Ask away. I'll entertain most questions.

What kind of music do you like?
What's your favorite book?

I like a lot of different types of music, but what I mostly listen to is alternative Christian radio -- the stuff you find on Air 1, groups like Skillet, Kutless, Lifehouse, Overflow, MuteMath, Nicole Nordeman, Natalie Grant, Tammy Trent, The Afters, Jeremy Camp, etc.

I totally love to read, especially inspirational books. My last book order 2 weeks ago was over 50 books. I don't have a favorite book (other than the Bible). But, I only read non-fiction books: stock trading, relationship, health, medical, fitness, finance, parenting, fitness, exercise, psychology, God, are the main things I can think of right now.

Currently reading: Body By God, The Road Less Traveled, Think and Grow Rich, Experience Life magazine, The Street Kid's Guide to Having It All, and a couple Joyce Meyer books.

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an engineer?

When I was 10 yrs old. At that time, I also determined by 40 I would be retired from Engineering. I'm about on track.

I don't know if I've told you this before but I really admire your posts. I know you are extremely concious regarding diet and exercise, taking care of your body. Were you raised this way? If not, what made you decide to take the turn to taking care of yourself & your family this way?

What are you planing to do when you retire from engineering?

Hope

Who inspires you?

What is your favorite body part?

Where do you see yourself 5 yrs from now?

How will you be different in a year from now (older does not count)?

How do you feel about your life right now?

What is your favorite food?

Where do you most want to go to in this world?

Who are your favorite actor and actress?

Do you remember your first kiss?

Do you have any fears and what are your plans to overcome them?

Andiesmama - Thank you. My parents brought us up with a lot of what they considered good foods, but they were more comfort foods -- American and Chinese. My parents owned grocery stores and we had food to the excess. They always believed in cleaning one's plates and we always ate until we were stuffed, hence why I was always overweight growing up (not a lot, but still overweight).

Long story short. Before college, I was such a klutz and was always the last person picked at P.E. When I got to college, I determined I would become good at something. I picked racquetball and very long story short, I had some of the best coaches and became a pretty good racquetball player, going into competitions/tournaments and winning. In college I became obsessed with exercise and that has carried over into pretty much until this year where I was plagued with whacked out hormones and injuries.

I got into other sports and exercise from 18 to 37 like yoga, pilates, martial arts, weightlifting, bodybuilding, cycling, running, swimming, etc. It's a natural high and I like how these things shape the body.

As for the food, from 18-30, I thought I could eat anything as long as I worked out. That wasn't true, but I didn't realize that until about 30. That's when I was introduced to Gwen Shamblin's Weigh Down Workshop. I learned about eating until you're just satisfied, instead of food. I also learned that you don't have to keep eating and just say No. That was a huge breakthrough.

Since then, I've been learning a great deal about food, nutrition, the body. When I was pregnant with Sean (our 2nd) in 2003, I learned I had a heart condition brought on by excessive exercise. They put me on meds during the pregnancy. After it, I refused to be on them. But, because my heart was showing it was getting worse last year, my cardiologist insisted that I take my meds regularly.

Taking nearly 3 months to determine what meds would work and allow me to still function, I went through all sorts of horrible side effects. In the end, I learned it whacked out my hormones.

I've always loved learning, but having health issues has greatly increased my incentive to learn and do well with my exercise and health. Right now, I'm still faced with a lot of challenges, which make it, let's say, interesting.

I was not raised to take control of or be empowered to have good health. My family has been very obsessed with food and still is. They have very excessive and imbalanced lifestyles. I'm learning, especially being married to my husband, to better balance things. Life is so much better and more enjoyable now.

It's been a very interesting journey, but I've learned so much. God has been so good and patient. Hope that answers your questions. Keep them coming.

I will need to answer the other questions a little bit later. Family time right now.

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<shock>

Where are your priorities.... :doh:

Funny Larry.

Who inspires you? I think I wrote this in CF, but I'll make this much shorter as I'm pressed for time again. What's new? I find inspiration from many people, especially people who have overcome great odds to achieve certain things. I'm constantly reading about these type of people who persevere beyond the normal people -- extraordinary people. Those extraordinary people can be people who are ordinary who make choices day in and day out to live a life of excellence. Every day I'm inspired by a number of people.

What is your favorite body part? My brain is my favorite body part. With that, I'm able to make choices about my life -- how I would choose to live, feel, think, etc. I do love the body God gave me and really, there isn't a part I don't like.

Where do you see yourself 5 yrs from now? I see myself retired from engineering, a multi-millionaire, working on my PhD and MD degrees. Our daughter will be 10 and our son 7. We'll be traveling around the world on their breaks from school. Our video production business will have expanded greatly. I should be in excellent health, my hormones balanced, looking a lot younger at 42 than I do at 37, have done at least 1 full triathlon and a marathon, will have donated at least $1M to our church.

