Monday, December 13, 2010
November
We took a walk along Memorial Drive to see the Nov 11th Remembrance Day display/memorium. This a great idea that has really taken off--a tribute and a memorium.
Go see it in 2011 if you missed it this year!
Go see it in 2011 if you missed it this year!
Dec 13, 2010
Here it is, almost Xmas & I have yet to start my Xmas cards! I think I'll fill out 2 for everyone & feel like I am ahead of the game for next year :)
I DID get my littlest nephew & niece out their gifts. After all Christmas really should be about the kids & that they really enjoy it. Tennyson may not enjoy everything I got him, but I sure had fun picking out stuff for him. Kids are fairly easy to buy for, everything is new to them. He is 2 years old this Xmas, so I suspect he will get the jist of what is happening. His sister is now 2 months old & pretty sure she won't care, as long as her diaper is dry & she has been fed within a few hours. 12 lbs before her 2 month birthday! Doubled her weight in under 2 months--is this normal? She is growing & healthy, so it can't be too abnormal.
I am just checking all my web logs and info so I can start to think of 2011 & what it has in store for me. I think its going to be a year of great changes, lots of activity. How about you?
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Ambulance Call--Are We Getting Our Monies Worth??
We had to order an ambulance for one of Don's hockey team mates--he thought he broke his ankle. I wasn't surprised when it took over 15 minutes to get there--bad weather & bad roads.
We were at Westside Regional Rec Centre on 69 St SW, the fire department is about 3-4 minutes south on 69 St (If you stop at the numerous 4 way stops).
I WAS surprised by their blasé, uninterested, unhelpful attitude. It took them over an hour to leave with him, mainly as they stood around. They checked his ankle and told him: a. it’s not broke b. there is no hospital to take him c. he should go home, relax & ice it! It was like he was being a poor, whining patient as he kept insisting he would like to go to the hospital. We were not crazy about driving him to the hospital as he appeared to be in shock--slurred words, not sure where he was, then nearly passed out when he stood up. The player himself finally suggested Black Diamond Hospital. BIG SIGH from the 2 ambulance drivers! They would 'HAVE' to check!! The answer came back: 'No, they don't want us to leave the city limits as its a busy night.' That was understandable, though he NEEDS to go in to the hospital.
By the way, they were wrong on all 3: broke, muscle tore & knee injured, the Rockyview Hosptial on 14 St SW took him right away, x-rayed, then surgery through the night, and no he should NOT go home (he was in shock).
Is the system REALLY broke or are the current staff UNMOTIVATED and/or UNTRAINED?
I don't call a lot of ambulances and when I do I would hope these 2 clowns do NOT respond. I want someone who knows what a broken bone looks & feels like (the front of the lower leg jutted out at 90 degrees and back to ankle--it certainly looked like something was wrong). And someone who at least appears to CARE. They were neither. We all stood around looking for direction from them and after long moments of silence, others were offering solutions and suggestions. They wanted to leave him there.
Again, is our system broke or are the members of the system unwilling to professionally perform their role?
We were at Westside Regional Rec Centre on 69 St SW, the fire department is about 3-4 minutes south on 69 St (If you stop at the numerous 4 way stops).
I WAS surprised by their blasé, uninterested, unhelpful attitude. It took them over an hour to leave with him, mainly as they stood around. They checked his ankle and told him: a. it’s not broke b. there is no hospital to take him c. he should go home, relax & ice it! It was like he was being a poor, whining patient as he kept insisting he would like to go to the hospital. We were not crazy about driving him to the hospital as he appeared to be in shock--slurred words, not sure where he was, then nearly passed out when he stood up. The player himself finally suggested Black Diamond Hospital. BIG SIGH from the 2 ambulance drivers! They would 'HAVE' to check!! The answer came back: 'No, they don't want us to leave the city limits as its a busy night.' That was understandable, though he NEEDS to go in to the hospital.
By the way, they were wrong on all 3: broke, muscle tore & knee injured, the Rockyview Hosptial on 14 St SW took him right away, x-rayed, then surgery through the night, and no he should NOT go home (he was in shock).
Is the system REALLY broke or are the current staff UNMOTIVATED and/or UNTRAINED?
I don't call a lot of ambulances and when I do I would hope these 2 clowns do NOT respond. I want someone who knows what a broken bone looks & feels like (the front of the lower leg jutted out at 90 degrees and back to ankle--it certainly looked like something was wrong). And someone who at least appears to CARE. They were neither. We all stood around looking for direction from them and after long moments of silence, others were offering solutions and suggestions. They wanted to leave him there.
Again, is our system broke or are the members of the system unwilling to professionally perform their role?
Winter is Here!
It is another beautiful winter wonderland here in Calgary! True to Calgary weather, its never 1/2 way. We currently have 27cm on our picnic table, where I've been measuring everyday. That's 'almost' a foot!
