My Life

Here is my financial plan for the rest of the year:

· Decrease my 401(k) contribution from 20% of my salary to 4% of my salary (the maximum my employer will match, dollar for dollar).
· Stop investing $100 each month in a loaded mutual fund at Wachovia because the sales charge eats up any return I might achieve.
· Instead, invest $100 each month in a no-load, no-fee index fund at TIAA-CREF.
· Lower my federal tax withholding exemptions in anticipation of a higher tax due to my reduction of 401(k) contributions.
· After deciding on a new apartment, re-evaluate my budget and make changes to the $300 I automatically save each pay period for a car, which when I buy, I will buy in cash. Once I have enough for a car and insurance, start saving for a downpayment on a house (someday) and for my future kids’ education. And my own travel. And other stuff.
· Open a Roth IRA at ScotTrade and invest in another no-load, no-fee fund. Try to manage to max this out every year.
· Get a new job that pays more and put any extra money into the 401(k).

That’s the plan. We’ll see what really happens.

As most people close to me now know, I will be in Dallas this coming Saturday through Tuesday. Denise and I are taking a mini-vacation chiefly with the intent of helping Becca situate in her new apartment. Maybe I’ll see you there, if you happen to be in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, too.

Stacey and Jen moved into their new apartment today.

Naturally, a bunch of us got together to help them move. There is photographic evidence. I was pretty busy with manual labor, so there aren’t many pictures of people lifting furniture. That might be disappointing to all visitors looking for pics of hot, sweaty guys, but things could be worse.

Something new learned today: Colonel “KFC” Sanders’ first name is like mine, if my name were different.

No, not me. But I was at a wedding this weekend and I wore a hat (at one point). But wait, there’s more!

Friday night was the wedding rehearsal, followed by dinner. Saturday was the wedding, in a church with a long service, followed by a reception including dinner. Denise‘s brother married his girlfriend of five years.

I enjoyed the wedding thoroughly. I met a lot of nice people, and I got some first-hand experience on what it’s like to have a large family.

That’s Kevin, one of Denise’s other brothers, and their “cousin” Ashlee. Her father, “Uncle Joe,” a homicide detective, could be considered the protector of the kids in the (extended) family. From what I could tell, I passed his tests and he seems to like me.

In any case, I had a good weekend.

China decorates our table
Funny how the cracks don’t seem to show

So tonight is the first time in a long time that I’ll be cuddling with only myself as I fall asleep.

I called my mother for her birthday yesterday, like the good son that I am. I found out that my old friend Jeremy is getting married in the coming months. His sister is as well. It’s still weird to comprehend.

As the story goes, he and I weren’t really good friends at first. My parents were friends with his parents, and we attended the same Hebrew school, I think. I was over his house one day, and he saw me complete the Rubik’s Cube. That’s when we became friends… as the story goes.

I don’t even know how I know that.

As it is the spring, it’s time for me to start taking advantage of our apartment complex’s weight/work-out room, the use of which is included in our rent. I’m going to do two nights a week, Tuesday and Thursday… and maybe a few hours on a weekend morning. Instead of sleeping in until 11:00 or 12:00, I can get up early and do something constructive for a few hours and then have more energy to get things accomplished before the afternoon. That’s what I’m hoping I can force myself to do.

I think the loveliest time of the year is the spring.
I do, don’t you, of course you do.

Well the weather was fantastic over the weekend. On Saturday I sat at a picnic bench and taught Denise the game of Chess. She proceeded to make me think she was going to beat me, but after a few minutes I came back and totally destroyed her. I’m sure she will seek her revenge.

That night we went to a party held by one of my coworkers. She and her live-in-boyfriend have a huge house in Freehold. We had a nice time and drank some wine. The drive home was pleasant, too.

Today it was a bit cooler and breezier. We went to the shore to see Denise’s niece and nephews (and sister and brother-in-law) for a bit of a barbecue.

When we got home, there was the Oscars®. One guy, displaying his guts, almost started a riot. Some others managed to get their message of peace across in a much more peaceful manner. I guess Michael Moore was never one for subtlety. Now I have to see his Oscar®-winning movie.

Here’s my horoscope for today:

So are you going to call me? I’m waiting… But it’s completely wrong about the weather. It’s beautiful outside and that’s where I’m heading.

I spent the past few hours thinking today is Thursday. Maybe I was anxious for this week to be over, but the weather has been so nice, I want to continue enjoying it. I don’t really make a great administrative assistant, you know, with not remembering what day it is. When do I get an administrative assistant for myself who can remember these things for me?

Actually, I’m excited. I’m excited because I’ve given much thought to my personal future, and I really believe that I’m heading in the right direction. I just have to keep moving forward. Every day I don’t do at least one action to move forward I am really moving backward.