Balcony Babe Blog

this week

2009-10-06T17:33:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I spent my time on the spin bike.
Today I ran 5 k on the treadmill.
Feeling pretty good.

Home gym

2009-10-05T22:35:00.001-04:00

I made progress on setting up my home gym this past weekend. The laundry drying rack has been removed and I have put all the exercise gear that I own into the little room. Up until now the weights have been sitting in my entrance hall closet downstairs, but I finally unpacked them from the cardboard boxes and moved them upstairs where they should be. The little portable DVD player works well - it is not Bose quality but will do the job adequately.

Now all that I need to do is take an hour each night to do my workouts. lol

Good week

2009-10-01T22:20:00.001-04:00

This week has been a good one.
Monday - elliptical
Tuesday - spin cycle
Wednesday - spin cycle again
Thursday - treadmill - 5 km
Friday - gear is packed. I'll decide tomorrow.

Recovery week

2009-09-27T12:38:00.002-04:00

I was quite sore after running the half marathon last Sunday. To recover I spent the week doing active recovery - very gentle exercises that worked the muscles but didn't put pressure on the joints. Monday I used the eliptical, Tuesday and Wednesday the spin bike, Thursday the stair stepper on a gentle setting. Friday I was in a training session in the morning so skipped PT. The pain has disappeared and I am ready to continue my workouts next week.
BB

Army Run 2009

2009-09-20T14:55:00.002-04:00

2:22:25.5  6:45 2:18:13.7 1235/1924  405/619  Women 40 - 49 

I ran the Canada Army Run 1/2 marathon today.  The race was a lot of fun and there were a lot more
people than last year.  The weather was sunny and warm, but not too hot.  As you can see from the times
shown above, it took me four minutes to get to the start line once the gun went off - that indicates how
many people there were doing the race.

Afterwards, my friend and I went for a big and tasty pasta lunch.  Very nice end to the race.

We're both signing up again next year.  You are all invited to join us.
Cheers
BB

End of week update

2009-09-19T10:45:00.001-04:00

Wednesday - no PT because I was in a briefing all morning and much of the afternoon.
Thursday - spin cycle again. I loved the workout
Friday - no PT because of a huge work project that got dumped in my lap

This weekend is the Canada Army Run. I picked up my race package yesterday after work and am ready to go. Have shoe chip, have T shirt, have race bib with my name on it. It's sunny today and hopefully it will stay that way until tomorrow so that the race will be a good one.

cycling

2009-09-15T22:00:00.000-04:00

Spin cycle, an ipod and lots of energy. what a great workout. I felt like going on forever and only stopped because I had to go back to work.

14 Sept

2009-09-14T16:08:00.003-04:00

The women's locker room was locked today when I went down to change. The cleaners were having some kind of "special cleaning" session, hmmmm. Anyway, I changed in the bathroom at the other end of the hall and took it on faith that the shower room would be open when I finished my workout. Luckily it was.

Ran 5 km, 29:15 minutes. My time is still slow, but will improve as I continue my workouts. It felt good to run today.

Sore today

2009-09-12T11:18:00.003-04:00

I'm sore today after getting back to the gym. It's a good kind of sore though and I'm looking forward to working out next week. For the rest of the day I'm going to walk around and use active recovery to stretch out the muscles.

Pain day

2009-09-11T15:06:00.001-04:00

I did a bunch of lunges, squats, ab exercises, some seated rows and bench presses today. This is the first week back so I took it easy but the muscles are complaining. It feels good though.

Fitness wagon

2009-09-10T17:01:00.002-04:00

Babe is back on the fitness wagon. I finally carved some time out of my work day to go to the gym. My arrangement is that my supervisor goes first thing, and I go at 9 AM which is perfect because the gym and shower rooms are almost empty at that time. No one else in my section goes for PT. They are allowed time but they don't want to. They don't take breaks either and I don't mind eating lunch at my desk and skipping breaks, but I do want to get some exercise each day so I'm taking a fitness hour every morning.

I'm definitely suffering from a summer of laziness but it won't take long to get back in shape. By the end of August I had already lost the five extra pounds that I was carrying around since the spring and soon I will feel an energy boost from regular exercise.

Tuesday - treadmill 30 min - forgot shower shoes but showered anyway

Wednesday - treadmill 30 min - incline program - remembered shower shoes, forgot towel, used paper towel

Today - light weights, squats and abs - remembered everything and had a good workout plus a good shower

I ran into my old boss in the gym- as in I worked for him in Comox, not that he is old, although he IS OLD, but I digress. We chatted for a bit and he told me how fabulous his career is and how much he likes his job. He didn't crack a smile though so I think he was lying to himself a little bit. I just smiled and wished him well.

Can't wait for tomorrow. I already have my PT gear packed and am ready to go.

New Blog

2009-08-08T09:17:00.001-04:00

The new blog seems to be working out better now that I have changed to a different style. It isn't as pretty as the black style, but it is a lot easier to read and I am having an easier time editing it.

Thanks for your comments. Please keep them coming.
BB

Blog change

2009-08-04T21:33:00.002-04:00

I am experimenting with a change to my blog. I have moved the Ottawa posts to wordpress and am going to work on the format and functionality. Please visit and let me know what you think. (Both good and bad feedback is appreciated)

http://balconybabe.wordpress.com/

La Maison du Velo - Gift for Cycling Potato

2009-08-04T20:17:00.004-04:00

The direction sign is ambiguous so I hope you have success studying your route book. lol
BB

Voyageurs Pathway to Lac Leamy

2009-08-04T20:02:00.006-04:00

The Voyageurs Pathway is a beautiful and very well traveled route that winds its way along the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. The path is paved and is very busy throughout the day. You can find some amazing views of the Capital, such as this photo of the Parliament buildings. The night views must be spectacular - definitely on my list of things to see.

Parts of the route were scenic, as can be seen in this photo of the boardwalk that comprises one section of the trail. Other parts are not pretty and wind their way through scrub grass fields bordered by ugly buildings.

I followed the path from the center of town out to Lac Leamy. The Lac Leamy park ends at a sad little beach on a tiny lake. Its only redeeming feature is a convenience stand that sells ice cream and other treats. Oh, it also boasts some beach volleyball courts. Lac Leamy is not worth the trip unless you have already visisted ALL the other sites in the National Capital Region.

A River of Many Stories

2009-08-04T19:49:00.004-04:00

The Ottawa River has a long history and there are many story boards in Gatineau that recount its history. As you can see from the photo, the river has a much different use today.

I will transpose two out of the many stories that are located along the Voyageur Pathway in Gatineau.

Loggers and Drivers
The Ottawa Valley has known many heroes and legendary figures who have helped to characterize and define Canadian culture and identity.

At the height of the Canadian logging industry, the Ottawa river and its tributaries became prime locations for loggers and log drivers. Among these men several stand out.

