The Bookie, The Cabernet, and The Amazon Slump

Well, I learned a valuable lesson yesterday. Never, and I mean never, mix business with pleasure when it comes to the guy holding your betting slip.

I had a nice little payout coming from the Super Bowl (thank you, Seattle), and instead of meeting my guy “Jimmy No-Thumbs” at the usual diner, I told him to swing by the house. Big mistake. I sneak off to throw the cash in the safe, and I come back to find him pouring a heavy glass of my 2021 Caymus Special Selection.

That is a $200 bottle of Napa’s finest, folks. It’s supposed to breathe. It’s supposed to be savored with a filet. Jimmy knocked it back like it was a diet cola and asked if I had any pretzels. Watching that velvet red liquid disappear down the gullet of a man wearing a track suit was painful. We had another bottle. Next time, we meet at Denny’s.

Heavy Hearts

On a serious note, I’m pausing the fun for a second to send prayers to the folks over in Iran. Watching the Iran news lately, it’s just heartbreaking. Good people caught in the middle of a mess. Hoping for safety and freedom for everyone over there.

Bass, Boats, and Videography

To clear my head (and mourn my wine), I hit the lake early this morning. The bass were biting. Hooked into a couple of 4-pound lunkers near the reeds.

I’ve actually been trying to document these trips better. I’ve been scouring Internet Video Mag to figure out how to actually edit this footage. I’ve got hours of GoPro video of me cursing at tangled lines, but that site is finally teaching me how to cut it into something watchable. If I can figure out the lighting, I might be the next YouTube fishing star. Or not.

The “Engine” Motivation

I’m also trying to get off the couch and get back in fighting shape. My motivation? I’ve been drooling over the inventory at Triplet Powersports. I promised myself if I drop 15 pounds, I’m pulling the trigger on a new rig. Nothing motivates a man to do cardio like the prospect of a new ATV.

The Portfolio: My Back and My Amazon

Speaking of pain, AMZN has felt exactly like my lower back the last couple of days—stiff, achy, and refusing to move.

The stock is just dripping down, taking a nap right when I need it to run. But I’m not shaking out. I am long and strong on this one. My stop-loss strategy is simple: Fall on your sword. I’m riding this ship to the moon or the bottom of the ocean. No weak hands here. Check out this article from HW-Server on AMZN’s massive AI investment.

I also nibbled on a little Bitcoin (BTC) at $66k. Just a taste. It felt like a support level, and you know I can’t resist a discount.

Time to pour another glass (a cheaper one this time) and ice the back. Might be time to relax a little over at the Bass Roadhouse and get a little fishing in. I already miss football.

– Pat