Wow!  End of April already.  Missed Easter in there somewhere.  Actually I didn't.  Just got too busy to add anything to this running dialoque to myself.   We did go to visit the cemetaries to pay homage to those who have gone before us.  My wife's mom and dad, my sister, Amelia Lam (godparent).  All gone prematurely after having lost a fight with cancer but having won the spiritual war by finding Jesus Christ.  Or was that the other way around?  Jesus Christ found them.

 

Being spring also means time to start up the ole lawn mower and get going with the yard work.   Wouldn't you know it?  My lawnmower wouldn't start.   It's been a few years since a tune-up and was due for a new spark plug anyways so off to the my local Home Hardware I went.  The one I go to also services lawnmowers.  They charged me $60.   So what happened on my first mowing?   Well, going down the hill at the side of our house, I hit this rock and my reflex reaction was to pull back on the lawnmower.  No big deal.  A few days later, I find myself unable to stand up.  My left leg was in great pain.  Turns out I pulled a muscle attached to the hamstring.  My doctor tells me my sport season is over.   The leg will be sore for a few months.  So I had to get a landscaper in to do a spring package....power rake, aerate, moss kill, lime, fertilizer.   It sure was nice not to have to haul away 250 pounds of moss.  The landscaper does that.  So I'll probably have them do it again next year.  Then lo and behold, Christopher (Dave and Sandra's kid) knocks on my door last weekend and asks if I would like him to mow my lawn for me.   He offered to do it for $10 each time.   So I guess Chris is gainfully employed this summer.   He's too young to drive, but I guess it buys him Dairy Queen money.  Actually, I think he was saving for a new bike.

 

The MINI was vandalized last month.  Finally got that fixed and the very next week while driving home from work I witnessed this rock come flying off a pickup truck, hit the oncoming car on the windshield and then bounce across the street onto the front of my windshield.   The break wasn't so big as to absolutely need a new windshield, so I just had it filled.   Visiting my MINI dealer every month is not on my schedule.  With 2010 Olympics construction going on all over the place, I'm going to find lots of rocks over the next few years.

 

Last week, the Vancouver MINI Cooper club also had their first spring drive.  I was nice to meet a lot of them. The drive was fun and relaxing and a few of us went for fish n chips at Pajo's afterwards.   After the fish n chips, three MINIs sort of had our own mini drive home and it sort of reminded me of the Italian Job (the movie).   We had the right models but different colors.  Next drive, this weekend!  Too bad I can't make it.

 

Well, it's the end of April and that means income tax time.  For some reason, I don't get a refund this year.  In fact, my previous employer messed up my T4 form so much, it would have caused me to be double taxed to the tune of $5000 if my accountant hadn't caught it.   Anyways, I still have to pay out and there is good reason for that.  I sold a load of shares last year and I guess it's time to pay the taxes for the profits taken.   So I guess I'll have to sell more shares and pay my taxes.  AURRGGHH!!!.

 

Till next time...