A large investment with a terrible payout.

Today was a great day and a terrible day.  I'm glad not every day is like that.  It is good for me to try to find good in every day.

Good:
I found $.26 today.
I ate home-made lunch and dinner and both were delicious, not super expensive, and healthier than restaurant food.
I got to talk with a dear friend, my twin, my mom, and a recent Hartwick graduate who had a positive job interview experience this afternoon.
I accomplished a great deal at work that will move us forward.

Ehh...
Last night, I finished the third book in a trilogy of historical fiction that I have been reading for almost three weeks.  This was an investment of time and mental energy.  I really enjoyed reading most of the books (over 1900 pages of reading) and the characters' lives became important to me.  When one spends this much time reading a book, you really become "invested."  Unfortunately the author sort of gave up at the end and chose the easy way out of the book by killing of the two main characters.  I was disappointed that I had invested all of that time to only have that book end poorly.

I also feel like today was a day of bad news for me, my friends, and my boyfriend.  I just heard lots of stuff that wasn't so good from people that I love.  I'm reminded of some of the less fruitful investments that I've made recently.  I won't go into them, because dwelling on negative doesn't help you or me move forward.

It stinks when you have invested time, money, energy, and your heart into something to have it fail.

We have to take those risks and make those investments, though, if we are ever going to reap the rewards.  Not every investment turns out the way we want it to.

May you remember to keep trying even when things don't work out the way you wanted.

Walking in Brooklyn

I tried to spend as much time outside yesterday as I could.  I woke up and took my book to my back patio to read for a while.  After an hour of reading with the nice cool breeze, I threw on my sneakers and decided to go for a walk.

I am a part of a number of fitness support groups on Facebook.  The one that is currently the most active encourages me to exercise, try to eat healthy, and to drink 64 ounces of water daily.  Saturday was a day full of cooking, and was the first day in three weeks that I didn't at least bike or walk five miles.  Sunday wasn't going to be two days of little exercise.

I chose to walk toward Broadway given that I usually walked the other direction.  Being my usual self, I kept my eyes peeled for money.  I saw this in the road in front of a car.  When you see it up close, you can tell that it has taken a beating.  It's still got value though.  It doesn't have to pretty to be worth something.  

I also found this door with a pretty serious industrial lock on it.  I guess if you can't open the lock, just take the whole door off and throw it away, that's one way to overcome an obstacle in your path.

As I was walking, I listened to one of my all time favorite podcasts, Planet Money from NPR.  This podcast highlights everything and anything there is to do with money and is done in a way that is easy to digest for me and interesting.  I can't say that about all things finance related.  I find this podcast to be one of my most valuable teachers in finance.  I also feel like I learned a great deal from Robert Kiyosaki's book, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." That book taught me a few lessons including:

1.) If you can borrow money for low interest, use it to invest in something that has a higher return.  For example, you buy a house at 5% interest.  Don't pay that house bill off early, just pay it on time.  Use the extra money you'd pay down on your mortgage to invest in something that makes 6% interest or more.  Then you are making more money.

2.) I also learned a lot about taking risks to earn money, but making sure that the potential reward is worth the risk.  

The other book that I recently listened to on CD was Tony Robbin's "Money, Master the Game."  

That book reaffirmed some things for me and made me question others.  The one fortunate thing I learned, was to make sure that the company managing my retirement assets wasn't taking a super high percentage as a management fee.  Fortunately for me, my financially advisor had advised me to choose a great fund with low fees.  He and I discussed the rest of the book and I learned as much from talking with him as I did from Tony Robbins.  Tony Robbins isn't wrong in the book, but does steer you to buy or invest in products that would make him money.  

I bring this all up because the goal of this blog is for me to find blessings.  Blessings can come to you financially, health-wise, joy, positive energy, security, or safety.  I feel like me finding money every day is a big part of my financial blessings.  I'm not always frugal with my money.  I try to enjoy life, spend wisely, sometimes splurge on special things, help friends when they need it, and still put some away for retirement.  

As I continued walking through the city, trying to get my five miles in, all the water I'd consumed for the day hit me.  This seems to happen on my way home from work every day too.  Given the lack of public bathrooms in my neighborhood, it does pose a challenge.  As I walked, and my need to find a bathroom increased, I kept focusing on the fact that my bladder could surely use some practice and stretching.  I also kept walking faster hoping to make it to McDonalds (where you have to buy something and get a key to use the bathroom here).  As I walk faster, I have a tendency to bend forward a little leading with my nose.  I realized that this puts more pressure on my bladder, so I walked as straight as I could while maintaining speed and scanning for a place to pee.  I kept breathing deeply realizing that every few steps I was holding my breath.  Within a quarter mile, I think even an alley would do, but know that I don't want a ticket for peeing in public.  

