Monday, July 30, 2007

Relaxing Weekend

What a great weekend we had. First, thanks to Mike and Kyria for planning out an awesomely relaxing weekend. Some things I learned this weekend - the worlds largest living organism is the Aspen Grove in Sylvan Lake State Park in Eagle, Colorado. Second, gelatinous cheddar cheese sauce is really scary. Third, never buy an unsalted pretzel for anyone unless they explicitly request it.

All kidding aside, it was a great weekend. Saturday was appropriately lazy and Sunday wasn't bad either. Keds and I got to spend some time with my best friend and his family. It was a great weekend. The Rockies are absolutely beautiful. Very green and it was the perfect escape from the Vegas heat.

Too bad we forgot the camera...

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Today

Today must be "vendor day." The landscapers were here this morning, the pool guy is here right now and the housekeeper will be here later. All in all, I can't complain. They all do a decent job, it's just going to drive the dogs absolutely nuts.

Oh well. They'll survive.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Home Again

If only for a few days. LA was good, accomplished enough to set up our next trip. Keds needs to go to Home Depot and Lowe's this week to start shopping for some of the items for the renovations. I'm think that could be the last LA trip for quite some time, at least another month or so.

This weekend, we are off to Colorado to visit Mike and Kyria! I'm so excited. I am currently planning on taking 1/2 day on Friday and all day Monday off, but I may shift that off day until the end of the week so we can spend an extra day in LA and get some work done.

We will see how Keds' and I adjust to her being off of work now. I don't foresee too many bumps, but I'm guessing there will be some.

I'll bring back pictures from Colorado.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

I know it's been a while

Sorry friends out there in blog-land. I know it's been a while since I posted. Part of it has been that I've been so busy at work these last few weeks that I can't steal time out of my work day to blog anymore. Also, I've been waiting for Keds to blog. We've been spending so much time together lately, and have so many shared experiences that I wanted to leave her something to blog about. Well, that strategy has clearly backfired, so here I am.

We are headed back to LA this weekend, however the trips are definitely winding down. As far as we know, the estate sale was successful in that everything but a few pieces of furniture sold. The goal this weekend is to inspect the house and start shopping for the remodel.

Work has been absolutely nuts lately. I'm in back to back to back meetings constantly, which I hate. I am not getting any work done because I'm too busy being on the phone!

I am still locked in mortal combat with Sears. I know it sounds strange, but I am. A long time ago I was a slacker when it came to paying my bills on time. However, I've corrected my bad habits. When Keds and I moved into our new house, we needed appliances. I sold my appliances with my old house, and Keds left hers for the renters. So I applied for a Sears card, since they area always running some sort of deferred payment incentive. And what do you know - they were. Twelve months no payments, no interest. Perfect.

Since we weren't in the new house yet, and my legal address was still my house in Henderson, I used that address. I didn't see a statement for months. But again, I didn't think much of this, since nothing should have been due. Fast forward to November. We are a nearly married couple - just back from our honeymoon. I'm in India, and my wife tells me that MY PARENTS got a call from a collection agency saying that I have an account past due. Keds buys time until I get back. I talk to a rep, and the amounts are different. So I dispute the charge.

Fast forward again to January. The collection agency says that Sears said the charges are valid and that I need to pay nearly $1500 (the original bill was about $1100) otherwise the account will be charged off. I had the money and paid the full amount so that it showed paid in full and didn't get Charged Off. However, in looking at the documentation they sent me, I was charged for a Payment Protection Plan. I NEVER sign up for those. So I start calling around at Sears.

Surprise, surprise - it comes back that I never signed up for this service. It wasn't showing up on my credit report yet, so I didn't sweat it. However, in May I received word that it was showing up on my credit report (gotta love credit monitoring programs). I launch into dispute mode. I assembled my documentation and the appropriately firm letter and sent it to Sears in "The Lakes, NV." For those of you who don't know, that's still Las Vegas, but Citibank didn't want their bills coming/going from a Las Vegas address. I paid to send it certified mail with return receipt and sent a second first class packet with the same information with a "Certificate of Mailing." Thirty days go by and nothing. So today, I send two more packets, with an even more firm letter this time. We'll see what happens.

Wish me luck!