I was doing my diet pill review when yet another customer came in coughing and sneezing and without feeling bad about it at all.   This sick customer like any who comes in sick - still carry on chatting with the spouse and selling him stuff and sticking around and coughing and even telling other customers that he has the flu *slap forehead*.  Why are ppl so inconsiderate?  just because you are sick doesnt’ mean that you need to get other ppl sick right?  common sense tells you that flu or any kind of illness can be contagious thru’ the air.   But we can’t control who comes in or out of our store and even though we lightly joke about not wanting to get sick along with them - they still hang around - and guess what..?? not only is my spouse sick - so is my daughter now.  *shake head*.  I don’t mind if we adults get ill but the kid - i’m sure you know where i’m coming from.

We get a lot of sales calls ..  from insurance company to web design companies and even those who wants to sell us the best diet supplement - I kid you not.   I can understand why a computer supplier or a movie supplier would call and do their sales pitch on us - but mannn….!!!  you get just about anything and everything these days.  Just the other day .. the RCMP called to ask if we wanted to support their some RCMP book but you and I know - that all these donation will come to nothing - because who really go look at those RCMP books or even the school year book.  Even Roger’s the telephone company would call and don’t get the hint about not wanting an extra phone.  So what do you do when you have one phone line for the store.. and there are customers in front of you waiting to pay up..?? usually i don’t get mad with them.. but the boss.. he hangs up on them.

Layaways are very popular here in the west - I’ve never heard of layaways till i came to Canada - well - that’s not true - i’ve seen it in the States when i was traveling for work and was quite amused with it - but never gave it a second thought - not like it was difficult to figure out but now that we have our own business - layaways are not feasible for us.Why?  because the people in this town is like an adult acne , they are adults and when they have something on layaway - they usually never comes back to get it or worst some wants to take it home with them after partial payment and then we never see them again.   In other words - troublesome - we want to trust everyone and think that everyone is like us .. but nope - after being in business for this long - no one can be trusted but ourselves.  Sorry - no offense.. this is the way to do business .. to protect ourselves.

We love what we are doing - 10 yrs is definitely no easy feat and like i say everytime - you think you’ve seen or heard it all but nope it’s not true.   Today - a guy came in and looked thru’ all the VHS movies that we had and in his hand had a few - it was a buck a piece and then he looked at the new DVDs and asked me - are they $3 and i replied yes !  On the sign it said - rental at $3 a nite - now this customer thought that the new released DVDs were at $3 a piece to buy .. muahahahha!!!  how can anyone think that a new released dvd can be at $3 when we just bought it for $30 …???  hahahhaha!!!  I bet the guys at  estatecarinsure must have more stories than us though afterall they had been in business a lot longer than us.

So I saw a report today that Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg counties has the highest unemployment rate in this region and why am I not surprised?   The government of Canada is giving out money to various companies like they were custom mugs but refuses to support the ferry for Nova Scotia area.   Folks in this area are so complacent even though there are programs and programs and more programs to help them to get back into the job market.

Many years ago - I would have helped anyone who would come in looking for a job and telling us that no one would hire them.  But you see - they don’t really want a job - all they want is to show their social worker that they did attempt to look for a job.  You see when we did offer them a job - they either don’t show up for work or give all sorts of excuses to change their shifts.  One just needed to sit and collect money while pregnant.. and yet she found ways of not coming to work.  It’s pretty sad but I don’t think some people in Canada wants to work at all - I think they only want to work if they are paid more than minimum wage but small businesses like ours just can’t afford it unless you are an exceptional worker.  And in all my years here in Canada.. i’ve only seen one or two exceptional workers.   So how can our region not be the highest in unemployment rate?

We have a local community college of the town - and today we learned from a loyal customer that  this community college will not take quotes from small businesses like ours instead they only support big companies like Staples.    Ironic eh?  Yes!  well, I don’t know the real reason why they wouldn’t take quotes from a smaller company just for a computer or laptop sale for one of their students - surely we can handle giving them a better quote no?

I can understand why they would go to other places for office supplies but not to take quotes from a local but smaller business?  you gotta wonder eh - maybe some kickbacks from bigger local stores than ours?   But nevermind - we won’t be supporting any job placement nor year book donation for some community college too from now on - don’t see a need for supporting our community college anymore from now on. hahah!!

This town is such a small town with population of a little over 7000 only and yet - each time when I think I’ve seen it all - something else would come up.  The boss and I are hardworking ppl who loves our job and who wants to teach our kid the value of money and also to be a person of integrity.  Nothing is more important than being an honest person as far as I am concern - I think it all stamps down to what we see everyday here in this small town.

