Trading For Tannins: This Week's Wins & Losses

NOTICE TO READERS: The content in this post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or legal advice. The trades listed below are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security. Trading stocks and options involves substantial risk of capital loss, so always do your own research before investing. I am not a licensed financial advisor. I’m not qualified to answer questions regarding trades, strategies or general stock trading. To protect operational privacy, I also do not disclose the brokers, platforms or software used to manage my portfolio.

🍷 WHEN STOCK TRADING BECOMES A REWARDING JOB

My daily routine has changed in ways I never anticipated once I took stock trading seriously. From the moment I rise at six until the market closes at one, I work an estimated three cumulative hours managing my portfolio. Once that closing bell rings, I’m free to enjoy the rest of my day — as I should with any part-time “job” where I’m the boss. 

The portfolio’s valuation rose 9% above its baseline due to my recent successes. To fairly compensate myself, I’ve transferred most of those gains into my checking account — enough to cover THREE wine country getaways. Meanwhile, I’ve retained the rest in my portfolio so it can withstand the ebb and flow of holding dividend stocks long-term.

Now that I’ve covered my “paycheck”, we must review…

📝 ROBZILLA’S RULES: MY CORE TRADING PHILOSOPHY

For new and existing readers, here’s the updated rules that govern how I manage my portfolio positions:

The Targets: I buy and hold a position with the goal of securing a 5% or greater gain when executing a sale. My weekly goal is to grow my portfolio’s valuation by 2% or more.

The Reality Check: The market never guarantees a return. There’s always a risk an executed sale results in a gain below my goal, or worse yet, a direct loss of capital.

The Capital: My portfolio represents a small fraction of my net worth. These trades are an additional, potential revenue stream to complement my core, long-term investments.

The Opportunity Cost: I accept the possibility I’ll miss out on greater gains when I sell a position that meets or exceeds my 5% target.

The Compensation: Any amount over the portfolio’s baseline value is considered a distributable profit. I will sweep most of these profits into my checking account every other week to “pay” myself, while the rest preserves the portfolio’s baseline value. 

Now that you know how I roll, let’s review this week’s win and losses.

🏦 THIS WEEK’S TRADING ACTIVITY

To maintain strict personal privacy, all individual share quantities and raw dollar values are omitted. Instead, allocations are tracked conceptually by entry targets and realized percentage gains. Please note, I held SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) on three separate occasions this week, and Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) twice.

PORTFOLIO PURCHASES (BUYS)

SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) | On Monday morning, I used a new (to me) investing tool to acquire shares before the opening bell. You can read about my experiences later in this post.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) | I deployed two tranches to take advantage of Monday’s opening bell dip.

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) | Similar to DKS, I made two partial capital allocations during Monday’s trading session. 

SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) | Tuesday’s early morning downturn resulted in an irresistible entry point, then I deployed additional capital during Power Hour.

Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) | Tuesday’s dip produced an ideal entry point, and I’ll tell you all about that roller coaster ride in a bit.

Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE) | I added a fourth dividend stock on Wednesday to complete my portfolio’s defensive position. 

SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) | I couldn’t resist a pre-market dip during Thursday’s watchlist review.

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) | Effectively replaced PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP) as part of my portfolio’s dividend defensive position.

Ulta Beauty Inc (NASDAQ:ULTA) | I waited patiently for my desired entry point throughout Thursday’s trading session, then executed my trade.

Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) | Re-established this position Friday morning in anticipation of next Thursday’s earnings call.

Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL) | After I realized the stock has pricing resistance above my desired target, I executed a trade during Friday’s Power Hour.

Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:BBY) | A less volatile replacement for Ford (NYSE:F) within my portfolio’s dividend defensive position.

PORTFOLIO LIQUIDATIONS (SELLS)

Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) | -3.6% loss | Monday’s downturn triggered my stop-loss order to execute my exit. 

SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) | +4.4% gain | I rode the momentum of a strong Tuesday pre-market surge, then exited when it stagnated after the opening bell. 

