Prince George's Hood, The speculative outlook.

I randomly have thoughts of grandeur and of things that could be considered awsome but I never write them down. Sure, sometimes I share these ideas with others... but not so often. I have realized that my blog should not be a diary but more a way to express my brilliance or lack there of and so now, I would like to express the newest idea to cross my mind and I hope you will enjoy it and be able to leave me comments and help me find flaws in it.

In the last few years western Canada has seen a major rise in real estate prices and suprisingly the high prices have captured many individuals to buy a house. People hoping for the prices to continue to rise have risked a lot. Many of these people have plans to only have their home for the short run, but what will they do after? What do you do when you sell your home, have made a profit on it and then going to buy a "nicer" , more accommodating dwelling? Have you really made a profit? Well sure I guess it is a way for some people to live in homes that they could stand no chance in living in during years prior to the rise in real estate...but is this smart? We all know prices will drop eventually, probably not right back down to what they were at the dawn of the millenium but they will drop. So how can we be safe? How can we save our investment?

Well let me tell you.

A small trend is happening and is easily being over looked. Many people who have sold there house in this real estate boom have bought a new one, a cheaper one. A house that has allowed them to pay off their mortgage or come closer to it, some even having excess from the huge boom that has occured. And where are these people moving to? The cheapest place in town. The Hood. It is dangerous sure, but more and more regular "safe" people are moving there. Surely this will impact the the area causing it to be safer and driving out some of the crime that is in that neighbourhood. I am not saying that it will become a safe place to live, but I think it will become safer. Not only for the residents but also for our investments. The hood might be able to shake off some of its bad rep and doing so would allow prices of homes there to increase more. So really, what does this mean?

well,

Criminals are going to move somewhere, people are going to rent homes out in other areas. It may or may not create some equality on home prices. It could also provide a safer cushion for when real estate starts its inevitable decline because houses in the hood would drop at a rate that was equal to other nieghbourhoods.

Ok so I don't make much sense, but I guess what I want to say is that the rise real estate is causing the most dangerous part of town to be a little safer, and doing so makes it a better investment for buying a house because that is where the lowest valued homes are found.

WoW i did it...

Unfortunately, i decided to start playing the "number one smash hit" World of WarCraft. I havent figured out what has possesed me to start this game but hopefully it will help keep me from wanting to spend money in other places. i guess...we will see. And i have to logic to my reasoning. At all, just so you know.

Japan '06 Day Two.

To be honest, i thought Day two would be extremely akward. Why? well you see Emi had to work all day. I anticipated akwardness because my lack of Japanese. I spent the day with Emi's parents. It turned out to be ok, and the only akwardness that was present was that of being in their home, i guess it wasnt akwardness but unfamiliarity. I slept until like 3 pm. It was a good oppurtunity to catch up on sleep. when i woke up, Emi's mom made me some very, very delicious Udon. Emi's dad and myself then proceeded to watch some Japanese national Soccer. Osaka vs. Yokohama. Osaka kicked their ass.

I dont remember what i did next. I remember i ate something else, and had a bath. Emi got home from work and then we went to bed and prepared for a wonderful Journey to Nara.

Japan '06 Day One.

What could be more wonderful then returning to Japan? nothing. The day started with my Dad driving me to SFO. When i got there, it was soo busy. i had to line up halfway down the United Terminal, I think there must have been atleaqst 300 people in line. It was like i had already arrived in the overpopulated country that is Japan. After i checked in, I proceeded through to Security. One Officer was shouting. He was shouting, "We are in CODE ORANGE PEOPLE! please put your shoes in a seperate bin, THIS IS A REGULATION SIZE BAGGY!!! NOT THIS!!" as he compared a medium ziploc bag to a 40 litre Black garbage bag.

2 hours later i had arrived back into our lovely country Canada. I had some time to spare so i went on a trek to find a Bar. There i met a man who was in marketing, an entrepreneur and a survivor of a brain tumor. As we drank he proceeded to tell me his life story. I thought he was an interesting man, unfortunately i did not get a picture of him.

So the Magic started, i was in the air. 11 hours and i would be kissing Japan soil and ofcourse the love of my life(it may be mushy, but i needed to make up for kissing dirt:-p) On the plane i continued my spree of drinking, luckily international flights serve free booze, which was good because i wanted to just shmooze with whoever i was sitting by. Luck has it, i was sitting by a man who spoke english, infact he is a Japanese National but teaches Japanese at Langora College in Vancouver. We started of with the usual introductory topics, tv, music etc, we then talked about family and our lives. Immediately it seemed as if we were destined to meet each other, infact the middle arm rest soon disapeared to allow more room between us. Yes, Fate it was, you see we will be sitting next to each other on the way back to Vancouver. Kami-sama, Arigatougozaimasu!

