Chris, Tim, Susan and I went to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Years Day. We met up with some friends of theirs from vet school, who drove down from North Wichita. All of us Mizzou fans were a little disappointed that Mizzou didn't get a BCS bowl bid given the quality of their season. However, it has been 37 years since Mizzou played in a New Years Day bowl game (Susan and I were at that one, too, and it didn't have nearly as good an outcome. We sat in the rain and watched Mizzou lose 10-3). This game was great and the Cotton Bowl is a quality event. A lot of Missouri's players come from Texas and it's prime recruiting ground. Turns out that Dallas is also home to the largest concentration of alums outside Missouri. It had the added benefit of being only three hours drive from Austin.
Missouri was a only a 3.5 point favorite, but dominated the game almost from the beginning. Arkansas had beaten LSU, who is playing for the national championship, so everyone expected the SEC team to give Mizzou fits, especially because Arkansas' running back had won the Doak Walker Award as the best running back in the country. He turned out to be the second best running back on the field yesterday. Tony Temple, Missouri's tailback, set Cotton Bowl records for rushing yardage (281) and touchdowns (4) and was the game's most valuable player. The day was cold and we were in the shade of the scoreboard for much of the game, but it was worth it to see Missouri just overpower a good team.
This has been a weird football season. Missouri lost only two games--both to Oklahoma, who lost two games to teams that Missouri destroyed. Missouri beat teams that beat both of the BCS championship teams (Illinois, who beat Ohio State and Arkansas, who beat LSU). Aside from the two losses to Oklahoma, it was a good season. Mizzou beat Kansas (when Kansas was ranked #1) and won the Big 12 North. Most of the team is back for next year, so I am optimistic.
I have some pictures, but I took them with Chris's camera because I left mine in the car. As soon as she sends them to me, I'll post them here.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Update on Retirement--Christmas 2007
Christmas week is now over. We had a great time. My mom and sister came to visit and our cousins Ron and Jo Ann were here along with their son Bryan, who flew in from SF. Added to that was the first Christmas for Chris, Tim and Maya together. Tim cooked a fabulous Christmas Eve dinner for all of us and then we regrouped for Christmas dinner at our place. We have to figure out something different next year--too much food over too short a time. The only disappointment was that our son and his family were in Chicago rather than here. It's the first time in nine years we haven't celebrated Christmas with them.
We looked at options for my mom when she moves here next year. We found some good choices here in Sun City. We are going to continue scouting things with a view towards making a final decision in February. We are so happy that she has decided to join us in Texas.
I'm still enjoying retirement, probably more each day. Here are a couple of pictures showing how I spend my time--napping with my granddaughter and my puppy.
We looked at options for my mom when she moves here next year. We found some good choices here in Sun City. We are going to continue scouting things with a view towards making a final decision in February. We are so happy that she has decided to join us in Texas.
I'm still enjoying retirement, probably more each day. Here are a couple of pictures showing how I spend my time--napping with my granddaughter and my puppy.
Friday, December 21, 2007
More Changes
We decided that our cars (which each of us individually liked a lot) didn't fit our needs. We need an SUV for traveling, so Susan's sedan wasn't suitable. However, Susan has always found Craig's Subaru uncomfortable to ride in and it might not be quite big enough anyway. Lastly, neither of them is a golf cart. So we have moved from being a two car family to a one-and-a-half car family. We traded both our cars in and purchased a 2008 Acura MDX. Susan likes the ride and Craig likes the tech (navigation, real time traffic, iPod adapter, XM radio and more). So far (one week) we are very happy with it. We also purchased an EZ-Go golf cart for travel within Sun City and for golf. It has a built in ball washer and an enclosure for the (thankfully infrequent) inclement weather and a few other features.
Here's a picture of them both.:
Here's a picture of them both.:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Smoking Crack
This morning I saw Tom Toles' daily cartoon, which pretty much sums up Republican fiscal policy over the past seven years. Here's the cartoon,
But it also made me think about some of the news stories I've read lately regarding the Bush presidential legacy. Apparently smoking crack has created severe short term memory loss on the part of some of the media. The assessment that shocked me the most was the idea that Bush's legacy might be written in a more positive vein if the current surge in Iraq yields positive results. After lying to get us into Iraq in the first place and squandering thousands of American lives, can any subsequent success rehabilitate the Bush presidency with respect to Iraq?
If a criminal, after a long and vicious crime spree, finally stops, should we hold him up as a paragon for ceasing his criminal acts? Or should he be remembered (and brought to justice, if only in the history books) as the criminal he actually was?