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) | -4% loss | Tuesday’s business news triggered my stop-limit order to prevent further capital erosion. 

Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) | +13.4% gain | A Wednesday pre-market surge allowed me to pocket a huge gain.

SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) | +5.2% gain | I also pocketed this gain before Wednesday’s opening bell.

Cisco Solutions (NASDAQ:CSCO) | Nominal gain | I exited a stagnant investment midday Wednesday to free up capital.

PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP) | +3.6% gain | I executed three separate transactions during Wednesday’s trading session to lock in gains.

Dick’s Sporing Goods (NYSE:DKS) | -3.1% loss | Exited the stock during Wednesday’s Power Hour to preserve capital.

Ford (NYSE:F) | -3.9% loss | I trimmed this position to rebalance the risk in my dividend defense position.

Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) | Nominal gain | Similar to F, this was also a risk rebalancing. 

SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) | +5.2% gain | I pocketed this gain shortly after Thursday’s opening bell.

Ford (NYSE:F) | Nominal loss | This trade frees up capital for its eventual replacement within my dividend defensive position.

🎶 AFTER HOURS: EVERYBODY’S HOLDING FOR THE WEEKEND…

As Loverboy’s anthem with alternate lyrics suited for stock traders plays in my head, I currently hold the following open positions as of Friday’s closing bell:

• Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO)
• Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE)
• Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL)
• Ulta Beauty Inc (NASDAQ:ULTA)
• Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL)
• Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL)
• Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:BBY)

🛠️ SANDISK: HOW A NEW (TO ME) TRADING TOOL PRODUCED GAINS

An animal rummaging through a neighbor’s trash can stirred me awake well before sunrise Monday morning. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I logged onto my trading platform and quoted SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK). Its pre-market bid price was too high for my tastes, so I submitted my first extended hours limit order at my target entry point. I attempted to go back to sleep, but a phone alert forty-five minutes later confirmed my order was executed. 

As I sipped my morning coffee at six thirty sharp, I waited patiently as SNDK surged after the opening bell. Once it showed signs of stagnation, I made my exit and pocketed a +4.4% gain. 

This is the perfect lead-in for…

🦈 MARVELL TECHNOLOGY INC: THE ONE THAT DIDN’T GET AWAY

Over the weekend, I was convinced I found a winner in Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) but the market had other plans Monday morning. MRVL’s pre-market bid price surged well above my desired entry point and refused to budge all day. Rather than chase momentum, I pivoted and grabbed Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) and Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) instead.

Tuesday morning’s panic over global bond yields and oil prices sent the broader market over a cliff. I patiently monitored MRVL’s chart until the bleeding stopped, then deployed my allotted capital across two separate orders spaced an hour apart. My patience was rewarded with an average cost basis well below my original target.

I intended to hold MRVL until their August 27th earnings call, but the market forced my hand. During Wednesday’s pre-market portfolio review, MRVL skyrocketed on breaking news Google secured a massive custom AI chip and warrant deal with the company. I made a hasty exit and pocketed an unexpected +13.4% gain.

And now, another (hopefully) graceful exit…

🍽️ A CLOSING THOUGHT: THE AI SECTOR’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET

Lately, headlines are screaming about an imminent autumn crash for the AI trade. Personally, I frequently trade SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) because its price action mirrors Qualcomm’s (NASDAQ:QCOMM) legendary 1999 run — fueled by sky-high analyst targets and an army of momentum speculators. 

But all macro cycles eventually end. It’s only a matter of time before these high-flying AI hardware plays fall out of favor. 

And when they do? So what? 

The market always moves on. Mega-cap indexes like the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are just aggregate scores of thousands of daily cross-currents. Whether the broad market closes green or red, there will always be a list of winners and losers.

My job isn’t to marry the sector. It’s to trade the volatility.

A Random Getaway Photo

 
Now that I'm traveling again, I've become reacquainted with Wahoo's Fish Tacos. This spicy fish taco platter with brown rice and citrus slaw was my scrumptious dinner last night. I only wish I had one of these a lot closer to Le Crash Pad so I could eat there weekly.

