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Re: The Palace-getting married there/good experience?
I know that there were a lot of negative reviews for this place when it was under another name. I would proceed with a lot...
I know that there were a lot of negative reviews for this place when it was under another name. I would proceed with a lot of caution!
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Re: Federal Government Employees: anyone else worried?
Our stand-up was just to confirm that we are safe - that if we'd be affected, we would have had a meeting with our DG...
Our stand-up was just to confirm that we are safe - that if we'd be affected, we would have had a meeting with our DG first.
They were really classy to let us know that something was afoot: signs on the bathroom doors saying that EAP is available today and tomorrow should we need them. Classy, DFO. Classy.
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Re: Federal Government Employees: anyone else worried?
We have a "Stand Up" meeting with our DG this afternoon, but that is nothing out of the ordinary. I've heard that they have completely...
We have a "Stand Up" meeting with our DG this afternoon, but that is nothing out of the ordinary.
I've heard that they have completely and totally gutted our finance section.
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Re: Federal Government Employees: anyone else worried?
MEEP. I thought we were out of the woods ...
MEEP. I thought we were out of the woods

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Re: At Home Business - What do you do?
I sell Norwex! It's working out great for me DH tutors as well. Might as well put his teaching degree to use if he can't...
I sell Norwex! It's working out great for me
DH tutors as well. Might as well put his teaching degree to use if he can't actually be teaching in the board

ETA: These are very much side businesses. I know of some people who do the direct sales thing full time and I couldn't hack it.
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Re: Rock on, people. Rock On.
And I juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust caaaaaaaaaaaaaaan't leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet youuuuuuuuuuuuuu goooooooooooooooooooooo I get a big kick out of Mr. Shu being Cora Corman's manager. ETA: 1984. What a great...
And I juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust
caaaaaaaaaaaaaaan't
leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
youuuuuuuuuuuuuu
goooooooooooooooooooooo
I get a big kick out of Mr. Shu being Cora Corman's manager.
ETA:
1984. What a great year.

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Re: WB Confessional!
I am so sad. DH didn't get onto the supply list. ...
I am so sad.
DH didn't get onto the supply list.

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Re: Random, drama-free chatting thread!
...
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Re: Two-year-old Calgary boy made member of Mensa
I was fully literate before kindergarten - in both official languages. I was always grades ahead of my peers in terms of language skills. When...
I was fully literate before kindergarten - in both official languages. I was always grades ahead of my peers in terms of language skills. When the school requested that I skip grades, my mom (who happens to be a teacher) refused because while I rocked language, my math skills might not be on par AND the fact that because my birthday was at the end of the year, she was very worried about the maturity gap.
It was still awkward. I remember being in grade 2 having to sneak up to the grade 6 classroom to pick up "des fiches de lecture" (reading files? Designed to test grammar and reading comprehension) while my classmates were just learning to string syllables together.
I was still bored to tears all the way up to University, and like many of the PPs, never really learned how to discipline myself to study and put in the work required of me.
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Re: House insurance
When we were looking into insurance for our new house, we were quoted $1300/year, up from our condo insurance of $250/year. I would definitely look...
When we were looking into insurance for our new house, we were quoted $1300/year, up from our condo insurance of $250/year. I would definitely look into other options.
Sadly, my broker is in my hometown, so I can't help you there!
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Re: Rock on, people. Rock On.
...
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Re: Brag Post: check out my new (old) car!!
...
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Re: Is ok to wear this kind of bikini with a bigger ch
I'd hit it. ...
I'd hit it.
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Re: WWYD - Providing Inspection Reports?
Thanks for all of your input, everyone. Originally Posted By: omaki ...
Thanks for all of your input, everyone.
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Re: WB Confessional!
Confession: I miss the Tart. Hugs to the Tart! ...
Confession: I miss the Tart.
Hugs to the Tart!
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Re: WWYD - Providing Inspection Reports?
I can absolutely refuse. I just wanted to see if it was within the realm of "normal" requests. ...
I can absolutely refuse.
I just wanted to see if it was within the realm of "normal" requests.
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WWYD - Providing Inspection Reports?
Hi ladies. As some of you might remember, we were in the process of buying a house a couple of weeks ago, and 6 days...
Hi ladies.
As some of you might remember, we were in the process of buying a house a couple of weeks ago, and 6 days ago we pulled the plug due to a variety of issues.
I just get an email from my realtor today, and the seller is asking to BUY our inspection reports for the house and for the septic.
Given that 1) she failed to disclose many issues with the house (that we luckily found out due to my insurance broker) and 2) she was looking at her legal options for us walking out on the deal, I am more than a little suspicious about her motives.
Is this a normal request? Am I overreacting?
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Re: Outdated house in older neighbourhood or New house
I think it boils down to personal preference. Personally, DH & I like more established neighbourhoods, bigger yards, and larger bedrooms. These are features you...
I think it boils down to personal preference.
Personally, DH & I like more established neighbourhoods, bigger yards, and larger bedrooms. These are features you typically find in older homes. I also find that they seem to have more character - a lot of newer homes all look the exactly the same. We would prefer something more unique.
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Re: Happy AP Day!
One of the clerks here remembered, nothing from anybody else Not like I expect anything, though. ...
One of the clerks here remembered, nothing from anybody else

