This blog is set up well for the point I am making in the title; there are going to be times in life that too many things are happening all at once. You cannot do everything all at once. When that happens you need to prioritize and have a plan of action to tackle things one at a time. Here is my list from last week.
Bahamas Vacation
Total rain out. My wife and I have been to the Bahamas 7 times and it has never rained like it was raining as we arrived. All forecasts agreed, no let up in the 8 days we were to be there. Arrived last Friday and it was Monsoon season or something! On Sunday I slipped and dropped like a stone on a concrete walkway. My upper arm looks like it was hit by a bus and I chipped my front tooth. Perfect.
We were able to get 5 days of our vacation transferred to a trip later in the year. Hopefully the weather will be better that week. We left Tuesday morning among flooded streets and an airport that was just able to get planes off. Huge disappointment with an added bonus of some needed dental work. I was able to get in to see my dentist and they fixed my tooth right up on Tuesday. One thing solved.
New Career Opportunity
I had mentioned I may have some exciting news and indeed I do!
I started a process of interviewing for a new job a few weeks ago. The role I was after fits my unique cloning experience so well I just knew this was the job I wanted. Bacterial pathway genetic engineering is something I really love and have some great experience performing. This job takes it to a whole new level of complexity. It's going to be a real challenge.
I was able to negotiate an accepted offer during the vacation week. I will start a few weeks from now. I am terrified and excited at the same time! Honestly it all came together so fast and so well I just feel a bit dizzy about it. I will be leaving my current company after 6 years. It's not easy or comfortable to do that. Sometimes worthwhile things are like that.
Market Observations
I never looked at one market quote nor read one market blog or article the week I was off. I never do. As such I know full well when I get back to the world I will not be able to jump right back in. I am a firm believer in "market feel" and when I am out of the groove for a while I do no try and run right back into the fray that is the markets. Trading does not reward being unprepared and it does not forgive cheaply those that forget it.
As such, I see that last week was the worst week of 2012. I am shocked because usually when I am gone markets fly higher as if to spite me. A well planned strategy with proper execution can bring profits in any market. I just don't happen to have one as things go right now. I know I cannot catch up, be prepared and feel confident to trade tomorrow. So I won't. I will get back in a groove and enter in when I am ready.
An aspect about markets and trading I found I loved long ago (and one it seems many overlook too often) is trading is one of the only forms of combat where you will dictate your own battlefield, choose the rules of your engagement, and decide the conditions of your involvement. In what other contest can you make similar claims?
After yard work all weekend I knew it was time for some fun. I rolled out the Big Steel Keg cooker to it's proper stand in the backyard now that Spring is here. It was steak and portabella mushroom slice night oveah heah:
Good stuff.
Have a good night.
Well I hate that about your vacation, hopefully next time it will turn out ok.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new job!
Sorry to hear about the rain. But you can't predict the weather.
ReplyDeleteThere was a hail storm in McAllen, about thirty miles from here, last month. But it wasn't an ordinary hail storm, which is basically rain with little balls of frozen ice. No, this was something else entirely.
It's an extreme weather event, so rare they don't even have a name for it. But realistically it's something like a hail tornado.
A funnel forms drawing water up into the atmosphere. The higher up the water goes, the larger the balls of hail. And then it all comes crashing down and swirling around in one localized area. Talk about massive destruction.
It hit an area with a radius of five miles. I drove through those neighborhoods the next day, because I had to inspect one of our listings for damages. It looked like a war zone. I am not kidding. Everywhere I looked there were demolished cars, broken windows, holes in walls and roofs. Golf ball and baseball-sized hail can and will wreak havoc.
Oh, and the fancy Re-Max building downtown, you know the one with the state of the art architecture, all glass siding. Well, it was completely destroyed.
Oddly enough, when I got to our listing, there were no damages. One block outside of the storm radius, it was like nothing happened, except for maybe a light rain. That was weird.
I mean, really. You're driving through this neighborhood, looking at all these demolished cars and houses, and you take a turn, go over one block, and it's all sunshine and flowers. How often does that happen?
Congratulations on your new job, GYC. I wish you well. And I'm confident you'll be successful.
Sorry to hear about the rain. But you can't predict the weather.
ReplyDeleteThere was a hail storm in McAllen, about thirty miles from here, last month. But it wasn't an ordinary hail storm, which is basically rain with little balls of frozen ice. No, this was something else entirely.
It's an extreme weather event, so rare they don't even have a name for it. But realistically it's something like a hail tornado.
A funnel forms drawing water up into the atmosphere. The higher up the water goes, the larger the balls of hail. And then it all comes crashing down and swirling around in one localized area. Talk about massive destruction.
It hit an area with a radius of five miles. I drove through those neighborhoods the next day, because I had to inspect one of our listings for damages. It looked like a war zone. I am not kidding. Everywhere I looked there were demolished cars, broken windows, holes in walls and roofs. Golf ball and baseball-sized hail can and will wreak havoc.
Oh, and the fancy Re-Max building downtown, you know the one with the state of the art architecture, all glass siding. Well, it was completely destroyed.
Oddly enough, when I got to our listing, there were no damages. One block outside of the storm radius, it was like nothing happened, except for maybe a light rain. That was weird.
I mean, really. You're driving through this neighborhood, looking at all these demolished cars and houses, and you take a turn, go over one block, and it's all sunshine and flowers. How often does that happen?
Congratulations on your new job, GYC. I wish you well. And I'm confident you'll be successful.
sorry about your toof.
ReplyDeleteGYSC, I forgot to ask, but will your new job require you to move?
ReplyDeleteYou dirty ....wait, that was somebody else...Congradts GYSC. I am very happy for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Watchtower!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gawains, tough job you got man.
Thanks Budd, we will give it another shot later in the year.
Hey Sov, how have you been?
Wow, that sucks about your vacation, but the new job sounds like it rocks. Kind of like that meal you cooked on the Keg... ;)
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteYour recent "promotion" will help you and possibly the planet in the long run.
G
PS: I know I am a VIACORD customer.
Welcome back! I'm just sorry to hear about the chipped tooth and the rain out, though. That is very bizarre for the Bahamas this time of year. We usually go in July, which is more likely to have that kind of weather. But I love going at that time because it is so peaceful and devoid of people during their "rainy" season. We've lucked out and only had one total washout day when we were there last. Plus, a half washout day which ended up being gorgeous by mid-afternoon.
ReplyDeleteBut, yeah, I've never seen an entire week's washout that didn't involve a hurricane or two. Hope you can get back there soon to make up for the crappy week lost. Still, that is awesome news about the new job at least. I'm so happy for you, dude!
For Friday Night Entertainment I recommend Collective Soul, "Shine."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPslBGjuRL0