Broke in the City

Looking For The Perfect Mother's Day Gift That Is Inexpensive

2009-04-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. No not tax time, that time is over thank goodness. I'm not talking about Easter or Passover either, I'm talking about that holiday we all must celebrate, Mother's Day. It doesn't matter who you are or what you believe in we all had a mother or a person who raised us and we acknowledge as our mother. Mother's Day is not really like Father's Day its a bit more special than that. After all she carried us inside her for 9 months something Dad can never say. Don't forget about the pain of giving birth, of squeezing out something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a lemon. That is no joke right there.

So as a guy I often struggle in shopping for our women. On top of all that times are really tough right now so money is tight. So the question what to get mom for her big day? I was thinking some kind of a gift basket. I know its not that original but I need something dammit. Here is my idea so far. A friend of mine told me about these custo m M&M's that you can personalize with your own text message and or image as well as customize your colors and packaging. Sounds kind of like a rip off considering regular M&M's are like $0.75 for a bag but this is much nicer and he assures me that women like it and that in fact they are around 70% of the people that buy it.

They have a buy 3 get 1 free offer that is good since I will have to get something for my aunt as well. The other 2 can go to my other boys that need a mother's day gift too. Oh yea baby we're going wholesale! They have these nice little baskets at the 99 cent store too. So I think a bag of custom M&M's with nice personal message, flowers, a handmade card, and some ribbons, will go nice with dinner when I take her out, and all for roughly $50 ($17 for M&M's, $10 S&H, $4 basket and ribbons, $15 flowers, $5 stationary).

THE HAUNTING OF MY PORTFOLIO!

2008-11-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

The third quarter financial reports look worse than how the METS blew another chance in making the playoffs for the second straight season. Recently took out all my money in Share Builder and now I am fully invested in Zecco Trading. October was the month of unlimited trading for customers as a promotional gimmick by Zecco.

My online stock trades consist of 4 stocks that I have in my portfolio. These stocks are AUY, RIO, PAL, and WFC. Below is a belief description of companies, I am currently holding positions in.

Yamana Gold Inc. (AUY) is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of mineral properties. AUY principal product is gold.

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (RIO) is a metals and mining company. RIO is also a producer of iron ore and iron ore pellets. It also produces bauxite, alumina, aluminum, copper, coal, cobalt, precious metals, potash and other products.

North American Palladium Ltd. (PAL) is a producer of platinum group metals

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company. It is a diversified financial services company.

DUDE! THATS MY CAR!

2008-06-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Finally I’m out of the red in stocks and made some profits with Zecco trading. My next dilemma is what car I should purchase. Currently I am driving a 94 Mitsubishi Galant. I brought it in 2003 when it had about 83,486 miles driven. Since then I has made many trips back and forth from Illinois to NYC. It has serviced its purpose and has traveled over 150,000 miles. I think it’s about time for me to get a more luxury car. Something with Navigation system and heated leather seats. My job security is more stable than ever and my pension fund is setup so that I do not have to worry about money when I retire.
What concerns me the most is what car to get! I think I have narrowed it down to three cars that fit my price range and style. This is in no order but I figure I will at least test drive all three cars before making my final decision. The 2008 Mercedes C Class, 2008 Cadillac CTS, or the 2007 Mercedes E 350 4Matic are my final three cars that I will test drive. I really like the 2008 E350 but it would cost me too much at this point in my life. The car price ranges from 52K to about 65k. This is about ten to twenty grand more than what I figure to spend! The way things are going I plan on buying my car after July 4th weekend.

Lasik Surgery or Stock Options

2008-04-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

This year major dilemma was choosing to invest in stocks or get Lasik eye surgery! The cost of Lasik can range from $1,500 to $2,500 dollars for both eyes. Jango has gone thru on this procedure about a month ago. He claims it was some what uncomfortable with his eyes being so sensitive to light when they were operating on them. That the procedure involved him to have his eyes wide open and not blink as they made incisions in his eye. The surgery itself was very quick and but still consisted of time. Jango had to get prep a week before the surgery and the day before as well. This was the case because they need to make sure the eye is prepared and ready for the surgery. I think this is the case for most people who wear contacts. They must make sure the eye is rested and not been in contact with any foreign objects for a week. That means no contacts lenses for a week. But the steps after surgery are important. I have been told you cannot rub your eye or have any contact with liquids in your eyes for a week or two. Since your eyes are so sensitive that, a foreign liquid could cause blindness. They will give you eye drops that must be used every few hours. So my money now is now in stocks! I plan on leaving it all there and invest little by little till the end of the year. I have chosen to use Sharebuilder as my agent. They allow you to invest in partial stocks. You can commit about $100 bucks a month and it will auto invest it in any stock you wish. Some place expect you to buy the whole stock. Which sounds reasonable but some stocks are very pricey. My next step will be to make an account with Zecco so that i can do 10 free online stock trades a month so long as I maintain at least $2,500 in equity in my account. So what ever you decided I reccommend that you do your own research before getting the surgery or investing in stocks. Hopefully the money I make on stocks this year will cover for my Lasik surgery next year.

