Apartment hunting

Well, I've been apartment hunting in earnest since early February looking for a decent two bedroom apartment for Brad and I.  Yesterday after work I went to look at a 2 bedroom apartment on Kingsway near Joyce Street in east Vancouver.  I could have saved myself the trouble.  At 750 square feet it was definitely too small even for one and lacked enough closets and storage space.  The master bedroom was small and the second was of such a size that I've seen walk-in closets that were larger.  It probably took me less than five minutes to decide this was definitely not the one.  At $1000 per month it was no bargain, so I told the lady thanks but I'll keep looking.

I did send out an email to get more information on a 2 bedroom apartment in "downtown" Vancouver asking for the rough location (i.e. downtown Eastside or Westside) and the square footage.  The reply had none of that and gave me information I didn't ask for.  Besides, it turned out that the unit was furnished, something the Craig's List article didn't say.  I asked for a straight answer and got something other than what I asked for.  So, I sent a reply that I would continue looking.

Now I've found a two bedroom apartment at a complex in Coquitlam.  Two bedroom units of up to 1000 square feet have rent up to $915 per month.  More reasonable!  In order to compare, a two bedroom unit I saw in north Burnaby was renting at $1130 per month.  As you get closer to Vancouver, the rent go up and the further away from the city you get the lower the rents get but then transportation costs rise the further out one gets.  So I sent out an inquiry regarding the one in Coquitlam and hope to see a unit soon.  The complex is close to a major mall and the SkyTrain and there are plenty of buses, including ones to Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby.  This complex seems very promising.  By the way, I didn't find this one in Craig's List but in a bi-monthly rental guide.  I've pretty well given up on Craig's List for now at least until there are some improvements, like more photos.  Very few have them.

Today I heard the results of a loan application.  It was approved but not for the amount I was asking for.  A thousand dollars will help though.  Between that and what I have (including what I'm getting pay-wise) that will help cover the first month's rent and deposit.  Let you know more as this search continues.  -  Volker

Horoscope

Today (Monday) was a dull, rainy, overcast day, a typical day in Vancouver during the winter months. A good things is that the daylight hours are getting longer, the rain less frequent and the temperatures warmer. As signs of spring go, various spring flowers are in bloom such as the snowdrops and crocuses, even some daffodils in places. We have something to look forward to but are mindful that the rest of Canada is still deep in the throws of winter.

While on an afternoon break at work, I was looking at the newspaper (The Province) when the current day's horoscope caught my attention. Since I'm a Leo, I had a look at the entry that pertained to that sign in today's paper (March 3rd).

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

You're keen to experience life at a deeper level. You don't want to merely talk about it or observe it. You want to live it fully! You want to reach out like Keats and grab life fully with both hands. "Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know."

What do you think? I tried to have a look at the Gemini entry but someone had cut out something on the next page, so a large part of that entry was missing. My friend Brad is a Gemini, the young salty is am referring to in the blog header description. He's also my co-author, so we hope to hear plenty from Brad over time. There are no accidents in life for all has meaning and a reason for being so. Any thoughts on this from your own perspective?

On another matter, working as a concierge at an administrative centre has its excitement and boring periods when very little happens. Most of the day is spent signing in visitors, issuing cards to visitors and also employees who've forgotten their own cards. There is accepting mail and sending it out plus other duties. It's mostly dull, routine stuff really with a few interesting moments (99 % dull, 1% excitement, and not always of the good kind). More to say on my life, my interests, interactions with others and the adventure to come in forthcoming posts but this is a start.

Not much of a post but a start for this new blog about the experiences, thoughts, perspectives and such of two friends. We're due to learn plenty about each other, ourselves and how others feel about us in the process. Perhaps you'll even learn something about yourselves too! Surely this will enrichs each of us and others as well. There will be a few photos thrown in from time to time to keep it interesting. Feel free to comment when the mood strikes!