Credit Card

Several weeks ago, I went to the bank to set up a checking account and a debit card attached to it. The card came a couple of days ago!

This is going to make my IT business a lot easier - I'll be able to actually purchase parts and software. Previously, I had to ask other people to purchase things online for me and then deal with cash to pay them back. Now, I'll just be able to enter my details and order stuff.

They also got me registered for paper statements (which I don't want), so I'll have to talk to the bank to disable those. (They cost $3 for each statement, plus tax!)

Illowa Fall Classic 2014

Today held the Illowa Bi-State Chess Club's annual Fall Classic tournament. As in the past, it was a four-round Swiss tournament with 65 minutes and 5 second delay time control. Since there are four rounds and each game can last more than two hours, this tournament was an all-day event. Since my rating is a little under the cutoff for the U1400 section, I played in the Reserve.

I arrived early in the morning to help set up. My first game was against a 1000-rated player (about 350 below me), but it was surprisingly tough. I violated the four opening principles with wild abandon, and got into trouble in the middlegame as a result. I did manage to castle while there was a lull in the action, and things started looking up from there. I gained a pawn or two, then went on to win a king-and-pawn endgame.

The second game, after lunch, was against an unrated player. He blundered a piece away in the opening, but played a pretty solid game after that. I was much more careful to play a decent opening, so I got into a good position and stayed there. I don't remember much about the game, but it was easy and didn't last too long. (I got to finish my calculus homework!)

At the beginning of the third round, I was the only one with two points. I was paired against one of the few people with 1.5, and as is usual in the Swiss, the second-to-last round's game is the most important. This opponent's rating was actually a little above mine. He played the French, but since I know nothing about the French, I just played what seemed tactically sound. That went fairly well, and I established a strong position for a strong game. I gained a pawn along the way, but the game was very difficult. In the endgame, when each of us had a rook and a knight (plus miscellaneous pawns), he blundered and let me fork his king and rook with my knight. He resigned when I was about to promote a pawn.

The last game's opening did not go so well. My opponent - 200 points below me - played the King's Gambit, about which I know even less than I do the French. That made my development a total disaster, and I could never get my rooks connected. Though I didn't go down in material, my position was absolutely awful. At this time, we had been at the chess club for more than 6 hours, and everyone was tired. I offered a draw after I eeked out a somewhat equal-looking position, and by some small miracle he accepted.

With 3.5 out of 4 points, I won the Reserve section, the following nice trophy, and $102.

From left to right: winner of the Open section, the TD, me

The End of Crosscountry

Though this school day was an early release, I certainly did not get any more time at home. After the short school day ended, I boarded a bus with the crosscountry team over to the last meet of the season, a big state qualifier.

It was a cool, cloudy day - perfect for running, in my opinion. My race was three miles long, the same as always. Fortunately, the course was very flat, but it did take us through a muddy forest. I felt pretty good through the race; I didn't have to stop to walk or anything like that. I don't know my time, but I do know I finished below the 50th percentile. I finished second of the four people in my team who ran that race, which is my usual position.

Though I am clearly not a stellar runner, I do feel pretty good about my performance this season. Today marks the end of this season of races, and very possibly the end of my crosscountry experience forever. (Athletic graduation requirement: complete!)

Investment Dinner

The financial planning firm used by my family hosted an educational dinner tonight. The subject of the talks was investment and retirement planning. I'm not anywhere close to retirement, but I came along to the dinner.

It was a fascinating time. It opened with a short talk about stocks and bonds which discussed their differences and how they work. Another presenter gave a talk on the principles of investing. Specifically, he talked about how one's investment plan should not change unless one's financial goals have changed. Dramatic world events almost never merit a change in investments.

Finally, the main presenter talked about retirement and the goals of financial planning. Surprisingly, the talk looked at retirement planning from a very non-financial perspective. Instead, it focused on the personal aspects, e.g. building a social network (which is more important in determining happiness than amassed wealth), establishing a procedure for transitioning into retirement, and house/neighborhood consideration.

This is a very short summary, but the presentations were fascinating. I got a folder containing additional resources, which I will go through soon.

PSAT

My high school requires all juniors to take the PSAT (Prelimary SAT (Standard Achievement Test?)) examination in the fall, plus the actual SAT and ACT in the spring. I am not a junior, but they permit sophomores to take the PSAT as well, despite that it cannot be used for entrance into the National Merit Scholarship program as a sophomore.

Well, I chose to take it. The exam lasted almost three hours. It's just a bunch of multiple choice questions with a few grid-the-number math questions. There are only three sections - critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills - but they are cut up into five blocks.

I obviously can't discuss individual questions, but I think I did fairly well. It seemed easier than the ACT and was definitely much easier than any math test. My scores won't count for anything, but it will be interesting to see them.

On My Feet

Today, I was on my feet constantly. As a result, I am totally exhausted now, so this post might have spelling, grammar, or coherency issues.

First, I got up in the morning and went to my normal high school, which was hosting a crosscountry meet. This was a shorter one (just 2.5 miles as opposed to the usual 3), but the campus has lots of hills. There were only two other schools at the meet, probably thanks to the out-of-season cold (there was supposed to be at least another one in attendance). I was actually really confused about the course directions, but fortunately I was able to just follow the people in front of me. I finished behind a bunch of other schools' people, but first out of my school.

After taking a shower, I changed into normal clothes and went over to be a counselor for a nearby Boy Scouts merit badge clinic as a chess coach. My father was there while I was running in the crosscountry meet, but there were over 20 students, so having an extra counselor there was a very good thing. The morning session ended shortly after I arrived, but we also taught the afternoon session. Many of the Scouts took very well to chess and we got quite a few requirements (for the merit badge) signed off on their blue cards.

After packing up all the chess things from the classroom, I went to church and changed into nicer clothes. Following the service, I went to my school's homecoming dance for three hours. That was a really exciting time and I ate a lot more candy than is good for me. My legs were already hurting at the start of that, but afterward, I needed to sit down in the car immediately.

I am now home, sitting comfortably in my main office chair, finishing writing this post, and about to go to bed and sleep for a very long time.