Bravo! Bravo!!!!

OK, our Prime Minister stole the show on Saturday night!



He is NO OBAMA, in fact, many a comedic sketch has payed homage to his robotic nature. But he threw caution to the wind, and took centre stage!


Oh, his handlers have worked hard trying to improve his image - Remember those lovely sweaters?????!!!!

Anyways, thanks to PM Harper I have been humming this song!!!! All. Day. Long.

I cannot get it out of my head!!!

Furthermore, this tune is being hummed all over Parliament Hill!

Every morning I deliver my report to the PM's office in Centre Block. Well, this morning I came across 5 workers humming a certain Beatles tune!

Hilarious!

Genius!

PM Harper's performance is the talk of the town. What a perfect choice of song given our current political landscape. Oh, I cannot wait for Rex Murphy on the Thursday night CBC National program...his commentary will ROCK! (Ya, I am a Canadian Studies major, can you tell?!?!?!)

Now, wonder what PM Harper's encore will be????

At the next G8 meeting, Obama may win the congeniality award, but Harper may be crowned in the talent competition!!!

AH, Canadian politics!!!

Throwing my hat into the ring...ring of the the alarm clock that is!

PROS

• Cool job - not many people can say they hand deliver a report to the Prime Minister of Canada every day!
• Nifty work - I get paid to watch the news! Oh, and write an overview
• Do not need childcare
• Allows me to be home during the day
• Full time pay
• Permanent federal government position with all the benefits
• Will allow us to save more, faster - you know, to pay off mortgages, van payments and even take a fun vacation or do home renovations
• New ability to do some of the work from home

CONS

• I will basically be working a full day, BEFORE some people even get up!
• I will have to adjust my bed time - getting to work for 3am sucks!
• Saturday hours - YUK!
• Not having human interaction since most of my team are not in yet, or work form home

So, after much thought and discussion with hubby - WE decided that applying for the new position at work was the right thing to do. Yes, the hours are STUUUUUUPID crazy, and I have to work 6 days a week - but with David's job being so unstable, the economy so rocky, and the possibility this job will open new doors - the right thing to do was to apply.

Here is the lovely scoop: I use to work 4am-8am- then our project started to get a higher profile and we had quality issues - so, to solve the issue they decided to "go to competition". So, I was "invited" to apply for the new full time position. Instead of contract and part time - the new position is full time and permanent - a huge deciding point for us. I know I am going to be tired (who is NOT tired when they have young kids??) and I know the weekend hours will make for a long week. But David and I will work together to make it work.

So, I have entered the competition for my own-old-new job. Wish me luck...with getting it, and with staying awake AFTER I get it! Who knows? There are currently 3 of us on contract and only 2 permanent positions will be staffed...I may not even win the competition...and that would be ok too!

One day left

11PM - Leave for work
7AM - Deliver media report to the Prime Minister's Office
8AM - Breakfast with hubby and kiddies
9AM - Relax in bed and try to get to sleep
2PM - Wake up, eat lunch, play with kids
5PM - Make dinner
6PM - Exercise
8PM - Put kids to bed
9PM - Threaten kids
10PM - Wink-wink, nudge-nudge (or cuddle-cuddle, or mindless TV, or blog)
11PM - Leave for work

REPEAT for 2 weeks.

Happily, after tonight, only one more night, then my co-worker returns from vacation. THANK GOD! (though, I must say, there have been SOME benefits to this new schedule!)

To quote Sigmund Freud...

Verrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeey Interzessssting!

Below are the cheer posters my little people made me for my big race on Saturday.

Artist: Madigan, 27 months

According to the artist, Mommy is yellow and running fast. DJ is red, Anderson is blue, Daddy is green and Madigan is black. The route is clearly marked!

Artist: DJ, 5 years old

Mommy is wearing her race number. She is very fast. She is using her arm to push everyone out of the way so that she can win. Everyone in the race is kicking her and trying to push her down and make her loose.

Artist: Anderson, 4 years old
Daddy is on the far right. Mommy and Anderson are in the middle holding up the gold trophy for winning the race. Madigan is the tall, second figure from the left. She is saying, "Anderson", because she loves Anderson (note the "A" above her head). Great grandpa is standing on the far left. DJ is the little figure. He is just a baby and his arms and legs are broken. He only has one eye and one ear. He was too small to see Mommy win the race and he could not help Mommy hold the big golden trophy.


