My Schedule…and A Little Extra: |1| My son likes the commercials more. “Daddy, this is the show we get to watch about the things we can buy!” |2| My email woes from being down for part of the weekend, all day Monday and most of the day Tuesday and yesterday has finally been fixed. The Company said there was a fiber outage in the Midwest that caused havoc while they were doing maintenance upgrades on Columbus day. Apparently I am one of the lucky ones since my data is intact. So, that’s good…I’m grateful. |3| So far my trip to Minneapolis is awesome…I have focused entirely on family thus far and will see friends tonight…but I miss my wife and kids tremendously. |4| A Tribute to Steve Jobs: He died just over one year ago on October 5th…I can’t believe how fast a year has gone by since Steve Jobs passed on. With the release of the new iPhone 5, which I pre-ordered and still have not received, thoughts about Jobs have resurfaced. My friend said, “Jobs never would have allowed the iPhone 5 to be released with such a poor mapping software.” My brother said, “Jobs was smart the way he set up the OS…everything works similarly making apps easy to use and intuitive.” Last year on his passing, I wrote this tribute:
I have followed Steve Jobs throughout his amazing career. My first computer while I was in law school was a Mac…it weighed about 20 pounds and I carried to law school to prepare for finals. While practicing law I used a Mac and only switched to the dark (PC) side when I moved to CA. I have two iPhones, two iTouches, a bunch of iPods, an iPad, and a billion videos and songs from Apple. I have used many of Steve’s quotes during my Sales Manager days. In fact, I used a speech he made at Stanford University – the moral of that speech was ‘You’ve Got To Find What You Love.’ Steve was the definition of visionary and redefined the term innovation…I am very saddened by our loss. STEVE, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME MY BROTHER, please build an App to make it easier to communicate with Heaven…thanks for everything man, and take care….
If you’d like to read his speech from Stanford University, click here: You’ve Got To Find What You Love
My Market Watch: Initial research this morning indicates bonds might be selling off today but it’s too early in Minneapolis to get a handle on the day. If in fact bonds sell this morning it should result in rates/prices to be a little worse than yesterday, but should be a minor difference. My Disclaimer
My Schedule: For the remainder of the week I am in Minneapolis visiting my parents, brother, two sisters and friends. I am working every day. Today I will grab lunch with my parents…I intend to spend time with them every day. Keep in mind it is a two-hour difference from Minneapolis to southern CA….
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: I could easily be you. Don’t believe me? Watch this: 
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: My Mom wrote this in response to my post that 
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: |1| Installing or fixing a ceiling fan is about as far out of my comfort zone as eating monkey brain. I realize some cultures eat monkey brain and that’s just fine, but it’s not for me. Neither is fixing a ceiling fan. It wobbles above the master bedroom bed like its mad at us and I need to put it in its place. After all, I am the master of my domain, am I not? No stupid ceiling fan is going to intimidate me! I’M THE MAN! So, does anyone know an inexpensive handyman? |2| In case you missed this last week, check this out: 
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: |1| My daughter has learned to use the phone…and use it she does! I guess a phone etiquette discussion is in order, eh? |2| Check this out: 
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: I can fix this country…put me in charge! Cut me a check for $500 million dollars and it’s done. I don’t want to be President…that’s not what I mean. Let me explain…I am not sure this election is good for the country or not. That is, you could say this election is fantastic for our country because we have two intelligent candidates who are passionate about our problems and each has a plan to make things better. This is good because it gets the American people talking intelligently about the issues and it brings us together on those issues, even if we have differing opinions on how to resolve. On the other hand, I could argue (and so I will) this election is harmful to our country. And to do so would require me to indict the entire electoral process and term limits (and so I will). First, I think this country’s major issues is the result of terms that are too short…no President could resolve major issues like we have in less than three years. I know Romney’s camp has to say that it should be fixed by now but they have to say that because they are trying to win the election. And that’s kind of my point. The President gets less than three years to fix the problems, unless of course he is reelected. Three years you ask? Yes, three years I say. He only gets less than three years because the first 6 months of his term is a learning curve, and the last 12 months is dedicated to a reelection campaign. It isn’t enough time and it isn’t enough focus. An administration, regardless of which party, needs at least 6 years. Second, the election process is ridiculous. Each candidate should get a set amount of funds to use for his campaign and no more. Equal funds. A president shouldn’t be elected based on how much money they have…that’s absurd and its ruining this country. We’ve spent over $5 billion on this election alone. $5 billion! So here it is…to fix everything, simply increase the term to 6 years and give each candidate a set amount of money to spend on the campaign. Done. Fixed. For this consultation and for executing the changes I will charge the American people a discount of only $500 million…this will save the country billions! And I want cash.
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: The Vice Presidential Debate: it was spirited to say the least. At times I felt Biden did a good job of making Ryan look like a teenager that didn’t know what his special purpose was for. But at times Biden looked like a grumpy old man who lectured on how he used to trudge to school in 25 feet of snow with torn up shoes and he liked it that way! Ryan was calm, cool and remained level the whole time…this strategy served him well as he let Biden go off on his condescending lectures. However, on this debate, I give Biden the edge…despite his condescending behavior, he ultimately came across as more knowledgeable, more passionate, and more aggressive. I like that in my men.
My Schedule…and A Little Extra: Nearly $100 is what it cost to fill my Odyssey with gas this morning. The price at my neighborhood 7-11, which is usually less expensive than most other gas stations, was $4.45 per gallon. And so I have made a decision to exit the mortgage industry and start a gasoline company. Does anyone know how to do that? | My wife, the Travelmama, is in the audience of the Oprah Winfrey Life Class this morning where Oprah interviews Joel Osteen. This is a bucket-list check-mark for Colleen and I’m happy for her. Also, in case you didn’t know, I’m a big Oprah fan as well…I feel she has changed the world for the better and I respect her…I’m a little jealous….
Phil Grossfield's Blog 