As I finally see the golden arches in site, I stumble upon a coffee shop that I had only noticed peripherally before.  I head in there praying that they have a bathroom.  Sure enough, they do.  I hop back and forth and breath little short breaths while waiting in line.  They take my order (it seems to take hours and they have a thousand questions) and give me the key to the bathroom.  At this point, my teeth were hurting.  It's almost an adrenaline rush when you finally pee after holding it for so long.  Phew….I came out of the bathroom with clean hands, an empty bladder, and a growling stomach.  

The chipotle chicken sandwich and ice tea was delicious.  Thanks to my need to pee, I found a new place not far from home to grab a good bite to eat.  The reward was worth the risk this time.  

Today's lessons:

If you can't get the lock open, take the door off the hinges.

Taking risks can have great pay out, but also cause some damage.  

As-salamu alaykum, 1 cent, and some rum

I've spent most of my day cooking.  I mentioned it earlier.  This is a two post day.  I just realized that there is something that is uncommon elsewhere, but pretty normal in Brooklyn.

I walked out of my apartment after speaking with my twin, John, to buy some rum.  You see, we have a rum that we both really enjoy.  We like it with just about anything.  He mentioned wanting a drink.  I am not sure if I am going out, but thought one would be nice too.  I walked around the corner to the liquor store to get my bottle of Bacardi Limon.

The liquor store is an interesting experience.  You basically walk into a plexiglass box surrounded by bottles of liquor.  There is either a two way  window or another shoot window (they hand it out, slide left and you pick it up in an opening about a foot away).  Most of the liquor stores in the neighborhood only take cash.  A lovely asian lady helped me tonight in buying this rum.  She also had me taste some peach and some apple cinnamon moonshine and tried to get me to buy it.  I preferred the apple cinnamon, but one bottle of liquor will last me at least a month even with friends sharing.  

Have you heard the phrase "pre-gaming?"  It's something we used to do in college before we'd go out.  We knew it was cheaper to drink in our rooms before going downtown.  In Brooklyn, it's almost a financial necessity.  The drinks can easily be $15/drink.  If you are going out with friends, it's best to have a few drinks before you go (you aren't driving here anyway with the subways and cabs).  Then you can have one drink or a bottle of water ($5 for that too) and at least have fun.  I've also seen my friends sneak mini bottles (like you get on an airplane) into a bar.  They search your bags, though, so you have to be creative about hiding them and can only take a few.  Fortunately, I am still not much of a drinker.  Two or three drinks and I'm good all night.

So I am either pre-gaming, or just drinking at home with the TV on.  Sometimes I intend to go out, have two or three drinks at home, and then I wake up at 4:00 a.m. with pillow marks on my face the the netflix asking me "are you still watching this program?"

Back to the unique thing about Brooklyn. Almost every corner has a bodega, or small mom and pop deli.  In my neighborhood, and the one by work, they are all run by men who are speaking arabic and are muslim.  That means that your breakfast sandwich usually has turkey bacon instead of pork bacon because they don't touch pork.  It probably helps that there is a huge Jewish population here that also doesn't eat pork.  I go to the bodega near my apartment at least a few times a week to grab an ice tea, a breakfast sandwich, or a pack of gum.  I've started greeting the owner or staff with "As-salamu alaykum" although the way I say it sounds more like Ah Salahm Ahlaykoom.  I remember Mrs. Burwell teaching us in Social Studies that it means may the peace be upon you.  Who can go wrong with a greeting like that.  The gents always greet me back and are trying to teach me some other phrases in arabic.  I haven't picked any up yet, but I feel like it is good to spread peace wherever you go.  I'm on the far left I'd say of Christianity.  I feel like we are all called to respond and treat each other with love no matter what our religion is.  

As I left the bodega tonight, I saw a penny of course.  That makes two for today.  It was on the other side of some scaffolding, but my long legs allowed me to straddle that to get it.  

Cheers and As-salamu alaykum to each of you. 