Joseph Montferrand (1802 - 1864) known in English folklore as "Big Joe Mufferaw". A physically huge and imposing man, Joe Montferrand amazed his fellow loggers and was a prominent figure in the logging camps of the Ottawa Valley. His great strength, ingenuity and courage made him an exceptional logger and log driver. He was also daring enough to drive the famous log rafts over the turbulent waters of the Ottawa River and its tributaries.

Coureurs de Bois
For centuries the Ottawa River was used as an access route for the voyageurs and explorers en route to the mythical west.

In the 17th century some of the boldest Europeans discovered new places and encountered the aboriginal peoples who lived there.

Etienne Brule
Born in France in the late 16th century, Etienne Brule was the original coureur de bois. He arrived in Canada with Samuel de Champlain, who sent him into Huronia to establish contacts with the Aboriginal peoples. The Ottawa River became his primary route. Brule successfully accomplished his mission; he made friends with the huron, learning their language and adopting their way of life.

People - Join the Crowd

2009-08-04T19:41:00.002-04:00

Montreal artist Louis Archambault created PEOPLE, a grouping of abstract figures, for the Canadian pavilion at Expo 67. Archambault designed the sculpture on a scale that invites visitors to move among the characters and interact with each one. All of the figures share a simple, elongated appearance, but are distinct in their light hearted combination of human, bird, flower and animal imagery.

Location: Voyageur Pathway, Gatineau

Malak Karsh Dedication

2009-08-04T19:36:00.002-04:00

This flower bed was planted in recognition of Malak Karsh 1915 - 2001. The artistic promotion of Canada by this photographer of international renown will be his enduring legacy.

Dedicated Nov 1, 2001
Location: Voyageur Pathway, Gatineau

Commentary

2009-08-04T19:31:00.004-04:00

Commentary Phyllis Kurtz Fine Ontario 1978

This dynamic sculpture, over 4 metres (14 feet) tall is made of a self-weathering, rust-limiting, alloy steel. About this work the artist said, "I am fascinated with the boundless energy of light and the infinite range of shadow"

This sculpture was donated by the artist's husband after her death in 1979.
Location: Voyageur Pathway, Gatineau

The Ottawa Carbide Mill

2009-08-04T19:23:00.004-04:00

The ruins of the Ottawa Carbide Mill are just a lonely echo of the 19th century when Victoria Island was bustling with industry. The mill is also a monument to the brilliance of a Canadian inventor, Thomas "Carbide" Willson.

In a short lifetime, Willson registered over 60 patents for inventions ranging from arc lights to a revolutionary fertilizer - superphosphate.

In 1892 he discovered how to make acetylene gas from merging of calcium carbide and water. He also found that acetylene, when mixed with oxygen, could power torches strong enough to cut through steel and illuminate buoys that were visible for miles at sea.

Dancers

2009-08-04T19:21:00.001-04:00

Details unknown. Location Wellington St.

12 Points

2009-08-04T19:17:00.004-04:00

12 Points in a Classical Balance
Chung Hung - 1982
The artist created this sculpture from Western red cedar and described it as a "sine curve" - a line whose end joins the beginning to form a loop.

Location: below the Garden of the Provinces and Territories

Garden of the Provinces and Territories

2009-08-04T19:11:00.003-04:00

These are two water features that reside in the Garden of the Provinces and Territories. Beautiful places to sit for a while.

Garden of the Provinces and Territories

2009-08-04T19:04:00.005-04:00

Each province has a plaque commemorating the provincial flower in the Garden of the Provinces and Territories. The garden has some lovely spots to sit and contemplate. There are also lovely flower gardens, and two stunning water features. This place is a must see, if you have time when you are visiting Ottawa.

I hope that the Albertans take note that their flower is the "Prickly Rose" and not the "Wild Rose". Perhaps new vehicle license plates are in order.......

Location: in front of St Peter's Lutheran Church at 400 Sparks St.

Library and Archives Canada

2009-08-04T18:58:00.004-04:00

"of all national assets, archives are the most precious: they are the gift of one generation to another and the extent of our care of them marks the extent of our civilization"

The Canadian Archives and its Activities
Arthur G. Doughty

This statue of Arthur George Doughty, 1904-1935, Dominion Archivist is located behind the Library and Archives Canada Building at 395 Wellington St.

Supreme Court of Canada

2009-08-04T18:50:00.003-04:00

The Supreme Court of Canada is located on Confederation Blvd (aka Wellington St)
The institution was created in 1875 by an Act of Parliament and is Canada's highest court. It is the final general court of appeal, the last judicial resort for all litigants, whether individuals or governments. It hears appeals from courts of appeal of the provinces and territories, as well as from the Federal Court of Appeal. In addition, the court is required to give its opinion on any question referred to it by the Governor in Council.

The building is 1930's art deco style which drew on ancient forms of Greek and Roman architecture, but simplified them.

This statue of Louis St. Laurant is situated on the lawn in front of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Guards Company of Sharp-Shooters

2009-08-04T18:45:00.003-04:00

Erected by the Citizens of Ottawa to the memory of Wm. B. Osgoode and John Rogers, of the Guards Company of Sharp-Shooters who fell in action at Cutknife Hill on the Second of May 1885.

Location: Armory - QE Drive

I will read the plaque so you don't have to

2009-08-03T20:22:00.004-04:00

plaque
Spelled Pronunciation [plak]
–noun
1. a thin, flat plate or tablet of metal, porcelain, etc., intended for ornament, as on a wall, or set in a piece of furniture.
2. an inscribed commemorative tablet, usually of metal placed on a building, monument, or the like.

When a visitor comes to Ottawa they are likely to have limited time and will want to see the major attractions: Parliament, the Canal, the Babe (Balcony type, of course). Since there are other little tidbits that are interesting, but not necessarily interesting enough to visit, I will make some short blog posts about them for your reading pleasure.

This LONG series of posts was generated by a very interesting bike ride that I did today along Sussex drive and the Rockcliffe Parkway in Ottawa. I enjoyed the scenery immensely and stopped at some of the cool sights that I encountered.

The commentary that accompanies each post was taken from the material provided at the site, along with my own observations. Since this tour is meant to represent the human interaction with the city (ie: me biking around and sharing with you), no effort has been made to fact check or compare the information at each site with any info available on the internet or in libraries. You may judge for yourself whether the commentary is accurate or not.

In fact, I am prone to mistakes and will admit them right now. Last week I told CP that the Prime Minister's residence was ranch style. I discovered today that I was looking at the wrong house and apparently he lives in a huge mansion.

If you would like a close up view of any of these photos, click ONCE on the picture and it will magically grow to fill your screen. To return to the main blog page just click once on the back arrow in your browser.

