A Week in the Life of a Full Time RVer, Part 2

!±8± A Week in the Life of a Full Time RVer, Part 2

This is my third article on full-time RV living. In this article I am going to cover those chores that we tend to do once every 6 months or so. Some of these are seasonal items.

Most of these seasonal or semi-annual tasks deal with the fact that your RV is considered a vehicle. As such there are maintenance and inspection items that need to be taken care of. First is the semi-annual washing and waxing of the RV. For this I recommend that you go out and purchase a cheap high pressure washer. I got a Black & Decker model from our local Wally World (Walmart) for about a few summers ago and we are still using it. Remember we are full-timers and do not have a lot of space to store items. So one of those big powerful wheeled jobs is not a good idea. This is also one task that you can easily find someone else to do. This year we actually had a local company come in and wash our rig. It cost us and saved us 6 hours of time. They did not do as good of a job as we do, but then again he didn't spend 6 hours washing and waxing the rig either. I think he was done in an hour. I am pretty sure come spring time, he will be getting another call to clean our RV. Seems to me that I have better things to do than spend a good part of the day for my wife and I washing and waxing the trailer.

If you are going to do this yourself, start on the roof! You will be so surprised at how much dirt and crud comes off the roof. If you wash the sides first, you will only end up rewashing them later.

As with any wheeled vehicle you have to perform some maintenance every now and then. Did you know that tires lose about a pound of pressure every month? That means that over the course of a year your tires on the RV will drop 12 lbs in air pressure. It's a good idea to keep the pressure up in the tires. They will last longer and the stability of the RV will be better. Another task that needs to be done periodically is lubrication. This includes the axles and bearings. If you have a generator, you also need to change the oil in it just like a car. Every three months at least, whether or not you use it. That is one of the reasons we didn't get a generator. Our 12 volts batteries have supplied enough power for the few times the lights went out.

If you sit in one spot for too long, the jacks, wheels and king pin stands are going to sink into the ground. About once a year or so, it doesn't hurt to level the RV. For us that means hooking up the truck, taking the load off the jacks and maybe moving the trailer a couple of inches to more level ground. Doesn't take long. In addition to leveling the RV it exercises the tires a little bit.

We had to replace our water heater this year. Seems we missed some maintenance steps which included draining and flushing out the water heater and replacing the cathode rod. Guess I can't complain too much, went 6 years on the one we got with the RV originally. Our RV repairman provided some maintenance tips which I have added to my annual inspection tasks. Cleaning the Hot Water Heater, Hot Air Heater and Refrigerator are now annual tasks. By the way, cleaning the refrigerator is not the inside part. RV refrigerators have a heat exchanger on the outside that needs to be cleaned of bugs and dirt.

Another annual task for me is to exercise the slide outs. Ours are out all year round, so my annual inspection is to pull them all the way in, check for lubrication and then extend them out again. Some slide outs use hydraulics and some are electrical. Each have different maintenance requirements. Check your owner's manual for any details, if there is nothing listed as your RV dealer.

Finally, there is the vehicle inspection. Some states require them and some don't. We are currently in Pennsylvania and they do require inspections. It is a once a year requirement which happens to be when I get all of my maintenance done as well as any other inspections that might be needed or desired.

Well there you have it. Life in an RV. My wife and I love it. In fact, we are now buying a new RV and expect to pick it up soon. I hope you have found these articles interesting and have gained some knowledge on full time living in an RV.

A Week in the Life of a Full Time RVer, Part 2

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!±8± Black & Decker D2030 Auto-Off Digital Advantage Iron

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Golf Humor: Crazy Golfers

!±8± Golf Humor: Crazy Golfers

Golf is a game that will make you crazy! Over the years I've met all kinds of crazy golfers-so crazy I decided to write them all down. Are you among these CRAZY golfers?:

Crazy Golfers: I-Can't-Decide-On-A-Club Guy

I-Can't-Decide-On-A-Club Guy quickly he pulls the five-iron out of his bag. Looking again at the yardage, he puts back the five-iron and pulls the four-iron.

After a couple of nice practice swings he settles in to his shot...looks at the flag...looks down.

He stands up, walks back to the bag. Might really need a hybrid, he decides. He walks back to the ball with his 3-hybrid.

He checks the wind by throwing grass in the air...settles in...stands up. Maybe it is a five-metal, he thinks. No, it's definitely the hybrid.

He slashes down at the ball with the hybrid and shoots it over the green into a condo complex.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Stand-In-the-Tee-Box-Too-Long

Mr. Stand-In-the-Tee-Box-Too-Long has hit his drive, watched it land in the trees, and continues to stand in place, talking to himself about what he did wrong on the shot.

You are standing behind waiting to hit. He is muttering and doing a slow motion replay of his swing to see where it broke down while you cool your heels.

Crazy Golfers: Greenskeeper Guy

Golfers are charged with repairing their ball marks, the indentation the ball makes when it hits the green. Left untouched a ball mark becomes a brown scar. Some golfers are less than attentive to this duty.

