I know that it has been pretty quiet here for a few days. But the holiday weekend has kept me otherwise occupied.
The trip to C-town yesterday with 2 was a great success. We were able to connect with 4 with little trouble, and made our way to 3's place with similar ease. We has rock-star parking immediately in front of 3's building for the day.
Some observations of the day-trip:
1. Sunday morning vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the Water Tower area was just as congested as most any other day. Maybe not evening rush-hour traffic, but certainly not low-key, nothing-goin'-on, everyone's sleeping-in stuff.
2. Iowa football fans don't know when to go home.
3. No more than half the people who head to Wrigleyville for a weekend afternoon actually have intentions of going to the game.
4. I never thought I would see the day when there would be bathroom attendants at Wrigleyville bars. At least attendants who weren't either bouncers or cops.
5. Living and working in C-town may not be that much different than it was 30 years ago except that things are more expensive.
6. Open-road tolling is a huge improvement. Don't leave home without your I-Pass. (I wonder what the payback period is on the re-built, hi-tech toll plazas? 3 may need to push around some more future value calculations.)
7. It remains a personal comfort to be able to make a relatively stress-free trip to a major city, get to various places in the city, either by car or by public transportation, and be able to accomplish the day's goals without making it a big deal. Chicago was not the fav four years of my life, but getting to know the city then has made my frequent visits to C-town in the last 27 years much more enjoyable.
8. You can still have the C-town traffic.
9. Invest in Starbucks.
10. There's always lots to do in Chicago. Even for us old folks.
I was surprised to discover that the Wrigleyville bars ID'd people at the entrance to their establishments. This threw a bit of a wrench into my plan to sit at the outdoor tables at The Sports Corner for lunch after the game started, but we made do with the limitations. We even did a switch-the-ID's to get 4 into the Cubby Bear after we had eaten our community bag of peanuts outside the bar. My guess is that the cops have put their foot down on underage drinking and checking ages at the door discourages more violators. But if you were like us, looking for Chicago-style hotdogs, limiting entry was a little heavy-handed. Which is why I participated in the Cubby Bear ruse.
I'm not sure if the eat-the-peanuts-on-the-street incident will make the same history as the broiled-chicken-at-the-airport story, but it may make the Honorable Mention category. They were good peanuts. But we were hungry.
The area around the ballpark really hasn't changed much since the '70's except that everything is more expensive. Mom and I would sit in the bleachers for $2-4 per ticket, and bring in a 1 and 1/2 gallon cooler with iced lemonade/rum, and 3-4 beers to boot. None of this $5/beer stuff for us. List price on the bleacher tickets now ranges from $17-42 depending on the date. (I just checked e-Bay and a pack of four bleacher tickets for tomorrow sold for $88.77.) There were lots of scalpers around the park, and we heard some outrageous quotes for standing-room, even after the game had started. It's a different life.
Other items of note:
1. ND stinks. If Saturday is any indication, they may not finish above .500.
2. Summer's over.
3. One more week in the cast.
Oh, and an observation on AM's comment from Friday about teachers' titles. I have a fairly old-time acquaintance in town whom I see out and about a bit irregularly, both for social and business things. I used to do some tax stuff for his business, and he played with us on a men's C-league basketball team in the '80's. My pal Roy and I ran into him and a group of his buds at a Village of East Davenport saloon one nothing-special Wednesday night last Spring. Roy and I were there to give a friendly needle to a bartenderess who also worked at SB's. When we asked this other acquaintance of mine what the occasion was for his group, he said it was their regular Wednesday night "coaches' meeting". And as to our inquiry about their sport/team, it was, "There's no team. We're just coaches." Roy and I were impressed.
Hope eveyone has a great day.
Be careful out there.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
Friday
Not much of a blog today.
The last true Friday of the Summer. It would be nice if the cast was off.
BCOT
The last true Friday of the Summer. It would be nice if the cast was off.
BCOT
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday
I, of course, know nothing. Generally. But in particular, about the aged clarinet.
Yesterday I sent my first note to 1 after the wedding, and needed to consult with Mom to confirm use of the new last name on the envelope. Co-incidentally, 1 sent out an email today to remind everyone that her school address in our email books needed to be changed since she had made the name change in the school's system.
I think that the reality of a daughter assuming the name of her new husband could be a Craig Wilson topic. His direct experience may be suspect, but that never has been much of an impediment to a columnist with the germ of an idea for a story. I don't know if he and his partner have kids, or if one member of a gay couple assumes the name of the other. But that's a whole different kettle of fish that I'll leave for another day.
Anyway. Back to 1 now being Mrs. 1.1. I really hadn't thought much about the point until I began writing her name on the envelope. It was a little strange. I actually thought more intuitively about it then than I did while walking her down the aisle last month. Wisdom suggests that daughters will always be their Dad's little girls. Wisdom is probably right.
On a distant, but related point, I think we always remember women by the last name that we originally knew them. Think cousins, nieces, sister-in-laws, etc. Sue Ryan? (If relatives were not close geographically in the growing-up years, then a married name will stick since the maiden name may never truly have been in common use.) Grade school and high school classmates are the same way. Actually, I need to go to the old yearbooks to remember any name from back then, first or last.
If this concept is taken out a little further on the philosophical curve, you can discuss the reality of a promoted military officer, particularly those 2nd Louie's, still being considered at the lower rank by his/her troops if he/she has remained with the same outfit. I suppose that the same reality exists in any workplace. A line guy becomes the foreman. A teacher becomes the principal. An agent becomes the manager of many agents.
4 is back through town tonight on her way to C-town for the weekend. It's Hawkeye Day at Wrigley Field tomorrow. The Iowa AD tosses out the first pitch. I wonder if Herky will lip-sync "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" for the seventh inning stretch? 4 will be going to that game, and then to the Iowa football game at Soldier Field on Saturday where they will meet Northern Illinois in a clash of mediocrity.
