No Job? No Problem...Another Day Another Option!

Today my purpose is to share what I am doing right now to earn an income which may or may not work for me or someone else. It possibly might point out an income option that many people who are down on their luck right now/or not, might want to consider for themselves. Don't dismiss it as "too risky" until you check it out for yourself. In my opinion there is nothing riskier than being totally dependent on someone else, be it an employer, a pension, or the government, for your entire sustenance. Anyway I will begin sharing what I am doing right now to earn cash as food for thought and/or for entertainment value. If someone has a sincere question about what I'm doing they are more than welcome to post a question and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability or point you to a better opinion than mine.

Sharing daily what and how I am trading stocks and options with the hope of encouraging anyone who might be in need of a way to make some cash is my intent. IMO everyone idealy should start their own small business and to my mind a trading business if successful would be ideal. You can start with only a small amount of money. $500 would probably do nicely. How many small home businesses can you start with just $500, not have employees, major office expenses, etc.? My expenses consist only of internet, computer, Investors.com subscription ($28) and whatever commissions and taxes I must pay. It's great if you can use money it won't kill you to lose but if you're desperate you're desperate! Been there done that. We have to make use of our opportunities. What difference if we go broke this week or a month from now? And you might just turn things around and become well off financially. It's not the end of the world either way. If one simply puts his/her whole-hearted trust in the Lord Jesus instead of this world or one's own abilities, one can even face death with joy and hope. Take it from someone who knows.

Here's what I have done so far: Opened a trading account with an online discount broker like a Scottrade or an OptionsXpress (anyone can virtual trade free with OptionsXpress. To get a feel for the trading business, just open an account for free and begin using the Virtual Trading, under the Toolbox tab. If you like trading and think it's for you then you can fund your account later or go someplace else to open an account). I then signed up with Investors.com http://research.investors.com/ for their 30 day free trial (it's $28 per month ever after). After the market closes I can go to the "Stocks on the Move" screen. There I can easily find all the largest % Volume Change stocks listed along with a handy dandy chart of each stock. I look for stocks that have broken out on heavy volume from a flatish rectangle range formation (look for bars that you can draw a flat rectangle around) of at least 20 days or longer . I place a market order before the open to buy/sell the stock, or (this is my own innovation) a put or call option contract on the stock depending on the direction up or down the stock is breaking out. My goal is to make a 5% gain on the stock's move or 6% loss before getting out. Avoid stocks that have already moved more than 6% away from the rectangle range. I learned this strategy from the Chartman, Gary B. Smith, when he was writing for The Street.com years ago. His winning percentage was 80% using this simple strategy. So far I have done that well trading cautiously due to my inexperience.

Another strategy I have been pursuing using the largest % Volume Change stocks mentioned above is to look for breakaway gaps on heavy volume. These have been working well, also. A book I like that talks about this sort of trading is High Octane Trading by Steve Wirrick. He tells about breakaway gaps on pg. 247.

May 1st I traded the HUM (Humana) breakaway gap on heavy volume by buying May $82.50 put option contracts for $1.95 and sold them last week for $4.42 cuz I was chicken and wanted to bag a profit. However according to Wirrick's book I could have waited (and probably should have) today those same puts are worth over $8. The rule on these gaps are the stock will move the same distance as the wide part of the triangle range the stock was moving in prior to the breakout. Maybe as I get more practiced I will get smarter! However I more than doubled my money and that is good enough for me right now. Greed can get a trader into trouble, but so can fear.

Monday of this week I traded the ACOM (Ancestry.com) breakaway gap/island gap (very bearish according to Wirrick) on heavy volume by buying the June $25 put option contracts for $3.50 when the stock was at $22.44. Just like HUM, ACOM proceeded to go back up (nail biting time) before it has finally headed back down the last 3 days (whew!). Today those puts are in the money as I write, with the stock at $21.30 making the puts worth $4.20 so far. I have a $7 limit order to sell them when the options hit $7. The wide part of the triangle formation this stock was moving in is $13 in width so the stock should move down $13 to about $10 before it stops. If I get brave I may try to ride this one to that level rather than chickening. We will see.