Monday Morning Musings

🤔 WHAT’S ON MY MIND?

The term Return on Time Invested (ROTI). Over the weekend I gave this space Blogger’s equivalent of a BBL after I took a good, hard look at my favorite hobbies: 

Stock trading: My portfolio’s +21.45% Pretax YTD return is outperforming both the Dow Jones (+15.19%) and the S&P 500 (+14.54%), undeniable proof I should take this more seriously.

Writing: The only viable publisher for my sci-fi romance novel is Kindle Direct. Given the current literary landscape, I can’t fathom how I’d make enough in royalties to afford a proper Cabernet Sauvignon.

From an ROTI perspective, stock trading wins hands down. It offers explosive potential for immediate cash flow while my long-term investments continue to do their own thing in the background. Outside of blogging, my writing days are likely over.

🧳WHERE I’VE BEEN

I visited my buddy Jared. My diamond earrings were inspected as required per my lifetime repairs package and there were no issues. I casually looked at watches as I waited, and if it weren’t for the fact I love the ones I already have I would’ve brought one home.

🛍️ WHAT I BOUGHT

The Porch Gods delivered this Anker 140-watt charging station. It rapidly charges my Switch and Samsung tablet simultaneously, and the popup outlets can handle the Surface Pro 11. When paired with optional 100-watt Anker USB-C charging cables it’s the perfect travel companion.

🚙 WHERE I’M GOING

It’s time to pack for another three day/two night wine country getaway! My modest (in size only) wine fridge is nearly full, so there’s no need to shop for reds or whites this trip. When I’m not dining out or monitoring the stock market, I’ll likely pass the time relaxing on a West Elm trundle sofa in air conditioned comfort.

📺 WHAT I WATCHED

The Padres are now hitting their stride, and soon a handful of front line players will return from injury. They're back in the wild card hunt, but can they also catch the Dodgers? I don’t know but it’ll be fun to watch them try — assuming I’m near my TV or tablet when the game’s on.

📚 WHAT I'M READING

I’m wading through Imitation, Volume 9 but that’s not a dig. Most manga volumes run between 150 to 180 pages, but this Korean manwha routinely clocks in at around 300 pages. I tend to immerse myself into the story, so finishing a volume within two reading sessions is impossible.

🎧 WHAT I LISTENED TO

Once in awhile YouTube unearths a hidden gem, and on Saturday night its algorithm gave me Fastway’s “All Fired Up” music video. Even though jet powered, mutated Plymouth ‘Cudas have long since vanished from the drag racing scene, I loved watching them get “all fired up” as they lined up and raced during their song.

🍷 WHAT I PAIRED LAST NIGHT

A 2022 Callaway Special Selection Zinfadel with an Italian sausage sauceless pasta. I made two servings, so guess what I’m having for leftovers tonight?

🏅 THE ANDY BURNHAM AWARD GOES TO…

Dictator Gavin Newsom. His Temu Shinkansen is going bankrupt before it ever departs a station, his wife’s diaper deal stinks like someone ate too much protein and if we need a new car in 2035 our only choices are EVs. Now this wanker has embraced socialism while our state’s homeless population explodes and teenagers use social media to arrange “takeovers” — a fancy term for a crime spree. 

California dreaming? It's more like a nightmare.

🤜🏼 WHO DESERVES A FIST BUMP

Next month’s Suzuka 1000k endurance race. The entry list reads like a who's who of international road racing and Japan’s Super GT. I’m crossing my fingers the race will be streamed gratis on GT World’s YouTube channel.

📋 WHAT I’M PLANNING

Tackling my Nintendo Switch game backlog. I played Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy for the first time this week, and with the latest software updates I can play them hassle free during my upcoming trip. I also have titles like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1&2 and WRC 8 waiting in the wings.

😀 WHAT MADE ME SMILE

The second season of Reincarnated As A Sword debuts on HIDIVE in October. LFG!!!

