Here is a response from Sears, received within MERE MINUTES of sending out that email. (I sent it and then posted it if you'd like to check the actual time.)
Hello Jennifer Huss;
Thank you for taking the time to bring your concerns to our attention.
We value you as a Sears customer and regret that you have had an unpleasant experience..
We have directed this important issue to our Corporate Customer Service representatives, one of our specialty agents will be in touch with you soon to rectify this matter.
We are looking forward to discussing this matter further and working with you to find a suitable resolution.
We appreciate your continued patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Thank you for shopping at Sears.
Sincerely,
Nancy
tmp
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
My Letter To Sears
To Whom It May Concern:
This afternoon I went to purchase a pair of slippers for my mother at your store in Sudbury, Ontario. When I entered the shoe department, a sales clerk asked me if she could help me, and I told her what I needed: a pair of slippers that was stretchy across the bridge of the foot. She told me the pair I was looking at was somewhat stretchy, and then left. She did not come back. I continued to look around at the wall of slippers. I finally found a white pair that was suitable in size and they were adjustable across the top so that was a bonus. My mother is in the hospital and her feet are very swollen so her normal sized slippers won't do. [**note to my blog readers: My mom went into the hospital yesterday because the skin on her lower legs is infected and blistered. She'll be there for three days or so while they load her up with antibiotics and try to heal them up.**] I took them to the register and asked the three clerks standing there if these came in a different colour. One of them said she would go check. The second one took the pair I had and started ringing me in. The third one said "There's nothing in the back, what's out there is what we have." The clerk ringing me in (named Rhi-Ellen but I may have spelled that wrong) told me the total and I paid with my debit card. Then the first clerk came back with a navy blue pair, which I preferred. I told them I would like to take the blue pair. Rhi-Ellen said she couldn't just give me the blue pair, she would have to do a return on the white ones first. She asked me for my phone number which I gave, and then continued to ask me my name and address and postal code. I asked why I needed to provide all that, and mentioned I would rather not divulge my personal information. She said she needed it to get into her computer to process the exchange. I said again I didn't want to give out my information. She insisted three times that I give her the info. So I said my name was Jane Doe and I lived at 123 Main Street. She was snarky and told me I wouldn't know the postal code for that made-up address. I told her P3C 4J1. Then she told me the computer knew that postal code didn't exist. I told her I didn't know what she wanted me to do about that. I got fed up and finally told her my real address and postal code, even though I saw no reason why I had to. I asked her why she had rung me up when she knew there was a possibility I wasn't getting those slippers. She told me that it was my fault for okaying the transaction. After she entered my information into the computer, she encountered more computer problems and was not able to complete the transactions quickly. She ended up not even using my information, but putting her own in. I knew this because she had to get another sales clerk to co-sign the return slip since she put her own signature on it. Then she left before ringing in the new transaction for the blue slippers. Another clerk came over to ring me in.
My questions are these: 1) Why ask a customer if they need help if you're not going to actually help them? 2) Why isn't there a dummy account or other such thing to accommodate customers who do not wish to divulge their personal information? Especially on returns that were the clerk's fault and not the customer's. 3) Is there no quality of service standard with Sears Canada? No way to check that your sales clerks are being as helpful and positive as they can be?
I found the clerk at the register to be rude and argumentative. She blamed me for her mistake of ringing me in before I had the item I wanted. I clearly came to the counter asking about the alternate item, way BEFORE she rung me in, even tho she tried to tell me it was after. Trying to blame me for her mistake was not appreciated. Being asked three times for personal information that I did not want to give out was not appreciated. Her attitude towards me trying to keep my right to privacy was not appreciated.
I will not put up with abysmal customer service (customer disservice was more like it) and without suitable apology, I will be very reticent to shop at Sears again.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Huss
This afternoon I went to purchase a pair of slippers for my mother at your store in Sudbury, Ontario. When I entered the shoe department, a sales clerk asked me if she could help me, and I told her what I needed: a pair of slippers that was stretchy across the bridge of the foot. She told me the pair I was looking at was somewhat stretchy, and then left. She did not come back. I continued to look around at the wall of slippers. I finally found a white pair that was suitable in size and they were adjustable across the top so that was a bonus. My mother is in the hospital and her feet are very swollen so her normal sized slippers won't do. [**note to my blog readers: My mom went into the hospital yesterday because the skin on her lower legs is infected and blistered. She'll be there for three days or so while they load her up with antibiotics and try to heal them up.**] I took them to the register and asked the three clerks standing there if these came in a different colour. One of them said she would go check. The second one took the pair I had and started ringing me in. The third one said "There's nothing in the back, what's out there is what we have." The clerk ringing me in (named Rhi-Ellen but I may have spelled that wrong) told me the total and I paid with my debit card. Then the first clerk came back with a navy blue pair, which I preferred. I told them I would like to take the blue pair. Rhi-Ellen said she couldn't just give me the blue pair, she would have to do a return on the white ones first. She asked me for my phone number which I gave, and then continued to ask me my name and address and postal code. I asked why I needed to provide all that, and mentioned I would rather not divulge my personal information. She said she needed it to get into her computer to process the exchange. I said again I didn't want to give out my information. She insisted three times that I give her the info. So I said my name was Jane Doe and I lived at 123 Main Street. She was snarky and told me I wouldn't know the postal code for that made-up address. I told her P3C 4J1. Then she told me the computer knew that postal code didn't exist. I told her I didn't know what she wanted me to do about that. I got fed up and finally told her my real address and postal code, even though I saw no reason why I had to. I asked her why she had rung me up when she knew there was a possibility I wasn't getting those slippers. She told me that it was my fault for okaying the transaction. After she entered my information into the computer, she encountered more computer problems and was not able to complete the transactions quickly. She ended up not even using my information, but putting her own in. I knew this because she had to get another sales clerk to co-sign the return slip since she put her own signature on it. Then she left before ringing in the new transaction for the blue slippers. Another clerk came over to ring me in.
