Real Talk!

This past Thursday, our local newspaper reported that Canada has been leading the way in participants for the worldwide effort to reduce consumption of electricity. There has been a call to register at www.earthhour.org to pledge your support and agree to shut off your lights between 8 and 9 p.m. of your own local time on March 29, 2008.

Earth Hour was first conceived by the World Wildlife Fund, last year, in Sydney, Australia and in this year has grown to include over 200 cities around the globe.

Everyone is invited to join in the celebration; meant as a demonstration of how much you care about the planet and are willing to work towards change.

If you sign up at the website, you are to receive useful tools and tips on how to reduce consumption of our valuable resources.

When I visited the site this morning, 288468 people had registered.

I realize that there is still some contention about “climate change” and “global warming” and the role that human beings play in these issues. Some believe it is a natural process and others feel that people and their industries have had a disastrous impact on our planet.

Last year, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported that 4 out of 5 Canadians have experienced the effects of the change, first hand. Warnings about global consequences have become increasingly dramatic.

Some scientists, skeptical that humans have had a major role in the shift, met in New York, earlier this month. The conference, called the “Nongovernmental International Panel of Climate Change (NIPCC)”, presented science from some of world's leading climatologists and scientists in related fields, along with world renowned economists, and policy analysts. The report of their findings was titled “Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate.”

The gist of the NIPCC’s climate findings: (1) natural forces cause most of climate change. (2) The human contribution is not significant. (3) Solar-activity changes are the main cause of climate change.

I read one comment from a military meteorologist (Elmer Corby) who has been in the industry some 23 years. He called Al Gore and his ilk “corrupt, pathological liars” and suggested they were like “ants looking at a raindrop and screaming flood.”

Whatever your take on the whole thing, I figure it can't hurt to turn out the lights for an hour!

This morning, I received a subscription email of a recent Harris Poll, which gives me a bit of a handle on what people are thinking. Harris interactive conducts online studies with people who have agreed to participate on their panels and no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

Harris does weight their numbers for age, gender, education, region and Internet usage, to bring the numbers into line with actual proportions in the population. Their statements do conform to the guidelines of the National Council on Public Polls and of the British Polling Council.

People from 5 major countries (Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain and the United States) were asked if they were concerned or experiencing any impact from the recent financial crunch. It was interesting that the answer, although varying in degree of impact, was that essentially 30% of people- everywhere- are feeling some sort of affect.

Hmmm.

Okay… so my brain gets this information and I figure if I asked a bunch of people if they liked grapes, I suspect some would say yes, some would say no and some would say they were ambivalent. With three possible answers, it’s quite likely to have a 30% negative response.

I’m not saying we should let go any Utopian dreams of making everybody happy, but maybe some people simply don’t want to be happy.
Maybe some people are happy being unhappy.

Did Harris ask these people if they liked being more vigilant about finances?

The bottom line in everything is that things come at you- big end first. I mean, without some serious plan in mind, any quandary can seem insurmountable. Especially if it comes at you on a bad day!

One thing I do know is that nothing is new. It may look a little different but if you break it down to the crux, it’s the same thing. Everything has a cycle. What goes up, must come down… but then, if it went up once, it will do it again.

Success has a lot to do with timing… add a little patience… with another dash of perseverance… sing a happy little tune and presto change-o… nothing is really all that bad.

Well, maybe 30%… for 30% of the time.

A 2007 study indicated that one in seven Canadians currently own a vacation property of some sort but one in four plan to purchase one in the future. Waterfront real estate is increasing in value thanks to the strong demand from Baby Boomers, stock market and residential real estate wealth and relatively low borrowing costs.

Vacation property may bring the family together for a few weeks of every year, but it can also be a revenue generator. Anyone considering a purchase, whether for personal use or for a return on capital should factor re-sale value and market appreciation into the equation, before they purchase. Buyers should use logic when they buy, remembering that if the need arises to sell, it will likely be a baby boomer buying.

Retiring Baby Boomers are looking at the high-end of the market. They want all the comforts of home, while they are cottaging and they likely plan to retire lakeside. This means, a smart purchase will be one that is fully equipped or one that can be upgraded in the future. Of prime importance: an ample supply of safe water, year round road access and reasonable access to amenities.

