There's a section to "officially" introduce yourself here
Congratulations on the prize money
and deciding to pursue your CHL. 
The Smith 642 is a great gun. It's lightweight, easy to use, easy to maintain, and easy to conceal.
I, and many others here own and carry that exact same gun.
Mine lives in my front pocket nestled securely in a Galco Pocket Holster.
One bit of advice though..You should probably borrow or rent one first to make sure it's the right gun for you. It does have a fairly stiff kick to it and the trigger is heavy. Also, it does require plenty of range time to get proficient with using the sights.
Once you overcome those few things, you'll be amazed at how accurate you can become when shooting longer distances.