But it also made me think about some of the news stories I've read lately regarding the Bush presidential legacy. Apparently smoking crack has created severe short term memory loss on the part of some of the media. The assessment that shocked me the most was the idea that Bush's legacy might be written in a more positive vein if the current surge in Iraq yields positive results. After lying to get us into Iraq in the first place and squandering thousands of American lives, can any subsequent success rehabilitate the Bush presidency with respect to Iraq?
If a criminal, after a long and vicious crime spree, finally stops, should we hold him up as a paragon for ceasing his criminal acts? Or should he be remembered (and brought to justice, if only in the history books) as the criminal he actually was?
Thursday, December 6, 2007
A Modest Proposal
Well, I promised more than just photos of my puppy. Today I was struck by a commentary by Robert Reich (part of which is excerpted below). This fueled my desire to make some comments about what we should really be debating with respect to the economy. The distribution of income and wealth has become so skewed in this country that one would think it would be front and center in the political debate. But that isn't so. Instead we waste time and words on less important issues like subprime mortgages. [This is an issue that really burns me. Bush's new proposal (rumored to be announced today) will actually reward all the greedos or criminals who lied about their incomes and took out mortgages that they couldn't afford. Sensible people who didn't place themselves in economic jeopardy will not be rewarded and may actually be punished in the long run by this piece of political expediency.]
Anyway, back to the point. Here is Reich's commentary(with some emphasis added):
This brings me to my "modest proposal" (and we aren't going to serve up any immigrant children for dinner). When people like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates begin to notice that they aren't paying enough in taxes (and say so in front of Congress), it's probably time to listen. When hedge fund managers and financial engineers who create situations like the alleged "subprime crisis" make thousands of times what a kindergarten teacher makes, it's probably time to take action. We are willing to bail out stupid greedy people who assume mortgages they never should have qualified for in the first place and banks that lose billions investing in questionable (not any more!) securities, but are we willing to pay a living wage and find a decent place to live for a kindergarten teacher?
The first step would be to have a rational tax code that reflects our country's commitment to egalitarianism (and this is only a first step--it's a long way from solving the problems that Reich discusses in his commentary).
Craig's tax proposal: Find the median salary for public school teachers in the ten largest US cities. All income earned by any person below that figure would be exempt from taxes. Above that level, there would be two marginal rates: 20 percent and 50 percent. There would be no deductions for anything and any kind of income--wages, interest, capital gains--would be taxed. The levels at which the marginal rates apply would be set (for now at least) at points that would yield the same level of income to the government as it receives in 2007, except that all income over five million dollars would be taxed at the higher rate. There would be no corporate income tax, but there would be limits on the wealth a corporation could hoard--they would either have to reinvest it in the business or pay it out in dividends.
There are a lot of other things that need to be fixed, too--health care, Social Security, Medicare, etc., but the tax system would be the easiest if we only had the will.
Anyway, back to the point. Here is Reich's commentary(with some emphasis added):
Most Americans are still not prospering in the global economy -- addressing this means thinking bigger than tax cuts or spending increases. |
December 5, 2007 | web only |
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According to new polls, the economy is the number 1 issue for American voters. But that's not just because the economy is slowing and mortgages are harder to come by. The real reason is middle-class families have exhausted the coping mechanisms they've used for over three decades to get by on median wages that are barely higher than they were in 1970, adjusted for inflation. Male wages today are actually lower than they were then; the income of a young man in his 30s is now 12 percent below that of a man his age three decades ago.
The first coping mechanism was moving more women into paid work. The percent of working mothers with school-age children has almost doubled since 1970 -- from 38 percent to about 70 percent. Some parents are now even doing 24-hour shifts, one on child duty while the other works. I call these families DINS - double income, no sex.
When families couldn't paddle any harder, we started paddling longer. The typical American now works two weeks more each year than 30 years ago. Compared to any other advanced nation we're veritable workaholics, putting in 350 more hours a year than the average European, more even than the notoriously industrious Japanese.
As the tide of economic necessity continued to rise, we turned to the third coping mechanism. We began taking equity out of our homes, big time. But now that home prices are sinking for the first time in decades, this final coping mechanism no longer keeps us afloat. As Moody's reported last week, defaults on home equity loans have surged to the highest level this decade.
In short, it's the economy, stupid. But not just the current slowdown. The underlying problem began around 1970. And any presidential candidate seeking to address it will have to think bigger than stimulating the economy with tax cuts or spending increases. The fact is, most Americans are still not prospering in the high-tech, global economy that emerged three decades ago. Almost all the benefits of economic growth since then have gone to a relatively small number of people at the very top. The candidate who acknowledges this and comes up with ways to truly spread prosperity will have a good chance of winning over America's large and largely-anxious middle class.
This column is adapted from Reich's weekly commentary on American Public Radio's Marketplace.
The first step would be to have a rational tax code that reflects our country's commitment to egalitarianism (and this is only a first step--it's a long way from solving the problems that Reich discusses in his commentary).
