An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

Богородица

I walked passed the Chinese restaurant today and the garbage bin was full of garbage – and I bet there were lots of compost in the garbage bin because that’s what people do out of convenience.  The town had just invested thousands of dollars on getting poop bags for the people who has dogs and let their dogs poop around town without picking up the poop – so I say – to get some composters and have them around town as well.  Now that would be a great investment – I would certainly throw my compost in these composters just to go green and do the eco way.   I would truly love to see the town do something that make sense to me – and to me if they were to take our taxpayers’ money and invest in these compost bins – it would certainly make me happy because at least they are doing something right for once.

Inspired by a local reporter in this town – I’ve decided that I will also invest on a good beach cruiser with a basket like the one above and some suv bike racks – so that I can ride my bike to work everyday – and then when we pick the kid up from school I can ride home myself for some form of exercise.   On weekends this year, we shall all go to the beach and go biking and keep healthy.  Now the weather is too call but I think I might get some sort of deal if I shop now.

I really do love biking – and I’ve always wanted a cruiser bike but had been too el cheapo to buy a good one – so no more stinging on myself and giving out money this year but first to take care of myself.  I can’t wait to order my cruiser bike from Manser the bike person and of course, need to check out on those bike racks.

You would think that with birth rate so high in this town – someone would try to bring a  Gynecologist Center into this town.  But nope we haven’t seen anything like that in this town – and we certainly could use one – for I remembered when I had my kid – there was no gynecologist in town except for one.  I was indeed worried and I wished that each time I had to see a doctor – they would have at least the  fetal doppler to check on my baby  even though they didn’t have the ultrasound machine in the pre-natal clinic.  It was really a time when I was so frantic about the health of my baby especially when I came from a country who is so advanced medically.  Back home 3D ultra-sounds were already introduced.

While it was just announced that the provincial government is giving a million dollars to the hotel for upgrades and keeping jobs because of the lost of the ferry.  I think if they would spend it on giving us a well equipped gynecologist center – for the woman/girls here – it would definitely be a plus.  Keeping the jobs is important – but the health of these women having babies and having women problems need to be address too.  I vote for a new Gynecologist center anytime – or an upgrade in equipments like a 3D ultra sound machine and many fetal doppler for the pre-natal clinic.  This Christmas – my wish for this town is a better gynecologist center for this town.

The local Y was renovated and it had a re- grand opening last week – on the weekend, unfortunately, we were not in town but it doesn’t mean that we would have gone either.  Usually events like this are for the town councilors and MPs  – so the boss and I rarely attend these things as he is not always into small chats.  He cannot be bothered usually and just wants to go back to the store to make money and work hard.  Lucky for me – he is not a man of many words but a man who does work – muahahah!!

So around our building we try to plant flowers and plants to beautify the store – but we don’t seems to be getting the right fertilizer because the flowers just don’t grow the way we want them to.  A customer told us about a composter that she used to grow her vegetables as well as her garlic and stuff – one day she even brought me some.   I don’t know if I would be successful growing my own flower plot and garden at the back of the store or not – but I could definitely use a composter at home for the spouse’s father had always wanted me to grow raspberries and other things and I loved growing my own herbs and cucumbers and peas.  So this compost bins are pretty easy to use I heard – and we are definitely checking it out.  If we can make the earth a better place to live in and eat healthy – why not right?

свети георги

икони на светци

Now that’s so nice to hear from a customer right?  and yes! we do hear that a lot from our customers – especially the new ones – while other store may not want to help them or go the extra mile – we would.  Today a customer called and asked for help about an iPad – while she called the entire town’s computer store – we were the only one who was willing to help her out with her iPad.  She was so impressed – that she said she was going to be recommending everyone to us.

People come into the store and asked us for a lot of things – from information for a restaurant to health club in this town and also where to get fat burners – yes – you heard right and it’s no harm telling them what you know.  Especially if you know of a good place to recommend them – and  we always give recommendations.

I used to travel a lot for work – and one of the best company I worked for was a foreign company in Spain.  Ours was a representative office in Asia – in charge of the Asia – Pacific region – and Australia – and with so much traveling done – not only by myself – but all the other people in our office – from Sales Managers to Engineers – a good  medical air evacuation plan was necessary for the entire staff – well except the office staff.   So when my ex-boss called this week and asked if I would like to join him in another office – he is now with an American firm – I asked him to send over the terms & contract.  I’m really tempted – because the terms were great – and I did see a medical air evacuation plan – so this company must be a good one.   But I know I can’t go – having a kid and a store – so I passed on another name for the position.  Maybe – in the future – I might get another good offer eh.

