Well March is making herself known in a big way. We’re expecting snow tonight and quite a bit of it from what they are predicting. The funny thing is that even though the economy is in shambles, the ski industry up here has had it’s best year in a long time. I think part of it is because you can make a day of skiing and make it home that evening. The motels aren’t doing as well as they would like to but the ski resorts are booming. We’ll not that far away from a lot of major cities so that helps tremendously. Now we’ll just have to wait and see what March brings. Like they say “In like a lion, out like a lamb” so the end of March should be wonderful since this lion of a snow storm is heading at us.
Stocks woes!!
Three major United States stock market indexes closed at their lowest levels in over a decade on Monday, amidst declining investor confidence and worries that the government will nationalize the banks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 3.41%, or 251.4 points, to end the day at 7,114.3, its lowest level since October 1997. The Standard and Poor’s 500 index lost 26 points or 3.5% to a level of 743.33, its lowest level since April 1997. The Russel 2000 Index of smaller companies dropped by four percent.
The three stock market indexes have been falling for the last six days. The Nasdaq Composite index lost 53.5 points, or 3.71%, closing at 1,387.7. However, the index remained above its November 20, 2008 low of 1316.12.
Despite the worries about the banks, bank shares climbed today. Bank of America shares rose by 3.2%, whilst Citigroup gained 9.7%. However, stocks for both banks have plunged more than 68% this year-to-date.
“People left and right are throwing in the towel. The biggest thing I see here is the incredible pessimism – the government is doing a lousy job of alleviating fears,” said Keith Springer of Capital Financial Advisory Services.
“Many investors simply can’t contemplate any more stock market risk in their portfolios. Sentiment in the market is very weak and negative,” said the senior market strategist for Invesco AIM, Fritz Meyer.
This is absolutely awful. I really thought that once the American people saw all that the new president was doing to try and help the economy, they would turn this around. Instead, just the opposite seems to be true. How do they expect the economy to turn around if they keep bailing out of the stock market. They’re hurting the economy by doing so. If I had a bundle of money, I would start buying like crazy now. I bet you could make a bundle IF you have the money to start investing but so many have lost so much that they’re giving up and to give up means more economic woes for the country. Can’t they see that?
Well there was more to Valentines Day
We were absolutely booked solid for Valentines Day. With the excitement of moving Celeste and Little Joe into their new apartment, I forgot to tell you about how we celebrated Valentines Day here at my Bed and Breakfast. We had special packages for our customers where they could get a dozen roses, rose peddles on the bed, champagne, strawberries dipped in chocolate and a special dinner served in their rooms. It’s always a big hit and this year wasn’t much different.
In face, we’re usually booked solid for Valentines Day by Christmas. Most of the people that made their reservations were ones that have been here for Valentines Day before. Love is definitely in the air here and it’s a wonderful time for all. This year we added a couple of things that we didn’t have before to help bring in more customers in a tough economy. We threw in the whole weekend instead of just Valentines Day. So for what they usually paid for just the one night, they got the complete weekend. It worked I am so glad to say. I just hope all of you had a Valentines as full of love as my home was.
Happy, Happy Valentines Day
Well you should have seen both Celeste and Little Joe’s faces when they saw the apartment. Celeste had no idea that the apartment was for her. She thought it might be for me as a get away from everything. That would have been a good idea too but she needed to have a place of her own where she could feel at home instead of just ‘staying’ here. She’s an amazing young woman and I wanted to show her my faith in her.
Little Joe was running from room to room yelling “Mommy come see this” he was so excited and down right tickled at just about every turn. He absolutely loved his new bedroom. He came out with a huge smile on his face, looked at me and said “Is this all for me? Thank you Mamaw April, I love it all” and then gave me a big hug and a kiss. He loved his bed and the wall mural my friend painted for him of all of the animals he loves so much. I was quite impressed with the way it turned out myself.
Celeste cried. She looked at me and said “How am I ever going to be able to repay you for all you have done for Little Joe and I?” The look on their faces was all the repayment I needed. I simply told her “Make yourself and Little Joe proud by going to college and making a wonderful life for you and Little Joe. That’s all the repayment I need. Well that and having you two in my life, I can’t ask for any more than that. You have brought more light and love into my life as I have yours and this is my way of thanking you for that.”
Needless to say, we stood there and cried like a couple of idiots but isn’t love grand? Love comes in all shapes and sizes. It comes in many different forms too and people need to realize that. Love of a friend or child is every bit as important as Love of a husband or wife so cherish all forms of love you have!!!
Right on schedule
We have decided that the apartment for Celeste has to be completed by Valentines day. Or at least completed enough that she can move in as my Valentines Day gift to her and Little Joe. Well if things keep going like they are right now, that is very possible. The furniture I have ordered online for them is scheduled to be here on the 12th. I just hope it’s not late.
An artist friend of mine is coming in on the 10 to start the special painting of Little Joe’s room. She’s going to paint a mural all the way round the room of a forest with all of the animals he loves so much. He spends as much time as he can with my animals so I thought we would surprise him with the animals in his room. She does wonderful work and I know Little Joe will love it.
I’m really surprised that Celeste has not mentioned the apartment at all. I guess she is so used to not being able to ask questions at home that she feels it’s better to just leave it alone. That actually helps me to make the surprise even better I think.
Things I believe
I Believe…That just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do love each other.
I Believe… That we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I Believe…That no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe…That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I Believe…That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe…That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe…That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe…That sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe…That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I Believe…That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe…That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I Believe…That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you – you will find the strength to help.
I Believe…That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.