Traditionally, the cottage has been a place for families to escape the pressures of work in order to relax and get away from it all, including email, fax, pagers and the telephone. But that seems to be changing. Currently, about a quarter of cottage owners feel that Internet access is important at the cottage and almost half of those planning or considering a cottage purchase feel the same way.

The distance that cottagers drive to reach their second home varies greatly depending on the province in which they live. In the Atlantic provinces, more than 50% of cottage owners say it takes them under one hour to arrive at their cottage, while that number drops significantly in Ontario and Alberta, where the cottage commute is much longer. Prospective buyers in these provinces are realistic about the distance they will have to drive to get to their getaway, with the majority expecting to spend about 3 hours.

There’s no doubt about it, cottage shopping has become a ritual of spring. Once the snow melts and the first robin is spotted, baby boomers begin scouring the countryside looking to buy cottages and recreation properties. Investing in the future - from both a lifestyle perspective and an economic standpoint, baby boomers are expected to influence the cottage country market for another five to ten years.

May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

Q: What do you call an Irishman that bounces off the walls?
A: Rick O'Shea

*

An American lawyer asked, "Paddy, why is it that whenever you ask an Irishman a question, he answers with another question? "Who told you that?" asked Paddy.

*

Slaney phoned the maternity ward at the hospital. "Quick!" He said. "Send an ambulance, my wife is goin' to have a baby!" "Tell me, is this her first baby?" the intern asked. "No, this is her husband, Kevin, speakin'."

*

Two Irishmen were walking home after a night on the beer when a severed head rolled along the ground. Mick picked it up to his face and said to Paddy "Jez, that look like Sean" to which Paddy replied "No Sean was taller than that"

*

The Doctor was puzzled "I'm very sorry but I can't diagnose your trouble, Mahoney. I think it must be drink. "
"Don't worry about it Dr. Kelley, I'll come back when you're sober."

*

A Kerryman went to London and found himself in the Underground late one night. Seeing a notice "DOGS MUST BE CARRIED ON THE ESCALATOR", he moaned to himself, "And where am I going to find a dog at this hour of the night?"

*

His wife had been killed in an accident and the police were questioning Finnegan.
"Did she say anything before she died?" asked the sergeant.
"She spoke without interruption for about forty years," said the Irishman.

*

Two men were sitting next to each other at a bar. After a while, one guy looks at the other and says, "I can't help but think, from listening to you, that you're from Ireland"

The other guy responds proudly, "Yes, that I am"?

The first guy says, "So am I?

And where about from Ireland might you be?"

The other guy answers, "I'm from Dublin, I am."

The first guy responds, "Sure and begora, and so am I. And what street did you live on in Dublin ?"

The other guy says, "A lovely little area it was, I lived on McCleary Street in the old central part of town."

The first guy says, "Faith & begora it's a small world, so did I. So did I. And to what school would you have been going?"

The other guy answers, "Well now, I went to St. Mary's of course."

The first guy gets really excited and says, "And so did I. Tell me, what year did you graduate?"

The other guy answers, "Well, now, let's see, I graduated in 1964."

The first guy exclaims, "The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same bar tonight. Can you believe it, I graduated from St. Mary's in 1964 my own self."

About this time, Vicky walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer. Brian, the bartender, walks over to Vicky, shaking his head & mutters, "It's going to be a long night tonight"

Vicky asks, "Why do you say that, Brian?"

"The Murphy twins are drunk again."

*

It was Paddy and Seamus giving the motorcycle a ride on a brisk autumn day. After a wee bit, Paddy who was sitt'n behind Seamus on the bike began to holler ..."Seamus ... Seamus ... the wind is cutt'n me chest out!" "Well, Paddy my lad," said Seamus, "why don't you take your jacket off and turn it from front to back ... that'll block the wind for you." So Paddy took Seamus' advice and turned his jacket from front to back and got back on the bike and the two of them were off down the road again. After a bit, Seamus turned to talk to Paddy and was horrified to see that Paddy was not there. Seamus immediately turned the bike around and retraced their route. When after a short time he came to a turn and saw a bunch of farmers standing around Paddy who was sitting on the ground. "T'anks be to heaven, is he alright?" Seamus hailed to the farmers. "Well," said one of the farmers, " he was alright when we found him here .. but since we turned his head back to front .. he hasn't said a word since!"

*

An American tourist travelling in Limerick came across a little antique shop in which he was lucky enough to pick up, for a mere $150, the skull of Saint Patrick.

