Happy new year...

Where we're at:

Dow: 10,618
s&p: 1144.98
10yr: 3.81%
s&p P/E: 20.76
VIX: 19.06

equity: 29
bond: 31
cash: 41

1 yr: 7.17%

We finally finished our 2009 furloughs (yippee). Hopefully, our furloughs will be shorter in 2010, I carried over some vacation to cover any. My bet is 1-2 weeks in the summer and another 2 weeks next winter. I should be able to cover all of that with vacation. I did not take any unemployment comp in 2009, so I'll have that available if I need it. Spouse's job is progressing up the roller coaster again. She seems to be doing better, but we'll hold off on the SEP IRA awhile longer (Feb).

I noticed that Bell posted an architect position in Dec that sounds interesting. I asked my lead about it, he is going to make an informal inquiry. I doubt that it goes anywhere, but I'd like to follow up. I'll hold off talking to my spouse until I know something. We plan on the kitchen flooring in Feb, and a new vehicle in the spring.

I'm reading Jim Cramer's books to get a different perspective on investing. I've been drinking the buy-and-hold koolaid for so long that I need to consider other ideas. His hedge fund book was very good, a bit different from Andy Kessler's. Cramer describes the day-to-day grind, while Kessler describes raising cash and visiting companies. Both are very good. I think I may try to be a bit more active this year and try to ID some trends.

Health, family, home, job, investments...in that order.