Some Random Thoughts

The Touch

At a street fest last year, I was moving through the crowd and I saw this girl that I knew somewhere.  Our paths have crossed many times over the years but I've never peaked her interest.  She only hugs me when she is drunk. 

As we passed each other, it was too crowded to hug, so we grasped hands.  In that moment, it seemed as if we connected, but only for that moment.  It was half acknowledgement, half apology...that our story didn't have more flavor to it.

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Why I think interest rates are what they are

as of this writing, the interest rate is about 5.3%, even though the Fed is like zero.  I'm sure there is a good reason for, perhaps something to do with the Finance-speak I saw on a newsletter:

Mortgage backed securities(MBS)prices are near unchanged this morning as traders brace for a record $67 billion in new supply. FNMA 4.5% coupon currently @100.64bps, +3bps. Stocks are retreating on concern the deepening recession will decimate consumer spending. Yields on 10yr note has increased 98bps in 8 weeks from 2.04% to 3.02% as the Fed's decision not to purchase long term debt has excaberated efforts to reduce consumer borrowing costs, ie mortgages, auto loans etc.
[source:  Bryan Kelly, Wintrust Mortgage 2/9/2009]

My theory is that now that loan applicants are being scrutinized more, the odds are better that those who do manage to get loans will be more likely to pay those loans for the lifetime of said loan (duh!).  So banks make more money by charging a) more interest or b) less interest!

If you said a) you are not a conspiracy theorist, just a skeptic.

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My coworkers think I'm a freak for not dreading coming into the office in the morning

One morning last week as I was cutting through the Bank of America building to get to work, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a while.  It was 3 minutes before 9 and were I still at the consulting firm, I would have been gripped with panic because we had to be at the office by 8:30 or our first assignment by 8:30/9am on the dot.  Being a minute late was inexcusable.  If you're gonna be late, you should leave your house earlier so that you aren't, is their logic.  Because you have nothing better to do than get to a client half an hour early...so that you can finish up and go to another client before the day ends and work late too.

But fortunately, I don't have to be rude a friend I pass on the street because I have to check in with Core Command every 5 minutes.  My boss doesn't care when I show up or when I leave, only that I get my work done and our systems are covered. 

I'm still going through some post-consulting firm stress withdrawl and there are times when I still think in the old mode, but I'm slowly recovering.