Trading For Tannins: This Week's Wins & Losses

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post is not financial advice and is for educational and tracking purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. The trades listed below are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Trading involves significant risk and you can lose money. Always do your own research before investing. Please note that I will not answer questions regarding trades, strategies, or general stock trading. Those questions should always be handled by a licensed financial advisor.

🍷 CELEBRATING A GREEN WEEK

I’m grateful whenever the stars align with my market moves. While I’ll never disclose actual dollar amounts for my gains and losses, I’ll confess this week’s profit taking would’ve comfortably covered two separate three day/two night wine country getaways. (Complete with hotel accommodations, meals and four bottle of premium wine, too!)

More importantly, this week’s activity served as a flawless live demonstration of my core philosophy in action.

• Strategic Reallocation: A series of transactions successfully reallocated capital from a single defensive stock into three unrelated industries, drastically strengthening my portfolio’s backbone. 
• Capital Protection: Another tactical exit allowed me to pocket a nominal gain on a position that experienced a sharp dip immediately following its purchase.
• Loss-Free Execution: Although only three trades resulted in a 5% or greater gain I didn’t incur any losses. 

Regardless of the dollar amount, making money on every sale is the kind of trading week I strive for.

📝 MY CORE TRADING PHILOSOPHY

For new and existing readers, here are the rules that govern how I manage my account positions:

• The Target: I buy and hold a position with the goal of securing a 5% or greater gain before executing a sale.
• The Reality Check: The market never guarantees a return. There’s always a risk an executed sale may generate a gain below my goal, or worse yet, a direct loss of capital.
• The Capital: My trading account represents a small fraction of my net worth. These trades serve as a potential additional revenue stream to complement my other long-term investments.
• The Opportunity Cost: The possibility exists that I can miss out on even greater gains when I execute a sale that meets or exceeds my 5% target.

No human can perfectly time the market — not even me. All I can do is manage my entry and exit points and accept the outcomes. Now that you know how I roll, let’s review this week’s win and losses.

🏦 TRADES EXECUTED THIS WEEK

To maintain strict personal privacy, all individual share quantities and raw dollar values are omitted. Instead, allocations are tracked conceptually by entry targets and realized percentage gains.

Portfolio Purchases (Buys)

• Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) | Acquired during a midday dip ahead of their quarterly earnings announcement.
• PepsiCo (PEP) | A defensive dividend addition to complement my earlier Verizon (VZ) purchase.
• Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG) | I doubled my allocation at a lower price point, which  slightly lowered my cost basis.
• Ford (F) | Added a third defensive pillar to my portfolio.
• Cisco Systems (CSCO) | I found an agreeable entry point following a post-earnings dip.
• Salesforce (CRM) | Similar to LITE, I executed this trade during a midday dip ahead of their quarterly earnings announcement.
• Altria Group Inc (MO) | Replaced Verizon (VZ) as part of my defensive strategy.

Portfolio Liquidations (Sells)

• Verizon (VZ), Batch #1 | +2.5% gain | Trimmed 40% of my total position to free up liquid capital.
• Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) | +6.6% gain | Capitalized on a strong post-earnings momentum bounce.
• Western Digital (WDC) | Nominal Gain | A capital protection exit following an immediate post-purchase dip.
• SanDisk (SNDK) | +5.6% gain | Profit-taking triggered by a broader AI sector momentum surge.
• Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG) | Nominal Gain | A capital protection exit after flat, sideways price action.
• Verizon (VZ), Batch #2 | +3.8% gain | A secondary trim of my holdings to secure profits.
• PepsiCo (PEP) | +2.3% gain | Strategically trimmed my position to free up liquid capital.
• Verizon (VZ), Final Batch | +5.1% gain | Pocketed an unexpected gain midday today.

