3 facts about you right *now*

by **ukus** on Fri Jan 08, 2010 7:01 pm

eddie2003 wrote:You can do it!

Go for the gold!

?

by **mr dragon** on Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:40 am

Eddie's gearing up for the 2012 Olympics....

by **kitchenwitch** on Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:13 am

Maybe Eddie is one of the mascots and that's why he's been so scarce. Of course if they find out he's not really Canadian there could be some trouble. Although I do believe they're supposed to be friendly as well and that could cause a problem too.
Then again he is a Badger and they're not known for their charm....

by **Druid 2156** on Sun Jan 10, 2010 12:59 pm

Mr Retro wrote:
Druid 2156 wrote:Tom, my brother lives in Red Bluff, I guess out of town. He works as a mechanic for the WalMart distribution center there.

Red Bluff, even though in the center of the state is considered northern California as it is north of Sacramento, the state capitol. Just about any city or town in the San Joaquin Valley, which is a large agricultural area exactly in the middle of the state, would be considered "central California."

You see, I didn't know that. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

by **waterbeetle** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:01 pm

kitchenwitch wrote:Maybe Eddie is one of the mascots and that's why he's been so scarce. Of course if they find out he's not really Canadian there could be some trouble. Although I do believe they're supposed to be friendly as well and that could cause a problem too.
Then again he is a Badger and they're not known for their charm....

Those are some goofy looking mascots. The bears got a goatee, earmuffs (looks like summer out to me) and a tattoo, probably a pot smoker, the bird is wearing some sort of anti-government mind control hat, and I'm not quite sure what the other thing is but he don't look right to me, sort of the Ed Grimley of the cartoon animal world.

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:29 pm

waterbeetle wrote:
kitchenwitch wrote:Maybe Eddie is one of the mascots and that's why he's been so scarce. Of course if they find out he's not really Canadian there could be some trouble. Although I do believe they're supposed to be friendly as well and that could cause a problem too.
Then again he is a Badger and they're not known for their charm....

Those are some goofy looking mascots. The bears got a goatee, earmuffs (looks like summer out to me) and a tattoo, probably a pot smoker, the bird is wearing some sort of anti-government mind control hat, and I'm not quite sure what the other thing is but he don't look right to me, sort of the Ed Grimley of the cartoon animal world.

A skunk, maybe? I hadn't noticed the other one had wings - it doesn't have a beak (since when do birds have noses?) or bird-like feet, and I assumed that it had ears under that hat. Maybe the big one is actually Sasquatch? I think they're all some kind of mutants - what's going on up there in Canada, anyway???
:smt009

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:47 pm

JuanaLaLoca wrote: Maybe the big one is actually Sasquatch? I think they're all some kind of mutants - what's going on up there in Canada, anyway???

Thanks, Juana. You set y mind somewhat to rest. At first I thought the central "character" was some kind of ape, which really freaked me out since THERE ARE NO APES IN CANADA!!

Something very strange seems to be going on in British Columbia. :smt090

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:54 pm

Ha! I'm looking up the mascots to see what they are supposed to be, and the first thing I notice is that the big one is named Quatchi! Sounds like a good nickname for a Sasquatch!

Correct!

Quatchi is a young sasquatch who comes from the mysterious forests of Canada. Quatchi is shy, but loves to explore new places and meet new friends.

And Sumi is actually only part bird:

Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Like many Canadians, Sumi's background is drawn from many places. He wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear.

I've never seen an orca wearing a hat like that, but if they say that is the typical one that orca whales wear, who am I to argue?!

And Miga (the skunk-like creature) is a sea bear, which is part bear and part killer whale. Um, ok!

Miga is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, beyond Vancouver Island, near Tofino, British Columbia. Sea bears are part killer whale and part bear. (Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia.)

Like I said - a bunch of mutants!!! :smt008

by **mr dragon** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:13 pm

JuanaLaLoca wrote:
Like I said - a bunch of mutants!!!

You're saying that Juana, with that crazy bird thing you've got going on in your avatar???

;-)

'Seriously' though. What's going on with the Sasquatch thing over in North America? When I was a kid I remember very well when The Six Million Dollar Man fought the Sasquatch in a special two part episode. I even had the bloody Sasquatch toy! The Bionic Man could punch the Sasquatch's stomach with his bionic arm and his chest blew off revealing that he was in fact a robot!!! However fairly recently, I heard that the 'real' Sasquatch had actually been caught by two crazy Americans- yet the whole thing turned out to be a hoax. So, what's the deal with the Sasquatch in North America- you people??? Demanding minds in the UK want to know. I mean, we've got the Loch Ness Monster, and you have that geezer. I think we need a face off!!!

