closed my CMI trades on both of my swing account and IRA at a loss, and close also HOT since CMI and HOT have gone to wrong direction for 2 days in a row.
Entered DE in the IRA on the confirmed bounced at $93.50 stop at $90
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Moving on to 2008
Got a recommendation from Mr. S, it looks very good, so I entered in both of my IRA and my swing trade account.
SIGM confirmed bounced, Stop at 54, 1st target at 65, 2nd target at 73
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Closed, Closed, Closed!
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto coincides with the day that the stock market decides to pull back, that is what I think. Nothing to analysis. See the chart of Dow today as highlighted in green ovals. The Dow has been trending down and just completed a lower high.
As a result I followed a very smart man's swift action, I closed 6 out of 8 of my long stocks today, leaving CMI and RCI only open.
AAPL, nice
POT, very nice
MON, nice
NOV, OK
FSTR, OK
LKQX, nice
DRQ, lost the commission!
anyway, the lesson I have learned on this ride is: "Follow the leader, because I can't be the leader" The market is a fast moving train, we are forced to go in the same direction as it moved.
At the same time, I saw there are opportunities for some Puts:
FCX, love it, my fast moving noble steed.
stop at 107.50
1st target at 95,
2nd target at 85
HOT <--boy have I been watching you long! stop at 47 target at 40
MS
stop at 55.50
target at 47.50
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Merry Christmas!
Markkus watching the opening of the cake
3 minutes later, still the same posture
ha, ha, cake!
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Oh! Canada, keep them CuMmIng!
RCI (another Canadian company besides POT) 30 MA day break out and it looks very good.
Entry at 45.69
Stop at 42.5
CMI running toward the slip icon on the chart and broke the resistance at $125IRA
entered at $129.67, stop at $122, -$3.00 off the resistance at $125
Small account entered the 140 C at $5.40, stop at $3.00
Close the trade on Jan 2 or 3 for a split play, no target
Last and Least
AZO, 115 P at $3.40 stoop at $2.00Target at $107 if it completes the gap
Moved my stops up:
AAPL to 189
DRQ, not moved
FSTR to 48
LIFC to 43
LKQX to 19.8 (1% below the $20 break out)
MON to 104
POT to 130
NOV to 69
Monday, December 24, 2007
My Iron Condor Rules
A) using probability of expiring (15% or 10%) for lower credit and higher probability
B) TOS
C) Use technical analysis
D) Leg in
?>enter the short CALLS side when it makes a bounce up at support
?>enter the short PUTS side when it makes a bounce down at resistance
Risk Management
--> put the condor 49 days before expiration
--> adjust when the short Call is at 25 delta, Put is at 20 delta
--> close the credit spread when it is worth at 0.20
--> Achieve 75% - 80% of max profit
--> exit Monday before the expiration
--> CLOSE the trade 4 to 10 days before expiration
Butterfly?
- Looking for the calls and puts to sell at a .15 or .10 probability (or delta)
- buy the call and put one strike over
- Don't need to adjust the trade
Entry Rules>
Enter 6-8 weeks before expiration
Sell a 10-point call vertical with the delta of the short call <.10 Sell a 10-point put vertical with the delta of the short put <-.08 Enter the entire position all at once, but as two separate vertical spreads for better fills.
Exit for a profit when 70-80% of the max gain is reached. This will allow the next month’s position to be put on 6-8 weeks from expiration.
Adjustment rules: when delta of short call= .25, or delta of short put= -.21
1. close out entire spread
2. only adjust once
OR:
>15 days from expiration, adjust when index is 10-15 points from short strike, or delta of short strike=25, whichever comes first.
<15 strike="25,">whichever comes first.
B) TOS
- min 23 to 25 days (or 28 to 32 days) before expiration
- trade last 14 to 17 days
- sum of short call delta (16 to 19) and short put delta (16 to 19) = 33 and 34
- probability of success is the width minus the credit of iron condor
- check the chart, don't be a robot, twist it a little on the chart
- risk on the upside, because the calls moves quicker
- once it is on
- 1> max lost: 15% yeild of the decrease in trading power: width - credit say: getting $3 credit, on $10 width so max loss is 15% of $7.00
- 2> once down 10%, peel a couple off the bad side, down 15% peel a couple off, down 20% peel the last couple off so in average it will be 15%
- 3> take profit at 12% to 16% of the reduction in trading power
- out of the position tue or wed of the expiration week
C) Use technical analysis
D) Leg in
?>enter the short CALLS side when it makes a bounce up at support
?>enter the short PUTS side when it makes a bounce down at resistance
Risk Management
--> put the condor 49 days before expiration
--> adjust when the short Call is at 25 delta, Put is at 20 delta
--> close the credit spread when it is worth at 0.20
--> Achieve 75% - 80% of max profit
--> exit Monday before the expiration
--> CLOSE the trade 4 to 10 days before expiration
Butterfly?
Friday, December 21, 2007
Another Trend trade for the holidays
No brainer trend trade, DRQ, broke out on the 30 day MA.
stop at 55.
MARry Christmas
I am ending this year with a lost:
longed a put at the very bottom! Can't be worst than that.Among HOT, WYN and MAR, I longed puts on MAR. If you look at the charts of HOT and WYN, they are still in the poo-poo land, only MAR went up.
I should have felt like crap, but I actually feel like this:
Not bad for a guy with ego.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Trend trades POT, MON, FSTR, LIFC and AAPL
Finally a confirmed bounce that I am looking for after being stopped out:
POT, broke higher than the low day two days ago.
Stop at $120, ~$10 less than the last strike price
MON, yes late to the trade, because I went to have massage yesterday.
stop at 97, there is no need to go any lower than that!
LIFC, entered $43.29, stop at 41
Interesting formation of the last week
bounced yesterday and confirmed on the 30 day MA breakout today.
FSTR, entered at $50.956, stop at $47
bounced yesterday and confirmed on the 30 day MA breakout today.
AAPL, morning doji star (almost, missing the gap down yesterday), can't say no to that
entered at $187.6372, stop at $178
TARGET: $223 at 161% fibo retracement
POT, broke higher than the low day two days ago.
Stop at $120, ~$10 less than the last strike price
MON, yes late to the trade, because I went to have massage yesterday.
stop at 97, there is no need to go any lower than that!
LIFC, entered $43.29, stop at 41Interesting formation of the last week
bounced yesterday and confirmed on the 30 day MA breakout today.
FSTR, entered at $50.956, stop at $47bounced yesterday and confirmed on the 30 day MA breakout today.
AAPL, morning doji star (almost, missing the gap down yesterday), can't say no to thatentered at $187.6372, stop at $178
TARGET: $223 at 161% fibo retracement
Disclaimer
- Don't trade after my recommendations, I am wrong most of the time and you will end up losing money.
- This is mostly a blog of my trading progress, so I can see my learning progress in future.
- Besides, my family is my number one priority, so I may not update my trades regularly.
My Trend Trading Rules
Entry:
Stop Loss:
Re-entry, when got stop out watch for bounce:
Position size, rule #1 is the strong rule.
- an uptrending stock bounces off support
- confirmed bounced, close higher than the high of the low day, can be hollow or filled candle, full position size
- unconfirmed bounced:
- uptrending stocks,
- low of the day falls between 33% and 66% retracement of the last upswing.
- must be a up day with hollow candle, enter on Bullish Engulfing, Bullish Piercing Line, Bullish Belt Hold.
- half position size, add the next half on the confirmed bounce (sometimes on the confirmed bounce, the risk is too high to enter the next half).
Stop Loss:
- Option 1: 2% below the trend line connecting the lows of the uptrend.
- Option 2: $0.20 below support, if it is on the dollar, move to 0.92
- if broker does not allow the stop to be placed because it is too wide, then use the maximum allowed value
- Move stop loss up weekly, never move it down, (change the stop from GTC to day on Friday then enter a new stop over the weekend.
Re-entry, when got stop out watch for bounce:
- redraw the trend line, see if you can make a confirmed trend line.
- watch for the bounce.
Position size, rule #1 is the strong rule.
- each position is approx 10% of the entire portfolio
- trade risk 1% of the portfolio
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Testing my conviction
Every trade tests my conviction. Here is my Put trade on MAR.
Hope my conviction is right.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Lucky to be Alive
There is a lady, Ms M, who is getting married in Feb 2008, in my team weight loss. Her fiancee Mr B got cancer when he was 22 years old. I believe that is related to him working at Stein Mart and exposed to a lot of unknown products. Anyway his tumor was inside his mouth/neck area and grew really big. The tumor has metastasized all the way to his lungs. Ms L's brother-in-law to be was in Medical school back then and he asked his professor about Mr. B's case. Team of experts had a meeting, out of 16 of them only 2 voted to go for an operation, which means the experts thought the chance of success is pretty low.
Mr. B was operated on, his scar was clearly visible from the left side of his jaw to side of his neck , and I was told that it went all the way down to his left thigh. Mr. B survived the operation and he is healthy and alive now. Lucky for him to know a girlfriend with connections.
Often, I lost sign of how fragile lives are. As I have more in life, I want more in live. And every luxury will be meaningless when the essentials are gone. Even the essentials are meaningless when our health is gone. Of course we one dies, there is no dream to chase.
Mr. B was operated on, his scar was clearly visible from the left side of his jaw to side of his neck , and I was told that it went all the way down to his left thigh. Mr. B survived the operation and he is healthy and alive now. Lucky for him to know a girlfriend with connections.
Often, I lost sign of how fragile lives are. As I have more in life, I want more in live. And every luxury will be meaningless when the essentials are gone. Even the essentials are meaningless when our health is gone. Of course we one dies, there is no dream to chase.
My Trading Rules
2 questions
Trading Daily Routine
1) Only look at the Profit and Loss often when emotion is contained. Else check every 2 hours, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 1 hour before close
2) Enter trades 1 hour before close, AFTER checking the charts, look for high and low of the day compare it with the day before to see if the trend is broken
3) Don't enter a new trade on the SAME DAY after being stopped out, the original analysis must be considered, because it was taken with less emotions.
4) Monitor each position, Has it hit the target, hit the stop
5) Adjust Stop, at the end of day or intra day.
6) Move the stop up to break even point, as soon as the stock moved $2 in the right direction.
Trading Weekly Routine
1) Check the week ahead for the possible Earnings and Split plays, change of industry
2) Update Trading Journal
3) Run through the entire A-Z watch list to add stocks to Bull and Bear
Trading Monthly Routine
1) delete last month's Bull and Bear watch list
Don't trade in the vaccumn
1) what are the major indices doing
2) what are the major sectors doing
3) what are the major stocks doing
Entry Rules:
1) Candles are only important at Significant support and resistance, don't enter with just Tweezer Bottoms, or engulfing or Harami formations.
2) In line with the market posture, industry, and stock trend
3) NEVER pick the bottom or top, wait for confirmation, use price and volume (as a reference, remember price is king, and the ONLY THING PAYS is PRICE!)
4) If the overall Market Trend is strong, enter intra day, if the overall Market is not strong, need end of day confirmation.
5) look for entries especially when the price retrace to 61.6% (23% in a strong up trend) Fibo, i.e. 38% from the top of last up swing when draw from high to low (see the POT in Dec '07 below)
6) if the stop is too far, you are risking too much, don't enter the trade, wait for a better trade.
