Stoplight's Account Talk

[Stoplight]

Okay, so I sold some more UVXY, but I'm STILL way in the hole overall on THAT stinkin' trade...and we won't even TALK about NUGT ! I just need to bite the bullet on those, and start fresh...I HAVE been working on trading UVXY, and I got my losses down to ~ -8% on that one...

Anyway, with my overall moves, my portfolio currently looks like this (as of COB), according to my trusty Quicken allocation graph :

Domestic Bonds 30.6%
Large cap 27.7%
Cash 17.7%
Other 10.0%
Small cap 7.5%
International stocks 6.5%

I am seriously thinking of picking up some Disney and Apple, since they are both on sale...it wouldn't be a long-term buy-and-hold, but maybe just 'till we go into the end of year.

Comments ?


Stoplight...

 

[weatherweenie]

Those are pretty cool pix !!! I assume that's Machu Picchu ??? Did you do that death-defying climb to the top of the peak, where you have to sign in and out of the climb ??? We've decided it ain't for us ! If the Kid wants to do it, we'll wait for her !

We are signed up/paid for the climb up Machu Picchu Mountain/Montana, the higher, less traveled peak across the was from Huaynu Picchu.

 

[Stoplight]

We are signed up/paid for the climb up Machu Picchu Mountain/Montana, the higher, less traveled peak across the was from Huaynu Picchu.

WW,

You're braver (and in better shape !) than WE are !!!

So I mentioned the Kid doing some scary stuff...this week, she and some of her high school kids were going up into the Amazon, to do mission work of some sort, in a place known for human trafficking and prostitution :worried: Lo and behold, we got an email from her today, from some "...random place with wi-fi", as she put it. It appears she flew into Ciudad de Iquitos, but I'm not sure if that's where they are working....

Here's a pic of the Amazon :









....and here she is with some of the locals...I LOVE this picture !!!






Keep her in your thoughts and prayers....Thanks !!!



Stoplight...

 

[konakathy]

Stoplight - *(the pictures are posting sideways, don't know why)

Ciudad de Iquitos is the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon Jungle and the only way to get to the city is by plane. The main mode of transportation throughout the city is either by motorcycle or tri wheeler motorcycle. The picture below is of the Main Street with all the shops and restaurants that lead to the main square and the boat launches to go down the Amazon River.



I was there in the beginning of December and some people were out shopping for their Christmas trees. I never saw a green tree, but plenty of very colorful ones.

 

[konakathy]

This is where I caught the boat (small one on the left) to go to the lodge I stayed at in the jungle.





Just some pictures of the people in their daily life living on the Amazon River.


.

 

[Stoplight]

KK,

Thanks for sharing those pictures, even IF some of them posted sideways ! I was surprised to read that Ciudad de Iquitos was NOT accessible by highway, only plane or boat !!! ...and it's NOT a small town !!!


BTW...not having children myself, a relative emailed me and noted : "Your "surrogate Dad" lessons are progressing nicely...scary, ain't it ??? "


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

...I am seriously thinking of picking up some Disney and Apple, since they are both on sale...it wouldn't be a long-term buy-and-hold, but maybe just 'till we go into the end of year.

Comments ?


Stoplight...

Well, since nobody talked me out of it :

Bought some AAPL and DIS today...pulled the trigger a little TOO early, as the markdowns continue today !

"Buy the dips !" I just hope I'm not a dip ! :smile:


Stoplight...

 

[konakathy]

KK,

Thanks for sharing those pictures, even IF some of them posted sideways ! I was surprised to read that Ciudad de Iquitos was NOT accessible by highway, only plane or boat !!! ...and it's NOT a small town !!!


BTW...not having children myself, a relative emailed me and noted : "Your "surrogate Dad" lessons are progressing nicely...scary, ain't it ??? "


Stoplight...

