Today was a good day. That is, until my wife and I looked at new homes in Kitsap County--west of Tacoma. The model that we toured was a much better value for the money than our home--the home we moved into last December. From a commute standpoint, the home in the McCormick Woods area would be much worse than where we are. However, the land would be at least three times larger, making life better for the dogs. Add to that the hiking trails, the golf course, the wooded areas that would never be built upon. And did I mention the house? Bigger, features that I had to pay extra for are standard, and apparently a higher standard of quality in construction--all for less than we paid.

Drat!

Yes, I have buyer's remorse. However, there is not much we can do at this point. And, as my Dad would say, "There's always another one."

We spent some time driving--very fast--in the M5. We had drinks in Gig Harbor while watching the Mariners lose and Tiger Woods win. Later, my wonderful wife kick started some decorating chores--placing pictures, laying down a rug--that made the house look nice.

All in all, a very good day.

Tomorrow is Father’s Day. Unfortunately, my father is not here to celebrate it. He passed away in 1992, succumbing to the effects of a stroke and a lifetime of smoking. He left us too soon.

Fathers should revel in their day—taking nothing away from mothers. For 364 days a year, they toil away at work and at home. They are jacks of all trades; at least, my Dad was.

He grew up in small town Georgia, one of a family of more than 10 children during the Great Depression. He served in the Army during World War II; his unit landed on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion. He suffered hearing loss and other injuries, but managed to come home.

He didn’t have a formal education, but managed to establish himself as a successful car salesman. He met my Mother in Mobile, Alabama. Shortly thereafter, they returned to Georgia and set up their home in Macon.

He taught me a great many things, from hunting and fishing, to taking care of a car—basically, taking care of everything you have, to love of country. I followed his lead after college and joined the Air Force. I was fortunate to become a computer programmer, not a sergeant in a rifle company.

He always asked me to “bring him a high number”—his way of asking me to do my best in school. If I brought home all A’s, I was rewarded with a dollar.

I owe everything I have achieved to him. His example, his encouragement, his steadfast beliefs are guideposts I have tried to follow all my life. When I made a mistake, I can trace it back to a failure to follow his teachings. I miss him every day.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad.

I am beginning to loathe most financial news. Magazines are too slow. Usually they are full of platitudes and “BGO-class” (Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious) advice. Television shows are too timely—the perspective cannot change every day. The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times business section, and Investors Business Daily are dense reads if you try to plow through them every day—they take too much time.

I am beginning to think that the weeklies—Bob Brinker’s Moneytalk at http://www.bobbrinker.com/summaries/summary.asp and Barron’s —are among the best sources for information. I also like the Wall Street Journal’s Weekly Journal section that appears in local newspapers. I like good old Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street on CNBC. Call it misplaced loyalty, but I now refuse to watch the replacement show on PBS. I did not like the way Maryland Public Television managed the “transition”.

I really wish I had paid more attention to two or three books that I read a few years ago when allocating my investments. Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor and John Bogle’s Bogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor are about the only books you need to read. Bob Brinker’s web site has a large catalog of additional books, but I do not think that they add all that much to the basic advice. Here is a quote from Ben Graham’s that I wish I followed more every day—not just in investing, “Have the courage of your knowledge and experience. If you have formed a conclusion from the facts, and if you know your judgment is sound, act on it—even though others may hesitate or differ.”

Now if I could only stop second guessing myself…

This is the first post I’ve actually written at sunset. I chose the name for this blog because sunset is a natural time for reflection on the day that’s ending, and to think about the day ahead. No matter what happens each day, I’m thankful for the chance to live it.

We have three Labs that share our home with my wife and I. They’re universally upbeat; not much fazes them. They’re always happy to see us, and always willing to play or just lean against us for a petting session.

I think that three dogs are a bit much. They can be destructive (without guile or intent), and they are needful of attention when awake. However, I recommend at least one pet in your life. They remind you of what it was like to be a child. They enjoy each moment for itself. Of course, they aren’t burdened by the responsibilities of modern life. They depend on us for food and shelter. What they give back is priceless.