💡 MY PORTFOLIO STRATEGY: BALANCING THE DIVIDEND BACKBONE

Relying on a steady stream of dividend income is a prudent strategy, but true resilience requires spreading the risk. For example, if a sudden downturn in one sector occurs, other sectors are typically insulated from the shock waves. I now anchor my portfolio with Ford (F), PepsiCo (PEP) and Altria Group Inc (MO) but these defensive adjustments came at a cost. 

• Tax Implications: The liquidations of PEP and VZ shares will incur short-term capital gains taxes.
• Missed Dividends: Because I executed the sells before the companies’ official Ex-Dividend Dates, I do not qualify for dividends on those liquidated shares.

I can’t complain when I now hold stakes in three blue-chip giants whose reliable dividend streams can be reinvested every quarter.

🔔 AFTER HOURS

I currently hold the following open positions as we head into the weekend:

• PepsiCo (PEP)
• Ford (F)
• Cisco Systems (CSCO)
• Salesforce (CRM)
• Altria Group Inc (MO)

🚌 A LESSON LEARNED: AUTOMATED RISK MANAGEMENT

This week marked a major milestone in my trading mechanics when I learned how to place a Sell Stop-Limit order immediately after a trade acquisition to mitigate potential losses.

This tool would’ve made my week a lot less stressful if I had known about this before I bought Western Digital (WDC). Immediately after it’s purchase the price dipped over 5% below my cost basis. Luckily I dodged a bullet when the stock recovered a few sessions later. The moment I realized I could break even, I executed a sale that resulted in a nominal gain.

To ensure this never happens again, I submitted my very first stop-limit orders after buying Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Salesforce (CRM) this morning. If the price dips below a certain dollar amount below my cost basis, an automatic sale will trigger. Now I can execute trades without losing sleep over unforeseen dips.

🤔 A NOT SO RANDOM THOUGHT: MOVING FROM GOOD TO GREAT

While I had a great trading week, I acknowledge I can do better. My overall performance isn’t a concern but I want to deliver more consistent results. 

If I publicly admit I have an affinity for stock trading, then I must also confess a little luck played a role in my wins ever since I traded my first stock years ago. To completely remove luck from the equation I’m actively focusing on three core pillars:

• Read charts properly to spot high-probability entries.
• Understanding market trends rather than fighting against them.
• Anticipate external hazards that can erode market capitalization in real time.

I don’t want to be “good” at this. I want to build a strategy great enough so I’ll never return to the cube farm.

Monday Morning Musings

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

A birthday. Esmae turned 25 over the weekend and I made a special dinner for “us” Saturday night. More on that later…

WHERE I’VE BEEN

It’s no secret I enjoyed a two night stay in Temecula Valley last week but I cannot confirm or deny the rumor my mail is now forwarded to the hotel. 

WHERE I’M GOING

I’m running low on Olio Santo EVOO. Perhaps I’ll grace Williams Sonoma with my presence soon?

WHAT I WATCHED

After a three month break Super GT was back in action at Fuji Speedway. Although my favorite teams fared poorly it was still an enjoyable race to watch on Racer+.

WHAT I READ

While I was on the road I picked up and finished the latest Writer’s Digest issue. I don’t recall reading anything else during the week.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

For unknown reasons I listened to The Eagles Greatest Hits while traveling through Temecula’s rural parts. They sure don’t make music like that anymore.

WHAT I ATE ON THE ROAD

I felt daring when I ordered the pickled watermelon and pineapple salad at Meritage. When paired with a Wild Yeast Muscat Canelli it was delightfully chaotic. The wine was either agreeable or had its various fruit notes drawn to the forefront depending on what was on your fork. I really want to eat this again soon.

WHAT I ATE AT HOME

For Esmae’s birthday I improvised due to the heat and humidity. I pan fried a seasoned one pound boneless rib eye then diced it into cubes so I’d have leftovers for Sunday night. The steak and side dishes paired wonderfully with a glass of 2017 Callaway OPR Red. 

When you add the cost of a red velvet cake slice this was an $85 home cooked birthday meal. Ara ara!

