Apparently, Tuesday was a bad day....

To whomever is in charge of the world:

I am generally a low maintenance kind of woman. But I am having a bad day. Do you think you could do something about the following 6 things before I get (even more) cranky?

1. People who use the self checkout line for a cart full of groceries. I get that you like to scan the groceries and pack them. But come on - when there are clerks with 1 person in line - and there are 6 people with two items each standing in the self check out line, do us all a favour and go to the clerk who will scan and bag your groceries in half the time - I promise everyone will be happier.

2. People who use the outside lane to sneak up and try and get in to the traffic line-up when the lane ends. If the lane ends because there is street parking or because 500 yards previously there was a sign indicating a move from two lanes to one, please don't try and pretend you didn't see it and then nose in in front of me. That's just rude.

3. Weathermen who predict that snow is going to come.....and then it doesn't. We live on a designated snow route, which means when snow comes, we can't park in front of our house for 72 hours or until the city says we can. I have to move my old car (not yet sold) to a side street for the duration. But then the snow doesn't come. Either be winter or don't - but I am tired of this fussing around. Just saying.

4. Why can't Starbucks have a "This line coffee only" line-up? I only want a cup of dark with room for cream. Having to wait for the person in front of me to order her double-double (wait, that's Tim Horton's) - her vanilla non-fat extra hot grande with double whip on it - and then pay with the debit card that she has forgotten the pin to, and then decide she also wants a muffin and spends 3 minutes debating the merits and calorie counts of the ones in the case? This just makes a caffeine low even worse than it is.

5. People who wish me Merry Christmas- it is November 29. Christmas is still 26 days away. Can we stop already??

6. Four-way stops - these are very popular here in Calgary - but it appears that many, many people have forgotten how to use them. Today, I was stopped - and then started to go when it was my turn, only to have a car turn left in front of me. The guy behind me rammed my car, because he "thought it was your turn to go" - it was, but someone else thought not.

If you could manage these things? It might make life a little brighter for everyone - or at least better for me - and that's what really counts, isn't it?

Thanking you in advance, I remain

Yours sincerely

Janet

An open letter to LuluLemon

Dear Chip Wilson and company

I am a 53 year woman - mother of 3, a 30 year plus runner and a recent marathoner. I am also 5 feet 9 inches tall and I weigh 185 pounds. I wear a size 14. I am not fat, I do not consider myself unfit and I have disposable income at my ready.

Imagine my dismay when I walked into your store on 4th Street in Calgary, in search of a running jacket and found no jackets larger than size 12. Upon enquiring with the young saleswoman, I was told that Lululemon does not carry anything above a size 12. To be more precise , she told me that Lululemon does not carry "large" sizes.

I actually do not think of myself as "large" (although that is often the size I go to in a store). I am, to use a well-worn euphemism, big-boned. But again, I emphasize that I am quite fit - I am currently in training for my second marathon ever, so I run 4 times a week, I lift weights twice a week and I practice yoga once a week. I have not put a pound on in at least 6 years (rather remarkable, given my love of red wine and the fact that I am currently weathering menopausal moments).

When I look at your web site, it tells me that your mission is in " Creating components for people to live longer, healthier, more fun lives" and that you aim your clothing "primarily at active women and men: individuals that work, play and share our vision of creating healthier, happier and more fun lives!" I don't see the asterisk anywhere that tells me *but only if you wear a size 12 or less*.

I acknowledge that you have choices in the market you target and the sizes you produce. But the message I took away from your store is that I don't belong there unless I fit into your definition of an active woman. I find it surprising in an era where the fashion industry has been criticized for using anorexic models, that a company that supports healthy living and active lifestyles seems to think that all that stops at a size 12.

When I cruise around your website, it feels like I should belong there. Your clothing designs, the fact that I can sort by "run" or "yoga", the fabrics that wick and don't hold smell - these all speak to me as a runner. But the sizing does not. So I will take my dollars down the road to a running store that understands that runners come in all shapes and sizes and can accommodate my request for a size 14.

Finally? I really wanted to find a jacket in your store. I like your story, I love your designs and I know from others' experiences that you make a quality product that works. It's just too bad that your sizing makes me feel like I don't fit.

And one last thing? The young woman who served me needs a little bit of work in customer service. Just saying....