Thursday, January 29, 2009
Happy birthday, Mr. R and Aunt Dottie!
It's a dual Happy Birthday today! Best birthday wishes go out to Mr. R and Aunt Dottie - may you both have a wonderful day filled with good wishes, good company and lots of love!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Damn you, TJMaxx
I am very careful about my identity, as anyone who knows me can attest. I am equally careful with my credit cards and financial information. I have only one credit card that I use regularly and I deliberately keep a low credit limit on that card. I am good at keeping an eye on my monthly statements.
Usually. Not this year.
I decided to get a head start on my taxes the other day and downloaded my year-end summary for my favorite credit card. It's a handy thing, this statement — because I pay for almost everything with this card, I can print the statement and itemize my annual purchases and business deductions almost entirely and exclusively from this one document. Nice.
Imagine my surprise when, listed under Travel Expenses, I saw a charge for $425.80 paid to Turkish Airlines back in late August. Someone used my card to buy a ticket from London to Istanbul to Cypress [sic &mdash see comments]. I think I would have remembered taking this trip. I admit they got a good price for the ticket and am thankful they didn't fly first class, but it was a surprise nonetheless. I'd like to think it was at least someone who really needed to go to Cypress [sic] and couldn't afford to go any other way than through stealing someone else's credit card number. If it turned out to be some well-off selfish cyber-prick, I would be mighty pissed.
The ticket was purchased through a travel agent in San Diego, CA, so I looked them up and gave them a call. The fraud department was very quick to apologize and has already refunded the $25.01 agency fee. The young man I spoke with was not pleased and told me that this should never have happened to begin with, that someone dropped the ball on checking the purchaser's information. Since they have the ticket number, they can track down the traveler, though I doubt that will do anyone any good. They've made a note on that account and on my credit card record so this will not happen again.
Of course it won't, because my next call was to the issuing bank. My card was canceled, a new number issued and I should have the new card at the end of the week. I'll have some paperwork to fill out, but I'll be credited for the charges. That was the only fraudulent charge, the entire rest of the year was all mine.
It was an enlightening experience. As careful as I am, and I border on paranoid, it didn't matter in the end — my card number is out there floating around for someone else to try to use. Good luck to them now. And you can bet I'll keep a hawkeye on my monthly statements from now on.
Usually. Not this year.
I decided to get a head start on my taxes the other day and downloaded my year-end summary for my favorite credit card. It's a handy thing, this statement — because I pay for almost everything with this card, I can print the statement and itemize my annual purchases and business deductions almost entirely and exclusively from this one document. Nice.
Imagine my surprise when, listed under Travel Expenses, I saw a charge for $425.80 paid to Turkish Airlines back in late August. Someone used my card to buy a ticket from London to Istanbul to Cypress [sic &mdash see comments]. I think I would have remembered taking this trip. I admit they got a good price for the ticket and am thankful they didn't fly first class, but it was a surprise nonetheless. I'd like to think it was at least someone who really needed to go to Cypress [sic] and couldn't afford to go any other way than through stealing someone else's credit card number. If it turned out to be some well-off selfish cyber-prick, I would be mighty pissed.
The ticket was purchased through a travel agent in San Diego, CA, so I looked them up and gave them a call. The fraud department was very quick to apologize and has already refunded the $25.01 agency fee. The young man I spoke with was not pleased and told me that this should never have happened to begin with, that someone dropped the ball on checking the purchaser's information. Since they have the ticket number, they can track down the traveler, though I doubt that will do anyone any good. They've made a note on that account and on my credit card record so this will not happen again.
Of course it won't, because my next call was to the issuing bank. My card was canceled, a new number issued and I should have the new card at the end of the week. I'll have some paperwork to fill out, but I'll be credited for the charges. That was the only fraudulent charge, the entire rest of the year was all mine.
It was an enlightening experience. As careful as I am, and I border on paranoid, it didn't matter in the end — my card number is out there floating around for someone else to try to use. Good luck to them now. And you can bet I'll keep a hawkeye on my monthly statements from now on.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Happy birthday, DamCat!
29 again and looking good! Have a great day and do absolutely nothing you don't want to do!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Fancy Food Show
We're back! We had an early flight to LA on Saturday morning, and except for the short woman in front of me who insisted on having her seat tipped back as far as possible, which made it impossible for me to move, the flight was great. About halfway through the flight, seat-back woman got up to walk around, neglecting to put her seat-back up again. I asked a woman seated next to her to please put the seat up, and when she did, I was able to stand and stretch out my legs. My calves felt like they were on fire. Seat-back woman spotted me stretching and grimacing and took the hint, since she didn't put the seat way back for the remainder of the flight. Queenee had an aisle seat and was able to get up and walk around a few times. The hour-long flight to San Francisco was lovely, smooth, up the coast and on time. We grabbed a cab and headed for the Hotel Palomar.
