As usual, I hit my sack at 9-ish.

Normally, between the state of being awake and sleeping soundly is a little five minutes interval. I barely had time to pray or think or contemplate. But I did think: God, give me a thankful heart.

I woke up thinking, “Dora, getting healed for a two-decade-long bulimia isn’t something small.” I checked a list of resolutions I jotted down end of last year — things I wish to happen in 2009. On the list was “completely healed in my bulimia.”

This year I can say I feel its healing coming to a close.

Yes, I know it’s unneccessary too long and the journey was too brutal. But I am grateful that the nightmare is gone. I have made much peace with my body. That peace and acceptance isn’t something that comes by easily. It is like a mom rejecting her own child, perhaps because the child is slightly retarded, or mildly autistic, or awfully wild, or the mother is holding ridiculously unachievable perfection. The child has not been accepted for decades.

In 2009, after exiling the child for decades, the mom holds the child and says from deep inside, “I love you the way you are. Sorry for sending you away for so long.” I hold myself, the child in myself, and say, “Finally, please come home.”

Exista multe si diferite argumente in alegerea unei masini. Iar faptul ca Subaru este diferita ar putea fi cel mai bun argument. Pentru ca, cu cat stii mai multe despre Subaru, cu atat esti mai tentat sa te intrebi “De ce nu sunt construite asa toate masinile?”. La volanul unui Subaru traiesti o senzatie absolut unica, de incredere in masina si, pe masura ce ii descoperi calitatile iti ofera un sentiment unic de incantare. Am trait aceste senzatii cand, intalnindu-mi un prieten, am acceptat sa-mi arate masina pe care tocmai si-o cumparase: un Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Nu mai completez decat faptul ca eram in Sinaia deci am trait experienta Subaru pe asfalt, serpentine, macadam si drum forestier.

Astazi am mers intr-un showroom al marcii asa incat iata opinii despre Subaru in general, nu doar despre Impreza. De altfel preferata mea a ramas modelul Outback, o combinatie intre masina sportiva, de familie si business. Ce iese in evidenta la masinile Subaru nu este sistemul de navigatie High Resolution cu DVD, nici sunetul premium cu “n” difuzoare si SRS Circle Surround, sau mufa pentru iPod. Acestea se gasesc si la alte marci. Sub capota se gasesc doua minuni ale tehnicii: sistemul Symmetrical AWD si Subaru Boxer.

Symmetrical AWD (All Wheel Drive) consta in dispunerea simetrica si in linie dreapta a motorului si transmisiei. Puterea lui se transmite catre rori mai simplu si mai direct, creand un echilibru aproape natural si o senzatie de control absolut asupra manevrabilitatii. Iar motorul Subaru Boxer are pistoanele dispuse orizontal si la 180 de grade unul fata de altul, pe ambele laturi ale masinii, realizand un profil mai coborat si mai plat in comparatie cu alte tipuri de motoare. Rezulta un centru de greutate mai coborat, un echilibru mai bun si o stabilitate mai mare la abordarea virajelor. In plus miscarile pistoanelor opuse se contrabalanseaza, contribuind la reducerea vibratiilor.

Dincolo de acestea, celelalte dotari par niste gadgeturi: frana de mana electronica, oglinzi de parasolar iluminate, compartiment de depozitare in plafon sau ventilatie separata pentru zona din spate a masinii. Va recomand asadar ca in limita timpului disponibil sa mergeti sa vedeti masinile sau de ce nu, sa faceti un drive-test, chiar si pentru placerea de a conduce un Subaru.

This goes out to ‘you know who you are’.

Dear you,

It took some time for me to get to writing this and it’s not because I’m too busy with my life, it’s because I didn’t have the right things nor words to say. I was left so disappointed in you that it took this much time to sink it in. I’m not mad or disgusted like most would be I’m just disappointed.

I kept hoping that you would change for I know deep down there is good in you but after the first time I gave a chance and then the second followed not too long after yet again not only me but we gave you another chance. I figured that you did change for the better but I couldn’t be more wrong.

I feel disappointed and lied to because rather than the truth it was shaded with all sorts of false truths. If you knew me well enough you’d realize that telling me the truth of your actions would’ve made things very much different from now instead of putting the blame elsewhere.

After everything, I’ve done the best I could as a friend and if I’ve done wrong I’m sorry.

Just for now I’ve decided that you’re on your own. Why? You might think it’s selfish of me or even blame him for it but it has nothing to do with that. I left for the very reason that you have absolutely no respect nor responsibility for yourself so you certainly don’t need me around. For I have respected you and your ways for all these years and thought you grew up and even more so got a sense of responsibility but unfortunately it was just plain bull.

Technically, I didn’t leave you. You left. All by your very own actions.

I hope from now on you have learn to be responsible for your actions. Also I hope that you learn that men are visual creatures, how you portray yourself reflects on how you’re treated. I hope that how you see your own value is exactly the value that the people around of you will treat you. If you don’t value your own life no one else will. Most of all, with me gone I hope that when you sit back and think about who will be there the day you’re gone you see at least someone there and not for their own personal benefits.

I wish you well.

Me.