2 and I will venture in to C-town Sunday morning to join with 3 and 4 for a deferred Father's Day celebration on Sunday. The plan was originally to go to the Cub's game, but I think we have all concluded that we can save the $$$'s from the tickets and just hang out at the Wrigleyville establishments and watch the game on TV.
As an equal opportunity blog, good luck to the Clones on their big game(?) with Kent tonight. I don't think that it's Clark Kent. But I've been wrong before. (I actually played a game or two at Kent State in another lifetime. Before the National Guard arrived.)
BCOT
Yesterday I sent my first note to 1 after the wedding, and needed to consult with Mom to confirm use of the new last name on the envelope. Co-incidentally, 1 sent out an email today to remind everyone that her school address in our email books needed to be changed since she had made the name change in the school's system.
I think that the reality of a daughter assuming the name of her new husband could be a Craig Wilson topic. His direct experience may be suspect, but that never has been much of an impediment to a columnist with the germ of an idea for a story. I don't know if he and his partner have kids, or if one member of a gay couple assumes the name of the other. But that's a whole different kettle of fish that I'll leave for another day.
Anyway. Back to 1 now being Mrs. 1.1. I really hadn't thought much about the point until I began writing her name on the envelope. It was a little strange. I actually thought more intuitively about it then than I did while walking her down the aisle last month. Wisdom suggests that daughters will always be their Dad's little girls. Wisdom is probably right.
On a distant, but related point, I think we always remember women by the last name that we originally knew them. Think cousins, nieces, sister-in-laws, etc. Sue Ryan? (If relatives were not close geographically in the growing-up years, then a married name will stick since the maiden name may never truly have been in common use.) Grade school and high school classmates are the same way. Actually, I need to go to the old yearbooks to remember any name from back then, first or last.
If this concept is taken out a little further on the philosophical curve, you can discuss the reality of a promoted military officer, particularly those 2nd Louie's, still being considered at the lower rank by his/her troops if he/she has remained with the same outfit. I suppose that the same reality exists in any workplace. A line guy becomes the foreman. A teacher becomes the principal. An agent becomes the manager of many agents.
4 is back through town tonight on her way to C-town for the weekend. It's Hawkeye Day at Wrigley Field tomorrow. The Iowa AD tosses out the first pitch. I wonder if Herky will lip-sync "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" for the seventh inning stretch? 4 will be going to that game, and then to the Iowa football game at Soldier Field on Saturday where they will meet Northern Illinois in a clash of mediocrity.
2 and I will venture in to C-town Sunday morning to join with 3 and 4 for a deferred Father's Day celebration on Sunday. The plan was originally to go to the Cub's game, but I think we have all concluded that we can save the $$$'s from the tickets and just hang out at the Wrigleyville establishments and watch the game on TV.
As an equal opportunity blog, good luck to the Clones on their big game(?) with Kent tonight. I don't think that it's Clark Kent. But I've been wrong before. (I actually played a game or two at Kent State in another lifetime. Before the National Guard arrived.)
BCOT
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Tuesday
The new cast is only marginally better than the previous one. I can at least put my thumb and index finger together. Two more weeks of "healing".
Another hot one here. 90+ with August humidity. But a front is supposed to come through this evening to get us back into cooler sleeping weather.
Today's topic is inspired by a column in this morning's USA Today Life section that went to some lengths to characterize runners as "running bores". Personally, due to the crowd that I associate with, I hear more from "golfing bores", "biking bores", and "traveling bores". Even more to the point, albeit with no athletic reference, I've bored clients about tax codes and regulations my entire professional life.
In our "grown-up" lives, we tend to participate in physical activities that are more fitness oriented than competitive. (Granted, those golf scores do incent even the worst of the hacks.) The focus is not so much about winning or losing as it is on accomplishment. But being human, there tends to be a need to receive due recognition for our accomplishments. I know that I proudly displayed my half-marathon medals in my office for months after the events. A little pride is okay, but the author of today's article accurately points out that most of these personal testimonials are of marginal interest to the listener.
For what it's worth, I am delighted to hear of these exploits by the girls, whatever the activity. I think we all make exceptions for family that we might not for even the best of friends. And as for mere acquaintances? Where's the exit?!
I do think that we all talk too much about ourselves. Our own likes and dislikes, our own schedules and travails, The World According to Me.
One of the best compliments that a person can receive is that they are a good listener. This is to be distinguished from the quiet listener, who is simply waiting for you to stop talking so that he/she can set the record straight with their own version of whatever the topic. That standard was set for me by a college roommate with whom I had many late-night debates on various subjects. As I spoke my piece, I could almost see through his eyes into a mind that was digesting my commentary, and occasionally, very occasionally, he would agree with me. I always felt like he listened, regardless of how far apart we were philosophically.
This whole business of "bores" is not new, of course. How many panels have we seen Dagwood in over the years, dying to get away from a night at the neighbors' whose entertainment for the evening was home movies of their family vacation? Or Hagar's fleeing the hut to avoid Helga's mother? I venture to guess that we all have our own examples of the classic, awful conversation. The old, "Gosh, silly me. Here I am droning on. I'm tired of talking about me. Why don't you talk about me for a while?"
I may have suggested this before, but it's worth a re-run. If you catch yourself being a "fill-in-the-blank bore", remember what it's like to hear (or read) me talk about NASCAR!!
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Another hot one here. 90+ with August humidity. But a front is supposed to come through this evening to get us back into cooler sleeping weather.
