- Joseph eating all his lunch without protesting once - wahoo
- Having my contractor fight with Sears on my behalf - sigh of relief
- Alex keeping his Batman sweater clean while eating spaghetti
- Going Bunco shopping with Andrea
- Buying a favourite author's book for $4.99 less 10%
- Spending time with my nephew
- Donna's optical illusion email - I'm still smiling
- Numerous pats on the back for my news coverage
- Pecan Passion bubble bath from a girlfriend
- Buying a marble countertop for the bathroom bathroom $100 cheaper than original cost
- Getting an uninterrupted sleep
- Circling March 15th on my calendar for the annual Great Danes event - I'm on the A-list now
- Having everything for Joey's birthday party checked off my list
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Bringin back the Thursday 13s
13 Things That Have Made My Day...over the last 24 hours
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Phew! All these interviews are making me tired :o)
This morning City TV phoned to ask if they could interview me for the news tonight. I said pretty much the same thing as last time "Uh, do I have time to brush my hair?"
More deets to come...
Here's the deets:
It wasn't what I was hoping for. I think I made some very good points and strong statements and what came out on the actual video was in a word...meh
I said "I have a police clearance, social services check, first aid/cpr, child safety house, references and a lot of experience with children - what I don't have is that piece of paper that says I'm licensed. "
And I'm sure you can all guess what was aired:
"What I don't have is that piece of paper that says I'm licensed."
Hmm...not what I was hoping for at all.
On the upside to things - Andrea was a freaking SUPERSTAR!!! She got most of the air time but made so many important points that I had also stated. But, hearing it come from a parent was probably a lot more powerful than coming from the unlicensed provider.
Oh yeah, they also aired me saying something like "It's a lot of word of mouth, if you're good - people will find out about you and if you're not - people will know." Doesn't really make sense but in my head it did, I think if they played the sentence before and after it would have sounded better but whatevs, what's done is done.
And off to the dayhome meeting I went.
There were mixed feelings there too. Yes, it was good to talk to TV but no, the private dayhome provider wasn't portrayed as a comparable service b/c they failed to mention that WE HAVE POLICE CLEARANCES/CHILD WELFARE CHECKS AS WELL AS LICENSED FACILITIES. I think we're back to square one again.
Do you think the TV station will allow me to do a rebuttal?
Didn't think so...
More deets to come...
Here's the deets:
It wasn't what I was hoping for. I think I made some very good points and strong statements and what came out on the actual video was in a word...meh
I said "I have a police clearance, social services check, first aid/cpr, child safety house, references and a lot of experience with children - what I don't have is that piece of paper that says I'm licensed. "
And I'm sure you can all guess what was aired:
"What I don't have is that piece of paper that says I'm licensed."
Hmm...not what I was hoping for at all.
On the upside to things - Andrea was a freaking SUPERSTAR!!! She got most of the air time but made so many important points that I had also stated. But, hearing it come from a parent was probably a lot more powerful than coming from the unlicensed provider.
Oh yeah, they also aired me saying something like "It's a lot of word of mouth, if you're good - people will find out about you and if you're not - people will know." Doesn't really make sense but in my head it did, I think if they played the sentence before and after it would have sounded better but whatevs, what's done is done.
And off to the dayhome meeting I went.
There were mixed feelings there too. Yes, it was good to talk to TV but no, the private dayhome provider wasn't portrayed as a comparable service b/c they failed to mention that WE HAVE POLICE CLEARANCES/CHILD WELFARE CHECKS AS WELL AS LICENSED FACILITIES. I think we're back to square one again.
Do you think the TV station will allow me to do a rebuttal?
Didn't think so...
Monday, November 19, 2007
I'm in print ! B & W but still it's print, right?
Here is where you can read the article.
And the picture...hmmm..not what I was hoping for BUT at least my eyes are both looking the same way.
