I'm dead to the world all snuggly in my bed at 11:45 PM last night, dreaming of pints of real ale and egg mayonnaise and cress sandwiches when my phone rings. I don't answer, but let the machine pick up thinking it has to be a wrong number. My phone has not rung past 9:30 PM in months.
Nope, it's my ride to the airport. Seems he's had a change in plans and thus my ride has changed. I will be leaving 4 hours earlier than planned to get to the airport. Which means I'll be sitting at a major New York metropolitan airport for almost 8 hours with two books and my mobile phone.
With such little notice in the travel plans, I was not able at 6:15 this am to find an alternate ride. I live about 3 hours from the major NY metropolitan airport that I am flying out of. My ride actually has a consulting assignment close to the airport and this ended up being a win win. He got someone to talk to for the ride down, I got a ride down.
I was at work by 7:00 AM to finish my last few items, called my boss at 8:15 AM told him my abbreviated day started at 7:00 AM and then I would be out the door.
Oh yeah, did I mention it's SNOWING right now......
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Posting For The Next Week or Two
I'm in the last gasp stages of getting myself set to leave. I have a ton of work dropped on my desk that has to get done TODAY and then I'm off! I'll try to post while I'm away, I'll see if I can find a "semi-private" computer to post on.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Some Updates and General Musings
The good news of the weekend was coming home and finding the refund of the overpayment to my mortgage in my mail box. I skipped my Monday morning coffee treat and deposited that baby to my primary bank at 8:30 AM.
After a conversation with two of my UK friends, I bit the bullet and downloaded a UK map for my GPS. A couple of us are going to do a "girls only" road trip. Problem, the girls driving with me are "directionless", they don't drive that much and don't own a GPS. Since I hate getting lost and we are going to places I've never been, I bought the map and downloaded it this am. I'm not wild about spending an additional $75, but I think this will be money well spent and save the hassle of my traveling companions reading maps while I drive.
My elderly friend is buying a house. I've posted about her before. This is scary. She has a multitude of health issues, can't live alone, and has been in and out of the hospital and nursing/rehab facilities for the past few months. For a variety of reasons way to complicated to go into, she had a falling out with our mutual friend Dee with whom she was living with and decided to go out on her own. I spoke to both my elderly friend and to Dee about this. Dee and I agree, elderly friend can not live on her own and needs more hands on care. The problem is elderly friend does not see, or more than likely, does not want to see that she needs more skilled medical care. Her answer is to move out on her own. Honestly folks, I hope I don't get the phone call that elderly friend was found dead in her home (cheery Monday thought is it not?). Dee and I are not the only ones who think this way, Elderly friends other friends have commented on her health situation as well.
I can't complain too much about the drain on my account. As pointed out, I'm getting about 99% of the money back. I just wanted to get on the plane with 'cash in hand'. Not getting a check from my second job is a bit of a bummer as well. I knew that the payroll situation would be addressed by March 1st, but I'm outta here on Thursday and the barn does not do direct deposit. Ah well, it will be waiting for me when I get home and I won't blow the money on things like beer and food and cheap tacky souvenirs.
Plus I did spend money on me this past two weeks. I got my hair done at the salon, I got a 4 pack of 2G SD cards at Costco (only $28USD), I used one for my GPS map download and one for my camera (my old SD card was 512MB). I bought a new blanket to leave at the weekend job. Not only do I have a shelf in the kitchen, I have two drawers in a dresser for clothes, etc. I got queen sized lightweight down blanket. I love down duvets and can use this blanket at home come summer. The weekend job house actually keeps the heat on 65F day and night. At my house, the heat only gets to 55F! I also bought two pans (total cost $30) at Marshall’s to keep at the second job house. These pans are the not the best things on the market, but “compliment” the ones that are there and I’ll be able to do things like make a boat load of soup or stew and then pack it up to take it home for my lunches for the week. Since I’m not a DIY diva, I finally found a handyman to do a few things around the house, fix my exterior porch light that was dangerously hanging off the side of the house, fix/repair a gate and a couple other little projects that I just have not been able to get to. I’d really love it if this handyman person can give me a decent quote on my bathroom work. A vacation, a new computer AND my bathroom redone. Good lord, I’d be in pig spit heaven! Keep your fingers crossed.