Included in the price was a certificate of the skull's authenticity, signed by Saint Patrick himself.

Ten years later the tourist returned to Ireland and asked the antique shop owner if he had any more bargains.

"I've got the very thing for you," said the Irishman. "It's the genuine skull of Saint Patrick".

"You swindler," said the American. "You sold me that ten years ago," and, producing the skull, added, "Look, they're not even the same size."

"Ah yes," said the Irishman. "But this is when he was a lad."

*

Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!'
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.'

*

An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut . The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.
He says, 'Sir, have you been drinking?'
'Just water,' says the priest.
The trooper says, 'Then why do I smell wine?'
The priest looks at the bottle and says, 'Good Lord! He's done it again!'

*

Flynn staggered home very late after another evening with his drinking buddy, Paddy. He took off his shoes to avoid waking his wife, Mary.

He tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful.

Managing not to yell, Flynn sprung up, pulled down his pants, and looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding. He managed to quietly find a full box of Band-Aids and began putting a Band-Aid as best he could on each place he saw blood.

He then hid the now almost empty Band-Aid box and shuffled and stumbled his way to bed.

In the morning, Flynn woke up with searing pain in both his head and butt and Mary staring at him from across the room.

She said, 'You were drunk again last night weren't you?'

Flynn said, 'Why you say such a mean thing?'

'Well,' Mary said, 'it could be the open front door, it could be the broken glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but mostly.....it's all those Band-Aids stuck on the hall mirror."

*

How many Irishmen does it take to change a light bulb?

At least two. One holds the light bulb steady, everybody else drinks until the room spins

*

Q: Why can't you borrow money from a leprechaun?
A: Because they're always a little short.

*

Paddy was tooling along the road one fine day when the local policeman, a friend of his, pulled him over.

"What's wrong, Seamus?" Paddy asked.

"Well didn't ya know, Paddy, that your wife fell out of the car about five miles back?" said Seamus.

"Ah, praise the Almighty!" Paddy replied with relief. "I thought I'd gone deaf!"

*

Q: What would you get if you crossed Quasimodo with an Irish football player?
A:The Halfback of Notre Dame!

*

Pat and Mick landed themselves a job at a sawmill. Just before morning tea Pat yelled: "Mick! I lost me finger!"
"Have you now?" says Mick. "And how did you do it?"
"I just touched this big spinning thing here like thi...
Darn! There goes another one!"

*

"Well, Mrs. O'Connor, so you want a divorce?" the solicitor questioned his client.

"Tell me about it. Do you have a grudge?"

"Oh, no," replied Mrs. O'Connor. "Shure now, we have a carport."

The solicitor tried again. "Well, does the man beat you up?"

"No, no," said Mrs. O'Connor, looking puzzled. "Oi'm always first out of bed."

Still hopeful, the solicitor tried once again.

"What I'm trying to find out are what grounds you have."

"Bless ye, sor. We live in a flat -- not even a window box, let alone grounds."

"Mrs. O'Connor," the solicitor said in considerable exasperation, "you need a reason that the court can consider.

What is the reason for you seeking this divorce?”

"Ah, well now," said the lady,

"Shure it's because the man can't hold an intelligent conversation."

I have avoided "advertising" my listings in my blog, but every now and then, something special comes along and the best of intentions have to be thrown out the window!

Located in the heart of town, adjacent to the OPP station, the hospital and within walking distance of all Bancroft amenities, this extraordinary property still enjoys a position of distinction in the community.

Commercially zoned, with plenty of room for expansion, this property is serviced Municipally. The state of the art boiler system is also ready to accomodate growth.

Once the private home of the Martin family, famous for establishing local saw mill operations, all facets have lovingly updated with strict attention to quality detail.

There are at least nine bedroom areas that could be easily converted to offices. Each room has been wired for internet and phone lines and there is high speed internet available within the Town limits.

While currently operating as a bed & breakfast, the safety standards far exceed the levels required for use as a senior's residence- including illuminated exit signs, emergency lighting, pull stations, intercoms, hard wired alarms, solid automatic closure doors, steel fire escapes and more.

There are several spacious communal rooms, including a library and dining room. The detailed woodwork is remarkable- obviously hand picked by the Martins from the best this area could offer and helps preserve the historic relevance of this scrupulously maintained home.