The Dirty Dozen: SitRep 07-11-2013: I Killed Lee Marvin!

I read somewhere it's important for an investor not to get emotional when buying and selling stocks in his portfolio.  Perhaps naming my portfolio "The Dirty Dozen" and identifying my stake in Hershey Company (HSY) as the Lee Marvin of the group made it hard for me to pull the trigger on my recent stock moves.  However, once I did the math and saw the increase in my dividend income, it wasn't that hard to pull the plug.  Sorry, Lee.

I made two big moves recently with my portfolio.  I sold my stake in HSY, which was 25% of my portfolio.  I also sold all of my shares of Bristol-Meyers-Squibb (BMY).  Both of these stocks' prices grew higher than the quarterly dividend income I received.  This prevented me from getting one full share every quarter, which is my investing goal.  I took those proceeds and invested in Kraft Foods (KRFT) and Darden Restaurants (DRI).  I was able to buy more shares in each than I had with HSY and BMY; plus, Kraft pays $.08 cents more per share than Hershey in dividends, while Darden increased its dividend to $.55 per share - $.20 more per share than Bristol-Meyers-Squibb.

Here is the breakdown of my portfolio, still two stocks short of being The Dirty Dozen:

First Month of Quarter Payers

B&G Foods (BGS)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$13.56

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       4.75

·      

• Reached new 52-week high and achieved highest profit on investment

Kraft Foods (KRFT)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$0.45

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       5.25

Xcel Energy (XEL)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$3.61

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       6.00

Crown Crafts, Inc. (CRWS)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$0.38

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       13.00

Second Month of Quarter Payers

Paychex (PAYX)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$12.06

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       4.00

• Reached new 52-week high and achieved highest profit on investment
• Just increase dividend to $0.35 per share

NutriSystem (NTRI)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    $2.88

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       6.75

• Reduced my stake in this stock

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    -$0.27

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       6.25

Third Month of Quarter Payers

Mattel (MAT)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$20.94

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       4.00

• Achieved highest profit on investment

Waste Management (WM)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    +$9.34

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       4.00

Pitney Bowes (PBI)

Profit/Loss Per Share:                                    -$0.47

Annual Reinvested Shares Pace:                       5.25

• Cut dividend in half

365 in 365: Images 126 through 132

This series of pictures was taken the second week of May.  I took a business trip to St. Louis toward the end of the week and returned in time for my mother-in-law's visit.  She and The Wifey traveled to Wisconsin for much of that weekend, but we did have some time to touch base while she was in town.  At least I was able to mix it up a little during this series.

No. 126:  05-06-2013

I'm not sure what kind of bird this is, but the solitary nature of
the image is what struck me.

No. 127:  05-07-2013 (placeholder)

From left to right:  Guthrie Theater, Gold Medal Flour grain silo,
the ruins of a flour mill that blew up many years ago, a bunch of
condos, a pillar with a Star Blanket sign, and the Whitney Hotel

No. 128:  05-08-2013 (placeholder)

My promise to you is after July 7, I will not post another picture of
the Carlyle and the Third Avenue Bridge

No. 129:  05-09-2013

The Blueberry Hill Restaurant in The Loop section of St. Louis

No. 130:  05-10-2013

The hotel I was staying in St. Louis was hosting
a gamer convention.  This wasn't online gaming.
It was role-playing board gaming.  You can
probably imagine the attendees.

No. 131:  05-11-2013

An interesting take on the protection fences surrounding
construction zones.  This one is near the Walker Art Center.

No. 132:  05-12-2013

After dropping off my mother-in-law at the airport, I crossed paths
with this turkey condor.  I'm sure the two events are unrelated.

365 in 365: Images 119 through 125

Finally getting into May pictures for the weekly series.  I hate to repeat myself, but Minnesota had another snowfall on May 3rd.  The weather warmed soon after and melted it away.  It's been an odd spring this year with alternating warm and precipitating days; the type of precipitation also alternating between rain and snow.  Thankfully, the summer has been very nice and I should be posting pictures of this great season in short order.

This series features mostly Minneapolis skyline.

