My thoughts on Me

Here's a thought ... 
As 2012 comes to a close most people take some time to reflect on the events of the past year.  I have done this, a quick reflection.  At first I thought, "Nah, nothing much happened to me", then I forced my mind back to the January & February.  I began to recall how much mental turmoil I was in about my job and it's conflict with my kids. Through March I struggled then finally, with the help of my husband, I made the choice to stop working, chose an end date and focused on that.  What a relief.  My last few months of real estate sales were fun and profitable, my kids were happy, hubby and I were happy.  The plans for the farm began to take shape and I could focus on hubby and all my kids - four in total.

The summer was busy with chores, household reno's and running the girls to soccer, oh so much soccer.  I had begun to morph into the stay home soccer mom.  I loved it.  However, as summer turned to fall, the kids were readying for back to school, I wondered what do I do now ?

Still busy with paperwork for our trucking company, it couldn't fill all my time.  I found myself missing the hustle of my former job, the mind stimulation and communicating with my peers and other adults.  I understand that many women go through this and I did after the birth of each of my kids.  This time would be different, this was what I would be doing, for a long time.  I had to adjust, figure out a way not to go mad.  Once the girls would return home from school and we would do homework I was fine.  They were full of questions and in learning new things were growing intellectually.  So, I began to read.  I would read blogs, news, all sorts of obscure and varied articles I found on the internet.  I had begun to exercise my brain again, in between all the chores of course.  I was busy, I was happy, not missing anything and I thanked hubby for allowing me this luxury of being with the kids.

It's funny how once fall kicks in full force many of us feel worn out, ready to hunker down for the winter that's about to come.  But I was still going strong, hubby and I had made plans for a late November tropical holiday.  The prospect of this adventure for us was uplifting to say the least.  By the way, Aruba was fantastic, sun, sand food and beverages.

Upon our return it was time to ready for Christmas and I had a great appreciation for my family.  As I reflected I found that the year 2012 was an evolutionary year for me.  I had a lot of time to think and process the changes that had and were taking place.  I had made good and bad decisions and good and bad changes.   I had begun to morph into someone "newish".  After living for 45+ years I suppose this is to be expected, but settling into this new me hasn't been easy and I know I need to work on a few areas.  I can only trust that by the spring of 2013 the painful morphing will be complete and the transition will be worth it.

Someone asked me what I thought about Windmills

Someone asked me what I had heard about the wind farm planned near Markdale.  I asked which one ?  Apparently, as far as I know, there may be three planned within 3 to 10 minutes from the village.  How many are real ? one for sure, the other two seem to be under the radar.  That's how these wind companies like to work when they're out to gather leases, it's a big secret.

I have a strong opinion about The Green Energy Act and Commercial Wind Farms. 

Dalton McGuinty and the Provincial Liberals passed The Green Energy Act, May 14, 2009.  Since that date McGuinty put into motion a series of events that has crippled dozens of rural Ontario communities and has cost every Ontarian hundreds of dollars a year in ever increasing energy expenses.

I am not against Green Energy.   I believe in self-subsistent living, planting our own gardens, raising our own cattle, pigs, poultry and sheep , even cash crops for healthier living.  I think it would be great if we could all harness energy on our property to power our homes.  However, not all of us are able to do this for several reasons and often, being self-subsistent has an initial outlay of capital, such as the purchasing & installation of solar panels on our roofs or moderately sized pond or land windmills (residental use) and all of the paraphanalia for storage, that many of us simply just cannot afford.

Wouldn't it be fabulous not to be soley dependant on "the man" for our power needs ? Of course it would.  Now, lets look at  the McGuinty Liberals' GEA.  Wow, a provincial government interested in conserving energy, saving our environment and looking out for us and our health by closing all those nasty caustic power plants.  "sscccrreeaaacchhh"  Wait just a minute.  What I see isn't a Premier looking out for my best interests at all  !

I see a political party looking to keep some lobbyists happy while attempting to make their mark on Ontario.  I see a Liberal party taking advantage of the beleaguered farmer and struggling rural communitites.  I see a Premier spouting the benefits of Green Energy and of thousands of newly created jobs while ignoring the bottom line.  I see the Liberal's GEA as a means of stripping Municipalities of their freedom of choice and power.  I see my energy bill rising.

If the GEA is such a good idea why are McGuinty and the Liberals ramming it down our throats.  Why did they take away Municiple authorities ?  I figure they anticipated objections and planned for them.  Honestly, who in their right mind would run a business expensing more than they can generate ?  No businessman I know, and Government is the business of governing.

I pay an average of about .07 per kWh of electricity on my monthly bill.  McGuinty has authorized the FIT Program, and will pay the following feed in tariffs

         on shore wind     13.5 cents
         off shore wind    19   cents
         Solar ground       44.3 cents
         Solar roof           53.9 / 71.3 cents              
        (as quoted @ http://www.powerauthority.on.ca/)

So these Green Energy generators are earning substantially more than the energy is worth. Where is the common sense ?  It is no wonder our energy bills are increasing.  Ontario's power delivery systems are most likely in need of upgrade, but supplimenting the income of big business is not something Ontarians should be saddled with.