Today's topic is inspired by a column in this morning's USA Today Life section that went to some lengths to characterize runners as "running bores". Personally, due to the crowd that I associate with, I hear more from "golfing bores", "biking bores", and "traveling bores". Even more to the point, albeit with no athletic reference, I've bored clients about tax codes and regulations my entire professional life.
In our "grown-up" lives, we tend to participate in physical activities that are more fitness oriented than competitive. (Granted, those golf scores do incent even the worst of the hacks.) The focus is not so much about winning or losing as it is on accomplishment. But being human, there tends to be a need to receive due recognition for our accomplishments. I know that I proudly displayed my half-marathon medals in my office for months after the events. A little pride is okay, but the author of today's article accurately points out that most of these personal testimonials are of marginal interest to the listener.
For what it's worth, I am delighted to hear of these exploits by the girls, whatever the activity. I think we all make exceptions for family that we might not for even the best of friends. And as for mere acquaintances? Where's the exit?!
I do think that we all talk too much about ourselves. Our own likes and dislikes, our own schedules and travails, The World According to Me.
One of the best compliments that a person can receive is that they are a good listener. This is to be distinguished from the quiet listener, who is simply waiting for you to stop talking so that he/she can set the record straight with their own version of whatever the topic. That standard was set for me by a college roommate with whom I had many late-night debates on various subjects. As I spoke my piece, I could almost see through his eyes into a mind that was digesting my commentary, and occasionally, very occasionally, he would agree with me. I always felt like he listened, regardless of how far apart we were philosophically.
This whole business of "bores" is not new, of course. How many panels have we seen Dagwood in over the years, dying to get away from a night at the neighbors' whose entertainment for the evening was home movies of their family vacation? Or Hagar's fleeing the hut to avoid Helga's mother? I venture to guess that we all have our own examples of the classic, awful conversation. The old, "Gosh, silly me. Here I am droning on. I'm tired of talking about me. Why don't you talk about me for a while?"
I may have suggested this before, but it's worth a re-run. If you catch yourself being a "fill-in-the-blank bore", remember what it's like to hear (or read) me talk about NASCAR!!
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday
Quite the set of comments from yesterday. Must be lots of boredom out there.
I go back in to see the doc in the AM on my thumb. I am sooo tired of this cast! I think that the scheduled protocol is to re-cast it for another three weeks. I may go off the deep end by then.
This experience has the same psychological stresses associated with a natural right-hander trying to learn to shoot lay-ups left-handed. At least with that challenge, you don't have to master miniature motor skills. This business of opposable thumbs is probably as critical as higher intellect in the progression of homo sapiens.
2 should probably lead us in a discussion on footwear. I think that I fall into that "Old Folks" category where shoes are something to shelter your feet from the elements. You have your weekday shoes, your Sunday church shoes, your gym shoes, and some knock-arounds. Maybe some Winter boots. Maybe both brown and black weekday shoes. Maybe sandals for the Summer. And in my case, biking shoes.
Fashion may not be my strong suit. But that's not much of a secret, is it?
BCOT
I go back in to see the doc in the AM on my thumb. I am sooo tired of this cast! I think that the scheduled protocol is to re-cast it for another three weeks. I may go off the deep end by then.
This experience has the same psychological stresses associated with a natural right-hander trying to learn to shoot lay-ups left-handed. At least with that challenge, you don't have to master miniature motor skills. This business of opposable thumbs is probably as critical as higher intellect in the progression of homo sapiens.
2 should probably lead us in a discussion on footwear. I think that I fall into that "Old Folks" category where shoes are something to shelter your feet from the elements. You have your weekday shoes, your Sunday church shoes, your gym shoes, and some knock-arounds. Maybe some Winter boots. Maybe both brown and black weekday shoes. Maybe sandals for the Summer. And in my case, biking shoes.
Fashion may not be my strong suit. But that's not much of a secret, is it?
BCOT
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday
Last night was a return of great sleeping weather. High 50's, low 60's, little humidity. Kind of like Tahoe, although those low temps get a little lower up there.
I know that everyone enjoyed 3's extended comment Friday about the costs/benefits/future value of SB's coffee. I find it interesting that SB's is one of the few cross/generational intersection points on our life curves. When you are talking about people with as much as 30 or more years of age differences, specific points in common are fairly scarce. Of course, the more "big picture" the point, the easier to find common ground.
People may enjoy reading, but they probably enjoy different writers. They may enjoy travel, but probably to different places. Leisure/fitness activities. Food/drink/cooking. Clothing. Etc. Etc. Etc.
But if you take a multi generational group, analyzing those intersection points is a worthy mental exercise. SB's is one of those anywhere/anytime commonalities that makes me feel a connection with the fam. On any given day, I know that it is likely that one or more of my girls, probably my sister, and certainly a couple of other close personal friends will be going through a similar line at a similar store somewhere in the country (or world, at times), for their daily dose of coffee and culture. And when they leave that store, their curve takes them off on their own path for the day.
Tahoe is a little like that for us too. Different in that we all physically get to the same location for decidedly leisure activities. But there is enough there that we can occupy ourselves a bit differently. And when we are not there, a casual conversation (among ourselves or with others) about a previous or future visit brings instant appreciation for a shared experience.
The concept here is that it's not about memories. Everyone has warm places in our hearts about the good times, with families and/or friends, like at a wedding or a reunion. There is an "interactive" element to this idea. That the connectivity item is current and/or future oriented. There is the anticipation that more good things will come because the story is not fully written. More chapters are to come.
Dare I say, 4000 Days?
Enough of the thoughtful stuff. I'm off in Margret for my monthly trip to my favorite store (not!) to stock up on consumables. 2 is over later for a cookout. Domestic chores and a workout later. It's gonna be a great day!
