Some guy just pulled hundreds of baseball cards (from the 1950's) from his attic. I understand that there were 28 Mickey Mantle cards in mint condition along with other top players. He sold the whole collection of $500,000. As I recall the buble gum packets with 5 baseball cards included sold for a dime in the 50's. Not a bad return on investment.
When I was in high school, my Dad (who was a kid at heart) would give me $1 to go over to Heckers Tavern (one half block away) and buy 10 comic books. High priority were Superman, Captain Marvel, Batman, the Flash, Archie and Friends, and all the Looney Tune and Disney characters. My favorite was Scrooge McDuck. He would swim in his "pool" of money. I thought that Superman was in his infancy in the mid 1950's. I learned recently that Action Comics introduced Superman in July of 1938. Recently a comic book collector sold his original copy from 1938 for $1,000,000. Imagine having that comic book in your attic.
So when you rummage through your attics or go to auctions, you never know when you might hit the "mother lode". There could be lots of hidden treasures.
Your Mom and I just finished the fifth season of "24". Jack Bauer, the indestructable hero of the Counter Terrorist Unit saved the Country again from nerve gas and nuclear missles. I've gotten so I can predict the next phone call that will change the script or when a character will be introduced that will dominate the story. The fifth season of "24" was supposed to end on a happy note. Instead, Jack Bauer gets abducted by the Chinese at the end and he is beat up in the "hold" of a ship headed for China. So now we have to wait until Season 6 to see if Jack survives. I predict he does and the Chinese will regret capturing him. Don't screw with Jack Bauer.
College Basketball takes center stage for the next 4 weeks. Don't bother me!
Enjoy the sun!
Love,
Dad
I used a "car wash coupon" Xmas present to wash the black Camry. Once it was bright and shiny, it ran faster. Wouldn't you know the "Service Engine" light came on the same day. After $25 for a quick oil change (it took 20 minutes), I drove away. The Camry ran faster yet. Then I stopped at Kwik Trip for gas. You can buy gas without 10% ethanol. I bought it. The Camry ran faster yet. Talk about high performance. I hope my gas pedal doesn't stick!
When I was commuting to Ripon years ago it was nice when the weather started turning warm and sunny. I would always listen to the news as I left work at 4:30 PM each day. In early March, WTMJ out of Milwaukee would begin to broadcast Brewer exhibition games from Phoenix Arizona preempting the news. I could never figure out why anyone would listen to "pre-season" baseball games that are absolutely meaningless. I guess there is something about the drone of endless commentary dribble about baseball for hours and hours and hours. Yesterday I had to run some errands in the afternoon. Guess what? Endless baseball dribble. Aaaggggggg!
I want a teachers job in the Milwaukee Public School system (MPS). The teachers with low seniority average $56,000 in salary per year and another $44,000 in benefits including pension. By my calculation, that is $100,000 per year package. Only 48% of MPS students graduate from high school. Sign me up. Big pay with no accountability. Yes! Yes! Yes!
As you know, as retired citizens, your Mom and I are entitled to Medicare insurance. The "walk the plank" healthcare plan proposed by the Obama administration will cut Medicare benefits over the next 3-10 years. 50% of all doctors will not accept Medicare now because the reimbursement rates are too low (and it is an administrative nightmare). So if Medicare gets cut further, maybe 0% of the doctors will accept Medicare. WTF.
Grandson Mitchell"s Tri-County basketball team won their championship. He has a trophy (described as high as two cans of corn) and a T-Shirt declaring them 2010 Champs. Does it get any better?
Enjoy the sun! Here come the warnings about global warming.
Love,
Dad
They claim if you sing a country song in reverse, you can recover your pick-up truck, your house, your dog and your girlfriend. It is like winning the lottery. You get your money and life back.
I tried singing my favorite country music song backwards. I'm still miserable, broke and married (just kidding). It didn't work.
So I did the next best thing to improve my financial life. I went to a Clark Howard Seminar Sunday night along with your Mom. Clark is the symbol of "cheap". He has opinions on squeezing the savings out of everything from credit cards, phone contracts and mortgages to sleezing banks and life insurance. I always learn something from Mr. Howard. Here is some of his advice.
Never take out a mortgage that has a floating rate. Lock in the longest low interest rate that you can.
Never buy a "whole life" insurance policy. Always use term insurance. Go to "insure.com".
Stay away from Bank of America on mortgages. Their policies stink! They have no intention of helping clients that are facing forclosure. One person in the audience relayed a story of calling B of A for help because he had been laid off. He started calling at 8:00 AM and was on the phone until 2:00 PM. He finally reached the person he thought could help and he was disconnected. I'm sure B of A is not the only lousy bank.
Never let your child take student loans exceeding their potential first year salary. So if Grand-daughter Keely borrows to while going to college, her loans should not exceed the $100,000 she will make working for a big bank the first year.
The best deals on Cell phones are presently with Wal-mart. For $30 per month, you can get 1000 minutes of air time and 1000 text messages. For $45 per month, everything is unlimited including web access. Clark Howard had a Wal-mart cell phone.
Anyone with a Citi-bank credit card has recently been notified that they will pay a $60 annual fee if they don't charge $2,400 on the card over the course of a year. Apply for a credit card with a different low cost provider. Do not drop "Citi" until you get your new card. It impacts your credit score.
There! I've passed on tips that will save you lots of money. My advice is free. Of course I have no assurance you will start listening to my advice now.
Daylight Saving Time begins March 14. There is hope!
Love,
Dad
I have been watching the Olympic figure skating championships. I always vow not too watch but somehow I get sucked in. It plays out like a soap opera with stories of sacrifice, dedication and glory.
The Canadian skater Joannie Rochette lost her mom to a heart attack two days before her short program in skating was to begin. Her decision was to skate for her Mom. When she completed the short program successfully, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Her Dad was in the stands with tears flowing down his cheeks, Joannie was crying and trying to "keep it together" and every Mom and Dad watching the telecast got choked up. What was remarkable is that Joannie was able to stay focussed and execute with precision. She was in third place after the preliminaries.
Last night, Joannie needed to complete the competition with the longer free skate program. She seemed more composed and excuted an excellent program. There were still tears but you could tell that there was more resolve to "skate for her Mom". When Joannie finished she blew a kiss towards the heavens thanking Mom. Joannie got a bronze medal and all Canada was proud of the effort. No she didn't get the gold. She skated the performance of her life to the best of her ability for someone she loved. What more is there?
Much of the Olympic story is about glory and big money. There are times when the human element of competition comes shining through. The big winner was Joannie and her heart felt effort. Her Mom was watching.
Sometimes good things happen to good people.
Love,
Dad