The past week was fairly busy. Monday through Wednesday night I was finishing up all of the Christmas stuff- wrapping gifts and last minute Christmas cards we did not have addresses for.
Wednesday night I had drinks with PF. He was in town for dinner with his girlfriends. We met and had drinks and I gave him the Christmas gift the husband and I had picked up for him and his bf DR. It wasn't anything big or expensive but when the husband and I saw it we both immediately said we should get it for them. He is doing well and getting ready for his sabbatical when he and DR go off on a three month trip to Asia.
Thursday night was the company Christmas party. It was fun but I did not feel like staying out real late getting totally bombed. It also may have been the fact that one of the PMs and I went out to a local bar right at the close and had some pitchers of beer- pregaming- and then hit the office party. I was on the bus by 8:45 and home by 9:15.
Friday night was Ragnar's annual Christmas party. It was a nice time as always and of course I had the glogg. There is supposed to be an umlat (two little dots) over the O in that word but I have no clue how to type in Swedish.
The snow storm started yesterday afternoon and it was pretty great. I am not exactly sure how much snow we actually received but it was blowing a lot and drifting everywhere. We actually walked over to Hoboken and had breakfast at the little dinner next to the PATH station.
Last night we went into the city and had dinner with TK and then hit a movie. We saw Up In The Air and I have to say the movie was really good. I wouldn't say it was great but just really good. The theater was packed and we all did not sit together.
Today was a great lazy Sunday. We really did nothing. The husband is coming down with a cold so I made him relax all day on the couch in front of the t.v. under a blanket. We caught up on our Scifi and watched Caprica on dvd. I think the Caprica series is actually going to be pretty good and I'm psyched for it to start.
I am surprised Bernake got man of the year from Time but it is usually a contra indicator; such luminaries as Hitler, the Ayatollah, Stalin and other greats have also received it.
The whole idea of Shitigroup paying back TARP is laughable to me. The bank is screwed. BAC broke the deal price, WFC will and C will too. I think the thing that pisses me off the most about the whole thing is no one in the government is actually looking out for our interests- don't forget we all own 34% of C- well now it is about 27% thanks to the government allowing them to dilute the shit out of us by issuing a bit over 5 BILLION more shares- thanks Turbo Tax Timmy and Dr. Bernake...
This week will be another whirlwind of activity. We are having the in-laws over for Christmas-like dinner Wednesday night. Thursday the husband will go down to PJ and ST's farm in central Jersey with the kids, I have to work. The markets close early though so I will drive down there after. We are having Christmas Eve dinner with them at their home and spending Christmas morning there. Christmas afternoon I will pick up the boys and head north for the week at mom and dad's house. The boys are excited to be there for the week. The best thing I think is my oldest texted his grandmother and asked if he could sleep on the recliner in the family room. Of course grandma said yes.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Of course the star on top is not straight...
I had a nice surprise yesterday. The ex called to let me know that the boys had a half day and she and he beau were coming into the city so she said she'd drop them off at the apartment. That made for an unusually nice Friday where I did not have to put a little over 100 miles on the truck.
The boys got dropped off and we went and got the Christmas tree. The husband insisted we do it this weekend after the debacle of last year. Last year we never got around to doing it so we just put all the gifts under the palm plant we have- and no the palm plant was not decorated.
I got to sleep in late this morning- 8:30 qualifying as late. We all then got in the car and hit TGT and HD. The husband had to return something at HD. Then we went to TGT because the boys wanted to do some Christmas shopping for their cousins that they are going to see on Christmas break. they were bragging that they had brought their money so I said good you can use your own money for the gifts you buy for your cousins. My oldest was shocked I'd make him spend his own money. He did it anyways. The boys did well on their gift choices which I of course was asked to wrap for them.
We got home, ate some lunch then decorated the tree. Of course some of the freakin' lights don't blink like they are supposed to but at this point I and the husband don't care as we at least actually got a tree and decorated it. Then we had a debate on to have a tree skirt or not. We ended up deciding to get one but of course at this point you can't find one. So I hit the CVS on the slim chance they would have on and of course I scored. We now have a Buffalo snow with ice crystals tree skirt. Then I put all the presents under the tree. The funny thing is our older dog stood there for a while looking up and I know he was thinking what the fuck, the candy canes are too high for me to get.
We went out for dinner and then hit the movies. The only one that we could see at 8 PM that was acceptable for all four of us was 2012. The husband was psyched as he has wanted to see it since it came out. I did not and the boys were indifferent. I have to say it was actually not that bad of a flick. The boys said the same thing.
Tomorrow (technically later today as I write this) we have no set plans except for the husband and I are going for a run. I was considering taking the boys ice skating at the rink in front the building but it looks like it is going to rain.
