Politics and Money

Hello Dahlings!!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas Holiday.

Currently I am blogging from my brother's computer system. I am staying at his place with his dear wife, Lois until Friday.

Today we are going to the SPA and treat ourselves to being pampered. Lois has chosen the place and I haven't a clue where it is. I love things like that.

Another thing is I'm going to invest in a laptop computer, my brother has strongly suggested that it would be a good thing, because when I travel I can link in through a hotels' wi-fi when I want to know about investments. And frankly I have to agree with his assessment.

I had been holding off because I don't buy one day and sell the next I select stocks and funds for the long haul. But it can tell me which way "the wind is blowing".

I have been doing this since I knew how to do math when I was child and I can thank my parents for that and my brothers and late husband.

I've had several of my blog friends ask me if I have an "office". Well yes and no.

You see I use to go to my husbands and his business partners office, and he'd have a desk and phone for me to use (so much has changed since those early days)and I would invest only my own independent funds.

Upon his death, I made a deal with his business partners, that I could have a small office (with windows thank you) and continue to do my investing. But I also maintain an office at home as well, Wallace my friend, joined my husband's firm after my husband's death and we've continued this business relationship.

It works out well, because sometimes they will come to me for my opinion on things, which I can talk to them more freely than I can here on this blog (there are laws about that you know), but please be aware that when I talk to them I don't "darling" them at all. I talk to them as an equal and they know it. (please see my earlier posts).

The other day there was concerned about North Korea and Iran, especially around transportation of oil through one of the main water ways. There were private rumbles about that.

And if you have recently read the news Iran is threatening to block the strait that many oil cargo ships use, even though the strait is international waters.

Saudi Arabia to keep the peace and good relationships with us and Europe has done and end run which has lowered the cost of oil, but transporting it may raise the price.

We are concerned about all this "saber rattling", is this going to be another war?

Frankly my dears, if my husband were alive he'd say bomb Iran back to the stone age, and take out all the nuclear reactors. If I wasn't so concerned about repercussions I'd say the same thing, it can get very frustrating.

Now North Korea---we are dealing with an unknown quantity, personally don't be surprised if Kim's son eventually disappears from the scene, or he is used as a figure head.

But getting back to my "office" I am much like that gentleman who is 106 years old and goes to his office everyday, he has retired from the company but he keeps his office as a private investor, and he stays up with the technology. I just adore him. BUT I am not 106 years old.

Now I must go, Lois is ready and we are going for lunch first.

So what is this post all about Darlings? Remember you are the CEO of your life, what happens politically and economically, both local, state, nation and internationally, affects you. You cannot change things, but be prepared for them to "weather the fall out" so to speak.

That is why the media, newspapers, radio, television, Internet, magazines are so important to making careful judgements. Always be "the ant" not "the grasshopper" if you remember Aesop's fable.

Untill Anon, Kisses Darlings.

Diamonds, Taylor & Christmas

Well Darlings I am amazed!

Darling Elizabeth Taylor’s fantastic Jewelry and other items went for nearly $150 million dollars!!!

Christie’s estimated some of her pieces at 1 million or so and they went nearly 10 times as much.

Scripts estimated at 2 or 3 thousand dollars went for over a hundred thousand!

And all to her AIDS foundation. Such a worthy charity. The lady knew how to live and she knew how to plan her final kickoff even being late to her own funeral.

One of the last of the True Diva’s of the world, there is no one else like her and there never will be.

I’ve managed to save her White Diamonds commercials, well I have a friend who knows someone and they made copies for me, next will be the J’adore commercial where they show Grace Kelly and Sweet Marilyn along with Charlene Therzon, wonderful splicing.

All these young actresses only borrow their jewels for the big events; they don’t OWN them and choosing one to make their own statement. They make enough money, and with a bit of shrewd understanding of the value they can have it as an investment.

