Is it really the "better way"???

The news upset me this morning. Just yesterday, I hopped on the TTC to get to a meeting downtown. You'd think I might have been able to foresee today's crushing strike just by looking at the driver's face. I'm trying to think back to how he smiled at me when I asked for a transfer. Was it a sincere "here you go" kinda smile? Or was it more a "you don't know what's gonna hit your tomorrow" smile? Hmmm...I'm not sure.

I'm not a regular rider. I live in York Region, so if I'm going to be taking public transit, it'll be a VIVA Bus. TTC is wanting to make sure that they're the highest paid transit facility. One of their biggest beefs is that Mississauga transit pays more. SO GO WORK FOR MISSISSAUGA TRANSIT...GET OFF YER BUTTS & GET BACK TO WORK!!! Sorry, lost my cool for a second. But I'm mad! Take some of the $2.75 I had to use for fare & divide it amongst yourselves & shut up about it already! That's right...it's nearly three dollars to ride the rocket nowadays. Bah!

I'm angry because this affects my grandfather in a most crippling way. He'll be 94 years old this May. One of the things that keeps him young is getting on the TTC Mondays through Saturdays & heading down to the St. Clair area to meet up with his pals for some bocce & card games. He doesn't drive & has relied on public transportation all his life. Guess he's out of luck...along with the rest of the city!

One thing's for sure: In the midst of this transit crisis, I sure am glad I live & work in York Region.

My mom & dad....they're the cat's pyjamas!

I can't tell you how proud I am! My mom & dad are heading over to their local OSPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to adopt a cat tomorrow. See the cutie in the pic? Her name is Angel & if all goes well, she'll join our extended family. I suppose it's not such a big deal to some, but you have to understand the background with my parents.

My mom & dad are Italian immigrants from a teeny weeny little town in Italy where the sheep outnumber the people. Pets were really never kept, so when I brought home a kitten in my teen years, it was simply NOT okay. Slowly but surely, however, mom & dad appreciated having a pet around.

It's been a few years since they've heard the pitter patter of little paws in their house, so they asked me to find out if there was any way for them to become the proud owners of a kitty cat without having to go through a pet store (especially with all those stories about about how they're bred & kept!). I turned to our own kitten's vet who referred us to the OSPCA.

By adopting an animal from the SPCA, everybody wins. Those animals desperately need a loving home, so why not provide one? From a financial standpoint, you actually do your wallet a favour by adopting from the SPCA, though that shouldn't really be your primary concern here. Your pet will have up to date immunizations & will be either spayed or neutered, and all for the small price of $115.00! I have a kitten that was adopted as a result of a friend of a friend's pet having a litter of kittens. My "free" kitten ended up costing me close to $500.00. Mind you, I would have paid 10 times that for my adorable little Chancho!

So my parents are doing me proud: They're opening their minds to a concept that was totally foreign to them only a short while ago. They'll be providing a nurturing environment for a needy cat...wow! You've come a long way, baby!

Ma petite Sophie

I've fallen head over heels for a giraffe. What has become of my life?!?! A RUBBER GIRAFFE, I TELL YOU!

I've had my eye on Sophie for over a year now when I spotted her on the Cheeky Monkey website. And what's not to like? Amidst the frenzy about buying products that are lead-free, non-toxic, bisphenol-A-free, made only by Oompa-Loompas (okay, I added that one in for effect), Sophie is as pure as the driven snow. She made her debut in 1961, made of natural rubber (phtalate-free) & non-toxic paint. Oh, and the creme de la creme is that she's made in France. How very shi-shi, n'est pas?

By the time I developed a serious crush on that gorgeous rubber giraffe, both my children had screamed & chewed their way through the worst of their teething. There was really no justifiable reason for me to bring Sophie home without prompting more than a few raised eyebrows.... So I've admired her from afar.

Today, I finally found a reason to use my MasterCard to bring Sophie into my life, if only for a brief moment. Sophie will bring my good friend's daughter endless hours of comfort and joy. I can't wait to give it to her! She'll love it! I love it! Hmmmm.... Maybe she'd get just as much comfort & enjoyment from a bottle of gripe water. I might have to reconsider gifting ma chere Sophie.