Has the journey for my JetBlue Business application come to an end? I applied months ago and was asked to give more information. I provided the information (see JetBlue Business Card App: More Info Required). I have heard nothing back and the online application checker still doesn’t work. Typically, banks require that applications be completed within 90 days unless it’s the world’s worst bank, Banco Popular (see Confirmed: Banco Popular Is The Worst Bank). I guess I’ll have to do something I hate more than anything: call in myself and talk to an agent.
For 100k points it may be worth it.
Remember when JetBlue pushed applications during red-eye flights?
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你好, مرحبا, Здравствуйте, hola, or simply hello.
In 2016, I wrote about my efforts to learn Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and English (see TPOL The Polyglot: How To Learn Multiple Languages). 5 years later I can still say, 你好, مرحبا, Здравствуйте, hola, or simply hello. Though I am far from fluent, I haven’t given up. Instead, I believe I have finally found the best platforms to improve my proficiency. Here they are:
The best way to learn Spanish is through Baselang. Tutors are available virtually anytime and lessons can be scheduled minutes before. There are dozens of different tutors which helps with listening comprehension. There’s also a regimented curriculum with different levels along with exams that will make sure that you stay on track.
Arabic
Arabic has been impossible to learn until now. I switched to italki and found a tutor who is teaching me how to read and speak the Levantine dialect. I contrast this to the futile and pointless attempts of learning modern standard Arabic, something that no one in the Middle East actually speaks.
Russian
I also use italki for Russian and am slowly and unsurely making progress.
Overall
I continue to study each language for two hours a week. One hour is with a tutor and one hour is self-study. It is a glacial process but I continue to push forward.
I’ve stayed in some interesting hotels in my life (see Hotel Reviews). This one was by far the strangest.
1. KGB
The taxi driver dropped me off at the hotel and before I got out, he asked me if I was familiar with the KGB. I didn’t know where he was going with that question nor did I want to broach that subject. He said, “The building across from your hotel is KGB. Keep your window shades down.” I thanked him for the ride, got out, and took a photo of the hotel at night.
Who could it be? KGB?
2. A Hotel for Writers
A peculiar theme throughout the hotel was the tribute to authors. Each room had a quote from a famous literary work.
Even the bathroom curtains were book covers.
3. Stairs to the Bunker
KGB or no KGB, I felt safe in this underground bunker.
4. A Sauna in My Room
The third and by far the oddest feature was the sauna amenity in my bedroom. This was a first for me.
5. The Art
Judging by the design of the hallway, the welcome letter, or the art in the room, this hotel is either a place for the creative types or an insane asylum for them.
The mental patients escaped their straight jackets and gathered for a normal breakfast.
The Hotel Itself
I really wondered what other guests thought of the hotel and its one of a kind ambiance. Were they all in on this ruse?
Nothing to See Here
After a weird night, it was time to go explore St. Petersburg. From the outside, the hotel looks completely normal. One would never know what was happening within this hotel, except, perhaps, the KGB headquartered across the street.
As of today, I don’t have any plans for travel in 2021 unless the Bills go to the Super Bowl (see Bills Mafia: TPOL’s NFL Playoff Predictions). That doesn’t mean that I will be losing or not qualifying for hotel status this year. First, Hyatt announced its Globalist promotion (see Becoming Hyatt Globalist Again: TPOL’s Masterpiece Strategy). Now, Marriott is making it possible for me to requalify for Titanium Elite by doing next to nothing. As Lucky wrote, “As a Bonvoy Titanium member with two co-branded credit cards I’ll already be at 68 elite nights for 2021, meaning I’ll only need seven more elite nights to requalify for Titanium status.” Unless I’m vaccinated, I won’t be back on the road in time to take advantage of the double elite nights promotion. That should not be an issue because before the year is done, I will have 4 stay certificates, leaving me to pay for 3 nights for requalification.
I originally thought that international travel would be possible in November of last year. Then I moved my prediction to spring of this year. Now I’m thinking it won’t be until October. But once it happens, I will have the status needed to enjoy it fully.
The number one draw for my blog is my Pho reviews. Without access to aviation, I have had no opportunities to sample new pho. Indeed, the furthest I’ve ventured is to my local Costco. Last time I was there, I was buying my typical chicken & broccoli when I came across a peculiar sight: instant pho for sale. This was peculiar for two reasons. First, Costco only sells a limited number of items. Instant pho seemed very niche, especially for the Puerto Rican market, one of the few places in the world I have not tried pho. Second, how can a dish that takes hours and hours to prepare be reduced to three minutes in the microwave? Surely it must taste like ramen noodles or something terrible. For $10, I made the sacrilegious choice to buy 9 pre-made bowls. After all, in these ‘unprecedented times’, unprecedented actions are acceptable (see From Your Grade School Principal: Regarding COVID-19).