7) Ask self: No Fear, No Doubt -or- Overtrade!
Exit Rule:
1) got stop out
2) Sign of Weakness rule
Note:
1) Fibo supports only works in uptrend
1.1) Fibo for confirmations only, not the trade signals
1.2) Min Fibo measures 6 to 8 Candles
2) support formed only AFTER the bounce.
3) Price Level penetration by at least 3% for Broken support or resistance, more significant at 150% volume.
2-line MACD
1) The farther the MACD two lines cross over from 0, the higher possibility the move will be.
Divergence
1) use MACD for intermediate and long term divergence
2) use RSI Wilder for hourly chart divergence indicator
- Does the chart make sense to me?
- Can I make money off this chart?
Trading Daily Routine
1) Only look at the Profit and Loss often when emotion is contained. Else check every 2 hours, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 1 hour before close
2) Enter trades 1 hour before close, AFTER checking the charts, look for high and low of the day compare it with the day before to see if the trend is broken
3) Don't enter a new trade on the SAME DAY after being stopped out, the original analysis must be considered, because it was taken with less emotions.
4) Monitor each position, Has it hit the target, hit the stop
5) Adjust Stop, at the end of day or intra day.
6) Move the stop up to break even point, as soon as the stock moved $2 in the right direction.
- Do something everyday, don't have to trade everyday.
- No body knows what to happen, take advantage from those who think they "know" what will happen, because most likely they are wrong
- Good entry makes good stops
Trading Weekly Routine
1) Check the week ahead for the possible Earnings and Split plays, change of industry
2) Update Trading Journal
3) Run through the entire A-Z watch list to add stocks to Bull and Bear
Trading Monthly Routine
1) delete last month's Bull and Bear watch list
Don't trade in the vaccumn
1) what are the major indices doing
2) what are the major sectors doing
3) what are the major stocks doing
Entry Rules:
1) Candles are only important at Significant support and resistance, don't enter with just Tweezer Bottoms, or engulfing or Harami formations.
2) In line with the market posture, industry, and stock trend
3) NEVER pick the bottom or top, wait for confirmation, use price and volume (as a reference, remember price is king, and the ONLY THING PAYS is PRICE!)
4) If the overall Market Trend is strong, enter intra day, if the overall Market is not strong, need end of day confirmation.
5) look for entries especially when the price retrace to 61.6% (23% in a strong up trend) Fibo, i.e. 38% from the top of last up swing when draw from high to low (see the POT in Dec '07 below)
6) if the stop is too far, you are risking too much, don't enter the trade, wait for a better trade.
7) Ask self: No Fear, No Doubt -or- Overtrade!
Exit Rule:
1) got stop out
2) Sign of Weakness rule
2.1) Bullish trades: NOT the next day, but 2 days after entering the trade, when the price is:
2.1.1) lower low,
2.1.2) closed lower (red candle)
2.2) depending on the daily range of the stock move stop up relative to the low of the day before or 2 days before.
2.3) Move stop up relative to the low when a doji (or harimi) is formed.
2.3) Move stop up relative to the low when a doji (or harimi) is formed.
3) Bullish change the stop to relative to the low on that day when it hits the target.
Note:
1) Fibo supports only works in uptrend
1.1) Fibo for confirmations only, not the trade signals
1.2) Min Fibo measures 6 to 8 Candles
2) support formed only AFTER the bounce.
3) Price Level penetration by at least 3% for Broken support or resistance, more significant at 150% volume.
2-line MACD
1) The farther the MACD two lines cross over from 0, the higher possibility the move will be.
Divergence
1) use MACD for intermediate and long term divergence
2) use RSI Wilder for hourly chart divergence indicator
Good News for the financials!! So they said.
Wow! What an exciting piece of news! GS did not do much or worst it is sinking slowly in the early trading. It hinted to me that this will be another red day.
Daily Chart of GS, H&S and then a descending triangle. Not bullish at all.
Time for me to go fishing until Feb 08 Options appear next Monday.
Monday, December 17, 2007
New Trading Rules
Tweezer Bottoms need confirmation! Falling MACD is no good for Bulls.
After being stopped out in DO and AAPL and I exited POT. The fast moving train of stock market takes no mercy on me. still that is ok. I have preserved my precious little trading capital, my precious King, though a lot of Pawns already scarified.
After being stopped out in DO and AAPL and I exited POT. The fast moving train of stock market takes no mercy on me. still that is ok. I have preserved my precious little trading capital, my precious King, though a lot of Pawns already scarified.
Sorry Honey DO!
Got stopped out today on my DO Calls, lucky me. I lost $0.20 on the options, instead of $1.25 as of now. Here is the chart. Learning to be a market technician, one thing I know, "Price actions discount everything", in fact "Price actions already accounted for everything".
No need to find out the reasons because news is for suckers.
Stopped out also on my AAPL Call, got hit pretty bad on my last 2 APPL trades.
Again, I don't know when happen next.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Good to be right
Having wrong for the impact of interest rate cut on Tuesday and wrong again on the bounce on Wednesday, I was really disappointed. But this is the business that I am planning to get into and at least the results of my decisions almost immediately with the stock market.
This morning I blogged the tweezer bottoms of the DOW and two stocks. I did not have any position in DIA so it doesn't affect me at all, but I do have positions in the other two. and they are working fine.
Good to be right again. And good to be aggressive. With more experience, I am sure will become a great trader.
I'd like to thank my Son for distracting me so I won't get obsessed with the stock market
-and-
I'd like to thank my Wife for her continue support and encouragement.
This morning I blogged the tweezer bottoms of the DOW and two stocks. I did not have any position in DIA so it doesn't affect me at all, but I do have positions in the other two. and they are working fine.
Good to be right again. And good to be aggressive. With more experience, I am sure will become a great trader.
I'd like to thank my Son for distracting me so I won't get obsessed with the stock market
-and-
I'd like to thank my Wife for her continue support and encouragement.
Tweezer Bottoms
The short lived bull runs is over? Market is going to crash, crash and crash soon!
I don't know if these are correct statement. I saw however a few instances of an interesting candle pattern: Tweezer Bottoms. They all happened on Dec 12 and Dec 13 2007.
Dow Industrial
Ticker symbol: DO
Ticker symbol: POT
I am not using the tweezer bottom as defined in the text book. I am using it as a short term bullish entry signal, and especially using the lows of these 2 days as the support level of my stop.
As in peculiar Santa Claus rally does live.
I don't know if these are correct statement. I saw however a few instances of an interesting candle pattern: Tweezer Bottoms. They all happened on Dec 12 and Dec 13 2007.
Dow Industrial
Ticker symbol: DO
Ticker symbol: POT
I am not using the tweezer bottom as defined in the text book. I am using it as a short term bullish entry signal, and especially using the lows of these 2 days as the support level of my stop.
As in peculiar Santa Claus rally does live.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
I am a great trader! Am I?
It was a record day yesterday, I lost $2.50, yes two dollar and fifty cents on my fully loaded Bullish portfolio. Why Bullish, because I got stopped out on all of my bearish trades and could not find any decent entry for the bearish trades, such as my favorite JCP and BA.
Well maybe BA giving a signal later today but I have far more important thing to do, which is to bring my sweet 3 year old to his first dental cleaning visit. I will miss the all important Fed announcement, which won't rock the boat one way or the other, IMOHO.
Well maybe BA giving a signal later today but I have far more important thing to do, which is to bring my sweet 3 year old to his first dental cleaning visit. I will miss the all important Fed announcement, which won't rock the boat one way or the other, IMOHO.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Trip to the memory lane, my lane
I was talking with some friends at lunch about Dairy Queen and we had a fun discussion about how it always in some 2nd tier part of the town and kind of a folksy place, in other words, no so nice. I missed DQ a bit because I used to get my banana malt from the DQ on Welch Ave when I was in Ames, IA.
So after dinner, I brought Markkus to our closest DQ at Park and K. It was EMPTY at 7:00 pm. No jokes. Most Dairy Queens are family own and staffed by the SAME family, unlike Wendy's or MacDonald's it is staffed by amigos.
Back to the ice-cream, I ordered a bowl and a small cone for Markkus. It wasn't entirely bad, but it was just too much. I guess it will take me another couple of years before I crave for Dairy Queen again. Nothing really fancy, seeing the family owns and operates the DQ, it reminded me that many of us are actually struggling to survive everyday.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Dragonfly migratory rule
Weight less than a paper clip, dragonflies can't fly against the wind. How do they migrate? An other informative program from KERA, Fresh Air told the story.
Dragonflies would move on successive cold nights, for example yesterday night's low was 50 degrees and tonight's low is at 40 degree. They will migration with the wind. The reason is that usually successive cold weather is an indication of a cold front moving in and the wind would move move the cold front, therefore as these tiny insects move with the tail wind, they are migrating to to a warmer weather.
I, as a human being, always put too much reasonings into my decisions. Especially I was trained to be analytical. When I was introduced to technical analysis of stock chart, I though I found the holy grail. Instead, I found that to make money, first you have to have money and second, it is a lot of work. I found that it is actually easier and more profitable to be a trend trader, let the tail wind brings me to the warmer places.
Dragonflies would move on successive cold nights, for example yesterday night's low was 50 degrees and tonight's low is at 40 degree. They will migration with the wind. The reason is that usually successive cold weather is an indication of a cold front moving in and the wind would move move the cold front, therefore as these tiny insects move with the tail wind, they are migrating to to a warmer weather.
I, as a human being, always put too much reasonings into my decisions. Especially I was trained to be analytical. When I was introduced to technical analysis of stock chart, I though I found the holy grail. Instead, I found that to make money, first you have to have money and second, it is a lot of work. I found that it is actually easier and more profitable to be a trend trader, let the tail wind brings me to the warmer places.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Nothing runs like a Deere
Keep this is prospective, my winning percentages this month is at 33%. But a big winner carries it all. And DE is the guy.
I got in for the split trade in anticipation that stock usually runs up 7 to 10 days before the actual split.
Entered Nov 26, Jan 170 Call at $5.90, trade did not become profitable for the first two days!
Exit Dec 4, at $12.20 (split adjusted).
Thank you Deere!
Monday, December 3, 2007
My Hero
At the end of our "interactive" stock and option class in Utah last month, that being October 20, 2007. They showed this video to us, the idea was to inspire us not to give up:
I saw it many times and it always brought tears to my eyes. I guess there is a lot of truth into it, when I was a kid, I practiced alone on a dirty basketball court 500 yards from a factory. I never make it to big time basketball fame or anything remotely close, but I know it what is takes to be good.
The detail report from CBS News.
I saw it many times and it always brought tears to my eyes. I guess there is a lot of truth into it, when I was a kid, I practiced alone on a dirty basketball court 500 yards from a factory. I never make it to big time basketball fame or anything remotely close, but I know it what is takes to be good.
The detail report from CBS News.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Daniel Orozco: Orientation
Here is one of my favorite essays this year from Daniel Orozco, I got this from the web, but all rights are resvered to the publisher and Mr. Orozco. So don't sue me, I will be happy to remove it.
