May 31st, 2014 10:00PM-11:40PM

For those that have been reading this blog awhile it will come to no shock to you that tonight I had a crisis involving me losing my wallet. This blog, entitled December 1, 2006 6:30PM-8:30PM was the first time a lost wallet story appeared on the blog. 

A few months ago Brooke and I were shopping at Kohl's when I realized I couldn't find my wallet. After tracing back my steps and then tearing apart the car I still couldn't find it. Just as I was about to really start freaking out the driver in the car parked next to me pulled out of their parking spot and Brooke sees my wallet in the center of the parking spot next to me.......this is a typical lost wallet story.

So tonight, we went to a great dinner in Camarillo with John and Larry. When I got into the restaurant I announced to them all that someone else needed to pay because I had left my wallet in the car. So as I said, we had dinner and then David and I walked across the parking lot and we went to Target and the Sports Authority before he walked me back to my car and then went on to his truck. Then we drove to the hotel in Oxnard.....

When David pulled in the parking lot he noticed that all my car doors and the trunk were opened. This was because I was FREAKING out. I couldn't find my wallet even though I had used it hours before when checking Tyler in at a hotel in Agoura Hills. Worse than the wallet the bag I had my clothes in and my laptop in was gone. After tearing apart the car looking for the wallet I came to the conclusion that all had been stolen. David (always with a cool head) suggested that I call the other hotel-so I pinged Tyler and he checked with the front desk-No wallet. Tyler stated via text that he didn't see me put a bag in the car earlier so I decided to call James and ask him to go to my house and double check to make sure I didn't leave my bag there (I knew that I hadn't-I remember putting it in the car). 

Tick Tock Tick Tock (James is headed to our house-pretty fast too) So James calls me back and tells me that my bag is still at home......thank God!!!!  So what in the world then happened to the wallet? Did somebody really steal or am I just not looking hard enough?

I decide that I need to go home since I have no clothes for the Go-Live in the morning. I get in the car and head home......I decide to call the restaurant (The wallet should not be there remember I told everyone when I got there that I had left it in the car). So the hostess answers and I say I was there a couple of hours ago and I lost my small brown wallet and my name is Kim Thomas. She tells me that they have it!!!! WOW, how could that be? So I head back and when I get there she brings this giant wallet out that was clearly not mine. They apologize and I leave......while leaving I decide to drive by the parking space where I was parked and there it is sitting there all lonely on the ground......honestly I don't know how this happens to me and how I can be so lucky all at the same time. 

So I drove home from Oxnard and I think I broke a record....door to door it was under an hour. I hope my morning drive back is quick too. This story is so pathetic and I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I create crisis.

December 1, 2006: 6:30PM-8:30PM

As I sit on the plane, heading home from Phoenix, this is a reflection of the last two or so hours:

After work, I went to a restaurant with a couple of the girls I work with. (Names are withheld for confidentiality) I had some wine (which is unusual for me) and now I remember why I rarely drink wine. Wine and I don't agree, it does not pass go, it does not collect $200.00, it just goes directly to my head. So after the wine, and the great conversation, we go outside and get the car from the valet. I am then driven to the airport for my 8:30PM flight. Here is a picture of the valet guy:

*Note: While we were at the restaurant, we discussed the fact that I did not like carrying a purse and I simply carry my wallet and Treo.*

Back to the story, I get out of the car at the airport and walk from the car up to security. At which point, I cannot find my wallet. (The distance from the car to security is only about 500 yards). I proceeded to tear apart my laptop bag, go through all my jacket pockets and I couldn't find it anywhere. Luckily, I still had my Treo so, I called the 'person that dropped me off' as I noted that the battery on my Treo was at 3%. It is at this point that I kicked myself for giving Jane McKay my super battery AND I let her keep her other one as well (which means I did not have my spare). I ALWAYS have two Treo batteries, but of course, not today. Anyway, so I get a hold of the 'person that dropped me off' and she pulls off the side of the road and searches her car for my wallet. Unfortunately, she was unable to find it. I retraced all of my steps, checked with security and was still unable to find my wallet.

