Quick hello

I am obviously absent in my blogging of late.  Sorry.  It's a combination of busy, and the fact that it's just more convenient to facebook.  I'm sure I'll get the urge to post again eventually.

Until then, you have to read this article... Funny funny stuff!

Don't Call Me, I Won't Call You

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/fashion/20Cultural.html?pagewanted=all

The Buffetts Aren't Keeping Up With The Joneses

Did you read my blog post yesterday?  You know you didn't.  Go back and read it now.  I'll wait...
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Did you catch that?

Multi-Billionaire (like $50 of them, with a "B"), living in original home purchased 52 years ago in 1958 for $31,500?


I'm going to repeat that for emphasis.

MULTI-BILLIONAIRE 

LIVING IN SAME HOME HE PURCHASED IN 1958

FOR $31,500

A little background:

Back then that was a rather expensive home and Mr. Buffett was 29 – but he had been in business since he was 13 years old. The Omaha home is 6,000 sqft, and has 5 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.  Down the same street, about a mile away are the Berkshire Hathaway offices.


Some thoughts that come to mind here:
1) Whaa??

2) Never met the guy, but I like him.  I do.  I think I'd feel comfortable having him over for dinner.

3) That reminds me of my sweet, smart Papa, who bought his home in Euless, TX (also in 1958!) when my mom was 3 years old.  He and my Mimi paid less than $10,000 for that house.  Lived in it for 50 years, until my mom (their only daughter) finally talked them into leaving the promised land (Texas, duh) and moving to be close to her in Arkansas.  Also, he paid up front, in full for every car he ever purchased.  I remember him trying to pay for one on his Discover card one time (hello, rewards!) and the dealer was thrown that someone would do that.  Only let him put half on the card.  He was just going to write a check to Discover and get those cash back rewards.  The point, he is smart with his money and we'd all be wise to pay heed to their generation.

4) Did you notice he said his home was the third best investment he ever made?  The first two were wedding rings.  For his first wife, then after her death for his second wife.

Don't get me wrong, this man is a human and not to be idolized.  But he's a rare breed in any case.


My takeaway from this:

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either."
-1 Timothy 6:6-7

An Insightful Annual Report

What a delight to read Warren Buffett's annual letter to his shareholders!  It has to be the most interesting part of any company's annual report, and certainly one of the most entertaining letters of all companies is Berkshire Hathaway's.  Second only to that of my favorite company in the whole wide world, of course!

Go ahead, read Buffet's letter yourself.  But here are some of my favorite excerpts from this year: 


"No matter how serene today may be, tomorrow is always uncertain." p. 3

****

"Home ownership makes sense for most Americans, particularly at today’s lower prices and bargain
interest rates. All things considered, the third best investment I ever made was the purchase of my home, though I would have made far more money had I instead rented and used the purchase money to buy stocks. (The two best investments were wedding rings.) For the $31,500 I paid for our house, my family and I gained 52 years of terrific memories with more to come. - p16

"But a house can be a nightmare if the buyer’s eyes are bigger than his wallet and if a lender – often
protected by a government guarantee – facilitates his fantasy. Our country’s social goal should not be to put
families into the house of their dreams, but rather to put them into a house they can afford."  -p 17

******

"Unquestionably, some people have become very rich through the use of borrowed money. However,
that’s also been a way to get very poor. When leverage works, it magnifies your gains. Your spouse thinks you’re clever, and your neighbors get envious. But leverage is addictive. Once having profited from its wonders, very few people retreat to more conservative practices. And as we all learned in third grade – and some relearned in 2008 – any series of positive numbers, however impressive the numbers may be, evaporates when multiplied by a single zero. History tells us that leverage all too often produces zeroes, even when it is employed by very smart people.

"Leverage, of course, can be lethal to businesses as well. Companies with large debts often assume that
these obligations can be refinanced as they mature. That assumption is usually valid. Occasionally, though, either because of company-specific problems or a worldwide shortage of credit, maturities must actually be met by payment. For that, only cash will do the job.