No.119:  04-29-2013

Some of the lakeside homes around Lake of the Isles

No. 120:  04-30-2013

The building drawing the most attention is The Carlyle, pricey
high-rise condos.  I would love to write a story about some of
the people who might live there.

No. 121:  05-01-2013 (placeholder)

A panoramic view of the Minneapolis skyline

No. 122:  05-02-2013

Have you ever noticed how interesting parking lots can be?
Me, neither.

No. 123:  05-03-2013

Yep.  More snow.

No. 124:  05-04-2013 (placeholder)

One of the statuaries on the Mississippi River bank in St. Paul

No. 125:  05-05-2013

Interesting fact:  I have dropped a deuce on both of these boats

Why Make Bitters When You Can Be Bitter?

Here are a link and an excerpt to a blog post for a co-worker's efforts to start his own business and I'm glad to give him props to my small circle of readers.  If you are one who likes to put a little culture into your drinking, I highly recommend you investigate the trend of bitters; and if you are in or near Minnesota, you should buy some Dashfire.

Since orange is one of the original and most popular types of bitters, it’s called for in a number of classic whiskey cocktails. So Egbert thought to base his bitters on a quality bourbon, Old Weller Antique, instead of a neutral grain spirit.

His bitters are also distinct because they receive some barrel age. He lugged his 5-gallon barrel from Black Swan Cooperage into the bar, beeswax chipping around the rim, still fresh from draining batch number one, and emitting a powerful citrus-bourbon musk. The oak is both toasted and charred, producing Dashfire’s distinct woodsy-vanilla aftertaste.

I've always been more of a craft beer connoisseur, but I decided to branch out to harder stuff with Dashfire bitters.  I really enjoyed the flavor, but I think the bitters should be renamed "Doubtfire," as after three drinks, I woke up the next morning in a dress.  I'm sure a more experienced drinker will have better (or the same) results.

I must admit this post is a little bittersweet (ha!) for me.  I'm happy for my friend to be pursuing his dreams and all indications are he's succeeding.  However, a part of me can't help being envious as I continue to moisten my chair at a soul-sucking job in a cube farm until my desiccated remains are brushed into an urn and sent to my daughter.  Maybe I should make my own bitters and name it "Bile."  Doesn't get much more bitter than that, amiright?

By the way, who here thinks I look like a cross between Anthony Edwards and Bill O'Reilly?

New Year's Resolutions: Quarterly Update

If Paula Abdul sang a song about my second quarter results to my New Year's resolutions, one lyric would be "he took one step forward, and two steps back." However, I remain resolute in my resolutions.  It's a new quarter and a new start to get back on the right path.  Here are the numbers.

• Post at least 315 pictures for the "365 in 365" project for 2013.  
• Update:  I'm still behind in posting weekly pictures, but I've done my best to take pictures most days.  Of the 181 pictures needed through June 30, I will have posted about 35 "place holder" pictures, a little better than an 80% average.  If I post 315 "originals" (taken on the date), that's an 85% average. I'm a little behind the pace.
• Make at least 6 posts per month to my "Novel Ideas" blog
• Update: After a strong start, I've really fallen down here.  It didn't help I took the month of May off, unintentionally.  I've made 35 posts through June, an average of just under 6 per month.  I guess I'm still on plan, but I really loaded up in the first quarter (7+ per month).  I have plenty to write about now, I just need to find the drive and time to make the posts.
• Lose 11% of my body weight, roughly 2 pounds per month
• Update:  In June the scale did read 217 pounds and some change at the lowest level for the quarter.  I did get as high as 222.  On June 30, I weighed 218.5, so I lost half a pound in the quarter.  The target was 213.  Now that the weather was warmed, I should become more active.  There are plenty of projects around the house to keep me moving and burning calories.  Plus, if I want to look good in a bathing suit while on vacation, I need to bare down for a couple weeks.
• Have +$360 in savings account by year end
• Update: This is probably the most frustrating of the 2013 goals.  We had a number of unexpected expenses arise and I had to borrow against my savings to pay bills.  To date, I'm $120 off the pace of where I expect to be.  The good news is I earned a quarterly bonus at the end of June, and when that is paid in August, I will be able to get back to plan.

