Who doesn't like free stuff? I know I do. Yet, it's not that easy to come by. Or at least it wasn't. That was before retailers instituted what are known variously as Reward or Loyalty Programs. I am an avid user of such programs.
My attraction to R&L programs probably started in the 90's. An avid reader of military history, the forlorn Military History Book Club used to have a come-on that allowed you to buy four books for a penny each (unless otherwise noted; the exceptions were never anything I wanted) and shipping and handling, with no obligation to buy another book. I signed up, bought a bargain book or two, and then quit the club. Remarkably, a few months later, the MHBC wanted me back...for the same deal. I mean, they'd send basically the same offer as the first one, with only the language we want you back being the difference, so I signed up again. I would find the four most expensive books that I could get for a penny each -- all books that interested me -- pay the shipping and handling and then quit the club. It was like a combination of Groundhog Day and Christmas Day. This went on for a few years. I think all told I got over $1,000.00 worth of books (retail) for around $100.00 shipping and handling (plus the penny a book, of course).
As if this weren't bad enough, the venerable Book of the Month Club followed suit. So of course, never one to pass up a bargain, I signed up with BOMC...and quit...and signed up...and quit...and signed up...it was ridiculous.
Eventually, the clubs hired someone with functioning grey matter and the terms of membership were changed. No longer was there no obligation to buy a book at club prices; I haven't been a member of either club since.
So that's how I ended up getting hooked on R&L programs.
Nowadays, there are as many R&L programs as there are businesses. But not all R&L programs were created equal. Nay, I tell you. Some are downright frustrating.
Take Outback, for example. Great food, horrible R&L program. What's wrong with it? I wish I could tell you. I can't even explain it, much less benefit from it. Some programs are so chintzy that you have to spend $150.00 to get a $5.00 coupon. That's neither a Reward Program nor a Loyalty Program. That's a Tuppence Program or a Fool Program, because there's not much offered for being so stupid.
Sometimes, the programs can be really frustrating. For example, the closest Culver's was in a town about ten miles from our house, so I signed up for it and put that as my frequent Culver's. No sooner had I joined that R&L program but one opened in our home town less than a mile from our house. I called corporate, explained the problem and was assured that my hometown Culver's was now my primary sport. So the next time I got an offer for a free custard it was good only at the Culver's ten miles from my house. Luckily, I don't like custard enough to complain about it.
Chili's has a decent R&L program. The only problem is that they keep moving the goalposts. Karen and I dined there one night and saw that we had 300-odd points on our way to a free meal at 420 points. When next we returned, it was 520 points we needed. We complained to the manager, whose hands were tied (he was sympathetic). So the last couple of times we've been there we wanted to check on the Ziosk what our points balance was, only to see that we couldn't see what our balance it. I still don't know what it is.
Red Robin became frustrating because I changed my email. I doubt most people think about changing the email with which they signed up for R&L programs. I know I didn't. So a year later, when I thought about it, I couldn't remember it...and RR acted like I was asking for the nuclear launch codes when I wanted to get into my R&L profile. Believe me, I don't like endless French fries that much.
Some, though, are exceptionally run. Speedway's is so easy. Not only do I have to use my rewards card (because I can punch in a code instead) but they give free stuff away all the time. Each seventh drink is free. Right now I can earn 7,000 points if I use my card to purchase something ten times before the end of the month. Why would I want that? Because I can reduce my price per gallon at their pumps by twenty-five cents with 4250 points. That's not a bad savings on a long trip.
All told, I probably have around fifty rewards cards. My wayward brother and his even more senseless fiancée bought me a Blackhawks wallet (a wallet with an Indian head on it) as if I'd ever be caught dead using it. Since I didn't have a use for it, I decided to store all my rewards cards in it (because some programs still require the cards for benefits) and the thing is almost two inches thick. I know, it's a little sick, but I just think of all the free stuff I get by using the stupid things.
R&L programs continue to evolve, getting easier to use and offering bigger benefits. I'll keep doing it even after I qualify for the senior discount (I wonder if I can stack senior discounts with R&L programs...). It's like a game to me, almost, although sometimes it drives Karen nuts.
