The Economy

I'm informed that the economy currently stinks. The markets are falling. Financial Panic. Government bailouts. Bankers lining up on high ledges. Monkeys working in restaurants. These are the bleakest of times.


Or so I'm informed.


Whenever I'm tempted to let the performance of my financial portfolio determine the level of my happiness, I remind myself of Jim and Mae Braddock -- or at least how they were portrayed by Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger in Cinderella Man. If you've seen it, then you know what I'm talking about when I say we really don't have it so bad. If not, go watch it and get a little perspective on what "hard times" actually means.



Jim Braddock was a boxer by trade, but he was a family man at heart. His willingness to sacrifice for his little family during the Great Depression (the real bleakest of times) is an ennobling story. Upon seeing a guy happily offer part of his only meal, a slice of bologna, to his hungry child after toiling at the docks all day -- I'm not as quick to start freaking out about a bad week in the stock market.


These are the times when we simply chuck our investment quarterly reports in the trash and go admire the autumn leaves with our family. It then becomes easier to appreciate the little wooden sign Melis' placed above our kitchen sink -- "It's a Wonderful Life."

She's TWO!

We went to Grandma & Grandpa's last weekend and decided to celebrate Taeg's B-day while we were at it. There were lots of cousins and food, what else do you need for a good party? Here are some pics.

I decided to try my hand at domestication. Leslie and my Mom made this cake so I could frost it on Saturday morning. I have since learned that I did NOT inherit any crafty genes from my Mom. They must have all gone to Robert because he was really getting into it. This cake would have had a crystal ball, glass slippers, and a diamond necklace, if I had left him in charge. I told him he should start building houses out of cake and forget being a general contractor. CAKES... now that is where the money is!!!

Taegan got more into opening the presents then I thought she would. She loved all the attention.

Some cousins got her a cap gun and you can tell who was 'really' interested in this gift.

Grandma Stoddard made a very cute poncho.

Robert, Heather & Derek got Taeg' this Barbie fishing pole. Taegan and Grandma were testing it out. I think the only bite they got was from Uncle Jeff (they were using a plastic donut as bait).

This is what my nephew looked like when I left on Sunday.

He is turning in his mission papers and got a haircut. He is looking old and responsible now. Don’t comment on the man purse in the first photo, it is a touchy subject for him. I will just hope he gets sent to Italy or some where that thing will fit in!

Ty's new blog

My younger brother Tyler has added a blog to his site -- I've added it to the blog list, or you can just click here.

You'll note that Ty's site is very crisp and cool, that's because he's a "Mac guy." He has some Mac program, probably called iSomething, that makes everything look very nice. I, on the other hand, am a nerdy PC guy who wears glasses. I don't have an inferiority complex (even though Vista is so terrible that I had to "upgrade" to XP), because I can do something Mac guys cannot - right click!

So there.

What would you do for your dog?

I saw this story yesterday out of Florida -- Greg LeNoir saw his rat terrier, Jake, being attacked by a shark and decided to intervene:

''I clenched my fists and dove straight in with all my strength, like a battering ram,'' LeNoir, 53, said Sunday, reliving the frightening ordeal. ``I hit the back of the shark's neck. It was like hitting concrete.'' ....

Lenoir added: 'We have no children. Jake became our child. When I saw the shark engulf him, I thought, `This can't be the end.' ''

Discussing this matter with some friends last night, I conceded that I would have just averted my eyes and let Jake become fish food. You see, one reason I'm a "cat person" is that they generally don't get into situations that require me to beat up a shark.

My friend grew silent and then, while gently stroking her chihuahua, solemnly declared, "Oh, I'd jump in and save my dog."

Question for Mom (or anyone else): would you face down a shark to save Herbie?