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:24 pm

I even watched a fairly recent movie the other day called The Sasquatch Gang! Although the movie was more about various nerds and slackers, and is by someone who worked on Napoleon Dynamite, than about the Sasquatch. They did find what they thought to be Sasquatch droppings, and then an idiotic Sasquatch expert came to verify it, but that was just one subplot.

And then, of course, there was Harry and the Hendersons - movie and TV series.

And I never claimed that Big Bird with horns and a knife wasn't a mutant!!! :smt018

by **kitchenwitch** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:57 pm

And then there is this:
http://www.messinwithsasquatch.com/

by **ukus** on Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:34 pm

I'm sorry Kitchy but that Sasquatch was really kinda wussy .... never mind messing with him, those lil critters didn't even notice him .... except for the little Gopher on the left but then I just think he was having a good time by himself.

I kinda like Juana attitude of changing to summut completely different for an avatar ...... I might go looking for something different myself (if only for a short time)

Anybody else up for the challenge?

by **kitchenwitch** on Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:09 am

I wasn't claiming he was a tough Sasquatch, just illustrating the fact that we are a a bit nuts about sasquatch over here, and you can fid him anywhere.

I'm game to change the avatar for a while.

by **mr dragon** on Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:34 am

You can't find him anywhere because the Six Million Dollar Man got him. I saw it on the TV when I was seven!!!

I wonder if Nessie's a robot too....

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:51 am

Scheduled oral surgery this morning for February 10th. It's going to be painful, physically and financially, but I've been putting it off since last Spring and it needs to get taken of. Thank God for good dental insurance and flexible spending accounts. It's the same procedure Juana had last year with her gums. I'd rather do it now than have to spend any beautiful spring or summer days recovering.

Just inquired about renting a house in Rockport for a week in May. Something I've been thinking about since last summer. The rates are pretty reasonable before Memorial Day ($845.00 a week). I need something nice to look forward to.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/reviews/p190212

Checking out my classical station on Pandora radio.

by **waterbeetle** on Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:40 pm

Steve Austin has a sasquatch rug in his living room where he and Jamie Sommers "get it on!"

by **ukus** on Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:55 pm

.... I hope he didn't lose his hearing aid in the rug pile!

1 Enjoyed a lovely lazy day doing a jigsaw with my mum.

2 Lit a fire in the late afternoon and we sat around it (joined by the furry kids) drinking tea as we reminisced.

3. Dad made dinner.... Nasi Goreng ..... thanks dad.

by **Druid 2156** on Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:22 pm

* Sitting at work with about an hour and a quarter left to go.

* Drinking coffee

* Getting, erm, windy by the burrito that I ate

by **bll** on Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:13 pm

Me thinks Druid just had a bit of an overshare :smt020

Spent far too long on my feet to day in raw, damp muddy weather at an aution at a farm I'm going to list; I ache badly , but the property is cleared out. I got there a bit after 7 am and got home a couple hours ago.

Should be working on my listing instead of having a glass of wine and reading on the computer...... but I'm knackered.

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:08 pm

ukus wrote:I kinda like Juana attitude of changing to summut completely different for an avatar ...... I might go looking for something different myself (if only for a short time)

You got it!!!
:smt008

by **ukus** on Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:05 am

Um ..... well this is awkward and a good lesson for me to wear my glasses when renewing my avatar so I can see what the little print says

Time for a photobucket edit

by **wakeyboy** on Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:20 am

Karen, I thought it was good and funny with the original text. :smt012

Oh well, at least we still know that Catduck gives not one...

by **mr dragon** on Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:00 pm

1 Just finished working on a job proposal for something I got offered a while back, but now looks like it's going to be pushed forward, again, to late Feb. I seriously want this particular job. So, fingers crossed...

2 Chilling out, having a beer. Had a busy few days with other things as well.

3 Cooking a jacket potatoe, and also wondering if I can be bothered to wait for it to cook in the oven for that long! It may end up in the microwave ;-)

by **kitchenwitch** on Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:14 pm

ukus wrote:Um ..... well this is awkward and a good lesson for me to wear my glasses when renewing my avatar so I can see what the little print says

Time for a photobucket edit

by **kitchenwitch** on Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:15 pm

mr dragon wrote:1 Just finished working on a job proposal for something I got offered a while back, but now looks like it's going to be pushed forward, again, to late Feb. I seriously want this particular job. So, fingers crossed...

Fingers are crossed. :smt018

by **mr dragon** on Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:54 pm

kitchenwitch wrote:Fingers are crossed.

