When Alex and I drive down the street and see a car with either a bumper sticker or hanging sign that proudly says, "Baby on Board", we chuckle.
Alex's witty response to that is, "We weren't planning on hitting you either way!"
I agree.
I asked Alex today if the "Baby on Board" sign had a hidden meaning like, "Don't honk at me, I finally got my infant to sleep", or "I haven't slept in months so don't cut me off". We agreed that by displaying a "Baby on Board" sign, these people are just proud parents. I think that if people wanted to say things like, "I'm driving the spit-up wagon; don't cut me off", they would with a nifty bumper sticker.
Alex and I don't care much for bumper stickers. The Fox Family Subaru had a Dalhousie University sticker on its rear windshield for a while and our Mazda had a Queens University sticker mounted in the same spot. Both stickers had to be removable and they were. After a long stint at Dalhousie, and thousands of dollars spent there, I felt that there was no longer a need to feel proud enough to advertise them. Don't get me started on Dal. Grump!
Also, I had a magnetic pink ribbon on Alex's old car and someone stole it. Who steals a Breast Cancer magnet off the back of my car? This happened at MSVU so I can't even blame Dal on this one.
Now we keep the sticker advertisement off our cars. No one cares what we've given money too. We don't care anymore either. We just give the money and hope that it helps who/whatever it needs to help.
My father in law has/had some good stickers on the rear windshield of his car. He bought the car in California when the family lived there in the late 80s. The car is not quite old enough to be an antique but its great and with lots of TLC it runs really well. In fact, the car is about the same age as my younger sister, Wendy, and both have held up very nicely. (Don't tell my father in law but I think my sister looks much nicer than the car. She rarely needs her oil changed and she has less rock-related dings on her hood).
Anyway, there is a Canadian flag sticker on the rear windscreen which I'm sure he stuck on there after he got the car. Good to show some Canadian pride while driving the highways of southern California. The other tag he had was a little sticker that says, "Satan (Hearts) SUVs". I loved it. I think he had to remove it when he was driving somewhere where he feared he may get beat up for displaying such profanity. (Ian, if you are reading this, please bring it back! I love it! I got your back. People don't like to mess with a preggo.)
As mentioned in previous posts, I'm walking around like a grinning idiot. This doesn't mean that I'm driving around like one too. In fact, my hormones are responsible for my insane road rage. I have absolutely no patience for anyone on the road. This doesn't mean that I'm being unsafe. I actually believe that I am the World's safest driver. I have to believe this. I've been in many car accidents (none of which had me behind the wheel), and after a long battle of road related PTSD, I have trained myself to believe that I am amazing behind the wheel. Lucky for my insurance rates, I have yet to be proven wrong.
I don't have patience for many things but unsafe driving really grinds my gears (literally: I drive stick!).
Like everyone, I have a few pet peeves when it comes to lack of driver courtesy. I don't get really pissed off unless someone is doing something really stupid. I hate being honked at when I'm waiting to turn left at an intersection and I can't see. I know the culprit driver's punishment does not fit the crime but some people need to get the finger sometimes. I don't want to die and I'm not going to trust anyone. Don't honk at me or you will see my chubby middle finger bust out of my sunroof with the gusto of a Jersey Shore fist pump.
For all other perceived driver sins, I don't do anything that drastic. I usually just yell to myself, "What is this? Rookie night?" and zoom away.
Recently, I've been impatient with everyone. I still don't fly the bird unless I'm honked at in an intersection but I have been driving with urgency (duh! I have to pee all the time!). This has made me think about some good bumper stickers to stick to a preggo-mobile. For example, "Don't F*ck with me! I'm pregnant and I have to go to the bathroom now!" and "Preggo on Board: Kindly pull over and make a clear path to the closest ice cream shoppe".
Alex does most of the driving when we are together. I'm sure this is because he can't stand the road rage. He also doesn't let me stick my middle finger out his sunroof (no fun! I get it, he doesn't want to get rear ended in his fancy car). At least I'm not doing what my mother jokes about doing in her road rage moments. She likes the idea of hanging out her window and yelling, "My husband wants to beat you up". Alex is a lucky man because I would never do this. My Dad, (if this ever happened), probably not so much.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
There Must be Something in the Water!