Greenskeeper Guy has made it his personal mission in life to right this wrong. He will repair his ball mark and 47 more. As you reach to repair your own mark, suddenly he is there with his special tool, saying "I got it."

Crazy Golfers: Let-Me-Put-the-Flag-Back Guy

Let-Me-Put-the-Flag-Back Guy insists on putting the flag back on every hole. If you putt out and then pick up the flag to wait for the others to putt he will rush over to you and say, "I got it. Thanks."

This dude perplexes me. I don't know if he used to be a caddy, is anal-retentive, or likes to be super-helpful. Sometimes he'll grab the flag as you are inches away from putting it back yourself. "Don't worry about it! I got it!" he says as he snatches it away.

Crazy Golfers: Gotta-Find-My-Tee Guy

After hitting his drive, he begins the search for his tee. However, the tee has decided to make itself scarce.

It must be made of gold and silver because Gotta-Find-My-Tee Guy is making ever broader search circles trying to rescue it.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Rule Book

"Uh, you have to count that stroke," Mr. Rule Book tells you. "According to the amended USGA rulebook- Section 4, Paragraph 2, you may replace your ball within two club lengths no nearer the hole or a Democrat. Failure to do so is a one stroke penalty."

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Walk Ahead

He is the first to hit his drive. Rather than wait for everyone to hit, Mr. Walk Ahead is off to the races, walking along the tree line to his ball. Later in the round you will start to hit an approach shot when you notice Mr. Walk Ahead is actually up on the green.

He doesn't seem to be watching so you yell "Fore!" or "Heads Up!"

He waves impatiently as if to say, "go ahead and hit, I see you."

So you do just that, wondering why someone in your own foursome is standing on the green when everyone else is 150 yards out.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Wait-Until-It-Is-My-Turn-To-Putt-to-Fix-Every-Blade-of-Grass-in-My-Line

He's the last to putt so he has had plenty of time to fix ball marks or stray pebbles in his line. But he waits until it is his turn to putt.

All of a sudden he is walking up and down the line, taking a survey of every blade of grass between his ball and the hole, leaning down to stab the green with his ball mark tool or to sweep the ground with his hand.

This goes on for 20 minutes while you recalculate your quarterly taxes in your head.

Crazy Golfers: Frozen in Time Gal

Frozen in Time Gal has settled in to hit a shot. Soon she will hit the ball.

Any. Time. Now. There she goes. Nope. Still frozen. She's thinking. About something.

Here she goes. Nope. She still hasn't moved.

Maybe she died in her golf shoes and her body went into rigor mortis.

Wait. I saw a flicker of life. Now she's got it! Nope, false alarm. Just a waggle.

My mind is wandering now. I need to pick up milk on the way home.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Hard on Himself

Mr. Hard on Himself loves to berate himself after every shot. He does this because he thinks that's how good golfers act.

He may hit a towering three-iron draw to 5 feet of the pin at which point you say, "Nice shot!"

He replies angrily, "Yeah but I left myself a downhill putt!"

Crazy Golfers: "Good-Shot! Nope!" Guy

This is a close cousin to "Good Shot!" Guy. In this case, as soon as you swing he says "Good Shot!" enthusiastically followed immediately by a condescending "Nope!" Occasionally he will vary it by saying "Good Shot! Nope, you didn't get it!"

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Latest Equipment

This guy has the latest Callaway Big-As-Half-a-Loaf-of-Rye-Bread Bertha. He had the first metal woods on the market. He had the first graphite shafts. He had the first titanium.

He scours golf magazines looking for articles like, "Will the New Kryptonite Shafts Help YOUR Game?" All day he must tell you what equipment you should have, "You should get a Tight Lies. You would have hit a good shot there with a Tight Lies."

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Golf Joke

Mr. Golf Joke spends the whole round reeling off one joke after another.

His golf joke recall is amazing:
Fred got home from his Sunday round of golf later than normal and very tired. "Bad day at the course?" his wife asked.

"Everything was going fine," he said. "Then Harry had a heart attack and died on the 10th tee."

"Oh, that's awful!"

"You're not kidding. For the whole back nine it was hit the ball, drag Harry, hit the ball, drag Harry.

He can go from a long, story type joke to a short one liner faster than a Nick Price swing:
I told my friend I got a set of Callaways for my wife and he said, "Nice Trade."

At first it is entertaining but by the fifth hole you are ready for his show to be cancelled.

Crazy Golfers: Good Shot Guy

Many golfers will say "Good shot!" during a round. Good Shot Guy says it after every shot made by anyone on the course. They are so eager sometimes they will say it before you actually hit the ball.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Multi-Bet

Mr. Multi-Bet isn't happy unless there are 9 bets and games going on at the same time.

"OK, Sam got a Sandie and Ben got a Greenie. Ben was Wolf on that one and also completed the Bingo Bango Bongo. Our side got the Nassau on the back and the 18.

I used up all my Criers and Whiners and missed the putt. Jimbo got two, count 'em, TWO, Barkies which I've never seen. We did a Double Secret Probation Press and you guys countered with the Houston We Have A Problem.