After a conversation with two of my UK friends, I bit the bullet and downloaded a UK map for my GPS. A couple of us are going to do a "girls only" road trip. Problem, the girls driving with me are "directionless", they don't drive that much and don't own a GPS. Since I hate getting lost and we are going to places I've never been, I bought the map and downloaded it this am. I'm not wild about spending an additional $75, but I think this will be money well spent and save the hassle of my traveling companions reading maps while I drive.
My elderly friend is buying a house. I've posted about her before. This is scary. She has a multitude of health issues, can't live alone, and has been in and out of the hospital and nursing/rehab facilities for the past few months. For a variety of reasons way to complicated to go into, she had a falling out with our mutual friend Dee with whom she was living with and decided to go out on her own. I spoke to both my elderly friend and to Dee about this. Dee and I agree, elderly friend can not live on her own and needs more hands on care. The problem is elderly friend does not see, or more than likely, does not want to see that she needs more skilled medical care. Her answer is to move out on her own. Honestly folks, I hope I don't get the phone call that elderly friend was found dead in her home (cheery Monday thought is it not?). Dee and I are not the only ones who think this way, Elderly friends other friends have commented on her health situation as well.
I can't complain too much about the drain on my account. As pointed out, I'm getting about 99% of the money back. I just wanted to get on the plane with 'cash in hand'. Not getting a check from my second job is a bit of a bummer as well. I knew that the payroll situation would be addressed by March 1st, but I'm outta here on Thursday and the barn does not do direct deposit. Ah well, it will be waiting for me when I get home and I won't blow the money on things like beer and food and cheap tacky souvenirs.
Plus I did spend money on me this past two weeks. I got my hair done at the salon, I got a 4 pack of 2G SD cards at Costco (only $28USD), I used one for my GPS map download and one for my camera (my old SD card was 512MB). I bought a new blanket to leave at the weekend job. Not only do I have a shelf in the kitchen, I have two drawers in a dresser for clothes, etc. I got queen sized lightweight down blanket. I love down duvets and can use this blanket at home come summer. The weekend job house actually keeps the heat on 65F day and night. At my house, the heat only gets to 55F! I also bought two pans (total cost $30) at Marshall’s to keep at the second job house. These pans are the not the best things on the market, but “compliment” the ones that are there and I’ll be able to do things like make a boat load of soup or stew and then pack it up to take it home for my lunches for the week. Since I’m not a DIY diva, I finally found a handyman to do a few things around the house, fix my exterior porch light that was dangerously hanging off the side of the house, fix/repair a gate and a couple other little projects that I just have not been able to get to. I’d really love it if this handyman person can give me a decent quote on my bathroom work. A vacation, a new computer AND my bathroom redone. Good lord, I’d be in pig spit heaven! Keep your fingers crossed.
Friday, February 20, 2009
My Bank Account Is Bleeding Money
Ugh, this trip is costing me lots of cash. AND when I got to my weekend job today, no pay check as I had hoped. I had hoped for another partial paycheck, but the trainer is off this weekend and as told earlier, new checks will be cut next week. It's times like this I wish for direct deposit for this job. I made the offer to bring over to the UK some treats and clothes for my friends. Last time they did not take me up on the offer, this time they did. I have laid out about $300, of which I'll get back $280 (I bought two tee-shirts as gifts).
Clothes are much less expensive here in the US than they are in the UK. Like half the price. I've picked up jeans, sweatshirts, a fleece jacket, and some shoes. I've figured out the exchange rate and I'll get paid in Sterling when I'm "across the pond". It's just a little shocking to see the money depart my account NOW. I will use that money as my pocket cash. The upside is I'll be given cash and I won't have to pay that overseas transaction fee of 3% when I take money out of the ATM.
I went to my bank to "buy" some Sterling and found out they no longer sell or buy non US dollars. They directed me to the local Bank of America. I figured out that it will be cheaper for me to just go to the currency exchange booth at the airport and get some Sterling to get me started. BoA has some sort of a ridiculous fee that is more than the exchange booth (or at least what the exchange booth web site has printed).