I missed working for big companies that take care of you and your entire family.  I used to have health insurance not only for myself but for my entire family – so when I first arrived in Canada – I too had asked the boss about health insurance and life insurance for the employees.  Alas, being a small business  – we can’t afford to do all those for our employees but that doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped looking for feasible insurance for not only ourselves, our business and employees.  Checking out  Trustedquote.com life insurance , I get an idea about the kind of premium one have to pay for life insurance and like any business owner by association – I want to keep informed about our options and hope that one day we can grow big enough to give our employees all these benefits.  Being a good employer means that you have good employees too.

Darn! darn! darn!  shocking! i put on weight – i was at the doctor’s with my kid – for a rash – and since the family doctor had a new digital weighing machine – I had to try it out. And guess what!  i put on weight – actually no surprises here – I knew i was putting on weight – because I had been eating junk !  So I’m going to be out there getting some  weightloss pills and doing a lot of exercises! even the spouse is shocked that my weight went up – since he didn’t think i ate as much junk as he does – muahah! but truth be told I have been eating junk!  well i better stop right now – this instant – else I’m going to be in a lot of trouble!

Last week – I read on the local news about the pharmacist telling their senior patients that they might not be able to fill prescriptions for them if they were on the Pharmacare card.  Shocking to say the least – but to frighten the poor seniors of our society – I am sure that would send them into a panic frenzy.  And what about those who are in the  inpatient rehab treatment centers who needs their prescription filled as well?  does that mean that they too cannot get that ?  now that would not be good eh.    We don’t have many inpatient rehab treatment centers in town – which I deem it as a very important thing in this town – because of the drug abuse problems here.  Although many do not want to admit it – this town does have a drug problem – I’ve seen many of our customers coming into our store all smelling of weed.   Therefore, we know that a good rehab center is important.

According to local news the Health Minister had said that she was determined to reach a settlement before July 1st – so why is the pharmacist scaring the poor people out there.   And reading from a local forum – some pharmacists had said that their business can close and jobs will be lost under the new legislation for capping the cost of generic drugs.   The Fair Drug Pricing Act would also give the province the power to limit rebates paid to pharmacies by generic drug companies, although the province doesn’t plan to do so right away.  But we all know that the Pharmacists and Pharmacy makes a lot of money right?  so what’s the big fuss?  I really don’t like some of the tactic used – by some pharmacists – no need for scaring the poor folks.

When I used to work for a bigger company – I didn’t need to think of how the company’s money was being spent – I used to buy the most expensive stationary or fly business class only when I travel for work.  But now that the spouse owns his own business – it’s a different thing altogether.  Every penny spent needs to be carefully spent – from debit rolls to plastic bags – even our garbage bags.  When it comes to mandatory expenses like insurance for the store or insurance for the contents of the store – and the car insurance – we look for the best but cheapest insurance.  Everything else in our life  had taken a back seat for the longest time – but last year – the spouse took up a life insurance – because the business got better and this year – it’s my turn.  I hear that the cheapest life insurance quotes can be found at  trustedquote.com – so I’m going to check it out and get my life insurance done up – that way I don’t have to worry should anything happen.  You never want anything to happen – but if by any unfortunate incidents – it does – you want your loved ones to be protected too.

Local sport store having a try out event with their New Balance Tech Rep – who will be in town with this all new 890 – said to be lightest in its class for the everyday runner.  I wonder if they are good for walking as well.  I read about the best post workout supplement and wished they too would bring that in for a try out event for the nephew – who is into body building but I guess that would be for the local gym to do.  Maybe, the local gym would do the same for the town people who are trying to get healthy this summer eh.   There are so many products out there and if they had this try out event – it would be great – because then we will know if they are good to buy – without making the owners pay a lot to get stuff in.  Good business sense too – and promotion you would think.  If only our supplier could do the same for us to – try out computers or games – now that would be awesome right?

While I used to work in the hotel and had to either stand a lot or walk around the hotel inspecting hotels a lot – I didn’t have to worry too much about my weight.  But lately, it is not the same for me – I know I am putting on weight and also my hips and my thighs are getting huge like an elephant.  I read the  oxyelite pro reviews that a customer at our store had shown me the other day and am dying to try it out but I’ve to check with my family doctor to make sure that they are no side effects since I do have high blood pressure and am a diabetic but other than that – I really want to lose my excess weight and try to look fit this summer.   Who likes to come into a store with a fat woman right?

