The Rise of the Stay-at-home Dad

Tough times to be a banker right now.  The industry is consolidating and jobs are disappearing, some never to return.  As a banker myself it's a sobering reality.  But, to many of my male colleagues with families to support, it's terrifying.  Not to make light of the situation but this article may be encouraging for them.  Recent NYtimes article citing the explosion of stay-at-home dads.   I find this arrangement sensible and refreshing.  Yes it's a role reversal unfamiliar to many of us but change is good?

One to think about, but in the meantime be nice to bankers.  It's rough out there.

Not a Daddy's Girl (Thank God!)

Ok, so I have been pretty proud of my own recently frugal ways, but my dad left me speechless yesterday.  Last year, my sister and brother-in-law bought my parents a health club membership to a new gym near their house.  To our delight, my dad has really taken to it.  He goes daily and even redeemed his two free personal training sessions that came with his membership.  I had actually been encouraging him to continue with a trainer, but knew he was unlikely to indulge like that.

Anyway, he just informed me that he gets 'Free Personal' Training.  His tactic is simple. Just follow your favorite personal trainers around the gym and just do the prescribed exercises.  Yes...this is no joke.  There is no typo here.  Could you even imagine?  Someone stalking/stealing alongside you as you're training.  I find this hilarious (as he's my dad) and mortifying (as someone who does employ the services of a trainer).

Point being: You would think given my money-saving genes, this season of Austerity should come easy.  It's not!!

New Yorkers are back at it...

Finally a deserving break from markets that were whippy last week!  The weekend was great!  Beautiful weather and lots of time outdoors.  Actually spent this weekend playing tennis, eating, sleeping!  Rinse/Repeat.  Perfect actually.

Not everyone was so fortunate.  If you are a New Yorker shopping for an apartments, things could have been pretty stressful.  Hearing of packed open houses and bidding wars again.  Painful if you are buying!

Priced out of New York, maybe check out Newark?  Saying this half in jest (but only half) as the city is making great strides under the leadership of Cory Booker.  A Rhodes scholar with degrees from Yale, Stanford and Oxford, his service-dedicated leadership has been well-publicized.  As if that's not enough, he ran into a burning building this weekend to save his trapped neighbors.  Indeed some critics can be a bit cynical about 'Be Good Booker' as publicity politics.  However, it is under his leadership, that Newark has transformed into one of the fastest growing cities in America and cut crime dramatically.  That, to me, is nothing to be cynical about.  

Food fantasy gone viral...

Sorry to keep gushing about Tokyo but it was just such a remarkable trip.  Actually have to do a little plug for my man Yasuda-san here.  For any American sushi followers, Naomichi Yasuda should need no introduction.  For those who don't know about him, here's a clip from Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations (Incidentally I'm Bourdain obsessed).  


Yasuda-san has recently relocated from New York to Tokyo with the explicit goal of perfecting his craft.  I already found him flawless so I'm excited/inspired by his search for sushi nirvana.  Accordingly, we made it a very high priority 'to do' on our Tokyo list.   So happy we did as my brother and I were lucky enough to be the only two diners at Sushi Bar Yasuda last Saturday night (How amazing!).  The meal was exquisite!  His tiny restaurant is by reservation only and his preparation is bespoke.  Fits with Yasuda-san's plan for his Tokyo sojourn:  quiet/ low-key and personal.  That said, the modest/often sentimental Yasuda-san did mention he misses his NY regulars (mentioning Anthony Bourdain) very much and worried many could not locate him.  Accordingly, my brother tweeted Bourdain that Yasuda-san is hard at work in Tokyo and sends his regards.  Bourdain in turn re-tweeted that to his 800,000 followers (I bet most of them are women!) and David Chang again re-tweeted to his 30,000 fans as well!  How cool!  My brother's tweet went viral in minutes and he was acknowledged by Anthony Bourdain!  More importantly, we successfully reconnected Bourdain and Yasuda-san. Social Media is truly remarkable!     


Speaking of followers and fans, let's talk about US Real Estate.  Remember when US Real Estate was economic ground zero?  Jeez - what a difference 4 years can make?  US real estate is a 'Hot' investment again.  Note even AIG who needed a bail-out in 2008 wants back in the mortgage market.  It's all pretty encouraging but hope everyone's being prudent.  Certainly don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past.  

Houzz is hot!

It was the Hong Kong 7's here.  My least favorite weekend of the year so I stayed close to home for a lot of it.  I did finally buy the Steve Jobs book.  I'm excited to read it as I'm fascinated by who he was.  By most accounts, a very eccentric dude but I truly believe he was a genius.  I will definitely read this.


That said, I'm always more inspired after learning about fabulous businesses built by mere mortals.  I mean how do you compare to Steve Jobs?  I like reading about the ordinary guys who have done amazing things.  Bring me to one of my favorite 'porn sites'?  Have you tried the website houzz.com?  Careful!!  It sucks you in.  What's even more interesting is how it got started.  It's featured in a recent NYtimes article.  Now seriously, how cool is that?  One couple decided to create this site after they were frustrated rummaging magazines/books for ideas during heir own home renovation.  And there Houzz was born.   Site has since gone viral.  Kudos to them..  I think it's a great idea and wish I had thought of it myself.

Jessica Alba being honest..

A lot happened Friday.  Boring stuff out of the way first.  Greece renegotiated their debt but in doing so they officially defaulted.  Basically means if you owned insurance protection (CDS holder) then you are eligible for payment.  Other 'official news' China is slowing down.  Kind of worrisome but not all bad.  Inflation is slowing as a result so China could start introducing policies to stimulate the economy.  The market would actually like that.


Meanwhile things in US appear to be motoring along.  The Obama campaign must feel happy - Feb was another strong jobs print.   Feeling encouraged I did some online shopping myself.  Seriously trying to break my J brand addiction so I purchased some DL 1961 skinny jeans.   Excited/scared to see them as it's a pretty wild color.  Having spent far too many years looking like a bad Club Monaco advert, I'm ready to take some risk. 

In general I really admire risk takers.  Particularly evident in how I judge female celebrities.  For a long time I didn't understand the Victoria Beckham hype but I will concede here that I'm impressed with the franchise she has created.  Jessica Alba is the latest to branch out.  I like her and the concept behind her new business called The Honest Company.  It's a subscription service for non-toxic baby supplies.  Living in such close proximity to China, I have become hyper vigilant about what I'm ingesting.  So parents understandably would take it to the next level.  Speaking of which, did anyone see Friends with Kids?  Heard it was funny.  Unfortunately by the time we get it in HK, my overseas friends will be watching Friends with Teenagers.