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Candace Owens and The Clash walk into a rationalization....

   I started this morning in the usual way and the not usual way. Yeah I walked the dogs. Well actually the dog, just Cooper. Carrie, our youngest, was quite clear she didn't want to go. It was cold so hopefully that was it. Could have been, heck, I don't know! Coop and I had a nice normal walk around the neighborhood. Him marking everything and me picking up trash. Yesterday's wind had blown quite a bit into the woods along our path. I long ago decided that seeing trash on my walks harshes my mellow. As I go similar routes on my walks with the dogs, if I leave the trash there it will be there tomorrow and again and again. Picking it up is a minor hassle but future me will be happier. 

 In addition to figuring this bit out about happiness I had a thought about what I'll have to call cause and effect. That's not the exact phrase but it will do for now! The wind causes trash to blow but cause and effect has something of a backflow valve intrinsic to it. More exactly my picking up trash does not cause the wind to stop blowing. Somehow all of this seems to tie in with the Buddhist notion on suffering. It would seem you can change your perspective but you can't change the wind. I do 'tho, think you get karmic points for picking up trash - so hey.

  When I got home from the walk I wasn't hungry for food. My brain, however, was ravenous. A recent trip to the Friends of the Library used bookstore had sent me home with 3 CDs at 50 cents apiece. THE Essential CLASH, Pretenders, and Purple Rain aren't my usual fair but... 50 cents! So with WHITE RIOT and LONDON'S BURNING pumping in my veins I turned on Rumble and watched the Candice Owens episode I had intended to watch last night. Let me just say this combo is not a psychically healthy breakfast - period! 

  But an unexamined life and all that rot. We're all going to die but the way to become old is to not stretch not put some Tabasco on your eggs. Especially, especially in these times that we are living. The Catholic Church calls this period between Christmas and Lent "Ordinary Times". Liturgically speaking sure, OK, but I grew up in the chaotic world of the 60s and 70s and feel like I'm reliving a condensed version. Greenland, Minneapolis, Venezuela, The FED, AI, Epstein you could write a book on each of those and that's just since Christmas will we make it to Easter?! Who would blame you or even notice if your checking out Candice's world or deciding The Clash is actually pretty good. For me it goes back to Dhandho Investing.

  I've spoken of Dhandho Investing before it's essence is Heads I win, Tails I don't lose too much. If you can't stop the wind from blowing can you find happiness without risking too much? If (pick your favorite Apocalypse) comes to fruition and broccoli is no longer available at your local Wal Mart won't you feel like a winner when it's growing in the backyard. What's the downside? A little less grass to mow! A hour a day of putzin' in the sun. (Hey, you knew I was going to get to, start a garden! - just saying!) Depending on your apocalyptic expectations buying property in Greenland or the high Rockies, shorting bank stocks or selling gas masks might be truly anti-fragile and give you a life changing win. Broccoli just makes you resilient and you don't lose too much.

  Or perhaps that's all just a rationalization. One I'm trying out on you before I explain to my wife that in addition to those new CDs for my collection I've bought yet another fruit tree.  It was almost free! It was on sale for $19.99 It's just a tiny little Meyers Lemon tree heck we'd pay almost that much for a bag of lemons. 'sides I had a 'gift' certificate I'd bought for myself for 20% off with $10 dollars left on it. And by ordering it now I can add it into my order for the persimmon trees, that I'd already told you about, and get free shipping! And if you think about it, $19.99 in today's dollars is like 35 cents in the silver coins we grew up with. I'm telling you Hon. it's almost free!

  OK, well, couldn't we all get through the day quite happily with just a little less government but don't try to get through it without a little rationalization! Time to eat breakfast - eggs on rye toast with some Tabasco, thin slices of onions and sun dried tomatoes from the garden.

Doug A. 

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