Go ahead, empty your pockets. Among the fluff, the instant teller receipts and two slightly used peppermints, there were probably several coins. Probably pennies. Maybe a loonie or a toonie, if you are in a higher income bracket. But let’s wait for the jackpot.
posted in economy | Comments Off on Beyond simple pocket change | 245 words
Benjamin Franklin is credited with the phrase “A penny saved is a penny earned”. Well, today I have done well. A master shopper. Let me take a bow, I’ve earned the right.
posted in economy, environment | Comments Off on Saved penny is earned penny | 286 words
Put me in a shopping mall with two hundred and eighty stores and my reaction is “So what?”. Add a skating rink and a giant IMAX theatre. Throw in a roller coaster that completes its circuit in one minute flat. I am so difficult to impress.
posted in economy | Comments Off on The opposite of commerce | 224 words
I should know better, at my age. There are no real Boxing Day bargains, especially when the prices are published for all to see. For days now, the intrepid shoppers have been planning their strategies, armed with fast cars and cell phones. I am no more than a witness without much money.
posted in economy, Wx | Comments Off on Fear of a stampede | 515 words
The clock is ticking. Serious deadlines for holiday shopping are at hand, and my big purchase today was a frozen bird. I couldn’t face the stress of a shopping mall, so I washed my winter coat instead. No coat, no travel; MeteoMedia confirms that it is too cold to go ‘a wandering along the mountain trail without suitable attire. No coat, stay home. Simple.
posted in economy | Comments Off on Financial uncertainties | 351 words
My life in a second language world gives personal relevance to the quote from Steve Martin – Those French, they’ve got a different word for everything.” Every day, I get to puzzle my way to the top of the pile, and the next day start all over again. Sisyphus is my idol.
posted in economy | Comments Off on A different word for everything | 357 words
The bountiful harvest is on its way east. I noticed, from my bus “window on the world” that the colourful Alberta Grain cars are moving in the port region again. Just think, each contains about 90 tonnes of “what the world wants”, and there are hundreds of them in neat rows, waiting their turn.
posted in economy | Comments Off on The grain trains are back | 287 words
Recently, a “before and after” story came across my desktop, where certain celebrities were shown in photos that were either very flattering, or not at all. Cherrypicking, certainly. Eyeopening… well, the cosmetics industry has been in on the secret for ages. Just ask Cleopatra. But how about software?
posted in economy | Comments Off on When appearances are skin deep | 240 words
Now that Black Friday has passed, and the full Christmas shopping season is upon us, it’s time for the visits with the store Santa. Our kids are past that happy point in all our lives, but the willing victim today was the dog. Sometimes, things just don’t follow the script.
posted in economy, pets | Comments Off on Santa shouldn’t wear gloves | 280 words
The local newspaper congratulated a young entrepreneur last weekend. He’d fulfilled a dream, I assume, and opened a small restaurant that bore witness to his culture and his desire to share their food with his new community. We sought it out, and today we ate well.
posted in economy | Comments Off on New restaurant in town | 257 words