BCOT
I know that everyone enjoyed 3's extended comment Friday about the costs/benefits/future value of SB's coffee. I find it interesting that SB's is one of the few cross/generational intersection points on our life curves. When you are talking about people with as much as 30 or more years of age differences, specific points in common are fairly scarce. Of course, the more "big picture" the point, the easier to find common ground.
People may enjoy reading, but they probably enjoy different writers. They may enjoy travel, but probably to different places. Leisure/fitness activities. Food/drink/cooking. Clothing. Etc. Etc. Etc.
But if you take a multi generational group, analyzing those intersection points is a worthy mental exercise. SB's is one of those anywhere/anytime commonalities that makes me feel a connection with the fam. On any given day, I know that it is likely that one or more of my girls, probably my sister, and certainly a couple of other close personal friends will be going through a similar line at a similar store somewhere in the country (or world, at times), for their daily dose of coffee and culture. And when they leave that store, their curve takes them off on their own path for the day.
Tahoe is a little like that for us too. Different in that we all physically get to the same location for decidedly leisure activities. But there is enough there that we can occupy ourselves a bit differently. And when we are not there, a casual conversation (among ourselves or with others) about a previous or future visit brings instant appreciation for a shared experience.
The concept here is that it's not about memories. Everyone has warm places in our hearts about the good times, with families and/or friends, like at a wedding or a reunion. There is an "interactive" element to this idea. That the connectivity item is current and/or future oriented. There is the anticipation that more good things will come because the story is not fully written. More chapters are to come.
Dare I say, 4000 Days?
Enough of the thoughtful stuff. I'm off in Margret for my monthly trip to my favorite store (not!) to stock up on consumables. 2 is over later for a cookout. Domestic chores and a workout later. It's gonna be a great day!
BCOT
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday
I am humbled by 3's comments. She and 4 are both capable of producing such enjoyable content with seemingly little effort. It's a gift.
I think I'll let the readers be the blog for today. It's Friday anyway.
BCOT
I think I'll let the readers be the blog for today. It's Friday anyway.
BCOT
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Thursday
Another day of rain. Sounds like lots of folks in the Midwest have been hit with 100 year water.
We bit the bullet here at the office and are in the midst of a two-day project to replace the carpet in the common areas of the second floor. After nearly eighteen years of innumerable coffee spills, mud-traffic-ing, and commercial wear and tear, the original carpeting was an embarrassment. The installers are pretty efficient, but it is a bit chaotic and a little hard to ignore. The new design will be a real breath of fresh air.
As a practical matter, spending this money will have a zero positive impact on our revenue. It will be a cash outflow with no related income effect. I guess it can be best described as a quality of business life issue. I know that I spend money on mass-marketing things that have little direct effect on the development of my securities business. And I rationalize that I need to do those things to achieve broad acceptance in the local business environment. But you need to be careful on how much of that that you do, when direct marketing to specific prospective customers may yield better results.
There was an Internet piece today on the little things that individuals can do to save hundreds of dollars annually. Think SB's coffee. Think premium cable/dish channels. Think bottled water. How about the daily paper? This list could be a long one. There was another story to the other extreme, that I did not read, about a girl who didn't buy anything for a month.
How you choose in these smaller decision points can certainly impact the financial health of your business and/or personal life. Maybe not so much if you have significant assets or a substantial income. But if you have to watch your checking account to stay on the positive side of things, a few hundred dollars here and a few hundred dollars, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.
On the business side, I think that it is valid that you have to spend money to make money. But I think that I too often forget that my best clients came to me not by way of an ad in the business section, but rather by an introduction from a friend or client.
We should have 3 do a future value calculation of saving rather than spending for a daily SB's libation. My only consolation is that being so old, my long term loss will be nothing compared to the projected foregone retirement accumulation of the younger set.
I'm rambling. Suffice it to say, I again lost out on Powerball.
BCOT
We bit the bullet here at the office and are in the midst of a two-day project to replace the carpet in the common areas of the second floor. After nearly eighteen years of innumerable coffee spills, mud-traffic-ing, and commercial wear and tear, the original carpeting was an embarrassment. The installers are pretty efficient, but it is a bit chaotic and a little hard to ignore. The new design will be a real breath of fresh air.
As a practical matter, spending this money will have a zero positive impact on our revenue. It will be a cash outflow with no related income effect. I guess it can be best described as a quality of business life issue. I know that I spend money on mass-marketing things that have little direct effect on the development of my securities business. And I rationalize that I need to do those things to achieve broad acceptance in the local business environment. But you need to be careful on how much of that that you do, when direct marketing to specific prospective customers may yield better results.
There was an Internet piece today on the little things that individuals can do to save hundreds of dollars annually. Think SB's coffee. Think premium cable/dish channels. Think bottled water. How about the daily paper? This list could be a long one. There was another story to the other extreme, that I did not read, about a girl who didn't buy anything for a month.
How you choose in these smaller decision points can certainly impact the financial health of your business and/or personal life. Maybe not so much if you have significant assets or a substantial income. But if you have to watch your checking account to stay on the positive side of things, a few hundred dollars here and a few hundred dollars, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.
On the business side, I think that it is valid that you have to spend money to make money. But I think that I too often forget that my best clients came to me not by way of an ad in the business section, but rather by an introduction from a friend or client.
We should have 3 do a future value calculation of saving rather than spending for a daily SB's libation. My only consolation is that being so old, my long term loss will be nothing compared to the projected foregone retirement accumulation of the younger set.
I'm rambling. Suffice it to say, I again lost out on Powerball.
BCOT
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday
The sub-prime mortgage market still dominates most business news stories. At least a couple dozen small-ish mortgage companies have filed for bankruptcy, and units at some of the bigger finance companies have been shut down. More blood will be let in the weeks and months ahead.
