When Banks Are Our Friend...Sort Of

I have to admit that I sometimes find the invisible ability of banks (and credit card companies) to track our movements a little spooky. One time I used my "emergency" credit card to buy a pair of shoes, in my own city even. There was a message from the bank by the time I got home asking me to call and verify that the purchase was legit. Apparently even the bank's algorithms twigged to the fact that my need for pretty shoes does not, in fact, qualify as an emergency. Apparently it was in my best interest (and theirs) to ensure the safety of my credit.

AHC got a call this morning from our bank saying they suspected his debit card has been hacked and that his account was frozen. In a bizarre bit of luck, I happened to have made a number of large payments via online banking yesterday. One effect of this was that we inadvertently contravened a rule, imposed by the bank, about daily spending limits from the account which we share. AHC tried to make a purchase which failed to be authorized because we had exceeded the spending limit (unbeknownst to him), in spite of the fact that sufficient funds were there. (One can discuss the legitimacy of the banks controlling how much money I want to spend in a day via electronic regulation, but that's for another time.)

The other effect was, of course, saving us from having nearly $1,000 stolen from our account. The daily-limit rule prevented the PIN-thief from getting the money because the bank overruled the withdrawl in spite of the availability of the funds. And their magic algorithms alerted the bank to the unusual pattern of activity which resulted in the freeze on the account.

All that to say, I still have a love-have relationship with the bank. And I'm totallyawed by the computations that must be behind all of it.

"It's time for the news"

Pencil and 1.0mm Staedtler Fibre-tip pens.

I actually understood WTF they were talking about on CPAC when they referred to the extension of the the accelerated capital cost allowance write-off.

Woot.

"What I dream of is an art of balance"

I have a really great colouring book. I bought it for The Girl, but she insisted I bring it with me to Ottawa. I miss my creative self. Time to find her. This is part of enjoying life again. Anyway, each page has a theme or suggestion.

This page's was "Draw something heavy on each side". I felt it was an appropriate start because of the whole clichéd balance issue I'm dealing with (not that that has anything specific to do with what I drew).

The quote in the title is from Matisse. Also apropos.

O Blogging, Where Art Thou?

It's time for me to admit that I have a problem.

And that problem is school-related guilt.

It prevents me from doing things in my life that I enjoy. In fact, it prevents me from enjoying life, which has been a real problem over the past six months. I can't say that I've been enjoying law school much this year and it's had a rather poisonous effect throughout my existence. Life outside of my studies quite "got in the way" this 2L and that put me quite behind in the studies department. My twisted guilt-complex said something like: "you can blog when you're caught up."

So, since November 28, I have not blogged. This blog is not a celebratory post announcing that I am caught up! I am not caught up! Upon reflection, not blogging hasn't really helped my mood any. It hasn't particularly made me more productive either. Only more depressed in the absence of something that I actually like to do.

So that's it. No more torture. No more self-flagellation.

It's time to enjoy life again. Come to think of it, I'd rather like to enjoy law again too. I'm still working on a plan for that one, but I'm open to suggestion.