I was reading a boring article this morning about how Canada's first-time home buyers are "exploring new paths." There was honestly nothing interesting about the article except that it mentioned buying a home as a group is becoming more popular. The advantage is with a higher combined income, you can qualify to buy "more home." The disadvantage is trying to sort things out when someone decides to move out.
Before, I never would have considered moving in with friends, never mind buying a house with friends. In fact, I've never lived with a girlfriend. I've always lived with a boyfriend or by myself. But with the way the housing market is, it actually makes sense for 4 adults to pool their money and purchase a home together. Depending on everyone's income, you could probably get a $300K home. Each adult is paying $600 a month for mortgage and utilities or less if they've saved a big down payment. I think that's a good deal.
But you'd have to be really good friends. I mean really good friends. Some friendships dissolve under the pressure of living together. Some people are just better friends than they are roommates. Take me for example... I think I'm a wonderful friend but a terrible person to live with. I'm messy. I have 3 cats and they're messy. I have a child and she's messy. I'm going to have another child and that child will be messy. My boyfriend's messy. Who would want to live with us? Equally messy friends I guess.
We'll have to purchase a home the traditional way.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Or You Could Just Wear a Pin...
Of all the ways you can support a person struggling to beat cancer, it seems as though drastically changing your hair style is the only thing some kids can think of to do. That's kind of sad.
- Battle over teen's pink mohawk
- Nine year old girl suspended for shaving head bald
A 17 year old boy died his mohawk pink to show support for his mom who has cancer. This violates his school's dress code and he was told if he wanted to continue to be on the track team, he had to change his hair. He chose to leave the track team so he could keep his hair. He says he chose "family."
A 9 year old girl shaved her head bald to support her friend who's going through chemo right now. She was suspended from school for a day because it violated her school's dress code, but was allowed to come back after mounting pressure from the public.
When I see a teen with a pink mohawk, my first thought is, "That kid looks like a hooligan," and not, "Does that guy know someone with cancer?" Why a pink mohawk? How does that possibly represent support for cancer research/people who have cancer? There are so many other things you can do to show support in a much more recognizable way. Pin a ribbon to your shirt or bag. Wear a custom shirt. Donate money. Hold a fundraiser. Create some jewellery. Make some art or write a song and share it with others. Dying your mohawk pink is not the best way to show your support, especially if it gets you kicked off the track team! That's not choosing family, that's choosing stupidity!
As for the 9 year old who shaved her hair off - while that may have seemed like a brave and noble thing to do at the time, it was actually a really stupid thing to do. Her school's dress code made it clear that skin-heads aren't allowed. School's have dress codes and hair policies for a reason and you can't just start breaking whatever rules you want in order to "support" certain people or causes. Support your causes within the rules. The parents should have applauded their daughter's idea because it was a nice thought, but it was ultimately the wrong gesture.
This generation is so gung-ho about their "rights" that they don't ever consider the consequences of their actions. You can't just do whatever the hell you want in name of a "good cause." That's not how the real world works. Then the whiny public jumps in crying, "...but it's for cancer!!!" like somehow that's supposed to make a difference. You can support your causes and look professional at the same time! There is no need for crazy hair.
Schools have some pretty stupid rules nowadays, but the one thing I agree with is students having professional hair and dress. If you want to look like a clown, go join the circus.
- Battle over teen's pink mohawk
- Nine year old girl suspended for shaving head bald
A 17 year old boy died his mohawk pink to show support for his mom who has cancer. This violates his school's dress code and he was told if he wanted to continue to be on the track team, he had to change his hair. He chose to leave the track team so he could keep his hair. He says he chose "family."
A 9 year old girl shaved her head bald to support her friend who's going through chemo right now. She was suspended from school for a day because it violated her school's dress code, but was allowed to come back after mounting pressure from the public.
When I see a teen with a pink mohawk, my first thought is, "That kid looks like a hooligan," and not, "Does that guy know someone with cancer?" Why a pink mohawk? How does that possibly represent support for cancer research/people who have cancer? There are so many other things you can do to show support in a much more recognizable way. Pin a ribbon to your shirt or bag. Wear a custom shirt. Donate money. Hold a fundraiser. Create some jewellery. Make some art or write a song and share it with others. Dying your mohawk pink is not the best way to show your support, especially if it gets you kicked off the track team! That's not choosing family, that's choosing stupidity!
As for the 9 year old who shaved her hair off - while that may have seemed like a brave and noble thing to do at the time, it was actually a really stupid thing to do. Her school's dress code made it clear that skin-heads aren't allowed. School's have dress codes and hair policies for a reason and you can't just start breaking whatever rules you want in order to "support" certain people or causes. Support your causes within the rules. The parents should have applauded their daughter's idea because it was a nice thought, but it was ultimately the wrong gesture.