Clothes are much less expensive here in the US than they are in the UK. Like half the price. I've picked up jeans, sweatshirts, a fleece jacket, and some shoes. I've figured out the exchange rate and I'll get paid in Sterling when I'm "across the pond". It's just a little shocking to see the money depart my account NOW. I will use that money as my pocket cash. The upside is I'll be given cash and I won't have to pay that overseas transaction fee of 3% when I take money out of the ATM.
I went to my bank to "buy" some Sterling and found out they no longer sell or buy non US dollars. They directed me to the local Bank of America. I figured out that it will be cheaper for me to just go to the currency exchange booth at the airport and get some Sterling to get me started. BoA has some sort of a ridiculous fee that is more than the exchange booth (or at least what the exchange booth web site has printed).
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Decisions, Decisions.....
I am in desperate need of a new computer, preferably a laptop upgraded with a Wireless capability. My old laptop is 8+ years old. Part of my "future grand plan" is to be more of a self employed type person and work from the comfort or my home or someplace with comfy chairs, coffee, etc. The portability of a decent laptop would be a big help in my search for additional income and extra work, not to mention me being able to just even connect to the internet at home, which is hard to do with the old computer.
I also really need to do work on my bathroom. It's far older than the lap top and even I'm getting grossed out by the tile work. I have some tiles falling off the wall and my attempts at tile repair, well, suck. I am not a very good Tool Belt Diva. I may have found someone to do the worst of the tile repair (rip off the tile, replace the bad drywall, put the tiles up, I can do the grouting and sealing).
I have just enough "extra funds" to purchase a laptop that suits my needs (I've been doing a ton of on line research). I can also just stick the money in my E-fund and do nothing!
I won’t make a decision until I come back from my holiday. I just wish I could win a few grand in the lottery so I would not have to worry about this, or have been better with my E-fund this past year! Ah well… Decisions, decisions.
I also really need to do work on my bathroom. It's far older than the lap top and even I'm getting grossed out by the tile work. I have some tiles falling off the wall and my attempts at tile repair, well, suck. I am not a very good Tool Belt Diva. I may have found someone to do the worst of the tile repair (rip off the tile, replace the bad drywall, put the tiles up, I can do the grouting and sealing).
I have just enough "extra funds" to purchase a laptop that suits my needs (I've been doing a ton of on line research). I can also just stick the money in my E-fund and do nothing!
I won’t make a decision until I come back from my holiday. I just wish I could win a few grand in the lottery so I would not have to worry about this, or have been better with my E-fund this past year! Ah well… Decisions, decisions.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Payment Saga Part II
The banking saga continues...
I'm at my main bank promptly at 8:30 AM today, all documentation in hand. My main bank tells me that the error was done on the part of the bank that holds my mortgage and I needed to go see them to get it resolved. They tell me it's an encoding error on that banks part. They can't really help me out. Just as I thought, but I checked with them first.
I drive 5 minutes down the road to my mortgage bank (and I also have my small Efund with debit card access with them). I talk to the customer service rep who tries to tell me, Oh, I'm sorry about that error, but you need to go back to your other bank. Ah no, I'm not. I politely tell her that I've just been to bank one and they assured me that the error was done on the part of the mortgage bank. I point out my receipt with the correct amount, I point out the legal line that clearly says FIVE HUNDRED etc, not eight hundred on the copy of my check I downloaded from the bank's web site. I also tell her that while I don't have a copy of my payment coupon, it too should only reflect a payment of five hundred not eight hundred. I tell the CSR that I one time forgot to write 10c on the legal line of my mortgage check and I was the recipeint of a phone call that said IF I did not come down to the bank by Noon, my mortgage payment would not be processed and I would be assessed a late charge of $35. All because I forgot to write in the 10c on the legal line. (I had dropped off my payment in the night deposit window as I was out and about before banking hours and yes, it was the last day of the grace period.). I did get a second phone call from the bank saying they "found" 10c and used that to round out my payment so I would not be assessed a late fee.