Though it looks pretty, driving here is treacherous. And time consuming!
Though it looks pretty, driving here is treacherous. And time consuming!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Returning is Tough
After a vacation, trip, time away, its tough to return to the routine of work--and hopefully some sort of life. Each day feels like you are inundated with hundreds of emails, paper and some days you are working and working and realize you have not gotten dressed or peed or eaten yet.
I am through 2 days of emails and am now tackling the paper on my desk--which was sorted before we left and currently is under 7 or 8 inched high on my desk. Not too bad--it hasn't slipped and falling on the floor. Yet.
Once the fog lifts and routine is restored, I am focussed and get a hundred things accomplished each day.
One foot in front of the other & I'll navigate my way out of the fog.....
I am through 2 days of emails and am now tackling the paper on my desk--which was sorted before we left and currently is under 7 or 8 inched high on my desk. Not too bad--it hasn't slipped and falling on the floor. Yet.
Once the fog lifts and routine is restored, I am focussed and get a hundred things accomplished each day.
One foot in front of the other & I'll navigate my way out of the fog.....
Monday, September 27, 2010
Calgary Election
I am researching to determine WHO to vote for....it just doesn't seem to matter, as individuals may start off with the intention of helping the masses, then get in and discover they are really there for themselves.
General Voting Info:
http://www.votecalgary.ca/see_wards.php?type=ward&&ward=6
http://vimeo.com/votecalgary
And after reading ALL this info, I have determined I should post some videos of myself on my own website. Seeing the candidates SPEAK, even for a few minutes, does give you a sense of the person: would you like them to represent you?
Take a few minutes to research before you vote. Early vote date for us will be Oct 6th as we will be away for the offical voting day.
General Voting Info:
http://www.votecalgary.ca/see_wards.php?type=ward&&ward=6
http://vimeo.com/votecalgary
And after reading ALL this info, I have determined I should post some videos of myself on my own website. Seeing the candidates SPEAK, even for a few minutes, does give you a sense of the person: would you like them to represent you?
Take a few minutes to research before you vote. Early vote date for us will be Oct 6th as we will be away for the offical voting day.
Sept 27, 2010
I went to our CIR Monday morning meeting--a great start to the week. We learned a bit more about hot water heaters, standard, high efficiency and instant as well as about condo document reviews. Special assessments are still the concern in the condo industry. Some buildings and condo boards have had back door, undocumented meetings as they know there are issues coming up that are big bucks. You need to know everything before you buy in a condo. It could cost you thousands. Be smart and do you due diligence: get everything reviewed. Read, read, read.
As for a personal note, we are starting the countdown to departure -- only 11 days until we leave for NYC and our cruise. Time sure flies!
As for a personal note, we are starting the countdown to departure -- only 11 days until we leave for NYC and our cruise. Time sure flies!
Friday, July 23, 2010
July 23, 2010
Calgarians can enjoy a great weekend: Folk Festival, Latin Festival, Sun & Salsa Festival and if not in Calgary, how about Lethbridge? We are attending the Lethbridge Air Show tomorrow. A little concerning that an F18 crashed yesterday while practicing for tomorrow. Wish us luck for a safe show!
Than we head off to Trooper (!) with friends John & LaRee.
We are watching Julie & Julia--I think I have seen it at least 4 times on the cruise ship. It's cute.
Must blog on my real estate website with, sometimes, less interesting info. I do love my stats, though!. :)
Than we head off to Trooper (!) with friends John & LaRee.
We are watching Julie & Julia--I think I have seen it at least 4 times on the cruise ship. It's cute.
Must blog on my real estate website with, sometimes, less interesting info. I do love my stats, though!. :)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
New Listing - Braeside
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=9701461
New Listing in Braeside...great price and this home is renovated, upgraded and updated. Unusual for Braeside. Its the best priced on the crescent and the best priced with reno's.
Check it out online for my next open house!
New Listing in Braeside...great price and this home is renovated, upgraded and updated. Unusual for Braeside. Its the best priced on the crescent and the best priced with reno's.
Check it out online for my next open house!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
CREA
I attended a CREA meeting this afternoon in regards to the case against Realtors by the Competition Bureau. There has been so much press and we have yet to hear some truth in the press. Gary Mar was quoted in the newspaper that if the rules would change it could save something like $15000 per transaction--the average transaction is under $7000--how is this even possible? He doesn't have a clue, yet they publish his comments. He didn't know what the changes were, yet he was published with a ridiculous comment like that. Just get them rich realtors! Our CREA president was asking our permission to change our rules to attempt to appease the Competition Bureau.
