Stop, Thief!

Well, not really. You see, I lost it. It wasn't stolen.

At least, I think I lost it: My Delta Sky Miles American Express business expense-y credit card.

Don and I are working out near San Bernardino, Calif. this week and we were at Chili's for lunch. I got the credit card caddy thing back with the bill, I signed the merchant copy, and didn't bother to pull out the customer copy. What do I care? I don't need to turn in my receipts or anything. Well, I guess maybe the card was underneath there or something, and I forgot to grab it.

Let me preface by saying, I've never lost my wallet. I've never lost my keys. I've never even locked them in the car. I just don't do it (I've been close a couple of times.) So to lose my credit card? What the heck, man?

The weird thing is, it didn't even cross my mind that I didn't have it until like 3AM this morning, when I was up to go pee (I'm getting old), or maybe it was in a dream, I can't be sure. All I know is that the first thing I didn when I woke up this morning was check my wallet. Yup, it was gone.

I called Chili's this morning. Nothin'. We stopped by Chili's during lunch. Nothin'.

I finally decided I'd better call AMEX and cancel my card. No problem. What was the last charge? "Well, we have Chili's yesterday, then after that is Chevron."

Wait a minute, I didn't go to a Chevron yesterday. I didn't even buy gas. That was Sunday, and it was a Shell. I bought Chevron petrol Friday, but that was on my debit card. CRAP. Someone DID steal it. Or, well, found it and used it? Whatever. I think it was our waitress. She had a bun in the oven.

And who steals a credit card and only uses it to buy gas? And how did they buy gas? They certainly didn't pay at the pump. You need to enter your zip to do that here.

The nice gal at American Express said I can dispute the charge once it posts. And I will.

It wouldn't be a huge deal, but I neeeeed to have the card back by October 15th 'cause I'll be traveling again. I certainly don't have $1200 cash to blow on hotels and rental cars that week.

I'll be eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new card. The waiting game begins. I have a feeling we'll be cutting it close.