I did not attempt to write these posts in a style that generates much discussion. Please don't let that stop you, however. If you would like to share info that amplifies or illuminates the blog posts, please write as long a commentary as you like. In fact - post many commentaries. Also, if you know of a site that I should visit, please drop me a line and I'll add it to the itinerary of a future trip. Thanks.
BB

National Research Council of Canada

2009-08-03T20:08:00.004-04:00

This building is located at 100 Sussex Dr and despite the construction blocking the front entrance, I was interested enough to stop and investigate. The exhibit outside the building was informative. It stated that the National Research Council of Canada was founded in 1916 as an advisor to government. Since then the NRC has generated an impressive record of scientific and industrial support. The NRC has spawned numerous laboratories and service points,locally and nationally - including Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd and the Canadian Space Agency.

The Sussex Dr. laboratory (shown in the photo) was named the "Temple of Science" when it opened in 1932. The neo-classical design is a tribute to the 18th century, when the foundations of modern science were laid.

Among many achievements, the NRC's engagement in these scientific areas interested me the most:

* National Building Code of Canada, National Energy Code, National Fire Code, National Plumbing Code & National Farm Building Code. -> These codes ensure the safety and integrity of Canada's Built Environment.

* Canola - 1950's crop researchers and scientists worked to reduce Canada's reliance on wheat. They transformed rapeseed (non-edible) into an edible oil called Canola (Canadian oil low acid)

* Olympic Gold - NRC scientists fine tune athletic gear and performance. NRC wind tunnels have been used to assess the aerodynamics of sports equipment - such as cycles, sleds, helmets & suits - and the positioning of athlete's shoulders and legs.

Ottawa River Pathway

2009-08-03T19:54:00.003-04:00

The Ottawa River Pathway is a 31 km bike path that follows the Ottawa River along Rockcliffe Pkwy. The path includes paved portions that lead to the Aviation Parkway as well as optional portions that are hardpack and are located just a few feet from the river. There are a lot of people enjoying the path, fishermen, walkers, dog owners, children owners (I mean parents) and of course cyclists. The river is used by a large variety of watercraft and there are actually quite a few boat ramps along the way. The start of the pathway is a cute little ornamental monument. It includes the remnants of train tracks, planted with bricks and grasses which are placed in such a way as to lead the viewer's eye towards a Charlie Brown tree. Quite lopsided, but cute none-the-less. The far end of the path lands you in a subdivision - Orleans to be exact.

The route goes through Greenbelt land and I stopped by some of the plaques to take down this information...

National Capital Greenbelt. 20,000 hectare bank of farms, forests, wetlands, research establishments and open spaces. It is managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC). Around 5,000 hectares is farmland - preserved as a reminder of our farming heritage and dependence on agriculture.

These lands are leased to some 60 farmers who produce a wide variety of agricultural products - including strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins, apples, melons, beans, cucumbers, peppers, sweet corn, tomatoes and dairy products. Some are sold at the farm directly to the public. The most common crops you are likely to see along the Greenbelt Pathway are corn, soybeans and cereals; these "cash crops" are harvested for both on-farm and commercial uses.

Corn and soybeans are the most common crops grown in the Greenbelt. Because corn is a "heavy feeder", absorbing a lot of nutrients from the soil, it is usually rotated on a yearly basis with soybeans to reduce disease problems; improve the health of the soil and provide better yields. Soybeans help add nitrogen to the soil.

Rideau Hall

2009-08-03T19:45:00.003-04:00

Rideau Hall is the official residence of the Governor General of Canada. It is open to the public and offers guided tours daily from 1 - 4 pm in the summer. There is also an hourly changing of the guard ceremony that includes a piper and guards in ceremonial red uniforms. The grounds of the hall are beautiful and serene. They are laid out in a classical style and have nice features such as rose gardens, walking paths and a stunning water feature. Certain Canadian symbols are scattered about including a totem pole and an inukshuk. The grounds are also planted with many maple trees, most of which bear a small plaque at their base. For example, a moderate sized (and young) tree bears the plaque "Sugar Maple. Acer Saccharum. Planted by Nelson Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa, 1998". An older tree next to the first one bears this plaque "Sugar Maple. Acer Saccharum. Planted by International Year of the Child. 1979"

Thomas McKay 1792-1855

2009-08-03T19:39:00.002-04:00

Mr. McKay had a long and interesting life. He leaves Rideau Hall for the people of Canada, as well as many distinguished acts. You can read it all here on the plaque.

Reflection

2009-08-03T19:33:00.002-04:00

Monument to Canadian Aid Workers.
This monument honours Canadians' commitment to international development and humanitarian assistance and pays tribute to all Canadians' who gave their lives in pursuit of these values. The creation of the monument was inspired by Tim Stone and Nancy Malloy, two Canadian aid workers who were killed in 1996 while working abroad.

Located in Major's Hill Park, Sussex Dr.

Iznik Tiles

2009-08-03T19:22:00.007-04:00

The style of tile shown here dates back to the 16th century, and originates in the town of Iznik, a centre for ceramics in Turkey. Tiles such as these traditionally adorned Turkish architecture, and are representative of the cultural and artistic treasures of the Ottoman Empire. Tulips originated in Turkey, and were a common theme in Turkish art.
These tiles are a gift to the National Capital Commission, to the Tulip Capital of Canada and to all Canadians from the Iznik Foundation and the Turkish Embassy. Dedicated on May 8, 2002
Located on Sussex Dr, in Major's Hill Park.

Ubique

2009-08-03T19:17:00.005-04:00

A Nos Glorieux Morts
In glorious memory of the officers and men of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery who gave their lives in the service of Canada.

The photo shows the monument and a 25 Pr C MK II located in Major's Hill Park on Sussex Dr.

Mac-Paps

2009-08-03T19:10:00.002-04:00

Canadian Volunteers of the International Brigades, Spain, 1936 - 1939. 1546 Canadians served in the MacKenzie Papineau Battalion to "defend democracy against the rise of fascism in the 1930's." Many later went on to fight in World War II.

You can go proudly. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic example of democracy's solidarity and universality. We shall not forget you. And, when the olive tree of peace puts forth its leaves again, come back! ... All of you will find the love and gratitude of the whole Spanish people who now and in the future will cry out with all their hearts, 'Long live the heroes of the International Brigades.'

Dolores Ibarruri, "La Pasionaria"

This monument is located in Major's Hill Park on Sussex Dr.

Ottawa Memorial

2009-08-03T19:01:00.004-04:00

"Ottawa Memorial 1939 - 1945 In honoured memory of the men and women of the air forces of the British Commonwealth and Empire who gave their lives in Canada in the United States of America and in neighbouring lands and seas and who have no known grave."

Located in Major's Hill Park on Sussex Drive

111 Sussex Dr Sculpture

2009-08-03T18:57:00.002-04:00

This is one of two sculptures located outside the building at 111 Sussex Dr. I don't know who created the art but would like to share it with you.

111 Sussex Drive

2009-08-03T18:48:00.003-04:00

This building is located at 111 Sussex Dr.

The architecture makes use of elementary shapes such as pyramids and cubes. I loved it and am going to post a couple of pics.

The additional photo is of a children's play area located outside the building. I liked the humanity of the play area in the context of a building designed to be observed from a distance.