There are so much potential in this town - yet - every level of government and everyone who has a say in this town only wants a piece of the pie for their own good and not for the good of the ppl in this town.   To each his own - apparently and then we have the lower income family who lives from day to day - yet splurged like kings when they have a little money.  We want to be able to retire comfortably and own one of those Outer Banks rentals but it’s hard to keep those unscrupulous customers at bay.

I do like living here despite the fact that the food i want is limited here but the standard of living is a lot lower than back home and no rat race here that’s for sure.   But when i see the potholes in the highway and even on the streets in town and those electrical wires hanging high in the sky - one has gotta wonder when are some ppl gonna smarten up and do the right thing for this town instead of spending $8,000 on a generator for themselves the expense of the taxpayers.  Will my kid be able to get the best outta life here?  will the drugs stop and the petty theft cease..??  One can only hope eh.

This is tax time for Canada and like anyone in this town - you see ppl splurging their extra money on just about anything and everything from  fitness equipment to electronics from our store.   We love the business - don’t get me wrong but if we did get a tax rebate - it wouldn’t be used for splurging because in times like that without the ferry this summer - one would think you will save every penny you have for the next winter right?  but nope most ppl in this town - just spend every last penny they have.   But having said that - if you didn’t have a family nor large expenses like ours for the business - you can afford it of course.  So if you think that going to business is such a wonderful thing - well, think again eh.

Looks like we are not getting the ferry this summer at all.  The NS government refused to budge even though the town and 3 municipalities are coming up with half the money for the CAT to run this year.  But our dear Premier Dexter said he doesn’t have the money - but on the same day - they gave Irving close to $20 million..??  I don’t know what kind of summer Yarmouth will have - but I can see a very bleak one this year and what will happen next year..??  politics can be really deary - we just hope for the best - and do the best we can eh.

Yes - that time of the year again  - to give out T4s to your employees - so if you haven’t done them yet - better hurry  - that way they can get to claim their rebate soon.  We don’t have to do much because we only had one employee for this store and she was only a part timer.  We filed ours electronically like we do so every year - what about you?

Usually in February every year - business had been really slow - because ppl are just recovering from Christmas bills and trying to catch up on the power bill for winter.   Therefore, business is usually slow at this time of the year.  This year - the weather haven’t been too, too bad - not any big big storms either - and business for Feb this year went pretty smoothly.  I wouldn’t say we are rich - but a lot more stealthier than most years.  *touch wood*

I can boldly say that when we walk into anyone’s business - we are always welcome with open arms - why? because we respect the ppl who owns the store - the ppl who works there - we treat them with utmost respect.  Even if i was just getting a auto insurance quote i still treat the insurance man with utmost respect.

Unfortunately, for us - in our business - it is not always the same - once in a while we get some very unwelcome customer/s - that you hope your worst enemy don’t even encounter.  Not only does this person wants to cheat me of a mere $1 - he wants me to be his philipino maid!   Not only expecting me to throw his coffee cup for him but to drain his cup empty before throwing it out.  On top of it - he goes around the store and touching and turning on just about everything without even asking if it was alright.  Ppl like that have no respect for other ppl or their things - if my grandmother was still alive - she would tell him - he has got no manners in his face.   BOY! i really don’t know how these ppl survive - but having said all the above - i don’t think he works - because he is always at our store - and what a sight for sore eye.

We just had a hair cut today and we usually have it done by someone who does it at her home but since she was not available all the time, we decided to support our own downtown businesses instead.  As it is - with the current situation in town, we can always try and get to support all downtown businesses if possible - if i can get my weight loss supplements from downtown I would too.  Unfortunately, not the entire town thinks this way - most ppl prefer to shop at big names - they don’t want to help keep the locals in business it seems - they prefer to give their money to the big boys - sad.

We put up this sign to show support to the ppl in Nova Scotia after the Premier announced that they will not be revisiting their decision to bring back the CAT for 2010.  We are not directly affected but I can see that we will in the long run.  We are not the only business in this town putting up signs like that in hope to show the Premier that his decision is wrong.  We understand that the CAT is not a feasible transport but to cut us off totally without prior warning or a replacement ferry that is not good judgement.  Many jobs will be lost this summer and most importantly, the link between USA and Canada will be affected and I know of a lot of people who won’t even be able to afford phentermine without a prescription because of it.

The Finance Minister wants a open session with the ppl in Nova Scotia and wants us to set aside our anger with regards to the misappropriate spending of the MLAs - and wants us to have some perspective ..??  What perspective is he talking about ..?? he should start with the MLAs and the government officials first if there is anything to be saved on - not us the commoners.

We are trying to make an honest living here - the ppl here are struggling and yet they take away the ferry - the one thing that gives hope to Nova Scotian.

We will not be able to pay our taxes if we have no business or tourists coming into Nova Scotia - Mr Steele - what else more can we save on the budget because of deficits not caused by us - but the mismanagement of the government.  Start from the very top first.. we are just commoners.