All told, you owe us 7,000."

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Can't-Decide-Where-to-Tee-the-Ball

He leans over and tees up his ball. He stands behind the ball to start his pre-shot routine. Not satisfied with the where the ball is teed, he moves it to the other side of the tee-box and begins his routine again. Still not happy, he moves the ball to the middle of the teeing area. You are so happy when he tees off that you don't see his ball sailing into the lake.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Instructor

Mr. Instructor offers golf tips without anyone asking for them. He has every golf book, video and gadget and is hell-bent on sharing this knowledge with everyone he comes into contact with (despite his 20 handicap).

Crazy Golfers: Mr. "Did You Watch My Ball?"

A close cousin of Mr. Did You See My Ball?, this guy enlists you as his personal caddy. He's not asking if you merely saw the shot, he is asking if you did your job and watched his shot every second and can point out exactly what tree he hit. Expect to be caddying all day, as he will do this on every shot.

Crazy Golfers: Gotta-Go Guy

Every time you turn around Gotta-Go Guy is answering the call of nature.

His bladder is smaller than a ball marker.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Start-a-Story-at-the-Wrong-Time

This guy always starts a new story at the worst time. Your foursome is on the green putting. The group behind had been waiting all day.

As he leans over to putt Mr. Start A Story at The Wrong Time suddenly rises up and says, "I was in this tournament one time. Me and this other guy were tied going into the final hole. This other guy has a short putt to win it. He gets cocky and slaps it in with one hand as he faces the hole. My buddy says that is a two stroke penalty. The guys says no way. My buddy showed him the rulebook right there. He was right. And I won it."

Looking back you see steam coming out of the waiting foursome.

Crazy Golfers: Exact Yardage Guy

Exact Yardage Guy needs to know the precise yardage at all times.

"Is the pin at the front of the green or the back?"

"What does the yardage on that drain say?"

"Let me check my course guide- it says it is 183 yards from this eucalyptus tree."

After tearing up some grass and throwing it in the air they say, "Looks like about a half club breeze." This wouldn't be so bad if he did it quickly but he evaluates every yard like he is planning a construction site.

Crazy Golfers: Giant-Visor Lady

Giant Visor Lady has a visor that is 43 times bigger than her head. It expands out from her forehead like an awning. I believe the idea is to keep the sun from ever hitting her face. You could keep the sun off half of Wyoming with that visor. Sometimes you get several Giant Visor Ladies in one foursome- when they get to the green they cannot move without cutting each other.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Talk-Talk

The opposite of Quiet Guy, Mr. Talk-Talk can't shut up. His signature move: he keeps talking while the other three golfers in the foursome are teeing off-- he thinks he is lowering his voice but it in reality he has just brought it down to normal speaking level. Most of the time his buddies are used to it and laugh it off or ignore him. The people putting on the green behind him are not so lucky.

Crazy Golfers: Quiet Guy

You'll forget he's even in your group. Quiet guy doesn't enter into conversation or make any sound at all. That has its benefits. But after three hours of complete silence it starts to get creepy.

Crazy Golfers: Overbearing Husband Instructor Guy

Overbearing Husband Instructor Guy is out with his wife who is learning the game. Rather than spring for lessons he has named himself her pro. She seems rather quiet the whole time. All is low-key until she misses a putt on the fourth green.

"NO, I said aim HERE!" he yells, pointing at a brown spot surrounded by fifty other brown spots.

Later she chunks a three-wood which skitters 30 yards along the grass. He shoots forward in the cart without her and stomps on the brakes near her ball. As she walks up he yells, "NO! That's not what I showed you!"

Crazy Golfers: I-Can't-Remember-Golf-Jokes Guy

Unlike Mr. Golf Joke who remembers thousands of jokes, I-Can't-Remember-Golf-Jokes Guy starts jokes with aplomb but is soon lost.

"Tiger, Arnie and St. Peter are teeing off. Wait, I mean Tiger, Jack, and God are teeing off.....wait......"

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Real Men Play Blades

Blades are thin, knife-like golf clubs favored by better golfers. M

Mr. Real Men Play Blades looks down with disdain on anybody playing perimeter-weighted game-improvement clubs, which is to say 99% of golfers.

Crazy Golfers: Ben-Hogan-Superfan Guy

Ben Hogan Superfan Guy worships at the Church of Ben Hogan-- he has every book, video or filmstrip created by Mr. Hogan. He has a tattered 25-year-old paperback copy of 'Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf' in his golf bag which he refers to between each shot.

He is using a set of Ben Hogan blades his dad bought for him in 1968 and he has used ever since. After the round is over he will sit on the golf discussion boards and pontificate about Hogan's secret and the correct use of pronation.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Blame the Course

As his game deteriorates over 18 holes he starts blaming the course.

"Don't they ever mow this rough?"

"What is the stimpmeter on this green? Zero?"

"This course has gone to hell!"

"Is the greenskeeper on medication?"

Crazy Golfers: Mr. "I-Know-Where-Your-Ball-Went"

You shank a 3-iron to the right rough. "I saw it!" he says. "It just went over the cart-path!" Oddly, the ball is not there. It never is where he says it will be.

