It has been a really long time since I posted.  But it's been a REEEEEEEALLLLY long time since I've been without debt.  Until today. 

For the memorable past, I have been paying as much into my credit cards as I have into my rent.  It really irks me to think of all the stuff I could have now, if I hadn't bought all that stuff back then.  For every dollar I put on a credit card I've probably paid 2 in interest.  Would I have bought that $thing if I knew it would cost three times the price on the tag?  Hell no.  Do I still have $thing to appreciate now that I'm done paying for it?  In most cases no.  Do I want it now? probably not. For the vast majority of it, the debt lasted an average of 5 years longer than  the item/service purchased.  Disgusting.

Due to the Credit Counsel slashing my interest rates, getting a permanent job that pays well, and the help of relations, I will be paying off the last $13,000 of my debt today.  This coupled with being able to regularly save, and invest through the office, means I am richer today than I have ever been in my life.  Damn, it feels good.

Now we can sink our teeth into the rest of our finances, and in a few more years, we should be doing quite well indeed.

We have a lot of stuff. 
We don't want all of it.
Please, take some of our stuff.

We are planning on doing the craigslist thing, but before we do, I figured I'd give you all a sneak preview.  We have a fair bit of furniture that is not going to fit into our new place, and a storage unit is not going to fit into our budget.  so we need to sell some stuff.  I wish we had pics, but no time, and no where handy to host them. So here's the list in black and white, everything's in fine condition, measurements are approximate.

5 bookcases - 6'tx2'w, black
5 bookcases - 2'6"tx2'w, black
2 bookcase set - one's 4'tx3'w & 2'6"tx3'w, wood look
computer desk w/ hutch - 6'x5' wrap-around, or 2'x5' stand-alone, green & brown
futon frame - queen size futon, wood frame
28" TV
Entertainment Unit - fits 30"TV, glass doored space for all components/ gaming consoles, extra storage, CD rack

Probably more to come from storage.  Cash would be nice, but I'd ask for less from friends, and in some cases barter might work.

Let me know if anything interests you, and I can give more specifics.
Just so you all know, we don't want to move any of this to the new place.  Once we move all the stuff we want, our current place is going to be a craigslist showroom.

HEY! Hi. Remember me?  Ya, It’s been a while. 

As I’m sure you’ve all heard through sources other than me, we’re moving!  Yes it is now time for

kettunainen, A.,  and I to get started on our own new place.  Here’s the low-down, such as it is:

 

• Now to Friday - More packing.
• Friday the 16^th – We get the keys, take a look at the state of things after the Super’s done requisite repairs and such, and we decide how much more we need to do.
• Saturday the 17^th (11:00-5:00) – We clean and clean and clean some more.  Do some primary baby proofing, hardware (door latches, and hinges) change-outs, and perhaps prep for paint.  Then, off to B&D’s reception.
• Sunday the 18^th – kettunainen, misslynx, and I go through our storage unit to see how much more stuff there is to fit into our places/ push to the curb. Perhaps painting.
• Monday the 19^th - Birthday lunch with Gramma, probably some heavy lifting of big furniture in the afternoon/evening. Perhaps more painting.
• Tuesday the 20^th (all day) – Moving of boxes, and waiting around for Rogers to install our internet. YAY Internets!
• Thereafter – Putting everything in it’s proper place.

Now the actual reason for the post:  CAN YOU HELP?

Having a baby in the house has slowed things down more than I expected.  While we’ve got a fair bit pack already, there’s still a lot that needs to be done.  Without internet kettunainen has been pretty much cut off from adult contact for the last week, and is feeling rather left out-of-the-loop.  If there is any way you can come by during the day to either help pack, help entertain Aidan while she packs, or just to give her some company that involves full words and less drool, it would be greatly appreciated.  Give her a call (416-629-5714) to set something up, or just to chat.

I’m trying to give as much notice as possible.  Everything that needs to be moved will be packed.  It is just going around the corner.  For those of you who helped me when I moved in with the girls, We’re moving back to the same building, down the hall from my last apartment.  So if you’re available this Saturday, or Monday (what better way to spend your holiday!) we’d welcome any volunteers.

Please let us know if you can help.  We need to know how many hands we can get to plan properly.

Thanks!

So I haven’t done a serious post since May ‘07, and I haven’t given an update on my life since September ’06. I guess I’m over due.

Life is pretty good. Even during my leanest times when peanut butter was a meal in of itself, I was grateful for what I had, and generally content with my life. But now I am REALLY content! :D

I have lived the majority of my life looking no more than a couple months into the future. Even when I was so busy and socially active that friends and family had to book time with me weeks in advance, and I was regularly triple-booked. I never really knew what life was going to be like beyond two weeks. I was working contract jobs that could be anywhere from 3 days, to 3 months. There was no stability, but I was Zen about it. Living in the moment, for the moment. There were many jobs I was hoping would turn permanent, and I worked damned hard to show my value. Unfortunately, they all ended for one reason or another. In a couple of cases, I worked myself to obsolescence. The worst case of that was my stint as a financial administrator for Group Telecom. Never heard of them? That would be because I made them look so good on paper, that 360Networks bought them, and moved them to Mississauga, where they already had people doing the same job.