Craig's tax proposal: Find the median salary for public school teachers in the ten largest US cities. All income earned by any person below that figure would be exempt from taxes. Above that level, there would be two marginal rates: 20 percent and 50 percent. There would be no deductions for anything and any kind of income--wages, interest, capital gains--would be taxed. The levels at which the marginal rates apply would be set (for now at least) at points that would yield the same level of income to the government as it receives in 2007, except that all income over five million dollars would be taxed at the higher rate. There would be no corporate income tax, but there would be limits on the wealth a corporation could hoard--they would either have to reinvest it in the business or pay it out in dividends.
There are a lot of other things that need to be fixed, too--health care, Social Security, Medicare, etc., but the tax system would be the easiest if we only had the will.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Brunch with Friends from the Fed
This morning we had a nice brunch with some friends at the Fed. One of our sophisticated urban friends picked a restaurant called Sepia. The ambiance is very pleasant and the food is decent. Here's a picture of the restaurant.
The group included most of the people I worked with or for over the past couple of years. here's a group picture.
The level of celebration increased when Susan noticed a beautiful ring on our friend Kristin's hand. Turns out her boyfriend Bob had proposed to her when they were in Ireland a couple of weeks ago. She hadn't yet been back in town to tell everyone the good news. Bob designed the ring himself and it's beautiful--a solitaire diamond with two square emeralds on either side (they are of Irish descent). Here's a picture of Kristin and Bob.
This will be the last post from the frozen north. Tomorrow we're headed for warmer climes. It's been a good visit--we got to spend time with the things we miss most about Chicago--our family and friends.
The group included most of the people I worked with or for over the past couple of years. here's a group picture.
The level of celebration increased when Susan noticed a beautiful ring on our friend Kristin's hand. Turns out her boyfriend Bob had proposed to her when they were in Ireland a couple of weeks ago. She hadn't yet been back in town to tell everyone the good news. Bob designed the ring himself and it's beautiful--a solitaire diamond with two square emeralds on either side (they are of Irish descent). Here's a picture of Kristin and Bob.
This will be the last post from the frozen north. Tomorrow we're headed for warmer climes. It's been a good visit--we got to spend time with the things we miss most about Chicago--our family and friends.
A Growing Puppy
Ginger continues to captivate us. She's settled into a routine that we are finding tolerable. She sleeps for about eight hours every night before she gets impatient about getting up. She's growing fast--her weight has increased by about a third since we got her and she seems generally healthy. She has had a cold and a nasty cough that makes her sound like a chain smoker nearing death when she gets up in the morning, but she's full of energy and loves to play with her balls and tug rope. She got a new toy this weekend from her friend Jonesy. It's a stuffed frog that she loves to shake (it rattles). She is pretty well behaved and accidents are few and far between (as long as we keep a close eye on her). She is learning some basic commands. "Sit" is very good, along with "come" (if she's not absorbed in something). "Stay" is pretty good, unless I turn my back and then she follows me as I walk away. She seems to be a pretty smart little puppy and I think it will be pretty easy for her to learn basic commands.
Here are some recent pictures.
and playing with a new favorite toy.
It turns out that she is a very good traveler, so it was a good idea to bring her along. She doesn't mind the cold nearly as much as we do.
Here are some recent pictures.
and playing with a new favorite toy.
It turns out that she is a very good traveler, so it was a good idea to bring her along. She doesn't mind the cold nearly as much as we do.
Return to the Frozen North
We finally succumbed to our desire to see our family and friends in Chicago and made a trip back to Illinois. Now I am trying to figure out if it was worth it. Yesterday afternoon while we were out to lunch and a movie with our friends the Agnellos, it started to snow. Then it started to sleet. Then came the freezing rain. Fortunately, they know something about clearing streets here in Chicago, so the trip home was a little slower, but not dangerous. When we got to our son and daughter-in-law's house and parked in the driveway our car began to slide backwards. Before it was finished, it had slid about six feet down the driveway. We quickly realized one reason we moved to Texas (it didn't help that we were getting regular weather updates from our daughter in Texas).
But despite my griping, the trip has been worth it. The kids are as cute as we remembered, Robert and Sarah run a comfortable hotel and it was great to reconnect in person with our friends here. Nonetheless, tomorrow we are hightailing it south.
But despite my griping, the trip has been worth it. The kids are as cute as we remembered, Robert and Sarah run a comfortable hotel and it was great to reconnect in person with our friends here. Nonetheless, tomorrow we are hightailing it south.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Life with a Puppy, etc.
Ginger has been with us for a week now. It's hard to imagine her not being here. She has integrated into our family very well. The first week our lives pretty much revolved around her. This week the challenge is to reduce that a little. She seems OK when we leave her for a while so this morning we'll all be gone for an hour or so--me to the practice range and Susan and Jocelyn to the fitness center.