THE ANDY BURNHAM AWARD GOES TO…

The WNBA. You know it’s a reality TV dumpster fire when you can watch a race war, a gender identity war and live basketball without changing the channel. 

Dishonorable mention: The greedy fuckers at the end of the block that built at least five ADU units without off street parking have ordered exterior siding. We’re now officially one step closer to a crowded street.

WHO DESERVES A FIST BUMP

I was very pleased with the service everywhere I visited during my trip. Perhaps it’s the city’s small town vibe? A sign I need to take a permanent vacation from ADU Hell aka San Diego?

WHAT I’M PLANNING

This trip made me realize I need to travel more often. I’ve already booked two more Temecula Valley stays for September, including for my upcoming birthday.

WHAT MADE ME SMILE

The heat is supposed to ease in a few days, and I’ll be on the road again in another week. I might even make a few sales this week per my prior post.

Trading For Tannins: This Week's Wins & Losses

 

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post is not financial advice and is for educational and tracking purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. The trades listed below are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Trading involves significant risk and you can lose money. Always do your own research before investing. Please note that I will not answer questions about my trades, strategies, or general stock trading. Please consult a licensed financial advisor. 

I could easily tell you what happened during my latest winery adventure, but I thought I’d do something a little different and give you a peek behind the curtain. I often cite how my trading profits finance my wine club purchases, accommodations and dining but the truth is I’m not living some fake, glamorous life. Stock trading is boring, and sometimes it can be very stressful. While I do well for myself, the reality is I take at least one L for every win.

This past week, I only made a net gain of 0.47% due to my own hubris. I made a big gain on one stock right out of the gate and then I took a few chances I shouldn’t have. At least what I ended up with paid for the wines shown above, and my hope is three stocks I’m holding might pay off next week.

WHAT I BOUGHT

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) @ $243.72. 

• Purchased a few days before their earnings release.

Suja Life (SUJA) @ $6.63. 

• This stock fell 60% intra day, and I thought it could rebound.

Verizon (VZ) @ $46.02. 

• Added to hold a dividend stock in my portfolio.

SanDisk (SNDK) @ $1,286.68. 

• Liked the entry point after the AI sector dropped.

Western Digital (WDC) @ $454.08. 

• Capitalized on the recent tech sector volatility.

Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG) @ $222.22. 

• Purchased ahead of next week’s earnings release. Its annual dividend yield also makes it a compelling hold in my portfolio.

WHAT I SOLD

Caterpillar (CAT) @ $928. 

• Pocketed an unexpected 14.6% gain.

Apple (AAPL) @ $302.76. 

• The gain was enough to pay for a vending machine soda.

Suja Life (SUJA) @ $6.28. 

• Exited after the stock lost 5% of its value.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) @ $237.78. 

• Sold at a 2.44% loss after today’s earnings release after dropping 5% from purchase.

WHAT I’M HOLDING (FOR NOW)

Verizon (VZ)

SanDisk (SNDK)

Western Digital (WDC)

Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG)

My strategy: My current plans for SNDK and WDC are to hold them until I can secure a 5% or greater profit from a future sale. SPG could also be sold under the same conditions, but I’m inclined to hold it and collect the dividends if its price falls. 

Now that I’ve gotten this off my mind, I could use a glass of wine. The only question is which bottle should I open this weekend?

Monday Morning Musings

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

A new round of edits. When I used Gemini to create rough drafts of a query letter and a synopsis, I realized I need to edit my manuscript further. Sci-fi romance novels are typically between 70,000 and 90,000 words and my word count is currently about 95,000. A handful of scenes need further editing for a greater impact on the story, and once that's done I'll need to get this beast tamed to 80,000 words.

WHERE I’VE BEEN

Besides the one day getaway I went nowhere this week, but don’t feel sorry for me because…

WHERE I’M GOING

I leave for a wine club pickup disguised as a two day “writer’s retreat” tomorrow afternoon. I’ll dine out for three of my five meals, and I hope to spend a fair amount of time editing the manuscript while I’m up there.