We like this hotel, but we have a suggestion — our room needed a ceiling light, or some additional lighting. The vaulted ceiling was fine, but it would have been nice to be able to throw a switch and have more than just the light by the door. Otherwise, we were very happy. We had a handicapped room, which means the doors are wide enough for a wheelchair and the tub has several grab bars, perfect for Queenee and me. And there is a free wine tasting from 5-6pm nightly — we managed to make a contact there and hope they will buy some candy from us!
Once we were checked in, we walked to John's Grill for a late lunch, then made our usual trip to Walgreen's for snacks and soda, then went back to the room to get some rest.
I feared that the show would be slow due to the economy, but there was plenty of foot traffic. I think things went well. This was the first year I spent all three days at the booth and I learned a lot. I got to meet a few people that I had talked to on the phone — it's always good to be able to put a face to a voice. We had good neighbors to either side of us — Wind & Willow and Dillon Candy Company — and have booked booths for next year with the same folks, which will be nice.
We had dinner at Annabelle's Sunday night. Not only is it only half a block away, but the food is wonderful. Queenee had a skirt steak and I had beef carpaccio and angel hair pasta. I could make a meal of the carpaccio, it was delicious. Monday night's dinner was at LuLu's and Tuesday's at Boulevard, and both were excellent. Queenee got to have lamb at Boulevard, which she loves and rarely gets, so that was a treat. The Boulevard dinner was with Jim and Joan and one of the sales reps and his new assistant. They are all great company and the meal was very enjoyable.
Wednesday was a free day and Queenee wanted to go to Chinatown. I picked up day passes for the buses and cable cars and then promptly screwed us up on the bus, missing our stop by a mile. We went to Fisherman's Wharf and walked around a bit, having lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. I thought the Burlington Mall location was closed, but apparently not. Nyack seems to be gone, though. Anyway, it's a fun place to eat and the food is pretty good. After a small adventure on the trolleys and a short hop on a cable car, we managed to get to Chinatown. Queenee ducked into the first shop we came to and negotiated some good deals on a few pieces of jewelry. I got a small box, a netsuke carved from fish bone, a scrimshaw bead and a good-luck bunny charm. We walked down Grant Street to the Chinatown Gate, then from there back to the hotel. Jim was good enough to let us keep the room until 7pm and that saved us. Poor Queenee was worn out from all the walking and had whacked her shin hard getting on one of the trolleys. She has quite a bad bruise now.
Queenee and Joan had taken a car back to the hotel from Boulevard while the rest of us walked. The driver gave Queenee his card and said he'd pick us up and take us to the airport, so at 7pm he arrived and off we went. Our flight wasn't until 11:30pm, but we figured we could rest up and eat at the airport, which we did. Our flight left late due to not being able to get the engines cracked up, but we made up the time in the air and the flight wasn't full, so we had a row to ourselves and no seat-back issues!! We got home before 10am Thursday and spent most of the day resting and unpacking.
It's nice to travel, but it's good to come home.
We like this hotel, but we have a suggestion — our room needed a ceiling light, or some additional lighting. The vaulted ceiling was fine, but it would have been nice to be able to throw a switch and have more than just the light by the door. Otherwise, we were very happy. We had a handicapped room, which means the doors are wide enough for a wheelchair and the tub has several grab bars, perfect for Queenee and me. And there is a free wine tasting from 5-6pm nightly — we managed to make a contact there and hope they will buy some candy from us!
Once we were checked in, we walked to John's Grill for a late lunch, then made our usual trip to Walgreen's for snacks and soda, then went back to the room to get some rest.
I feared that the show would be slow due to the economy, but there was plenty of foot traffic. I think things went well. This was the first year I spent all three days at the booth and I learned a lot. I got to meet a few people that I had talked to on the phone — it's always good to be able to put a face to a voice. We had good neighbors to either side of us — Wind & Willow and Dillon Candy Company — and have booked booths for next year with the same folks, which will be nice.
We had dinner at Annabelle's Sunday night. Not only is it only half a block away, but the food is wonderful. Queenee had a skirt steak and I had beef carpaccio and angel hair pasta. I could make a meal of the carpaccio, it was delicious. Monday night's dinner was at LuLu's and Tuesday's at Boulevard, and both were excellent. Queenee got to have lamb at Boulevard, which she loves and rarely gets, so that was a treat. The Boulevard dinner was with Jim and Joan and one of the sales reps and his new assistant. They are all great company and the meal was very enjoyable.