My questions are these: 1) Why ask a customer if they need help if you're not going to actually help them? 2) Why isn't there a dummy account or other such thing to accommodate customers who do not wish to divulge their personal information? Especially on returns that were the clerk's fault and not the customer's. 3) Is there no quality of service standard with Sears Canada? No way to check that your sales clerks are being as helpful and positive as they can be?
I found the clerk at the register to be rude and argumentative. She blamed me for her mistake of ringing me in before I had the item I wanted. I clearly came to the counter asking about the alternate item, way BEFORE she rung me in, even tho she tried to tell me it was after. Trying to blame me for her mistake was not appreciated. Being asked three times for personal information that I did not want to give out was not appreciated. Her attitude towards me trying to keep my right to privacy was not appreciated.
I will not put up with abysmal customer service (customer disservice was more like it) and without suitable apology, I will be very reticent to shop at Sears again.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Huss
Sunday, January 28, 2007
How Taco Bell Could Have Saved My Life
Or at least the life of one of my appliances.
Please refer to my friend Jeremy's excellent blog, www.martinidreams.blogspot.com for the credit on the title of my entry today. And read his entry. If it was on paper, it would be a real page-turner. Taco Bell was responsible for two terrible accidents this week, one of which is described below, the other is on Jeremy's site.
It was an ordinary day here in Sudbury, and for our ordinary supper, Jake made tacos. We usually eat tacos about once a week or so. I like to toast my shells in the toaster oven, to give them added crispiness. I was only toasting two shells, because I was making a taco salad, and was going to crumble them onto my lettuce, meat, salsa, cheese, and sour cream. Plus we only had six shells, so it worked out great for Jake who wanted 4 tacos. Knowing that the heating elements are too close to an intact taco shell, I broke the shells in half at the bend so they wouldn't have any height. I placed them onto the rack and set the toaster to half the amount of time required for toast. The oven felt warm when I opened it, so I asked Jake why. He'd made Hayden's chicken nuggets in there. I decreased the time even further because I knew a hot oven would toast the shells way faster than a cold one. I went across the kitchen to break up my lettuce and find the right bowl. Jake was at the stove assembling his tacos when I heard him say "fire" in a kind of calm, unpanicked voice. "What?" I said and turned around. The toaster oven was on fire! Jake opened it up and the few tiny flames burst into a big ball of bluish-orange inferno. I thought "my god! I don't have a fire extinguisher!" I needed my baking soda STAT! Unfortunately it was on my baking items shelf, the top one, and I couldn't reach it. I was trying to remain calm and Jake tried to put out the fire by blowing on it. I said "Don't blow on it! Close the door!" because of course, the added oxygen only made it worse. The closed door helped somewhat. My voice was shaking but I managed to get out the plea for Jake to reach down the baking soda. Jake told me to calm down. Then he turned the kitchen light off. I encountered another problem: when I opened the oven door to throw the baking soda in, the flames reared up very large. The other strange thing was the door wouldn't stay open. I don't know why, it normally would stay down if opened all the way. Maybe cuz I kept letting go before it was all the way down, since there were large flames leaping out at me. I dunno, just a theory in the after-thought of the situation. I wanted oven mits or a very long pole. After several attempts at opening the door, I took a moment to move the shredded cheese that was beside the toaster oven, so it wouldn't get ruined when I threw the baking soda at it. Those few extra moments with the door closed were enough for the flames to finally extinguish on their own. I opened the door and threw baking soda in anyway. I asked Jake to turn the light back on. I opened the back door to let the smoke out, and Jake turned on the ceiling fan. Then we laughed and laughed and laughed. My taco shells were not only scorched, they were incinerated. There was nothing left of them except a few black ash stalactites hanging from the wire rack.
If we had satisfied our taco cravings with Taco Bell, we would not have had this fire and would still have a very good Black and Decker toaster oven. I blame them completely.
Please refer to my friend Jeremy's excellent blog, www.martinidreams.blogspot.com for the credit on the title of my entry today. And read his entry. If it was on paper, it would be a real page-turner. Taco Bell was responsible for two terrible accidents this week, one of which is described below, the other is on Jeremy's site.