Then I got together with misslynx andkettunainen.  Things got off to a pretty good start, and I moved in with them.  Then came fatherhood. For the record, I considered myself a father a soon as we knew Kettu was pregnant.  Preparing to make a family was always a part of our relationship, but when the pregnancy was confirmed, all the responsibility settled in.  As soon as I could, I set up some savings, investments, RRSPs, and even started wearing a helmet.  Not long before I could be seen reading a book while rollerblading down Bay St. through rush-hour traffic.  Suddenly getting hit by a car would impact more than just me.  I've become the primary bread-winner for the family, and have to protect the stability of their future.  I check our finances every business day, know our net worth today, and project 15 years into the future.  I'm thinking of mortgages, education funds, and retirement.

 I've started taking my career more seriously.  After years of being content to be a number-crunching lackey, as long as I could pay my bills, I'm starting back into school.  I've started the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program.  If all goes well, in 3 years I could attach some letters to the end of my name.  I even spent a fair chunk of my birthday money on a specific calculator I'll need to write the exam.  Now, this may make me a little scarce from LJ, as the studying can be grueling, and I'm already falling behind, but I doubt you'll notice my absence too much.

On the reason for all of this responsible behaviour:  My son is AWESOME!  I miss sleep.  I don't think I've had a full night's sleep since before he was born, but watching him sleep, and catching the odd nap with him can be surprisingly energizing.  I miss the drugs I used to do, but I so love watching him experience his trip.  So often I see him do things or look at things the way I would while tripping.  Stretching the boundaries of perception, and having things fall into place as we have sporadic epiphanies.  He's given me many.  I miss the dance floors, but I love dancing with my son.  Watching him bang a toy to the beat of the music. Watching him learn how to move his limbs and try new ways of moving.  He never stops; a mixed blessing.  I don't have time to pick up the violin anymore. The one I bought has it's own issues that have soured my enjoyment of it, but I still make sound with/for my son.  He apparently really doesn't like the me playing the didgeridoo, though when I do my own imitation of one while bouncing him, he calms right down.  ...still can't get the circular breathing.  I've also got an acoustic guitar that I need strings for.  It might be easier to pick up and put down than the violin.  I miss seeing my friends, but sometimes folk visit, and occasionally gatherings happen where I can see many of them at a time.  These events are precious few, and I savour them all.  I enjoy taking my son out and having him exposed to all of my wonderfully brilliant and quirky circle.

As a family, we've had some troubles, and there will be more to come.  But I'M A DAD!  I'll do my best to provide for my son and any siblings he my have.  My duty is to him.  To do the best that I can for him. 

Okay, so it's been a while. My last post may have been early Autumn, maybe a year before that. So you know this has to be big...

I just found out that both my girlfriends have been lying to me for over a week. Not just once but many, many times. The depths of their deceit disturbs me. I didn't think they would go behind my back like this; or at least if they did, I was sure I'd clue in sooner. I feel so dense for not noticing all the little things. They way neither of them could look me in the eye, the stuff missing from the apartment... I've always given myself credit for being more observant. I guess I was just too close and too trusting. That's how they got me. I was astonished when their deception was finally revealed. I think the proper word would be

SURPRISE!

Today the Canadian Dollar is worth more than the US Dollar.

CDN to US$ exchange rate = 1.0050

Thank you, that is all.

Just to prove I'm still alive...

I took a Quiz! Courtesy of eumelosdrizzle Which Animal Am I?

You're a Dragon!

Noble, regal, and highly misunderstood, you're a bit of a loner at
heart. You like caves, the sky, and other vast expanses of air where you can blow
off steam. You and people like you got a lot more respect in the old days, but now
your type only shows up in songs about young children. They're the only people who
really believe in your potential. As long as you believe in yourself, and don't
breathe directly at anyone, you'll be okay. You have a strange liking for string and
sealing-wax.


Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Gee, who didn't see that coming? :P

Now I go back to my cave.
'K, Luvya, B'bye!

Inspired by a post by the_moogie...

My religion, or lack there of...
I am not religious. I dislike organized religion. I dislike structured religion. I don’t like people saying this is the best way, or the ONLY way to transcend this plain of existence.

