After over 24 years of raising 3 children, this is our first day as ‘Empty Nester’s’. Our eldest, Courtney, has moved up to Northern Alberta with her boyfriend to pursue job prospects there. Both or our son’s live in British Columbia and have made lives for themselves there. Our eldest son, Adam, was with us Christmas week and yesterday we drove him to the airport for his return home.

Well, there you have it. What do we do now? Personally, I have been looking forward to this “freedom” for a few years now and I am excited about spending more time with my wife and not having to include children in decisions. My wife on the other hand, is having a hard time letting go of the fact she has no kids at home. I am trying to understand her side and to be supportive. It will be  change in our life that I know in time we will both embrace. the kids need to make their own lives and futures with their parents cheering them on from the sidelines. I guess we can look forward to Grand Children now.

A week from today we are off to Mexico for our Vacation! I am really looking forward to getting away from winter and to work on a new business development plan. (more on that in a later blog). You want a hint? O.k, it has to do with marketing online using video. Here is a link to a web cam at the Akumal Mexico beach which is just north of our Resort, The Gran Bahia Principe Akumal. 

http://www.locogringo.com/Upload/akumal-beach-cam.html

I will be developing a daily blog from Mexico and will post the link on this blog starting next week as well.

Happy rest of your Holidays,

Larry J Clark

I kept getting calls on my cell phone from an Ontario area code, and when I went to answer it, they hang up. I thought this was some solicitation thing so I called the number to get them to stop.

Turns out it was American Express Canada and they had a problem with my account. Problem…?, I always pay my bill. Their so called “problem” was they were uncomfortable with my spending limits and froze my account (I had no idea) and wanted to let me know that my ‘unlimited’ Amex card was in fact now limited. What? ...when did this happen? Well according to their phone rep, now. I had purchased our Trip to Mexico on the card , which they approved, and now they are uncomfortable with me carrying the balance on my card.

Let me tell you what challenges I have been having with Amex for the past 6 months. First, I have had 2 American Express cards for over 6 years. Never had a problem. About 6 months ago or so, I started to see the card get declined for simple purchases like gas at Costco. I called them and they tell me I have a payment due. Wrong, payment was not due… their mistake. Payment was made they had not entered it. OOPS! Sorry. We book our trip..Travel Agency says the card needs verification and cannot go through? WHAT? I call Amex…they tell me I am carrying a $1200.00 balance and they would PREFER I pay that out so I can add the Vacation package. OK, I did that. They raised the limit and all is well. NOPE. Today they are uncomfortable with me carrying the balance which they gave me and yes, my card is frozen again.

Solution, I paid out my balance and canceled both the cards. Sorry to be a ‘uncomfortable’ client American Express. I hope you find better clients than me to deal with.

Good thing MasterCard and Visa are comfortable with me…

Larry J Clark