On Monday, stocks were down and I bought some shares in GLD and an emerging markets ETF (VWO). The GLD ETF purchase was to get in on the precious metals party because I was kicking myself for chickening out in December when it was 60/share (now it's above 66). The emerging markets purchase was to further diversify my retirement holdings. I think the sector is cooling down and the opportunity to make a ridiculous return has passed. Any gains from GLD will counter my crappy bet on the India stock exchange.

I allocated a small amount of play money to my trading account for potentially stupid, risky bets in the market. If I lose the money, it won't hurt my feelings too badly. I'm especially proud of myself for choosing IFN in December, a bet which has lost 20% since in a market that is currently having a party. Yes, I am so skilled that I bought a losing investment in the midst of a bull market. Don't clap too hard, you might hurt your hands. The market's partying full swing, and I'm glad I'm in it, reaping *most* of those gains. One lesson I've learned from my play money is that whenever I make a risky bet, I lose. Sooooo... my next foray is going to be taking a speculative position in some put or call options. I am learning from my derivatives class about how these things work, and the upside potential from options is amazing considering how little one invests. The downside potential is also amazing in that there's a good chance that the speculator will lose her full investment. My plan is to make one $200 bet, and if I lose, that's not so much money that I will go home crying.

Cars
For a work-related trip, the car rental agency gave me a Nissan Altima, and from that experience I found out how much fun it is to drive that car. I guess that is what I am leaning towards once my car is retired to the pizza delivery driver. However, there was much hail falling from the sky last night, and the concern I had for my old car was nil. Very liberating. Also, some crazy lady got ticked off at me for not running a red light so she could run it too, so she tailgated me through Homewood. I responded in kind by stopping my car in the middle of the road, thereby making her even later for her manicure. "Slow driving" is not a part of my vocabulary, so if I'm being tailgated for driving too slowly, then the perpetrator is being recklessly insane. Hence, another liberating factor about driving a piece of crap. I don't care if someone hits it. In fact, if someone causes an accident with my car, the damage done will be far more significant to the other car. Think about that when you try to tussle with someone who drives an old beater. You will be sad when your shiny new Lexus is dented and scratched, and I will drive off not giving a damn about what just happened to my car.

More thought on this leads me to think that what I would enjoy for my next car is an old beater pick-up truck, to continue defying stereotypes about professional career-driven females.