Wednesday was a free day and Queenee wanted to go to Chinatown. I picked up day passes for the buses and cable cars and then promptly screwed us up on the bus, missing our stop by a mile. We went to Fisherman's Wharf and walked around a bit, having lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. I thought the Burlington Mall location was closed, but apparently not. Nyack seems to be gone, though. Anyway, it's a fun place to eat and the food is pretty good. After a small adventure on the trolleys and a short hop on a cable car, we managed to get to Chinatown. Queenee ducked into the first shop we came to and negotiated some good deals on a few pieces of jewelry. I got a small box, a netsuke carved from fish bone, a scrimshaw bead and a good-luck bunny charm. We walked down Grant Street to the Chinatown Gate, then from there back to the hotel. Jim was good enough to let us keep the room until 7pm and that saved us. Poor Queenee was worn out from all the walking and had whacked her shin hard getting on one of the trolleys. She has quite a bad bruise now.
Queenee and Joan had taken a car back to the hotel from Boulevard while the rest of us walked. The driver gave Queenee his card and said he'd pick us up and take us to the airport, so at 7pm he arrived and off we went. Our flight wasn't until 11:30pm, but we figured we could rest up and eat at the airport, which we did. Our flight left late due to not being able to get the engines cracked up, but we made up the time in the air and the flight wasn't full, so we had a row to ourselves and no seat-back issues!! We got home before 10am Thursday and spent most of the day resting and unpacking.
It's nice to travel, but it's good to come home.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
San Francisco
Queenee and I are in San Francisco at the Fancy Food Show. Our dogs will be barking big time every night, but we'll enjoy the warmish weather when we aren't at the show.
Later all!
Later all!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wing(nut) suits
Thanks for sending this link, anhaga!
I've been following these guys for a while now, since I first saw wingsuits in Tomb Raider II. My understanding is that as of last year, someone is trying to land without having to use a parachute. We'll see how that goes.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Younger Pea's next rooster
Oh yeah! That'll wake up the neighborhood! Check out the long-crowing roosters here — it's a shame the article in Backyard Poultry magazine isn't available online.
Friday, January 02, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
I don't have much luck sticking to New Year's Resolutions. Of course, it helps that I rarely bother to have any, but I didn't keep any of the few from last year. So I'm going to have another crack at it this year. Here is my 2009 list:
And now, I'm going to go draw something.
- Stop trying to converse with people who aren't interested in conversation. They are only interested in sycophants anyway.
- Avoid noxious and vexing people, they aren't worth wasting time with. They are, as the song says, soulless energy suckers. Who needs them?
- Draw something every day. Anything will do.
- Regain French. I dream in French regularly, but couldn't speak it if I had to, so I'd like to get that back.
- Lose weight. More specifically, I want to get down to 145 lbs. I managed to lose and not regain about 20 lbs last year, which leaves me with 15-20 lbs to go. I can do that.
- Exercise regularly. Goes with losing weight, but I should exercise whether or not I'm trying to lose a pound.
And now, I'm going to go draw something.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Quiet night after a snowy day
We got about a foot of snow yesterday. It was beautiful! Thankfully it was light and dry, so not too bad for shoveling. PopPop and I learned our lesson from the last storm and got in two rounds of shoveling before we called it a night. Steve cleared the worst of the circle, which was a huge help. We cleared out what was left so Deacon could pick up Queenee. She spent the night with the D's and Peas and isn't home yet. PopPop went to bed at about 8:30pm, and I managed to stay awake long enough to get some work done and see the ball drop in Times Square. The cats and I had a nice toast.
Key Dear called and within a minute another call was coming through. It turned out to be Anhaga, wishing me and the family a Happy New Year. By the time I called Key Dear back, she and Mr. B had headed out for the night, but I did get to interrupt Logito's game long enough to say hi and Happy New Year. Long may he frag on!
This morning PopPop and I got out for the next round of shoveling. Queenee's car is free, leaving mine and PopPop's. Then we'll be done until the next snow arrives, which may be tomorrow.
Now it's time for today's second round of snow removal!
Key Dear called and within a minute another call was coming through. It turned out to be Anhaga, wishing me and the family a Happy New Year. By the time I called Key Dear back, she and Mr. B had headed out for the night, but I did get to interrupt Logito's game long enough to say hi and Happy New Year. Long may he frag on!
This morning PopPop and I got out for the next round of shoveling. Queenee's car is free, leaving mine and PopPop's. Then we'll be done until the next snow arrives, which may be tomorrow.
Now it's time for today's second round of snow removal!
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