J. Midget had been a customer since he was a kid - now that he is a father one would think he had smarten up but apparently not.  I received a phone call from him this morning while i was reading some  clearpores reviews - asking what are the prices for renting a game and on the same note he asked if he was able to rent from us again - since he owes us money from like 6 yrs ago or even more.  I choked laughing on the phone with him and told him that he owes us  money.

Anyhow, he still came in and yes, he owes us $70 - in which he cannot remember why and thought that since we sent him to collections, collections would have already paid us for it even though he didn’t pay collections.  *slap forehead*.  Oh my God..!!! how dense can he get ??  Anyhow, he didn’t get to rent from our store of course - not gonna give him another chance to rip us off eh.. so who got the last laugh.. hahha!!

We do have some what we called “unique” customers - just happy we don’t get a lot of them though else no one would need any weight loss products just by dealing with them.  Last nite on Facebook, the boss had a private message from a mother of a kid who had bought a “M” (mature) game from us.  It’s War of Worlds and she was bitching about us selling it to her - granted - it was my mistake - i hadn’t thought to look at the rating because the kid had come in got the game and came pay for it.

I was also busy with the kid and alone at the store - so I wasn’t paying attention - but having said that - i should have been careful but it wasn’t like we were selling him an adult movie.  And shouldn’t you go after your kid for being sneaky?  instead of blaming us?  Nice parent!  *shake head*  - i know how this kid is gonna end up - mark my words - and the kid is like 11 yrs old now - it won’t be long - before he sneaks out and get himself into trouble.

Yes! i officially call this the Sell Fest Week - it’s an entire week of ppl selling stuff it seems - it’s just hilarious.  I need some  best weight loss pills because of the things that ppl come and sell to us this week.  From Plasma tvs to PSone and one even tried to sell us burned movies.  As usual - i cannot help but wonder how these ppl managed their money - because one of them actually came into some money a month ago or less and was on a buying spree - not only at our store but at other places - it was crazy.  I had expected to see him sooner or later - and true enough he was back in today - trying to sell us back what he bought and more.

Revelation - not one - not two but most of the MLAs representing their constituency have in one way or another taken tax payer’s money and spent it for their own - the one representing this town - spent $8000 on a generator parked at his house - and when found out - told the ppl with no remorse whatsoever  that they were for the old age home down the road from his house.  CBC news who was at the old age home - found out yesterday that the home had their own generator!!!!  LIAR, LIAR - PANTS ON FIRE!  I bet he would have bought stainless steel backsplash if he could too.

On Wednesday, Yarmouth MLA Richard Hurlburt said the $7,995 spent on buying and installing a generator at an MLA’s home was his expense. The Tory made no apologies Thursday, saying the generator is available to the local ground search and rescue team, emergency management officials and other groups.But Friday morning Hurlburt apologized for a judgment error that led to an expense claim for the purchase of a generator intended to be used for emergencies in his constituency.  A news release issued this morning said he reimbursed the Speaker’s Office on Thursday for the full amount of $7,995.

So everyone - not only from this small town but all over Nova Scotia were gung -ho even on a very cold and snowy day and headed up to the city for the protest in hope that the government will change their mind.  But alas, all effort was wasted.  It is with regret that I tell everyone that these ppl are gonna do what they wanna do regardless what we need here.  Jobs are gonna be lost - businesses are gonna be closed but no matter - they prefer to pay Bay Ferries $3 million and more than 500 people going on EI.  Politics for you! there goes my hope of hope of getting outdoor furniture for this summer.

About 250 people from across and a dozen speakers pleaded with the NDP government to restore ferry service. Ian Hurst CEO of Rodd Hotels said the government was cutting off the oxygen supply to the region. Mayor Phil Mooney pleaded with someone from the province to at least pick up the phone. Busses from Yarmouth, Argyle and Clare were filled with laid-off Bay Ferries workers, business owners and employees who work at hotels and restaurants. They all say the NDP’s decision is heartless and will lead to business closures and many layoffs.

Remember about a week ago, I had written that we are just trying to make an honest living .. and then we have this young kid - whom we thought was about 16 .. and his friend trying to scam us about the iPod…??  Yes - that one - well, this morning  - another kid came in to claim that the iPod touch was his.

Well, to cut the long story short - it did belong to that 4th kid - and in between another had called to threaten us that he was the uncle of one of the kid who got his iPod touch stolen and we had it .. and that he was coming in with the cops and all ( of course we didn’t see no cops lah).

Well that day - the principal of the local junior school had come in and told us that he was paying up for the kid who sold the iPod touch to us - to prevent him from getting bashed up.  Well, well ! and the kid was with him and the other black kid - well, he was in cahoot and was trying to scam us.  These kids really think we are stupid ..??  in business for 10 yrs - threats don’t mean nothing to us.