The boys got dropped off and we went and got the Christmas tree. The husband insisted we do it this weekend after the debacle of last year. Last year we never got around to doing it so we just put all the gifts under the palm plant we have- and no the palm plant was not decorated.
I got to sleep in late this morning- 8:30 qualifying as late. We all then got in the car and hit TGT and HD. The husband had to return something at HD. Then we went to TGT because the boys wanted to do some Christmas shopping for their cousins that they are going to see on Christmas break. they were bragging that they had brought their money so I said good you can use your own money for the gifts you buy for your cousins. My oldest was shocked I'd make him spend his own money. He did it anyways. The boys did well on their gift choices which I of course was asked to wrap for them.
We got home, ate some lunch then decorated the tree. Of course some of the freakin' lights don't blink like they are supposed to but at this point I and the husband don't care as we at least actually got a tree and decorated it. Then we had a debate on to have a tree skirt or not. We ended up deciding to get one but of course at this point you can't find one. So I hit the CVS on the slim chance they would have on and of course I scored. We now have a Buffalo snow with ice crystals tree skirt. Then I put all the presents under the tree. The funny thing is our older dog stood there for a while looking up and I know he was thinking what the fuck, the candy canes are too high for me to get.
We went out for dinner and then hit the movies. The only one that we could see at 8 PM that was acceptable for all four of us was 2012. The husband was psyched as he has wanted to see it since it came out. I did not and the boys were indifferent. I have to say it was actually not that bad of a flick. The boys said the same thing.
Tomorrow (technically later today as I write this) we have no set plans except for the husband and I are going for a run. I was considering taking the boys ice skating at the rink in front the building but it looks like it is going to rain.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Canary in a coalmine
So last Thursday I saw the hot blond on the PATH again. I wonder if he noticed I was in a suit- yes a suit. I had a business diner and I have to admit wearing a suit is so much easier as you don't have to put any thought into the process- just pick a tie and you are done. I also decided that since I am actually walking over to the Hoboken Terminal to grab the PATH what the fuck I might as well just take the bus as it drops me off right across the street from the office. I also think the bus has much better eye candy anyways. To that point Friday morning there was a majorly hot scruffy guy who sat across from me. I missed the bus...
The only bad thing was the ex sent me a text at 11:30 informing me that my youngest son had his Winter Concert that night at 7 PM. What the fuck?! She said she had told me verbally several weeks earlier. Not a chance. I was not going to get into a a fight with her about it. I said there was no way I could make it as I had business plans and could not get out of them. I then need to be reassured so I asked the woman who sits next to me and is also divorced her opinion. She said I was in the right. I called my youngest after the close and explained there was a miscommunication and I could not make it but would make it up to him some how.
The weekend was real busy. Saturday morning we went out to the in-laws to drop off the last box and pick up our Christmas tree stand and decorations and see the in-laws. The mother in law is actually going to be sewing throw pillows for us for the couches. So the husband had to discuss that with her how to make them and what fabric to use (we bought it and shipped it to her ahead of time). We got back did a bunch of errands and then went out to brunch at the local taqueria. then the husband forced me into doing a 5+ mile run; he did say I could set the pace and I was surprised when we finished that I had set a pace of basically 8 minute miles.
Saturday night we attended a Christmas party hosted by friends in the suburbs of Jersey. It was a murder mystery Christmas party which was a blast. The oddest part though was I was sitting there having a dip when this chick asked me what I was dipping. I was a bit taken aback. I told her Skoal longcut. She asked what kind and I told her mint (that was all I had left in the apartment and we did not have time to stop on the way to the party). She stated it was her favorite and could she have some. At this point I figured sure what the fuck. I of course asked how she came to acquire such an un-ladylike habit. She worked in Texas for about 6 years and since she is a Jersey girl she figured it would help the Texans accept her. She also pointed out that Jersey and Texas have the same mentality except Texas is a lot more relaxed and slower about it.
The next day the husband was relating a story about how he poured some champagne and it overflowed a bit. The woman standing next to him pointed out that champagne should not have too much head and head is what women give to men. Ok whatever. He was texting with our hostess from the night before about it. Our hostess replied she could not stand the woman (she was the fiance of another guest) and that the lady kept trying to tell her she had Prada boots on. Our hostess stated they were not Prada boots and everyone knew it and with that red dress she looked like a prostitute. Of course the red dress, fake Prada boot wearing chick was the one who bummed a dip off me.
