Last Day of Golfing For The Year

Usually, I’m the happy-go-lucky type around friends.  I’m usually goofing off or just being crazy, childish yes, but still fun.

That said, this past Saturday, I was sick and it was obvious.  So when my dad called up to invite me and my son to golf, at first I said sure, my son would love to go.  My son really does like to play golf and he is pretty good for being 11 years old.

After my dad came up, I felt worse, but thought I’d tag along, just to see them play and enjoy the conversation.  Of course I took my golf clubs just in case…  As you might have guessed once I go there, I had to play too (sick but so what), so off we went.  Since I was lethargic and didn’t talk or joke around too much, I was able to focus and played my best game of the year.  How’s that for a twist!

I guess sometimes when you don’t have the energy for side distractions, you can concentrate and play a better game than your would normally, even when you are sick.  Go figure.

Overall, we had a great time, making fun of the bad swings that we all made, and cheering and complimenting each other on the great shots we had too.  It’s a fun process, especially when you don’t take the game too seriously.

 

Now on to interesting articles I read this week:

Watson, Inc:  Young People Avoiding Investing In Record Numbers –  This is a sad trend, but with unemployment so high among recent graduates, perhaps not to incredible surprising?  Mr. Watson does an excellent job of explaining the important of investing, especially if you are young!  This is a must read article if you a young person (or really any age)!

20s Finances: Obama’s Finances: How to Solve the Debt Crisis – Americans are left wondering how we as a country are going to get out of this financial burden. Read more about my proposal to solve the debt crisis that involves Obama’s finances.

Everything Finance: How to Save a Bundle on Your Auto Insurance – Car insurance is typically required by law. Most people pick their favorite company or the one their friend or family member uses and then set about paying their policy every 6 months. People often keep the same insurance company for decades, but doing so can cost you extra money.

Everyday Tips & Thoughts: Questioning the Panic Over Under-Water Mortgages – President Obama is amending the Home Affordable Refinance Program so those who are under water can refinance their homes. Is this new bail out really necessary?

Budgeting in the Fun Stuff:  Budgeting in the Undead Stuff –  What a fun article…  Sounds like they really know how to enjoy Halloween!

Prairie Ecothrifter: How to Save Money at the Supermarket – If you’re anything like most people, you’re probably feeling the pinch thanks to rising food prices. There is some good news though – you can bring your food shopping costs down with some careful planning. Here are some tips to help you to save money on your supermarket shopping.

Beating the Index: Investing in Oil: 5 Junior Oil Stocks for 2012 – Discover what makes these 5 junior oil stocks top picks for 2012.

Okay, enough reading, not to go out and enjoy when is left of the last few warm days of the season (at least in my neck of the woods)!

Hope you weekend was as rocking as mine was (minus the part about me being sick)…

MR

Busy Taking A Mini-Vacation At Kalahari Waterpark

This weekend, my family and I decided to take a mini-vacation at the Kalahari Resorts.

Kalahari Resorts

Kalahari Resorts

It’s touted to be the second largest water park in the world.  I’m not 100% sure of that claim, but I do know it’s a lot of fun and my kids are having a blast.

Needless to say, I’m not typing while I’m in the water area, so I need to get back to the fun!

Here are some other interesting articles for your viewing pleasure…

Everyday Tips and Thoughts:  Halloween Past and Present –  Great analysis of Halloween of the recent past (1970s) and the present.  I’ve come to always expect great articles from Kris and as always, she doesn’t disappoint with this one!

Budgeting In The Fun Stuff:  NEW GOAL – Paying Off Our Mortgage in 6 Years or Less!!! –  Awesome!  I did this and overall (after thinking about if for a while), I’m glad that I did.

Beating the Index:  Investing in Oil: 5 Junior Oil Stocks for 2012 –  I admin, I don’t know much about Canadian stocks, but the investor at Beating the Index seems to.  Check out his site for other Canadian stocks to research.

101 Centavos:  Situational Awareness 101 proves that security is a very serious matter at airports and other security checkpoints theses day!

20’s Money:  How to Land that Job: Playing Hard to Get? – Interesting advice on getting a job.

Money Q&A:  Why You Need Umbrella Insurance I have to admit, I’ve been thinking of getting one of these.

Okay, my family want to leave, so I hope you enjoyed the assortment of articles from above.

Well, I’m off to enjoy my mini-vacation…

MR

Money Reasons – Kids Grow Up Too Quickly

Weekly Thoughts

Well, it’ official, my son is now taller than my wife.  As they were standing next to each other, I noticed that he looked an inch or so taller than my wife.  She wasn’t standing straight up, but once they both did, he still had her by a hair.

Yep, my son is becoming quite a young man!  It seems like he’s getting bigger and stronger by the week anymore.  I’ve come to realize that his weaknesses are really just my weaknesses that he has picked up on.  Now I’m working to change my behavior.  This is no easy task!  So far this year, he has straight As like he did last year.  So what little weaknesses he does have they are minor.

My daughter, while still shorter than my wife by a large margin is getting bigger too, and more beautiful and intelligent every day.  I never known anybody quite like her!  Ever since she was about 1 or 2, you could look in her eyes and see that she’s something special.  At 2 or 3, she seemed unreal to me, to perfect, she has such a presence!  People gravitate to her.

The point of the observations of my kids is that they are growing up quickly, too quickly in fact!  I wanted to do so much with them both, but they are growing up right before my eyes.  Kind of like a weed that grows an inch or so every day.  I really need to spend more time with them before they are out on their own!  Life moves fast when you have kids…

Now for some weekly articles from other pf bloggers:

Conclusion:

My son had an awesome soccer game, he was everywhere the ball was, it was amazing, perhaps the best game that I’ve ever seen him play!  I need to start to bring my camcorder to capture these moments!  Same applies with my daughter’s games too, she’s even playing up a level!

Hope everybody had a great weekend!

MR

MR Cache: Another Soccer Victory, But Also a Sad Day

Weekly Thoughts

The team I’m coaching had another victory today, but at a cost.  The other girls team had one or two girl who kept tripping our girls from behind!  My daughter was tripped and even had her hand stepped on.  I was fuming as I had to carry her off the field.  Then another one of my girls was tripped from behind and she didn’t even have possession of the ball!  WTF?

The coach for the other team actually teaches soccer, but I didn’t see him do anything!  Luckily for him it was near the end of the game, because I started getting loud, I might have even swore in angry and complaining about the tripping very loudly.  Probably if it continued, I would have to go over and talk to him during the game.  It’s not acceptable that the team he is coaching is tripping from behind like that!

All told, 4 different girls on my team got tripped that day, more than any from all the other teams combined.  I’m still pissed off!  What an A-hole of a coach!  I’m half temped to start attending his other game and see if his girls trip other girls from other teams too, and if so, start calling the other coaches and the soccer commissioner to get him removed (if that’s possible).  I don’t think I could handle any of my girls getting hurt badly because of such conduct from a poorly taught team.

Great Reads from Other Financial Bloggers

Conclusion:

The girls that I’m coaching are amazing!  Each one puts their heart into the game, and I’ve very touched.  But at the same time, I worry about each one of them out there.  I would have to see any one of the girls (my girls) get hurt.

I need to step up my game and start teaching them stuff I don’t know.  The best way to do that is to learn how to do it myself.  Luckily youtube videos help, but I still have to learn how to do that actual moves though.

It’s time to step up my game and become a real soccer coach.

Hope you weekend was great,

MR