Well, not a whole lot has been going on around here lately. We're still trying to decide if we're going to BC in May for a wedding, and have a little visit with the Asbury's. The "problem" is, we have 2 OTHER weddings that month as well, and Canadian flight costs are ridiculous. If we go it'll be through the US again, while avoiding Chicago at all costs!
To give you an idea of the price differences, we can typically go from Buffalo to Seattle for between $500-600. Sometimes under $500 for BOTH of us.
Or we can from Toronto-Vancouver for somewhere between $1050-1200.... crazy, huh? The money "saved" by going through the US, would be spent on doggy daycare for Echo, and probably a hotel for one night (which would include parking for the week), with about $200 to spare, even accounting for gas!
It is more hassle for both us and Adrienne, and there is always a change of planes through the US, while in Canada most are direct, but I just can't get over the price difference. I think I've written about this before....
This weekend, Marn is heading to Toronto to spend the weekend with Jane (and Tara) who's wedding is coming up after the BC wedding, while I have the duty of installing a back splash in our kitchen! We found some at Rona last night that we both really like, with matching floor tile (which is next on the list), but it's expensive of course, isn't it always? So, we may just have a newer kitchen after this weekend!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
More Snow!
It seems like forever ago now since our last vacation, but sadly, it was only 2 months ago! With all the snow and freezing temps we've had over the last couple of weeks, and with even more snow expected this week, I'm ready for another! Or at the very least, I'm ready for spring...
It's crazy. I'm running out of room to put the stuff, we've had so much lately. I'm going to take some photos of our driveway, because the snowbanks are now taller than me. Yes, they're about 6 and a half feet high. At least. It's like how we remember when we were kids, but we were only 3 feet tall then. I feel 3 feet tall next to the snow banks now!
If we didn't have that huge melt a few weeks ago right after an enormous dumping of snow (EVERYTHING melted - no snow at all), I don't know what we'd do with it. The banks at that point were already 4 feet tall, but "luckily" they all melted to make way for the incredible amount we're getting now. My banks are so high now that they won't take anymore (it won't stay up), and I can't lift it that high much longer, so they're just going to the sides and making our driveway narrower.
I read Toronto got 20cm last night, and that it will take 2 weeks before some parts of the city will be cleared. I don't think we got quite as much as that, but I'm sure over the last week or two, we've gotten much more than they.
So if anyone has a lead on a good used snow blower, you know who to call - me!!
It's crazy. I'm running out of room to put the stuff, we've had so much lately. I'm going to take some photos of our driveway, because the snowbanks are now taller than me. Yes, they're about 6 and a half feet high. At least. It's like how we remember when we were kids, but we were only 3 feet tall then. I feel 3 feet tall next to the snow banks now!
If we didn't have that huge melt a few weeks ago right after an enormous dumping of snow (EVERYTHING melted - no snow at all), I don't know what we'd do with it. The banks at that point were already 4 feet tall, but "luckily" they all melted to make way for the incredible amount we're getting now. My banks are so high now that they won't take anymore (it won't stay up), and I can't lift it that high much longer, so they're just going to the sides and making our driveway narrower.
I read Toronto got 20cm last night, and that it will take 2 weeks before some parts of the city will be cleared. I don't think we got quite as much as that, but I'm sure over the last week or two, we've gotten much more than they.
So if anyone has a lead on a good used snow blower, you know who to call - me!!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Central Vac
We had a local guy in to estimate putting in a central vac at our place. It is roughed-in already, but needs to be connected together and then run out to the garage. It was something that I wanted to do myself, and still might depending on the install costs), but now thinking that it might be better just to have someone in, who does them all the time, to get it done in a half day and be done with it. We've been wanting to do it for a while now, and wish that we just had the builder do it from the start. We should be getting that quote in this week some time.
The more I think about it, the more I want to do it myself (it CAN'T be that hard). We'll see how much they are charging, though, and decide then. We will save GST if they do it, but I doubt that those savings (only 5% now!) will outweigh the cost of the install.
The more I think about it, the more I want to do it myself (it CAN'T be that hard). We'll see how much they are charging, though, and decide then. We will save GST if they do it, but I doubt that those savings (only 5% now!) will outweigh the cost of the install.
