Yuck.

When I got stock as a gift two years ago, my first instict was to ignore that I had it, and try to pretend that it had gone away. I don't really like the stock market, finances are simpler when you don't have to worry about that kind of stuff. Sure, you forego the possibility of making a lot of money, but to me the only difference between playing the stock market and playing the lottery is that the odds are better if you just buy a scan-tron ticket at your local convenience store.

But now I violated by own rule: I stopped ignoring I had stock and traded in 50 shares of Cisco for 100 shares of Red Hat. Whether it turns out to be a good move or a bad move, I did it, which means that I acknowledged the existence of said stock and am now one of those poor fools who "plays the stock market."

I feel sick. Ah well...