This last December I had a family vacation that we planned at this time last year. We had a nine day vacation and I took an extra day on each end to prep and reset and prep for being back in the office, respectively. It was the longest vacation I’d taken in my professional career.

I agree that today’s market isn’t in ‘Buy’ territory - we are overdue for a recession by about 18 months so that means it’s coming almost any day.

Here is a chart showing rolling 10 year returns when invested in the S&P 500:

There is an exemption in the tax code for the first year where you are ‘self employed’ that you don’t have to pay quarterly estimated. That’s expiring for you so you will have your 2017 taxes and your Q1 2018 Estimated due on the same day in April. It’s very quick and easy (from what I’ve researched) but you don’t…

How aggressively did you pay your quarterly estimated through the year? If you way out earned your projections then you may be paying. If not, you might be surprised.

The most uncomplicated investment vehicle that has beaten these rates over its lifespan is a simple Vanguard S&P 500 Index Fund. But, the risk of losing value is always present. However, those losses are only realized if your stake is sold at a lower basis than what you purchased. If the S&P drops and you freak out…

Man - pay it off, tighten your belt, and you’ll have your emergency fund back up in time for summer. That balance is costing you money - not a lot to be sure - but you’ve got the cash and you will be whole again faster than you know.

So, some sort of ‘poll test’ to see if I’m good enough to have an opinion? I never said I was Republican, nor did I say I support Trump. I’m not registered that way nor did I vote for or support Trump.

I don’t think that Conservative = Sexist, Racist, Ageist, etc. I’m conservative, male, and think that we need a better answer to why she was removed as well. I have no preconceived notions as to what caused them to make this decision.

This has bit me a few times, unfortunately. Specifically, if I had a carry-on, gate checked it, and then couldn’t make a connection (always because of delays or faults of the airline). When that happens, you cannot get your bag back. It will meet you when you get where you are going, but in my case that was after a…

Good luck with the pending arrival. Soak it in and celebrate it all, even the bad. Like many, we say “the days are long but the years are short” so try to truly revel in all of it, especially the challenging times.

Again, Michelle, you capture something else that has been crucial to us and raising our two boys. My folks come over at least once a week for a few hours after work to play with the boys. My MIL is over most of the day one day a week at a minimum as well as most Saturdays. My FIL is around from church on Sunday…

These are not just for breakfast - a good frittata with a salad and a glass of wine is a wonderful dinner that takes one skillet and about 20 minutes.

I’ve written about it on this site before, but the worst case of food poisoning/gastro-infection/ongoing discomfort came from Arby’s. I literally lost 12 pounds in four days, ended up with colitis from an inflamed colon, and had to have two liters of fluid intravenously. I missed two days of work and barely recovered…

+1 Weeping Chris Paul in a Storm Drain

I don’t know why, but I’m imagining the Beef Horn sound to just be snippets of Roseanne Barr’s Star Spangled Banner sliced together and set to oscillating volumes.

+1 colitis-inducing visit to ‘The Meats’ to you, sir. Sickest I’ve ever been...never again.

Yes, please can we make this a thing that is the standard approach from here forward?

Ping David Tracy about it - but move to Kansas. Real estate is less than half. I’m in Wichita and my commute is 2.5 miles. We get 300+ days of sunshine a year and no real snow and ice. Good restaurant and bar scene and a growing university as well. Brand new airport terminal as well, so flying in and out to get to…

I was wondering if there was a recipe or two to help de-mystify some of those ‘ugly’ root vegetables.