I'm sure once she reads this she'll curse the guys who came up with the overly generous membership offers at MHBC and BOMC. O' well.
But I do wonder where they've gone...
(c) 2017 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles
Friday, March 24, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Surgery
My absence from this blog was due to the first real surgery I've had in my life. Sure, I had a double hernia replaced when I was a month old, but how many of us remember anything from that time in our lives? I can't remember much from before I was five-years-old, although Karen remembers things from an earlier age, perhaps three-years-old. Girls, as they say, do develop faster than boys.
While I was home recuperating from this first adult surgery, I was pretty bored in between the therapy sessions designed to rehabilitate my hip. Sleep was a difficulty for the first two weeks, contrary to what some would think. Between having to be attached to a device designed to prevent blood clots from reoccurring and to ice my surgical scar and the pain of not being able to sleep comfortably on my side as is my wont, it was pretty miserable. Just recently I've begun to sleep through the night -- five weeks after the surgery.
Add to that having to use a walker, which then became a cane, and one can imagine the fun. The best part about it is that I get to do this again come May.
Despite the relative difficulties which, by the by, were far worse for Karen than for me -- I'm not the world's easiest patient simply because I don't like the thought of others having to do things for me -- I was able to take notice of some things during my recovery:
-- I love war movies. I own plenty of them. They never get old. But there are only so many war movies I can watch over a two week period. I watched the following movies during my recovery at home: Lone Survivor, Zero Dark Thirty, Sahara, We Were Soldiers, Band of Brothers, Zulu, Platoon, Gettysburg, and a few more I can't remember. I would have watched The Pacific as well if I hadn't misplaced it.
-- Carrying plates of food or glasses of beverages is possible with a walker or a cane if one practices.
-- Likewise, putting on pants or socks even with surgically repaired legs is possible is one is careful.
-- I've noticed I have a unique problem with food. No, I've actually lost weight over the past month, not gained it. But once when I went to the freezer for the ice pack for my hip, I noticed a package of sausages I'd bought before my surgery. They're still good -- Karen wouldn't eat them, but she wouldn't eat them if they were freshly made -- but for some odd reason, I'll buy food I want to eat and put it away, as if for a rainy day. We're not in wartime conditions, nor is food being rationed, so there's no logical reason not to eat it. It's as if I'm storing nuts away for the winter that never gets here. The sausages are on my menu for the weekend.
-- A few years ago, someone circulated one of those games that people with too much time on their hands devise: Thirty corporate logos that we all see everyday -- name them. Well, I've come up with a twist on this game: After sitting home watching endless hours of television, I've noticed the pharmaceutical industry could be used for the same purpose: We've seen all these drugs advertised -- Xarelto, Movantix, Osphena, Humira, Lyrica, Viagra, Eliquis, Xeljanz, Celebrex, Restasis -- but how many of can remember what the drugs are designed to treat? Unless one is taking the drug, it's unlikely someone can name with accuracy what each of these drugs is used to treat. What's more, there seem to be new drugs every week! A far more difficult test would be to list the potential side-effects accurately.
-- Having the love and support of a person whom one cherishes is humbling. Listening to Karen take over the chores while I sat on my keister, helpless, was beyond frustrating. In fact, the memory of it saddens me to my core. At the same time, I realize just how fortunate I am to have her. I think about so many people who don't have someone who, thoughtfully and selflessly, would do for them what Karen did for me. In some ways, I had two surgeries, one actual -- my hip -- and one virtual -- my heart. Everyone should be as lucky as I am.
(c) 2017 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles
While I was home recuperating from this first adult surgery, I was pretty bored in between the therapy sessions designed to rehabilitate my hip. Sleep was a difficulty for the first two weeks, contrary to what some would think. Between having to be attached to a device designed to prevent blood clots from reoccurring and to ice my surgical scar and the pain of not being able to sleep comfortably on my side as is my wont, it was pretty miserable. Just recently I've begun to sleep through the night -- five weeks after the surgery.
Add to that having to use a walker, which then became a cane, and one can imagine the fun. The best part about it is that I get to do this again come May.