Oh, ya, Dr. Freud would have a field day with these drawings!!!!!

Telling time

I have to be at work at 3AM.

I usually wake up around 2:30AM and make a mad dash to the office.

I usually wake up on my own, before the alarm.

This morning I woke up, glanced at the clock: 2:28AM.

2 minutes before the alarm.

I gently asked David to turn off the alarm.

I got up.

I showered.

I did my hair.

I got dressed.

I grabbed my coat.

I glanced at the clock: 12:42AM.

12:42AM.

Damit! I misread the clock!

Back to bed for less than 2 hours, and then off to work I went.

Yep. It is going to be a long, long, long day!

Just call me LOSER LAURA!!!!

Yawn.

Mug Shots

Madigan - 2 years old

AKA: Princess Diva

Wanted for elaborate temper tantrums and excessive cuddles

Anderson - 4 years old

AKA - Pander-Bear

Wanted for multiple counts of huggies and kissies

DJ - 5 years old

AKA - Horsie Boy

Wanted for crimes of passion and compassion

Laura - 40 years old

AKA: Mom

Considered mentally unstable - a bit loony - delusional (thinks a road trip of approximately 4600 kilometres, clear across the country, to visit her in laws, with the above mention accomplices "might be fun".

Let the planning begin - our summer trip is only 85 days away!

Total Estimated Driving Time: 51 hours 11 minutes (ONE WAY!)

Total Estimated Distance: 4597.99 kilometers

I was so worried about the kids' passport photos. I took all three on my own to Costco to get them done. I have heard nightmares about kids smiling, blinking, etc. and it taking 10-40 shots to get a presentable and acceptable shot. Well, each of my darlings got the first take right...and then mine turned out so terrible, but I sure wasn't going to be the one having to retake the photo!!!!! Oh well - what can you do?!?!?!?!?!

Road Rage

Oh! I have a mighty case of road rage!


First, I read this post posted on Life is Just so Daily. For those who do not know, Lainey-Painey is a huge advocate for child safety in cars. Sadly, she lost her nephew Riley in September 2005. It was a tragic accident where 2 year old Riley locked himself in the family car and died of heat exposure.

Links and stories on her blog have really opened my eyes to the dangers of unsupervised children in cars. PLEASE - go check out www.kidsincars.org - knowledge and awareness is power and it could save YOUR kids.

Oh...I was fuming after reading that post...and I personally would have used a few harsher names for the "witch" that Lainey-Painey confronted.

Then, as I was walking to work, my temper started to fume again. As you may know Tamil-Canadians are staging a marathon protest. They have been picketing outside my office. Understand that I am not upset that they are staging a protest...it is their right. What I am fuming about is the number of children left sleeping in their cars parked along the route I walk at 3:30am. Sometimes there are entire families sleeping in their cars, sometimes just children. Sometimes the children are in car seats, sometimes not. Sometimes the cars are even running! Sometimes the parents or guardians are also sleeping in the car - sometimes they are congregating a few cars away with other protesters.

The police presence is high - so, within a few metres down the street I stopped two police officers and voiced my concern. They basically said, "Oh, it is not a cold night, and the kids gotta sleep, and the parents cannot be too far away. Don't worry about it."

Don't worry about it?????

Mr. Police officer and Madame Police officer, with all due respect - GO CHECK OUT www.kidsincars.org !

THEN, to top off my morning road rage, here is a news clip I had to review for my media report. YES - two children are in grave condition after a MINOR car accident. Minor...except for the MAJOR error of judgement made by the parental unit to NOT properly secure their children in car seats.


Did you know that it is estimated that 95% of children's car seats are not installed correctly or used correctly? Two of my biggest beefs are infants in the "bucket seats" with the handles upright - CHECK YOUR MANUAL PEOPLE - this is WRONG! And secondly, when children in the harness seats are not tightly secured. CHECK YOUR MANUAL PEOPLE - the straps need to be SNUG. If you have questions contact your local authorities to find out about car seat clinics and checks in your area.

OK. Deep breaths.

I have a serious case of road rage and I only hope and pray this rant of a post gets just one person to rethink leaving children unattended in a car or how their car seats are installed or used.

Children are precious cargo...let's handle them with care.

Dear Kettle BBQ Chips,

I friggin' HATE you...well, actually, you are yummy good...and, well, there in lays the problem.

