The far reaching impacts of tragedy

In this last week, several Manitoba families have been devastated by three tragedies. The first was near Selkirk. A young woman was the victim of a drunk driver who hit her.  This car crash took her life just a little over a month after she was married. She did not live to see her first Christmas with her husband.

The second tragedy was near Steinbach. A father rushed back into his burning home to save his 13 year old son. While his wife and three other children had made it out safely, the father went back in. The father lost his life while the teenager remains in critical condition. The mother and young children were physically unharmed, though they remain in shock and in a state of crisis and homelessness.

The third tragedy, another horrific car crash. This one on a snowy road, near the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border. A car, attempting to pass another, went head on into a vehicle carrying a family of 6 home from a child's sporting competition. The mother and father were killed on impact. Two of the children escaped with minor injuries, the other two are in critical condition in hospital. A 5th son, a 19 year old man, was not travelling with the rest of the family. He vows to care for and raise his siblings.

The only common element is the incredible sorrow and devastation to the families and their friends and loved ones. As nothing more than a fellow Manitoban, and media witness to the tragedies, I can honestly tell you I have a heavy heart. As a mother, the pain I feel for these families is real. Though there is nothing I can really do for anyone, but keep them in my thoughts and prayers and be ever mindful and vigilant in the protection of my own family.

I have hugged my children more this week than they are used to. I've professed my love for them and given my vow to treasure and protect them to the very best of my ability. Some things are beyond control. Some tragedies immeasurable.

Great Inventions

When I say great inventions, I"m not talking about electricity or the dual flush toilet, I'm talking about just the simple little things that make a mom's job easier.

Shall we start with the little cone-shaped "thingys" that sit over your floor vent and dry your mittens? I mean it's just fabulous! In the winter, your kids are coming in the house constantly with wet mitts and boots and hats. Each of these items, can be placed on the "cone-like wire vent topper" and then a short time later, they're dry and good to go again. Now that's a great little thing - even if I don't know it's actual name. I believe it was super cheap to buy, and it hasn't cost me one nickel in batteries, or maintenance plans, or repairs since. It's just some plastic coated wire, bent around in a clever way and built in the size of a floor vent. So simple.... so handy. 

Then what about the little storage containers that you use for leftovers, but all sizes use the same universal lid. Yes! Finally, any lid fits the damn container. Seriously... it's a good thing! Now the cupboard doesn't look like a Tupperware (pardon the brand name reference) explosion. Nothing repelled husbands or children more from packaging or saving leftovers like having to sort through a 200 piece puzzle to find the right lid.  Now, anyone can do it. And you should do it. Reduce, reuse, recycle you know!

Now another little invention that I have a love-hate relationship with is the "Magic Eraser." Those little formaldehyde sponges scare me. But they WORK!! They will clean anything nasty, old, moldy or scuffed. So they really do the job, but even the spelling of the word formaldehyde takes a scientist to put together. So hopefully, the scientist who put this formula together knew what he/she was doing. I just wear gloves, and breath in the other direction, and scrub vigorously. And it works, clean & good as new. I even scrubbed 2 years of puck-stopping off my son's goalie pads. 

In organizing things around the house, I'm in love with the label maker. Want to teach your 8 year old boy where his clean socks can be found? Label the drawer. He can read. Sock isn't a difficult word. And now, labelled, he has no reason to holler  "where are my socks?" at mom every morning. Another of life's great difficulties solved... with a clever little invention. 