It was an ordinary day here in Sudbury, and for our ordinary supper, Jake made tacos. We usually eat tacos about once a week or so. I like to toast my shells in the toaster oven, to give them added crispiness. I was only toasting two shells, because I was making a taco salad, and was going to crumble them onto my lettuce, meat, salsa, cheese, and sour cream. Plus we only had six shells, so it worked out great for Jake who wanted 4 tacos. Knowing that the heating elements are too close to an intact taco shell, I broke the shells in half at the bend so they wouldn't have any height. I placed them onto the rack and set the toaster to half the amount of time required for toast. The oven felt warm when I opened it, so I asked Jake why. He'd made Hayden's chicken nuggets in there. I decreased the time even further because I knew a hot oven would toast the shells way faster than a cold one. I went across the kitchen to break up my lettuce and find the right bowl. Jake was at the stove assembling his tacos when I heard him say "fire" in a kind of calm, unpanicked voice. "What?" I said and turned around. The toaster oven was on fire! Jake opened it up and the few tiny flames burst into a big ball of bluish-orange inferno. I thought "my god! I don't have a fire extinguisher!" I needed my baking soda STAT! Unfortunately it was on my baking items shelf, the top one, and I couldn't reach it. I was trying to remain calm and Jake tried to put out the fire by blowing on it. I said "Don't blow on it! Close the door!" because of course, the added oxygen only made it worse. The closed door helped somewhat. My voice was shaking but I managed to get out the plea for Jake to reach down the baking soda. Jake told me to calm down. Then he turned the kitchen light off. I encountered another problem: when I opened the oven door to throw the baking soda in, the flames reared up very large. The other strange thing was the door wouldn't stay open. I don't know why, it normally would stay down if opened all the way. Maybe cuz I kept letting go before it was all the way down, since there were large flames leaping out at me. I dunno, just a theory in the after-thought of the situation. I wanted oven mits or a very long pole. After several attempts at opening the door, I took a moment to move the shredded cheese that was beside the toaster oven, so it wouldn't get ruined when I threw the baking soda at it. Those few extra moments with the door closed were enough for the flames to finally extinguish on their own. I opened the door and threw baking soda in anyway. I asked Jake to turn the light back on. I opened the back door to let the smoke out, and Jake turned on the ceiling fan. Then we laughed and laughed and laughed. My taco shells were not only scorched, they were incinerated. There was nothing left of them except a few black ash stalactites hanging from the wire rack.
If we had satisfied our taco cravings with Taco Bell, we would not have had this fire and would still have a very good Black and Decker toaster oven. I blame them completely.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
1998
oooh! the visit after the next will be the 2000th visitor! who will it be? I'm so excited!
Today it was snowing softly all day, so I dressed Hayden up VERY WARMLY and we went outside to go tobogganning. That was my intention. There's a small hill that I figured would be perfect right here in our compound area, so there would be no need to cross the highway. Here's how I dressed Hayden: two pairs of socks, t-shirt, heavy sweat-shirt, lined thick pants tucked into his outer socks, snowpants, winter boots, heavy parka, hat with cheek flaps, hood up on parka, zipper up to his nose, scarf, and wollen mittens. Yes he was able to bend his legs, but just barely. This is what I wore: two pairs of socks, polar fleece pants tucked into the outer socks, sweatpants over top (so the snow wouldn't stick to the polar fleece so bad), t-shirt, sweater, winter coat, gloves, scarf, ear-and-forehead warmer, hood-up on my coat, winter boots. Time it took getting ready: 30 minutes. Time we spent outside: 15 minutes. Time it took to get everything off after we were back inside: 10 minutes. Oh well! It was worth it.
The problem lay in the fact that Hayden was not having a good time being pulled on his new toboggan that my parents got for him for Christmas. I sat him in it and pulled him along in the snow on the way to the hill, but he wimpered the entire time. We only got 3/4 of the way there before I gave up and turned around. The snow was very light and fluffy but underneith it the hard frozen snow was very slippery. The two layers of snow hadn't gotten to know each other fully yet. Halfway back to the house Hayden fell off the toboggan (again - the rope is kinda short unless you walk backwards) so he walked. He was so cute and stiff-kneed, waddling along like a little stuffed Hayden doll. When we got back, he didn't want to go back outside either. My mother had called, so I took the phone outside and we stood around in the gentle snow for a while, until it was acceptable for him to go back inside. Last time we went out to play in the snow and he didn't have a good time, he cried his head off when we went back in. I think he likes being out in the snow, but he likes to just stand there. LOL it was so cute!
Today it was snowing softly all day, so I dressed Hayden up VERY WARMLY and we went outside to go tobogganning. That was my intention. There's a small hill that I figured would be perfect right here in our compound area, so there would be no need to cross the highway. Here's how I dressed Hayden: two pairs of socks, t-shirt, heavy sweat-shirt, lined thick pants tucked into his outer socks, snowpants, winter boots, heavy parka, hat with cheek flaps, hood up on parka, zipper up to his nose, scarf, and wollen mittens. Yes he was able to bend his legs, but just barely. This is what I wore: two pairs of socks, polar fleece pants tucked into the outer socks, sweatpants over top (so the snow wouldn't stick to the polar fleece so bad), t-shirt, sweater, winter coat, gloves, scarf, ear-and-forehead warmer, hood-up on my coat, winter boots. Time it took getting ready: 30 minutes. Time we spent outside: 15 minutes. Time it took to get everything off after we were back inside: 10 minutes. Oh well! It was worth it.
The problem lay in the fact that Hayden was not having a good time being pulled on his new toboggan that my parents got for him for Christmas. I sat him in it and pulled him along in the snow on the way to the hill, but he wimpered the entire time. We only got 3/4 of the way there before I gave up and turned around. The snow was very light and fluffy but underneith it the hard frozen snow was very slippery. The two layers of snow hadn't gotten to know each other fully yet. Halfway back to the house Hayden fell off the toboggan (again - the rope is kinda short unless you walk backwards) so he walked. He was so cute and stiff-kneed, waddling along like a little stuffed Hayden doll. When we got back, he didn't want to go back outside either. My mother had called, so I took the phone outside and we stood around in the gentle snow for a while, until it was acceptable for him to go back inside. Last time we went out to play in the snow and he didn't have a good time, he cried his head off when we went back in. I think he likes being out in the snow, but he likes to just stand there. LOL it was so cute!
Friday, January 26, 2007
2000th visitor?
OK so if you're the 2000th visitor, there will be no prizes, no parade, no gift bag. But what there will be is hooplah! large font! excitement!
so check back and see if you're the one! Only 15 more to go as of this moment!
Isn't this exciting?
And doesn't it seem that the second thousand went by a LOT quicker than the first thousand? It's like that with Hayden and Sage too. Sage turned 5 months old in the snap of my fingers, but with Hayden it seemed to take forever till he turned turned 4 months old. (At 4 months you can stop boiling the bottles, nipples, and water, also we started Hayden on solids at 4 months.)
Did I tell you guys I started feeding Sage solids? He's had rice cereal and oatmeal cereal so far. Oh yes now I remember. I said he didn't spit it out. Well he only sometimes doesn't spit it out. Other times I have to hover the spoon by his lips to catch it, and tip the food back in 4 or 5 times before it goes down the back way. heh heh.
so check back and see if you're the one! Only 15 more to go as of this moment!
Isn't this exciting?
And doesn't it seem that the second thousand went by a LOT quicker than the first thousand? It's like that with Hayden and Sage too. Sage turned 5 months old in the snap of my fingers, but with Hayden it seemed to take forever till he turned turned 4 months old. (At 4 months you can stop boiling the bottles, nipples, and water, also we started Hayden on solids at 4 months.)
Did I tell you guys I started feeding Sage solids? He's had rice cereal and oatmeal cereal so far. Oh yes now I remember. I said he didn't spit it out. Well he only sometimes doesn't spit it out. Other times I have to hover the spoon by his lips to catch it, and tip the food back in 4 or 5 times before it goes down the back way. heh heh.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Family Photos
I haven't put up any photos in a while, so here you go. Sage is so big now, he's got less than 2 pounds to go before he outgrows his carseat. We're going to get Hayden a carseat that converts to a booster that he'll use till he's 8 years old and give Sage the one Hayden is currently using. It's good till 30 lbs rear-facing and up to 40 lbs forward facing. They can face forward only after they turn one, so their necks will be developed enough to keep their heads attached in case of an accident. Ew it sounds really gross when you say it out loud like that. Sage's current car seat only goes up to 20 lbs, and last we checked at the beginning of January he was 18 lbs 2 oz. Better hurry up! Those clothes he's wearing are 6-12 month shirt, 12 month pants, and size 2 Nikes (thank you Auntie Cybil!). Nothing is terribly big, as you can see. Not how you'd expect them to fit on a FIVE MONTH OLD BABY. Jake was in the background holding him up, but he didn't want to be part of this photo, so I smudged him out. heh heh. I'm all gangster-talking now. Huah. Ok back to the pictures...
A close-up of the terribly cute Nikes. They fit really well. I found shoes on Hayden either never stayed on his chubby little feet, or else I couldn't get his chubby little feet into them.
Cutie pie in his big-boy overalls (size 3, shirt is a 4)
An artistic photo of Sage. I love his expression, but he was wiggling around trying to get his soother into his mouth, so it's a little blurry. I don't care, I like it anyway.
I think I can get this in my mouth if I try hard enough....
Yep, it's in.
A close-up of the terribly cute Nikes. They fit really well. I found shoes on Hayden either never stayed on his chubby little feet, or else I couldn't get his chubby little feet into them.
Cutie pie in his big-boy overalls (size 3, shirt is a 4)
An artistic photo of Sage. I love his expression, but he was wiggling around trying to get his soother into his mouth, so it's a little blurry. I don't care, I like it anyway.
I think I can get this in my mouth if I try hard enough....Yep, it's in.The Rug
Due to popular demand here are some pictures of our new area rug. Well ok it was only one person, but she's pregnant with twins so counts as three. We love it! It really makes such a difference, adding hominess, homonyms, and homonymy. Well ok it doesn't really add homonyms, but it does add the other two things.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Topics Of Late
Jake is really enjoying his work. He is becoming quite the cook at home! The other night he made a really yummy roasted chicken breast dinner, with side dishes for me including multi-grain spaghettini with ranch sauce and broccoli, and buttered brussels sprouts. It was so healthy and yummy! He also plated it elegantly and brought it to me. What service.
We had our car seats inspected at the fire hall in the Valley the other day, and while they were in the car making sure they were both installed correctly, a fireman asked Hayden if he wanted to go look at the fire truck! I thought that was really nice of him. We walked over and the fireman lifted him up high into the driver's seat, clicked a button and the lights all came on. Hayden tried to steer of course, and then he hit the horn. The loud, fire truck horn. Unfortunately at that point the fireman's supervisor came over and gave him a look, after which the fireman said "that's probably enough for now" and quickly got Hayden out of the driver's seat. I thought it was TOO funny.
Yesterday we bought a $40 area rug from Wal Mart. It's very nice! It's a medium shag, beige, and 6X9. I like it a lot. It makes the room seem cozier. I don't really like the industrial grey carpet that we seem to have had forever. We had teal industrial carpeting in the basement at my parent's house, light grey industrial carpeting at the apartment in Coniston, and now have dark grey industrial carpeting here. "Cover it up!" I say. So we did.