So, the article was well written although I would have liked to be referred to more as a private dayhome rather than unlicensed. I mean really, I meet the criteria of a "licensed" facility such as police check, social services check, first aid/CPR, and it's kid-proofed but I like setting my own hours, rates and not have to worry about big brother coming to pop in. What can I say? I like being my own boss.
Keeping with that theme...am I really my own boss? Hmm...not really if I have to answer to the parents but I like to believe that I interview them as much as they interview me. And I feel that for the most part we're more of a partnership.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Meet Thing One and Thing Two
Last night Cindy and I went to R B Interiors to check out the Christmas launch and a girl could really go crazy there :o) I settled on these two guys after much debating on which two snowmen represent my boys the best. See the resemblance in the nose - just kidding.
Honestly, I don't think I was really in the Christmas mood until last night. Everywhere you looked Christmas Christmas Christmas! Fab-u-lous !
I seen quite a few things that would look great in our home BUT we're decorating the upstairs AND downstairs this year and I'm not sure exactly what I'll need, or what will go where. Know what I mean?
The past few years we've decorated for Christmas right after Joey's birthday but left the tree until the last minute. I just envision someone pulling off all the ornaments or pulling the tree down and with a house full of little kids why take the chance. BUT this year we're putting our tree in the basement now that it's almost complete - carpet will be installed Tuesday...grr..
So, I think I'll have to sort through what I've got and will then head back for a few more things.
Does anyone have a cool name for their basement other than 'basement'?
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Say Cheese!
"Reporter: So, how do you feel about me sending a photographer over to take your picture?
Me: Uh, will you give me enough time to brush my hair?"
What a great way to kick off the weekend, hey? I'll be sure to post my article - pending on what the pic looks like of course, haha.
Last night was Couples Bunco and Aaron and I kicked ass! Woot Woot! Michelle and Jon were sorely missed but Brett & Shannon were good subs. Aaron and I are hosting next month so we automatically get the hostess prize and we decided to up the $20 to $25/couple so each couple walks away with something.
Aaron and I would have won:
High Score
Last Bunco
and
Most Bunco's.
Potentially we could have cleaned house, so to speak.
Cindy came up with the fab idea of buying fancy alcohol for prizes, seeing as we're getting close to the holiday season of entertaining. We got Starbucks liquer and Caramel Bailey's...mmmm...not to mention a Baja Rosa shooter for each Bunco. Unfortunately for Aaron out of the 9 Bunco's we got 6 of them were mine :o)
Tonight is UFC night and I'm headed over to a Christmas launch of a home decor store in New Brighton this evening. I'll let you know the deets tomorrow!
Me: Uh, will you give me enough time to brush my hair?"
What a great way to kick off the weekend, hey? I'll be sure to post my article - pending on what the pic looks like of course, haha.
Last night was Couples Bunco and Aaron and I kicked ass! Woot Woot! Michelle and Jon were sorely missed but Brett & Shannon were good subs. Aaron and I are hosting next month so we automatically get the hostess prize and we decided to up the $20 to $25/couple so each couple walks away with something.
Aaron and I would have won:
High Score
Last Bunco
and
Most Bunco's.
Potentially we could have cleaned house, so to speak.
Cindy came up with the fab idea of buying fancy alcohol for prizes, seeing as we're getting close to the holiday season of entertaining. We got Starbucks liquer and Caramel Bailey's...mmmm...not to mention a Baja Rosa shooter for each Bunco. Unfortunately for Aaron out of the 9 Bunco's we got 6 of them were mine :o)
Tonight is UFC night and I'm headed over to a Christmas launch of a home decor store in New Brighton this evening. I'll let you know the deets tomorrow!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Who me? You really want my opinion?
I'm still surprised to have gotten an email from a reported from the Herald asking me for info. Me! "They like me, they really really like me!!" Sorry that was a Sally Fields moments for sure.
About a week ago I wrote in a hot tip to the paper and it looks like they may want to investigate it a wee bit further.
