The Ominous Return
You see, I’ve been on vacation these last two weeks. Despite the monumental activity on Facebook, that was all done while on vacation or by my wife Ruth. Not one day was spent worrying about the Project or coworkers or wearing pants. My mind was clear.
Imagine my surprise when I started to think about tomorrow yesterday. It occurred to me I might have meetings. I considered the possibility I might have an overloaded email inbox. Should I shave off my beard?
The answers were 1) who cares, I’ll get a reminder when I get in 2) probably and 3) no.
Kaylah understood my slight anguish and woke us promptly at 6:15AM – a solid 20 minutes before my alarm. That’s just not cool, girl. I can’t fall back asleep. I set off to catch the “early train”.
I have no idea how I’ll cope today. It took me hours to write a legible post on a photography forum yesterday. Am I really expected to write emails and discuss project tasks coherently?
ek!
Kaylah Learns to Swim
Each day here in Florida, Kaylah and I enjoy a long swim in our house rental’s pool. Most of the other family (Townsends and Watki’) are sleepy or still groggy – but Kaylah and I put on our swimsuits and enjoy the clear cool water and the rapidly rising hot sun. Within the last few days though, she’s showing incredible progress. She’s kicking the water with force, she’s not gripping me in fear in the deep end nor is she choking or screaming if some water passes over her mouth.
Yesterday Ruth put on a buoyancy jacket (not a life jacket, it just goes around her chest and arms and clips on the back) and was absolutely amazed as Kaylah – who realizing she was kept above water – swam into the middle of the pool and back to the edge. Kaylah kicked her way to Ruth (in the middle) and back to Annie (on the stairs at the edge). It was, as we used to say in the 90’s before digital cameras, a Kodak moment.
Whatever happened to Kodak cameras? They’re hard to come by. They were the dominant film/camera maker for consumers for a century. Be careful Apple – it can happen to anyone. But I digress.
In any case, we caught it all on video and it was awesome. Kaylah and I will take swimming lessons in September – and I hope it will begin a lifetime of Kaylah being at the top of her class.
Impending Vacation
At the end of next week, my family and I will fly to the distant tropics of Orlando, Florida. We’re going to Disneyland! I’ve never been, so I have no idea what to expect. Similar experiences in Canada – such as Wonderland, African Lion Safari and/or Marineworld – are all basically one day affairs that begin with an early morning, dehydrated afternoons, topsy turvy rides in the afternoon, ending in exhausted evenings. Now we’re going for a full week with a 2 year old. This could be interesting.
Except for the teenagers, it’s unlikely anyone else is going to hit the hard-core rides (are there any? I have no idea) and we’ll all just settle into the slow, lethargic rides that usually end in getting wet. Kaylah will no doubt be bathed in sunscreen, and I expect to delight myself taking photo after photo of her reactions to unfortunate people dressed in poorly ventilated costumes.
Bless them for the lengths they’ll go through to entertain my little girl.
Either way, we will have fun in the Florida sun. And that’s something worth looking forward to.
Year of the Wedding
In case you didn’t know, Parry Sound is on a beautiful little bay boasting serene, quiet waters – perfect for swimming, boating and fishing. I did none of those things. No regrets.
Ruth and I attended a lovely wedding for Ryan and Eloisa. The ceremony was outdoors and looked out onto the water in what could only be described as absolute perfect weather. The main attractions both managed to miss their lines at some point – either out of nerves, over-thinking, or in Ryan’s case, a glazed-over visage entirely distracted by his bride’s perfect dress, makeup and hair. The minister had to pull Ryan back to reality long enough to finish the vows.
The dinner was scrumptious and the home cooked desserts were heavenly. As the sun set on the bay, we snapped photos of the bride and groom on the terrace, ending what could only be a perfect day.
Congratulations to Eloisa and Ryan on the start of their new life!
Folks Have to Eat
I’ve recently acquired smaller positions in two Canadian companies that are in the transition from income trusts to corporations. Prime Restaurants (TSE:EAT) and Coastal Wholesale Appliances (TSE:CWA.UN) are two equities with respectable dividends (if they continue).
EAT receives monies from East Side Mario’s franchises (amongst others) but has done poorly as Canadians have stepped back and ate at home. Since the recession barely hit Canada, I expect the resolve to eat at home to be dwarfed by Canadians desire to be lazy. So what the hell, I bought a small amount in case it returns.
CWA.UN sells various household appliances (fridges, stoves, etc) to both homebuilders (their bread and butter) and retail homeowners. They currently pay a monthly dividend of $0.046/share. Given that I bought (and you could too!) at $4.46 that’s a yearly dividend of 12.4%. I find the stock interesting but I again bought just a small amount, for now.
The US markets were closed today, and the activity on the TSX seemed just as dead.
