Chasing Away Chase

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If you haven’t heard yet, Chase, and other banks, have started on their plans to charge their customers yet more fees. (One of many articles on that here.)

I’ve been chased by Chase most of my money-earning life. My first bank – BankOne. I moved to Chicago, got a local Chicago account, ultimately at First Chicago. First Chicago was bought by BankOne, and I hated it. They raised fees, made me have to pay to use the human teller, and so when WaMu came to town, I jumped on board. BankOne then was consumed by Chase. I moved to Seattle, and was happy to be in the home of WaMu! Then WaMu faltered, and ultimately was picked up by Chase. I’ve been grumbly about it ever since, though now I have more financial stability, their fees hit me less.

That being said, they make money off of my money. Then there’s the fact that I have options, and many of their other customers don’t. I remember being that person, who goes just a few bucks overdrawn to more than $30 in the hole because of the overdraft fees. I’ve had rent checks bounce, because my school loan direct deposit was overdue to my account. My account was usually teetering just above $5 more than I’d like to admit. It’s tough, and I do not support them making money off of my money, and threatening people with the least means, with more fees.

Maybe they’re well within their rights, and as a person who can see the good in capitalism, I see that they are. But as a consumer, I’m within my right to try to make my voice heard by where I choose to take my business. Today, I chose the step of opening an account with a local credit union. It was stupidly easy, and I did it all online. I look forward to my freedom from Chase, once again.

Content and Time

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Just a brief note, because I’ve been intending to sit and write for awhile – and have even started a few blog posts – but have later realized I needed to do a lot of editing. A few years ago, a friend of mine said to me, while mired deep in daily posts to LiveJournal, that signal/noise matters.

As I’ve become a professional (ha!) in IT, I have less interest in spending my free time at a computer. Also, I find my anxiety is worse when plugged in to the constant stream of Facebook. It’s disheartening for me to realize how many people have not only jumped ship from blogging in favor of Facebook, but that they are now using the medium of Facebook to place signal, but in a way that it can’t help but be drowned out by the noise.

My friend, I think, was pointing out to me at the time I was blogging multiple times daily, that it was easy to lose track of what I was trying to say when mired in the noise that was also buzzing in my head. It’s not that I didn’t have something important to say – it was just hard to hear. I catch snippets of notes that people post on FB, but am not in a position to read them, which means that they become lost when I later have the time and want to indulge.

I’ve grown to favor human interaction over computer interaction (except when it’s in the realms of customer service at work, when computer interaction (email) is more expedient in problem solving.)

There’s my unedited thoughts. Now it’s time for work!

Still Not Repaired: First Run Post-Race

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I just got in from my gym after a 22 minute jog on the treadmill. I had to stop after two miles when my quads started sharply hurting. It seems that my need for sleep lately may be because I’m still recovering from the 13.1 last weekend! My plan this week is to get another massage, and try to relax as much as possible (despite the fact we’re moving this weekend, OMG!

More tales of recovery as the week progresses…

Las Vegas Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon

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I’m just two days back from the Las Vegas Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon. This was my first race of this distance, and was a belated birthday gift to myself. I’m still rather beat up from it, but I’m so glad to have done it. It was a great event.

I feel like I’m still short of time and energy to share all that went on with this event. It wasn’t just a race, because I see this as an amazing step on a long journey. I’ve fought, kicking and screaming and at times, just quiet determination, to get to where I am today. The race was a rite of passage. Even though I’ve now run a distance greater than the distance between my home town (suburb) and the nearest urban area, I feel like I now should be striving to run farther. It may be a type of insanity – or liberation (or both?)

Last year, medical issues and profound loss seriously thrashed me. This year, I picked up the pieces, got back on track with weight loss (I have lost about 130 lbs in the past 3 years), and started training for distance. This race was my celebration of accomplishments in a tangible way. For the first time in my life, I’ve reached a point where I can do something I’ve never been able to do before.

My race time was 2:15:21, which was my conservative guess time. I wanted to do faster, but at 2000 ft above sea level (Las Vegas’ elevation), I think I was having trouble getting the oxygen I needed to do so.

Other than the race, I really enjoyed the weekend in Vegas, and really enjoyed our stay at the Wynn. I indulged in a post-run spa experience, which I can only believe has made my body feel SO much better than it would have otherwise.

I’m taking the week off of exercise (maybe stretching/yoga), and plan to get back into a regular fitness routine. I, however, am done with racing til spring (I think!) I’ll keep this blog posted (for my 2 readers!)

Changes in Plans

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Wow – long time no post! I’ve been in New York since last Wednesday, when my husband and I were called out here due to his grandfather’s health being rather precarious at the time. This meant that I had to cancel birthday plans as well as my plans to run the Seattle 1/2 Marathon, which was to also be my birthday celebration.

Luckily, fitness wise, my 1/2 marathon dreams are still in the running – I am scheduled to run the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon next weekend.

Of course, as I usually do the week of my birthday, I am coming down with a head cold, and am laying low, being whiney, and craving a burrito (where’s a good burrito near Scarsdale?!)

I was ab it ambitious when I logged onto Blogger today – so I think that’s it for the update. I guess a bit of recap – I’ve been able to do up to 9 mi (including yesterday) so I think I’m in good shape for the 1/2. I’m still debating on following through with the Bikilas, but I’ve come this far, so why not?

OK, more rest awaits!