Category: Useful Links 101

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Car Problem

Just our luck !  the kid is sick and we had car problems.  At first, we thought it was the engine but I guess not – and a trip to the local mechanic told us otherwise.  Car cannot be fixed immediately as he need to order a shaft coupling  – so we were quite handicap without our car for a few days – since the car acted up during the weekend – the same time the kid got sick.

Our car was bought just before the kid turned 1 years old and she is already 8 yrs old this year – so it’s getting old but we really have no huge complain about the car – it had served us well.  We finished paying for it 3 years ago – and it is only regular maintenance that we spend money on the car.  So this time – it’s the first really major problem we’ve had, so we ain’t going to complain that we need to wait for a shaft coupling for a few days.  Thank God – our car is finally fixed today – because really we can’t go without our car.  Time to think about getting a second car just in case.

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Town Meetings

I’ve always said that it would be nice to have video conferencing services  for our town meetings because the town meetings are held at times when we have to open our store or people who have to be at work.   But if we have video conferencing services, anyone can log in and join the town meetings wherever they are even if those who are not in town and on vacation and don’t want to miss out on important issues of the town.  I’ve highlighted this issue to the town councilors and the election for town councilors will be coming up soon – nor this is the time to re-talk about this issue with the council.  Live telecast is not really what we want to see – the people of this town wants to be able to interact directly and live conferencing should be the way to go – if they wanted the people to be involved.  The many times that I’ve attended town meetings – I never see anyone except the councilors and the mayor and the Chief Administrator – so what s the point if the town cannot participate actively in these town meetings that concerns the town.  Town meetings should be interactive and to do it – the most feasible way is a video conferencing service.

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Saving Money At Home & Work

We try to save money in any way we can – from buying things that is on sale – and stock up when there is a good sale on but of course, we also make sure that we don’t buy or spend just because something is cheap.  Owning your own business as well as raising a kid means only one thing – spending your money wisely – so if there is a rebate to get we get it.  Now the only thing that is  killing us is our power bills.  There is no low cost energy  here in our town – and when it comes to winter – it does suxs big time.  I wished we can lower our electric bills – our entire house is electric heat – so we are quite dependent on it.

So this is what we did at home to save money, to save power bills – we had a french door put in our tv room – so that we won’t have to heat the entire kitchen and tv room when we wanted one or the other heated. We also only heat up the rooms that we are using – and at work we brought 2 infra-red heated to save on our power bills.  We thought about putting in a wood stove at home but that would means we need to fork out money to put in a new chimney and of course buy the wood stove and rewire the home a little.  At work, we will heat up the store for a few hours and then turn it down for the rest of the day – using only the infrared machine.  If we are still cold, we have small little heaters turned up for a bit to warm us up.  So there – you have it – on how we save money at home and work with our power bills.  If only we had this low cost energy saving program they have in certain part of the USA – I would definitely bee the first to jump on it.

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Battle Of The Weight

 I think it’s the age factor – that one finds it really hard to lose the extra weight – especially someone like myself who loves to eat.  I eat when I am happy, I eat when I am sad – I eat when I watch a tv show – I eat when I am hungry.  Sounds like a lot of eating right? and sounds really familiar too right?  Anyhow, I’m trying to lose some weight for the summer because I have a wedding to attend in New Brunswick.  Last year we didn’t get to go for another wedding of a cousin because we didn’t have any help – but this year there is no excuse – so I’m looking for some help – like a wee bit of diet pills.  Of course, I also need to see what the side effects of myonox  is before taking them and also I will check with my doctor about it.   So wish me good luck with my battle of my weight this summer.

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Swimming With Kids

We were invited to a small get-together with some extended family last week and since they have an indoor heated pool – the children wanted to swim of course.  But while we were chatting – the kids were playing in the pool and around it – of course the younger ones cannot go into the pool and thank God for pool safety net , we can go and get our food or drinks without worrying that the younger ones may fall in the pool while there wasn’t any adults in sight.   If I have an outdoor pool in the future for Chloe, I too will invest in the pool safety net because we love BBQing so much in the summer and when you have good friends around, we tend to chat and laugh, we sometimes might just turn around and not pay attention to the younger kids.  So to avoid any accidents at my home – God forbid – I’m going to insist on the pool safety net. We had such a good time at the extended families – no accidents – thanks to the pool safety net – the kids were tired out but they looked forward to going again.

