Tricia's Musings

Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Archives for 2007

Is using mortgage broker or the banks mortgage specialist better?

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I have a question for any home owners who might read this. When you first went about securing a mortgage for your home how did you do it? Did you go through your bank and speak with the mortgage specialist on hand at the bank branch or did you use Mortgage Brokers? I’m trying to decide which way works better for the home owner.

When Chris and I bought our home we first started out talking with our banks but we didn’t really like the offers that they were giving to us. You see they can only offer whatever mortgage types that the bank they work for handles. We switched to a mortgage broker who’d been recommended to us by our real estate agent, who did not receive any payment from us for his services, and he was able to look through all of the offers with all the banks that have mortgage packages and he found us what I still believe to be the very best mortgage at that time.

Interest rates were really low 5 years ago, and the bank was offering us a mortgage at 5.1% I believe. When we went through our broker we got a mortgage with 0% interest for the first 6 months and then after that we only paid 1% interest for the longest time until the mortgage rates began climbing again. As of right now our mortgage rate is only 4.5% and that’s still a much better deal that what most people are offered.

So my vote is for talking with a mortgage broker when getting a new mortgage for your home. What do you think? What have your experiences been like compared to my own?





Who’s his therapist?

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Wordless Wednesday

Successful therapy?

anorexia

I don’t know why I found this photo funny.

Anorexia is after all a very serious condition and I don’t want to downplay that here, but obviously this man has a sense of humor if he’s wearing that t-shirt. His therapy for anorexia must have been extremely successful, perhaps the most successful therapy ever.

I don’t think I’m going to use Mr. Linky anymore. I’m tired of people, Wordless Wednesday and other meme participants coming by and leaving a link and no comment. I think it’s very rude.

Besides, with my recent Muser links (just below every post) you get a better link anyway since there is no rel no follow tag around the recent commenters link. Google and other search engines will actually follow that link and it will count to help give anyone who comments here a valid link and hopefully a slightly better page rank in the future. The people who’ve just been leaving a link on my Mr. Linky have been doing themselves (and me) a disservice by linking and running.

Want to Join Wordless Wednesday’s? Sign up here:

Photo Enthusiasts earn money with Shutterpoint

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As many of you know I enjoy photography. In fact it’s become one of my greatest hobbies in the last year or two next to my gardening. I’ve actually been lucky with my hobbies and interests because they actually go together very nicely. Readers of my gardening blog have benefited from the combination of my two hobbies on many occasions.

Back in June I realized that I had quite a number of good photographs stored on my computer and that’s when I decide to create my photoblog – Breath of Life Photography. My photoblog has been well received and I’ve been told in the past that I should perhaps try to sell some of my photographs.

A few months ago I went looking for sites where I could sell my work it was at that time that I discovered www.shutterpoint.com. I didn’t become a member at that time though. I’ve been so busy with my blogs and doing some design work on the side that I actually forgot about Shutterpoint.

Shutterpoint is a fast growing stock photography service. Websites, blogs, companies and private individuals are always looking for photos to use on their sites or for commercial purposes. The site has many categories of photographs to browse through and all the photos are royalty free.

I think that this is a fantastic site for photographers – professional and enthusiasts, to promote their work, get feedback from other members through the rating system and forums, and to earn some money for their work.

Shutterpoint offers the highest payout to photographers for their photos on the internet. The payout rate is 85%. No other sites pay anything near this rate. Shutterpoint also goes a long way towards promoting your photos. Each photo you submit will also be listed on the Froogle3 online shopping search engine. Your online shutterpoint gallery can also be integrated into your website in order to promote your photos and increase the sale of your photos. Shutterpoint makes it easier for photographers to sell their work. This seems like a company that wants their members to succeed.

I’m seriously thinking of becoming a member of Shutterpoint. I could use this as another source of revenue if I’m able to sell any of my photographs, and it would also encourage me to improve the quality of my work as I get feedback from the site members. Through their feedback, and hopefully as my skills improve I’ll hopefully be able to sell more photos.

I know that many of my readers are interested in photography and that some are quite skilled at their hobby. That’s one reason why I wanted to post about Shutterpoint as I know that many of you might be interested selling photographs as a member of Shutterpoint.