I decided to try and get through security with my work badge. Shockingly, this worked but I was then subjected to some serious screening. I was hoping when they took every item out of my bag that magically my wallet would appear but unfortunately it didn't. Note all the marks and heart shaped hole punches they make on your boarding pass if you don't have a government issued ID:


My cell phone is now officially dead and so I find a pay phone. Frankly, I was surprised to even find one (What kind of a person still uses these things) and it took me a couple of seconds to remember even how to operate this archaic mess of a phone. I am now sitting on the floor, powering up my laptop, and calling my husband on the payphone. As you can see below, it is a very pathetic scene. My laptop needed to be on so that I could plug my Treo into it so it would charge. I informed David that he had to meet me at Burbank airport because I had no money to get myself out of the parking structure. I also told him he needed to cancel all of my credit cards. Luckily, this was my small wallet and all I had in there was my personal AMEX, my work AMEX, my ATM, Hilton Honors and Southwest card. Fortunately, before my flight this morning, I had taken all my receipts out otherwise I would have the AP police all over me.











So now, as I sit here, on the plane, I am left to ponder the following seven things:

(1) How am I going to get to San Francisco on Monday without ID or a credit card?
(2) Is it possible that the wine was the reason I lost my wallet?
(3) If I carried my wallet in a purse would I have lost it?
(4) How am I going to get my Starbucks tomorrow since I don't have any money?
(5) What possessed me to give away my great Treo battery?
(6) Why won't this stupid woman next to me stop talking? She is interrupting my blogging!
(7) If I was only in Hawaii, none of this would have happened..

My laptop battery is now dead, my IPOD battery is dead, my Treo has charged up to 7% and this blog entry is done.

The Missing Wallet Has Been Found!

The Phoenix PD is in possession of my lost wallet! I lost it on December 1st at approximately 7:30PM. I wonder if it was just turned in? Or maybe it just took them until 1/25/07 to catch up with their paperwork and send me a note? Here are a couple of interesting things I found about this:

• Two printed letters arrived: one was in English, the other in Spanish. The Spanish one was on top.
• I must bring my ID to retrieve the wallet. While it makes sense that you would need ID to pick up lost property, in this case they have the ID, so.............
• The wallet release process will likely take longer than 45 minutes. Nice of them to set this expectation up front.
• If I cannot pick it up I can get a notarized letter allowing someone of my choice to pick it up
• Silverio Q. Ontiveros is the Commander of the Property Management Bureau
• I have until 2/24/07 to pick up the wallet.
• After 2/24/07 it will be disposed of in accordance with Phoenix City Code (Article XVIII Section 2-301)

My New Wallet (The Big Skinny)

I have a new wallet!!! Sheila (Jason's mom) knows that I (1) Don't carry a purse and (2) Appreciate a small wallet. Well on Halloween she brought me the Big Skinny. Yesterday, I transferred the essentials to it and am so far loving it! (1) It fits perfectly in the bra (2) Holds the necessary items and nothing extra. Loving it! Thanks, Sheila!!!!

The Big Skinny

On Halloween 2010 Sheila gave me a new wallet and I absolutely loved it! More than 2 years later I bought it's replacement mostly due to the fact that I have over stuffed it with misc.cards I don't need to carry around.  This is seriously the best wallet ever! 

December 3, 2008: 5:30PM-7:35PM

Two years and two days ago (this could be interpreted as 22) I wrote this post about the events of my evening in Phoenix. Hard to believe it was 2 years ago. So tonight, as I found myself in Phoenix again I report my evening, once again, blogging from the plane.

At 5:30PM I was at Jessica's Dance Recital. While sitting there I wondered if Sydney would do dance. She did a great job!