We had our car seats inspected at the fire hall in the Valley the other day, and while they were in the car making sure they were both installed correctly, a fireman asked Hayden if he wanted to go look at the fire truck! I thought that was really nice of him. We walked over and the fireman lifted him up high into the driver's seat, clicked a button and the lights all came on. Hayden tried to steer of course, and then he hit the horn. The loud, fire truck horn. Unfortunately at that point the fireman's supervisor came over and gave him a look, after which the fireman said "that's probably enough for now" and quickly got Hayden out of the driver's seat. I thought it was TOO funny.
Yesterday we bought a $40 area rug from Wal Mart. It's very nice! It's a medium shag, beige, and 6X9. I like it a lot. It makes the room seem cozier. I don't really like the industrial grey carpet that we seem to have had forever. We had teal industrial carpeting in the basement at my parent's house, light grey industrial carpeting at the apartment in Coniston, and now have dark grey industrial carpeting here. "Cover it up!" I say. So we did.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Ew and Yay!
Ew
I used the new vacuum today for the first time, and the bagless canister has this line near the top marked "full". I did the living room, hallway, and both bedrooms and the dirt was up to the line! I couldn't believe it. Like I said, our old vacuum didn't work right any more. We still used it, but the beater bar didn't spin. No wonder our socks got so dirty off our floor! Ahhh, new vacuum, I love you so....
Yay
I gave Sage some rice cereal for the first time today. He took 2 bottles within an hour and a half last night at 4am, and cried the whole time in between, so I figured it is probably time to start introducing solids to the hungry little champ. He took it very well! He swallowed properly, indicating he is ready for solids. The literature I was reading advised they may not be ready if they still have the extrusion reflex (automatically poking out his tongue when something is put in his mouth). I only gave him half a tablespoon, and I was able to squeeze out almost enough breastmilk to mix with it. I had to use some water tho. I'd stopped breastfeeding daily while we were all sick over Christmas, because I didn't want his little hand to rub my chest and get Vicks vapo rub on it... just in case he then stuck it in his mouth. My little guy is growing up.. sniffle.. pretty soon he'll be starting college and moving away... WAHHH!!
Even more heart-wrenching is that I've been cleaning out the boys' clothes, dividing them into white or neutral colours for Carol's girls, and blues or very boyish styles for Sabrina's boy. I'm trying not to have weeping moments or anxiety about getting rid of all the baby stuff. I keep repeating to myself that if/when we ever have another kid to try for a girl, I can get it all back. I can get it back. It's not like I'm throwing it away. It needs, nay, WANTS to be used by my friend and my sister. Spread the love. Yes. Spread the love.
I used the new vacuum today for the first time, and the bagless canister has this line near the top marked "full". I did the living room, hallway, and both bedrooms and the dirt was up to the line! I couldn't believe it. Like I said, our old vacuum didn't work right any more. We still used it, but the beater bar didn't spin. No wonder our socks got so dirty off our floor! Ahhh, new vacuum, I love you so....
Yay
I gave Sage some rice cereal for the first time today. He took 2 bottles within an hour and a half last night at 4am, and cried the whole time in between, so I figured it is probably time to start introducing solids to the hungry little champ. He took it very well! He swallowed properly, indicating he is ready for solids. The literature I was reading advised they may not be ready if they still have the extrusion reflex (automatically poking out his tongue when something is put in his mouth). I only gave him half a tablespoon, and I was able to squeeze out almost enough breastmilk to mix with it. I had to use some water tho. I'd stopped breastfeeding daily while we were all sick over Christmas, because I didn't want his little hand to rub my chest and get Vicks vapo rub on it... just in case he then stuck it in his mouth. My little guy is growing up.. sniffle.. pretty soon he'll be starting college and moving away... WAHHH!!
Even more heart-wrenching is that I've been cleaning out the boys' clothes, dividing them into white or neutral colours for Carol's girls, and blues or very boyish styles for Sabrina's boy. I'm trying not to have weeping moments or anxiety about getting rid of all the baby stuff. I keep repeating to myself that if/when we ever have another kid to try for a girl, I can get it all back. I can get it back. It's not like I'm throwing it away. It needs, nay, WANTS to be used by my friend and my sister. Spread the love. Yes. Spread the love.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Long Time No Post
No apologies for not posting for a while. I just didn't have anything interesting to say.
But NOW I do! Do I ever!! I can hardly contain myself!!!
We Got A COSTCO card!!!!!! Anyone wanna go shopping?
Here's how it happened. Jake got a $30 Costco gift card from work for Christmas. Tonight we decided to go spend it, because we needed a new vacuum cleaner and it suddenly occured to me that Costco would probably have one. Why not buy it there and save $30? I'm so smart. Before they let us in I had to get a temporary pass, and while she was filling out the paperwork, she sprinkled Costco Fairy Dust on my head and weaved a magical spell and convinced me that buying milk and bread once a week for a year at Costco (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) would pay for the price of the membership. Plus the dispensing fee at the Costco (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) pharmacy is only $4 and change, so that's also a good saving. While we walked around the entire store (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) we hemmed and hawed, and finally decided that the deals we saw on meat and other groceries would make it very worth our while. Not to mention the deals on books, clothes, electronics, and diapers. Oh my god the diapers! Currently we spend 36 cents each for Hayden's diapers, but if we start buying them at Costco (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) we'd only have to spend 25 cents each. For Huggies! The king of diapers! Plus maybe one day we'll need 85 glue sticks. Now we know where to get them cheap! At Costco! (costco, -ostco, -ostco....)
