So, finally, I decided to check on this day in history - and there are a couple of significant political events that took place on November 17th. Most of you may not remember that this was the day that Elizabeth I became queen of England back in 1558. Also on this day, 5 years ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as governor of California. Imagine that - both of these titans assuming power on the same date!
O.K., now I've begun we'll keep going. Last month I had a couple of you-tube videos on some much maligned musical instruments. Immediately after that blog went up, I received another e-mail commenting on another not-s0-highly esteemed piece of musical equipment. (Can you say Lawrence Welk?) Yes, I'm referring to theaccordion. Young man on accordion
Go ahead and check it out - it's less than 3 minutes! Vivaldi like you haven't heard it before!
There is so much information floating around regarding the H1N1 flu and its impact on people. Frankly, I'm tired of it, and confused. However, it is real and here is a helpful chart to assist with determining what you may have:
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All right, that was fairly serious. So, let's change the tone just a bit:
Ignore it............
..................It's just spam.
Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?
A three bedroom, 2 bath home on a quarter acre landscaped lot on a quiet no-thru-road in lower Rosemont. This is walking distance to downtown Nelson. The home is lovingly maintained and updated. There is also a triple garage with a studio above. For full details, please check out our web-site at: November featured home
$449,000
Part of our administrative duties at this time of year involves updating our calendar lists for distribution in the next few weeks. If you have received one of our calendars in the past, you should expect to get another one this year (They always seem to wear out about this time). If you haven't been getting one, and would like to, just drop us a note and we'll make sure you are included.
A magazine recently ran a "Dilbert Quotes" contest. They were looking for people to submit quotes from their real-life Dilbert-type managers. These were voted the top quotes in corporate America:
"As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday, and employees will receive their cards in two weeks."
(This was the winning quote from Fred Dales, Microsoft Corp. in Redmond WA )
"What I need is an exact list of specific unknown problems we might encounter."
( Lykes Lines Shipping)
"E-mail is not to be used to pass on information or data. It should be used only for company business."
(Accounting manager, Electric Boat Company)
"This project is so important we can't let things that are more important interfere with it."
(Advertising/Marketing manager, United Parcel Service)
"Doing it right is no excuse for not meeting the schedule."
(Plant Manager, Delco Corporation)
"No one will believe you solved this problem in one day! We've been working on it for months. Now go act busy for a few weeks and I'll let you know when it's time to tell them."
(R&D supervisor, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing/3M Corp.)
Quote from the Boss: "Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say."
(Marketing executive, Citrix Corporation)
My sister passed away and her funeral was scheduled for Monday. When I told my Boss, he said she died on purpose so that I would have to miss work on the busiest day of the year. He then asked if we could change her burial to Friday. He said, "That would be better for me."
(Shipping executive, FTD Florists
"We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not going to discuss it with the employees." (Switching supervisor, AT&T Long Lines Division)
That's all.
Now back to real estate. I received an e-mail from a mortgage broker recently that had some good information, and I want to pass along one of his ideas.
If you are planning to sell your home next year (or the year after) and you have a mortgage with a penalty clause in it, then you should consider paying off as much as you can each year (without penalty). This includes this year (2009) if you haven't already make a pre-payment. Sometimes it will make sense to borrow funds against a line of credit to make this mortgage pre-payment, because the mortgage penalty will be less, since the mortgage balance will be lower by the time you pay it off. Of course, if you can time the sale of your property to the mortgage renewal date, or if you have an "open" mortgage, this advice will not apply.
Last year about this time we were bemoaning the fact that the media was portraying so much gloom and doom in their newscasts. Things weren't nearly as bleak as they were telling us. Well, over the past year the stories have changed, and now they tell us that October, 2009 was the best month ever for home sales across Canada. While it makes no sense to argue with statistics, one needs to realize that the cross-country statistics mostly reflect the major markets, because that's where most of the people and most of the houses are. There are still many markets, and Nelson is one of them, where sales are not "red hot". However, we are noticing more activity occurring and prices are no longer falling. It is my feeling that by next spring we will be back into full swing with our sales. Although the winter season tends to be slower than others, now is a very good time to buy! So, if you're in the market to buy a home, don't hesitate to call us!
Lest We Forget - Last week we remembered those who have served, and are serving our country. I believe that the crowds that turn out each year are growing larger. Certainly that was the case in Nelson as we gathered on a blustery day, although by the time of the Nelson Flying Club's tribute fly-past there was a patch of blue in the sky. I tried to capture that sight with my camera, but was just a bit too slow.
I did manage to capture the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band as they led the parade of veterans, police and service agencies, scouts, cubs, guides, brownies and sea and air force cadets to the cenotaph service last Wednesday.
A few END-OF-THE-DAY questions for YOU!
Did I make someone giggle, smile or laugh today?
Did I take the time to really listen to someone today, with rapt attention, as if nothing else mattered in that precious moment but the words they spoke and the look in their eyes?
Did I allow myself to focus on all the blessings in my life today instead of contemplating the things I don't have?
Did I take a moment to imagine what I would like to experience in my life, if for no other reason than in the imagining, is the living, and in the living, comes the joy and delight?
Did I let go today, let go of resentments and unforgivingness that I have been holding onto, all the while realizing that another person may be wounded too and struggling with their own pain?
Did I keep my word today, no matter how simple a promise I may have made, knowing it meant a whole lot to someone else?
Did I make a conscious choice just to be happy today, no matter what is happening in my own life, just for the next moment, and the next moment and the next?
Did I stop caring about what other people think of me, and give myself permission to be who I am regardless of their good opinion of me or not? Did I set myself free today just by doing that?
Was I successful in noticing and appreciating the bounty before me wherever I went or was I just too busy or lost in my own thoughts to notice?
Did I contribute something beautiful to the world today? A new creation of some kind, a poem, a dinner, a dance?
Was I kind today to anyone or anything that crossed my path, no matter how trivial or how monumental? Did I give away my heart?
Is one person richer because of me today, because of my presence on the planet, my essence, my decision to keep on going no matter what?
Did I learn something new today, something about life, something about myself, something about another that I didn't know before?
Did I let go of my attachment to being right today, and open my mind to the possibility of another way, without judgement?
Will someone sleep better tonight because of me? Will they awaken in the morning believing in themselves again, and walk with their head held high?
Was I the answer to someone's prayers today?
If today was to be my last day on the planet, would I feel happy about how I lived it?
Veronica Hay
Veronica Hay is the author of In a Dream, You Can Do Anything. An extraordinary collection of writings that will uplift you, motivate you, inspire you, and gently guide you along the inner path of your life. Go to: www.insightsandinspirations.com
I'll leave you with a final bit of humour and a word of thanks for reading our newsletter. We appreciate your contributions (this month thanks go to Bryan, Bud, Celia, Dave & George. I hope I haven't missed out any other contributors). As always, if you would prefer not to receive this link each month, just let us know and we will remove your e-mail address from the recipient list. Of course, we'd be particularly pleased if you would mention our names to friends and acquaintances who need the assistance of a Realtor and we're happy to hear from you at any time.
First I got - -
Elmer says, "First, I got tonsillitis, followed by appendicitis and pneumonia. After that I got erysipelas with hemachromatosis. Following that I got poliomyelitis and finally ended up with neuritis. Then they gave me hypodermics and inoculations."
Calvin says, "Boy, you had quite a time!"
Elmer replies, "I'll say! I thought I'd never pull through that spelling test."
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
Lorne & Drew