Here is the link to get it:
http://nomrad.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/orientation.pdf
For those who prefer an audio version here is one from "This American Life"
Orientation - by Daniel Orozco
Those are the offices and these are the cubicles. That’s my cubicle there, and this isyour cubicle. This is your phone. Never answer your phone. Let the Voicemail System answer it. This is your Voicemail System Manual. There are no personal phone calls allowed.We do, however, allow for emergencies. If you must make an emergency phone call, ask your supervisor first. If you can’t find your supervisor, ask Phillip Spiers, whosits over there. He’ll check with Clarissa Nicks, who sits over there. If you make an emergency phone call without asking, you may be let go.
These are your IN and OUT boxes. All the forms in your IN box must be logged in by thedate shown in the upper left-hand corner, initialed by you in the upper right-hand corner,and distributed to the Processing Analyst whose name is numerically coded in the lower left-hand corner. The lower right-hand corner is left blank. Here’s your Processing Analyst Numerical Code Index. And here’s your Forms Processing Procedures Manual.
You must pace your work. What do I mean? I’m glad you asked that. We pace our work according to the eight-hour workday. If you have twelve hours of work in your IN box, for example, you must compress that work into the eight-hour day. If you have one hour of work in your IN box, you must expand that work to fill the eight-hour day. That was a good question. Feel free to ask questions. Ask too many questions, however, and you may be let go.
That is our receptionist. She is a temp. We go through receptionists here. They quit with alarming frequency. Be polite and civil to the temps. Learn their names, and invite them to lunch occasionally. But don’t get close to them, as it only makes it more difficult when they leave. And they always leave. You can be sure of that.
The men’s room is over there. The women’s room is over there. John LaFountaine, who sits over there, uses the women’s room occasionally. He says it is accidental. We know better, but we let it pass. John LeFountaine is harmless, his forays into the forbidden territory of the women’s room simply a benign thrill, a faint blip on the dull flat line of his life.
Russell Nash, who sits in the cubicle to your left, is in love with Amanda Pierce, who sits in the cubicle to your right. They ride the same bus together after work. For Amanda Pierce, it is just a tedious bus ride made less tedious by the idle nattering of Russell Nash. But for Russell Nash, it is the highlight of his day. It is the highlight of his life. Russell Nash has put on forty pounds, and grows fatter with each passing month, nibbling on chips and cookies while peeking glumly over the partitions at Amanda Pierce, and gorging himself at home on cold pizza and ice cream while watching adult videos on TV.
Amanda Pierce, in the cubicle to your right, has a six-year-old son named Jamie, who is autistic. Her cubicle is plastered from top to bottom with the boy’s crayon artwork - sheet after sheet of precisely drawn concentric circles and ellipses, in black and yellow. She rotates them every other Friday. Be sure to comment on them. Amanda Pierce, who tolerates Russell Nash, is in love with Albert Bosch, whose office is over there. Albert Bosch, who only dimly registers Amanda Pierce’s existence, has eyes only for Ellie Tapper, who sits over there. Ellie Tapper, who hates Albert Bosch, would walk through fire for Curtis Lance. But Curtis Lance hates Ellie Tapper. Isn’t the world a funny place? Not in the ha-ha sense, of course.
Anika Bloom sits in that cubicle. Last year, while reviewing quarterly reports in a meeting with Barry Hacker, Anika Bloom’s left palm began to bleed. She fell into a trance, stared into her hand, and told Barry Hacker when and how his wife would die. We laughed it off. She was, after all, a new employee. But Barry Hacker’s wife is dead. So unless you want to know exactly when and how you’ll die, never talk to Anika Bloom.
Colin Heavey sits in that cubicle over there. He was new once, just like you. We warned him about Anika Bloom. But at last year’s Christmas Potluck, he felt sorry for her when he saw that no one was talking to her. Colin Heavey bought her a drink. He hasn’t been himself since. Colin Heavey is doomed. There’s nothing he can do about it, and we are powerless to help him. Stay away from Colin Heavey. Never give any of your work to him. If he asks to do something, tell him you have to check with me. If he asks again, tell him I haven’t gotten back to you.
This is the Fire Exit. There are several on this floor, and they are marked accordingly. We have a Floor Evacuation Review every three months, and an Escape Route Quiz once a month. We have our Biannual fire Drill twice a year, and our Annual Earthquake Drill once a year. These are precautions only. These things never happen.
For your information, we have a comprehensive health plan. Any catastrophic illness, any unforeseen tragedy is completely covered. All dependents are completely covered.
Larry Bagdikian, who sits over there, has six daughters. If anything were to happen to any of his girls, or to all of them, if all six were to simultaneously fall victim to illness or injury - stricken witha hideous degenerative muscle disease or some rare toxic blood disorder, sprayed with semiautomatic gunfire while on a class field trip, or attacked in their bunk beds by some prowling nocturnal lunatic - if any of this were to pass, Larry’s girls would all be taken care of. Larry Bagdikian would not have to pay one dime. He would have nothing to worry about.
We also have a generous vacation and sick leave policy. We have an excellent disability insurance plan. We have a stable and profitable pension fund. We get group discounts for the symphony, and block seating at the ballpark. We get commuter ticket books for the bridge. We have Direct Deposit. We are all members of Costco.
This is our kitchenette. And this, this is our Mr. Coffee. We have a coffee pool, into which we each pay two dollars a week for coffee, filters, sugar, and CoffeeMate. If you prefer Cremora or half-and-half to CoffeeMate, there is a special pool for three dollars a week. If you prefer Sweet’n Low to sugar, theree is a special pool for two-fifty a week. We do not do decaf. You are allowed to join the coffee pool of your choice, but you are not allowed to touch the Mr. Coffee.
This is the microwave oven. You are allowed to heat food in the microwave oven. You are not, however, allowed to cook food in the microwave oven.
We get one hour for lunch. We also get one fifteen-minute break in the morning, and one fifteen-minute break in the afternoon. Always take your breaks. If you skip a break, it is gone forever. For your information, your break is a privelige, not a right. If you abuse the break policy, we are authorized to rescind your breaks. Lunch, however, is a right, not a privelige. If you abuse the lunch policy, our hands will be tied, and we will be forced to look the other way. We will not enjoy that.
This is the refrigerator. You may put your lunch in it. Barry Hacker, who sits over there, steals food from this refrigerator. His petty theft is an outlet for his grief. Last New Year’s Eve, while kissing his wife, a blood vessel burst in her brain. Barry Hacker’s wife was two months pregnant at the time, and lingered in a coma for half a year before dying. It was a tragic loss for Barry Hacker. He hasn’t been himself since. Barry Hacker’s wife was a beautiful woman. She was also completely covered. Barry Hacker did not have to pay one dime But his dead wife haunts him. She haunts all of us. We have seen her, reflected in the monitors of our computers, moving past our cubicles. We have seen the dim shadow of her face in our photocopies. She pencils herself in in the receptionist’s appointment book, with the notation: To see Barry Hacker. She has left messages in the receptionist’s Voicemail box, messages garbled by the electronic chirrups and buzzes in the phone line, her voice echoing from an immense distance within the ambient hum. But the voice is hers. And beneath the voice, beneath the tidal whoosh of static and hiss, the gurgling and crying of a baby can be heard.
In any case, if you bring a lunch, put a little something extra in the bag for Barry Hacker. We have four Barrys in this office. Isn’t that a coincidence?
This is Matthew Payne’s office. He is our Unit Manager, and his door is always closed. We have never seen him, and you will never see him. But he is there. You can be sure of that. He is all around us.
This is the Custodian’s Closet. You have no business in the Custodian’s Closet. And this, this is our Supplies Cabinet. If you need supplies, see Curtis Lance. He will log you in on the Supplies Cabinet Authorization Log, then give you a Supplies Authorization Slip. Present your pink copy of the Supplies Authorization Slip to Ellie Tapper. She will log you in on the Supplies Cabinet Key Log, then give you the key. Because the Supplies Cabinet is located outside the Unit Manager’s office, you must be very quiet. Gather your supplies quietly. The Supplies Cabinet is divided into four sections. Section One contains letterhead stationery, blank paper and envelopes, memo and note pads, and so on. Section Two contains pens and pencils and typewriter and printer ribbons, and the like. In Section Three we have erasers, correction fluids, transparent tapes, glue sticks, et cetera. And in Section Four we have paper clips and push pins and scissors and razor blades. And here are the spare blades for the shredder. Do not touch the shredder, which is located over there. The shredder is of no concern to you.
Gwendolyn Stich sits in that office there. She is crazy about penguins, and collects penguin knickknacks: penguin posters and coffee mugs and stationery, penguin stuffed animals, penguin jewelry, penguin sweaters and T-shirts and socks. She has a pair of penguin fuzzy slippers she wears when working late at the office. She has a tape cassette of penguin sounds which she listens to for relaxation. Her favorite colors are black and white. She has personalized license plates that read PEN GWEN. Every morning, she passes through all the cubicles to wish each of us a good morning. She brings Danish on Wednesdays for Hump Day morning break, and doughnuts on Fridays for TGIF afternoon break. She organizes the Annual Christmas Potluck, and is in charge of the Birthday List. Gwendolyn Stich’s door is always open to all of us. She will always lend an ear, and put in a good word for you; she will always give you a hand, or the shirt off her back, or a shoulder to cry on. Because her door is always open, she hides and cries in a stall in teh women’s room. And John LaFountaine - who, enthralled when a woman enters, sits quietly in his stall with his knees to his chest - John LaFountaine has heard her vomiting in there. We have come upon Gwendolyn Stich huddled in the stairwell, shivering in the updraft, sipping a Diet Mr. Pibb and hugging her knees. She does not let any of this interfere with her work. If it interfered with her work, she might have to be let go.
Kevin Howard sits in that cubicle over there. He is a serial killer, the one they call the Carpet Cutter, responsible for the mutilations across town. We’re not supposed to know that, so do not let on. Don’t worry. His compulsion inflicts itself on strangers only, and the routine established is elaborate and unwavering. The victim must be a white male, a young adult no older than thirty, heavyset, with dark hair and eyes, and the like. The victim must be chosen at random before sunset, from a public place; the victim is followed home, and must put up a struggle; et cetera. The carnage inflicted is precise: the angle and direction of the incisions; the layering of skin and muscle tissue; the rearrangement of visceral organs; and so on. Kevin Howard does not let any of this interfere with his work. He is, in fact, our fastest typist. He types as if he were on fire. He has a secret crush on Gwendoly Stich, and leaves a red-foil-wrapped Hershey’s Kiss on her desk every afternoon. But he hates Anika Bloom, and keeps well away from her. In his presence, she has non controllable fits of shaking and trembling. Her left palm does not stop
bleeding.
In any case, when Kevin Howard gets caught, act surprised. Say that he seemed like a
nice person, a bit of a loner, perhaps, but always quiet and polite.
This is the photocopier room. And this, this is our view. It faces southwest. West is down there, toward the water. North is back there. Because we are on the seventeenth floor, we are afforded a magnificent view. Isn’t it beautiful? It overlooks the park, where the tops of those trees are. You can see a segment of the bay between those two buildings over there. You can see the sun set in the gap between those two buildings over there. You can see this building reflected in the glass panels of that building across the way. There. See? That’s you, waving. And look there. There’s Anika Bloom in the kitchenette, waving back.
