Storm the Field

Wulaw, FYI:

Been working like a dog for the past 2 months. Staying at the office until 7 or 8, coming in on Saturdays...etc. Two high priority projects that were both due back to back. One was a colossal thing I worked on for close to 5 months due last Thursday, which is exactly when the client got it. Another was a rush job that would have usually taken at least 6 weeks, but I only got a month and had to work on it while also finishing the other thing. Due tomorrow. Just sent off to boss for final review so he can deliver it in the morning. I'm going home and drinking a couple of beers and going out to dinner with my wife. Then I get the house to myself while she heads home to see her folks this weekend. You know where I'm not gonna be spending most of Saturday for the first time since Xmas? Pleases the ever-living shit out of me.

Almost that time of year again. A week from today, I'll be at the office, hungover from a Wednesday night client dinner and then downtown happy hour, struggling to get some work done before heading downtown again for my firm's big NAPE party. Will be hating life next Friday morning.

On to a new month. Weighed in at 193 this morning. Ended January 8 lbs lighter than I started. Although I didn't drop double digits or get below 190, it was a good month. Worked out probably more than I ever have in a single calendar month. Counted it up and I went to the gym 24 times in January, and then did other outdoorsy stuff like taking my dogs for a long walk or riding my bike another 4-5 days. Only 3 days the entire month I didn't exercise at all. After the work I put in last year and upping the intensity this past month, this is easily the most muscle mass I've had in well over a decade. Gotta keep at it. Although not going to be as strict as January, planning to keep up the 6 days/week workout schedule and continue to try and avoid drinking during the week without a good reason. Also, got in a much better habit of bringing healthy lunches to work instead of eating out 3-4 times a week. Next goalpost is sub-190 by 40th birthday in early March.

Final trailer released a few days ago. This looks great, albeit brutally graphic.

Different survey, similar results, though this one shows much higher readings for "present situation" vs "future expectations"

And now you all know why! Not photoshopped. Not sorry for CR.

Markets hitting new ATH's daily like whoa!

Brazos Bagel is opening up their brick and mortar location at Durham and I-10 very soon, possibly by next weekend. Very good bagels. Been selling them at farmers markets and other restaurants for a while now. So happy to finally have a Heights-area replacement for Golden Bagel. Been a bagel desert in this neck of the woods since they closed.

Catch-up data from last week's freeze-related undershoot.

Q4 GDP comes in at 3.3%, blowing estimates out of the water. Core PCE right on target at 2.0%. Absolute goldilocks GDP report.

Demolition underway. Noticed on my drive home earlier this week that the old used car lot and nearby metal buildings have all been leveled. Guess we'll find out soon if they are in fact planning to build a Terry Black's BBQ on that site.

Best consumer sentiment reading since July 2021. Current conditions, future conditions, inflation expectations all much better than expected.

Abreu and Pressley as 7th and 8th inning guys with Hader closing would fucking rock. Just don't see us dropping that kind of scratch on a closer though.

Anyone got this GIF in reverse?

That's a big beat.

Retail sales came in significantly stronger than consensus for December. Combine that with Fed officials trying to tamper down any talk of imminent rate cuts and bond yields are rising again. We're, temporarily I think, back in pattern of "economy still running hotter than Fed wants, ergo bonds go up, equities go down."

Got back above freezing about an hour ago in Houston. Coldpacalypse is over. Supposed to touch 45 this afternoon and hit high 60's tomorrow before the next cold blast front in early Friday morning. Gonna be a chilly weekend with a few hours spent below freezing, but nothing to worry about. 65/45 days with rain and clouds pretty much the rest of the month starting Monday.

Pertty much all ISD's in the Greater Houston area have cancelled tomorrow. No word out of HISD yet, but can't imagine they're gonna go solo as only district staying open.

A lot of folks have this alternate setup. Video i watched last time below:

Not quite as cold, but seeing that after a brief warmup Wednesday and Thursday, most of the state will get down to well below freezing next weekend as well. After that, final full week of the month looking like what I call "pho weather" (temps mostly in the 50's and daily rain chances).

98% on Rotten Tomatoes currently. 54/55 positive reviews. Kinda bummed it's only a 6-episode season and gonna have to wait a week a between each.

Chesapeake Energy said on Thursday it would buy smaller rival Southwestern Energy Southwestern Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $7.4 billion, a deal that would enable the second-largest U.S. natural gas producer to take the top spot.