The placement of these commercial wind farms troubles me.  In a Province the size of Ontario, why must they be in our rural communities ?  I've read their placement is based on the wind readings, ease of delivery to the grid and all of the extensive research mumble jumble findings.  Well, isn't energy delivered to the much less populated areas of Ontario ?  I'm sure I've seen hydro poles reaching far and wide.  Granted there is plenty of wind in Grey County but there are thousands of folks that love the natural beauty of the area, that live, farm, vaction and retire here.  The vast majority of these people would prefer to preserve the beauty and natural enjoyment of the area than look at 10 to 100's of these massive white elephants littering their local landscape. 

Although my focus today is the bad business of the GEA, I would be remiss not to mention that the presence of the wind turbines in our communities have a miriad of issues and health concerns associated with them, from stray voltage issues, noise and infrasound, vibrations and the effect on humans, farm animals and wildlife living in the areas of these farms. 

So what I see now is several Municipalities in Southern Ontario banding together to fight the GEA and it's ridiculous and dictatorial authority.  I also see a Provincial election on the horizon that, with any luck, will rid us of Dalton McGuinty and the Liberals.   I just hope that when they go they take the GEA with them.

My Money

Ever since I was a little girl my parents would tell me to save my money, "you'll be glad you did someday".

I did pretty well saving my money.  I bought my first car, in the early 80's, with cash.  I didn't have a credit card until my mid 20's.  I had heeded to my folks advice that if I couldn't pay cash, it wasn't time to buy.  When I bought my first home, I had the down payment.  I find myself wondering, is this possible for my kids to accomplish today ?

I am instinctively imparting the same "Save your money" advise on to them. They don't do too bad, however, once they have enough for that big ticket item every dime is gone.  Kids today have little patience.  I am thinking it's a trend of society as a whole.

Every day we hear companies telling us to buy now, pay later.   Credit card companies automatically increase your credit limits every year, retail outlets have their own payment plans and the banks want us to utilize the equity in our home and investments to the fullest.  In 20 years so many of us have become almost totally credit dependant, impatient.

Working in real estate has brought the money issues to the forefront for me.  When I meet a new client for the first time we must discuss their budget and finances and not just the wants and needs they have in a home.  So many home buyers are uncertain where to start, so I become a pseudo credit advisor.  I am no longer surprised at how much debt folks have.  Car loans, leases, equity lines of credit, consolidation loans, RRSP loans and the current mortgage balances. 

We will scan available properties but I always send them to speak with their banks or brokers and then come back to see me.  More often than not, their budget has been amended from my first conversation with them.  The downpayment requirements and TDS & GDS has affected their purchasing power.  So often, home buyers have not even considered the monthly debt they carry could affect purchasing a home, or that those home equity loan payouts may not leave them with enough downpayment to upgrade after the sale of their current home.

Our credit poor society is starting to feel their restrictions. I have spent the better part of two years working on paying down my debt.  I still have a little way to go.  I have to say that no matter what the economy, no matter what great deals may be out there I wish I had continued to listen to my parents advise about saving my money until I could afford things.  I will insist my kids keep improving these saving skills.  *Hear that Morgan ;) *

Given the current state of the Canadian economy, which is so very connected to the faultering US,  I believe is uncertain at best.  The rising unemployment numbers coupled with rising costs of living has me worried for all of our pocket books.  So if you are lucky to have steady income, cherish it and  " Save Your Money "

Thanks Mom & Dad

Politicians, phfft

                                                                                            

Here's a quick thought.

I am irritated with Michael Ignatieff, as I would assume many women are.  Irritated is actually an understatement.

Here is a politician trying to capitalize on the publics' outrage with the Russell Williams trial.  He had the audacity to say: "I don't quite know what it's like to look at that news through a woman's eyes, but I can sort of imagine how difficult that week has been,"  Then in the next breath: "The thing that's so awful about this week is the breaking of that basic trust that we have to have between men and women in order to raise families, live with each other, work together as citizens. And a very bad man did that a lot of harm this week."

Seriously Ignatieff, Seriously ??   The arrogance of this man assuming he knows what women are feeling or thinking with regard to this trial.  

When I heard his comments on the radio this morning the first thought I had was, "ya right, that isn't even close you moron.  You think women actually had trust in every man at all ???"  his statement has been knocking around my head all day and I had to comment.

As the mother of 3 girls and 1 boy, I have imparted some motherly wisdom upon them.  I teach my girls to be politely cautious when dealing with the opposite sex, all members of the opposite sex, period !  I teach my son about personal boundaries, not to touch others and that his girl-friends need a special respect from him.

Ignatieff has no idea what this woman is thinking at all.  He is so out of touch with this Canadian woman that he will NeVeR get my vote.  I can only assume that all his time outside our great country has affected his perspective or that this is his masculine side speaking.        

Lastly, I know that Russell Williams killed Jessica Lloyd and Marie-France Comeau.  Does he know their names ?