Planes, trains and automobiles

When was the last time you took a trip? What was your last great adventure?
A little adventure feeds the soul. There's a trip in every budget, and a budget in every trip. But I have to say the greatest trip I've ever taken was to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. That place defines 5 star! There is something to do for every age. And while this resort can be pricy... you can be a high roller or you can be "Sally Super Saver" and still enjoy yourself thoroughly. For the record,  I fall much closer to the Sally lifestyle.
First step to a grand vacation on a budget is to do your research. Plan your dream destination around the travel you have access to. Where does your local airline fly to? Are there train specials? Scour the web for your transportation link. Subscribe to their newsletter. Watch for their sales. Watch their prices weekly to learn their sales and patterns.
Next, research your destination. What is their low season? If your destination is Disney... there are many sites that give their average park attendance in any given week of the year or specific holiday. Remember, the busier it is, the more you will pay to be there, and the less attention staff will have to spend on you.  So, if you're looking for the bargain try to travel when others are staying at home. However, and this is a very important note *** make sure you research and see if there are any specific reasons it is a low season. For example, is it hurricane season?  The rainy season? A cultural or national holiday in the area you are travelling to?  
Once you have your destination and time of year and budget in mind, wait until the offers and specials start dropping into your inbox, and they will.  A little patience will pay off.
In an effort to draw tourists this summer, Atlantis hosted a number of big, no, HUGE named concerts. They hosted Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry within 2 months I believe. Yes, each played a concert for hotel guests in a ballroom that held 500 or so guests. Seriously.  We saw Katy Perry. It was amazing!!
In future blogs I'll offer up some of my other favourite bargain tips, but lets just say that my kids had the trip of a lifetime and never even noticed that they were eating granola bars, crackers and snacks that'd I'd brought from home, in between their restaurant meals. I'm sure the money I saved on snacks paid for our concert tickets.
Train travel also has some unbelievable bargains. The VIA.ca website updates their last minute discount trips every thursday. While it may be 2 weeks notice or less, the savings can be 75%.  Grab the kids and go! Play cards and checkers and see the country from a whole new perspective. It's a real adventure.
Travel can bring many rewards. The kids and I made so many memories. We talk and laugh and look at the pictures often.

National Pride

Canada is a pretty amazing country. Count yourself blessed if you've been able to see it from coast to coast. Recently, I took a trip to Montreal Quebec. It was a homecoming of sorts. For me, it all started in Quebec. The daughter of an air force pilot, my family had been stationed in many difference cities & provinces. I just happened to arrive on the scene in Quebec.

So here I was, an adult, back in my home province. Though attending a conference, there was a little bit of time to explore. Montreal has an absolutely amazing series of tunnels. It's an underground city. You can literally visit thousands of shops and restaurants below ground. It does take a bit to get used to and like the prairie girl I am, felt the need to 'pop up' to the surface every now and again to see daylight and get oriented on exactly where I was.

As a hockey lover, I had a very important event planned and had been looking forward to it all week. It was, to be, the absolute highlight of the trip. The Montreal Canadiens were playing the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Center.  The game itself was pretty 'beige". A 3-2 loss for the Canadiens. But, I will have to say that I enjoyed cheering for the Canadiens, wearing their hockey colours and experiencing hockey in this historic place.

Though, the moment engraved in my brain absolutely has to be the singing of the National Anthem.
So there we were, wearing our hockey colours, standing among 20, 000 hockey fans when the anthem started. The next thing I knew we (myself included) were belting out 'O Canada", the bilingual version. I had goosebumps. 20,000 hockey fans, filled with Canadian pride putting their heart and lungs into our song. I'll never forget it. There, at the centre of Canadian hockey history, a swelling of National pride that I could feel.  Such a good feeling.

Halloween

Ah, another hectic event in the books. My boys had a wonderful time, but most certainly the best part was the participation of their grandparents.

For the first time in over 25 years my father had duties on Halloween night. The apartment he lived in since he and my mother divorced never did permit Trick or Treating. So the last time he participated in Halloween was by escorting me, when I was a child.

This time, he bought the candy and handed it out himself, at his new house.

As a family we had a "pre-game" meal, then got the kids ready in their costumes.  Grandpa and (new) Grandma were both instrumental in getting the kids dressed, photographed and prepared for the fun. I really don't think I could have done it without them. It was a total team effort to co-ordinate 4 detailed costumes, the two kids and all the Halloween "stuff".

I'm going to cherish the photos we took tonight. They bridge the gap between the generations. No doubt in my mind that they reminded my dad of when I was a princess a long time ago...for they, for certain,  reminded ME of when I was a princess.