Moving...

I've been turned on to wordpress.com, another blogging site. It has some better features to it than blogger. So, I'm moving this new venture over to wordpress. Same title, same author, same ideas, just on a different site. So check it out.

http://freetimeblogtime.wordpress.com/

Looking For That Christmas Gift For Someone Special?

I've got an idea for you.

Buy them a space shuttle. Seriously.

If You're Scared of Losing Your Money in the Stock Market...

I'm by no means a financial expert, but I do think I understand what kind of things work for people my age. One thing I know I'm afraid of is investing in the stock market. I'm young, and therefore don't have a ton of money to my name. Just the thought of a little bit of the money I have being lost is scary. After doing some quick research about a month and a half ago, I think I've found something that works very well until I eventually invest in some stocks.

I looked into E-Trade and found out it is more than a website where you can buy and sell stocks. I discovered E-Trade is now a major player in the banking industry. You can buy CD's from E-Trade, and sign up for checking and savings accounts. And you can do it all from the chair in front of your computer. If you look on their webpage, you will see they have what they call a "Complete Savings Account." It pays 3.30% interest, they say that is 8 times the national average, and I know my previous savings account was earning less than 1%.

I signed up for a Complete Savings Account and the beauty is, you can link it with any external bank account. I still have a checking account with Bank of America. I can still deposit and withdraw money at will from my Bank of America account and then transfer funds over to the E-Trade account. While the Complete Savings Account doesn't have the potential to boom, as the stock market does, it is consistent. For a recent college graduate, putting away a portion of your paycheck into a Complete Savings Account every two weeks will probably yield a greater financial gain than the stock market in these current times.

I know the potential isn't there to double your investment in two weeks, but with this method, you won't lose your money either.

Another Venture

I'm a sports statistics nut. I thought about doing what I am about to describe here on this blog, but I didn't think it would fit. And, honestly, I'd go overboard with it on here. I don't want this blog to be strictly about sports. Anyway, I always look up sports stats and always find something interesting. So, I thought a "Stat of the Day" thing would work out great. Sports fans love these little quirks.

Anyway, one of my roommates from college has a strictly sports blog that he writes with his cousin. He extended me an offer to write on there a while ago and I never really got around to it. Well, now I have. I'll be providing a "Stat of the Day" over there as often as I can. I'll also contribute some other stuff as well. So check it out. The link is below.

http://classic17.wordpress.com/

George Walks Down The Hall

An effort in creative writing.

George's toes were the first to move from the his carpeted room onto the hardwood floor in his hallway. The wood was slightly colder than the carpet. His right foot was the first to make the turn to begin the trip, his left leg swinging in succession. As George eyed his walk, still a little groggy from the night out before, his brain began a process unknown to him.

George's brain began to count and measure everything around.

15 feet to the end of the hall. 12 to the front door.

One step, two step, three step...

George passed the kitchen on his right. His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the table where George ate his meals.

5 feet to the table.

One package of sliced chicken in the fridge. Two beers. Half a gallon of milk. Maybe bad, maybe not. Cereal...eight step, nine step...

George reached his front hall closet and opened the door. Bent over to put on his shoes and tie them up. He reached up for his coat and stocking hat.

Things to do: mall. bank. grocery store. gym?

Dishwasher needs to be run, laundry needs to be done, cookies in the drawer, credit card...

George zipped his coat up and turned around. He was now facing his front door.

Two steps to the door. Handle. Turn. Exit. Car keys?

George tapped the right-hand pocket of his jeans. His keys were there, as was his wallet. He reached for the door and opened it, stepping into the world outside. As the snow fell around him and he took a breath of the sharp January air, George smiled. A day where he wasn't sure what would happen awaited him. And as he walked through the light dusting of snow toward his car, he couldn't help but feel happy for the first time in about a month.

8 feet to the car. Get the keys out. The gun is in the glovebox. The package is in the trunk.

