Meditations

Stocks

2012-02-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

My Portfolio has hit a new all time record high of 40%. The only stocks that I have that are down are two of my small companies. I think the economy is on the mend.

My Other Blog

2012-01-24T16:09:00.001-08:00

I also have my weekly journal blog at http://heywhatshappeningnow.blogspot.com/

My New Blog

2012-01-24T16:07:00.001-08:00

I created a new blog to write about my home renovation experiences. http://homerenovation-cmv.blogspot.com/

Wow! What a Snow Storm

2012-01-20T18:47:00.000-08:00

I had to take my father to the airport on Wednesday. I was snowed in at my house. We had to walk to another street and get a taxi, which I had to call since the buses weren't running near my house due to the snow. We then took the taxi to the auto parts store so I could buy chains for my truck. Even with chains it was a struggle to get up my street. It was shovel a little while one person drove. This took a while. I was the only person in my neighborhood who dared go out. We eventually got up the hill. We then slowly made our way to the ferry boat. It was only us and one other car on the ferryboat. I got my father to the airport for his late night flight. The next day the airport was closed. I didn't dare risk driving in the dark so I got a motel for the night.

The next day the deep freeze made my truck a block of ice. I couldn't open the doors. On the news everybody from reporters to the mayor told people to stay indoors. The news was all about car accidents. 2,600 car accidents, a new one day record. 4 times the normal January rate. I had no choice and I stayed another day at the motel. I only had my room because of a cancelation. The motel was full.

Finally today I got the sheets of ice off my truck and I managed to make it home. The warmer air and rain made it possible. I was lucky. I had electricity at home. Half the town does not. This is the worst storm I have ever seen.

Casa Monte Vista

2012-01-18T07:35:00.000-08:00

It's official. The house is mine. I call it "Casa Monte Vista" which is Italian for Mountain View House. It closed yesterday afternoon. Just in time for the snowstorm that arrived overnight while I slept. That was a surprise since I haven't been watching t.v. or paying attention to the news. My focus has been my house and starting the renovating.

The Last Post of 2011

2011-12-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

In all likely hood this is my last post for 2011. As of right now I am still waiting on my home loan. I cleared up my good name by filling out a legal form and signing it. They had me mistaken with someone who had a lawsuit brought before them. My good name is now cleared. Also, I had to provide a copy of a check that I used to open the checking account at the very credit union that requested that check copy or else face my loan being canceled. I get the feeling sometimes that the credit union doesn't want to give me a loan so I can buy their house. It's so silly. Credit Unions, like banks, can only stay in business if they give out loans. Yet they make it so difficult to do that. I am a good credit risk since my credit is almost perfect, I have decades of tax returns, W2's, and pay stubs, plus a letter from my employer saying I have worked there since the 1990's and will continue to do so, and yet I still get treated poorly by the credit union. I shouldn't be surprised if they want a blood oath next. Maybe signing my soul to the credit union will be next?

Anyways, I am forced to return to not playing my online game since the account has been suspended due to someone hacking into my account. I changed my passwords and now I have to wait while they clear my account. In some ways this is probably the break I needed. I have been playing too much and I neglect other parts of my life like housecleaning and such.

To all those that read this blog (I think there might be someone), I want to wish you a
Happy New Year.

Update

2011-12-21T10:35:00.001-08:00

The closing date has to be January 17 since January 15 is a Sunday of a 3 day weekend. Someone made an error and it was not me since I didn't propose that date.

2012 - The Year of Change

2011-12-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

2012 looks like it will be a new chapter in my life. If all goes well I should be a home owner. That's when the real expense and work begins. I bought a fixer-upper house and I am sure I will be working and improving the house for the rest of my life. I will be setting up my cost of living based on the Mortgage + Homeowners Insurance + Property Taxes for the next 30 years. The house will be paid for in the same year that I can start collecting Social Security and Retire. I will have a septic so no more sewer bill that raises every year. I will also have a well but, I will have to see how well the well works for me. I might have to pay to hook up to the water company. The heat is electric so I will see the cost of that. There is also a brick alcove with wood or pellet stove hook ups. I am leaning towards a wood stove as a back up heat during power outages. The house I will make a blog and show the before and after look and write about the experience. It will be my major project. If I can't buy this house I won't ever be able to get a house unless I marry into one. It's all or nothing right now.

The house will be my major project in 2012. Work is unclear as to what will happen. If it doesn't pick up I might have to look for a new job. The house payments are lower than rent on an apartment so, it's the cheapest way to go outside of continuing to rent from my father what will become an empty house when I leave. My penpal still talks about moving in with me but, I don't think that will ever happen. If it does her rent would come in handy. I doubt it will happen.

I will try to get back to the gym. I don't know how tired I will be after all the work I will have to do on the house to get it move in ready. So far the house needs paint and flooring. Plus some upgrades and the kitchen needs finishing. I suspect that the house was owned by someone trying to flip it just before the housing market tanked. Then the Credit Union foreclosed. I am buying it from the Credit Union who owns it. I got excellent terms. Even bankers tell me that at competing banks.

I will play World of Warcraft until I get my house. Then I will put the account back on hold while I work on the house. The game is a good way to kill time during slow periods of my life, (like right now). I do want to return to reading. In fact, I plan to make one of the rooms in my house a library.

I am not sure I will go an any trips in 2012. The house will be pretty consuming in money and time. I would like to make two resolutions for 2012.

Resolution 1: Get my house in order (assuming I get my house).

Resolution 2: Lose 10 pounds.

Predictions: President Obama wins his re-election.

2011 A Year in Review

2011-12-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

Well, this year was a good year for me. It was the best year I have had since 2002 but, it was not as good as 2002. There was some difficult periods during the summer and work was slow most of the year. I am not sure how that will pan out. I did all my New Year's Resolutions including the weight loss. As I write this I did gain back 3 pounds which returned at least 1 of the pounds I was set to lose for the year. I went to Europe and Peru this year. Even Venice during Carnival. Carnival was fun but, way too many people there. I liked it better when it wasn't so crowded. It was fun but, still not as good as my first trip to Venice in 2001. Peru was adventurous and it completed my goal of going to all the continents of the world (well, I haven't been to Antarctica). Alright, it was good enough for me. The year also brought back contact with my old friend's in California. That was good. I had a good year in the stock market. Finally, I am ending the year with the strong possibility that my new year will begin with my new house (it's an old house but new to me). Now that was a good year. 2002 was just a little better. I still have a week left I am not sure what will happen.

Update

2011-11-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

I am getting 3.75% interest rate and they did a credit check on me and gave me my credit score. It's 819 out of 850, an almost perfect score. This was when I went to my second bank. Funny thing is that the house I want is owned by another bank so I have to go threw it all a third time, (if they take my house price offer).

I Have One On My Line

2011-11-21T20:09:00.000-08:00

I made an offer on a house in my own hometown. It's not too far from me and it's actually closer to town then I am now. It's in the country with a great neighborhood, 2.07 acres of land that I can build on, with a view of the mountains. The house is a fixer upper and the 4 bedrooms and 1.75 bathrooms are on the small size, (and closets really small) but, I see a diamond in the rough. It can be great! I really liked it from the moment I saw the listing and even more so when I saw it in person. It's like being in love (well, not exactly). While I see what the counter offer will be (I made a really low offer), I went with another agent to look at houses in Seattle.

I went with another real estate agent because, I had made the appointment a while back. I know what I wrote and that's how I felt before I went to look at houses in Seattle. I was skeptical about finding anything. Only the area of Seattle I was looking at is more residential and not as busy and noisy as where I looked in Tacoma. Plus, Seattle is not Tacoma. It's like San Francisco and Oakland. I saw brand new Town homes that have never been lived in all for sale at half there 2007 price. They had all new everything. I also saw an old Craftsman style house from 1919 that I really liked. It had new carpets, paint (I didn't like the exterior color), and much more. It only needed a few finishing touches. I talked to the neighbors and that led me to believe it was a good neighborhood. I saw brand new fancy shopping malls nearby. I had some flashbacks to living in California. Although, I'm not sure I want to live in the city again. This does show me a runner up if my first choice fails to happen. There would be things to think about and I would have to get a lower price to pull it off but, in this real estate bust it's all possible.

The Search Continues...

2011-11-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

At my price range I usually find fixer uppers, older neighborhoods or bad neighborhoods. In the city it's amazing how the same houses in the same condition in neighborhoods divided only by a busy street can list for $100,000 difference. I don't think I want to buy a house in the city or even live in a city. The city is a nice place to visit but, I don't want to live in the city again. I like living in the country that is near enough that I can visit the city. I find track houses but, I am not a fan of track houses. It's just not my taste or style. I do like older houses from pre-1960's and I like the idea of fixing them up and doing renovations. One of the houses I really like is already fixed up renovated from the 1940's. I get to see inside this week. Another house I really like has the best neighborhood in the country. It needs a lot of work but, I think it's just cosmetic renovation (I hope). It's on a 2 acre lot with mountain views. I try to see the house as it is but, I also see the house as it could be when I'm done with it. Last Saturday I saw a finished renovated house in the city. The before picture was like what I can afford. The finished house was amazing with it's 3 floors (2 were added) and it's clean new look. That just inspired me more to get a fixer upper house.

I'm an Investor...and a Real Estate Developer?

2011-11-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

I was told late last week that my landlord wants to sell the house that I rent. That means I have to move, although I may stay until the house sells. I looked at renting another place but, then I thought about looking into buying a house of my own. After all, 10 years ago I qualified for a home loan (although that bank went bust) so why not now when I have more assets and better pay then back then. So, I met with a bank loan officer today. I was told that I have too much assets to qualify for a first time or Fed special program loans, even though my income meets that qualification. I did qualify for a regular old home loan at 4.25% interest (wow, that's low interest rate). Tomorrow I meet with my real estate agent. I am looking at different options like buying a house, condo, duplex, town home, manufacture home, and even land. I thought I could buy the land and build my own home. I asked about that and was told it's a construction loan but, I would qualify (much higher interest rate). Me a land developer? Hmm... interesting. This is the right area for it with some parcels of land that a very cheap.

Stocks

2011-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

As of right now the only stock I have that is down is one of my small cap companies. It's earnings came out yesterday and it beat the top estimates. So, I doubled down (bought twice as many shares) and this has lowered my average cost.

For the month of October all three of the major indexes have beaten me. For the year, only the Dow 30 index has beaten me and only by 0.75%. I was surprised to discover this fact. I still have 12 stocks in my portfolio. I am trying to decide what to do next. My options are buy mores shares of some of my stocks, buy stock 13 and 14 or just save cash and wait. Currently I am waiting until I make a decision.

Brief Memories

2011-10-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from reading my friend Ray's blog. I will give my opinions about my past.

I don't remember much before age 7.

Age 7 to age 9 is what I think of as when I think about my childhood with all the fond memories.

Age 10 to age 14 was painful. Parents fighting and being bullied at school and with neighborhood kids. Lots of being on my own. Also a time when I put on a lot of weight. I was ill as a young child and was very skinny at age 7. By age 10 I was chubby at a time when it was uncommon. For 4th grade I went a different school. I had no real friends. The kids there I thought were friends were mean to me, both at school and in my neighborhood. They would cheat me out of my toys and pick on me. I think back and it's clear they were not friends. Friends like that are really enemies. Lucky for me I moved and got the chance to return to my old school. Then life got so much better. I was even popularly elected class president in the 5th grade. I had friends that were friends and treated me like a friend. I grew out of my fatness. Then I moved in the 7th grade and had to start all over again. During the 7th and 8th grade I had to make new friends but, I was still picked on a lot at school. Being the new kid made for easy prey.

Age 15 to 19. High School brought relief. We were all new kids so it was easier to start new and make new friends. By age 15 I even started to go to dances. I lost weight. Although I had great friends I still was not totally happy. All we did was hang out and talk but, I am more of a man of action not talk. Also my parents divorced which pulled the 'rug out" since it came as a total shock. This right after my closest friends got into a big fight and never spoke to each other again. The parents divorce put me into a deep depression. After a while my best friend and I started to change. We drifted apart and I started to hang out with new friends. Friends that were into role-playing games. So, I had a lot of fun playing games like Rifts and other fantasy role-playing games. Once High School was over and I moved out and started working in the big city I would still go back into that town to hang out with my old friends. We started playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, (which I introduced), but we were never able to play a full game. It was fun but, somehow I would end up hanging out with my friend's girlfriend and some of the guys while my friend would take off for hours (probably out with another girl). We would just sit around talking and I was so bored. Eventually I realized it was over. Only towards the end of my 19th year did my life improve. I did have some bright spots during this age period but, most of it was a very dark period of my life.

Age 20 to 26. Things started to get better. For starters, I finally got the gaming group of my dreams, and we played AD&D to the max. I also attended San Diego Comic Con, Gaming cons, and started my traveling (including Europe). It was a great time that I often think back and smile. It wasn't always good. There was some difficult and sad times during this period (like death in the family) but, most of this time was very good.

Age 26 to 30. I moved to another state. I felt that it was time for a change. I felt that the gaming reached a peak, plus a friends speech questioning the fact we were still gaming at our age started me thinking about my life. I decided to move out on my own. I lived in a rural area and found peace. Eventually, I realized that I had to move closer to the city (I now live in the suburbs). I allowed myself to be talked into it but, I also realized that I was more of a city than a country boy. I also realized that my chances of ever getting married would be greater if I moved to where more people were (although my dating life is still nonexistent). I also finished my college degree which I was always only a part time student.