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Spring Cannot Come Sooner

It had been a really trying month for us – the entire family – i can’t wait for the warmer weather to come – and for us to get out of this deary mode.  With what had happened recently in our family – I’ll say we need a lot of warmth and sunshine.  This year I think I might just be responsible taking care of the boys at home since now that the mother-in-law is gone.  I saw some carhartt shorts  and thought of the spouse, the brother-in-law and the father-in-law and wonder to myself if i should buy it for them.   Before when the mother-in-law is around I didn’t worry about any of the boys because after all, she is the mother and I’m not and I had it good then.  She would do everything for them – from knitting socks to buying their underwear. Now I’m going to have to look out for the rest of the boys because I know that’s what my mother-in-law would want.  So when I shop for the spouse now – I would think of the father-in-law as well as the brother-in-law.

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My Doctor Moved Again

Yes, our family doctor is now on her own – coming from another country – and practicing here in the West must be some different for her – but she did go thru’ the usual attachment with a well-known doctor here for about a year and now – she has moved into her own clinic.  I don’t know if they have malpractice insurance here in Canada but i know a place that is highly recommended for doctors in USA.  And while I don’t really understand why they need malpractice insurance before – I now understand it much better.  Why?  because my MIL is currently in the hospital with an enlarge liver – this morning – we had called her in the hospital and she had said that some of her test results are out but inconclusive because now the doctor is saying that the cancer may be coming from her uterus.  From I don’t know where the cancer is coming from – to searching for the primary source of the cancer – it has been 10 days now – since she was first admitted.

We are of course at this time a little frustrated and very worried and am wondering if the doctor is right or wrong but more tests is called for – now my MIL has to see a liver specialist as well as a gynecologist. I guess so many other specialist are asked to come in and give their opinion because my mother-in-law’s family doctor must want to be on the safe side and not get sued for diagnosing wrongly – plus it almost seems like he doesn’t really want to talk to the family but his patient – why?  maybe he doesn’t want to answer so many questions of ours?  So yes, I understand the malpractice insurance now.

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Computers For Kids

Friends at Chloe’s school asked me all the time about getting a computer for their kids and they ask for recommendations since they know that we deal with computer repairs at our store.  And you know how I am with money – so I tell them that getting a used pc  would be the best bet for their money since their kids are young.  And there is nothing wrong getting a used PC from a reputable place and one that carries a warranty on it as used PCs are just as good as new ones.  So if you are buying a PC for your kids are even a notebook, a lightly used one – is the way to go, no need to go crazy and spend thousands of dollars just for a kid’s PC when you know you only need the very basic.

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I’m The Planner

While PB doesn’t like to plan for anything and just go with the flow – I’m the planner, I need everything to be laid out and then I execute it.  I don’t know if you called it meticulous or a bit of OCD in me acting up.  But whether it’s the power bills, internet bills, credit card bills or   our life insurance, car insurance  and rv insurance  – everything is noted in my planner – and I will check it a few times day.

I also plan Chloe’s meals ahead of time – and never let her eat the same thing for dinner and lunch, there is always a variety of food for her to try and I keep them as healthy as possible.  Yes! it irks me so much when PB is late on a bill – not because we cannot afford it but he forgets and don’t like to be reminded constantly.  I really think that my obsession to pay and do everything as planned comes from the fact that I come from a poor family and everything seems to be on dateline – we never had money to spare when I was a kid – but I know that my mom paid for everything on time and never ever borrowed from anyone.  We just don’t have any toys or any new clothes or shoes but that’s alright.  Now that I’m with my own family, I can appreciate my mom and what she does with money – therefore, I never let PB or Chloe spend money that we don’t have and bills has to be paid on time – yes, even the rv insurance.

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Best Buys In 2011

Some of the things I bought in 2011 was all about me – fromt he bamboo capture from Wacom to the new fall boots in 2011 – so here are some of the best deals of 2011  and to let you all know that I’ve learned to take care of myself first – instead of being a busy body to everyone’s need.  I want to buy a Kindle Fire – unfortunately, they are not available in Canada yet but I think i did good in 2011 – you tell me if I did good eh.

An antique clock

A Louis Vuitton handbag

A Manolo Blahnik

New side drawers from Wicker’s Emporium.

A painting from Etsy

A antique music box.

New winter boots and a fall boots as well.   So yes !  I did good for myself in 2011 – you all know I have health issues and I still do – and I’m in constant pain in my tummy for reasons unknown – and this year – I concentrated on myself and my family – and did right by them first.  I rewarded myself with some stuff because I deserved it – I worked hard and I hardly buy anything that I don’t need for the last 12 years since arriving in Canada – but now that everything has calmed down – I’m just glad that I no longer feel a need to worry about others first – but instead took care of myself.