At 5:45 Brittney, Melody and I went to the treat table where Brittney and Melody were restricted to one treat. I had a bite of Brittney's fattening sugar cookie and it was so good I insisted that Melody go get me one. She did and then I took Melody's half eaten cookie, ate that and Melody got to eat my full cookie. So she got one and a half cookies. Meanwhile Brittney and I each grabbed a chocolate covered pretzel and ate that in addition to our cookies. It was great and their mother didn't know a thing.

We then went to Tempe Market Place and ate dinner at Maria Maria. I had water and a skirt steak in a Mexican sauce (very uncharacteristic for me). Jessica and I pretended to be bartenders serving water, after this we all went to the bathroom before leaving for the airport.

I arrived at the airport, did not lose my wallet, had my spare blackberry battery, and went through security in record time. At 7:35PM I boarded the plane and proceeded to write this blog.

I don't know how I should end this blog. Either of the following sentences would work:

(1) The being intoxicated and losing my wallet story was better
(2) Life changes

Elections coming up......

In preparation for the upcoming elections next week, I suggest you vote your party, with your wallet. See below what percentage of contributions from your favorite retailers go to each political party:

Retail:
Circuit City-96% Republican
Home Depot-78% Republican
Target-74% Republican
Costco-89% Democrat
Borders-100% Democrat
Bed, Bath and Beyond-93% Democrat

Restaurants/Food:
Dominos Pizza-93% Republican
Olive Garden/Red Lobster-89% Republican
Brinker Intl (Chili's, Maggiano's Corner Bakery)-83% Republican
Outback Steakhouse-98% Republican
Hardrock Cafe-100% Democrat
Arby's-100% Democrat
Starbucks-100% Democrat

Gas:
Exxon/Mobil-88% Republican
Shell-56% Democrat

Airlines:
Southwest-73% Republican
Jet Blue-88% Democrat

Even though my advice is to vote with your wallet unfortunately, I can't totally take that advice because there is no way I can give up my Chai tea. I guess I'll just have to compensate by doing a bunch of shopping at Home Depot and Circuit City and having dinner at Chili's and Outback.

Sometimes I Am In A Hurry.....

This is why I have lost my wallet 4 times since 2006 and 2 of those times being the last month.

My problem is escalating as now it's not as simple as an inconvenience (lost wallet), it is now causing me bodily harm. Last month I was mocked for my band aids but at least I had them.

Last night while making dinner I was using the small serrated knife (which was a poor choice, I should have just grabbed my trusty chefs knife) and I sliced my thumb so hard it sliced through part of my nail...yeah. It bled for over an hour and then bled again later and then again this morning.

Tonight while making dinner I used the large serrated knife (the serrated knife was warranted this time since I was cutting tomatoes for some guacamole) and I sliced my index finger on the same hand. This wasn't too bad but it made making dinner a little bit more difficult.

Kim1Champ Has Just Issued An Amber Alert

An Amber Alert has been issued for Flat Stanley. Flat Stanley was last seen in the dining room at the house of Kim1Champ. During the week of April 27th, a search party was organized and an envasive search of the grounds and the peremeter ensued. Flat Stanley has not been found and unfortunately with the school year coming to a close the timing is becoming more and more critical. If Flat Stanley is not found soon, it may be too late.

Physical Description:
*Approximately 10 inches tall
*He weighs approximately 2 ounces
*He is extreemely thin

Additional Information:
*Flat Stanley has had all his shots and is in general good health
*Last seen naked and requesting new clothes
*He was very excited to spend time in California and was planning on visiting several locations in the area. Disneyland, San Francisco, dodger baseball and the Beach were high on his siteseeing list.
*Flat Stanley has realitives that are currently traveling in Phoenix and Texas.
*Kim's wallet has also gone missing. Flat Stanley is not a suspect but is being considered a person of interest in the case.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN FLAT STANLEY OR ANYONE RESEMBLING HIM PLEASE CONTACT KIM ASAP.