Despite the relative difficulties which, by the by, were far worse for Karen than for me -- I'm not the world's easiest patient simply because I don't like the thought of others having to do things for me -- I was able to take notice of some things during my recovery:
-- I love war movies. I own plenty of them. They never get old. But there are only so many war movies I can watch over a two week period. I watched the following movies during my recovery at home: Lone Survivor, Zero Dark Thirty, Sahara, We Were Soldiers, Band of Brothers, Zulu, Platoon, Gettysburg, and a few more I can't remember. I would have watched The Pacific as well if I hadn't misplaced it.
-- Carrying plates of food or glasses of beverages is possible with a walker or a cane if one practices.
-- Likewise, putting on pants or socks even with surgically repaired legs is possible is one is careful.
-- I've noticed I have a unique problem with food. No, I've actually lost weight over the past month, not gained it. But once when I went to the freezer for the ice pack for my hip, I noticed a package of sausages I'd bought before my surgery. They're still good -- Karen wouldn't eat them, but she wouldn't eat them if they were freshly made -- but for some odd reason, I'll buy food I want to eat and put it away, as if for a rainy day. We're not in wartime conditions, nor is food being rationed, so there's no logical reason not to eat it. It's as if I'm storing nuts away for the winter that never gets here. The sausages are on my menu for the weekend.
-- A few years ago, someone circulated one of those games that people with too much time on their hands devise: Thirty corporate logos that we all see everyday -- name them. Well, I've come up with a twist on this game: After sitting home watching endless hours of television, I've noticed the pharmaceutical industry could be used for the same purpose: We've seen all these drugs advertised -- Xarelto, Movantix, Osphena, Humira, Lyrica, Viagra, Eliquis, Xeljanz, Celebrex, Restasis -- but how many of can remember what the drugs are designed to treat? Unless one is taking the drug, it's unlikely someone can name with accuracy what each of these drugs is used to treat. What's more, there seem to be new drugs every week! A far more difficult test would be to list the potential side-effects accurately.
-- Having the love and support of a person whom one cherishes is humbling. Listening to Karen take over the chores while I sat on my keister, helpless, was beyond frustrating. In fact, the memory of it saddens me to my core. At the same time, I realize just how fortunate I am to have her. I think about so many people who don't have someone who, thoughtfully and selflessly, would do for them what Karen did for me. In some ways, I had two surgeries, one actual -- my hip -- and one virtual -- my heart. Everyone should be as lucky as I am.
(c) 2017 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles
Thursday, March 2, 2017
State of the Union Address
First of all, I'm back. Surgery kept me away from the keyboard for nearly six weeks, but that didn't mean I wasn't chomping at the bit.
Ordinarily, I don't pay any attention to the State of the Union Address (or SUA). It's nothing more than political theater for me. Sure, we want to hear the right things, and typically, the SUA is designed to do just that. But it's nothing more than grandstanding by the POTUS and the members of Congress. I suppose that it instills the necessary backbone in citizens and puts some hesitation in our enemies' hearts.
Everyone wanted to see whether President Trump would revert to his old campaign self or show a more presidential side. There are, of course, differences of opinion on how Mr. Trump was perceived, but generally the reports are favorable. Within the MSM, there were detractors, but there were even some who, by any measure, are his foes who accorded him favorable marks.
Personally, I thought he was very presidential in his SUA. He didn't revert to those verbal ticks where he repeated phrases, editorialized his own words and other things that were evident on the campaign trail. If I have a criticism of his speech, it was that he spent far too much time looking to his left at the Republicans and not nearly enough time glowering at the Democrats to his right, who deserved to be talked to directly. His cadence was measured, his verbiage crafted for the common man and his demeanor anything but haughty. He showed he can be presidential when he wants to be.
I'm not a fan of all the standing ovations Congress gives our POTUS, whoever it may be. Applause is fine, but do they all really need to stand so much?
There was one thing, however, that irked me to no end. I understand partisan politics, and I understand the phrase loyal opposition. There's almost an obligation to oppose a member of the other party, I suppose, but I lose track of the argument when the beneficiaries of the discussion, whether it be the country or the citizens, are at issue.
The Democrats acted for all intents and purposes like spoiled teenagers who had been grounded and not allowed to use their electronic devices for a week. I've never seen such unnecessarily petulant behavior in the Congress. It's one thing to be opposed; it's quite another to display one's disapproval like a child.
