Flu Shots Are Free. And So Is The Parenting Advice.

So, it's flu season, and being a responsible parent I decide to get my son's flu shot early in the year because he needs to get two.

I head down to the free flu shot clinic, and enter the 20 minute line-up.

Noticing my baby, the kind and friendly volunteer gives me a permission form for my child. She is an elderly women. And by elderly I mean ELDERLY. Maybe 75? 95? Who knows. Anyway, after some small talk she asks if I have any aspirin to give my baby. That's what she gave her kids before they got needles you see, and maybe if I had some, I could give it to my baby too.

The conversation in my head went like this: "Your kids are 50. Maybe 60. You can't give aspirin to anyone under age 20. As you can see, my child is 7 months old. And I am pretty sure since he has made it this far that I am doing a pretty okay job in the parenting department." But, I just told her that I have tylenol at home if he needs it.

So, after a few minutes, the elderly lady behind me in line starts up a conversation. First she says, "You're not inoculating HIM ARE YOU?" (Insert face of shock and horror here.) My reply is yes, babies and children are a high risk group. And, as a caregiver, I am getting one too. This response is followed by a comment that she has several great grandchildren and she has a granddaughter who is not vaccinating her kids because they feel it's poison. (Warning: my humble opinion is coming up...) The conversation in my head went like this: "Poison? Have you seen what polio does to people? Diptheria? Mumps? Do you think those diseases have disappeared? No, they haven't. They are under control because of vaccination." Anyway, I know the whole immunization thing is a hot topic for some reason, but to keep things friendly I just said, "Oh, well, that is a parent's choice." Then I silently hoped the non-vaccinated children of the world would stay healthy. And out of contact with my baby.

Soon after, we received our flu shots and spent a lovely advice-free afternoon at home. Thanks also to the nurse who happened to notice my cute baby, and the cute chubby leg perfect for vaccinating.

Cute Babies, Always In Stock

One of the advantages of having a blog is a forum for me to vent my annoyances that have accrued over the past two days. Here goes:

Oh ya, I will be naming names...

#1 - The Bay. I was buying a Christmas gift on sale this week. (Yes, I shop early.) I waited in line behind a couple buying or ordering something that seemed to take forever. Well, 20 minutes that seemed like forever. (Dude, if you're reading this, why don't you check at home if ordering it online is cheaper?) I was only waiting to ask if they could give me a rain check because of course the item I wanted was out. (Why, oh why, don't stores keep a higher inventory of sale items? Is it THAT hard??)

So, she says that the Bay stopped giving rain checks a year ago. I informed her that maybe there should be a sign telling people that so that they don't wait 20 minutes for nothing. She basically skipped over my 'tude to gush over the baby. Like that's gonna work...ok, it did for a second. Until she leaned in to KISS HIM!

Yes, that's right. A total stranger, whom I just gave a total attitude to attempted to kiss my baby. I don't think she made contact because the car seat was in the way. Either way he got baby wiped down as soon as we left.

And, as we were leaving the stock person put two items on the shelf...so I bought one after all. A happy ending.

Next stop #2 - Lowe's. For a brand new store, I have not had great experiences. Well, the service was awesome, but on trip one the items I wanted were NOT IN STOCK (Gee, that's familiar...) and when I went back on trip two, the item was back in stock but scanning at the wrong price. So I had to get that fixed! But a big thanks to the cashier who noticed my baby, and I quote, "You have an adorable baby."

Next stop, #3 - Sobeys. After checking for my exotic items of canned tomatoes and 24 Coke Zero, and seeing none, I stopped to ask at "CUSTOMER SERVICE" (y'know, the place that is supposed to be helpful?) and her response to my query "Do you have these items in stock?", was, and again, I quote: "I have no idea." "I don't know anything about that." Well guess what lady. I don't work at Sobeys. I have no idea myself if there is any stock left, so why don't YOU check? Or should I just change the sign to "CUSTOMER DISSERVICE"?

Then, she gives ME attitude because the coupon I got in their stupid promotion for free hashbrowns had part of the bar code missing!

Argh...maybe I will have better luck in the flu shot line-up. But here's a hint. I won't...that blog is next.

Retail price is for fools!!

Some may call me a princess, or a gossip queen, or even possibly a drama queen, but from today on, I want to be known as a Sale Queen!

Today, I returned a pair of boots to Payless Shoes, because when I bought them, they were full price. Buying things at retail is something I almost NEVER do. Everything goes on sale eventually, right? I think so.

So I took my $66 and went to the Cornwall Mall and for the same price as my ankle boots, I purchased: a Bench hoodie, 2 tops from the Gap, a tank top from Ricki's and 2 cd's. My total: $61. Now that's value!!