365 in 365: Images 112 through 118

I'm going to be honest.  The fourth week of April's pictures suck, which is representative of the lousy weather we had in Minnesota.  We had a significant snow storm, again, which pretty much drained the creativity out of me; and I would think out of a large portion of the state populace.  It's mid-June now and we may have finally turned a corner.  I hope to have a lot more series of interesting pictures in short order.

No. 112:  04-22-13

This is straight up bullshit right here!

No. 113:  04-23-13:

Some straight up bullshit aftermath on our street.

No. 114:  04-24-13  (placeholder)

The weather did get warmer, but not great.  Here's more straight up
bullshit aftermath on our street.

No. 115:  04-25-13

You can see some green in the background, but it's an evergreen, so
it doesn't count.

No. 116:  04-26-13

It won't be Spring until ALL the snow is gone.

No. 117:  04-27-13

I don't know if it's the skin of ice or dead fish that keeps me from
swimming in Beaver Lake.

No. 118:  04-28-13

A view of Minneapolis from the base of the Witch's Hat Water Tower.

365 in 365: Images 105 through 111

These pictures are from the third week of April.  I was still in the throes of my flu, but still managed to take a business trip to Chicago.  While I was there, a huge thunderstorm had rolled in (a familiar refrain during the year) and most of the highways around the airport were flooded.  I had a 90 minute taxi ride to my hotel, which was only 2.5 miles from the airport.  The combination of illness and inclement weather resulted in a weak crop of pictures, which would explain the couple images of the Company's Aftermarket Parts distributor in Chicago.

No. 105:  04-15-13: (placeholder)

During my convalescence, I watched "Young Adult" on Netflix.  The
opening scenes were of Charlize Theron in her apartment.  
I recognized the distinctive half circle balconies to be of this 
apartment building.

No. 106:  04-16-13:  (placeholder)

The lesser known Disney movie, "Herbie:  The Jailbird"

No. 107:  04-17-13:

This is an old railway car garage from when the Stone Arch Bridge 
was used by trains.  The building has been converted into offices 
for an advertising agency.

No. 108:  04-18-13: (placeholder) 

My job is working with distributors to stock HVAC replacement 
parts for local customers.  This distributor is one of the largest.

No. 109:  04-19-13:

The Parts Manager and I had a business dinner and in 
the parking garage we were directed to these elevators.

No. 110:  04-20-13:  (placeholder)

Just one small section of the distributor's warehouse

No. 111:  04-21-13:

A fleet of tugboats at the ready in the St. Paul area 
of the Mississippi River

Just Lackey Being Lackey

I was glad to see the Red Sox won today even though John Lackey was the pitcher of record.  I've never hidden the fact that I don't like Lackey.  I still believe he was the catalyst for the coup against Terry Francona that lead to the Red Sox collapse in 2011.  After Clemens, Beckett, and now Lackey, the Red Sox seem to love asshole pitchers from Texas.  They better keep a tight rein on Clay Buchholz and get rid of Lackey as a negative influence.

Before he joined the Red Sox, I never had an opinion about Lackey either way.  I knew he was considered a better than average pitcher, but when the Red Sox faced him, I remember them doing quite well.  Now that the Boston media can document his every move, the more I see and read, the less impressed I've become.

I watched Lackey's last start on TV against the Rays.  Even though he was staked a six run lead in the first inning, he was hit hard repeatedly and slowly started giving back the lead.  It's in those moments when the going gets tough that you get to see the true nature of a person.  During a particularly rough inning, the Rays were able to get a number of runners on base, the culmination of which was a bloop single that fell in front of Daniel Nava.  The replay showed Lackey shouting in frustration, perhaps at himself, but I think he was yelling at Nava for not getting to the ball.

Now Nava isn't a speed guy, but he hustles and plays a solid defense.  He isn't going to make diving plays, but he will keep a single from turning into a double or triple.  He's like Trot Nixon; a true Dirt Dog, and a potential All-Star.  There is no reason for his pitcher to be showing him up.