Last summer Alex and I moved to the East end of Toronto. To be more precise, we live near Coxwell and Danforth. We are a ten minute walk from the beach and almost steps from the Bloor/Danforth Subway.
The neighbourhood is really cute and relatively affordable for a young family.
Most of the houses are semi-detached (except ours); there are parks and shops nearby; and there are two farmer's markets within walking distance on two separate days.
We also live by an elementary school and down the street from a high school.
Where ever schools are, children are easily found.
People like to live near the school where their children go. It makes sense. I lived a decent walk (on little legs) from my elementary school while my friends also lived within the neighbourhood.
There are children EVERYWHERE in this neighbourhood. They are climbing the trees, chasing after their pets, playing on their front lawns and even running after the ice cream trucks.
Considering the average house size in the neighbourhood is about 1000 square feet, one would think that maybe these homes would house maybe one child? NOPE, two or three or even four children can be stuffed into our little homes. In Europe, people have children in tiny apartments. If they can do it, we can too. I'm up for the challenge of having children in minimal space.
Minimal space or not, the families of my neighbourhood have been busy getting busy!
(I promise that the rest of the post is not icky).
Yesterday was my two-year wedding anniversary.
Neither Alex nor I are particularly romantic and after we bought our house, we have been trying to conserve our funds (not to mention that we have a very expensive little person joining our two-some very soon). We decided that instead of a weekend away, we would create a tradition of something we could do in the city.
On our wedding night, we had a bunch of our good friends join us for tapas and dessert (care of the staff at the hotel where our wedding was hosted). It was a beautiful day followed by a super yummy dinner with our good friends. We decided that we would celebrate subsequent wedding anniversaries eating tapas and enjoying each other's company. So that's what we did!
There is a really good Gluten Free tapas bar within walking distance of our house. Its called Relish.
The food is a bit pricey but totally worth it. We even stayed for dessert (Sambuca creme brûlée and flour-less chocolate cake). Yum! ( An aside: if you were wondering, the creme brûlée was enjoyed lactaid-free and I'm feeling great!) If anyone wants more info, let me know. Also, if you want to take me there, I will gladly go.
Anyway, on our way to and from the restaurant, we noticed that almost every woman we passed was pregnant.
I made a joke to Alex that all these women were going to be the parents of 'Peanut's' friends, bullies and carpool buddies to Hebrew school.
It was amazing to see how many women are pregnant in our neighbourhood. Is this normal?
Our next door neighbours are also expecting. They are due the week after us.
Friends of ours who live around the corner are having a baby in early January.
Social theory aside about the trends of birthrates of children of Boomers, I think that Toronto has spiked the water with something to encourage a mass spawning.
How did all these people become pregnant at the same time?
I can tell you that there wasn't anything particularly special about the winter or spring of 2011 that would entice conception (for example, no hurricane, major blackout or unbearable snowstorm). It was a long winter and a cold spring. Nothing we aren't used to in Canada. Also, might I add that I was in New Zealand for the worst of the winter weather of 2011 and I promise all of you that I came home just as non-pregnant as I left.
When Alex and I lived in Halifax, nine months after Hurricane Juan there were lots of babies. Funny enough, nine months after 'White' Juan (the most insane snowstorm I've ever seen!), again there were lots of babies. Both storms were about six months apart. People are definitely turned on by a good storm. Toronto hasn't seen anything that crazy weather wise, trust me.
With all the moms-to-be, I'm pleased that there are going to be lots of playmates for 'Peanut'. This means that school will be a buzz with parents not unlike myself and that the neighbourhood will continue to be safe and fun for everyone.
The best part about this is that nothing says 'gentrification' like a swarm of little kids around.
I love my 'hood but it has some creepy aspects to it. The soccer clubs open at all hours and the numerous old stores and pawn shops selling God-knows-what can soon be replaced by toy stores, candy stores and a Starbucks.
