I'm a Day Trader

In between copy decks and brainstorms...I'm gonna make a million. All monopoly money of course, but the pride of winning will still be there. You see, at work we started this fantasy pool to kind of get into the spirit of stocks. Works for me. I'm learning loads about the market and the US financial world (hey, I might even be able to tell you what an IRA is soon! Surprisingly...it's not a terrorist organization).

SO what are Lisa's Stock Picks? Well...I did:
- WPP (gotta put some of your own skin in the game I say)
- Starbucks (cause with the recent "close all the stores and fix stuff up" I thought that might impact the "market" as well - see, I'm already TALKING like I know what I'm doing)
- CN Railroad (this is really just a Canuck pride thing. Good old CN...chug chug chugin' in more dough!)
- AT&T (that's cause crazy Jim Cramer guy said to buy it...plus they're my cellphone provider, so might as well back a horse I already own...or something like that?)

So there, so far...i'm not TOTALLY in the red (although stats seem to change quite quickly). Will keep you posted. Any stock tips, just add them in the comment section.

Buy low, sell high...how hard can it be?
Talk soon
LisaC

The Ying & Yang of ChiTown

Weekend with folks in windy city...awesome. Getting home...NOT awesome! In a nutshell I:

- Missed my outgoing flight (seriously, got there just in time to see the plane pulling back. All that it needed was the dramatic film score. So frustrating! This after I sprinted from the air train, threw my entire body down the security screening belt to eliminate taking my shoes off AND ran through the terminals like a crazy person (How did I miss my flight? Well two letters...NJ. Yep, New Jersey Transit screwed me! The train sat in Penn Station WITH the doors closed, for 45 minutes. Nice!

So that's going out...come back. Just as Fubar'd. You see, if you miss your outgoing flight, your return portion is equally toast. So I had to pay ANOTHER $100 and then the only flight I could get was 9AM on Monday (getting me in around noon - but of course we all know how LaGuardia goes...so I got in closer to 1. Lovely!)

Oh, but I'm missing the best part...I had to buy a whole OTHER ticket to get out Thursday night. You see, there was a massive snowstorm Friday morning (knowledge I was keenly aware of thanks to my Mom's obsession with the Weather Network). So if I was going to the Chi, I had to get oughta Newark TONIGHT!

Thankfully (and probably the only time I'll be grateful for a seat on American Airlines) they had one spot open, so I grabbed it and voila...2 hours late...I was in Chicago.

And what a doll, Rich even waiting patiently at the terminal for me...playing his Nintendo DS (thank God for Brain Age!)

So I've been up since 4AM (because I kept trying stand-by for the 6, 7 and 8am flights...yeah, not a great idea. Dad was right, I should have just stayed in bed and then went to O'Hare for my flight. Hindsight I suppose!

I won't lie, I'm half dead, and still at work (although I think now I've actually done a full day!) so I'll get into the specifics of Chicago awesomeness later.

Sorry...not even proofing this post (yes, don't act so shocked...I do read my stuff over...sometimes!) hehehehe

Sleep well...let's hope my apartment is still there, haven't gone home yet. Fingers crossed there are no prostitutes in my bed!

xo
LisaC

Love is in the air

Or at least on the calendar. Happy V-Day everyone (whether you take that as Valentine's, Victory, Venereal Disease...whatever. Celebrate as you wish!) Here's my how number one man proclaims his love to me. Ahhhh Rico, you're the best. Don't ever go changing!



What's the big present? Well, I don't find out till later tonight, so when I know...you'll know. Guesses will be accepted in the comments section!

Have a great one.
xo to ya'll
LisaC

Breaking News - Uno is UNO!!!

Seriously can I predict this stuff or WHAT?! (or maybe, can I find OTHER people on the internet who predict it and then write about it) Yep...Uno is just that, Top Dog at the Westminster Show. Alas, I didn't get a chance to go again last night, but Rico did a very loving play by play on the phone last night. What a peach. I think my favourite part of his commentary is when he was convinced that Uno was giving the stink-eye to all the other puppies when he walked by. Hmmm, interesting!

The Doggies Invade

OMG...funniest thing I think I've done here in NY...go to the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. So wicked!!! Best part is, you get to hang with all the doggies in the back and meet their owners, you can even pet a few of them...if you’re good! Weeee got my K-9 quota for a while (it's tough when I don't get to see my own "show dog" nearly as often as I wish).

I'll post a bunch of pics for ya. Including another Miniature American Eskimo named "Magic." He's Canadian too (from Calgary!) It's like it was destiny. Or wait...I think that was the Dalmatian one row over. Either way. Super coolWarning - the cuteness that is Magic may cause seizures and uncommon squeals of glee.

