Montreal Trip

As some of you may know that Billy and I were in Montreal for 4 days and here are some high-lights from the trip:

• Visited Notre Dame
• Visited Old Montreal
• Visited Museum of Contemporary Arts
• Visited Montreal Olympic Village
• Wondered around by ocean
• Explored the underground city
• Room we stayed had a burnt hole on the bed sheet
• Mexican restaurant a block away from the hotel had a roll of toilet paper instead of the paper napkins (is this how it goes in Mexico?)
• I lost 3 day transit pass the same day I bought the pass and had to purchase it again
• I kept feeding Billy wrong directions when we’re trying to get to places
• Billy could not hold in his pee and had to go do it in the back alley
• Sunday seems holiday for many stores and restaurants (even Staples was closed on Sunday!)
• Found out that my Lowepro Orion Trekker II backpack is cumbersome to take out the camera and store it back (I am currently looking for another camera bag with easy access)

And as always, we did not want the trip to end and go back to work the next day. But everything good must come to end I suppose.

Will post the pictures soon.

Fall Morning

When you wake up in the cold morning,
When you can no longer wear sunglasses during the commute,
When you wish you’re still in the bed,
When you see orange and brown leaves on the ground, and
When you become sentimental looking at the naked trees,

You know summer is over and fall is already here.

Grouse Grind

Sunday was my Grouse Grind day with my co-worker and his friend. It's been a long time since I've done the grind and wanted to know how fit I am.

When we were stretching our legs at the entrance, we saw men with the red overall prepping the stretcher. We didn’t think anything about it and proceeded to the hike. As we hiked up, these guys passed us carrying the stretcher and it looked pretty heavy and I can see they’re having difficulty carrying it up. About 10 min we saw another guy with the overall escorting down senior Chinese guy down the trail. I guess he was hurt as he was holding the rescue guy’s arm.

After some unexpected even and 3 long breaks, we made to the top after 2 hours and 30 min. Too bad I was with slow people and couldn’t push myself to see how is my time compared to my personal best… Oh well, maybe next time.

At the top, we ate overpriced food, watched the lumber jack show, walked around, and saw the bear. I thought coming up the hiking trail was busy but talk about the line to get on the gondola… I don’t remember this place been this busy when I was here last time.

Go Green

Manulife Financial, who is our building owner, challenged the tenants in the building to come up with Go Green alternatives.

As a part of Go Green Committee, we came up with the following:

• print in duplex
• switched the printer papers to the recycled papers
• take the stairs to go down to the lobby
  
• taken away the disposable coffee cups and cutlery
• installed the filtered water system instead of the bottled water
• contacted the recycling vendor to recycle the glass/metal/plastic
• posted the power savings signs around the office
• challenged our clients to print our reports in duplex.

The result, we won the compose as a prize. What we're going to go with it, we still have no idea.... May be put used coffee grinds?

Company Summer Event

I was able to participate this years company summer event, which is Playland scavenger hunt. It was nice to know that company paid for the rides, parking, food, Playland tokens and even prize for everyone who participated. I didn't get to participate the last years, which is Amazing Race in Downtown, but I must say it is much better.

Scavenger hunt was taking team picture with the subject in the clues and below are some of the pics we took.



After this scavenger hunt, we had hot dog and hamburger lunch. After lunch, we all received the prize. I won a cap, large golf shirt and $20 gift certificate from Chapters.

After the company event, we headed out to play some games as we had about $20 worth of Playland tokens. We kept trying crossbow trying to win the big stuffed Death from Family Guy. I came really close but the arrow touched the outline.... Only if the arrow was 1mm off to the left....

After the game, we headed to go on some rides. I got on Cork Screw, Westcoast Wheel, Bumper Car, Hellvator and Enterprise. I was going to try out Drop Zone but after trying out Enterprise, I was too sick to do anything so we headed home around 4:30 pm. I feel I aged poorly...

I have to say it was good and everyone seemed to enjoyed it despite the weather.

RRSP

Well, this time of the year has came and it is the last day to contribute to RRSP. With lack of too much money and down market trends, I am lost in terms of investment. I see all stock tickers in the down trend also. This usually is a good time to buy as the fundamentals are still intact and these prices are bargain. But what I'm concerned is that I don't see the bottom yet. I think the bottom is near but not quite....

After having a quick discussion with Billy over the phone, he recommended BMO Monthly Income fund. I have to say that it is a safer option compared to all stocks I'm keeping my eyes open.

It's kinda too late but what's your RRSP plan for this year?

On the same topic of investment, starting 2009, Canadian will have an option of investing up to $5,000 annually into this new Tax-Free Savings Account. Apparently this is just like RRSP account except it is not for your registered retirement fund. For those who actually has money to invest outside RRSP, this will a good news as you don't have to pay tax on the profit on each and every transactions. Only time you pay tax is when you withdraw from this account.

Investment

For those who are interested in investing, but don't know what to do, this site might be a good place to start. This site will give you fake 1 million dollars you can invest and see how your portfolio performs. Right now the market is kinda wackey as the States are in recession (tho some would still deny that they're) and TSX dropped 600 points yesterday. But as of now (Jan 22nd, 12pm), TSX gained back close to 400 points. I personally don't think the down trend ended yesterday and more will come but mean time, this will be a good time to practice your trading skill using fake money.

Yesterday, I attended the Resource Investment Conference hosted by Cambridge House. This conference was perfect for my interest in investing in the resource sector, especially in the uranium. Due to the current market condition, it will difficult pick the possible well performing junior companies but I will post it later once I finish reading up on the materials I acquired at the conference. Stay tuned.