This generation is so gung-ho about their "rights" that they don't ever consider the consequences of their actions. You can't just do whatever the hell you want in name of a "good cause." That's not how the real world works. Then the whiny public jumps in crying, "...but it's for cancer!!!" like somehow that's supposed to make a difference. You can support your causes and look professional at the same time! There is no need for crazy hair.
Schools have some pretty stupid rules nowadays, but the one thing I agree with is students having professional hair and dress. If you want to look like a clown, go join the circus.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
It's Like Losing A Leg
I had another vivid dream last night. It was about my Grandma and this dream felt very real. She was alive and she'd done some baking. Company was over. I was so surprised to see her, I kept staring at her and she looked right into my eyes and smiled. I thought if I touched her she'd disintegrate into black ash, but I threw my arms around her and hugged her so tight. The way she felt in my arms, the way she smelled, it was real, I didn't want to let go. We were both so happy!
I woke up in her Laz-e-boy I inherited in my living room at 5 in the morning. It was disorienting, but then I remembered how laying in the bed made me feel sick. I didn't feel sick any more so I crawled into bed and cried a bit thinking about Grandma.
Before bed, Bob and I were watching a crime series on Netflix. A lovely old woman was talking about what it felt like to have her child murdered. She said you never get over it and life never gets easier, you just learn to live without. It's like losing a leg; you learn to get on with your life and you become proficient without it. But even if you received a prosthetic leg, you would always want your real leg.
That's exactly how I feel about Grandma. I will always wish she were still alive, even when I have great-grandchildren of my own.
I woke up in her Laz-e-boy I inherited in my living room at 5 in the morning. It was disorienting, but then I remembered how laying in the bed made me feel sick. I didn't feel sick any more so I crawled into bed and cried a bit thinking about Grandma.
Before bed, Bob and I were watching a crime series on Netflix. A lovely old woman was talking about what it felt like to have her child murdered. She said you never get over it and life never gets easier, you just learn to live without. It's like losing a leg; you learn to get on with your life and you become proficient without it. But even if you received a prosthetic leg, you would always want your real leg.
That's exactly how I feel about Grandma. I will always wish she were still alive, even when I have great-grandchildren of my own.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Vivid Pregnancy Dreams
I love analyzing my dreams. I love when I wake up and I remember everything so clearly just before it fades away. Lately, I've been having very realistic dreams. All my senses are ignited and it honestly feels so real even when the situation makes no sense. (Like when I dreamed Backstreet Boys were going to be playing a private concert in Woodridge. So mad that wasn't real!)
They're different dreams every time. Last night I was on the back of a taller than average roller-coaster and my car disconnected and fell off the track. An ex-boyfriend was in the car that stayed on the track and the look of fear in his eyes was so real. I screamed, "I love you!" but he never responded. After I thought, maybe my last words should have been, "Tell my family I love them," but he was out of ear shot.
I was so high up in the air, the ground looked like a quilt and it was cool and windy. I was panicked, freaking out, I knew I was going to die, so I just let my body go limp. I completely relaxed it and the fall felt very nice. I had my eyes closed, enjoying the ride, not bracing for contact with the ground at all and then my eyes fluttered open in real life and I was in my bed. I felt so relaxed and comfortable when I woke up. It was incredible. I never wake up feeling good like that.
The falling, the ex-boyfriend, the events leading up to the roller-coaster (which included magically flying up to it)... it's got to mean something. I know flying dreams are supposed to have positive overtones and falling dreams are typically a negative dream to have, but there was no twitching or jerking or fear just before hitting the ground. Plus, I felt more apprehensive flying up to the roller-coaster than I did falling from it. This was a positive dream with a positive meaning, I think. Perhaps a reflection dream?
Apparently it's normal for pregnant ladies to have more vivid dreams. Here's a little quote from WebMD I found interesting:
They're different dreams every time. Last night I was on the back of a taller than average roller-coaster and my car disconnected and fell off the track. An ex-boyfriend was in the car that stayed on the track and the look of fear in his eyes was so real. I screamed, "I love you!" but he never responded. After I thought, maybe my last words should have been, "Tell my family I love them," but he was out of ear shot.
I was so high up in the air, the ground looked like a quilt and it was cool and windy. I was panicked, freaking out, I knew I was going to die, so I just let my body go limp. I completely relaxed it and the fall felt very nice. I had my eyes closed, enjoying the ride, not bracing for contact with the ground at all and then my eyes fluttered open in real life and I was in my bed. I felt so relaxed and comfortable when I woke up. It was incredible. I never wake up feeling good like that.
