The Daily EO

The Daily EO: March 8th, 2013

There is a CPR war memorial in front of Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver. I’ve admired it many times when I’ve walked by. It features an angel carrying a dead soldier to heaven. I read up on it and found out that the same sculpture was placed in Winnipeg and Montreal by CPR as well.

And I am glad they did because the sculptor did a magnificent job. It is at the same time both achingly sad and almost soothing to see the sculptor’s belief that those who died were cared for after death. And yet the angel grieves as well. I often admire it when I walk by.

But as brilliant as the sculpture is, it is the words etched on the base that give me pause. I find so many phrases and terms are now trite due to over use, but not so here. The author is not known to me, but his words match well with the sculpture itself – grief and care.

To commemorate those in the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company whom at the call of King and Country left all that was dear to them, endured hardship, faced danger and finally passed out of sight of men by the path of duty and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others may live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that their names are not forgotten.

“Out of the sight of men” is my favorite part. Written as if those who died remain – but just not within our sight. A little hope in amongst the sadness.

March 8th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: To be able to write or sculpt that still imparts your intended meaning 90 years later. A gift.

ETD_2187 — I hope they restore the monument while they do the work to Waterfront Station

The Daily EO: March 7th, 2013

My mother is coming to visit on the 13th and it feels strange. She was just here. Just 2 1/2 months ago. This is fast time between visits – as normally one of us would have to travel 4000 kms to see each other. That tends to cut down on visits.

March 7th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: Two women with similar personalities (how do you think I got this way?) – I think 1000 kms is as close as we should get.

See you soon, Mom!

The Daily EO: March 6th, 2013

A “Shanty Town” – Film set for “Continuum” filming on top of the parkade across the street from our place:

March 6th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: I know the reality of filming is much different than the outsider’s view, but to me, it is interesting and exciting to see the different filming in Gastown.

The Daily EO: March 5th, 2013

I’ve been looking for a financial advisor for a long time because I am picky – you can’t be associated with a large chain or bank and you need to charge fees not use commission for compensation. To me, it is a conflict of interest to make commissions from buying and selling and selling your own company’s products. How do I know you are giving me the best advice or just making more money for your self and company? I’m not saying that non-fee based financial advisors are self-interested, I just think that a payment scheme that is based on anything other than maintaining my capital and growing it can lead to difficult situations in the future.

And I found one – one that doesn’t usually look at people who are as small as we are asset wise. But really, the fact that our equity from our house is untouched after 2 years of under- and un-employment is excellent. I am pleased with our progress and hope now that we are working to build a plan, we will start to grow again.

March 5, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: I’m getting “people” again – love it.

The Daily EO: March 4th, 2013

You know that scene in Annie – the movie – when she moves into Daddy Warbucks’ mansion and sings “I think I’m going to like it here!”? Yeah, I haven’t seen it in a while, but I must tell you I love Carol Burnett – I think she is one of the funniest women ever. But that is not the point. When we walked into our apartment, we were sold immediately by the view of North Vancouver. And we sang “I think I’m gonna like it here!”

And so we began the painful process of moving in – trying to figure out what to keep, what to store, what to donate. Where to put everything. And six months later I am feeling at home, and as I sit at the island in my kitchen – with my back to the view – I realize that I like my kitchen. For many reasons:

March 4th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: “These are a few of my favorite things” (oh. . . and I love that Julie Andrews too)

The Daily EO: March 3rd, 2013

We picked up Grandpa and took him to the White Spot for Sunday lunch. I love going to the White Spot – it reminds me of special days out with relatives when I would look forward to my chocolate coin from my pirate pack. And of course – as Grandpa had won at the casino last week – he insisted on treating us.

Lunch was followed by a visit to his place to pick up his tax files – as I am doing his tax return again this year. Grandpa is on an installment plan for taxes. The government sends him a letter to tell him how much to pay 4 times a year. My grandfather is fortunate and was able to earn a comfortable retirement. This means that sometimes the government’s tax installment plan isn’t enough to cover his tax payable. Last year, he had to pay.