Susan and I have started using the fitness center. We met with a trainer who set up a regimen for each of us based on our needs. The center here is very well equipped. There is a double set of exercise machines as well as free weights. In addition, there are about 20 treadmills, 10 elliptical machines and a dozen or more bicycles. Susan is going to start water aerobics this morning in one of the pools. Right now there seems to be a good balance between the number of users and the quantity of equipment--we never have to wait long, if at all, for the machine we need.
We've also started playing more golf. Unfortunately the quality of our play is not improving as fast as we'd like. Mostly it's a problem of consistency-- a few good holes or even a good nine--followed by some spectacularly bad play. I've started posting my rounds so I'll have a handicap index soon. It's not going to be pretty. But I'm optimistic. I just need to use better judgement and hit fewer abysmal shots. I think I'll be solidly in the 80s soon. The real challenge will be improving after that.
I did finally spend the Golfsmith gift card that my Fed colleagues gave me as a retirement gift. I got a new Nike driver. I think I'm going to like it a lot. Thanks to all of you for this assistance in improving my game.
I've also started doing a little consulting work for the Fed. The early work will be gratis--sort of on spec--in anticipation of more work later, because the IRS doesn't like for companies to pay recent retirees for doing work similar to what they did before retirement (the reasoning escapes me). I'm working on transforming a course the Fed uses for examiner training so that it can be taught to non-US examiners. I've finished the first lecture and I'll start on the second one this week.
We're planning for our first trip back to Chicago. We want to make it before it gets too cold. This fall has brought home to us one of the reasons why we moved to Texas. Today the high will be 83 and tomorrow 87. We'll have a cold snap on Thursday and Friday with a high of 68. Fall here is very nice. Anyway, our plans right now are to leave the week after Thanksgiving, stop and see my mom in Springfield and then stay in Chicago at least through December 2. There are a lot of people we want to see and we'd like some extra time with Rob, Sarah and the grandkids.
Susan and I have started using the fitness center. We met with a trainer who set up a regimen for each of us based on our needs. The center here is very well equipped. There is a double set of exercise machines as well as free weights. In addition, there are about 20 treadmills, 10 elliptical machines and a dozen or more bicycles. Susan is going to start water aerobics this morning in one of the pools. Right now there seems to be a good balance between the number of users and the quantity of equipment--we never have to wait long, if at all, for the machine we need.
We've also started playing more golf. Unfortunately the quality of our play is not improving as fast as we'd like. Mostly it's a problem of consistency-- a few good holes or even a good nine--followed by some spectacularly bad play. I've started posting my rounds so I'll have a handicap index soon. It's not going to be pretty. But I'm optimistic. I just need to use better judgement and hit fewer abysmal shots. I think I'll be solidly in the 80s soon. The real challenge will be improving after that.
I did finally spend the Golfsmith gift card that my Fed colleagues gave me as a retirement gift. I got a new Nike driver. I think I'm going to like it a lot. Thanks to all of you for this assistance in improving my game.
I've also started doing a little consulting work for the Fed. The early work will be gratis--sort of on spec--in anticipation of more work later, because the IRS doesn't like for companies to pay recent retirees for doing work similar to what they did before retirement (the reasoning escapes me). I'm working on transforming a course the Fed uses for examiner training so that it can be taught to non-US examiners. I've finished the first lecture and I'll start on the second one this week.
We're planning for our first trip back to Chicago. We want to make it before it gets too cold. This fall has brought home to us one of the reasons why we moved to Texas. Today the high will be 83 and tomorrow 87. We'll have a cold snap on Thursday and Friday with a high of 68. Fall here is very nice. Anyway, our plans right now are to leave the week after Thanksgiving, stop and see my mom in Springfield and then stay in Chicago at least through December 2. There are a lot of people we want to see and we'd like some extra time with Rob, Sarah and the grandkids.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Our New Family Member
Today a little cockapoo named Ginger joined us in Georgetown. We'd been looking for a puppy for a while and been unable to decide exactly what we wanted. We finally found a website offering cockapoos down near Houston. They were so cute we couldn't resist any longer.
We're just getting to know one another, but Ginger seems to be adjusting to us pretty well. It remains to be seen how we'll adjust to her. We're in a better position to train and raise a dog now that we're retired and we hope to avoid many of the mistakes that we made with our first two dogs.
Here are some early pictures:
We're just getting to know one another, but Ginger seems to be adjusting to us pretty well. It remains to be seen how we'll adjust to her. We're in a better position to train and raise a dog now that we're retired and we hope to avoid many of the mistakes that we made with our first two dogs.
Here are some early pictures:
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