Greetings. Hope all had a great new year and holidays.

Things are good for me, my business has picked up with my renewed focus and energy put into it, and several of my house projects have accelerated ahead.

I’m still very interested in trading. I’m going to return to the markets, and this blog when I’m ready.

While there is never the “best” time to tackle any big challenge, I think trading requires one to be grounded in strength. For me, this means financial, mental, physical and domestic robustness and stability.

In terms of finances, I need to have more savings in place for my family before I am trading with real money on the line. I also need to be able to reduce my hours in my consulting business so I have more time to be exclusively focused on trading. Right now, I’m going in the other direction and adding more clients in part to build up that savings (and reduce some debt). Long term, I don’t think I will be able to reduce my time focused on my consulting business until my wife returns to work after our one year old gets a little older.

Mental and physical strength involves reducing caffeine and being physical fit. Things are going good in this direction – we got a family “Y” membership that we’re putting to good use. I have a good exercise routine going now that probably will require a continuous year to make semi-permanent.

Last, I’m about 65% done with restoring our old house in the city. To finish this up will take time and money. The end is near, and my life will be easier, happier and smoother by completing these projects (master bath and bedroom, a sun room, and the exterior of the house)….if I’m good, I will be done by Fall, but if not, next Spring.

So, over the next year, I will be working on extra grant proposals, finishing up renovating our old house, and shuttling the two kids to the pool and basketball/t-ball/soccer (for the 4 year old boy).

But my long-term goal is to return to trading ASAP.

For now, comments have been shut off to the blog, and I likely won’t be around much.

I’ll miss you all, and will be back in touch.