MY PERSONALITY TEST

Well...I don't know how accurate it is but it was a fun test...these were my results...the link at the end should give you the chance to take it.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion 56% Stability 80% Orderliness 50% Accommodation 76% Interdependence 43% Intellectual 50% Mystical 43% Artistic 23% Religious 90% Hedonism 56% Materialism 36% Narcissism 63% Adventurousness 36% Work ethic 63% Self absorbed 30% Conflict seeking 36% Need to dominate 36% Romantic 63% Avoidant 30% Anti-authority 43% Wealth 43% Dependency 43% Change averse 43% Cautiousness 36% Individuality 36% Sexuality 70% Peter pan complex 43% Physical security 90% Physical Fitness 10% Histrionic 43% Paranoia 56% Vanity 30% Hypersensitivity 56% Female cliche 16%

Stability results were high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic.. Orderliness results were medium which suggests you are moderately organized, hard working, and reliable while still remaining flexible, efficient, and fun. Extraversion results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Trait snapshot:

rarely irritated, positive, tough, non phobic, fearless, likes the unknown, self reliant, high self control, confident, trusting, strong instincts, prudent, optimistic, willful, likes parties, prefers a specialized career, takes charge, altruistic, strong, high self concept, adventurous, practical, thoughtful

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test

A SLOW MONDAY IN A FAST MONTH

Finally got the yard mowed (with a push mower since the blades on the riding mower need sharpening). Trimmed the hedge, burned the big pile of limbs in the drive, got some paperwork done, yard is starting to look much better. Took little "Grace Kelly" to the pond to let her shoot a pistol, she didn't like how loud it was. Picked up the mail and prescriptions. Not bad for a day that didn't get started till nearly noon. The day seemed slow and easy, but the month is flying by! Meanwhile Warren Buffett gives away 37.1 billion dollars, this wasn't his entire networth...just "cash" that he was burdened with finding appropriate investments for.

Not too much personal news today so I'll divert to something in school called "current events" that I thought was interesting. This is just some of the stuff I found interesting out of quite a few articles I reviewed about Warren Buffett today

How did he make that kind of money? Quick answer...business-wisdom in the stock market. His philosophy/mentor/foundation of thinking can be learned from reading Benjamin Graham's books like "The Intelligent Investor" which reinforced the importance of value investing and going after stocks that are undervalued , so he doesn't go for the stuff like internet dotcom he goes for the Coca-Colas, even today. Since he was rejected from Harvard , Buffett studied Economics at New York's Columbia University, to learn from his idol Graham, and eventually become his protégé. Working with Graham as his mentor turned out to be a life-altering decision.

His portfolio is filled up with stocks in solid companies that were undervalued, and inexpensive at the time. By sticking with companies such as Coca-Cola, American Express, Gillette, The Washington Post Company, Wells Fargo and Company, Sees Candy, Benjamin Moore & Co., GEICO Direct , General & Cologne Re Group, and Dairy Queen. , ...companies with solid brand names rather than the latest Wall Street trend, he has become one of the wealthiest men in the United States.

In a news conference he did warn about the overvalued real estate and that pharmaceutical stocks are in a state of flux and too hard to predict , & that GM and Ford face severe trouble over pension and health costs.

One thing I got from his speech was pretty basic, if you are spending even a small percent each year more than you produce.."that scenario can't end well."

On investments right now he said..."If you had to make a choice between long-term bonds at around 4.5 percent and equities for the next 20 years, I would certainly prefer equities. But if people think they can earn more than 6-7 percent a year, they're making a big mistake. I don't think we're in bubble-type valuations in equities -- or anywhere close to bargain valuations. If you told me I had to go away for 20 years, I would rather take an index fund over long-term bonds. You'll get a chance to do something extremely intelligent with your money in the next few years. But right now there doesn't seem to be a clear enough direction to conclude anything dramatic."

A quote for the day...

On the urgency of fixing problems NOW before bad things happen, I like what his vice chairman Charles Munger said "...Some people seem to think there's no trouble just because it hasn't happened yet. If you jump out the window at the 42nd floor and you're still doing fine as you pass the 27th floor, that doesn't mean you don't have a serious problem..."

