Models to stand the test of time

For the past two winters, my neighbours have been putting ice rink in park areas.  I have been secretly examining the make shift ice rinks during my daily dog walks.  Anyhow, from my observation, they are still learning.  For example, unexpected damage by an untrained puppy running into your ice and breaking them in the process.

My neighbours have put the rink away which is unfortunate.  When you go to sales centre for developments, you usually see a model.  It would be interesting to see a real life model made with real materials put in the outdoor terrain.  You miss your RV, can you practice at that small little rink there with a small little toy car first.  That's a model of our real streets. 

When you look at stop motions features like Coraline, they had to build a set to film on.  Why not build one to last and you are allow to put toys model after real objects on it. 

A project like this will require landscape artists, road artists, building artists, unfortunately interior will not be necessary.  Think outdoor model.

Sorry about the ramble. Its a Friday.

Game 7 is Tonight

I am still making my selections

On the last Tuesday of last month, I wrote about my humble understanding of investing.  The last Tuesday of this month, I will write to my non-existent readers on my investing journey since last month.

I have been procrastinating.  Well, not exactly.  I have been searching for a sustainable source of cash flow that will not kill me.  I have also been taking it easy to prepare myself for this sustainable source of cash flow that will require my undivided attention while I am there.

With the assumption that the sustainable cash flow is sustainable and cause low-impact and low-intensity on my brain muscles, I should have sufficient energy and time to concentrate on investing which, at times, can put high-impact and high-intensity on my brain muscles.  I will devote some of my free time to make my final investing selections which is like studying for an exam with close to no guidance.

This morning, I have been thinking about how to spend some US money just shy of one thousand dollars.  I have been pondering about this for a few days now.  Should I deposit it into my bank account and convert it into Canadian dollars? Or should I just go to the financial market and buy in to some US company? Or should I cross the border and just go on a shopping spree?  For now, I am holding this liquid money.  Ready to get rid of it like a hot potato.

This morning, I decided to pull out my Guide to Investing in Stocks which I have purchased in two thousand and twelve.  At the end of the Guide was a compilation of Stocks selected by the experts who have written this Guide in two thousand and twelve.  With my outdated pre-selected list in hand, I looked up these companies in today's market!  The companies that interested me were all doing very well, except maybe for one.  Looking at the price per share alone served as a reminder that companies can really grow in six years.  The company that is not faring well may actually have done very well in the past and is getting ready to close up shop and may simply be distributing its final assets and etc.

I will share with you a brief summary of my findings on price per share alone.  The following were the percentage change in price per share of the companies I looked on a specific date in two thousand and twelve and today: 108.02%, 338.25%, 8.35%, (82.26)%.*

As you can see, the percentage changes were quite dramatic for three our of the four stocks I reviewed.  The more analysis I completed the more confused I became.  That is why I am having a difficult time making my final selections.  I will have to consult with my trusted advisor so a sound selection will be made in the end.  Wish us luck!  Thanks!

*Note:  It took me a long time to calculate, review, revise and confirm these percentages so they are absolutely accurate and correct (unless if the source information is WRONG then I did all my calculations with the wrong price per share)!

Hail to the Toronto Marlies

My city has been promoting active living for a while.  One way it has been promoting active living is by featuring different sports.  Hockey has been the focus as of late.

You have to believe in fate sometimes.  One fateful day, I decided to go to a three-day community event all about hockey.  It is much harder to entertain a single adult than an adult with child so my appearances at community events are always shortlived; however, during my short visit to the event, I noticed a young adult raising fund for a charity with the opportunity to purchase tickets to see the Toronto Marlies in action on three different dates.  I had cash with me that day but I was not sure which date I wanted so we spoke briefly but I did not make a purchase.  The following day I returned to the same booth to see if there were any changes to the three-day event and to make my purchase.  This time the booth was manned by the young adult's parents.  For whatever reason, I decided to buy tickets to see the Toronto Marlies on April 15, 2018.

At the time of my purchase, I did not know there will be ice hails to welcome the Toronto Marlies on April 15, 2018.  The hail was so heavy from the preceding night that a skating path was formed on the pedestrian route.  It was the flattest naturally formed ice surface I have ever seen in my life.  Taking my morning walk with my trusted husky, I walk, glided and slid across the surface.  It continued to hail, snow and rain the entire day but this did not stop me (and a lot of other fans) from going to see the Marlies.

It was the most adventurous day I had for a while.  A sane person with nothing to do would not go out on a day like yesterday.  My mother and I are sane but we had an uncancelled event to attend so, fortunately, we had to leave the house.  My mother navigated the slippery roads to the closest bus station.  We waited patiently at the sturdy shelter of the bus station until the professional bus driver (together with passengers) arrived to pick us up and transported us to our next destination.  The subway station.  We got on the bus at the beginning of its route so we had many seating options. By the time the bus reached the subway station, it was packed although not as packed as the rush hour load.  The bus slid a few times on its way but all was fine.  I wonder how long the bus driver had to drive yesterday and if driving felt better or worse as the day progressed.

We finally got closed to the event location but I wanted to take my mother to enjoy the harbour scenery (especially during this type of weather) so we did and took photos like any 21st-century person would do.  After that, it was time for fine cuisine.  We had some very good Indian food, a bit pricey but good.

At around an hour before game time, we finally arrived at our destination.  More photo sessions ensue.  After walking a few laps around the coliseum, we finally decided to take seats.  The opposing team welcomed my mother by bashing their teammate right at the wall in front of my mother  as we were making way to our seats.  Once seated, I realized I wore the colours of both teams.  I guess no one knew who my mother and I were cheering for.  As I was pretty silent most of the game while my mother cheered for the wrong team from time to time. I did applaud the flag girl for completing her run around the Coliseum for each Marlie goal although she was a lot slower than her flagmate.  They need practice in synchronize running.  I was wildly entertained during my stay at the game.  Unfortunately, we had to leave early because it will take a while to get home and it was getting late.  We left when the score was 3-2 for the Marlies.  I did not check the world wide web for the final score so the Marlies won.

It was a good decision to leave early because the road condition was still bad (even the streetcar powered by overhead electric wires were not fully functional).  We got home at around 10:00 p.m.  It was good to be home.  I was also thankful for making that purchase on that fateful day because I would not have left the house at all if I did not have a hockey game to go to.  I would also like to thank my mother for being such a positive trooper the entire day (even when her boots were completely drenched).  It was fun because I had a great companion.  Another very memorable day with my mother.

P.S. I also enjoyed hammering my frozen ride.  I rescued it from ice!