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2010 - Garage Sale Season - Week 1 - Parkdale
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2101
It begins.
There have been a few already, the out of season ones, but today it begins in earnest, I've put together a map. There's a few local to my new neighborhood of Parkdale. And this morning I'm up early, far too early given how tired I was last night, ready to go.
Pass the time drawing up maps, logistics...
There are the inevitable problems with overlap, promising garage sales on opposite sides of town, so I'll just have to start in my neighborhood and hope to get lucky. It's all about luck and persistence in the end anyways.
And while I'm at it I'll take a look at the lottery numbers online, I have a theory...
Today could be my lucky day.
Starbucks Card Swap
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Starbucks & Gift Card Swap
- Hits: 1792
I'm looking to swap Canadian 2010 Olympic Starbucks cards (unused, uncharged, unregistered) for any foreign Starbucks cards with a unique local design. So, for example, the card above is obviously Canadian, looking to swap the same for cards from other countries - Ireland, for example (The Dublin Card), or Taipei or Japanese Starbucks cards that have designs not used elsewhere. Don't ask why. But if you mail me your Starbucks cards with your address, then I'll mail you an equal number of the above.
Helicopter Pilots have big heads
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2327
I've been selling off my belongings. Not all, but the recent move and staggered unpacking have brought to my attention the gross surplus of furniture and useless possessions that clutter my life.
And before I have to move again I'd like to pare them down to the essentials. A set of 4 leaded glass doors, a gift from a friend who had no use for them, moved 4 times with me before I figured out that I didn't have any use for them either, sold on Kijiji for $220.00 to a young Russian couple refinishing their house. An old hoosier top sold for $50.00 to a older plump dealer who will take it and mark it up to $300 or $400 in her Antique shop. I'm not bitter, I'm just glad it's gone. Then there's the table, a 30's or 40's hardwood dining room table with ornately carved double pedestal base and quarter cut walnut veneer, cheaper than an Ikea table made from laminate pine and yet not a single call. And the helicopter pilots helmet, a bargain I picked up at a garage sale, that too should go, I'll try for $100.00. I've already humiliated the kids as much as I can with it, wearing it on walks and bicycle rides, now someone else should have some fun. With a very little bit of effort it would make a great Boba Fett helmet.
After a couple of weeks somebody calls about it and I'm surprised that it's been found, ready to bargain I describe it to him, he agrees it's a helicopter pilots helmet all right, but it's only a medium and somehow he infers that this isn't what he's looking for; he hums and haws, really what he needs is a large, helicopter pilots have big heads...
Scumbag Landlords
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Rants
- Hits: 2470
Telus and Scumbag landlords on the same day.
My previous landlord, I'd had my reservations. He'd been a little odd, bought the house as an infill, let me stay on a month-to-month basis, but there was something dodgy about him....
Still, you shouldn't be judgmental, and so when the eviction notice came I moved out, all out, and called him on March 1st and left a message to advise him of my new address and let him know if there were any problems with the way the place was left he could call me and I'd fix them.
No returned call.
And so on March 19th, having checked the landlord-tenant act for Alberta and discovered I'm 9 days past due on my Damage Deposit I call and leave a message with a secretary, I explain I'm inquiring about the status of my damage deposit, leave my phone number and address again.
I've never had a problem getting a damage deposit before, but I'm having suspicions that this may be the first time. It's a cool $1000.00, which, while not the end of the world, is a little bit much to be thrown away for nothing. Or to be squandered on drugs by a sleazebag landlord.
Wednesday, March 24th, no returned call, no message on my machine, no cheque in the mail. I call the landlord again, he answers by accident. Curt, he tells me that he paid my electricity bill. This seems odd, why should he pay my bills? It was an old one he explains, he'll show me the receipt ... and then tells me about a mattress on the side of the house, I should have it moved.
It's not my mattress, I explain, It was left by the previous downstairs tenants.
His final argument?
"Are you sure you paid us the damage deposit...didn't you just get it back from the previous landlord?"
Now this is funny, because when I first met them, the first day they took over the property, in front of me they called their lawyer and demanded the damage deposit be transferred over to them. In front of me. They spoke to their lawyers, confirmed the word of the law, then threatened legal action if the damage deposit wasn't transferred over within 24 hours.
And now the halfwit is trying to make me doubt they even have my damage deposit.
He relents, he's a busy guy but he'll meet with me on Saturday to discuss it.
Now really, there's nothing to discuss. When I finish the conversation I call Enmax to check to see if there have been any inexplicable payments on my account, there are none. If there were it would by implication have him opening my mail, which would be a separate trial, but equally damning.
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