Election Day

Today November 4th, 2008.  Its said after today things will change one way or another.  What does it really mean to change.  We have our everyday jobs, unless somebody just start handing out money and to go to my place of work to do business or pay all my bills and stuff off.....I'm not seeing what change there is going to be after today.   I'm not trying to be negative but realistic that all of us have our own lives, career and more important our own economics to survive day to day.  The real key answer has been drawn away from most individuals to deal with those three things (especially the last on economics) ourselves and thinking one wave of the magic wand is going to take care of Wall Street, the fuel situation, the mortgage mess, and of course i can go on and on.  but I feel if each of us will take care of our own economics ourselves and not rely on these others.  I wrote in a blog earlier how I was in the real estate industry for 18 years and started to see the bubble  blow up and bust.  I'm seeing us not treating , or may I say acting on, our finances like we use to.  I think we have over spent and the blame goes on to all the consumers which is you and me.  Washington should have done this and this, but if we continue as a majority of consumers spend more than we can pay back,  we are going to be in a world of hurt.  I am wanting to sit down with others on a periodic basis and work together as a small group and tell each other what we are doing with our finances and be accountable for each other.   If one group of people lives by their means, then that group tells others what they are doing and work it across the nation, that will be more of a dent in the present situation then any politician can do and any government can provide.  

I've Started Something

For a long time I've wanted to have a blog with a purpose.  And what I've learned to have a blog of a purpose, one must have a passion about something.  So while searching other blogs and podcasts, I've found a passion in other blogs and podcasts.  Of course that sounds silly but the passion is seeing and reading other blogs of all sorts of subjects.  So a split-second minded idea, I came up with an idea to do a podcast of just that.  I have a passion of online video and vlogs so I want to use that type of platform to do such a blog.  I will be focusing on the Joplin, Missouri online communities and blogs.  I want to explore large and small web projects in the area.  So basically Im going to ask the question of the day for the blog is what exactly are you doing online and how are you doing it.  Im pumped, Im launching it in the morning after I get the opening video done and edited.  Im excited to fulfill and get that feeling of passion in.  Gotta go.  see you here and at www.jomometro.com

The Fall Harvest Brisk Feeling

Its Finally here!!!!  the cool 48 degree morning brisk air I like.  Not freezing or a sheet of heat hits the front of you, it puts anyone into a new light of the day I feel.  Anyway, thats enough of my feeling good about life moment.  Just a reminder something big is coming and Im going through with it.  Keep reading the updates.

Its HumpDay!!!!

I've now noticed that it has been a week since I have blogged.  So here we go.  I'm done talking of the economy, its not that its not interesting to me its just not important to me right now.  On those same lines of thought, I've had to ask what is important to me today.  As my title says its hump day and lots need to be done and lots was caught up.  My mind (which has been for a while) is on creating a regular Video Blog.  A syndication formatted type of blog.  I've done some research and getting some details in order, so in the next few weeks I will be announcing a great blog I'm putting out soon.  So to share the excitement keep coming back!!!!

What to Feel Today

I was going to start to say I have so many emotions going through me that I do not know how to feel.  I don't want to be doom and gloom and pissed off all the time.  I was watching the senate and congress hearings the last two days and can not believe the presentations these "supposably" the financial leaders of our country was answering questions.  Our chief senior financial leader Secretary Poulson could not answer and explain the situation we are in financially and sounded like a boring college professor,  The leaders of the largest bank and finance companies  answering questions of salary and reasons of the $445,000 retreat were just bizarre.  One CEO could not answer the correct figure of his salary and acted like hen had no idea how much his present salary was.  And what I don't understand, that is ok with everyone including the senate and congress and the media did not comment on that one time.  If that were myself answering questions like that, it would be doom and gloom for me.  There is no solution but just take care of ourselves and each other.  When someone asks what I think of the economy, I will reply first with "Well, my economic situation is like this......"    Hang in there we all will get through this and keep laughing at the government and these so called leaders.  And we are suppose to elect more of these people like this in those positions???

My Economic View

It has been a while since I have blogged so I need to start back.  I ignore talking about finances because it is a weakness I put under the rug.  I over spend and don't take care of every dollar I get.  But what is happening today on Wall Street and the capital is cracking me up.  Anyway, here is my take on this?  Many that will read this knows I spent 18 years selling real estate as a Realtor.  I was more of a consultant and one who would gather information than I am in sales.  If it was up to me, get what you need and don't wast my time.  Many of my colleagues would make it a challenge to see what they and how fast they can sell at the highest bid.  Sales and inventory of all product, buyers and sellers is key to all.  I was always looking for the easiest way there.  During my real estate career, in the late 90's and the beginning of the decade was an explosion in the market and how can this go wrong many would ask.  When I would see many and most applicants for home loans be approved and knowing they are way above their monthly payment limit.  I was told by the industry that was not my problem.  Bottom line:  the "Lending" industry handing out loans left and right to everyone and anyone and doing ANYTHING to make it happen.  To be approved the dept to income ratio including your home payment was 41% of the household monthly income.  the house payment could not be above 31% of your gross monthly household income.  Lenders would count bonuses, overtime, extra income as mowing lawns for your neighbor and so on.  All this kept going and going on till we are in this bursting bubble of 2% (which is billions) of homes are being foreclosed, many incomes have dropped, overtime and bonuses are non-existent in most companies.  But the Media and Washington is sitting there like how did this happen.  Where did we go wrong.   And these poor, poor lenders that are having to take back their loans.  There is enough blame to go around to all and I wont get in to the middle of that.  I do not believe a bailout of wall street and the lenders and of Fanniemae will be the answer.  I believe the answer needs to lie in each of us.  I live in a 1 bedroom home with two jobs and one car that I make payments on.  I have no cable, satellite or Internet.  i did splurge on an Apple iPhone that gives me all that and I am settled on regular air-broadcast tv.  I don't do magazines and newspapers and I am energy conservative when I can be.  So if everyone cuts back because we put ourselves in this deal, we can INDIVIDUALLY get out of this deal.  My point is, it just happen lets really look at what is important.  I owe a tone of past due bills of my irresponsible financial life.  They will get paid and getting close.  Once everyone takes responsible of their financial situations and work themselves out would be not an answer right now but I believe a start.  I'm working towards it.  

