Lorne & Drew Have News For You - November '08

Have you noticed this logo attached to our yard signs? Do you know what it means?

In Canada, RE/MAX continues to be a strong corporate contributor to the Children's Miracle Network - $3.5 million in 2006. With funds contributed by national sponsors like RE/MAX, the affiliated hospitals are able to provide needed medical care and equipment for more than two million Canadian children every year.
RE/MAX of Western Canada affiliates raise funds through community involvement such as the annual Children's Miracle Network broadcast, pancake breakfasts, golf tournaments, ride-a-thons, walk-a-thons and a myriad of other events. But the cornerstone of our involvement is the Miracle Home® Program whereby the sales associate pledges a contribution derived from each transaction involving a RE/MAX Miracle Home®. 100% of their contribution helps sick children from their community.
RE/MAX chose the Children's Miracle Network as its international charity because ...
The Mission Statement of the Children's Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization, is to "Generate funds and awareness programs for the benefit of children served by its associated hospitals". An outstanding cause!
RE/MAX lists and sells homes with the very families whose children have been served, or may one day be served, by a Children's Miracle Network hospital. One out of ten children will be treated at a Children's Miracle Network hospital by the age of 18.

Lorne takes a break beside one of the support vehicles on the annual Okanagan "Spokes for Kids" ride held in June. This year we raised over $40,000. for the B. C. Children's Hospital.

Last month I mentioned that we were in the middle of a bunch of elections, here in our country and south of the border. Well, as of last Saturday, the current batch of elections is now over, though here in British Columbia we will have a provincial election next May. The most recent vote was for our municipal government and school board.

In the city, Mayor John Dooley was returned for a second term with just over 50% of the votes cast. He was running against 3 aspirants for the position, 1 of whom had been a city councillor for the past 9 years.

6 city councillors were elected from the 7 candidates who placed their hats in the ring. 2 newcomers were elected and 4 are returning council members. The 4 women who were running topped the polls, with Deb Kozak, Margaret Stacey, Donna Macdonald and Kim Charlesworth, followed by Robin Cherbo and Bob Adams.

At the school board level, incumbents Bill Maschlesko and Rob Wright were returned to office, turning aside the challenge from 2 new contenders.

I think it is important to recognize the commitment of these people who serve our community and to thank all those who ran for their community spirit and dedication. This can often be a very thankless task, so I admire all who are willing to take it on.

You have to think that winter can't be far off when you see gorgeous photos like this. Drew and I were on our way to Kaslo last week and this is taken from the viewpoint just south of Mirror Lake.

Last Tuesday was Remembrance Day in Nelson. Dorothy and I attended the services at the Nelson cenotaph. It was a rainy morning, yet about 900 people turned out to pay their respects and to remember those who have served our country, and those who are still serving, particularly in Afghanistan.

I should have taken a photo of the event, although it probably would only have shown a sea of umbrellas! Nevertheless, to see and hear the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band marching, along with the veterans, legion members, police, firefighters, sea and air cadets, scouts, guides, cubs and brownies is a fine sight.

The poppy symbol of Remembrance Day is apparently distinctly Canadian. A few years ago we traveled to Spokane on this day and everyone commented that we "must be Canadians, because we were wearing poppies". Also, we were in Australia on this date 3 years ago, and they do not have a holiday on Nov. 11th. They do have a separate date for remembrance, known as ANZAC Day, commemorating the sacrifice of service-people from Australia and New Zealand.

This link is to another Realtor's web-site in the Victoria area. She sent it out to me around Remembrance Day, regarding the legacy of John McRae, who wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields". http://www.cherylyoung.ca/rememberance_day_2008.html

You know that I have mentioned that my eldest grand-daughter started kindergarten this year. With that in mind, I thought this was an appropriate piece:

Subject: Fwd: Fw: Shirley and Marcy

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.He didn't want his mother to walk with him.She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.So she had an idea of how to handle it.She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in themornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week. As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following usto school all week? Do you know her?' Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.' The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'' That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.' 'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? ''Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you,and give you peace. May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.

The above piece also came to me from another Realtor -- Thanks, Ferne!

Did you know that Prince Charles turned 60 last week? He'll be beyond retirement age before he gets the job he's been training for! For some reason, I remember quite well the celebration when he turned 21 -- and it doesn't seem like it was nearly 40 years ago! That was the summer (1969) that I spent 5 weeks in England and Scotland. I should see if I can find a photo of myself from back then -- on second thought, maybe that's not a good idea. I was kind of a geeky looking teen. (Please, no comments from any who are reading this who have known me that long.) Also, belated birthday greetings to my good friend Dave who is just 5 years younger than Prince Charles.

Comments Made in the Year 1955! That's only 53 years ago!

'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00.'

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000. 00 will only buy a used one.'

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.

'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?'

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.'

'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.'

'Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.'

'I'm a fraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL of DAMN in it.'

'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas ..'

'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.'

'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.'

'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.'

'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.'

'Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.'

'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.'

'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.'

'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.'

'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.'

'No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day in the hospital it's too rich for my blood.'

'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.'

If you know any friends who would get a kick out of these, pass this on! Be sure and send it to your kids and grandkids too...

Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?

3 bedroom, 2 storey + unfinished basement on large lot, fenced with parking area. Freshly painted and carpeted, this home is in a convenient location, within walking distance of most city amenities. For further details, please check out: Full Public (K) - Acres Priced at $299,000.

*Garage Wow* There was a knock at the door. It was a small boy, about six years old. Something of his had found its way into my garage, he said, and he wanted it back. Upon opening the garage door, I noticed two additions: a baseball and a broken window sporting a baseball-sized hole. "How do you suppose this ball got in here?" I asked the boy. Taking one look at the ball, one look at the window, and one look at me, the boy exclaimed, "Wow! I must have thrown it right through that hole!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

I notice that the price of gasoline is back under $1.00 (That's for a litre, not a gallon). It seems to me that Nelson is one of the last places to lower prices -- even Kaslo and Salmo see price reductions before we do. Does anyone have an explanation for this? Why are we paying 7 cents a litre more than the Okanagan? While this bothers me, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. It costs much less to fill up today than it did back in the summer.

*Bank Enunciation* Fresh from a visit to the dentist, I decided to stop at my bank. Barely able to enunciate, I told the teller, "I'm sorry about not speaking more clearly. I've had Novocaine." "You should have used the drive-through," she said. "Why?" "Everyone who goes through sounds like you," she explained.

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

'IN CASE OF EMERGENCY .... ICE'

Lorne's note: I asked a paramedic about this, and he said that it is not yet happening in Canada, but he thought it was a good idea. I have updated my cell directory to include this.

We carry our cell phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but few people know which numbers belong to closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our cell phone but not know who to call. Yes, there are many numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency.

Hence, this In Case of Emergency "ICE" Campaign .

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are now carried by so many people, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name of "ICE" (In Case of Emergency). The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always cell phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel & Hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply entering ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc. A great idea that will make a difference. Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our cell phones today; it could really save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

Well, it's getting near winter. Next month is Christmas, and I keep wondering where the time goes. I got my Christmas lights up on my home last weekend. I like to get this job done before there is snow on the ground, though I don't usually turn them on until December 1st. This year, like most year's something goes wrong during the process. This year I couldn't find all my extension cords for the lawn ornaments. I'm beginning to think that they grow legs during the year and walk away! We'll get that solved within the next week or so, and I will probably have a photo for next month's newsletter.

That's it for now. Thank you for reading. As always your comments, suggestions and interesting articles or links are always welcome.

Lorne & Drew