Every once in a while the WSJ has something interesting of a non-business nature. For example they have a section called What's The Workout. Yesterday they featured one Nathan Gunn. He is an opera singer and they had a pic of him shirtless and WOOF! The guy is freakin' hot and jacked. I may need to reconsider my resistance to the opera. I have not goggled images of him yet, ideally there will be more shirtless ones.
So there is so much to talk about when it comes to the economy and TARP.
I think the best comment I heard about the jobs summit was that all the business types there knew that whenever a manager calls for a shindig like it it means said manager is really ineffective and has no clue what to do. So the manager wraps him or herself in the illusion of being open to input, etc.
One of the funniest (in a wrong way) comments made regarding the stimulus bill was that apparently the only truly shovel ready program was Ted Kennedy.
Double dip recession here we come! The ISM dipped below 50 again. I don't care what your political leanings are an ISM below 50 is a sign of contraction.
BAC did an end run around the board. They needed board approval to issue a huge number of shares to pay back TARP. They could not get it quick enough so the issued common equity equivalents with the idea the board would approve the conversion after the deal was done. why the rush to pay back TARP? Well real simple- they want to pay some huge amount of money to a new CEO. Can't do that under TARP. My concern is they really can't afford to pay TARP back and they are- to quote dad- cutting their nose off to spite their face. It is a very short sighted move. Once CRE blows up they are screwed as they will have to raise more money by selling shares and further diluting current share holders. Again it reminds me that equity is nothing more than a perpetual call option.
TARP got extended and changed today in case you missed it. In a nutshell the law allowing TARP states when it is paid back the money is to go to pay down the deficit. Well today Turbo Tax Timmy extended it and said bow it will be used to aid American families in need too. Hello stealth stimulus plan two. Gee maybe that is why the government came out yesterday and said hey TARP is gonna cost us $200 billion less, now we can spend it. It also got extended to October of 2010- gee how convenient it now goes to the midterm elections.
Dubai is blowing up and I keep hearing don't worry, it's contained or it is so small relative to the rest of the global economy it isn't a big deal. Yeah right just like sub prime was contained and was not a big part of the mortgage market, etc. The scary part of Dubai though is it is the first domino in the CRE shoe about to drop on our heads. I have to say though that creating islands shaped like palm trees in the ocean seemd like a really good idea at the time- seriously what could go wrong with it? CRE- which Dubai is the current proxy for- is not contained.
Maybe I am just a prick- well ok I am at times- but I was taught phone etiquette as when you call someone you introduce yourself and ask to speak to whoever you need to. You do not call someone and say "Who's this?" That happened to me yesterday so of course I replied "who's this, you called me."
The walk from the apartment to the bus this morning along the river was interesting. By the time I got on the bus my pants from the knees down were soaked through. My gloves were soaked through as well. I would rather have had snow.
Last night I finished most of the Christmas cards. I also wrapped all but two of the husband's gifts. Tonight I wrapped all the boys gifts. Tomorrow I have another business dinner so I am going with the suit again out of ease. The husband has a fund raiser he is attending with TK.
The only bad thing was the ex sent me a text at 11:30 informing me that my youngest son had his Winter Concert that night at 7 PM. What the fuck?! She said she had told me verbally several weeks earlier. Not a chance. I was not going to get into a a fight with her about it. I said there was no way I could make it as I had business plans and could not get out of them. I then need to be reassured so I asked the woman who sits next to me and is also divorced her opinion. She said I was in the right. I called my youngest after the close and explained there was a miscommunication and I could not make it but would make it up to him some how.
The weekend was real busy. Saturday morning we went out to the in-laws to drop off the last box and pick up our Christmas tree stand and decorations and see the in-laws. The mother in law is actually going to be sewing throw pillows for us for the couches. So the husband had to discuss that with her how to make them and what fabric to use (we bought it and shipped it to her ahead of time). We got back did a bunch of errands and then went out to brunch at the local taqueria. then the husband forced me into doing a 5+ mile run; he did say I could set the pace and I was surprised when we finished that I had set a pace of basically 8 minute miles.
Saturday night we attended a Christmas party hosted by friends in the suburbs of Jersey. It was a murder mystery Christmas party which was a blast. The oddest part though was I was sitting there having a dip when this chick asked me what I was dipping. I was a bit taken aback. I told her Skoal longcut. She asked what kind and I told her mint (that was all I had left in the apartment and we did not have time to stop on the way to the party). She stated it was her favorite and could she have some. At this point I figured sure what the fuck. I of course asked how she came to acquire such an un-ladylike habit. She worked in Texas for about 6 years and since she is a Jersey girl she figured it would help the Texans accept her. She also pointed out that Jersey and Texas have the same mentality except Texas is a lot more relaxed and slower about it.
