The End of All Things

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Don’t worry.  Be happy!

As I sit here typing, I can hear the financial experts on CNBC discussing the stock market.  I should mention it is 2:00pm CDT and the Dow Industrials are in line to fall 400 points today.  Even gold is down $50 per ounce.  I can hear the stress in those knowledgeable voices.  In their own way, they are all saying the same thing: “EEeekk!”

Okay, I will admit a few things are wrong with the economy.

First, the US has a $60 trillion unfunded liability for various pension and health programs.  Second, the US Congress recently demonstrated that as petty and mean-spirited as they are, they cannot cut a single dollar from their spending addiction.

Next, 20 million or so folks are out of work or under worked.  The lucky employed are largely paid on a par with workers in India or Russia.  That is not good.

Then, there is Europe.  Specifically, the European Union, sometimes called the “EU” (Rhymes with “Pee Euw”) is falling apart and they have no central bank or printing press to save them.  Soon, most of Europe could return to the dark ages.

The US has trouble and may not fare much better than Italy or Ireland when push comes to shove.

I am not worried.  Why?  I am not concerned because the US Congress is on vacation for five glorious weeks.  I plan to relax; sun bathe (10 minutes at a time, y’know?) and mebbe sip a cold beer in the evening for as long as they are out of town.  Everything might blow over and get better in their absence. :)

When they return, I will begin to worry.

Until then, I suggest everyone eat, drink and make merry.  (No, not make Mary... sheesh!) The unpleasantness will be upon us soon enough!

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Heat Springs Infernal

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I bet most people will agree with me this has been a remarkable year, so far.

Japan suffered the most unlikely tragedy when the tsunami washed over their six seaside nuclear reactors.  That was a truly serious bummer.

Next, the western half of Texas caught fire, burning more than 2 million acres of farm and ranch land.  My cousin Buddy lives in the direct path of the flames.  He had more than a few anxious moments; first attempting to evacuate by car, then being informed it was too late.  He would have to take his boat across the lake if the flames got any closer.  When I saw him before the prairie fire incident, he already had gray hair.  Now, he probably has none.  I am happy to report he, his family and his home survived.

Meanwhile, 80 miles to the east, we had flash flood warnings every day.  So, one-half of northern Texas was on fire while the other was under water.  I have seen stranger.  I just cannot remember when.

May arrived disguised as July.  The daytime high temperatures raced into the upper nineties and the upper 70s at dawn became a “balmy morning.”  June has continued apace.  During my recent trip to San Antonio, I noticed cactus plants wilting in the sun.  Hot and dry does not quite cover it.

Returning home, I found my precious lawn near death.  I watered it heavily for two days before I was content it would survive.  The very next two nights in a row, giant thunderstorms prowled our area, dumping several inches of rain on the city.  Within minutes, the lawn took off for the sky.  It was the first time in my life I hired help so I could cut it as fast as it grew.  

We are back to scorching heat and high humidity now, so everything is comparatively all right here.

Then, we have those poor souls in Arizona.  Many of the eyewitness reports come from Springerville, AZ.  I have stopped there many times on motorcycle trips.  It is a beautiful part of the state and my heart goes out to those who have lost their homes and businesses to that terrible fire.

Not everything strange has been bad.  Seal Team 6 sent Osama Bin Laden to paradise after a decade long search.  To paraphrase Forest Gump, that is one less thing we have to worry about.

Finally, I think my daughter-in-law has started an informal over/under pool on the ultimate debauching of the US currency.  She has tentatively picked September 2011.  If she is correct, or even close, she will make the Mayans and Nostradamus look like a bunch of sightless boobs.  Since negotiations between the Democrats and Republicans have broken down,   I am picking August.

As far as I am concerned, we have had plenty of excitement for one year.  Would anyone else be interested in moving this year’s end to June 30 and starting 2012 on July 1?  Let me know.

Finally, I am changing my investment strategy for my retirement years.  I plan to sell all those “iffy” paper assets and replace them with gold bullion and shotgun shells.* 

See you at Wal-Mart!  J

* [not really]

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