I dropped my Mom off at the airport this morning, she has been here for 2 weeks and is on her way back to Beijing. On the way here her luggage was crushed. It took about an hour at the help desk to file a claim and get her things. In talking to the lady at the counter, my Mom wanted her opinion on what to look for in luggage, because she had to buy a new piece and this lady obviously saw what was the best all day.

Here are her tips:

• 22 inch size is the best. 24 inch is getting a little big and easy to overpack.
• You want hard sides
• NO SCREWS! She was very clear that you DO NOT want to see screws anywhere on the outside of the luggage, esp. where the wheels are.
• The zipper must NOT be attached to the hard shell sides. But rather to a separate piece of webbing around the outside.

Where she suggested buying luggage at:

• Ross 
• Marshalls and
• TJ Maxx

I thought that was the most interesting…. where she recommended buying luggage. Sure enough, my Mom found an awesome set at Ross. The large 24″ was $189 normally and she paid $80. The 22″ she paid $60 for. They were a very nice brand deeply discounted.

Last China post, there was some REALLY good advice from you guys on packing and traveling. I know that we are going to be bringing back a lot of things and so I am going to be doing some of the things that you suggested.

From Rose Violet:

Here’s a trick I learned going to Europe. Bring a bunch of semi-old clothes to leave behind. I brought 1/2 good clothes and 1/2 old clothes that I didn’t really care for too much (including old underwear. I wore the worst one on the plane. I then left it in the garbage. During the trip I left my old clothes behind. That way I had half my suitcase left at the end to bring back souvenirs and new clothes! Also buy plenty of 2 pound zip lock bags. Organize each days clothes in them and seal them up. This eliminates clothes scattering at the airport and less chance of losing items. Just put the old clothes bag in the bag and less chance of dirty laundry mixing with clean. The ziploc bags also don’t need a vacuum to suck out the air and makes more room in your suitcase. Last item, take your suitcases to Publix to weight them to make sure they are under the limit. 

From Maria:

I do this too! I didn’t know other people do as well…but for my new clothes, I always wear them a couple of times and give them to my sister-in-laws (we stay at my in-laws for free) so they see that I JUST took the tags off and wore it only once of twice and disperse among my sister in laws…maybe you can do the same with your mom if you guys are the same size?? That way they get extra gifts, and you got nice picutres and room in your bag! I also take the perfume I am using at the time..A full bottle never gets done in time. ALSO to take less clothes, take more scarves, big chunky necklaces and statement earrings…sam moon has some great ones!! Accessories really make the outfit

From Paula:

Also to Asia take a triple Antibiotic Ointment. Always comes in handy.
Since you want to travel light, take a Sarong for you and the girls. It can be a skirt, bath robe, beach towel, sun shield…..I have even used it to carry Mangos home from the market.

Click to see the last China Post – Who Gets To Go

Complaining isn’t really fun. I don’t like hearing it, and I am sure my husband and others don’t either. I am stating this first because I am about to, well, complain. Sorry in advance…. this is going to be long.

It’s not even really complaining, it is basically just telling you how much I hate CHASE bank right now. Just think of it that way. See, I am really pretty anal and I know that. I like things a certain way, and take pride in making sure that I am not behind on anything, or past due. I have my own business account and bank account that I keep a little money in and I like it. WELLLLL not anymore!

This weekend we got home from spring break after being gone for 10 days. The stack of mail was HUGE. I started going through it right away to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I came across what looked like a regular statement from CHASE and opened it up. They were informing me that they had CANCELLED my business account for violating their terms and service. I was thinking it had to be a mistake as I really don’t use that account, it is more my savings. I grabbed a phone and called them.

A woman answered after being on hold for 5 minutes and as soon as I gave her my account number, I was cut off.

O.K., I redialed. After being on hold for another 7-8 minutes, a man answered and we went through the 4 minutes of questions to confirm it was me. Except that I couldn’t remember the last transaction I had made on the card. I don’t use that card. He informed me that he had to ask security questions. Fine. Then he asked 4 of the craziest questions going back to my high school. I answer correctly and he puts me on hold to find out why my account was cancelled.