The next day the husband was relating a story about how he poured some champagne and it overflowed a bit. The woman standing next to him pointed out that champagne should not have too much head and head is what women give to men. Ok whatever. He was texting with our hostess from the night before about it. Our hostess replied she could not stand the woman (she was the fiance of another guest) and that the lady kept trying to tell her she had Prada boots on. Our hostess stated they were not Prada boots and everyone knew it and with that red dress she looked like a prostitute. Of course the red dress, fake Prada boot wearing chick was the one who bummed a dip off me.
Every once in a while the WSJ has something interesting of a non-business nature. For example they have a section called What's The Workout. Yesterday they featured one Nathan Gunn. He is an opera singer and they had a pic of him shirtless and WOOF! The guy is freakin' hot and jacked. I may need to reconsider my resistance to the opera. I have not goggled images of him yet, ideally there will be more shirtless ones.
So there is so much to talk about when it comes to the economy and TARP.
I think the best comment I heard about the jobs summit was that all the business types there knew that whenever a manager calls for a shindig like it it means said manager is really ineffective and has no clue what to do. So the manager wraps him or herself in the illusion of being open to input, etc.
One of the funniest (in a wrong way) comments made regarding the stimulus bill was that apparently the only truly shovel ready program was Ted Kennedy.
Double dip recession here we come! The ISM dipped below 50 again. I don't care what your political leanings are an ISM below 50 is a sign of contraction.
BAC did an end run around the board. They needed board approval to issue a huge number of shares to pay back TARP. They could not get it quick enough so the issued common equity equivalents with the idea the board would approve the conversion after the deal was done. why the rush to pay back TARP? Well real simple- they want to pay some huge amount of money to a new CEO. Can't do that under TARP. My concern is they really can't afford to pay TARP back and they are- to quote dad- cutting their nose off to spite their face. It is a very short sighted move. Once CRE blows up they are screwed as they will have to raise more money by selling shares and further diluting current share holders. Again it reminds me that equity is nothing more than a perpetual call option.
TARP got extended and changed today in case you missed it. In a nutshell the law allowing TARP states when it is paid back the money is to go to pay down the deficit. Well today Turbo Tax Timmy extended it and said bow it will be used to aid American families in need too. Hello stealth stimulus plan two. Gee maybe that is why the government came out yesterday and said hey TARP is gonna cost us $200 billion less, now we can spend it. It also got extended to October of 2010- gee how convenient it now goes to the midterm elections.
Dubai is blowing up and I keep hearing don't worry, it's contained or it is so small relative to the rest of the global economy it isn't a big deal. Yeah right just like sub prime was contained and was not a big part of the mortgage market, etc. The scary part of Dubai though is it is the first domino in the CRE shoe about to drop on our heads. I have to say though that creating islands shaped like palm trees in the ocean seemd like a really good idea at the time- seriously what could go wrong with it? CRE- which Dubai is the current proxy for- is not contained.
Maybe I am just a prick- well ok I am at times- but I was taught phone etiquette as when you call someone you introduce yourself and ask to speak to whoever you need to. You do not call someone and say "Who's this?" That happened to me yesterday so of course I replied "who's this, you called me."
The walk from the apartment to the bus this morning along the river was interesting. By the time I got on the bus my pants from the knees down were soaked through. My gloves were soaked through as well. I would rather have had snow.
Last night I finished most of the Christmas cards. I also wrapped all but two of the husband's gifts. Tonight I wrapped all the boys gifts. Tomorrow I have another business dinner so I am going with the suit again out of ease. The husband has a fund raiser he is attending with TK.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ahh the book club
Seriously, who gives a shit about Tiger Woods? Or should we call him by his new name-Cheetah Woods? What is the difference between an SUV and a golf ball? Tiger, um I mean Cheetah, can drive a golf ball 300 yards.
One thing I forgot about Thanksgiving was the boys and their mom and grandmother went out for dinner at a restaurant. I asked them how much they ate and my oldest said a lot. My youngest of course had chicken fingers to which my oldest said he should have at least ordered turkey fingers in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Speaking of the boys, my youngest has chicken pox. He is psyched as he gets to extend his Thanksgiving break by a week. I can't recall if his older brother had them (I know I am such a bad father) but when I asked if he thought he'd get them he informed me he was immune to them.
There was a hot blond guy on the PATH yesterday morning. I kinda couldn't keep from checking him out but pretty sure I was not caught.
The book club was a big success. The husband made his meatloaf and then made me live up to my joke of being the hired help and had me make the rest of the meal. I was referred to as hypermasculine and told I looked very Breaking Bad. That is what shagginess, a sick '70s pornstache and a Kiwanis hat can do for you...