The false hope he builds up results in disappointment every time.

"Wow! I was sure it would be right there!" he points at the ground.

Except that it's not.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. "I'll Find It"

Mr. I'll Find It spends 20 minutes looking for a lost ball. These thrifty golfers organize a safari with tents and camping gear and push further and further into the underbrush. One of the adventurers cries out, "Eureka, we've found it, I see a Titleist at the bottom of that ravine!"

Crazy Golfers: Don't-Try-To-Be-Tiger-Woods Instructor Guy

This instructor will admonish you "don't try to be like Tiger Woods. You can't be like Tiger Woods."

Later he puts your swing on video and asks you to huddle around the computer monitor. He has split the screen with your lumpy body on the left. On the right he has, that's right, Tiger Woods.

He proceeds to show you how you can "make your swing more like Tiger Woods."

Crazy Golfers: Over-The-Top Reaction Guy

Over-The-Top Reaction Guy lines up quietly for a putt. When it misses the hole he runs around the green making loud choking noises while laughing uncontrollably and looking up at the sky with hands outstretched.

The ball has rolled six feet past the hole which leaves him still away. At first, the other golfers wait to see if he is going to return to the game.

Noticing that he is now dancing around the fringe flailing his arms and repeatedly yelling, "That's insane!," they decide to putt out without him.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. I Coulda Been Somebody

"I was All-State my junior and senior year in high school," Mr. I Coulda Been Somebody tells you.

He definitely has skills--you can see it in his swing--but he reminds you every 3 holes.

"I actually beat Tiger Woods once when we were 9-year-olds. I was going to the show- until I broke my thumb senior year at Oklahoma State. Was never the same after that."

Crazy Golfers: "No Pressure" Guy

All day you will hear a color commentary of your game followed by the catchphrase "No pressure." Sometimes they are just trying to be funny, other times they are setting up the betting, or at times they are just being a dork.

You line up your putt. He says, "You've missed this putt all day but you need to make this one for your par. No pressure."

You step into a shot. "Looks like you are 150 yards out and you really need a cut shot here but you don't have that in your bag. No pressure."

You are in the rough in the trees. "Well you could go over the top but it's risky but going under the branches is worse. No pressure."

Crazy Golfers: "I'm Usually Better Than This" Guy

After chunking, chili-dipping and slicing into the trees all day, this golfer announces "I'm usually better than this."

This is sometimes followed by a medical excuse: "This sprained wrist is killing me."

Crazy Golfers: Plumb-Bob Guy

Plumb-Bob Guy evaluates a putt from every direction. First they stand behind the ball and plumb-bob their putter as if they are surveying new road construction.

They don't feel confident until they consult a U.S. Corps of Engineers topographic map they have spread out on a Black and Decker Workmate set up on the green.

Then they take a soil sample to determine moisture content and grass variety. By this time you've sat in the fairway so long waiting for them to clear the green you get hungry so you build a fire and roast hot dogs.

Crazy Golfers: Ms. Alignment

Ms. Alignment is very concerned with aligning every molecule of her body before beginning her swing. She stands next to the ball and presses the club across her shoulders as she looks toward the target.

Next she holds the club across her thighs and rechecks the target. Light is slipping away as she holds the club at arm's length like a weight bar, checking that her feet and toes are aligned. Satisfied, she lashes at the ball and drives it straight into a house.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Fashion

Mr. Fashion looks like he just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren golf magazine ad. God forbid it starts to rain. Mr. Fashion forgot to pack a brolly and now his cashmere argyle sweater is starting to look like a wet cat walking home during a storm. I hope those purplish golf shoes are waterproof.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. "Is That My Ball?"

Mr. "Is That My Ball?" will constantly walk up to your ball, which is clearly marked in 7 day-glow markers, and ask "Is that my ball?"

At least 6 times during the round he will stand over your ball ready to hit it until you say, "Uh, were you playing a ball with more graffiti on it than a school in the Bronx? I think that's my ball you are getting ready to slice into the lake."

Crazy Golfers: Mr. "Did You See My Ball?"

He can't see past his nose or he keeps his head down so long he never gets a bead on his shot. Either way he constantly asks if you saw where it went.

"Did You See My Ball?"

"Yes, I saw it hit the church tower and bounce into an open casket at a funeral. Good luck with that."

Crazy Golfers: Mr. No Putting Touch

Carefully he examines his 15 foot putt from 10 angles. Finally he pulls the trigger and blows the putt 12 feet past the hole. Lining up again he sends it 8 feet past.

This guy has hands like Hormel Hams and the sensitive touch of a hockey fight.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. What Flag?

Mr. What Flag? never, never, never puts the flag back in the hole. That's the kind of menial work best served by, say, anyone he happens to be playing with.

He might be standing right next to it and all has to do is bend down to pick it up. But no, it must be his poor eyesight because he never sees it. It is like it doesn't exist in his mind.