Well, at least you are all gone - and so are my Weight Watchers points for the next four days!


It is now after 9PM, I have to get up at early and be at work by 3AM...the Junos are on and I would like to watch them...but, well, my bed calls. I had a FABULOUS weekend and cannot wait to share it all with you.

Nighty-night!

I knew you were the one, when...

A few photos to spark your interest...the real love story to follow...stay tuned!

OK. With photo evidence like that, can you just IMAGINE the story I am going to tell next post?!?!?!?!?!

Off to go celebrate Valentine's day with the sweetest, most wonderful man in the world......catch ya later!

Wordless Wednesday - BRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Hello! HELLO! We are FREEZING our butts off here in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada! Seriously, people, -38 Celsius is equal to -36.40 Fahrenheit! WTF?!?!?!?!?!

At least with my butt freezing off, it will help my weight loss goals...of which I am even 1.5 pounds closer to achieving goal weight! Go Me!!!!

Then Push Me Back In!

All night I hummed and haa'd about going into work in the evening to avoid treacherous road conditions in the early morning. Then, based on The Weather Channel predictions, I decided to simply go into work an hour early.

At 2:25am I slowly backed out of my driveway. The snow was deep and still coming down. I cautiously drove to the highway. Taking it very easy, I drove slowly and safely. A few idiots screamed by me - but I clutched the steering wheel and proceeded on with caution.

At my off ramp, I signaled, moved over a lane and started to take the exit. The snow plow had had zig-zaged at the entrance of the off-ramp, resulting in a wall of snow. Since it was now 3:02am, it was dark, and visibility was impaired due to snow and rain pellets. I slowed down and lined my little car's wheels up with the one and only wheel track cutting through the snow barrier left by the plow. Suddenly, my wheels started to slip and I could not straighten the car out. In slow motion I slid into the high snow bank on the side of the off ramp. My car became wedged sideways in the snow bank.

I sat for a moment, glad to be ok, then mad that I was stuck, then concerned I may not get to work, then I realized it...I was friggin' sideways, blocking 3/4 of the off ramp...and it is 3:04am.

Luckily, I had my phone. I called my hubby...just in case something would happen - I was terrified a car coming off the highway would crash into me. Then I called CAA - Canadian Automobile Association. I spoke to the operator and he informed me that I was a top priority, especially since I was in a dangerous spot. A tow truck would come within the next half hour.

A van came off the highway and stopped. Three young guys got out and tried with all their might to get me out of the snow bank. Nope. I was wedged in. Just as we were trying another car came screaming off the highway - he lost control as he tried to squeeze through and become stuck.

The three guys and I rocked and pushed his car till it was freed.

The two vehicles left me as there was nothing for them to do: I assured them that I had just called CAA and a tow truck was coming.

So, I waited.

And waited.

Suddenly I saw flashing lights behind me - a big yellow tow truck from Ottawa Towing. Thank you!

I got out of my car and said, "Thank goodness! I was getting a bit scared of getting hit. Conditions are getting worse and visibility is nil, and well, look, I am stuck sideways in the off ramp."

"Have you out in a sec."

"Great! Here is my CAA card. Whew, the operator said I may have to wait for half an hour!"

"Um. I am not with CAA. Did you call it into CAA?"

"Ya."

"Well, I'm here first, you may have to wait a long time - so, if you want, I can pull you out - but you will have to pay me."

"Oh."

"$65.00 and you will be out in a few seconds - or you can wait for CAA"

"Oh, well, I pay by dues to CAA, and I just called them - so, well, I guess I will wait for them."

...and zoom...he was off.

I waited about 5 more minutes, then a big white tow truck from Garvis Towing pulled up beside me. Nice, young guy jumps out and says, "Did you call this in?"

"Yep! Let me get my CAA Card! So glad you are here!"

"I'll have you out in a jiffy! Put it in neutral and I will pull you out."

"OK!...AWESOME! That took 2 seconds! Here is my CAA card!"

"Oh, I am not with CAA. You owe me $95.00... I am not with CAA. I do not accept CAA cards. You will have to pay me."

"WHAT?!?!?!?!? I told you I had called it in and told you was was getting my CAA card - then you just pulled me out! You made me think you were with CAA...I cannot pay you...I will not pay you!"

"Mame, you gotta pay me - I pulled you out...you have to pay."

