This is the time of the year when the shopping self indulgence starts. In years past, with various degrees of success or failure, I vowed to avoid it like the antichrist. This year I feel strong, but we’ll see.

the effect of Black Friday

I have lived in the U.S. for 24 years, and it wasn’t until 2019 when I started keeping a shopping wish list in my notes. “Just in case things go on a heavy discount.”

Here’s what I have these days. The list is not long, but the items in it have not been needed in a number of years.

• Schott U.S. Bison Jacket, brown ($1,325 USD)
• Thursday Boots Cavalier Chelsea Boot, shadow grey ($199 USD)
• Yamaha Reface CP Electric Piano Synthesizer ($499 USD)

A simple 10% “heavy” discount may be all that is needed for me to pull the trigger.

watching house prices

There’s a specific area I’ve been following from the comfort of my computer. A resort-like type of community with large houses and large lots. Extremely high wildfire danger though as it’s adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains.

The prices have been coming down reluctantly and have approached a psychological barrier. It’s been kind of amusing to see. Once the barrier is broken (we only need one transaction for that to happen), it will be time to start taking things more seriously.

We are still 15% away in house prices from what I would consider fair.

two muddy hikes in the near vicinity

This weekend, we did not drive too far from our house. Day 1 was a 2-mile hike in the Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa open space. Day 2 even closer at Malibu Creek.

Can’t have too much of nature. The weather is nice with the cold morning air.

Here and there, we stumbled on puddles formed by the rain. My son would use a stick to play with the mud, my daughter her bare hands. That’s how they will approach business. One will enjoy managing the deal, the other one will want to be in the deal.

exercising at night: the parametric function of energy

This presumptuous section header simply means that at around 6:00pm I have plenty of energy to exercise and do the right thing. Six o’clock, however, is when the daily ordeal of making our kids go to sleep begins. Seventy five minutes in, I still have the mental and physical disposition to exercise, but at around the 80-minute mark, everything flips. No more patience or strength. Just irritation and depletion.

My kids typically take 80 minutes to fall asleep, with a variability of +/- 15 minutes.

Tally of the week: three strength training sessions and zero runs.