Just back from Washington, D.C. – incredible city! More thoughts to come, but this quote from an article written by William McGurn in The Wall Street Journal, “Advice from the man who foresaw the GSE collapse” sums up succinctly one point of view on the efficiency of government v. the free market.

 “My starting principle is this,” says Mr. Baker [former Louisiana Republican Richard Baker]. “The closer an enterprise is to the taxpayer’s wallet, the more congressional oversight it requires. The further away you get from that wallet, the more freedom you should give people, because they are risking their own money, not the taxpayers’.”

What a fun-filled 24 hours! When I picked up Catherine from the airport she told me there was a guy walking around the arrivals area wearing a gorilla suit and carrying a bunch of bananas. He even had black paint around his eyes so the portions of his skin that peaked through from behind his mask would be covered. Cat overheard the girl he met questioning him, “so you were just walking around like that?”
Too funny!
Of course we’ve been laughing non-stop about ridiculous things like the fact that Cat and Andy actually made CD’s of the songs each of their dogs would like if they were humans. Who does that?
Bate’s Nut Farm was festive, I had a great sushi lunch with C & A, and we all enjoyed an enchanting family dinner with both Grandma Liguori and Grandma Foster. The girls are playing Phase 10 and the banter is so amusing I cannot leave the room.

Homecomings are one of life’s sweetest pleasures. As I count the hours until my sister’s flight arrives, I remember airport reunions over the years - times when someone came home who made life whole… and full …and gleeful. I treasure the remarkable people who are so special they transform ordinary life into deep, soul-nourishing fun.

One of my favorite memories was picking up Catherine the last time she came home for Christmas. We stopped at the grocery store on our way home and ended up play-fighting over who would carry the basket. It was nonsense, but our laughter escalated to the point we couldn’t breath, and we collapsed in the middle of the isle.

At other times I met someone at the gate after too much time apart, and lost all cares in his huge hug. In still another instance I retrieved my cousin from the terminal moments before my grandpa died – an angel who arrived just in time to comfort us.

Tonight my house will be warmer. It will lack nothing. Catherine will be home and the place will be alive with joy.

How do you spell car noises? I’m heading to race car driving school in t-minus two days – can’t wait!

(Photos from this event.)

Looking at the markets and what lies ahead with economic conditions, I think it’s wise to put the bulk of assets into T-Bills – just my two cents (no pun intended).