July 3rd, 2009 - my last day with cable.... not just the specialty channels, but everything - gone. I can't quite remember what prompted the decision to finally cancel the service, but I was lamenting about how much time I was wasting every day, just surfing the tv to find something to watch. Most of the time I was watching movies that I've seen a bazillion times before or that I even own on DVD. It just didn't make any sense. The few shows that I watched regularly could all be seen the next day on the web or downloaded. In fact, I realized that I preferred watching these shows this way because I wasn't inundated with annoying commercials every 10 minutes.
Throughout the rest of the year I was also amazed at how much more reading I was doing. I polished off more books in the last 6 months than I've read in the past 5 years. Some, I'd even finish in a week or less. I've always enjoyed reading so it was nice to really get back into it without the distraction and beckoning call of the TV.
It's also been nice to not have TV available as an instant babysitter for Gummer. On a rare occasion I have put a Baby Einstein DVD in for him, but other than that if I'm watching a movie myself on DVD he only seems mildly interested. I keep reading more and more articles about potential problems for children exposed to TV on a daily basis for long periods of time before the age of 2. I can foresee problems even developing after the age of 2, especially with the amount of programming that is geared towards kids. I want Gummer to want to play outside or use his imagination with his toys rather than watching TV all the time. On the occasion when he's older, it's fine, but there are just far too many kids glued to the TV for my liking.
However... the moment has arrived where I am now missing the TV... just a bit. It's award season - although I'm primarily interested in the movie awards. This Sunday is the Golden Globes and sadly it'll be the first time in a long time that I won't be seeing it. I suppose I could go next door to my mother's but she only has one TV and she is glued to it as it is. My brother has suggested I try using rabbit ears and try and get some reception to one of the channels that surely must be airing the show. I may still attempt that, but although I am normally eternally optimistic I'm doubtful I'll get any reception.
The other notable difference I've felt is that I don't even know what movies are playing and which ones look interesting because I don't see ads for them anymore. I can say that I have seen Blind Side and The Air Up There recently and both were really good (just in case you were looking for a recommendation). I'm sure that they'll both be up for nominations for the Academy Awards.... sigh which is another one I'll most likely miss this year.
Here's hoping that I get lucky with rabbit ears as opposed to the foot!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Zellers vs. Walmart and a diaper debacle
I shop at Walmart. I don't care about the arguments about the mean corporation that's shutting all the smaller stores down. I don't buy into the arguments that Walmart buys products made by child labour. I shop there because they have a good selection, decent prices and it's orderly.
Zellers is a nightmare in comparison. I hate that I can't support a Canadian chain but going into a Zellers just drives me mental. Every time I walk in, the place looks like a dump. It seems poorly lit, the layout of the store is confusing and it's obvious that they don't have enough floor staff to keep it looking good and the floor staff that is there obviously don't care about it either.
Yesterday I was on a quest, a mission...ok, I needed some night time diapers. Corwin with his heavy wetting at night is wearing Huggies Overnights with great success. The only place I have been buying the diapers were at Zellers (which was found on a whim the first time while I was out shopping) in the next town over (Ajax for those of you who are familiar with the GTA). We were down to our last 2 diapers and I went to our local Zellers in Pickering to pick some up. This Zellers, even amongst Zellers has to be, by far the worst I've ever seen. Product is always haphazardly strewn about and never looking organized. It looks like a discount warehouse bargain bin. Items are always in the wrong place with the wrong price and sometimes packaging is laying there torn open.
The diaper section was a disaster. When I'm at Walmart, the diapers are always on the shelves, organized in the proper order of brand, line and sizing - facing out properly and neatly. At Zellers, diapers were all over the place, packages thrown about. There was a woman there with a relatively young baby in a stroller. Suddenly, the woman rips open a package of Huggies and takes a diaper out. Gasp.... what the hell was she doing? She appeared to look at the caricature (Huggies has licensing on Disney characters and Pampers for Sesame Street) on the front of the diaper and then put the diaper back. She tossed the bag to the side and started looking at a different pack. Had she opened yet another package to look at a diaper I would have said something but I don't think she did. I still had great issue with this though. Who thinks that this type of behaviour is acceptable? That package of diapers won't be sold now. I certainly wouldn't buy a package of diapers that had been previously opened. I'm sure this woman probably wouldn't either so I don't understand why she would have done so. I can not for the life of me imagine why she needed to see the diaper like that and I'm usually one who can sympathize with others. Just unacceptable. I'm sure stuff like this happens at Walmart too... it's a discount store and I understand that many of the people who shop there do so because they are very price conscious. However, I've never seen such a blatant act of vandalism in front of a stranger before. I should have reported her but I just wanted to get out of there because well, the whole purpose of being in the section in the first place was to get Corwin diapers and they didn't have any. Well, at least I couldn't find them in the heap of diapers messily displayed.