Saturday cook off

2009-08-02T18:13:00.003-04:00

Saturday morning we pried ourselves out of bed at the crack of dawn and made our way to the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Ottawa. We were privileged to sit in on a demonstration of Thai cooking from one of the chefs. I really enjoyed the demo since he talked about some ingredients that I haven't used before and told us how to prepare them. The chef demonstrated four recipes and then we all had a very small taste of each. All very good, but the soup was so exceptionally good that I am going to make it my life's work to master the recipe. Delicious!

Later in the day CP met a friend of his for a chat and I agreed to meet him in a nearby coffee shop. Much to my surprise, CP brought his friend to meet me and I was pleased to say hi.

CP and I then bought a few ingredients for a night of cooking. We tried two new recipes from my curry cookbook. There was much cooking followed by much reducing of liquid. Both recipes were a little on the HOT side, thanks to me, and a little undersalted. Otherwise, not bad. Which is good since I have leftovers in the fridge for the next few days. Actually a handy bottle of mango chutney helped A LOT.

After our busy day in the kitchen it was movie night at home and then bed.

This morning we again got up at the crack of dawn, or more accurately the crack of thunder. It was raining like stink, but we dodged the raindrops to do a bike ride along the canal and around Dow's Lake which is a man made lake in the center of Ottawa. Along the way we had the pleasure of seeing how the locks operate while we watched four boats move from the lake to a higher portion of the canal enroute to Kingston. It was very interesting to watch.

Being Sunday, we followed our bike ride up with a tasty Brunch. Delicious little savory entrees and the most amazing french toast I've ever eaten. It was made with artisan bread, likely coated with cinnamon egg mixture - light on the egg. Cooked to perfection and served with dried cherries, cashews and whipped cream. Divine. Anyone who comes to visit Ottawa will be treated to the same meal, courtesy of yours truly.

CP never runs out of energy

2009-07-31T17:45:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon picking up lumber supplies at Rona and then thought that we would make a *quick* trip to the Gatineau tourist information center to get cycling information. The quick trip wasn't so quick and we ended up driving north, south, east and west as well as many compass directions in between.

After successfully finding the tourist center aka the "?" center, we went away empty handed, except for one useful suggestion. The service person suggested that CP should purchase a specific book and she sent us to the local "gallerie" (mall) to find the book in the "librarie" (book store). After swinging by the Laura Secord store for milkshakes only to find out that they were out of milk, we went to the librarie to find out that they didn't have the book.

In desolation, we drove home over a bridge that has more patches on it that Grandmother's quilt. After parking the car in the garage and eating dinner, we set out on foot for ice cream. We made it to the Byward Market and successfully found "Le Book" in the market's french language book store. Then we had some terrific ice cream and headed for home.

On the way home, the sun was setting and the view was gorgeous so we stopped by Parliament to get a view over the Ottawa River to Gatineau. Then instead of heading home like sensible people, we sat down on bleachers and waited for the National Capital Commission's Light Show on Parliament. The people watching was much better than the light show, but we can tick off that one activity from our to do list. The light show is now on our never do again list, sad to say.

Following the show, an attack of the munchies hit us and we made our way to the bottom of Elgin street and ate Mexican food. Delicious! The sangria and cervecas were pretty good to. Home late, but satisfied with our evening.

Edith Piaf

2009-07-30T17:47:00.002-04:00

Today BB and CP attended a free noon hour concert near the Rideau Canal featuring a group from Sudbury who play and sing the songs of EP. It was wonderful, well presented, and we enjoyed every minute of it.

These two characters are also getting into some significant reno's in BB's kitchen so we found a RONA home centre and bought lumber. Tomorrow BB will lead the charge under the supervision of CP.

Comedy - Amateur Night

2009-07-29T23:47:00.003-04:00

Tonight CP and I went to a live comedy show at Yuk Yuk's. The show was amateur night and there were a variety of acts ranging from very good (funny) to first time on stage (not funny). Big shout out to the comedians who were brave enough to get up on stage and give it their best shot.

Getting into the club was a bit of an adventure. We walked from my house to the venue and stood in line. The line wasn't very long but it didn't move and as we stood there a lot of people walked past us and went inside. It was a little discouraging to find out that they had reservations. CP and I waited it out, however, and were given the last two seats in the house.

As the night went on we also discovered that a lot of the scruffy looking people who had entered the club were the talent. The audience dressed up but the comedians (mostly) didn't. It was good fun, though.

Cycling Potato

2009-07-28T19:09:00.002-04:00

Cycling Potato has arrived and we have spent a lot of time catching up and eating. I need to pace myself. Time for a nap, followed by a snack. lol

We have been having an ongoing discussion about the time and date. Specifically, today's time and date. I have been trying to convince him that today is really today but he insists that it is tomorrow and that we are in a different hour than we really are. I think we've come to an agreement about the situation and we are blaming the entire mess on his watch. Bad watch.

Distance Learning Courses

2009-07-26T21:02:00.002-04:00

The two courses that I registered in are due to start in a week. I have been diligently preparing for one of them by reading ahead and writing the first assignment.

The second course was a mystery to me since I received three text books and a reading file, but did not receive a study guide. I naively assumed that the professor was going to contact me prior to the course start date with information about the weekly schedule.

However, this evening I discovered that the university has a web page for the course and it lists a study guide, reading file and four text books as requirements for the course. Since I am missing two items I emailed the materials management department to try to obtain the resources. I am sure that they will be sent to me promptly but I am a little dismayed that I could have completed some of the course work ahead of time if I had known about the webpage.

This experience has been a good lesson for the future. Never assume anything and always search the web for answers instead of waiting for humans to supply them. (This education thing is working - I feel smarter already. lol)

National Arts Centre

2009-07-26T18:54:00.005-04:00

In the interests of trying out all that the city has to offer, I tagged along with a co-worker to see the play Grease at the National Arts Centre or "NAC" for short. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the music and the performance. The NAC sounds very "high brow" but I really enjoyed myself and it is only a few blocks from my home so I am tempted to go again to see future performances. There are some shows in the winter that look interesting. I'll keep you posted.

On a more "low brow" note, I saw the new Harry Potter movie with an old friend. The multiplex is quite a ways from my house but is easy to get to by car. I would hate to have to take the bus, however. As for the movie, not my favorite although not completely horrible either. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have read the book.

Sunday bike day - view of Quebec

2009-07-26T18:37:00.006-04:00

As I mentioned last week, Sunday mornings are when the cyclists take to the streets of Ottawa. This morning I tried a different route and followed Sussex drive to Rockcliffe Parkway. There are a lot of interesting places along Sussex and many of them have policemen guarding the gates. Along the route I took a picture from the top of one overpass looking down on the bridge to Quebec. Later in the trip I stopped along the Rockcliffe Parkway and snapped a quick photo of the Quebec side of the river. It was raining quite hard so I didn't spend too much time out. Maybe an hour at most. The route was beautiful, though, so I'll definitely be back on a sunny day.