At one point I heard one of the book club members mention he thought we should always host the book club. My thought- unvoiced- was No fucking way! LOL. It is a lot of work. Everyone loved the new home and the views of the NYC skyline.
The husband left this morning for a much needed vacation after having been worked like a dog for the past three and a half years. He went of to Miami with ST and PJ. He gets back Friday afternoon.
Home improvements as a source of new job creation? I am a bit incredulous that that is the best the President can come up with for his jobs summit. I did not watch his address about Afghanistan as once I saw the term limited surge used I knew it was going to be a half assed measure. I really do think we are living through the second Carter Administration.
In our ongoing debate about health care reform Ragnar and I have agreed that we, as a civil society, do have an obligation to attempt to make sure the citizens are healthy but it is not necessarily a citizen's right to have health insurance; at least I think we agreed on that.
Can't really hit the gym in the mornings this week as the husband walks the kids in the morning and with him on vacation I am filling in.
One thing I forgot about Thanksgiving was the boys and their mom and grandmother went out for dinner at a restaurant. I asked them how much they ate and my oldest said a lot. My youngest of course had chicken fingers to which my oldest said he should have at least ordered turkey fingers in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Speaking of the boys, my youngest has chicken pox. He is psyched as he gets to extend his Thanksgiving break by a week. I can't recall if his older brother had them (I know I am such a bad father) but when I asked if he thought he'd get them he informed me he was immune to them.
There was a hot blond guy on the PATH yesterday morning. I kinda couldn't keep from checking him out but pretty sure I was not caught.
The book club was a big success. The husband made his meatloaf and then made me live up to my joke of being the hired help and had me make the rest of the meal. I was referred to as hypermasculine and told I looked very Breaking Bad. That is what shagginess, a sick '70s pornstache and a Kiwanis hat can do for you...
At one point I heard one of the book club members mention he thought we should always host the book club. My thought- unvoiced- was No fucking way! LOL. It is a lot of work. Everyone loved the new home and the views of the NYC skyline.
The husband left this morning for a much needed vacation after having been worked like a dog for the past three and a half years. He went of to Miami with ST and PJ. He gets back Friday afternoon.
Home improvements as a source of new job creation? I am a bit incredulous that that is the best the President can come up with for his jobs summit. I did not watch his address about Afghanistan as once I saw the term limited surge used I knew it was going to be a half assed measure. I really do think we are living through the second Carter Administration.
In our ongoing debate about health care reform Ragnar and I have agreed that we, as a civil society, do have an obligation to attempt to make sure the citizens are healthy but it is not necessarily a citizen's right to have health insurance; at least I think we agreed on that.
Can't really hit the gym in the mornings this week as the husband walks the kids in the morning and with him on vacation I am filling in.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Kiwanis is coined from a Native American term "Nunc Kee-wanis"
So yesterday afternoon the husband and I went back to the county park and did the lake loop as a run. Funny- the husband enticed me with the line we won't do a hard pace. He is lucky I love him because he totally fucking lied! He led the run and even though it was only three miles it felt like 5 and I was dying by the en of the run. I asked him what the pace was and he said 7:45. I was more like 8:00 as I did not keep to his pace. I have to say though it was a great run through the woods and I can see how my older brother enjoyed cross country running. The husband ran cross country too and admitted when we got back in the car that that was one of the harder runs he had done due to all the hills.
Last night we made dinner for the parents. The husband was in charge of the main course, MP had the sides and I had the dessert. The husband crushed it on the roast pork tenderloin and salad, MP made mashed cauliflower with bleu cheese and sauteed leeks and I made a simple French peasant dessert- Black Mission fig and raspberry galette. Mom and dad were seriously impressed.
This morning there was a heavy frost when we got up. I and MP were hoping we would have had some snow as up north there usually is some by Thanksgiving. The husband was glad there was not as he was driving back with the kids while MP and I took the train back.
The train ride was ok although ten minutes behind schedule. I of course had a baseball cap on. It was from the Kiwanis Club in the hometown. Dad had helped out at the annual Turkey Trot race and I stole it from him. MP and I basically played cards the entire time and then I read the GQ issue with hot Chris Pine on the cover. My favorite article was the one about Ayn Rand and how her true ardent believers are assholes akin to fundamentalist Christians.
Tonight we had dinner with PS and SP. The great news from them is they are expecting their first child come May.
Tomorrow night we are hosting the husband's book club. I will be assuming my usual role of hired help- keeping wine glasses full, setting the table, serving food, etc. So tonight I had to make the dessert for them. I fell back on my usual old stand by- which is seasonally appropriate- apple pie.
