Earnings

Since I started actively trading in December, I had been up around %67 in my portfolio actively trading options.  Heading into yesterday’s Netflix earnings I was at around $3000.  Netflix as a company looks bad, so I was in agreement with the rest of the bears and felt strongly about an earnings miss.  I was so excited (mistake #1, emotionally caught up) about the huge bags of moneys to be made on a dip (mistake #2, greedy), that I try to find anyway possible to get funds so I could play Netflix earnings.  I ended up selling my ZYGNA call options which were doing well prematurely as well as my EWH ETF (mistake #3 & 4, deviating from plan, exiting at wrong time) holdings for the fluid cash.  I ended up with around $900 cash.  So convinced by myself own research & others (mistake #5, following the crowd), I put all that cash into naked puts (mistake #6 & 7, investing too much into one holding, not hedging on a large investment to minimize loses [again, greed at play here]).

Of course, Netflix was spectacular through earnings, and I ended up taking a huge beating on that big mistake.  Luckily, my puts are slightly farther out, so I have some time to recoup.  Netflix will be losing STARZ next month, so we’ll have to see what happens with subscription and all that good stuff.

Current holdings,

I still own BAC which has been doing well since the new year.  I also own QQQ ETF.  These two form the foundation of the portfolio about 2/3 at this current time.  The rest of the 1/3 is for speculative play in options.  I currently have a strangle on SIRI that expires in June.  I also have a naked put on MT (ADR) that expires in Feb.  MT’s been doing well lately and has been hoovering near the resistance, so it should be due for a pull back.  Of course, I am in the 3 painful Netflix puts as well, so a large part of my cash will be tied up in these.

Lesson learned, growing pains is expected, but now it’s time for some damage control.  Looks like it’s still amateur hours over here and will be so for a while.

 

My Daughter is 2 years old

Posting here so I don’t forget, 1st daughter’s skills at age 2:

Language: ~500 words in English/Chinese, 3-5 word sentences, able to respond to most what, where, & who questions. Able to express wants and label 2D & 3D stimuli

Fine Motor: Scribbles with pen, pencil, or crayon with proper force, unable to draw straight lines or circles, unable to do thumbs up or manipulate individual digits, not proficient with zippers, buttons, or clasps.

Gross Motor Skills: Able to run, climb, throw ball (not overhead), kick ball, unable to jump.

Self Help: Able to independently feed self with fork, spoon or hand, drink from cup & water bottle.  Able to wash hands (without soap), able to put on / take off socks and pants, need help with putting on shirt, able to urinate when lead to toilet at regular intervals with reinforcement, poor bladder control, able to sleep independently

Play skills: able to play independently & interactively (taking turns), engages in pretend play, constructive play (with some help in construction), symbolic play.  In a stage between parallel & associative play.

In the Money

I’m finally in the money on my SodaStream (SODA) options after a rocky December with it.  The stock surged up the past couple of days thanks to the company’s announcement of it’s partnership with Kraft.  I decided to end my Jan 21st calls, making only a small net profit at $140 (Grossed $160) today from my investment of $498.  I feel the stock has some potential to make some more gains, but I’ve learned that with options a bird in hand is better.  Plus, after spending the majority of December with my SODA options down $400, I was very glad to get out with a little bit of daylight.  In retrospect, I definitely went into SODA too quickly.  It was actually my first option purchase, and I knew it was a solid stock with potential in the upcoming month.  I made the Jan 21st calls at the strike price of $40 when the stock was at $36; unfortunately, it tumbled all the way to $30 a share the next couple of week.  I am glad that I did not panic sell and trusted in my research.  The profit was small, but I’ll take a +$140 over a -$400 any day of the week.  I think it might make another move up tomorrow to at least $41 and definitely has the potential to hit the $60 that analyst predict by the end of 2012, but I’m out of SODA for now.

On a nice turn of events, being able to sell SODA today allowed me to go in on AAMRQ (the re-release of common stock of American Airlines) that came out today.  The timing was perfect and I was able to grab 1100 shares of AAMRQ at $0.32;  I think once people get a hold of it the stock should quickly shoot up to at least $0.75 – $1.00.  I’ll probably sell half at that time and keep the rest of my position in AAMRQ.  After buying the AAMRQ stocks, which I feel great about, I still have around $300 of cash right now to re-invest; back to the lab.

