Hot Air

I recently discovered one of the coolest contraptions ever created!

Not that I would ever buy one for my home but man, what comes out of those warming cabinets is heaven!

I had to have a procedure done at the hospital (I'm perfectly okay) and while I was waiting, I was covered with a WARM blanket hot out of one of those "warming cabinets"! I asked them to hand me the remote and I'd be set!

I know that traditionally "spas" and some barbershops stock towel warming cabinets, but warm blankets? Genius!

I have heard about people who would put their blanket or quilt in the dryer for a few minutes before climbing into bed. I think I remember a guy who did something similar for his girlfriend. Did I say guy? I meant servant, poor guy.

Anyway, I'd never experienced this before! I thought it was fantastic! Wouldn't it be great if every new dream home could be equipped with one of these? You put a bunch of them in, then they're ready anytime you have a movie-watching night and want to snuggle with a warm blanket when the snow is falling outside! Perfect!

And you don't have to use the extra hydro that throwing them in the dryer would! Plus, the warming cabinet doesn't feed on socks! It's like getting a burger at a fast-food joint! Sitting on the heat rack, waiting for you to choose it!

I vote for convincing your landlord that it will save on hydro bills and installing them in apartment buildings in say the laundry room for easy tenant access! It would most certainly be more "green" than a traditional dryer!

No?

Yeah, about as full of hot air as the cabinets themselves! But hey, a girl can dream right?

Little TV Syndrome?

Not long ago I was searching for a new apartment so I had the opportunity to view quite a few before making a decision.

The thing that I found uncanny and frankly pretty funny was, when I was taken through the units, the current tenants out for a short time but their furniture still there, no matter how small the place was, there was always a GIANT flat screen TV in it. To me this made no sense at all. Presumably, for the majority, the reason you are renting is because you are not in a financial position to own or perhaps your living arrangement is something temporary, or maybe owning is just not that important to you right now.

I understand that the big screen may have been what the renter "got" in a nasty breakup, maybe the ONLY thing they laid claim to, and therefore they want to hold onto for dear life. Breakups are heart wrenching and sometimes make you do irrational things. To me, having a giant flat screen TV in a tiny room is indeed irrational.

For one thing, did none of their parents tell them not to sit too close to the TV because it's bad for your eyes? Has this warning been lost??? I know I sound like an Old Maid but I visited friends who had a big flat screen mounted on the wall of a tiny room. They turned it on to show me how great the clarity of the picture is and I sincerely felt dizzy. At the time they had a 3 year old. What does that do to a kid's sight???

Anyway, I guess I just don't understand the NEED. I sympathize if someone loves watching movies or big sporting events, they want to feel like they're in the front row. But typically the front row of any football game or movie theatre has at least some space between the event and the spectator!

I was thinking about all this today as I listen to my neighbour below. He is a 50-something bachelor whom I'm pretty sure has not had too many dates. When I moved in, he gave me the tour. His TV, no word of a lie, is about the size of one of my entire walls in my living room. My apartment is pretty spacious.

Back to listening to my neighbour. And by listening I mean he is a big NASCAR fan. I told him jokingly that I would rather have my fingernails pulled out one by one than be forced to watch NASCAR. He still talks about it every time I see him. And he has a NASCAR video game. I am listening to him play it through my floor because the audio on his TV is like being in the pit crew.

So I ask, is there some correlation between the size of the TV and the absence of something?

I tend to think so. Or maybe I'm just jaded.

In the meantime, I'll just put on my coveralls and grab my wrench!

Christmas shopping

It's a Sunday in late November. I went to do some big box store shopping, grocery shopping really, and the parking lot is full.

I drive around a little then think, I'm an able-bodied person who could likely use the walk, take the next open spot, wherever it is. Lucky for me, it just so happened it was NOT several kilometres from the front door.

I admit, I get impatient behind people that saunter along the aisle and look at almost everything when the place is packed but I love the Christmas season and I wear a smile a mile wide. Honest!

So as I near the checkouts I see the lines growing. 'Tis the season. Some carts are full of presents to cross off lists, some have stocked up on baking supplies to do the "family recipes" for the holidays.

The self-checkouts surprisingly have the longest line.

