Tony Lindsey is now and forever banned, banished, and verboten on the Honey Boo-Boo set. Last year the Boo-Boo cousin was arrested for reckless behavior. He was scaring people while wearing a gorilla suit. "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" is a popular TV show, a guilty pleasure for some. I'm not judging, Wanda and I watched "Hoarders, Buried Alive" for a while. I always rooted for the trash. By the by, Tony isn't a cousin (or is it cuzin) he's a family friend. Mama is no longer comfortable with him around. "They used to call me "Crazy Tony" and loved my gorilla suit. TV has changed that family." Success, it turns the heads of many.
I'll say it again, cats are smarter than dogs, and may just be smarter than people. Just ask anyone that lives with a cat. They know how to manipulate their humans to get what they want, when they want it. I'm sure you know Wanda and I share our home with three cats and our backyard with one. The two of us have been together since 1987 and have always lived with the little critters. I've learned a lot about felines and consider myself an amateur expert of kitties.
What I know about the stock market you could fit in a shot glass. Over the years I have invested with the suggestions and advice of professionals. My first foray into the world of stocks and bonds was in early October of 1987. This was just before I met Wanda. I was thrilled to finally join the world of high finance. I had my big boy pants on. Give me a cigar, a big brown leather chair with brass buttons, and the Wall Street Journal. I was set to make a fortune. On October 19, less than three weeks later, the Dow plunged 22.6%.
Now I read that many prognosticators are indicating another large correction is bound to happen, and soon. I had such great advice all those years ago I think I'll ignore the people who are market experts. It's time to talk with a kitty.
A newspaper in England ran an experiment to see who could pick the most profitable stocks over the course of the year. The publication gave (I'm going to convert this to US funds) $8,000.00 to professional investment managers, a group of economics students, and a cat named Orlando. The humans can read and write so there's no mention of how they picked their stocks. Orlando had a favorite toy mouse that he would throw, or drop, on a numbered grid, the numbers corresponding to a company. I don't know why they didn't put the company stock designations (like V for Visa) on the grids but I wasn't consulted.
Over the year the newspaper followed the investors, posting their weekly earnings. At years end the students cashed in $7737.00, down $263.00. The professional investors had $8275.00, up $275.00. Orlando the Cat was the winner with $8866.00, up $866.00. "Yo, Steve, go find your mousie."
While on the subject of money. The other day I read we should have $250,000.00 dollars saved for medical expenses after retirement. Interesting, this is the second time I've written the amount since yesterday. Both times I've had to correct the $25,000 originally typed. The idea that we need a quarter of a million dollars is so foreign I can't write the damn thing. Thank goodness we're both healthy. Wanda and I will do everything we can to stay that way.
I've often blogged about money and how it relates to happiness. Since I've never had much I'm elated it's not important to me. I like to think the not important (like the chicken or the egg) came first. I'd be a hypocrite if my only reason to profess a lack of desire was due to not having it. Hope you got that, I know what I meant.
Every so often Wanda, or I, will say, "Did I say that out loud or did I just think I said it?" Sometimes we get it even if we didn't say it. Once in a while we know what the other meant even if we say nothing at all. I'm guessing both of us are so in tune with each other we've developed a psychic bond. On the other hand, maybe we've spent a little too much time together? Did I actually write that?
So, does money buy happiness? Let's explore that, shall we?
The CEO of Formula One Group (think racing cars among others) has daughters, 24 and 28. Last year the women spent $155 million on two houses, one in L.A. and one in London.
The fashion tales of Suri Cruise are taller than her daddy. A recent report claims mom spent $2,000 on a raincoat for her. I thought it never rains in southern California? That's what the song says.
Selma Hayek and her wealthy husband have a $12 million home in trust for their five year old. A tax break maybe? It takes $50,000 a month to fund upkeep of the house.
The son of a rap star received a silver $360,000 Maybach for his 19th birthday. I didn't know what the Hell a Maybach was. It's a car. The kid is a real good football player and has an athletic scholarship to play ball at UCLA. I don't think freshman can drive on campus.
The 30-year-old crown prince of Dubai drives a diamond studded mink lined Mercedes worth an estimated $4.8 million. He has a yacht valued at $300 million.
And the beat goes on, a 23-year-old with an $88 million condo in New York. The 1-year-old daughter of Beyonce and hubby Jay-Z sleeps in a $3,500 crib (and I mean a crib-crib, not like a house-crib). The 4-year-old daughter of Jennifer Lopez was spotted in the front row of a fashion show in Paris sporting a $2,100 Chanel bag (hey, it was a FASHION show). Another prince was rumored to have spent $113,000 for fresh flowers at his birthday party.
I consider this extravagance a waste, but of course I would. I doubt any of these people think about their retirement medical expenses. I know none of these people think about life like I do. I've always known possessions do not bring happiness. That the more you have the more you want. That the more you have, the more you drag along on the trails of life. And all those things you're dragging along start to get heavy and become a burden.
I wouldn't trade what I have with any of them, although, I wouldn't mind that raincoat.
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