I was raised Christian by good Christian folk. They weren’t bible thumpers, but we went to church every Sunday, attended Sunday school, and said grace before eating when visiting with Gramma. I lost my faith when I started reading fiction for myself. I loved the classic mythologies. I remember learning the myths I was reading were thought to be true when they were first written. I remember wondering how anyone could believe such outlandish tales. I mean Perceus flying around on a winged horse? Come on… It took a few years more before I realized most of the tales I had been taught from the Bible were just as outlandish. Moses parting the Dead Sea? Jesus walking on water? Come on… I began to question, what makes one faith right, and the other faith wrong? How can one know the truth, and all the others be deluded? If there is one truth why doesn’t everyone agree on it? If they can’t all be right, how can any of them be right?

What really broke them all for me was the different creation myths. They all seem to know how the world began, but they all disagree on how it happened. Many of them only describe the creation of this world, because they have no real concept of the universe, so the stars and planets are two-dimensional disks, or images painted on a sky canvas. So how was the rest of the universe as we know it created? And where did the creators come from? Some people will say these stories are just metaphore, or legends that grew over time. But I have to ask, why the need for metaphore? Why not just teach the truth? Not interesting enough? This is how fat, jolly Santa Claus in his big red coat came about.

Enough about what I don’t like, and don’t believe… What I do like, and what I do believe, is that we are here, now, and we should appreciate that. I won’t try to be a good person so that I can enjoy my after-life. I try to be a good person so that I can enjoy my living-life. I don’t believe in an after-life of any sort. When I die I plan on doing, and being nothing more than worm-feed. I don’t aspire to transcend, ascend, or descend further than six feet under the top-soil. I will cease to exist, and I’m fine with that.

The question that inspired this post was basically, Do you pray, and if so how, and who to? I must say, I’m rather disappointed by the replies given the spiritual diversity of the community it was posted in. I would not say that I “pray”. I don’t talk to any deity/entity with any sort of sentience as I understand it, expecting any sort of reaction as a result. I would say that I commune, in the sense that people will commune with nature. I will we aware of my environment. I will immurse myself in my experiences. When a breeze rises I will savour the coolness on my cheeks, listen to the air rush through grass and leaves, watch the clouds drift overhead, and appreciate that I am able to experience all these simple miracles. This is a wonderous world we live in. I don’t need to know how it got here. I don’t need to experience it or something like it for eternity after death. I will enjoy it now. I will enjoy it as best I can.

This morning on my way to work I wiped out on my bike. For some reason the chain slipped off the gears. Suddenly I had no resistance on the peddles, I lost my footing, my feet hit the road, and I lost control. I skidded to a stop, on my side, in the middle of a traffic lane. If a car had been following closely enough, I could be dead now. Was it some god I’ve never paid attention to saving me to gain their favor? Was it some god I’ve never paid attention to punishing me to demonstrate their wrath? Would it be any different if I had faith in $deity? No! It was a freak accident! A result of a poorly maintained bicycle, and considerate drivers giving a cyclist a safe amount of space.

Chaos happens, it’s a part of the life I live. Others can live in the security of God's mysterious plan. I’d rather have the adventure of my lifetime.

I just finished talking to my HR Rep., and starting today I am officially a professional Financial Analyst! *squeee*

Benefits, bonuses, paid vacation, no probation, and the salary offered was exactly what I had calculated to be acceptable. :D

I haven't actually had a permanent CAREER type job in 6 years.

So many things have been turning to the positive lately.

*irrelevant ramblings*
*Cut 'cause it detracted from the good news.
*/irrelevant ramblings*

*Edit: And now I've been asked if in a couple weeks I could fit a 1-2 day trip to Ottawa into my schedule. Apparently, I am "the man".

A couple friends have made mention of this study: http://healthyamericans.org about obesity in America. The only point that I've heard discussed about it so far is that the over-weight stats coincide with stats on low-income regions, and that bad food is cheap, so the poor can't afford to be healthy.

I'm disappointed that the obvious hasn't been stated yet:

Healthy food is only one PART of a healthy lifestyle.

I've gone through periods of poverty. In some ways I still am. I've had times where I literally ate nothing but Raman noodles and peanut butter for over a week at a time with the rest of the month not much better. But I still managed to be physically active. I can't comment much on weight gain (I couldn't gain it if I tried), but if low income is causing you to eat crap, you can still compensate with exercise.

Also, it would help if the people eating crap would eat less of it. Whenever I travel in the States I find the portions that people consume to be disconcerting. Like choosing to drink Diet Coke with the 2 double Big Macs, and large fries, and apple pie, and cookies is going to make a difference. Perhaps if some of them ate smaller quantities they could afford better quality.

And the stores will stock whatever they sell. If more people bought more healthy food, the stores would stock more of it. This doesn't work well for the individual trying to improve themselves in a town that doesn't care, but we're talking national statistics here. The culture slipped (is slipping) into unhealthy lifestyle habits. It didn't happen over-night, so we won't see an immediate turn-around either. But the more people trying, the more results we'll see. We now have the option of salads at McDonald's, and the Super-Size extinct. Changes are happening. Choices do exist. More people need to make the right choices.