A Dash Of Phil Jackson's Genius

Phil Jackson is possibly the greatest NBA coach in history, and it isn't because of the plays he draws up on whiteboards and the game decisions he makes. Instead, it is his ability to pull a team together and drive it toward success.

On ESPN's Pardon the Interruption today, Jackson was the guest for the "5 Good Minutes" segment, where the hosts (Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon) get to ask questions of the guest for 5 good minutes. I thought the final question brought an interesting answer from Jackson. Kornheiser asked why Jackson had decided to go with a clean-shaven look this season. Normally Jackson sports some kind of facial hair.

Jackson responded by saying it makes him look younger and that he likes the way it looks. But he then brought up an interesting point. He said he likes to change his look in some way each year so that the press can't run some old photo of him with a particular facial expression. This is something that has always gotten to me with the press. For example, if the Lakers lose, why do they have to run a picture of Jackson yelling at the team? If something dumbfounding happens, why the picture with the coach with his arms up in the air?

From my experience in a newsroom, newspapers do try to steer clear of these standard images, but sometimes they get run anyway. I like that Jackson is trying to fight this battle in his own unique way.

It Takes A Long Time To Realize Someone Is Actually Gone

My grandfather died this July, and just now it is beginning to sink in that he is really gone. He lived in San Diego and I live in Chicago, so I saw him maybe six times a year. But he always was in town around Christmas, and with that day gradually growing closer, I begin to realize that he really is gone.

For the past five years Gramps gave out the same Christmas present to pretty much everyone in the family - cashmere sweaters. He would pick a different color or a different cut, but the gift was the same: Land's End cashmere sweaters, and everyone always loved them. We have Christmas Eve at my uncle's house every year, and there my cousins, my sister and I would debate what the sweaters would look like. There was usually one color for the girls of the family and one color for the guys. The speculation went for both genders.

"This year, I'm thinking V-neck."
"No, we got V-neck last year, crew neck."
"Maybe it's a vest?"
"No way. No vest."

Usually about 15 minutes later we would move on to another topic.

I love my cashmere sweaters. I find it amazing how everyone in the family can enjoy the gift he gave each year knowing it was going to be the same gift as last year. This year, I added a sixth cashmere to my wardrobe, another gift from Gramps. Only this one was one he had in his home. My cousins, sister and I knew the sweaters he had (and he had a bunch) were too good and meant too much to him to give away. So on a summer day in San Diego, sitting in Gramps' bedroom with the sound of the Pacific Ocean in our ears and the sweet smell of San Diego flowers in our nostrils, we each took at least one.

Tonight, I miss my grandfather. And on Christmas Eve, I'm going to miss him even more.

A Bearded Man Goes to Lambeau Field

This weekend I went to Green Bay, Wisconsin to watch the Packers play the Houston Texans at famed Lambeau Field. I'm a Chicago Bears fan, not a Packers fan. And even though the Bears and Packers are rivals, I must say that everybody who is a fan of sport needs to take a trip to Green Bay to see a game at Lambeau.

It was just a great experience. It's amazing that there is this small town with a professional football team. You drive around the town and see houses, a shopping mall and restaurants and then you see the enormous Lambeau Field rise out among it. Everybody up there is die hard for their team and the town really does shut down when a game is being played.

I also think you have to go up there in December or January to get the full experience. Nothing says seeing a game played on the Frozen Tundra more than freezing yourself in the stands.

Don't Call It A Comeback, I've Been Here For Years

I'm back on blogger, hopefully publishing with some kind of consistency this time around. I'm looking for an outlet to spark some creativity, express some viewpoints and just write on a consistent basis. Hopefully those of you who maneuver to this page like what you read.

Basically, I'm a kid out of college without a full-time job. I do freelance reporting work for the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper. That gives me lots of free time during the day. And sometimes SportsCenter, Home Improvement, Yes Dear, The King of Queens and playing video games get a little bit dull. So, this is going to present a young persons view on the world and what's happening in it.

Enjoy.

Welcome to Free Time Blog Time.