Fraud, Food, Fun and Frenzy

weight: 236 lbs.

Today started out to be so promising before it ended up going to hell in a handbasket. (What a strange saying!)

I rose very early just “cause, and was out the door by 8:00 am in pursuit of more garage sales on my way to more legitimate shopping. I found one mega sale in the city, and bought the hugest box “o crap for under $20. It included coffee table books, knick knacks, numerous items for my new shadow box also recently acquired at a garage sale, a huge pop up canopy for the yard and some assorted doohickies. I was on a roll, and then was equally as pleased when Walgreen’s had my favorite liquid “D” (1000 iu.) on sale for $6.99, plus buy one, get one free. I bought 6 bottles, plus some other half price supplements for both Tom and myself. Mostly I rely on the products from Celebrate Vitamins, but for additional requirements, I generally rely on liquids now. Unfortunately, my sublingual B wasn’t discounted yet, but I will keep an eye out!

God, I sound so cheap, don’t I? I think that I have just been on a bargain roll lately, and hate to break the momentum. Besides, one must have some “extra” money for Atlantic City, mustn’t one?

And here’s where things got crappy. While I was out, Tom called me on the cell, to ask if I had per chance, spent $395 in Montreal (!) this week. This was, of course, a silly question, unless he expected that while he (and I) were at work, I flew hundreds of miles away just to buy who knows what in a foreign country. (Oh c’mon, even garage sale me isn’t that desperate for a bargain!!)

Needless to say, he followed up with the bank, originally assuming that this was both a simple error, and simple to remedy. Until we noticed that I had apparently also shopped at a Montreal Loblaws and eaten at a French Bistro, while on my little  excursion.

All told, “I” spent over $600 in the last few days, and must have had so much fun that I can’t remember any of it.

Sooo…now, we have had to immediately cancel my “stolen” bank card, and go through all the rigamorole necessary to both recoup our money (quick, before our trip!), reissue me a new card, AND hope to see the supposed thief fry for this. We filed a police report as instructed by the bank, and it seemed quite clear that “this is a very common occurence”, and that they have way bigger fish to fry.

Plus, we have to take inventory of all the places that my card may be used to pay on an auto basis, and ensure that I hadn’t booked our rooms etc. for our upcoming trip, on this now invalid card.

I am puzzled how, when I am still in possession of this card, someone may have used it at such places as a grocery store and a restaurant, undetected. You’d think that they couldn’t just charge items without producing an actual card….or maybe I am just too naive for words.

Anyway, we could have done without this last minute anxiety and drama, and now can only hope that the bank will reimburse us BEFORE they complete their “investigation”, as otherwise, we are now critical cash short just before we leave town. (Although it is probably hard to feel too sorry for us, considering WHERE it is that we are heading!)

In unrelated news, our friends came over last night, and we spent hours mapping out our strategy to ensure that no stones are left unturned. As I have numerous certificates to use and redeem, I had to be especially sure to cover a lot of territory so as not to let any money go unused. Also, it is important to Tom and I that Debbie and Janet get to see and do everything that they would like, and especially Janet as she has never been to Atlantic City before, and we so hope that this will also be an opportunity for her to rest and recover some, given the recent loss of her sister.

Part of what we determined, is just where we will eat our primary meal each day (using my $150 vouchers for food).

Together, we chose: The Caesar’s Buffet the first night; McCormicks and Scmicks seafood restaurant the second day, and a place called 6ix, in Bally’s, the 3rd day. Lest you think that I am merely focusing on FOOD, we have also planned out where to tour, play and enjoy. NOW, I am finally getting happy about this trip, whereas up until now, it seemed both too far off, and kind of a pain, to appreciate. If we can just make it past these next few difficult and important days, it should be clear sailing come Saturday! Unfortunately, I have been running mostly on fumes, anxiety and OCD, and expect that this will remain so until we are safely on our way. Tomorrow I follow up with the sleep doctor as he reviews the results of my titration study, and I desperately hope that I have either outgrown the damn thing altogether, or at least, that my number has dropped significantly. I think that at least the latter is true, as Tom often sleepily wakes me at night, mumbling something about “you’re blowing air all over me!”

Also tomorrow night, is the maybe last of our local casino adventures, and we plan to meet Diane for dinner on us, at the buffet. As has been so lately, we will likely rush through the joint, collecting whatever we can from our “free” play, and not stopping to “pass go” on the way.

Tuesday I’ve gotta take my Kia in for its 15,000 check-up and tune-up etc., and get it inspected and ensured to be roadworthy for our long journey ahead. After this, comes shopping for road snacks, fussing, packing, more planning, ensuring cat and household and blog coverage while away, and all that other fun stuff that makes you more exhausted when you vacation than if you’d have just stayed home.

I think that Janet summed things up in an inadvertantly humorous and accurate way last night. First, probably in response to how wired I was, she asked me if I was still “manic.” When I said that I was, she said that it would likely be an interesting and balanced mix of the 4 of of travelling together, as this included both me, the orbital, high strung, anxious, mania driven one, and her, the now depressed, tired and subdued one, with the other two somewhere in between. Should make for an interesting adventure, don’t you think?

Related posts:

1. Food for Fitness, Fuel, and Fun Weight: 28
2. Biological Needs for Food, Sleep, and Bargains! Weight: 23
3. Losing Weight and Winning Money! Weight: 23
4. Having Fun If It Kills Me! Weight: 18
5. Mania Can Be Fun! Weight: 23