How will you be different in a year from now (older does not count)? I should be a millionaire in a year, either to my bodyfat goals or very close to them, retired from engineering, consistently making money in the stock market, my hormones should be getting close to being balanced.

How do you feel about your life right now? I feel awesome, terrific, wonderful, very blessed, very loved in my life right now.

What is your favorite food? Anything natural and healthy.

Where do you most want to go to in this world? Anywhere where I can enjoy my husband & kids in the midst of God's protection and love.

Who are your favorite actor and actress? Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I don't watch a lot of movies, so this is all I can come up with.

Do you remember your first kiss? No.

Do you have any fears and what are your plans to overcome them? I've had many fears in my life. What I'm currently doing to abolish or work with these fears are: listen to Think Right Now CDs, employ EFT (emotional freedom technique) in minor thought areas, in therapy using EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) on bigger thought areas of my life, making better choices in eating, changing how I view & tackle goals/myself/others/situations, decluttering, DOING, taking turtle steps.

What do I plan on doing after engineering? I'm going to take at least a year off to relax and enjoy my family/better do my stock trading and travel. I'll also be preparing for the entrance exams to get into the PhD program. Both my husband and I will be home with our kids. He'll continue to do stock stuff and run our video production company. We plan on expanding that.

Wow, Doris you certainly have a plan!

I never lack for plans and goals. It's spontaneity that challenges me!!!

Are you involved with your church? (Besides sitting in the pew.) What do you do?

I'm the opposite. :(

What is your favorite uncle's middle name?

When was the last time you had a sundae?

When was the last time you sat and watched saturday moring cartoons all morning, and they were all actually entertaining?

What is your favorite cartoon, which member of the cast is your favorite, and what is their "signature thing"?

Lena - I teach 2 & 3 yr olds during 2nd service; participate in Family Life Group weekly; do Mercy Ministry monthly. I also head up/manage the Women's Forum online. That's about all I can handle with all that I have going on. Our church meets in a movie theater.

Ras -

Favorite Uncle's Middle Name - I only have 1 living uncle left. I don't know his middle name, but it's something in Chinese.

Probably the last time I had a sundae was in my 20s.

Sat morning cartoons all morning & entertaining....hmmm...probably when I was before I was 10 yrs old. I don't like watching TV.

My favorite cartoon? I don't really have one. I used to like Dilbert, but he's way too true to life. I can't answer the 2 following questions.

I didn't fair too well with these questions, did I? Eek....this made me realize, I'm just way too serious.

Hey Gutter - Maybe in a different life we can get married and annoy the heck out of each other with our "opposites"? LOL

Here's a question that hasn't been asked....


Do you have a beneficiary? :hug:

Yes, I actually have several beneficiaries and contingency beneficiaries.

We also have a Living Trust and our assets are financially protected in case we both die, one of us dies, etc.

Though, we need to update and do some other things.

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I don't think you have my SSN....can I email it to ya?

How does one entertain a question???

Set it down with a coloring book, put on Barney????

Ras -- Entertain = to consider, contemplate

Squat -- That's okay, I already hacked into your computer and have your SSN anyway.....I'll "entertain" the thought of adding you to my ben's list.....LOL.

In the meantime, she'll be getting credit cards and bank accounts with the name "U. Squat U. Puke". She'll use these cards to obtain goods and services, while the bank accounts will be used by foreign nationals who were acquaintances or family of very rich national leaders. They will use these accounts to transfer huge sums of money and let you keep a dime or two.

What is the one non-life-essential thing that you would go crazy over if someone said that you couldn't have it for the rest of your life?

(ie. tv, books, snickers)

A current laptop with my software, good high speed internet connection.

Next would be books and music -- but, if I had #1, I could read off the internet and listen to music.

Funny Clay -- LOL.

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Ok millonaire babe whose abusing my credit rating...

If you had 10K...what is the BEST way to invest it and keep it liquidable...

(I'm thinking "bond funds")....

Ok Larry -- I'm speaking from personal experience here.

Trade options. You can leverage more stocks with options. There are some risks, but isn't there in everything in life? You need to know how to assess those risks.

I sent you an email regarding your WAG stocks and how you could make a greater return on your money than what you are currently doing. Did you get that?

Here's what I am currently doing to keep liquidity in my account.

1. I trade only options.
2. I'm basically only trading the QQQQs right now, which allows me to typically control 2000-4000 shares of stocks (that's 20-40 contracts).
3. I've been typically able to make $200-700 (after commissions) on $1700-2400 at a time. Meaning, you can have let's say 5 plays of around $2000, with average $350 per trade after commissions. The average trade may take 2-5 days. There are about 21 average trading days a month. Let's say, the average is 4 days, so you can do this 5 times in a month. Let's say of those 5 trades of $2k, 2 goes south (40%), you get stopped out at $300. So, in that $350x5 = $1750 that month. That would be 17.5% for that first month.
4. Keep that money back in and now you basically have 6 plays instead of the

It is realistic that you could turn your $10k into over $500k in a year, even over $1M if you know what you are doing.

