My wife has already commented on Tim Horton's contest/lottery so I won't here, but to say that I am 1 for 8 with the win being a free coffee. I didn't realize that the free coffee for was any size so by the time I ordered a medium Cafe Mocha and handed over the "coupon" (as they call it) it was too late to change it for a large. Grrr....
But on the topic of Tim Horton's, the company had its IPO (initial public offering in stock market terms), yesterday and I find it fascinating that stocks can go up in price on pure hype. Tim Horton's share rose $5 in one day. I think that is why I am so reluctant to "invest" in shares of a company. My friends have likened it to gambling. I think they were referring to the popular trend of day trading, where people buy and sell shares based on movement of price (sell high, buy low) and not on any public knowledge or long term investment. I agree that is gambling.
But long term investment in shares can also be high risk if you are not on top of your research and news. If you are investing in stocks, you have to invest time as well - and I guess that is what I don't have is time! (well, money as well for stocks)
Which connects me to my third thought for this blog - I am reminded of a board game I used to play - Stock Tickers. It is a fun game of rolling of the dice to mimick the stock market and you buys and sell shares between rolls. It is fun because you can split your stocks or it can go to 0. It is fun to play with risk takers cause they either win really big, or lose really big. Fun times! if any of you are big board game players, you are welcome to play any time (which reminds me that there is still a Wongs vs. Mattheis game of Scrabble to be played)!
PS - Winning - I guess I had that to connect the three thoughts, you can win in all three things.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Saving money
So the local power comapny is raising rates again and it is going to be more expensive to use electricity. As a new home owner, this bad news to me and it got me thinking how to save more money and electricity.
Well, one thing that I learned over the past week was how to keep my wood stove burning continuously so that it maintains a desired level of heat. Now I don't have to restart the fire 2 or 3 times a week - I can leave it going for a whole week and and just add more wood from time to time. This is true throughout the night and as long as I set the electric thermostat at 5 degrees Celsius around the house, all is good and we can save electricity. The house doesn't seem to have any drafts so all the heat generated from the stove makes its way up to the top floor. Thank God for wood stoves!
Another way to save energy, I believe Deb and I can do, is to switch all our light bulbs to those low wattage long life bulbs. The only thing is that it costs a lot initially to buy them. As well, most of our lights in our new house are the small socket, chandelier type candle shaped bulbs and there isn't a lot of those low wattage ones out for those types yet. There are a few, but they are way more expensive! So, I think I need to wait for a sale and lobby for more of those types of bulbs...
Well, one thing that I learned over the past week was how to keep my wood stove burning continuously so that it maintains a desired level of heat. Now I don't have to restart the fire 2 or 3 times a week - I can leave it going for a whole week and and just add more wood from time to time. This is true throughout the night and as long as I set the electric thermostat at 5 degrees Celsius around the house, all is good and we can save electricity. The house doesn't seem to have any drafts so all the heat generated from the stove makes its way up to the top floor. Thank God for wood stoves!
Another way to save energy, I believe Deb and I can do, is to switch all our light bulbs to those low wattage long life bulbs. The only thing is that it costs a lot initially to buy them. As well, most of our lights in our new house are the small socket, chandelier type candle shaped bulbs and there isn't a lot of those low wattage ones out for those types yet. There are a few, but they are way more expensive! So, I think I need to wait for a sale and lobby for more of those types of bulbs...
Monday, March 6, 2006
Memory...
Memory - my memory bites. Do you not hate the feeling when you come across a person you know, but don't can't remember the name? Well, today was one of those days. After seeing a friend to the front door, the door next to our house (we live in a duplex) opens. I look up and say, "Hi there" my usual greeting without thinking who it was. "Hi Joshua" he said. I froze... it was my neighbor and I just blanked out. I couldn't remember his name. I looked down, and then after an awkward silence, I shouted something to my departing friend and hastily closed the door.
I felt like crawling under a rock! I can't believe I don't remember his name. Mind you, I only met him once while I was shovelling the snow off my driveway, but you would think I would remember such details - he remembered my name.
Not only did I not remember my neighbor's name, I wasn't too quick on my feet. Deb was right beside me and all I had to do was introduce her to my neighbors and hopefully they would have said their names by introducing themselves. But no, I had to make an awkward situation more awkward by closing the door.
Anyway, I have gotten over the feeling of hitting over myself over the head many times over (I think) and will make the point to introduce ourselves. I feel like we have to bake cookies or something and give it to them as we introduce ourselves... is that from a movie or something? Anyway, this time, I need to write the names down...
I felt like crawling under a rock! I can't believe I don't remember his name. Mind you, I only met him once while I was shovelling the snow off my driveway, but you would think I would remember such details - he remembered my name.
Not only did I not remember my neighbor's name, I wasn't too quick on my feet. Deb was right beside me and all I had to do was introduce her to my neighbors and hopefully they would have said their names by introducing themselves. But no, I had to make an awkward situation more awkward by closing the door.
Anyway, I have gotten over the feeling of hitting over myself over the head many times over (I think) and will make the point to introduce ourselves. I feel like we have to bake cookies or something and give it to them as we introduce ourselves... is that from a movie or something? Anyway, this time, I need to write the names down...
Thursday, March 2, 2006
NHL 2005
In light of Canada's sobering lost in the Olympics, I sometimes want to get away and plug in NHL 2005 to see if things would come out differently if I chose the team for Canada.
Anyway, that leads to one of my favourite pastimes - playing NHL on my Gamecube with my favourite hockey team, the Calgary Flames. I like the Flames not only because I was born and raised in Calgary, but the great players that have come out of Calgary.
So, I love playing Flames in NHL 2005 and currently enjoying a great 2005-2006 season. With great trades that has landed me Staal, Knuble, Bergeron, Draper and other great players, we have clinched the number 1 spot in the conference and in good shape for the playoffs. Go Flames Go! (plus they are doing great in real life)
Anyway, that leads to one of my favourite pastimes - playing NHL on my Gamecube with my favourite hockey team, the Calgary Flames. I like the Flames not only because I was born and raised in Calgary, but the great players that have come out of Calgary.
So, I love playing Flames in NHL 2005 and currently enjoying a great 2005-2006 season. With great trades that has landed me Staal, Knuble, Bergeron, Draper and other great players, we have clinched the number 1 spot in the conference and in good shape for the playoffs. Go Flames Go! (plus they are doing great in real life)
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