'nuff said...
like Maxx has any intention of finishing...
Showing posts with label retirement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retirement. Show all posts
09 April 2010
26 June 2008
what is wrong with this picture?
$10/gallon by 2010...
That's what is being predicted today.
The article says that it could be $170 by July 4th!
Originally, the prediction was that oil would reach $100/BBL by 2009. [ummm, i think we're ahead of schedule.]
I put gas in the tank today at 10:30 this morning when I saw it was $4.27/gallon. Two days ago it was $4.39. I figured that it was bound to go up by 5:00 pm so I better stop. It was $54.35 to fill it. Better than last week's $67, but what's coming next? I've drastically cut back on my driving; buy only things on sale at the grocery; visit both farmer's markets in the area; have not bought anything that I don't really need; and have only eaten out twice in the last month for friend's birthdays.
I realize that a big part of the problem is the FX35, but I chose it because I needed something bigger for work - before I decided to retire - and it's a lease that is not up until January. The only way I can get out of the lease is to do another one with Infiniti. That isn't going to work. I don't want an expensive, gas hungry vehicle. Even before all the gas price raising, I had decided I was going to get a smaller city car. I don't need big any more.
The bigger picture of all of this was the effect it had on the markets: MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stocks Plunge; Worst June For Dow Since Great Depression, -348.41 or 3% down to be exact today CNNMoney.com
One of the analysts recommended selling GM stock today. I have had GM forever. The 52-week high was $43.20. It closed today at $11.43! There was a time when the thinking was "As goes GM, so goes the country." If that's still true, we are in deep doo-doo. Really deep...
The smaller picture is how all of this is hitting the small investors like me. I took early retirement over a year ago. Though I am doing consultant work, it is not a steady job. As a matter of fact, being an educational consultant, there really is no work for the next three months. [Really four, since no one really wants consultants the first month of a new school year.] I have a fixed income with my pension checks, but the cost of everything is spiraling out of control because of the oil problem. I have already pulled money out of the money market and savings accounts twice this month just to pay regular bills!
I can't imagine someone who is on Social Security. I have two teacher pension funds I draw on and I know they are much better than SS. I remember my aunt getting her SS check and struggling to make ends meet. She also got a check for $55/month from my uncle's veterans fund. $55! That was what she considered her mad money each month. And now that's what a tank of gas costs!
what is wrong with this picture?
and I'm sitting here right now listening to Hardball with Chris Matthews who just asked his panel how [Tsar] Bush can be so out of touch with the problems he's caused with the economy. "Where's the oil Bush promised would come with Iraq?" Yes, he actually asked that question.
again, what is wrong with this picture?
That's what is being predicted today.
Oil Surges Above $140 to Record as Libya Warns of Output Cut Bloomberg, June 26. 2008
The article says that it could be $170 by July 4th!
Originally, the prediction was that oil would reach $100/BBL by 2009. [ummm, i think we're ahead of schedule.]
I put gas in the tank today at 10:30 this morning when I saw it was $4.27/gallon. Two days ago it was $4.39. I figured that it was bound to go up by 5:00 pm so I better stop. It was $54.35 to fill it. Better than last week's $67, but what's coming next? I've drastically cut back on my driving; buy only things on sale at the grocery; visit both farmer's markets in the area; have not bought anything that I don't really need; and have only eaten out twice in the last month for friend's birthdays.
I realize that a big part of the problem is the FX35, but I chose it because I needed something bigger for work - before I decided to retire - and it's a lease that is not up until January. The only way I can get out of the lease is to do another one with Infiniti. That isn't going to work. I don't want an expensive, gas hungry vehicle. Even before all the gas price raising, I had decided I was going to get a smaller city car. I don't need big any more.
The bigger picture of all of this was the effect it had on the markets: MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stocks Plunge; Worst June For Dow Since Great Depression, -348.41 or 3% down to be exact today CNNMoney.com
One of the analysts recommended selling GM stock today. I have had GM forever. The 52-week high was $43.20. It closed today at $11.43! There was a time when the thinking was "As goes GM, so goes the country." If that's still true, we are in deep doo-doo. Really deep...
The smaller picture is how all of this is hitting the small investors like me. I took early retirement over a year ago. Though I am doing consultant work, it is not a steady job. As a matter of fact, being an educational consultant, there really is no work for the next three months. [Really four, since no one really wants consultants the first month of a new school year.] I have a fixed income with my pension checks, but the cost of everything is spiraling out of control because of the oil problem. I have already pulled money out of the money market and savings accounts twice this month just to pay regular bills!
