Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

(A Visit from St. Nicholas)

by Clement Clarke Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. 

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good-Night!"

Merry Christmas To All!

Zendo

If Mark Mandelbaum had his way, he'd start many of his conversations with the words "Once upon a time..." That's because he believes every high-rise residential building should have its own unique narrative, especially when there's enough space to make it a bestseller. "A lot of projects on Yonge Street, or across the city, are little…

Five Ways You're Missing Out On Free Money

People are often skeptical at the mention of "free money." Pop culture has taught us that there's always a catch. When the Joker dumped $20-million in cash on a crowd of parade goers in Tim Burton's Batman, that windfall came with a side of hot air balloons spewing poisonous gas. But here are five examples of…

Happy Fall Season!

The Fall is so colourful, as mother nature slowly fades the vibrant colours of summer into shades of brown, red and orange. Fall has a unique, hard to describe feeling about it too. An almost instinctive feeling about anticipation, preparation and celebration that has been passed down traditionally for generations. Back to school, hockey and football seasons begin, Thanksgiving, then Halloween, then the American Thanksgiving unofficially launching Christmas! In between time, chores around getting ready for winter the house seem to never end.

We hope these photos will provide ideas for you during the Fall Season.

\\\\\\happy Thankgiving to all!! 

http://www.selfstor.ca/#!celebrating-thanksgiving/cc1u

Get ready for Winter!

Fall foliage is beautiful, but without proper protection, the plants you've potted over the summer, can become a headache as soon as the temperature begins to drop. To help you prepare your greenery for cooler temps, we reached out to Lowe's Canada and connected with their spokesman, Blake Miller, for the company's top gardening tips. Last…

Beat the Cold Weather and Save Money

Simple Ways To Winterize Your Home And Lower Your Heating Bill.

Experts estimate that the average Canadian could spend over $1,800 on electricity and natural gas bills, with a good portion of that cost owing to cold drafts and lost heat during the winter months. Here are some hints to lower heating costs.

Furnace Filters:
Check furnace filters once a month for dust buildup and replace if necessary. At minimum, clean or replace them every three months, as a dirt and dust clogged filter will hinder the efficient operation of the furnace. A furnace typically should get a checkup every two years in order to identify issues, preventing expensive breakdowns.

Thermostat Settings:

Setting your thermostat back by 5°C for eight hours a day can help you save as much as 15% off your heating bill. It is most efficient to keep your home at 20-22°C when you’re at home, and at 16°C to 18°C otherwise (when no one is home, and at bedtime). Using a programmable thermostat is worth the investment. Don't worry, contrary to belief, your furnace doesn't actually work extra hard to bring the temperature back up.

Eavestrough Maintenance:
When temperatures outside are still comfortable (before freezing), clean your gutters and downspouts of leaves and and any debris which can clog. This will avoid melting ice seeping into your roof shingles.

Fireplaces:
This is also a good time to check the fireplace damper to ensure it is operational.  Remember to close the damper when not in use.

Attic Insulation:
When it snows on your roof, and the snow doesn't melt, that is an indication that your attic is well insulated. In other words, the snow not melting is a good sign!

Windows:

For obvious drafts originating from window sills or sashes, the best remedy is weather stripping.  Or perhaps

the reason for the draft is a lack of insulation at the window jambs (where the window meets the wall) or behind moldings. Re-caulk areas where there is open space between the window casing and the house.  Other do-it-yourself methods include plastic insulating film, bubble wrap, and insulating drapes. An efficient solution is adding storm windows with energy star certification.
Keep curtains open during the day to allow the warmth of the sun, and close them at night to help keep precious heat in.

Doors
Replace worn or damaged door seals and door sweeps, if you feel a draft in these areas, or if you can see light through where the door meets the frame, you will know it's time for repairs.  The do it yourselfer will find these easily replaceable items at your local hardware store. Stopping the cool drafts originating from these areas will keep you cozier, and reduce your heating bill.

Door and window draft snakes work well too, and some of them are adorable.

Close the doors and the heat vents in unused rooms. Keep the vents open in the basement though, even if you don't use that space much, as a cold basement will make the first floor of your home feel cold.

Other Ideas to Keep Warm!

• Ceiling fans will push the warmer air down and balance the temperature in the room. 
• After using the oven, leave the oven door open to make use of the heat.
• Put on a sweater, socks and cosy slippers instead of turning up the thermometer. It's great to snuggle up on the couch with a blanket to watch TV or while enjoying a novel.

Please share your tips on keeping warm with us! :)

When it comes to space solutions, one size doesn’t fit all

When it comes to space solutions, one size doesn’t fit all

September 4, 2009   Buying Real Estate, First Time Buyers, Miscellaneous, New Toronto Condos & Lofts,Toronto Condos, Toronto Real Estate

Terrence Belford – Globe and Mail

Anyone who has ever lived in a Toronto condo – or an apartment – knows storage poses a challenge. If you live in a house, you just pile stuff away in the basement, the attic or the garage.

With a condo, however, there are none of these handy spaces to set aside things you may need in future or want to save in case someone else does. Where do you put the Christmas tree, the bicycle, the old rowing machine you thought you would use to trim down or the sofa that is still too good to relegate to a landfill?

The options boil down to three: buy a storage locker in your condo building – if any are still available; rent a cubicle in a public self-storage facility; or see if a friend or relative with a house or garage is willing to store your stuff.

I can’t help you with the last one. My basement is full – same with my garage. But I can tell you what the experts say about the other two.

First, storage lockers in Toronto condo buildings. Five years ago the price of most new condos included both a storage locker and a parking spot. Those days are fast disappearing. Builders today generally sell storage lockers as separate items.

The cost can range from somewhere just north of $100 to $500 a square foot, depending on the project, says Mark Cohen, senior vice-president at the Condo Store Marketing Systems. At the same time, lockers are larger these days then they were five years ago.

“At one point the city demanded they be large enough to store a bicycle,” he says. “So size grew from maybe three feet by five feet to four feet by six feet.”

What you get is pretty basic, a cubicle walled by chicken wire or chain link fencing, tucked away in a basement level, although in more upscale projects, lockers have been moved to ground level.

“With quite a few new buildings nowadays they are located behind the lobby. The idea is to make them more accessible to cyclists,” he says. “You would be surprised how many Bay Street lawyers cycle to work.”

You should also know that there are never as many lockers as there are suites. Builders generally create enough for 60 to 70% of the units and they usually don’t sell all that quickly, Mr. Cohen says.

“They are eventually absorbed but it can take the resale market to finally sell them out,” he says.

The small spaces in Toronto condos can make storage a challenge

Part of the reason they are not hot ticket items is because some buyers, especially first-timers, are already squeezing nickels to cover down payments, closing costs and all the expenses associated with moving in. Laying out another $2,500 to $5,000 has a low priority. It is often only after living in their suite a while they realize it is storage-challenged.

Which brings us to rentals in self-storage facilities. On the plus side, they come in a range of sizes, are usually climate controlled, are open round-the-clock and have state-of-the-art security.

The downside is that they can be expensive if you need a locker on a long-term basis.

At the new Spaces Self Storage on Eastern Avenue just east of Broadview Avenue in Toronto, a five-foot-by-five-foot cubicle costs $69 a month while the largest (10 by 20) goes for $399. The most popular is probably the five-foot-by-10-foot storage unit, which goes for $155 a month, says Stuart Skeete, operations manager.

He says 60% of Spaces’ business comes from the residential sector but condos play a relatively small role. His customers are mainly home owners needing a place to store furniture for future use.

“We are, however, increasingly seeing local condo owners taking units for things like golf clubs and other recreational stuff they don’t have room to store in their suites,” he says.

Those who rent storage units are generally older and better off financially, says Mike Cowie who has three storage operations in the Greater Toronto area, all under the Self Stor banner.

“First-time buyers are too concerned about just making the down payment, mortgage and monthly maintenance fees to worry about storage space,” he says. “Besides most of them have yet to accumulate enough stuff to need storage.”

He also says that Canadians are less mobile than our counterparts south of the border and while they are great savers of stuff, their preference is to pack it into a basement or garage – theirs or someone else’s.

“In the U.S. there is four square feet of commercial storage space for every man, women and child; in Canada there is just one square foot,” he says.

Mind you that may change as the men and women who have bought condos in Toronto over the past decade start the inevitable process of accumulating stuff. Your much loved but tired old couch just will not fit in a condo storage locker.

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Google's Self Driving Car, Are We Ready?

August 12, 2014, 5:05pm EDT | Updated: August 12, 2014, 6:04pm EDT
Porsche specialist weighs in on how Google Car will change the world

Michael del Castillo

Upstart Business Journal Technology & Innovation Editor

Email  | Twitter

- See more at: http://upstart.bizjournals.com/news/technology/2014/08/12/porsche-specialist-weighs-in-on-how-google-car.html#sthash.B9hNcSYg.dpuf

The UpTake: Google's self-driving car may be primed to change the world, but that's of little concern to this British Porsche specialist. British Porsche specialist Design 911(as in the name of the car, not the phone number or the date) has taken a keen interest in Google’s plans for a self-driving car wired to the world’s most powerful search engine.

 In March 2010, we saw the closest thing we expect we'll see for a while, to an actual Google Porsche, when the German automaker integrated a couple of the search engine's map APIs to create a virtual test-drive experience, according to a Fast Company report.