A lot has changed in my life since my wife and I married, and her three dogs took over part of our lives together. I was a bachelor for nearly a decade, and lived a neat, orderly, tightly scheduled life. Gaining the love of the three dogs is one of the best changes that has come about, despite the sometimes painful adjustments that I’ve had to make. I don’t think I would go back—at least, not entirely ;-).

With love to Kathy, Yogi, Abby and Emma.

I’m a sports fan. I love baseball, football, college basketball and football, NASCAR, F1, and a few others. Baseball is often criticized as being too slow for modern audiences. I disagree.

Baseball requires every player to be aware on every play. The managers, the base coaches, the umpires; every participant must be on their toes. However, the person who is really in control is the pitcher.

Nothing really happens until the pitcher starts his motion. Signals may be exchanged, the runners may bluff to distract the pitcher. However, the pitcher is truly in control of every play. This attribute is unique in sports.

I like to watch the dynamic between the pitcher and catcher. A great catcher may truly “call the game”. He may control the action in ways that only a true fan can appreciate.

Understanding the nuances of sports, like life, enriches the experience. Try to appreciate something that happens in your life, just for itself, every day. Taste those experiences; appreciate all the opportunities that you’re given.

We are inundated with "news". Terrorists are trying to build a "dirty bomb", but are so inept that they can't find the radioactive materials (thank God). Nations with nuclear power plants cannot account for all of the materials in their possession. Or, much worse, cannot be guaranteed to provide adequate safeguards for the nuclear weapons in their stockpiles. The agencies that guard our borders cannot detect any of this material over distances greater than a few yards.

This is but one category to worry about. Threats are made against water supplies, power grids, bridges, and large buildings.

I am very relieved that the FBI and CIA are working together, and were able to capture two terrorists who are alleged to be part of the “dirty bomb” plot. I hope that the disparate agencies that will in all likelihood be merged into the Department of Homeland Security will work together amongst themselves and with the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. to separate the true threats from the hoaxes and rumors.

It’s in our nature as Americans to have a generally positive outlook on life. We generally want to believe that our government will protect us, and will leave us largely alone to live happy, productive lives. I haven’t had much contact with the government other than working with the men and women I served with during my four years in the Air Force (’75-’79). That was a tough time; Vietnam had just ended. Morale should have been low. I found the experience to be extremely gratifying. I pulled many “all nighters” working on software for the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center. Senior officers were right there, too. I wish those people, and their successors who work just as hard, got the credit they deserve.

I for one prefer to live my life vigilant for things I can do something about, but generally trusting those who’ve decided to sacrifice a part of their lives for the good of us all. We’re lucky enough to have the chance to vote to change things if we disagree with the overall direction from the top every four years. Are you registered?

Good morning, for the first time!

I've been lurking long enough. I enjoy reading blogs, and I hope to offer something back that will add to the richness of the blog world, as those of you with blogs do every day.

I agree with those who say that blogs are essentially journals. It's also increasingly apparent that they are an exciting new direction--alternative?--to traditional journalism. This blog will be topical as well as personal; my sincere hope is that it will be interesting most of the time.

A little about me. My name is Jim Floyd. I worked in the computer and communications industry for over 25 years. I was a programmer in the Air Force, EDS, and Raychem. I was a systems engineer and salesperson for Doelz Networks. I was the Networking and Communications Evangelist for Apple Computer in the late 80s--what a rush! I was a product manager at GO Corporation and most recently, for Microsoft.

I took some time off after my mother became ill, and I tried to help her as best I could. I urge you to cherish your loved ones every day, and to hold them close to your heart.

I'm looking to return to work soon. I've kept busy by building a home network for my house to sharpen my skills a bit, and helping my friends work through problems with Windows, Office and Exchange. My next project involves stacks of old pictures and negatives that I going to scan and organize, then burn to DVD along with commentary. I wish that I could still hear the voices of my parents, aunts and uncles as they told me stories about their lives. I hope to give my family the chance to see, read and hear about my life directly, not through memories that fade with time.

That's enough for now. I hope you'll return for more tomorrow.