The Heartbreak Kid

2007-10-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

There are three important things to know about the past. One, it's over. Two, you can't change it. And three, the only thing keeping it alive is the energy you put into holding on to it. This marks another relationship the HERO has gone thru. September started off hot and steamy and ended up in a mystery. It was great while it lasted but like all good things must come to an end! The relationship went swift like the JETS playoff chances for the 2007 season! One could investigate and exam the causes that lead to the demise. That would only lead the HERO wondering if things would be different if certain actions or events would lead to the prevention of The Breakup. Ignorance is bliss because if you don't know something, it can't hurt you. Letting go of the past can be one of the most liberating events in your life. It means allowing what was meant to be and what what not meant to be. People somethings forget it is what it is. It doesn't mean to forget, but it does mean forgive others and yourself. Wisdom begins when you realize that the perfect moment is the one you're in.

HannSolo 911: NYC

2007-09-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

The month has started off better than expected. Not only will the hero celebrate his B-day this month. He will actually be in NYC for the first time with his friends from his childhood. For many years he was in Illinois celebrating it with college friends who he has mad love for. Everything is moving along well, joined a gym to get in shape, job is doing great, even his social life has improved. His new shorty, which i will have to get her a new alias once i figure out what i will call her. Was an old girlfriend of my friend. Now i know, how can the hero have relationship with a friends ex. Let me explain or give my side of the story before you past judgement. It has been three years since they broken up. Which is ample amount a time. My friend is also married now and I did tell his friends who are my friends as well that we had a connection. Lets call him Lt. Dan since he is serving our country proud. Once he returns i know he would hold no grudge against me. What i am more worried about is getting deeply involved. I like this girl and we had a connection i felt when we first met many years ago but both of us were in deep committed relationships at the time. That same connection was apparent when we met for drinks for happy hour after work. Who would have guess that both of us would be single at the same time three years later. What really scares me is that i am not ready for anything too serious. I am more concerned with my career and what i planned on doing in the future. The best part is she is also more concerned about her career and hasnt really made me change my lifestyle to accommodate her. There are many stories to come and more updates on the crew. Involving Jango(the problem),R2D2(Mr Nice Guy), Jar Jar (guy on the couch) in later stories. Next Blog will update on all members.

What Dreams May Explain

2007-08-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes dreams help out more than you think. Dreams often reflect a time or event that has happened in ones lifetime. I know this topic is going away from my original theme of posts but I felt it was my obligation to express my feelings on how I perceive this dream. It started out in my old apartment in Illinois. I was lying on my bed when I woke up in my dream. Next to me was my ex who was sleeping next to me in our apartment that we shared. Usually when one of us wakes up before the other we would wake the other person up. As I tried to wake her up whom I couldn’t. I could tell that she was sleeping due to the fact that she was wrapped up in the blanket which she usually hogs. Confused on why I couldn’t wake her up it became apparent to me that this is a dream. We had been broken up for some time and haven’t lived with each other for more than a year. When I came to this conclusion her body disappeared and a sadness feeling overwhelmed me. All of a sudden these two people appeared and started to cheer my up. Although their faces were not clear to me but I knew that these two were people I trusted and felt very comfortable with. They instructed me to pack up and begin our trip back home. That my time here was done and that I need to move on.
At first I didn’t know what or how I should perceive this dream. It has been months since I had any dreams that involved her. We haven’t spoken to each other in months. Maybe something I did during the day must have triggered this scenario. In no way this is an attempt to rekindle my relationship with my ex. After our last conversation about two months ago we said some harsh words to each other and things ended badly. I guess we tried to convince ourselves that we could still be best friends but in reality that is hard to do with any long relationship. There is too much feelings and memories one needs to put away to be able to function with that person as a friend. Even though I feel that I have moved on, there must be a part of me that is holding on to something in my past.

