No one lives forever…

My favorite author and my mom’s favorite actor passed away this week.

Stephen Covey, one of my all-time favorite authors passed away on Monday, July 16^th 2012 at the age of 79. He is usually known as the guy, who wrote “The 7-habits of Highly Effective People,” which was translated in 38 other languages worldwide. I try to read this book every other year to remind me of my motivation and goals for my future.

Covey has written some great motivational books and I always wanted to attend one of the seminars and or lectures but never got the chance. I can’t believe one of our greatest legends died. People like him and Steve Jobs will always be remembered.

My mom’s favorite actor is Rajesh Khanna who passed away on Tuesday, July 17^th, 2012 at the age of 69. I hear he was a legend in her teenage years and I remember my mom watching his movies again and again in her spare time (when I was little). My mom says that females were crazy about him, like how girls nowadays are about Justin Bieber (lol). I cant believe my mom gave an example on Bieber.

Anyways, I would like to say I hope all these amazing legends rest in peace and will all be missed. And the harsh truth is, no one can live forever, so enjoy the things you have, accept and appreciate it.

Weekly News (as of July 19, 2012)

1. BoC interest rate remains unchanged

Governor Mark Carney left its key interest rate unchanged at 1%; the last time it rose was September 8^th, 2010 from 0.75% to 1.0%. 

“The economic weakness that is unfolding in Europe, emerging economies, as well as in the U.S., is impacting Canada’s economic growth projections,” Arlene Kish, economist at IHS Global Insight, wrote in a report.

Due to European crisis and emerging economies (i.e., China) is affecting the price and demand for commodities such as oil and timber. Economists believe that Carney will keep interest rates the same until late 2013.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1227840–interest-rate-why-mark-carney-s-canada-is-still-the-one-per-cent

2. Equifax Report suggests Canadian taking on less debt

The pace of consumer debt growth is about 30% lower YoY, which is the biggest slowdown since before the recession; this shows Canadians are handling their financial situations better with a decrease in serious consumer delinquency and bankruptcy numbers.

 3. Canadian housing Market – boom or doom?

 Prices are deflating at a rate of 0.8% YoY, and are gradually becoming a buyer’s market as unsold homes supply’s are rising. Existing home sales dropped 1.3% MoM, and 4.4% YoY in June 2012. Lastly, Canada’s housing correction could see prices to fall another 10% to 15%.

 Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/07/17/will-canadas-housing-boom-end-with-a-whimper-or-a-bang/

 4. New Mortgage rules

– Amortization period is now 25 years, down from 30 years for government insured mortgages.
– Borrowers can borrow up to 80% of their property value as collateral, instead of 85%
– Government backed mortgages insurance will be limited to homes with a purchase price of less than $1 million.

Mother-in-law (MIL) defn. your spouse’s mother

My in-laws live about 5 minutes away from us and some times we have moments like ‘Everybody loves Raymond,’ which are funny, I admit. My hubby and I are easy going, and therefore enjoy hanging out with his folks once in a while. I don’t have any complaints about my mother-in-law because she is one of a kind. She is a nice person, very straight up, dominating, demanding, diplomat and loves to party, well who isn’t at that age!

In the beginning of my marriage, I felt she did not act her age and was a party woman who never had time for us. After a while I realized that there is nothing wrong with that. They both are retired so they need something to keep them busy. If they are not busy, they can get depressed, which can cause one’s health to go down. So if they are living to the fullest then why not! They always have events and activities planned through out the year, they are always learning, and going on vacations.

So if you have in-laws like mine, don’t put your nose into their lives, let them do what they want to do, PRETTY PLEASE. This is their time to relax, enjoy their life to the fullest, and most of all, spend their savings, which I would do at their age.

My hubby and his siblings are well mannered and educated professionals and all are doing well in life (knock on wood), which shows my in-laws have performed their parental duties well. However, to all the wives out there, your husbands will always be more important to them more than you, so don’t make a big deal out of it, just get used to it (HONESTLY). 

Lastly, I hate to break it to all of you, but your MIL will always be your MIL, and not your mother; I am not trying to hurt anyone but please don’t have high hopes. Its very hard for them to accept a new woman in their son’s life so please go easy on them, they are the ones who gave you a great husband and that one day you will become a MIL as well. I don’t have kids but I cant wait to be a MIL lol…

P.S. I dedicated todays blog to my MIL because it was her birthday earlier this month. Love you MIL.

Is it true that…

“behind every successful man, there is a woman.”

Sooo today is a big day for me and my hubby. Adam (the made up name) has finally completed his big project (i.e., product) which he began a while ago. He spent many nights and weekends at the office coding on his computer. I even remember our last trip to Montreal where he carried his notepad everywhere, and would write in it whenever we went somewhere quiet OR whenever I did my errands i.e., shopping, appointment at the doctor’s office.

My hubby and his friend came up with a great idea in university and started working on it since then, but it was on a part time basis since he had other responsibilities i.e., wife and full-time job. A year ago, he quit his awesome full-time job and joined his friend to finally complete the project; they came across many obstacles but overcame it together.

I feel that he has changed alot in this past year, he has always been a momma’s boy but this past year gave him the skills he needed to go above and beyond (plus the white hair, even though he just turned 30 last year).

Adam is truly a great and genuine guy and has sacrificed a lot of for his work. Whenever we got into fight (you know the usuals between couples) he would say that he was doing it for me and our future (sweet but got annoying at the end).

As the product launches today, I feel very happy for him and proud, and I have no words to explain that feeling. I know its his project but it feels like mine as well. I know we had ups and lots more downs this past year, but we managed to stay together and help each other.

I could tell this morning that he was nervous, but the truth is, it’s hard to even be at the stage he is right now; I mean, people give up in the middle and sometimes people don’t risk giving up a great job for a start-up business but he did it. He finally did it!!!

I remember last year when I was very upset with him when he wanted to quit his job but at the end I realized what mattered to him is this project, and if he is happy, I should support him.  This way he won’t have any regrets for not completing this project.

I hope God makes him and his business partners successful and famous because they deserve it. I truly am proud of him!