It’s been a couple of weeks since I last updated, so here goes:
One of my favorite books is “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. It is a book that I give to new employees when assigned to my staff and it’s one I recommend to everyone. There is one quote in the book which hangs in my office: “What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid?” Fear prevents us from doing the things we know we can do and the things we know we should do. It stops us from being greater than we allow ourselves to be. Fear of success is just as great a dream killer as fear of failure. Your life goals don’t require the validation of others. You win when YOU say you win. And I’ve winning a lot lately. 🙂
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My most significant other had her surgery earlier this month and is doing very well. She hates physical therapy, but understands it is necessary to retain her improved range of motion. The other shoulder gets operated on in May and we start the process over again.
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I remain concerned that for the first time since the Great Depression, the Feds stepped in not only to bailout a major bank, but to ease the way for that bank to be bought by another bank which itself is probably three months away from similar difficulties. There is no way that this ends well. None!
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Oil remains above $105 a barrel, causing airlines like United and Delta which have major hubs in Atlanta, Chicago and Salt Lake to raise ticket fares by $10 as a fuel surcharge. This surcharge is long overdue. I, for one, will not squeak at paying it. Each 44 gallon barrel of crude oil produces less than 4.5 gallons of jet fuel. A small 737 has a fuel capacity of 5500-6700 gallon. The larger planes take much more. These rising fuel costs are likely to drive more airlines out of business or into bankruptcy protection or into merger for survival. One hidden benefit of this is that the price difference between first class and coach is starting to shrink, making flying first class an affordable alternative for many. (Yours truly included.)
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I bought a new desktop computer this past week from Dell. (Those of you who aware of my luck with computers are requested to stop giggling.) It is the XPS 630i (XP Pro Vice Vista) (for the geeks who want to know). I easily recommend Dell to everyone who’ll listen. Not because they necessarily make a better product, but because you can talk to a live person who is on commission and you can negotiate the price of the product. My customized machine, with extended warranty and expressed delivery cost $200 less than the advertised price on the website. Downside? My video capture software doesn’t work on the new machine. Oh well, I needed new software anyway. 🙂
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Finally, I am happy and doing well. Hope you are too.
Until my next ramble, whenever that is, I return you to your internet. 🙂