Age 30 to today. I expanded my traveling beyond Europe. I have achieved much of my dreams. I have recently reached a point where I am feeling like a new crossroads of my life may not be too far off. I do go to parties as well as concerts, and I have friends (honestly they are not close friends). Recently I have been thinking if buying or renting is better for me. A pastime has been weighing the options. I also realized that I got fat over the recent few years, and now I am working hard to get my weight back to what it was when I lived in the rural land. I was physically better at age 26. That was a good year for me, and I am trying to see if I can create a new peace, in mind and body.

What's Going on

2011-10-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Not to get confused with my other blog where I write about my weekly food and activities, I decided to write about my general mood. My finances are getting under control after a few larger bills that I had to pay. The weather is getting cooler and wetter. I do still go to the gym on a regular basis. I am 1 pound over my goal weight from my resolution but, that shouldn't be too hard to loose. It's easy to put on but hard to lose. I don't think my penpal is going to move in with me (she is being coy now). No surprise. It has made me seriously think about getting a roommate. If I go threw a major change in living arrangements or employment, I think I might have no other choice but to get a roommate. I hate doing yard work and I am generally more of an indoor person. This makes me think I would be better suited to apartment living than to house living. As long as the neighbors are quiet and don't cook smelly food (like the first apartment I lived in where the smell of curry was a daily routine, and it sure stunk). I have no current interest or pull towards having children but, I do have a pull towards playing "World of Warcraft." Especially when it's getting colder and darker outside. I watch a Netflix movie instead of television almost daily. Although I still watch about 5 t.v. shows a week, plus once in a while the news (no longer network news. Such fluff). Work is slow. I'm using my credit card instead of cash so that I can find out exactly where my money goes to every month. I have a feeling that I might be spending too much money on food (especially eating out). Also the use of credit cards is better than cash because of the points you collect that can become cash back awards. I make an exception to places that charge you for using your credit card (my state has no law against that practice). I am currently reading a book on the history of world trade. I am in the Ancient Middle East right now.

I Support The Occupy Wall Street Protesters

2011-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Does that really surprise you? My politics is center left. I am a progressive in politics and traditional in personal opinions of taste, views of marriage, and conservative in opinions of sex. That's just me. I should be out there protesting but, I don't have the nerve. I admire those who are protesting. Heck, there was even some protesting in my own town. I think President Obama should take a populist position and (like FDR) ride into re-election. Sadly, Obama is no Franklin Roosevelt. That's where I am very disappointed. I fear that Wall Street owns the President, and in the end Wall Street will call it's pet to do its bidding. If that happens I will most likely not vote for the President's re-election. I certainly will not vote for the Republican nominated candidate (Mitt Romney) either. I would vote independent, like when Bill Clinton ran for re-election. This protest has shown the power that Wall Street has over our government. It's not right and it's important that we save our democracy but, outside of protesting I don't know how it can be saved from the Rich Elite.

I DID IT!!!

2011-10-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

After today's workout I weighed myself on the scales at the gym (they are like doctor scales and do fractions). I could not believe what I saw. I them emptied my pockets and took off my shoes. I weighed myself again. I did this more than once. I then went home and got down to my underwear and weighed myself 4 times on my bathroom scale. The weight is the same. I did it. I completed my New Year's Resolution to lose those 6 pounds, plus I lost that 10 pounds I put on over the summer. I have lost 16 pounds in total. I am happy. Happy and so tired, and hungary (it's dinner time). Now I have to make sure I keep that weight off over the next couple of months. That won't be easy with the holidays starting. I also think I might try to lose another 4 pounds. That would get my weight back to what it was 6 years ago when I moved into the house I currently live in. I am amazed. I did it at long last. I did it.

A New Resolution?

2011-10-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Since I have been on the verge of completing my New Year's Resolution I have been thinking of what to do next. I was thinking of losing a few more pounds while building muscle mass. I am already building some muscle mass and strength (I am currently the strongest I have ever been) while I lose weight. Weightlifting while losing weight keeps your muscles strength and helps to burn more calories. So, I started to read about really building muscles. I learned that the diet recommended to help build muscles as well as building muscles will cause you to gain weight. That would be counter to what I had in mind when I wanted to lose more weight and build muscles. So, now I have to make a decision. To seriously build muscle mass or to continue to lose weight while only slightly build muscles and strength. Once I get my weight down to my resolution goal I will only be 4 pounds more then when I moved into my current home 6 years ago. I am very tempted to lose that 4 pounds. Hmmm... I will have to seriously think about this decision.

Stocks

2011-09-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

I discovered some new tools in my non-IRA online brokerage account that can track my performance for the year in more detail. This is only part of my portfolio and does not include my best performing stocks. This is how I have done verse the S&P 500 (the best benchmark for stock performance). So far this year it went like this:

Jan. Me - 1.40% vs. S&P - 2.26%
Feb. Me - 0.86% vs. S&P - 3.20%
Mar. Me - (-0.17%) vs. S&P - (-0.10%)

This first quarter I was underperforming the the S&P. Me - 2.11% vs. S&P 5.42%. Then things changed.

Apr. Me - 2.88% vs. S&P - 2.85%
May. Me - (-0.44%) vs. S&P - (-1.35%)
June. Me - (-0.64%) vs. S&P - (-1.38%)

Second quarter I had a positive return and the S&P had a negative return. Me 1.77% vs. S&P (-0.39%).

July. Me - (-0.40%) vs. S&P - (-2.15%)
Aug. Me - (-1.09%) vs. S&P - (-5.68%)
Sept. Me - (-2.78%) vs. S&P - (-3.57%)

Truly a bad third quarter. Me - (-1.49%) vs. S&P - (-7.70%).

Politics

2011-09-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

I just saw an interview with Ron Paul that was very good. I have seen interviews with him before. I like the man and I like some of what he says. I even agree with some of what he says. He's a Libertarian Republican Presidential Candidate. Listening to him is like listening to some of the founding fathers of the USA. The problem with what the founding fathers intended to do is that many of those ideals were lost in the 19th Century with the rise of big corporations. Then in 20th Century government got bigger to offset the power and abuses of big business. To paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, "If you have big business you have to have big government to act as a check and balance." That's my philosophy. I just don't trust big business.

I like the idea of having government more accessible. It's sometimes difficult to find out what's going on in State Government but, State Government is more accessible. Giving State Governments more power to regulate and decide what should be done was mentioned by Ron Paul. I for one would not want to eat meat that has not been inspected but, if the state did the inspections that could work except if the meat comes from out of state. I also like the idea of stopping pointless wars both actual wars and the failed "war on drugs." But sometimes wars are necessary like World War 2. Isolationism is a bad idea. We have to have a presents on the world stage.

One problem with having States make the decisions is that States sometimes make poor decisions. Like the "Jim Crow" laws that were in existence. The Federal Government had to step in to enforce the end of those laws that ban people of color from the same access as whites. The same is true with ending slavery. Right now some states are passing laws that make it harder to vote in elections. Many of those laws are being challenged in Federal court. The thought is that many of those laws are trying to keep people who might vote Democrat in the next election from voting. It's not right and that's when state government works against the people and not for them. That can also happen in reverse with Republican voters being shut out but, right now I am not aware of any such laws.

Yeah, Ron Paul has some ideas that I agree with but, I just don't see how we could ever go back to the America of the 18th Century. The world has changed too much to be that ideal Society of Enlighten Farmers and Shop Keepers that Thomas Jefferson imagined.

My Point of View

2011-09-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

I have never regained that faith in the Capitalistic System that I had before 2008. I am even starting to turn away from Materialism and Consumerism. I think as long as you have food in your stomach and a roof over your head as well as good health that's all you really need. Love helps too. I think the rich as well as corporations pay way too little in taxes. I would like to see much higher tax rates for the rich, which I define as anyone making $70K a year or more. It's not right to cut entitlements without raising taxes. If this is called class warfare then it always existed and it was the rich who started it. If they want warfare then we should give them warfare. We can win since it's the people who have the real power. Tax the Rich!

It Started as a Goal. Then it became a Quest. Now it's an Obsession.

2011-09-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

I have lost that 10 pounds I put on a few months ago. Over this past weekend I gained 3 pounds but, I have lost 2 of those 3 pounds. So, I am only 1 pound more then when I made my New Year's Resolution to lose 6 pounds. I can do it. I have already changed my life. I don't eat the junk food like I use to. I am not going to never eat junk food. Only after I achieve my goals. I have had some sweets. Home baked berry desserts that I have made are the desserts I have had. I work out more than I did in 2002 and when I reach my goal I will have lost more weight then I did in 2002. Although, I am still heavier then those days, I have already came up with a grand plan. After I do the New Year's Resolution, I will make another. Although, it will be more modest. I am thinking 5 pounds every 6 months, plus building muscle mass. My goal is to get buff. Not wrestler buff. More like unemployed actor buff. But, one goal at a time. Right now it's my current New Year's Resolution that I am working on.

Awe, What to do?

2011-09-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

Maybe I am making things out to be too much. Here is my situation. I have been going to the gym on a pretty regular basis. I am trying to complete that final New Year's Resolution or Birthday Resolution, (they are both the same resolution), of losing weight. I really kicked it into high gear when I found that I had gained 10 pounds over the last three months. That scared me into working out hard. I lost the first 7 pounds but then gained 4 pounds back. I then lost 2 pounds but, I don't know how I did on Labor Day. I see why it's called "A Battle to Lose Weight." I figured out how much I need to lose to accomplish this long set out goal. I mostly do it for myself but, I have a new reason that is motivating me. Oh, and I am building muscle's by using weights. I see some progress, and feel progress when I feel firmer arms but, I have a long long way to go before I look like Brad Pitt (note: I only use him as an example but, it reality I know I will never look like Brad Pitt. Well, unless a woman is very drunk. LOL).

I must have more confidence or I am going threw a good luck streak because, a few women seem to be coming out of no where and they seem to find me attractive. I am not certain but, sometimes you can kind of tell. The problem is that I am not really that interested in these women.

My second motivation for working out, (honestly I started working out because, I was scared of my recent weight gain), is a possible but uncertain how likely event that might unfold. It was really a fluke that I thought would never happen in a million years but, there is a small chance it might. Not the kind of bet I would bet on (I like more certainty in my bets), but it still could happen. My pen pal that I have been writing to for four years one day recently (actually, I gave her the idea accidently when I was contemplating a life change) said she was going to move away and start a new life. I asked her where she was going to move to? I then offered her my spare bedroom to live in if she wanted to live with me (I thought I would get a happy thanks but no thanks. The intent was that the thought is what counts). What came to a complete surprise is she said she would seriously consider it. I then e-mailed her pictures of the room (thinking she would say thanks but no thanks. Again I would get a credit for my effort). She then wrote back that we have to work out the details on how much I wanted for rent. I am now floored. I still am not believing that it will happen but, if it did... Wow. A very attractive woman is going to be my roommate? This single, charming woman, who I have been writing for 4 years, and have a lot things in common, thinks highly enough of me that she wants to live with me. A woman who I have a little crush on is going to live with me. What does it mean? Maybe it means nothing. Maybe it means something. Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe I think too much. Whatever it means, it is a motivating factor to get in better shape.

Random Thoughts

2011-09-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

I realized that my greatest moment of my life, which happened when I was 7 years old, is also the time when my life peaked. It's sad to think my life will never be as good as it was the day I saw the movie "The Return of the Jedi" with my parents. I remember the days leading up to that moment as well as the hours leading up to it. Now I feel like the sands of time are slipping threw my fingers, and the Grim Reaper is on the horizon. I will never be able to do everything I always wanted to do, and it frustrates me.

I have come to the realization that I want more then I can ever really have. I want my freedom to travel but, lately I feel a pull towards getting married and starting a family. I just want an income and not have to work but, I have to work in order to have money. There are many places in the world I would like to go to as well as places I would like to return but, I know I can't do it all. I want a particular kind of woman that I would be in love with but, I can't find that type of woman or maybe I had found her and let her get away. I am starting to feel that people are correct when they tell me that I am too picky when choosing a girlfriend. I have been having conflicts between my head and my heart with some women I have lately met. My head says that I should go after them but, my heart says, "No, I don't have that spark of romantic love for them. I should wait for that spark."

Stocks

2011-08-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

After those big nose dive stock market crashes I bought some stocks. I picked up Waste Management, which I am up almost 8%, and more shares of Wells Fargo. I made a mistake and did a wash sale on the Wells Fargo but, my small loss was $40 and I can make it up since I bought it cheaper. It was a bonehead move which I did because, I forgot about the wash sale rule.

Don't Forget My Other Blog.

2011-08-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

http://heywhatshappeningnow.blogspot.com

A Political Prediction

2011-08-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am going to predict that Mitt Romney will get the Republican nomination, but lose in the general election. That's my prediction. I just want to make a comment. I think it's pretty bad how the right wing media treats Ron Paul. I may not agree with his politics but I like the guy and hate seeing him treated so poorly.

