Southwest chase card - upped their bonus back to 50,000 points (or $500 Amazon gift cards - that is what I would redeem with those points!)

http://www.mymoneyblog.com/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-...

CAVEAT: You only have to make one purchase, but there is a $69 annual fee.

This is the card dh signed up for less than a month ago? & also, the points he earned have not transferred to Southwest after 2 weeks. SO, he called them yesterday. They were having problems with the point transfer to Southwest, so might take another week. They told dh he could probably get the extra 25,000 bonus, but had to check with the marketing department or something? I think I just send over an e-mail. Dh has been a Chase customer for like 20 years or so, so I will play that card.

This might add $250 to the grand total, but I won't lose sleep over it if they deny me. Crossing my fingers for a nice person on the other end of my e-mail. It seems to be who you get. (& maybe I will just try again if it doesn't work the first time?)

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Nothing much else to report. Work is a wee bit crazy because someone quit last month. BUT, it isn't too bad. I think it's probably been on the slow side (slow as it has been for years - it ebbs and flows) and so I suppose I will just be more busy.

I have a great employer and am often reminded. On Facebook most of my friends who work in the same capacity have been working 14-hour days with the tax deadline that just passed. I cringe when I read that, thinking to future job prospects. I told dh I was counting on him to find steady employment because I might just have to go part-time for my sanity. He completely agreed. (Kind of like, "Like hell you are working those kind of hours!"). Last I worked at a place like that, most of the "part timers" essentially worked full-time. For the long run, that is the route I foresee for myself. I just refuse to work those kind of hours - I value my health and my family too much. If I had to do that for a year or two, whatever - I certainly have in the past to get to where I am today - but not anything long-term unless I want an early grave or no joy in my life. I do like my job, but I also like other things too! {For reference, I worked 40 hours last week}.

Yesterday I went to the bread store to redeem 2 free items. I could have left it at that, but picked up some donuts for the office, too. For free, I loaded up on those sandwich thins. I hadn't been by much lately because I hadn't made it to aerobic much lately. Maybe it's for the best that it's only convenient to load up on cheap carbs on my way to/from aerobics class - the store is way too out of the way otherwise.

I don't remember the last time I went to the gym. The gym is necessary when the temps regularly hit 100F+, but it just never got particularly hot this year. But, I still enjoy the gym in the winter, in the dark, and for the safety/security (versus walking alone outside). So I am sure I will get plenty of use this year. Just not as much summer use as usual. I am sure I will be a regular again once daylight savings is over. I am only paying $15/month, which is fine for not going all summer. Having a safe, climate-controlled place to work out is priceless to me.