Goals of these posts is to share my failures and successes with others in case they might be of encouragement/entertainment to others who might be in need of an idea or two as to how to make some quick cash (hopefully we will not lose it, but no guarantees I guess). Feel free to ask honest questions about what I'm doing and why.

New Do It Yourself RV Skirting Easy As Pie

I Did It Myself!

I bought an RV skirt kit from EZ-Snap and put on my RV skirt myself. It was actually very easy. However, I did not buy the clips to hold the skirt down to a pvc pipe frame. I weighted the skirt down using 4x4 lumber. But we had 90+ mph wind gusts for a couple of days this week, including today, and as a result some of the snaps holding the skirt on popped off when the skirt escaped the 4x4's and began flapping in the breeze. I knew the skirt was going to be a work in progress so I ordered more snaps (I used the 3M stick on snaps as I hesitate to put holes in my RV and am not that handy besides). Also ordered the clips to hold the skirt onto a 3/4" pvc pipe frame. Now am waiting for them to arrive and plan to head to town to pick up some pvc pipe and bends (to make nice corners with). Will post some pictures when I'm done. Until the big winds came this week the skirt was doing great even with some 50 mph winds earlier. But the 90 mph gusts were too much for my 4x4 lumber weight system. Here's a link to the EZ-Snap Direct website http://www.ezsnapdirect.com/products/rv-skirting There is even a video that shows how to install the skirt on your RV, including the pvc pipe anchor system. I have not had a freeze-up since installing the RV skirt which is rated to -40.

RV Stats And Info On Wintering In Wyoming

After losing Lucky last fall, I adopted Lucky's Charm from Pet Pals, Inc. of Goshen County where I volunteer. Charm had been tossed out to survive as best she could along a busy Colorado Highway. She has been a total joy. It was a miracle that she survived her ordeal. Now she is a loved member of my little RV family where she gets to RV everyday.

Winter RVing in Hawk Springs, Wyoming this year has been a great experience. The temperatures have been to -22 with lots of icy wind. Have stayed very toasty. In freezing tempatures which begin for real every October I fill my water tank and use water only from there. It is too cold in this country to leave a hose attached to a hydrant. We had a frozen water line that comes out of the RV water tank, that froze only when temperatures got below -11! I have an idea that a hair dryer hose shoved down the waterline opening into the basement will solve that problem next year. Will turn it on low only when the temperatures fall below zero. That should solve the problem with the frozen line. Otherwise it has been terrific and inconveniences have proved to be blessings in disguise.

A case in point was the furnace failing back in October. Larry York fixed it by replacing the motor and found that the old motor blades were rubbing against a divider in the compartment. The way they build some of these RV's is pretty shoddy! My RV is no exception there. Now that Larry corrected the placement of the motor fan, the furnace works quietly and much more effectively. Used the catalytic heater, the Wave 8000, all the time I was furnaceless and it kept us quite cozy. We used a cermic disc heater to supplement on colder evenings. I used one in the basement on low all winter and one in the living room to even out the heat whether using the furnace or the Wave 8000. Worked great and we were always comfortable even in 40 below wind chill weather.

The fridge ceased to work well after being at -20 for a few days. So, I learned to close off a couple of the exterior vents at the back of the fridge compartment (the fridge access door on the exterior of the RV). It has worked well ever since. Lesson learned. In winter close off some of the air exchange from the outside. Leave one of the vents open though. I covered two of the three openings with duct tape. The icecream is solid again.

My heat blankets on the holding tanks have kept everything pretty liquid so have had no problems dumping holding tanks.

As long as the temperatures are above 10 I like to use the Wave 8000 inside because it is efficient, and quiet. I don't worry about cracking a window in the RV because there is plenty of air exchange in here. They do not build these things tight. We have had no problems leaving everything shut up and the Wave 8000 running even on high. Of course the furnace is great in cold weather. I just set it on about 78 and the temperatures never fall below 71 in here before the thermostat kicks it back on. It has been very comfortable. Since fall we have used about 400 gallons of propane in approximately 5 months time.