Books Should Have Rating Systems

2011-08-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Books really should have rating systems so that you know what your getting into. I have been reading the book "The Great Railway Bazaar." I thought the book would be a PG book (PG is a movie rating guide). At first it was. Then it declined into PG-13, then R, and then X. I stopped reading the book. I don't like X rated stuff. I don't like porn, and I hate smut. This book got smutty. I hate this book now that it got smutty. I feel like I have wasted my time reading the book and I am mad. It wasn't just one chapter. It keeps happening. Either the writer (who I think is a pervert) made up what he wrote or he meet some disgusting people along the way. The writer does mention going to some seedy places in certain towns. I think people who go to those type of places are perverts. Those places (like sex shops and strip joints) are disgusting. I am done with this book and I am selling it the first chance I get. Selling it as an unread book. Yuk!

A Funny Story

2011-08-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

I went to this party where I meet this age 20 something attractive woman. She works at the Japanese Consult. She has dark hair, brown eyes, and a slender figure. Only her hobbies are not my hobbies but, the same hobbies of my friend Ray (See the link to his blog). Talking to her is like talking to Ray. She is into Aniame and reads Magna (I think I have spelled that correctly). She goes to the conventions and does cosplay. She showed me a pictures of her homemade costume that her mom helped her make. It was really nice. Yes, I found Ray's dream girl. I know Ray already has a girlfriend. It's so ironic that I would be the one to meet her. I tell you it's all fate.

Movie Review

2011-08-04T20:24:00.001-07:00

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I like it. Sure some parts were over the top and there was a little too much cgi, but it had good bad guys, good characters, good leading lady, and some good humor. It also had good 1950's Americana. Still it's no Raiders of the Lost Ark. I think Raiders is the best, and it's also my favorite.

Dow Down 500+ points

2011-08-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

I am so glad that I sold my stocks last week. I also stopped making 401K contributions. I saw this coming. Well, I did keep my dividend paying stocks and a few never sell stocks like Berkshire Hathaway. I figured the dividends are much better then what I can make in bank CD's. Right now there is not too many good places to park your money. What a post for my 700th blog post.

Movie Review

2011-08-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

I have been watching the Indiana Jones movies. Tomorrow I plan to watch the fourth one in the series which I have not seen since it I saw it in the movies. I liked the fourth one. It was real 1950's Americana. Plus they brought back the female lead from the first Indiana Jones movie who I really like and think was the best female lead character. She was a smart, strong, and attractive woman (yeah, all the female leads were attractive). Plus Soviets make for pretty good bad guys.

I really think Raider's of the Lost Ark is the best one in the series. It's my favorite. The story works so well from beginning to end. It is a true classic film. The female lead is not just a pretty face but a strong character and important piece of the story puzzle. It makes perfect sense why the Nazi's wanted the Ark. Also why they took the Ark to that Greek Island to see what was inside. The only flaw I saw to the story was how Indiana Jones got inside the submarine once he swam to it in the ocean. You would think someone would notice him coming in.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom had a good old fashion Hollywood musical opening but, how did a nightclub have all that room to do the production inside that little room? Why did this movie take place in 1935, a year before Raider's of the Lost Ark which took place in 1936? The lead woman was a little bit annoying but not terrible. What happened to the kid shorty and the woman after the movie? Why did an Indian religion have voodoo when voodoo is a religion of a mix of African religion with Catholic religion? It's found in the Caribbean and not in India. When all the children were freed and left threw the front door why did Indiana Jones and crew leave threw the mine shaft? How did the British know where they were so they could arrive with the calvary? How did the children find the front door to leave the Temple? Too many questions.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was good. Very funny. Still more questions. Why did the Nazi's want the Holy Grail? What good would a Holy Grail be if it can't leave the cave? Why did the Nazi woman want to run away with Indiana Jones and take the Holy Grail? Why did she think he would leave his family and friends to run away with her? How come a knight from the Middle Ages spoke perfect modern English when he's been in a cave for 500 years or so? The knight was suppose to have a duel with whoever came for the Holy Grail but he didn't put up much of a fight. Where did all the Grail's come from? In the beginning of the film it starts in 1912. I watched all the Young Indiana Jones series. What was he doing in Arizona when he was from New Jersey? In the Young Indiana Jones series it starts in New Jersey only a few years after the events of this movie yet his character in the series is more timid then he was in this movie. What's that about? Too many questions.

I'm sure I will have something to say after I see the fourth movie in the series.

The Towns of Lake Commo

2011-08-02T19:47:00.001-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Twelve Part One

2011-08-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

I woke up to an empty room. Dad and Oliver went out to take pictures at sunrise. On this morning I woke up at 7:30 am. I got ready and waited for them to return. I read while I waited. I also packed my bags and got ready for our trip to Switzerland. My first time in Switzerland. When they returned we had breakfast downstairs.

Breakfast was easy going. Oliver got his laptop out and started asking trivia questions like which is the newest country, when was Germany founded, etc. I knew the answers and impressed everyone with my knowledge. Hey, when it comes to history and geography I'm pretty good. We tried talking with the woman who runs the hotel as best we could, but she didn't speak English and we don't speak Italian. After breakfast we were off.

First we stopped just outside of Commo at a little town where dad and Oliver took pictures. Going out with photographers means a lot of waiting around. I also got out and took pictures, but that was mostly because my back was hurting and I found walking helps. I went with Oliver up a hill to find views of Lake Commo. I even pointed out a few little spots that made good pictures of the local homes. After this we all got back in the car. We drove threw the town of Commo with there high end hotels and mansions. It was like something out of a James Bond film. We then headed out towards the Swiss border. My father kept telling about how hard it was back in 2001 when he crossed the border into Switzerland and how they really searched the car. Oliver, who was driving, took all of our passports and put his Swiss passport on top. He flashed the passports at the border guard who let us cross the border without even stopping us. Dad was shocked. I was surprised too. We then stopped at a gas station for gas and snacks.

We were now in Switzerland. It looked like Washington State, my home. The mountains were like the ones here at home. We drove on. I fell asleep just before we went into one of Switzerland's long tunnels. When I woke up we were in snow capped Switzerland. The Switzerland that didn't look like home. It looked like a postcard. We stopped at a ski village to take pictures. An electric trains went past us as we photographed the area. It was clean and snow covered but not cold on this cloudless sky day. There was stone barns. Something I had never seen before. Next time part two, the wild parties of Switzerland.

The Stock Market Crashes...Again.

2011-08-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

That lousy debt deal is signed into law and the stock market crashes 266 points. Why? You don't cut government spending during a recession. That's what turns recessions into depressions. Wow! I had my doubts, but I am now thinking that an economic depression is now very possible. So much for my economic predictions of getting out of this recession anytime soon. Also, gold doesn't seem so overpriced now. What a bad move by Congress.

Our Little Italian Hotel

2011-08-01T19:56:00.001-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Eleven Part Two

2011-08-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

Now the long awaited part two. The hotel in that little town outside of Como was a family run place. Before we got to our room we had dinner in the little restaurant on the ground floor. It was a true Italian hotel since no one spoke English. We sat at a table and ordered our dinner. At the next table was a young couple. A beautiful blond and her boyfriend. She was speaking in English with an accent to her boyfriend. I kept stealing glances at her but was careful not to get the attention of the boyfriend. Dinner was a prochutta pizza on a thin crust, a salad, and a banana split for desert (I didn't do the order). We tried to ask for water but the waiter had trouble understanding what we wanted. I only knew the Spanish word for water, so I gave that a try. It worked. Only we got mineral water instead of tap water. While we were eating I could hear the blond talking up a storm. At one point the couple left. After they left Oliver explained she was Swiss. He could tell by the accent. He also pointed out that the body language showed that the boyfriend was having second thoughts. Every time she would move close to him he would back away. I guess I wasn't watching very closely to notice this fact.

After dinner we went to our rooms. I shared a room with my father. The room was nice. I had a narrow bed while my father had the full size bed. The bathroom had a shower that was only a little bigger then what we had in Venice. My father and I watched the Italian version of America's Funniest Home Video. That kind of show needs little translation. After that show my father gave up finding anything on the television and we went to sleep.

Obama is a secret Republican

2011-08-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

When President Obama was elected there was much hype. I wrote on a post that Obama would not live up to that hype, and predicted that liberals would be disappointed. What I didn't predict is that I would be disappointed in him. Since the last election he has done things that have made me think he might be a secret Republican. For instance, I am so mad that he extended the Bush tax cuts that got us in such huge state budget problems, and contributed to wiping out the Federal Budget Surpluses that existed under President Clinton. Allowing the rich to have the lowest tax rate since the 1950's is not right. The rich don't deserve such a low tax rate. Especially since they are much more idle then people who actually work for a living. Secondly, Obama has continued to follow Bush war tactics of secret foreign prisons, military trials on suspects, torture on suspects, and have kept open foreign publicly known prisons that he vowed to close. Third, when Obama helped pass real reforms like the Health Care or Financial Reform he left them without any real power to make a positive lasting change. And finally this debt deal which has cuts to services for the poor and less fortunate with no revenue increases or closing tax loophole means he has folded to the far right wing nut cases like the so called tea party, (which I call the escape mental patient party). Obama comes off as such a weak leader who lets the extremest right get there way. This makes me think that he must be a secret Republican.

Book Reviews

2011-08-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

I read "SuperFreakonomics" which is the sequel to "Freakonomics." It's not as good as the first. For one thing is was much darker. Lot's of interesting statistics like how easy it is for suicide bombers to succeed, but how few suicide bombers there are since there has been few attacks since September 11. Think about it, it can cost only a few hundred dollars to do a terrorist attack, and it cost tens of thousands to prevent one, plus the non financial costs are great. Think of all the freedoms we have lost since September 11, 2001. Also I found the attitude about prostitution lacked morals. Sure it's financially easy to be a prostitute but it's totally immoral and very risky health wise to have many partners (I for one don't subscribe to a relativist morality). Yes, it's a much darker book then the first.

Just a few thoughts

2011-07-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

I finished reading the book "Wine and War." I am starting to read the book "Super Freakonomics" which is a sequel to the book "Freakonomics." Already I read something startling. In one section that explains why police are more likely to patronize prostitutes then to arrest them I was startled to find some prostitutes make $300 an hour. What! $300! No woman is worth that much for dating or sex. It's like $100 hamburger. WTF! I would admit that I have no desire to go to strip clubs or prostitutes and it's not just because I don't want to spend or waste my money at those places. I find that stuff unsavory. Still, the things people waste money on. This has been a rant.

Bellagio, Italy

2011-07-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Stocks

2011-07-25T12:35:00.001-07:00

I'm up to 38% return on my Stock Portfolio.

I Don't Do Blind Dates.

2011-07-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

A few years ago a friend tried to get me to go out with a co-worker. I agreed to go to the office party to meet this woman. When I met her I was not interested. She wasn't fat, but I didn't find her very attractive. She dressed like a tomboy and she had a stud on her tongue. I hardly said a word to her all night. For some reason my friend didn't notice that I was not interested. To end it I just told my friend to ask on my behalf. It turns out I was turned down for the date. I was relieved.

Back in High School my best friend wanted me to meet her cousin. She showed me a picture of her cousin. The cousin was an attractive blonde. I said I would like to meet her. At the same time my friend wanted this other guy to meet her cousin too. One day her cousin was in town. First the other guy met her while I was out getting flowers. I thought it was a good idea. Then I got my chance to meet the cousin. The cousin didn't look like her picture anymore. She was very big. Must have been over 200 pounds. I gave the flowers (which I bought at the local 7-11) but, we hardly said a word to each other. A few weeks later I was talking to my friend. She was unhappy because of a comment that the other guy said to her about her cousin. All he said was that her cousin didn't look like her picture (or at least that's what I was told was said). Then my friend said that her cousin was still in love with her ex-boyfriend. I saw my queue. I claimed that is the reason I was going to pass on her cousin. My friend bought it. Whew! I was desperate to get out of that one.

And these are the reasons why I don't do blind dates.

Two More

2011-07-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

I remember there are two more women I have asked out in my lifetime. The first one was in High School. I saw this beautiful woman at the gym during some sports event we had to go to. I was sitting next to her and checking her out. This guy sitting on the other side of me told me to talk to her. So I talked to her. Then the guy told me to ask her for her phone number. So, I did. That's when she told me that was her boyfriend. I felt so embarrassed. He just laughed. I left. She got real mad a him. I see why I forgot that moment.

The Spanish Woman

The other woman I asked out, I'm surprised I had forgotten. I was in London, England. I stopped at a pub near my motel to get some dinner. I sat at a table. The waitress was this pretty Spanish Woman. I got a strong sense she liked me. I am shy so I didn't do anything about it. The next day I decided to return to that pub for dinner again. When she saw me her face lit up and she quickly got me a table. She asked what I wanted to drink. I told her and she said, "Oh yeah, I remember." During that meal I got that same sense she liked me. A cynic might say she was acting to get a big tip, but in England as well as in Europe the tip is included in the price of the meal, so you don't leave a tip. After a long time I finally got the nerve up to ask her out for a drink after work. I did introduce myself first (something I had never done before when asking a woman out). She said she had to work late then get up real early to catch a plane to Seville. She was going home for a week. She asked how long I would be in town. I only had a day left on my trip. So, it seems it was fate that it wouldn't work out. Although, I do think if I was there longer than a week she would have gotten that drink with me. I always think of this as a foul strike. It could have happened but the fates conspired against it. I do wonder what could have happened if I had an extended stay. She was pretty. She seemed to have the qualities I am looking for in a woman. It could have worked but, I will never know.

