I have a cold. People depending on my blood for survival will have to make do with others for the time being, as I'll be deemed ineligible to donate.

Seriously, no new update. I could and will pay off my credit cards this month. Expecting a major windstorm tomorrow -- whee.

I went to a discount outlet village on Saturday: every place asked me for ID when I showed my credit card. It made me resolve to call the places ahead of time, ask about prices of specific items, then getting money from the ATM. My credit card receipt signature WILL match the one on the card -- there's no reason to be lazy and ask for ID. There's no REQUIREMENT to do that. Or I could say no to the ID request, and if they refuse my card, I can make a complaint.

Here is my obligatory Veterans Day salute to those who endured horrors and fought for our countries. I will support them by supporting the legislators who fight for veterans' benefits and I will hold thoughts for my and my husband's grandfathers who served in WW II. I will also be extra patient to my cousin who has PTSD like so many people who served in Iraq.

Okay. I'm at home, I made a $1261 payment to our credit card, and have $900 left to go. This week was the first time in four months I looked at the statement (I paid on time, I just couldn't bear the guilt of the gluttony). I'm now wary of upcoming expenses: birthdays birthdays holidays in late November over here. I probably shouldn't have made so large a payment on a month when my heating bill, water bill will shoot up.

Despite our new space heater working in the living room, my cat is not leaving me alone unless I choose to be with my son. Beds, blankets, heaters, fires, and my cat wants me.

My friend "Thuc Ly" and I plan to spend maybe 20-30 minutes at least once a month discussing stocks. I am stodgy and literally by-the-numbers, looking at the online Value Line Reports. I don't know how she screens for her prospective stocks, although I know she follows Green Sheets equities, but I do trust her judgement, as I told her the name of a company whose stock I was following and she riposted with the trading symbol. We're not talking Dow 30 stocks either. I am learning to trust opening up to people.

I am cleaning up the rooms today, setting fire to things with my son, stoked on caffeine and tyrosine. Purges and wipes!

I am more than halfway through a novena for my brother, my cousin and me, and I'm seeing job-search activity (interviews, phone conversations) but of the flaky/confusing type. Like going on one interview with agency B's representation, and talking about a job in the same group agency A sent my resume in for. Awkward! I probably won't get agency B's job, which is a bummer, but there stands a chance of getting the agency A job, only agency A didn't set up the interview. I can see Agency B's viewpoint that they worked to get me the interview, so they should get representation rights. Agency A also doesn't offer 401(k) and medical benefits, whereas not only does Agency B but Agency B would give me a higher rate. Plus Agency B has placed me in three contracts consecutively.
update: found $2300 while cleaning up the house. woohoo! let's hear it for caffeine and tyrosine!

Reminisc
ences of a Chase operator

Class action lawsuit over Chase's $10 monthly fee

Chase sent my hubby a credit card solicitation. I remember when Capital One, American Express, FirstUSA used to send him offers. I can't think of why they'd send solicitations nowadays: they have been working hard to shed themselves of their icky customer base (icky defined as: people who pay in full and/or on time). Even American Express has given up on us.

I apparently still have web access to my school PTA's accounts, although I sat in person with the new team as we requested my access be removed. I'm not getting statements anymore, so that's good.

Bank of America hasn't yet tried to give us $30 annual fees on our cards -- has anyone at SavingAdvice encountered this?

Busy week for me despite rising unemployment numbers. Looking forward to earning money again, investing again. Somehow turning into community blogger/restaurant reviewer, which is a-okay with me.

We've been eating takeout more often than dining out, now that we know local restaurant staff expect 20% of the bill in tips. I remember when it was 15%, but can't imagine how service has improved 33%.

Donated some washable blankets to Tent City: a nomadic community of homeless people. The weather's been execrable as of late, so I hope they'll have some extra comfort and warmth. This sounds selfish, but I've frequently seen karma boomerang to me within 24-48 hours after I do a charitable act, and I admit to hoping that would happen.

People might be shifting their debt to home equity lines of credit, or getting their liabilities reduced or dissolved, but I like this graph. I like to think that every day, hundreds of people are fleeing from the "we raised your credit card rate to 27% because that's the major way we're getting revenues" banks.
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My COBRA premium has been approved for a subsidy. This returns $250 in my pocket, which needs to go for a new stock pot and a skillet with a lid. I will check out Lodge, Emile Henry and Le Creuset.
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For Breast Cancer Awareness month, which for me was an investigation into hidden and lesser-known carcinogens in the food supply and electromagnetic field, I had a thermogram done. I got a "questionable, but not abnormal" result, so I am scheduling a mammogram. I am not scared. Thermography detects 83% of cancers earlier than mammograms do, and without the radiation risk. I've had callbacks because some cell patch stuck out its tongue on photo day, nothing serious.
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If you believe my, my cousin's and my brother's abilities to feed our families are for the highest good, would you direct some divine energy flow into a brief intention for us? Light a candle, imagine my paystub in a pink bubble. For those who are detail-oriented, I want a job I can take one reliable bus to and from, where my skills are used for the greater good, with smart and affable coworkers, with benefits, that pays enough for me to manage the mortgage, my IRA contributions, charitable gifts, and HELOC payments, plus $400 on top of that. I started a prayer three days ago (ten more to go) and I'm feeling its power already: since I started it I had a second phone screen for a brief assignment, and I have a job interview on Friday. If you want the text of this, or to share something that worked for you, give me a private message.
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