The Evening News

While watching the evening news last night I was struck by two stories in particular. Usually I just want to throw something through the screen after watching what broadcast news has to offer about the day's happenings. Instead I got thought-provoking and, well, a story about Wal-Mart which of course made me want to throw something through the television screen :)

• I saw this story on WHDH in Boston where apparently one elected official has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in a car with a child under the age of five or weighing less than 40 pounds. (The guidelines come from the child safety seat law where a child is required to be restrained in a car/booster seat until reaching the age of five and 40 pounds.) First time offenders would be fined $25, while repeat offenders would be fined $100 for each subsequent violation. Apparently about 12 others states are also considering similar legislation including fellow New Englanders CT and RI. Maine already has a law in place that fines drivers $50 if caught smoking in a car with anyone under the age of 18 in it. What do you think?


• The second story involved a young mother, Cindy Jaeger, who is the wife of an Army serviceman and a former Wal-Mart employee. (It was one of those "shorts" so I can't find any kind of article about it on WHDH's website, but of all the network Boston stations, my opinion is that WHDH is the most reliable so I'm going with what they said in their report.) According to Jaeger, when she applied for a job at Wal-Mart (it just pains me to even type their name btw! And now they want to put a supercenter within a few miles of my precious new home ... YUCK!!) she informed them that she would need weekends off and possibly extended leave if her husband were deployed to Iraq. Apparently that wasn't a problem and she was hired. Well, Jaeger's husband was recently deployed to Iraq and she went back to her supervisor and asked for one month of unpaid leave so that she could work out day care arrangements and other adjustments that would be needed now that she would be the sole parent, caretaker of the house, etc. 24/7. A big adjustment I think we'd all agree. Well, Wal-Mart said "no" and told her that if she didn't come to work then obviously, she'd be fired. Jaeger is now a former employee of Wal-Mart. So I was thinking. I wonder how much money Wal-Mart has made off of those magnetic yellow ribbons that say "Support Our Troops?" Apparently, supporting our servicemen and women doesn't include the family they leave behind to fight in a war that's being sold as necessary to protect the safety and freedom of everyone here in the U.S. including the management of Wal-Mart. Must you ask me again why I loathe this bottom-feeder-like corporate leech?

Big Brother or Strictly Safety?

I'm blogging over at The Soccer Mom Vote today, so click on over and check me out!!

Have a great Monday!!

Day Five: Winding Roads, Christmas Tunes & Sweet Smelling Soap

Another day into December, another day checked off on the countdown to Christmas and another day of gratitude.

Today I am grateful for my friends - two wonderful ladies in particular who I met through my husband, before he was my husband and we were dating. They're both moms, they're both beautiful people inside and out and, as luck would have it, our kids get along great too :)

So I took a long, peaceful drive up north - an hour in duration - while listening to the all Christmas music all the time station and my four year old's interpretation of said music's lyrics, my two year old sleeping peacefully in the back, watching the snow flurries blow over my windshield - never settling on it; just brushing it like a feather ever so slightly only to be carried away by the wind. It was a truly relaxing activity.

And of course the real fun began when we arrived at our destination. There were seven, count 'em SEVEN, kids running around and when I say running - I mean running and jumping off of furniture and knocking one another over, so one mommy cleverly suggested we brave the cold temperatures outside and let the animals, er children, roam free.

Getting bundled up to go outside was another experience, that while taxing, was humorous as well. Boots wouldn't go on straight. Thumbs were lost in mittens. Winter hats missing. I believe my hostess could accurately be quoted as having said, "This is worse than putting on sunscreen." But once we made it out into the cold and the sun our charges were free to release their pent up energy, scream, yell, chase, climb - nothing was off limits.

When we all got too cold to stay outside any longer, the moms popped in a video and shared good conversation in between toy disputes, falls and reminders about using "inside voices." And if the conversations we have are any indication, it will be the moms of the world who solve the problems of the world.

So that was my afternoon. It was wonderful in its simplicity. And in case you're wondering about the title - I am also grateful for the sweet smelling soap that Shannon always has in her bathroom. My hands still smell like strawberries and that makes me smile, too.