Category Archives: Holiday

A Busy Holiday Weekend

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This was a busy holiday weekend! It’s kept me distracted from blogging.

So I thought I’d cover what a middle-class guy like myself does…

On Friday:

After work, I took my daughter to Arabica Cafe. I enjoy their food, but I couldn’t find a drink nor a food item that she liked. What I hoped would be a great father and daughter trip out,  just ended being a waste of money.  Occasionally, my daughter and son get a kid’s hot chocolate from Starbucks (they are fairly cheap). Later I mowed the lawn. Next, I took my son to the (golf) driving range.  Then the kids and I went shopping for a birthday present.

On Saturday:

Most of the morning, we relaxed.  Then for lunch we went to a cheap but good Italian restaurant.  My sister was up for a visit, so we visited her at my parent’s house for the day.  My dad grilled some hamburgers, and we celebrated the birthday.  I had a headache, so I mostly laid on the couch with my head throbbing.

On Sunday:

We finally got around to planting my wife’s Mother Day present (a flower bed).  It was a busy day, tilling the ground and planting the flowers.  The next stage would be to get mulch…  Later that night, we went to a great little chinese restaurant.

Monday:

We went to our favorite restaurant for breakfast (I think this may be the frist Monday we ever went there).  Next, we were going to go boating with friends, but it started raining.  So we decided to visit my wife’s parents, they had just came back from Oregon.  Surprisingly,the storm passed and the kids wanted to go swimming.  So my father-in-law and I vacuumed and skimmed the pool.  The kids had a great time, after getting pizza for everybody, I went swimming too.  It was a good time!

And that’s how I sent this Holiday weekend, not terrible exciting, but very busy…

-MR

Celebrating Memorial Day

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Today is memorial day!

So, I thought I writeup so genernal facts about the U.S. holiday.  Below are some of the key facts about “Memorial Day“:

  • It’s a current United States holiday that commemorates U.S. soldiers who died during military service.
  • It occurs on the last Monday in May.
  • It was first used to honor Union Soldiers in the Civil War.
  • It was initially called “Decoration Day“

Interesting, at first the day was a chance for politicians and veterans to speak about the atrocities of the enemy, which, at first , were the gray (Southern or Confederate) soldiers.  But eventually the day was used to honor both brave soldiers of the north and south.

It has a deeper history than I was aware of.  For a more detailed interesting read, click here.

Now I’m off to celebrate  birthday or a family member. 

Have a great holiday!

Top Blogger Financial Goals and Predictions

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I found a lot of great writeups about 2009 results and 2010 goals! Since I didn’t have any 2009 goals to review myself, I was at a loss. So instead, I’m just highlighting some of the other top financial bloggers that have excellent goals and predictions.

While I have created 2010 goals for myself, I still need to create spreadsheets and other tools to track them. The most important 2010 goal I have is being healthier (by weight loss and exercise) and I started that one already, the rest I’m still finalizing and will post later.

So for you reading pleasure, below are some of the best goals I could find out in the financial blogsphere…

  • FIVE PREDICTIONS THAT MOST CERTAINLY WILL COME TRUE – FinancialSamurai.com
    Here the Financial Samurai talks about some spot on predictions were the economy and stock market is heading!!! For his last prediction, he states that his experiment “Samurai Fund” (a collection of tickers based off of other financial blogs) will outperform the S&P 500. We’ll be rooting for you Financial Samurai!
  • Happy New Year! Goodbye 2009 and Welcome 2010: It’s All Up From Here – DigeratiLife.com – Must read highlights of DigeratiLife.com’s favorite post per 2009 month. Honestly, I’m still working my way through them but so far they are great. I don’t agree with all of them, but most I do.
  • Happy New Year! My One Goal for 2010 – GetRichSlowly.org/blog – JD Reviews the results of his 3 goals from 2009, and set 1 goal for 2010.
  • New Year’s Resolution: Move Your Money? – savingadvice.com Very original resolution, potential a great idea? I’m thinking of moving my big bank account to an online high yield bank myself!
  • The Most Important Financial Goals for 2010 – CashMoneyLife.com Patrick list some rock solid financial goals for 2010.
  • TheSimpleDollar.com has some excellent goals individually listed too!

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Year 2009 was tough, but it was also the bottoming (or turn around) year for many important economical areas.

Last year, we saw a lot of bottoming happening:

  • the Stock Market bottomed in March 2009
  • the Housing Market started bottoming in the Summer of 2009
  • In fall 2009, housing prices started to recover.
  • The labor market’s decline practically bottomed too.

So while 2009 wasn’t a great year, it was an important year just because  most things either bottomed or show signs of bottoming soon.  As for the government, and what they are going…  I’m not so happy with 2009… 

I think the “cap and trade” legislation that passed by 1 vote, is a big mistake.  Hopefully, the politicians will be thinking more clearly this year.   We’ll see…

Anyway, I just want to personally welcome Year 2010!

2009 was important, but I’m glad to say goodbye to that year.

I wish everybody luck and prosperity this year! 

-D