Each Day Gets Better

Most of you know I had knee surgery after a fall on the ice in January. Yesterday was a great day for me in that I was able to ride my bike about a mile - albeit a slow ride around the circle at the housing complex where we live. But nevertheless, a big step in my rehab. So many times we take our health for granted, don't we?

Book Recommendation

I am currently reading "Caught in the Middle." It is a book about how the economy of the Midwest is changing. It is kind of a depressing book as the author doesn't hold out much hope for our smaller communities, especially those more than 50 miles away from a Madison, Chicago or DesMoines. It does hold out Madison as being an economy that has adjusted from relying primarily on manufacturing and agriculture to biotech, research, etc. The book argues that the Madisons of the Midwest will survive and prosper. But it doesn't offer much hope for those communities are not bedroom communities of prospering cities.

Worth a read.

Another Yuk!

Yuk! Weather is ugly today but you got to admit... we always have something to look forward to... nice weather!

Interesting article in the Wi St Journal this a.m. on the effort by Good Times owner Chris Peterson to create a reality show. Check it out and stay tuned.

Up and Down

Well, the Dow Jones is up over 8,000 again. Did it bottom out a month ago? Opinions vary. But my stance these days is to buy cautiously but don't bail out of current "good" companies. And there are "glimmers of hope" as President Obama says.

Refinance

I probably don't need remind anyone that interest rates are very low right now. If you have a home loan and your rate is greater than 5.50%, it probably makes sense for you to consider refinancing. Go to our web site, www.oakbankonline.com and see how you can calculate what your new payment would be at the current rates. Then you divide the savings into the new costs of approximately $1,200. That gives you the number of months before you break even.

Final Four

Would have been nice if Michigan State could have beat North Carolina. Watching North Carolina's talent makes me realize that Wisconsin is a ways off from winning a national championship. Wisconsin fans are happy being second best, I guess.

Dane County Trips

Back in 1996 then County Exec Rick Phelps wrote a number of articles on Dane County day trips which are off the beaten path. If you would like a copy of the six articles, send me an e-mail to rgorsuch@oakbankonline.com.