Vegas Baby!

Yes this is a very belated post… I started it after we got back but I am only finishing it now (5/23/2006).

Sharp Edges

Leprechaun

I could go on and on about this one but you just need to see it your self (it’s safe for all audiences):

http://www.youtube.com: Leprechaun News Story

Dan the Fireman

An old picture I found from a pipeline project I did a few years ago. We were concerned about starting a grass fire so my chief inspector found this old firetruck for rent. It was cheaper than a water truck and looked much cooler.

Motorworld / carsetc.net

So I have my car listed in the Autotrader in print and online. It’s really the best place to sell your car. It is the biggest site and the Autotrader is sold everywhere. So on Friday I get a call from Motorworld / carsetc.net. I am told that they have a buyer for my vehicle who will pay full price if I pay a $150 finder fee.

Right away the scam bells are going off in my head. It sounds like every email lottery and foreign money transfer scam that is out there. As soon as some one says you need to pay money upfront to make even more money that’s the first sign that some thing is wrong.

So I take the guys name and number (Adam @ 1-877-207-4696) and tell him I will think about it. By think about it I mean research this on the internet. So this is the only hit I can find on this company:

http://forums.beyond.ca/

A sign that something is not right here. So I check out the Tony Tighe (local consumer reporter) reference:

http://www.canada.com/

Same idea different website… or is it? The two domains greatcarsandtrucks.com and carsetc.net are registered by separate companies and hosted by separate ISP’s.

But look at the two sites: greatcarsandtrucks.com and carsetc.net. They both use the same cheezy map and the ‘money back guaranty’ they both offer is exactly the same. If they really are separate sites one of these sites needs to sue the other for copyright violations.

The Motorworld / carsetc.net guy had another claim which is a bit fuzzy. They make reference to being in the Better Business Bureau. Well they are… sort of. Search the BBB site for ‘carsetc’ and ‘motorworld’. You will find two listings. Motorworld is a member since 2005 and has a clean record. Carsetc is NOT a member but is in the database. They have only been in the system since Jan of this year (2006). How long does it take for a complaint to get onto the BBB system?

So I get a second call on Sunday from another Motorworld sales guy. I was a bit charged up now so I forgot to get the guys name. He gives me the same pitch. This time I confront him with all of this information. I try my best to get him to confirm or deny that he actually has a buyer for my vehicle. He won’t. I’m pretty sure all I would be doing would be paying $150 to place an add on their site (which only has 800+ listings at the moment – hardly close to the Autotrader). I then point out that carsetc.net looks alot like greatcarsandtrucks.com at which point the sales guys hangs up on me.

I guess I had him on that one. If I was a reputable company and was entangled in a conflict with another shady company I think I would do what ever I could do to clear my name. I would even have gone as far as to give away a free listing / finders fee to build a customer base and have some references. I honestly would have no issue with paying a commission if they indeed have a buyer for my car. Bring me a buyer with a cheque, we will sign a purchase agreement and you get your cut – just like a real-estate deal.

Anyway I am looking forward to another call from these guys. I just wanted to post this so anyone who Googles on this will find some more info concentrated in one place. I can’t say for sure that this is a scam but when it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

Brokeback to the Future

LMAO. It’s amazing what you can do if you take something completely out of context.

Cats and home renovations do not mix…

If you are trying to tile a floor and you have cats I would suggest you lock them in the basement. This weekend I was installing some new tile in our foyer. After applying some fresh mortar to the sub-floor Freya managed to run right through it… twice. I’ll cut her some slack because Hanna was chasing her.

Banff

We spent a great weekend away in Banff this past weekend. We had planned a Mexico trip this year but we figured that we could have 3 or 4 smaller holidays for the same price. So we splurged a booked a room in the Banff Springs. They had a sale on a suite… and I tell you it was more than a suite. The regular room was fancy enough for us. The suite part of the room was a separate adjoining room with it’s own entrance, bathroom, fireplace, sofas and TV. We had to wander around in there a few times so we felt it was being used since we were paying for it.

When we take these types of holidays we find we have the best time when we make no plans and spend lots of time just snoozing, snacking and watching TV. We also spent a bit of time at the pool, the spa and wandering around the hotel. A trip to Banff would not be complete without a trip to the Candy store on main street and touring the overpriced shops all selling the same tacky tourist stuff. We did manage to find some interesting baby items. If we end up with a boy I need to run back out and pick up the classic ‘boob man’ baby shirt that we saw but could not bring our selves to buy yet.

Saskabush.com is back!

After a long 3 year absence Saskabush.com is back.

This site sums up the attitudes and entrenched ideas that force people from the mother-land. It’s home but I can never imagine moving back. I sure hope they get the archives back online.

My boys can swim!

Well I am going to be a father. Tammy and I sprung the news on our parents this Christmas Eve to everyone’s delight. We are shooting for a mid-July due date – just in time for the Stampede. Tammy is hoping she can still get in at least one day of he stock dogs and a corn dog.

Other than a battle with morning (evening) sickness and extended naps and early bedtimes Tammy has been well. I am trying my best to keep Tammy well fed and rested which is the least I can do considering the work she has / will put in during the pregnancy.

We have a friendly bet on going regarding the sex of the baby. Tammy has all first born girls and I have all first born males on my side. I have however conceded if it is opposite sex fraternal twins (holy crap) the girl would be first given my habit of sleeping in late. Feel free to support my side of the battle in the comment section below :^)