Europe 2011 - Day Eleven Part One

2011-07-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

Overnight I had a tickle in my throat. I took a cough drop and accidently coughed it out into the great abyss of the dark night in my hotel room. I finally went to sleep, although I woke up once when my dad poked me to tell me I was snoring too loud. I then woke up at 7:30 am and got ready. I packed and went to breakfast. It was the day of our departure from Venice. My back was hurting me. I went out with some members of the workshop to look for a camera piece that fell off one of the crews expensive cameras. As I walked my back started to feel better. We were not able to find the piece. We then gathered our stuff and checked out of our rooms. That's when I found out I had a bar tab. It was explained that the 2.50 Euro tab ($3.75) was for the hot water I ordered the day before for my tea. What a rip off!

The workshop crew all said our goodbyes. My father, Oliver and his wife, one of the members of the workshop, and I all shared a water taxi back to the airport. The driver had to call because, he was not expecting to have 5 passengers, even though the taxi office was told this. The mix up got cleared up but, there was a surcharge. The taxi ride went threw the canals of Venice (I guess this was that gondola ride I never got). There was a roof door and we opened it and stood up on the boat. When some costume people were spotted on the bridge, the 4 of them pulled out there multi-thousands of dollars cameras like an old gunslinger quickly drawing his gun in a duel. Oliver whistled and the costume people turned towards our direction. They quickly posed, and the sound of the cameras went off in rapped fire. Once we left the cities small canals, we had to sit in our seats and close the roof doors so the driver could kick the boat into high gear. It was a beautiful sunny day. A perfect goodbye to Venice.

We arrived at the Venice airport. The workshop student said goodbye and left for her flight. We sat down on a cold cement bench while Oliver went to get the rental car. It was a cold bench but the sun warmed our bodies. The wait was long. While we waited I pulled out my map of Italy. Oliver's wife was impressed on how prepared I was for this trip. We waited and waited. With every car we wondered if that was Oliver. Eventually he arrived in a Peugeot 4-door sedan. It was my first time in a Peugeot. Right away I noticed design flaws. The back doors were made for shorter people or people with smaller feet then mine. Oliver drove and pointed out where the rental car had to be returned. He then went over some basic rules of the road. Like tailgating is the norm, and if you are too slow the car behind you will bump your bumper. Also the fast lane is only for passing.

We drove for a while. Then we took a break at a rest stop off the toll A4 Freeway. Dad and I got some Burger King for lunch. I ordered in my best Italian. When I told Oliver how I ordered he said I did well. I only know a few words but I knew them well. After lunch, we were off. That region of Italy was called Lombardi. It was like rural USA area except instead of ruined barns or farm houses there was castles and lots of churches. There was also lots of vineyards. I also saw old Italian country homes many were covered in ivy. We were heading for the town of Como on the Lake Como. Lake Como is where some of the Episode 2 Star Wars film was shot. I was told George Cloony had a house in the hills. We got there quickly. Dad drove part of the way but, he had some trouble adjusting to how the locals drivers. I saw the local police had automatic guns. Then Oliver took back the drivers seat and guided us to the town of Lecco on the Lake Como. We got out to stretch near a park. We were making excellent timing but, it appeared that we would not reach Switzerland on that day.

We first stopped at the town of Belligio which was on Lake Como. Oliver said, "If they made a casino in Las Vegas based on this place it must be good." It turned out to not be as impressive as the one in Las Vegas. First we had to do some creative parking. Dad got out to guide while Oliver parked the car in such a tight spot I was surprised it would fit. We then got out to walk around the town. We walked down to a hotel. I was the only one would didn't need to use the bathroom. When Oliver got out he talked to the local cook. I couldn't tell what was said. The cook respond, "No Hotel and No Casino." Which means the town wasn't like the Las Vegas one at all. We then walked back to the car but, stopped for Italian ice cream along the way. As we walked the sun was setting. We ended up rushing for the car. We then parked the car at a local park. Dad and Oliver got there camera equipment out, but they had just missed the light. They were disappointed they didn't get any good pictures. Still we were there a while. We then headed out for the town of Como. We were almost to Como, and it was late, so they decided to get a hotel in this little town just outside of Como. Oliver went to a bar to ask a local if they knew where a hotel was in town. One local told him where and we went there. Which I will write about on part two.

Work

2011-07-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

Work is slowing down again. I can see the writing on the wall. Unless work picks up we could be back to where we were a few months ago. This is bad. Only some big orders saved us but, how long can this go on? Always in the past we could get by but, this last year has been different. Something has changed in our industry. How long will be able to stay in business? What am I going to do? I am starting to seriously think about looking for a new job. I would take a part time job as a second job right now. It would be a way to bring in extra income at first. It would also get me over this little fear I have. You seen I have only worked at one place me entire life. I am a little afraid to work for someone else. At least this way I can "Grab the Bull by the horns" and take more control over my life. Although, this opens a whole new world. A scarier world since I won't have that security I have had working where I do now. If I didn't work here I would not have this job as my safety net. It's like when communist countries became what they are today. The knowledge that you always knew you had a job and what you would make. Now I could end up with no job and no income. That can be very scary. What am I saying? It is scary! That being said it does open new opportunities (although a lot less since unemployment is at 9%). Not having to work at my current job means I am a free agent. I can live anywhere in the world and go after any job. It would feel so strange not having the responsibilities I have had since my work life began. I can barely remember that feeling. What will I do? Where do I go from here?

When I think about my future all I can think of is where in the world I want to go. If I change jobs I won't have that luxury of travel. I could still travel but, it would be much harder and most likely with many years as a gab. It's hard to think of my future without travel. I don't really want to own anything except for what I already own. I like having a car that's paid for, even if it has over 100K miles. I like my book collection, my Wii, my photos and journals from my travels, my misc. stuff from my life like penpal letters and more. I also like having my bills paid, no debt, and some money in the bank and in my investments. If I could not travel I would just take the money I have after paying my bills and just invest it, if I could not put it towards a trip. Changing jobs also, strangely, makes getting married more attractive to me. Why? Because two can live cheaper then one. I was thinking if I were to get married I would like to have the woman fill in a 100 page questionnaire, and a series of tests to see if she is worthy. Now I say forget all that I only have two questions to ask. Do you have a job (i.e. an income)? Are you an American citizen? If yes to both, then let's get married. (Lately, I have really started to doubt if I will ever be able to marry for love).

A Realization

2011-07-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I realized in all my life I have only asked out on a date 4 women, and I got turned each time. That's it! Only 4 women. 2 of the women were cashiers that I had only seen because I bought a college text book or rented a video. We only said Hello. I then went back and asked them out only to get turned down. One woman was a hostess at a dinner but, the same thing where we only said hello and then I went back and asked her out (although I first got a maybe for an answer. When I pressed on asking she then said no). The 4th woman was my piano teacher. Here I had a few lessons before just asking if she wanted to get some dinner (although I think for me it was just going for an opportunity that I had not had for years). The first three was me just walking up to them and asking them out, no small talk. I was so nervous all 4 times that I probably just scared them off. I remember feeling so tense, then I just asked. I then held me breath and only released once I heard the answer. I felt so relived it was over. Only as I was leaving did I start feeling bitter and anger. Now I just feel silly. What made me think they would say yes to some guy coming out of no where and asking them out without talking to them first?

I know I have missed out on lots of opportunities with women. Some I didn't realize at the time, others I just didn't have the courage to ask. Then there was the few exceptions. The woman I hanged out with in college. I knew if I asked I would get a yes, but I didn't want to go out with her because of her anger issues, and the fact she would steal from her work (She told me about stealing from work, and asked if I wanted anything she could steal it for me. She told me she did it because she felt they weren't paying her enough. I was smart to pass but, it was not easy since I was physically very attracted to her). The other exception was when I met the girl of my dreams back in 1995 or who I call "My Mysterious Woman." With her I was in love. Since she came up to talk to me and flirt with me I could tell she felt the same way. I passed on her because, I thought we would meet again when I was ready to get married. I knew going out with her would mean getting married and I just wasn't ready for that. I took her for granted and I missed out. I deeply regret my decision but I also know it shaped me. The decisions I made on that day took me on the path I have lived and made me the man I am. In the final outcome was I right or wrong on that decision? I like to think I made the right decision because, the life I live has allowed me to do all the dreams I ever wanted to do growing up, but at a high cost. I really don't know if I made the right decision on that day in March.

Anyways, my first date was when a girl in my group of friend's in High School complained that she didn't have a date to the dance. So, I said I would go out with her to the dance. My first girlfriend was someone who was arranged by that same group of friends. They set it up so she would ask me out to the dance and I said I would. Later she asked me out. My second girlfriend also asked me out, but after we had known each other for a little while. I don't really chase women. That is why I never date. That was my realization.

A Meditative Moment

2011-07-08T22:10:00.000-07:00

I am starting to form my own personal philosophy. I believe we have souls that existed before we were born and will exist after we die. What we learn in life is really remembering what we had forgotten when born. (Plato said that and I agree). I believe that most of life is pre-destine, and that free will can apply to our attitude towards life. Sure we have free will in little choices in life, but the big things in life are pre-destine (perhaps all part of god's grand plan). In life the major things, such as your family, your location of birth, and the time you were born, you have no control over. Even who you meet in life is purely by chance and not choice. Same goes with ones abilities. This is not a fatalistic philosophy. I don't feel fatalistic at all. I feel that I can accept the things in life that I can't control. At the same time I try to control the things in life that I can control to the best of my ability. I also believe in a god. Logic and reason can explain the physical world, but there is a meta-physical world that can only be experienced intuitively. I can't explain god no more than an ant can explain a car.

Long Nose Guests, Ottoman, and Alice in Wonderland.

2011-06-24T17:40:00.001-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Ten

2011-06-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

I woke up and got ready. My back was hurting, which was nothing new on this trip. I had breakfast, but it was crowded and chaotic. I then went out. The crowds were thick since the weekend was upon us. I went out to where the crowds weren't. I walked out west to the church of San Sabastion. There were only a few locals in the area. It was a long walk, and when I arrived at the church I only had a 50 Euro bill. The woman didn't have change, so I had to get change in order to enter into the church that I walked all the way west to see. I walked around and went into a little store where I bought a bunch of misc. items like cough drops, a pen, and a candy bar so that I could break my 50 Euro bill. I then returned to the church where the lady remembered me. I was disappointed that the church had a lot of scaffolding. I paid 3 Euros or $4.50 to enter.

After this I went out to Scuola Grande S. Rocco, that I had past up the other day. Along the way I visited a free church that was much better the the paid church I had just been at. Along the walk I saw a man dressed in the old Ottoman clothes. I took a picture and posted above. Once I arrived at Scuola Grande S. Rocco I went in, after paying 7 Euros or $10.50 to enter. This turned out to be one of the most impressive places I have seen in Venice, Italy. The ceilings were amazing with the huge paintings. There was mirrors that you could use so that you won't hurt your neck from looking up so long. It was two floors and the top floor was the best. The paintings were religious themes. This place was the foreign employment agency back in the day.

After this I went out and stopped at a market to get some snacks. I also stopped to snack and watch the people. I was closer to the tourist sights and the crowds were getting thick as I walked. I then went to try to find the water bus so that I could cross the Grand Canal. In the morning I had taken the bridge to the Accademy but now I was nowhere near that bridge. I used my map to try to find my way to a water bus stop. As I was about to reach one I found a museum of textiles. I decided to stop in.

This museum was neat. It had the clothes from every time period from the 18th to 19th centuries. It also had drawings of the fashions of the 20th centuries as well. The clothes were both men and women. Also all the rooms were period of an 18th century apartment, just like some of the other private residences I had visited on this trip. There displays were in English as well as Italian. It was a great surprise.

After this I found my water bus and took it all the way to the far east of Venice to visit the parks. I could see from the water bus the huge crowds filling up at San Marco Piazza. I went for a walk in the park which had great views of the canals. As I was walking I would see costume people and hear music playing. The first one being the theme song from Indiana Jones. I felt like Indiana Jones as I walked by strange long nose costume couples. After Indiana Jones was music from Mary Popins. At this point I saw a children's party. I walked around and saw closed buildings that appeared to be children museums. It was a sunny day and the park was a nice break from the crowds and what was becoming a routine. I walked just took in the sights. I then started to head towards the Old Arsonal. Along the way I past large Blvds, of shops with lots of costumed people. One was Alice from Alice in Wonderland. She was looking at a map while the Mad Hatter was holding the map looking as well.

After a while I reached the Old Arsonal. Since the Arsonal is still used today it was closed to the public. Still, the old gates were something to see. I walked and walked. Eventually, I reached a water bus stop. I decided to head back to the hotel. I boarded the water bus. The water bus made it's usual stops, but as it got closer to San Marco Piazza the bus stops would get so full that the people were turned away from boarding the boat. The boat was packed. Once I reached my stop I was in a sea of people, and I wasn't at San Marco Piazza. I did make a quick stop to see San Marco Piazza. It was so crowded with people that only New Year's Eve at some major city have I ever seen such huge crowds. I went to the hotel, stopping at the bar across from the hotel to buy a sandwich for lunch.