Not like I expect anything, though.
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Re: WB Confessional!
Hai ladies! ...
Hai ladies!
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Re: WB Confessional!
Confession re: Smash under the cut: Click to reveal.. ...
Confession re: Smash under the cut:
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Re: what are some "direct to home" businesses?
I am pretty sure I know who S&DPSearl is. I don't think she meant any harm, even if she may not have read the rules...
I am pretty sure I know who S&DPSearl is. I don't think she meant any harm, even if she may not have read the rules properly.
I promise that S&D is a valid business proposition, but there are long-time members here that could hook one up if anyone was interested, like Bebe_Mama or Allison

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Re: David's Bridal
It was Right Fit in Orleans. It's a little shop in the same plaza as the Royal Bank on Innes, close to Lanthier. It's in...
It was Right Fit in Orleans. It's a little shop in the same plaza as the Royal Bank on Innes, close to Lanthier. It's in the same strip as the Bulk Barn and the Baskin Robins, it's beside the Superstore.
My mom is the one that recommended I go there - Sweet Momma is a really good seamstress but was scared of screwing up my dress. She really liked the lady that works there.
I don't know how much there is to let out, but if it were me, I would get the bigger size and alter it down. If it's too big, you can always make it smaller - it's not always possible to make a dress bigger from a smaller size. You would know best, however

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Re: David's Bridal
I didn't deal with them in Ottawa, I bought my DB dress in Syracuse back in 2008 or 2009. Did you have Canadian pricing on...
I didn't deal with them in Ottawa, I bought my DB dress in Syracuse back in 2008 or 2009.
Did you have Canadian pricing on the site or US pricing? That might be a reason for the discrepancy.
I know that when all was said and done, my dress was retailing at $850 and I got it for $550. I got the alterations done here at home and it cost less than $100 - we went to a little shop in Orleans close to my mom's house.
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Re: Anyone selling their house right now?
We WERE selling, but we just pulled our house off the market. I am PG right now and we went a little crazy last week...
We WERE selling, but we just pulled our house off the market.
I am PG right now and we went a little crazy last week - took me all weekend to recover