Since the trades can be anywhere from hours to a couple days to a couple weeks, your money is fairly liquid. In the brokerage I use, they allow for check writing on your stock account (as long as it's in cash). I use no actual margins, though I have a margin account.

Whenever my money isn't in options, it's cash -- cold hard cash that I can use as if it were my checking account. I don't think I can do a debit against it, but if you pay an extra fee, you can have the funds wired to you pretty much that day or the next business day.

Did I answer your question?

I do not know anything about bond funds, so I cannot advise there. I only know stocks and options. With options, my funds are available pretty much immediately. Stocks, there is a 3 day waiting period after the sale of it for it to close.

Options have a great return, and God is blessing here.

However, I am taking classes to help me be a better trader/option player. I pay a lot for these classes, DVDs, books, software, tools. I'm going to be taking 2 classes in January, possibly 2 more in Feb, and 2 in March. The discounted prices for these classes in the end will cost $6900. Without the discounts, they would cost close to $20K. I'm expecting the things I learn from these classes, as well as the ones I've already taken (2 of them), the software, etc. will bring in millions to me.

To properly learn this stuff costs money, time, effort. It's not exactly easy.

I don't know if I've shared this or not, but in 2001, I lost nearly a million. This year and last year, it's been about a quarter of a million. I never took a class during this time. Now I'm realizing I was wrong and I need help.

Know any ways to get 30K out of debt with little money to start?

I'm serious here....

I'm trying to avoid bankruptcy and actually pay my debts if I can...

Ras - There has to be a fine balance between getting rid of your debts and wealth accumulation. When you say a little money, how much do you mean?

Here's what I would suggest:

1. Write down a list of all your bills & expenses (monthly as well as outstanding debts & their monthly payments)

2. Write down how much you bring in.

3. Where you can get rid of unnecessary things or luxuries, do away with them -- like the Starbucks coffee, eating out, frivalous spending, etc.

4. Work on developing a budget. Crown.org has a good planning tool for this.

5. You will need to bring home more than you spend, otherwise you will always get deeper in debt.

6. You will also need to figure out why you incurred that debt in the first place. If you do not get rid of those sabotaging behaviors, when you have more money, you will waste that, too. This has been the challenge for me.

7. Where you can consolidate into lower interest things like other lower interest credit cards. Cancel the cards you aren't using, so you aren't tempted to charge on those.

8. Let's say you have $1200 to pay for debts that month. You have 5 credit card bills ranging from $1500, $2000, $3500, $6000, $17000. Let's say your min. is 2% a month, so that would be $30, $40, $70, $120, $340, respectively. You'd pay the minimum on all of them, except the one with the least amount. You have another $600 left over so you apply that towards the small bill. It would take you 3 months to pay that off. After that first bill is paid off, you take that $630 plus the $40 on the 2nd bill and pay $670 on that until it's paid off which takes 3 months. Now you have 2 bills paid off in less than 6 months. The next would take a little over 4 months to pay because you're able to pay $740 per month on that until it's paid off. So, in 10 months, you've paid off 3 bills and $7000. Yes, this takes time. The $6000 will take another 4-5 months to pay off. The remainder of the largest bill will take another 10-11 months to pay off. So, in about 26 months...a little over 2 yrs, you could essentially debt free here. During this time, you could complete the 12-week Crown course, and work on better money management skills.

9. With the little money you have, I'm not sure what is totally reasonable here as to learn stock market stuff, it does take some bit of money to learn. I think the better route is to pay down your debts and figure out why you got into that debt. In the mean time, check out books from the library on stock trading (options) and begin papertrading. Over the 2+ years it will take to reduce and eliminate your debts, you can learn a great deal in the stock market/investing. That is not a long time, as I've been learning for the past 10+ years.

10. See, after your debts are paid off, you will have so much more money to invest with and you'll have better knowledge and discipline to make better choices and properly manage your money. Does that help?

What song is running through your head right now?
What is your favorite Bible verse?

"Is She Really Going Out With Him" by Sugar Ray or Jackson Brown (?)

Phil 4:13, Romans 8:28, Prov. 3:5-6 -- Actually, I have a lot of favorite verses. It just depends upon the situation and what I need to know. I had a Pastor that used to always say, "One of my favorite verses is...." and I would swear over the 5 yrs I was at that church, there must've been like over a 1000 favorite verses.

That's me. Would you like me to list all of them? LOL.