Once back at the hotel my father and the workshop had just arrived. We all talked about how crazy the crowds were. Again it was funny how as soon as I got to the hotel, so did my father. After lunch I went to the Fortuny Museum. The third time was the charm. On my way to the museum I had to first squeeze threw the crowds. With the narrow allyways walking would come to a complete stop. Police were there only to tell people not to stop on the bridges to talk pictures. At least once I was so squeezed in a crowd while walking in an ally that I felt like can tuna. Then once I was able to get away from the crowd I could not find the Fortuny Museum. I walked and walked. Eventually, I did find it.

That was one weird museum. It was modern art and very strange. The first floor was like an unfinished room. With the dust and bricks around, plus the dark light, it felt like an abandon building. The photographs on the wall, (not really photographs), were of some strange scenes of Venice. Like some gangster dumping a body into the canal that he had first rolled up in a carpet. Like from a mafia film. Another scene had American GI's in Venice from World War 2 in the fog (again not real photographs). Upstairs was costumes and painting that were equally strange. 1960's clothes that were not period only mock done in 1960's like. There was historic Saradin armor with stuff hanging off that looked like modern 21st century items. Also strange purses. There was also nude paintings that were not authentic to the period but were like mock 19th century paintings. Very strange. The only good part was the gift shop. There they had real art books but only in Italian. Looking threw one I finally discovered where the old Jewish Ghetto was located. Oh well, maybe next time.

At this point it was getting late. This last full day in Venice was coming to an end. I went back to the hotel and I saw some of the workshop people having tea. So I joined them. We talked for a while. My father came down because, they were all suppose to meet for the workshop. I got chewed out by the hotel staff for trying to get my own hot water for the tea. They brought me hot water. After the workshop people left I wrote in my journal. I was kind of sad to leave Venice but, I was also looking forward to going to Switzerland the next day.

After this the workshop came over and we all went out to bring food back to the hotel. I bought a Calzone, (proscutto and mushrooms). Some one had Champange and shared it with everyone. We all looked at pictures that the workshop had done. Laptop computers are so great! After a while I decided to head back to my room.

The Grand Canal

2011-06-17T14:16:00.001-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Nine

2011-06-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and got ready. I thought there was no toilet paper but, when I put my glasses on I found the roll had gotten loose and rolled into the discarded towels. After I got ready and had breakfast I first went to the Fortney Museum. It was too early since the museum had not opened yet. So, I went off to some other museums on the other side of the Grand Canal. I needed to get across and I was not near any of the three bridges. So, I hoped onto the water bus and got off at the next stop which was on the other side of the Grand Canal. I then was on my way.

I went to the "Basilica S. Maria." It didn't look like much on the outside but, when you went in it was so huge and impressive that I think it was second only to the San Marco Church. It was 3 Euros or about $4.50 to enter. After this I went next door and only stuck my head in at the Rossi. This would turn out to be a mistake that I would correct since it was an impressive place with hugely impressive works of art on the ceiling. I will talk more about it when I returned later in the week. Outside of these buildings were street performers. One was a man dressed as a tree playing a saw like it was a musical instrument. I found the irony funny.

After this I wandered around looking for the Casa Rezzonico. I eventually found it. It was a great break from the norm. This was a private apartment where the poet Robert Browning stayed at. It was in 18th century decour. Every room had brouchers and one was in English. I was there with a group of French tourist who were very impressed. I too was impressed. It was one of the highlights of the trip for me. The guards told me there was an upstairs, so after I finished the first floor I went upstairs to the upper floors. This place also had great views of the Grand Canal and so I took pictures outside since pictures inside were not allowed. These were fully furnished rooms complete with chairs, piano fortes, paintings, and period costumes. It was a walk back in time to some ones home. Once I finished there was other rooms that held painting collections that I visited. Even the public bathrooms were nice and the gift shop had some interesting finds. One item was a book about Princess Grace Kelly, which I know had nothing to do with the apartment but, I just found it an odd find. After my visit I rested on the bench in the gardens. It was too early in the year for anything to be in bloom.

After this I walked down to the Accademia to get on the water bus and take it back to my hotel. I made a few stops along to way, including the market to get some snacks. On the water bus were some costume people but, I was too slow to get my camera out in time to take pictures. When I got back to the hotel to drop off some stuff I ran into some of the workshop people. Bill and I got some food and took it back to the hotel to eat it. We talked over lunch. Then after I dropped my stuff off in my room. Dad was taking a nap. I wanted to go on a gondolla ride but, no one I talked to was interested since they had already done it once in there lives. I went out and checked out the prices. It ranged from 80 to 100 Euros or $120 to $150. Wow! Too much for me. So I never did my gondolla ride.

I then went off to the Fortney Museum. When I arrived I was told it was only open to the press today and the public tomorrow since it was a brand new exhibition. So, I then went out to the Opera House. The Opera House didn't have tours that day. The tours were only on the weekends and I knew I would be gone by then. The Opera Performances were Operas I just recently saw in Seattle. So, I just looked around at the gift shop and then left. I then walked to the internet cafe and did some e-mail. After this I went to the "Fondazione Querini Stampalia" and stopped at a local bakery for clarification of directions and to buy a canolli.

After visiting the "Cassa Rezzonica" the "Fondazione Querini Stampalia" was disappointing. It was 3 Euros more, much smaller, and had no English brouchers. It was the same sort of 18th Century decorated rooms in a private apartment. It was so small that I toured it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. It did have fine China which reminded me of the Seattle Art Museum's collection of China dishware. Also the public library was connected to this building. So, I went in. There was students working and they looked at me as I walked by them. The library was small but, full of books and old paintings on the wall. I then went off to "Scula Dalmata Delli Santi Giorgio E Triffon." It is a church that cost 4 Euros or $6 to enter. It had two floors. Upstairs was an elaborate ceiling with paintings. Pretty neat but, not as impressive as what I had seen that morning.

I then went back to my hotel. The sun was setting at this time. I went to the bar across the street from my hotel to get something for dinner. It was funny to listen to the locals talking in Italian. They are so expressive. I had a sandwich. I had noticed that Venice was filling up with people again. It gets so crowded on the weekends and this was a Friday.

The courtyard of the Religious Museum

2011-06-09T19:41:00.001-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Eight

2011-06-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

I woke up when the maid opened the door to vacuum in my room. She seemed more surprised then I was. It was 9 am so I got up and got ready. First, I did put the "Do not disturb" sign on the outside of the door before going into the shower. Then I went off to breakfast. At breakfast I watched some woman groping her boyfriend. Very different behavior then in the USA. After breakfast I went off to the Religious museum located behind the San Marco Church. It was a small museum filled with religious items and a special exhibit about native people of countries all over the world. The only problem was it was in Italian and I can't read Italian.

After the museum I walked around and found the church I was looking for the day before, only it wasn't what I thought it would be. I also found a general store where I bought a few items I needed as well as some snacks. I then went to the internet cafe to do some e-mail. The weather was nasty out with lots of rain and wind. I went back to my room and got my clothes, then I went off to do laundry at the laundry mat. At first I had a lot of trouble finding the laundry mat. Just as I was about to give up I finally found it. Then the troubles started.

I loaded up my clothes into a front loading washing machine. I put in 9 Euros (about $13) and the machine ate my money. "You got to be joking," I thought. I wasn't sure what to do. No one was there and I didn't see any place that I could call or have any idea what I could do. Just then a young lady came in to do some laundry. I tried to explain that the machine took my money. She found a number on the wall and called with her cell phone. I didn't know that was a phone number. She said there was no answer. Then she left once she loaded and started her wash. I watched how she used the machine. I then had to make a decision. I then went to the store next door and bought a small sandwich for lunch and took it with the small change I received back to the laundry mat. I then used a different front load washing machine and this time it worked. It was about the same price. I ate my lunch and listen to a pod cast I had downloaded on my Iphone. The young lady came back and put her clothes in the dryer, then left again. Once the wash finished I put my clothes into the dryer. Once the dryer finished my clothes were still damped so I did it again. The clothes never got completely dry but it was already costing me 20 Euros or about $30. So I had damp clothes for $30. When I returned to my room I put the clothes on the radiator heater and it dried them over night perfectly. I did feel like I kind of wasted my afternoon.

I took a nap. Later that night I went out to "Harry's Bar" which was located near my hotel. It is a famous bar that Ernest Hemingway wrote about in one of his books. It looked like something out of the movie "Casablanca." Waiters in white suits and an old 1940's atmosphere. On the walk back I saw some people dressed in costumes that looked a little like the aliens from the "Predator" movies. They were even walking on stilts that made them 10 feet tall. I was tired so I just got a pizza slice from the bar across from my hotel and took it back to my room. My pizza slice was smashed together like a taco and I wasn't too pleased. It was a bad day. The stormy weather had dampen my spirits. I spent the evening reading a book, and writing in my journal.

My New Blog.

2011-06-08T21:52:00.000-07:00

http://heywhatshappeningnow.blogspot.com

A Walk Around Venice

2011-06-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Seven, Part Two "The Dinner"

2011-06-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

In southern parts of Italy the food is what we think of when we think Italian, Pasta and tomato based dishes. In the northern part of Italy the food is mostly seafood based. This night I went with the workshop to dinner. We all walked to the restaurant that we had some trouble finding at first. Once there we were seated but, we also had to wait for someone. A former student of Oliver's named Veronica was meeting us all for dinner. She is an Italian who lives in a neighboring Italian town and had to commute after work to get there.

First, I found the waiters very snooty. France has a reputation of having snooty waiters. Although my experience in Paris, France was that the waiters were super nice and friendly. Italy doesn't have a reputation of snooty waiters but, maybe because the restaurant was a very upscale place the waiters felt that they had to be very snooty.

The workshop dinner didn't have everybody there but, it did have many of the members. I sat next to my father and an older man named Bill. Bill is a business owner and has three grown children, two boys and a girl. One of the boys works for him. He has been to Venice many times. It seemed to me like the novelty of Venice for him had worn out. He was pretty moody during this workshop. Across from me sat Veronica, once she arrived. Veronica is a blonde Italian who must be rich since she has been on some very exotic travels. Actually all the workshop students were world travelers. Veronica was talking about Italy, and her travels to Antarctica and on the Trans-Siberia railway. She was very interesting to listen too. In our dinner party was an female Alaska native, (who I spoke to on the walk back to the hotel. Not Sarah Palin), and another woman who I only briefly spoke to on this trip. The conversations were pretty interesting. I learned that the Trans-Siberian train ride is very boring.

Dinner is served. This was one of the strangest meals I ever ate. Thankfully Veronica spoke the language and was able to help with the ordering and explaining. First course was standard. It was octopus with the brains still in them (they were cut in half and you could see the brains), sardines, clams, octopus eggs, and crawfish (with the eyes staring at you up above the little facial features). I had sardines before but, the rest was pretty strange. I tried it all, although I noticed that on my side of the table I was the only person who ate the octopus with brains. I wasn't a fan of this first course. To drink we had a sparkling wine, which I didn't care for very much. I like my sparking wine with orange juice or punch. Second course was cocktail shrimps. I am not too fond of cocktail shrimp mostly because, they are served cold. The main course was a choice. I picked the pasta with scallops. The pasta was black. I never seen black noodles before but, it was hot and delicious. Then for the dessert was also a choice. I had the apple sorbet served in a carmel bowl. That was very delicious and the bowl was edible. So, only the first course was what I could have lived without and made the meal so strange. Then came the bill. It was $90 per person. OMG!!! I never spent that much money on a meal before. After this I didn't go out to dinner with the workshop anymore. I figures with the 8 of us the bill must have been $720. For that?! OMG.

Europe 2011 - Day Seven, Part One

2011-05-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

When I woke up on this morning I had that feeling you get after your fever breaks. I felt pretty good. I got up and went to breakfast. There I saw my father and his workshop class eating breakfast. I met everyone. After breakfast I went out to the Academy Art Gallery. The weather was bad. Rainy, windy, and cold. I went to the Academy Art Gallery and my back was hurting. The art museum was much smaller then I thought. I went there looking for Da Vinci's famous drawing's but, they were no where to be found. I was disappointed. I did see the famous painting of "The House of Levi" which I had learned about in my college Art History class. It was mostly early religious paintings. I liked it but, I was disappointed that I could not find what I came to see.

After this I took the water bus all the way east to the Old Arsenal. You can't go into the Arsenal since it's still in use today by the government. Located in front of the Arsenal was the Navel Museum. This was the best deal in all of Venice. It was only 1.55 Euros or about $3 for a 4 floor museum that had everything related to ships and seafaring. They had cannons, old maps, the pen set that Napoleon used to sign a treaty that ended the Venice Republic, as well as a huge collection of sea shells and mollusk shells. The only problem was that the building wasn't heated and it was cold inside.

After the Navel Museum I went out looking for a certain church, which I did not find. It was storming out and I got lost in the narrow streets. I did find some points of interest. I found an internet cafe, which I used to get out of the cold. I found a laundry mat. I also found some generally interesting things like old state department photos of the world leaders during the 1980's. They were all lined up after some official world meeting. The photo was faded with age but, really captured the feel of the period. I found some nice churches, and one of them had something written about Vivaldi. I think it might have been his burial place. Oh, and I found a museum that had statues in what was an old private residence. I also went to the post office to buy stamps and mail out postcards. I got a lecture when I tried to use a big Euro bill. I'm sorry but that's all I have. For lunch I went to a bar across the street from my hotel and bought a sandwich. I wanted a small lunch and it was small. The sandwich had no crust and was tiny. In fact it was only a half tuna sandwich. I ate it with a few cookies and a can of 7 up that I had purchased a few days before.