The poster boy for the Vancouver RE boom has now come up with a poster that may well end up becoming the ultimate ironic visual anecdote.  Vancouver condo marketer Rennie explains its meaning, and ‘rentah’ comments. This from Bob Rennie, BC Business magazine, 2 Sept 2009 -

“On the exterior walls of my new offices in Chinatown, I’ve installed a 23-metre neon work of art by Britain’s Martin Creed. It reads, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT. And it will. Yes, we boomers are on the downward side of our peak earning years. Yes, we’ve experienced the biggest financial collapse in our lifetime. We will have to institute dramatic changes in how we entertain ourselves, where and how we travel, what we drive, where we live and how we ultimately pass on wealth to our children. For the enterprising business person, there are many opportunities out there to capitalize on this new reality. But for those praying for a return to yesterday, forget it. It’s gone.”

This from  rentah, in the comment section of the same article, 11 Sep 2009 18:04

“Interesting. I’d say that Rennie has COMPLETELY misread Martin Creed’s work. He’s purchased it as a giant Hallmark Card, when it’s actually intended as an ironic warning. (Perhaps everything is NOT going to be alright.) Here [follow] some more works by Creed:
Ask yourself… “Is it the artist’s intention for me to take these works literally?”
Then think about what Rennie is doing.”

When I wonder what to thank for on Thanksgiving Day, I know I am in trouble.

When I have to wonder.

I don’t think I am an ungrateful soul. At least in the past. But this evening, with no turkey, no pumkin pie, no list of thanks, I know something has gone very wrong. But I don’t want to push the honest sentiments away. If that’s how I am now, that’s how I am now.

Enough pushing me around. Enough pushing me around.

Salvador Dali – Le sommeil

Lundi 23 novembre 2009, après une scéance chez la psy, il est 20h30, je prends le bus encore toute vaseuse de ma scéance, et j’écris :

“ Lacher prise, me laisser aller.

Prendre mon temps, être égoiste.

Me servir de ma colère comme d’une force, une force positive.

L’exprimer clairement et calmement. Puis laisser poser

Poser mon corps et mon esprit.

M’en remettre aux rêves pour apaiser les souffrances de mon inconscient.

Saisir l’instant présent, le bonheur d’être là, d’être moi même, d’avoir construit déja toute cette vie.

Indentifier chaque sentiment, chaque humeur. Savoir les associer à des mots, les comprendre et les assumer.”

Încrederea înseamnă să reuşeşti să laşi armele deoparte alături de o anumită persoană. Să fii conştient că ai lăsat armura jos şi să nu te temi. Să te arunci cu braţele deschise într-un abis, să ţii ochii închişi şi să ai încredere că cel de jos te va prinde.
Încrederea înseamnă să-ţi oferi inima pe un platou deşi eşti conştient că oricând ea poate fi ciopârţită şi sfâşiată în mii de bucăţele. Şi totuşi… să o scoţi din piept şi să o întinzi pe tavă cu mâinile tremurânde cu posibilitatea ca aceasta să fie ultima oară când o vezi.
Încrederea? Ea înseamnă să te laşi luat de mână şi să fii traversat strada fără ca măcar să deschizi un ochi sau să-ţi tresalte inima. Ea înseamnă să priveşti adânc în ochii persoanei de lângă tine, chiar dacă eşti pe un pat de spital, conectat la mii de aparate… şi dacă acea persoană te mângâie şi îţi va spune că totul va fi bine, tu să ştii că aşa va fi pentru că ai încredere oarbă.
Încrederea… e ceva nepreţiut… e ceva ce trebuie să dai deşi ştii că aceasta va fi sfâşiată şi mâncată de lupii care stau la pândă. Încrederea… e ceva ce de acum voi oferi mai greu!

Nu stiu altii cum sunt, dar cand doza mea de acceptabilitate fata de tara in care m-am nascut este depasita, imi vine sa o iau drept si ma opresc intr-o oaza in desert, sa vad daca comparatia mi-ar putea aduce impacarea cu plaiul mioritic, care nu de putine ori imi pare a fi o jalnica reprezentare a purgatoriului,  dat fiind ca pentru iad ai dosarul complet si stampilat si probabil ca romanismul nostru l-ar degrada. De data aceasta, mult disputatele alegeri mi-au reinnoit sila de a fi roman. Am vrut si chiar am reusit sa ajung la alegeri, nu din simt civic caci pentru asta ai nevoie de sentimentul apartenentei, ci din nevoia egoista de a sti ca ce tine de mine am facut. Am gasit in cele din urma sectia la care eram arondata, impleticindu-ma printre sageti cu cifre care dezarmau alegatorii, privind ocupantii temporali ai unor scaune de clasa, unde plictiseala parea eterna. Mi-am prezentat cartea de identitate in speranta ca voi primi silentios cele trei buletine de vot si stampila cu pricina. Ar fi fost prea usor si trebuie sa recunosc ca nu mica mi-a fost mirarea cand am auzit (dupa care mi-am pus intrebarea in gand daca nu mi s-a parut) ca sunt intrebata daca vreau buletine si pentru referendum. L-am privit lung, de parca cuvintele le-ar fi fost teama de penibilul situatiei si am intrebat: “De ce intrebati daca vreau si buletine pentru referendum?”. Domnul in cauza m-a privit si a incercat fara convingere sa lege un raspuns oarecum asumat:

“Intreb ca asa mi s-a spus”. Dupa care speriat parca de rezonanta rostirii sale a adaugat” altii mi-au spus din capul locului ca nu vor buletine pentru referendum, asa ca intreb”. Asta e problema, ca speciile locale sunt absolut dezarmante si iti dai seama ca vorbesti cu peretele. Mi-am luat stampila, mi-am exercitat chinuitul drept la vot, mi-am recuperate cartea de identitate si am alergat spre afara pentru a lua o gura buna de aer. In drumul meu mi-am aruncat ochii dejnadajduita in cautarea unei autoritati in fata careia sa ma exprim si mi-am dat seama ca speranta, care de obicei moare ultima, a facut deja buruieni pe mormant.