There was a time within the last 3-4 years when we considered establishing a relationship with a mortgage company to offer mortgages to our accounting firm customers. The creative stuff being done with mortgages back then had just tons of refinancing being done, and there was money to be made by the originator on each refi file. Brokers were so busy that they added staff and worked evening hours. It was a classic example of "making hay while the sun shines".
My guess is that most of the people whom we would have encountered in our practice for that service would not have been "sub-prime" borrowers. But who knows what may turn up in the wake of this mess? What we haven't seen yet are the sharks in the water (read: attorneys) looking for their cut in the legal boom that is sure to come.
A little bit of Garth Brooks applies to our situation here: "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers". In this case, my lack of commitment (or motivation) became my savior from what could have been just more headaches.
In another matter related to strategic planning, I spoke for about a half hour today with the 24 year old daughter of a client who is now thinking about heading back to grad school to become a CPA. She has a Business undergraduate degree, so with a CPA now being required to have 150 hours to obtain the certificate, she can do a Masters' program in a year and a half. My friend/client had asked me to speak with her when I had made an eyebrow raising face to him when he had told me of her plans.
My advice to her was to make sure that there was enjoyment and a plan in pursuing the program. Debits and credits never inspired me. The tax work was intuitively challenging for many years, and I enjoyed the game-theory of substantiating favorable tax treatment for clients. In recent years, I have found investment services/planning a much more interesting and rewarding area of study. Accounting was certainly the base that allowed me to have options later in life. If you are going to run your own business, or work in a key role within a business, a good understanding of accounting is a necessity.
In the end, I wished her good luck, and then apologized to her for rambling and preaching. It's kind of like reading this blog.
There are all kinds of other items to confirm that I have established my place among the aged, but I think that the number of different doctors whom I have visited in the last six weeks takes any doubt out of the question. GP. Urologist. Orthopedist. Dermatologist. Plus the various lab techs, physician's assistants, nurses, etc. Plus the Gastro guy whom I will be seeing soon for his 5-year look-see. I used to describe myself as "generally healthy".
So have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
There was a time within the last 3-4 years when we considered establishing a relationship with a mortgage company to offer mortgages to our accounting firm customers. The creative stuff being done with mortgages back then had just tons of refinancing being done, and there was money to be made by the originator on each refi file. Brokers were so busy that they added staff and worked evening hours. It was a classic example of "making hay while the sun shines".
My guess is that most of the people whom we would have encountered in our practice for that service would not have been "sub-prime" borrowers. But who knows what may turn up in the wake of this mess? What we haven't seen yet are the sharks in the water (read: attorneys) looking for their cut in the legal boom that is sure to come.
A little bit of Garth Brooks applies to our situation here: "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers". In this case, my lack of commitment (or motivation) became my savior from what could have been just more headaches.
In another matter related to strategic planning, I spoke for about a half hour today with the 24 year old daughter of a client who is now thinking about heading back to grad school to become a CPA. She has a Business undergraduate degree, so with a CPA now being required to have 150 hours to obtain the certificate, she can do a Masters' program in a year and a half. My friend/client had asked me to speak with her when I had made an eyebrow raising face to him when he had told me of her plans.
My advice to her was to make sure that there was enjoyment and a plan in pursuing the program. Debits and credits never inspired me. The tax work was intuitively challenging for many years, and I enjoyed the game-theory of substantiating favorable tax treatment for clients. In recent years, I have found investment services/planning a much more interesting and rewarding area of study. Accounting was certainly the base that allowed me to have options later in life. If you are going to run your own business, or work in a key role within a business, a good understanding of accounting is a necessity.
In the end, I wished her good luck, and then apologized to her for rambling and preaching. It's kind of like reading this blog.
There are all kinds of other items to confirm that I have established my place among the aged, but I think that the number of different doctors whom I have visited in the last six weeks takes any doubt out of the question. GP. Urologist. Orthopedist. Dermatologist. Plus the various lab techs, physician's assistants, nurses, etc. Plus the Gastro guy whom I will be seeing soon for his 5-year look-see. I used to describe myself as "generally healthy".
So have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tuesday
In case you missed it, 1 added a lengthy comment to the Sunday entry.
I had a successful mowing of my yard last night. The overnight rain made my decision to get the cutting done yesterday even more productive. If I had given it another day to grow, I would have had to catch the clippings, which is a lot more work.
Catching the clippings is a concept that relates to the idea that will be the core issue of today's entry. Going green. It's politically correct. It's urged at almost every municipal level. We have curb-side recycling. Yard-waste composting. Ethanol. Biofuels. Laurie David. Al Gore.
On a personal level, we're talking the carbon footprint of my failed tomato garden. I estimate that I harvested a total of 10 tomatoes before I threw in the towel to the rabbits. (Actually, I could take this analysis off on an economic bent, but that would be too easy.) Let's evaluate the carbon energy expended for the "natural" tomato experience:
1. Truck transport to Lowe's to stock the garden store. Plants. Dirt. Etc.
2. My initial car trip to and from Lowe's to buy the plants.
3. My trip to Lowe's last Fall to buy 3 bags of new dirt for the garden.
4. Plastic bags made to package the dirt.
5. Plastic tags to identify the variety of tomato plant.
6. Packaging for StaGro fertilizer.
7. Paper yard waste bags to send failed plants to community compost.
8. Compost truck gas/oil for curb-side pick-up.
9. Three months of every-other-day watering by garden hose.
10. Water from my shower after planting the tomatoes.
11. I could go on. And on.
For 10 tomatoes.
