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Housing Recovery! What Recovery?

Let me start out by saying that I live in one of the four boom and bust markets, California, Nevada, Arizona and Flordia (CA) and we have seen lots of oppertunity early on in 2009. Back in 2009 prices came down to more reasonable numbers. The reason for this post is supposedly we are in a housing recovery now according to the news talking heads.

Lets examine what is happening now:

  • House prices are still low
  • One can still get loans
  • Mortage rates are low
  • Inventory is low
  • House filliping is back
  • Stock market is suspect
  • Investors are competing for lower priced homes
  • First time home buyers still cannot afford a big price – maybe up to the median

In this post I’ll talk about each bullet point… maybe you will see why this is NOT a real recovery right now from my perspective.

Continue reading Housing Recovery! What Recovery?

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December 30th, 2012 | Category: Economics | 4 comments

Sycamore Canyon Trail – Cool Video!

 

I went out to Sycamore Canyon today and after a long ride on Thursday – this one was nothing unexpected but still long. I say lots of wild life and got a shot of the second coyote I saw… but while I was trying to take pictures on a slow part of the trail – I accidentally hit record. After a few minutes I realized it and reviewed it. Not exactly a helmet cam but it worked ok so I narrated another one I’ll post here.

 

So that was the ride but I’m cutting this post a bit short as I wanted to get the video out there. Tomorrow I’m heading off the Mission Trails regional park to get in some miles. I’m a couple of miles from each park so with Santee Lakes and all of the surface streets (and it never rains in California) – I have plenty to keep me busy!

Take care of now all and keep busy!

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October 27th, 2012 | Category: Exercise, Fitness | 2 comments

Riding Bike and Meeting People – Having Fun!

I have been having a blast after getting my bike fixed. It is not quite right as the 7th gear does not work yet but really – I don’t go that fast. Today’s workout included bag work, ladder climbs and a short bike ride on the street. You see it rained today and I don’t like getting me or my bike wet.

I still have to be careful about injuring my knees but I find if I start slow for the first 20 minutes – soon I can take a harder workout. It sucks getting old but wisdom is highly coveted as one get older. At least I hope I am not one to hit his head against a wall, but rather have the wisdom to walk around the wall.

As far as weight loss – I have lost 10 pounds in the first month – 40 more to go in the next five months before I reach my mini-goal. Who knows – I may find that I am happy with the mini goal and just work on building some muscle at that point. The thing is I don’t want to be skinny – after all in case of a zombie apocalypse – I may need some fat stores. :)

I met a fellow mountain biker today – Ken. Had a nice chat and found it was fun to have someone to talk to while riding the bike. Ken if you are reading this and want to connect – email me at john.zimmer@leananmean.com.

That’s all for this week. I’m ignoring politics – still wading through all of the propositions this year – trying to keep the man from borrowing money on my behalf!

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October 21st, 2012 | Category: Exercise | 7 comments

Wore down the bike; Switching to alternate exercises!

My poor bike has been getting a workout recently as I’ve been riding it every day. I was talking to a mountain biker the other day and asked him why patches don’t seem to work like I remember as a kid. He told me I was crazy to go out on a ride without a new tube and while I was at it – always keep a spare tube and pump with me on a ride.

I come from the old school meaning I don’t know much about modern bikes but I have these cool disk breaks that stop quick. I’m going to have to view a few youtube videos to learn how to clean up my bike as there is a lot of dust on the chain and gears.

I have to replace the pedals as one os almost toast too. I’m gonna head off to the store to get some supplies soon as I love bike riding for exercise.

Continue reading Wore down the bike; Switching to alternate exercises!

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September 30th, 2012 | Category: Exercise | 5 comments

Money! Lose that Weight! Does it all come down to Money as an Incentive?

Fellow bloggers and readers of this blog – my question today is does it all come down to incentives to finally motivate you? The reason for the question is all of the normal reasons, health, fitness, sex, seeing your grand children grow up and such pail in comparison to good old fashion competition and money. At least for me.

 

In this post I’ll highlight my incentive and how easily I’ve fell – no jumped off of the boat while trying to get healthier.

 

Continue reading Money! Lose that Weight! Does it all come down to Money as an Incentive?

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September 15th, 2012 | Category: Exercise, Fitness, Health | 4 comments

What is Healthy?

 

Sounds like an easy question – right? I mean if one is healthy does that mean the BMI looks good or he can run a marathon? Or does it mean ones cholesterol levels are good or one’s blood pressure is 120/80? What about ones endurance levels even if one is fat? What about one’s fighting ability even if she is old? What if one is nutritionally deficient – gets sick often but has a normal BMI?

I’m not trying to deflect here but I’ve found there does not seem to be one answer (honestly I’m not trying to re-write the definition so I come out ok). When I was younger I thought body builders did not make sense because they did not do well in fighting (the only thing that mattered to me as a young adult). I thought boxing was unless because they could not kick. I thought fat people could not fight!

You see I did not realize as a young man that there were trade-offs in life that everyone had to deal with that often defined them. In this post I will talk about my health challenges – not to elicit sympathy or to diminish my responsibility in the outcome so far, but rather to take stoke of what seems to work and what does not work… as well as what I’ve tried in the last year or so.  First take a gander at Roy “Big Country” Nelson – a fighter that should put to bed the myth that a fat man cannot fight!

Continue reading What is Healthy?

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April 22nd, 2012 | Category: Fitness, Health | 4 comments

Economic Realities; Fact or Fiction? or Can We Start Borrowing Ourselves into Prosperity Again!

 

It is 2012 and the real estate bubble collapse is still winding down to a new economic reality – what reality is still in question. The actions that led up to the really downturn I don’t think has really changed. Sure lending rules have tightened up but people generally still want the latest, greatest products and they want it now – even before their current product has outlived its usefulness.

I’m not mixing examples, really because a house is just the biggest example of how we want the latest – greatest. Here is a quick funny video of how excessive borrowing helped get us into a mess. Afterwards I will speak to where we are and where I think we should be headed.

Continue reading Economic Realities; Fact or Fiction? or Can We Start Borrowing Ourselves into Prosperity Again!

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April 15th, 2012 | Category: Economics | 4 comments
 
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