My questions are now bored, what mysterious answers will you give to entertain them? :unsure:

I could create a video and act out my answer, or put some risque photos with me in a mask that have nothing to do with the answer. Would that be entertaining & mysterious enough?

However, the likelihood that I would do any of that is NIL!!!

Joe Jackson did the 80's version...

OK, Doris, Your turn!

What's the size of your bicep?

What do you like best/least about being a working mother?

What hinders you from being your best this week?

Imagine that whatever you did you could not fail. What would you do?

Do you think like who you are?

Do you feel like a success or a failure?

What thing that you touch appeals to you the most?

Do you prefer a direct style of communication or something less direct?

Do you mind me asking you these questions?

What's the size of your bicep? I haven't measured since early this year. At that time it was 13-13.5"

What do you like best/least about being a working mother? Best: a change of environments; Least: That I don't own my own time; that I only have 3 weeks of vacation a year & that my manager micro manages time for his exempts.

What hinders you from being your best this week? Too many irons in the fire and still recovering from being sick; still trying to work through mentally that my body needs more sleep and going to bed at a decent hr (changing my thought processes about sleep & rest).

Imagine that whatever you did you could not fail. What would you do? I'd quit my job today, trade stocks without reservation, go for my PhD/MD and have that all completed before 50 yrs old, go sky diving/repeling and some other extreme sports, tell everyone about Christ


Do you think like who you are? When I put on my pants this morning, I was thinking, "This pair the last time I put it on did not feel this snug. How could it be snug? I've been careful about what I've been eating and making better choices. Then, I was reminded the other day by a wonderful friend that I was beautiful exactly how I was right now. And, God gives me reminders of how much He loves me all the time. Overall, yes, I like who I am. This has been a work in progress, as there was a time I hated myself. I am working out my identity in Christ with fear and trembling.

Do you feel like a success or a failure? My life has been paved with so many failures, but they are not true failures because I have not given up. My life seems more like the Failing Forward. I learn so much from the failures (hate that word), that it helps redirect me into a different path. Eventually I'll succeed. To me, success is not giving up, even if you feel like it. Yes, I feel like a success. Still in the game.

What thing that you touch appeals to you the most? I like the lips of my husband's on mine; the hugs & kisses I get from my husband and kids, and those whom I love. There is something so comforting in this. As far as tactile touch, I know this sounds weird, but refrigerated cow's liver or kidneys feels really cool to me. I also like the feel of fine silk against my skin. Was that TMI?

Do you prefer a direct style of communication or something less direct? I prefer direct usually. Am a fairly confrontational person in person on most things.

Do you mind me asking you these questions? Well, I asked the questions, so it's only fair.

Ya know, I was going to say this, but I didn't want to sound too weird. Yeah - in this group - I didn't want to sound too weird. I know. That's probably the least weird thing said in this group....

Sigworthy?

Do you beat yourself up mentally if you eat a twinkie?


Do have alot of junk-food in your house for kids and hubbie?


How much can you bench press?


How fast can you run a mile?


Have you ever kicked anybody's butt?


Favorite computer game?


What's your favorite position......on the football field that is....

Do you beat yourself up mentally if you eat a twinkie? You already know what this answer is. I haven't eaten a twinkie since I before 10 yrs old. No desire. I, however, now rarely beat myself up for eating something that does not contribute to my good health. I know what the consequences are and willingly accept them when I choose to eat less than healthy things.


Do have alot of junk-food in your house for kids and hubbie? We rarely keep junk food in the home. My husband might bring in some cookies or ice cream periodically. Can't be tempted if you don't buy the stuff. Most of the foods we have are whole, natural foods.


How much can you bench press? 90-100 lbs. I am not allowed to do weights that are too heavy with my heart condition until we can get that under control. It is still not under control.


How fast can you run a mile? I'm still having right foot issues that impedes running for me. This year, I have not run much because of that. When I was regularly running, I was somewhere between an 8-9 minute mile. Not a fast runner, but from where I started 20 minute mile, that was a huge improvement. I was happy with where I had gotten and continued to get better by a few seconds each time with every race I entered.


Have you ever kicked anybody's butt? Physically, no. In racquetball in games or tournaments, yes. In sports, yes. In school, yes. At work, yes.


Favorite computer game? I don't play computer games, though I did when I was a kid. I'd rather read or do many other things than this.


What's your favorite position......on the football field that is.... LOL. Anyone who has read my posts for any length of time should know the answer to this question: Offensive - Quarterback. I try to play offensive positions in life, rather than being defensive. Though both are necessary, but I find offensive positions more advantageous. The quarterback is in charge of running the offense, as well as informs the offense of the play in the huddle. That would be the position on the field, however as far as the football team itself -- I see myself as the owner of the team. I like to own, lead, direct but from afar off. I am good at seeing the big picture, and want/get skilled people to accomplish the goal -- which is to win....