Canada Moms Blog

Life is short. Have an affair

Life is short. Have an affair.

That's the motto of an on-line dating site, Ashley Madison, which facilitates cheating. Like a typical on-line dating site, it's purpose is to help those looking for a partner to find one easily: the difference? These people are married and looking for someone willing to have an extramarital affair. Cheat.

Ashley Madison is so confident they can find you the right person to contribute to your infidelity that they have a 100% guarantee.

Join AshleyMadison.com for FREE
and Have An Affair...Guaranteed!

This site isn't new. It's been featured on Ellen, The View, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America and Larry King. They've been providing an easy gateway for those looking to cheat on their spouse since 2001.

Until recently, I really had no idea a vehicle of this nature even existed. That was until the Toronto media went nuts with news of a potential ad for Ashley Madison which was to be displayed by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). TTC had allegedly accepted a deal to provide one street car to be wrapped head-to-toe with a purple ad stating - "LIFE IS SHORT. HAVE AN AFFAIR." - which would sprawl across the ENTIRE length of the train.

OSPCA vs. THS

There is a long standing feud between the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) and the Toronto Humane Society (THS). This feud came to ahead when the THS were allegedly caught off guard and five members of their staff were arrested when the OSPCA and the Toronto police raided their River St. location yesterday.

Charges have been laid against the society's president, Tim Trow, and four other members of their staff. The charges allegedly include conspiracy to commit an indictable offense, cruelty to animals as well as obstruction of a peace officer.

Pretty hefty allegations for a centre that insists they've done nothing wrong.

I'll keep my dilapitated, aging 'Nazi Socialist*' health care system over yours any day.

Born and raised in Canada I've known nothing different than going to the doctor if you're sick. Heading to the hospital for emergency care means having my health card with me. Nothing more.

For years, I knew nothing of the American health care system aside from what I had seen on TV: one image that resonates with me to this day is a man shot and left - dying - in an emergency room hallway on a gurney. No one had information about his insurance, or if he even had any and he was left there. Suffering. Overlooked because of a lack of paperwork.

That? That doesn't happen in Canada.

Hearing that my American friends owe THOUSANDS in health care costs for sick children, surgeries, CHILD BIRTH scares the ever living crap out of me.
The idea of losing my home, having my wages garnished and collection agencies having my number on speed dial for my child's birth makes me unconditionally happy to be a Canadian; to have this 'nazi socialist*' health care system available to me is a blessing.

Deprived of Tim Hortons, parton arguing human rights violation

I like my Tim Hortons as much as the next guy (extra-large double double, please!) but man, it's getting more and more challenging to get that cup o' java in the morning. If it's not the packed drive-thru creeping along at a snail's pace, it's the sardine-can-like store front which has Tim Hortons patrons breathing down each others necks. Yet, I still wait; like many others I stand with about seven people way too close for comfort (PERSONAL. SPACE. PEOPLE. Gah!) patiently awaiting my morning coffee.

But, for some - the wait just got a little harder.

Entering the Housing Market is Not for the Weak

Due to credit issues from our younger careless days, we've been late to enter the Toronto housing market. My husband and I have worked endlessly to improve credit scores, pay off debt, all while saving a down payment for a new home. It's been nerve racking and painful to say the least.
Not only have we had countless hours of attempting to manage looming debts, we've sat back helpless watching home prices escalate exponentially. Painfully watching homes that were once in our realm of realistic financing were quickly becoming unattainable while our hands were tied. 

We've managed to scrimp and save some to at least get ourselves into the housing market now. Elated after meeting with our mortgage consultant we've begun the daunting task of looking, open-housing and soon: bidding.

Bidding and negotiating are the parts I've been dreading. I dread getting my heart set on a home only to have it ripped from my grips by a potential bidding war.

Take last weekend for instance.

Birth Rates Drop Due to Recession

When news of the recession loomed and job loss started to rear its ugly head people began to take precautionary measures by means of halting procreation. Research has shown the sharpest decline of births at the start of this most recent economic recession while home prices and gas prices were at their highest. Many young couples have apparently postponed starting a family due to economic pressures whilst others have taken far more drastic measures. {source}

"For the first time in American history, [the] birthrate has dropped to roughly replacement level - or the number of births needed to maintain a stable population." {source} (this information is based on the latest available comprehensive analysis from 2006).

There is also evidence of higher instances of abortion and vasectomies as people fear the worst and take measures to protect their livelihoods.

But to what extent would you go to ensure that you're family is recession proof?

Check, Baby, Check, Baby 1-2-3...

