This letter was a response to a column our mayor wrote encouraging us to give him gift ideas if we wanted to stop him and discuss issues......it really made me laugh and this is the letter I thought of.......
Had to chuckle at Mayor Lake's gift dilemma! Since I am not likely to be seeing him at the liquor store or Home Depot I thought I would share a few ideas with him in a letter.
First, if you're looking for a good gift for your wife, what about a complete homeowners tool kit, complete with lock and one key! That way when you are out working with cat owners, travelling to China or sitting in meetings and Lisa has to fix something around the house once again she won't have to go hunting in your toolbox (if she can locate it) to find a hammer, screwdriver or just one stinkin' pair of needle nose pliers......they now will be in her very own toolbox under lock and key. Believe me, the worst frustration a woman has, is having to look for her own stuff that is never where it's supposed to be!
Second, another better gift would be two tickets to a 3-4 day convention of her favourite hobby, like quilting, scrapbooking or even a woman's retreat. Now you may think that a romantic getaway for two would be the same thing but it wouldn't be, because it still means she will be on the phone for hours working out lessons, driving and organizing the whole house before she goes. Giving her a ticket to go with a friend means you are willing to hold down the whole fort while she is gone and all she has to do is pack her bag and wave goodbye to you at the door. So even better gift, two tickets to hobby heaven!
Last and my favourite, is a "Do You Know Why I Love You Letter" with at least 50 reasons on it! Ten is chintzy, 20 good but 50 means you have spent time, effort and creativity on it. If you print it on pretty paper, include a picture of the two of you when you were first dating, put it in a beautiful frame and then box it up, (even Mel Rothenberger strict standards of it being shakeable, pokeable and having wild guesses made about it should stand up to this!) then I think this would be a fabulous gift from the heart! (Better make my own sweetie read this!!!) Not only will it bring joy on Christmas morning but this is a gift that will keep on giving. Have Lisa put it on her nightstand and the next time you are in the doghouse, sleeping on the couch, guess what she will be seeing when she climbs into the nice warm bed.....that stupendous letter written by her once handsome Prince Charming and all the reasons he still loves her.......how can she stay mad then!! So absolutely best gift, a personal gift of words!
So Mayor Lake, sure hope you keep us posted on the gift search.......and if any of these suit your fancy I would be happy to send you my property tax number!!
Happy Shopping.......
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Trick or Treating (published on Wednesday, October 31, 2007)
Dear Editor:
So Halloween is around the corner and we will be inundated with little ghosts and witches again. Have to admit I enjoy the little ones who bravely knock, say trick or treat and then want to eat their candy right there on your step, as opposed to the huge teenagers who seem to race from door to door with their full pillowcases.
In fact until last year, I rather resented having to hand out candy to these barely costumed trick-or-treaters who were certainly past their prime, and so I would give them one piece since I knew they would be out for hours, whereas the wee ones would get a handful because I knew they would last about 5 houses!
It was my daughter who put it into perspective for me.......at the age of 15, I felt she was way past trick or treating age (we usually stop our kids at about 12) but when I told her that, she quickly responded: "Actually Mom, I can be trick or treating with friends or be out at a party getting totally drunk like others I know! Which would you rather have me do?"
Leave it to my kids to teach me a valuable lesson once again.......
I was completely happy to have her grab her pillowcase and go chocolate bar hunting. So if you are discouraging the larger trick or treaters, will you change your mind and be grateful they are safe and sound on your doorstep and not out drinking and driving.
I certainly am.
Happy Halloween Kamloops.
So Halloween is around the corner and we will be inundated with little ghosts and witches again. Have to admit I enjoy the little ones who bravely knock, say trick or treat and then want to eat their candy right there on your step, as opposed to the huge teenagers who seem to race from door to door with their full pillowcases.
In fact until last year, I rather resented having to hand out candy to these barely costumed trick-or-treaters who were certainly past their prime, and so I would give them one piece since I knew they would be out for hours, whereas the wee ones would get a handful because I knew they would last about 5 houses!
It was my daughter who put it into perspective for me.......at the age of 15, I felt she was way past trick or treating age (we usually stop our kids at about 12) but when I told her that, she quickly responded: "Actually Mom, I can be trick or treating with friends or be out at a party getting totally drunk like others I know! Which would you rather have me do?"