But judging by the free publicity the specialist is giving Google, it's pretty apparent the British company isn't all that concerned that Google will be a competitor to their particular goods for quite some time, if ever. 

Below, the London, England-based Design 911 put together an insanely compact collection of interesting information about Google's foray into automobiles, including that the parts used to make it reportedly cost a quarter million dollars, and it’s expected to hit the mass market by 2020.

 - See more at: http://upstart.bizjournals.com/news/technology/2014/08/12/porsche-specialist-weighs-in-on-how-google-car.html#sthash.

Make Moving Day Less Stressful

Here is a general moving timetable to make your moving day less stressful.

Moving Tips Timetable

Four to Six weeks before your move:

Obtain estimates from moving companies.
Notify vehicle registration, licensing and Insurance companies.
Contact the utility companies to disconnect and reconnect services the day of your move-
(hydro, water, gas, telephone,cable/internet).
Telephone doctors, dentists, vets & etc.. to give your new address.
Notify your bank to have cheques and files changed over.
Obtain a "change of address form" from your post office.
Transfer any club memberships to your new address.
Cancel any service contracts (pool/lawn maintenance, snow removal)
Put together a file box with all of your moving information.

Two to Four weeks before your move:

Settle any outstanding accounts.
Purchase moving boxes and newsprint paper/bubble wrap for packing.
Notify your cell phone provider of address change.
Pack a box of items you will need to have immediately when you are in your new home-
(toilet paper, light bulbs, flashlight, cleaning supplies, snacks, drinks, garbage bag).

One Week before your move:

Arrange for a sitter for your children and or pets for moving day.
Pack a bag of fresh nightclothes and next day clothes.
Verify any move-in procedures and documents with your new landlord.
Call charities for the pick-up of unwanted clothing.
Double check the timing of your movers.
Call your storage facility and reserve the elevator.

Your storage associates are fully qualified and can be an enormous amount of help to you,

so don't hesitate to call them for information on supplies or any other requirements.

University Residence

CANADIAN UNIVERSITY REPORT 2014: RESIDENCE

Queen-sized beds, full kitchens, big closets: the new residence

ROSANNA TAMBURRI

Special to The Globe and Mail

Published Tuesday, Oct. 22 2013, 6:45 AM EDT

Last updated Tuesday, Oct. 22 2013, 11:37 AM EDT

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Students moving into Brescia University College’s newly opened residence this year will enjoy tastefully-appointed private rooms with queen-sized beds and extra-large closets. The 310-bed residence hall also features Wi-Fi, a fitness room, spacious common lounges on each floor and a market-style dining pavilion run by a chef who can accommodate the dietary needs of vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners. Not feeling well? Order in room service. Floor mate celebrating a birthday? Bake her a cake in one of the fully-equipped kitchens.

CANADIAN UNIVERSITY REPORT 2014: PROFILES

Choosing a university? It's not all academic reputation

“When we thought about designing our new residence, we thought about a beautiful space that women would enjoy,” says Marianne Simm, director of student affairs and registrar at the all-female college, which is part of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. All first-year students will be guaranteed a room in the new building and one floor will be reserved for returning students. Brescia plans to use the new space as a revenue-generating conference facility in the summer months. But the upgraded amenities also reflect a growing trend among universities as they move to replace or refurbish aging residence facilities and build new ones.

A mini-building boom is under way at campuses across Canada as universities strive to meet the rising demand for residence space. As more and more schools provide a residence guarantee to freshmen and recruit higher numbers of international students, demand for residence rooms is on the upswing. And so is the demand for luxe options by students and their parents who are seeking a closer match to a student’s home life.

Though the number of posh residences is growing, most students can still expect to bunk down in an old-school dorm room with a shared bath, says Chad Nuttall, manager of student housing services at Ryerson University in Toronto and president of the Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers. “That still makes up a giant chunk of the stock.”

And that’s not such a bad thing because the traditional dorms, though less aesthetically pleasing, better promote a sense of community, especially important for first-year students, he adds. Research shows that students who develop an attachment to their community are much less likely to drop out. “There’s almost nothing that contributes more to retention than living in residence,” Nuttall says. “There’s a network of support. You develop friends.” And that’s easier done in a communal living space, however downmarket it may be, than in a private room.

Many of the new residence halls being built, though not necessarily high-end, feature apartment-style units with three or four bedrooms and a shared kitchen and bathroom – such as Ryerson’s 500-bed facility under construction and set to open in 2016. Students housed in these units will be sharing with fewer people but still sharing, Nuttall notes. Ryerson’s new building also comes with a yoga studio, but Nuttall admits, that’s just a modern way of saying multipurpose room.