Thanks man :smt023

I got confirmation today. Booked and confirmed for the end of Feb. Wooohoooo :smt025

I've got an initial production meeting on Thurs. I don't normally want a particular freelance job as much as this merely just on a personal level- but if it is actually what I've been briefed on so far (sometimes they don't quite turn out the way you think they will!) it's probably going to be the most significant to date for my career- if it is what I've been told. So we'll see. However you just don't get opportunities like this very often.

It sounds like I'm boasting, but what the heck! It's been a crappy and tough 15 months for a lot of us- especially self employed people, and I've had to endure some shitty knocks for a while with everything that's happened recently, compared to where I was several years ago- which I'd worked hard for. Mind you, I probably should shut my mouth until after this particular one's in the bag, done and dusted. You never know with some of these jobs- it might turn out to be a nightmare ;-)

I can't publicly say who its for, or give specifics on the internet, because of client confidentiality reasons- especially with this guy. Though I might allude to what it's about once it's completed. I'm basically a little exited kid, inside, right now, who wants to show off a little- but knows it would NOT be very sensible, or professional, if he did it on the internet!

Either way. Just for today. Slainte :drinkers:

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:00 pm

That's great, Dragon! Congrats! (and I hope it turns out to be all you hope!)

by **mr dragon** on Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:31 pm

Thanks, also again, Juana :smt023

You never know with some of these jobs in my business- which is VERY fucking fickle sometimes. I've learned over the years to not expect anything until the job is done, actually on the table and completed successfully (and you've also been paid!). But it's the nicest thing that's happened to me in quite a while. Just the fact I've been offered it has made my day- they put an extra budget in for me to do it. They say what 'goes around, comes around'. I got offered this on the strength of some jobs I've done, some going back before the last two or three years, for a certain person that's well connected with an old client. They didn't have to ask me to do it, they could get someone much more well known for this kind of thing- but they asked me because they like what I can do. So, I'm smiling. There is a God.

I've been wondering about that recently....

;-)

by **kitchenwitch** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:12 am

Excellent news Ben. I guess you won't believe that the job is real until you've cashed the check. I hope it doesn't become a nightmare for you instead of the dream job.

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:31 am

Excellent news Ben - I too hope it turns out well......fingers, toes, eyes an' all crossed.

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:33 am

mr dragon wrote:I got offered this on the strength of some jobs I've done, some going back before the last two or three years, for a certain person that's well connected with an old client. They didn't have to ask me to do it, they could get someone much more well known for this kind of thing- but they asked me because they like what I can do. So, I'm smiling. There is a God.

I've been wondering about that recently....

Yay, Ben!! :smt041

Well done.

by **ukus** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:06 pm

Yesssssss ..... so delighted for you Ben. I'm sure it will be everything you wanted :smt023

by **mr dragon** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:14 pm

Thanks again guys, to the above comments. It's nice to be able to share some personal stuff on here from time to time for all us posters, and as nearly always people are genuinely supportive. Sweet :smt023

by **bll** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:44 pm

As someone who's also self employed I do hope it's all that and a packet of crisps, Ben.

I listed a farm property today for $800,000.00; my largest listing to date. They're the folks I arranged the auction for last Saturday; one of the buyers at the auction expressed an interest in the property, so fingers crossed. I've a few more listings coming up, and just picked up two buyers with a possible third buyer in the waitress we had today at lunch. I enjoy being busy, so I'm working to keep the momentum.

by **ukus** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:14 pm

Good luck to you Barbara .... I hope this new listing brings a healthy percentage ... if anybody deserves it, you do. You care so much about your clients.

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:19 am

Good luck, Barbara!

by **mr dragon** on Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:47 am

Aye, good luck Barbara. I hope it goes through for you. I know what it feels like when you've had slim pickings and things then start to pick up.

by **bll** on Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:26 pm

Thanks, I'm sure you do, Ben. I wrote an offer tonight, so fingers crossed!

by **kitchenwitch** on Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:04 am

An offer for the farm you just listed? Wow, that's really quick. Good luck on that Barbara

Real estate is beginning to pick up again. The bank I work for has begun to push mortgages to the point that they want us to write them at the branch instead of only at the main office.

by **Caer Ibormeith** on Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:38 am

kitchenwitch wrote:An offer for the farm you just listed? Wow, that's really quick. Good luck on that Barbara

Real estate is beginning to pick up again. The bank I work for has begun to push mortgages to the point that they want us to write them at the branch instead of only at the main office.

A good sign for the economy, KW.