A few weeks ago – the town councils and the local hospitals administration called an emergency meeting with regards to the long wait time in ER.  Although the hospital defended itself by saying that there isn’t enough ER doctors – it can still be painful to sit for 6 – 8 hrs just to see a doctor – especially it’s because there is just not enough family doctors for this town.   While other businesses may be going bankrupt -  healthcare jobs are a plenty in this town – doctors just don’t want to come to this town for various reasons.    So if you have a doctor or a registered nurse who wants to come work in Canada – please tell them that healthcare/hospital/nursing jobs are a plenty here.

There wasn’t any solution from what I’ve seen – the doctors in the hospital were defending themselves furiously and the councils weren’t able to give them a solution.  So the meeting as far as I am concern was a waste of everyone’s time.   In my humble opinion – i think before the councils were to point fingers – they should offer some kinda help and incentive for health care provider to come and stay in this small town.  And as of the doctors, they weren’t any better too – surely they can all spare a few hours a day of their life doing volunteering work for their own hospital – but I guess everyone for their own here.

So we finally re-potted a plant that we’ve had in the store for years now – thanks to our good friend Gary!  he’s the best!   As you all know I’m pretty particular about the feng shui of the store and having the plant re-potted makes me feel so good – it can only mean that the store will do better from now on.  Hurray!

The kid got sick last nite and we didn’t get a lot of shut ears – so I’m darn sleepy right now and of course, without a lot of sleep – we all know what happens – my acne appeared again this morning.  Luckily, I’ve heard of a  natural acne remedies that one can use in cases like that.  Don’t you just hate acne – I look so awful with them – and if you are serving customers like us – you can’t afford to have acne in your face – else folks would think you have some kind of  health problem.   And if you are like me and have acne problems and not getting a lot of rest because of kids getting sick – just leave a comment and I’ll tell you all about my natural acne remedies that I’ve learned.

They say health care if great in Canada – and I’ll have to say that the less fortunate are usually the ones that gets coverage for all sorts of medications and disability insurance provided by the government here.  But what if you own a business like us and is self employed – can we still get disability insurance?  I know that for the longest time – when you are making some money and is self-employed – you don’t really get a rebate or assistance from the government – unlike the many customers that we see in our store that gets all sorts of free medication just because they don’t make enough money.  But those who does make enough money and are paying taxes – should they be penalized and not get assistance?  doesn’t make sense right that those who makes more money pay taxes have to pay for their own medication and any kind of extra treatment while those who don’t work – gets everything free.  Well, don’t get me wrong – there are some who really needs it – and I’m all happy for them forgetting the disability insurance – but for someone who can go out and work – who refuses to make themselves worthy – now those are the ones who makes me angry that they are getting so much help.   Yes! health care and disability insurance are great in Canada – but only for some “preferred” people.

There isn’t any no smoking sign at our store – because no one smokes inside the store – but when Grammie comes for a visit – she does smoke outside.  For the longest time – my kid had been telling grammie to stop smoking but of course, grammie having smoke for years now – finds it really hard to smoke.   So the little brat of mine – one day had nothing to do – decided to draw a sign up for Grammie – pasting it inside the back down and outside the back door of the store.  No really only for Grammie – but we’ve caught some old lady smoking behind our store’s door because it gets windy out in the car park.  Very inconsiderate if you asked me – because the smoke does get into the store.  Grammie doesn’t smoke at the top of the staircase but down – so to me – it’s actually good sign for the inconsiderate.

Yes – they just announced it today – that the local hospital will offer room service like menu for their patients – hahhaha!! why am I laughing?  because 11 years ago – before coming to Canada – we were already offering it in our hospitals -woohoo!!!  see I told yer – it’s pretty backwards here.   The tallest hotel here is only 7 storey high and our 7 -storey high hotel was in 1965 – the one near beach road – called the 7 storey hotel?   seriously, I don’t know if they are even 7 storey.

Did I tell you we have great customers?  one just came back from a vacation from Portland and brought back a box of assorted mixed donuts for us at the store – luckily I know all about thermogenic fat burners – so that I won’t feel guilty eating them.  How can one resist these colorful looking sweets right?  Our customers constantly brings us food – and of course – the folks at the restaurant feeds us good too.  I’m truly grateful – about having all these good people around us – but you can imagine – I looked quite the rolly polly these days – but you can’t say no – to the kindness right?