"Well, then, PUSH ME BACK IN and I will wait for the CAA tow truck. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"





I got on the phone with CAA and well, long sobbing, angry story later, I had to pay the tow truck driver, and no, he did not push me back in! I felt tricked, scammed and violated. I was furious and out $95.00! And the kicker - the first tow truck driver works for a contractor of CAA - but he wanted to make full fare and not the CAA rate. I have submitted my claim to CAA for reimbursement, but I will probably only get the CAA rate... a miserly $39.00...no wonder the tow truck operators would rather gouge you! So, if you ever need a tow truck, pleaase NEVER use Ottawa Towing or Garvis Towing!

Away FROM the Manger

Do you remember this post from last year?

Well, last week my parents left on a whirlwind Christmas tour to South-Western Ontario. They were going to visit family and friends along the Toronto-Windsor corridor.

Or, so I thought.

I wonder if there is any coincidence that they arrived home last night at midnight, and the following news story aired on the National News....

hmmmmm, The Baby Jesus Bandit strikes again!

An Apology Would Go a Long Way

Back in March of 2006 I stumbled upon a great job. A job I would have killed for when I first moved to Ottawa as a recent Canadian Studies graduate. My dream had been to work for the Federal Government and one day be a foreign diplomat. But really, what I did when I moved to Ottawa 17 years ago and my professional journey is quite a fun story and I do plan on blogging about it soon...but let's jump to Tuesday December 16, 2008.

I arrived at work at my normal time, fired up my computers and open my email. BAM! I am pretty sure a two-by-four came swinging out of my computer and smacked in the face. BAM!

The email was from my compensation advisor apparently she had "revised all overtime forms sent" to her and had determined I had been "overpaid on most of them." Blah. Blah. Blah. $529.62. Blah. Blah. Blah. "We are allowed to collect at a rate of 10% of your pay per pay...until the full amount is recovered". Blah. Blah. Blah.

HUH?????

OK, deep breath. Calm down, Laura. Deep breath!

My contract specifically states that my hours of work will be "20 hours per week, from Monday to Friday. [My] hours of work are 4 a.m. to 8 a.m...Willing to work overtime on a regular basis is a condition of employment for this position. By acceptance of this offer [I am] also accepting this condition."

So, since March 2006 I have been asked to work overtime on the weekends. Anytime there was a "big news story of federal government interest" a member of our team was asked to come in to work on the weekend. You see, my job is to watch TV news, listen to radio news and analyse front pages of newspapers across the country. I help create a multi-media report that federal government employees and federal politicians can access - but the cool part, no matter your political party affiliation, is that my main "customer" is the Prime Minister of Canada and his staff.

For example, recently PM Harper was in Peru and I was asked to work weekend hours in order to to keep the Prime Minister's communication staff up to date on the coverage happening in Canada. They were briefing him each morning and wanted our report by 6am each day. I volunteered to come in and complete the report.

Back in 2006, the very first time I was asked to work a weekend my then boss joked, "well, at least you get overtime pay". Then the first time I worked both a Saturday and Sunday my boss corrected my overtime sheet to have the Saturday hours paid at 1.5 rate and the Sunday hours to be paid at the 2.0 rate. They used the terms "first rest day" and "second rest day". So, this has always been the practice. Work the weekend - get 1.5 or even 2.5 pay rate for coming in on the weekend.

What is also important is that not only did my manager sign off on the overtime sheets, so did his manager. At times sending it back to me to make corrections - like for my November time sheet. I claimed the 1.5 rate for my Saturday hours and the 2.0 rate for my Sunday hours AND my premium pay for working outside the "normal business day" (it is $2.00 an hour for any hour after 5pm and before 8am). My form was sent back to me and I was actually told (JUST LAST WEEK!) that I only qualify for the 1.5 and 2.0 overtime rate and that premium pay is not paid on overtime weekend hours.

So, compensation girl has determined that SOME of my old time sheets were corrected and some were not. According to her calculations I owe them for 9 shifts, some dating back to July of 2006, in which I claimed the 1.5 or 2.0 rate. She also determined that they owe me money for four hours I worked, but was not paid for properly.

Is your head spinning????? Mine is. And I am fuming.

I am mad at myself for not scrutinizing my pay cheques. They were higher when I worked extra hours, and I just figured it was all correct. I am mad at myself for no researching the Collective Agreement and figuring out my rights and pay levels.