Next time my dinner with the workshop class or as I like to call it my Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom dinner. If you have seen the movie you might have an idea what I am talking about. My father called it a Star Wars meal because, it was so strange.

Raise the Debt Ceiling or Repeal that silly law.

2011-05-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

This illustrates my point.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/05/17/full-faith-and-credit.aspx

Europe 2011

2011-05-27T21:47:00.000-07:00

So today was a two for one. Check in again next week when I continue my blog post of my trip to Europe 2011.

The Dodge Palace, the Top of San Marco Church, and the Front of San Marco Church

2011-05-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Six

2011-05-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

What day was it? Was it February 29 or March 1? I had no idea. I would only find out much later on that day. Plus, I had no idea what was going on in the world since I was cut off from all mass media. What I did know was I was still in Venice. I also knew I had trouble sleeping that night. I kept waking up and my back was hurting. I took pills and eventually got some sleep. I got up early and got ready. I wolfed down breakfast and got out to San Marco Piazza before the crowds got too bad. First stop was the Dodges Palace. The Dodge was the elected leader of the Venice Republic for the thousand years that Republic existed, (up until Neapoleon invaded and overthrow the Republic). I had been to this palace the last time I was in Venice. I wanted to go back because, I had read a 1,000 page book on the history of Venice, and I now knew so much more then when I was there last. What a difference timing can make. 10 years before the palace lines were long, and the palace was full of tour groups. This time there was no line and I had the place to myself, (except for the guards and a handful of other visitors). Without the tour groups you can get a real feel on how big this place really is. The main room where the Senate was held and the Dodge presided is one of the largest rooms in all of Europe. That really means something when you think of all the grand palaces there are in Europe. It was the size of a Football field. As I was walking from room to room I had flashbacks to the last time I was there. It was very impressive. One of the highlights in Venice and a must see. What was really cool was I found the prison cells that I had missed the last time I was there. The prisons have graffitti left over from 500 years ago.

After this I stood in line to go inside San Marco Church. The line was short and it moved quickly. It was very crowded inside. This was the time I saw the signs everywhere that said "no photography". I didn't want to get thrown out because, it cost money to go inside, so I didn't take any pictures. After this I took the water bus back up the Grand Canal to go see an art museum I had noticed from yesterdays water bus trip. It was sunny out but, very cold and windy. The surf was rough and we didn't so much dock at the bus stops as we crashed into them. I went to that art museum that I had noticed called the "Gallery Franchetti Cad' Ono."

The museum had 14th and 15th century paintings, statues, a few tokens, and a Van Dyke Portrait. The museum also had nice views of the Grand Canal. Then for lunch I went to the McDonald's next door. I had just enough money for a Big Mac meal. The food tasted different. The meat and bread was very fresh. I watched how the garbage cans worked, it was really neat. I ended up using them too. You walked up to them. You place your tray up to the garbage door and the door opened automatically. You threw your trash away. Then the garbage would door would shut, and the garbage would spray perfume into the air. Pretty cool.

After lunch I needed to go to an ATM. So I got on a water bus and took it to my hotel bus stop. I was tired and kept falling asleep on the bus. I did wake up in time for my stop. I used the ATM at the bank next to my hotel room. I then stopped at my room but, the room key was missing at the front desk. I thought my father had it and that he must have been in the room. I knocked on the door but, no answer. So I ended up having the front desk clerk let me into my room. I then took a nap. Dad showed up. He had the key with him and he was with Oliver getting ready for their class. He got some stuff and left me the key.

I then went out to the "Museo Civico Correr" or the Civic Museum. This was located above the shops at San Marco Piazza. This museum was really good. They had paintings from the 14th to the 17th century, coins, tokens, models, weapons, armor (including horse armor), guns, period rooms, big old globes, and so much more.

For dinner I had Burger King. The service was so slow. They had one person doing cashier, serving, and possibly cooking (I can't tell what's going on in the back). I never known such slow service. There was trays stacked three feet high. When I eventually got my Whopper meal I went upstairs to the dinning area. There was a lot of people there. It was filthy. There was garbage falling out of the garbage cans. There was food all over the floor. I walked by the bathroom and it smelled from outside. I got a seat and ate my dinner. It was hot and delicious. The bread tasted like it was just baked. The meat was very fresh. It was the best fast food I ever ate, and one of the best burgers in the world.

After dinner I headed back to my room. I had laundry to do in the sink. I wasn't feeling great because, I had a sore throat for two days now. After I did laundry I read before going to sleep. That night I woke up with a fever. I took an Advil and eventually the fever broke. I was definitely fighting something. From that point to the end of my trip my body was in recovery.

The Casino, The Church Next Door, and San Marco Plazza

2011-05-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Five

2011-05-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

On this day my father woke me up at 2 am because, he was crashing around in the bathroom and had the lights on. Once he settled down I fell right back to sleep until dawn when his workshop partner called on the telephone. Then my father left and I went back to sleep. I slept until my father was knocking on the door and I had to let him in. This went on for a while. I would sleep until my father would wake me up wanting to come back into the room. Why he didn't just take the room key I do not know. I did eventually get up and get going but, I got a late start to the day. I had breakfast at the hotel and then went out. Crowds of people were already out and that meant long lines for everything. I decided to skip the traditional sights on this day. I went to the small tourist office but, it filled up with so many people that I felt like clowns in a clown car. The pressing of bodies in such a small little room was too much for me so I left. I then decided to get on the water bus and take it up the Grand Canal. I bought my bus ticket and it was not cheap, thanks to a weak dollar it was about $9 for a one way ticket.

I took the water bus up to the Casino. The casino was established in the year 1638. It was mostly slot machines. I walked around but, didn't gamble. I came across a Wagner Museum, (The famous composure lived in Venice for a while and the museum was in his old room). It was a private museum only open on certain days and by appointment only. This was not one of those days. I then just walked down the main path heading south, the direction of my hotel. It was a nice walk and I stopped for some shopping, (both gifts and food). Along the way I saw the only McDonald's in Venice. I also saw a lot of nice little areas with water wells and churches. I stopped for lunch at a cafeteria. There I had chicken and potatoes. Eventually, I reached my hotel in the late afternoon. I went in to drop off my stuff. My father was taking a nap. He woke up when I arrived. He complained that my snoring kept him awake. He also told me he went into San Marco Church. While there he was taking pictures with his mono-pod and they threw him out. Only later when I went to that church did I see the signs everywhere that said no pictures allowed. I took a little nap, then my father and I went to San Marco Piazza and took the elevator to the top of the famous tower so we could take aerial shots of Venice. We then had to get back to the hotel since my father's workshop class was about to begin (it would have been bad if the teacher was late for the first class). As we arrived at the hotel I did run into Oliver (my father's workshop partner). I had to explain why I didn't show up for dinner the night before. I know it sounded more like an excuse then a reason.

I went then went out that night. The church next to my hotel was open, and it would be the only time I ever saw it open. I went inside and looked around. It was free. I then went out looked for one of those big pizza slices to eat for dinner. The pizza slices were as big as my face. I found a free museum and so I went inside. It was a music museum. They had very old and very valuable musical instruments. Real beauties. They also had classical music playing in the background. Classical music is what I usually listen to most nowadays. They also had CD's for sale. I bought an inexpensive CD of a composer I had never heard of before. When I got home and listened to the CD I liked it very much. A lucky choice and a good deal at $4. The composer is Muzio Clementi (1752-1832). After this I continued my search for the big pizza slice. I ended up going back to San Marco piazza and getting it near there. I took it back to my room and ate it while listening to my Ipod function of my Iphone. The phone service didn't work. The Iphone did come in handy as an Ipod. I then washed some clothes in the sink. After that I went to sleep for the night.

Europe 2011

2011-05-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

I will do a posting a week or at least try to. So the next post will be next week. Note: The World Will Not End This Weekend! No Rapture is coming!

Costumes of Venice

2011-05-20T19:48:00.001-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Four

2011-05-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Zurich, Switzerland to change planes. I was so tired that while I was waiting at the airplane gate I kept falling asleep with my head in my hand leaning over like Rodin's "Thinker." We boarded the plane to Venice, Italy. I slept on the flight. For some reason my father and I had seats in different sections of the plane. I didn't notice this and thought someone was in my seat until I saw on my ticket that I was 8 rows in front of my father. No problem since I only slept.

When we arrived it was overcast and a little rainy. The Venice "Marco Polo" airport is a small airport outside of Venice. To get to the boat shuttle, and boat taxis you walk a long way down a path. It must have been a couple of miles. Once we arrived (we bought our boat bus tickets inside the airport) we got on the floating shuttle stop. The water was choppy and the shuttle stop was rocking. While at the shuttle stop my father noticed a couple that were in his workshop. We met them and talked. Once the boat shuttle arrived we all boarded and got inside. It was a long hour ride to the heart of Venice, San Marco Piazza. It was a dull ride too since all we could see was a delta. I kept falling asleep. Once we arrived at San Marco I was very much awake.

It was so crowded. A crowd I have not seen since I was in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 2000. Only many people in this crowd were costume people and photographers. I was the only one in our group who had a map to our hotel (I came prepared). So I lead them threw the crowds. It was exciting and chaotic at the same time. There was a huge stage set up in the center of the piazza where little shows and costume contest were going on. There was marching bands of Medieval armored musicians like something from Venice's past. There was the classic Venice costumes as well as a few almost Halloween like costumes. While walking with my luggage a photographer backed up and walked into me. I accidently walked into a few photographer's photographs. It was like being in a can of tuna while dragging luggage behind you. With much pushing and shoving we eventually made it across the piazza towards our hotel. It was the only way there, according to the map I had. Once past the Piazza it was just a short walk across a bridge and there was our beautiful hotel. We checked in and dropped off our bags. My father's workshop partner arrived and he and my father left. I also went out. We were suppose to meet for dinner, but I didn't make it.

I'm back baby! Only this time the beautiful San Marco Piazza was full of a stage, scaffolding, and banners with advertisement. This was not the place I fell in love with when I was there in February 2001. Now it is February 2011 and it's full of people, a stage, and stuff that masks it's beauty. I liked it better when it was just full of pigeons. Still I had returned to my favorite city in the world. It's a city that hasn't changed much in a thousand years. Outside my old hotel, (with modern plumbing) was a small canal full of gondolas. The stone path ways and old buildings speak of times past as well as the passing of time. I went out for a walk. In the narrow ally ways it's so easy to get lost, even when you have a map. It got dark and the city takes on a new look and feel. Some say at night, when the crowds die down the city comes alive. You see the real Venice then. I wondered the streets and I got lost in the dark. I was asked by some young English women if I knew where we were. I didn't. We laughed, and I left to find my way back to the hotel. I could find the Grand Canal, but not the way back. So, I ended up jumping the fare on the water bus to get to my bus stop near my hotel. From there I went to the hotel, but I was so very late. So, I just went out again and had a calzone for dinner and sat in San Marco Piazza. This time it was nearly empty. I looked around in the dark and took it all in. I could not believe where I was. The disco tech music was loud and bounced off the walls. This was so very different from the last time I was there. Still I was in Venice.

When I got back my father was wondering why I didn't show up for dinner. I told him I got back late. He said he had to get the receptionist to let him in the room. I told him that the other receptionist told us to always leave the key at the front desk when we go out, and that is where the key was. He didn't listen even though he was standing next to the receptionist when she told us to leave the key at the front desk. I went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. After all, I was living on very little sleep.

The Matterhorn

2011-05-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Three

2011-05-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

We got up and went back to Manhattan. We had an evening flight to fly to Europe, but we were able to keep our luggage at the hotel after we checked out. I wanted to go to Rockafeller Center. It was like pulling teeth to get my father to go, but he liked the city views from the observation deck better then they were from The Empire State Building. The observation deck is much higher then the one at The Empire State Building. It was on the 87th floor. I used the restroom there, which is on the 86th floor. I wanted to take the NBC tour, but it was sold out for the day. After this we had lunch at the basement level. It was Chinese fast food. Then we had to get back to the hotel to get our bags and head out to the airport.

Once back at the hotel we took a taxi to the airport, which cost $10 more then taking a taxi to the hotel from the airport. We checked in and I decided to check my luggage too since it was free and my father was checking his. We got our seats changed so that we had a bulkhead emergency seat row. This gave us more leg room. We had middle seats, but with the extra leg room it was comfortable. Somewhere in that same JFK airport was my father's workshop partner who was changing planes from California. Our flight was Swiss airlines. My first time flying with Swiss air. It went well, except that I was passed over for a Swiss chocolate when they were passing them out. Our flight was New York City to Zurich, Switzerland. Then we had to change planes in Zurich. Then we flew to Venice, Italy. We had to go threw customs in Switzerland and in Italy, since Switzerland is not part of the European Union. Also Switzerland still uses there own money. I didn't sleep very much on the flight. I watched the first half of the movie "The American." I also watched old reruns of "30 Rock" and "Top Gear." The flight departed New York City at 10 pm.