Operation: Fitness

 
I made a wild decision to join the newly opened gym and fitness center Powerhouse in Joplin Last week.  I chose to take an assessment for my benefit and know I need to do this.  Im not setting goals.  Im not saying I'm going to loose this much by this date, I just want to commit and dedicate myself to the gym.  I had gone to their grand opening for a project for my boss.  We are trying to land them for a client to do pr and marketing work for them.  When I went there, I saw all these trainers and staff all in shape and seeing something I didn't have (besides having their bodies).  They all had a purpose of what they did and why they were there.  I am tired of being myself as being overweight and winded all the time.  I know I embarrass my company of the way I look being overweight and all and for some reason, during the grand opening ribbon cutting, I made a decision to change all that.  I started over the weekend and went on Monday and on Tuesday, I was introduced to Alissa.  Alissa is a 20 something firm built competitive body builder.  She is serious about fitness and workouts.  Tuesday was a strong indicator that I had allot of work in front of me.  The thing was is that I felt good and cleansed that whole day and woke up in pain about 3 am Wednesday morning.  Of all things my arms were in a hurt pain and not sure what was happening. After calling the gym, it was obvious, I, for the first time in my life had a fitness workout.  I have made a commitment and I cant quit, but man did I hurt that day.  As the evening went on I decided to go back to the gym and at least stretch and get on the treadmill because I really did not want to sit and hurt all night.  Thursday morning I had woke up not as sore and was a bit more "movable" than I was the day before.  Alissa started me out in  squats and worked my arms and shoulders and for the first time in my life introduced me to the Stair-master.  Oh My God!!!!.....   I was disappointed in myself that a short time after being on there, I found myself totally winded and not able to keep up with the slowest speed on the machine.  Though during the time on the stair-master, my mind was just to be able to stay on and keep up.  I need to have the focus to push myself and not let it beat me and push myself harder to fitness if I want this.  We did a cool down on the tread mill and closed my session at that.  My stair-master experience not only embarrassing for Alissa but made me think I need to push myself and quit surviving and just getting it done and move on.  Focus is the key work I need in all my life today.  I need to focus to make this work and follow through with something for the first time in my life.  I believe Powerhouse is what i've been looking for to push myself to make all the changes Lance needs to make in Lance's life.  

Picher, Oklahoma & SW Missouri Tornado

This is a video I put together using my Tivo System at work showing news videos and clips from the deadly tornado that went through this area on May 10 of 2008.   

Where in the World Wide Web Can we find a connection??!!

Due to Lance's economics and what my needs are now I have made a decision to cut off cable at home.  I was finding myself surfing through channels and I'm on the computer all day at work, so not wanting to be online at night.  So, to say the least I rely on the use of other connections in the fast pace of WI-FI.  I must remind you that I am in Joplin, Missouri and that the technology knowledge is not quite at the high curve.  McDonald's has discovered the need for the Wi-Fi for customers and Hardees has done a good job to fill the gap to provide wireless access to customers.  Its not that I'm too good for fast food Wi-Fi, its just not the inviroment that Starbucks or Jive in Java Coffee house can provide.  Here's the deal.  A $4 coffee and that's it.  That's pretty much my lunch and dinner budget!  Anyway, enough of my whining but Starbucks is saying they are loosing money this past quarter but have cut off all the free Internet access and turned it over to a "pay for the web" from at&t and TMobile.  So if I were to have to pay for Internet and a coffee, it won't work.  I feel Internet in a public business ought to be free for paying customers of their product.   Sort of not having to pay for water with a meal.  Anyway, that what I want to put out there that Internet is for all and one must be able to not have to pay for access as we shouldn't have to pay to sit down.  I do agree you need to buy a meal or a coffee to access....so you moochers making it hard for everyone else...quit it.

Marion Cox, Jr.

Marion Cox was not only a friend of the family but of all the community as a whole.  I had admired him as a parent most of all.  Many will remember of his bravery of a fireman and rescue worker, and that I may add that he was brilliant at.  I have the most respect of Marion as a father.  You see, Mike & Mark are members of my Boy Scout Troop 10 of Joplin, Missouri.  They are the blond head american type of boys that would do anything one would ask if they had not already done it in the first place.  It takes a real father to have sons like Mark & Mike to be part of Scouts, Schools and the community as they are.  I am proud to be friends and be known of him being the family man he was.  When he had time off, it was always helping and being with others, doing what HE wanted along with his family.  From taking a 3 day bicycle trip across the plains or getting muddy on mountain bikes in the thick of brush.  He would canoe and kayak and do things he enjoyed and involve his family with him.  I have that respect for Marion and he will be truly missed.

Whats up With Me