Visiting that region of Peru was one of the highlights of my 3 week trip. The people were so welcoming and friendly, especially in the jungle villages. Don't worry your "surrogate Dad" little head about Sonja, she will be just fine. I'm sure she will have enjoyed her visit and will make a difference in those children's lives. She's in good hands.

You and WW should be getting excited;your trips are just around the corner. I KNOW you guys will have an adventure you'll never forget. I can't wait to my next adventure. I have my travel brochures spread out on my desk just waiting for me to pick a destination.

Safe travels to you and WW !! Salud !

Iquitos, World’s Largest City That Cannot Be Reached by Road | Amusing Planet

 

[PessOptimist]

Stoplight, the photos weren't really sideways. You see, Peru is in the southern hemisphere and we are half way between the equinox and the solstice so of course they would be...it gets kind of complicated. Kind of cool they are in the central time zone for skyping or whatever.

I love the photos and descriptions. Thanks.

PO

 

[jpcavin]

Okay, so I sold some more UVXY, but I'm STILL way in the hole overall on THAT stinkin' trade...and we won't even TALK about NUGT ! I just need to bite the bullet on those, and start fresh...I HAVE been working on trading UVXY, and I got my losses down to ~ -8% on that one...

Anyway, with my overall moves, my portfolio currently looks like this (as of COB), according to my trusty Quicken allocation graph :

Domestic Bonds 30.6%
Large cap 27.7%
Cash 17.7%
Other 10.0%
Small cap 7.5%
International stocks 6.5%

I am seriously thinking of picking up some Disney and Apple, since they are both on sale...it wouldn't be a long-term buy-and-hold, but maybe just 'till we go into the end of year.

Comments ?


Stoplight...

Alaska Air has been a gold mine.

 

[Stoplight]

Alaska Air has been a gold mine.

JP,

BAD PUN ALERT !!!

Yeah, every sector has its rogue stock...unfortunately, I've been in shipping stocks, for some reason...not the airlines, rails, or truckers.... ISH was the clunker...

OTOH , my CMRE is in the overall black on ROI, AND pays ~ 7% dividend, and although my TAL stock price is WAY down, it's still paying ~ 8% dividend against my cost basis. :smile: I'll continue to hold those 2 for now...

Thanks for stopping by ! Hope all is well over there on the home front ! :smile:


Stoplight...

 

[jpcavin]

JP,

BAD PUN ALERT !!!

Yeah, every sector has its rogue stock...unfortunately, I've been in shipping stocks, for some reason...not the airlines, rails, or truckers.... ISH was the clunker...

OTOH , my CMRE is in the overall black on ROI, AND pays ~ 7% dividend, and although my TAL stock price is WAY down, it's still paying ~ 8% dividend against my cost basis. :smile: I'll continue to hold those 2 for now...

Thanks for stopping by ! Hope all is well over there on the home front ! :smile:


Stoplight...

Yeah, I thought about mentioning the unintentional pun but thought I'd be nice and just let it go. Doing well my friend. Enjoy!

 

[Stoplight]

So the Kid is back in Lima...She sent me a short note last night...We're glad to hear she made it "home" safely !!!

Today she sent us a link to her blog post, with pictures, about her week...OMG !!!

"Hey guys,

Here is a little update on where I was the last week. I am working on an email with more pictures for family.


An Amazonian Perspective | Grace Reaching





Hope you enjoy reading!! Love!"



I LOVE her comment (and the pic !) of her in a tribal dance !!! Now I don't feel so bad that she's taller than me !!!


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

So the Kid has now added a "gallery" of pix she took in the Amazon on her side trip !

This one's for you, Kona !

Amazon Trip | Grace Reaching


Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Well, since nobody talked me out of it :

Bought some AAPL and DIS today...pulled the trigger a little TOO early, as the markdowns continue today !

"Buy the dips !" I just hope I'm not a dip ! :smile:


Stoplight...

GEEZ !!! Looks like I AM a dip !!!

My "buy-and-hold" stocks took a severe beating today...the only ones in the green between the Wife's and my accounts ???