5 Tips to Increase Your Chances at The Bars!

2007-07-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

1. Be Confident

No lady is looking for a man who doesn’t believe in himself. Make eye contact at first and then approach. They want you to make the effort and show that you’re trying your best to get to know them. It’s like a cat and mouse game. The more effort they notice the more appealing you are to them. Be complimentary, but don’t go over board. Most women can tell when you’re blowing smoke up their ass or being sincere.

2. Dress to Impress

Not many girls are attracted to a man who looks like a bum. Small things such as clean nails and shiny shoes do help out. Girls pay attention to the smallest details. Haven’t you notice when a girlfriend remembers your whole wardrobe. She can tell when you buy a new shirt or underwear. Most girls put an effort into getting ready when they go out. They expect the same for you. Besides when you dress up, it makes you feel better and have more confidence. Try it and see how you feel and act in the bar.

3. Humor is good approach.

Most girls will admit that a sense of humor on a guy is very sexy. Women want someone playful whom they can enjoy being around. A man who can laugh at himself is very attractive. This doesn’t mean you should be a Jim Carey and an act like a fool all night. There is a time to be serious and a time to let you guard down.

4. Art of Conversation

Ask questions about your date. Questions that require some time and thought to respond. Make her feel that you’re really interested in what she has to talk about. Appreciate the mind cause the body is what got you the nerve to talk to her in the first place. Besides questions or topics that make her think gives you time to think of what to say next and where to go from there.

5. Reading Body Language is Important

How many times have you seen a girl at a bar and she is yawning, which is a sign that she is bored. This means either no one is paying her attention and could be a time for you to strike. Try! Either way you wont waste your time wonder what if. Pay attention to how they response to your questions and how interested they are in the conversation that your having. You should be able to recognize what sort of a general mood someone is in by the way that they hold themselves. Learning to read body language will give you an idea where the conversation is going, or when its time to pack it up.

Hopefully you can use these generals tips to get your Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Riyo Mori. For those who do not recognize the last name I mentioned. She won Miss Universe 2007 and is definitely a hottie! You only fail 100 percent of the time when you dont try! Besides, you will visit many different bars in your life time and might never see the same girl that shot you down a few weeks ago. What do you have to lost but your fears!

Thank You For Drinking!

2007-07-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

It has been about one month and half since my arrival back to NYC. My friends and I have been hitting the bars pretty hard to celebrate. We hit the Hispanic bars in Queens to the Korean bars in K-Town. Besides the nationality difference, there isn’t much difference in prices. In fact the bars in Queens were only a dollar or two cheaper per drink than the ones in the city. Beers such as Coronas and Heinekens were about five to six dollars in both boroughs. Which is quite reasonable for drinks in NYC I guess. If you think about it, you’re paying six to seven dollars for cigarettes. Everything in New York is priced up. What really blew my mind was the cost of mixed drinks at some of these places. I was playing eleven dollars for a Grey Goose and Cranberry at Sutton Place which is on 54st and 2nd ave. I didn’t mind since the drinks were kinda strong and there were many attractive young ladies throughout the night at this bar. The crowd didn’t die out till about fifteen minutes past three am. Long Islands in K-town were expensive. The drinks cost us about fourteen dollars per Long Island. I felt that’s quite expensive for a drink. Although the drinks were strong and had numerous cute female bartenders, that is still a steep price to pay. If you can afford it than what the hell! Drinks are on you. Next Friday (July 20, 2007), I will be attending the Ice Bar for Obi-Wan’s Birthday Bash. Most of my peoples from New Rochelle should be there. The week after that, it will be C-3PO bachelor party in the city. My wallet is already feeling the burn but hey, your only young once. Best make the most out of it.

