Cam I Am

I’m hoping that someone has a reasonable suggestion to help me out here..

I’m looking for a way to babyproof our gas fireplace.  I’ve looked around a little bit and found this KidCo Hearth Gate, but when the best price I found was $157 for the base kit, that’s a little out of my price range while I’m off work. 

So, does anyone have any ideas how I can keep my 11 month old away from it? (short of chaining her up <GRIN> ) 

Thanks!

A couple days ago, I left the house to go out, armed my alarm, and left..  I came home a couple hours later, disarmed it, and then proceeded to my dining room. 

Now, I live close to some train tracks (within 300 feet), so it’s common place for me to hear trains going by, even with the doors and windows closed..  But as I was setting down the bag from the grocery store on the table, I noticed that the train going by seemed a little louder today..

I had gone out, armed the alarm with the sliding patio door open.  This door has a wireless sensor on it..  But it appears that I left, and the alarm never detected that the door was open.  Alarmforce never contact my cell (like they claimed they would) to notify me of an alarm if there is no answer on their two-way voice technology….

Another reason that Alarmforce is a bunch of crap…

I’ve decided to devote a page to recalls. This can be found at (http://blog.eagleinbc.com/canadian-recall-list/).  As I’ve stated in a previous post “Getting Tired of Recalls“, I think that the recall situation is getting out of hand.

So, this is for recalls that I come across.  By no means is anyone to assume that this is a complete list.  Also, this will be mainly a Canadian List (But very often, Canadian/USA ones are the same).

If you have one to add, please feel free!  My main source will be from Health Canada, but I may use others as well..

Overall, I think that awareness is key.  The more sources that list the info, the more likely that it is that more people are going to  get the message.

Thanks!

Cam…

(Please note that this list is effective as of today, October 9, 2007.  I may refer back to older ones though)

I thought I’d leave a follow-up comment on AlarmForce.  A few weeks ago, I put a post up about my disatisfaction with how AlarmForce handled my back-up battery replacement.  The battery arrived, about three days after this post.  It was simple enough to replace, but I am now stuck with this dead battery that contains lead.  At some point, I’m sure that I’ll find a place to dispose of it.

Overall, I am not impressed with Alarmforce’s service or technology.  The system (at least in Canada), is a joke.  It’s a small box that plugs into the phone jack.  It isn’t integrated into the phone system to ensure that it has priority over the dial tone.  (I work for Shaw Cable. Part of my job entails hooking up phone service for customers; I know how alarm systems SHOULD be hooked up).  It’s very “mickey mouse” really.

In short, if you live in Canada at least, I would NOT recommend AlarmForce as an alarm company.  You can be sure that when my contract with them is up, I’ll be switching.

Since I seem to be on a bit of a rant this morning, I figure, why stop at toy recalls!

I have had an alarm system from AlarmForce for a couple years now.  Overall, I’m not very impressed with there alarm system.  They advertise a free alarm system, but there “free system” doesn’t include much, so you end up buying lots of add-ons to actually make it worth having an alarm from them.  Without getting into the technical details, I’ll just say

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I don’t know about you, but I’m getting pretty tired of seeing all of these toy and product recalls recently.  It seems that everytime that I turn on the news, another toy (which we more than likely have), has been recalled. Last night, one of our car seats have been recalled. 

What the hell is wrong with these manufacturers?  I know that they are all trying to save a buck to please their share holders, but at what expense?  I’m getting tempted to go through all the toys that we have for our kids, and throw out anything that says “Made in China”.  Quite honestly, I’m beginning to feel that anything manufacturered there is crap,

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MISSING:

 One cordless phone:  Silver in colour, answers to the name of “Handset 1″.  Handset 1 has been missing for 2 weeks, it is desparately missed by family members “Handset 2″ and “Handset 3″.

Please respond if you find it!

Here is a picture of the family member, Handset 3:

Today was one of those days that I wanted to go home early from work, but stuck it out..

 And it bit me in the ass..

 I finished work about 1-2 hours earlier than I usually do.  I had even called my wife and told her that I was on my way home.  Everything should be good, right?  NOPE!  On my way home, I realize that I am smelling the sweet smell of coolant.  I pull over, look, and determine that I have what appears to be a small leak, but I probably will make it back home to take it somewhere to get fixed.  I continue on my way until I reach a red light.  As SOON as I stopped, I see this guy jump out of his car, run up to my window and say, “I think that you must have blown a hose, because you are seriously leaking coolant!”  I say that I noticed, and then decide to pull over just as soon as I get through the intersection. 

 So, I pull over..  And I’m surprised that he pulls over behind me.  We both look under the hood, and my radiator is bone-dry.  At this point, I decide that I better not continue down the highway, break-down on the upcoming bridge, and become part of the traffic report. 

 So… I call work, explain what’s happened.  Now, keep in mind that I have to use my own vehicle for work.  Since I don’t know a reliable mechanic in Abottsford, my foreman arranges for a tow-truck and a place to take it.  He then arranges for me to have a company vehicle to go home in.  They’ve also arranged for me to use the company vehicle until my van is repaired, sometime tomorrow. 

First, I’m impressed that the Abbotsford office was willing to do so much for me, especially since I am out there temporarily from the Vancouver/Burnaby office.  I called looking for a number for a tow truck, and an idea of where to take it.  I have to say that they went above and beyond to make sure that I got home, and that I have the ability to continue to work tomorrow, until I have my vehicle back.   In Vancouver, I’d be SOL..  out the money for the repair and out the lost wages until I was able to return to work with a vehicle…

 So… the long and the short of it is..   if I listened to that little voice in my head saying to go home early, my van would still be in one piece!