Is This All Real?

Watching the stock market grind higher and higher, it's only natural to ask: Is this all real?

You know, there's a contingent of investment folks who hold that all of this rise in stock prices is "artificial" in some sense. They don't always agree on what exactly "artificial" means. But it's artificial nonetheless.

See, it's a bit disconcerting to watch stock prices rise and rise despite traditional valuations. In other words, stock prices are way higher than normal, and one would expect some sort of correction (or worse) to occur...at some point.

One might expect; but one would be disappointed - to say the least. 

Naturally, we who have attempted to understand historical valuations and the aftermath of same have been relatively defensive in our allocations to stocks. They'll be correcting soon - and maybe correcting a heckuva-whole-lot...right?

Well, never mind. Not happening. So it's off to attend to other important matters.

One such is tomorrow's expected steady rain, with intervals of heavy rain. It's caused a change in plans. Reschedule that dinner with close friends to next weekend. 

Speaking of which, given the anticipated bout of rain, there will need to be a change in Saturday morning walking routine. Walking in the rain (a bit hit in its day) fits in nicely here, doesn't it?

Which, by the way, reminds us of the simple fact that life does deserve our consideration, perhaps a lot more than all this financial stuff.

Okay, so "Walking In The Rain" isn't the deepest exploration and explication of love - a love that lasts a lifetime. Nevertheless, we've all likely had our first taste of something somewhat akin to love in our younger days.

And, if so, here's a wish that we all - in time - figured out that love is never easy. It's more than a feeling. It's more than a word you say. Words don't last a lifetime. Real - i.e. true - love is designed to last forever. And in it's highest form - love of God - it lasts for eternity.

So with all that congealing and shaping our weekend plans, it's a tip of the hat to all of you who have some connection to reality in the face of what is, frankly, a rather surreal landscape in the financial markets. 

Oh, and let's not forget the economic data that's been force-fed to us - the data that tells us we're in a roaring great economy.

And last - but not least - blather of our media and government (tied at the waist - or maybe more appropriately waste - to say the least) who keep trying to pound us into submission so that we'll acquiesce to their claims of doing all for "the greater good" - a most dangerous phrase if ever there was one.

We could continue these weekend thoughts, but frankly it's time to eat some vittles and kick up the feet that won't be going for a typical Saturday AM walk.

With wishes for a good weekend...