I overhear a man saying, with sarcasm dripping in his voice, "Yeah, this is the time of year I LOVE. One hour of shopping and two hours of waiting,"

I smiled.

I made an effort to look at the many faces in the crowd. Was anyone else smiling?

Very few. Most exhibited a furled brow, filled with impatience.

When it was my turn to tally the bill, I said a happy "Hello!" to the cashier and asked her if everyone was in a pretty good mood today. She smiled and rolled her eyes.

I said, "I just don't get it. Christmas comes around every year. Why are people surprised? AND why so frustrated?"

She simply said it just gets worse every year.

I'm not an overly religious person, but I don't think that's what JC had in mind when He showed up. I don't think He expected His birthday to turn into some stressful, frustrating, unpleasant affair.

And so I smile.

And continue to get excited about the wonder of the season.

Mostly the innocence of children and their contagious smiles and laughter on Christmas morning.

I think about people that have much less than me, and still manage to make the best of it.

I think about the times when I felt terrible that I didn't have much money and had to make presents for family and friends, and I realize those holidays were among the best ever.

Why are people so ungrateful and impatient? Why is it so important to get the kids everything they want, even if it maxes out the credit cards, adding yet even more stress?

If I had the answer, I'd share it. Those much more philosophical and intuitive than myself have tried.

Until people wake up, I just smile.

:-)

Oh Rogers, you need a swift kick in the arse!

Having an agreement with a cell phone company is like living in an abusive relationship. Not to make light of the very real situation that many are scarred by, and this is purely in jest, but man, they can sure stick it to you! Why do I stay?

I purchased an iPhone 4 about a month ago. I went directly to the Rogers store. I paid outright using my credit card because I did not want the charge on my bill. Guess what? It's on my bill.

Now I have to go down to the store, show them my receipt and wait until the NEXT billing cycle to get my credit. So I have to pay the $200+ on my current bill so I don't lose my credit rating. The credit will not appear until my next bill.

Sure, that makes complete sense right? (Eyes rolling)

I wish I could only count on ONE hand how many times Rogers has pulled shenanigans like this in the past, but alas, I need both hands, feet, and any other digit-like appendage.

But what are my choices? I pay to get out of my "3 year plan"? Pay the start up to go with another company that also has "administrative" and ""activation" fees?

More mobile companies are beginning to crop up but the one that offers spectacular customer service and will buy out your former contract will be the overall winner. But then where's the competition? No one seems to be able to compete with the large conglomerates, they are simply TOO big.

So, because I am now addicted to my new Apple toy, I will dutifully report to the Rogers store, stand in line, and get them to apply my giant credit to NEXT month's bill.

Oh and Merry Christmas!

Why do we need a phone book?

I wasn't aware until this week that the powers that be would still be printing and delivering the hard copy of the Yellow Pages and regular residential phone lists.

There was a big push by a man in Montreal a couple of years back to stop distributing them. He wasn't a self-professed "tree hugger" or anything but he did say it was a waste of paper. The drive seemed to gain some momentum, at least back then, and frankly it seemed to make sense.

I saw them sitting outside of my building, presumably left there for each of us to pick up if we so chose, so I grabbed one. I have to admit, I've always like having a big 'ole phone book, if nothing else, to look up a number for a pizza place or a cab, which I don't have much occasion to call that much anymore.

I guess most people don't see the use for them, and I understand that. You can look up any number at http://www.411.ca/ in Canada and really you can get almost any number you need via the net or even your smart phone. The Yellow Pages even has a app!

So why then keep printing them?

The old argument I guess that there are many elderly and senior folks that don't have computer access. That's an angle I could support.

Except for one thing.

I'm not in my "party prime" anymore nor am I sliding into "zoomer" territory, but somewhere in between. I wear glasses and contacts but not bifocals - yet!

So you can understand my frustration doing the first thing everyone does when they get the new phone book, look up my own phone number, only to realize I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME READ IT!!!

The letters were so tiny, I seriously had to adjust the lighting, push my face closer, squint, look for a magnifying glass, before a friend arrived and I asked him if he could please tell me if he saw my name on the page!!! Humiliating!!!

If I was having that much trouble, how could seniors or anyone with WORSE eyesight then me possibly read it?!