I will point out that the number five I had written out was a bit loopy and maybe at a quick glance it looked like an 8, but I do know that tellers are supposed to process the Legal Line and not the number line. I do also know from a former employee of that bank that the encoding is done by the teller and that someone should or would audit the tellers work. This was not a computer glitch, it was a teller mistake that should have been caught. The extra $300 was credited to my mortgage account, someone had to manually input that $300. I paid my mortgage five days early this month, lots of time to do an audit.
My mortgage bank offers me the option of keeping the over payment to credit my account. I tell the CSR that is not an option and I want my $300 back. I'm then told the bank will process a check for the difference and I should get it in 3-5 business days. I tell the CSR you take payment out the very next day and now I have to wait a week for my reimbursement? What about a EFT to my other bank? I may have to start looking for another bank to hold my mortgage. Her reply- "I hear there are great rates out there". Not let me see what I can do to speed up the process, Not I am sorry that our bank made an error, nothing. I did call back and ask for the branch manager, much to my surprise I find out the branch manager was the CSR that assisted me this morning. Honestly, I was not all that thrilled with her service or her handling of my account. I did speak to her again and tell her that I was not happy with the encoding error or the way the bank.
Hum, my mortgage bank used to be a nice local bank and it got gobbled up by a larger regional bank. I have a philosophy that I try not to bank at an insitution that has more than 9 branches. My mortgage bank has far more than 9 branches. I am less than impressed with this bank. I'll see if that check makes it to my mailbox this week or by Monday.
I'm at my main bank promptly at 8:30 AM today, all documentation in hand. My main bank tells me that the error was done on the part of the bank that holds my mortgage and I needed to go see them to get it resolved. They tell me it's an encoding error on that banks part. They can't really help me out. Just as I thought, but I checked with them first.
I drive 5 minutes down the road to my mortgage bank (and I also have my small Efund with debit card access with them). I talk to the customer service rep who tries to tell me, Oh, I'm sorry about that error, but you need to go back to your other bank. Ah no, I'm not. I politely tell her that I've just been to bank one and they assured me that the error was done on the part of the mortgage bank. I point out my receipt with the correct amount, I point out the legal line that clearly says FIVE HUNDRED etc, not eight hundred on the copy of my check I downloaded from the bank's web site. I also tell her that while I don't have a copy of my payment coupon, it too should only reflect a payment of five hundred not eight hundred. I tell the CSR that I one time forgot to write 10c on the legal line of my mortgage check and I was the recipeint of a phone call that said IF I did not come down to the bank by Noon, my mortgage payment would not be processed and I would be assessed a late charge of $35. All because I forgot to write in the 10c on the legal line. (I had dropped off my payment in the night deposit window as I was out and about before banking hours and yes, it was the last day of the grace period.). I did get a second phone call from the bank saying they "found" 10c and used that to round out my payment so I would not be assessed a late fee.
I will point out that the number five I had written out was a bit loopy and maybe at a quick glance it looked like an 8, but I do know that tellers are supposed to process the Legal Line and not the number line. I do also know from a former employee of that bank that the encoding is done by the teller and that someone should or would audit the tellers work. This was not a computer glitch, it was a teller mistake that should have been caught. The extra $300 was credited to my mortgage account, someone had to manually input that $300. I paid my mortgage five days early this month, lots of time to do an audit.
My mortgage bank offers me the option of keeping the over payment to credit my account. I tell the CSR that is not an option and I want my $300 back. I'm then told the bank will process a check for the difference and I should get it in 3-5 business days. I tell the CSR you take payment out the very next day and now I have to wait a week for my reimbursement? What about a EFT to my other bank? I may have to start looking for another bank to hold my mortgage. Her reply- "I hear there are great rates out there". Not let me see what I can do to speed up the process, Not I am sorry that our bank made an error, nothing. I did call back and ask for the branch manager, much to my surprise I find out the branch manager was the CSR that assisted me this morning. Honestly, I was not all that thrilled with her service or her handling of my account. I did speak to her again and tell her that I was not happy with the encoding error or the way the bank.
Hum, my mortgage bank used to be a nice local bank and it got gobbled up by a larger regional bank. I have a philosophy that I try not to bank at an insitution that has more than 9 branches. My mortgage bank has far more than 9 branches. I am less than impressed with this bank. I'll see if that check makes it to my mailbox this week or by Monday.
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