Weekly update

2009-07-26T18:20:00.003-04:00

I failed in my plan to post daily updates about the moving in process. It was horrendous.

I rented a carpet cleaning machine on Tuesday and went through the process of moving all my furniture to one side of each room. Then I cleaned that half of the carpet and slept soundly all night. (Very tired) The next day I moved the furniture back to the "wet" side of each room and cleaned the other half. Again very tired.

Then I waited for the rooms to dry. What a nightmare! It has rained every day in Ottawa and the humidity outside is horrendous. I couldn't get the carpets to dry and the place was hot, humid and smelly. The first week here I purchased a little dehumidifier for the basement and have been running it in every room in the house since Wednesday. Every few hours I have to check it to empty the water bucket.

Then catastrophe .... the rain was so heavy that I had water leaking into the basement. Nothing was ruined but the drain is slightly higher than the level of the floor so I was mopping for hours. The dehumidifier is now back in the basement drying everything out.

The remainder of this week is vacation time and then I will resume the purge process and try to get rid of the rest of my unneeded belongings. That will ensure that the next carpet cleaning session will be easier. (In two or three years time - possibly longer.)

Relocation week

2009-07-20T11:08:00.003-04:00

This week is my relocation week. My employer has provided five days to complete my relocation process and "put my house in order". The list of tasks is very long and I have a lot of work to do but I am grateful to have the time to get everything accomplished.

Today's list includes:
1. Phone Bell customer service and complain about being overbilled - done. Spoke with a representative who gave me some crap excuses and then told me that he was working in the Phillipines

2. Make appointment to have furnace and water heater serviced - done. The tech will be here tomorrow

3. Insurance - send photos of the exterior of my condo to the insurance agent - done. BTW the exterior is clad in brick, stucko and siding. I wish them luck working out the percentages for the replacement cost estimate.

4. Change address with alumni association - done.

5. Register for cooking classes at le Cordon Bleu cooking school. I sent an application but am waiting to hear if there is space available in class. The two classes that I am interested in are 3 hour demo sessions. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get in.

6. Organize paperwork accumulated from the move. The moving company killed a few trees with all their checklists, etc. Most are going in the shred pile.

7. Submit a claim to the moving company for two items that were broken during the unpack process - done.

8. Change address at Dept of Motor Vehicles - done.

9. 17 fling boogie - fill a bag with things that can be tossed during garbage collection day tomorrow - pending.

The Rideau Canal and the Rideau River

2009-07-19T12:22:00.004-04:00

These two photos show the difference between the canal and the river, both of which run through Ottawa. The canal is a man made waterway which is flat and has controlled water flow. The river is a natural waterway which makes its way through the city parallel to the canal. These two photos were taken on the Sunday morning bike ride when Col By Drive was closed to traffic. The photo of the canal shows a stadium in the background. This pic is included for architectural interest.

Bike Day in Ottawa

2009-07-19T12:11:00.003-04:00

On Sunday mornings Ottawa closes some of the streets in order to let people bike and roller blade on the roads. It is a very well organized event. There are blockades to stop vehicles, and there are volunteers at the major crossings. They also have public service tents set up to adjust your helmet or your bike if you need help

The day was very busy and there were tons of people out. Lots of families were out as well as small groups of friends. The road was mostly flat along the canal and there was very little wind so it was easy going. I went from one end to the other and back in about an hour with a few stops for pics and water. Quite a nice way to start the day and a good reason to get up early on Sunday.

These are just a few pics showing people biking & skating on the road along the canal. The road that I went on was Col By Drive which is named after the engineer who was in charge of the project to build the canal. There are over 65 km of "trails" so I have a few more places to explore in the coming weeks.

Kijiji comes through again

2009-07-15T22:54:00.006-04:00

The purge continues...
The kayak was sold tonight thanks to an ad on Kijiji. I didn't get quite as much as I would have liked but it was nice to find a buyer and I'm sure she will really enjoy it. Now my garage has enough space to get the vehicle in and out safely so I can go explore the city a bit beyond my little neighbourhood.

Still selling stuff

2009-07-14T16:42:00.001-04:00

I sold a fridge to a buyer from Kijiji today. It was the one that came with the condo and was all moldy inside. I cleaned it up (as best as I could), advertised and made the sale. I have the cheque, now hopefully they come to pick it up soon before the mold comes back.

My own fridge is much nicer, and also much bigger. It's cleaner too.

First day of work

2009-07-13T18:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I survived the first day of work in the new job. The people are really nice and they were very welcoming.

The only stumbling block to success in this position is that I don't have the skill set needed to be really useful. They recognize that anyone put in this position will need training but it will be difficult since they don't have an internal training package or any outside courses lined up.

I think that I will have to spend a lot of personal time learning from free courses on the internet. It is not my preferred way to do things, since I am inherently lazy and do not like spending my personal time reading tech websites. Still, it has to be done, so I might as well do it in internet cafes around the city. I'll try out as many cafes as I can find and will give you a tourist summary of the best.

Cheers
BB

The new garden

2009-07-12T18:10:00.002-04:00

Here are some photos taken from the second floor looking down into my new back yard. There is just enough room for the hammock, a two seat bench for the barbecuers to sit down on while grilling and then some stairs up to the deck which has two lounge chairs and some potted plants. The final picture is looking up into the tree which is in the back.

Quick update... photos coming

2009-07-10T19:38:00.003-04:00

I'm going to spend my first night in my new home.

The previous two nights I was at a hotel but barely spent enough time there to shower and sleep a few hours.

The unload was dramatic. I was lucky because I had the best team of movers in all of Canada. Some of my stuff didn't fit into the new place and I was in despair but they offered useful suggestions and I got the tools out to make the house fit the furniture. (Basically, a railing had to be removed.)

Also, some of my furniture couldn't go up the second set of stairs so the movers had to go out the main floor patio door, up some patio stairs, in the deck patio door, through the living room and up the next set of stairs. It was torture on them but they did it with a smile. What a nice bunch of guys.

The total time was 10 hours of moving and fitting stuff into this small place. While the movers were wrestling my stuff in the door and up the stairs, I started unpacking the things that were not breakable. This was a necessity since the boxes were so bulky that there was no floor space left. All of the master bedroom things were unpacked and shoved any which way into a closet. The bed was made. All the books were unpacked and shoved onto bookshelves. Most of the sports gear was unpacked and shoved into a different closet. The tools and camping gear was unpacked and shoved into a basement crawl space. The patio and garage items were dumped out back on the patio. What a long day.

After the movers left I continued working until almost midnight to put furniture together and try to get ready for the unpack team this morning. The unpackers came and opened up the rest of the boxes. They put everything on the floor in each room and made sure that nothing important was damaged. Then they took away all the packing material. They left by lunch time today.

