Be Optimistic! Don’t You be a Mourner!


Want to feel hopeful?  Listen to Warren Buffet. Someone one Echo posted this section from his letter to his stock holders. 

“Amid this bad news, however, never forget that our country has faced far worse travails in the past. In the 20th century alone, we dealt with two great wars (one of which we initially appeared to be losing); a dozen or so panics and recessions; virulent inflation that led to a 21.5 prime rate in 1980; and the Great Depression of the 1930s, when unemployment ranged between 15 percent and 25 percent for many years. America has had no shortage of challenges.

“Without fail, however, we’ve overcome them. In the face of those obstacles – and many others – the real standard of living for Americans improved nearly seven-fold during the 1900s, while the Dow Jones Industrials rose from 66 to 11,497. Compare the record of this period with the dozens of centuries during which humans secured only tiny gains, if any, in how they lived. Though the path has not been smooth, our economic system has worked extraordinarily well over time. It has unleashed human potential as no other system has, and it will continue to do so. America’s best days lie ahead.”

The picture is of my ring of rewards cards.  I went through a short period of getting them all, wherever I was offered them, unless it was a credit card in disguise.  Every once in a while I save a little.  It makes me feel better.

And finally, from the post title, I give you Shirley Temple.

[Video removed because the link no longer works.]

If You’re in NYC on March 11


A friend of mine has a book coming out pretty much at the exact same time as mine does. I can’t attend her New York book reading because I’m going to be in Boston do a reading in the same night!  

But if you’re going to be in New York, you should go. She’s very smart, charming, funny and a great writer.  The book is Gimmie Shelter by Mary Elizabeth Williams.

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
Street: 126 Crosby Street, New York, NY

“In this engaging and personal look at the home-buying process, Williams takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster of fear and envy as she illuminates some of the market pressures that lie behind the nation’s current financial crisis.” — Booklist (starred review).

 
Starred reviews are hard to get!  Woohoo!!  Congratulations Mary Beth!

Look up!

Balloons!  I’ve broken down and made appointments at:  the hair salon, the place where I get facials, and a pedicure.  I have to get up in front of people next month.  I really need to feel pretty.  Hey.  I forgot to buy myself flowers.  Stupid.  Well, tomorrow.

It’s That Kind of Day

That excites you for Spring.  The most beautiful breeze is coming in the window right now, and I heard a sound that was just like a lawnmower, although it couldn’t have been.  No lawns in New York City.  But the sound!  And the breeze!  And the sunlight!  Oh, please hurry Spring!

Maybe I should buy myself flowers today.  I haven’t in a very long time (financial crisis and all).