I have had an interesting, ongoing email discussion with Ragnar and JW over the past week or so about the whole health care debate and some good points have been brought up. Ragnar- and I have to agree- made the point that it is for the common good of society as a whole to have a healthy populace. He also commented in a round about way that any good capitalist would want a healthy populace as a source of labor and a source of buyers of their goods and services. Very Vulcan in the logic. The sticking point was when I asked what makes health care more of a right than housing or a job. That set him off and I felt like I- and anyone who disagreed with the current plan or the idea health care is a right- was getting painted as a person of low or no morals and possibly limited intellect. I responded as such and then was off to mom and dad's for Thanksgiving. Ragnar responded but I prefer reading and replying on something other than my crackberry. It got me thinking though that that seems to be a big problem with the Democrats and liberals- if you ask why you get attacked; the old if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. It also sort of came across as condescending in the manner of don't question me, I know what is best for you and everyone else, just do as I say. I can see how most of the middle of America can get pissed off at that seeming attitude. It can appear elitist.
JW had some great points as well. I had commented that capitalism has never been about the fair allocation of resources but the most efficient allocation of resources. He is of the view that the current system for health care is neither fair nor efficient. I really can't argue with that either.
I guess I just don't think the current proposal will address either fairness nor efficiency. I feel like there is a rush to change it because it is neither right now but replacing it with something that does not address both issues just leaves us in the same spot we are in now. Instead of profit seekers making decisions we will have the government making them for us. I also wonder if there is not a large portion of the populace who does not want to have to make a choice. If you don't make a choice that means someone else will and when something goes wrong you have someone else to blame. Whereas if you had to make the choice yourself and made a bad choice you couldn't blame anyone other than yourself. Pass the buck- don't accept responsibility.
No pool tomorrow morning or dojo. Tuesday morning the husband is off to Miami with ST and PJ for four days. He needs a vacation and some me time so I hope he has fun and relaxes. Even with him gone it is shaping up to be a busy week. I imagine tomorrow we'll also see the real reaction to the whole Dubai World fiasco since Friday was a half day for the markets. Oh joy...
Last night we made dinner for the parents. The husband was in charge of the main course, MP had the sides and I had the dessert. The husband crushed it on the roast pork tenderloin and salad, MP made mashed cauliflower with bleu cheese and sauteed leeks and I made a simple French peasant dessert- Black Mission fig and raspberry galette. Mom and dad were seriously impressed.
This morning there was a heavy frost when we got up. I and MP were hoping we would have had some snow as up north there usually is some by Thanksgiving. The husband was glad there was not as he was driving back with the kids while MP and I took the train back.
The train ride was ok although ten minutes behind schedule. I of course had a baseball cap on. It was from the Kiwanis Club in the hometown. Dad had helped out at the annual Turkey Trot race and I stole it from him. MP and I basically played cards the entire time and then I read the GQ issue with hot Chris Pine on the cover. My favorite article was the one about Ayn Rand and how her true ardent believers are assholes akin to fundamentalist Christians.
Tonight we had dinner with PS and SP. The great news from them is they are expecting their first child come May.
Tomorrow night we are hosting the husband's book club. I will be assuming my usual role of hired help- keeping wine glasses full, setting the table, serving food, etc. So tonight I had to make the dessert for them. I fell back on my usual old stand by- which is seasonally appropriate- apple pie.
I have had an interesting, ongoing email discussion with Ragnar and JW over the past week or so about the whole health care debate and some good points have been brought up. Ragnar- and I have to agree- made the point that it is for the common good of society as a whole to have a healthy populace. He also commented in a round about way that any good capitalist would want a healthy populace as a source of labor and a source of buyers of their goods and services. Very Vulcan in the logic. The sticking point was when I asked what makes health care more of a right than housing or a job. That set him off and I felt like I- and anyone who disagreed with the current plan or the idea health care is a right- was getting painted as a person of low or no morals and possibly limited intellect. I responded as such and then was off to mom and dad's for Thanksgiving. Ragnar responded but I prefer reading and replying on something other than my crackberry. It got me thinking though that that seems to be a big problem with the Democrats and liberals- if you ask why you get attacked; the old if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. It also sort of came across as condescending in the manner of don't question me, I know what is best for you and everyone else, just do as I say. I can see how most of the middle of America can get pissed off at that seeming attitude. It can appear elitist.
JW had some great points as well. I had commented that capitalism has never been about the fair allocation of resources but the most efficient allocation of resources. He is of the view that the current system for health care is neither fair nor efficient. I really can't argue with that either.