Got Hay?

One of the important things to work on in life is to develop income producers besides your back/mind. (Ie..rental property, vending machines, cd's or stocks 401k, etc...) There is a book called "the richest man in babylon" that ought to be required reading in high school that deals with some of this kind of thinking but in essence if it is followed a plain ole working man can be independently wealthy at an early retirement age if the principles are followed.

Decades ago I sold life insurance with cash values and retirement plans. One of the coolest advertisements I remember us ever having showed an old man going out to his mailbox and pulling out envelopes of money he had mailed to himself years past...and the caption was something to the effect.."the only thing thats going to be there, when you get there..is what you send up ahead". I love that. That saying frequents my thoughts on occasion even all these years later.

No way do I remember what I was searching for in google one day, but I ran upon a page of stuff by someone called "sarpy sam", it appears he is a rancher up in montana somewhere. One of the things in his notes was this note and picture...

"I've been putting up hay like mad the last couple of weeks so I thought I would look back and see the purpose of what I am doing."


the caption was "Feeding the cows thier hay during a nasty snow storm. Taken 12/29/2005."

Pretty wise thinking..I like that...If you've ever messed with hauling hay, you're probably well aware of how a picture like that might be a much needed boost. What would you think of a rancher who watched his cattle grazing in the summer and thought ...ahhh..all is well, they can fend for themselves now...off I go to play. Then the hard stretches of winter came and he was going from ranch to ranch begging for hay, and writing his congressman?

Thats one wonderful thing about the hard times in life, take good clear snapshots in your mind...then when "summer comes" ...refer back to those pictures and "getter done".

(The same seems to apply in relationships and in your spiritual life as well) The concept here is...Take good "pictures" during hard/lean times. When the going is good, put out the effort to get ready for winter. Manage wisely.

What is something like this doing on a journal type blog? Its a part of how I think...a brick in the building of my life. Hope it inspires you so much you're reaching for a pen, a pad, and a hanky. Ya ya ya ya ya,
Have a good week. Got hay?

THIEVES

...from inside the next storage room to mine broke thru the wall into mine and trashed the place. Finding anything that looked like it might have a treasure, especially wooden boxes, emptying them out and rummaging thru at will. Obviously kids, since things that were of obvious quick sell value weren't bothered, and at this point its hard to tell what they actually took, but keepsakes that were broken and damaged in their thrashing about were pretty quickly identified. Apparently it took place between February and April. The room they entered from was just rented out to a business in May...and these new tenants said they saw the holes and just put cardboard over them, but didn't bother reporting it. Hmmm, guess they don't mind catching the blame for the wall torn up in their room when they check out. Anyhow it was either the previous tenant, or they didn't lock it up between tenants...I should find out more Monday.

First my house in California was burglarized in broad daylight, then my house in Oklahoma was broken into and partied in and rummage thru and whatever they wanted they took, and now my sacred cave has been broken into. It becomes tiresome. I know the scriptures teach not to lay up treasure on earth where theives break in and steal, so its a reality of life...but it wearys my soul. Maybe at some point in the next several years I'll be able to get everything stored neatly in one place and then deeply intensify the security. The crazy part is...the stuff I have isn't valuable in the monetary sense...but the invasion of privacy is icky. I would prefer not to have to build booby traps and bar windows and beef up alarm systems...but it appears thats the price of peace of mind in this area.

On the positive note...I was able to go to my grandaughters 2cnd birthday party. That was a hoot. She was enjoying sitting in the sandbox, swinging, playing football with the older relatives, running around with balloons...and seeing if she could get to the road before being intercepted. Its interesting to watch her...so much passion, determination. One of her gifts included a locking box...within 5 minutes she figured out how to insert the key, turn it, and open the box.

Another positive...the lawn is starting to show signs of green..that nitrogen treatment just before the rain seems to have helped. And Mew will be glad to know...I FOUND my long barrell pistol so whenever he comes back to turtle shoot, I'll be ready. I think me and "Grace Kelly" (little blondie) may head down to the pond and see if we can shoot at some of them.

Well...theres a glimpse into my Saturday.