Twitter: My Introduction

Ok so I am pretty much still a twitter virgin but here is what I know so far.....

As a Facebook veteran I found out very quickly that it was completely different from facebook. Namely most of the people that I now follow and that follow me for that matter, are complete strangers in the "real world" (as an aside for fellow virgins, following is what you do on twitter).

So as I started to read posts or "tweets" I got sucked into lots of different conversations on just about every topic you could think of. It seems that there are a LOT of mommy's on there and to be honest I get the most joy out of listening and interacting with them. Most seem to be writer's. Some professionally like @yummymummyclub, @candacederickx, just to name a couple, and some just simply like to write and in my opinion are great at it, like @mrsloulou and @iDream1.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from the whole experience, but was hoping it would be a great place for business networking so naturally I put myself out there to anyone who wanted to listen and chat financial stuff. I quickly learned that it was NOT the way to do anything on twitter as I see it now.

After about 2 hours of that, I stopped and just started talking to people that seemed interesting. Since that time I have been a little more selective as to who I follow and who I allow to follow me. One of the great things or horrible things is that anyone from anywhere can follow you.

I am the first to say that you can never have too many friends, on line or in real life, but I am not sure why a teenage boy into heavy trance music in Utah, wants to follow an Investment Advisor in Canada. Not to mention I have found out that there are a few services that aim at getting you as many followers as possible.

One of the first followers that gave me the time of day was @bitofmomsense. Very polite, kind, funny and all around bright. Included me in conversations even when I didn't really have a right to be there. @Mrsloulou joined in that game too and now I have a few people on my list that I would call on-line friends already.

As for the business front, I have found some unique and truly amazing ideas and talent. @lauriestj and @candacederickx have an incredible idea that excited me about their prospects and I have nothing to do with it. There are some great photographers like @CLBuchanan that have great conversation as well.

News and ideas, funny quotes and sad news travels very quickly on Twitter through retweets or RT's. That is how I first heard about Michael Jackson, the gold being stolen from the Canadian Mint, Bernie Madoff's 150 years in jail and laugh almost every 5 minutes from some funny quip going around.

I do have to say in closing that, yes it is yet another learning curve for me, but so far it has been very fun and I very rarely find time for facebook anymore.

If you are like me and are intimidated by Twitter, sign up and look me up @patricknicol and join the fun.

A Day of Painting

This in the before and after pictures of our house after a day of painting. A lot of work but worth every minute!

Break A Leg

March 2008 to April 2009 was not a lot of fun.

March 2008 Resigned at firm that treated my like family and that I loved working at for 11 years.

April 2008 Started at new firm and am excited about the prospects of business going forward.

May 2008 Closed on new and moved into an amazing house in Stittsville. We got so lucky with the neighbourhood, couldn't have asked for anything better.

As we are re-papering all 1400 clients in the office, the building that we had called home for 6 years gets sold and new owner gives everyone 30 days to get out. (have you tried to find, outfit and move all services for a business in 30 days IMPOSSIBLE)

June-October 2008 Study and writ exams like crazy as well as searching and finding office space but having difficulty get the landlord to finalize lease..

November 2008 Start of a major market melt down, biggest in 70 years.

January 2009 FINALLY move into new office space.

Feb 22nd 2009 Broke leg playing hockey, yep and in the last week of RRSP season.

March 2009 The markets had started to recover but instead turn week again and test and in some cases beat November lows. World is coming to an end.

April-Present Alas world is not coming to an end and markets have been on a tear.

The leg is fine, the family is great, let's get to work!