Then I made a quick trip to the closest grocery store and picked up a few things to tide me over. I had some food, a little sit down, quickly followed by a nap. (Did I mention that I was tired? lol) Then I sat outside for a bit and had a chance to meet some of the neighbours. They seem very nice and have some good suggestions for maintenance. My home inspector identified a problem with a local tree causing damage to my roof and suggested that I trim the branches and then repair the roof. Before I even had a chance to raise the issue, the neighbours told me that they want to get rid of three trees in the back and trim the offending one as well. That problem was easy to solve! I told them that I was ok with that and would talk with them about it again soon.

(For the record - there are some VERY mature trees here that we are not touching, just some baby ones that are growing at an angle to try to get around the leaf canopy of the big one so that they can get some sunlight. The little trees that are growing at an angle are damaging the house and they need to go. The big tree will still be there and it will still be big.)

Anyway, the worst is behind now and I am ready to put on a pot of coffee and move some more stuff around. By tomorrow morning this place should be ready for photos. Now if only I could find that camera.......

Busy week

2009-07-05T20:02:00.002-04:00

This coming week will be busy and I will be off-line for most of it. I'll get back in touch with you all by the weekend.
Hope you enjoy some summer weather.
BB

Prep for pack

2009-07-04T15:20:00.001-04:00

I reviewed the guidelines that the moving company gave me to make sure that I would be ready when they show up on Monday. Apparently my preparations are deficient in one area. The movers will not pack open bottles of alcohol ...... It's a shame to waste all those "ingredients" that I use to cook with. Might as well drink them then. lol

Day Lily

2009-07-04T10:57:00.002-04:00

Last week in Kingston

2009-07-04T10:50:00.002-04:00

Utilities

2009-07-03T09:16:00.006-04:00

Ottawa has a strange system for setting up utility accounts. I used the internet to set up services at the hydro and gas companies but couldn't find an application for the water/sewer/garbage services.

The City of Ottawa web page has contact information for the revenue department but no account setup service. When I phoned the revenue department, they informed me that my account had already been set up and my name was on the bill, effective on the purchase date.

I'm not sure who set this up for me (the lawyer, the sellers, ???) and now I'm wondering what else they signed me up for. Hopefully they set me up for a free cruise, kitchen makeover, choice of car or cash giveaway. Being signed up for free stuff would be much better than being signed up for utility bills.

Each area in Canada has a different set of criteria for setting up accounts. When I lived in the regional district in Comox I had to hire a private company to collect the garbage because the district didn't provide service. I didn't know this, however, until I saw the truck drive by and pick up all the neighbour's garbage while leaving mine at the end of the driveway.

When I moved to Kingston I set up an account with Utilities Kingston, not realizing that hydro and gas companies were separate entities. I found out my mistake when the gas was shut off and there was no hot water for two days. Luckily it was September so I didn't need a functioning furnace at the time.

Have any of you had difficulty setting up utility services during any of your moves?

Happy Canada Day

2009-07-01T06:56:00.002-04:00

Dear Canada,
Happy Birthday to you. I am going to tie a little Canada flag to the tree in front of my house in celebration.

Wishing you peace and freedom this year.
BB

Last day

2009-06-30T19:18:00.002-04:00

Today was my last official day of work at the old place of work. I still need to go in a few times to tie up some loose ends, but I won't be working there any more. I'm sad to say good bye to old friends but it is good to move forward and start again somewhere else.

The move process is becoming tiring and I'm looking forward to settling down in Ottawa. I have been busy organizing and down sizing so there are a ton of little decisions to make every day about what to keep and what to toss. There is also a mountain of stuff to sort through. Actually, mountain is misleading. I have a lot of empty space in my place and it isn't nearly full.

I think that the challenge has been examining how I really live my life and ignoring how I think I live my life. The reality is that it is time to ditch the paraphernalia associated with old hobbies and interests so that I can move forward with the current interests.

In the long run, it is better to let things go and move forward instead of carrying around old baggage. Simplify and enjoy what is left.

Weekend garden

2009-06-28T11:06:00.001-04:00

If you click on the top photo you can see a little bee doing what bees do best.

Garage Sale

2009-06-27T10:50:00.003-04:00

In the effort to purge my stuff I had a little garage sale today. My neighbour had one at the same time and we were both able to sell a bunch of things that are no longer useful to us. We had a deal, I posted garage sale signs in the area and the neighbour bought coffee. I think I won lol.

Anyway, I am now lighter of stuff and the remainder will go to the Sally Anns.

Downsizing is tough but I actually feel better now that I have fewer things taking up space. It was time to make some decisions about what kind of activities I am going to spend my time doing and let the rest of the things go. Bike riding in (thanks Dad) and weight lifting out. Painting in and needle point out. Blinds in drapery panels out. Hand made rugs from Afghanistan & Samarkand in, Home Depot and Ikea rugs out.

Don't worry, though. I still have tons of Ikea items in my house and I'm sure that I'll pick up more in Ottawa.

Summer is here

2009-06-25T19:38:00.002-04:00

It is super hot here which is great. Summer is here!!!!! I love not having cold feet any more. I also love having all the windows open and the breeze blowing through the house. I even love that I had to turn on the air conditioner the other day. Ahhh, the power of A/C. What a treat.

I had an unwelcome email today from my real estate agent. The person who bought my house wants to send in an appraiser tomorrow to evaluate the price. This seems like a red flag to me since she should have already had her financing confirmed, signed, sealed and guaranteed. I hope that there aren't any hiccups with this sale.

The appraisal could be a problem, if she hasn't already confirmed her financing. The distress sales on the street brought down the value of the appraisal that I had done on the house and I don't want her to get caught in the same trap. Here's hoping for the best tomorrow.

I'm busy at work tomorrow. We are doing parade practices for the change of command parade next week. Today and tomorrow we are wearing our regular combat uniform and comfy boots, but next week the dress uniforms come out. Bad, uncomfortable boots and itchy wool pants. Ugly wedge hat. I don't have any love for the dress uniform although I must admit that it looks good when we have it on with our whites and rifles during parade. Uncomfortable, but sharp looking. Tomorrow is supposed to be really hot so I'm going to spend the rest of the night drinking water and getting hydrated. Dehydration is the enemy.

Rabbit sighting

2009-06-23T17:08:00.002-04:00

I saw the little rabbit this morning. He has tripled in size but hasn't reached full growth yet. He hopped around the planting beds and nibbled on a few treats. Not enough to make him a pest, just a little cutie. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to get a picture. He is still very shy and runs at the slightest noise.

Kijiji shuffle

2009-06-21T17:24:00.000-04:00

I started posting items on Kijiji as part of the downsizing process that I need to go through to move from a house to a condo. Once I started pulling things out of closets and off shelves, I found items that I forgot I had. Since they haven't been used in just about forever I guess that it is time I sold them. Anyone for a set of roller blades?

Credit check

2009-06-20T09:30:00.002-04:00

Beware of what you ask for the next time you talk with your insurance company about changing your policy. I spoke with the company that I deal with about insuring the new home in Ottawa. Despite being claims free and being a loyal customer for years, they told me that I would have to undergo a credit check before they could insure the new property.

