Seattle Marathon

Greetings from the sweat shop of Safe Ride News! (Photo of our work table)

I just left the office feeling like I'd run a Marathon.  I call our bi-annual race to finish the LATCH Manual  my "Seattle Marathon" (the real one was run just last weekend).  We found the race course had an unexpected, steep up-hill grade in the last mile -- a tether-related recall from GM and a proposed rulemaking notice from NHTSA that just might someday have an impact on LATCH anchor weights, both announced just a week ago.  We managed to make it to the finish line with a last-minute surge of extra energy fueled by lattes from the nearest independent coffee shop.

I know Nancy, Denise, and the rest of our team, Linda, Nancy L, Katrina, as well as Steven, Sally, and Molly (our mas-cat) are equally tired and happy that the manual is now headed for the printer, right on time.  I hand-carry it down there first thing in the morning, December 1.

The exhilaration hasn't quite hit me yet—probably tomorrow.  Tonight, I'm just content to curl up with a book (fiction)  and some herb tea.  I doubt I'll stay up very late.

Hoping you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and that you will enjoy the coming holiday season.

Stay tuned -- you blog readers will be the very first to learn the new color, when the first shipment of books reaches us in a few weeks.

Deborah

P.S. The photo contains a hint about the color!

Visions of Sugar Plums — Deborah Stewart

No, the manual isn’t candy-striped—keep guessing!  Ever since spring, all of us at Safe Ride News… have been thinking ‘way ahead to December.  (I feel almost like a toy manufacturer's gnome, always working at least two seasons ahead.) Our team—now 5 people—began gearing up for the 2011 LATCH Manual back in April. 

The writing of three detailed questionnaires—for vehicles, CRs, school bus seating and CSRS—led up to the summer research period.  I’m always delighted that our manufacturer contacts are all so willing to fill these out in detail, despite the challenges they have getting their own new products ready for September roll-outs.  This shows their dedication to keeping kids safe.

Editing the chapters, several of which had major makeovers this time around, is always an adventure, particularly as new product information reveals itself during the research phase.  I’m constantly learning, especially as I rethink our presentation of advances in the field.  And now that we can analyze all the responses, there are some interesting trends!!!

So, while we taste the sugar plums yet, we are doing more than just dreaming of getting the best LATCH Manual ever to press on time. We are on track to hand it over to the printer December first so we will be able to dream of something other than LATCH connectors and weight limits—maybe a ride on the Polar Express.