Crazy Golfers: Mr. Logos

With a huge brand name logos on his hat, shirt, shirt sleeve, belt, slacks and shoes, he looks like a NASCAR driver who crashed into the pro shop!

Crazy Golfers: Mr. "Give-Me-a-Six"

On a par 4 you watch this golfer hit two shots OB. Later he takes three shots to get out of a green-side trap, blades his chip back across the green again and then four-putts.

Heading back to the cart he calls out to his buddy, "Give me a six."

Golf Humor: Crazy Golfers

Golf Rangefinder Decide Now

How To Buy And Sell Stock Options Online

!±8± How To Buy And Sell Stock Options Online

A revolution has occurred over the last 10 years or so in the brokerage industry. Commissions have fallen dramatically and online trading has made buying and selling securities, especially stock options, faster and easier.

When I was about 10 or 12 years old, I asked a full service broker for a commission schedule. I had already been hit with 0 to 0 commission charges on "market" orders, and I thought it made sense to tailor the number of shares I was buying to the optimal commission threshold. But you would have thought I asked for the guy's Social Security Number and credit card number based on the look he gave me. Then his response was something like, "There's just too many factors affecting the commission... you should just place your order and I'll try to get you a good rate.".... What a crock!! Even at age 10, I knew enough to never buy through that guy again. By the time I graduated from college, I sold everything I had brought through that brokerage firm and never went back.

Today, the stock broker's world has turned upside down. You can trade securities yourself online for as little as , , , and even for free (up to a certain number of trades per month or per year) based on the brokerage firm you pick. Of course, when you trade online, there's no one second guessing you (yea!!), and you can make mistakes (be careful). In this article, I'm going to discuss the nuances of trading stock options online.

When you buy and sell stocks online, everything's pretty simple; just specify whether you want to buy or sell, the ticker symbol for the stock, whether it is a "market" order (i.e., buy at the current "ask" rice or sell at the current "bid" price), and whether the order is good today only or until you cancel it.

Stock option orders, however, require a little more information. Basically, you have to specify: the stock, call or put, strike price, expiration month, and "market" order or "limit" order and premium you want. If you are using a combination of options, it gets a little more complex. I'll discuss each of these items below along with some suggested money saving guidelines.

Let's start with opening an online trading account...

This part is pretty simple. You first select an online brokerage firm. You can look for articles that assess the different brokerage firms based on commissions, quality of customer service, speed of filling orders, quality of user interface, etc. Basically, I recommend you first look for "deep discount" brokers with very low commissions (or even free trades per month or year). You can also go with "discount" brokers if you think you might want more help in placing orders, but you will pay more for every transaction and I doubt you will need "help" very long.

Three deep discount brokers I have worked with include Wells Fargo, ETrade, and Zecco Trading. Wells Fargo gives up to 100 free stock trades per year, but their online software is incapable of making several important, though slightly complex option trades. For example, you can't sell naked puts or place spread orders online. However, customer service is pretty good.

ETrade has good customer service and loads of powerful research features, but they cost a little more and have no free trades (to my knowledge). If you are going to get into serious stock options trading, Zecco Trading is the best I have found in terms of "ease of placing complex orders" and getting orders filled. Basic option purchases, selling naked, credit spreads and debit spreads, collars, straddles, and strangles are all easy at Zecco. They even have butterfly and iron condors available although I haven't used them so far. Plus, you get some number of free trades each month and option trades are only .50 plus a few pennies per contract. Zecco customer service is okay.

Once you have selected an online broker, complete an application to open an account. If you are going to trade options, you will also have to complete a Margin Account application and an Options Account application. If you want unlimited options trading privileges, you will need to mark your investment goals to include "speculation", and you will need to claim you have options trading experience. Some options privileges (e.g., selling naked puts) will require large balances too.

Once your account is opened and funded, you can begin trading. The following discussion outlines how to place different types of stock option orders online.

1. Buying puts and calls.

This is the simplest type of option trade. You buy a call if you think the stock is going up and you buy a put if you think the stock price is going down. Each contract is worth 100 shares of stock; please note, this is not true for commodities option contracts (e.g., silver, corn, rice, orange juice, etc.). To buy an option, you need to specify the following:

Quantity: How many contracts are you buying?

Month: In which month and year does the contract expire?

Stock: What is the underlying stock?

Strike price: This is the price reflecting the cost of the underlying stock.

Call or Put: Which type of contract are you buying?

Order Type: Market order or Limit order (specify the premium you're willing to pay)

Premium: What price are you willing to pay?

Term of the Offer: Day order (good for the rest of the trading day) or Good Til Cancelled (GTC: Means the order will stand day after day until filled or until you cancel it)

Example: BUY 2 June2011 XYZ 50 Calls for .90 (giving a price implies a Limit order) Good Til Cancelled

2. Selling Puts and Calls.

A basic sell order works exactly like the basic purchase except you state you are selling instead of buying.

Example: SELL 2 June2011 XYZ 50 Calls for .60 (giving a price implies a Limit order) Good Til Cancelled

3. Buying or Selling Spreads.

A spread is a simultaneous buy and sell of different options as a single order where you specify your premium as a net difference between the premiums of the individual options.