Whatever the style or layout, living in residence “makes the transition from home to university much easier,” says Amal Awini, residence operations manager at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. “We want to create an environment for students to connect with other students, especially in first year,” she says. “We don’t want them isolated.”

Home sweet home

Residence can be an important transition for freshmen, many of whom haven’t lived away from home before. “We try as much as possible to transition them,” she says. “We don’t want to do everything for them because we want to prep them to be on their own.” At the same time, trained resident assistants keep a lookout for those who may be struggling.

To further ensure a safe and successful transition, many schools offer residence-life programs. One increasingly popular option is learning living communities (LLC); typically they are residence floors that have been set aside for students enrolled in the same academic program or those with a shared interest. McGill University in Montreal offers five LLCs: fine arts, green, do-it-yourself, food, and health and fitness. Students in the Fine Arts LLC attend guided tours of art exhibits and theatre performances. Those in the food LLC take part in iron-chef competitions and cooking classes. Ryerson has an LLC for its fashion students and another for those enrolled in the faculty of community service. It has others that promote leadership skills and healthy living and a new one introduced this year for management students. “We are really seeing good results from those communities, even higher retention rates,” Nuttall says.

Residence is no longer an area seen as simply a place to house students, adds Simm at Brescia. The college doesn’t offer LLCs but it does provide programs aimed at fostering leadership development, and good mental health and well-being. Residents can also enjoy cooking classes and organized outings. Simm says Brescia intentionally rejected apartment-style suites when designing its new residence and was careful to include large common gathering spaces on each floor to promote a sense of community.

Surveys show that while students are generally satisfied with their residence experience, the quality of the food remains a constant sticking point. According to a 2011 survey of undergraduate students by the Canadian University Survey Consortium, the most recent year for which figures are available, when asked what services need improving, one in three students said food. Universities that operate their own dining facilities, such as Guelph University in Guelph, Ont., and Brescia, usually provide better fare. Guelph says that as much as 45 per cent of the food it serves is locally sourced when in season, including honey from its own research farm. No wonder that it formerly ranked No. 1 for food services in the Canadian University Report and has won awards for its green initiatives. But many universities contract out food services, with typically less appetizing results.

Meal plans vary among campuses. Some make it mandatory for students who live in residence while others don’t. Some meal plans allow students to eat at all campus food outlets while others restrict users to the main dining hall. Schools are also trying to accommodate the preferences of international students who make up a growing proportion of residents.

Shopping for shelter

Costs for residence spaces can vary widely depending on a city’s land prices, vacancy rates and the amenities and services offered. At the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, prices range from $5,200 for a shared room in a dorm with a small meal plan to $11,000 for a single room and full meal plan in its newest residence, Pembina Hall. The building, which opened in 2011, includes 360 single rooms with a private bath and a wall in each unit with floor-to-ceiling glass offering views of the Winnipeg cityscape to the north and the Red River to the south. “It has a very modern urban loft sort of look inside and out,” says Barry Stone, director of student residences.

“Students want privacy,” he says. “The notion of having a community bathroom or shower doesn’t seem attractive.”

At Manitoba, students can select the residence building they wish to live in and even a specific room when applying, an option more and more universities are offering. For most the decision is driven by cost, Stone says. Students can also ask to be housed with a specific roommate or paired with someone with shared preferences and lifestyle based on an online profile.

Another top priority for students and parents is security. “They’re worried,” Nuttall at Ryerson says.

Some campuses require students to swipe a card or show personal identification to gain access to the building while others rely more on security cameras.

Crime and sexual assault aren’t just big-city issues and all schools “spend quite a lot of energy and resources making sure our spaces are safe and secure.”

Follow us on Twitter: @Globe_Education

East or West Toronto?

East versus West: Would you buy in Roncy or the Beach?

Home Buyers - Open House Tips

You've made a list of Open House addresses in your favourite neighbourhoods that will consume your Saturday and Sunday between 1 and 4 pm. It doesn't matter whether you're an old pro or just beginning to search for a new home, these helpful tips collected from Real Estate Professionals provide some guidelines to the practices of an open house.

1. If the sign indicates "Open House" there is no need to knock or ring the doorbell, just walk in.

2. The polite thing to do is to remove your shoes when arriving. If there are unfinished areas, the agent will let you know.

3. Respect the current homeowner by reserving negative comments, and also respect their privacy. You may open closet doors to get a feel for storage space, but there is no need to open items such as dresser drawers and cabinets.

4. Request permission to take photos at an open house.  Home sellers and agents are usually OK with this, but be sure to ask before taking pictures or video.

5. Take the opportunity to ask the agent questions about the home and the community.

6. Leave your name should you be interested after the open house....

Happy Open House Hunting