I had heard of this procedure going on in the USA but this is the first time that I have heard of it in Canada. I asked the insurance representative to explain how this relates to risk in a client profile. She didn't have an answer.

Apparently, if you have bad credit your rates are going to be higher. What this means is that the people who can least afford insurance pay the most.

Have any of you had a similar experience?

When insults had class

2009-06-19T16:49:00.003-04:00

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison."

He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease."

"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

"He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." - Moses Hadas

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.." - Oscar Wilde

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend.... if you have one." - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill.

"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." - Winston Churchill, in response.

"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." - Stephen Bishop

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright

"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." - Irvin S.Cobb

"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." - Samuel Johnson

"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." - Paul Keating

"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." - Charles, Count Talleyrand

"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." - Forrest Tucker

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" - Mark Twain

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." - Mae West

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." - Billy Wilder

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." - Groucho Marx

Movers

2009-06-18T17:02:00.002-04:00

I talked with the movers today and worked out the dates when they will pack my stuff and load it on the truck. Looking at the calendar I realized that I only have eight working days left at my old job and have a ton of things to do. This next week or so will be very busy.

Wonder where the time went.

TV free

2009-06-16T17:05:00.002-04:00

I am "TV free" now. I cancelled my TV subscription a month ago and it took effect today.

Interestingly, the "free TV" channels are still available on my satellite receiver so I still have TV shows to watch. The free TV is higher quality than the junk that I was watching before. I just finished watching a TV show on whales and am now watching a show on artist Alex Colville. The whale show made me wish that I was by the ocean right now, smelling the sea air and listening to the movement of the water.

It has been a long time since I have spent a long time without TV. I am excited about not having all those wasted hours hanging over my head. I have a bunch of books to read and some paintings to paint and some time to spend in the garden before the house is sold.

For lunch today I ate a large dish of strawberries that ripened in my garden. Divine.

New roof

2009-06-15T19:10:00.002-04:00

I met with a home inspector today to examine the Ottawa condo. Everything seems fine with the property except for the shingles. They are at the end of their life and need to be replaced. I saw that they were curling a bit the last time I was at the property, so this was not a surprise.

Otherwise, everything looks good and I'm moving forward to clear the other conditions.

The garden moose

2009-06-13T17:16:00.000-04:00

Hot and Cold Garden 4

2009-06-13T17:12:00.002-04:00

Hot and cold garden 3

2009-06-13T17:07:00.002-04:00

Canadian book publishing

2009-06-13T09:58:00.002-04:00

If you know of any budding authors who might like to publish a book in the near future, have a quick visit to the Trafford Publishing website. They offer a variety of packages and have marketing services available.

http://www.trafford.com/

Strawberry Forest

2009-06-11T18:46:00.003-04:00

I wish I could shrink myself to the size of an elf and run around in this strawberry patch.

The berries are delish!

Hot and Cold Garden 2

2009-06-11T18:43:00.001-04:00

Here are some of the HOT plants in my garden. Enjoy.

Hot and Cold Garden

2009-06-11T18:38:00.002-04:00

Here are some of the early blooming flowers in my garden. I'm so happy to see them that I go out every night and make the rounds of each plant just to enjoy the beauty.

Baby bunny under step

2009-06-11T18:36:00.002-04:00

Look closely, you might see the little baby bunny hiding under the step. It was hard to take this photo since the little fella is shy and runs away whenever he knows that I am there.

I bought a condo

2009-06-09T20:35:00.002-04:00

The real estate world moves quickly. Earlier today I submitted an offer to buy a condo and expected the sellers to counter. They did not. They accepted the offer and I am now the "almost" new owner of a condo. I still need to remove conditions - inspection, financing, lawyer, etc - but don't expect any surprises.

This is exciting. Only last Friday I was worried about having a house that I couldn't sell and not having any place to live at my destination. This takes a lot of the stress off and allows me to move forward and meet my obligations to my employer.

The new condo is a three story walk-up, row house style. It is on a very nice street and is only a few steps from the canal and about 10 minutes walk to work. The unit itself has lots of small rooms - enough for all my activities. I believe the correct description is pied-a-terre. Small city house.

When I started my house search my expectations were that I could find a lot more house for my money. I was disappointed to see that there were problems with all the properties in my price range. This meant that I had to make a lot of compromises - more than I had originally anticipated.

Luckily, I did not have to compromise on location. This is a highly sought after location so it will be great to live in and will hold resale value. The condo is in good condition so there are very few maintenance issues. It is also somewhat unique, unlike those offered for sale in the many high rises around.

Well, the next step is to meet all the requirements of the purchase agreement and arrange to move all my utilities, etc. Lots of work to do.
BB

Still condo hunting

2009-06-09T17:32:00.002-04:00

I did a second viewing on a condo in Ottawa today.

The first time I viewed it I had two concerns. The kitchen was WAY too small and the unit was too dark. After seeing it today both of these concerns have been laid to rest.

The rooms have a lot of pot lights and with some paint and the strategic use of lamps the condo will be bright enough. (I will have to buy more lamps but since shopping is my specialty this won't be hard). The kitchen can be moved to a different area on the same floor. The cupboards can be reused and the utilities can be run through the garage which is right underneath the floorspace. A couple of new countertops to fit the new layout and I'll be in business.

The location is better than the last place that I was interested in. Only a 10 minute walk to work and it is all through a safe neighbourhood.

I put in an offer today and hope to hear back tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

The wait is over

2009-06-06T17:51:00.002-04:00

My house has finally sold.

After a long drought, there were two offers today. Same price. One with conditions and one without. That was a no brainer. I took the offer without conditions and the house is officially sold.

My move date is 15 July. Now I can enjoy the house and the yard without having to leave all the time for showings and open houses. This is great.

Not sure what my next move will be. Probably into rental accommodations in Ottawa while I take my time searching for a place to buy. I'll be sad to leave but it had to happen sooner or later so might as well be sooner.

Take care.
BB

School days

2009-06-05T19:00:00.002-04:00

My application to take distance learning courses at Athabasca was finally processed. The result is that I was accepted back into University. I will be starting courses in a few weeks or a month using distance learning.

To celebrate I went out and bought beer. It's good to be a student again. lol

No house

2009-06-05T18:53:00.002-04:00

Here's a quick update. I (or I should say my real estate agent) negotiated for four days to buy a row house in Ottawa. It ended when I gave a firm and final offer to the seller. She said no and countered. I walked away. Then her agent verbally offered to meet me at my price. I said no.

The thought process is long, but here goes.....

The Ottawa market is undergoing a boom and the newspaper has reported that the boom is based on all the government jobs created to administer the fiscal stimulus package. Logically, in a few years the rest of Canada will be pulling out of the economic downturn and Ottawa will begin deficit cutting. This means that these new positions will likely disappear.