Leave it to my kids to teach me a valuable lesson once again.......
I was completely happy to have her grab her pillowcase and go chocolate bar hunting. So if you are discouraging the larger trick or treaters, will you change your mind and be grateful they are safe and sound on your doorstep and not out drinking and driving.
I certainly am.
Happy Halloween Kamloops.
Cleavage Control (published on Thursday, August 30, 2007)
Dear Editor.......
Unlike Sandra O'Reilly, (Where's the Investigative Reporting? Aug. 22) I quite enjoy the Daily News and its coverage. If there is a column I don't enjoy I simply skip over it.......sorry but the sports pages pretty much gets the heave ho and so do the classifieds most of the time.
I do enjoy Susan Duncan's column and have read every one, don't always agree but love reading her comments. One of her columns (Whether 50 is the new 30 depends on the perspective, Aug. 10) made me laugh but also made me think about what I have been experiencing quite a bit lately........and that is, the amount of cleavage that seems to be showing up more and more in the work force. Frankly, I'm dismayed at how often women seem to have thrown out the professional standard of dress when they are working with the public! Whether in my doctor's office, at school, or even shopping I have been seeing many women's shirts slipping lower and lower.
People seem to be confusing beach attire with work attire. What's permissible at the beach or pool is really not tasteful in the office. I'm assuming that most work environments have a dress code where its employees are asked to dress neat, clean and appropriate. Are we redefining appropriate? Cleavage and/or underwear should not be on display when you are dealing with patients, customers or clients. It makes me uncomfortable and frustrated when I am waited on by someone who is dressed inappropriately. I usually avert my eyes and try to focus on their face.....and if at all possible, I do not frequent that business again! Employers are not off the hook here, they need to address the issue and make sure the employees in their office are dressing professionally, because otherwise it brings down the tone of the office.
I have been trying to ignore this situation for awhile now, but it came to my attention again last week when I was with my children shopping at a major department store. When we went to make an appointment for family pictures, the girl at the counter was not only showing cleavage but her bra was completely visible and coming out. I dislike confrontation but this was beyond what I could bear, so I quietly and discreetly told her the problem. She quickly said sorry and pulled up her shirt. I have also been in a fabric store where I was attended by a woman wearing a black mesh top with a completely visible bra underneath, and I have walked into a doctor's office where the receptionist, because she was sitting down, had her whole chest visible. I have seen countless white blouses that are completely see through and wondered if people actually look in the mirror before they walk out the door! On the other hand, I have also seen some women dress beautifully and it is a pleasure to visit with them because the image they portray is of confidence and self-assurance.
I realize that this subject may be controversial to some, but if it makes people stop and think about how they dress in a professional capacity then hopefully it will make a difference. Anyone who thinks that men are enjoying this, need to be reminded that at least in my house, I do 99% of the shopping, appointments and household business and as a woman I am not particularly interested in seeing anyone else's cleavage! So if you're working, please pull it up, cover it up or layer it up.....let's make tasteful triumph over tacky! Your customers will appreciate it!
Unlike Sandra O'Reilly, (Where's the Investigative Reporting? Aug. 22) I quite enjoy the Daily News and its coverage. If there is a column I don't enjoy I simply skip over it.......sorry but the sports pages pretty much gets the heave ho and so do the classifieds most of the time.
I do enjoy Susan Duncan's column and have read every one, don't always agree but love reading her comments. One of her columns (Whether 50 is the new 30 depends on the perspective, Aug. 10) made me laugh but also made me think about what I have been experiencing quite a bit lately........and that is, the amount of cleavage that seems to be showing up more and more in the work force. Frankly, I'm dismayed at how often women seem to have thrown out the professional standard of dress when they are working with the public! Whether in my doctor's office, at school, or even shopping I have been seeing many women's shirts slipping lower and lower.
People seem to be confusing beach attire with work attire. What's permissible at the beach or pool is really not tasteful in the office. I'm assuming that most work environments have a dress code where its employees are asked to dress neat, clean and appropriate. Are we redefining appropriate? Cleavage and/or underwear should not be on display when you are dealing with patients, customers or clients. It makes me uncomfortable and frustrated when I am waited on by someone who is dressed inappropriately. I usually avert my eyes and try to focus on their face.....and if at all possible, I do not frequent that business again! Employers are not off the hook here, they need to address the issue and make sure the employees in their office are dressing professionally, because otherwise it brings down the tone of the office.