I can't imagine someone who is on Social Security. I have two teacher pension funds I draw on and I know they are much better than SS. I remember my aunt getting her SS check and struggling to make ends meet. She also got a check for $55/month from my uncle's veterans fund. $55! That was what she considered her mad money each month. And now that's what a tank of gas costs!
what is wrong with this picture?
and I'm sitting here right now listening to Hardball with Chris Matthews who just asked his panel how [Tsar] Bush can be so out of touch with the problems he's caused with the economy. "Where's the oil Bush promised would come with Iraq?" Yes, he actually asked that question.
again, what is wrong with this picture?
07 November 2007
busy week(s)...
Posting is kind of limited for me the past and current week. I'm working a couple of days. [I love working only 4-5 days a month!] There are also a lot of social type engagements planned.
Last Friday I went to what probably is the second best opera performance/production I've ever seen - Handel's Giulio Cesare. Great, great, great! You can read the reviews here, here and here.
On Sunday I went to a discussion with David Daniels, the star of the opera and spoke briefly with him at the reception after. Fascinating. The #1 countertenor in the world, highly sought after by all the big opera houses, considered one of the biggest opera stars of the day, and totally out as a proud gay man.
Last night, friends took me to see "Jersey Boys". Great music. I didn't know much about the history of the group. If what they presented is true, it wasn't very pretty. The second act was heartbreaking.
Thursday I'm going to the opening night gala and screening of the movie "Shelter" at
The Chicago Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is in its 26th year. I've read a lot about Shelter and can't wait to see it. It sounds great. Actor Brad Rowe from the movie is going to be there.
The week ends with dinner at friends' home on Saturday that is always a great meal.
i gotta tell ya. i highly recommend this retirement thing to everyone. i'm glad i didn't wait until i would be too old and feeble to enjoy it and took early retirement. anyone who worries about not knowing what they'll do if they retire has nothing to worry about. i'm always busy, even if i'm not doing anything! that sounds weird, but it's true!
one thing i know for sure - i'll need next week to recuperate. fat chance! next week there's another opera, more films at the festival, and on and on and on...
here's a video of the Tony Awards show with a medley from the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys. enjoy...
Last Friday I went to what probably is the second best opera performance/production I've ever seen - Handel's Giulio Cesare. Great, great, great! You can read the reviews here, here and here.
On Sunday I went to a discussion with David Daniels, the star of the opera and spoke briefly with him at the reception after. Fascinating. The #1 countertenor in the world, highly sought after by all the big opera houses, considered one of the biggest opera stars of the day, and totally out as a proud gay man.
Last night, friends took me to see "Jersey Boys". Great music. I didn't know much about the history of the group. If what they presented is true, it wasn't very pretty. The second act was heartbreaking.
Thursday I'm going to the opening night gala and screening of the movie "Shelter" at
The Chicago Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is in its 26th year. I've read a lot about Shelter and can't wait to see it. It sounds great. Actor Brad Rowe from the movie is going to be there.
The week ends with dinner at friends' home on Saturday that is always a great meal.
i gotta tell ya. i highly recommend this retirement thing to everyone. i'm glad i didn't wait until i would be too old and feeble to enjoy it and took early retirement. anyone who worries about not knowing what they'll do if they retire has nothing to worry about. i'm always busy, even if i'm not doing anything! that sounds weird, but it's true!
one thing i know for sure - i'll need next week to recuperate. fat chance! next week there's another opera, more films at the festival, and on and on and on...
here's a video of the Tony Awards show with a medley from the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys. enjoy...
26 March 2007
off again...
first thing in the morning. here's more than a hint as to where:
we have tickets for the cirque du soliel's new show, the beatle's love. it's based on their music.
would love to try to get tickets for the producers just to see david hasselhoff as roger debris, the drag queen director. it's supposedly more difficult than getting celine dion tickets. and to think, david hasselhoff always hated being shown from the waste down on baywatch because he thought his legs were too skinny? [they are.] wouldn't that just blow your skirt up?
this retirement business, so far, is fun...
i wonder why?
we have tickets for the cirque du soliel's new show, the beatle's love. it's based on their music.
would love to try to get tickets for the producers just to see david hasselhoff as roger debris, the drag queen director. it's supposedly more difficult than getting celine dion tickets. and to think, david hasselhoff always hated being shown from the waste down on baywatch because he thought his legs were too skinny? [they are.] wouldn't that just blow your skirt up?
this retirement business, so far, is fun...
i wonder why?
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