Last Weekend
Since I last posted about it, I suppose I should write about it.
We went to Uxbridge last weekend (I guess 2 weekends ago now) to visit Michelle's grave, and to see Terry and the kids. It was very strange to be there - we hadn't been yet. Terry and the kids also came to meet us there. They've obviously been many times over the last year, as her kids ran over pointing and saying, "there's momma!", touching her picture (they had a picture of her etched on the stone). They've done a great job keeping her "alive" to their kids, but you have to wonder if they really understand.
Nate is now 4 and Noelle is 2, and talking up a storm - much more than the average 2 year old. They say she's just like her Mom, bubbly and chatty. After visiting the site, we all went out for lunch at Swiss Chalet (Yum!), and then our car went back to Terry's house for a short visit with him and the kids. He seems to be doing really well, and the kids are great. So cute and polite (and very active!). Thank god that Michelle's parents moved close so that her Mom could help out with them.
My cold is still lingering a little bit - just a nagging cough now (like a tickle in my throat), but mostly gone.
And in other news, as of this afternoon, I AM OFFICIALLY STUDENT LOAN FREE !! The last lump sum is set up to come out at some point today - the last time it came out late afternoon, so by tonight I will be free of student debt. FINALLY! (*only* 9 years to pay back ~$44k + interest. How depressing)
To celebrate, we're going out for dinner somewhere, at some point. We're going to combine it into a Student-Load-Free-Valentines-Birthday dinner, and we have a new-found budget for this dinner of exactly $380! ;) Just kidding - I couldn't spend that much for dinner.
We do plan on putting that monthly money (plus a bit) into some kind of money market fund for savings/emergency fund/extra mortgage payments. They typically run about 4% return (I think?), but we're going to talk to our financial guy after tax season to see what's best.
We went to Uxbridge last weekend (I guess 2 weekends ago now) to visit Michelle's grave, and to see Terry and the kids. It was very strange to be there - we hadn't been yet. Terry and the kids also came to meet us there. They've obviously been many times over the last year, as her kids ran over pointing and saying, "there's momma!", touching her picture (they had a picture of her etched on the stone). They've done a great job keeping her "alive" to their kids, but you have to wonder if they really understand.
Nate is now 4 and Noelle is 2, and talking up a storm - much more than the average 2 year old. They say she's just like her Mom, bubbly and chatty. After visiting the site, we all went out for lunch at Swiss Chalet (Yum!), and then our car went back to Terry's house for a short visit with him and the kids. He seems to be doing really well, and the kids are great. So cute and polite (and very active!). Thank god that Michelle's parents moved close so that her Mom could help out with them.
My cold is still lingering a little bit - just a nagging cough now (like a tickle in my throat), but mostly gone.
And in other news, as of this afternoon, I AM OFFICIALLY STUDENT LOAN FREE !! The last lump sum is set up to come out at some point today - the last time it came out late afternoon, so by tonight I will be free of student debt. FINALLY! (*only* 9 years to pay back ~$44k + interest. How depressing)
To celebrate, we're going out for dinner somewhere, at some point. We're going to combine it into a Student-Load-Free-Valentines-Birthday dinner, and we have a new-found budget for this dinner of exactly $380! ;) Just kidding - I couldn't spend that much for dinner.
We do plan on putting that monthly money (plus a bit) into some kind of money market fund for savings/emergency fund/extra mortgage payments. They typically run about 4% return (I think?), but we're going to talk to our financial guy after tax season to see what's best.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
sick sick sick
I've been sick all week, and I'm getting tired of it. It sucks and I don't want to be at work (well, I'm blogging at work now....) I'm not feeling quite bad enough to stay home, but feeling crappy enough to not want to be here.
This is by far the longest and most sick I've been in MANY, many years. Marn has never seen me like this, actually. The most has been like the other week when I posted about it. I'd get the chills and sweat it out that night, but the next day be fine. This has been that, times 3+ days, congestion, sore and phlegmy throat, dizziness, soreness (feels a little like whiplash).
