Category Archives: Holiday

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010! Closing Thoughts…

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The Year 2009 was a tough year (but better than 2008!).  I feel very optimistic about 2010!

Since this is my first real year blogging, I initially thought I would link to my favorite article in my archive from this past year.  And secondly, to list some of the most common financial blogs that I read, and how they inspire me.

But I found that as I looked through my archive, I like too many of the post in my archive, so instead I decided to link to the list below based primarily on the ones that had the highest number of comments.  So here they are:

and now for my own personal favorite:

Spot Budgeting To Save Money For A Goal Fund

and the one I thought was most funny and deserves another look:

Advice for Spendthrift Friends in Debt

As for the other bloggers that inspired me, here is a short list (I read way to many blogs to list them all)

www.financialsamurai.com – One of the most unique fresh financial blogs out there.  Some times Keiju just make me stop and think” WOW, this is great…  Financial Samurai is now one the first stops when I go and read financial blogs.

www.cashmoneylife.com – I just started reading Patrick’s blog within the last few months.  He’s pretty close to perfect, his tips are great and well written.  This is usually my 2nd stop after sams.

www.seejanegetrich.com – Site is gone now, but was a “close to graduating” law student and was another site I stop at regularly.  Jane had a fresh perspective on things and does a great job with her blog.  She’s young and very intelligent.  I feel a kinship with Jane because we started at about the same time in the financial blogsphere.  I look forward to reading her material.  In some ways it’s like I’m watching her move thru life right in front of me.  Great job Jane, keep on doing a rock solid job!  I’m sad she’s gone.

Due to lack of time, I’m just going to list the rest in an abbreviated form, with quick comments:

There are at least 20 to 30 more I could list here easily… but I got to get ready for a New Year’s Eve party.

Have a Happy New Years, and here’s to a great 2010!!!

-MR

Christmas Presents That I’m Excited About

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I got the usually presents for Christmas… jeans and a few work shirts.

So why did I call the title “Christmas Presents That I’m Excited About“?  Because they are my son’s presents (mostly)!

I have a secret confession to make:  I like living Christmas vicariously through my son.  Yep, it’s true!  And this year was awesome for me my son!

We He got the following presents:

  • Mind Flex – This is a game that where you connect an apparatus to you head, then concentrating on a ball, it then rises and falls based on how hard you focus on the ball.  This is an awesome game for kids that love Star Wars.  It’s the closest thing that I’ve see that will let a kid “Use the FORCE“.  I can’t wait to try it soon!
  • Golf Clubs – I’m just an occasional golfer, even my 9 year old son “putts” better than I do.  But he’s been using odds and end golf clubs, with a set designed for his height, he might match my score next year.  We’ll see, it should be great fun (not to mention the bonding experience of such a father and son activity).  I have taken my (then) 5 year old daughter to the driving range already too.
  • Air Hogs Police Helicopter – This is actually my son’s 4th one of these.  The first three were handled a bit to roughly, and they didn’t last long…  My son has better control now…  I’ll get to play with this soon too.
  • Foosball Table– He actually got this 2 years ago, but he was too small to use it.  We have a ping pong table setup downstairs, and he now gives me a run for my money on it, so now I’ll build the Foosball table, and we’ll play that too.  Besides, I might actually invite some old friends over and we’ll play perhaps will play it some too.
  • Star Wars Legos – I won’t play with this (or build it…), but I have to admit, these sets are cool to explore once they are build.  My son loves all of the Star Wars sets.
  • Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” – Okay, this isn’t my son’s… this is my wife’s present.  I’m a big fan of Stephen King.  My wife collects his novels in her own personal library.  Stephen King is one of the authors that I read as a college student, and I’ve been hooked on them ever since.  I won’t get to this for a month or 2, but I’m patient…

Of all the presents, the one that I will enjoy the most is the Golf Clubs.  Actually the time spend golfing with my son this summer is what I’m excited about.  He is just growing so fast, and I want to spend as much quality time with him as possible.  Hopefully, this will be another memory created for him (along with our Christmas Traditions memory), so he can look back and remember those times fondly.

We’re lucky, I found a relatively cheap course to go to.  Then again, we even have fun just going to the driving range.  We conclude our golf outings with a quick trip to a local ice cream place where I buy my son a chocolate peanut butter pie treat (his favorite).

This coming year we’ll try to go every other week, either to the golf range or actually playing golf.

So really the best present that I got this Christmas is the time that I’ll get to spend with my son playing golf next summer.  Of course, I’ll do the same with my daughter once she gets older too…

That is why I’m really excited for next year to come!

 

Christmas Day 2009

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Well it’s finally here!  Christmas Day!

Christmas Day

 

Time to go to see friends and parents, watching the kids unwrap presents, and eating good food!

What a tough last few years!  I can honestly say I’ll be glad when 2009 is over.  Here’s to 2010!  Hopefully, employment and the stock market will be up!

I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays if Christmas isn’t your thing)!

 

-D

Working on Christmas Eve

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Wow, this Christmas went really quick for me. I didn’t even get all the presents I wanted to get my kids. Subconsciously I think I’m still reeling from the cost of our 7 day Disney vacation.

I’ll be at work tomorrow, so I thought the following pic is appropriate (I’m on-call Christmas Day! yay :():

Office Christmas Tree

Office Christmas Tree

I’m unfortunate in the fact that my wife’s family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve. My family celebrates it Christmas day. So it’s a real rush to get everything accomplished in time.

I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday!