A précis of news coverage

As long-time Fringe readers know, I really do love my job!

But, alas, like many jobs, even dream-jobs, there is usually little recognition for all the hard work we do.

That is, until now!

Last night on The CBC National News there was a call out to my little team of media monitors and analysts. Watch for yourself!!!!

Yep...now, if someone asks what I do for a living I can say, "I deliver a précis of news coverage to the Prime Minister!"

PM Harper is correct, he DOES NOT watch Canadian news broadcasts....I DO...FOR HIM!!!!

Which sounds more impressive than, I watch the news for the Prime Minister!

The scat master irons his socks

OH my!

Rex Murphy did not disappoint!!!!

"The scat master"

"No bimbos in Harper land!"

"Harper and the Deficits"




OH my!
I HEART Rex!!!!!

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!!!

Bashert

For 2009 I am not making a new years resolution, per say... instead, I am committing to my bashert.

(Warning: This post is a bit all-over-the-place, please bear with me...in the end, it may make sense...it just might!)

My heart goes out to each and every person who has lost a loved one at war.

I am not going to jump onto a soapbox and start preaching my political views on war, but I am going to say that each and every time a young soldier makes the ultimate sacrifice my heart saddens, my resolve in the human spirit lessens, and I am left wondering why?
Canada has lost 106 soldiers since our Mission in Afghanistan started.

One hundred and six.

There is a stretch of highway between Toronto and CFB Trenton that has become known as The Highway of Heroes.

The bodies of our fallen soldiers must drive this route. What started as a impromptu tribute has become a very touching and sad last tribute to show our support for the grieving families, our military and our country. Hundreds of people gather on two overpasses to honour the fallen soldier. They wave flags, shed tears and pay their respects.



This video really sums it all for me.

When the death count hit 96 I started to really contemplate making the 5 hour drive to stand at attention the next time a fallen soldier returned home. I started to feel like it was something I really had to do...a calling of sort.

The month of December has been a month of terrible loss for Canada.

I sadly realized, that logistically, I could not follow my calling and pay tribute on the Highway of Heroes.

So, with the start of the new year, I started to mull over new year's resolutions. Most revolved around around continuing my weight loss journey, staying committed to my fitness plan and achieving results.

But the thought of making the trek to pay homage to a fallen soldier kept jumping to mind.

So, I decided to set realistic, attainable goals that would incorporate both my fitness goals and my new burning desire to show my respect for those placing their lives in danger.

Let me explain.

Remember this post about my last running experience? Go ahead, go read it, it is kind-of amusing!

Ok. Welcome back. So, you can now understand why I do not wish to attempt another 5km run. But now that I have lost 57.5 pounds I have rediscovered the joy of running. I have been roughly following The Running Room program and am averaging about 3-6km two or three times a week.

Now, I am a competitive person and I thrive with challenge. Through Facebook I have connected with my friend Leah - and her Facebook status keeps listing runs and triathlons - what a great way to keep motivated, active and accountable. She is so inspiring...and her invilvement in community races got me thinking...

So I did a bit of research looking into local race days and training clinics, and I have come up with what I think is a great plan. So, here is what I resolve to do this year:

1. Train for the St Paddy's Day 10K Race - my goal is to run 5KM and walk 5KM.

2. Participate in the National Capital Race Weekend 10K Race - my goal is to better my time from the St. Paddy's Day race - and I hope to run more than walk!

3. Sign up for The Running Room's Half Marathon Clinic - to join the program you have to be able to run 10km doing a run 10min/walk1min pattern

4. Complete the Army Run Half Marathon on September 20,2009. I simply want to start the race and then cross the finish line. Just doing it will be my goal. And what makes this run doubly special is that 1) I am showing my support to the Canadian Armed Forces and 2) It will be exactly one year since I started my weight loss journey. What an awesome combination! When I saw the race date and the cause it all made sense to me!

I really think these goals are realistic, attainable and will allow me to keep true to the new me.

I am really excited about my plan and I am going to work hard to keep committed and focused - and realistic, meaning, I may re-evaluate each goal as I go.

My friend Ilana says I am not making new years resolutions or goals, but fulfilling my bashert. And, considering how nicely it all works into my game plan, I think I would have to agree!

So, what is your bashert?

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.

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.

Sammy Slowdown Set for the Slammer?

I would like you to meet Sammy Slowdown.

Sammy has became a much loved member of our family. Whenever we go out to play in the yard the boys race to get Sammy. I feel a bit safer with Sammy protecting us - standing on guard for us.

We live on a corner lot and have a pool in the back yard, so, we have built a nice little play area on the side yard. The kids spend hours playing there. It is relatively a quiet neighbourhood, but the through cars seem to ignore the 40KM an hour and speed past our house. There are no sidewalks and as all parents know, the road seems to draw kids close!

Then Sammy came to live with us. We place him on the edge of the road. He does one heck of a great job. Drivers seem to slow down - many even wave at the kids and a few even give the thumb up sign. When Sammy is on duty I can honestly say most of the traffic slows down and drives a bit more cautiously. Before Sammy, many drives would come to a rolling stop at the stop sign by my house, now most see Sammy and stop. I was constantly worried about the safety of my kids. Sammy now makes me feel a bit more safe, and he is a reminder for both the drivers and for our kids. They know that only Sammy can stand on the road and that they need to keep away. A double win!