Enjoy this view while photocopying. If you have problems with the photocopier, see
Russell Nash. If you have any questions, ask your supervisor. If you can’t find your supervisor, ask Phillip Spiers. He sits over there. He’ll check with Clarissa Nicks. She sits over there. If you can’t find them, feel free to ask me. That’s my cubicle. I sit in there.
Here is the link to get it:
http://nomrad.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/orientation.pdf
For those who prefer an audio version here is one from "This American Life"
Orientation - by Daniel Orozco
Those are the offices and these are the cubicles. That’s my cubicle there, and this isyour cubicle. This is your phone. Never answer your phone. Let the Voicemail System answer it. This is your Voicemail System Manual. There are no personal phone calls allowed.We do, however, allow for emergencies. If you must make an emergency phone call, ask your supervisor first. If you can’t find your supervisor, ask Phillip Spiers, whosits over there. He’ll check with Clarissa Nicks, who sits over there. If you make an emergency phone call without asking, you may be let go.
These are your IN and OUT boxes. All the forms in your IN box must be logged in by thedate shown in the upper left-hand corner, initialed by you in the upper right-hand corner,and distributed to the Processing Analyst whose name is numerically coded in the lower left-hand corner. The lower right-hand corner is left blank. Here’s your Processing Analyst Numerical Code Index. And here’s your Forms Processing Procedures Manual.
You must pace your work. What do I mean? I’m glad you asked that. We pace our work according to the eight-hour workday. If you have twelve hours of work in your IN box, for example, you must compress that work into the eight-hour day. If you have one hour of work in your IN box, you must expand that work to fill the eight-hour day. That was a good question. Feel free to ask questions. Ask too many questions, however, and you may be let go.
That is our receptionist. She is a temp. We go through receptionists here. They quit with alarming frequency. Be polite and civil to the temps. Learn their names, and invite them to lunch occasionally. But don’t get close to them, as it only makes it more difficult when they leave. And they always leave. You can be sure of that.
The men’s room is over there. The women’s room is over there. John LaFountaine, who sits over there, uses the women’s room occasionally. He says it is accidental. We know better, but we let it pass. John LeFountaine is harmless, his forays into the forbidden territory of the women’s room simply a benign thrill, a faint blip on the dull flat line of his life.
Russell Nash, who sits in the cubicle to your left, is in love with Amanda Pierce, who sits in the cubicle to your right. They ride the same bus together after work. For Amanda Pierce, it is just a tedious bus ride made less tedious by the idle nattering of Russell Nash. But for Russell Nash, it is the highlight of his day. It is the highlight of his life. Russell Nash has put on forty pounds, and grows fatter with each passing month, nibbling on chips and cookies while peeking glumly over the partitions at Amanda Pierce, and gorging himself at home on cold pizza and ice cream while watching adult videos on TV.
Amanda Pierce, in the cubicle to your right, has a six-year-old son named Jamie, who is autistic. Her cubicle is plastered from top to bottom with the boy’s crayon artwork - sheet after sheet of precisely drawn concentric circles and ellipses, in black and yellow. She rotates them every other Friday. Be sure to comment on them. Amanda Pierce, who tolerates Russell Nash, is in love with Albert Bosch, whose office is over there. Albert Bosch, who only dimly registers Amanda Pierce’s existence, has eyes only for Ellie Tapper, who sits over there. Ellie Tapper, who hates Albert Bosch, would walk through fire for Curtis Lance. But Curtis Lance hates Ellie Tapper. Isn’t the world a funny place? Not in the ha-ha sense, of course.
Anika Bloom sits in that cubicle. Last year, while reviewing quarterly reports in a meeting with Barry Hacker, Anika Bloom’s left palm began to bleed. She fell into a trance, stared into her hand, and told Barry Hacker when and how his wife would die. We laughed it off. She was, after all, a new employee. But Barry Hacker’s wife is dead. So unless you want to know exactly when and how you’ll die, never talk to Anika Bloom.
Colin Heavey sits in that cubicle over there. He was new once, just like you. We warned him about Anika Bloom. But at last year’s Christmas Potluck, he felt sorry for her when he saw that no one was talking to her. Colin Heavey bought her a drink. He hasn’t been himself since. Colin Heavey is doomed. There’s nothing he can do about it, and we are powerless to help him. Stay away from Colin Heavey. Never give any of your work to him. If he asks to do something, tell him you have to check with me. If he asks again, tell him I haven’t gotten back to you.
This is the Fire Exit. There are several on this floor, and they are marked accordingly. We have a Floor Evacuation Review every three months, and an Escape Route Quiz once a month. We have our Biannual fire Drill twice a year, and our Annual Earthquake Drill once a year. These are precautions only. These things never happen.
For your information, we have a comprehensive health plan. Any catastrophic illness, any unforeseen tragedy is completely covered. All dependents are completely covered.
Larry Bagdikian, who sits over there, has six daughters. If anything were to happen to any of his girls, or to all of them, if all six were to simultaneously fall victim to illness or injury - stricken witha hideous degenerative muscle disease or some rare toxic blood disorder, sprayed with semiautomatic gunfire while on a class field trip, or attacked in their bunk beds by some prowling nocturnal lunatic - if any of this were to pass, Larry’s girls would all be taken care of. Larry Bagdikian would not have to pay one dime. He would have nothing to worry about.
We also have a generous vacation and sick leave policy. We have an excellent disability insurance plan. We have a stable and profitable pension fund. We get group discounts for the symphony, and block seating at the ballpark. We get commuter ticket books for the bridge. We have Direct Deposit. We are all members of Costco.
This is our kitchenette. And this, this is our Mr. Coffee. We have a coffee pool, into which we each pay two dollars a week for coffee, filters, sugar, and CoffeeMate. If you prefer Cremora or half-and-half to CoffeeMate, there is a special pool for three dollars a week. If you prefer Sweet’n Low to sugar, theree is a special pool for two-fifty a week. We do not do decaf. You are allowed to join the coffee pool of your choice, but you are not allowed to touch the Mr. Coffee.
This is the microwave oven. You are allowed to heat food in the microwave oven. You are not, however, allowed to cook food in the microwave oven.
We get one hour for lunch. We also get one fifteen-minute break in the morning, and one fifteen-minute break in the afternoon. Always take your breaks. If you skip a break, it is gone forever. For your information, your break is a privelige, not a right. If you abuse the break policy, we are authorized to rescind your breaks. Lunch, however, is a right, not a privelige. If you abuse the lunch policy, our hands will be tied, and we will be forced to look the other way. We will not enjoy that.
This is the refrigerator. You may put your lunch in it. Barry Hacker, who sits over there, steals food from this refrigerator. His petty theft is an outlet for his grief. Last New Year’s Eve, while kissing his wife, a blood vessel burst in her brain. Barry Hacker’s wife was two months pregnant at the time, and lingered in a coma for half a year before dying. It was a tragic loss for Barry Hacker. He hasn’t been himself since. Barry Hacker’s wife was a beautiful woman. She was also completely covered. Barry Hacker did not have to pay one dime But his dead wife haunts him. She haunts all of us. We have seen her, reflected in the monitors of our computers, moving past our cubicles. We have seen the dim shadow of her face in our photocopies. She pencils herself in in the receptionist’s appointment book, with the notation: To see Barry Hacker. She has left messages in the receptionist’s Voicemail box, messages garbled by the electronic chirrups and buzzes in the phone line, her voice echoing from an immense distance within the ambient hum. But the voice is hers. And beneath the voice, beneath the tidal whoosh of static and hiss, the gurgling and crying of a baby can be heard.
In any case, if you bring a lunch, put a little something extra in the bag for Barry Hacker. We have four Barrys in this office. Isn’t that a coincidence?
This is Matthew Payne’s office. He is our Unit Manager, and his door is always closed. We have never seen him, and you will never see him. But he is there. You can be sure of that. He is all around us.
This is the Custodian’s Closet. You have no business in the Custodian’s Closet. And this, this is our Supplies Cabinet. If you need supplies, see Curtis Lance. He will log you in on the Supplies Cabinet Authorization Log, then give you a Supplies Authorization Slip. Present your pink copy of the Supplies Authorization Slip to Ellie Tapper. She will log you in on the Supplies Cabinet Key Log, then give you the key. Because the Supplies Cabinet is located outside the Unit Manager’s office, you must be very quiet. Gather your supplies quietly. The Supplies Cabinet is divided into four sections. Section One contains letterhead stationery, blank paper and envelopes, memo and note pads, and so on. Section Two contains pens and pencils and typewriter and printer ribbons, and the like. In Section Three we have erasers, correction fluids, transparent tapes, glue sticks, et cetera. And in Section Four we have paper clips and push pins and scissors and razor blades. And here are the spare blades for the shredder. Do not touch the shredder, which is located over there. The shredder is of no concern to you.
Gwendolyn Stich sits in that office there. She is crazy about penguins, and collects penguin knickknacks: penguin posters and coffee mugs and stationery, penguin stuffed animals, penguin jewelry, penguin sweaters and T-shirts and socks. She has a pair of penguin fuzzy slippers she wears when working late at the office. She has a tape cassette of penguin sounds which she listens to for relaxation. Her favorite colors are black and white. She has personalized license plates that read PEN GWEN. Every morning, she passes through all the cubicles to wish each of us a good morning. She brings Danish on Wednesdays for Hump Day morning break, and doughnuts on Fridays for TGIF afternoon break. She organizes the Annual Christmas Potluck, and is in charge of the Birthday List. Gwendolyn Stich’s door is always open to all of us. She will always lend an ear, and put in a good word for you; she will always give you a hand, or the shirt off her back, or a shoulder to cry on. Because her door is always open, she hides and cries in a stall in teh women’s room. And John LaFountaine - who, enthralled when a woman enters, sits quietly in his stall with his knees to his chest - John LaFountaine has heard her vomiting in there. We have come upon Gwendolyn Stich huddled in the stairwell, shivering in the updraft, sipping a Diet Mr. Pibb and hugging her knees. She does not let any of this interfere with her work. If it interfered with her work, she might have to be let go.
Kevin Howard sits in that cubicle over there. He is a serial killer, the one they call the Carpet Cutter, responsible for the mutilations across town. We’re not supposed to know that, so do not let on. Don’t worry. His compulsion inflicts itself on strangers only, and the routine established is elaborate and unwavering. The victim must be a white male, a young adult no older than thirty, heavyset, with dark hair and eyes, and the like. The victim must be chosen at random before sunset, from a public place; the victim is followed home, and must put up a struggle; et cetera. The carnage inflicted is precise: the angle and direction of the incisions; the layering of skin and muscle tissue; the rearrangement of visceral organs; and so on. Kevin Howard does not let any of this interfere with his work. He is, in fact, our fastest typist. He types as if he were on fire. He has a secret crush on Gwendoly Stich, and leaves a red-foil-wrapped Hershey’s Kiss on her desk every afternoon. But he hates Anika Bloom, and keeps well away from her. In his presence, she has non controllable fits of shaking and trembling. Her left palm does not stop
bleeding.
In any case, when Kevin Howard gets caught, act surprised. Say that he seemed like a
nice person, a bit of a loner, perhaps, but always quiet and polite.