From kansai_92 at RE Talks 23 Nov 2009 10:47 pm -

“Prices have been climbing since the spring, and yet many recent owners I know are on edge. Worried about interest rates and job loss.”

Tout a commencé ici, dans le premier lieu de culte de l’humanité. Tout y retourne. L’homme de cro-magnon n’avait pas peur des profondeurs, il n’avait pas peur de se perdre au cœur des ténèbres, la terre n’était pas son ennemie, le Dieu unique ne lui avait pas encore appris la crainte irrationnelle à l’égard des femmes et de la terre-mère.

Tout a commencé ici, dans la caverne, et tout y retourne, y entrer  – symboliquement -  c’est oser la solitude de l’introspection afin de trouver, au centre du monde souterrain, le silence  primordial par lequel  se ressource une parole.

Dans les profondeurs labyrinthiques,  je pars à la recherche des trésors perdus de mon âme, gardés par quelque gnome ou dragon qu’il me faut combattre à l’entrée de la grotte, pour pénétrer là où nulle profanation n’est à craindre.

J’en appelle à cette caverne symbolique,  à la force tellurique de ma féminité : que le ventre maternelle m’accueille et me berce, qu’il calme la douleur de l’exil, qu’il ré-enchante la vie, contre la négligence : ce non-lieu, cet endroit flottant du monde où l’on  ne sait plus recevoir le don, où l’amour n’a plus de nom, plus de mot pour se dire, là où  l’existence n’est plus qu’une enveloppe EXTÉRIEURE, qui se nomme action, ambition, pouvoir, démonstration, orgueil, narcissisme.

Pourtant toute vraie richesse se tient dans le creux sombre et ignoré du dedans….

Alors, je me retire, comme la vague, dans un souffle… dans l’inspir je descends encore plus profond, dans l’expir je me donne. Avec l’air qui inonde mes poumons je franchis un nouveau palier, je relâche la pression du monde, l’air s’échappe et je lâche prise : plus rien ne dépend de moi. Dehors ils crient et aboient. Je descends encore et les ignore.

Je me retrouve enfin, calme, n’exigeant plus rien … juste là, dans l’attente d’être un jour reconnue pour ce que je suis

Statea cu pixul in mana in coltul camerei obscure, luminata doar de cateva veioze de seara. Ii placea in general atmosfera calda, intima, in care nu putea patrunde lume. Era o zi speciala. Speciala se gasea prin multitudinea de ganduri si emotii, de amintiri, temeri si cugetari. Devenise demult o traditie a sinelui ca in seara aia, an de an, sa isi desfasoare sentimentele intr-un cadru restrans la o singura persoana, la propria persoana.

Se mai uita fugitiv pe fereastra fara niciun scop. Perdeaua imbatranise. In seara aceea, perdeaua era de-o varsta cu el. Nu stia de unde sa inceapa. Degetele ii tremurau in valtoarea de idei, dar era prea mult haos, atat de mult incat nu iesea nimic. Gamele minore armonizate de pian i se invarteau pe la auz si un fior ii trece din lobul urechii catre coloana vertebrala, sfarsindu-i ochii intr-o stransoare dureroasa si umeda. Toracele incepe sa-l doara deranjant, probabil din cauza atator dati in care a indesat in piept toata amaraciunea si multitudinea de necazuri. Acum efectiv il doare. Casa pe care si-a achizitionat-o cu atata patos e goala si tot asteapta de ceva timp un zambet. Si-a dorit-o indeajuns de mult incat sa nu se poata intr-adevar bucura de ea.

Se gandeste la parintii lui. De ce ?… De ce au insistat sa-l aduca pe lume in ziua asta? Se plictiseau? Oricum il renegasera de ceva ori ca apoi sa isi ceara iertare, lucru inutil de altfel din moment ce il repeta si in ziua de azi. Prieteni…capitolul cu acest nume poarta un sens sarcastic dur. A avut mereu pe cineva, alaturi de care sa bea si care sa-i zica o vorba buna la greu, insa niciunul dintre “prietenii” lui nu izbutisera sa ii stea prea mult prin preajma. Poate era vina lui, dar mai probabil superficialitatea sa e mai scazuta decat a celorlalti. A vrut intotdeauna mai mult de la sine insusi, pretinzand si de la ceilalti acelasi lucru. Dar nu. A fost intr-un fel sau altul mereu singur.

Plange. Dupa atatia ani in care nu si-a permis luxul acesta, acum plange. Isi tine palmele pe chip ca un copil cu parul dezordonat in coltul strazii pustii si picaturi sarate i se preling pe maini formand in scurt timp mici parauri ce se scurg in cascade.

E noimebrie. Asa e de fiecare data, frig, vant, noapte si riduri pe fruntea sa. La multi ani.

