You Think Too Much

We were in Taos, New Mexico, a few months ago to celebrate a family friends birthday weekend. It was the second night and the third cocktail party. I was halfway into declaring some intellectual stance on who knows what when one of the guys in the crowd - also a family friend - uttered the now famous words: You think too much!

I swayed backwards for a second, two or three. The gentleman - which we had spent the previous night drinking and smoking cubans with - was spot on I realized. It might be a nordic trait, or family or even personal - who knows. The desire to observe, then contemplate, then gurgitate, then digest, then regurgitate and so on. Until every thread of reality is gone and any kind of valuable thought is transformed into a demented hysteria, into a pretentious nothingness trying to kling on to an academia that is refusing it's forced association.

"You think too much", he said. I knew he was right. It was the illness I had been born with, brought up with and that had been chasing me for my whole life. The false desire to regurgitate every single blink, force every conscious thought into a sterile analysis without friendly input or passionate love.

I learned everything I know from that night. I sent the desire to ponder and rationalize on my own to the door. Walk that way, I told the crazy fucker. I'm done with thinking too much. I want to make dragonflies in the sand without reflecting over the future. I just want to feel at home, in my own skin without having to reflect, just act and react. I think too much, I thought.

And Martha Broke $20

I'm painting Smiley's in my mind and heart. The reward of being right AND making some greenbacks is oh so sweet. But it has taken over 6 weeks for MSO to break it's 200 DMA and go under the magic 20 bucks a share. But it did happen and there are few things sweeter than when a plan comes together. A perfect ending on a great week which could only be celebrated with a cigar and a Margarita.

Could Slacking Be Pernicious?

Well - I will try to answer that for ya. During my time as a neo slacker I've kept a paper journal with three columns. It's a basic PMI analysis (plus, minus and interesting). The interesting reflections I've shared with you, my faithful slacker community. But I've been holding back and as one of my buddies always says: Never Hold Back. You shouldn't. So lemme share a few pros and cons with you if you will.

Plus:
- Spending a lot of quality time with the missus
- Spending a lot of quality time in rejuvenating solitude
- Spending a lot of time with family and friends*
- Having time to read AND think
- Doing basic DIY in our home
- Learning to cook a lot of new really great dishes, mostly french and italian
- Learning a lot about a lot of new things (taxation, countries, technical analysis, media coverage)
- Watching all episodes of the Monk and most of CSI: Las Vegas
- Loosing weight but not gaining muscles (the latter should actually be under Minus)

Minus:
- My bank account is staring at me with an empty and disappointing look
- My banker is staring at me with an empty and disappointing look
- The wine fridge is echoing AND staring at me with a disappointing look
- My humidor is just staring, being as empty as it can get
- Finally, the neighbors have started to stare as I pick up the WSJ at the time when they leave for work, only wearing the now famous sweats and Yahoo! cap

My basic math skills tells me that there are more plus than minus if giving every submission equal weight. So back to my original question: Could Slacking Be Pernicious? Well, I think my case has proven that the answer to that question that hasn't just pondered my mind but so many other mediocre minds is nope. It's actually the opposite. What that is I've no idea what so ever. If you will.

*) Nota Bene: The trained reader has already discovered the lack of the word quality in regards to time with family and friends. This was not intentional but could be a freudian slip. What do I know - never took philosophy.

My 52nd Country

Argentina will be the 52nd country I have visited as per Travelers' Century Clubs definition of the world. I've covered all continents except for Antarctica. It sounds like a lot but I'm still a little disappointed. After all those years on the road I'm still 48 countries short of becoming a member.

Well a few more trips to Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean and I'll be a member soon. I believe that we can hit Uruguay, Iceland, Japan and possible a Caribbean island before year end.

Is Martha Breaking $20?

You better believe it. She is going down. But I would be careful since it's expiration on the April's on Friday. Max pain will most likely be around $20. Great opportunity for day trades though.

Friends & Family

I'm having pasta everyday this week to save up for our trip to Buenos Aires on Monday. Maybe not everyday but almost. And I tell you, it dosn't feel like a sacrifice. In college it was only pasta, no parmesan or mushroom sauce. Now I'm enjoying tortellini in olive oil and peppar sauce with sprinkled parmesan and a glas of red. It's still inexpensive but cranked up a notch.

I would happily eat this kind of pasta everyday if life keeps being this good to me. I'm fully enjoying this extended vacation with relaxed days and foreign visits. Two of my best friends just visited for a week. We have known each other for the past 15 years, travelled the world and shared dreams.

It has really been great to spend everyday with them reconnecting and catching up. They are academics in financial economics and business ethics and our discussions were everything but boring. It got me re-interested in continuing my shelfed academic ambitions. Well, I think I'll let the plans stay on the shelf for a while. I've bigger fish to fry for the time being.

My kid brother is flying in on Wednesday from Los Angeles where he is on a business assignment. I haven't seen him since my wedding almost a year ago so that's going to be a lot of fun. The missus is flying back from her business trip to Mexico the same day so I'm on the hook to plan and execute a delicious Welcome! / Welcome Home! dinner. It shouldn't be that hard or unpleasant. I really enjoy cooking - it's creative, tranquile and you get to drink wine BEFORE dinner.