Money isn't everything but it sure is useful.

Today I had an interesting experience. I drove to Edmonton for work - there was a Chamber of Commerce meeting in St. Albert I was invited to attend. (Yet I still had to pay for my lunch). When I got there I realized that I forgot my wallet. But because they invited me they did let me in (but I still owe them for lunch). I enjoyed the meeting but after I was worried about what I was going to do. I'm a 3 hour drive away from home with no cash or credit cards. The gas tank in the van is nearly empty. I needed parking money because I was going to drop off stuff at the office downtown. Plus without my wallet I had no ID or driver's license or anything. What could I do? In Calgary at busy intersections there are often "homeless" people with cardboard signs telling their sad stories walking between cars at red lights looking for handouts. Maybe these folks aren't "homeless" at all. Maybe they are just people who forgot their wallets and need gas money to get home. (I did have cardboard and Sharpies in the van - I even had metallic Sharpies)

Well, fortunately I have family in and around Edmonton. 2 sisters and their families, aunts and cousins. I figured I'd go begging to my sisters first. Then if that didn't work, I'd find a busy intersection where I could display my sign. I got lucky on my first call. Sheila happened to have cash at home. I drove over to her place and begged for enough cash to buy enough gas to get home.

She made me beg for the money.

I was on my knees but she kindly helped me out.

Thanks to Sheila I did get home.

Now for a little rant.

(Yeah - its easy money for them)

I had some $25 gift cards that I purchased about a year ago to give to customers who signed up for our product at Southgate mall. Since I was on business and Sheila helped me out I figured she deserved a card for her troubles.

After I gave her the card I was driving and was listening to talk radio (I like talk radio but I don't think anyone else in my family does). Today they were talking about gift cards and how customers are complaining about them. Apparently a large percentage of the money spent on gift cards never gets used because they expire or they get eaten away with outrageous "service charges". I had one more $25 gift card so I checked it out to see how much was really on the card. Turns out it was only $6.08. Apparently every month you don't use the card they take off $2 for a "service charge". Basically that means if I give you a $25 gift card for your birthday and you don't use it for a year, that gift card will be only worth $1. That's criminal don't you think. Well, the Provincial Government agrees. Today they announced that effective November 1, gift cards can't expire and "service charges" will not be allowed. If that law was in effect today, Sheila would actually have a $25 gift card worth $25, not $6.08. Next time you get someone a gift card make sure you check out the fine print. Fortunately us Albertan's will be okay after November 1st. The government actually did something good.

Ouch! That hurts!

I often try to make my family laugh.   They don't seem to appreciate my sense of humour.  There are times I will say something that I think is very funny, but there is silence.  I figure its because its not that they don't think I'm funny - its because they didn't hear me.   So I will repeat what I said.   Then comes the punch - someone will say something like "We heard you the first time - it wasn't funny then and it still isn't funny".  Ouch!  That hurts!

But there is one way I can make my family laugh every time.   All I need to do is injure myself in some clumsy way... fall down stairs (ask Chay about this), trip or stub my toe, hit my shins on a corner of something, or  bruise my tailbone (even I thought that was funny even though I couldn't sit comfortably for weeks), etc.   

The other day I was reading the messages by the phone.   The cupboard door above was open and I stood up and got the corner of the door in my forehead.   I went down holding my head.   I must admit that  Judy was concerned at first.  But as I was "thrashing" on the floor Candi came home and saw me there.   Candi's first reaction was not to check to see if I was okay - it was to get her camera and take some pictures so she could share this moment. 

  

And my guess is that this picture will at least get a smile from some of you.  If there are those who feel sorry for me, I thank you (and you probably aren't related).

Ouch!  That hurts!  

(You can see the scar if you zoom in.)

I should do this?

As we were heading out of town for the weekend, look what eagle eye Jamie spotted in a car beside us.

Notice how the kleenex holder matches the seat covers.  

Where do you buy stuff like this?

Football Fun

Last weekend we went down to Southern Alberta because Alana was coming up from BYU to attend the funeral of her former roommate's mom in Raymond.   We wanted to see her but it worked out well because my nephews Craig and Blair were in Raymond to play football.   So we went to the game.   My mom and dad were there sitting in the rain with Sharon watching the game.  It was fun.  Helen and Jim were there as well - their son Bryce (another nephew) coaches the Raymond team.  So whichever team won, I would have family on the winning team.  (Raymond won 35 - 6).

Sharon, Grandma and Grandpa T. 

Nephew Craig waiting for a punt

Alana arriving prepared for the rain and cold

On Saturday we went to Grandma and Grandpa T's to "help" Sharon and her boys clean up some stuff around the yard.  Check out Alana's report.    

Phone Fun or "Did you order a pizza?"

In response to the petition to get me to start a blog here we go. As the title suggests this will be a collection of random thoughts plus some of the the things that happen to me day to day.
  

  

For my first post I have to tell you about my drive home from work today. We did have a delay waiting at a C-Train Crossing. The arm came down but never went up. After a long wait people started getting out of their cars and held the arms up so other people could drive under them. I could just imagine them holding it up when a train was really coming by.
  

That's actually not the story I wanted to tell but it was a funny experience watching these folks holding up the arms. 

  

Later in our commute my cell phone rang. I answered and someone in broken english asked "Did you ordered a pizza?" I simply said no and said they must have the wrong number and hung up. 
  

After I hung up I thought it would have been funny if I would have asked the person if the pizza was already paid for and if it was have them deliver it to our place. Candi and I had a good laugh about thinking about doing that if we ever got another call from a pizza place. 
  

A couple minutes later my phone rang again. It was the same person asking me if I ordered a pizza. BINGO! This time I asked if I had already paid for the pizza. The person was obviously confused and asked if I was Serena. I said I wasn't and and said that they must have the wrong number. The person then got upset with me and said that he had the right number because it was written on the order. He confirmed that he did dial the number he had on the order but I assured him that I was not Serena and that I did not know a Serena and that no one at my cell phone number ordered a pizza.
   

Candi and I had a good laugh about this because as Candi said "You don't sound like a Serena." 
  

Guess what happened a few minutes later. Another phone call. This time the person speaks english and said "This is Pizza 73 calling to confirm our order." I told him that I did not order pizzas. (Ironically the order was for 2 large Hawaiian Pizza's - what do they call these in Hawaii?) This person asked to speak to Serena. I said that there was no Serena at this number. Then I asked if Serena had already paid for the pizzas and if they were going to deliver them. He said no and that is why they were calling. I said I was just joking and told him again that I hadn't ordered a pizza. He said that this was the phone number he had on the order. I said it is the wrong number and explained that this was my work phone number. Then he asked something that made me laugh. "If you don't want a pizza then why did you call?"
  

Me: "I didn't call - you called me". 
  

Him: "Are you sure Serena isn't there?"
  

Me: "No, this is my work cell phone." Then I got a great idea - I'll sell him EasyMax. "Have you ever heard of EasyMax?
  

Him: "No"
 

Me: "How much do you pay for electricity?"
  

Him: "I have to go" and then he hangs up.
   

Now I know how to have some fun with wrong numbers and those pesky telemarketers. Try to sell them something first. I can't wait for the next telemarketer to call so I can try it out. I might even get some sales.