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Re: parents/ILs who live close by
My parents live 10 minutes away and I see them all the time. DH's two sisters also live in town, but by the time we...
My parents live 10 minutes away and I see them all the time.
DH's two sisters also live in town, but by the time we drive there, it's more like 20 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively. We see them a lot less - my parents are homebodies, my SILs have teens and very busy lives as a result.
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Re: WB Confessional!
I have no idea. Some of her comments to my realtor make me think she's a snarky wench, though. We just got the termination forms...
I have no idea. Some of her comments to my realtor make me think she's a snarky wench, though.
We just got the termination forms back from her. She sounds like a piece of work.
As discussed, we terminated the offer on the Insurance clause. The clause specifically states "on the buyer arranging insurance for the property satisfactory to the buyer in the Buyer's sole and absolute discretion. Our insurer would give us 90 days to fix a big ticket item (the chimney) or else they wouldn't insure us - plus they found that there were a number of claims that the seller had not disclosed. The chimney was non-functional (due to masonry issues and rusted out parts in the insert) so we were not able to obtain a WETT certificate. We didn't care, we'd fix it when we'd have the money, but our insurance was kinda forcing our hand."
She added the following to the document: "I deny any relevant non-disclosure and consider it pure nonsense that buyers cannot obtain insurance insured the property for 25 years without a problem. Good chimney = insurable"
Yeah, but in those 25 years, she's let a lot of stuff go, including said chimney.
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Re: WB Confessional!
Inspection was a clause, but we waived it after we had our inspection. We walked away on the insurance condition, because our insurance was only...
Inspection was a clause, but we waived it after we had our inspection.
We walked away on the insurance condition, because our insurance was only going to give us 90 days to fix an issue ($6k+) or else they wouldn't agree to insure us. We also discovered that the seller lied to us about damage to the property. She said the only water damage she had was during the ice storm (1998), but there were half a dozen claims between them and now, including a $15k one in 2005.
Basically we the clause said that the insurance issue had to be settled to our discretion.
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Re: WB Confessional!
Good job, Honeybee! Confession: I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little worried about the fact that the seller of...
Good job, Honeybee!
Confession: I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little worried about the fact that the seller of the house we walked away from wants to speak to her lawyer about us walking away from it. Everybody tells me I shouldn't, be, and logically I am pretty sure she has no grounds, but still.
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Re: Conscience Rights - How important are they to you?
I am not generally a supporter of conservative principles, but I seem to be agreeing with this. I think we are lumping apples and oranges...
I am not generally a supporter of conservative principles, but I seem to be agreeing with this.
I think we are lumping apples and oranges here. I don't think the matters of conscience that are being talked about (refusing abortion services, refusing to perform gay marriages) are the same as refusing to treat someone based on race or anything else. In terms of the abortion example, regardless of whether you agree with them or not, you are essentially forcing someone to, in their mind, commit murder. I think that in most other jobs, if you are being forced to do something that is wrong or immoral (cheat, steal, lie, fudge numbers, etc) you would be provided by whistleblower protection if you refuse to partake in it and report it to the appropriate authorities. Why wouldn't these health practitioners not also be protected if they didn't want to participate in something they felt was wrong.
For the same sex marriage example, I think in that case we need to first disassociate Justices of the Peace and religious authorities. It's my personal belief that a JoP paid by a province should not be able to refuse a service based on a couple's sexual orientaion, but a religious leader may refuse based on religious grounds to perform the ceremony. I think that what we can do is separate the provincial duties with the ceremonial duties. As it is now, at least in Ontario, priests and the like are allowed to perform marriage ceremonies on behalf of the province. If we don't want them to be able to refuse anyone based on sexual orientation, make everyone get the official stuff done first (like we do for the marriage certificates) and then we can do the ceremonies according to our beliefs afterwards.
Personally, I am for same sex marriage. As long as two people love each other and are willing to commit to each other, I don't wee the harm. I can't see how allowing same-sex marriage is any more detrimental to the institution of marriage than divorce, adultery, etc. And as I type this, I have Kourtney and Kim Take New York in the background, and it's showing her short lived "marriage" to Kris Humphries. Having said that, I can understand, from a theological standpoint, why it is not accepted in most Christian religions.
I also think that refusing to do one aspect of a job, when they can perform every other one shouldn't be grounds for them to get a new job. My mom was a teacher. She happens to be very sensitive to the sun. Teachers at her school were routinely required to perform recess duty (monitor the kids outside during recess). Due to her medical condition, she requested that she perform duty inside with the younger kids instead. Based on what some people are saying here, despite her being an excellent teacher - the core business of her job - because she couldn't do outdoor recess duties, she shouldn't be a teacher? Really? Way to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
I think that it doesn't really have to be one or the other. I think we can keep everyone happy while allowing for appropriate accommodation on these types of issues.
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Re: Home Inspection question
Hmm. I don't know. If everything checks out with the inspection, they should be able to have an answer for you fairly quickly, so I...
Hmm. I don't know.
If everything checks out with the inspection, they should be able to have an answer for you fairly quickly, so I guess they are counting on that.
Our inspection was this past Tuesday, and our conditions were due this past Wednesday. We did go a little over time - we had lots to consider.
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Re: Nail Holes and Wall Conditions when moving
I don't know if it is etiquette to do it or not, but we did. It looks so much better when all of the little...
I don't know if it is etiquette to do it or not, but we did. It looks so much better when all of the little details are taking care of, and we are staging our house for sale.
So yes, we pulled down our hangings, and got my brother (doing renos for us) to fill in the holes and touch up the walls.
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Re: WB Confessional!
I don't know. The jalapeno one was a little much for my sensibilities. ...
I don't know. The jalapeno one was a little much for my sensibilities.
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Re: do you speak to your ex?
Nope. My ex-bf is crazy. DH does speak to one of his ex-gfs (and she was invited to our wedding), but he doesn't really find...
Nope. My ex-bf is crazy.
DH does speak to one of his ex-gfs (and she was invited to our wedding), but he doesn't really find he has a lot in common with her anymore.
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Re: Massage in Ottawa (Spa-like setting)
I've never had services at Cocobella, but I have picked up a giftcard there and it does look really nice! ...
I've never had services at Cocobella, but I have picked up a giftcard there and it does look really nice!
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Re: WB Confessional!
I think Tims gave me a jalapeno bagel instead of my regular tomato & cheese one... ...
I think Tims gave me a jalapeno bagel instead of my regular tomato & cheese one...
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Re: I finally get to write this - I AM DONE SCHOOL!!!!
You are amazing! You have so much on your plate but still pull everything off and have time to help random girls stuck at...