But NOW I do! Do I ever!! I can hardly contain myself!!!
We Got A COSTCO card!!!!!! Anyone wanna go shopping?
Here's how it happened. Jake got a $30 Costco gift card from work for Christmas. Tonight we decided to go spend it, because we needed a new vacuum cleaner and it suddenly occured to me that Costco would probably have one. Why not buy it there and save $30? I'm so smart. Before they let us in I had to get a temporary pass, and while she was filling out the paperwork, she sprinkled Costco Fairy Dust on my head and weaved a magical spell and convinced me that buying milk and bread once a week for a year at Costco (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) would pay for the price of the membership. Plus the dispensing fee at the Costco (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) pharmacy is only $4 and change, so that's also a good saving. While we walked around the entire store (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) we hemmed and hawed, and finally decided that the deals we saw on meat and other groceries would make it very worth our while. Not to mention the deals on books, clothes, electronics, and diapers. Oh my god the diapers! Currently we spend 36 cents each for Hayden's diapers, but if we start buying them at Costco (costco, -ostco, -ostco....) we'd only have to spend 25 cents each. For Huggies! The king of diapers! Plus maybe one day we'll need 85 glue sticks. Now we know where to get them cheap! At Costco! (costco, -ostco, -ostco....)
Friday, January 12, 2007
Pee on the potty!
Last night Hayden told me he pooped, which means if he hadn't pooped yet, that he would soon be doing so. Jake said "Let's go try and poop on the potty!" and whisked him away to the bathroom. He put the little seat on the toilet and sat Hayden down, gave him a lolly pop and spent about 20 minutes in there telling him what a good boy he was and that he should poop into the potty. Hayden didn't even freak out or anything. He just sat there and talked to Jake about the potty and poop and other related subjects. After a bit he peed into the potty, and we cheered and congratulated him and he got another lolly pop. He didn't end up pooping, but we were so proud, and told him so a lot, so much that now he can say "Pee on the potty!" (FYI cuz I know you're wondering, he pooped about 15 minutes later.)
Today he had something in his eye and I tried to irrigate with warm water by squirting it into the corner of his eye with a medicine syringe (washed out thoroughly). He didn't like that. But I think whatever it was that was in there is gone, cuz he ended up crying so much as well it must have washed out (I hope). After he was finished being upset we were still in the bathroom drying off (the water went everywhere) and he said "pee on the potty" so I asked him if he wanted to try sitting on the potty. He say "yeah" and off came his pants and diaper and he sat on the potty for about 5 minutes. He was ready to get down before anything came out, but of course I gave him a lolly pop (a "potty pop"!) just for trying. These are great steps forward because up till now he's been scared of even sitting on his small potty with his clothes on. He did sit on Anya's potty last time we were there, and I'd like to get one similarly shaped for him, since he was more comfortable with hers.
Congratulations Hayden! You're on your way!
Today he had something in his eye and I tried to irrigate with warm water by squirting it into the corner of his eye with a medicine syringe (washed out thoroughly). He didn't like that. But I think whatever it was that was in there is gone, cuz he ended up crying so much as well it must have washed out (I hope). After he was finished being upset we were still in the bathroom drying off (the water went everywhere) and he said "pee on the potty" so I asked him if he wanted to try sitting on the potty. He say "yeah" and off came his pants and diaper and he sat on the potty for about 5 minutes. He was ready to get down before anything came out, but of course I gave him a lolly pop (a "potty pop"!) just for trying. These are great steps forward because up till now he's been scared of even sitting on his small potty with his clothes on. He did sit on Anya's potty last time we were there, and I'd like to get one similarly shaped for him, since he was more comfortable with hers.
Congratulations Hayden! You're on your way!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Yesterday's walk
Yesterday was such a beautiful day, I asked my dad if he would come over and walk with me. He brought his dog Lucy and I bundled the kids up against the cold (it was a frigid -12, call me a wuss Yellowknifers :oP) and got the strollers out of the closet and away we went like a herd of turtles. We had a nice leisurly walk after we waited to cross the highway for 4 or 5 minutes. The "leisurly" was kind of forced on us, since there was crunchy snow and ice blobs that constantly got in the way of the wheels of the strollers. I wished for an amauti, or other baby carrier to make walking simpler. Course I'd need two.. and I think I'd look ridiculous if I had both kids strapped onto my front and back.. that's actually a pretty funny image! I don't know if I'm going to want to walk with the kids any more, because even tho Sage was snuggled in a large warm blanket, Hayden with his hat, scarf, hood up on his fleece sweater over a lighter shirt, jacket, mittens, lined pants, and boots, still was very cold afterward. His lips were blue and he shivered alarmingly. Remembering my first aid for hypothermia, I took off my shirt and stripped him down to his diaper and we snuggled and hugged had tickle fights under the blankets of my bed. Jake made him a not-too-hot chocolate milk, but he didn't like it until it cooled right down. Anyway he's fine. Like I said, I think I'll leave the kids at home from now on, and resign myself to only being able to walk when Jake's off work. UNLESS... I took the car and went to the mall.. I could put the kids in a shopping cart and walk THERE....!! But that doesn't get me out in the sunshine, which I've been told helps with the January Blahs. Well whatever. (Incidentally, I love February because I spend the whole month looking forward to my birthday - my favourite day of the year - so I prefer to blame January for Blahs, rather than February. Who can be depressed when all month leads up to the most wonderful day of the year?)