Later in the game, Lackey drilled Matt Joyce in the back.  Joyce had hit a home run and was demonstrative when he hit a long foul ball, just missing his second home run.  I saw the replay and it looked very much like he was disappointed in himself for missing a pitch.  He wasn't showboating in any way.

Even in his short stint with the Red Sox, Lackey has shown a history of hitting batters who he felt showed him up, and it probably goes back to his days with the Angels.  I remember a game in 2011 he pitched against the Yankees.  Lackey served up a meatball to Francisco Cervelli, a light-hitting catcher, that went over the Green Monster.  When Cervelli reached home plate, he appeared to hunch over and give one enthusiastic clap of his hands.  During the replay, the camera focused on Lackey and he was seen rubbing up a new baseball and glaring at the plate.  I could tell by the look on his face that he had decided to hit Cervelli during his next at bat.  Sure enough, he did.  What an asshole pitcher from Texas!

One other thing chapped my ass as I was watching the game.  It was televised on ESPN and one of the analysts was Aaron Boone.  The game had reached the late innings and Lackey had been relieved.  The camera had looked into the Red Sox dugout and showed all the players standing against the railing, watching the game.  To his credit, Lackey was there, too.  Boone took this opportunity to praise Lackey for showing that kind of sportsmanship and said he has always been that kind of player.  I call bullshit.  

I thought I had gotten over my anger at Aaron Boone when he hit that walk-off home run against Tim Wakefield in 2003, but that comment had rekindled my rage.  Aaron Fucking Boone!

365 in 365: Images 098 to 104

This batch of pictures is from the second week of April, when I took a business trip to Louisiana and then had the flu when I returned.  I was able to sack up and get to another G-Bug volleyball tournament as well.  Busy week!

No. 098:  04-08-13

Bourbon Street in New Orleans.  There was a Jazz Festival this week; but
really.  Isn't there something going on on Bourbon St. EVERY week?

No. 099:  04-09-13 (placeholder)

I was in New Orleans two nights, but only hit Bourbon Street
on my first night.  Here's another picture though.

No. 100:  04-10-13

Glad to have a chance to take a special picture for my 100th.  This is one of
the famous houses in Shreveport, LA

No. 101:  04-11-13

Can't seem to avoid the crappy weather, no matter where I go.  Huge
thunderstorm rolled in my one night in Shreveport.  Didn't stop me from
going to the Horseshoe Casino where I took this pic from the garage.

No. 102:  04-12-13

The weekend after I returned from my trip, I was laid up by the flu.

No. 103:  04-13-13 (placeholder)

G-Bug serving during her volleyball tournament.  She has really improved
this area of her game.  Unfortunately, her height will keep her by the net
so she might not get to serve much.

No. 104:  04-14-13

The actual volleyball play date date

365 in 365: Images 091 to 097

The last couple of months have been a whirlwind of business travel, family visits, and illness, so I haven't been as diligent in creating blog posts as I would want.  I have been doing my best to take pictures on a regular basis, so I have quite a few to post, with a fair number of "placeholder" shots to make up the difference.  After a six-month respite, I hope I can get current and stay there.  Here is the next set of pictures, keep in mind these were taken the first week of April, when the weather was still sucky in MN.  Enjoy!

No. 091: 04-01-13

Fallen tree next to Lake Harriet.  I wonder, was anyone around to hear it
make a sound?  That was almost poetic!

No. 092:  04-02-13

Grand Spectacle on Grand Ave. in St. Paul.  They must have positioned
the eyes like that on purpose.

No. 093:  04-03-13 (placeholder)

This must be a hottie in the duck world, as she attracted the attention
of two males.

No. 094:  04-04-13 (placeholder)

The slowly retreating ice on Lake Harriet

No. 095:  04-05-13 (placeholder)

Sunset over the band shell on Lake Harriet

No. 096:  04-06-13

Foggy morning looking at Minneapolis from the Mississippi River Blvd

No. 097:  04-07-13

What I thought would be the first Spring thaw in our backyard