Brooks Automation (BRKS)
TAL International (TAL)
Seagate Technology (STX)

Two techs, and a transport...go figure !!!


OTOH ? My strategy is still working...trading some "mad money", short term, with a subscription service, and buying stocks/funds paying dividends... Even after withdrawing > $70K after my retirement in 2012, we're STILL $21K ahead of our balance in the accounts, at retirement...no worries (yet !) :smile:



Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

GEEZ !!!

I go away on "vacation" for a few days, and the market turns whacko !!!

Gonna take me a while to dechiper my positions, and decide what to do next !!!

"Looks like I picked a bad day to give up drinking !"


OTOH...final payment on our Peru trip went through ; we're now locked and loaded !!!

The Kid sent a long email to us tonight, about what we might want to do in Lima, while we're there...I think she's MORE excited than WE are about this whole trip !!! That's cool...

QUALITY TIME spent with Brother, and 14 other Family Members at dinner, Monday night ! WHAT A BLAST to see these "extended/blended Families" interacting so POSITIVE together !!!

Depressing day spent with Brother and 90 year old Mother Tuesday...her short term memory is shot, but she told us (several times !) the name of the Guy who she went to her High School Senior Prom with (1943 ???) !!!

I'm SURE lot's of y'all have experienced the same thing...but it's still is a downer, to me...

"It is, what it is...."



Stoplight...

 

[PessOptimist]

Sad but a fact of life Stoplight. Last time I saw my father he thought I was his younger brother. Big downer. I was not able to be there when he finally passed but my daughter who was said something like "the man who died was no longer my grampa or you father.

Enjoy your trip!

PO

 

[Stoplight]

Sad but a fact of life Stoplight. Last time I saw my father he thought I was his younger brother. Big downer. I was not able to be there when he finally passed but my daughter who was said something like "the man who died was no longer my grampa or you father.

Enjoy your trip!

PO

VERY true !!!

Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Yeah, I know...All y'all are tired of reading about my "Family", and the Kid !!!

OTOH, some here want to know what's going on !!! So just move along, if you don't want to hear this stuff !!!

So now that our Peru trip is getting closer, we've been in a flurry of emails with the Kid re: what we're gonna do during the 4 days we are with her in Lima...Here's one she sent us, that cracked us up !!!

"I'm picking you up [at the airport]. You will go through a customs scanner and there will be a big door. I will be there, a tall blonde, among many short Peruvians."

I suspect we won't have trouble picking her out !!!

More : "Lunch and Dinner: I am paying the cook downstairs (Maxi) for some meals for you guys. I will just bring it upstairs and you guys can eat in my apartment. She has her own food business out of the house so it isn’t a problem to just add a couple more meals. She generally cooks authentic food so I thought you guys would like to try some of the local food. If not, I can cook whatever you’d like.

Friday : My apartment will be open to you to relax in or organize your things. You will be staying in a room (with a bathroom) on the floor below me, but my apartment is yours. That night there is an Anniversary program at the school, if my students win the music competition they will be in it, but even if it not, I am still required to go anyway. You guys are more than welcome to come if you’d like. There will be songs and speeches in both English and Spanish, but it might be kind of boring. Its up to you.

Monday: I have class starting at 8:30 until 12, with one class later in the afternoon (Mondays are my super easy day). Once again, you are super welcome to come to my class at 10:20-11:50 (4th grade) and help out or just observe. Up to you.

Monday night just chill and prepare for this incredible trip."

Cool stuff !!!

Soooo...Saturday and Sunday, we've developed a list of things we're going to see in Lima together...some of them, she's already seen, but it'll be fun having a local "Tour Guide", and just hanging with her !

Sounds like she's ready for us...maybe !!! We're definitely going to the School program Friday night, and visit her 4th grade class Monday ! Right up the Wife's alley, as a retired 4th grade Teacher !!!


Stoplight...

 

[PessOptimist]

Sounds like great plans! So much for the kids lesson plan for her class on Monday:laugh:

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

PO