Here's the jist of what I wrote:
Calgaryarea.com has hosted a city wide child care site for 8 years. As of October 15, 2007 they have removed over 800 unapproved dayhomes. The only listings that can be found on the site are dayhomes approved by the Churchill Park Family Care Society. In my neighbourhood and in the surrounding areas there are 5 listings which are approved. We do have a registry in our area, which is done by volunteers and there are 79 unapproved dayhomes on that list. Mackenzie Towne and Mackenzie Lake are fortunate to have this service but there are so many other areas in our city that do not. Parents are going to be scrambling now more than ever when it comes to finding child care. The president of calgaryarea.com issued a statement on the child care website stating that it was a legal liability issue. There is a legal disclaimer posted on the site which should prevent them from being liable. It is definitely buyer beware and parents need to use good judgement when choosing any facility whether it's approved or private. It's unfortunate that there isn't a comparable website available or as widely known as calgaryarea.com. Hopefully this will not give parents seeking child care the impression that private care is not comparable to being an approved dayhome.
The whole situation sucks for both the parents seeking and the providers advertising. As a provider I realize how hard it is to get the word out when you're first starting out-much like most businesses would. I remember putting fliers up at the local grocery store just to have them ripped down by a competitor. Honestly! The store manager caught the culprit removing a few dayhome posters....almost pathetic isn't it? But anyways, once I had a few clients things just took off and before I knew it I had a waiting list.
Will let you know what happens!
About a week ago I wrote in a hot tip to the paper and it looks like they may want to investigate it a wee bit further.
Here's the jist of what I wrote:
Calgaryarea.com has hosted a city wide child care site for 8 years. As of October 15, 2007 they have removed over 800 unapproved dayhomes. The only listings that can be found on the site are dayhomes approved by the Churchill Park Family Care Society. In my neighbourhood and in the surrounding areas there are 5 listings which are approved. We do have a registry in our area, which is done by volunteers and there are 79 unapproved dayhomes on that list. Mackenzie Towne and Mackenzie Lake are fortunate to have this service but there are so many other areas in our city that do not. Parents are going to be scrambling now more than ever when it comes to finding child care. The president of calgaryarea.com issued a statement on the child care website stating that it was a legal liability issue. There is a legal disclaimer posted on the site which should prevent them from being liable. It is definitely buyer beware and parents need to use good judgement when choosing any facility whether it's approved or private. It's unfortunate that there isn't a comparable website available or as widely known as calgaryarea.com. Hopefully this will not give parents seeking child care the impression that private care is not comparable to being an approved dayhome.
The whole situation sucks for both the parents seeking and the providers advertising. As a provider I realize how hard it is to get the word out when you're first starting out-much like most businesses would. I remember putting fliers up at the local grocery store just to have them ripped down by a competitor. Honestly! The store manager caught the culprit removing a few dayhome posters....almost pathetic isn't it? But anyways, once I had a few clients things just took off and before I knew it I had a waiting list.
Will let you know what happens!
Screw you Sears!
It's totally not their fault but our carpet/lino install was set for tomorrow - and now they've realized that they don't have all of our product in yet....
Once again,
Screw you Sears!!!!!
Not only did Aaron take tomorrow off just to be here to supervise the whole thing but I skipped out on my stamping class last night to help move/kick/drag our treadmill into the storage area (which will not be carpeted or linoed) and empty out the rest of the basement.
Those bastards...
So, now we're looking at sometime next week.
Who want's to be the one to break the news to Aaron? I sure don't...what makes a bad situation worse is that Aaron even phoned them on Saturday to confirm that it was all going down tomorrow like planned.
Once again,
Screw you Sears!!!!!
Not only did Aaron take tomorrow off just to be here to supervise the whole thing but I skipped out on my stamping class last night to help move/kick/drag our treadmill into the storage area (which will not be carpeted or linoed) and empty out the rest of the basement.
Those bastards...
So, now we're looking at sometime next week.
Who want's to be the one to break the news to Aaron? I sure don't...what makes a bad situation worse is that Aaron even phoned them on Saturday to confirm that it was all going down tomorrow like planned.
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