"Borrowers then learn that credit is like oxygen. When either is abundant, its presence goes unnoticed.
When either is missing, that’s all that is noticed. Even a short absence of credit can bring a company to its knees.  In September 2008, in fact, its overnight disappearance in many sectors of the economy came dangerously close to bringing our entire country to its knees." - P 22

"On the facing page (see page 23) you can read a letter sent in 1939 by Ernest to his youngest son, my Uncle Fred.  Similar letters went to his other four children. I still have the letter sent to my Aunt Alice, which I found – along with $1,000 of cash – when, as executor of her estate, I opened her safe deposit box in 1970." - P 22

****

Taken from his letter to management:

"We can’t be perfect but we can try to be. As I’ve said in these memos for more than 25 years: “We can afford to lose money – even a lot of money. But we can’t afford to lose reputation – even a shred of reputation.” We must continue to measure every act against not only what is legal but also what we would be happy to have written about on the front page of a national newspaper in an article written by an unfriendly but intelligent reporter." - P 104

****

"P.S. Another minor request: Please turn down all proposals for me to speak, make contributions, intercede
with the Gates Foundation, etc. Sometimes these requests for you to act as intermediary will be
accompanied by “It can’t hurt to ask.” It will be easier for both of us if you just say “no.” As an added
favor, don’t suggest that they instead write or call me. Multiply 76 businesses by the periodic “I think he’ll
be interested in this one” and you can understand why it is better to say no firmly and immediately." - P 105

That last one may be my favorite.  :)

Is Guilt Good?

Recently, I read an article in Harvard Business Review: "Guilt-Ridden People Make Great Leaders."  As one that is prone to guilt, I find the study intriguing and think there is some truth to it.

The study: About 150 workers in the finance dept. of a Fortune 500 company took a standard psychological test, which measured the tendency to feel guilt.  Those results were compared with their performance reviews.  They found that people who were more prone to guilt received higher performance ratings from their bosses. Studies also showed that they were more committed to their organizations and seen as stronger leaders by their peers.

The finding: People who are prone to guilt tend to work harder and perform better than people who are not guilt-prone, and are perceived to be:

• harder workers
• better leaders
• more altruistic and willing to help others
• higher performers
• more committed to their employers
• able to see the big picture

http://hbr.org/2011/01/defend-your-research-guilt-ridden-people-make-great-leaders/ar/1

12 Resolutions for 2011

OK - quick break in the Wonder Years posts...

I’m excited about 2011. Are you?  Like my dear Susy blogged about, I was happy to say good riddance to 2010.  Don’t get me wrong, there were so many good things about it, but 2010 also marked some life-changing difficult times for me.  I did learn – albeit a difficult lesson – that life is not easy, nor is it supposed to be.  I don’t think we were promised happiness, were we?  Rather, we can find joy in our Creator who is just so in love with us, and in aiming to please Him.  Wow – it is so amazing as I look back to see the strength and peace He blessed me with this year.  Thank you, God, and please go gentle on me this year!

Louis L'Amour  wrote, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."  All I know is, 2011 will mark the 30^th year of my life and I am going to relish every moment of this year and celebrate the start of a new chapter, a new decade.

So…

My friend Tiffaney and I are mixing it up with resolutions for 2011.  Instead of one 12 month resolution, we’re taking it by the month.  For example, we’re on a “buying cleanse” for January.  We have agreed not to buy anything that is not considered a consumable this month.  Obviously, groceries and gas are okay.  But, no indulgences.

As I was shopping in Whole Foods on New Year’s Day (buying a homemade birthday cake for mom – ha), I realized that this is going to be a little more challenging than I thought.  I saw a 2011 wall calendar that I “needed” for the kitchen, but remembered that I couldn’t get it.  Also, as I was checking out, I saw a Norah Jones (don’t you love her voice?) duets CD that I would have purchased without a second thought before, but did not.  So that’s probably $25 right there for those two items.  I may make a list and see how much I potentially save throughout the month.