The bracket holding the RV steps broke. And even though Larry replaced the bracket the bolt holding the bracket came loose from the frame and is stripped. It simply turns and you can't get to it to change anything. Oh the stories I could tell.... Even so nothing has been insurmountable and the lifestyle of living wherever I want whenever I want makes it all worthwhile. Now that I have lived successfully for a winter in Wyoming I am happy. I love living in Wyoming and hated the thought of not being able to reside here year round. It certainly is doable, even in an RV like mine that probably is not the best one out there. Last fall the Yorks and I piled hay bales around the bottom of the RV to skirt it and that has helped with heat retention. I wasn't sure I wanted to buy a skirt for it but I think one would be worth the expense in cold country. Skirting the RV with bales did not entirely block the wind out but it did slow it down. There are a few gaps here and there for Jack Frost to squeeze through. We have had no problems with mice from the hay bales. I'm sure having kitties inside has made a difference there. They make quick work of any foolish mouse that dare enter. Have only had a total of approximately 10 days when our water line was actually frozen. It did no harm and as soon as the weather warmed above zero the lines eventually thawed out with no problems. We used water out of our collapsible water containers on those waterless days.

Have really come to appreciate the macerator pump this winter. Can pump out my holding tanks with ease through a garden hose directly into the septic system 50' away. The macerator pump will pump upwards of 200 ft., and probably a lot further when necessary,through a garden hose. When I was parked further from the septic system last summer I successfully used my blue boy tank to cart my holding tank contents over to the septic system. I just pumped my tanks up into the blue boy which I sat at the tailgate end of the pickup bed. It was simple to just run it over to the septic and let it drain out quickly using the big sewer hose. Either way the macerator pump makes emptying holding tanks a breeze.

Have been volunteering at Pet Pals, Inc. of Goshen County, where I help take care of the fabulous Purr Palace. It is a wonderful cat colony where upwards of 30+ puddy tats range free indoors and out. The facility is fully heated except for the outdoor cat-safe enclosed yard.

Lucky - 2000 to 2010

Lucky was my co-pilot

Lucky, a Pet Pals volunteer, enjoying the pool perks

Lucky waits patiently, without being leashed, for me to finish my painting.

Lucky at Christmas wearing the Santa Hat.

We have been summering at Pet Pals, Inc. of Goshen County, http://www.petpalsshelter.com/homepage.html a no-kill pet rescue. Lucky, my Border Collie, and I helped take care of the Purr Palace together where 40 wonderful cats reside all together in a superb colony. Lucky's job was to play with the kitties while I did the sweeping up. The cats have so enjoyed him and loved to crowd around him as he made their bird toys twitter and tweet.

It has been a bittersweet summer because Lucky developed lymphoma this spring after being in remission for nearly five years. Unfortunately he collapsed and succumbed to the pain on September 12th and it was my decision to free him from the final misery that very day. I wrote the following as a memorial to him. Anyone who has loved a dog, and especially a Border Collie, can probably relate.

My Lucky Dog

Dumped, abused, starved and frightened, eating ice to stay alive, coat flea infested and full of burrs, you made the hard decision to trust me that February day nine years ago. What a lucky day that was for me. I had discovered a Player of Ball par excellence. What a joy to play ball with you. How could I have known that nearly all troubles could be forgotten by playing a game of ball except that you showed me? How grand every day became as soon as our game of ball began.

You never left my side wherever we went and we were rarely separated since you were the official office dog and so well-behaved. You learned to trust and love people as the big gruff construction men tenderly made over you every day. I could always count on you to obey and be there for me. You understood so much of what I said. Even rough days were richer because of your unwavering devotion.

How I loved having you riding in my co-pilot seat. What a true companion you were who could go anywhere with me without a leash! Trustworthy Border Collie boy.

You were the only one there for me when my beloved dad was dying. Waiting patiently for me to take a break from his bedside so we could walk together in the sunshine and let the Good Lord comfort me through your kind presence. You alone were there to drive home with me from the funeral and be my comforter.

You were always there for me as we traveled and hiked. I said goodbye to you just yesterday as your spirit flew away from me. Awesome gift. I love you, Lucky. Oh to kiss that soft pink and white spot on your nose once more. I still see the graceful swish of your gorgeous tail as you sashayed proudly back to me, ball in your mouth, joy in your eyes, ready for me to throw it again.