I considered buying Belzberg (TSE:BLZ) given that its selling at its net cash value (cash – all liabilities per share = $0.38, shares trade between $.35 and $.47). There is the small problem of it burning through its cash within the year, and the management is not interested in liquidating the firm (which might pull in $.60/share should it be liquidated). It’s doubtful anyone would take it over in its current state. But it’s a classic value investment Graham-Dodds-Buffet style.
Don’t bet the farm, but it could be a worthwhile play hoping for the flush on the river.
When Can I Get an iPhone?
Like most silly people who own cell phones, I am not satisfied with just talking. I make use of my cell phone to take digital pictures, perform math calculations and occasionally make me unlost. I get the phone through work and pay a measly third of what Ruth pays. Ruth is set to get an upgrade in July coincidentally precisely when the new iPhone 4 comes out. It may surprise you that I’m jealous. My current contract runs until September 2011.
It should be noted that I’d probably never use 90% of what is offered on an iPhone, and few of the apps would be worth paying for. I hate paying for anything on my cell phone – using the web costs me $0.05/page yet I’ve only been charged data fees maybe 3 months since I got the phone. I loathe user fees for some reason.
I’ve checked out other smart phones and probably would be okay with any of them. The HTC Hero or Motorola Milestone or even the Nokia 97 – all have good cameras with neat features that somebody knows how to use. I don’t think I’d want to blog on Facebook with any of them – but I could.
What is the appeal of the iPhone? I think it comes down to this:
- The digital camera is now a respectable 5MP.
- The new iPhone screen has doubled the resolution – it looked great on Engadget
- Music and quality are well documented and agreed on
Why purchase any other smartphone?
- I’m cheap. If I could get a Smartphone for $30 or less, why spend $200 on an iPhone?
- Better camera => Better pictures of Kaylah
- Droid supports flash => better movies and more of them, or something
- Cheaper accessories – because iPhone means “pokes you in the bum” in Latin
Since I can’t get an iPhone yet without getting financially attacked by Telus, I’ll have to wait. At least Ruth can participate in this experiment by getting something that I can test out and use like I own it – marriage you see. And when I get the iPhone 5, she’ll be so jealous.
Party with Friends
There’s something nice hanging out with friends on a lazy, quiet Sunday afternoon. Ruth had a few friends over, one from Australia with her 10 month old child, to eat and talk and eat and talk. I had the BBQ going and had lots of deserts and munchies to leave us sugar-highed and a tiredness usually reserved for family Turkey dinners. It really was just a nice afternoon.
I’m still working out the kinks of getting the vice-grips in the right position of the BBQ to get the heat just right. It goes from “hot like hell” to “just burn”.
Otherwise Kaylah was an attention seeker, as usual, but took lengths to include Natalia in her play. It was often simply adorable. Pics are up on Facebook and a late shout-out to the happy married couple!
Then Monday happened. After I got home, it was necessary to go pick up my bike from the Go Station, having been picked up in Streetsville to play on children’s equipment. When I got to the Go, it was customarily deserted at 8:30PM. The BMO building across the street that mocks me every morning as a potential employer opportunity, was lit up and just asking for exploration. All there was between me and it was a set of stairs, a train track and a five foot five fence.
With my bike by my side, I took the elevator down to go under the rails, then walked it up the stairs feeling more confident. I biked down a bit of the platform and lifted my bike over the “easy” part of the fence. It got caught on something and from the wrong side, I managed to free it from the fence gods. All in all I got a bloody scratch for my efforts.
With the bike safely dropped, I lifted myself onto what I thought was an easy fence to climb. I didn’t quite get high enough to lock my arms, so I dropped down again and was successful on the second try. By “successful” I mean I managed to get high enough to swing my leg over. My leg cramped up and it occurred to me that I haven’t tried anything so silly while sober for quite a long time.
I guess I became impatient with myself, so rather than using a perfectly good cross bar to step down, I just jumped from the top down. Onto my ass. Wonderful. There was an empty bag of something lying in the grass with a few inches of water – so yes, my ass was wet. But I had safely managed to avoid landing on my bike, which would have hurt. I walked away with my bike hoping no one had seen my agility first hand.
I biked to the BMO building and was told my a thick-accented security guard that they weren’t even half done. They were only working eight hours a day, those lazy asses. Once home, I noticed my cell phone wasn’t in the leather pouched attached to my belt. I really tried looking for it around the house, but I knew in my heart it was fruitless. I could literally guess exactly where it was.
Driving to the Go and following my path under the tracks, up the stairs I suspiciously walked along an empty platform to the fence. I found my bike bell. Apparently it had fallen off though I didn’t notice.
I used my wife’s cell to try to locate my phone – but it was on vibrate and the lush vegetation deadened any sound. I thought I could see a glint from the gold finish just beyond my reach on the other side of the fence. It could be a wrapper of some kind, I reasoned. But I couldn’t leave without checking. And neither was I going to drive around the block to get on the other side of this fence. I shall overcome.