Iubirea adevarata e ca un trandafir superb, rosu, parfumat, înflorit, dar cu foarte multi ghimpi, care straluceste în lumina soarelui. Daca vrei sa îl ai, trebuie sa îl cultivi. Ca si cel mai priceput gradinar sa-l ingrijesti, sa ai rabdare sa creasca, sa se dezvolte si sa infloreasca, sa îl aperi de geruri si de furtuni, de hoti si de alti daunatori. Mai presus de orice, trebuie sa crezi cu putere ca frumusetea exista si ca o vezi ca se manifesta în viata ta, prin frumusetea unica a acestui trandafir. Când va înflori în toata plenitudinea sa, bucura-te de minunea existentei lui, culege-l cu grija, chiar daca vei sângera datorita ghimpilor sai, iar parfumul pe care îl vei obtine, pastreaza-l toata viata, si daruieste din el oricui are nevoie, dar si reteta ta de bun cultivator… si poate un lastar de trandafir, rosu, stralucitor, parfumat, pentru a fi cultiva în gradina vietii oricui va putea deprinde de la tine arta cresterii trandafirilor.

Sensibilitatea – Aceastã calitate devine o deprindere eroticã ce constã în constientizarea la nivel superior a trãirilor senzitive, asociate cu emotii si sentimente. A pune sensibilitatea în serviciul iubirii înseamnã a deveni constient de un gând incorect, atunci când concentrarea, disciplina si rãbdarea au adormit, când esti tensionat si nu ai relatii bune cu ceilalti.

Mai multe pe —>>> http://seductiatrupului.ro/cuplul/iubirea.html (doar nu credeati ca am gandit eo asa ceva…:D

Recomand in full screen…

The Vancouver Sun has unexpectedly published a sober and cautious article about Real Estate. This contrasts with years of articles that have most often read like RE promo brochures. The article is from the 20 Nov 2009, Vancouver Sun Business Section, with no apparent byline. Excerpts below, full article is reproduced as first comment in the comment section -

“In B.C., which has the highest prices and biggest mortgages, buyers seem more confident than other Canadians that prices will continue to rise. Even if they are right it would be prudent to remain cautious.”

“Low interest rates have been a godsend for mortgage borrowers, and a curse for savers…. But interest rates can change in the blink of an eye.”

“Financial advisers warn that real estate valuations can go down, as well as up, and people should diversify their investment portfolios, especially in retirement when a house should represent no more than 25 per cent to 33 per cent of total wealth.”

“Would-be buyers should enter the market with eyes wide open and view their purchase first as a place to live, and only second as a store of wealth.”

VREAA editorial comment -

1. What percentage of Vancouver owners are on target to have their house represent no more than 33% of their total net wealth by retirement?  Answer: Very few. Currently, for many owners, their home value represents greater than 100% of their net worth in that the outstanding mortgage is larger than their other savings and investments. And rising RE prices have further decreased the sense of need to build savings outside of RE equity.

2. What percentage of Vancouver owners currently view their homes ‘first as a place to live, and only second as a store of wealth’?  Answer: Very, very few.

… este de fapt modul nostru de a vedea viaţa. Nimic nu mai este simplu, absolut totul trebuie analizat, trebuie găsite înţelesuri ascunse, totul este complicat.

Lucru destul de amuzat totuşi este faptul că oglinda ca metaforă sau ca simplu obiect este atât de comună în viaţa noastră, încât nici nu ne dăm seama de efectul ei. Ne trezim dimineaţă, ne spălăm pe dinţi, avem în faţă o oglindă (în cele mai multe cazuri)… vedem ce feţe triste avem că niciodată nu suntem destul de odihniţi pentru a începe o nouă zi de “viaţă”. Ne pregătim să ieşim în oraş, iarăşi ne petrecem jumătate de oră în faţă oglinzii (o medie pentru băieţii… nu am nici o idee cât timp alocă fetele în faţa oglinzii pentru o astfel de ocazie). Totul se învârte asupra acestei nevoi de a ne simţi siguri pe noi prin simplu aspect. Prea puţin se mai pune accent pe trăsături de caracter. Desigur, nu voi fi ipocrit să spun că aspectul este irelevant într-o relaţie de orice gen, dat fiind faptul că o primă impresie este mereu bazată pe aspect.

De ce această discuţie? Simplu. Seara aceasta am fost la distilat nişte dicuţii cu 2 amici. Şi desigur că după ceva bere şi vin, s-a simţit nevoie de “a elibera presiune”. Şi simplul fapt că gazda nu avea o oglindă în baie, îmi părea atât de ciudat, de nou. Ne-am obişnuit să ne vedem trăsăturile obosite în geamul de la clădirile pe lângă care trecem, în oglinzile din cluburi, đin băile oricărui local, încât absenţa ei într-o baie sare în ochi. Adică cum să nu văd ce fel arăt după ce am băut 1 litru de bere, jumate de vin şi 200 ml de lichior? Ce fel de civilizaţie e asta?

O prostie. Simplu o prostie. Oare nu suntem sătuli de noi? Eu sincer prefer să stau să mă uit 3 ore la chipul unei fete frumoase decât să pierd 1o minute uitându-mă la “trăsăturile mele masculine după care se dau în vânt fetele”. Şi totuşi simt lipsa unei oglinzi în baie. Aproape îmi este frică de ce devine societatea. Şi eu cu siguranţă nu fac excepţie.

P.S. Articol scris sub influenţă.

