I spent about 6 weeks once living in Vladivostok, Russia.  Look it up on a map.  It’s in the middle of nowhere.  Literally.  In between starving (dinner was jerked calamari and lots of beer – my primary source of calories) and working 15 hour days (to get out as soon as possible) it was a heck of an experience.  And I mean that in a good way – spending that much time in Siberia has provided me with a lifetime of anecdotes, and some very fond memories of some bizarre experiences.  You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten toasted pine cone seeds with a drunken ex-Soviet apparatchik in a former gulag town.  I was OK until she started singing the Internationale and crying over vodka. 

The picture here is the main square in Vladivostok.  The links below are a collection of good stuff I read during the week.  I wonder about the link posts, because if you read this blog – and particularly if you’re floating around in the personal finance blogosphere – you’ve probably already come across some of these.  I will say that I don’t idly highlight any of these posts.  Most are really interesting subjects to me or writing I’d like to emulate or, sometimes, both.  Click through for a second and read. 

Another thought for a slow Saturday:  name one city you’d like to go to but don’t think you ever will.  Me?  Ulaɣan Baɣatur.

Moolanomy has two great related posts:  his review of the Quiet Millionaire and asking whether he can save too much for his child’s education.  I have pretty strong feelings about this subject.  Pinyo’s take on how to save is a great idea – make sure you can guarantee a state school education for your child, but if they want a fancy private school they’re on their own.

The Giving Hands and My Two Dollars each have good posts on how to save money with very routine, small changes.  I plan on taking their advice as soon as possible – maybe even this weekend if I get my act together.

A Penny Closer thinks that frugality is sometimes an excuse for laziness.  I agree.  Every time I tell myself I’m saving money by not wasting water on washing the dishes, it’s because I don’t feel like doing it.  Blah.

 I had a full post reacting to Lazy Man’s post about jealousy.  If this hasn’t happened to you, you are either not a jealous person by nature or not very competitive by nature.  Whether that’s good or bad, I don’t know.

Penelope at the Brazen Careerist has some good tips on building your personal brand.  It’s strange, because I’m completely aware of the need to do this, and I do it to some extent, but I’ve had trouble establishing myself as an expert in my field.  I’m a fantastic generalist – I learn quickly, I present well – but I’m not a gearhead who gets into details on a single area and that’s what’s needed to distinguish yourself.  Being the only guy in the organization who understands COBOL gives you a "brand."  Food for thought, at least.  I’m sure if you read my blog on a regular basis you can see the same lack of specific focus on a particular area. 

Some thoughts on life-changing moments at Making Ripples are worth reading.  I am not ready to accept change.  It’s been a problem for years for me, and it’s been exacerbated by the birth of my son.  I don’t want change, I want to put up a steel wall around his life and my family’s and carve our future out without deviation.  Part of me knows this won’t happen, and he’ll go in directions I never intend him to go, but I avoid thinking about moving or changing careers or taking big risks sometimes because I am determined to prevent the bad – even at the expense of the good. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!