testing, testing is this thing on????

i am so sorry---i have forsaken you for twitter and facebook. will be back soon.

my trip home resulted in one delayed bag---and when I opened it Tuesday, I realized my favorite black jeans and the belt I wear with them were missing. My first thought was that I'd left them in the hotel room, so I called and left a message with housekeeping. And found something else to wear for what turned out to be a very long day. (I had a guest in the afternoon, and was going to his show in the evening)
Stayed home sick on Wednesday---due in part to my froggy voice, as well as the fact i didn't make it home til 4.
Called back Thursday, still no response. Called this morning and they finally tracked down a housekeeping supervisor for me, but she says the only thing found in my room was a pair of mens hiking boots. The day after I left.

So, I called United, and spoke with someone on the 1k baggage issues desk, or whatever they call it. She was somewhat sympathetic, and told me it looked like my bag had lost its tags. Or had been offloaded in Chicago and put on the carousel. In any case, I have a feeling that has something to do with the missing jeans.
What's next? Well, UAL has to check with ORD to see if they were "discovered" somewhere in baggage. And if not, I have to come up with some sort of valuation, which they will, of course, cut into half.
But that's not the worse part.
I've still got to find a replacement pair. And you know how hard it is to find jeans that fit well. As my friend Karen put it " great fitting jeans are more valuable than the finest jewels. I feel your pain."

and to top it off, I've got to accept the fact my yoga teacher isn't moving back! Oh well, perhaps it's time to try another school.

guess who's aarp card arrived today?

off to memphis in the morning....ticketed the trip to china in may, very exciting and excited. that does not preclude me from taking the long awaited nov excursion, that one is still on the books, too. all comers welcome: first stop bali, then hong kong and tokyo. Though a couple of days in hkg in may might allow two stops in japan this fall. would love to go north. TBD, as they say.

interestingly, the only upcoming trip causing stress is memphis. why? no one at the conf has been able to tell me which hotel they've booked me into. it keeps changing- crowne plaza to westin to cp to? cp is closer, westin nicer. i have status at both, who cares? Not me at this point...i just want to avoid wandering into the conf, suitcase in hand.

now, back to our regularly scheduled workday already in progress.

what's wrong with this picture????

i decided to go out for a walk at lunch yesterday. it was cold, but i figured it couldn't be that bad.

perhaps i was wrong. I have never seen the Mall this empty.

i received a very interesting note from my friend neiman marcus today. We're not really close friends, I visit two or three times a year, usually while I'm on my way to another retailer in the mall.

But if there was any question that the economy was in the pits, you've got solid proof now. Check out the changes to the NM return policy:


"We want you to be completely happy with your order. If for any reason you are not satisfied, we will gladly accept your timely return of unworn, unwashed, or defective merchandise. Returned merchandise should include the vendor packaging and tags and be in the same condition as when it was received. Used merchandise cannot be returned unless defective.

Return Within Amount of Credit
0-60 days from receipt of merchandise 100% of purchase price
61-120 days from receipt of merchandise 75% of purchase price
121-180 days from receipt of merchandise 50% of purchase price
181+ days from receipt of merchandise 0%

Merchandise returned more than six months after the delivery date will be shipped back to you at your expense. Sale and Last Call® Online Clearance Merchandise
Must be returned within 30 days of receipt of merchandise.

Gifts
When a gift is returned, a Neiman Marcus Group Merchandise Credit Gift Card will be issued to the gift recipient for the amount of the returned merchandise."

Me thinks there were too many cases of people who've hit dire straits going through the closet and returning gently worn gifts, folks who've needed a new outfit for that big party (or inauguration!) buying something and then returning it because it didn't fit, etc. And no more cash back...that's the big one.