The east side market is hot. Frothy-hot. This from the Globe and Mail 19 Nov 2009 6:03 pm -

265 East 24th Avenue, Vancouver

‘A heritage fixer-upper’

List price: $749,000

18 offers

Sold for $1,033,000 within 13 days

$284,000 above ask

A frenzied market can put participants through hell. Chris Kowalchuk is simultaneously experiencing regret about not buying earlier, desire to buy now, and caution that the ‘current market is a bubble that is about to burst’. This personal story extracted from the aforementioned G&M article ‘In Vancouver, house prices on a tear’, by Kerry Gold, 19 Nov 2009 6:03 pm -

“With mortgage rates low, and predictions that they’ll go up some time next year, buyers are too often panicking to buy that house, says Chris Kowalchuk, a first-time buyer who lost out on an offer on Tuesday. He bid $700,000 on a two-bedroom east side house listed at $680,000, without conditions. There were at least seven other bids. “Things are overpriced right now, I think, for what they are worth,” he says. “People are thinking they’ve got to get in while the interest rates are low.” Mr. Kowalchuk, a geologist who recently married, is willing to wait until the interest rates start climbing so that the competition will fall away. He believes the current market is a bubble that has to burst. “I’m looking for a house that I can stay in for at least five years, so I’m willing to overpay a little bit to get the right house.” Like a lot of people, Mr. Kowalchuk now wishes he’d been in a position to buy in the fall and winter of 2008, when many people worried that the market hadn’t yet hit bottom and chose to wait and see what would happen in 2009. By spring, buyers realized that the lower prices and low interest rates made houses affordable again, and the market reacted accordingly. “My dad was telling us to buy, buy, buy, when everything was depressed,” he says. “But we didn’t have time, with the wedding. We put it off until we ran out of time.” But first-time buyer Mr. Kowalchuk refuses to get caught up in the [current] hype. He is willing to wait until the bidding wars subside, even if it means paying a higher mortgage rate. “We’re going to keep looking, but we don’t want to panic and jump into something just because everybody else is doing that. If it’s totally a sellers’ market, people will just out-bid each other. People think they have to buy, no matter what. I’m thinking by April the long-term rates are probably going to start going up. I’m thinking everybody will panic and stay out of the market.”

In parts of Vancouver, such as the Vancouver Eastside, the market has reached fever pitch.  This article in the Globe and Mail by Kerry Gold, 19 Nov 2009 6:03 pm, has so many important anecdotal points regarding sentiment and market activity that vreaa has archived large swatches in this post, and highlighted two stories from it in the posts above.

“In the last three months, a heritage house at 274 E. 20th Ave. was listed for $959,000 and sold for $320,000 above asking, after eight days on the market. A heritage fixer-upper at 265 E. 24th was listed for $749,000 and sold for $1,033,000 within a mere 13 days. A month later, another house nearby at 214 E. 24th, was listed for $749,000 and sold for $950,000 within six days. A typical Vancouver Special at 4554 Walden St. was listed for $730,000 and sold eight days later for $958,000. All those houses were in the trendy Main Street area.”

“It’s very topical,” says realtor Rod MacKay. “Other places [in the country] are strong, but nobody’s seen anything like this. What’s really surprising is nobody anticipated the six-month dry spell being as slow as it was, and prices coming up as much. No one anticipated it bouncing back so far and so quickly.”

“At the beginning of this spring’s buying frenzy, buyers were offering $100,000 above asking in some cases. But by September and October, there were buyers – no doubt tired of being repeatedly out-bid – who are making offers so far above the asking price they couldn’t lose. In the case of the house at 265 E. 24th, it went for $284,000 above asking. “That takes a lot of stones to do that,” says the selling agent Darryl Sjerven. “There were 18 offers on that house. So you go in there, write an offer, and there are 17 other offers and you don’t know what any of them are. They could all be just $10,000 over asking. To go and write $284,000 over takes a lot of guts.”

To describe the bidding mentality these last few months, Mr. Sjerven uses the analogy of a “hang loose” hand gesture – with the three middle fingers curled under and pinkie and thumb sticking out.“Say you get five offers on a house, and suppose the house is listed at $750,000. The guy with the pinkie does not get it, he doesn’t know what’s going on,” says Mr. Sjerven. “Even though there are four other offers, he’ll offer you $700,000 subject to sale of his home and if he gets financing and everything. Then you get the typical pack in the middle, they’ll go around $785,000, or something like that. There’ll be a cluster of those people. Then there’s the thumb. It sticks right over the side and says, ‘this is my house. I want this house.’ He’s far enough ahead that it doesn’t get into further bidding or anything like that. And he buys that house.”

A few months ago, it seemed like the only houses being sold in bidding wars were the “hot properties,” the ones with three bedrooms up, new granite counter tops, and a gleaming in-law suite downstairs. More recently, the bidding wars have been over houses that aren’t so hot, such as that Vancouver Special that went for above asking.“The house wasn’t renovated or anything,” says selling agent Kenny Wong. “It was 37 years old. It had the original “shagadelic” carpets. It was on a 33-by-110 lot. It wasn’t even a standard lot. “I had a hard time selling a Vancouver Special in the winter – a lot of people made low-ball offers,” he adds. “Now they are going over asking.”

Although overall prices aren’t quite at pre-correction levels, for buyers it has felt like the spring of 2008 again.

As to where the market will be in early 2010, the current frenzy appears to be abating and realtors like Mr. Sjerven expect the lull to last over the winter and through to the end of the Olympics. Not many people like to list or buy homes around the holiday season, and few are going to want to sell around the time of the Games, when it could be hard to get around. That five-month lull will create “pent-up demand” that will trigger another frenzy, says Mr. Sjerven. “Once you clear the Olympics out of the way and we’re into April, it will be a race to those listings. Spring is going to rock.”

