Diesel Forcast

Well, it looks like I was just a little behind regarding my idea for a diesel technology news based website, DieselForcaset.com It's OK, now I can enjoy it without all the hard work. :)

Making money from your interests

Over the last couple days I've once again been considering a little online business on the side. Right before I moved to Scotland, I had been the middleman between and Aprilia dealership and Formula SAE teams selling them crate engines. It was pretty sweet as I made $150 for each sale. I ended up selling 8 engines in a matter of about 5 months and all I had to do was post on a forum and then answer some emails. From that, I started to plan a website called FSAEnetwork.com. It's still up, but nothing more than a welcome screen and an empty forum. I realized too late that the market just wasn't there to make decent money for the effort. For 2008, I've committed myself to finally getting into investing. I have a 401K started, but I'm interested in really learning how to invest in stocks, bonds, etc. I've picked up a couple books, and I've even set up a practice portfolio on CNNMoney.com. Starting at January 1st, I've picked some stocks that I think will do well, but so far the market is just shit. One day I was up about $200, but most days it's been negative. I know investing is really about the long term, but it's been fun to watch so far. Probably because I don't have any real money invested yet. I need to finish reading my books so I can figure out which stocks are really a good value instead of just a good guess.
The North American International Auto Show a.k.a. the Detroit Auto Show has been taking place this week. I've been reading hyperlinks on Google News over the last few days. The main theme this year has been 'green', although not surprising considering high gas prices, global warming, and the passage of the new energy bill which will force manufacturers to increase their Corporate Average Fuel Economy. Most of the manufacturers have been announcing hybrids or diesels depending on the vehicle. I personally feel that hybrids are good in small cars in town in stop and go traffic, but diesels make more sense in big vehicles that travel the highways.
With all the manufacturers getting ready to release cars or trucks with diesel engines in them, I've once again been considering starting a website centered around the general topic of diesel engines, which obviously is a larger audience. This would take a pretty good time commitment, so I’m putting some thought into it. I might make a tiny commitment and just start another blog with news feeds from various diesel sources.

The dreaded filing cabinet monster

It was early Saturday morning when I crept upstairs into our office. I was still half asleep when I attacked.....the filing cabinet and it's dreaded paper monster!!! I've been putting off organizing it for about a year and half now. Papers have usually just ended up in piles on the floor. When I need something, I just dig through the pile. There is about 4 inches of old bank statements that I now need to shread. Well, with this being a new year, the pain going down in my back and leg and thus having a little more motivation, I finally spent most of the weekend organizing the filing cabinet. It's the first major step that I've taken this year to balance my life. I must admit that I felt pretty good by the end of the weekend. It's not completely done, but it made me aware of a few more items I need to take care of. One of those being to get my rewards programs updated so I can start taking advantage of the traveling that I do.

Unfortunately, our US vacation is over

Dena and I are in Atlanta waiting to catch our flight back to the UK. This flight is a day late due to yesterday's flight being cancelled. I really don't like flying. Mostly, I don't like the lack of control I have over when and where I go somewhere. There seem to be more and more delays, overbookings, strikes, etc. Direct flights are usually fine, but anything with a connecting flight causes me to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Being back in the US was really nice. I've never taken 5 weeks of vacation at one time before. I apparently needed it though. I feel so much better. It took me the first week and a half to just stop checking work email everyday. Then, I had my surgery, and my pain has been going down. It's so nice to have less pain in my right leg and back.

What's in future for 2008? I'm working on getting balanced again. For some time now, I've been out of balance after getting injured and leaving Louisiana. I need to balance my time with Dena, time with friends, work, hobbies, health, and fitness.

Five days after back surgery

Today is the fifth day after having laser back surgery to remove a bulging L5-S1 disc in my back. Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. Taking into account that this was major back surgery, I'm doing really well. I do notice some pain in my right leg yet, which is a little disappointing, but I just have to remind myself that everything is still healing. I try to remind myself by putting things in perspective. If I had elected to have traditional back surgery, I'd probably still be laying in a hospital bed. Instead, I've been walking around since the day after surgery, and it's kind of been life as normal, although I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds, and I need to be careful when bending and twisting.

Trip to Pau, France

IMAGE_103
Originally uploaded by mechanicaldan1

Here are a few pictures of the trip to Pau, France that Dena and I took. She has a lot more photos, and they'll be better too. My pictures were taken with my fixed focus mobile phone camera. It was also Halloween the day before we arrived, so that should explain the funny picture of me. Oh yeah, and there was alcohol involved.

Here's the link to the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeasmechanicaldan/sets/72157603088020107/

Visiting Paris, France for the first time

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Originally uploaded by mechanicaldan1

I am still alive, I've just been crazy busy with work. I've been flying all over. I was going to be in Pau, France for a week, and we were flying through Paris, so Dena came along with me. It was really nice to have her along, especially when she showed me around Paris and I had a free translator. We had about 10 hours from when we arrived in Paris until our flight left, so we hopped on the Metro and headed downtown.

Go here for some of the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeasmechanicaldan/sets/72157603083749570/