I thought that I would put my own humorous spin on "buzz" words usually found in real estate ads, and wanted to share them with my clients. Real estate ads are used to highlight the features of a home, so that buyers are able to visualize what the home might be like and decide to view it. Obviously, these are not the true meanings, but I think real estate buyers and investors can appreciate them as I recall showing a property to a client that was advertised as "ocean view", but unless you were standing on the roof line, I think the only view of any "water" was of the neighbor's kiddie pool. Enjoy and feel free to send me some of your own "definitions" that may be posted on our blog! MY DEFINITIONS: Handyman Special - you are not handy enough to tackle this project unless you are Mike Holmes, Shell Busey or Bob Villa. Cozy -- small, until the ex moves out and then home description is amended to read as "spacious and open" Unique -- not a style most would appreciate Family room -- basement from the 1970's Immaculate - you could eat off the floors, but why would you when you have a dining room?

You could not have written a better script. Political party down in every single poll reported on television, radio and social media. Fade to election night… wait a minute, this same political party ends up winning MORE seats that the previous election. But wait, there is more to this developing soap opera. The leader of the winning party who has defied all Vegas bets ends up LOSING in her own riding! Elections in Alberta in 2012 showed a similar pattern, where voters showed second thoughts as the poll deadline got closer. After Tuesday's election, Alberta's premier, Alison Redford, wrote "welcome to club! Proving the pollsters, pundits & political scientists so spectacularly wrong. Congratulations!"

Growing up, I used to idolize the “Leave it to Beaver” shows on the old black and white TV we had - with the picture-perfect family that I would close my eyes and imagine myself having. My mom was very ill when I was a child, and was constantly in the hospital undergoing surgery after surgery. My interaction with my mom was limited to those fleeting moments when she felt well enough to let me sit with her, before having to go back into the hospital. She did not live to see 34, and the child in me grieved for a long time the fact that I never really had much time with her. I would enjoy going over to my friends’ houses and watching their moms scold them, make a fresh batch of cookies, bandage a bloody knee, or tell us to get outside and play. I think that I was angry for a long time, since I felt “cheated” out these ordinary experiences with my own mom.