It does not make one lick of sense to me to print something that by all accounts is obsolete, but to make the typing so minute that no one can see it without help... is not only preposterous but a bad business model!

Maybe someone can explain the value in it to me.

For now though, I'm a not a fan.

Necessary? Hell yeah!

I don't like garbage. Obviously can't be many people that could say they do, but it's not my favourite thing to have to deal with.

I am reviled by the smell, tying the bag, putting it at the curb, the whole nine yards. But I do it.

I never have considered myself a sedentary person, lazy nor sloth. So it seemed odd to me that I have discovered one gadget I never thought I would embrace but now cannot live without.

Da da da daaaaaaaaaaa! 

It's my automatic sensor touchless garbage can!!!

As corny as it sounds, I love it!

I don't have to step on something nor even touch the lid with my dirty hands! I simply wave something over the top, and voila, it opens up... then closes down without any help from me!

It's perfect. Does exactly what you want without asking. Doesn't say a word. Just does it.

Now, I COULD include some nasty comments here that would be putting men down, painting them as useless cads like many television commercials do but I like men. I like them alot. And if one of them wants to take out the trash for me, by all means. That's something I still have to do. And I don't mind doing that part at all.

But there is some odd comfort I feel not having to look nor sniff the refuse I myself have created in my own home. Crap! That just sounded wrong.

You get my meaning.

As frivolous as some may consider this remarkable toy, I'm sold.

When I bought mine, it came with a smaller one, that I now use in the bathroom! Totally cool!

Not sure how long the batteries will last though I think I've got a good stock.

Don't ask. ;-)

Technoscape

That's what I call it - technoscape. The art of avoiding face to face conversation or even glancing up to look at someone while using technology, be it listening to music with headphones, busily texting, or carrying on a full on cell conversation in front of everyone.

The way I figure it, everyone needs validation. It's a basic human necessity. People want to know that they've been seen and heard. No one enjoys being ignored.

But that's exactly what we've come to. I'm no angel, I do it too.

I was out for a run today, and counted five people I passed that were either texting, tuned into their tunes or chatting away on their cell phone. Please don't think I expect everyone to notice me, sweaty and a little out of shape, panting and grimacing.... not exactly a fitness model, but I had to swerve to miss two of them because they were so engrossed in what they were doing.

I thought about this as I trotted along and how disconnected it feels.

I reflected on how I never used to text people. Now with a smartphone, it's so easy. I texted a friend in the Remembrance Day crowd so we could find each other. (We never did connect ironically!) I make plans via text. Facebook. Twitter. I've met some cool people through both. An old pal I haven't seen in a dozen years, we figured out, saw my Facebook status, and invited me to join him via Twitter/Facebook. Ten minutes later we were catching up on the past 12 years. Incredible. That's an upside.

Theorists speculate about this all the time. What will be next? How will our children communicate? Will we all lose the ability to be honest and do the right thing by having a face to face conversation about important events? Will teenagers be able to talk to their parents about the menacing insecurity they feel about themselves so we can prevent so many of the tragic suicides that have become so prevalent? Will even more marriages end because neither person knows what to say or how to say it and it's just easier to say nothing at all?

Some suggest that young people are far more open than our generations were. They talk about everything. Sure, but HOW do they communicate? E-mail, texting, sexting? Should those be the primary messengers?

All of this was swirling in my head as I plodded along. Of course, I was listening to the iPod on my phone so had earbuds in my ears. If someone wanted to engage me in conversation, they'd have to do something else to get my attention. When I first started running years ago, I didn't listen to anything but the chatter in my head. I sorted stuff out, made plans, set goals, encouraged myself. Now it seems so much more of a motivator to listen to the tunes I love and rock out! But I have always felt music changes your mood.

Sidetracked. Back to technoscape.

Alot of people have tried to raise this issue with many new forms of communication. People talk about it but no one stops it. It's a multi-billion dollar industry and hell, they're FUN!

So what do we do? Do we stop texting, e-mailing, Tweeting?

I wish I had the answer. I feel lucky I still LOVE to talk to people face to face and am not afraid of telling the truth and having to confront an issue in person. I just think it's the considerate thing to do.

Maybe I'll be a novelty. There's gotta be something in that right?