This is the photocopier room. And this, this is our view. It faces southwest. West is down there, toward the water. North is back there. Because we are on the seventeenth floor, we are afforded a magnificent view. Isn’t it beautiful? It overlooks the park, where the tops of those trees are. You can see a segment of the bay between those two buildings over there. You can see the sun set in the gap between those two buildings over there. You can see this building reflected in the glass panels of that building across the way. There. See? That’s you, waving. And look there. There’s Anika Bloom in the kitchenette, waving back.
Enjoy this view while photocopying. If you have problems with the photocopier, see
Russell Nash. If you have any questions, ask your supervisor. If you can’t find your supervisor, ask Phillip Spiers. He sits over there. He’ll check with Clarissa Nicks. She sits over there. If you can’t find them, feel free to ask me. That’s my cubicle. I sit in there.
Clousure, McComb
Haven't really written what happen to my MBA applications. Well as obvious as it is, it is over, I am not going to join the UT class of '09. I am still disappointed for getting a delay rejection, i.e. being put on waiting list and then told that the list is full. Yeah it makes so much sense.
No offense to all the elites at UT, but it works out better for me not going to school full time for the next two years. I would be $80,000 in debt, having a 2nd child in the middle of the semester and not receiving as good medical care as I am now.
My wife would not enjoy life as she is now either, because UT rejected her as well. The math does not add up, she got a 3.9 GPA in CCCC but they counted her grades in Hong Kong as well. Just may as well told us that they are not looking at individual before the computer looked at them and calculate the numbers.
I think UT made the right decision, what can I offer to UT? Nothing, I am not young nor impressionable, I won't work day and night to made the number. And I am making as much as any MBA graduates would.
Anyway for the very few readers out there, my GMAT is 730, undergraduate GPA is 3.93, I had 12 yrs of professional experience and finally my essay depicted a guy who is very upset about the corporate culture and wanted to make some changes to it. At the end I guess it is not to be :).
No offense to all the elites at UT, but it works out better for me not going to school full time for the next two years. I would be $80,000 in debt, having a 2nd child in the middle of the semester and not receiving as good medical care as I am now.
My wife would not enjoy life as she is now either, because UT rejected her as well. The math does not add up, she got a 3.9 GPA in CCCC but they counted her grades in Hong Kong as well. Just may as well told us that they are not looking at individual before the computer looked at them and calculate the numbers.
I think UT made the right decision, what can I offer to UT? Nothing, I am not young nor impressionable, I won't work day and night to made the number. And I am making as much as any MBA graduates would.
Anyway for the very few readers out there, my GMAT is 730, undergraduate GPA is 3.93, I had 12 yrs of professional experience and finally my essay depicted a guy who is very upset about the corporate culture and wanted to make some changes to it. At the end I guess it is not to be :).
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Team Weight Loss
I gained almost 15 pounds while I was in the Netherlands and Chloe wanted me to lose some weight before the baby comes, so she signed me up with the Team Weight Loss program at Lifetime (the gym that we go to).
The program is very simple, there are 7 of us. A personal trainer guided us on the treadmills 3 times a week. Each time we worked on the upper body using weigths or rubber bands, while walking on the tread mills. We need to also start eating healthy, i.e. eating five meals per day. Eating a lot of fruit and veggies, not to mention drinking 64 fl-oz of water everyday.
Talk about water, every day I drink 2 big glasses of water when I wake up at 6:00 am. After that flush, my system works and within 15 minutes, I need to go number 2. Yeah a-lot-of number 2.
The program is very simple, there are 7 of us. A personal trainer guided us on the treadmills 3 times a week. Each time we worked on the upper body using weigths or rubber bands, while walking on the tread mills. We need to also start eating healthy, i.e. eating five meals per day. Eating a lot of fruit and veggies, not to mention drinking 64 fl-oz of water everyday.
Talk about water, every day I drink 2 big glasses of water when I wake up at 6:00 am. After that flush, my system works and within 15 minutes, I need to go number 2. Yeah a-lot-of number 2.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Progress in a few weeks
To be very honest, I wanted to trade for a living is because I want to get financially independent. It occurs to me that, the security of working in cooperate America was just a delusion last time when the bubble busted. Now the economy is going down hill, the industry is going down hill, evidences pointing for another recession in enormous. So I need to get ready.
Anyway, thanks to the Nester, I found interesting in blogging again.
Today my account went up, imagine the day I got stopped out in 4 of my 6 trades and my account still goes up. Today marks the day that I experienced to have small losers and big winners...and they are DE and CLF. The losers are Puts on JCP, MER, C, AZO.
nothing really special but just a day ups and downs.
Anyway, thanks to the Nester, I found interesting in blogging again.
Today my account went up, imagine the day I got stopped out in 4 of my 6 trades and my account still goes up. Today marks the day that I experienced to have small losers and big winners...and they are DE and CLF. The losers are Puts on JCP, MER, C, AZO.
nothing really special but just a day ups and downs.
My first comment! Crooked Pinkies
I have received my first unsolicited comment today, it was from a loving mother who's son also has crooked pinkies.
Dear Loving Mother of a fortunate child,
Subconsciously I was looking for reasons to separate myself from my family. I have successfully separate from them physically, we are now half way across the globe apart. And I was looking for other reasons to retain no relationship at all with them, my crooked pinkies are proofs that I was hunting for to satisfy my innermost ungrateful desire. It would not be a good idea to disclose in public the reasons that steered me toward this decision. Since everybody has a story, I am sure you can appreciate mine.
Signed: ungrateful son of another mother.
Dear Loving Mother of a fortunate child,
Subconsciously I was looking for reasons to separate myself from my family. I have successfully separate from them physically, we are now half way across the globe apart. And I was looking for other reasons to retain no relationship at all with them, my crooked pinkies are proofs that I was hunting for to satisfy my innermost ungrateful desire. It would not be a good idea to disclose in public the reasons that steered me toward this decision. Since everybody has a story, I am sure you can appreciate mine.
Signed: ungrateful son of another mother.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Three more days, bye Breda
8 weeks came and gone. It has been very interesting. First I made a fortune and lost all my profits. Second I know that there are people in the Western world actually lives life with very minimum of luxary that we enjoy in the U.S.
I made friends and found out more about myself.
People with different backgrounds are always interesting to meet, but not everyone with interesting backgrounds are interesting to me. Guys are well read, not so nerdy are fun to talk. Guys knows theirs history are cool. Guys "talk rubbish" like teenagers are fun too.
About myself, I found that I really want to have a better life. I found out also that I can't get to anywhere without together with my wife. and my son, basically my family. I need their support to go on.
I found out also that how much I would enjoy work if it with cool people.
I made friends and found out more about myself.
People with different backgrounds are always interesting to meet, but not everyone with interesting backgrounds are interesting to me. Guys are well read, not so nerdy are fun to talk. Guys knows theirs history are cool. Guys "talk rubbish" like teenagers are fun too.
About myself, I found that I really want to have a better life. I found out also that I can't get to anywhere without together with my wife. and my son, basically my family. I need their support to go on.
I found out also that how much I would enjoy work if it with cool people.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Redepmtion
This is the title of Iowa State Daily article after this year's ISU vs UI game. ISU kicker Bret Culbertson missed a filed goal in 2004 that cost ISU the Big 12 North Champ. And he missed again! in 2005 Big 12 North Championship game. I was surprised to see him back in 2006 as the kicker but he does not give up.
To many Cyclones beating University of Iowa is much bigger than beating anyone else. Because we have been the underdog, because we got beat so much during my time there. Because also we can't spend as much as the UofI program. Thanks to the vision for the new athletic director, we are one step closer to be nationally recognized.
I am very energized after this. My Alma Mater made another strike. This is going to be a happy year:1) Celtics acquired Kevin Garret.
2) ISU beat UI in the last second field goal.
3) David Webb (aka Jason Bourne) has the same birthday as mine.
Hopefully everything will turn out great as well.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
I am a Great Trader (x3), and a Darn Good Looking One too
The root cause of my problem is that I have not been able to take my mind off of my frustrations and off of my efforts to get out of my current job.
To ease my mind off my troubles, it is nothing better than entering a dream, a men created dream directly from the dream factory, Hollywood. So I caught the "Bourne Ultimatum" Friday, knowing the plot is simple and knowing the hero will sure win. I need to be vindicated. The movie was great, and the hero had the same birthday as mind. I take it as a sign. :)
I need to fill my spiritual voids, I need to go back to Jesus. I need to relax my mind off my worries and my ambitions regularly.
I found out this weekend that going to Sunday service and sing with a large crowd is really exhilaration. I found out also that it refreshes my mind.
Two late mornings and two afternoon naps, I feel more refresh than ever. But I know Yee is in Dallas doing a double duty.
My head is still spinning from all of my losses and my blunders, however my confidence is very high that I can make those back like I did and I will make a lot more. Because "I am a great trader and a darn good looking one too."
To ease my mind off my troubles, it is nothing better than entering a dream, a men created dream directly from the dream factory, Hollywood. So I caught the "Bourne Ultimatum" Friday, knowing the plot is simple and knowing the hero will sure win. I need to be vindicated. The movie was great, and the hero had the same birthday as mind. I take it as a sign. :)
I need to fill my spiritual voids, I need to go back to Jesus. I need to relax my mind off my worries and my ambitions regularly.
I found out this weekend that going to Sunday service and sing with a large crowd is really exhilaration. I found out also that it refreshes my mind.
Two late mornings and two afternoon naps, I feel more refresh than ever. But I know Yee is in Dallas doing a double duty.
My head is still spinning from all of my losses and my blunders, however my confidence is very high that I can make those back like I did and I will make a lot more. Because "I am a great trader and a darn good looking one too."
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Depressed?
I turned 35 today. I don't know what I feel, if I live to 70, I lived half of my life already.
My trading went completely south for a week and even my paper trades are all going wrong. Suddenly all my rules don't work any more.
Luckily Yee is still 100% supportive of me. No matter what I do. She always reminds me that we don't know when will we go back to see our heavenly father and we should just enjoy every day.
I suppose that is very true. I need to forget about everything and let me mind on vacation for a few days.
Thank you God for letting me marrying this woman.
My trading went completely south for a week and even my paper trades are all going wrong. Suddenly all my rules don't work any more.
Luckily Yee is still 100% supportive of me. No matter what I do. She always reminds me that we don't know when will we go back to see our heavenly father and we should just enjoy every day.
I suppose that is very true. I need to forget about everything and let me mind on vacation for a few days.
Thank you God for letting me marrying this woman.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Confused
I just don't know how I entered this down trend, but I did. My buy and selling mechanics are all wrong and I lost all of my profit made in the last month.
My 1 year plan of quitting this job is now on hold. I need to find another way to make profit consistently. I am blowing up my paper trade account now to look for a way now.
Maybe it is because my family has gone back to Dallas. Oh I miss them a lot. Seeing the photos when Markkus was young, he is just so cute.
Yee told me he likes the new school, I hope it works out for all of us. The old schools had made him rather restless and violent.
These few months, I have been putting my self under a lot of pressure to make money off the stock market. Maybe I need to relax and not watch the balance of my account every minute.
I am thankful that Yee always support me. It is better to pay 24 grand to Investools than pay 70 grand to UT for an MBA. I am pretty sure some day I can bring a comfortable life to my family.