We also thought about using one month to do things for one week at a time.  For example, maybe in August, we’d go without tv for a week, drink only water every day for a week, etc.

We talked about the need to get into the habit of daily Bible reading.  That will be a yearlong resolution.  College Avenue C of C has a bible reading guide to take you through the Bible in a year.  Here’s a link to one I found online.  My parents’ church is on board: “One Church.  One Bible. One Year.”  They’re using a Daily Bible that is arranged in chronological order that takes you through in one year. 

Back to the monthly resolutions – we’re still developing the list, but here are some ideas:

• No sugar
• No Dining Out
• Working Out 3  Days a Week (my issue, since Tiffaney's always at the gym)
• No Driving Distractions (phone, makeup, etc)
• Daily Random Act of Kindness
• Arriving on Time ~shudder!~
• Organizing
• Journaling

Help!  What are your ideas?  What can I do to develop myself physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally? 

Wonder Years: Forest Place

 We lived in this house from the time I was three until I was about in 3rd grade.  

I have a lot of good memories with Leah and Jenny when we all lived in the this neighborhood.  We spent a lot of time at each other's houses.  I remember playing "teacher" at Jenny's house.  How about that time that I rode the skateboard barefoot in your driveway, Leah?  I think I lost a toenail over that one.

 Can't see the imprint below very well, but it is my name and my 3 year old handprints on the front porch.  And the next one with it is Mary Claire putting her hands in my imprints.  Lots of happy memories in Forest Place.

The Wonder Years

Remember "The Wonder Years"?  Kevin and Winnie?  Ran from 1988 - 1993, but was set in the late 60's-early 70's.  I loved that show.  The reruns are back on t.v. now on some network called the HUB.  I recently visited my childhood homes and had my own Wonder Years moment.  For your reading pleasure, I'm going to document it over the next couple posts.  :)

"...things never turn out exactly the way you planned. Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers; next day you're gone.  But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. 

I remember a place... a town... a house like a lot of other houses... A yard like a lot of other yards... on a street like a lot of other streets.

And the thing is... after all these years, I still look back... with wonder. "

That LOVE Sculpture

When in New York City a couple weeks ago, my friend Tiffaney and I posed for a photo at this Love sculpture, not really knowing anything about it. This week I was in Indianapolis and saw several gift-sized renderings of the sculpture in a store and asked about it. Got an interesting story (and you have a nice version below via wikipedia). Now I have to watch (or read, but okay, probably watch) the Love Story.


Love is a sculpture by American artist Robert Indiana. The image was originally designed as a Christmas card for the Museum of Modern Art in 1964, and first exhibited as a sculpture in New York City in 1970. This original sculpture has been on exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art since 1975. The LOVE design has been reproduced in a variety of formats. Likewise, the sculpture has been recreated in multiple versions and a variety of colors, and is now on display around the world.

The image has been rendered and parodied countless times. The original book cover for Erich Segal's novel Love Story alluded to the design, and the TV series Bridget Loves Bernie included a shot of the Sixth Avenue sculpture in its opening credits. The United States Post Office issued an eight-cent stamp in 1973 featuring the image. Parodies of the image appeared on covers of records by Rage Against the Machine ( ), Oasis (Little by Little single) and Acen (75 Minutes).