WHAT I WATCHED

I tried watching The Dangers Of My Heart movie and then realized halfway through it’s a compilation of the first two seasons of the anime. I checked out shortly afterward.

WHAT I READ

An old issue of Writer’s Digest, plus the latest Palm Springs Life and Wine Enthusiast issues. I’m also about halfway through the latest High School DxD volume.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

KSDS Jazz 88.3, our local but internationally renowned jazz station. I had no idea 206 different countries have streamed this station to date!

WHAT I ATE

It was too hot to pair anything with a properly cooked dinner so here’s a picture of Saturday morning’s veggie omelet. I paired it with a cup of Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend coffee.

THE ANDY BURNHAM AWARD GOES TO…

MLB. Money can’t buy happiness but it can sure buy World Series championships. Those wankers need a salary cap ASAP or else they might as well leave the trophy in La-La-Land.

Dishonorable mention: Bolt Man. I waited a few days to read his follow up texts. Rather than apologizing for spoiling my vacation and disrespecting me, that wanker continued to explain why he's right. I responded by quietly deleting my messaging account.

WHO DESERVES A FIST BUMP

The staff at SpringHill Suites. Although I’ve been away for several months most of the friendly, familiar staff is still there and remembers me.

WHAT I’M PLANNING

I don’t think these round of edits will take me two months but I hope to have them completed by mid-September.

WHAT MADE ME SMILE

My investments are doing well enough to absorb the impact of the recent auto maintenance and repairs.

With the heat wave behind us I’m taking Miku up north this time. I look forward to dropping her top when I drive to and from the restaurants.

Unlike Dr. Fauci...

... I will ignore the advice of any counsel and refuse to shut the f*ck up. 

Okay. That's my political joke for the day. I've got a few things on my mind before it melts during the new heat advisory/warning that was just issued this morning.

My usual hotel replaced the flooring in the first floor suites. This was a welcome surprise since we all know carpet keeps a room hotter during the summer months. The AC was at a constant 72 degrees but in hindsight I should've lowered it to 69 or 70 at night to match the outdoor temperature at sunrise.

I'll get another chance to do so next week. I've made arrangements to stay in one room if I book a separate reservation for an additional day. That's exactly what I did upon my return home. Next week I have a two night stay instead of one, and one of those evenings is already paid for via accumulated points.

***

My mini vacation turned out to be a working one. I stumbled upon a defense company called Parsons Corp due to their stock (PSN) tumbled by 35% to 40% on Tuesday morning. Ara ara!

I did a little research and it turned out the market was unhappy that it lost a huge defense contract. The company's financials were otherwise sound. I took a flier on their stock before I left for my trip, but only 10% of the total worth of my stock trading account rather than the customary 25%.

I sold the stock this morning for a 5.4% gain. The proceeds nearly pay for the extra night I just booked. 

***

Yesterday Caterpillar's (CAT) tumbled roughly 6% due to one analyst downgraded their stock. I bought the dip since this blue chip company will announce their quarterly earnings next week. I feel it's a good candidate to rebound either short term or long term, so I'm happy to hang onto it for a little while.

I also picked up Pulmonx (LUNG) as both a short term bet and as a curiosity. It's my first "penny" stock but I do see some upside. If you or someone you know has COPD, then you're likely familiar with this company's equipment and products. 

I only invested about 7% of my account into it. If it tanks it's a loss that will offset my recent gains. If it continues to climb, then I hope to make 10% off my investment.

I can't help but wonder if I've stumbled upon a side hustle by doing this stock trading.

***

Finally, here's what I really want to get off my chest. Bolt Man really pissed me off during my mini vacation. I don't like to use the term TDS, but lately he's been lashing out over Orange Foolius. 