From a dear family friend on my mother’s passing:

“In my mind I have spent much time in the composition of this and find that when it comes to write to you that I am almost unwilling to do so in fear that what is penned may seem so trite in light of how your life has changed. I have put this off for too long, not because I am too busy – although that is a common excuse used by so many for so much – as the implication is that I am too busy for you, the opposite would more likely be the case, but rather unwilling because it requires me to face what is a harsh reality. I have found that in the months since we last spoke that you are both regularly on my mind particularly there are so many things associated with my home that remind me of your last visit. So much so that I have found it quite difficult to write anything that would be meaningful. While this cloud is still over me I feel that I can put it off no longer.

To say that you have my deepest sympathy belies the oddest sense of loss that I have felt, making an expression of sympathy seem incongruous – particularly as I can only appreciate the tiniest fraction of your loss. In my own home, there are so many memories that have been evoked from the arrangement of furniture or a particular vase that I sometimes wish that I had no memory at all. There is one particular jug that I recall being filled with flowers when I returned home one day from work during your last visit. The simplicity of the arrangement struck me and the image is etched into my memory. The most heartfelt emotions are the joy at someone doing this simple thing, the pleasure of the company and the sadness that I will not have the opportunity to recount that simple moment to she who created it. That is only one example of so many little things touched by someone who spent such a short time in my home and left such a mark. I do not even want to move the furniture any more.

If this is how I feel, I cannot imagine how this has impacted you. A whole lifetime of such moments, memories and warmth. For me, it is all the small touches and moments of fun that were filled with a loveliness that I suspect will rarely if ever be repeated, and created by a person motivated by a kindness and caring that are a form of love in themselves, one which, when encountered, makes one feel that one is a very special person – deservedly or otherwise. I am amazed at the happenstance meeting in Barcelona, the fun over lunch and the most unusual connections that arose from that; most particularly meeting with Yves Fortier in Dublin, but more the meeting with (Frances) Jane O’Malley in Kilkenny. I do not believe that I have the words to express the good fortune that was mine to sit at that particular table, in that particular day at that particular restaurant. Heavens, I should not even have been in Barcelona at all.

My feelings about the fact that I was not able to attend in Knowlton is something that I cannot truly express. One should bury one’s dead as part of the rites of life, it is in a way ones duty. While it was certainly not my place to be in Knowlton and I could not attend by virtue of the tyranny of distance, I did feel that there was a personal tribute due from this fair isle. This is perhaps best expressed to you personally rather than through a grand gesture of travel across the atlantic.

Words are such a curse in that there is nothing that I can write to reach out to you. I do hope that when you came to Ireland that it was something that you both enjoyed and that it will hold many happy memories for you. I know that my visits to Knowlton are just that. The warmth of the welcome is one that I will always cherish. While neither will ever be the same, I can only hope that you will be able, and feel welcome, to lean on those around you who are only to willing to support you as your life goes on. I often recall that when I drove up after my bar exam and lost the parking ticket in your building the evening you drove out to Knowlton. On that trip I remember you saying that you were at ease and comfortable with your own mortality. It was a profound and deep comment that I often refer to and reflect upon with respect to myself – and I have to say that I agree with you and have long been of a similar disposition. What I find more difficult to deal with is the mortality of those involved in my life, and particularly those who have, ever so briefly, touched it in the most meaningful way; awakening visions and realities that would perhaps have otherwise lain dormant for a whole lifetime. Susan was one of those rare and exceptional people. I regret to say that while I will likely never meet another such person, I am not sure that I would want to, for a second such loss might be too much.

This may seem disjointed, but since the moment I heard the news of Susan’s passing, the fragments of memory began to sink like the debris of a shipwreck to the abyss of my mind and it is only of late that the have begun to float to the surface – now perfectly formed and to be treasured for ever.

My dear friend, I look forward to seeing you soon and to sharing a few quiet moments with you in contemplation, and over time – and I trust that it will be a long time – many interesting days for we have much to speak of and I have much to learn. When you have had a chance to read this I would very much like to speak. It has been a cathartic exercise for me to write and I am thankful that it is an electronic communication for I fear that it would be tear stained paper that might have proved difficult to read.

Ar deis De go raibh a anim”

]]> http://tsutsu630.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/oameni/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:44:48 +0000 tsutsu630 http://tsutsu630.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/oameni/

Singuri merg pe drumurile pustii,

curgand in urma, pe pietre plumburii,

vestede frunze din sufletul lor

si lacrimi ce acum nu ii mai dor.

Inainte mergeau spre o lumina-n intuneric,

nestiind cat de departe se afla

sau ca urma sa devina un stress coleric.

Voiau doar sa atinga esenta unui zambet perfect

sa se poata scurge intr-un final efect

al tuturor asteptarilor si eforturilor de-a reusi.

Viata, ca un incurcat si complex labirint

Si toate sufletele noi spre ideal tind

cu exces de zel si speranta in glas,

cu aceeasi perseverenta de-a scapa din orice impas.

Profunzi , dar superficiali, visatori si ireali,

Sfarsesc cu privirea stinsa in trupuri de vasali

irosind emotii si fortand pasi artificiali,

sperand in ultima rasuflare

ca vor gasi o raza de lumina si vor face o schimbare.

(CFD.net.au – Contract for Difference, Share, Forex, ETFs, Commodities Traders) – The good news continues to flow for JB Hi-Fi and its shareholders.

The company told shareholders at yesterday’s annual meeting that there were signs conditions were on the improve.

