T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 137

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #137!

Here are some things I really like and that you might too.

Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content

Why We Struggle (Humble Dollar) – “Why do some financial situations scare us, while others leave us unperturbed?

One more year before comfort (Early Retirement Extreme) – “There is only so much safety money can provide, so working to accumulate more money to provide more safety is irrational.“

Video

With 99 career World Cup wins Mikaela Shiffrin is the winningest alpine skier of all time.  Enjoy this hight-res and super slow motion video (this one deosn’t allow me to embed) of Shiffrin ripping the slopes at a world cup event.  She’s probably doing 70mph or so and as you can see her skis are often not even touching the ground.  Poetry in motion.

What I’m Grateful For

My friend in Alaska has a kennel and raises sled dogs.  She lived off the grid in the Alaskan woods for almost a decade, but now has electricity.  Yes she’s a badass.  I created an art piece in her honor that I called “Morning Musher“, it’s one of my colorful abstract landscapes that I first mentioned last year in T.G.I.F. Friday Volume 112. 

Well, someone bought it!  I make hundreds of sales every week for my regular designs meant to go on t-shirts and coffee mugs, the ones about cycling and rock climbing.  But my more serious “art” pieces like Morning Musher only rarely sell which is why it’s so special.  Each one took quite a while to make and I was always hesitant to post finished pieces as I felt they were never good enough and I was an imposter.  I’m very grateful to the person who bought it (no it was not my friend, haha), so THANK YOU mystery art-appreciator!

Morning Musher

Lyrically Speaking

If I had a little money, I would go somewhere
Just a couple coin in the bottom of a mug
Would make me feel like I’m almost there

From “Lucky Star” by Aoife O’Donovan

Aoife O’Donovan’s musical journey stated as a member of the band Crooked Still, including one record as their lead singer.  She then moved on to the band Sometymes Why before turning solo in 2010.  As a solo artist she’s released 4 full length albums and some EPs and live releases.  Her brand of roots folk has Irish-flavored tinges and she’s not afraid of exploring unique song structures and production values.  The song “Lucky Star” highlighted is a great example with her unique vocal delivery and the unusual chord structures. If you like her music you can support her on Bandcamp.

As for the lyrics above, I have more than a little money, and I’m going places 🙂

 
Miscellaneous

Short-term cognitive boost from exercise may last for 24 hours – “The short-term boost our brains get after we do exercise persists throughout the following day, suggests a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers.” Dave’s comment: “So if you exercise every day like me you ride a never-ending cognitive boost!”

The Power Of Prayer – “Praying is a cognitive practice full of problem-solving resources. You can learn from it even if you don’t want to do it”

190 New Species Discovered in 2024 – “The list, which comes from London’s Natural History Museum (NHM) and elsewhere, includes a vegetarian piranha and a rat endemic to a single Indonesian island.“