This was the Eskie that made it to the Best of Breeds...didn't win though, but I think that's cause the Poodles fixed it (oh yeah, another interesting fact...some dog people SERIOUSLY have their hate on for the poodles...the ones around me booed them. SERIOULSY? Why can't we all just bark along?)

Groomage...

Then when I was done watching all the puppies get pampered and groomed the big show started. AWESOME! I think the only thing better than watching a dog show...is watching the PEOPLE who watch a dog show. They're an interesting breed - part Dungeons and Dragons role-players, part Civil-War Re-enactors, part high school nerd. Interesting to say the least!
So yeah, good times for sure. The big winner will be announced tonight (that’s the Best in Show – dude, this is mega…a two-day event). Or as the scalper who sold me my ticket (hey, it’s New York, they’ll scalp tickets for nearly anything) – “It’s like the SuperBowl for Dogs!”
I couldn’t have said it any better! Go Uno (The Beagle Pictured above...pic for Best in Show)

Ruff Ruff

LisaC

The BDE is nearly here

AKA - Best Day Ever. Wait for it...

Rico is flyin' in tomorrow night (and WAY earlier than normal). So if all the stars align he should be landing at 6:45PM (which in LaGuardia time is 9:17PM).

This weekend my friend Calvin is in town (dude, will be wicked to hang out). I haven't spent time with Mr.C since November, so will need to make up for some lost time. What do to...hmm, if only NY wasn't so dull (I kid, I kid).

Other that that, I think tonight is the first day in nearly 4 weeks I'll be able to leave on time...like 5:30...like normal people! UNBELIEVABLE! I don't know what I'll do with all this free time and energy. SERIOUSLY, I better start getting over worked soon, or else I might start planning things to do at night and perhaps (gasp) to have a life!!! (insert dramatic da da dum movie soundtrack here).

Suppose I am trying to better myself. I just signed up for a Mandarin class (no, not the oranges silly) the language! Yeppers, gonna try to babble my way through all those kooky characters. Should be fun (especially since the woman who's teaching the class used to be my advanced French teacher. Huh? It starts next week so will keep you posted...see if I can record myself trying to say hello or something. Although I have a sinking feeling that will take a few weeks!

Happy Thursday all. The BDE is just around the corner!
LisaC

I Play Art Director

Dude...it's CRAZY! Fun...I'm helpin' out my partner...she's nutty swamped, so I offered to make copy edits in layout. And then I went mental. Started updating legal, changing button copy, sidebar stuff. I am a full on, wanna be, photoshop jockey! Black turtle necks and thick plastic rimmed glasses will be coming soon!

It's kind of like when I thought I was a programmer (which consisted of me stealing HTML code and then just updating the stuff between the " ") Yep, I built the internet!

Other stuff...just found out my pal Calvin will be in town this weekend. Kewl. So's Rich. Awesome...could be the BWE - that's Best Weekend Ever!

OMG...need to go home (still playing AD at work). Man, I can't wait till I get to play CD sometime! Neat-a-roonie!

Later
LisaC

Super Duper Tuesday

WOW…lots to catch up on. First, the Giants win in what might be the biggest upset in Super Bowl history (take THAT Mr. Perfect Patriots!) And then today we’re standing on the edge of a historic decision. Man, what a great time to be in America. Compared to this, Canadian politics is as exciting as a re-run of Coronation Street.

I was trying to get the guys here at work to place bets on tonight’s outcome, but we got all confused in the rhetoric – are we basing this on states won or delegates (don’t even ask me what the difference is!) BUT we did find this cool website where you can make your bets online (based on current predictions) RAD! Alas, it’s blocked to US credit cards, and I’m not THAT much of a compulsive gambler that I need to start sending in cheques so I can get in on this “action.”

What else…hmmm, might be some rumblings with Rico’s gig. Will know more later.

Other life news – I found out that Happy is allowed to live in my building (thanks George) so Project Happy Homecoming will commence soon (just gotta find a dog carrier I can shove him under the airplane seat and NOT feel like the worst pet owner ever!)

The folks are off to Hawaii (lucky bastards) I mentioned I could easily grab a flight and join them…funny, I never heard anything back?

And work wise…well…I just do too darn much of it. (le sigh) President’s weekend is coming up and a wee long weekend in ChiTown, so at least got some vacay time to look forward to!

Hope your Tuesday was Super wherever you are! More election news and general babble tomorrow.

Vote on Patriots!
LisaC

P.S. Can't find the right voting outfit for junior? Check out all the crap that Barney's is selling for the wee Republican or Democrat in your household. Too much!

Booooooooooo

I'm bummed. Going home tomorrow...hopefully.