
Too bad we can not backup our lives. I suppose if one believes in an afterlife – I guess that is a life backup. But, for us pagans – we just have to live well and hope we don’t crash too soon. I can accept that.
Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
This morning the dolphins were close in. Close enough for my little ZS3 all out at 300mm. Not quite close enough in for me to dive in and go see them up close. Carlton said that late in the afternoon – when I was safely ensconced in the shade on the deck – they were close in enough for me – but not for him. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
Looking at the weather forecast back on the east coast – seeing no reason to leave sunny Kona anytime soon.
Lovely clear calm water early this morning. Snapped this barred file fish having a bite of bread for breakfast. (Taken from the dock)
After taking the picture, I went back to the room, got suited up and went out for a fine swim. I went out farther than Carlton likes for me to go. But, he wasn’t around to see it happen. I had fins, mask, snorkel, and wetsuit. I was pretty safe. Safer than he is back home riding his bike sans helmet.
Old people should take chances. What to we have to lose? Adult diapers. Hearing aides. Pureed peas. Dementia. Pancreatic cancer… Young people should be careful. They have an entire life to lose. Not to mention they have to keep paying taxes to support all my old person’s entitlements.
As for my charitable planning. Two votes have come in for NPR and PBS. After more than 10 years I still support Haines Alaska NPR. It was the only radio station, except for a suspect AM station that I could get whilst in Skagway. And, we had no TV. I watched 9/11 from a sports bar. But, more can be done.
I did bail out of my NICE Systems position today. What with the time zone – by the time I woke up it was down another 5%. Decided that a nice tidy profit – while not as good as a nice big profit – was better than a nice fat loss.
Also bailed on ABB – which is a European power plant technology company with too much exposure in Israel and the middle east for comfort. Added to the AT&T position. Tried to add to MickyD’s and Intel – but they didn’t drive deep enough. Will rethink everything as the weekend progresses. Right now I am sort of thinking that the Muslim Brotherhood – who hated our US ass long before al–Qaeda – will end up on top. But, the Suez Canal will remain open. We always end up in trouble when out pet dictators get tossed out.
Bet I can get a really good price on a Guided Tour of Egypt for White People today!
Imagine – what if our government turned off our internet and our cell phones. We managed to pull off the American Revolution with only Paul Revere. But, today – could be even decide what to eat for breakfast without communication gizmos?
I just had a sick thought – I wondered what she who must not be mentioned will have to say about the conditions in Egypt. Get her out of my brain. Must apply beer.
We are surely living in interesting times. I was about 1/4 mile out in the ocean this morning when thoughts of my equity portfolio and the recent unrest ran through my head. Good for my oil positions (US Texas onshore and Norway offshore). And potentially negative big time for my Israeli stock. Big time negative enough that if I had been thinking correctly – I would have dumped my position in Nice Systems. Today. Tomorrow might be too late. Nice Systems does intelligence analysis. So, I guess – they can put the whole company on a plane and leave.
Also spending time thinking about how to best use my charitable fund funds. I feel sort of kindly toward the shabby state college that I went to. I can not imagine that anyone would go there if they could afford to go anywhere else. And, that school was my ticket out of the barrio. Would an endowed scholarship or endowed chair do the most good?
Or maybe, I should spend the money in exciting downtown Arlington – send some deserving “first in family to go the college” kid “go to college”. We have lots of emigrant families who could use a hand. Even Community College is expensive in our area.
Suggestions anyone?
Watching Obama and the State of the Union at this instant. Will break out the popcorn for munching during the Republican Rebuttal of the President’s speech. Will break out beers to help me understand the Republican Rebuttal of the Republican Rebuttal.
We had shark, rice, pineapple and avocado for our late lunch today.
Having a nice little spell of good luck in the market. Time to remind self that “bulls get rich, bears get rich and pigs get slaughtered.” I normally do better in bear markets than bull markets. So, this market is making me nervous. I am letting some stuff run a little longer than usual – I am interested in beefing up the Bethany/Combs Lagniappe Fund and there is nothing like appreciated stock for doing that.
I just had a scary thought – Maybe I’ll figure out how much money I spent at iTunes last year. iTunes is my guilty pleasure. Because Carlton doesn’t see the purchases. So, no Carlton induced guilt. Too easy to figure out – $390 was the damage. Well, let’s see that is about $1.10 per day. I can afford that.
Thinking about my summer trip. Singapore? or Norway? or just laze around France.
Sorting and deleting photos today – found this image from earlier this month. I think the little white spots that are actually points of light need removing.
The rotogravure section of today’s paper was directed at the “aging boomer”. And, it was filled with all that happy talk crap that we old folk try to get the young folk to believe.
Jane Fonda – and except for her born again beliefs – I like her… Jane Fonda says that “sex is better at 73 than it was when I was younger”. Well, all I can say to Jane is that you must have had a pretty poor sex life when you were 23.
Boys and Girls – sex is not better when you are old. If we are completely honest – it isn’t even as good as it was. Sex still exists – but it isn’t as good.
And, while I am on the Jane Fonda thing… The press does us old women a disservice when they have photoshopped pictures of a surgically enhanced 73 year old woman as an example of “70 is the new 40” or some such bull.
Old is old. And it ain’t for wimps.
Notice that it is pretty chilly back home. That has not inspired me to get plane tickets yet. At this instant – I can decide early in the morning and have us back in Arlington by supper time the next day. For less than $400 each. So, what is to be gained by “planning” ahead?
I very noisy family speaking some unknown language very loudly have moved in next door. Just went out and tried the famous Hawaiian “stinkeye” – didn’t do any good. But, I see they have taken two rooms. Oh well, that is why I have ear plugs.
Carlton says they are Japanese. No way. Japanese would not be that noisy. And they wouldn’t have more than one kid. And the language is sing songy south east asian.
Im declaring February a Palin-free month. Join me!.
Great minds … etc etc. You don’t have to wait until February girls and boys. We will feel better and Palin will feel worse if we just ignore her.
This little bitch is the most energetic dog on the planet. She cheerfully powers her master’s skate board all over the village. She also does Frisbee in and out of the water. And dives off the pier and seawall. Her owner doesn’t swim much (you can not swim and smoke dope at the same time) so she doesn’t do long distance swimming. But, she’ll chase a ball in or out of the water as far as you can throw it. If you don’t throw the ball – she’ll toss it in the surf and chase it.
As for me, I did chores today. But, it was nice and warm. Better than doing chores in freezing cold.