Today was beautiful too. Jake was home, so I had it in the back of my mind to get out and walk, however I was feeling like another cold was coming on, and I had a nap in the afternoon instead. But then we went to the mall and parked at the far end, and when Jake offered to go get the car when we were done at Wal Mart, I said no and we all walked back. A little thing, but hey. Every little bit counts.
Today was beautiful too. Jake was home, so I had it in the back of my mind to get out and walk, however I was feeling like another cold was coming on, and I had a nap in the afternoon instead. But then we went to the mall and parked at the far end, and when Jake offered to go get the car when we were done at Wal Mart, I said no and we all walked back. A little thing, but hey. Every little bit counts.
Monday, January 08, 2007
It's time to play
Hey there Gals and Dolls, it's time to play... Deal or No Deal! (online edition) Simply click the link below and imagine Howie Mandel relaying the banker's offers, while the pretty girls (not included) open their cases as you make your choices.
http://www.nbc.com/Deal_or_No_Deal/game/dond.swf
Link courtesy of Mindi Galileo Obsequious Can You Hear The Drums Fernando Condicot - proud supporter and sponsor of the Hussicot's site.
http://www.nbc.com/Deal_or_No_Deal/game/dond.swf
Link courtesy of Mindi Galileo Obsequious Can You Hear The Drums Fernando Condicot - proud supporter and sponsor of the Hussicot's site.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
The Long Walk (not by S. King)
Well it wasn't SO long, but it was 35 minutes or so! I'm feeling very pleased with myself. It was such a nice day today (+6 by my thermometer) I wanted to take advantage of it. My initial impulse was to take the whole fam damily on a super mega walk in a park my dad told me about some time ago and that I've been wanting to see, but it's a half-hour drive from here at least and plus Jake didn't feel like walking. I tried to recruit a friend to go with me so there would be one stroller per person, but the two I asked were busy. Then I decided to take Lacey for a walk just in our neighbourhood. I have a mental block against crossing the highway with babies in strollers, but I can say ok to taking the dog across. That's the only bad thing about our location, it's great cuz there's few to no neighbours to bug or be bugged, but to go anywhere by foot means crossing the highway, and cars are supposed to be going 60 km/h but it used to be 80 so they zoom past at close to 100 or more. Kinda scary on foot. It wasn't super sunny, there were even a few flakes just as I was getting home, but they didn't multiply... YET (knock on wood). Lacey was even good for me while walking. She didn't pull too much, and only tried to knock me off my feet once when she saw a little white snack-dog barking at her from his yard. I hope her toenails wore down a little. I used our retractable leash that my cousin gave me, and it was so much easier to walk her than if she were on her 6' leash. I also gave her coat a good brushing when I got back. Oh the hair that came off of her! No wonder it's everywhere in the house.
Now I feel like playing cards. Or reading. I'm about 4/5 done my dad's book, Supergiant. I can't wait to see what happens!
Now I feel like playing cards. Or reading. I'm about 4/5 done my dad's book, Supergiant. I can't wait to see what happens!
Jolly Dangler
Yesterday for the first time I put Sage in the Jolly Jumper, but he didn't jump. He stayed in it for 25 mintues tho, just kinda slowly turning in a circle, dangling there quite contentedly. I love the expression on his cute little face, that half smile reminds me of a doll I once had named Pinky. She had pink woolen hair and a pink dress. Unfortunately she got ruined in a flood, but she was my favourite doll ever. Sorry Tina and Vicky - cabbage patch kids - I loved her more than you. What's that neighing? Oh Cotton Candy - my little pony - I guess I should say she was my favourite PERSON doll ever. You'll be my favourite horsie doll for all time, my dear.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah. Sage! My real-life doll! Yeah, he's great. Immediately after I hung Sage up in the contraption, Hayden swooped in and wanted to swing him around and do all the bouncing for him. I kiboshed THAT particular action right away. The only other thing is that the bar that connects the spring to the baby's straps is almost perfectly at Hayden's eye level, which we discovered through painful error. Don't worry, I will be keeping the two separated for all future jolly dangling or jumping episodes. The pictures were taken before the accident, and Hayden's fine. Also I have to admit that I photoshopped my teeth in that photo to make them whiter. They were so yellow, especially next to Hayden's little pearly whites, that I was embarrassed. I just noticed in this photo of Sage, that he's keeping his little arms straight down also, like a little river dancer.
Through the magic of photo shop I made the hole in the wall from the doorknob disappear! Also, sorry if you can't see Hayden, I realize he's wearing camouflage print from head to toe. [Old joke to Mindi: Where's Glen? Can't find Glen!]
This is Anya playing "Nap Time" at her house a few days before New Year's eve. She arranged her friends to "nap" with her as well. Such a socialite!
Hayden playing with Anya's toy broom. Men With Brooms? Try Kids With Brooms! Why do kids love brooms and vacuums so much?
What was I talking about? Oh yeah. Sage! My real-life doll! Yeah, he's great. Immediately after I hung Sage up in the contraption, Hayden swooped in and wanted to swing him around and do all the bouncing for him. I kiboshed THAT particular action right away. The only other thing is that the bar that connects the spring to the baby's straps is almost perfectly at Hayden's eye level, which we discovered through painful error. Don't worry, I will be keeping the two separated for all future jolly dangling or jumping episodes. The pictures were taken before the accident, and Hayden's fine. Also I have to admit that I photoshopped my teeth in that photo to make them whiter. They were so yellow, especially next to Hayden's little pearly whites, that I was embarrassed. I just noticed in this photo of Sage, that he's keeping his little arms straight down also, like a little river dancer.