Museums of New York City

2011-05-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day Two

2011-05-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

We got up and had a great breakfast at the hotel. Fresh donuts, cereal, juice, and bagels. We then took the subway to Manhattan. The weather was bad. Rain and cold. Sometimes we would get caught in a downpour. My father didn't bring an umbrella, so I let him use mine since my coat had a hood on it. We walked around and first went to the United Nations building. We took the tour. We went to the famous General Assembly, but to the tour guide was surprised they were having an emergency meetings. Meetings have been closed to the public since 1993, and no photography is allowed during a meeting. So, we had to do a quick walk threw. My guess was the meeting was about Libya since that was what all the talk on the news was about. The tour was very informative and I now have a better understanding about the United Nation.

After the United Nation tour we went to Grand Central Station. It is a grand train station built in the 1800's. It is very much like the train stations in Europe. After that we went to lunch at a nearby Subway Sandwich chain. We were not able to finish our lunch, I was just not that hungry since breakfast was so big. So, then we went back to the Grand Central Station and took the subway near Central Park. From there we walked to Central Park. By this time the weather had stopped raining. We went to the Guggenhiem museum, but found out you are not allowed to take pictures except for the lobby. It was okay since the lobby was all I wanted to see. I don't care for modern art. Then we walked to the Metropolitain Museum of Art. I got to see the stuff that was closed the last time I was there. This included the Egyptian wing, the American wing, and the special exhibit on the father of modern photography. His pictures were from the late 1880's to the 1920's and included some famous actors like Charlie Chaplin. There was some pictures of World War 1 trenches, and Wall Street. Also some artistic pictures with female models.

After this we tried to walk to the Empire State Building but, it was getting late and it was far, so we got a taxi to take us. It was a great way to see the city. Once there we went up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building. What a difference from the last time I was there. Last time it took an hour to get threw the lines. This time it took 5 or 10 minutes. Not nearly as many people as before. We got there and it was very windy. I stayed inside because the wind was too much and too cold. We watched the sunset. My father went nuts taking pictures in the windy cold air. We left after dark.

We took the subway back to Queens, where our hotel was located. We both forgot the subway stop that our hotel was located nearby. We got off the subway that we thought might be ours. I had my father stay put while I went outside to check. I went outside to a scary neighborhood. I used my Iphone GPS and found we were a mile off. So, I had to pay to go back. We took another subway to another stop. When we got out we were close, but still it was not our stop. We decided to just walk it since we were pretty close and we had our GPS. The wind was so cold it cut threw us like a hot knife threw butter. We were freezing. We walked in the freezing wind until we got to Wendy's where we bought dinner and ate it in our hotel room.

This Weeks Happenings

2011-05-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have been busy. I also got a jury summons today. It's for the week I will be in San Diego. I hope I can get out of it since I have already paid for my non-refundable airline tickets and my hotel room. I am going with my family to see my cousin's graduation from High School. Back when I lived in California, with my father, we would both just throw away our jury summons. Now that I am older I am trying to do the right thing. I am going to San Diego no matter what, but if they want to postpone my summons to later in the year I should have the time to go. Who knows. I may not be picked and I would then be fine. Back in California nothing ever happened to us for ignoring a jury summons. I don't know if something would happen in this state. I rather not find out.

What's Happening

2011-05-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

I got busy again at work. I will write again when I can. I did notice that my stock portfolio is at a new all time high at 30.56%. The President did a great job taking out Osama Bin Laden. I am happy about that.

New York City

2011-05-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Europe 2011 - Day One

2011-04-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

The night before it had snowed. So, I woke up on this morning to a winter wonderland. I was having back problem for the few weeks before I left, and although I was better I would still have back pain whenever I woke up in the morning or sat for too long. On this trip I found walking was the best thing I could do to help my back. After 20 minutes of walking my back would not hurt, and I would have greater range of movement. I did pack a weight belt to help my back, but it just turned into extra luggage. I also brought special pain pills, but I mostly used Advil.

I got on the shuttle and went to the airport. I was taking Delta Airlines to New York City. The last time I took Delta Airlines to New York City I sat of the runway while they worked on the plane. That caused a terrible delay. The Delta terminal was in the International terminal, which I find strange. When I arrived I bought some lunch since I know they don't feed you on the airplanes except for International flights. I saw that all the food stalls had long lines except for the sushi. So, I had sushi. It was terrible sushi. It was just tasteless. I also wrote in my journal. After this I went to my gate thinking I had lots of time. When I arrived they were already boarding the flight. So, I got on board.

I had my Iphone with my headphones. So, I used my headphones to watch the t.v. on the plane. This way I didn't have to pay for headphones. I had downloaded a bunch of podcast programs on my Iphone. I first tried to listen to one, but it was too noisy in the plane to hear the program. So, like I said I just watched the t.v. There wasn't much on and I got desperate after a while and ended up watching "Family Guy." Terrible! The flight was 50 minutes early arriving, but we had to wait 10 minutes for our gate to open. The landing was a hard thump. Our airline Captain was Captain Kirk, and our snack was some good cookies. Not much else to say about the flight.

When I arrived I met my father at the airport. We took a taxi to our hotel since it was close and only cost $15. When we checked in we saw our small room that was mostly two beds and little else. I had to step over my luggage to walk around the bed since there was little room in the room. Still, the price was right, and they had a great cold breakfast. The doughnuts were so fresh every morning since Dunken Doughnuts was across the street. Also across the street was McDonald's and that was our dinner. I had the Grilled Checkin Sandwich combo.

Let's Begin.

2011-04-30T13:35:00.001-07:00

At long last I am caught up enough to start writing about my trip to Europe from the end of February to mid-March. I have already written my Introduction several weeks ago, so let's just jump into it.

What's Happening

2011-04-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

I've been really busy. My television broke so I had to buy a new on. It was either get the old one fixed or buy a new one, and since the old was was not an HDTV, and because the new ones are so cheap, I just bought a new, bigger tv. I also decided to get rid of my VHS player and my tapes. I have hundreds of tapes, but having a library of tapes is unnecessary now a days what with Netflix. Besides DVD's are so cheap that if there are any movies I want I just buy the DVD. Also, I feel like I want to simplify my life buy getting rid of some stuff. I am also getting rid of my Laser Disk Player and Disks. DVD's take up a lot less room. This will be a major spring cleaning since I have movies all over the house.

Also work has been pretty busy. I have a long list of things to do. I also rearranged some furniture in the living room. The weather has been pretty good up here.

Election 2012 - My Two Cents

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I like the President Obama of 2009. He still had that hope and change with the determination coming off that 2008 election. Now Obama now looks grey, tired, and a hallow shell of former self. He is even going back to many of Bush's bad policies. What happened? Did that Healthcare Reform kick your butt? You won it. That said, he wins his re-election. No problem. I mean have you seen the possible Republican nominees? None of them can win. If Hucklebee (or however you spell his name) wants in he has the nomination, but he is too religious for the secular Republicans and way to religious for modern main stream America. He can't win. Who else, Donald Trump. Ha! He is so full of himself that it turns everyone off. Plus, he can't even tell the truth about his own net worth. He always inflates that number. He can't win (unless people vote for him as a joke). No, this election is going to boring. It's already over. Obama wins with a much lower victory then in 2008.

What's Happening

2011-04-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

I took two weeks off work without pay, and went to Peru for 11 days. It was my first time there, and my first time in South America. It was a great trip. Now I have been to all the continents of the world except for Antarctica. I will write about my trip on this blog after I finish writing about my trip to Europe. I am also busy at work. When I decided to take the time off work it was when work was really slow. Now work is busy. It just happens that way. It comes in waves.

What's Happening Now

2011-04-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

I will write more about my trip. I've just been real busy lately. In this post I will talk about what's been on my mind. In my travels I live out of one suit case that holds my clothes, (5 days worth now a days), as well as a few misc. stuff. I end up washing cloths in the sink in my evenings when I get back to my room. It's an annoyance, but I want clean clothes. I can't really clean jeans, although I did get a tip to wash those in the shower. An interesting idea. I also have a small carry on bag which has my travel papers, liquid items in 3 oz bottles in a zip lock bag, medications now a days, a journal, a book, a small umbrella, and neck pillow, plus a few small misc. items like snacks, pens, etc. Except for having to do laundry and not being able to wash jeans, I rather like that lightly encumbered life. Like a nomad. So, when I get home it feels different to return to all my stuff. In a way I kind of feel like my stuff owns me.

During my last trip I slept at a hostel for the first time in my life. I hated the idea and I didn't like the experience, although thinking back I feel like I probably over-reacted. When I travel I always like to have a room with a private bathroom. This always costs more and I am fine with that. I am not that big on camping and having shared rooms as well as bathrooms is not what I like either. I see my room as a home base. A sanctuary to rest and relax as well as let my guard down. I guess I am spoiled that way. I am fine with sharing a room with friends and/or family, but with strangers is another thing entirely. Plus sharing a bathroom with strangers is not something I like either. At least on this trip I only shared a room with my traveling companions. I would still wake up every time someone walked past the door. I didn't know the door had a lock. I also hated the fact that the bathroom was three flights down a spiral stairway. I had to sleep on a top bunk. I'm an only child. I am not use to bunk beds, and I kept thinking I would fall out and break my neck. Needless to say I didn't sleep well that night. Then in the morning, once one person got up at 5 am, every person in the hostel got up. The noise was like a sporting arena. Although, some people wore ski boots when there were signs everywhere telling people not to wear them because, they make so much noise. My point is, sleeping in hostels and camping is something I might have to learn to do if I really want to travel, but I don't like doing it. It's a limit to what I feel comfortable doing.

My house is pretty well insulated. That's great in the winter, but awful in the summer. During the summer it's often hotter in my house then it is outside. I think I might buy a tent and sleep outside during our hot summer nights.

It's Like A Fairy Tale

2011-03-28T13:29:00.001-07:00

Europe Trip 2011 - Introduction

2011-03-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

Going to Europe for me is like a trip to Peter Pan's Neverland. Time seems to stand still and I feel young.

My father has been into photography since before I was born. He has now turned his hobby into a business. He now is hired by a camera maker to take people out to exotic locations and show them how to use expensive $5,000 or more cameras in the hopes that they will buy one, which often they do. He not only gets a commission but his entire trip is paid for. His friend got him into this new line of work. In fact, his friend just quit his daytime job at Cisco Systems to do this professionally. Along with these workshops they do there own workshops where they are hired out to take people out to exotic locations just to photograph. This time the private workshop was to Venice, Italy for Carnival. My father said he had a room that we could share if I wanted to go. I said, "Yes!" Only the room was free. I had to get my own airplane ticket. I had enough credit card reward points that I got a free airline ticket to Italy. There were two catches. First, I still had to pay for the taxes and airport fees. Second, the airline ticket was from New York City. No problem. So, I bought a round trip airline ticket to New York City when the airline tickets went on sale and I spent a few days in New York City.

The Fourth Time was the Charm.

I use to hate New York City. The irony is that I was going back for the fourth time in my life. This time it was different. I had a good time in New York CIty and people were even nice. I think I now understand the city and I now like New York City. I was even able to leave my luggage at the hotel so that I could go sightseeing on the days I flew. The city was so vibrant and alive. It chased my small town blues away. It was expensive but, after going to Europe it felt cheap.

Europe, Oh so expensive now.

The Euro cost me $1.46. That's a far cry from the last time I went to Italy. Back in those days Italy was on the Lire, and exchanging $300 got me close to being a millionaire. Plus, back in the first years of the Euro it was only $0.80 for a Euro. The dollar has fallen so very far. I doubt I can afford to go back to Europe for a long time. Still this trip was pretty cheap for me. My father's friend who put this workshop together is a Swiss national. So after a week in Venice we went to his mom's home in Switzerland. We rented a car and drove there, and my father and I drove back. We both got International Drivers License so we can legally drive anywhere in the world, even in Iraq and Libya.

What's Happening Now

2011-03-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

Last night I dreamed I was playing a contemporary online game where the players are normal people in a land with people trying to attack you, etc., and I made it to second level but, I was real bored with the game. My friend Ed was also playing it. I told him I wanted to start over again and create a Thundercloud like character but, he told me not too since I would anger the other people who play that game. So, I restarted the game from level one and I met up online with Ed, and my other friend's Jer and Jim who had characters who looked just like them except Jim had a beard. I then woke up. Oh, I also dreamt about wine, which is my latest hobby/interest. I bought a book about wine and a wine magazine this weekend that I have been reading. I am a jack of many traits.

When I woke up I started to think about what role playing games I had and how to play them online but, I could only think of my original Xbox but, who plays that online anymore. My Wii is online but, I don't own any role-playing games for it. At least my Xbox has Halo 1 and 2. I then realized it's been since July when I quit World of Warcraft. I only miss it when I get really bored. It was always a good time killer. I get online and then hours past. I liked doing the quests, exploring, and professions but, I hated doing the instances. I would tolerate some but, I hated doing instances and instances are so popular for people who play World of Warcraft. To me they were too long and mechanical. Also people take them too seriously. Whereas quests were always laid back. I don't know anyone who would get angry doing a quest with someone. Sometimes people would just leave but, no one got real mad. Even doing quest alone would be fun. Anyways, it was fun while it lasted. I may return in the future if I ever get a new computer.

I finished reading "The Worm and the Cheese." That was a boring book. It was about the religion of a common miller in the 16th century. Unique in that he could read. At least it was a short book. I am now back to reading the essays of Francis Bacon. They are interesting but, they are essays. I kind of want a story. I read some good art books while on my last trip. Those were good books. Short too.