Cooking up a storm, a Brooklyn Target Visit, and a 2014 shiny penny by my car

I decided that it was time to start cooking for myself again.  Between the costs of eating out, the health factor of eating out, and the fact that I'd love to have more time during the week for myself, I felt it was wise.  It will also be helpful for my boyfriend who doesn't have much time to cook between a full time job and school full time.

My mom, God bless her, reminded me of one of my favorite dishes when I was a kid.  That was the second one on the list.  I spent most of last night (after writing my short blog post) reading the third book of a trilogy that my brother sent me.  I had the tv series Spartacus on in the background.  It's pretty bloody, so I prefer to only watch the parts that aren't bloody because I got sucked into the plot.  I had the leftover pork fried dumplings and an ice cream bar for dinner.

This morning, I was up at 6:30 and made my grocery list.  I walked over to the corner grocery store.  The local NSA Super Market always offers something entertaining for me.  The entire staff speaks Spanish (except for the one man who is mute - he makes noises and is always friendly, but doesn't form words).  The store itself is just a block away.  The vegetables are not the freshest, nor is the meat.  Still, it's convenient.  I usually walk over at least a few times a week.  The music playing is usually something upbeat and Spanish.  I went over and got the ingredients for:

Spinach and Cheddar Quiche  - request from my boyfriend
Ready made pie crust - poke with fork a few times, bake for 10 minutes
1 bag baby spinach
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1 clove garlic minced
1 or 1 1/2 cup of the most flavorful cheese you can find (I use a super sharp cheddar)
1/2 cup milk
Salt and pepper
4 eggs (if extra large) or 6 if medium or small

White crust is in oven at 400 degrees, saute onion in oil until golden, add garlic, stir for a minute or two, add rinsed spinach and let it cook down.  Grate cheese into a bowl.  Beat eggs, milk, and salt and pepper in another bowl.  When crust comes out, let cool for a few minutes.  Add spinach (ends up being about a cup), cheese, and egg mixture.  I put the entire thing on a cookie sheet and then bake it at 375 until the top is golden brown and the center is set (30-45 minutes).  Great for any meal.



Spanish Rice - one of my childhood favorites that mixes well with the grass-fed beef from my parent's farm - I use the Zatarans and add a pound of cooked beef that has been browned with garlic, onions, and peppers.
Lime Mojito Grilled Chicken with couscous
and a some frozen and fresh veggies to accompany them.

I came home and marinated the chicken for the grill.

Next, I needed to get some containers to bring food to work.  I have enough to make it work for me, but not enough for my boyfriend to also take some.

This is where Target comes in.  Target in Brooklyn is nothing like the one in Chicago, DC, or any of the small town targets (Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Peoria).  It's close, though, so I decided to go there.

First, you have to find parking.  I found none, so I had to go into the garage next to Target and pay.  I walked around and checked out their clearance items (I love a sale), picked up the rubbermaid  containers for lunches.  I also ended up with some duraflame logs for my chiminea, a new runner for my hallway, some beach towels (gifts for friends), socks (crazy colors and on clearance), and some cleaning supplies.

Now comes the hard part.  You have a cart full of things and at least one of them is more than 10 pounds (duraflame logs).  You are not allowed to take carts out of the store and you are parked in a garage that isn't close.  This is my first time with this problem.  Usually I have a friend with me or only buy what I can carry.  I had to find security to tell me what to do.  They actually have a staff member who will wheel your cart downstairs and meet you by the curb.  It did the trick and I was on my way back to the house.

As I pulled into a parking spot in front of my building (street parking), there was a shiny 2014 penny just waiting on the sidewalk.

I got home and cooked both the spanish rice and the couscous with some green beans thrown in simultaneously.

As they were al simmering, I started the grill for the chicken and sliced some green peppers to grill.  All of that finished at staggered times.  I then had to do a mountain of dishes to start round two.  I half-baked my quiche crust while sautéing the spinach, and getting the quiche ready.  I also laid out some veggies on a cooking sheet to roast.  When those were done, I popped in the quiche.  At that point, everything else had cooled enough to package up in separate containers.  

My kitchen got quite hot, so I decided to just cook in my apron and shorts.  

I took a bit of a break to talk with my sister and tried to figure out what the last thing was going to be for the menu.  I surfed around online for recipes and decided on a version of Shrimp Fra Diablo.  I had to head to the grocery store again.  I went and I picked up some shrimp, spicy pepper red sauce and pasta.  I came home and cooked the shrimp in the pasta sauce while boiling the pasta.  