It seems to me that it would be a foolish idea to buy a home at the top end of a boom when there is a good chance that the boom will end about the time that I am posted elsewhere and have to sell my home. For this reason, I think that I will shop around some more and wait for a more reasonable home to come on the market. There are lots of row houses in Ottawa so I just need to bide my time until someone decides to sell.

It should be a tough decision but I'm actually glad that I have more time to look around for a house. When I do buy it will be on my terms, not on the sellers.

Still looking

2009-06-03T09:39:00.002-04:00

Still house hunting. Looking at more properties today and hoping for the best.

I'm keeping the dream alive of walking to work. The reality of the big city is making this dream seem unattainable but I'm not ready to give it up yet.

More to follow.

Wish I had my camera today

2009-05-12T19:58:00.002-04:00

I saw the funniest thing while I was driving home tonight. All the pavement was removed from one of the parade squares on base, except for two small patches left where two cars were parked. The owner of one vehicle was standing beside his car and I could tell that he didn't know how to get his car off the small patch of pavement and back to the street. If he doesn't figure it out, I'll take a picture of him tomorrow morning. lol

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T21:58:00.001-04:00

Hi Mom,
Happy Mother's Day
Love
BB

PS: The bran muffins and cheese were delicious.

Army run 2009

2009-05-02T10:23:00.000-04:00

I registered for the Army Run 2009 half marathon today. Yesterday I went for a run with the guys from work and found it very difficult. I haven't done any physical activity for the last two months since I was away from home and was busy with the academic work on the course that I was doing. I can't wait to get back in shape but the next few weeks are definitely going to hurt. Oh well, just have to take it one foot step at a time.

Now I am in my post-exercise recovery phase which means drinking coffee and sitting on my deck. lol

1 May

2009-05-01T12:35:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone. It is the first day of May and my boss let me take the afternoon off. My activity of choice is going to be drinking some Rickard's Red and BBQing a steak.
Cheers
Beers
BB

Hiya

2009-04-30T21:12:00.001-04:00

Home again after two long months away. I'll post again soon. Promise

Want to buy a house?

2009-04-10T10:45:00.002-04:00

My house is for sale. If you would like to check out the listing, you can check mls #9601976.
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=8123331

This is a tough market so I'm not sure how long it will take to sell. It doesn't help that my next door neighbour has listed her house for less money.

Oh well, if it doesn't sell, at least I'll have a nice place to live in on my vacations. And I'll be able to enjoy the yard and have lots of beer drinking/hammock time this summer.

Cheers
BB

Investing classroom

2009-02-03T18:02:00.003-05:00

If anyone is interested in learning more about investing, there are some great tutorials available at Morningstar. Here's the link:

http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/Classroom.html

Please let me know once you have finished all 172 of the courses so that I can call you up to ask for advice. I'm too lazy to do the courses myself. lol
BB

Budgeting

2009-01-27T20:14:00.002-05:00

This post is in response to an excellent reader question.

I find that the best budgeting tool is a small notebook, rather than on-line software. I buy books with columns that are set up for keeping financial records but a simple notebook or some foolscap in a binder would work too. You can get them from any store (Zellers, Staples, etc) for less than $10.

One advantage of the book is that it is hacker proof.

It is also easy to use and cheap to purchase.

On-line software is good too but it tends to suck time out of your day if you find yourself using the chart and budget tool too often. Let's be honest, it doesn't matter how often you stare at the numbers, they are always the same. If you do want software, use a simple and cheap program like Microsoft works. This software should already be available on your home computer and won't cost you anything.

I've used Quicken in the past and it was easy to use but expensive to purchase. There are other good programs available too.

Just be careful. You don't want the act of budgeting to take up too much of your time. It is a tool to help you meet your life goals - not an end in itself. Budgeting should not be a black hole that eats up all your spare time. Also, budgeting is not an end in itself, it is merely a tool to get you to where you want to be over time.

If you want to find a way to live the good life without spending more than needed, you can try setting up a price book. This can be as simple as a little excel spreadsheet that lists all your favourite grocery and drug store items. Then you look through the weekend flyers of your favourite stores and write down the prices of each of your chosen products. Sometimes the savings can be dramatic and once your spreadsheet is set up you won't need to spend much time on it at all.

Have fun and don't forget to drop your calculator and go outside for a nice walk once in a while to clear the mind.
Cheers
BB

National Thrift Week

2009-01-18T08:55:00.001-05:00

January 17 to 24 is national thrift week in the blogosphere. If you want to join in, try celebrating this way:

Have a Bank Account Day
Invest Safely Day
Carry Life Insurance Day
Keep a Budget Day
Pay Bills Promptly Day
Own Your Home Day
Share with Others Day

White Christmas

2008-12-22T10:11:00.000-05:00

Are you having a white Christmas?

What credit freeze?

2008-12-18T10:38:00.002-05:00

My bank just increased my credit line without being asked. I rarely use it and they don't make any money off me so this won't help their bottom line.

Don't the banks know that there is a credit freeze on in Canada?

The details

2008-11-23T09:23:00.002-05:00

The techies in my family have asked for details so here they are.....

I bought a Samsung 42" plasma $659 with a Samsung Blu Ray player $179. Both from Future Shop - best price and free stuff thrown in. I got 3 free blu ray movies and 6 months of a free HD TV upgrade from my existing service provider included in the price. The deal is that I continue to pay my normal rate for TV service and they install a HD dish, HD receiver and give me free channels for 6 months. After that I'll be hooked so I'm sure they will get their money back. lol

My next TV will have all the bells and whistles but this one is great for the money and I'm really happy with it. I was very impressed with the Panasonic Viera but just don't have the extra few dollars right now. It was selling for $1399 with a sale price of $1299. I loved the TV but would have had to wait until after Christmas to buy it if this was the set that I wanted. The reason is that I just bought new living room furniture and don't have tons of cash right now so I'm pacing myself.

The only thing that I don't have is a surround sound system. To be honest, I have never had a good sound system so I don't miss it. My living room opens onto about half the house so it would be hard to position the speakers for good sound quality. It wouldn't be a bad thing for me to wait until I get a house with a more enclosed TV room before I buy a good surround sound system. I was intrigued with Cycling Potato's Bose suggestion and I'll definitely think about it and will have a listen in the stores.

I might be the last person in Canada to get a nice TV but it was worth the wait. Great TV at a great price. Can't beat that.
BB

My eyes hurt

2008-11-22T09:14:00.002-05:00

Last night my eyes hurt from watching too much TV. Maybe I shouldn't be sitting three feet away from a TV that is sized for a 10 foot room.

Hmmm... time to rearrange the furniture and then get back to watching. Love the colour and the sound from this TV. Now I'm kicking myself from waiting so long to buy a decent set. The old TV is in the kitchen but I'm not sure if I'll connect it or not. Maybe it would be good to watch cooking shows while I'm cooking. Don't laugh - I do cook once in a while.

Not much snow here compared to southern Ontario. Just a skiff on the ground but I bought a new toque, scarf and mitts anyway.