Fantastic Four: The Fall of Jango

2007-07-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

It all starts out on a Saturday night at Jango’s house. The pre game drinking involves Absolut Vodka and orange juice. A Great way to start the night without having to hurt your wallet at the bar trying to get a buzz. We decided to hit Nevada Smith's on 3 Ave & 14th St. There was Jango Fett, R2-D2(aka Artoo), Chewbacca (aka Chewy) and the Han Solo (aka Da Hero) on this mission to meet women. Of course I am driving as always since my boyz tend to get wasted beyond the point of no return. Recently Jango broken up with his girlfriend whom he has been dating for many years. It has been a week since he decided that they should go their separate ways. She called him that night to meet up with her and her friend at Nevada Smith's. The plan was to hook up R2-D2 with her friend who was her sorority sister. The only problem with this plan is that Jango and his girlfriend are not together anymore. It has only been a few days since they broke up and they are gonna need time to grow without each other. This can only lead to problems when alcohol is involved. I have nothing against his ex. I like her as a person and thought she was a very nice girlfriend for my boy. But Jango has his heart somewhere else. He wants to meet other woman and be free from his ex. He knows it’s not right to keep leading this girl on cause in reality he likes her as a friend and doesn’t want to hurt her. Jango doesn’t just see her as a piece of meat that he could have a "friends with benefits" relationship with. If he can keep this relationship as friends and not lead this girl on when he’s drunk than this plan might work after all. What happens! He gets drunk and they are making out by the nights end. R2-D2 is making good progress and looks like he will be leaving early with her sorority sister. Artoo is short on money since we have been drinking all night and city life is expensive. But we all rally together and give him whatever cash we can spare. What is a few bucks for a friend in need. (Now Im broke in the city and all I have left are my credit cards) They leave! Everyone thought R2-D2 and this girl would be great together since they have many things in common. For instance, they went to the same college, have similar backgrounds, match up well in height and most likely share the same values. This leaves Chewy and his wingman Han Solo to navigate around the bar and pick up single women. So Chewy and da hero are trying their best to dance and hook up with the women whom seem to be having a good time on the dance floor. We snag a group (6 to 7 girls of all sort of sizes) to dance with. With this many girls in the group we figure at least two of them would be interested in us since the numbers are in our favor. The thing is they came in for only 30 mins to pre game for the club. The problem now is that we are both short on cash and are not dress for the club. Da hero has jeans on and chewy is wearing shorts. They seemed sorry to leave us but they are having a girl’s night out and want to the hit club already. This is where the turning point of the night for us. We hit the peak of the night and the crowd started to die down and the prospects started fading away. We figured at least R2-D2 has prospered from this night. Jango is drunk but at least he has someone to hold and share an intimate time with. Unfortunately we see Artoo walking in and start talking about how lame she was. I knew that from the beginning because she didn’t want to drink with us once we got there, and was kinda quiet throughout the night. But that is because Chewy and I tried to distance ourselves from her so that R2-D2 would get a better chance of knowing her. They seem to be a good match. Honestly she looked like a girl that would want a serious relationship right away and would require high maintenance to keep. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but I recently came off a very serious and long relationship. I would prefer not to start another long and serious relationship for at least a few months. Artoo was kinda down that he couldn’t close the deal but I reinsured him that everyone strikes out from time to time. It is what you do after that builds character. So at the end of the night, I drove everyone home. When we got to Jango’s home he was sober enough to realize that it would be best if his ex would go home instead of spending the night. To avoid the outward mourning they would have the next day. This made his ex sad and maybe she thought things was gonna get better or that there was still a possibility for them to reunite. So I drove her home and the rest of the gang too. Everyone had a good time but I guess everyone wanted it to end differently in their own way. No one really got the girl or guy they wanted. In retrospect, Dont hang out with your ex girlfriend or boyfriend unless your both finally over each other. It's not fair for the person who might still have strong feelings for the other individual. You wouldn't want to feel that way or go thru this experience. On the bright side, Lucky I didn’t get stop by the police or fall asleep on the road. Usually takes me about 25 mins to get back to my place after dropping my boyz off in Queens. Da hero has never been stop by police or got any accidents (knock on wood) while driving home. Trust me, I have had my shares of adventurous rides home but this time I didn’t get sloppy drunk. Just wanted to get home and lay down on my own bed.

Da Hero Returns Home!

2007-07-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

Let me first give a description of myself. For the past few years I have been living the good life in Illinois. Raised in Queens NYC all my life I decided to attend college in the Midwest. Thinking I would get more work done there but I realize that is all not true. They party like a rock-star out there as well. After finishing school and breaking up with my girlfriend (3 yrs relationship) which itself is another long story. I decided to head back to the Home of the Brave (NYC) and start my life fresh. Most of my childhood friends still live in NY but a few have moved and now live all over the States. Most of my family is here in NY. All names have been changed to protect the innocent. I don’t want my boys getting in trouble or feeling embarrassed of any events that I write on the blog. My friends usually refer to me as the “Da Hero”. Not because I always do the right thing or that I get the girl at the end. These days I have been batting like Carlos Delgado if u watch baseball and are a Mets fan you would get my metaphor. I am a Buddhist by heart and try to follow most of the righteous path. Although it is hard at times, I do strafe away from time to time and make mistakes. Whatever I write here will detail my nights out and what exciting events happen if any to me or my peoples.