I guess I just don't think the current proposal will address either fairness nor efficiency. I feel like there is a rush to change it because it is neither right now but replacing it with something that does not address both issues just leaves us in the same spot we are in now. Instead of profit seekers making decisions we will have the government making them for us. I also wonder if there is not a large portion of the populace who does not want to have to make a choice. If you don't make a choice that means someone else will and when something goes wrong you have someone else to blame. Whereas if you had to make the choice yourself and made a bad choice you couldn't blame anyone other than yourself. Pass the buck- don't accept responsibility.
No pool tomorrow morning or dojo. Tuesday morning the husband is off to Miami with ST and PJ for four days. He needs a vacation and some me time so I hope he has fun and relaxes. Even with him gone it is shaping up to be a busy week. I imagine tomorrow we'll also see the real reaction to the whole Dubai World fiasco since Friday was a half day for the markets. Oh joy...
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Luxembourg is not part of central Europe
The past week has been fun and busy. Work was relatively slow Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was slow but I was leaving early to catch the train upstate with MP. Of course then Dubai decides to try and get a standstill on its debt payments- that is a big whoops.
MP and I had a blast on the train ride up to mom and dad's house. We had a compartment which was real cool. It was very European like and we got to watch the Hudson go by as we rode up to Albany. We also had dinner included so we got to go to the dining car. The man in charge suggested we sit next to each other as we'd be sharing the table with other guests. We decided against that and sat across from each other. Thankfully we were joined by another couple who felt the same way and brought their own wine. We had a great time chatting and dining with them and we drank A LOT of wine. By the time we pulled into to Syracuse we were bombed, lol.
Thanksgiving was awesome. Mom made a real simple meal but it was amazing. We had dinner at 3 PM and it was very nice.
Yesterday MP, the husband and I went to the little county park and did the three mile loop around the lake there. MP was like a little girl as she was back in her home town. I could not believe the number of Canadian geese that were on the lake and they were loud.
Last night we took mom and dad out to dinner at the local restaurant they choose. We had a blast and met up with some of MP's friends from high school who were home for Thanksgiving as well. AB- my best friend since we were 4- also met up with us for some beers as he too was in town for Thanksgiving.
We ended up back in mom and dad's kitchen for some night caps. AB was recounting how he and his wife had just been in Italy for their 15th anniversary. That led to a discussion about Europe in general when MP made the comment Luxembourg was in central Europe. Of course out came the laptop and wiki to prove her wrong.
Today the husband and I are going to go for a run and then we are making dinner for mom and dad.
MP and I are taking the train back tomorrow morning but we will keep it sober this time.
MP and I had a blast on the train ride up to mom and dad's house. We had a compartment which was real cool. It was very European like and we got to watch the Hudson go by as we rode up to Albany. We also had dinner included so we got to go to the dining car. The man in charge suggested we sit next to each other as we'd be sharing the table with other guests. We decided against that and sat across from each other. Thankfully we were joined by another couple who felt the same way and brought their own wine. We had a great time chatting and dining with them and we drank A LOT of wine. By the time we pulled into to Syracuse we were bombed, lol.
Thanksgiving was awesome. Mom made a real simple meal but it was amazing. We had dinner at 3 PM and it was very nice.
Yesterday MP, the husband and I went to the little county park and did the three mile loop around the lake there. MP was like a little girl as she was back in her home town. I could not believe the number of Canadian geese that were on the lake and they were loud.
Last night we took mom and dad out to dinner at the local restaurant they choose. We had a blast and met up with some of MP's friends from high school who were home for Thanksgiving as well. AB- my best friend since we were 4- also met up with us for some beers as he too was in town for Thanksgiving.
We ended up back in mom and dad's kitchen for some night caps. AB was recounting how he and his wife had just been in Italy for their 15th anniversary. That led to a discussion about Europe in general when MP made the comment Luxembourg was in central Europe. Of course out came the laptop and wiki to prove her wrong.
Today the husband and I are going to go for a run and then we are making dinner for mom and dad.
MP and I are taking the train back tomorrow morning but we will keep it sober this time.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
It's polite to engage dinner guests in conversation
This was a pretty great birthday weekend.
Yesterday we spent the day getting ready for our dinner guests. I and the boys went to the grocery store and did the grocery shopping. I also then finished hanging the art as ST had stopped by Thursday and given the husband his professional opinion (he is a former museum curator so knows what he is taking about) about the placement of the art we had in the home. I also got to take a nap as Friday night I let the boys stay up until midnight so we were all a bit tired.
The husband made one of his best meals ever for dinner. He did a leg of lamb, this great onion gratin, couscous and salad. The best part was he made the boys look at and touch the leg of lamb and the hip joint on it. They were kind of freaked out about it but they are still boys and thought it was cool, lol.
PF and DR came over for dinner. I had prepped everyone involved- PF because he can and often does use colorful language and the boys that they would have to actually talk with our dinner guests.