Folk have mentioned that convenience foods are the culprit because working folk don't have time to cook. Having time for anything is a matter of priorities. I've had many days where all I had time for was a spoon, and a jar of peanut butter. But funny how I had time for a lot more TV in those days. Just yesterday I had time to put in a 9 hour day, commute home (via rollerblades), work on home improvements, do the groceries, cook a healthy (I think it could be a whole-food) dinner for three, watch one TV show, and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

I've known my share of low income friends; even punks pan-handling and washing car windows to make their money. They could only afford rent if four of them shared a 10x12' room. But they could still find the funds for their beer, cigarettes, and pot!

Now this isn't a black and white issue; there are a lot of grays. I'm not saying that everyone who's overweight or low-income is in the black like my old friends, but over a national average, I'd expect more folk in this demographic are toward a dark gray. Either through poor education, ingrained habits, or apathy they just haven't made a healthy lifestyle a priority.

I get tired of people blaming the way they are on others; and the faceless corporations/government are easy targets. Whatever options are available to you (food, job, pastimes, friends, etc.), it's up to you to make the best choice you can. They can't sell you crap if you don't buy it.

Our neighbours are moving out. When I came home tonight, I found a 26" TV sitting on the curb. In case any of you are in need, I've pulled it onto our porch. There's still no guarantee it'll be there in the morning, but if anyone speaks up I'll pull it inside, make sure it's functional, and save it for you.

First come first serve.

Perchance it is time for an update. I don’t think I’ve written much of anything resembling an update since before my birthday back in March. So here’s my pseudo-semi-annual “this-is-my-life-as-I-know-it” post:

Life is good.

Oh, you wanted more?

Since my last post I’ve got a handle on my debt, moved in with my Girls, kept my job, picked up a violin, lost my cat, officially been renamed, and generally been a healthier Me.

( Handling Debt... )

( Moving in... )

( Keeping my job... )

( Learning violin... )

( Losing my cat... )

( My chosen name... )

( An all around healthier me... )

a href='http://www.myheritage.com/FP/Company/celebrity-collage.php' title='Click here to create your own Celebrity Collage' alt='Click here to create your own Celebrity Collage' target='_blank'></a>

So given my profession I need to know where I stand financially at all times. I check my bank account every day I sit in front of a computer.

Where I stand right now:
exactly $1.27 in the bank
exactly $1.27 in the wallet

I don't know what universal force set this up, be it karma, Murphy's Law or some other imp of syncronicity, but I'm ammused. Maybe there's some deep numerological meaning behind it. 1.27 squared is 1.6129, Does that mean anything? Does anything important happan twice on January 27th? Or at 1:27? Hrmm. I'm stumped. How 'bout you all? What are your theories on this? Other than the obvious, I'm poor.

I like to consider myself intelligent, but I have absolutely no mind for politics or political jargon. I could never tell whether I was more democratic, liberal, green (I figured that one would be pretty high) so I think I'm pleased with these results.

You scored as Old School Democrat. Old school Democrats emphasize economic justice and opportunity. The Democratic ideal is best summarized by the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. </td> Green 90% Old School Democrat 90% Libertarian 70% New Democrat 65% Foreign Policy Hawk 35% Pro Business Republican 30% Socially Conservative Republican 25% What's Your Political Philosophy? created with QuizFarm.com

The statement that bugged me most though:
"Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare, with a national effort to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancy."
Abortion should definitely be safe, legal, and rare. These are a given; at least among my friends and any other rational human. But to imply that single mothers are the only ones having abortions? Like married folk don't have unexpected/ unwanted pregnancies? Or that if a pregnancy happens out-of-wedlock the only option is to have an abortion? It often disturbs me how the American status quo seems to think.

See, this is what happens when I get to work too early.

No, I don't feel like posting an update. :P

For those of you not on misslynx’s or kettunainen's friends' lists, it has been decided that I should celebrate this, my 30th birthday. So, bowing to public pressure, this is my party invite post.

Truely, you are all welcome to join us.
Tomorrow, Saturday the 11th, 8:00ish
917 St. Clair Ave. West
Apt 24, Buzz 24

It’s on the south side, East of Oakwood, the only one with trees.
Comment if you need my phone# /clearer directions.
BYOB/Muchies


( Now the birthday rant: )
That being said…
( Now the epiphany of now: )

So this seems to me like a good time to celebrate and commemorate. Not just for me still being alive (‘cause I haven’t put any sort of special effort into that), but for working toward becoming more like the me I wanna be.

I know a few artists that wouldn't have seen the original post, so this is for their benefit.

9ICB is looking for art donations!