My 1 year plan of quitting this job is now on hold. I need to find another way to make profit consistently. I am blowing up my paper trade account now to look for a way now.
Maybe it is because my family has gone back to Dallas. Oh I miss them a lot. Seeing the photos when Markkus was young, he is just so cute.
Yee told me he likes the new school, I hope it works out for all of us. The old schools had made him rather restless and violent.
These few months, I have been putting my self under a lot of pressure to make money off the stock market. Maybe I need to relax and not watch the balance of my account every minute.
I am thankful that Yee always support me. It is better to pay 24 grand to Investools than pay 70 grand to UT for an MBA. I am pretty sure some day I can bring a comfortable life to my family.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Bummer!
During my RUT days, a volatile day like today is wonderful. I could have make good money on this.
Things went pretty wrong went I did not have my rules established. All of my S&P futures trades initially showing profits but then turned pretty red. For me personally, I always willing to take losses, but taking losses every time caused me dearly.
Before I have setup a sound rule to trade futures, I need to go back and trade RUT for my daily bread. Until my rules are good for the futures, I will enter that arena again.
Things went pretty wrong went I did not have my rules established. All of my S&P futures trades initially showing profits but then turned pretty red. For me personally, I always willing to take losses, but taking losses every time caused me dearly.
Before I have setup a sound rule to trade futures, I need to go back and trade RUT for my daily bread. Until my rules are good for the futures, I will enter that arena again.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Like bus, like train, like airplane
Yee and Markkus left Holland today. I am all alone again. There are so many interesting pieces.
Morning Call:
My alarm went off at 3:30 am but I have been awake since 2:50 am, when Markkus cried from his dreams and Yee and I both could not sleep again. The taxi arrived promptly at 4:30 am and we all got into that Mercedes E-Class within 5 minutes. I slept most of the way but Markkus was awake because he did not have his towel.
We arrived at the airport 5:55 am. It was a wonderful ride. I would definitely do it again. The taxi driver is very sleepy too, so we thanked him an went on our ways.
Prosperity
Airport is a place where everyone seems to go somewhere on their own group. People go there, quickly do their business and be on their way. It is always very cruel and clam. There was no incidence for Yee and M's check-in's but the guy on the next counter was trying to get his boarding pass with only a company ID. I believe he was British and very upset. It is his own fault, because there is no airline will give out boarding pass without an official government issued ID.
I stayed until NW 39 disappeared in the sky. It was 8:10 am.
Revenge
The train system in the Netherlands is very sophisticated, in order words very complex. There are 10's of train ticket vending machines in the Amsterdam Schiphol (shit-hole) airport but none of them take paper money (bills). I always prefer buying tickets from machines than buying from human because the line is shorter. But I never have the fortune to buy one from the machine, until today I had 20 Euros of coins and successfully got a train ticket there.
Well, a lot of tourists are lost in this complex train system. I helped a girl to buy ticket and I helped another group of Malaysians to leave the train at Schiphol.
Grand Palace
We were amazed we when visited GrandPalace (Schouwburgplein 54, 3012 CL, Rotterdam) to see the variety of dim sum and Chinese dishes this place serves. Today I visited it second time in 3 days, but alone. I order a rise item served in a pot and 2 dim sums. It was ok, but the service varies depending on the waiter. I was very impressed by their speed. They go in and out of the corridor to grab dishes and delivery to the customer.
I have planned to have sweet and sour pork today, but ended up with dim sums. They were ok, except for the fact that I was really really tired.
I got onto the train and slept all the way from Rotterdam Centraal to Dordrecht. Then got off a Breda. It was very quiet, without Markkus and Yee, everything just seem less colorful.
Morning Call:
My alarm went off at 3:30 am but I have been awake since 2:50 am, when Markkus cried from his dreams and Yee and I both could not sleep again. The taxi arrived promptly at 4:30 am and we all got into that Mercedes E-Class within 5 minutes. I slept most of the way but Markkus was awake because he did not have his towel.
We arrived at the airport 5:55 am. It was a wonderful ride. I would definitely do it again. The taxi driver is very sleepy too, so we thanked him an went on our ways.
Prosperity
Airport is a place where everyone seems to go somewhere on their own group. People go there, quickly do their business and be on their way. It is always very cruel and clam. There was no incidence for Yee and M's check-in's but the guy on the next counter was trying to get his boarding pass with only a company ID. I believe he was British and very upset. It is his own fault, because there is no airline will give out boarding pass without an official government issued ID.
I stayed until NW 39 disappeared in the sky. It was 8:10 am.
Revenge
The train system in the Netherlands is very sophisticated, in order words very complex. There are 10's of train ticket vending machines in the Amsterdam Schiphol (shit-hole) airport but none of them take paper money (bills). I always prefer buying tickets from machines than buying from human because the line is shorter. But I never have the fortune to buy one from the machine, until today I had 20 Euros of coins and successfully got a train ticket there.
Well, a lot of tourists are lost in this complex train system. I helped a girl to buy ticket and I helped another group of Malaysians to leave the train at Schiphol.
Grand Palace
We were amazed we when visited GrandPalace (Schouwburgplein 54, 3012 CL, Rotterdam) to see the variety of dim sum and Chinese dishes this place serves. Today I visited it second time in 3 days, but alone. I order a rise item served in a pot and 2 dim sums. It was ok, but the service varies depending on the waiter. I was very impressed by their speed. They go in and out of the corridor to grab dishes and delivery to the customer.
I have planned to have sweet and sour pork today, but ended up with dim sums. They were ok, except for the fact that I was really really tired.
I got onto the train and slept all the way from Rotterdam Centraal to Dordrecht. Then got off a Breda. It was very quiet, without Markkus and Yee, everything just seem less colorful.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
A man's word
A friend of mine, Lee from Cambodian told me once that a man's promise is like the tusks of en elephants. Well I promised my wife not to trade this week. But I discovered the wonders of E-mini Futures.
It is virtually traded around the clock, only stop 2 times daily for maintenance. And the good thing is it does not limit me to one trade a day.
When I trade option, every purchase reduces my day trade power. So if I plunged, and failed, I can't plunged again the same day.
Now with E-mini options, it only requires the a margin and I can trade as many time as I like. It is so wonderful. I don't have to perform every time I enter a trade.
Anyway, I think pretty soon we are going to have a better life and I don't have to to go to 6300 Legacy Dr every work day. Cheers
It is virtually traded around the clock, only stop 2 times daily for maintenance. And the good thing is it does not limit me to one trade a day.
When I trade option, every purchase reduces my day trade power. So if I plunged, and failed, I can't plunged again the same day.
Now with E-mini options, it only requires the a margin and I can trade as many time as I like. It is so wonderful. I don't have to perform every time I enter a trade.
Anyway, I think pretty soon we are going to have a better life and I don't have to to go to 6300 Legacy Dr every work day. Cheers
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Sep 9, 2007
Yee and Markkus are going back to Dallas on Sep 9, 2007. I will be alone for 3 weeks. Sometimes it is good to be alone, but knowing our son being so active, I really want to be with my family to help Yee out. Because our next baby is growing pretty fast now and I don't want to upset the pregnancy.
I will be in the Netherlands until Sep 29. Hopefully I can see the end of this project because all the projects that I have been involved for the last few years, they always assigned me to somewhere else before the conclusion.
Again, they are asking me to go to Stockholm for two months after this short term contract, I am still considering it.
I will be in the Netherlands until Sep 29. Hopefully I can see the end of this project because all the projects that I have been involved for the last few years, they always assigned me to somewhere else before the conclusion.
Again, they are asking me to go to Stockholm for two months after this short term contract, I am still considering it.
Friday, August 31, 2007
What? comes around
I complained a lot to my wife because I don't see the courtesies in Breda, the Netherlands. We bring our stroller everywhere and I know how difficult it is to bring the stroller into a train or a bus and off.
Many times when I see other people with stroller, I would help them carry it up or down through the steps but I have not been helped once. That is until 2 days ago. A guy helped me with the baby stroller when I tried to get on a bus and then my next trip a lady helped me when I tried to get off the bus.
I supposed my disposition is still correct. Selfish and inconsiderate people are not hard to find, but when some strange help me out, I really feel the world is 10 degrees warmer. I hope those strangers that I helped out would feel the same.
Many times when I see other people with stroller, I would help them carry it up or down through the steps but I have not been helped once. That is until 2 days ago. A guy helped me with the baby stroller when I tried to get on a bus and then my next trip a lady helped me when I tried to get off the bus.
I supposed my disposition is still correct. Selfish and inconsiderate people are not hard to find, but when some strange help me out, I really feel the world is 10 degrees warmer. I hope those strangers that I helped out would feel the same.
Bear Market?
Does not feel like there is an imminent bear market. But a recession is more imminent due to the degradation of credit in this great nation. So how will it affect the stock market? I don't know. It will be uptrends and downtrends during recession as well.
I think it does not matter. there are still many opportunities out there during economic expansion or recession.
I think it does not matter. there are still many opportunities out there during economic expansion or recession.
Morning Walk
Every work day here in the Netherlands I walk from my apartment to the train station. It is a 30 minutes walk and I do plenty reflections during that time.
Futures -vs- Options were in my mind today. Futures provide delta of 100, but it can wipe the margin out very easily. While option prices go up and down with the underlying price, it in fact is a simple to the bone supply and demand relationship. The underlying of an option contract changes the expected value of the option contract and hence drive the option price.
Anyway, this is no news. Options provides a little more protection, because it will somehow has some time value into it, whereas Futures does not, just a straight 100 delta, $100 dollar is awarded -or- subtracted for every point movement.
Futures -vs- Options were in my mind today. Futures provide delta of 100, but it can wipe the margin out very easily. While option prices go up and down with the underlying price, it in fact is a simple to the bone supply and demand relationship. The underlying of an option contract changes the expected value of the option contract and hence drive the option price.
Anyway, this is no news. Options provides a little more protection, because it will somehow has some time value into it, whereas Futures does not, just a straight 100 delta, $100 dollar is awarded -or- subtracted for every point movement.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Potty success
"I want to pee pee in the toilet", my son told me. So I held him while he stands on the edge of the toilet bowl. After 40 sec of shhhhh. He did it! First time ever in the toilet. He had success in the mobile potty and in the bath tub. But now he graduated.
I am so please, I need to take a picture of that toilet, an Holland toilet.
I am so please, I need to take a picture of that toilet, an Holland toilet.
Curse is over
Time to take responsibility. From the bottom of my heart, I don't believe in curses nor blessings. They are, to me, psychological back hole for blames, in which we don't need any reason or reflection and attribute failures (less often success) to that.
Even for that, my failures are due to "stick to the gun" principle. Larry Livingston (the protagonist in Reminiscence of a Stock Operator) stuck to his gun and won millions, before he then lost millions before he recovered financially. I need to set a stop and but now the stop is lower because I can tolerate more risks after the last big win.
So I stuck to my gun and suffered a significant loss yesterday. I lost $500!!! it is not the money but the confidence. I closed everything to cash in and longed a Put the day before. The only put I had limited my exposure to risks because that 770 Put is in fact 90% time value and 10% intrinsic value. That being said the delta still killed me.
Enough about sticking to my gun, I looked at the intra-day chart and saw the rise again fits my day trade rule. Had I got into that trade for a call, I could had made some easy money.