I'm not very good at this cooking shrimp thing.  I feel like I mess it up every time.  At least I looked to see that they were de-vained before buying them.  I also checked the sell by date and it was good.  After mixing all the sauce, pasta, and shrimp together, I tasted some of it.  It was delicious.  I've actually been munching all day on the stuff I've been making.  It wasn't until my fourth fork full that I picked up a piece of shrimp.  Damn it all if I had left the skins, feet, and shells on.  It's one thing to have a tail on your shrimp, but it isn't easy to eat it in a sauce with all the other stuff on.  I sorted through the pasta and picked out each piece of shrimp and peeled them.  They were hot, so I had to juggle them to not get burned (I'm not patient enough to wait for them to cool down).  Now that is done.

I've got 13 containers of food for the week.  That means that each of us has at least 6 meals covered.  I'm pretty excited about that.  I even had enough extra shrimp and pasta for my dinner tonight.  The dishes are done and my feet are up.  Now for a relaxing evening with Netflix.  

Show me the money

Today, most of my day was spent in Manhattan.  I've mentioned it before, but it is worth repeating that it is much harder to find money in Manhattan.

This interesting to me given that the income and demographic in Brooklyn is much poorer than that of Manhattan.

I walked to the subway (walked a mile today to get to the express train).  I found no change this morning on that walk.  I got to the city and ended up walking approximately 3 miles there between trains and appointments.  I'm as careful there as I am in Brooklyn about checking around for money, but found none there today.

It wasn't until I got off the subway at Nostrand in Brooklyn (again I took the express) that I found my first penny of the day.  It was less than a block away from the subway in Brooklyn.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the Manhattan vs. Brooklyn thing.  I learned in college from personal experience that the people who grew up with money were less likely to leave a generous tip or give money to friends.  I know that studies have demonstrated that the poor give a much larger portion of their income to charity.  The poor also spend much more of their money on lottery tickets.  That leaves me to believe that if a person of wealth drops a penny, they are more likely to pick it up.  It also might mean that a person with less money might leave it for someone they think needs it even more than them.  The people in Manhattan are either better at not dropping pennies, better at picking them up, or they use credit cards for everything instead of cash.  I do know that housing there is more expensive, so I would venture that the people there are also more wealthy (or at least spend a greater amount of their income on housing).

I feel like it is a missed opportunity for me not to pick up money I see on the street.

A friend has asked me if I spend my entire day walking around looking at the ground for money.  I will admit that I don't spend as much time looking up at the sky or the buildings.  I do, however notice what is going on around me.  I'm careful to scan in front of me as if I scoping out the path I would take.  I do this to not just notice money, but to also avoid dog poop that people have left on the sidewalk.

Today was a two penny day.  Tomorrow is a new day and I hope to have more good things to share.

Sue and the Chinese Food

I went back to a restaurant in my neighborhood tonight.  I had started writing about it back in May on my first visit, but then never finished.  The following is my now finished blog/memory from that night.

FROM MAY:
I decided to try some new restaurant in my neighborhood.  It was too hot to cook.  I looked on YELP and came across what was rated as the best Chinese Food take out in my Bed Stuy neighborhood.  I walked to the take out place ten blocks away or so.

I was sort of prepared given the reviews that I had read, but didn't realize until I got there just how surreal the experience would be.

As I approached the store, I decided to take a photo of the outside with my iPhone.  I snapped the picture and almost instantly had a very tall, large, african-american man start yelling at me.  "You could've told me you was takin a picture.  You is rude…so damn rude."

I explained to this man that I would delete the photo and was trying to get a photo of the store front, not him.

"You can't delete anything.  You might say you delete it, but that stuff is around forever.  Now the government can see my photo.  You just don't understand.  You rude."

I apologized again and went into this little hole-in-the-wall Chinese place.

As I entered, I noticed a number of hand written signs about the specials.  They were written on white copy paper with sharpies in terrible english.  I walked up to the bullet proof glass to make my order. 

When you order, you are speaking through two layers of bullet proof glass. 

I walk up to the window, "Good Evening." 

Sue responds, "What you want!?"

"I'd like some pork dumplings, please"

She asks, "Stee oh fra?"

"What?," I say.

Louder - "Stee oh fra?"

"Excuse me, but what?"

"I say, Stee oh Fra dumpling"

"Oh…I'd like fried pork dumplings please."  

"That all?"

"No, ma'am.  I'd also like to order some sesame chicken with white rice."