Through the magic of photo shop I made the hole in the wall from the doorknob disappear! Also, sorry if you can't see Hayden, I realize he's wearing camouflage print from head to toe. [Old joke to Mindi: Where's Glen? Can't find Glen!]
This is Anya playing "Nap Time" at her house a few days before New Year's eve. She arranged her friends to "nap" with her as well. Such a socialite!
Hayden playing with Anya's toy broom. Men With Brooms? Try Kids With Brooms! Why do kids love brooms and vacuums so much?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Assortment of Topics
I had my partner in parenting over today, and she brought the health unit's scale. Sage weighs 18 lbs 2 oz and Hayden weighs 31 lbs even. He lost a little more than 2 lbs while he was sick. I don't know what/if Sage lost weight while he was sick, but they both didn't eat very much during the worst part of it. I'm not worried though because they are both pretty much better and eating normally again. I have really noticed Hayden's weight loss, especially in his tummy and chest. His little ribs poke out now, and his diaper tabs are a lot closer together than they used to be. I did the math in my head (well I drew imaginary numbers on the arm of the couch) and figured out that 2 lbs out of 33 lbs is 16.5 % of his body weight. That's a lot for one week!
Hayden has been put to bed three nights in a row using my new method of leaving him to fall asleep on his own, and it's been working just great! He's even learned to say "night night" and it's so cute. Also today for the first time he said "love you" and it actually sounded like the words, instead of previously when he's said it, it only sounded vaguely like "ovveeeoo" and sometimes he'd leave out the V sound.
Sage was on his mat this afternoon and rolled onto his side, and over the course of about 20 minutes repeated the action so much he rotated in a complete 360 degree circle!
I have a great friend up in Yellowknife NWT (I've mentionned her before, Vanessa the Great) and she blogs as well. The other day she posted a photograph of the sun at noon, and sorry Vaness, I've stolen the picture to show here:
Isn't that awesome? First of all, it's a great picture. Second of all, the sky is so clear and the sun so bright, I can't believe that's noon! I wish I could experience it first hand. Last night I dreamed that I was up visiting her with my sister Carol and her sister Sarah, cuz the four of us girls as kids often hung out together and did cool stuff. Their brother James was also in my dream. He was driving the minivan that Sarah and I were riding in. I was asking him about his life, because I really haven't talked to him in a loooong time. One of the other mentionable parts to the dream was the sky, because it was gorgeous. It was night time and the moon was just a sliver of a cresent, but it hung so low in the sky that it was huge and a beautiful amber/gold. Also the points of the cresent came around almost to touch. It was very unusual and beautiful. Vanessa was showing us around her northern town, and we ate something yummy but I don't remember what it was. I wish I could go visit in real life. That would be awesome.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Advancements
Three exciting things to report:
a) Sage slept from midnight last night until 10:30am! And when he woke up, he wasn't even screaming hungry. We had a great morning of smiles and squeals.
b) When I put Hayden to bed last night, I brushed his teeth, changed his bum, sang him some lullabies (even tho they sounded awful since my voice is still rough, but he doesn't care) and then I sat there for a few moments wondering if I could leave him to fall asleep on his own. I asked him if he would mind - he said "no" (he says no to everything, even when he means yes) so I gave him another kiss and said goodnight. I closed the door and stood outside it for a few minutes to see if he'd panic and cry, and he didn't! I'm sooo happy, because up till just recently he's needed one of us to lie down with him until he falls asleep, but a few weeks ago instead of lying down with him, I just sat on the edge of the bed. Seems like he's well on his way to being a big boy!
c) I applied for debt reduction for one of my three student loans (I will be applying for debt reduction on the other two as soon as I'm allowed) and my $4000 debt was reduced to $700! I couldn't believe it. One of other loans is around $5000, and the third is about $13,000, so if I can get similarly pardoned, I will be a VERY happy camper.
a) Sage slept from midnight last night until 10:30am! And when he woke up, he wasn't even screaming hungry. We had a great morning of smiles and squeals.
b) When I put Hayden to bed last night, I brushed his teeth, changed his bum, sang him some lullabies (even tho they sounded awful since my voice is still rough, but he doesn't care) and then I sat there for a few moments wondering if I could leave him to fall asleep on his own. I asked him if he would mind - he said "no" (he says no to everything, even when he means yes) so I gave him another kiss and said goodnight. I closed the door and stood outside it for a few minutes to see if he'd panic and cry, and he didn't! I'm sooo happy, because up till just recently he's needed one of us to lie down with him until he falls asleep, but a few weeks ago instead of lying down with him, I just sat on the edge of the bed. Seems like he's well on his way to being a big boy!
c) I applied for debt reduction for one of my three student loans (I will be applying for debt reduction on the other two as soon as I'm allowed) and my $4000 debt was reduced to $700! I couldn't believe it. One of other loans is around $5000, and the third is about $13,000, so if I can get similarly pardoned, I will be a VERY happy camper.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year
Safe and wonderful wishes for everyone for 2007.
Love,
Jennifer, Jake, Hayden, and Sage.
Love,
Jennifer, Jake, Hayden, and Sage.
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