The final verdict is, I need to be nimble. I need to know which set of rules applies to which situation. I need to be a day trader and a trend trader the same time.
Even for that, my failures are due to "stick to the gun" principle. Larry Livingston (the protagonist in Reminiscence of a Stock Operator) stuck to his gun and won millions, before he then lost millions before he recovered financially. I need to set a stop and but now the stop is lower because I can tolerate more risks after the last big win.
So I stuck to my gun and suffered a significant loss yesterday. I lost $500!!! it is not the money but the confidence. I closed everything to cash in and longed a Put the day before. The only put I had limited my exposure to risks because that 770 Put is in fact 90% time value and 10% intrinsic value. That being said the delta still killed me.
Enough about sticking to my gun, I looked at the intra-day chart and saw the rise again fits my day trade rule. Had I got into that trade for a call, I could had made some easy money.
The final verdict is, I need to be nimble. I need to know which set of rules applies to which situation. I need to be a day trader and a trend trader the same time.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Potty! Good job
Little did we know, Markkus is 3 months away from being a full 3 years old. Yee started to potty train him when he just turned 2 and it worked for a few weeks. Then he started to refuse. Now Markkus picked up the slack and going potty all the time in the Netherlands.
It is great for us because we don't care if we make a mess here in the temporary apartment, and the floor is also laminated so there is no mess to be found afterwards.
I think it is so nice to be away from home and try new things also at the same time appreciate what we have in Dallas.
It is great for us because we don't care if we make a mess here in the temporary apartment, and the floor is also laminated so there is no mess to be found afterwards.
I think it is so nice to be away from home and try new things also at the same time appreciate what we have in Dallas.
A good win
So the RUT went down 20 pts. And my prediction was correct. And I made ~37% profit on my 790 puts. It was so awesome.
I sold them and entered longed 1 contract on Oct 770 put just to catch the remaining of the plunge. My wife sees me so happy, she was also happy.
We will see what news today, so far "bargain" hunters are picking up the slacks. But it is normal to rebound a little after a drop like this.
I sold them and entered longed 1 contract on Oct 770 put just to catch the remaining of the plunge. My wife sees me so happy, she was also happy.
We will see what news today, so far "bargain" hunters are picking up the slacks. But it is normal to rebound a little after a drop like this.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Game of Probability
I went to bed last night at 9:45 pm Central European Time, which is 2:45 pm Central Day Time, which is 15 minutes before the stock market closes. My account was down $500! A whopping number for a guy like me.
This morning I checked, it was only down $90. A loss that I will swallow any time. It turns out the last few minutes of action took all the gain out and turned market to the red and as a result my overpriced puts purchases have made me a genius.
The jury is still out for Tuesday, but I think we are going to be fine.
This morning I checked, it was only down $90. A loss that I will swallow any time. It turns out the last few minutes of action took all the gain out and turned market to the red and as a result my overpriced puts purchases have made me a genius.
The jury is still out for Tuesday, but I think we are going to be fine.
Monday, August 27, 2007
7 Euro Cent Fries Sauces
Europe overall is not an easy place to live. Crowded, smokers everywhere and stuffs are pretty expensive too. Lucky for us we had a sponsorship. During my stay here in the Netherlands for 2 months my family joined me.
We went already to Rotterdam, Antewep, Zaans and Amsterdam. It has been fun so far and I got to spend a lot of time talking to my wife. It is very nice.
I just hope soon that I can be a trade such that I have more time to spend with my family.
We went already to Rotterdam, Antewep, Zaans and Amsterdam. It has been fun so far and I got to spend a lot of time talking to my wife. It is very nice.
I just hope soon that I can be a trade such that I have more time to spend with my family.
I am scared
Since I decided to day trade RUT, it is the first time that I am carrying my PUTS over night. I am pretty sure that I will have dreams about it.
Oh well, on the other hand I am getting real tired of the intensity of day trading. I need to be right anyway, I may as well be a trend trader. Unfortunately my capital is still at the minimal.
I don't know how it will turns out tomorrow, I am doing a lot of DON'Ts here: keeping a front month option for the trend and it is at the money. But if I am right tomorrow, the reward should be handsome.
Oh well, on the other hand I am getting real tired of the intensity of day trading. I need to be right anyway, I may as well be a trend trader. Unfortunately my capital is still at the minimal.
I don't know how it will turns out tomorrow, I am doing a lot of DON'Ts here: keeping a front month option for the trend and it is at the money. But if I am right tomorrow, the reward should be handsome.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Curse of Jessee Livermore (on me)
Many traders idolize the late Jessee Livermore. Search engines yield plenty of sites about his life and how successful he was, there is no need to reiterate here. However seems like every time I read about him and his trading principles, my trades fell in shambles.
I have had winning trades everyday since Aug 7 on RUT, until two days ago (Aug 21) I lost 2 days in a row. I read excerpts of Mr Livermore's principles before I started to trade on Aug 21 and then I lost, it did not clean me out, fortunately. But it stifled my confidence.
Comes to look at it. I have too much to loose on every trade. I don't have enough stake to stay on my convictions either. I can't follow his principles, and found myself losing and losing again. It happened last time and it brought me to my knees in my trading account.
Yes, I am early in my trading career and yes, I am inexperience. But there is much to say about my consecutive winnings then anything else. My rules fit me. No anyone else's.
With all due respect to the "greatest trader of all time", I have a different idea of life. I love my wife and I can't see myself with another woman (Mr Livermore has three wives), I love my son and I don't want him to lose track of his life. I also don't think swallow a bullet in a hotel room is a good way to end my life.
So long Mr Jessee Livemore. I shall only read of you when I am on vacations and away from the market.
I have had winning trades everyday since Aug 7 on RUT, until two days ago (Aug 21) I lost 2 days in a row. I read excerpts of Mr Livermore's principles before I started to trade on Aug 21 and then I lost, it did not clean me out, fortunately. But it stifled my confidence.
Comes to look at it. I have too much to loose on every trade. I don't have enough stake to stay on my convictions either. I can't follow his principles, and found myself losing and losing again. It happened last time and it brought me to my knees in my trading account.
Yes, I am early in my trading career and yes, I am inexperience. But there is much to say about my consecutive winnings then anything else. My rules fit me. No anyone else's.
With all due respect to the "greatest trader of all time", I have a different idea of life. I love my wife and I can't see myself with another woman (Mr Livermore has three wives), I love my son and I don't want him to lose track of his life. I also don't think swallow a bullet in a hotel room is a good way to end my life.
So long Mr Jessee Livemore. I shall only read of you when I am on vacations and away from the market.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Easy Money at 200 per min heart rate
I have started RUT since Wednesday Aug 1. The first trade was profitable, the next 2 trades caused me $160.
They I flew here to the Netherlands for a Short term assignment and started again on Aug 7. Since then I have been able to make a winning trade daily. Since I had only $2,600 and change in my trading account, I can only make one trade on one contract. It was pretty pathetic but I have learned a great deal when my back is against the wall and I have to make profit on very trade.
The last two trades has been tremendous, as the time value decayed for August Options I was able to trade 3 contracts. After battling back 2 bad entries and turned 2 potential losing trades to winning trades. I am not back to the back again and more. My account has now over $4,000 which is the initial value of our account.
It was fun and tough. I was also very educational. I shall noted in my heart that my first priority is my family.
They I flew here to the Netherlands for a Short term assignment and started again on Aug 7. Since then I have been able to make a winning trade daily. Since I had only $2,600 and change in my trading account, I can only make one trade on one contract. It was pretty pathetic but I have learned a great deal when my back is against the wall and I have to make profit on very trade.
The last two trades has been tremendous, as the time value decayed for August Options I was able to trade 3 contracts. After battling back 2 bad entries and turned 2 potential losing trades to winning trades. I am not back to the back again and more. My account has now over $4,000 which is the initial value of our account.
It was fun and tough. I was also very educational. I shall noted in my heart that my first priority is my family.
Friday, August 10, 2007
"I see you have found gabage"
I did not know how funny it was, until the evening that I thought it. Koen Gijbters is a friend/colleague of mine in ETM (the Netherlands office). We met in Plano when he came over to support yet another losing preposition (wire-line IMS ring back tone).
He made this statment when he saw he picked a croquette from the canteen. And he was right. It was terrible, it was a cylindrical deep fried object, about 4 inches long and filled with some unknown stuff, it was like think pie mix but salty. Yucky.
So that is the highlight of my trip so far, besides I have made $100 each day on RUT already.
He made this statment when he saw he picked a croquette from the canteen. And he was right. It was terrible, it was a cylindrical deep fried object, about 4 inches long and filled with some unknown stuff, it was like think pie mix but salty. Yucky.
So that is the highlight of my trip so far, besides I have made $100 each day on RUT already.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Nothing new under the sun
I had my mid-year performance evaluation yesterday. It was funny how things changed. My manager told me that I have been doing a great job and if I keep up the good work I will get a good evaluation this year.
Funny that the same manger told me I did not do anything for the previous year and should not receive any salary raise. The funniest part was that I do what I have been doing all the time, I did what I was told. I say what I think it is right. Nothing has changed. Only this year, my manager is planning to give me a good evaluation. This is so pathetic. I just don't seem to understand how everyone in such a pretense and everyone still act this way. Many times I knew things are coming and I knew the consequences, but nothing can change that.
This is how frustrated I am. It always seems obvious what other people want from me. It always seems also bloody clear how they are planning to get it. I just don't want to play along, because it is just a child's play.
Day Trade Russell
On a lighter note, I have been working on a trading system to day trade Rusell 2000 index. Buying Calls and Puts in a bracket in which it would sell the option if when the profit is $1.00, and stop out at $1.00 trail.
It has been working fine for 1 week, I made $20,000 on paper. But it was just too difficult to trade real money, so much more pressure and my meager 1-contract system does not get executed really easily. I need to develop and more robust system where I would let my winner s run.
My hope is to trade for a living soon and spend more time with people I love. Rather than at work which elephants are big and mice are small, nothing new, just want to play along.
Short Term Assignment
Once again, I get to benefit form working in a international company. I will be going on a short term assignment at Rijen, the Netherlands. $104 per day per diem, no need to pay rent there, and the return ticket is included. Interesting arrangement, sounds like a trip for pleasure, and profitable trip. Nothing to lose! I am bring my loves: Yee and Markkus, but their tickets aren't included.
Still it is just a wonderful opportunity to travel Europe again. I am looking forward to this. Hopefully due to the time difference, I can also do some trading after work and perfect my day trade system.
Funny that the same manger told me I did not do anything for the previous year and should not receive any salary raise. The funniest part was that I do what I have been doing all the time, I did what I was told. I say what I think it is right. Nothing has changed. Only this year, my manager is planning to give me a good evaluation. This is so pathetic. I just don't seem to understand how everyone in such a pretense and everyone still act this way. Many times I knew things are coming and I knew the consequences, but nothing can change that.
This is how frustrated I am. It always seems obvious what other people want from me. It always seems also bloody clear how they are planning to get it. I just don't want to play along, because it is just a child's play.
Day Trade Russell
On a lighter note, I have been working on a trading system to day trade Rusell 2000 index. Buying Calls and Puts in a bracket in which it would sell the option if when the profit is $1.00, and stop out at $1.00 trail.
