World Series Champions

I have to throw a quick SHOUT OUT to my San Francisco Giants for being the 2012 World Series Champions

Unfortunately, I was on a flight back from San Diego, CA when the entire game was played and arrived home a mere seconds after the final pitch.  However, I recorded the game and saw all the highlights I needed to enjoy the victory.

Thank you SF Giants!

Keeping on top of Credit

So I've decided to be more aggressive with credit cards to take advantage of some great offers by various credit card companies. I'll discuss my card decisions in a latter post when they come through.

But before doing all this, I needed to take a close look at my credit reports.  Everyone should be aware that they can review their main 3 credit reports (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for free EVERY year at Annualcreditreport.com (that is the official link).  This website provides you with the ability to review your credit report, but you will have to pay a nominal fee per credit bureau to get your credit score.

Additionally, there are 2 other websites that I use to have a look at my credit score.  After doing a lot of research, I found that Credit Karma and Credit Sesame offer a lot of great information with regard to your credit.  Credit Karma actually pulls your TransUnion information and provides a credit score.  Credit Sesame pulls your Experian credit report and provides a credit score.  So these are 2 free sites where you can keep an eye on your credit and credit score.  I was notified of any changes in my TransUnion report by Credit Karma via email.  So it also serves as a free credit monitoring service.

Both sites are full of offers for credit cards, loans, etc., but you don't have to provide any personal credit card information for anything.  Safe and sound.

I highly recommend all these options just to make sure your credit reports are in order.

In case you are wondering, I DO NOT get anything from endorsing these websites.  My blog is NOT a money generating blog; it's all for fun.

The iPad mini cometh!

Today's big entertainment for me was Apple's Event.  If you know me, you know I border on obsession for Apple products.  Many think it is just because I am "sheeping" to a company that is a master marketer.  I could not disagree more.  I am not one that just likes something because everyone else likes it.  I like products when I have a purpose for it and it "works".  Apple has proven its ability to work for me ever since I owned an Apple IIGS.  I haven't had a problem with any iPhone, iMac, iPod or iPad since I've owned them.  They are reliable and definitely look beautiful.  I HAVE tried the other side (Window's PCs, Android phones, other tablets).  They just don't work as seamless as Apple products.  I firmly believe it has to do with Apple deciding that they control everything in each product (the hardware, software, etc).  When you open something up to everyone like non-Apple products do, it just doesn't fit like a glove.  But, to each there own.

My big anticipation for today's event was the rumored smaller iPad.  Well, let the rumor be no more.  Apple officially announced the iPad mini.  Don't get me wrong, I love my current iPad 2.  It is a perfect fit for my everyday usage in front of the TV (checking email, surfing the web, using specific apps).  However, I felt that it was not "perfect" for my intense travel schedule.  I currently take my iPad with me on business trips, but it stays in my hotel room for use in the evenings.  I go out to eat at lunch and dinner on my own, mostly.  I don;t feel comfortable sitting at a table or bar with the iPad; I find it a bit too big.  I felt that a smaller product, but bigger than my iPhone, would be perfect for those times.  So we shall we.  I will purchase the iPad mini with the intent that it will be my travel product (watching movies on planes, checking emails, surfing net, blogging).  We shall see.

Apple also impressed me with a whole slew of updates.  The new iMacs look amazing and the improvements to Macbook Pro, Mac Mini and iPad look great.  I'm all set on the PC front with my new Macbook Pro.  The improvements in iPad have not really been significant enough for me to upgrade from my iPad 2.

So all in all, Apple was great today.  2012 was a great year for Apple.  Well done boys!

My Comeback.... along with the Giants

How appropriate that my return to blogging be on the same day that my beloved San Francisco Giants complete an improbable SERIES comeback against the St Louis Cardinals to win the NLCS.  I am so happy that I am actually speechless.  It's not one of those jump for joy happy feelings, it's more one of those OMG did that really happen and I want more so I'll wait to explode until after the WS; if we win.  Good luck Giants vs the Tigers.  Don't Stop Believing!

Today's win by the Giants concluded a very successful few days for my favorite sports teams:  Last Thursday my SF 49ers dismissed a very good division foe in Seattle; my Chelsea boys dispatched Tottenham in a mini-comeback of their own in the second half; and my roller coaster of a fantasy football team romped their opposition and should move me up to 3rd place overall.  Not all (extended) weekends are like this, but I love it when it all goes this way.

---------------------------------------------------

On the travel, today was my first experience checking in to a Hilton hotel with my newly gained Diamond status (Hilton's top tier).  I am staying at the Doubletree in Mission Valley (San Diego).  I was immediately recognized with my status and upgraded to the Executive Floor at the hotel.   This is my second trip to this hotel and I do enjoy it very much.  The rooms are very large (at least the ones I've gotten) and I love the balcony.

I should probably remind travelers that there is some type of "unwritten" code of conduct when disembarking from an airplane.  I was on the aisle seat of my row today and when I got up to grab my bags in the overhead compartment upon arrival, my seatmates (a redneck couple) decided to barge into the aisle, grab their stuff and push themselves in front of me; forcing me to unintentionally push the people in the aisle behind me.  Huh?  We were in row 7 too (first row in economy).  Did they gain any time from this push?  Nah!  People, disembarking goes just fine if you let the row in front of you go, then exit from aisle to window in your row.  This pushing doesn't win you anything!

---------------------------------------------------

Going forward I will post as I have something fun and worthwhile.  Sometimes it will be maybe a nugget of information on travel and sometimes it will be something just random.  I just want to keep it fun and interesting.  We'll see how it goes.

Insanity

Just to let you know that I am currently active on updating the Insanity page since I am going through it right now.

As far as the travel posts, they will resume soon (I hope).  Just trying to figure what how I really want to go about doing it.