He often clashes with Bert over this, and during my trip it was my turn to feel his angst. I won't give the blow by blow account of what was said Tuesday evening but I'll say this: 

• He feels people like me are criminals because we avoid paying taxes. I pay both foreign and domestic taxes and comply with IRS rules regarding foreign investments and tax credits.
• He says I don't need Social Security. I paid into the system every year from age sixteen up until my retirement, and the government has confirmed I'm entitled to my fair share of FDR's legalized Ponzi scheme once I turn 62. 
• He's leaning into socialism. My father highly likely killed Commies in Korea and Vietnam so you already know how I feel about Communism with other people's money.

I ignored all of his texts yesterday and I'll continue to do so until I discuss this at length with Bert. I'm unsure if I'll continue to remain friends with Bolt Man, but one thing our spat confirmed is that I should never consider having him as a future roommate. His intolerance of opposing views is not welcome, especially if I end up buying a home or condo in the near future.

Sorry for this mini rant, but I needed to let this one out so I can move on with my Thursday.

Monday Morning Musings

 

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

An impromptu road trip. I’ve had enough of this f*cking humidity and heat, so over the weekend I booked an overnight stay in Temecula Valley for tomorrow night. It’ll give me a chance to adapt to traveling again and break in this no frills Oral-B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush and an aftermarket travel case. Sadly, there's no wineries or fine dining adventures on my itinerary. I just want to be in air conditioned environments for a twenty-four hour period before I endure the next heat wave.

WHERE I’VE BEEN

The dealership. The car maintenance and repairs are complete, and both Miku and Artoria are ready for travel. 

WHERE I’M GOING

It’s time for my teeth cleaning at the dentist, followed by a stop at the bank for a small stash of $5 bills. I have housekeeping and the older lady who runs the breakfast buffet to take care of.

WHAT I WATCHED

Republican Governor candidate Steve Hilton created some humorous AI generated campaign ads but my favorite is the not so funny one where he sews a torn California flag back together before raising it on a flagpole. 

WHAT I READ

I can’t believe A Couple of Cuckoos has reached volume thirty and yet it’s still entertaining to read. This volume ended with quite the plot twist, and now I have to wait a couple of months to see what happens next.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

I listened to Guns ‘N Roses’s Use Your Illusion II on Artoria’s stereo the other day. It’s been a very long time since I’ve heard “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” or “Estranged”.

WHAT I ATE

I baked a breaded salmon for dinner Sunday night, but sadly it was too hot and humid to pair it with a wine. Maybe I’ll open a bottle upon my return home.

THE ANDY BURNHAM AWARD GOES TO…

Spectrum. They sent me a text informing me my Internet download speed was bumped up to 1 GB and that I wouldn’t need to do anything else. What they didn’t tell me is that my bill would also go up $12 a month. 

I could shake them down for a cheaper rate but the reality is they or any competitor would want me to sign a 12-month contract I may not be able to honor due to a possible future home or condo purchase. I’ll let this one go but they’re still a bunch of wankers for "upselling".

WHO DESERVES A FIST BUMP

Marriott. They’ve kept their hotel rates reasonably priced despite tariffs, inflation, or any other excuse businesses have to charge more for goods and services.

WHAT I’M PLANNING

An extended break after completing a long journey. 11.5 months, 6 rounds of edits and 95,000 words later I have a dark romance novel ready for publication. I’ll wait until mid-August before I work on the  synopsis and the query letter.

WHAT MADE ME SMILE

On Thursday I sold my AT&T (T) stock for a 4.5% gain. When you add in the yet to be received quarterly dividend the total gain exceeds 6%. That will pay for all three of my hotel bookings over the next four weeks.

Miku's Glow Up

 
I dropped Miku off at the dealership yesterday believing she would be ready for pickup on Monday afternoon. So imagine my surprise when I awoke this morning to a text telling me she'd be ready within a few hours. 

I knew the Union Jack print was going to look freaking fantastic on her. As much as I wanted to drop the top on the drive home, I was advised not to do it for at least three days. The fabric needs to stretch for a bit longer. Considering I'm enduring another heat wave and we have an even more brutal one to go about six days from now, I'm more than happy to test out Miku's air conditioning system in the interim.

But once it's time for me to head to Temecula Valley...