Climbing up the second time was no easier than the first. I was more patient this time, and dropped down using the cross bar to ease the fall. Success. Can you imagine my thrill at finding the cell phone with no further effort? Now to get back to the car without some sort of fine from a well-intentioned Go Transit constable.
A Go-Bus came in just at this moment and shone its headlights right where I needed to climb. I pretended to look busy which no doubt increased my suspiciousness. I wandered away from the fence feeling extraordinarily foolish. Eventually the Go-Bus resumed its route and I easily climbed the fence yet a third. Climbing into the Go station is far easier than climbing out.
I tripled checked that I had my two cell phones and headed back under the tracks to my car. Then home.
Never again.
Today is my birthday…. of my preciousss…
Little Kaylah turns two today. Sometime around 4am, on this day in 2008, the little child-to-be was ripped from her mother’s womb in a emergency C-section. She was the first child Ruth and I would beget that would go on to create a utopia for all mankind, discover Kaylatronics which finally allowed mankind to travel the stars, and author the world’s bestselling novel – My Father, The Greatest Father History Has Ever Known.
A musical genius at age one, her drumming skills and remarkable abilities on the keyboard have allowed her to perform in front of many world leaders on our TV. It should come as no surprise that both friends and family have commented how Kaylah’s intricate and complex motifs improve the eyesight of the listener. Both Cambridge and Oxford have already made calls but understandably have been turned down. Brits - you see.
Now entering into her third year, Kaylah expresses a desire to see and do everything. Her mind does not fathom the word No and it is this focused, belligerent ability to block out all opposition that will destroy the dictatorships of Africa and crumble the communist regimes of S. America.
Nothing can stop her. And nothing will.
37” 1080p LCD TV = Awesome
I picked up a 37” Dynex LCD TV for $400 from Futureshop last weekend. It’s not the biggest TV. It wasn’t the most expensive. But it did provide a level of quality that I’m amazingly satisfied with. Even the regular non-HDTV cable from Rogers looks great. DVD’s look awesome – although we’ve only tried kids cartoons and they’re not blue-ray. I finally found a use for that S-video cable that was bought 8 years ago that I never used – and yes, I’ve taken it with me each time I moved. My investment finally paid off. And the sound is as every bit as good as the TV I had before (which isn’t saying much).
Did I mention that it didn’t cost me any real money? Let me explain. Like most Canadians, I loan the government an interest free loan for 16 months they take out in taxes, that I get back as a tax refund. Instead of doing something sensible with it, I invested in some volatile small cap companies that I was (and still am) convinced will do better than average. Within 3 weeks, the stocks shot up. I sold all off one and used the profit to buy the TV.
My tax refund remains mainly intact despite the shiny new TV sitting on my entertainment unit. My wife follows a simple rule. No money goes to shiny new gadgets. I continue to find interesting ways around this rule by a) using Starwood points to buy a net book and b) using my tax refund’s investment profits to buy a new TV. Never underestimate a man’s cleverness in deceiving his wife.
I bet that statement comes back to bite me.
Why Isn’t Every Country as Great as Canada
Today Greeks rose up in a populist uprising demonstrating against their country’s attempt to balance its books. Greece is overspending its budget by 11% – or at a rate that will double its debt every 6.5 years. Do the Greeks believe their government should cut up its credit card? Absolutely not. There’s a European Contagion that threatens to destroy the entire economic stability of Europe (or at least Spain, Portugal, Italy and perhaps Ireland) and the people in Greece refuse any “austerity measures” that the government is trying to implement. It’s not even an attempt to balance the budget! It’s to reduce the deficit to only 3% (or doubling its debt every 24 years).
Australia has its own budget problems. The Labour party has introduced a new “Super Profit Tax” which taxes mining companies 40% for any growth higher than government bonds. Why? Well because they’re owned by foreigners. And the government is running a large deficit and needs money. Why not attack its own business sector – the largest in the country? The Aussie government can’t think of a reason. The mining industry expects it’ll push the corporate tax rate to 57%. Canada, in comparison, taxes its corporations 26%.
Now Canada has gone up against the other G20 nations against a bank tax. First it was a tax on every financial transaction. Then it became a tax on profits. Now it’s a tax on financial risk and liabilities. Not only will these taxes not be used for what they’re supposed to – Obama refused to agree not to use the money for new spending – but it will likely encourage risk taking by banks in the future on the expectation they will be bailed out again. The only thing that will work will be for banks to keep sufficient collateral and liquidity on hand – and maintain stringent lending standards like Canada has imposed indirectly by not insuring mortgages for investors with < 20% down. Banks and Investment Banks should also probably be separated.
We’re Canada and we’re awesome.