The white clothing, the thumbs down, the sour faces while Mr. Trump spoke. Looking at one's PDA, not shaking his hand when he entered the chamber, refusing to applaud even those segments of his speech that agreed in principle with their own -- how childish! And then leaving the minute his speech ended like fans of a team that was just destroyed in an athletic contest. Never have I seen such puerile behavior from a political party.
Disagreement is fine. It's even encouraged when it's genuine. But this manufactured disapproval and its infantile manifestations were ridiculous. It's almost as if the Democrats wanted to validate Plato's reservations about democracy.
It was a sad dressing to an otherwise unexpectedly good SUA. It's a shame that partisan sensibilities overcame commonsense.
To be fair, there were a couple of notable exceptions to this criticism, chief among them being Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, about whom it's been rumored he's going to switch parties.
And this is without even commenting on the woeful Democratic response to the SUA. That was nothing more than a rotten cherry on top of the squalid sundae the Democrats crafted.
Hopefully, Mr. Trump will follow through on his SUA. There are lofty goals within that speech. I'm not sure he's going to be able to accomplish all that is confidence believes he can. I hope I'm wrong.
But I know I'm not wrong about the Democrats.
(c) 2017 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles
Ordinarily, I don't pay any attention to the State of the Union Address (or SUA). It's nothing more than political theater for me. Sure, we want to hear the right things, and typically, the SUA is designed to do just that. But it's nothing more than grandstanding by the POTUS and the members of Congress. I suppose that it instills the necessary backbone in citizens and puts some hesitation in our enemies' hearts.
Everyone wanted to see whether President Trump would revert to his old campaign self or show a more presidential side. There are, of course, differences of opinion on how Mr. Trump was perceived, but generally the reports are favorable. Within the MSM, there were detractors, but there were even some who, by any measure, are his foes who accorded him favorable marks.
Personally, I thought he was very presidential in his SUA. He didn't revert to those verbal ticks where he repeated phrases, editorialized his own words and other things that were evident on the campaign trail. If I have a criticism of his speech, it was that he spent far too much time looking to his left at the Republicans and not nearly enough time glowering at the Democrats to his right, who deserved to be talked to directly. His cadence was measured, his verbiage crafted for the common man and his demeanor anything but haughty. He showed he can be presidential when he wants to be.
I'm not a fan of all the standing ovations Congress gives our POTUS, whoever it may be. Applause is fine, but do they all really need to stand so much?
There was one thing, however, that irked me to no end. I understand partisan politics, and I understand the phrase loyal opposition. There's almost an obligation to oppose a member of the other party, I suppose, but I lose track of the argument when the beneficiaries of the discussion, whether it be the country or the citizens, are at issue.
The Democrats acted for all intents and purposes like spoiled teenagers who had been grounded and not allowed to use their electronic devices for a week. I've never seen such unnecessarily petulant behavior in the Congress. It's one thing to be opposed; it's quite another to display one's disapproval like a child.
The white clothing, the thumbs down, the sour faces while Mr. Trump spoke. Looking at one's PDA, not shaking his hand when he entered the chamber, refusing to applaud even those segments of his speech that agreed in principle with their own -- how childish! And then leaving the minute his speech ended like fans of a team that was just destroyed in an athletic contest. Never have I seen such puerile behavior from a political party.
Disagreement is fine. It's even encouraged when it's genuine. But this manufactured disapproval and its infantile manifestations were ridiculous. It's almost as if the Democrats wanted to validate Plato's reservations about democracy.
It was a sad dressing to an otherwise unexpectedly good SUA. It's a shame that partisan sensibilities overcame commonsense.
To be fair, there were a couple of notable exceptions to this criticism, chief among them being Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, about whom it's been rumored he's going to switch parties.
And this is without even commenting on the woeful Democratic response to the SUA. That was nothing more than a rotten cherry on top of the squalid sundae the Democrats crafted.
Hopefully, Mr. Trump will follow through on his SUA. There are lofty goals within that speech. I'm not sure he's going to be able to accomplish all that is confidence believes he can. I hope I'm wrong.
But I know I'm not wrong about the Democrats.
(c) 2017 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles
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