October 25, 2008
Personal Rant & General Observations
Someone smashed into one of our cars, the one we keep on the street. We don't know who that someone is because the perp did not leave a note. Geico Insurance has been a help. We met the claims agent at a bodyshop downtown and left the car. We owe the $500 deductible and Geico picks up the tab for the rest of the $2,600 repair bill. Since it happened while the car was parked on the street it is considered no fault and according to Geico will not go towards raising our premiums. Time will tell on that.
In the meantime some scum bag owes me $500.
Last night we had a nice family meal at a popular steak house. At this time last year you had to arrive well before 5:00 pm to get immediate seating. If you arrived at 6:00 you had an hour wait on a Friday night.
Last night we strolled in at 5:00 and got a prime table. Business is down, no question. The cook (s) screwed up the order but the general manager who visited the table twice as we ate made good by offering a free desert. The waitress threw in a free appetizer for our next visit.
They bent over backward to show how they value customers. I think they are in survival mode.
Another outlet, an "upscale" (read expensive) pizza place we normally avoid has been reduced to two for one coupons. For $20 we had two large pizzas delivered the other night. Six months ago you got one of their pies delivered for that price. Survival mode.
I paid $2.99 for gasoline the other day. I was shocked and tried to get a comment from the guy pumping gas next to me. He was in zombie mode and was not in the mood to celebrate or even acknowledge the symbolic move below $3. Lots of zombies around now.
At my gym the other day I ran into one of the largest commercial developers in California's central valley. I asked him about one of his tenants, a business we frequent and asked him how they are doing. He told me it would fail. Lots of his tenants are doomed for failure.
His out? He chases tenants that fail. No escape. His reasoning is you signed the lease with eyes wide open. I could never be a successful retail or commercial landlord, I would not be able to sleep.
This morning a TV reporter mentioned Argentina's stock market dropped 26% last week. The reason is the government announced plans to nationalize pensions. Just before that report a talking head reported the Democrats are floating a plan to tax 401-K accounts. We are about to be taxed to death.
The polls indicate the majority of Americans are going to throw the dice for hope and change.
In my opinion the majority has been hoodwinked and it will become evident before the end of 2009.
Son #1 is going to study computer network security in college next year and I'm confident he will find work. Son #2 is now considering medicine. The theory is no matter how they regulate medicine doctors will always be in demand and should stay relatively high on the pay scale.
Law will be a growth industry too but neither son wants to study law. I can't understand why because both can argue their case on any subject.
If I was starting over I would join the Navy and put in for submarine duty. My contract would stipulate assignment to whatever sub is destined to be out to sea the longest for the next 8 years.
In the meantime some scum bag owes me $500.
Last night we had a nice family meal at a popular steak house. At this time last year you had to arrive well before 5:00 pm to get immediate seating. If you arrived at 6:00 you had an hour wait on a Friday night.
Last night we strolled in at 5:00 and got a prime table. Business is down, no question. The cook (s) screwed up the order but the general manager who visited the table twice as we ate made good by offering a free desert. The waitress threw in a free appetizer for our next visit.
They bent over backward to show how they value customers. I think they are in survival mode.
Another outlet, an "upscale" (read expensive) pizza place we normally avoid has been reduced to two for one coupons. For $20 we had two large pizzas delivered the other night. Six months ago you got one of their pies delivered for that price. Survival mode.
I paid $2.99 for gasoline the other day. I was shocked and tried to get a comment from the guy pumping gas next to me. He was in zombie mode and was not in the mood to celebrate or even acknowledge the symbolic move below $3. Lots of zombies around now.
At my gym the other day I ran into one of the largest commercial developers in California's central valley. I asked him about one of his tenants, a business we frequent and asked him how they are doing. He told me it would fail. Lots of his tenants are doomed for failure.
His out? He chases tenants that fail. No escape. His reasoning is you signed the lease with eyes wide open. I could never be a successful retail or commercial landlord, I would not be able to sleep.
This morning a TV reporter mentioned Argentina's stock market dropped 26% last week. The reason is the government announced plans to nationalize pensions. Just before that report a talking head reported the Democrats are floating a plan to tax 401-K accounts. We are about to be taxed to death.
The polls indicate the majority of Americans are going to throw the dice for hope and change.
In my opinion the majority has been hoodwinked and it will become evident before the end of 2009.
Son #1 is going to study computer network security in college next year and I'm confident he will find work. Son #2 is now considering medicine. The theory is no matter how they regulate medicine doctors will always be in demand and should stay relatively high on the pay scale.
Law will be a growth industry too but neither son wants to study law. I can't understand why because both can argue their case on any subject.
If I was starting over I would join the Navy and put in for submarine duty. My contract would stipulate assignment to whatever sub is destined to be out to sea the longest for the next 8 years.