A side note: I recently read this article on Coca-Cola & Warren Buffet , a really interesting piece.  Buffet makes $12 a second just from dividends from his position in KO, that’s just mind boggling.

The NBA is back!

Grabbed this lot last month:  Auction Link  for $11

1 Month Later.  . . (actually 1 week, seller took forever to get this to me)

a) Traded one of the $1 cards for a $6 card = $3 profit

b) Sold 2 of the Autograph cards for $10 (off ebay – cash) = $8 profit

c) Kept 2 of the cards for my collection (Matt Geiger Autographics approx. $1, Tracy McGrady E-X RC approx. $1-3) = $4 saved

d)Rest of the cards ~14 autos ( ~ projected $11 net) , 16 RC’s (~$4 net) is pure gravy.  : )

The NBA is back and I love it!!

P.S. David Stern is ruining the league by blocking that CP3 trade to the Lakers, what the heck.

The Game

A nice short article:  http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/03/10-amazing-lessons-albert-einstein.html

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” — Albert Einstein

Well said, Einstein.  This is what I’m working on right now in my spare time (the couple hours a day when Aiva’s napping and the late hours at night).  Reading up, learning, doing research.  Made my first call today,  we’ll see how it goes in January.

I’ve been looking into some REIT’s as well and it looks like there are some good opportunities there.  I will go in as soon as I am able to raise a little bit more capital and liquidize some of my current assets (the card business has been slow lately but should pick right up once the NBA starts again).

So time to gain some knowledge, make some mistakes, and build lots of value!

Terrible Blogger

I am a terrible blogger.  I would like to update more regularly but once again I failed.  However, I will not delete and restart again this time around.  So here is a brief update on the past couple of months.

1. I remain unemployed.  Being a stay-at-home dad is nice, but I would much rather work so that my wife can be the one that stays.  Job prospects have been grim, to say the least; my next interview will be in Las Vegas.  I am unsure of what will happen, but I truly believe that God has His plans so I will just have to do my best everyday.
2. My 22 months old daughter is certainly a handful.  She likes to whine because she doesn’t know how good she’s got it.  She definitely has a mind of her own and a vibrant personality; I do wonder what she will be like in the future and what she will end up doing.  My gut feeling is that she will either be very great or very terrible, there is no mediocre with this girl.
3. My Dad was rushed to the ER on Oct 12.  The diagnosis was as follows:  Gall Bladder Stone, “Very Bad” Gall Bladder (rotten/infected), Hole in Colon.  The surgeons discovered the hole in colon during the gall bladder removal surgery.  He was hospitalized for 12 days.  This was the weakest I’ve ever seen my father, and it was difficult to see.  My father has always seemed so strong physically and mentally, so it was difficult to have a glimpse of his mortality.  The day is coming, but it is evident that he has found life eternal in Jesus.  I will see him again no matter what.
4. Speaking of Jesus, the timing of my dad’s hospital even and my unemployment worked out perfectly.  If I was able to obtain a new job this summer, I would not have been able to stay in Las Vegas for as long as I did to help my parents; I don’t know if I would have even been able to step away.  This was probably the time my parents needed me the most in the past 10 years or so, and I was blessed with the freedom to be there for them.  My Mom is  a worrier and a complete nervous wreck even on normal days, my parents do not speak English, my mom does not drive, so God really watched out for us and blessed me with all the time in the world to help them out.  I was in Las Vegas for almost a month.  This was the longest I’ve ever been at home since my freshman year in college.  It’s weird because California feels more like home now.  I get terrible itchy skin conditions in Las Vegas, it’s terrible.
5. Speaking of Jesus (and California), my HOA is a PIMA (pain in my ____).  They will not stop bothering me about the lawn.  I am about to hire someone just to redo the lawn.
6. Stocks have been going up and down lately, more down than up.  I failed to capitalize on MT again since I was in Las Vegas over the Thanksgiving break, it dipped to 15.2 and now it’s back up to around $18.  Hope that it will go down again.  I was also watching BWEN which went from $0.20 all the way to $0.71 in a day last week thanks to Siemens buying some of their windmills, but I am unsure about this one.  AMR, parent of American Airlines dropped like an anchor this week, bankruptcy, I am glad definitely glad I skipped on adding this last month.
7. The NBA Lockout has been killing my basketball card business.  I’m glad it’s finally over though, more for the Fantasy Basketball and the card aspect of it than for watching the games.  Who really have time to sit there for 2+ hours . . .  Go Bulls!
8. Random Note: Republican Candidates for presidents are terrible this year:  Hypocrit, Womanizer, Idiot, and Santorum.  The more I learn about and look into politics, the more I realize how disgusting it is.  America could be so much greater.
9. New pickup:
   