"Sesame chicken with frah rice."

"No, I'd like white rice, please, and would you also make the sesame chicken spicy."

"Ohh….ok….you like spicy frah rice with sesame chicken…got it…that all?

"No, mam…I'd like to have spicy sesame chicken with white rice." 

"Spicy hot ohh spicy media"  

"I'd like medium spicy, please."

"Oh…ok….you get media spicy frah rice with sesame chicken and pawk fra dumpling." 

At this point, I figured my order was close enough and I didn't try to explain again.  The same man who I call the tinfoil hat man (he isn't wearing a tinfoil hat, but it sticks in my head that he thinks the government is listening in on his thoughts and watching him like the people from the old X-Files TV show who would wear tinfoil on their heads to prevent the government to listening in on their thoughts. ) is pacing back and forth muttering to himself loudly.  I decided to wait outside for my meal.

As I waited, I noticed a big truck pull up.  The truck stopped and pulled a big hose out and to the back of the alley.  The truck is recycling the frying oil for the restaurant.  That's a pretty cool thing.  I notice him turn on the vacuum, flop the hose on the ground, and then get back in the truck.  The hose sucks up some dirt from the sidewalk.  He exits the truck and walks back carrying the hose.  It gets stuck on everything in its path sucking up leaves and dirt.  I'd hate to see that oil truck when he is done.  

Tinfoil hat man leaves with his order.  A young boy comes in with a basketball and a few crumpled dollars in his hand.  He stands on the ball to reach the counter and orders some fried chicken wings.  I listen to his exchange along with the line of other people that come in.  They all call the lady Sue.  People in Mercedes with fancy shoes and purses are ordering food here as well as kids who look like they don't even have much money.  

Sue takes your money through a little slot at the bottom of the window and she slides the food to your right to the other opening in the bullet proof glass.  I pay my $12 and walk out.  

My dad always said the sign of a good restaurant was a full parking lot.  In Brooklyn, it's a line of people out the door, or a steady stream of people in all types of cars and clothes.  

BACK TO TODAY:

The food was great tonight.  And I was patient enough to let Sue get my order right.  She definitely doesn't waste time on pleasantries or manners, but the price is right and the people watching remained as colorful as ever.  

I found 37 cents today on the street in my walking.  One Alaska quarter (my nieces already have it so it goes in my change jar) and a bunch of pennies of all different ages and wear.  One was even a wheat penny.  

I hope that you are reminded of some of the more colorful places you've been or people you have interacted with.

What I took away from today is that I must embrace the surreal with the real and enjoy every experience that comes with it.  

The quest for a tiny fuse

Ten miles of walking, four failed attempts, bad soul food, and seven pennies…..that sums up my day.

Since it has cooled a little in Brooklyn, I have been walking to work.  It helps with my fitness goals since the walk is a total of almost five miles.  It also increases the odds of me finding more money.

A few weeks ago, I purchased a box fan on clearance from Duane Reade.  I assumed it would work and tossed out both the box and the receipt.  A tried to return it when I realized it didn't work.  I was unable to do so, although my mom surely would have managed it given her skill.  There was a small fuse in the plug.  I decided to try to fix it by replacing that fuse.  This morning on my way to work, I stopped by the local hardware store.  They didn't have the tiny fuse.

Tonight, on my way home from work, I stopped by another store.  They didn't have the fuse either.  I got home, put my feet up for a few minutes, and then decided to go to Home Depot to see if they had fuses.  Given my goals of being fitter, I decided to walk the two miles.  When I arrived there, I discovered they had no fuses.  The kind clerk suggested I go to an electronics store a bit further out.

I got there, asked the Dominican owner for a fuse in Spanish (not knowing the word for a fuse) while his wife helped a Hasidic Jew with his.  No luck on the fuse.  My hip started hurting for from the walking.  I decided to pop into a local pub for a drink.  They didn't offer food, so I popped next door to a soul food place.  It was an unfortunate decision.

I grabbed some food and went into the pub. If it wasn't for the double drink and my hunger, I would've dumped the food.  It was acceptable, but not what I'd choose to eat twice.

As I got home, I noticed that I was 1/10th of a mile shy of 10 miles of walking.  As my friends know, I like even numbers.  I walked to the grocery store and then home to get in my ten miles.

Two pennies on the way to work.
Two pennies on the way home.
Two pennies on the way to Home Depot.
One penny on the way home.

7 lucky pennies in my pocket.