Reddog2402

Chicken. Beer or wine?

Half would go to towards a trip - wherever strikes me at the time. Australia, Europe, China, Carribean? Who knows. The other $5k? Walk into a food bank, a homeless shelter, or something similar, and start spreading the love! Like CK pointed out, there are a lot of people out there who are way worse off than me, and they could use some sunshine too.

Not sure. I've tried to reach them this week too, but no luck. I had traded emails with them last week, but couldn't get our schedules to mesh. Tried again on Tuesday (both direct email and through their ad), but never heard back.

Peachy, if I were in your neighbourhood, I'd spend the day walking by you in the hopes that you would!

Personally, I find it puts both of us more at ease if I shower on arrival. On a repeat visit, I can definitely see the potential for this turning into a fun start to the session! Basically, I see it as a simple courtesy on arrival, and a wise way to clean up afterwards before rejoining the real world.

Vanessa beat me to it! Boil some water, and add some honey, spiced rum and lemon. Have a drink before bed and you'll sleep like a baby.

I just finished watching the Walking Dead. Can't wait for Season 3 to start in the fall!

Katie is visiting Halifax this week, and apparently (hopefully!) she plans to return on a regular basis. After contacting her via email, we arranged an afternoon encounter. Arrangements were finalized via text messages the day of the encounter. From the moment the door opened, I knew I was in for a great time - gorgeous, friendly, and welcoming, she immediately put me at ease. We eased into things slowly, just enjoying the moment and each other's company. Katie was relaxed, at ease, and laid-back, and as the encounter progressed, we took our time to explore and tease. I won't go into the details, but I will say this - this young lady left me with a huge smile on my face, and I hope to get to see her again soon! Thank you Katie!

Glad you enjoyed your visit! Hopefully we'll have the chance to meet on your next visit.

I think that's an apt description of YMMV. I have had some memorable encounters where, for whatever the reason, the SP and I "clicked", which made the session so much more than the basic physical encounter. Another hobbyist may not have the same experience because that emotional connection was not there. At the most basic level, an encounter is an interaction between two individuals - if you change one of the individuals, you change the whole encounter.

I think other posters have hit the nail on the head. In my case, visitors and vacations have used up too much of both my time and available funds, which has impacted my hobbying. It does go both ways too - I thought I had an encounter lined up for this morning, but never heard back from the lady with the location. So here I am with cash in my pocket, all cranked up and nowhere to go! I guess I should have called Destiny!

Glad to hear everyone had a great time, and props to all those who played a role in organizing it. Hopefully I'll be able to make the next one!

Well done everyone for pulling this off - I hope you all have a blast! Unfortunately, I couldn't fit it into my schedule, but hopefully this event is a success, and there are others to follow! Cheers to all!

A great thread! I read this story earlier today, and this seems like an appropriate place to share it... http://thechive.com/2012/06/07/the-story-of-julio-diaz-kindness-breeds-kindness-4-photos/

One approach CRA can use, and have used very successfully (for them), in cases where records are lacking and transactions may be difficult to substantiate is what they refer to as a "lifestyle audit". Essentially, they look at your lifestyle and put a price tag on it. When they compare the estimated cost of your lifestyle to your reported income, they then treat the difference as unreported income. I've heard of this approach being used on everything from small construction companies to hot dog vendors. And this approach is VERY difficult to defend. I don't want to scare everyone - your best defence, as others have point out, is to have decent records. Even a log book listing times, dates and durations of appointments would be sufficient to substantiate the reported revenue. If its reasonable, and the end result is that your income is enough to support your lifestyle, they would have no reason to push further.

Hello City - Barenaked Ladies!

It's hard to make recommendations, as people's tastes vary. Each experience is unique, and depends in large part on the chemistry between the SP and the client. I would suggest spending some time going through the reviews and ads. Many of the SPs have websites where they expand a bit on their services - this will help you get a better feel for what you're looking for. If you're shy or nervous, exchange a few emails or messages with some of the ladies. Be up-front - if you explain you're new to this, I expect they'll try to make you feel more at-ease. Be polite, explain what you're looking for, and I'm sure you'll find a fit. Last piece of advice - don't focus on the price. Figure out what you're looking for, and what it will cost you. The price is the price - asking for a discount would be considered an insult. But prices vary, so do your homework, and ask questions if you're not sure. Good luck, and have fun!

I just signed up to run my first half-marathon, days before I turn 40! I guess I can call myself a runner now!

I agree with everyone else's comments - hugely tempting, but the potential downside would just be too serious. It would make for an awkward relationship at work, and could cause all kinds of problems if the encounter didn't go as planned. Lots of fantasy potential there, but just not worth it.

The pics don't come up on Tineye, which is usually a give-away. However I googled the phone number and came up with an ad using another name on another site. The pic is different, but could be the same girl - hairstyle and colour is quite different, but that's far from conclusive. So nothing conclusive, as far as I can see.

Knowing what I know now, I would have bought Nortel shares earlier, and sold earlier. Then put the profits into Apple and Google! Seriously though, I'm lucky to have made it this far with few regrets. Lots of experiences, not all of them good, but they were all part of the path that lead me to this point. Which is a good thing overall. I guess the main regrets come down to family - I would have spent more time with those loved ones that I've lost. I would have asked a lot more questions and learned their stories better - my grandparents led lived that I now find hard to imagine, and at this stage of my life, I would love to know more about the lives they lived. Unfortunately, these stories are now lost. So there's a lesson there...

Anyone who has been to Newfoundland will appreciate this one: Every time I go to St. John's, they manage to surprise me with an expression I'd never heard before!

The other option is to donate time. Many charities (especially smaller local ones) have very few paid employees, and rely on volunteers to deliver their programs and services. It's quite easy to find a cause you support and offer some time.

You can access the Charity Information returns filed by any Registered Charity in Canada, and see how they spend their money for yourself. It's also a great way to check on some of the scams that are circulating - whether its someone promising huge receipts for a small donation, or a new organization looking for funds. CRA also lists any charities who have had their charitable statuses revoked (and thus are no longer eligible to issue receipts). With so many organizations competing for my hard earned $$$, I like to do a bit of homework before handing it over.

Great, thanks Amelia. Now I'm never going to get that right again!