I am ready to write about my last trip but, I am trying to decide how I am going to write it. My journal is fact based where I wrote what I did on such and such day. I think I want my blog to be more story based but, what should be my focus. Should I spend more time telling about the foods I ate or the museums I went to or should I focus on the people I met and how this trip affected me? Hmm... I have to figure it out.

Rant Time

2011-03-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

I finally feel caught up with things in my life. I have pictures from my trip being developed, I picked the days development to save money since I took a lot of pictures. I just got back from Happy Hour. I have been to every bar in town, except for one. That one is a biker bar like something out of a movie. It is an old wood building, run down, with Harly's parked in front and big brawny Hell's Angels type guys going in and out of that place. It's something to see from a safe distance but, you would be nuts to go inside. Besides I seriously doubt the kind of women I am interested in go there to drink. Anyways, Happy Hour looked like a bunch of 40 and 50 year old school teachers go there. Last week for St. Patrick's Day I went to a bar that played classic rock music and had no one under age 40 and no good looking women. That means of all the bars in my town no one under age 40 and under 200 pounds goes to any of them. There are no night clubs in my town. There was one but, it went out of business two months after it opened. Where are all the young women? They must go to another town on Friday and Saturday nights.

Another rant. I support Obama's action in Libya. This is how Bush should have done Iraq. Tell the truth as to why you are there. Do it with an international coalition and the support of the Arab League, and use air bombings to support a rebel advance, no ground troops. As far as I am concern this mission is complete once Gadaffi and his sons are out of power. How Egypt overthrew there dictator was the best way but, Gadaffi used violence against his own citizens. He must be removed. I know the real reason we are there is oil. Oil that goes to Europe. It doesn't really matter. He is a dictator who attacked his own citizens. Any excuse to overthrow him works for me.

What's Happening Now

2011-03-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

I just returned last night from a 19 day trip to Europe with a few days in New York City. I will write about it when I am ready. This includes photos in my usual way. Right now I have a lot to do. While I was gone my work booked more work so now I am extra busy.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

2011-02-20T12:53:00.000-08:00

The Good

I did my taxes and discovered I made a lot more money in stocks then I thought I did. Much more in capital gains then $95, plus a good amount of dividends I collected. Also work is picking up, with some good orders coming in. Although, this only means that the next few months should be good.

The Bad

I hurt my back again. I am not sure what I did either. I either hurt it at the gym or I hurt it in my sleep or I hurt is in some other way. I am feeling better, since I have been recovering for over a week now. I saw my doctor, and did a much delayed lab test (delayed because I hate needles). He said that at my age I might throw my back out once in a while. That made me feel old.

The Ugly

The ugly is the medical bills that I will get from seeing the doctors and going to the chiropractors, which I started to do.

Taxes Part Two

2011-02-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

This is the second part of my two part blog post called taxes. This is where the money goes. I use the 1040A form as my source of information, carts on the back page. 34% of the federal money is spent on "Social Security, Medicare, and other retirement." As I said in my last post, I believe in these programs and hope they will be around when I get to that age. I am thinking the retirement age does need to increase since people are living longer.

22% goes for "National Defense, veterans, and foreign affairs." That probably includes money to Israel, money to the Egyptian military, and the like. I think too much money is spent on the Military. In the modern world wars are not fought like World War 2. The modern wars are fought against groups that operate on low tech. enemies who manage to grow on small budgets. I would like to see less spent on the military.

21% spent on "Social programs." This is where I would like to see more money spent. Government's first job is to the people. These programs are needed and help the poor and working poor. Plus they work. The money also goes to public health and health research which benefits everyone.

15% spent on "Physical, human, and community development." I would like to see more money spent here too. This is for education, the environment, colleges, general science programs, and things that everyone can benefit from. Other countries spend more on this and Social programs and those people live healthier lives because of that.

5% on "Interest on debt." Speaks for itself.

2% on "Law enforcement, and general government." This could increase a couple of points. After all, the police are suppose to "protect and serve."

Personally, I don't mind paying a little more taxes if we could lower the borrowing that the federal government does. We borrow too much money as a nation and that increases the national debt. I don't want to see cuts to good programs that work and keep the country safe and healthy. Charities do help the poor but, the government can help the poor so much more because of the money they use is so much more then what charities can ever get. Also, the pipes, roads, and bridges in our country are getting really old and need to be fixed and/or replaced. Only government can do that. So, government is needed, and government can improve the lives of people.

Now I am off my soap box.

Taxes Part One

2011-02-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

Next week I plan to do my taxes. I am still waiting for my 1099 forms from my stock sells. It got me thinking about taxes. I know I am in the low tax bracket, and so I pay little Federal Taxes. I also know capital gains are taxed at low rates, so it pays to make money in ways outside of having a job. Hey! That's the tax system. I will write about where the Federal Government gets there income in this post and where the money goes in another post. I will also add personal comments because, it's my blog and I can.

Looking at the back page of the Federal 1040A forms I see a chart. 25% of the income the federal government gets comes from "Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, and other retirement taxes." This money goes to retirees aged 62 and up. I believe in these programs and hopefully I will be able to use them someday. I do think that they need to be tweaked so that they will survive. It is political death to propose cutting these programs because, the biggest voting block that always votes are the elderly who collect from these programs. I see no change in what is also governments biggest outlay of money.

"Personal Income" aka Federal Income tax makes up 26% of the government income. Like I said, I am in the low tax bracket and so my taxes are low. This is still the biggest federal taxes I pay.

5% come from "Excise, customs, estate, gift, and misc. taxes." Before the Income tax this was the federal government's major source of income. Although, prices were (relatively) higher and so were tariffs on imports.

"Corporate income taxes" make up 5%. 5% is too low. The nature of business accounting has the income tax rigged in corporation's favor. Talking from personal experience from my job, college business classes, and investment reading I know that corporations can deduct all expenses before paying taxes from profits. Individuals can't do that on there income tax. I also know that legally public corporations can have two sets of books. One for shareholders and one for the IRS. The IRS ones show lower profits. The tax system is so rigged in corporations favor.

40% of the federal income comes from borrowings. Mostly bonds to China. This China can do because, they have lots of money from selling Chinese made goods to the USA and other countries. So, China owns our debt. This is not too good because, China is not a democratic country.

Now you know where the money comes from that funds the U.S. government. Next will be where the money goes.

Ramblings

2011-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Some people tell me I should go back to college to find a girlfriend. At my age I feel funny just being in college. The women in college are way too young for me. I feel funny even checking them out because, they are so young. No, I should fine someone closer to my own age. Thinking back to my 10 years of off again/ on again part time college I realized that there was only about 4 women that I was ever interested in college during that time. Most of the women that I feel were lost opportunities were women I met outside of college. Women I met doing my daily routine or women I met while on vacation. No, the last time school was ever really a good place to meet women was back in High School. Even then it was my Freshman year when I had the known the most women, and half of those women were Juniors. At that age I felt that age 17 was the best age for women. Now I see 17 as a bunch of children.

Right now I am so focused on my up coming travels, and my health, that I haven't felt any interest in finding a girlfriend. I only thought about it this morning while when I woke up, and that was because I thought about how I only get that desire for a girlfriend when I am feeling bored. I have not been bored lately. I have been concerned about my health because, I am still not 100% recovered from my sciatica. I feel 95% better but, I still wake up sometimes with a stiff back or even sore. Then I have to take an Advil. Once that kicks in I feel great. I also have trouble standing if I sit too long, which is hard not to sit long in my job.

This morning I also thought how weird it felt when I would stay overnight at a friend's house and we sat at a dinner table for dinner with the family. At my house we usually ate in front of the television. We sat at the dinner table at my grandmother's houses but, not at home. That wasn't the weird part of dinner at a friend's house. What always felt weird is that instead of a father there was the mom's boyfriend. That was weird. He wasn't married to the mom but, he had the role of the husband and father. I still think that's weird. Why didn't he marry the mom? What was wrong with him? It just doesn't seem right to me. I have a pretty clear view of right and wrong. To me it just doesn't seem right to 'shack up "with a woman and play the part of a father. I have seen it all my life with my friend's family but, I personally don't think it right.

What's Happening Now

2011-02-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

I have been busy. I went and saw 127 Hours on Sunday. It was a good movie but there is one gory part that was hard to watch. I don't like gore but, this was necessary since it's what really happened in real life. I think 127 Hours is going to be one of those good movies I will think about from time to time. Like Into The Wild. That was also a really good movie. In other news, my stocks are doing well and I see this as a beginning of the next bull market. All signs point to "All up from here." I am between 95% to 100% recovered from the losses of the stock market crash of 08/09 when I lost my shirt in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and a few other stocks. Right now I feel good but, also concern that something in my life will happen. Like "A shoe will drop" moment might occur in my life from somewhere. I might just be feeling a little paranoid. So far my February looks okay. Work is picking up a little. I have some travels on the horizon. I have some money in the bank and very little debt. Stocks are doing well. Things are looking pretty good. Hopefully things will continue to do well. I just need to relax and stop feeling a little paranoid.

This Weekend

2011-02-05T16:58:00.000-08:00

Well, this weekend seems easier then last weekend. Last weekend I spent cleaning out my father's house. I took 3 loads to the dump while my father went to the beach. I did bring home a trunk full of law books. All I need now is my own office to put the law books in and I can look like a lawyer. It's amazing how some deadbeat tenants who don't pay rent, leave the home damaged, and full of needles, can have so many holy bibles. Anyways, I went shopping today, and tomorrow I might do more shopping and go see a movie. I always skip the Super Bowl because, I don't like American Football. At least with real Football, (soccer), I like playing that.

Egypt Today

2011-02-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

Part of what makes the events so interesting to me is that I have stood at the very locations where the demonstrations and violence are taking place. I watch the television and I can see the hotel where I stayed. I see the Egyptian museum where I went to. It makes the events happening there much more real to me. I think of the people I met and the faces I saw and I wonder where they are now. I kind of wish I was there now helping to take part in this historical moment.

I'm on Twitter

2011-02-04T10:04:00.001-08:00

Follow me @Thundercloud01.

What's Happening Now

2011-02-03T00:25:00.000-08:00

I have been busy working. I also went gambling and won $225 playing blackjack. I play the smallest bet and slowly increase the bet playing on positive streaks. When I lose I lower my bet as a defensive move against a negative streak. If I lose too much I walk away. Usually within the first $40 I can tell how my gambling day will be. It's rare if I can recover from a losing streak. I also notice that gambling is something that just doesn't interest me as much as it did in my early 20's. I guess I have grown accustom to having a casino near my home. Las Vegas has lost almost all interest to me. Why fly to Nevada if I can just drive to a neighboring town to go gambling? I can go to Seattle for a show.

The Middle East

2011-02-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

I was too young to understand the importance of what was happening in Europe and Russia at the end of the Cold War. I am not too young now, and I understand the importance of what is happening in The Middle East. It's a revolution. When this is all done the Middle East will look different. What the outcome will be is uncertain. Will it be new democratic nations? Will it be new Islamic State dictatorships? Will it be new secular dictatorships? I don't know. All I know is that Middle Eastern governments are being toppled. First Tunisia. Next Egypt. Other governments are being seriously challenged. Also, will there be counter-revolutions? If new democracies emerge, will Islamic groups try to overthrow them? I don't know. What makes this interesting is that the world will be changed by what's happening now in the Middle East. It's like you are playing chess and you and your opponent turn your backs and some stranger walks in and moves all the pieces on the board. Now you are left with a changed game. Only time will tell what the game will look like.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

2011-01-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

Pretty good movie. Well made. This is more of a morality tale then the first one. Both movies are really good.

The Social Network

2011-01-27T08:23:00.000-08:00

Overrated. It was an okay movie. Too much hype connected to it.

What's Happening Now

2011-01-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

Busy. Working. Don't bother me. Yes, I am working but, not billing very much. I had some trouble with my Iphone. I could not use my Wifi. I took it to the Apple Store to get fixed. They couldn't fix it so they gave me a new Iphone, same make and model. Apple's customer service is great! I love my Iphone. I can watch t.v. on it, play games on it, surf the web, get e-mail, and a whole lot more. I can sometimes even make a phone call on it. Actually, as a phone it sucks. Everything else is wonderful.

What's Happening Now

2011-01-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

I have been busy at work. Not the good busy of billing. The busy of paying bills and doing misc., little things like filling out forms, and the like. In the evenings I have been watching movies and downloading cool apps on my Iphone. I don't think I mentioned this but, recently I learned that 9.99% APR on a credit card does not mean that you pay $9.99 a month on a $100 balance. I always thought this and was too afraid to carry a balance on my credit card. Now I know the interest on a $100 balance is about a dollar. This discovery and the fact that my stocks are doing well have given me a feeling that I am wealthier, even though I am not wealthier. In fact, my net worth will probably go down a little after I do some traveling this year. The credit card discovery has certainly change my spending habits and made me relax more. Still, I do have to pay back what I spent. I just don't have to worry so much as to where I am going to get the money to pay off a credit card in any given month. If money is a little tight, then carry a small balance and pay it off next month. It's much more freedom, not so restrictive.

I know in a past post I wrote that I need to be more aware of my surroundings. I realized at Barns & Nobles today that not only am I still very oblivious to my surrounds, I also loose my train of thought often now. That is to say, my mind gets distracted easily and then I forget what I am talking about or thinking about. Maybe I am just loosing my mind. LOL!