rough. At the same time my eyes were opened widely when he began working for this company. Very few of the men Mike worked with considered being an electrician their main source of income. Certain “substances” brought in greater revenue therefore they un-officially started up a side business. You would be hard pressed to find a company vehicle that did not come equipped with a “secret stash”. Next there was the company “beer fridge”. After work the boys would sit in the back room drinking from the fully stocked fridge. All they have to do it write down how many they have and they take the tab off of their check. Does this seem wrong to anyone else?
The biggest factor though was the time Mike spent away. The company that he worked for was the highest paying company around. You would think that this is a good thing, but unfortunately the have overpriced themselves so badly that the jobs have become few and far between.
So this is a really good thing. He was swooped up quickly by another company and he starts tomorrow as a foreman on a big job. He is excited and really has instantly seemed like a happier person. I really hope things work out.
Rising Cost of Living ~
I have had my beefs in the past about living in Canada. I am the first to admit that I am a bit “harsh” when comparing the United States and Canada. I am definitely more loyal to my American roots, and lately these roots have grown deeper. The rising cost of living in Canada is getting completely out of hand. We live in Alberta which has been noted as one of the most resourceful provinces in Canada. We produce the majority of natural gas, electricity and gasoline. You would think that because of this our utility prices would be rather low. Think again. We pay higher prices for natural gas than any other province. Last month my gas bill alone was $285.00. When the press started to question the energy minister about the rising cost of gas he told us to turn our heat down and put on a sweater. Oh, thanks. The price of gasoline has also risen sharply. We currently pay 84 cents per litre at the pumps. What do you pay for a gallon?
It is getting to the point where people are having to choose between paying for food and paying their utility bills. Seniors that are living on their pension checks can no longer even come close to making ends meet. When is enough, enough?
Cottage Cheese ~
A conversation on Stephanie’s board made me start thinking the other day. I can vividly remember the first time that I heard the term “cottage cheese thighs”. I was still in school and was terribly embarrassed that I had no idea what all these other people were talking about. I laughed like I understood fully but kept my ignorance to myself. I started thinking about this the other day and I became furious with myself! What I wouldn’t give to be able to proclaim the same unawareness today. I should have shouted out loud that I had no idea what “cottage cheese” was because in fact my thighs and butt were still as smooth as ever. “Behind” site is 20/20 I guess! LOL!
The Stroller Fiasco ~
When I was pregnant with Maxwell I bought a Century Travel System Stroller. It came with all the features that I had been looking for and I loved it! At the time I paid $239.99 for it and everyone thought I was crazy. Well last summer my family had planned a trip to a local amusement park. My Mom and Dad were coming to pick us up so I started to stack some of our stuff on the sidewalk for the trip. We received a phone call from someone interested in looking at the 4-Runner that we had for sale so we decided to move it into the street so they could look at it more easily. So I hoped in a backed right over my precious stroller. (And let me tell ya…the “F” bombs were flying that afternoon!)
So last week I finally got around to calling for some replacement parts. I called Century (who apparently no longer makes strollers, but is affiliated with Graco) and told them what I needed. The woman on the phone told me that no parts were available. I questioned her as to why and she informed me that my stroller had been recalled. Recalled? I was shocked. I asked why and she said because it had collapsed on some children. Quickly my mind started to wander back to the times when my stroller had begun to do the same thing. Luckily every time I caught it before anything could happen. I asked her why I wasn’t notified of the recall. She told me that they notified their customers through the media. Ok, well then what the heck are the little customer information cards for? She told me that they didn’t use those anymore.
After a long conversation I discovered that my stroller had actually been recalled BEFORE I bought it from Toy’s R Us. Graco offered a $40 rebate on the purchase of my next stroller. Wow. I spent $239.99 on a stroller that was very unsafe for my son and they are going to give me a WHOPPING $40.00 mail in rebate. I was more that a little upset. (All the while reminding myself that I wouldn’t be in this mess if I hadn’t run over the damn thing.) So my next target was Toy’s R Us…
The manager at Toy’s R Us was very nice. They gave me a $170.00 credit to their store because that was the final sale price on my stroller 2 years ago. I felt a bit better about this until I discovered that the cheapest Graco stroller that they carry is $349.00! OMG! I don’t think my first car cost that much!!!!!!!!
Maxwell ~
· Potty training is really no longer “training”. He is a complete expert now. No accidents and he is even waking up dry in the morning. This child was sent straight from heaven.
· Mike made the mistake of buying Popsicles the other day at the store and now Max is addicted. Every night before bed he wants one! Good thing they are sugar free!
· Height – 38 inches Weight – 34 pounds
· His favorite foods are bacon, cucumbers and of course hot dogs!
· Maxwell is in love with Sesame Street and Stuart Little
· He loves to sing. We sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame everyday and he loves when he gets to scream out “1, 2, 3 Strikes your out!”
· He is wearing all 4T clothes and is a size 9 shoe
· His current favorite toy is Lego. We are always having contests to see who can build the tallest tower!
· Bad Habits – picking his nose. The other day I looked in my rearview mirror and saw him picking his nose and wiping the boogers on his car seat! (At least he isn’t eating them I guess!) I told him that was gross and to stop doing it. He started yelling at the boogers, “Boogers you are gross! Don’t get on my car seat! Go have a time out!” How can you not laugh?
· Discipline – fortunately we don’t have to discipline very often because I hate it! But having said that Max does have one of the worst tempers I have seen. Once he gets upsets there is absolutely nothing that can calm him down. So I hold his hand and walk him into his bedroom for a time-out with the door closed. Normally he screams bloody murder for about 5 minutes and then I can hear him starting to calm himself down. Once he has totally stopped crying he calls for me and tells me that he is done. I open the door and he is back to his wonderful self. How easy is that?
Well I think it is time to wrap this thing up! Holy cow! I am really curious to hear what you are all paying for natural gas and gasoline where you are living. Stop by and let me know! Oh ya…and do you think I should settle for what Graco is offering? What would you do?
Have a great week!
Love Nicole
P.S. Haven’t proof read this! Sorry for any mistakes!
 |  |
|
want to keep a diary on iParenting?
Authoring a diary on the iParenting network allows you to chronicle your family's story, preserving it for years to come. It's also a great way to get the most out of the iParenting community. Click here to start...
|
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families. 
