Does Anyone Still Read This?

This will be an interesting Thursday. Survivor is over...Apprentice is over...Jenn and the girls (and boy) will be in Wichita Falls...what ever will I do? I dunno...I'll probably work until 8 or 8:30 and then come home and watch some tv. I've recorded 10-15 movies on TIVO that I haven't watched yet, so maybe I'll watch a movie. I'm ready for the 3 day weekend coming up. We are anticipating that our neighborhood swimming pool will open this weekend! I sure hope so! We will probably spend the entire summer there. At least then we'll feel like we're getting some value from our homeowners' association dues! I hate to think the administrator spends all that money on Christmas gifts for her family at the end of the year! HA! I find it interesting that we paid $250 in our closing costs for membership dues, but we haven't heard ANYTHING from our homeowners' association! Hmmm...oh well. As long as we can figure out the code for the swimming pool lock, I could care less. :)

So how do you guys feel about the markets? Do you pay much attention to what's going on? Well, I'm bullish on the market, and I think that despite the Fed's attempt to control our economic growth, and because energy prices have shown some resistance finally, unemployment numbers are good, home construction/purchasing is GREAT, commodities as a whole are improving, inflation fears have subsided, and the markets are starting to react less to negative economic indicators...PLUS the fact that the Dow has finally broken through its resistance level...I think we are staged for a period of growth in equities. The only thing that the bears (market pessimists) can argue is that the Fed's monetary policy (raising rates) is flattening the yield curve, which is historically the most accurate prediction of a near term recession. I'm a little confused by that, but I think there's enough strength in the economy and markets to correct that. If you've studied the business cycle, then you know we are at the base of an expansion, and historically, financials and technology stocks have performed well in this stage...so if you've had cash sitting on the sidelines and you haven't invested it in equities yet - NOW IS THE TIME!! Despite the bears' speculation, there's a LOT of signs pointing toward an uptrend in the stock market...so put your money to work!

On a lighter note...has anyone seen Sandlot 2 yet?

Checking In...

Hey! Just a quick blog since it's been so long. We're doing pretty good here. I think the air is worse down here or something because we've all had more sinus/allergy issues in the last 2 months. I've also had truck issues. After 3 upper radiator hoses, a failed attempt to repair a radiator crack with JB Weld, and hopefully a successful radiator repair (finally), I will have saved at LEAST $200 I was not expecting to have to spend anyway. So now the question...do I get rid of my pickup while it's still running? If so, do I go for the Jeep I've always wanted and never had? I told my wife we could buy a brand new one, and then I could give it to my son (that sounds cool, huh!) in 16 years! But then she reminded me that a new Jeep comes with a new payment.
Know what I'm sick of? The NBA playoffs. I have listened to the Ticket (sports talk radio) every minute I have been in my truck, but all they talk about now is basketball, and it is SUCH a beating. I can't wait for the season to be over.
Friday night Jennifer and I went to eat at Razzoo's in downtown Ft. Worth and then went to Four Day Weekend, an improv comedy club in the old Caravan of Dreams. It was HILARIOUS!! I highly recommend it to anyone! Afterwards, we got some homemade ice cream at the Marble Slab and strolled through Sundance Square. I love that place!! Especially on Friday nights...it comes alive. Saturday we went to the Stockyards with my parents and had a fun time! Karissa rode the mechanical bull, and Cara and Karissa both had their picture made on a longhorn!! Sunday we had a good Mother's Day hanging out with the extended family.
Saturday night I went to see "Kingdom of Heaven" with my dad. I thought it was a pretty good movie, but I have never seen a bad epic adventure. I'm not sure about the accuracy of the movie...I think the setting and the time period was accurate, and the Muslims really did take over Jerusalem, but I doubt the story line was accurate. One thing it did was reignite my hatred for Arabs. I know, thats a blanket statement...maybe it's more Muslim terrorists than Arabs, I don't know.