I am not entirely sure, but I think that Grandpa still believes that this could be math error on my part. But for 2012, he was determined not to have to pay taxes when it was time for me to file his tax return. This resulted in him uping all of his tax installment payments (beyond what the government says he owes) and at the end of December, sending in an additional payment.

When I called to let him know that he is getting a refund this year, I could hear his glee.

March 3rd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: My grandfather beat those bastards! They are giving him a refund!

Of his own money, of course.

The Daily EO: March 2nd, 2013

With some prodding from my husband, I went to bed at 9 pm on Friday and found myself self awake at 6:45 am but feeling pretty well rested. The thought occurred to me to go to the gym and I bounced out of bed and into my gym clothes before I could roll over and snooze that idea away.

By 8:30, had hd run 5 kms, done 120 Russian Twists, pulled 45 lats reps and finished stretching. All that was left was a protein shake and another big glass of water.

I wasted an hour or two doing something on the computer – so wasted in fact that I cannot remember what it was. I went down to London Drugs to pick up a couple of things.

That afternoon – after a break in the rain – Emile and I headed out to do some shopping – well, really browsing at high-end stereo equipment and high-end hand bags. Needless to say, we didn’t buy anything.

March 2nd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: An agendaless amble through Vancouver’s downtown core with a hot tea in hand.

The Daily EO: March 1st, 2013

Ga! It’s March already. When did that happen?

And so at the end of the week, my part of the project is complete and I can finally come home and do nothing. How did I celebrate?

Well, first things first. For anyone of you who have ever had a home insurance claim, it is bizarre. An insurance company will give you two values for your items – replacement and Actual Cash Value (ACV). So, say if you had your Kate Spade wallet stolen that was several years old, they will give you replacement of $228 or 50% for ACV ($114). The percentage varies with the age and the item, but you get the picture.

Well, faced with the loss of my sunglasses, back pack, wallet, and several other items that I used all the time and need, I indicated to the insurance company that I would be replacing them. But my cell phone – which I already had a new one from work, I wasn’t going to replace. Once I had informed the insurance company about what I was going to replace, I asked how I send them the receipts for my new items. They said – no receipts – we’re just sending you a cheque and closing the claim.

Huh? Then what was all the rigmarole about? So, how do they know I am actually replacing these things? Or just going on a spa vacation?

Anyhoo, I celebrated by buying the pair of Burberry Sunglasses that I had been eyeing up. On-line of course, for almost 50% cheaper than in store.

March 1st, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: I may have a fat insurance cheque coming, but I’m still not paying retail.

The Daily EO: February 28th, 2013

There is a point at which during every month of February, I realize that 15th of February (which happened to be a Friday this year), will fall on the exact same day in March. And every four years I am slightly disappointed that it is not true.

I have a bizarre sense of pattern recognition and when things deviate from those patterns. I don’t live my life in repetitive patterns (there is no “it’s Friday, so we have to eat Fish” in my house – for many reasons), but it gives me a schema to categorize the world and deal with it’s constant chaos.

Analogies and strange comparisons work for me. It’s the ease of pattern recognition – and the deviations – that make me a good Materials Manager. It’s data, data and more data when analyzing inventory, demand, orders, etc and being able to find the pattern within chaos. And seeing when you have a problem – the pattern goes out of whack – is the most important. I can see it before most and have a plan ready. My desk is completely cluttered and my brain pings back and forth, but there is a pattern in that for me.

February 28th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: Find your strengths, and work with them. They may be bizarre, but somewhere out there you’ll find something that you can do better than most.

The Daily EO: February 27th, 2013

And tonight was the dinner from yesterday’s dumpling extravaganza.

The hard part was done, now it was just the chiffonade of sage, browning the butter and frying them up. I wonder how we could ever not like something that was made with white flour and fried in butter, topped with real parmesan cheese? I am not sure.

Our dinner guest and my husband had some beer – I held off from the wine because I had to work on said project later that night – and we commenced with mincing, browning, frying and grating to finish off this recipe. Oh, yeah, he threw some pork chops on too.

They were.. . . chewy, slightly sweet, buttery, sage, cheesy. .. pretty damn good.

February 27th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: I wonder if I could buy these at Granville Island? That was pretty involved.