October 2, 2020
My second-degree black belt grading is tomorrow, and it's all hands on deck! Check back next week for a recap of how it went :)
September 25, 2020
I count down the days until my Nidan – my second degree black belt – grading. Eight left. The date is coming fast – maybe too fast. Am I ready? Can I remember all the theory under pressure?
September 18, 2020
I’m set to grade for my Nidan, or second degree black belt, in karate in just two weeks. It’s a nerve-wracking prospect, not the least because it comes with a question-and-answer component that focuses on the theory of martial arts, and outside factors that influenced it to become what it is today. One of the most significant among those is Zen, and so today’s post is my attempt at connecting some dots between Zen and classical martial arts.
September 11, 2020
Not all real estate agents are created equally. Choosing an agent that brings the right combination of skills and personality to the table can make or break your experience when it comes to buying or selling a home. Here are 5 tips to help you choose the right real estate agent for the job.
September 4, 2020
This 2020 summer easily could have been labeled as a write-off for most people. Lockdowns and travel bans tried to suppress us and keep us down. But the Canadian spirit is resilient, and it would take a lot more than a global pandemic to keep it down. While it’s true that “fun” took a different form this summer than it normally might, I’m uplifted by the many ways I’ve seen and heard about Canadians pivoting in the way they celebrate summer.
August 28, 2020
Curb appeal is an interesting thing. On the one hand, you can’t see or appreciate it when you’re living inside your house. On the other hand though, you’ll see it every time you come home from somewhere else. Plus, homes with strong curb appeal sell faster and at higher prices than ones with a less-appealing exterior. So what are the factors that contribute to it, and how can you increase your home’s curb appeal?
August 21, 2020
Walking in my local neighbourhood the other day, I saw kids playing ball hockey in the street. It made me reflect on how common that was when I was younger, versus how relatively rare it’s become these days. I never played ball hockey, but I did spend lots of time outdoors growing up gardening with my mom and my nonna, and I’m really glad I did. Here are 5 benefits I think getting your kids involved in gardening can offer.
August 14, 2020
If you’re a Rush fan, then you get the above reference. For the uninitiated, the Temples of Syrinx are a fictitious set of structures referenced in the song 2112 and created by mankind in a dystopian future where all traces of art are lost to humanity – until a boy discovers a guitar behind a waterfall, that is. My thoughts drifted toward the temples of Syrinx this week as I reflected on this pandemic, and the groups that have been hit especially hard by it.
August 7, 2020
Hey guys, no post this week - I'm on vacation, likely on a dock with beer in hand. We're all allowed some time off now and then, right? :) I'll be back with a fresh post next week!
July 31, 2020
In an earlier post, I explained how index funds work – essentially, they buy all of the largest funds on a market index proportionally, so that the investment moves the same way as the index it tracks. Today, I’m going to explain how you can actually beat the market by buying index funds.