Back in action

We are back from Costa Rica as the more rested and tanned versions of ourselves. Many stories to come, but I just wanted to share a few teaser photos.

Life lessons from business school

Being a person with a finance degree whose career is only partially related to finance, I have forgotten my fair share of content from my college classes. But, there are several things in business school that are so fundamental, and so repeated, that it makes it hard to forget. Like, for instance, how to be a complete geek with Microsoft Office applications. And how to make yourself seem more impressive and qualified than you actually are on your resume.

But, seriously, I do remember learning the basics of investment volatility and risk vs. return. Basically, you take a low risk investment, like a municipal bond, and you can't really expect a lot of upside. But, it does minimize downside risk -- you know that your money is pretty safe. However, if you take a high-risk investment, like a start-up company, the upside is huge. But, the downside is, too.

My point is, I have learned that for my life, I am all about minimizing the downside. I am not a risk-taker. And, this doesn't just apply to investments.


That's right, ladies and gentlemen, 4 black bathing suits (well, 3.5 really). When it comes to this sun- and exercise-deprived bod, I am all about minimizing downside risk. To be fair, I did try and force myself to buy the polka-dotted bandeau top bathing suit in a different color, but they didn't have my size.

Why the bathing suits? In 10 short days, we are headed to Costa Rica with some of our favorite people. So excited. Can't wait to tell you all about it.

I don't take allergy medicine anymore

We were recently in San Francisco visiting our good friends Jeremy and Michelle. It was a delayed birthday celebration for Jeremy. A big group of us piled into a 15-passenger van and drove to Chico, where the Sierra Nevada brewery is. I had a sampler of their 16 different brews (small portions). They have, in addition to their standard pale ale, about 7 or 8 other pale ales and India pale ales. It was pretty fantastic.

Sampler of the brews at the Sierra Nevada Brewery

Since about my third year in Austin, I have suffered pretty badly from seasonal allergies. I perpetually only have use of one nostril. This last cedar season (which was really bad, even for Austin standards), I was taking a cocktail of Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra just so I could think straight at work. My doctor said it was okay.

Jeremy also has pretty bad allergies, and all of the above-listed medicines have stopped working for him. He recently started using, probably partly just to blend in with California culture, the NeilMed Sinus Rinse, which is similar to the Neti Pot.

I did not want to try it. I do not like putting things up my nose. I do not use Nasonex. Ever. The thought of spraying something into one nostril, through my sinus cavities, and out the other nostril (or worse, my mouth) was pretty disgusting to me.

But once I saw the glorious green flow of mucus coming Jeremy's nose, I decided to try it. It was invigorating. It felt like the inside of my face was clean. I had no boogers for the rest of the day (which, if you are aware of my proclivity for nose-picking, you know is both a pro and a con). Best of all, I could breathe and had no allergy symptoms.

So I bought one, and I've used it every day since then. And I have no more allergy problems. I can wear my contacts again, because my eyes are not red, itchy, and watery anymore. My skin is no longer itchy. And all of this during oak season, my worst allergy.

If you have allergies, you need to try it. It is weird, but you will get over it. You will be amazed at the junk coming from your nose. You will save a fortune in allergy medicine that doesn't quite fully work. Do it. And tell me about it.