For example, let's say you want to buy a 25 call and sell a 30 call for XYZ stock assuming the premiums are as stated below:

XYZ 25 Call: .50 bid x .00 ask

XYZ 30 Call: .00 bid x .30 ask

As a market order, you would pay .00 for the 25 call and receive .00 for the 30 call. Your net cost would be - = per contract (i.e., 0 net cost per contract since each contract represents 100 shares). But we already know you can beat the market price, so let's try to buy the 25 call for .80 and sell the 30 call for .10. The difference is .80 - .10 = .70. So your order would look like this:

SPREAD order to BUY 3 Jun2011 XYZ 25 Calls and SELL 3 Jun2011 XYZ 30 Calls for a net difference of .70 Good Til Cancelled.

If your order is filled, you will pay a maximum of .70 per contract (i.e., 0 considering each contract is 100 shares of stock). Notice this is 0 less than the market order would have cost you. Since the position took money out of your pocket, this is a "debit" spread, and since both calls expire in the same month, it is a "vertical" spread. If the months were different, it would be a "calendar" spread.

So you have entered a vertical debit spread for a net cost of 0 per contract (plus commissions). For a spread order, you don't care what the individual option prices were. For example, your 25 call may have cost .00 (the Ask price) while you sold the 30 call for .30 (also the Ask price), but you don't care because your "Net Cost" was only .70.

If sold the 25 Call and bought the 30 Call "as insurance" instead... perhaps you think the stock will not rise in price and may even fall... then you will receive more money for the 25 call than the 30 call cost you. This position puts cash in your pocket; thus, it is called a "credit" spread.

For example, if your order looked like this:

SPREAD order to SELL 3 Jun2011 XYZ 25 Calls and BUY 3 Jun2011 XYZ 30 Calls for a net difference of .70 Good Til Cancelled.

Then you receive 0 into your account for each contract pair in your position. Since both options expire in June, this is a "vertical credit" spread. If they had different expiration dates, it would be a "calendar credit" spread.

Just like with the debit spread, you don't care what the individual premiums were; you only care about the premium difference.

3. All other pure option orders.

Pretty much all other combinations of options work the same way as explained above; they are either outright options buys or sells or spreads. The more complex stuff like butterflies and iron condors are just combinations of spreads as far as placing the order goes. Straddle and strangle orders work the same way as spread orders, they are just different combinations of options.

These are the basics of how to trade stock options online and place different types of stock option orders. For more information regarding which strategies to use and which options to select, refer to my option strategies articles.

How To Buy And Sell Stock Options Online

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Homemade BBQ Grills, Roasters and Smokers

!±8± Homemade BBQ Grills, Roasters and Smokers

When you decide to get yourself a grill the very first choice you have to make is to go out and buy one from the local garden or home improvement centre or to make your own. You may be the type of person that would never entertain the thought of building your own BBQ grill, but since your reading this article I'm assuming that you're at least considering the possibility! So let me try and get you over the line and convince you why it's such a good idea!

One of the most common reasons a lot of people will choose the DIY route is money, and it's a perfectly good reason, anything other than the most basic store bought BBQ can run into hundreds of dollars, and when all is said and done, all we want it to do is cook our food, and a homemade grill will do this as well as ANY store bought grill. Depending on the materials you already have available all your grill may cost you is your time, otherwise you should be able to beg, steel or borrow what you need without spending more than a hundred bucks.

For me though, the single biggest motivation for building your own BBQ is the satisfaction that you get from building it, never is this sweeter than while your watching the steaks and burgers sizzling away the first time you fire it up. It's a great buzz, and something you'll never get from a store bought BBQ, no matter how many features it has!

Another good motivator for getting off the couch and building your own is the freedom of design and expression that designing something yourself, from scratch offers. Maybe you want two levels of grill, maybe three, maybe you would like to have a work top or prep area on one side of the grill or maybe on both sides of the grill! Maybe your seven feet tall and you don't want to strain your back bending down to a standard height grill, the beauty of designing your own is that you can decide on all of these parameters yourself!

So once you've decided to take the plunge and design and build your own BBQ grill, another world of possibilities opens up! Sure, you can build a standard grill, but why not consider going the whole 'hog' (sorry!) and building a pig roaster, why not a meat smoker! All of these can be built from a standard scrap 55-gallon drum and some light angle iron!

Maybe working with metal isn't for you, no problem, you can build your own brick BBQ grill. This is a great addition to any garden, and when done well, can actually add a little extra value to the house!!

Whether you're using brick or steel, building a grill or a smoker, the principle is the same, with a little bit of enthusiasm and effort, coupled with a healthy dollop of good information, you can build something with your own hands that will pay you back with quiet satisfaction every time you use it!

Homemade BBQ Grills, Roasters and Smokers

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How to Enhance Waffles - Toppings Besides Syrup

!±8± How to Enhance Waffles - Toppings Besides Syrup

Waffles are very delectable light batter cakes which are baked using waffle irons. Amazingly, these irons are basically designed to give waffles a very unique shape and size. These mouthwatering food are prevalently consumed as breakfast foods as they can be also served while in bed. Often, these are prepared together with maple or strawberry syrup, powdered or refined sugar, butter and strawberries or blueberries. They are absolutely very delicious and have become widely popular since the Middle Ages.

