I am planning a visit to my sister later this month, and had reservations on Southwest. I was using Rapid Rewards, so the flight was costing me a whopping ten dollars. The downside, of course, is that I was flying across the country on Southwest which is, well, Southwest. Tight seating, no food, no movies (we still love you, Southwest!!).

So the other day, Chuck answers the phone and it’s United, telling him his miles were about to expire – or so he thought. He said thanks and hung up and then checked his United miles online. He had none. So I checked mine and lo and behold, I had somehow accumulated 68,000 miles!! I’m still not sure how that happened but Chuck suggested I check on how many miles you need to fly first class to Pittsburgh – and it turned out you only need 50,000!

So, hot dog! I am flying First Class from LAX to Pittsburgh and back!! And I still have 18,000 miles burning a whole in my pocket. Not that I’m excited or anything. My flight leaves LA at 6am but if they offer me champagne I am not saying no, that’s how big a first class n00b I am.

As if that isn’t enough good stuff, the new season of MadMen is about to begin (Aug 16)! We love that show! And in anticipation, they have a new fun thing to do: MadMen Yourself! You too can look like a late 50’s/early 60’s gal or guy, right down to the cigarette and martini (but even lat 50’s me is opposed to smoking). Favorite bit of a favorite show: the Kodak carousel pitch.