Okay. The marginal carbon footprint for each of the above items may not be significant enough to measure on any scale. So where is the veritable "tipping point"? When does an individual doing something or not doing something actually matter to the whole? How do you get there? How do you legislate globally when the level of interests are so varied? If the citizenry of California all elected to ride bicycles, would that offset the pollution or other detriments of the South Americans clear-cutting and burning the rain forests? (Fortunately, there's talk of a new rain forest outside Iowa City. But that discussion will have to wait for another day.)
True garden-fresh tomatoes are of high value. Any politicaly correct carbon footprint has to allow for variances. Those red ovular cardboard things that they sell in stores will make even an environmentalist grimace. I see a Tomato Exception sailing through both Houses.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
I had a successful mowing of my yard last night. The overnight rain made my decision to get the cutting done yesterday even more productive. If I had given it another day to grow, I would have had to catch the clippings, which is a lot more work.
Catching the clippings is a concept that relates to the idea that will be the core issue of today's entry. Going green. It's politically correct. It's urged at almost every municipal level. We have curb-side recycling. Yard-waste composting. Ethanol. Biofuels. Laurie David. Al Gore.
On a personal level, we're talking the carbon footprint of my failed tomato garden. I estimate that I harvested a total of 10 tomatoes before I threw in the towel to the rabbits. (Actually, I could take this analysis off on an economic bent, but that would be too easy.) Let's evaluate the carbon energy expended for the "natural" tomato experience:
1. Truck transport to Lowe's to stock the garden store. Plants. Dirt. Etc.
2. My initial car trip to and from Lowe's to buy the plants.
3. My trip to Lowe's last Fall to buy 3 bags of new dirt for the garden.
4. Plastic bags made to package the dirt.
5. Plastic tags to identify the variety of tomato plant.
6. Packaging for StaGro fertilizer.
7. Paper yard waste bags to send failed plants to community compost.
8. Compost truck gas/oil for curb-side pick-up.
9. Three months of every-other-day watering by garden hose.
10. Water from my shower after planting the tomatoes.
11. I could go on. And on.
For 10 tomatoes.
Okay. The marginal carbon footprint for each of the above items may not be significant enough to measure on any scale. So where is the veritable "tipping point"? When does an individual doing something or not doing something actually matter to the whole? How do you get there? How do you legislate globally when the level of interests are so varied? If the citizenry of California all elected to ride bicycles, would that offset the pollution or other detriments of the South Americans clear-cutting and burning the rain forests? (Fortunately, there's talk of a new rain forest outside Iowa City. But that discussion will have to wait for another day.)
True garden-fresh tomatoes are of high value. Any politicaly correct carbon footprint has to allow for variances. Those red ovular cardboard things that they sell in stores will make even an environmentalist grimace. I see a Tomato Exception sailing through both Houses.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sunday
Dreary Sunday in the QC. Cool. Rainy. Indoor sports for sure.
The primary reason that I am here today is that Powerball failed me again.
I rarely read The New York Times. And if it can be said grammatically, rarelier on Sundays. But with the prospect of an inside day, and no immediate big plans, I elected to buy today's edition of the NYT at SB this AM. One of my non-political biases against the NYT is that is generally so intensely thorough that it's hard to read without a strong, pre-reading mental preparedness. I prefer my news to be delivered with a little less commitment.
Every media outlet is searching for a readership. Consistent with many aspects of our culture today, most delivery systems concentrate on the headlines. Short and sweet. See USA Today, the McPaper of the 21st Century (so far). The local papers that I read follow a similar abbreviated orientation. Most Internet news pages tend to be even more high spots-oriented.
I know little about the economics of journalism, but I suspect that for the various papers owed by our local publisher, Lee Enterprises, including news in the daily paper is merely filler material between the many pages devoted to advertising. If they can locate a "Man Bites Dog" story or find some dirt on a public official, their front-page story is set.
But I digress. Back to the NYT. Today's edition was filled with detailed analysis in stories about Iraq, sub-prime credit problems, the theater, sports and a host of other topics. I think I received value for my $5 investment. I don't necessarily feel more educated. I read a lot during the week, and much of today's reading was review. Can I take a quiz and get a discount next week? At $5, I am reminded of the anecdote about the beer guzzler who, in a period of stock market decline, was actually better off drinking the brew and returning the cans for refund than he would have been if he had invested in Anheuser Busch stock.
How about this question: Is the NYT relevant to that large part of America that doesn't call New York home? I want to say that it is, but it's debatable. Is it important that we have structures in our world that are cultural-related as opposed to economic-driven? I'm pretty sure that the answer to that question is, "yes", but how do you reconcile the needs to support the liberal arts with an increasingly "stuff" driven society?
This is an interesting area of thought. Economics always count. The arts need good administrators who audited a few B-School classes on their way to the gallery/theater. The NYT simply puts the term "liberal" a little high on their adjective list for me.
Have a great day.
Be careful out there.
The primary reason that I am here today is that Powerball failed me again.
I rarely read The New York Times. And if it can be said grammatically, rarelier on Sundays. But with the prospect of an inside day, and no immediate big plans, I elected to buy today's edition of the NYT at SB this AM. One of my non-political biases against the NYT is that is generally so intensely thorough that it's hard to read without a strong, pre-reading mental preparedness. I prefer my news to be delivered with a little less commitment.
Every media outlet is searching for a readership. Consistent with many aspects of our culture today, most delivery systems concentrate on the headlines. Short and sweet. See USA Today, the McPaper of the 21st Century (so far). The local papers that I read follow a similar abbreviated orientation. Most Internet news pages tend to be even more high spots-oriented.
I know little about the economics of journalism, but I suspect that for the various papers owed by our local publisher, Lee Enterprises, including news in the daily paper is merely filler material between the many pages devoted to advertising. If they can locate a "Man Bites Dog" story or find some dirt on a public official, their front-page story is set.