Ever since the medieval time, waffles have been made and prepared in tables as part of the way of life of certain people. Originally, this very delectable food began in the Middle Ages having the appearance of ultra thin, light, crisp cakes which were carefully baked in between wafer irons on top of a fire. Furthermore, the wafer irons were totally made from dual metal plates which are attached together by a metal pivot. Every plate was strongly attached to an arm which has a wooden handle. In that case, the wafer iron was then place over a fire. Subsequently, it would be turned over around a number of times to evenly cook both sides of the wafer, and would be baked to perfection.

Moreover, there is in fact a wide variety of these food from which you can choose. Theses assortments include the American waffles, which are thin and less dense than most waffles; Belgian waffles, which is perhaps the world's famous, light and crisp waffles; Liege-waffle, which is named after the Belgian city and is very sweet, small and dense; Potato waffles, which is of course made of reconstituted potato or sweet potato; Stroppwafels, which are slender Dutch waffles that are filled with luscious syrup; and the Hong Kong style waffles, which are round and large waffles. Whatever type of waffle you like, it is always guaranteed that satisfaction is felt whenever one eats waffles.

Perhaps the most well known waffles throughout the globe are Belgian waffles. More often, the Belgian waffles are used as a great delicacy food whenever there are special occasions, family reunions and parties. These waffles are usually eaten on Christmas evening and Mardi Gras, although this was not so much observed as in previous times.

In addition, there are lots of superb, scrumptious and well-liked waffle-recipes. Belgian waffles being a food thing have lots of aptitude in meals, desserts and many more. Some very delectable recipes include the following: pumpkin waffles with apple cider syrup on top, gingerbread waffles, blueberry oat waffles, sourcream waffles, nutty pecan waffles and whole grain waffles.

Above all, waffles are always and easily found both in supermarkets and in restaurants. For instance, waffles by Kellogg's Eggo are famous and easy to find particularly in frozen food sections at supermarkets. As well, national chain restaurants for example the appropriately named Waffle House and International House of Pancakes (IHOP) are both brilliant places to dine in because of their waffles.

So now you can try a different and unique twist of your all-time favorite food. This breakfast food offers you not just a scrumptious meal but also a very nutritious meal or snack as it is indeed made from ingredients which are rich in calcium, carbohydrate, etc. Both excitement and nutrition are unanimously packed together in this very luscious food that conquers almost all kitchens throughout the world.

How to Enhance Waffles - Toppings Besides Syrup

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Go Online Shopping for Discounted Weed Eaters

!±8± Go Online Shopping for Discounted Weed Eaters

Weeding is the most time-consuming job in a garden or lawn. It takes good quality gardening tools to get the job done right. There are many specialized stores online that offers a variety of weed eaters. Gardeners may even have a sample demo in order to ensure its quality. Now, online shopping sites can help gardeners to compare and to order tools without leaving home. They offer the latest trends and discounts on new and used weed eaters.

Northern Star and Equipment, Amazon, Walmart and Ebay are some online shops that advertise weed eaters at a nominal price. Some of the branded tools featured online are as follows:

o Weed Eater FeatherLitePlus Curved-Shaft Trimmer - Reconditioned, Model# FL20 for only .99

Product Specifications:
- 15 in. cutting width
- 20 cc displacement
- .065 in diameter
- Curved shaft type
- Lightweight with Tap-N-Go line advance.
- Has a quick snap spool replacement.

Gardeners who purchase this product should handle this tool with ease and comfort by using only a minimal adjustment for the carburetor.

o 17-Inch 25cc Gas-Powered String Trimmer Curved Shaft #XT260. Amazon gives the lowest price of for 1 to 2 business day ships. This tool was .99 before, a 23% savings on your budget. It features:

- .080" Diameter Dual Exit Cutting Line
- 2-Cycle Gas Engine
- Tap n' Go Head Type
- 9 lbs. shipping weight
- 58.6 x 11.4 x 11 in diameter

Accessories include:

- 2 Gallon Gas Can with Spill Proof Fill System
- Grass Samurai Universal Fit 3 Line String Trimmer Head
- Fuel Filter
- Cyclone .080-Inch-by-200-Foot Commercial Trimmer Line, Green
- Safety Glasses

The XT260 need no tools to be assembled in just 15 minutes. It is ergonomically- friendly for some users but it keeps the right pressure on the throttle so as to keep it working. Thus, reading its manual is a must before starting it.

o Weed Eater 12-Inch Electric String Trimmer is a small electric type trimmer. It is great for women and the elderly. The Model RT112 is best for small yards. It is ergonomically designed to minimize hand and back pains. Amazon offers this tool for only .58, the lowest price ever. Other features are as follows:

- Weighs 6.4 pounds
- 3.7 Amp electric trimmer
- Adjustable handle
- Includes extension cord retainer
- Dimension - 12.8 by 52 by 6.6 inches
- 2 year limited warranty

RT112 often offers gardeners more maneuverable space for trimming purposes. It can provide less fatigue with easy bumping feeds. Weed eater RT112 is easy to clean and it occupies only a small storage space at home. The best advantage about this electric tool is that it is odor-free.