I think I picked it up from Cora as we spent some time with them last week and over the weekend, and she had been sick for a few days already.
I started feeling it on Sunday while we went out for brunch with Marn's family (Mandarin for Dumpling festival). I knew something wasn't right because I only had 2 helpings of dumplings (!!) and my stomach didn't feel right.
Anyway, last night was the first night since Sunday afternoon that I didn't sweat through my sheets/clothes I wore to bed, and also the first night that I didn't toss and turn all night waking up every hour. So that was nice. Things are turning!
And on a strange turn of events, Marn has been boiling hot at night while I've been freezing (yet, sweating). So it's me for once trying to steal her heat, but she's having none of it. But it's fine for her to take my heat, though!
Anyway hopefully this weekend I'll be able to kick it. Our friends Dog Niko is staying with us Friday and Saturday night while they get moved into their new house. Echo will have a blast, but this dog is a B*tch (female Doberman). She doesn't want anything to do with any dog wanting to play with her.... they've met before and both times, she just puts on a perma-growl, full teeth showing anytime Echo came near her. And Echo being the big dumb "play with me!" fellow that he is, took no notice, got snapped at a few times and kept going back for more. He just doesn't understand that language yet.... so it should be interesting. If it were up to him, he would mouth Niko while laying down beside her, all day and night long (much like he did when Mariner was here, but at least she dished it back!). It'll be a good test for him to start to learn to not play in the house.
Also this Sunday a bunch of us are driving up to Uxbridge to visit Michelle's grave. It'll be 1 year (already!) on Monday since her passing from breast cancer.
This is by far the longest and most sick I've been in MANY, many years. Marn has never seen me like this, actually. The most has been like the other week when I posted about it. I'd get the chills and sweat it out that night, but the next day be fine. This has been that, times 3+ days, congestion, sore and phlegmy throat, dizziness, soreness (feels a little like whiplash).
I think I picked it up from Cora as we spent some time with them last week and over the weekend, and she had been sick for a few days already.
I started feeling it on Sunday while we went out for brunch with Marn's family (Mandarin for Dumpling festival). I knew something wasn't right because I only had 2 helpings of dumplings (!!) and my stomach didn't feel right.
Anyway, last night was the first night since Sunday afternoon that I didn't sweat through my sheets/clothes I wore to bed, and also the first night that I didn't toss and turn all night waking up every hour. So that was nice. Things are turning!
And on a strange turn of events, Marn has been boiling hot at night while I've been freezing (yet, sweating). So it's me for once trying to steal her heat, but she's having none of it. But it's fine for her to take my heat, though!
Anyway hopefully this weekend I'll be able to kick it. Our friends Dog Niko is staying with us Friday and Saturday night while they get moved into their new house. Echo will have a blast, but this dog is a B*tch (female Doberman). She doesn't want anything to do with any dog wanting to play with her.... they've met before and both times, she just puts on a perma-growl, full teeth showing anytime Echo came near her. And Echo being the big dumb "play with me!" fellow that he is, took no notice, got snapped at a few times and kept going back for more. He just doesn't understand that language yet.... so it should be interesting. If it were up to him, he would mouth Niko while laying down beside her, all day and night long (much like he did when Mariner was here, but at least she dished it back!). It'll be a good test for him to start to learn to not play in the house.
Also this Sunday a bunch of us are driving up to Uxbridge to visit Michelle's grave. It'll be 1 year (already!) on Monday since her passing from breast cancer.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Guitar Hero...
I forgot to mention that I finished Guitar Hero on "Medium" a few weeks ago. So much fun! I have started "Hard" (which adds the fifth button and comes down faster with many more combo's), but not very often have I actually completed a song yet. It's still very difficult for me, but really fun. For kicks, and just to see what it was like, I tried "Expert" level... WOW! Impossible! I'm not sure I finished even half a song on that yet. You would have to play that game A LOT in order to play at that difficulty level.
We're going to have to have a Guitar Hero party soon. It's great fun, and the only way to play is standing up and really LOUD.
We're going to have to have a Guitar Hero party soon. It's great fun, and the only way to play is standing up and really LOUD.
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