What the general public doesn't realize is that the Competition Bureau is starting with realtors. WHY? Because public perception is we don't do anything to earn huge dollars. We put up a sign. There are several misconceptions: first, the average realtor makes something like $20,000 a year--there are very very few that make over $200,000 a year. As for what we do as realtors--it never ends. We just don't broadcast & boast exactly WHAT we do every day. In the way of buying or selling, you have a choice: you DON'T have to use a realtor to buy or sell. You have a choice already--and there are many other business model choices you can use to buy or sell. As well, just like a mechanic works on your car, your mortgage at the bank, the hotel you stay in: you can negotiate everything. Not just costs, but what you get done on your car, the rate/service at the bank, the room you get at the hotel, the services your realtor provides, etc.
We own http://www.realtor.ca/ & we are the victims of our own success: we have spent multi millions to create this awesome tool for marketing homes in Canada. Now the Competition Bureau says we should open it up to the public. We own it, we developed it, we monitor it, we audit it, we track it--if you developed you business model as such & then the government came in & said the public should have it, hand it over--I think you would not be too impressed either.
If you are part of any organized profession--why would the public be forbidden from accessing your information? I believe it to be possible that everyone who is in an organized profession could be targeted by the Competition Bureau. Who is next?
Why do you not have to publish all your engineering firm client, rates, etc for the public to be able to see all your information so they can make an informed decision of who to use? Or use your information to create their own business? Someone had a great analogy: I am going to rent a hotel room, though I am going to pay less as I am bringing my own sleeping bag, I don't want maid service & I'll clean my own room when I leave & the hotel HAS to accept this as I am a member of the public and this is what I want.
I work night, day, weekend & on my holidays FOR MY CLIENTS. I do expect to be paid at the end of the day, too. We review & discuss marketing plans & options & come up with payment accordingly. I was at a house the other day--the owner will list high & we know it will probably be a 6 month to 1 year listing. This needs a strong plan & contract if -- I EVER get paid.
There are times the government really has too much time & money on its hands to create this 3 YEAR project--the only future I can see is that other professional organizations will be targeted next.
I trust this will resolve with our new rule changes & we continue to do what we do best: offer you the real estate service you know & expect from your professional Realtor. By the way--if you felt you didn't get good service from your realtor: tell them! Don't know what your realtor does, ask them! I communicate weekly, though sometimes that is not enough--set up what works for you.
A great Realtor is a great asset--
Sigh....I feel better after getting that down!
Must go to bed as I have to met with a homestager in the morning & review marketing in the afternoon. And start those taxes soon.....
What the general public doesn't realize is that the Competition Bureau is starting with realtors. WHY? Because public perception is we don't do anything to earn huge dollars. We put up a sign. There are several misconceptions: first, the average realtor makes something like $20,000 a year--there are very very few that make over $200,000 a year. As for what we do as realtors--it never ends. We just don't broadcast & boast exactly WHAT we do every day. In the way of buying or selling, you have a choice: you DON'T have to use a realtor to buy or sell. You have a choice already--and there are many other business model choices you can use to buy or sell. As well, just like a mechanic works on your car, your mortgage at the bank, the hotel you stay in: you can negotiate everything. Not just costs, but what you get done on your car, the rate/service at the bank, the room you get at the hotel, the services your realtor provides, etc.
We own http://www.realtor.ca/ & we are the victims of our own success: we have spent multi millions to create this awesome tool for marketing homes in Canada. Now the Competition Bureau says we should open it up to the public. We own it, we developed it, we monitor it, we audit it, we track it--if you developed you business model as such & then the government came in & said the public should have it, hand it over--I think you would not be too impressed either.
If you are part of any organized profession--why would the public be forbidden from accessing your information? I believe it to be possible that everyone who is in an organized profession could be targeted by the Competition Bureau. Who is next?
Why do you not have to publish all your engineering firm client, rates, etc for the public to be able to see all your information so they can make an informed decision of who to use? Or use your information to create their own business? Someone had a great analogy: I am going to rent a hotel room, though I am going to pay less as I am bringing my own sleeping bag, I don't want maid service & I'll clean my own room when I leave & the hotel HAS to accept this as I am a member of the public and this is what I want.
I work night, day, weekend & on my holidays FOR MY CLIENTS. I do expect to be paid at the end of the day, too. We review & discuss marketing plans & options & come up with payment accordingly. I was at a house the other day--the owner will list high & we know it will probably be a 6 month to 1 year listing. This needs a strong plan & contract if -- I EVER get paid.
There are times the government really has too much time & money on its hands to create this 3 YEAR project--the only future I can see is that other professional organizations will be targeted next.
I trust this will resolve with our new rule changes & we continue to do what we do best: offer you the real estate service you know & expect from your professional Realtor. By the way--if you felt you didn't get good service from your realtor: tell them! Don't know what your realtor does, ask them! I communicate weekly, though sometimes that is not enough--set up what works for you.
