(no subject)

It's starting to feel more like fall now that the nights are hitting the high fifties and the humidity has dropped to where the salt actually comes out of the shaker again. Huzzah for salt! As the weather turns towards fall, my mind turns inexorably to the question of firewood. Now, long time readers have likely noticed that I haven't been mentioning much mowing-of-the-lawn this summer. That'd be because I haven't been mowing the lawn. Haven't mowed it since the end of June, as it happens. One of the benefits of living way the fuck out in the sticks is that I don't have to mow the grass, ever, if I don't want to.

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(no subject)

I run a loan business on the side. It's actually a very pleasant little sideline wherein I float unsecured loans to people I know personally, at rates from seven to nine percent APY (compounded monthly) with amortization schedules and monthly payments and the whole nine yards. This is a nice thing for me because FDIC-Insured rates are something around 3.30% (ingdirect.com) unless you hit a special like at my bank for their money market thingie which is guaranteed 3.50% until the end of September. I'm quite pleased to be getting four percent more on my money. This is also a nice thing for the people who borrow from me because there isn't anyone else on the planet who floats unsecured loans at rates from seven to nine percent APY and does not report the loans to assorted credit agencies. It's a win-win situation that generates enough income to buy me a venti latte every single day of the year plus a snackie once a week. Anyway, so I have a little loan business going on (and I should point out that 100% of the interest income from this business is reported on my tax return) and I get to see parts of people I would not otherwise see. It's interesting, better than network television, though I understand that this isn't saying much.

( Loaning money for fun and profit... )