So I’m catching up on the Free Press, one of my favourite small newspapers here in West-end Montreal.

I like it for its lists of community events along with stories on interesting people and places – and a smattering of local news. Anyway, a page full of real-estate ads caught my eye, with photos of beautiful interiors and exteriors I can never afford. I say I can’t afford them because they all seem to be in areas known to be very expensive. I’m scanning these ads, and…

… Holy smokes! Expensive is right! This one here is over $14 million! That’s a pretty penny, for Montreal. What about this one next to – yikes! This one’s also $14 million! Waiiit a second. That one too…? And that one?! What the he- OHHHH!!!! <slap forehead> As I peer more closely, squinting, I suddenly get what’s going on!!

No, Montreal hasn’t  turned into the hottest real-estate market in Canada!  What I was reading as (for example) $14, 873, 2136, was actually: 514.873.2136. A phone number.

514 is the Montreal area code.

I would cry… if I could only stop laughing.