We then got disconnected. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I call back again. Go through the same thing. Answer 4 more very personal questions that I can not imagine how they possibly got the information. He puts me on hold to find out why my account is closed. After waiting for 5 minutes he gets back on the phone. AND THE LINE GOES DEAD! I am starting to lose it.

I finally call back for the 4th time. Go through the entire thing again. This has been 42 minutes at this point. The lady this time starts asking me the questions. They are multiple choice.

“Tell me which property ____ Ivanovsky owned” then she names off 4 address on the west coast.

I say to her, “I have no idea who you are talking about.”

“You can’t answer the question?” she says.

“No, that is my last name, but I have no idea who that person is. How can I answer the question?” I reply.

“If you can’t answer the question, we can’t help you. I will ask you 1 more and that is your last chance” she says. “Which vehicle did your husband own? A. Pontiac 6000 LE B. Ford Explorer SE C. Chevy GMC Truck or D. Pontiac 1000 SE ?”

“Well, at one point he owned a Pontiac, but it was a really long time ago, I have no idea if it was a 6000 or a 1000.” I tell her. “Are these for real questions? It was a Pontiac, other than that I have no idea that model!”

“You have to answer or you will compromise your account.” She states.

“Paul!” I yell, “Did you own a Pontiac 6000 or a 1000?” From the other room he yells back “6000”

“It was a 6000” I tell her.

“Did someone else answer that? I heard someone else tell you the answer.”

“Yes my husband did, because it was HIS car and I never even drove it.” I say.

“You can bring 2 forms of ID into your local branch tomorrow and they will help you, you have compromised your account and I can’t talk to you.” She then hangs up.

I am livid!!! They have had me on the phone close to an HOUR, hung up on me 4 times at this point and no one has told me a single thing. 

Monday morning bright and early I walk into my local branch office. I go to the office of the guy who opened my account. I tell him what has happened the day before and show him the letter that I got and asked him what was going on. He pulls up my account and it says restricted, and that he had to call in. He calls and they are giving him the same run around they gave me. When he finally has the chance to ask them about my account, they tell him….

“We really have no information. It looks like a computer program that scans accounts reported that hers looks like it violates our terms and conditions. She has an online business ( MyLitter blog) and it is an online GAMBLING site. We have to close her account.”

“WHAT??!!!! Are you kidding me?” I yell.

He is still on the phone with them and says he doesn’t agree and they completely shut him down and tell him they can not reverse it and that my account is closed.

I am furious! There is no real person that actually bothered to take a look at my site, but instead let a computer program make a decision and close an account. There is not anyone that has any common sense that can make any decisions. Then there was a hold on the account and I could not walk out with a check.

At this point I am so mad, I start crying. Which then makes me more mad. I am in this poor guys office, crying, telling him how badly they treated me on the phone the day before, how I have NOT done ANYTHING wrong and  now they wont give me my money!!!! It might have been the tears, but with another phone call and a few more managers they get me my funds released and I walked out with a closed account.

I am sorry this is so long. BUT – I hate the fact that businesses are so big, that no one person matters. I have never had an account closed before. I only used it as my savings and had a debit card associated with it. The letter I got says they are reporting it to the credit bureau, which I can’t possible believe they can. Although, I am sure they will. Which is another fight that I will have to have as I did nothing wrong. NOT A SINGLE REAL PERSON typed in www.mylitter.com to see what it was. I am sure you can all vouch for me that it is not an online gambling site! 🙂 CHASE doesn’t care. They apparently let a computer decide what they do to real people. Thankfully, we have the option to bank somewhere else and will, and make sure that our children do also and should anyone else ever mention that they are looking I will tell them to RUN RUN RUN from CHASE bank they are HORRIBLE.

Thanks for the chance to vent! Over and OUT! 

P.S. The person they were asking me for the property info on? Paul and I did some genealogy… it was his great, great, grandpa. Apparently at Chase you are expected to know the properties of your spouses great, great grandparents, or you are compromising your account.