Back to school

I realized this summer that I had way too much time on my hands. To remedy the situation, I enrolled in a Marketing Research program through an American university. It’s a one year certificate that can be completed at my own pace. My first exam is next Thursday. The past two weeks have been a school boot camp because I am facilitating focus groups in Eastern Canada next week and won’t have much time to devote to my studies.

I hope I remember the strategy involved in writing a multiple choice exam. I haven’t written one of those in forever. First, Sociology is not big on multiple choice exams (compared to Psych for example). Students usually get essay questions. Second, I haven’t written an exam since my third year undergrad. Course evaluations were usually based on participation, papers, and presentation.

The first part of the course focuses more on the “market” aspect rather than the “research” although I do have to memorize confidence interval and sample size formulas! I’ve discovered that what I am really passionate about is research, not business. Product management, distribution channels, ewwwww!

Go Garth Turner Go

For those who don't know, MP Garth Turner was kicked out of the Conservative Party last October because he spoke his mind (how shocking!). Today, he gave up his Conservative membership and here's what he had to say:

"This is not easy for me," said Mr. Turner, adding he had been a Conservative his entire life. "But I want my party to believe in free speech, diversity of opinion, co-operation, equality of all people, progressive social values, true environmental protection and stand against intolerance, bigotry and exclusion."

That says it all. It is a perfect description of what the Progressive Conservative party WAS before it was taken over by the Alliance Party and its despotic leader. It's now the total opposite. What a shame.

I highly recommend Garth's blog. His analysis of the MacKay-Stronach soap opera is priceless. Leave it to Garth to tell it like it is. I love him! Garth for Prime Minister!

Happy Day for Humanity

This gotta be the best political news we’ve had in long time. The Democrats won a majority of seats in the House AND the Senate according to the latest projection (although recount is likely).

I see this as a message for Canadians. Americans have tried the bigoted, anti-environment, pro-war, religious extremist party. After six years and much damage control ahead, a majority has regained its sanity. Let’s learn from our neighbour’s mistake and kick the Conservatives out before it’s too late!

New condo coming along!

We had a walk-through today. Our closing date is approaching, less than four months left.

Living room

Our office

Our bedroom

It always looks smaller without the dry-wall (was the same with our house). I love the giant windows and the 12ft ceiling.

Birthday Girl

Happy birthday to me! Today is my 27th birthday. I’ve had to explain a million times why the Husband and I won’t “do anything special” or why he won’t give me a gift. Let me explain this once and for all.

It’s our money. If he buys me a gift, I am in fact paying for it. That’s not really a “gift”, is it? This “gift” would likely be useless because if I needed it, I would have bought it already. I don’t wait for my birthday to buy something I need.

Let’s add things up (conservatively):

My birthday: $100
His birthday: $100
Christmas: $100 x 2
Our wedding anniversary: $100 x 2
Our dating anniversary: $100 x 2
Valentine’s Day: $100 x 2

Total: $1,000

$1,000 spent on the accumulation of useless “stuff” that takes up valuable space in our small condo. Instead, we spend the money on joint experiences. In other words, it gets invested (hehe) in our travel, wine, or dining budget over the year.