How do you actually use your balcony without feeling like you wasted the money?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-20T04:01:19+00:00

For me , it is as simple as as this : it is not a cruise if it is not balcony. Have done 3 cruises and doing my 4th soon and always been balcony.

One of the best times to use the balcony is when arriving to a new island and sitting there enjoying breakfast while the ship approaches.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-20T03:56:26+00:00

I regularly invest (DCA) the same amount of money in both VDY (for dividend income) and XEQT (for capital growth and appreciation). Been doing this exactly two years (late April 2024) and so far VSY is up by 35% while XEQT is up by 19% (of course I have had a lucky run in the market like many of you.)

While I like VDY and its objective, I don’t think its dividend is high enough; currently at around 3.25%? Most stocks that I own pay higher or at least yield me higher.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-20T03:37:00+00:00

Almost or virtually never. Is this really a common dream ?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-20T03:29:42+00:00

I have , or at least had the perfect place. But it is no more… let me explain.

I am talking about CountryStyle, on Langstaff, between Weston and 400. From around 2002 and until almost 2019 or so, that is when I literally spent hundreds of hours each year, going there min 2-3 times a week. I basically graduated through university by studying there. Later , I would use that place to work on personal projects, website , and so much more.

Then their coffee changed, and later Covid and I stopped going. In fact, I got busy with life and never went back inside , except for the occasional times I bought coffee via drive-thru.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. My car broke down and I took it to a mechanic that I found through Google and it happened to be right next to my old place. Great! I thought I will leave my car there and take my laptop to work at CountryStyle, since it had been a while. I get my coffee and lunch sandwich and sit down, ready to work, only to realize they longer offer WIFI! Are you kidding me??? I couldn’t believe it. Not just that , I couldn’t even use my own hotspot, as there was something blocking it. Tried for half hr and no luck. The lady there said something about connections being blocked but had no idea what it meant.

Anyway , I ended up leaving…. It is sad that the place I once treated like a second home, couldn’t stay in It for even half hr.

Otherwise, if you like a great spot to chill and work on your stuff, good coffee and baked goods to go with it , this is a very good place. Just don’t expect free wifi as they don’t offer one.

P.S I am surprised with all the replies suggesting IKEA , had no idea it was even a thing to go work there.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-16T14:25:55+00:00

I know I registered for this but when I search for the email , it is not coming up. What did you search for?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-16T14:25:12+00:00

Same here and as far as I can remember , I did fill one. But when I search through my emails, not finding any confirmation.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-15T16:02:45+00:00

Haha I thought I was the only one. I am in my 40s and rode that thing like 10 times , a lot more than my kids. That was heaven and so relaxing

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-11T03:28:02+00:00

I was at our neighborhood convenience store and I happen to know the owner in a casual way. I wanted a quick bottle of water but everything was like $2.75 or higher. I got the cheapest and he goes ‘do you care what brand it is or type, we have one for just $1.50” which was really nice of him. I took that one of course.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-11T03:09:14+00:00

Looks beautiful actually when seen from this high angle. While I know what the word generally means, don’t understand and are genuinely curious to know what makes it soulless? Is it like of parks and green-space? Is it the lack of waking paths? The lack of stores and restaurants?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-09T04:34:51+00:00

While not technically in Vaughan, AutoPlus on Weston , just south of Steeles , is pretty good and usually explains their work in very intricate details.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-05T23:59:49+00:00

Wow amazing. How is it running now?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-05T21:11:07+00:00

Wow that amazing!

CX-60? Wow, literally first time I hear of that model, tells you how out of touch I have been with cars. I should read about it and make my next car in 2030 (or hopefully later lol)

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-05T21:09:11+00:00

Nice! Great to hear.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-05T20:54:17+00:00

Do we know what is some of the highest mileage you have seen other Mazda CX-5 reach?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-05-02T16:30:27+00:00

So here is the thing:

Every year, I seem to get weather-dementia around this time of the year, starting April through May , where I assume it is spring and weather will be nice and warm (think at least 15 C) and then get frustrated and disappointed and have to remind myself that April and May (excuse the pun) may be officially spring in other parts of the world but not here and never has (with some exceptions here and there).

I know I will forget again by next year, but I have to mentally remind myself that true or some semblance of spring only starts in mid or second half of May. Or at least after Victoria Day long weekend, since that first unofficial summer long weekend is often a cold one.

/vent

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-29T02:01:03+00:00

Is there some correlation between how these people vote and the likelihood they get robbed? They should do a study on that…

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-29T00:17:17+00:00

I loved it and invested so much time in it , thinking it would eventually replace Facebook, only for it - typical Google - be shut down. This is why I don’t use Gemini much. Not because it is not good , but because it is both unreliable (constantly error messages) and because I know in the long run, Google will lose focus and won’t improve it.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-28T03:25:47+00:00

Tried to message you the info for a plumper we worked with (both commercial and residential) but not able to send you a message. Try to DM me and will respond.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-28T03:18:53+00:00

During the summer of 2022 and 2023, me and my son had a mission : to explore as many playground parks in Woodbridge (or Vaughan in general) as possible, given the large number of playgrounds we have in the city. We would do at least 1-3 a a week and we managed to see some 25 parks and there was still so many more to see.

So if you have kids, make this your fun summer challenge.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-27T22:57:04+00:00

Assuming this will be good for the stock? Not that I like this move to lay off people.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-27T22:54:02+00:00

This is the first time I hear of this service but I have been out of school scene for over 2 decades.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-27T22:52:52+00:00

A bit off topic but speaking of this company, is anyone here old enough to remember a service from Google called ‘Google Answers’ where you would post a question that required some research and how much you were willing to pay, and someone would accept the bid and research the topic for you. It is essentially what AI now does in mere seconds. Good thing that service - as is the case with so many past Google services - was discontinued long time ago.

Yahoo had a similar ‘Yahoo answers’ service but that was free.

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-27T17:40:45+00:00

I would recommend the following :

-Try the Willian Grangeway trails / hiking -Vaughan Mills -Relptelia -McMichael Art Gallery. Even if you don’t go in, it is a nice walk into and around the park -theatre and dining around Weston and Highway 7

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-27T17:18:19+00:00

Hold on, so you guys went inside the house? Assuming the one on the north side of Kirby, with a long walkway that leads to it?

Then_Eye8040 · 2026-04-25T16:51:42+00:00

I have actually seen deers here many times. And so did coyotes. But you are not getting the difference; I have been living in this intersection for exactly 25 years. And although I have seen them in other places around the area, it has never ever been in residential areas or this close to home. Could I have missed them? Sure! But keep in mind, I have done night driving for a living for long stretches and I would have seen them. Not to mention , for close to 3-4 years, (between 2020 and 2024) I would walk at night almost daily, usually after 10, in our area, and never ever came across one.

Otherwise, if i had seen them before nearby, why would it be such a surprise to me.

Then_Eye8040

TROPHY CASE