Instant pho? Say it ain’t so.
So how did it go? Let’s look at the unboxing.
One small bowl.Add in the spices.Put in microwave.Would have been nice to have had beef.Good till the last drop.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t left the house in years, but I was very impressed with instant pho.
I used to do a better job of document what I spent on annual fees (see 2017: What I Spent (And Received) in Annual Fees). I haven’t done that in a few years because the churn game has been severely compromised by banks and their restrictive rules (see We Need Another Recession). With travel halted, I made a point of cancelling all cards that were not essential. Here are the cards that made the cut:
IHG: $49 for a free night? I’ll take it. But when will I use it?
SPG Personal: $95. See above.
In total, I spent $744. That’s not free but that’s not crazy. Notice there are no more $595 annual fees for upscale cards. I can and can’t believe I used to pay that much.
I’ve had a low tolerance for annual fees since 2020 was not the year of travel (see NYC Twice: A Recap of My 2020 Travels). Two cards that I continue to pay for are my personal and business Radisson. The question is always the same, “Is $60 for the business and $75 for the personal worth 80,000 Club Carlson (now Radisson) points cumulatively?” (see Keep Vs. Cancel: The Club Carlson Twins). I haven’t stayed at a Radisson in quite some time so my points balance continues to grow. Despite this, the answer continues to be yes. I don’t bother calling US Bank to cancel as I have never received a retention bonus from them before. I may try it this time but when you don’t read the follow-up, know that their answer was no and that I kept both cards.
Little did I know that my life would change forever when my dad asked me to pick which team I would be rooting for when the Bills played the Giants in Superbowl XXV. Following that loss, the Bills lost three more Super Bowls and I was forever scarred. The turmoil did not end. In 2000, the Bills were on the verge of winning their first playoff game since the Jim Kelly era. My sister’s boyfriend commented that it was finally happening. To which I told him to wait until the final whistle had blown. Here’s how that ended:
The only happy memories from being a Bills fan came from my dominance in Super Tecmo Bowl where I, along with QB Bills, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, and Bruce Smith would dominate anyone who attempted to come up against me. Fortuitously, my other team was the KC Chiefs where Christian Okoye, the Nigerian Nightmare, along with Derrick Thomas would shut down anyone who dared challenge us.
This brings me to the current playoff matches and my predictions. Let’s start with the NFC Wildcard:
Saints vs. Bears: Why and how are the Bears in this? Saints easily cover the 10 point spread as the Bears fail to score any points.
Seahawks vs. Rams: Anyone else sick of the AWS Wilson commercial? Unfortunately, we’ll be seeing them again as the Seahawks beat the Rams and cover the -4.5 spread.
Washington Football Team vs. Buccaneers: This is almost as bad as the Bears game. Brady dominates again in a spread covering blowout.
And now for the more exciting AFC Wildcard.
Browns vs. Steelers: Sure I hate everything about Ohio, but who isn’t rooting for the Browns? Baker squeaks out a win and annoying Roethlisberger retires from the NFL and goes on a much-needed diet.
Bills vs. Colts: The perennial loser Philip Rivers goes down in flames again but the Bills fail to cover the -6.5 spread.
Titans vs. Ravens: Jackson continues to struggle in the playoffs and Derrick Henry avenges last year’s loss by shoving more kids out of his way by beating the favored Ravens.
This brings me to the NFC divisional round.
Buccaneers vs. Packers: Tom’s run ends here.
Seahawks vs. Saints: Saints continue to roll.
And now for the AFC divisional round.
Browns vs. Chiefs: Easy choice, the Chiefs.
Titans vs.Bills: Bills avenge the Music City Miracle.
This sets up the NFC and AFC championship game.
Saints vs. Packers & Chiefs vs. Bills.
I would like to see the Saints but I have to pick the Packers. Like they did all those years before, the Bills beat the Chiefs to get to the Super Bowl. After that, I can only hope that I’m double vaccinated, I can afford tickets, and that Buffalo finally wins it all. But history is not on your side.
2020. Need I say more? Simply The Worst became a necessary post in 2020 due to the circumstances. Hopefully, it goes away by 2022. Here are the best (and worst) posts of 2020.
Each year I’m supposed to update my Where to Party? New Year’s Eve list, which for twenty years in a row featured a new city. This year I will be going nowhere. In fact, this year I will be in the exact same spot as last year.