The falling, the ex-boyfriend, the events leading up to the roller-coaster (which included magically flying up to it)... it's got to mean something. I know flying dreams are supposed to have positive overtones and falling dreams are typically a negative dream to have, but there was no twitching or jerking or fear just before hitting the ground. Plus, I felt more apprehensive flying up to the roller-coaster than I did falling from it. This was a positive dream with a positive meaning, I think. Perhaps a reflection dream?
Apparently it's normal for pregnant ladies to have more vivid dreams. Here's a little quote from WebMD I found interesting:
"There is a greater amount of actual dreaming and dream recall when a woman is pregnant than at any other time during her life," says Patricia Garfield, PhD. "The dreams will relate to her condition of pregnancy, the trimester she is in, and what is going on in her body at the time."I'm not sure how falling to my death because of a faulty roller-coaster relates to my first trimester. According to the same website, woman usually have fertility dreams during the first trimester; dreams about water, gardens, fruit, flowers, swimming. Sounds nice, but not like anything I've been dreaming about lately.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Minimalistic Frugal Sustainable
Minimalistic, frugal, and sustainable.
Those are the 3 words that I want to use to describe my lifestyle this year and for years to come. With my Grandma dying almost a week ago now, I've been thinking a lot about how she lived her life and how I can implement those ideas into my own life. I've already been hard at work these last couple days.
Minimalistic: Every human seems to love wide open spaces and usually tries to avoid being in cramped, tight spaces for too long. I spend the majority of my time in my apartment and I would absolutely love to have more space! I've decided to embark on a 30 day challenge which requires me to remove at least 1 thing from my home that I've been saving, every day, for 30 days. Trash it, recycle it, sell it, donate it... it doesn't matter what I do with it, so long as it is out of here. I'll let you know how it goes in a month.
Frugal: It's not the first word that comes to mind when I think of my spending habits, but hopefully I can get there soon. While I do try to buy things on sale or use coupons when available, the issue for me is not always the sale price, but how much stuff I'm trying to buy. I like to shop. I like to spend money. My grandma only bought what she truly needed, or what she could share with others. Going over board with groceries is me getting my shopping high under the guise of "it's for the family." But I'm really going to make a conscious effort to scale back, and use up what I have in the cupboard before going out and getting more. This ties in with being a minimalist.
Sustainable: This one I have trouble with as it can often clash with minimalism if you're not careful. In my opinion, a sustainable life is one of frugality, where you reduce what you bring in and throw out, reuse what you can, for as long as you can, and recycle everything else. Grandma saved and reused margarine and yogurt containers. She washed and reused aluminum foil. Old shirts became rags for cleaning. Sometimes people find that they start hoarding all this stuff with the intention of using it for something else later. I'm definitely the type of person to start a project and not finish it, so hopefully I can keep a good balance here.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the subject for now. Get rid of all the stuff I'm saving for no good reason, stop bringing in more stuff, and find a way to use up the stuff I already have.
Those are the 3 words that I want to use to describe my lifestyle this year and for years to come. With my Grandma dying almost a week ago now, I've been thinking a lot about how she lived her life and how I can implement those ideas into my own life. I've already been hard at work these last couple days.
Minimalistic: Every human seems to love wide open spaces and usually tries to avoid being in cramped, tight spaces for too long. I spend the majority of my time in my apartment and I would absolutely love to have more space! I've decided to embark on a 30 day challenge which requires me to remove at least 1 thing from my home that I've been saving, every day, for 30 days. Trash it, recycle it, sell it, donate it... it doesn't matter what I do with it, so long as it is out of here. I'll let you know how it goes in a month.
Frugal: It's not the first word that comes to mind when I think of my spending habits, but hopefully I can get there soon. While I do try to buy things on sale or use coupons when available, the issue for me is not always the sale price, but how much stuff I'm trying to buy. I like to shop. I like to spend money. My grandma only bought what she truly needed, or what she could share with others. Going over board with groceries is me getting my shopping high under the guise of "it's for the family." But I'm really going to make a conscious effort to scale back, and use up what I have in the cupboard before going out and getting more. This ties in with being a minimalist.
Sustainable: This one I have trouble with as it can often clash with minimalism if you're not careful. In my opinion, a sustainable life is one of frugality, where you reduce what you bring in and throw out, reuse what you can, for as long as you can, and recycle everything else. Grandma saved and reused margarine and yogurt containers. She washed and reused aluminum foil. Old shirts became rags for cleaning. Sometimes people find that they start hoarding all this stuff with the intention of using it for something else later. I'm definitely the type of person to start a project and not finish it, so hopefully I can keep a good balance here.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the subject for now. Get rid of all the stuff I'm saving for no good reason, stop bringing in more stuff, and find a way to use up the stuff I already have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)