And from the randomness of the Universe

I am an atheist. I was once religious, but I am now an atheist who believes in the non-existance after we die. The older I get, the more I turn towards there being nothing. Now, I had a discussion with A about if I had a child, would I want it baptized. My response was no, but I am open to the idea if is was something my wife really believed in. You see, I don't have all the answers, this much I know. I also know how important religion is to other people, so who would I be to tell someone what they can and can not believe. For me, if I had my druthers, I would not raise my child with religion, but I don't have a problem raising them with a religion if it is what my wife would want. I don't think it is hypocritical or contradictory, just acknowledgment that I don't know everything, and I would heed to what ever my wife's wishes were. Now, if she wanted to bring my child to some Jesus Camp, that would be a different story.

I used to think Tom Brady was the man to emulate in life, but now I have Barak Obama. He knows exactly what the correct course of action is for this country and I couldn't be happier. In terms of health care, he will get it done, and we will put everyone on insurance, which is a great thing for this country. 50% of all bankruptcies are health bill related. The deficit is projected to be $7.3trillion 10 years out, but that has come down from $9trillion. Not because of Obama's spending, but because he removed the gimmicks the previous administration was playing with the numbers and showed the American people the actual facts. That is a great thing, and he is a great leader. He is the man of our generation who will lead us, and will be looked at in the same eyes as Lincoln and FDR. The 72 year cycle starts again with him, and we have 36 years of Hamiltonian nation building to be thankful for. I am proud to be an American, and I am prouder to have Obama represent me and my country, what a difference a year makes.

I really am having a hard time with this "virus", "illness" or what ever it is that is over running my body. I have had it for about 6 weeks now, and there is nothing that has been found as of yet. Yesterday, I went to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for my MRI, and I have been there 6 times over the past month. I have had numerous blood tests, x-rays, scans and what not, yet there is still no diagnosis. Hopefully they will find something out, and I hope it isn't anything bad like MS or cancer. The numbness in my face is troublesome, but feels weird to be honest, and my left leg has the same thing. I have looked up all possible diagnosis from shingles, to herpes, to lyme disease, and I have been tested for all of it, with everything coming up negative. They may never find out what it is, and it may just run its course, but it is frustrating to say the least.

I am going to have another source of income very soon, and depending on how that venture goes, I may end up getting back into the market. There are so many great buys out there now, I look at companies like Ford, General Electric, BoA, all under $15. Heck, Ford somehow made it through the global economic downturn without needing a government loan or a handout. I am reinvesting again into my 401K, and I have weathered the storm fairly well without a complete destruction of my portfolio. My initial $80K in TIAA-CREF has fallen to about $50K, but I am already up to over $10K in my fidelity account. It cost me about a year and a half

I think I have done the right thing with the real estate market. There was a lot of pressure to buy back in the 06 time frame, but I held my ground and I am not going to be under water on a mortgage. I was initially thinking in the 07-08 time frame, but again the real estate market always takes longer than you expect it to, so I am going to have to wait until the 11' time frame. The difference? It is, and will be huge. I will be able to afford a house by myself in Newton, or if I am lucky, I will be able to afford a great house in Newton with my wife. As of right now, I have found a house in Wellesley for under $300K, yes in Wellesley. Granted, it was a tear down and rebuild, but the land is worth more. There are a number of homes in Newton for under $400K, which I could afford in about 2 years. Not to mention, if I am married by that time, and I am hoping to be, I could afford up to a $700K house in the Newton/Wellesley/Weston area. The same house would have gone for over a million in the mid naughts, so that is a great deal. Also. . .if inflation kicks in because of the massive influx of money from the feds, it will drive home prices down even further, because the fed will have to raise the rate to curb it. In other words, the best time to buy a house in terms of long term investment strategy will be some time in the near future, maybe 2-3 years from now.

Do you ever listen to the Universe? I do, the universe talks to me all the time. No, not in a psycho-schizo way, but instead through my observations around me. I am ALWAYS listening to the universe, and trying to decipher what it tells me in this randomness we call life. There are answers to be found, but you have to listen, REALLY listen to what the universe says, and then follow that path. Some call it intuition, some call it a "gut feeling", I call it listening to the universe, I like that phrase better, it is more in tune to who I am and what I am about. Right now, the universe is telling me to eat lunch. . .or is that my stomach? ;)

Peace Out,
Michael