Other discounted weed eater tools are:

1. Weedeater 12-Inch Electric Trimmer Model #RT112C - A 3.7 ampere for .46
2. Weed Eater 15-Inch Electric Trimmer 4.5-AMP Model #RTE115C - . Shipping is free.
3. Black & Decker Electric 12-Inch Bump Feed String Trimmer/ Edger 3.5-AMP Model #ST4000 - .99
4. Black & Decker Grass Hog 14-Inch Electric String Trimmer/ Edger 5-AMP Model #GH600 - .27

Weed eater product lines continuously offer low prices over the net. People who tend to buy this can commonly compare the price because of its quality and durability. More often, low quality products can give poor performance. In the growing era of gardening tools, manufacturer's produce weed eaters with greater features in order to satisfy the consumer needs.

Go Online Shopping for Discounted Weed Eaters

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Buying the Best Steam Iron For You

!±8± Buying the Best Steam Iron For You

We went to the shops bright and early and asked an assistant to explain all the various features on steam irons. That was why we had gone out early, so that we could find an assistant who was not too busy, we wanted advise so that we bought the best steam iron.

She was really helpful and told us that for anyone who is forgetful, auto shut off is a must. Most irons have it and it means that if the iron is not moved the iron is automatically shut off. This feature is common because whilst it won't prevent fabric being scorched, it will prevent fire.

The steam gauge was pretty obvious as it adjust the amount of steam or allows it to be shut off completely. You can also get an anti drip feature that allows you to steam at low temperatures without leaks.

A burst of steam button is also common, it just delivers an extra blast of steam to help with stubborn wrinkles and it also helps to flush the vents out and keep them clean. Means you don't need a self cleaning system - seems these don't always work too well over a long period.

She then moved on to water reservoirs. Some are a small tube and some are a large chamber beneath the handle. If you have a transparent chamber it is easier to see the water level. You can also get a removable water reservoir which is really easy to fill.

Lots of water fill holes now have covers. Some are hinged, others slide. The idea of this is to prevent leaking. You have to watch that the cover does not make filling the iron harder by getting in the way and also that it is easy to open and close.

She told us that it was important to have the controls in places that were convenient for you. The temperature control should be clearly marked and easy to use. She said that very often on the front of the handle was best although on some digital irons these could be caught and changed accidentally.

Lots of irons have a non stick bottom. Some budget models have aluminium and others have stainless steel. There is no significant difference between them if you use steam and non stick surfaces are easier to scratch when they catch on fastenings on clothing and then the iron does not glide so well. This is what had happened to my sister's old iron I think.

The assistant then left us to have a look at the various models which all had labels showing the features and the prices. There were lots of familiar names like, Hamilton Beach, Black and Decker and Sunbeam but there were also some others not so familiar. Rowenta, Panasonic, Bosch etc.

We looked at GE irons, but whilst they are a value brand they were a little basic. Proctor Silex irons were similar, this is the budget brand of Hamilton Beach. The T-Fal irons have a non stick sole plate and one of these has an enamel coating on the bottom. I had one of these a few years ago and didn't like the enamel coating at all.

Sunbeam irons had a great range of features and at reasonable prices - vertical steam, drip free features, definitely to be considered. Hamilton Beach irons are more expensive and they have features that include electronic controls and vertical steam whilst Rowenta is a really premium brand of iron. Some of their irons have a 'platinum' sole plate and their irons are more expensive.

Black and Decker turned out to be a major brand and they offer a wide range of irons with differing types of sole plates, even ceramic. Some of their irons have steam available at all temperatures and there are a good choice of digital electronic models with LED displays and even a multilingual option.

We started narrowing our choice more. The Kenmore Sears KS400 was a really good price and had good performance ratings but it was not quite what my sister was looking for. Then we discovered something really interesting. A lot of the steam irons had ratings on them due to some consumer testing and two irons were rated the same. One was the Hamilton Beach Professional 14970 and the other was the Rowenta professional DM890. Seems the Rowenta was not as durable as the Hamilton Beach Steam Iron but the Rowenta iron had better steam but their overall rating was the same. The interesting thing was that the Rowenta steam iron was more than twice the price of the Hamilton Beach iron.

In the end my sister fell in love with a reasonably priced steam iron, the Black and Decker Digital Advantage D2030. She loved it. It has a very easy to read digital display and an audible tone tells her when it is ready to use due to something called the SmartTemp system that ensures no guessing. There is vertical steam, variable steam, spray mist and surge of seam. She loves the stainless steel sole plate and the pivoting cord and the snazzy flip open water fill door - hey I would have preferred a slide door! My sister is happy, the price was good and I think she made a good choice, it is definitely the best steam iron for her.

Buying the Best Steam Iron For You

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