So much so, that while maintaining its previous strong guidance for the current year, the company has boosted its planned new store openings this year

"While the economic outlook remains unclear, we are encouraged by recent signs the Australian economy and consumers are feeling more confident than this time last year," CEO Richard Uechtritz told the annual meeting yesterday.

"Coupled with JB’s focus on home entertainment and with the all important Christmas and New Year trading periods ahead of us, the company remains confident that it will meet market expectations."

This improved consumer confidence was underlined yesterday by the latest survey from Westpac and the Melbourne Institute which showed sentiment at a near 28 month high in October.

That survey was taken after the rate rise last week, which underlines the moreresilient nature of consumer confidence than earlier in the year.

This has been helped by the federal government’s stimulus spending, which has cushioned the fall in employment, and helped retailers in particular.

"We maintain our previous sales guidance of circa $2.8 billion or a 20 per cent increase on the 2009 financial year," JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Uechtritz told shareholders."

"In August 2009 we reported that sales were in line with internal expectations and comparable store sales were 3.8% for the first five weeks of the new financial year and that comparable store sales had been impacted by strong visual sales from the Olympics in the prior year.

"Today, we report that sales for the 1st quarter of financial year 2010 continue to be in line with internal expectations and comparable store sales were 8.4% for the quarter," Mr Uechtritz said.

The electronics retailer unveiled in August a 45% jump in net profit to a record $94.4 million for the year to June 30, exceeding its guidance for a $92 million net profit due to stronger than expected sales.

JB Hi-Fi also at the time reported a 27% increase in sales for the 12 months to $2.33 billion and said that sales for July and August had met internal expectations, with expected sales for fiscal 2010 to be up 20% to $2.8 billion.

That’s on track and the shares bounced past the $19 mark yesterday and ended up 92 cents, or nearly 5%, at $19.42.

"During the year we opened 19 new stores. Seven of these stores were in Western Australia, four in Queensland, two in the Australian Capital Territory, one each in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, and three in New Zealand," shareholders were told by the CEO.

"By Christmas this year we will have opened 15 new JB Hi-Fi stores since 1 July, taking the group’s total store network to 137.

"In September 2009, one Hill & Stewart store in New Zealand was also converted to a JB Hi-Fi store. The total stores across the group’s brands at Christmas will include 11 Clive Anthonys stores and 4 Hill & Stewart stores.

"At our August 2009 results release we indicated we would open 18 new JB Hi-Fi branded stores, we now forecast approximately 22 new stores in FY10, an increase of 4 on our recent guidance," he said.

JB is a big gainer from the federal government’s stimulus spending.

Meanwhile discount variety retailer The Reject Shop Ltd is maintaining its previous guidance for 14% rise in 2010 earnings.

Shareholders were told yesterday in Melbourne that its new store opening program has added to sales. (Like JB Hi-Fi.)

The retailer said its confident of achieving a net profit of between $21.4 million and $21.6 million for the financial year.

It said while the first six weeks of the financial year had been impacted by inventory imbalances, the company said new stores had added additional sales above initial expectations.

"Year to date our comparable store sales growth is flat but we expect the recent trend to continue and anticipate the remainder of the half to produce comparable sales growth of around 3%, bringing the first half comparable sales growth to around 1.5%.

"However, the new store opening program has added some additional sales above initial expectations.

"Pleasingly we have addressed the situation quickly and comparable store sales growth has been increasingly positive since mid August with recent weeks particularly strong."

Source: JBH Hi-Fi Optimistic/ The Reject Shop Looks Better

V-am promis ieri un articol surpriză. Ăsta e.

De mic copil, am fost fascinat de maşini. La 4-5 ani, ştiam majoritatea mărcilor după embleme, şi încet-încet şi după modele. Şi încă de pe atunci ştiam că există un nume care e pe primul loc în industria automobilistică: Mercedes-Benz.
Normal, auzisem de Ferrari, Lamborghini şi alte mărci de genul ăsta, dar acelea erau de alt calibru. Mercedes reprezenta imaginea luxului, era practic definiţia unei limuzine. Ai mei aveau atunci un Mercedes 200D, o cobră. Era veche, avea problemele ei, dar îmi plăcea la nebunie maşina aia şi emblema aia. Normal, acum, privind în urmă, nu era cine ştie ce vârf al tehnicii auto, dar totuşi, era un Mercedes.

Şi de pe atunci, visam să conduc un Mercedes. Iată că astăzi mi-am împlinit un vis, prin amabilitatea celor de la Autoklass Center.

Modelul testat: noua clasă E. Cu specificaţii tehnice şi poze o să revin luni, momentan pot să vă zic că era modelul Avantgarde, full-options, cu 280 de cai putere, transmisie hidramată cu Distronic Plus. Iar acum să continui cu impresiile, că până la urmă, acestea contează cel mai mult.

