Monday Morning Musings

🤔 WHAT’S ON MY MIND?

The weather. We’re under an Extreme Heat Watch all week, and although it doesn’t officially begin until Tuesday morning it’s already hotter than Hades. My sister is on vacation, so I’ll need to think pleasant thoughts of wine tasting and food pairing to survive the week at Le Crash Pad.

🧳WHERE I’VE BEEN (AND WHAT I ENDURED)

I visited Temecula Valley Wine Country to (somewhat) escape the heat and humidity. My visit was almost perfect, save for the digestive distress I suffered from Tuesday night onward. I thought I ate something iffy, but I suspect I picked up a bug from someone forced to work while sick. The good news is I’ve recovered.

🛍️ WHAT I BOUGHT

The Porch Gods delivered a Nintendo Switch 2, a travel case and a Joy-Con charging grip. My Nintendo Switch is 5+ years old and at this point is more suited for travel. A $50 increase effective September 1st persuaded me to pull the trigger on a new system now rather than later.

🚙 WHERE I’M GOING

The comics shop and the bank. It’s time for my monthly comics haul, and keep reading for the deets on the bank visit.

📺 WHAT I WATCHED

I frequently watch KTLA 5 News in my hotel room, and on Wednesday evening I caught a dirt bike police chase straight out of GTA V. The perp unsuccessfully attempted to refuel his bike at a gas station, then found a plastic jug of gas in a busy park. After the bike finally ran out of gas, the perp climbed over a handful of fences then hid inside a large recycling bin. An LAPD helicopter alerted officers of his location, and then it ended with an anticlimactic arrest.

I bet the chase was great for KTLA’s ratings, though.

📚 WHAT I READ (THAT DISAPPOINTED ME)

I finally finished Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, but it didn’t induce that “a ha!’ moment I expected. All I felt was the occasional affirmation that I’m already doing well — just like when you read today’s self-help gurus. I suppose I’ll appear well read if I keep it as a prop on my bookshelf.

🎧 WHAT I LISTENED TO

CNBC via SXM. The shows keep me focused during the trading session, and I even enjoy listening to Jim Cramer. Despite claims his stock picks make you wonder if the inverse is true, you can’t deny he does a great job educating novice viewers of the market basics.

🍽️ WHAT I ATE

Richie’s Real American Diner — or simply Richie’s — still has its half pound burger, fries and drink special until the end of August. I love eating there because the food reminds me of my late mother’s cooking. Sadly, I’ll have to wait a little longer before I dine there again.

🍷 WHAT I PAIRED SUNDAY NIGHT

I opened a 2019 Callaway Winemaker’s Reserve Rousanne and paired it with a homemade herb crusted salmon and steamed vegetables. It’s always been a remarkable pairing, one I’d even call a classic from my humble kitchen.

🤡 THE KIER STARMER AWARD (aka THE WANKER OF THE WEEK)

The tyrannical California Energy Commission, led by socialist Nancy Skinner, ruled Californians can only replace their car’s tires with “energy efficient” ones starting in 2029. This will eliminate 70% of tires currently on the market, increase our insurance rates due to more accidents, and increase our maintenance costs due to purchasing tires more frequently.

My real word example: Artoria’s Pirelli Cinturato P7s were “energy efficient”, but I found them “value and safety deficient”. They wore out after only 20,000 miles, and were susceptible to hydroplaning in wet weather. That’s why I replaced them with similarly priced Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus tires last month, and from real world usage I only lose 1-2 miles per gallon. One set of Bridgestones will save me just under $1,400 — the cost of a second set of Pirellis — over their expected six year life span.

I cannot understand how Californians will hold No Kings protests yet embrace tyrants like Gavin Newsom and Nancy Skinner. Make it make sense!

🤜🏼 WHO DESERVES A FIST BUMP

I can’t publicly name them due to delicate circumstances, but thanks to this individual I’ve discovered a winery that’s suitable for a companion wine club membership. Many of their offerings boast Excellent ratings — between 90 and 93 — within the pages of Wine Enthusiast, and I’m already salivating at the thought of sampling them upon my return to wine country. There’s an excellent chance, pun intended, I’ll join one of the available wine clubs and bring a few bottles home.

📋 WHAT I’M PLANNING

My recent stock trading successes gave me the confidence and desire to take a more active role in managing my money. If I adhere to my core rules and increase my portfolio’s baseline balance, I can deploy more capital in trades and potentially earn bigger profits. I’ll visit the bank to withdraw money from a CD, and I’m willing to pay the penalty in exchange for profits that will easily offset it — possibly within one trading session with how I’ve performed lately.

😀 WHAT MADE ME SMILE

The feeling I’ve created a post-retirement, part-time job for myself. I’m my own boss. I decide when I take my breaks. I don’t follow a corporate dress code or policies. I don’t have to be productive. My only metric, the weekly 2% portfolio growth, is a wish and not a changing goalpost that determines my value or employment.

I love “working” again.