I left, went to the Shoppers Drug Mart (it's in the same mall) and found the brand but they only had sizes 4 and 5. FARK! I drove to Loblaws, just a block over thinking that they always have a good selection of diapers. No luck there either -not even the Overnights line. I drove to Price Chopper on my way home and still came out empty handed. I went into another Shoppers Drug Mart - again only sizes 4 and 5!!!!! ARGHHHHHHH!
Luckily, my BFF and I had plans last night and she lives right next to the Zellers where I originally bought the diapers. I quickly called in a favour to pick me up two packs before heading over. She shuddered at the idea of having to go into Zellers, as she's not fond of them either but came out with 2 packs.
Ironically - this store only had size 3.......
Zellers is a nightmare in comparison. I hate that I can't support a Canadian chain but going into a Zellers just drives me mental. Every time I walk in, the place looks like a dump. It seems poorly lit, the layout of the store is confusing and it's obvious that they don't have enough floor staff to keep it looking good and the floor staff that is there obviously don't care about it either.
Yesterday I was on a quest, a mission...ok, I needed some night time diapers. Corwin with his heavy wetting at night is wearing Huggies Overnights with great success. The only place I have been buying the diapers were at Zellers (which was found on a whim the first time while I was out shopping) in the next town over (Ajax for those of you who are familiar with the GTA). We were down to our last 2 diapers and I went to our local Zellers in Pickering to pick some up. This Zellers, even amongst Zellers has to be, by far the worst I've ever seen. Product is always haphazardly strewn about and never looking organized. It looks like a discount warehouse bargain bin. Items are always in the wrong place with the wrong price and sometimes packaging is laying there torn open.
The diaper section was a disaster. When I'm at Walmart, the diapers are always on the shelves, organized in the proper order of brand, line and sizing - facing out properly and neatly. At Zellers, diapers were all over the place, packages thrown about. There was a woman there with a relatively young baby in a stroller. Suddenly, the woman rips open a package of Huggies and takes a diaper out. Gasp.... what the hell was she doing? She appeared to look at the caricature (Huggies has licensing on Disney characters and Pampers for Sesame Street) on the front of the diaper and then put the diaper back. She tossed the bag to the side and started looking at a different pack. Had she opened yet another package to look at a diaper I would have said something but I don't think she did. I still had great issue with this though. Who thinks that this type of behaviour is acceptable? That package of diapers won't be sold now. I certainly wouldn't buy a package of diapers that had been previously opened. I'm sure this woman probably wouldn't either so I don't understand why she would have done so. I can not for the life of me imagine why she needed to see the diaper like that and I'm usually one who can sympathize with others. Just unacceptable. I'm sure stuff like this happens at Walmart too... it's a discount store and I understand that many of the people who shop there do so because they are very price conscious. However, I've never seen such a blatant act of vandalism in front of a stranger before. I should have reported her but I just wanted to get out of there because well, the whole purpose of being in the section in the first place was to get Corwin diapers and they didn't have any. Well, at least I couldn't find them in the heap of diapers messily displayed.
I left, went to the Shoppers Drug Mart (it's in the same mall) and found the brand but they only had sizes 4 and 5. FARK! I drove to Loblaws, just a block over thinking that they always have a good selection of diapers. No luck there either -not even the Overnights line. I drove to Price Chopper on my way home and still came out empty handed. I went into another Shoppers Drug Mart - again only sizes 4 and 5!!!!! ARGHHHHHHH!
Luckily, my BFF and I had plans last night and she lives right next to the Zellers where I originally bought the diapers. I quickly called in a favour to pick me up two packs before heading over. She shuddered at the idea of having to go into Zellers, as she's not fond of them either but came out with 2 packs.
Ironically - this store only had size 3.......
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Just when you thought I'd quit!
I'm back! Yes it's been forever since I last wrote but now that the new year has arrived I am determined to get back on track.
The holidays were crazy and an emotional roller coaster for me.
