Since Jim is likely to have trouble typing after having landscaped cement all weekend, I will get things started.

1998 was enough for now, though.

That explains why you post even after European open.
Incredible that you can be up that long day after day.

Originally posted by jimkane

Here's the story about my trading office, then I'm done. Unless something happens, like my next level is hit, I'm going to try to not post too much tonight. Anyway, when we moved, I had the chance to set up a new office. I tried to think how I could improve it, what I would want. My initial thought was the same as I suspect 99% of people's first thoughts: more monitors. It doesn't seem to matter how many monitors one has, you always want more. I know people with twelve, and they want more. But I decided to use my space in a rather different way.

I am preparing for the time when the whole thing starts to crumble. It may be awhile off, and it may not be. But one thing I know, Europe is a mess. I've said for a long, long time that as bad as we are, I believe Europe is worse off. For a long time, most said I was nuts. Not so many say this now. Soon, I think, I will look like someone who had tomorrow's newspaper. So, when TSHTF, the overnight session, I think, will start to be full of crazy action, as news out of Europe becomes critical.

Now, as everyone knows since I talk about way more in here than trading, much to the chagrin of many of the readers, I have a lot of trouble sleeping. I always have. I've even had a sleep study done. Since I hate drugs and pills, and they aren't really effective for this type of a sleep issue, I just live with it. But I tend to wake up every hour to hour and a half (each sleep cycle). Since I drink a lot of water, I have to use the bathroom each time I wake up. That's how I can check and post throughout the night.

So, I got to thinking, since sometimes I'd fall asleep at my computer, what else I could come up with. At times, when the action is hot, I put a laptop on my nightstand and have QCharts alarms set if it rises or falls above a certain level. That wakes me up, and I can see what is going on. This isn't the greatest thing for my better half. She doesn't complain, but I'm sure it doesn't thrill her. Hence, I decided, when I want to follow along a good part of the night, why not stay close by?

I came up with my new office layout, and decided to put a cot right behind my computer chair. You know, one of those nice, high quality roll out ones with the mattress on the springs. So, I watch the European open, all napped up, and when I fade, I just roll out of my chair and into the cot. Alarms are set. Then I wake up, take a glance, maybe make a post, use the restroom, and roll back into the cot. I do this until I decide I've had enough and I don't want/need to watch any more, then I retire to the regular bed.

I know all of this isn't what most people would do, or would even consider, but given my trouble sleeping and my desire to watch as much of the market as is possible, I am really liking this arrangement. Leave it to me to do what other aren't willing to do, to live this stuff essentially 24/7, and to attempt to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Interesting story, huh?

I get my sleep, I just do it, sometimes, in three segments. I may sleep four hours at night, then a two hour nap, then a one or two hour nap later. And I don't do it every night. Then on the weekends I'll try to catch up, sleep all in one segment, etc. I want to sleep, from a market standpoint only, from say 2 PM - 10 PM (west coast time), that way I can do both sessions without interruption. But, it would make the rest of life very difficult, so I haven't tried it. Plus, I know it wouldn't be good, circadian rhythm-wise.

Originally posted by MarcinO

That explains why you post even after European open.
Incredible that you can be up that long day after day.

Originally posted by jimkane

Here's the story about my trading office, then I'm done. Unless something happens, like my next level is hit, I'm going to try to not post too much tonight. Anyway, when we moved, I had the chance to set up a new office. I tried to think how I could improve it, what I would want. My initial thought was the same as I suspect 99% of people's first thoughts: more monitors. It doesn't seem to matter how many monitors one has, you always want more. I know people with twelve, and they want more. But I decided to use my space in a rather different way.

I am preparing for the time when the whole thing starts to crumble. It may be awhile off, and it may not be. But one thing I know, Europe is a mess. I've said for a long, long time that as bad as we are, I believe Europe is worse off. For a long time, most said I was nuts. Not so many say this now. Soon, I think, I will look like someone who had tomorrow's newspaper. So, when TSHTF, the overnight session, I think, will start to be full of crazy action, as news out of Europe becomes critical.

Now, as everyone knows since I talk about way more in here than trading, much to the chagrin of many of the readers, I have a lot of trouble sleeping. I always have. I've even had a sleep study done. Since I hate drugs and pills, and they aren't really effective for this type of a sleep issue, I just live with it. But I tend to wake up every hour to hour and a half (each sleep cycle). Since I drink a lot of water, I have to use the bathroom each time I wake up. That's how I can check and post throughout the night.

So, I got to thinking, since sometimes I'd fall asleep at my computer, what else I could come up with. At times, when the action is hot, I put a laptop on my nightstand and have QCharts alarms set if it rises or falls above a certain level. That wakes me up, and I can see what is going on. This isn't the greatest thing for my better half. She doesn't complain, but I'm sure it doesn't thrill her. Hence, I decided, when I want to follow along a good part of the night, why not stay close by?

I came up with my new office layout, and decided to put a cot right behind my computer chair. You know, one of those nice, high quality roll out ones with the mattress on the springs. So, I watch the European open, all napped up, and when I fade, I just roll out of my chair and into the cot. Alarms are set. Then I wake up, take a glance, maybe make a post, use the restroom, and roll back into the cot. I do this until I decide I've had enough and I don't want/need to watch any more, then I retire to the regular bed.

I know all of this isn't what most people would do, or would even consider, but given my trouble sleeping and my desire to watch as much of the market as is possible, I am really liking this arrangement. Leave it to me to do what other aren't willing to do, to live this stuff essentially 24/7, and to attempt to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Interesting story, huh?

Time to own up (you know, that quality that few if any people with forums, blogs, etc. do). This read was fair, not great. I have to admit, it came about partially because of extreme frustration with the one-sided market. I got the read right that it might have just been a stop run, and that they then might take it in for better prices. Once the pullback came in, it was much more clear where it was possibly headed, and that was quite a bit better prices for them. That would nullify the premise that they'd shoot for 2012 today. They did the usual make it all right back in a 'V', but that's probably all they have for today.

'Normally' I think my read would have just been as I have described above. Technically (my recent mentor students should see all this) there was a lot saying that was a temporary high, a lot about where that pullback would go, and a lot about that LOD, not to mention the HOD. But, I let my frustration get the better of me as far as that post. It didn't really change my true perspective, or how I would act, but it did change how I vented. If it did exactly what I said I'd still be here saying I let their antics suck me in a bit, and sway me from nothing but the technicals and the odds, as far as my posting.

Originally posted by jimkane

Could that be just a stop run? Possibly. But I suspect it will be at 2012 soon. Yeah, maybe they just wanted that high, now they can bring it in for better prices, then hit 2012 tomorrow, that makes sense, but I think they are in frenzy mode, so I think it will more likely go straight there. Great for this last play, not as good for the next few setups.

I doubt it will happen again, but watch the fractal with yesterday at this time...

Okay, if they plan to bring it back up at all, now should be the time. Clue time.

Double sweep

Yeah, with a big burst up.

Here it comes?

That pop in cable towards the close was really something.