At Christmas you patiently wore a santa hat and were my ambassador as we passed out Gospel tracts downtown. How many were willing to take and read of God's good news because of your sweet appeal? ...Many. Beloved friend. Surely the Lord will not deny us Heaven together in our mansion above? Romans 8:32 promises you to me once again.

Who will eat the ice cubes now that you are gone?

Royal Gorgeous

Teton Bugling Elk, a true monarch of the forest, Painting by Dani Ellis, that's me, the painter that is!

The Royal Gorge of Colorado is certainly a sight worth seeing. The Canyon is really rugged and beautiful. This is a shot taken down river from the famous Royal Gorge Bridge, the world's highest suspension bridge.

Just East of the bridge looking down at the Arkansas River.

The famous Royal Gorge suspension bridge which you can walk across or even drive across if you have the nerve. Not me, nuh uh! Funny how heights never used to bother me when I was a kid. Now that I'm an old lady I feel like I'm being pulled over the edge. However I have crossed suspension bridges over canyons and felt that way until I walked back and forth over them several times and that feeling of vertigo went away. I just didn't want to pay the $25 bucks to get into the park so I could walk over the bridge. Drove Joy up the other entrance too and it's a pretty drive over a very low maintenance back road that you don't want to take an RV over. Saw plenty of big RV's and big Class A motorhomes with toads coming in the main entrance without any problem and they have big rig parking at the amusement park area.

Lake Pueblo State Park, CO

Alas this painting is not of Lake Pueblo, but of Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park. I love to do paintings with water in them like this one.

Lake Pueblo has its own kind of rugged beauty. Joy and Whimsy, my hard pulling teamette, are parked with electrical hookups at Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado this week. Not only is there a magnificent reservoir of vast blue water, a nice marina, but there are also some great trails to hike. You can wear yourselves and your dogs, bikes or horses out walking or riding up and down the bluffs that surround the entire lake.

I love beautiful rimrocks like these. They show so clearly where the waters of Noah's Great Flood wore at the newly pushed up mountains and land, leaving perfectly horizontal rims on all the rocks and soft sloping sediment piled around their base, as it drained away.Lest you doubt Noah's great flood occurred just as the Bible describes check this out the photos and discovery of the Ark on the mountains of Ararat: http://viewzone2.com/noahx.html Gotta love the scent of the Pinon Pines and Junipers, too. Each night the moon rises in a clear sky above these rocks as we sit by the campfire counting the stars. It is just breathtaking. The nights are balmy and relatively bug free. Sure beats TV.

Doesn't that blue water look refreshing on a hot summer day?

Capulin Volcano National Monument, NM, and Lathrop State Park, CO

What a delightful winter spent in New Mexico. First year I haven't felt frozen during the winter. Tucumcari was just right. Wanted to be on just the edge of winter so there would be no crowds but not so cold we couldn't stay cozy in our mobile cabin. However winds blew with a fury starting in April and we finally got out at the end of May when the temperatures soared to 110. Stopped for the weekend at Lake Conchas, 30 miles NW of Tucumcari. Stayed in the Corp of Engineers campground there. No hookups. Was down and dirty boondocking. Gave my solar panels their first workout. Found out there is a lot I don't know about solar and how to conserve. Still was able to run lights, watch the tube, run fans, run the computer etc.. Was lovely there right on the lake. There was a sailboat anchored in the cove below us. I was the only camper in that campground. It was very peaceful and HOT. So we pushed on to Las Vegas. Stayed in the KOA. Wanted AC as the weather was hot, then on to Ratan. East of Ratan is The Capulin Volcano National Monument which is really worth the short trip to see it and to hike around the crater and lava beds. See Pictures directly above.

Now we are further north at Lathrop State Park in Colorado. Just west of Walsenburg. Gorgeous mountain scenery here. Pictures are above the volcano pictures. Inspired me to paint again so started today. Painted "Mauve Evening" just to get back into practice. Top. It is breezy daytimes but the temperatures are mid 80's and nights probably 60's or 70. Very nice. The park has a dump, water hydrants every few campsites and 50 amp power! Very nice. My dogs enjoy watching Mom paint at the picnic table while they lay in the shade.