Când m-am urcat la volan, m-am simţit foarte mic. Maşina produce o primă impresie foarte puternică. Apoi, am apăsat pe butonul de pornit motorul, am băgat în drive şi am purces încet, cu grijă şi atenţie mare, şi ceva emoţii, la drum. După 2 minute, deja mă acomodasem cu ea. Să mai zic de scaunul cu masaj? De volanul care s-a reglat automat pe înălţime?  De tunerul tv încorporat, de trapa panoramică, şi zeci de alte chestii? Însă ce mi-a plăcut tare mult a fost genialul Distronic Plus. În caz că nu ştiţi ce face, e foarte simplu: maşina accelerează şi frânează singură în funcţie de maşina din faţă. În primă fază, stăteam oarecum panicat şi cu piciorul pe frână, în caz că, dar când am văzut că s-a oprit singură, am rămas oarecum… wow. Încă o chestie extraordinar de utilă este şi sistemul de asistenţă din oglinzi. Cum funcţionează? Păi foarte frumos. Sunt nişte micro-camere de filmat care acoperă unghiul mort, iar în oglindă vezi un triunghi, colorat galben. Eh, în momentul în care vrei să schimbi banda şi dai semnal, dacă ai vreo maşină în unghiul mort, triunghiul se colorează în roşu şi începe să pâlpâie, iar bordul emite semnale sonore de avertizare.

Dar pe lângă toate sistemele de siguranţă pe care le are, pe lângă confortul pe care îl oferă, maşina asta are… personalitate.

Vrea să fie condusă. Te roagă să o conduci. Te face să te simţi atât de bine la volan şi îţi menţine un zâmbet pe buze, indiferent dacă stai pur şi simplu în eternele coloane de la semafoarele din Bucureşti sau dacă te bucuri de puţin drum liber şi apuci să apeşi un pic mai mult pedala de acceleraţie. Nu ai cum să fii stresat în ea. E o senzaţie pe care nu ştiu cum să o explic şi pe care cred că numai un Mercedes o poate da. Nu e vorba neapărat de aroganţă, nu e vorba că te simţi superior, te simţi pur şi simplu bine conducând-o. Îţi oferă plăcere. E exact ce ar trebui să fie o maşină. Nu e doar să ajungi din punctul a în punctul b, pentru că până la urmă, nu destinaţiile contează, ci drumul. Şi maşina asta te face să vrei să stai cât mai mult pe drumul ăla şi să te bucuri de el. E sentiment pe 4 roţi şi oferă unele dintre cele mai frumoase senzaţii pe care le poate oferi un automobil. Şi fie că preferi să mergi calm, relaxat, fără să te grăbeşti, sau dimpotrivă, vrei să smulgi şi ultima picătură de putere pe care o are motorul ăla de oferit, maşina te ajută să faci chestiile astea. Da, e foarte uşor de condus şi mulţi ar putea să zică “păi ce, vreau să simt eu că merg cu maşina”, dar depinde de tine. Pur şi simplu sunt nişte chestii fireşti. Da, tu eşti în control, la volan, ea doar te ajută să ai o experienţă mai plăcută. Toate sistemele alea de asistenţă nu-ţi reduc din bucuria de a conduce, ci dimpotrivă, te ajută să te bucuri mai mult şi mai intens de maşină şi de ce poate face.

Aşa că da, Mercedes-Benz, în opinia mea, încă reprezintă vârful în tehnică auto şi scot probabil unele dintre cele mai bune şi performante maşini din lume. Reprezintă imaginea pe care lumea şi-a făcut-o despre ele. Luxoase, extraordinar de confortabile, dar şi foarte, foarte performante. Şi nu, nu sunt scumpe degeaba. S-ar putea să găseşti dotări asemănătoare pe alte maşini, un pic mai ieftine, dar nu cred că acele maşini vor oferi senzaţiile pe care ţi le oferă un Benz.

Cert e că, după ce conduci un Mercedes, începi să priveşti maşinile cu alţi ochi. Aşa că dacă aveţi bani la dispoziţie şi staţi pe gânduri, neştiind ce maşină să cumpăraţi, oscilând între diverse mărci, încercaţi un Mercedes. Fie că e C, E, S, sau orice alt model, sunt convins că există câte unul pentru gustul fiecăruia.

Vreau mai mult.

Abia aştept evenimentele organizate de Mercedes Benz România, să văd cum merg şi celelalte modele, cum se simt, şi să vă relatez de la faţa locului.

Revin luni cu poze şi specificaţiile tehnice. Şi preţul modelului de test.

As vrea toata viata sa mi-o traiesc in parfum, uitand de-al sufletului etern zbucium si sa mor in scantei febrile de foc. Gandul meu cenzurat e sa ma ascunzi intr-un betisor parfumat. La final, sa fiu cenusa in palma ta, aruncata in mare, chemata in disperare…

Pastreaza-ma intr-o pagina oarba si seaca, ameteste-ma printre cuvinte si patrunde-mi in minte. Afla-mi dorintele si implineste-mi-le. Afla-mi secretele si dezvaluie-le. Descopera-mi gandurile si publica-le. La final, cunoaste-ma…

Rapeste-mi existenta si insereaz-o in tacerea noptii. Sa te chinui noapte de noapte, graindu-ti cu patima nemuritoare soapte, sa-ti tulbur odihna si emotiile sa ti le cutremur. La final, reinvie-ma in amintiri.

Ascunde-ma intr-o nota muzicala. Astfel, cand ma auzi, sa-ti patrund curand prin timpan, ajungand la creier, unde imi voi face de cap dupa bunul plac.

Nu ma trezi, caci nu vreau sa parasesc acest vis in care te-am atins. Mai lasa-mi somn, caci niciodata nu mi-a fost suficient sa te visez.

Ascunde-ma de falsitate, de sperante desarte, de iluzii si deziluzii, de vise si cosmaruri. Ascunde-ma de tot ce am facut si am fost, de vorbele spuse fara rost. Ascunde-ma de impulsuri straine, ascunde-ma, deci, in tine.

©Lorena.