Christmas day was always quiet in the morning, unlike the traditional North American family. Santa didn't show up because my parents were immigrants and didn't know any better. I remember many a Christmas eve staring out of my bedroom window hoping that I'd get a glimpse of Santa and that I'd wake up and at least find one thing from Santa under the tree. My parents never bothered telling me outright that he didn't exist and there I was hoping that he'd show up to my house and every year, I'd be disappointed. I used to harbour much guilt about being such a bad kid and that perhaps that's why Santa never showed up at my house but always did at my friends'. Our tree was always bare underneath it until my mother came up with the brilliant idea of wrapping up some boxes to use as "fake gifts" under the tree... ugh... talk about rubbing salt into wounds.
For as long as I can remember Christmas meant that my only relatives that live in Toronto would come over and join us for dinner. My father's eldest brother, wife and 3 kids would all come over to the Christmas feast that my mother had prepared. Every year I would help my mom prepare for the dinner and as years went by my brother and I would take on more and more responsibility and dishes.
Christmas also meant my father would be building his 1 fire in our fireplace - the only fire that we would have all year. My father was a metallurgical engineer, not an outdoorsman and fires were definitely not his forte. Damp wood combined with a not fully opened flue caused the annual smoke out in our living room, where we would then have to open windows to try and air out the house of smoke before our guests showed. While the air was still thick with acrid smoke, the fire blazing in the fireplace, my father, brother and I running around with our winter coats on and my mother rolling her eyes at my father, my father would suggest it was the perfect time to take some photos. He was always an avid photographer and much to my dismay I was usually his favourite subject. In between the burning of my eyes and coughing due to smoke inhalation, I would lay on my tummy in front of the fireplace, throw my winter coat out of the frame and hold my prop book in place and smile for my father. Ah yes, the dutiful daughter.
Once the dinner was ready, our guests would begin to show up. I was usually very excited to see my cousins and quickly usher them in, help hang their coats and lead them into our dining room.
As the years went by there would always be a cousin or two that wasn't there because they were away at school or living in a different city, but there were always some of them. As they got married and had kids, Christmas got livelier and more festive but the one thing that never changed was that our family always hosted.
When PB and I got married and bought our house, hosting duties were transferred to us as we had the space to have sit down dining for the growing brood. I enjoyed getting the house decorated for the holidays and planning the annual feast and seeing all of my relatives all together.
Last year, our Christmas felt odd.....my cousin in law Jeannie had died a few days before Corwin was born and her absence was felt greatly. My younger cousin suggested that we set a spot at the kids table (where she always sat) in memoriam of her. I did so while tears streamed down my face. It was also odd because my father was absent having been paralyzed earlier that year. Christmas was always the time of year my father came back and the whole family was together.
Last year's Christmas made me want to make this year extra special. Also, since Corwin was older now he'd at least be awake and be able to open some presents. Then like dominoes my family started to bail out on Christmas this year. First was my mother in law who decided she would not make the trip from Poland. This would be the first year since PB and I had been together that his mother was not celebrating Christmas with us. Then my cousins in Orillia decided they would go to Ottawa to visit the inlaws (they don't celebrate Christmas themselves because of their religion but have always spent Christmas with us). Then my cousin who lost his wife last year decided he wasn't feeling up to celebrating Christmas so he was going to Ottawa with his brother. Then the last remaining cousin was planning on going to the States for a shopping trip. DURING CHRISTMAS???? That would also mean my uncle wouldn't be coming since none of his kids were coming and my dad wasn't either since he's still paralyzed.
I was shocked. All I had wanted was the same feeling of a large family gathering for Corwin to experience. That same feeling that had resonated in every Christmas since I was a young child - the only thing I really had to look forward to since it wasn't about Santa and getting gifts. I felt sad and then angry that I had spent so many years celebrating Christmas and keeping this tradition going for all of their children and now that they were all older, they didn't see any point in it so they were bailing. What about my kid?? I began to make plans without them - new traditions that we would have with my immediate family that Corwin would experience every year.
As it turns out, my cousin that was going Stateside didn't end up leaving until Boxing Day so she did show up with her family but I have to say the whole thing felt weird.
I have no idea what's going to happen next year, but I'm prepared to have intimate family Christmases from here on in if my extended family doesn't want to celebrate anymore. The Christmas spirit will live on in my house, PB will build us non smoking fires and Santa will show up for Corwin.
Happy New Year everyone and I'll see you around much more!
The holidays were crazy and an emotional roller coaster for me.