Mae West bought and was given diamonds all her life, and she even sold some to finance several of her plays such as “Sex”, “The Constant Sinner” and most importantly “Diamond Lil”.

From that investment she was able to “bankroll” the incomes into buying land, beach front property, and even the apartment building that she lived in.

Darlings do you see what I’m getting at? Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari, Winston are all good investments as well as personal adornment. Just don’t brag about it, let them guess but you feel good wearing the real thing, it’s like knowing that you’re wearing a simple but well-made business outfit, but wearing sexy lingerie underneath.

I invested in the Christie’s auction catalogue for the Taylor auction, it was not cheap, but I’ve also bought her book “My Love Affair with Jewelry”.

Hmmm it’s no wonder Mae West said “Diamonds are my career.” She is so right.

It reminds me of that song from the James Bond movie “Diamonds are Forever.”

Diamonds are forever,
They are all I need to please me,
They can stimulate and tease me,
They won't leave in the night,
I've no fear that they might desert me.
Diamonds are forever,
Hold one up and then caress it,
Touch it, stroke it and undress it,
I can see every part,
Nothing hides in the heart to hurt me.

I don't need love,
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me,
For when love's gone,
They'll luster on.

Diamonds are forever,
Sparkling round my little finger.
Unlike men, the diamonds linger;
Men are mere mortals who
Are not worth going to your grave for.

I don't need love,
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me,
For when love's gone,
They'll luster on.

Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever.
Forever and ever.

(written by John Berry/Don Black)

But that is not to say that relationships are not important, they are and to always have good friends, wonderful family and a wonderful relationship with people that you know and work with is always important. For those are the most precious diamonds of all.

And now my Diva Darlings, tonight I’m going to take a wonderful bubble bath and relax, the holidays are not over yet. Because I will be plunging into the holiday crowd and look for goodies for myself. I’ve already bought things for others, Juanita and I had fun finding toys for her grandchildren, my “adopted grandchildren” and I had fund finding things for my great nieces and nephews, and thank goodness their parents were able to tell me what they needed and desired and what they had already got for them, in some cases all I needed was to get accessories for them.

Tom and the family and I will be going to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, I’ll be spending the Christmas Holidays with them as usual and Juanita will be with her family. Ralph informed me last night that his new landlord, very apologetically informed Ralph that the painters would be available to paint Ralph’s apartment just before Christmas, and Ralph is worried that the paint smell would give him headaches, so I invited him over to house sit for me, since I and Juanita will not be home, I told him to be sure to turn on the outside lights and make like someone is living in the house.

Ralph leaped at the chance, all he has right now is a cheap bureau and a bed frame with mattress and box spring and just one set of bedding, he hasn’t even thought of getting anything else because of the Christmas crowds, so right now he is going to pack all his clothes, store the bedding, cover the bed and the bureau with painter’s plastic and let them go to it, the landlord said that if Ralph wanted to he could remove the old carpeting after all the painting is done, especially since he found beautiful hardwood flooring underneath. I’ll have to do a separate post about Ralphs’ find of an apartment. Just a precious jewel.

So Darlings all of you have a wonderful Christmas Holiday, Be Merry and Bright and be Safe.

Until Anon, Kisses.

Hello Darlings,

Again a long time and no blogging, I’ve been bad and busy as usual.

Mostly watching the stock reports, having my health check up and Princesses’ as well, attending fund raisers, I’m on the board of several local charities, but come January my term will be up with several of them and with relief I must say, although I’ll still keep my hand in it but on a less demanding level.

Thanksgiving was a quiet affair with the family in San Francisco, Tom is having second thoughts about selling his home, although one of his boys has suggested that he buy it off of his Dad, since he will be moving back to the Bay Area for his company, and until Tom and his wife feel comfortable in finding a Pied a Terre in the City, they can stay at the house when they come down from the Lake, Tom is determined to move up to his Lake property, but over October when the trick or treaters were coming around he started wondering if he was going to be doing the right thing. Then his son came to the rescue, and frankly I think it’s a wonderful idea.