I saw Warren Buffet on GMA this morning and he says that they should slow down the building of new homes this year to buck up the sale of existing ones. It will mean better property values for owners, prices still being low enough to attract buyers (especially with the tax credit still in place), and more interest income for banks.

by **bll** on Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:26 am

An offer for the farm you just listed? Wow, that's really quick. Good luck on that Barbara

Oh I wish, but no, I wrote an offer for one of my buyers. But I have had almost 13,000 hits on the farm listing since I put it in the computer Tuesday evening, so that's very good.

by **mr dragon** on Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:13 pm

kitchenwitch wrote:An offer for the farm you just listed? Wow, that's really quick. Good luck on that Barbara

Real estate is beginning to pick up again. The bank I work for has begun to push mortgages to the point that they want us to write them at the branch instead of only at the main office.

The same thing seems to be happening here a little. House prices have jumped about 3% on overall average in this part of the UK in the last few months. Though I also noticed inflation suddenly seems to have jumped by 1-2% around the same time. I'm not an economist in any way, but the sudden inflation jump- if it carries on in the same way, up wards, could be worrying given what we've just come out off- and the money that's been spent. However if it's just inflation re adjusting itself back to 'normal' figures, I assume it's a good thing. So I guess we shall see.

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:02 pm

1. Got my CoolPix cmera yesterday - woo-hoo!!!

2. Watching the ladies short program in the U.S. championships - Sasha Cohen making her comeback now.

3. Going to a surprise birthday party for a friend in a few hours, at a pizza place.

by **kitchenwitch** on Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:26 pm

Are you going to try out your new camera at the b-day party Juana?
Have fun!

by **JuanaLaLoca** on Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:51 pm

kitchenwitch wrote:Are you going to try out your new camera at the b-day party Juana?
Have fun!

Thanks! I still have to buy a memory card for the camera (if Walmart is still open after the party I may stop by, as it's right on my way). I can take a few pictures on the internal memory, but apparently can't load them to my computer. I'll also have to see if I can install the software - it says it requires 512M memory, but I have a problem with my memory and am down to 256.

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:23 pm

I was just talking to Danielle, one of our neighbors, who built this large house across from us and down two, in 2002. The house is 4,000 sq.ft. on a half acre lot (which we all have) and a pool. They decided they didn't need all that house for two of them (no kids) and put it on the market for $425,000. It sold in eleven days!! Family in Colorado saw it on the internet, put in an offer, flew down to look at it and bought it. He's with an oil company and is being transferred here.

by **ukus** on Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:50 pm

JuanaLaLoca wrote:
kitchenwitch wrote:Are you going to try out your new camera at the b-day party Juana?
Have fun!

Thanks! I still have to buy a memory card for the camera (if Walmart is still open after the party I may stop by, as it's right on my way). I can take a few pictures on the internal memory, but apparently can't load them to my computer. I'll also have to see if I can install the software - it says it requires 512M memory, but I have a problem with my memory and am down to 256.

Wouldn't it have been better to stop off at Walmarts BEFORE the party ....I'd like to have seen a pic of all of the fun you had :smt001

by **mr dragon** on Sun Jan 24, 2010 5:08 am

SilverMiniCooperS wrote:I was just talking to Danielle, one of our neighbors, who built this large house across from us and down two, in 2002. The house is 4,000 sq.ft. on a half acre lot (which we all have) and a pool. They decided they didn't need all that house for two of them (no kids) and put it on the market for $425,000. It sold in eleven days!! Family in Colorado saw it on the internet, put in an offer, flew down to look at it and bought it. He's with an oil company and is being transferred here.

$425,000. Good God, that's only about £260,000! My one bed flat was over £200,000 when I bought it. I need to move to America....

by **SilverMiniCooperS** on Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:48 pm

Good grief Ben - that's outrageous.

Here is the house I was talking about....you can see inside....

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes ... 324835.htm

Now, you have to keep in mind that house in say, California would be triple or quadruple that amount. Same for certain areas of New York.

by **mr dragon** on Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:26 pm

SilverMiniCooperS wrote:Good grief Ben - that's outrageous.

That was Greater London prices (in my area) at the very peak of the market in Dec 2007, Jenn. It's not quite worth that now, maybe about 10% less currently. It'll be at least a year or so before it recovers back to that value, depending on what happens with the economy of course.

SilverMiniCooperS wrote:Here is the house I was talking about....you can see inside....

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes ... 324835.htm

Now, you have to keep in mind that house in say, California would be triple or quadruple that amount. Same for certain areas of New York.

Yeah, I was going to say! That's a lot of house for the money. You wouldn't get that over here, wherever you are.