You are amazing! You have so much on your plate but still pull everything off and have time to help random girls stuck at daycare because their DH's took the carseat out of the car and they couldn't buckle up the baby
Seriously, though. Even with everything on your mind, you are still such a doting mommy and a caring friend. Chapeau, my dear. Chapeau.
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Re: WB Confessional!
Confession. After the week I have had, I am parking my [censored] on the couch and not lifting a finger tonight. ...
Confession. After the week I have had, I am parking my [censored] on the couch and not lifting a finger tonight.
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Re: Hey Admin
Maybe we hurt his/her feelings. Or SJM's. ...
Maybe we hurt his/her feelings. Or SJM's.

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Re: finding time to exercise when you have kids
DH incorporates it into stuff he has to do anyway: he teaches gym, he bikes to work instead of taking the bus, and he goes...
DH incorporates it into stuff he has to do anyway: he teaches gym, he bikes to work instead of taking the bus, and he goes for runs when I am home with the baby.
I make sure to coincide my Aquafit classes with him being home or with my mom being able to take care of the baby. My gym also has a great daycare area, $4/couple of hours.
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Re: How much do you pay? (auto insurance)
I... don't even know. If I am guesstimating that we pay 1800/year, and that 200 of that goes against my house, that's 1600/year for 2...
I... don't even know.
If I am guesstimating that we pay 1800/year, and that 200 of that goes against my house, that's 1600/year for 2 drivers... 133.33/month? We have a 2011 Chevy Equinox.
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Re: Another WWYD: Housing/Moving
If it were me in this highly hypothetical situation ( ) I would probably look further into renting it rather than sell it, especially if...
If it were me in this highly hypothetical situation (

) I would probably look further into renting it rather than sell it, especially if
you the world traveller is committed to coming back to Canada at the end of the year opportunity.
You would be surprised what rental homes (and rentals in general) go for! That's why it was cheaper for us to buy than to rent when we bought our first home

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Re: WB Confessional!
I usually don't imbibe, but if it weren't for the fact that I am PG right now, I would be all over a Bellini. Or...
I usually don't imbibe, but if it weren't for the fact that I am PG right now, I would be all over a Bellini.
Or 10.
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Re: prayers/positive thoughts please
You know I got your back. ...
You know I got your back.
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Re: WB Confessional!
Based on what I see, 1842? ...
Based on what I see, 1842?
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Re: WB Confessional!
With this post, only 305 until I hit my next milestone! ...
With this post, only 305 until I hit my next milestone!

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Re: WB Confessional!
waddap mah homies? ...
waddap mah homies?
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Re: Sorta Spin: Do you & your DH/SO match physically?
I'm waaaaaaay fluffier than he is. He's skinny to the point that my uncle said when he drank fruit punch he would look like a...
I'm waaaaaaay fluffier than he is.
He's skinny to the point that my uncle said when he drank fruit punch he would look like a thermometer

And the nickname stuck!
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Re: Organic, Local Chicken - worth it?
We didn't find it that worth it when we had our meat order from Nutrifarms, but growing up, my grandfather owned an abbatoir (which then...
We didn't find it that worth it when we had our meat order from Nutrifarms, but growing up, my grandfather owned an abbatoir (which then passed down to my uncle) and as I recall all the products from it were competitively priced. His meats were organic and free-range before that was even a "thing." If you can find yourself a small farmer like that, it may be your best bet.
I still remember the taste of the meat off of my uncle's farm. Absolutely nothing compares to the taste of my Grand-Maman's summer stew - she had stewing beef with new potatoes and carrots from her garden. For dessert a roll cake with fresh mashed raspberry filling and raspberry coulis for dessert. Rasperries also from her garden. I am so, so sad that they don't own the farm anymore - I don't know if I can ever have that taste again.
Oh, and my grandfather and uncle made the best kielbassa and pepperettes.
PS: I originally typed "I still remember the taste of my uncle's meat" and then realized how wrong that sounded

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Re: Do you have a tv in the bedroom?
We do, but it never gets used. It is not connected to cable or to a DVD player - it's just there. We'll be putting...
We do, but it never gets used. It is not connected to cable or to a DVD player - it's just there. We'll be putting it in the guest room when we move to the new house.
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