It has been working fine for 1 week, I made $20,000 on paper. But it was just too difficult to trade real money, so much more pressure and my meager 1-contract system does not get executed really easily. I need to develop and more robust system where I would let my winner s run.
My hope is to trade for a living soon and spend more time with people I love. Rather than at work which elephants are big and mice are small, nothing new, just want to play along.
Short Term Assignment
Once again, I get to benefit form working in a international company. I will be going on a short term assignment at Rijen, the Netherlands. $104 per day per diem, no need to pay rent there, and the return ticket is included. Interesting arrangement, sounds like a trip for pleasure, and profitable trip. Nothing to lose! I am bring my loves: Yee and Markkus, but their tickets aren't included.
Still it is just a wonderful opportunity to travel Europe again. I am looking forward to this. Hopefully due to the time difference, I can also do some trading after work and perfect my day trade system.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Thank God that I married her
I have stopped out big time 2 weeks ago and we are now down to only 70% of our original balance. I had one time at 60% profit! But the recent volatility has caused great pain and accelerated my learning.
Thank god for Yee's support, instead of crushing my confidence she encouraged me. I was so grateful for her. She knows how badly I wanted to leave my job.
The lesson learned for me was:
Change the stop loss strategy, and pick stock more carefully.
I am not experimenting the new algorithmic order entries in TOS software, if it works, I should be good to go.
No matter how good the strategy is, trading stock options is still a risky business.
Thank god for Yee's support, instead of crushing my confidence she encouraged me. I was so grateful for her. She knows how badly I wanted to leave my job.
The lesson learned for me was:
Change the stop loss strategy, and pick stock more carefully.
I am not experimenting the new algorithmic order entries in TOS software, if it works, I should be good to go.
No matter how good the strategy is, trading stock options is still a risky business.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Still stucked in the mud
Since the day that all my trades were stopped out, I have been in a sideway trend. Actually on a slow down trend. Maybe I should stay away. Today I was very close to get back on par ($4,000) but could not make it. I went to have a 5 mins talk with a guy and everything went the wrong ways for me. My Bear positions went up and my Bull positions went down.
What a day! I am totally wasted and emotional about all these. Seems like every time I got upset about someone or something by trading decisions went bad. Of course I had my exits defined before I trade, but I got so impatient that I did not follow my predetermined exit. I just wanted OUT.
It is difficult for me to be in a place which I don't belong everyday. It is really getting to my nerves.
What a day! I am totally wasted and emotional about all these. Seems like every time I got upset about someone or something by trading decisions went bad. Of course I had my exits defined before I trade, but I got so impatient that I did not follow my predetermined exit. I just wanted OUT.
It is difficult for me to be in a place which I don't belong everyday. It is really getting to my nerves.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Week July 1
RIG: going up, price target 110 by end of the week
SLB: watch it when it breaks the flag, bull flag
NOV: good entry for a 1 or 2 dollar
SU:
BTU: head and shoulder, retested the resistance, good entry point
BOOM: good entry if the ascending triangle pattern holds
ANF: Bear, re-tested 73, good entry
ESV: entry when it breaks 62.5 on the up side, ascending triangle
NE: resistance at 100, get a couple and leave
KMT: enter when it breaks 82.5
CRS: descending triangle, bear when it breaks below 130
MER: good bear entry
BAC, Bear entry when it breaks below 49
MS, Bear entry when it breaks below 82.5
SLB: watch it when it breaks the flag, bull flag
NOV: good entry for a 1 or 2 dollar
SU:
BTU: head and shoulder, retested the resistance, good entry point
BOOM: good entry if the ascending triangle pattern holds
ANF: Bear, re-tested 73, good entry
ESV: entry when it breaks 62.5 on the up side, ascending triangle
NE: resistance at 100, get a couple and leave
KMT: enter when it breaks 82.5
CRS: descending triangle, bear when it breaks below 130
MER: good bear entry
BAC, Bear entry when it breaks below 49
MS, Bear entry when it breaks below 82.5
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Parents week out
Markkus has been under the weather this week. He threw up in the middle of the night Wednesday morning. Since then he just lay on the couch, he has not jumped from the kangaroo house nor asking me to go around the house with him.
We feel so sad every time we see him so weak. We've been giving him anything he wants as long as it doesn't upset his stomach. We tried to hold him but his stomach bothers him so much he needs to sleep on his tummy.
Lucky for him, he had only one bad day of diarrheas. Last time he had this similar bug, he had diarrheas for a few days and lost 10% of his weight.
Hope God has mercy on him and let him get well soon.
We feel so sad every time we see him so weak. We've been giving him anything he wants as long as it doesn't upset his stomach. We tried to hold him but his stomach bothers him so much he needs to sleep on his tummy.
Lucky for him, he had only one bad day of diarrheas. Last time he had this similar bug, he had diarrheas for a few days and lost 10% of his weight.
Hope God has mercy on him and let him get well soon.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
We are blessed!
Well it is confirmed, even the doctor's test has shown positive for us being pregnant.
The home test was on Wednesday (June 13, 2007) and the doctor's confirmation on Thursday (June 14, 2007)
Yee already made an appointment with Dr. DaVolio on July 18 :)
Funny how things work out so easily, when.........drum rolls......you follow God's plan.
The home test was on Wednesday (June 13, 2007) and the doctor's confirmation on Thursday (June 14, 2007)
Yee already made an appointment with Dr. DaVolio on July 18 :)
Funny how things work out so easily, when.........drum rolls......you follow God's plan.
Plan for the week of 2007-06-18
We had a very good week and I have done some homework over the weekend.
Thanks a lot for my wife's support!
Thanks a lot for my wife's support!
Plan 2007-06-18
X
if higher than 117.5,
Jul 120 C, up to 3 contracts
NOV
will continue to go up this week
DO
watch it takes off for a few points this week after it crosses $100, it should be no hesitation
CRDN
cash in for a couple $ of upside this week
MA
cash in for a couple of $ of upside this week
XOM,
3 white soldiers, upside momentum strong, may gain a few points this week.
MDR
may hang on to the top of the channel for a couple of days before returning to 80
FLR
Dragon fly doji, should take off, check if the candle confirms, enter by the end of Monday
CLF
Momentum is higher, should have a couple of points upside this week, but watch out if it hesitate
CAM
should go down for two days and bounce back after it gets close to MA(20)
FCX
consolidate this week, and returns to $80, then takes off again
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Dynasty! Spurs
Another great victory for the Spurs, I like them, I am actually beginning to love them.
The class, the professionalism and the team cohesiveness. Well coached, well made team!
If I netted over $200 tomorrow, I may consider buying a Spurs baseball cap. Go Spurs!
The class, the professionalism and the team cohesiveness. Well coached, well made team!
If I netted over $200 tomorrow, I may consider buying a Spurs baseball cap. Go Spurs!
Don't Dont' Don't
Well GS failed me again. I had a good ride from $3.6 to $5.55 until yesterday. But today it PLUNGED! I've got stopped out, but it is at 0.45 no where close to break even. Lesson learned, easy money is on the ride, but too much risk is to carry it over the earnings. I should have learned it last time with ANF. Sounds like I will make another mistake like this.
RIG hesitated, so I close it. I got in MTW which was very good to me last time. Funny I am more patient this time around. SLB and NOV did well so I am more or less break even today. ESI plunged 5 pts and I got stopped out again, it was good. At least I was protected.
I looked at the charts and like DE very much, as soon as it breaks 120 resistance, I will get a contract, hey I may get 2 contracts.
Don't want to own any bearish position because it is tough to goes against the trend and long term puts are expensive, it would tie up too much of my cash, being so little. Learned a good lesson with KMX.
Triple witching tomorrow? Means a lot of money will be liquidated, let's see what will happen.
RIG hesitated, so I close it. I got in MTW which was very good to me last time. Funny I am more patient this time around. SLB and NOV did well so I am more or less break even today. ESI plunged 5 pts and I got stopped out again, it was good. At least I was protected.
I looked at the charts and like DE very much, as soon as it breaks 120 resistance, I will get a contract, hey I may get 2 contracts.
Don't want to own any bearish position because it is tough to goes against the trend and long term puts are expensive, it would tie up too much of my cash, being so little. Learned a good lesson with KMX.
Triple witching tomorrow? Means a lot of money will be liquidated, let's see what will happen.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Big Turn around
I have learned my lessons over the last few days, a big loss of a day, then turn to red the next morning and a big gain for the day. Finally lost all my profit on Monday. I talked to Yee and we both agree that I should go back to my old profitable way.
What is my old way, a collection of short term options that are move than 30 days before expiration. One time I had 11 positions! Each of them churn out little bit for me and my account was once at 6.5k which is 70% gain in 2 weeks.
I was so proud of myself yesterday when I looked at SLB and hesitated, something was not right. I buy options when the stocks is going higher, I don't usually but them when they are going down, because I don't know where the bottom is.
SLB has been performing for me, and I consulted the coach from Investools. He said it looks mighty fine too. I guess maybe he has some positions. But before I click, it did not feel right. Therefore I let it go. Instead I sold a Bear Call 115/120 on X, I know full well that I won't go very $115 by June 15. And got the 230 Call on GS.
Today I saw SLB broke the old resistance at 80.5 in the morning I clicked and got TWO July contract. I felt so good, seems like all the stars a lined up for the next SLB run.
GS finally turned some profit for me, I don't know why I am sticking with it.
Bought back the Bear Call on X when it is dangerously close to 115, it looks like everyone is nice and happy again and the market should rally for a couple days. So I close the position and made $90.
Without a lot of analysis and deep thoughts, I did most experts did. I hedged the market but entering a Bullish and Bearish position. I watched as the market goes up, GS goes up and the X spread goes down and vice versa.
Don't know what the earnings will be for GS, but if it goes to 220 again and returned to an uptrend, I will definitely get bullish again with it.
What is my old way, a collection of short term options that are move than 30 days before expiration. One time I had 11 positions! Each of them churn out little bit for me and my account was once at 6.5k which is 70% gain in 2 weeks.
I was so proud of myself yesterday when I looked at SLB and hesitated, something was not right. I buy options when the stocks is going higher, I don't usually but them when they are going down, because I don't know where the bottom is.
SLB has been performing for me, and I consulted the coach from Investools. He said it looks mighty fine too. I guess maybe he has some positions. But before I click, it did not feel right. Therefore I let it go. Instead I sold a Bear Call 115/120 on X, I know full well that I won't go very $115 by June 15. And got the 230 Call on GS.
Today I saw SLB broke the old resistance at 80.5 in the morning I clicked and got TWO July contract. I felt so good, seems like all the stars a lined up for the next SLB run.
GS finally turned some profit for me, I don't know why I am sticking with it.
Bought back the Bear Call on X when it is dangerously close to 115, it looks like everyone is nice and happy again and the market should rally for a couple days. So I close the position and made $90.
Without a lot of analysis and deep thoughts, I did most experts did. I hedged the market but entering a Bullish and Bearish position. I watched as the market goes up, GS goes up and the X spread goes down and vice versa.
Don't know what the earnings will be for GS, but if it goes to 220 again and returned to an uptrend, I will definitely get bullish again with it.
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