At long last, I've finally got some new updates posted to my website. Here are click-throughs to them:
Cleveland
Oklahoma City
Buenos Aires
Next up: cruise pages. We took a combined 3000 photos, so I can't make any timeframe promises but it won't be six months this time. Let me know what you think!
26 September 2011
24 September 2011
Running For Diamond
Back in May I made Delta Platinum, their 75K flight-miles threshold. The next threshold is Diamond, at 125K another 50K away. Since Delta has a rollover feature to its program my strategy had been to accumulate as many miles as I naturally would up to 124,999. That way I'd roll lots over and be almost to 50K (Delta Gold) early in the year. Yesterday I rethought my strategy: I'm going for Diamond. Why?
Well, because I have a Delta co-branded AmEx, I received an offer in the mail earlier this year offering me bonus miles for reaching Gold or higher: 25K bonus miles for Gold, 50K for Platinum, and 100K for Diamond. So, by reaching Diamond I'll be getting another 50K. (To put that into perspective, our $1500 ticket to Buenos Aires in June cost just 60K Delta points.) And, when I get to Diamond, Delta will gift me 20K miles and $200 toward a future flight. And, I get a 100% bonus in addition to whatever miles I fly: flying 1000 gets me a credit of 2000 miles.
This past week I calculated how many points I have and found out I needed just 12,600 points to get to Diamond. My analysis showed me that I could fly those 12,600 miles and realize a return of almost 100,000 miles. I decided it was worth it. I was going to book my first pure mileage run. Of course, I've added on legs and segments before but I've never taken a trip just solely for the points.
My mileage run comes in November and takes me from Baltimore to Seattle via Salt Lake City, on to Warsaw via Paris, and back to Dulles. It's a little daunting but it will certainly be an adventure! Details to follow and certainly postings to my website.
Well, because I have a Delta co-branded AmEx, I received an offer in the mail earlier this year offering me bonus miles for reaching Gold or higher: 25K bonus miles for Gold, 50K for Platinum, and 100K for Diamond. So, by reaching Diamond I'll be getting another 50K. (To put that into perspective, our $1500 ticket to Buenos Aires in June cost just 60K Delta points.) And, when I get to Diamond, Delta will gift me 20K miles and $200 toward a future flight. And, I get a 100% bonus in addition to whatever miles I fly: flying 1000 gets me a credit of 2000 miles.
This past week I calculated how many points I have and found out I needed just 12,600 points to get to Diamond. My analysis showed me that I could fly those 12,600 miles and realize a return of almost 100,000 miles. I decided it was worth it. I was going to book my first pure mileage run. Of course, I've added on legs and segments before but I've never taken a trip just solely for the points.
My mileage run comes in November and takes me from Baltimore to Seattle via Salt Lake City, on to Warsaw via Paris, and back to Dulles. It's a little daunting but it will certainly be an adventure! Details to follow and certainly postings to my website.
05 September 2011
The August Vegan
August as in the month, not its other definition, that is.
I decided that, for the month of August, I'd go animal-product free. The decision was impromptu, nudged along by a week in Dallas during which I was so sick of heavy, meat-filled meals. With a cruise coming in September, I knew I'd be eating lots of heavy, rich foods on the ship, so I figured I'd give it a whirl.
I've done a vegan diet for a week or two here and there, which is honestly no problem at all. I wondered at the beginning of the month if I'd crave anything specific and if I'd be able to stick to my goal. I did, and without much effort or unmanageable cravings. The most difficult of the four weeks was the second week, after I'd become bored with my newly-limited choices in the cafeteria at work and the month seemed to have so many days left in it.
I can't say that I really felt any different or lost any weight. But, then again, I didn't weigh in to check, nor did I adopt any other lifestyle changes I would if I try this again. I incorporated no exercise and I made no changes that I know would help me (like going to bed at a regular hour). And, the kitchen at home wasn't really ready for my snap decision, which makes a huge difference.
If I go animal-free for a period in future, I will have a plan together and try for a couple of months to see what changes I notice. I'd be sure the kitchen was well-stocked with the right foods, have recipes ready, take my lunch to work every day, set aside time to exercise, and force myself to bed early enough to ensure eight full hours of sleep every night. Perhaps those changes are more of a challenge than the diet!
I decided that, for the month of August, I'd go animal-product free. The decision was impromptu, nudged along by a week in Dallas during which I was so sick of heavy, meat-filled meals. With a cruise coming in September, I knew I'd be eating lots of heavy, rich foods on the ship, so I figured I'd give it a whirl.
I've done a vegan diet for a week or two here and there, which is honestly no problem at all. I wondered at the beginning of the month if I'd crave anything specific and if I'd be able to stick to my goal. I did, and without much effort or unmanageable cravings. The most difficult of the four weeks was the second week, after I'd become bored with my newly-limited choices in the cafeteria at work and the month seemed to have so many days left in it.
I can't say that I really felt any different or lost any weight. But, then again, I didn't weigh in to check, nor did I adopt any other lifestyle changes I would if I try this again. I incorporated no exercise and I made no changes that I know would help me (like going to bed at a regular hour). And, the kitchen at home wasn't really ready for my snap decision, which makes a huge difference.
If I go animal-free for a period in future, I will have a plan together and try for a couple of months to see what changes I notice. I'd be sure the kitchen was well-stocked with the right foods, have recipes ready, take my lunch to work every day, set aside time to exercise, and force myself to bed early enough to ensure eight full hours of sleep every night. Perhaps those changes are more of a challenge than the diet!
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