   Finally grabbed this for my collection, usually goes for around $20-25 dlvd, picked it up for $6.00 along with 7+ other autographs, so this is pretty much free 😀 Now, I'm only missing the Bill Russell, Iverson, Bird, Dr. J, and Wilt Chamberlain.

Treasure your parents

This random post from a friend on Facebook really touched my heart, makes me think about my parents, my child, and how I treat my parents at times.  Definitely worthy of a post on Air Less Traveled.

A Letter from “Mom n Dad”…

My child,

When I get old, I hope you understand ‘n have patience with me
In case I break the plate, or spill soup on the table because I’m losing my eyesight, I hope you don’t yell at me.
Older people are sensitive, always having self pity when you yell.
When my hearing gets worse ‘n I can’t hear what you’re saying, I hope you don’t call me ‘Deaf!’
Please repeat what you said or write it down.

I’m sorry, my child.
I’m getting older.
When my knees get weaker, I hope you have the patience to help me get up.
Like how I used to help you while you were little, learning how to walk.
Please bear with me, when I keep repeating myself like a broken record, I hope you just keep listening to me.
Please don’t make fun of me, or get sick of listening to me.

Do you remember when you were little ‘n you wanted a ballon? You repeated yourself over ‘n over until you get what you wanted.
Please also pardon my smell. I smell like an old person.Please don’t force me to shower.
My body is weak.
Old people get sick easily when they’re cold. I hope I don’t gross you out.

Do you remember when you were little? I used to chase you around because you didn’t want to shower.
I hope you can be patient with me when I’m always cranky. It’s all part of getting old.
You’ll understand when you’re older.
‘n if you have spare time, I hope we can talk even for a few minutes.
I’m always all by myself all the time, ‘n have no one to talk to.
I know you’re busy with work.
Even if you’re not interested in my stories, please have time for me.

Do you remember when you were little? I used to listen to your stories about your teddy bear.
When the time comes, ‘n I get ill ‘n bedridden, I hope you have the patience to take care of me.
I’m sorry if I accidentally wet the bed or make a mess.
I hope you have the patience to take care of me during the last few moments of my life.
I’m not going to last much longer, anyway.
When the time of my death comes, I hope you hold my hand ‘n give me strength to face death.

‘n don’t worry..
When I finally meet our creator, I will whisper in his ear to bless you. Because you loved your Mom ‘n Dad.
Thank you so much for your care.
We love you. ! ♥”

Off to see – Part 2

Well . . . .  Bank of America (BAC) certainly failed in the past couple of weeks!  It dipped to around $5 something last week.  I think their decision to charge for debit card use is quite foolish.  Anyway, if I had more capital I would’ve bought more on the dip, but tight budget means lost opportunities.

Speaking of lost opportunities, the second company I had my eyes on was Arcelor Mittal (MT).  I was waiting to buy in at around $15.  It got around $15.50 this week and I hesitated due to my own greed.  I really need  to just trust my instincts and follow my game plan.

Nice new addition

Only 23 in the world, picked up for under low book during 11-12 Lockout 😀

Can not believe I was able to grab this. . .  I had the regular version for a couple years now and never thought I would have had a chance to grab this for an amazing price.  I can probably sell it for at least 5-10x the amount I paid for it to the right buyers.  Of course, I’m keeping it for now though. . . My offsprings just got a little bit richer. 🙂

Off to see the Wizard

I’ve been gaining interest in stocks.  Still a relatively new investor, I’m trying to do as much research as I can.  My mind for stocks is not there.  Right now my retirement portfolio consists of sports cards and several ETFs, and with the market the way it is, I think it’s now a good time to invest.  My first trade is Bank of America; this will likely be a long term investment.  Watching the market and researching some more for my second trade.  I wonder if one day my earthly portfolio will be like this guy’s.  Most likely not, but I will never know unless I try.