This is all hoping that the good people of Coxwell and Danforth can handle raising their children in their tiny homes. My parents did it and so will I.
The neighbourhood is really cute and relatively affordable for a young family.
Most of the houses are semi-detached (except ours); there are parks and shops nearby; and there are two farmer's markets within walking distance on two separate days.
We also live by an elementary school and down the street from a high school.
Where ever schools are, children are easily found.
People like to live near the school where their children go. It makes sense. I lived a decent walk (on little legs) from my elementary school while my friends also lived within the neighbourhood.
There are children EVERYWHERE in this neighbourhood. They are climbing the trees, chasing after their pets, playing on their front lawns and even running after the ice cream trucks.
Considering the average house size in the neighbourhood is about 1000 square feet, one would think that maybe these homes would house maybe one child? NOPE, two or three or even four children can be stuffed into our little homes. In Europe, people have children in tiny apartments. If they can do it, we can too. I'm up for the challenge of having children in minimal space.
Minimal space or not, the families of my neighbourhood have been busy getting busy!
(I promise that the rest of the post is not icky).
Yesterday was my two-year wedding anniversary.
Neither Alex nor I are particularly romantic and after we bought our house, we have been trying to conserve our funds (not to mention that we have a very expensive little person joining our two-some very soon). We decided that instead of a weekend away, we would create a tradition of something we could do in the city.
On our wedding night, we had a bunch of our good friends join us for tapas and dessert (care of the staff at the hotel where our wedding was hosted). It was a beautiful day followed by a super yummy dinner with our good friends. We decided that we would celebrate subsequent wedding anniversaries eating tapas and enjoying each other's company. So that's what we did!
There is a really good Gluten Free tapas bar within walking distance of our house. Its called Relish.
The food is a bit pricey but totally worth it. We even stayed for dessert (Sambuca creme brûlée and flour-less chocolate cake). Yum! ( An aside: if you were wondering, the creme brûlée was enjoyed lactaid-free and I'm feeling great!) If anyone wants more info, let me know. Also, if you want to take me there, I will gladly go.
Anyway, on our way to and from the restaurant, we noticed that almost every woman we passed was pregnant.
I made a joke to Alex that all these women were going to be the parents of 'Peanut's' friends, bullies and carpool buddies to Hebrew school.
It was amazing to see how many women are pregnant in our neighbourhood. Is this normal?
Our next door neighbours are also expecting. They are due the week after us.
Friends of ours who live around the corner are having a baby in early January.
Social theory aside about the trends of birthrates of children of Boomers, I think that Toronto has spiked the water with something to encourage a mass spawning.
How did all these people become pregnant at the same time?
I can tell you that there wasn't anything particularly special about the winter or spring of 2011 that would entice conception (for example, no hurricane, major blackout or unbearable snowstorm). It was a long winter and a cold spring. Nothing we aren't used to in Canada. Also, might I add that I was in New Zealand for the worst of the winter weather of 2011 and I promise all of you that I came home just as non-pregnant as I left.
When Alex and I lived in Halifax, nine months after Hurricane Juan there were lots of babies. Funny enough, nine months after 'White' Juan (the most insane snowstorm I've ever seen!), again there were lots of babies. Both storms were about six months apart. People are definitely turned on by a good storm. Toronto hasn't seen anything that crazy weather wise, trust me.
With all the moms-to-be, I'm pleased that there are going to be lots of playmates for 'Peanut'. This means that school will be a buzz with parents not unlike myself and that the neighbourhood will continue to be safe and fun for everyone.
The best part about this is that nothing says 'gentrification' like a swarm of little kids around.
I love my 'hood but it has some creepy aspects to it. The soccer clubs open at all hours and the numerous old stores and pawn shops selling God-knows-what can soon be replaced by toy stores, candy stores and a Starbucks.
This is all hoping that the good people of Coxwell and Danforth can handle raising their children in their tiny homes. My parents did it and so will I.
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