Christmas day was always quiet in the morning, unlike the traditional North American family. Santa didn't show up because my parents were immigrants and didn't know any better. I remember many a Christmas eve staring out of my bedroom window hoping that I'd get a glimpse of Santa and that I'd wake up and at least find one thing from Santa under the tree. My parents never bothered telling me outright that he didn't exist and there I was hoping that he'd show up to my house and every year, I'd be disappointed. I used to harbour much guilt about being such a bad kid and that perhaps that's why Santa never showed up at my house but always did at my friends'. Our tree was always bare underneath it until my mother came up with the brilliant idea of wrapping up some boxes to use as "fake gifts" under the tree... ugh... talk about rubbing salt into wounds.
For as long as I can remember Christmas meant that my only relatives that live in Toronto would come over and join us for dinner. My father's eldest brother, wife and 3 kids would all come over to the Christmas feast that my mother had prepared. Every year I would help my mom prepare for the dinner and as years went by my brother and I would take on more and more responsibility and dishes.
Christmas also meant my father would be building his 1 fire in our fireplace - the only fire that we would have all year. My father was a metallurgical engineer, not an outdoorsman and fires were definitely not his forte. Damp wood combined with a not fully opened flue caused the annual smoke out in our living room, where we would then have to open windows to try and air out the house of smoke before our guests showed. While the air was still thick with acrid smoke, the fire blazing in the fireplace, my father, brother and I running around with our winter coats on and my mother rolling her eyes at my father, my father would suggest it was the perfect time to take some photos. He was always an avid photographer and much to my dismay I was usually his favourite subject. In between the burning of my eyes and coughing due to smoke inhalation, I would lay on my tummy in front of the fireplace, throw my winter coat out of the frame and hold my prop book in place and smile for my father. Ah yes, the dutiful daughter.
Once the dinner was ready, our guests would begin to show up. I was usually very excited to see my cousins and quickly usher them in, help hang their coats and lead them into our dining room.
As the years went by there would always be a cousin or two that wasn't there because they were away at school or living in a different city, but there were always some of them. As they got married and had kids, Christmas got livelier and more festive but the one thing that never changed was that our family always hosted.
When PB and I got married and bought our house, hosting duties were transferred to us as we had the space to have sit down dining for the growing brood. I enjoyed getting the house decorated for the holidays and planning the annual feast and seeing all of my relatives all together.
Last year, our Christmas felt odd.....my cousin in law Jeannie had died a few days before Corwin was born and her absence was felt greatly. My younger cousin suggested that we set a spot at the kids table (where she always sat) in memoriam of her. I did so while tears streamed down my face. It was also odd because my father was absent having been paralyzed earlier that year. Christmas was always the time of year my father came back and the whole family was together.
Last year's Christmas made me want to make this year extra special. Also, since Corwin was older now he'd at least be awake and be able to open some presents. Then like dominoes my family started to bail out on Christmas this year. First was my mother in law who decided she would not make the trip from Poland. This would be the first year since PB and I had been together that his mother was not celebrating Christmas with us. Then my cousins in Orillia decided they would go to Ottawa to visit the inlaws (they don't celebrate Christmas themselves because of their religion but have always spent Christmas with us). Then my cousin who lost his wife last year decided he wasn't feeling up to celebrating Christmas so he was going to Ottawa with his brother. Then the last remaining cousin was planning on going to the States for a shopping trip. DURING CHRISTMAS???? That would also mean my uncle wouldn't be coming since none of his kids were coming and my dad wasn't either since he's still paralyzed.
I was shocked. All I had wanted was the same feeling of a large family gathering for Corwin to experience. That same feeling that had resonated in every Christmas since I was a young child - the only thing I really had to look forward to since it wasn't about Santa and getting gifts. I felt sad and then angry that I had spent so many years celebrating Christmas and keeping this tradition going for all of their children and now that they were all older, they didn't see any point in it so they were bailing. What about my kid?? I began to make plans without them - new traditions that we would have with my immediate family that Corwin would experience every year.
As it turns out, my cousin that was going Stateside didn't end up leaving until Boxing Day so she did show up with her family but I have to say the whole thing felt weird.
I have no idea what's going to happen next year, but I'm prepared to have intimate family Christmases from here on in if my extended family doesn't want to celebrate anymore. The Christmas spirit will live on in my house, PB will build us non smoking fires and Santa will show up for Corwin.
Happy New Year everyone and I'll see you around much more!
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