Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The R word

Don't let 'em fool ya. They'll only screw ya.

The current administration says it isn't so, but it's here - recession.

Mortgage loans are at an all time low - some as low as 4.6%! Sales are as slow as molasses. Countrywide got bailed out by Bank of America. The feds are considering eliminating capitol gains taxes.

I'll keep the house on the market for a few more months, but that's it.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Movie review?

Well, not really, but I so rarely go see movies in the theatre that I had to report on this one. My friend Ken came over to visit. We talked and ate and walked and laughed and drank coffee and then went to see "The Bucket List".

Rob Reiner knew at whom he was aiming this movie. Morgan Freeman (Red in Shawshank Redemption) and Jack Nicholson (Five Easy Pieces) share a room in a hospital. Both are dying of cancer. The premise is easy - what do you want to do before you die? Most items are predictable (given that cost is no object), but the movie is sad and sweet and at moments very funny.

The most memorable line was made by Jack's character to a younger man: (paraphrased here)

Three things to remember as you get older:
1. Never pass up a bathroom.
2. Never waste a hard on.
3. Never trust a fart.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Life lessons

One of those e-mails that get forwarded to anyone and everyone, I did however editorialize.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Be on time. Don't keep friends waiting - they may not.
34. You are loved you because of who you are, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable for them.
38. Read.
39. Get outside every day.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you've loved and been loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Getting Old!

...and I'm not talking about myself.

More lookers today. My house has been on the market since late July and I've had to keep the house fairly neat and clean, beds made, dishes put away and toilet scrubbed the whole time.

I do hope that today's prospective buyers appreciate the house for what it is - a two bedroom, one bath house built in 1952. I've had families of five come look at the house thinking that the basement can be made in to three more bedrooms. Well, I guess it can, but it would cost about as much as the asking price to do so.

So another Sunday morning was spent cleaning rather than sitting around in my underwear drinking coffee and watching football. I imagine that it's good for me.