I don’t know what is going on but when I got up this morning I actually felt energized and excited about the day. Maybe it was the spring like weather the past few days, or the big Trump speech a few days ago. Or maybe it’s just the pollen. Whatever it was, I felt good. Full of ideas and ready to get them done. Wonder how long it will last…
Of course, to counter this feeling is a lingering worry. I have this problem where whenever I go to the doctor or the dentist I feel like I’m being tested and judged. They take my blood pressure – I may fail the test. They check my teeth – judgement day. Well, I had to go in the other day to get lab work done for a visit next week. The six month blood work check. Now I’m waiting for the results to see if I passed on the cholesterol and glucose and liver functions. They’ve been pretty good lately, but my glucose has been a little high. The doctor has given me the judgement speech about it. I’ve been concerned that it is my cholesterol medicine that is elevating my glucose. Before I took this medicine my levels were normal. Since then they’ve always been elevated. There are even studies that suggest this medicine might cause elevated glucose levels. When I bring it up to my doctor she acknowledges the studies and that it’s a possibility, but still tells I need to do more to bring it down. Well, I don’t drink sugary drinks – coffee always black – eat bananas or hard boiled eggs every morning for breakfast – stay away from the fast food – don’t snack much – and go to the gym three to four days a week at lunch. Recently I’ve really upped the cardio, like I talked about in a previous blog, so we’ll see what the results are in a few days. Everything is a test, though – ugh.
Lunch view – adding cinnamon to my black coffee today. Is is still black then – or rust?
Have I mentioned how much I like mobile ordering from Starbucks? So easy and convenient. It’s really the greatest thing. Especially on weekends when you can walk right past the big line, grab your coffee and leave. The best part is not having to talk to anybody…
My wife and I watched this terrific movie a few weeks ago called Sing Street. It takes place in Ireland during the 80’s and follows this love sick guy who creates a band in order to try to win over a girl. The love story is great, Ireland in the 80’s is gritty and poor and interesting, but the best part is the music. The band writes songs and makes music videos and actually gets good. The songs are amazing songs for today while at the same time perfect for that time in the 80’s. Here is a great example:
And another:
I can’t recommend this movie enough. Once it’s over it feels like the movie itself may have been one big 80’s music video – with romance, rain, fantasy, music, a little awkwardness, a lot of innocence, and, of course, crazy makeup and hair!
A cool thing happened to me today. This much younger co-worker came to me to ask my advice about stocks and investing. Of course, I told him that nobody really has the right answer and if there was a right answer everybody would be doing it and we’d all be rich. But I also told him the best advice I’d could give him on the subject. What I’ve learned from experience and my dad and from advice given by people like Warren Buffett. Don’t buy stocks but instead invest in companies. Treat investing like you are buying into the ownership of a company – which, of course, is exactly what you are doing. Don’t go in for quick returns, but instead invest in companies that you strongly support and believe in that also pay decent dividends and earn good returns in the long run. Companies like Disney and Apple, Boeing and Starbucks. Diversify in multiple industries and stay in for the long haul. Don’t worry about all the ups and downs and don’t freak out and sell everything when the market inevitably crashes after a scandal or tragic event. It always recovers and always goes up long term. That was my advice. Strong companies, dividends, long haul, diversify, don’t freak out. It was interesting being asked, though. Most young people nowadays think they know everything. It’s quite refreshing having one of them actually ask for advice and seem to want to learn. Maybe there is hope…
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