A great Realtor is a great asset--
Sigh....I feel better after getting that down!
Must go to bed as I have to met with a homestager in the morning & review marketing in the afternoon. And start those taxes soon.....
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Property on Pender Island
I have a client looking to buy a property here in Calgary. She has owned land on Pender Island in BC for a long time. She only gets there every few years and has decided to sell it. Its about 1/2 acre. Its spring or summer there year round.
Don & I had camped on Salt Springs Island years ago and we had taken the ferry over. It had also stopped at Pender Island. It looked like a smaller version of Salt Spring. Salt Spring land is expensive.
If anyone is looking for a vacation spot, please check it out & call Dave (the listing agent). He knows more about it than I do and lives there to tell you good things about living on Pender Island.
http://http//www.realtor.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx?PropertyID=9135406
You can also check out the isalnd details on the link below:
http://www.penderisland.info/
Don & I had camped on Salt Springs Island years ago and we had taken the ferry over. It had also stopped at Pender Island. It looked like a smaller version of Salt Spring. Salt Spring land is expensive.
If anyone is looking for a vacation spot, please check it out & call Dave (the listing agent). He knows more about it than I do and lives there to tell you good things about living on Pender Island.
http://http//www.realtor.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx?PropertyID=9135406
You can also check out the isalnd details on the link below:
http://www.penderisland.info/
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Vancouver Ollies
Record setting temps, lots of spills & excitement for the 2010 Oylmpics. I can't turn the channel!
Monday, February 8, 2010
ARGGHHH
Weenie jumped on my desk and knocked over my tea. On everything!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..............................
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..............................
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday Monday
I am starting to look forward to the end of January. It does seem like things are not going as swimmingly as I expect. February is a good month, more sunlight = more energy for everyone. January in Canada--everywhere in Canada, is low on SUNLIGHT.
The days are getting longer.
Its a good thing.
Bon Appetit!
(watch Julie & Julia-excellent movie!)
The days are getting longer.
Its a good thing.
Bon Appetit!
(watch Julie & Julia-excellent movie!)
Monday Monday
Mom in front of the steel horse downtown Calgary in 2007. It's cool. I think Mom was not so overwhelmed with our downtown--there are huge park spaces, an island, the zoo....not just concrete. And steel. Horses. Steel horses are cool--made from auto parts, etc.
Friday, January 22, 2010
New Orleans Dec 2009
The newspaper building in New Orleans. Taken for my journalist sister, of course!
Cutest kids ever! Summer 2009
The cutest kids ever! Sheldon & Pam's cuties: Sydney & Ryley, Summer 09BBB
Baby Bear went to the vet today. 4.1kgs--down a kg in the last 2 months. Definitely unwell--poor little guy. He was about 15 lbs last year (6.8kg). Soon we'll know what's up!
It's Friday Night!
...and we just got in from a night out with friends Patti & Doug. We met them at LoungeBurger. Cool place. Check it out at www.loungeburger.com . Great food & atmosphere!
Patti & Doug are heading off to Helsinki, Finland next week for 2-3 weeks (2 Patti, 3 Doug). Doug is there for work--an audit. Not as fun for him. Travel is travel!
I'll watch Patti on FaceBook to follow their trip.
Patti & Doug are heading off to Helsinki, Finland next week for 2-3 weeks (2 Patti, 3 Doug). Doug is there for work--an audit. Not as fun for him. Travel is travel!
I'll watch Patti on FaceBook to follow their trip.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Jan 13, 2010. Vote on the Monopoly game!
Its a beautiful day here in Calgary today! Over freezing, blue skies, sunny--expected up to 6C. After the long deep freeze, this seems warm. Its melting and a sloppy mess, though I would take that over -30C any day. :)
Busy at home work day.
Vote for Calgary at http://www.monopolyvote.va/ . They are creating a Monopoly game & the cities going on the board game are to be chosen by voting. I think it must be advertised in Quebec as the most remote Quebec cities are listed. Right now Edmonton is beating Calgary, so I have bookmarked to vote. 3 votes a day, each has to be a different city.
Must run!
Busy at home work day.
Vote for Calgary at http://www.monopolyvote.va/ . They are creating a Monopoly game & the cities going on the board game are to be chosen by voting. I think it must be advertised in Quebec as the most remote Quebec cities are listed. Right now Edmonton is beating Calgary, so I have bookmarked to vote. 3 votes a day, each has to be a different city.
Must run!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Blog Day 1: January 10, 2010
After seeing some fab blogs out there, I thought I could start one of my own. Also inspired after seeing the movie Julie & Julia several times in a row on our last cruise in December. www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/julieandjulia/ Trying it out to see if this is an alternate way to getting to see more posts of my baby nephew as well as there is concern over privacy on FaceBook. Sigh. Lets give this a shot!
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