Los Angeles
I have just placed a bet with my sister Dalia who lives in Los Angeles California. She predicted My dad, mom, brother, and me would move out to LA before all my hairs would turn gray. Expecting to win this bet in the next year will be difficult. Thinking about LA gives me images of warm weather, beaches, beautiful people, and traffic.
What my sister enlightened me on is the real reason why I should relocate. The people are just like me, funny, good looking, smart and did not go to a great college. She promised me employers would not hold it against me that I went Ohio Wesleyan, a small liberal arts school in Ohio. Maybe this explains how Arnold Schwarzenegger is Governor. Their is also a magical place that only can be found in LA. It is not Disneyland but an opportunity to make more money. It sounds tempting but I will pass.
Mercedes
Blogs were not posted on Monday and Tuesday, I was busy playing a game. The game is called I am embarrassed to be driving a C- Class Mercedes. The C Class Mercedes is introductory model. In a two day span I counted nine C-Class Mercedes without the metallitic C symbol on the back of the car. Mercedes put it on the car when it was built but mysteriously disappeared. The owners are hoping somebody on EBay will sell them a symbol that makes them look like they paid more for the car than they actually did. Everyone knows the C stands for cheap but it is expensive with the basic model with no extras starting at $33,725.
The owner of a C Class Mercedes does not like the word sale, bargain, outlet, or special. Those words are scary. Their house is in best location with the smallest square footage. Job title is more important than job pay. Ironic because they need extra money to afford their symbol.
Evite
The fourth of July weekend has been a perfect time for me to reflect about friends and family. I spent a large majority of the time thinking about the great relationships I have and how lucky I am. Realizing some my friends i have known for twenty plus years makes me feel old. At my small gathering this weekend I noticed there was a couple people missing. They relationships that I had for so long had crumbled.
In life you can either go forward or backward, nuetral is never an option. Thanks to poor decisions of gambling, drinking, and drugs some people have been erased. They maybe still roaming the earth just not in my life. Guilt crosses my mind. Maybe I could of done something to help them. They always make it seems it was the circumstance that put them in this situation or it was somebody elses fault. They only person they can blame is themselves.
EBay
“Wow what a great deal we should buy this,” the words from Ted our project manager about the server for sale on EBay. This server was worth six times for what the “Power Seller” was asking for it. A deal we could not refuse. Buying on-line can be a scary thing especially if the person your buying from does not have a direct name, address, and telephone number. I whipped out the credit card put faith in the system and yet have to receive my item even though the item was paid for on June 22, 2006.
I have filed a complaint with EBay and am waiting to hear back from the seller which he has ten days to respond. That’s a long time to come up with a creative excuse. EBay’s protection policy is not adequate because you only get a fraction of what you paid. Today begins a new day. A day which I walk into a store , meet a real sales person, and buy a server that exists.
Independence Day
I am hot, It is so hot. Repeat that twenty times and you would think you were watching the Simple Life with Paris Hilton According to my girlfriend the only thing that is hot is my room. Like a broken record reminding me I do not have air conditioning in my house every five minutes. Anything less than an ice box for temperature is not acceptable. The temperature with the fans on is around seventy. About forty degress less than the Middle East region where our militiary is stationed. For our troops protecting our freedom, I salute you for your brave efforts. Have a happy 4th of July.
Indian Giver
There was no blog yesterday. There was steam coming out of my ears. After an appointment with a client from two miles from house I was planing on taking a nap. A well deserved nap. My girlfriend called me offering me to go to the Red Sox game. All I had was to drive through Boston to Newton to get the tickets and then to my girlfriends apartment in Natick. Only a three hour journey. After I finally made it to Natick I put on my Red Sox shirt. I was pumped. Then the phone rang. It call from my girlfriend. My sister is going.
The mother then called me to explain. The mom explained their was a misunderstanding. Apparently my girlfriend has become senile. My girlfriend must of thought ask “Phil if he wants to go” as “Phil time is not valuable have the sucker pick up the tickets”. There is nothing like throwing someone under the bus. People should take responsibitly for their action. I can handle the truth. Not some lie.
Flag Burning
My head must of been in the sand the last twenty eight years. Burning the U.S flag is legal. More than a third of Senators (Republicans and Democrats) voted against banning the desecration of the US flag. They can agree on raises for themselves, out of control projects, and burning the flag should be legal.
A large percentage of flag burning is used incite violence in hopes of recognition their belief. Flag burners have even protested at soldiers funerals. Imagine some wacko showing up at a loved one funeral burning a flag just because they wanted to make a point. A point I do not understand. There’s is a time and place for everything. Just not for flag burning.
The Great Leader
Driving into work this morning I heard on the radio Warren Buffet was giving away thirty seven billion dollars,thirty one billion going directly to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffet considered one of the most successful investors of all time and has picked up the nickname of the “Oracle of Omaha” and has a fortune of forty four billion. The majority of his money was donated to the Gates Foundation to help ensure that lifesaving advances in health are created and shared with those who need them most. Most importantly all the money donated goes directly to helping people.
What surprised me the most of the announcement was peoples reaction. What about his relatives? They should sue him freeze up his assets because he must be senile. His relatives will be just fine splitting seven billion among fourteen people. Five hundred million per person which generates twenty five million over every year at five percent. If he had given everything to his relatives the government would take half and waste a large percentage through beauracy.
Charity
Four..three.three..two.. and the final number six. Those numbers represented the raffle ticket everyone in the room wish they had. A Grand prize of two thousand five hundred dollars. My girlfriend was crushed. An opportunity to get caught on bills and maybe enough spare change to get a coffee. Around the room people wanted a redo. Why? The guy that won was rich. It is easy to root against rich people when they take what you thought was yours.
There was a silent auction that had items from VIP tickets for multiple shows at the Bank of America Pavilion, Signed Curtis Martin Jersey, massages, Bath and Body Works gift basket among other items. My girlfriend persuaded me to make the highest bid of $95 for the Bath and Body Works gift. The auction was over and I broke out the check book and was going to pay the cashier. I was not the winner but this nice lady won. The lady had a smart husband who was furious he spent $100 for soap. My girlfriend gave me look. The look of my yellow lab. Next thing I knew I have $105 in soap.
What it's like to be a Real Estate CEO 