But I digress. Back to the NYT. Today's edition was filled with detailed analysis in stories about Iraq, sub-prime credit problems, the theater, sports and a host of other topics. I think I received value for my $5 investment. I don't necessarily feel more educated. I read a lot during the week, and much of today's reading was review. Can I take a quiz and get a discount next week? At $5, I am reminded of the anecdote about the beer guzzler who, in a period of stock market decline, was actually better off drinking the brew and returning the cans for refund than he would have been if he had invested in Anheuser Busch stock.
How about this question: Is the NYT relevant to that large part of America that doesn't call New York home? I want to say that it is, but it's debatable. Is it important that we have structures in our world that are cultural-related as opposed to economic-driven? I'm pretty sure that the answer to that question is, "yes", but how do you reconcile the needs to support the liberal arts with an increasingly "stuff" driven society?
This is an interesting area of thought. Economics always count. The arts need good administrators who audited a few B-School classes on their way to the gallery/theater. The NYT simply puts the term "liberal" a little high on their adjective list for me.
Have a great day.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Saturday
I had good intentions to make a small entry yesterday, but the day got away from me and it just didn't happen. Not that Friday's tend to be that creative.
I've made a little progress on Blog II. Or Blog Revisited. Or Blog Unplugged. Choose your title.
One of the questions that any writer must face is, "Who are you writing for?" More specifically, "Are you writing for an audience, or are you writing for yourself?" It is not necessarily a question that has a simple answer. If a person has determined that writing is programmed into their DNA, then they must write to feed that need. If someone else has figured out that they can write, and that they can parlay that talent into commercial success, you could argue that that writer is reader-driven.
My original motivations for 4000 Days were, 1) to take advantage of the Internet blog to maintain connectivity with my daughters, and 2) to share with them my thoughts and opinions as we all progressed along our separate-but-connected journeys in life. I have thoroughly enjoyed that process over the last 20 months, but I have had a definite erosion in my own satisfaction of a "job well-done". And I have sensed a diminishment in interest among my six readers. (I realize that news on this page of the peloton and NASCAR are both highly anticipated, but other sites may have more details on these items.)
There's that high school commencement speech adage to recognize here; "Find something that you love, and you won't have to work a day in your life." I would argue, in a Clintonesque manner, that the veracity of that adage depends on your definition of the term work. Good writing requires effort. Writing about the days news, or relating anecdotes from the family's past, requires little creativity, and yields only modest satisfaction upon completion. I want more than that.
My current thoughts are to somehow merge in a personal way some of the concepts of information organization from a home page like Yahoo!, with the human interest appeal of various staples from the entertainment industry. I don't want to be a reconfigured Jerry Sienfeld, Matt Dillon (the sheriff!), or Charles Kuralt. But I like the fact that the things these people did, although generally very simple and basic, were good enough to have continued viewer interest years after initial presentation.
I have a good friend who would smack me around at this point and say, "Enough already!! What are you going to do?"
I'm working on it. I have notes. I'm in the structural design phase right now.
One thought is to have a daily segment entitled something like, "A Vicarious Life". I may choose a fictional character to wade through a contemporary scenario of politics, religion, science or travel. There needs to be connectivity to time and family.
Whatever. More on this tomorrow. I'll accept ideas.
In other news. 1 did 17+ today and felt good about it. I'm envious.
The Little League World Series is on. In yesterday's first game, some kid made a final-out, Top Ten leaping catch robbing a batter of a game-winning dinger. And he gets interviewed by Erin Andrews. He had a pretty good day.
The 24 is on the pole for tomorrow's race. His crew chief is back after that bogus 6 week suspension.
Have a great weekend.
Be careful out there.
I've made a little progress on Blog II. Or Blog Revisited. Or Blog Unplugged. Choose your title.
One of the questions that any writer must face is, "Who are you writing for?" More specifically, "Are you writing for an audience, or are you writing for yourself?" It is not necessarily a question that has a simple answer. If a person has determined that writing is programmed into their DNA, then they must write to feed that need. If someone else has figured out that they can write, and that they can parlay that talent into commercial success, you could argue that that writer is reader-driven.
My original motivations for 4000 Days were, 1) to take advantage of the Internet blog to maintain connectivity with my daughters, and 2) to share with them my thoughts and opinions as we all progressed along our separate-but-connected journeys in life. I have thoroughly enjoyed that process over the last 20 months, but I have had a definite erosion in my own satisfaction of a "job well-done". And I have sensed a diminishment in interest among my six readers. (I realize that news on this page of the peloton and NASCAR are both highly anticipated, but other sites may have more details on these items.)
There's that high school commencement speech adage to recognize here; "Find something that you love, and you won't have to work a day in your life." I would argue, in a Clintonesque manner, that the veracity of that adage depends on your definition of the term work. Good writing requires effort. Writing about the days news, or relating anecdotes from the family's past, requires little creativity, and yields only modest satisfaction upon completion. I want more than that.
My current thoughts are to somehow merge in a personal way some of the concepts of information organization from a home page like Yahoo!, with the human interest appeal of various staples from the entertainment industry. I don't want to be a reconfigured Jerry Sienfeld, Matt Dillon (the sheriff!), or Charles Kuralt. But I like the fact that the things these people did, although generally very simple and basic, were good enough to have continued viewer interest years after initial presentation.
I have a good friend who would smack me around at this point and say, "Enough already!! What are you going to do?"
I'm working on it. I have notes. I'm in the structural design phase right now.
One thought is to have a daily segment entitled something like, "A Vicarious Life". I may choose a fictional character to wade through a contemporary scenario of politics, religion, science or travel. There needs to be connectivity to time and family.
Whatever. More on this tomorrow. I'll accept ideas.
In other news. 1 did 17+ today and felt good about it. I'm envious.
