What has cyber Monday wrought? Hard to know, exactly, with the crowds crowding Union Square belying any notion that people are staying at home and browsing online. We took a few hours off yesterday and did a bit of shopping, and found the suburban shopping centre that we had gifted with our custom every bit as busy as I can ever remember. That said, Christmas 2008 is still a part of my memory, and things were not so good. Trust me, things are better, even in our world of English antiques, with Keith and I delivering a Christmas purchase to one of our better clients this afternoon. Not a dining table or a breakfront, but maybe when the bonuses kick in early next year.
And well they might. We do see the occasional hedge fund type nosing around and know that bonuses will be paid. Although it has not been without a significant amount of weeping and gnashing of teeth, that does not completely occlude the overall performance of financial and commodities markets this year. Cash flow? Not so strong. Portfolio appreciation? Significant, and that’s what the bonus is paid on.
So, with all that, we are cautiously merry, or at least to the extent we went to brunch yesterday. It is Dungeness crab season along the northern California coast, and both of us enjoyed superb crab omelettes. No Bloody Marys or Ramos Fizzes- I said we are cautiously merry.