Friday

Hello Friday.  Looks like a great day out there.

This has been a tough week in the markets.  I think there was a fair amount of pent-up selling sentiment, and once the ball got rolling, gravity took over.  Its August.  China.  Oil.  Iran.  The Fed and interest rates.  Take your pick.

I find it interesting that the business channels are quick to bring out the mouth-pieces of the short-sellers in these bearish times.  They had James Chanos on today at considerable length talking up how China is "worse than whatever you think it is".  Its to his advantage to spout from his bible, and I'm convinced that these before-the-close commentaries of doom-and-gloom do not go un-noticed by traders and retail investors.  Can you say, "self-fulfilling prophecy"?

My RCL is on vacation this week...and the substitute is otherwise not available.  So I've had to do my own laundry, water the plants, and all that other stuff that the RCL has taken care of these last few years.  She's back next week, thank goodness.

The new truck was supposed to have been in my possession tomorrow, but there has been a small delay to Sunday evening or Monday.  The owner actually lives in DSM and had planned to be over here early Saturday for the exchange, but there was a change in plans due to a family matter, so he's sending the title to his Dad who will handle the paperwork with me.  No biggie. 

For the record, the BEATER was sold for $1 to a needy family in the snow-plow-neighbor's church.  I expressed a complete disclaimer on the car's mechanical status.  But really, even if there is a repair necessary, it will be a relatively small one to keep it on the road.  I just had reached the point where I was done spending on the thing.  When I had to replace the water pump a few weeks ago, I drew the proverbial line in the sand.

(That same snow-plow-neighbor just traded up to one of those new, fully-loaded aluminum-body F-150's.  Very sharp.  But really, I have lots of different ways to spend $50K.  My new ride might be 20 years older, but the no-payment arrangement is my idea of sound financial planning.)

Tiger is playing this week in the PGA stop in Greensboro, a tournament that he has never played in previously.  The A-Team members (Spieth, Bubba, Phil, Rory, et al) are taking the week off.  Not that there aren't really good players there this week, but it is different.  Anyway, Tiger basically needs to win or his season is done.  The way they have the play-offs in golf these days, you have to finish in the top 125 to advance to the first round.  Tiger is so far back, a win this week is the only way he can play in the next tournament.  Its hard to be humble.  (Drink for a country-song-title.)

Those pics from earlier this week of 4 and me on our 2011 trip were great memories for me.  Note the Guggenheim in the background here. Staying in that small French town near the Tourmalet was a wonderful experience.  Looking forward to more of the same next month in Barcelona/Bordeaux. 

Make it a good weekend in your neighborhood.

BCOT