My Vacation Continues

Yes, me on vacation does seem a bit redundant.  Today I got out of bed and said I better go check the market.  WHY, the market has not done anything in a week why would toady be any different.  (I was right up to the last 20 minutes, but that was because I started trading and drove the market up.)  But I digress.

Instead, I decided to go to 8:30 Mass.  Now even though my aunt reads this, I will be the first to admit it had been a long time since I went to mass on a non-holy day of obligation.  I was impressed with how many people were there at 8:30 on a Friday.

Ironically over the last several days, Devin and I have been working on our charitable giving programs we have in place and making adjustments.  I found the story of St. Lawrence interesting.  Now St. Lawrence, according to Church lore, was the keeper of the Holy Grail, the actual chalice that Christ drank from at the last supper.  (You know what else Jesus said at the last supper, "If you guys want to be in the picture, get on this side of the table.") 

Anyway, there was this bad dude, a Roman Emperor named Valerian who exiled and killed Pope Sixtus II in about 258AD.  He demanded that Lawrence (Deacon to Rome) to deliver all the wealth of the Catholic Church to the Emperor.  According to the story, Larry asked for 3 days to gather the huge wealth of the church.  Since they did not have electronic transfers and wire transfers, Valerian agreed.  Silly boy.

Larry distributed the wealth through out the community amongst the poorest people he and his fellow deacons could find.  Now Valerian did not take kindly to that action so Lawrence was arrested.  In most pictures of St. Lawrence he is holding a gridiron.

That is because church scholars believe he was grilled to death.  They say his last words were, "I'm done now."  Hey you can't make this stuff up.

Anyway today's readings all had the message of charitable giving (2 Corinthian's 9:6-10, Psalm 112, and John 12:24-26).  Ironic maybe, but He does work in mysterious ways. 

I have also had the pleasure of riding along with Jack now that he has his driver's permit.  Overall he is a very cautious driver, just like his sister.  He has a habit of hugging the curb a bit too close.  

Since he is learning in my BMW 650i, that has me a little nervous as my two Chrome Wheels cost a fortune.  (I know because I have had them replaced once.  I remember calling my buddy Ben and saying, "I just spent more on two rims than I did my first two cars combined.")  I am confident he will be a good driver.

I also had the pleasure of doing a lot of bank wire transfers.  It is amazing how easy it is to send money all over the country.  We did loose a little bucket of money for a few hours, which worried the people at the banks than it did me.  We eventually rounded up the money and now we must find ways of puting it to work.  So I will be doing homework this weekend.

Later in the day Devin asked me to join her and Kristin doing the walk through on Kristin and Ryan's new home.  They are about to close escrow and we got to take a peak.  It is a nice home in a great neighborhood.  It is walking distance to Hanna's, which might come in handy some evening.  We can't wait for them to get their things moved in and make it theirs.

We finished the day at a great restaurant, perhaps you have heard of it.  Hanna's.  It was tough tonight as Steph, our server had me sold on a scrumptious salmon special until Chef extraordinaire, Sean Reynolds, came to the table with a tray full of Waygu Beef filets.  They looked heavenly and you only get Waygu ever so often.  Devin and I both enjoyed the little slabs of heaven.  She had grilled asparagus on the side and I enjoyed some steam rice.

What a way to end a great day.