Versions of Love in the US:
• Indianapolis, Indiana - Indianapolis Museum of Art
• New York City - Sixth Avenue (where I saw it)
• Lehigh University Asa Packer Campus
• Brooklyn, New York - Pratt Institute campus
• Scottsdale, AZ
• Philadelphia
• New Orleans Museum of Art's sculpture garden
• City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Delray Beach, Florida
• Middlebury College campus, Vermont
• University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia
• Museum of Art at Brigham Young University, Utah
• Collegeville, Pennsylvania
• Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vegas
• Wichita, Kansas
• Rockland, Maine

Versions of Love abroad:
• Tokyo, Japan
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Singapore
• Bilbao, Basque Country Spain
• Vancouver, Canada
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Shanghai, China
• Hong Kong, China
• Derbyshire, UK
• Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• Montreal, Canada
• Istanbul, Turkey

$75K Salary = Happiness Plateau (Study Says)

Well, you decide.  But I thought this was an interesting study anyway.  I think I was just as happy broke in college as I am today, not broke.  :)


http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/07/the-perfect-salary-for-happiness-75000-a-year/

The Perfect Salary for Happiness: $75,000

By Robert Frank


In July, I blogged about a study that revealed subtle links between money and happiness.

Bloomberg News The study, which analyzed Gallup surveys of 450,000 Americans in 2008 and 2009, suggested that there were two forms of happiness: day-to-day contentment (emotional well-being) and overall “life assessment,” which means broader satisfaction with one’s place in the world. While a higher income didn’t have much impact on day-to-day contentment, it did boost people’s “life assessment.”

Now we have more details from the study, conducted by the Princeton economist Angus Deaton and famed psychologist Daniel Kahneman. It turns out there is a specific dollar number, or income plateau, after which more money has no measurable effect on day-to-day contentment.

The magic income: $75,000 a year. As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. Until you hit $75,000. After that, it is just more stuff, with no gain in happiness.

That doesn’t mean wealthy and ultrawealthy are equally happy. More money does boost people’s life assessment, all the way up the income ladder. People who earned $160,000 a year, for instance, reported more overall satisfaction than people earning $120,000, and so on.

“Giving people more income beyond 75K is not going to do much for their daily mood … but it is going to make them feel they have a better life,” Mr. Deaton told the Associated Press.

He added that, “As an economist I tend to think money is good for you, and am pleased to find some evidence for that.”

The results are fascinating, especially in this conflicted age of materialism. But I wonder how they would differ by region or city. Would $75,000 mark the ultimate day-to-day contentment in such high-cost cities as New York City, Los Angeles or San Francisco? I doubt it. Perhaps the salary number would be lower in South Dakota or Mississippi.

What do you think the income threshold would be in your town for maximum day-to-day happiness?

Vote to give $25K to B.I.G. Love Cancer Care

Please vote for Pepsi to give $25,000 to BIG Love Cancer Care!

BIG Love Cancer Care was established in loving memory of the 5 year old daughter, Brooke, of Chaney and Jessica  Phillips after Brooke's battle with leukemia.  I got to know Chaney through the Harding MBA program - we both graduated in December. In order to help ease the heavy burden of a childhood cancer journey, we provide basic necessities such as: weekly groceries, overnight accommodations, catered meals, and toys.

http://www.refresheverything.com/biglove

You can vote everyday until July 31 - they are currently in the #11 spot and need to be in the top 10.

Thanks!

Clinique Bonus Time

It's Clinique Bonus Time in El Dorado this week!  One of the highlights of my year.  :) It snuck up on me - wish there was a website where I could see when the bonus times are so I could put it on my calendar.

• 
  
  Cosmetics Bag
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  All About Eyes
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  Brighter Smile Lip Colour Palette
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  Clarifying Lotion 2
• 
  
  Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser
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  Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Currant
• 
  
  Lash Doubling Mascara in Black

Notes From My First Love

I've been reading words from my first and true love and thought I'd share some excerpts with you. He has all the qualities my heart desires. He's truthful, faithful, loving, responsible, unchanging, patient, compassionate, righteous, powerful, wise, jealous for me, good, graceful, merciful, gracious, pure, selfless... Okay, so He's perfect.


E-Harmony, beat that.