One day Sammy took one for the family. He was standing guard on the edge of the street - taking up 1/3 of the width a parked car takes up and a driver hit him. The kids were devastated that Sammy got hit, and glad that he did not get hurt...my heart was pounding, that could have been one of the kids. That day I was even more happy than ever for Sammy.

Since we first welcomed Sammy into our home, at least 5 other families have adopted their own Sammys. Everyone has seen the good Sammy does in detouring speeding and reckless driving in our quiet neighbourhoods.

I love Sammy.

But apparently, Sammy is a wanted fugitive and he may end up in the slammer.

The city of Ottawa has a bylaw against placing such signs and one Ottawa family was recently handed a notice of violation. A neighbour complained about the sign and according to Bylaw 2003-520 3(a), which states: "No person shall place a sign on a highway that is on the roadway." The family could be fined.

Read this article that appeared in The National Post. It states that Ottawa is regarded as "the most over regulated, uptight city in Canada". It sites this by-law along with 4 other trite bylaws.

This is CRAZY! The neighbour who called must be crazy...or at least have no kids.

It is our duty to protect our children. Sammy Slowdown has proven to work and does not interfere with traffic flow...unless you count the fact that he slows traffic to a more acceptable speed that is more in line with the posted speed limits.

Please, leave your comment and help me generate world-wide support against this bylaw craziness. HELP SAVE SAMMY. HELP SAVE OUR KIDS.

If you would really like to take a stand, please visit Eye on Ottawa and leave a comment there too. This non-profit organization seeks opportunities to make an impact on municipal administration and political process in our fine city.

Help save Sammy Slowdown from the slammer - help keep our children safe. Comment now!

Scrolling Saturdays - Politically Correct - or not!

Gather up your favorite archived post, dust it off and repost it!! It's that easy!

Thank you to the hostesses of this meme, Manners and Moxie and SuchSimplePleasures.

The American election process really intrigues me. It is very different than the Canadian process. For many reasons Canadians are interested in both the process and the results of all the Primaries.

For Scrolling Saturday this week, here is a piece I wrote on the provincial election that took place. It is not a post extra-ordinaraire, but it is a cute post that illustrates a key difference in the Canadian and American take on politics. This was first posted on my blog Tuesday, September 18, 2007. I hope you enjoy it!

Oh, and if you are interested, Mr. Watson won!

Politically Correct - or not!

On October 10th Ontario residents will go to the poll to vote in the provincial elections. Coming from a very active politically-inclined family, I am one of the first to preach the importance of voting and that every vote counts. But I am not one to ram my political beliefs down the throats of anyone who will listen.

That said...I have decided to back Jim Watson, the Liberal candidate in my riding. I agree with many of his platform promises and agenda items and I also value the experience and personal character he brings to the table. What I do not agree with is his campaign slogan!

RE-ELECT A GOOD MPP

Whatever happened to striving to be the best? To presenting yourself as the BEST candidate for the job?

I do not want a good MPP - I want a GREAT MPP to represent me at Queen's Park.

Why is Mr. Watson under-selling himself? Check out his track record! He is an ideal candidate and in my opinion, much better than just good.

Has being politically correct taken a huge step into the right of self promotion and candidacy in politics? Have we, as a society decided that being good is good enough? Should we as voters settle for good? And what is the difference between good and great?

Good God! Canadian Politics can be so lame and wishy-washy. In comparison to all the American smear campaigns, I can see Mr. Watson smearing his opponents image by claiming that Conservative candidate Mike Patton would make a mediocre MPP!

Mr. Watson, stand up, be proud and toot your horn, win votes, and boldly represent this great community of Ottawa-West Nepean as a GREAT MPP.

Politically Correct - or not!

On October 10th Ontario residents will go to the poll to vote in the provincial elections. Coming from a very active politically-inclined family, I am one of the first to preach the importance of voting and that every vote counts. But I am not one to ram my political beliefs down the throats of anyone who will listen.

That said...

I have decided to back Jim Watson, the Liberal candidate in my riding. I agree with many of his platform promises and agenda items and I also value the experience and personal character he brings to the table. What I do not agree with is his campaign slogan!

RE-ELECT A GOOD MPP

Whatever happened to striving to be the best? To presenting yourself as the BEST candidate for the job?

I do not want a good MPP - I want a GREAT MPP to represent me at Queen's Park.

Why is Mr. Watson under-selling himself? Check out his track record! He is an ideal candidate and in my opinion, much better than just good.

Has being politically correct taken a huge step into the right of self promotion and candidacy in politics? Have we, as a society decided that being good is good enough? Should we as voters settle for good? And what is the difference between good and great?

Good God! Canadian Politics can be so lame and wishy-washy. In comparison to all the American smear campaigns, I can see Mr. Watson smearing his opponents image by claiming that Conservative candidate Mike Patton would make a mediocre MPP!

Mr. Watson, stand up, be proud and toot your horn, win votes, and boldly represent this great community of Ottawa-West Nepean as a GREAT MPP.