I have been trying to ignore this situation for awhile now, but it came to my attention again last week when I was with my children shopping at a major department store. When we went to make an appointment for family pictures, the girl at the counter was not only showing cleavage but her bra was completely visible and coming out. I dislike confrontation but this was beyond what I could bear, so I quietly and discreetly told her the problem. She quickly said sorry and pulled up her shirt. I have also been in a fabric store where I was attended by a woman wearing a black mesh top with a completely visible bra underneath, and I have walked into a doctor's office where the receptionist, because she was sitting down, had her whole chest visible. I have seen countless white blouses that are completely see through and wondered if people actually look in the mirror before they walk out the door! On the other hand, I have also seen some women dress beautifully and it is a pleasure to visit with them because the image they portray is of confidence and self-assurance.
I realize that this subject may be controversial to some, but if it makes people stop and think about how they dress in a professional capacity then hopefully it will make a difference. Anyone who thinks that men are enjoying this, need to be reminded that at least in my house, I do 99% of the shopping, appointments and household business and as a woman I am not particularly interested in seeing anyone else's cleavage! So if you're working, please pull it up, cover it up or layer it up.....let's make tasteful triumph over tacky! Your customers will appreciate it!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Precious Gift of Time
I have been reading with interest the letters addressing Susan Duncan's parenting columns! Some people are complaining that they are tired of reading about her whining, unmotivated kids, others are enjoying her insights and laughing with her at her struggles. I personally can never read enough about parenting! I love being a mother and although I am an avid reader of the Daily News I feel it would be of real benefit to see a section or even a page on parenting! We have a whole section on cars (I buy a car maybe once every 4-5 years), a section on sports (which I only read when my husband points something out to me), and even a section on the real estate market (I buy a house about every 25 years) and so I would be happy to have even one page on parenting which many, many of us do 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Any help I can get is extremely appreciated and valuable.
This time of year there's a greater focus on family as we prepare to gather together and celebrate Christmas. May I share my own personal parenting advice..... As we struggle and spend time searching the stores for the perfect present for our children, will we remember that the most precious gift we can give them is our time! Time to read together "Beezus and Ramona" all snuggled in bed with pillows and blankets; time to make a snowman in the backyard complete with carrots and funny hats; time to laugh and talk while putting together 1500 piece puzzles; time to talk on the phone for hours with a desperately lonely daughter who can't make it home for Christmas because she is working; time to stand around the piano singing carol after carol in tune or not; time to walk around the neighbourhood in crisp, clean air, oohing and aahing over your neighbourhood Christmas lights; time to do dishes together while trying to miss the dish towel fights that always ensue; time mixing, cutting and baking Christmas cookies that are eaten as soon as they come out of the oven; and finally time to sit in front of the fire sipping hot chocolate and reading the story of a baby born in a manger many years ago while the lights from your tree are twinkling in the background! Time is the most precious gift of all.......
Merry Christmas Kamloops!
This time of year there's a greater focus on family as we prepare to gather together and celebrate Christmas. May I share my own personal parenting advice..... As we struggle and spend time searching the stores for the perfect present for our children, will we remember that the most precious gift we can give them is our time! Time to read together "Beezus and Ramona" all snuggled in bed with pillows and blankets; time to make a snowman in the backyard complete with carrots and funny hats; time to laugh and talk while putting together 1500 piece puzzles; time to talk on the phone for hours with a desperately lonely daughter who can't make it home for Christmas because she is working; time to stand around the piano singing carol after carol in tune or not; time to walk around the neighbourhood in crisp, clean air, oohing and aahing over your neighbourhood Christmas lights; time to do dishes together while trying to miss the dish towel fights that always ensue; time mixing, cutting and baking Christmas cookies that are eaten as soon as they come out of the oven; and finally time to sit in front of the fire sipping hot chocolate and reading the story of a baby born in a manger many years ago while the lights from your tree are twinkling in the background! Time is the most precious gift of all.......
Merry Christmas Kamloops!
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