In other related news, Kim has just been voted the worst friend on the planet.

My Custom Starbucks Card

I customized a Starbucks card for myself so that I could begin earning Starbucks rewards again. (My Starbucks Gold card had issues when I lost my wallet). You can customize your own Starbucks card at https://www.starbucks.com/shop/card/customize Here is how mine turned out:

A Boy After My Own Heart

Coleman left his wallet at my house. The only difference between me and him is that he actually remembered leaving at my house on the couch (I would have no clue). I dug through the couch and found it!!!! We'll get it in the mail!

As You Know, I Lose Stuff

Last week my car was detailed and the detailing guy found 2 ATM cards under the seat. Gotta love it, this is 2 in addition to any lost the many times I have lost my wallet

Drivers License Collection

Alot of you know that I have a collection of Drivers License Photos. You probably know this because I have blogged about it before and chances are at one time or another, I have snapped a photo of your license for my collection. I don't just have drivers license, in some cases I have other forms of ID.

Jinjer challenged me to compile a list of all the drivers licenses I have and to select one of the following for each one: a. Something significant about the person b. How you know that person c. Something about the license in particular that you like or find funny.

This is no easy task but I will provide the list with first names only:

Alice: b. I have never met her but she is my BFF's sister.
Andy: b. He used to work for me
Blaine: a. I also have a copy of his green card
Bob: c. I captured Bob's when Jane was "Reading his wallet". If I remember correctly he was mucho impressed by her skills.
Brian D: c. From the moment I had his drivers license he began reading my blog
Brian G: c. I like his license because he is so cute
Brian L: c. I like the fact that I have his AZ and CA drivers license in the same photo
Carlos: c. He looks like a serial killer in his CA drivers license and looks cute in his AZ license
Christie: a. I love my cousin Chris so much and she is hot!
Cindy: c. In her drivers license photo it almost looks like she is wearing turquoise suspenders with no top on
CJ: c. I love that her drivers license is from Texas
Chris: b. don't know her but her license is from Texas and she uses hot rollers. I have talked to her on the phone once
David: b. I love him and am married to him but he didn't want to join my collection
Dawn: c. Her head is tilted and her hair do makes her look super hot!
Don: b. I used to work with him but he moved on to better opportunities
Eddie: c. Super cheesy grin
James: c. I like it because it is a 2008 issued license
Jane: b. I work with her
Jinjer: c. I love that I have her married name and maiden name license
Isadora: b. I used to work with her
Jake: a. He served our country in IRAQ and I also have his military ID
Jeff P: b. I have worked with him since the Unihealth days
Jeff R: a. I have his Drivers license and his gun permit. In his gun permit he looks like the Unibomber
Jeff T: c. He is soooo cute!
Jeff V: b He used to work for me but I left to be a site executive
Jenn Ann: c. She is so hot in her license!
Paul: a. He gets points for providing two drivers licenses
Jim C: b. I work with him
Jim K: a. Ask him about the bunny
Joe: b. I work with him
John: a. The hottest biker in AZ
Jon: a. He used to post on the blog but now he doesn't
Kathy: b. I had dinner with her in New Mexico
Kevin: a. He used to blog, then he had a blog, now he does neither
Kim: a. She is so cool and so fun and super hot. Oh nevermind, it's me
Larry: c. The 2nd funniest license ever, he looks 12
Matt B: a. He used to think I hated him
Matt E: b. My brother is hot
Matt S: c. I captured this license at Bertha Miranda's in Reno
Michael G: c. Also captured in Reno, the funniest license ever
Michael L: b. I don't know him but was the Vice President for ASRT 2006-2007
Mike C: b. Used to work for me in San Francisco
Mike K: b. Still works for me in San Francisco
Mike P: b. Used to work for me in Sacramento
Mindy: a. I love Mindy, she discovered Pismo Lighthouse Suites too
Mom: a. She refused to give me her Drivers License so I have her Costco card
Nathan: b. I have no idea who this is but it's an AZ DL
Patrick: a. I don't have his license but I have his military id
Phil: a. The first manager that said "whoa, you need a raise"
Randy: b. He used to work for me but he would rather work for Blaine
Robert: a. Another acquisition from Bertha Miranda's
Rod: a. We share a passion for cooking
Russell: c. He looks so much like Robin Williams
Sara: a. I know her as Queen B and I possess several forms of identification
Scott: b. I used to work with him and I miss him
Tony: a. The best DJ on the planet
Travis: a. It's his military ID and I had a beer with him in Alb.
Wiley: a. I am hoping he is feeling better