I am furious with the 5 managers I have had in the last 3 years - yes, 5- for not knowing the nuisances of having a part-time employee. I am mad that I was told to fill in my forms a specific way and that TWO levels of management signed off on them - leading me to believe they were correct.

I am extremely upset at the compensation advisers. Why did they not inform me of discrepancies on my forms and the corrections they made to correct them. If notification would have occurred the first time this happened, then we would not be in this mess. If when it occurred a second time or a third time or a million times they should have contact me AND my management. They should have realized there was a lack of communication and understanding of the pay rate scale.

But you know what make me the most upset? Is that in all the correspondence between my boss on this fiasco, he has never once said sorry. Not once. All I want is a, "Damn-it Laura, sorry this happened..." Or, "This absolutely sucks, I'm sorry I never caught the error." Or, "My bad. Sorry." Or, "Hey, it is Christmas, and you know, it is my fault this happened, so, here is $500, pay off the debt! Merry Christmas! Sorry."

Heck. I would take a simple sorry. Sorry. SORRY.

Well, excuse me while I dry my tears of anger and go ice the huge welt and bruise the two-by-four left...and as I start to budget better since my pay is about to be garnished.

A. Simple. Apology. Would. Go. A. Long. Way.

Christmas Critters

Know what really sucks?

Discovering that a friggin' mouse got into the plastic tub of Christmas decorations - ruined almost all of them - and then died in the box.

Ya. That friggin' sucks!


(and is also stinks, literally and figuratively!)

I Heart Rex!

And you thought American politics was exciting...Canada seems to be keeping pace in our own way:

The landscape of Canadian politics could be changed forever...it will be interesting to see what happens.

Nice to be here...

My heart is super heavy with all the news coming out of Mumbai, India. I just do not understand the violence and unrest in this world of ours and I pray for peace and safety.


With my job, I cannot get away from seeing all the news. I have to watch it and report on it. Sometimes, like during this morning's coverage of the tragedy in Mumbai, I just have to shake my head:

TV HOST - "We are joined now by a leading expert in Terrorist Studies. Thank you so much Mr. X for being here to analyze the situation in Mumbai for us.

Mr X - "It is very nice to be here today."


OK - wait a minute, you are a terrorist expert, you will be analyzing a horrific situation unfolding - and 1) you greet the host with a huge flashy smile and 2) you think it is nice to be there?

Nice is being on vacation, nice is enjoying a cup of tea or chatting about spring weather - the fact that your expertize is even required is not NICE...it is quite sad, actually... it is tragic.


TV HOST - "Thanks so much Mr. X. We will be definitely speaking to you again."

Mr. X - "I'm looking forward to it..." (grin. grin.)


Looking forward to it?!?!?! What a sad world we live in when there has to be terror specialists... let alone one anxious to relate his knowledge to current events.

Think of how the world would be if there was no NEED for a terror specialist. Now, that would be a nice place to be. Wouldn't it?

My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this tragedy.

I pray for peace.

I pray for a nice place to be... and a nice place to raise my children.

I pray for nice.

Adverted!

Whew, WW III has been adverted.


Yes, the world was put on high alert yesterday when chaos led to pandemonium. Battle lines were drawn and NATO moved from level one alert to Code Red.


The level of hostility and violence escalated to levels never seen before.


The main issue:





The leader of the 3-almost-4-year-old brigade referred to the above snack product as " a rice-crispy square".


The leader of the mom brigade chuckled and replied, "It is actually called a rice cake."


The leader of the 4-almost-5-year-old brigade sarcastically replied that "it is not a square, but a circle, it is not made of rice, but of popcorn, and it is not a cake 'cause there is no icing." This resulted in the naming of favorite snack product as, " a popcorn circle."


The leader of the 1-almost-2-year-old brigade believed strongly that the entire package of snack treat was hers for the taking.


Lines were drawn. Tempers flared. Voices screeched and all hell broke loose...till the leader of the Mom Brigade informed all parties that no one would be claiming victory over this battle.


Peace was returned when Mommy let Anderson have a "Rice Crispy Square", and DJ got to have a "Popcorn Circle" and Madigan, "got HER snack.


Whew.... WWIII adverted!


File this under you say tomato and I say tamato, let's call the whole thing off!

Wordless Wednesday - SNOW!