I saved 65% off the retail price since everything I bought was on sale. My Bench hoodie was $20, down from $69; My Gap purchases were $16.50, not $52; Ricki's was $5, not $19.50, and HMV came to $15, not $21.

Now, I'm just waiting for the boots I returned to come on at clearance price! Anybody wanna come shopping with me??

Pay Cheques!!!

So, as you have probably read, I have finished my BSW. I have also gotten a real grown up job!! Yes, me. And the best part is this grown up job comes with a pay cheque. First pay cheque in 3 years.

Of course, I have been dreaming about all the things I will buy with my working girl's fortune. I have decided I want a dyson. I price compared them online tonight. Canada and US Wal Mart's are within a dollar difference on price.

Then it hit me, I'm a lame adult. Dyson's and steam mops!!! Seriously, this is what I want to buy with my spending money. I think turning 26 has really hit me hard. Someone please stop me before I start buying floral nightgowns, clip on earrings and getting perms.

But I still want a dyson.

Brilliant!

So, as I sit on the couch, using my blanket as a make shift snuggie, I had a lightbulb "a-ha" moment.

I constantly have to juggle remotes and my phone, and the desire to have a clutter free space. Since these crazy phones are pretty much eliminating the need for computers, why can't they do the same for remotes??

Yes, I want a cell phone that is also a remote for satellite, the television and the dvd player.

Genius or Jenius, right??

A Painful Conversation!!

Here is what a facebook chat conversation with my sister looks like on a typical night:

Jen: Remember when cd's were sold in those big plastic long things?
Ange: Uh, no. Long things?
Jen: they went around the cd completely and then were like long, like double the length and it was empty.
Ange: I have zero clue what you are talking about.
Jen: I'm trying to find a google image. It was the anti-theft thing that went around the outside.
Ange: ya, I need a visual.
Jen: I can tell.
Ange: hahaha
Jen: I just saw one on tv. It was like a blast from the past. It was before everyone in the movies was plastic surgeried.
(See I'm old too, I say shit like blast from the past.)
Ange: I usually know what you are talking about so I am baffled. Find one? An image?
Jen: yeah, I'm trying. I'll draw one in paint if I have too!
Ange: I can't go to bed until you find one.
Jen: I'm drawing one in paint RIGHT NOW!!! It'll be black instead of clear plastic. I'm emailing it now. Ok, go look.
Ange: kape (This reference requires it's own blog...that will come in the future...)
Jen: anything??
Ange: it's slow...hang on...
Jen: ok
Ange: LOL LOL LOL LOL YAH! Those were at Backstage!! (The mid-90's only music store in Melfort. And still is today is 2011.)
Jen: I know!!!!!
Ange: Oh gawd, that is hilarious. PLEASE blog this. As well as this whole painful conversation. LOL LOL LOL...I can't stop laughing.
Jen: Ok, I will do that right now!
Ange: The paint image makes it even better....hahhahahahaha. To top it off, I had that disc. Why were these on TV? I will let you go so you can blog...I need to get to bed anyway. Can't wait to read it.

(It was on tv because I was watching the feature film Empire Records Ange, a classic 1990's movie.)

Here is the paint image I drew for my sister:



(Ange here - why did they stop putting cd's in these? Did people quit stealing? Are cd's not worth protecting anymore? Did the music industry just decide that they should figure out how to keep people from sharing music online instead?)

BSW Baby!!!

I (Jen) have officially completed the requirements for my BSW, (Bachelor of Social Work). Yes, I almost have a degree... it's almost as scary as the time I got my driver's license (shout out to my Dad for the training --because if she's gonna pass, she's gonna need practice).

Anyway, I'm cooler than I used to be. Or so I thought. I was showing my best friend Krista some dresses I bought for a wedding this month. And she asks "so when you graduate, does your style just change and become professional?"... apparently so. On that note, goodbye tight sparkly low cut bar clothes, you will be forever missed.

While I'm done school, I still haven't nailed down a job. Instead, I spend my time jumping on the trampoline in my landlord's backyard. I eat cereal and stay up late. I've gone over to Lana's house and done crafts...it's like I'm living a ten year old's dream. Tomorrow I'm getting a blizzard for miracle treat day and Friday I'm going for a bike ride because my dad put air in my bike tires.

Now, while I'm talking about trampolines, I want to say 'Buy one for your kid, while they are still a kid. Don't give them the "when you have the money you can buy whatever you want" lecture. When they have the money to buy one, they won't have the energy to jump for more than two minutes at a time. You will get more value out of it as a kid.'

Anyway, point is, I have a BSW... almost... Oct 15, 2011!!