So next year they will be putting their plans forward, in the mean time his son is renting an apartment for the family as a temporary measure with much of their extra belongings in storage.

My friend Ralph has found a month to month apartment to rent and it’s possible he may decide to stay there on a permanent basis, he feels very comfortable with it, the neighbors and its location.

Juanita and her family are all doing well, the little ones are excited that Christmas is coming and lots of family are visiting, her other 2 sons and their families and extended relatives and friends.

And I?

Well I have been and will be doing my usual plans that I do every year this holiday time, writing out Christmas cards, seeing the nutcracker, attending the Dickens fair, the Christmas revels, touring Dunsmuir house, the sing a long messiah, seeing A Christmas Carol, the Art Deco societies Deco the Halls, donating Toys for Tots, food for the food banks, buying a tree from one of the church lots and trimming it, lights on the house (thank you Manuel), feeding our local bird life, then towards the last few days before Christmas touring Christmas tree lane and other Christmas holiday lights with my friends, and I hosting a fund raiser dinner party last weekend and also shopping, shopping, shopping but not necessarily buying.

Whew!!! That is a lot when one thinks of it. I had not realized how busy I get during the Holidays.

But it’s not all play and no work; I have been working in my own way. Reading the news, watching the media and trying to make determinations.

I’m happy to say that my “Mac and Cheese” type of investing has been paying off, Smucker’s is showing a nice upswing as well as Mattel Toys, children always want toys and you can never go wrong with old reliables, although Hasbro has not fared well, but I’ve always preferred Mattel toys over Hasbro over the years. The latest Barron’s talks about these two companies and their performance.

Christian Science Monitor has an article about Occupy Wall Street and their local branches and it appears they have out worn their welcome. I know locally the local branches appear to be falling apart or at least wearing out their welcome, for they have lost their focus and their message and are currently doing more financial harm than good.

I for one, can understand at least the heart of the message but I strongly feel that they are going about it the wrong way, you do not in anyway interfere with the working people trying to earn money, you do not disrupt them, instead become more cohesive, really research what needs to be done, expose the greed of the financial institutions and how they are working hand in glove with politicians, something that everyone has known for decades but expose it, name names, show the paper and money trail, don’t in anyway harm the working person, do not in anyway disrupt their earnings. Become an organizational party that will work to vote in those needs and persons who will work for the greater good and in doing so be careful to not become communistic.

Newsweek for December 12, 2011 has articles about why we need Europe, the foolishness of expensive art and the disaster by investor Corzine. Popular Mechanics for Jan 2012 has articles about Digital spies and how China’s secret war threatens our economy, security and us as individuals. Articles I certainly would not pass up and I’d keep on file for future reference.

Once again I’ll be making plans for the New Years, and also taking time for a relaxing Spa vacation, after the fund raiser holidays it’s needed. And then I’ll be able to tackle----ahhhh yes Darlings, the dreaded income taxes and paying the property taxes.

So what is this blog all about---I would say to relax and enjoy the holidays, to not over do, rotate your Christmas events, Nutcracker one year, Christmas Carol the next, but always keep the easiest to do as an annual event. With New Years, plan on one year to go out and the following year to stay home, by doing that it helps keep one’s sanity. The simplest gifts are always the best, focus on family events and doings, my Christmas shopping has been focused on the children and with the adults looking more forward to just getting together and enjoying the company, doing games, exchanging recipes, turning off the T.V. the Ipod, I pad, the internet and just being with family and reconnecting, which is the best gift of all.

Also something I recommend, keeping a journal of your ups and downs, your thoughts and hopes, your sadness and joys, sometimes it may seem trivial and sometimes profound. But it will be your own ‘snapshot’ of your life to think about and also a possible historical connection from the people of the future to our past.

Until Anon, Kisses Darlings, with or without mistletoe.