The Little League World Series is on. In yesterday's first game, some kid made a final-out, Top Ten leaping catch robbing a batter of a game-winning dinger. And he gets interviewed by Erin Andrews. He had a pretty good day.
The 24 is on the pole for tomorrow's race. His crew chief is back after that bogus 6 week suspension.
Have a great weekend.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Thursday
Still no vision on the new blog.
1's wedding pics are available. Lots of pics. Lots of good ones.
The stock markets remain in turmoil. It's a very interesting time.
My pal Roy just got back from his Scotland golf trip, and he's now gone to LV for the weekend. He lives a different life.
Surely somebody's life out there is more interesting than mine.
BCOT
1's wedding pics are available. Lots of pics. Lots of good ones.
The stock markets remain in turmoil. It's a very interesting time.
My pal Roy just got back from his Scotland golf trip, and he's now gone to LV for the weekend. He lives a different life.
Surely somebody's life out there is more interesting than mine.
BCOT
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Monday
A disclaimer to start with: this is not the new blog. Just some random catching-up on some stuff from over the last week. The idea machine for the new blog is still processing data.
I think we have had a one day break from the heat. The paper today said that it was supposed to be 100 tomorrow! My poor old AC unit at my house is working hard to keep things in the mid-'70's inside.
How hot was it in my car during the day in KC? It was so hot that toner melted off a recently copied sheet of paper onto the leather seats, and I can't get the stain out!
Discovery Cycling has pulled the plug as of the end of the year. The organization is actually Tailwind Sports, and Discovery is the current sponsor (replacing US Postal Service 3 years ago). Tailwind ran into a headwind in it's effort to replace title sponsors for next year, and with the current doping and the sport's overall governance issues, the shutdown became a business decision.
And the 24 spun out (with no help from others) while in the lead with just two laps to go yesterday at Watkins Glen. Unbelievable. That was the equivalent of Tiger four-putting on 18 to lose a tournament.
My garden is officially shut down. I'm ripping out the plants this weekend. While I was gone, the rabbit's took bites of every tomato on the vine. I hope they were sour tomatoes.
The cast remains a nuisance. Not really sore. A little achy at times. And very inconvenient.
Pro football is in full pre-season swing. Without checking the Internet, name four players on the Carolina Panthers. Who knew Carolina had a team? Who cares?
My biggest problem with the cast is that I keep hitting, unintendedly, random keys on the keyboard. I just move the middle of the last paragraph to the middle of the previous paragraph.
So I'm going home for some Tuscan red.
Where's your addition to literacy, 4?
BCOT
I think we have had a one day break from the heat. The paper today said that it was supposed to be 100 tomorrow! My poor old AC unit at my house is working hard to keep things in the mid-'70's inside.
How hot was it in my car during the day in KC? It was so hot that toner melted off a recently copied sheet of paper onto the leather seats, and I can't get the stain out!
Discovery Cycling has pulled the plug as of the end of the year. The organization is actually Tailwind Sports, and Discovery is the current sponsor (replacing US Postal Service 3 years ago). Tailwind ran into a headwind in it's effort to replace title sponsors for next year, and with the current doping and the sport's overall governance issues, the shutdown became a business decision.
And the 24 spun out (with no help from others) while in the lead with just two laps to go yesterday at Watkins Glen. Unbelievable. That was the equivalent of Tiger four-putting on 18 to lose a tournament.
My garden is officially shut down. I'm ripping out the plants this weekend. While I was gone, the rabbit's took bites of every tomato on the vine. I hope they were sour tomatoes.
The cast remains a nuisance. Not really sore. A little achy at times. And very inconvenient.
Pro football is in full pre-season swing. Without checking the Internet, name four players on the Carolina Panthers. Who knew Carolina had a team? Who cares?
My biggest problem with the cast is that I keep hitting, unintendedly, random keys on the keyboard. I just move the middle of the last paragraph to the middle of the previous paragraph.
So I'm going home for some Tuscan red.
Where's your addition to literacy, 4?
BCOT
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Sunday
The trip home from KC was uneventful. Din-din with 2 and 4 when I got back.
Another hot day here. 90+. I hate these hot days.
4 is headed back to IC today. Hard to believe that it's her third year already. I remember the stress of her sorority rush week.
Have a great day.
BCOT
Another hot day here. 90+. I hate these hot days.
4 is headed back to IC today. Hard to believe that it's her third year already. I remember the stress of her sorority rush week.
Have a great day.
BCOT
Friday, August 10, 2007
Friday - KC
Hey to all.
Typical conference stuff for me. The cast makes the crosswords more challenging.
I'm still mulling ideas for the "new" 4000 Days. In the very short run, I'll continue working the old turf.
Miss you guys.
BCOT
Typical conference stuff for me. The cast makes the crosswords more challenging.
I'm still mulling ideas for the "new" 4000 Days. In the very short run, I'll continue working the old turf.
Miss you guys.
BCOT
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Wednesday
This will be brief. And there may not be much added here over the next few days while I'm in KC. We'll see what the Internet facilities are at the conference.
2 came over for a glass of vino last night and we ended up talking for the better part of a couple of hours. Very enjoyable.
I have a goal to get the blog going in a slightly different direction. The car ride to and from KC may give me the time to consider the options. It needs to get more umph for both the writer and the reader.
4 can pick up the baton these next few days in my absence. She's been quiet way too long.
BCOT
2 came over for a glass of vino last night and we ended up talking for the better part of a couple of hours. Very enjoyable.
I have a goal to get the blog going in a slightly different direction. The car ride to and from KC may give me the time to consider the options. It needs to get more umph for both the writer and the reader.
4 can pick up the baton these next few days in my absence. She's been quiet way too long.
BCOT
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