• He chose me and will hold me up and strengthen me - I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:9-10
• He gives me a hope and future - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
• He's going to replace bad times with good times - I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. Joel 2:25
• His favor lasts a lifetime Psalm 30:5 
• Nothing and no one can separate me from His love - I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
• He loves me with an everlasting love - I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
• He carries me close to his heart and gently leads me and my children - He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11
• He made the ultimate sacrifice because he loves me - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
• I'm going to grow old in His arms - I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until you hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:4
• My Eternal Protector - No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

You, Oh Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3

Counting on You

Today is a milestone in the journey I've unwillingly been sent on over the past few months.  Listened to the song below this morning and thought about how so many friends and family have surrounded the kids and I with love and support during this time.  Your support and prayers have given me strength I didn't know I had.  Keep it coming!  So glad I can count on you and I hope I can return the kindness to each of you.

Power of God

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
~1 Corinthians 18:1

Oh Precious Father, the world says "go ahead, do it"; "no harm in a little fun"; "nobody's perfect". Yes, it is true, only Jesus is perfect. Christians slip, stumble, and fall - but we are to keep striving, doing our best to glorify HIM in all that we do - even when "those who are perishing" would call our convictions "foolishness".

Wisdom from Pooh Bear and God

"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."

-Winnie the Pooh

 

I feel like Pooh Bear right now, watching my life slip under the bridge like the river.  While I may not know what my future holds, I must remember one of God's promises to me...

 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

-Jeremiah 29:11-12

Twins Separated at Birth

I just now realized that Amy Adams, who in my mind starred in all the movies listed below, is not just Amy Adams, but also Isla Fisher. Okay, not really, but you get what I'm saying. I thought this was the same person until today.

• Enchanted
• Confessions of a Shopaholic
• Definitely, Maybe
• Wedding Crashers
• Night at the Museum II
• Miss Pettigrew

Now that I realize there are two of them, I pick Amy Adams as my favorite, because Enchanted is my favorite of the movies listed above. Isla can be her stunt woman. :) However, they're obviously equally talented, since I was comparing "Amy's" acting in Definitely, Maybe to her role in Enchanted the other night. Don't they look just alike?

Lawn care

Looking for someone to mow/weed eat my yard every other week that won't charge a ridiculous price and will actually show up. Any suggestions?

If you're thinking about suggesting the guy I live with, don't. I already told him I'd pay him $30 to do it and he said no. :)

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Best thing since sliced bread

Now this is American ingenuity at its best - we need to put the guy that invented this on the energy crisis.
I use real butter for cooking, but margarine has been pretty much the only effective choice for buttering bread and things like that.
I happened to come across this in Tuesday Morning (what a pointless name for a store that is obviously open more than just Tues. Morning) and bought it out of curiosity. Guess what... It totally works and does exactly what it says it will do - just put a stick of real butter in it and twist and the butter comes out in a thin ribbon. We are not going to buy any more margarine! Such a cool product - everybody needs one of these!
http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/butter_dispenser.html
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I got a wife!!

I mentioned in an earlier post that it was really depressing to come home after a long day at work to dirty laundry and dishes, and toys and clutter as far as the eye can see (notice someone stole my blog title to write their book!).  

Well, guess what?  God sent me an angel named Anna!  Anna goes to my church, and she's home from college for the summer and is coming over 2-3 times a week to help out around the house.

Some appropriate movie quotes fit quite well in this post (adapted of course for this situation):

• Little Rascals - I got a wife, I got a wife, I got a wife, hey hey hey hey!  
• Casablanca - Anna, I think this is going to be a beautiful friendship!  
• Gone with the Wind - Of course, she'll leave me when school starts back in the fall.  But I can't think about that right now.  If I do, I'll go crazy.  I'll think about that tomorrow.

What Are Your Memorial Day Weekend Plans?

Just curious!  What are your plans for this weekend?  In light of being frugal (only because I'm getting carpet and tile installed next week), I was thinking about painting the trim in my foyer.  How thrilling!  Don't you wish you were me?  :)

What are your plans?


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