I have 12 others but can't make out the names. Thanks for playing!

Joe's Wallet

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.2

Adventures with the T.S.A.

I have now flown three times without my drivers license and have endured "special screening" just as many times. As you already know, at Sky Harbor, in Phoenix they let me board with my work badge. Yesterday, at Burbank, I used my expired license and just like at Sky Harbor, the TSA agent wrote several "S's" on my boarding pass and off I went to special screening. Today, at Oakland (which has to be the most rundown airport in the country, I mean this place is a dump) rather than send me through, the TSA agent sent me down to the Southwest ticket counter to get a new boarding pass.

Note the small "S's" down at the bottom right that printed on it. I guess this TSA associate was just too lazy to take that highlighter out of her left hand, transfer it to her right hand and write "SSSS" on the bottom of my boarding pass. Due to this annoyance, I missed the 11:50 flight and ended up on the 12:55 flight instead.

The special screening process isn't actually that bad. You usually get sent to a much shorter line and even though they need to go through your bag you are getting some undivided attention. You have to go through a pat down but overall the experience is much less stressful than the regular line. In the regular line I am in a constant state of annoyance. In the special screening line you avoid dealing with people that don't realize that they have to take their laptop out and put it in a another bin or the annoying woman I mention below, or the person who forgets to take off their shoes or the mother who doesn't want to take the baby out of the stroller. These people drive me nuts. Rather, you are dealing one on one with a TSA employee and this is easier than dealing with all those irritating people. Note my very thorough screener today in Oakland:

There was a woman in the next line having a fit because they wouldn't let her take on her $125.00 elbow lotion. LOL-This was quite humorous to watch. First, who has $125.00 elbow lotion? Second, why would you need to bring it with you to the airport? Third, Don't you know by now that you can't take a 9 ounce item with you. Fourth, Chances are if you can afford $125.00 elbow lotion you can afford to buy it again.

Today someone was stopped and told that their face was faded on their drivers license and they wouldn't be allowed to go through security the next time they traveled. Luckily, this person was prepared and able to quickly produce their passport which was hidden in "a special pocket in their Swiss army bag". This story still prompts a question for me: How does ones drivers license get faded? A drivers license is usually kept in a dark place, typically known as a wallet. Another thing intriguing me is the empty threat from TSA? Supposing she flies again next week, how will the TSA person behind the counter know that last week she was told "You won't fly again because your drivers license is faded". Did they write a big "FFFF" on her license indicating that it was faded? Nope. Do they have a big "wanted" poster in the break room with faded drivers license pictures? I think not. And lastly, if she ran into the same screener again, at Sky Harbor it is easy enough just to pass through a different checkpoint.

Wish me luck, I'm off to the DMV tomorrow to get my replacement license. Chances are you'll be forced to read about my adventures with the D.M.V. next. LOL

And She Carries a Purse

Regular readers will know that I loathe purses. Despite this purse hatred for my birthday I received a black day travel Coach bag from Jane.

I used it for the first time today and I was so discombobulated. I brought things with me that I would normally leave at home. I left my wallet at the coffee counter and worst of all I carried my purse with me all day from meeting to meeting. I looked like I was headed to the market all day. Still, I think I started getting used to it and as Sara pointed it out "Its not a purse, I prefer to think of it as a bag that is used for transporting items"