The irony is that DR was actually the one who used colorful language first and the boys were complete chatter boxes the entire dinner. It helped that our dinner guests and the boys both love South Park so they were talking about it all night and PF told my oldest which episode he thought was the funniest and had to watch- which he promptly did on the laptop.
I knew the dinner was a complete success when my oldest told the husband the meal was great and told our dinner guests they were by far the best dinner guests we have ever had over.
Dessert was awesome as the husband went and gotten a cake from this old school Italian bakery in Hoboken. I had known about it for years and always thought it was great. Come to find out the place actually has a reality t.v. show based on it. The cake was a big hit too.
The boys again stayed up until midnight because everyone was having fun.
Today we all went into the city and had lunch with MP at her apartment. She made us meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli. My oldest loved the mashed sweet potatoes and when MP offered the left overs to take home he jumped at it. The boys also loved her cats and thought they were great.
We then headed on over to the Met and took in the Art of the Samurai. It was pretty damn cool and the boys thought it was really neat. My youngest got a little replica samurai helmet and the oldest decided he wanted something else. So of course he picked a musical snow globe? I was a bit taken aback but thought what the hell, if that is what he liked at the Met so be it.
Both of them slept the entire ride to their mom's house- that's what happens when you stay up until midnight two nights in a row I guess.
I was stunned at how much the Joint Congressional Finance Committee beat up on Turbo Tax Timmy last week. He seriously got abused and on television. Don't get me wrong I think the guy should be fired as he is the one who signed off on AIG's counter parties getting paid one hundred cents on the dollar.
This week is shaping up to be a bit busy in front of Thanksgiving. Speaking of Thanksgiving I of course hit it up on wiki and one the things that made me laugh is apparently big, fat Rush Limbaugh says the real reason we need to celebrate it is because it was the turning point from whence the Pilgrims, who were dying because of their communal living system, gave up and decided to turn to a free market system and that is what turned the Massachusetts Bay colony around.
Yesterday we spent the day getting ready for our dinner guests. I and the boys went to the grocery store and did the grocery shopping. I also then finished hanging the art as ST had stopped by Thursday and given the husband his professional opinion (he is a former museum curator so knows what he is taking about) about the placement of the art we had in the home. I also got to take a nap as Friday night I let the boys stay up until midnight so we were all a bit tired.
The husband made one of his best meals ever for dinner. He did a leg of lamb, this great onion gratin, couscous and salad. The best part was he made the boys look at and touch the leg of lamb and the hip joint on it. They were kind of freaked out about it but they are still boys and thought it was cool, lol.
PF and DR came over for dinner. I had prepped everyone involved- PF because he can and often does use colorful language and the boys that they would have to actually talk with our dinner guests.
The irony is that DR was actually the one who used colorful language first and the boys were complete chatter boxes the entire dinner. It helped that our dinner guests and the boys both love South Park so they were talking about it all night and PF told my oldest which episode he thought was the funniest and had to watch- which he promptly did on the laptop.
I knew the dinner was a complete success when my oldest told the husband the meal was great and told our dinner guests they were by far the best dinner guests we have ever had over.
Dessert was awesome as the husband went and gotten a cake from this old school Italian bakery in Hoboken. I had known about it for years and always thought it was great. Come to find out the place actually has a reality t.v. show based on it. The cake was a big hit too.
The boys again stayed up until midnight because everyone was having fun.
Today we all went into the city and had lunch with MP at her apartment. She made us meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli. My oldest loved the mashed sweet potatoes and when MP offered the left overs to take home he jumped at it. The boys also loved her cats and thought they were great.
We then headed on over to the Met and took in the Art of the Samurai. It was pretty damn cool and the boys thought it was really neat. My youngest got a little replica samurai helmet and the oldest decided he wanted something else. So of course he picked a musical snow globe? I was a bit taken aback but thought what the hell, if that is what he liked at the Met so be it.
Both of them slept the entire ride to their mom's house- that's what happens when you stay up until midnight two nights in a row I guess.
I was stunned at how much the Joint Congressional Finance Committee beat up on Turbo Tax Timmy last week. He seriously got abused and on television. Don't get me wrong I think the guy should be fired as he is the one who signed off on AIG's counter parties getting paid one hundred cents on the dollar.
This week is shaping up to be a bit busy in front of Thanksgiving. Speaking of Thanksgiving I of course hit it up on wiki and one the things that made me laugh is apparently big, fat Rush Limbaugh says the real reason we need to celebrate it is because it was the turning point from whence the Pilgrims, who were dying because of their communal living system, gave up and decided to turn to a free market system and that is what turned the Massachusetts Bay colony around.
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