I also know that a number of website designers read my blogs as well, and I’d like to remind you that when you are looking for photographs to use in your site designs Shutterpoint would be a great place to search for pictures that fit your designs. Actually, when I first found Shutterpoint a few months ago I was looking for sites where I could buy photos for my own designs, as well as sites where I could sell my photos.

I’m going to be joining Shutterpoint. I hope to see a few familiar names there when you sign up too.

My Fine Is… $475.10

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Now here’s a different kind of meme. I hadn’t seen this one before, well not until that Kyle tagged me yesterday.

So, the point of this meme is to add up how much of a fine you would have – if you could be fined for the adventurous activities listed below, that is. If you want to steal this meme and try it on your own be my guest. Just come back and tell me what you fine totaled. Inquiring minds wanna know, you know?

You don’t have to confess your answers, just the amount of your fine, unless of course you want to give us all the juicy details. I’m sure that would keep some of you blogging for a week.

Hmmm it could keep me blogging for a week. I’ve apparently been a very bad girl.

Smoked pot — $10
Did acid — $5
Ever had sex at church — $25
Woke up in the morning and did not know the person who was next to you — $40
Had sex with someone on MySpace — $25
Had sex for money — $100
Vandalized something — $20
Had sex on your parents’ bed — $10
Beat up someone — $20
Been jumped — $10
Crossed dressed — $10
Given money to stripper — $25
Been in love with a stripper — $20
Kissed some one who’s name you didn’t know — $0.10
Hit on some one of the same sex while at work — $15
Ever drive drunk — $20
Ever got drunk at work, or went to work while still drunk — $50
Used toys while having sex — $30
Got drunk, passed out and don’t remember the night before — $20
Went skinny dipping — $5
Had sex in a pool — $20
Kissed someone of the same sex — $10
Had sex with someone of the same sex — $20
Cheated on your significant other — $10
Masturbated — $10
Cheated on your significant other with their relative or close friend — $20
Done oral — $5
Got oral — $5
Done / got oral in a car while it was moving — $25
Stole something — $10
Had sex with someone in jail — $25
Made a nasty home video — $15
Had a threesome — $50
Had sex in the wild — $20
Been in the same room while someone was having sex — $25
Stole something worth over more than a hundred dollars — $20
Had sex with someone 10 years older — $20
Had sex with someone under 21 and you are over 27 — $25
Been in love with two people or more at the same time — $50
Said you love someone but didn’t mean it — $25
Went streaking — $5
Went streaking in broad daylight — $15
Been arrested — $5
Spent time in jail — $15
Peed in the pool — $0.50
Played spin the bottle — $5
Done something you regret — $20
Had sex with your best friend — $20
Had sex with someone you work with at work — $25
Had anal sex — $80
Lied to your mate — $5
Lied to your mate about the sex being good — $25

It’s all the skinny dipping and streaking that brought up my totals. Honest!

Tally it up and Title it…”My Fine Is…” and pass it on.

Should I tag someone? I wonder if Anita would play along?

Can anyone beat me? Uhm no I don’t want to be beaten … I mean can anyone top my fine?

Great selection of Ecards

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Can you believe that Valentines day is coming up in less than a month? I know that some people enjoy sending cards to all of their loved ones on Valentines- not just their special someone. Luckily for Chris and I every day is Valentines.

I have a number of people on my list that I like to send cards to – not just at valentines, but for their birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions or holidays, so I’ve been thinking of maybe joining a site where I can get free ecards. The Yahoo American Greetings site is one free e-card site that I’ve considered because it has such a wide selection of cards.

I also like the fact that when I use the Yahoo American Greetings site, if I become a member for as low as $13.99 I’ll be able to send as many cards as I like, schedule them for delivery in advance and save money on postage, cards and envelopes. It’s also great because if I were to forget to send a paper card by the mail I can always send a last minute birthday card through the greetings site.

I like to add personal messages to the cards I send as I think it adds value to the card, and with Yahoo American Greeting e-cards I have the ability to compose messages on any card I send.

I think I’ll try their free 30 day trial. I’m certain that I’ll enjoy the service enough that I’ll sign up for full membership.

If you like to send E-cards to your friends and relatives why don’t you check out the site too?

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