When my oldest was fist born I was adamant that the infant car seat had to be installed by either St. John's Ambulance or the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). In fact, I was leery to even bring him home from the hospital before the seat was inspected and installed by a "professional". Each seat was installed by said "professionals" - the infant seat, the new car seat in rear-facing position and then again when he was able to ride forward-facing. There is an err of confidence in having someone else complete the installation and sign off that it's been done according to the manufacturer's instructions while coinciding with Ontario law.

In the province of Ontario, children are required to use a car seat until is mandatory for anyone transporting children to make sure children are properly secured in either an infant seat, child seat, or booster seat. This applies to all caregivers, from babysitters to grandparents. Rear-facing infant car seats are required for infants weighing 9 kg (20 lbs) or less. Forward-facing child car seats are required for children weighing between 9 kg and 18 kg (20 to 40 lbs), children about one year of age. Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing more than 18 kg but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.

{source - Government of Ontario press release}

Some scoff at the idea of having their car seat installed and left "permanently" in one vehicle because not only is inconvenient, it's expensive to have multiple car seats for different cars. We made it work for the last three years by suffering through those inconveniences by trading cars in parking lots mid-day if my husband was off work early; he would pass by my location, dropping off his car and taking mine to get our son from daycare.

Until recently the car seat hadn't left its spot since its installation. After much trepidation, I finally pulled the seat when my car had to go into the shop for some body work after a minor fender bender. I was so nervous about it, but we were able to get the seat into our rental and then back into my car BETTER than the volunteers (because my husband has superhuman stength) had done for us.

I am now overly confident that we don't need them and their help, but my husband insists that we take the car back to have the seats checked and installed again. I think it's a little redundant since we can complete the installation ourselves - better than they had done in the first place. This issue has now started a battle of wills between us and I need some ammunition Dear Interwebs.

Please, tell me how you deal with car seats and vehicles. Do you have one in each car? For those who move their child car seats regularly: do you have them spot-checked once and a while even though you're moving them in and out?

Original post to Canada Moms Blog. Samantha blogs regularly at her personal site, Temporarily Me as well as at Craftastrophe.

photo credit: joeschlabotnik on flickr

Back-to-Work Survival

T-minus 24 days until I am back behind a desk for 8.5 hours a day. My maternity leave with my second child is coming to a close and, as incredibly conflicted as I am about that return, it's something I have to do for my family. This time around I have become far more comfortable with the notion of being a stay-at-home-mom. The first time I had maternity leave, I scoffed at the idea of staying home with my children possibly being the most fulfilling job I could do. My patience was is thin, but seeing them flourish and KNOW that it has been my doing is really quite rewarding. Needless to say, this time around, returning to work is a bittersweet pill to swallow. I am craving the adult interaction, yet I LOVE being home. 

I think what's been making this time around even more difficult is that child Number 2 and I have a much tighter bond than Number 1 and I had have seeing as our personalities are so similar. That bond is making it far more challenging to separate from him and allow for someone else to spend more time with my child than I; essentially raising my child. (I went through this "someone else raising my child thing with Number 1 as well and it's mind of diminished seeing as he's now pre-school age.)

I received a call Wednesday notifying me that my infant son's position has come available starting May 1st. May 1st!? That didn't seem so close before but has now begun barreling down on my like a speeding freight train.

Panic is setting in.

Daycare Turns to Nightcare?

I don't envy daycare workers. Numerous children - none of whom are their own - poopy diapers, temper tantrums and THE MESS! But there is something to be said about the type of person who takes on this type of work. They are brave, loving, caring, BRAVE!, fun and - did I mention BRAVE?

As a parent of two small boys, I know how a break in routine can set them off. I know that managing more than one at a time can be very draining - mentally and physically. I know that though there are many lovable moments, there are also those times of omgifyoudon'tshutupthisinstantI'mgoingtoshutyouup!!.

I know. I really, really know. 

Yes, Chris Brown and Rihanna's Domestic Violence IS Our Concern

I am a gossip queen. I love it, I live for it, I write it.

I am also a nosy parker. I feel compelled to have all the information I can possibly get my hands on sometimes - otherwise, I just can't put my mind to rest. It wields wildly with speculation and obsessively beings to weave the story and until I find out the truth, I can't rest. 

Additionally, I am very much an advocate against domestic violence.

With this combination, I've been particularly drawn to the drama unfolding around Chris Brown and Rihanna and the domestic violence case surrounding them.

Yes, you can say I've been obsessively stalking the news stories and gossip columns for information about that.

I digress.