Kansai International Airport (KIX) was very cool, modern and clean. unfortunately i did not take any pictures because i was too excited. After immigration and customs i could finally see Emi! i was so happy. She told me and she travelled all the way to the airport the day before because she thought i was coming then, on the 21st..which was true i left then but i arrived on the 22nd. I felt bad for her but she laughed. Indeed her misfortune was a little funny. I hope it doesn't happen again.

So Gord, On the way to Shiga, i bought a Casio Exilim 10.1 megapixel camera from the almighty YODOBASHIKAMERA! here is a present for you all, a printable poster size of TODAIJI, yes behold the power of 10.1 MP. if you dare! TODAIJI NO PRESENT

California, Sacremento.

So i am going to try and properly tell you about my trip so far, in detail with pictures! Hurray? yes i think that is in order.

Monday morning ended with a piss poor excuse of a work day, to be honest, the only way i can survive at that place is by constantly reminding myself that when it is over, school work etc, it will all be worth it and i will be at the top of my game. By my game i mean, all of ours.The game, Life.

I took the Airporter to YXS(Prince George) because my mom couldn't drive me, and even if she could, i would have been late. In the confined space of the airporter their was this creepy guy that was just staring at some chinese girl. I actually thought it was funny and well, creepy.

I arrived at YXS and immedietely checked in. I has a bottle of wine in one of my bags, i thought..its sealed so i can bring it on the plane. But ofcourse, i was wrong. So i checked that bag in. I had to go to a back room with security and put the wine through a huge machine to make sure it wasn't a bomb. Only in Prince George would they think that i am a terrorist planning to destroy GM place. If i was going to crash into to somewhere, in Vancouver, that would probably be the building. Bye Bye Canucks!

So i got the YVR(Vancouver) and was looking forward to enjoying a nice lunch with Mike but he couldn't get off of work. So i proceeded through check-out, found a bar, and got drunk. I then passed out in front of some tv at my terminal's gate while watching "everyone loves raymonond."

I made it to SFO in one piece, i was very tired. My Dad and My two little Brothers greeted me. It was good to see them. We drove home and Stopped at Wendy's for a bite to eat. The Largest size at Wendy's was atrocious. I think it was like 1.5 liters!

Anyways, the next day was my Dad's 50th Birthday. It started with my dad taking me out shopping and buying me some new shoes and a tracksuit! hurray? most certainly! We then went to the Black Angus steakhouse. I enjoyed an oversized Helping of chicken and ribs with my family, Uncle and Aunt.

The next day we went to Sacremento and i took a picture of Arnold's Office. I also took a picture of the mormon temple there for Trev, and some funny Mormon DvDs, which By the way I sincerely hope Trevor has seen.

Thursday Morning i left, and that will be discussed in day one of Japan. Merry Christmas my friends

Back

My trip has been great so far. My dad and family in the states are doing well. On the flight from vancouver to japan i met a japanese instructor from vancouver. he is a very interesting fellow. This whole entry will be short but i am just writing it so i dont forget what happened. so anyways, today, the day after my arrival, emi went and worked the whole day. so i slept as long as i could to avoid as much akwardness as possible. when i woke up emi's mom maid me some really good udon, then i watched soccer on tv with emi's dad. It was Osaka vs. yokohama. Osaka won. after that i went over to the neigbours and played ds with their children, ate their food and played scrabble. to be honest i didnt know why i was there but it was ok, i had fun. so after that i came back to emi's house, and her parents were drinking with there friends. One man was so funny. it was easy to see that he was just plastered. The guests were host parents of a boy named randy. He is a nice guy. haha they made him drink some wine, i think he was happy he could. anyways i am off to bed. tomorrow i return to my holy grail, nara. bye bye.

Almost Back

After this weekend is over, my journey will start again. I guess it really isn't a part of my "epic" but it will be a nice side track and reminder of how good life was. I am not complaining mind you, life here is good too. So in a couple hours i need to finish my christmas shopping, take a nap then go to work. somewhere, sometime during work i need to pack and be ready. I leave first thing monday morning, i have to be at the airport 1.5 hours after I finish my last shift on the weekend, which will be fine. Hopefully I will be able to have some lunch with Mike when I arrive in Vancouver. Later Monday evening I will fly to San Fransisco. My Father lives just north of it, and actually it would have been more of a convience if i flew to Sacremento but i had no idea. I will get to celebrate my Dad's 50th birthday with him, which will be the first time in almost 20 years. I am looking forward to it. My California visit will be short though, i leave early that thursday. I know that thursday will be hell. I just have to make it through and get to Osaka. I am starting to get excited about it, but i have to retain my joy until it happens otherwise i will have a weekend full of restless sleeps and substance abuse :-P.

Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy Holidays.