It's not even Halloween yet!

Some of the stores downtown (The Bay, in particular, as I was there tonight) have their Christmas decorations up. Why? Why would you do that? Can't we just let Halloween come and go and then worry about Christmas.

(And I don't need to hear any comments from my audience about me being a Scrooge, thank you. I am not like that. I just don't like all the hype and what-not.)

The S-Word

Snow. You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?! Ha.

For those of you reading who don't live in Montreal, there was snow on the ground this morning. Not much but anything more than nothing is still more than I want to see in OCTOBER!

It was snowing when I left for work at 8:00am and it was snowing again when I left work at 6:30pm. Sigh ... this is only the beginning. Hope you're ready to hear me whine and complain for the next 6 months about the damn snow, how cold it is, etc. Too bad if you're not :(

Chocolate! Who wants chocolate?!

Fundraiser #2 for my Dragon Boat team starts now.

I'm selling chocolate bars to raise some money for our trip to China in May/June 2009. $2 each. Three flavours - dark, coffee filling and caramel filling.

Get 'em while you can!

Three Cups of Tea

I have just finished reading Three Cups of Tea. For some reason it took me a while to read it. Not because it wasn't interesting. Far from it. I think because the situations the people go through are sometimes too hard to bear.

More than ever, my plan for India in 2012 is still on and this book has inspired me to keep on track.

As suggested at the back of the book (if it inspired you to do more - how could it not!) here are suggestions for how to help:

1. Visit the Three Cups of Tea website.
2. Suggest Three Cups of Tea to friends, colleagues, etc.
3. Check if Three Cups of Tea is in your local library. If not, donate a book or suggest the library add it to their collection.
4. Encourage a local independent/chain bookstaore to carry this book.
5. Write a review for amazon.com, etc.
6. As the book editor of your local newspaper or radio to review the book.
7. Pennies for Peace, is designed for school children. Donate your pennies!
8. Make a tax-deductible contribution to their non-profit organization. Visit www.ikat.org. It costs $1.00 per month for one child's education in Pakistan or Afghanistan, a penny to buy a pencil, and a teacher's salary averages $1.00 per day.

Was that ... ?

No, it couldn't have been.

But I think it was.

Snow.

And much crankiness followed.

Stupid Question

This is so embarrassing ... but I have to ask.

If I wrote a test with 85 questions and I need 90% on this test to be awarded honours, how many questions do I need to answer correctly?

Another Visit

Have another potential buyer scheduled to visit my condo today. Despite all my concerns about the economy/real estate market tanking, the headlines forecasting recession, etc.

My house is clean, sparkling, tidy, bright and ready. As the months (and months, and months ...) have gone, my house doesn't feel much like my house anymore. All my personal little favourite things are packed away. I am packing boxes here and there and getting ready to move fast. If only the right buyer would come.

Today is sunny and warm. The visit is around noon. The parc is beautiful right now. The maples on the edge are vibrant red and yellow.

Come on, lucky buyer, come on!

Pumpkin

How is it possible that less than a week before Thanksgiving, there is NO pumpkin at my grocery store? How am I supposed to make pumpkin muffins? Pumpkin soup? Pumpkin, walnut and cranberry bars? Pumpkin scones?

(and there was much muttering as I left the store with everything I needed EXCEPT the darn pumpkin. mutter... mutter... mutter)

The Purge

Haven't heard anything from my agent so I'm guessing the guy isn't making a decision in my favour. Eh bein.

Meanwhile, I've packed 4 boxes of books, 4 boxes of photo albums and put 39 foodie magazines and 22 travel magazines in the recycling.

What else can I do???

Do what it takes

Had my first potential buyer visit yesterday afternoon. My agent was already booked, so he asked if I could be around to take the agent and his client through. No problem for me - I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get this place sold.

Agent and Client showed up 10 minutes early. Good thing I'm so horrifyingly organized and was ready for them. Gave them the 10-cent grand tour. They asked a bunch of questions about the people living in the building (kids, noise), cost of electricity, etc. I raved about my small but nicely planned kitchen, the great bookshelves that make my bedroom and how they can be moved to suit one's purpose, the amazing parc as a neighbour, even showed them the locker space. The whole thing took about 15 minutes or so. Even brought out my Dad's joke about the building being an old pool, so my place literally & figuratively has floating floors. Cheesy, I know, but they thought that was hysterical. Or maybe they were just humouring me.

This morning I heard back from my agent and apparently the Client will be meeting with his Agent tomorrow morning to discuss my place and another in my building. Mine is smaller but, according to the Agent, brighter! Granted it was a grey afternoon and I did have every light on in the place but hey - if that's what they remember it's fine by me.

The Client must have quite a wide budget. My place is 600 sq. ft. and going for $159K. The other place is 900 sq. ft. and going for $219K. Huh.

Semi-Annual Wardrobe Switch

2 black cardis (and yet, I still have 2 black cardis left in my wardrobe ...)
1 black dress
3 skirts
1 pair of shorts
4 pairs of pants
7 shirts
1 long sleeve top
10 camis (and I still have 7 in the drawer)
7 t-shirts (still probably have more than I need)

That's what I've got in the donation bag after my semi-annual wardrobe switch. Good feeling!