Security, no place to hide.

How many of you remember when a security question for an online account was, "What is your mother's maiden name?" I was looking for something the other day and did a search of my name. The info popped up and literally scared me. 

I blame this whole mess on Ancestry dot com. (almost kidding) It started an avalanche of familial information for everyone to find their roots. Lots of free sites out there - yep. I found my first marriage license - and thankfully they don't have my age right, but I'm sure another site has it. My life and yours is now being broadcast to whoever wants to know where we've been and what we've done and who we did it with. It would seem that our family members are unwittingly adding to our outbreak of information on the www.

The thing is - this information is open to anyone, no matter where they live and what they do for a living. It isn't any wonder why our accounts get hacked. How much of your familial and financial information is out there - if you look, you will be surprised and disgusted.

NOT Wordless Wednesday here!

My morning was filled with angst - not mine - all DH. He still hadn't gotten his unemployment. He kept getting these letters from TN office stating how much he owed KY and they were taking his money and sending it to them. We're thinking ????? Nearly two years ago, KY gave DH an extension and after a good while, they said "Our bad, you have to give it back." So they got paid - Wish I could find the receipt for it. They said he couldn't get for a year. Again ????? So, he filed late this fall with TN, as he hadn't worked in KY. No check ????? Let the games begin! For some reason he has received two checks all told. Letters keep coming from TN saying he still owed KY. Now he was getting really BLEEPED. He talked to KY and they sent him a letter stating he didn't owe anything. A few days later TN sends another letter contending he will not get any unemployment until he pays $870! ????? He has been on the phone, hanging over my shoulder instructing me on emails, and had me worried he would go postal over all this. He even faxed a copy of KY's letter up to TN office.

Finally, it is resolved ????? TN is going to send him a couple of checks. There was some problem about his bankruptcy -  ????? (He never in his life had one) and then there was a problem that somehow his last name was spelled with XXXX on the end. They pulled his debit card for benefits and we were told he could get direct deposit for his unemployment. Went to the site to change it and we got The name and social security number do not match. I tried it 3 times. Back to the phone, they must know our number on sight by now. The woman said to try again tomorrow to change it. I told DH that I wanted Chinese for supper and nothing more about unemployment!

Meanwhile I am trying to make a cover for my second Dusty Trunk and coming up empty. I thought I would list The Pear Tree pdf for sale on the BP site. so I did that, trying to mellow out a bit. The cover can wait for tomorrow, right? I noticed that The Pear Tree was still listed on a google search. Curious, I did a regular search and found this:

 What? Is this a scam or what? Bleep! I didn't investigate much, but they had other books from other folks there. I was afraid of some nasty virus or something. I hope they are shut down. If this is/was truly a site, they should be bleeped and then bleeped some more! No wonder I never had any sales! I am never giving any of my stuff away again! I love to write but it is bleep hard work! I hope I can sleep tonight, but this puppy is so wired up now - I doubt it.

If I was a drinker - I would be passed out on the floor by now or at least mellowed out and not giving a bleep! Snot running and not caring.

So - you think I just lay around all day, being waited on and reading, HAH! I usually don't bleat it out all the time. Tonight, I can't be a nice, little, old, gray haired lady. Enjoy your day/night. I plan on taking one of my Xanax and let the world go by tomorrow.

My Only Hurrah

The humbug is back - ended up having to call for addresses. Poo.

Well, it's over, no one can tell me online shopping is easy, nope. Each website has its own little rules and idiosyncrasies. It wouldn't be bad if they told you the rules to start with, you know? Even a bleep arrow on the page.

What to do first, second, third etc. would have been really nice. I was up until 2:00 a.m. last night, ready to tear my hair out. Then another three hours this evening. Let me tell you - I'm not finished, but I am so DONE. 

I spent so much more than I planned. When DH sees the bills, he's gonna go, "Whoa!" I am just happy that I managed to find the little clicky things to get the free shipping. I knew this would go against the grain (mine). The thing that didn't help was dragging it out too long to get the cheaper (ROFLMAO) gifts. Well, that's as far as I'm going with this HoHoHo thing. (I will, however, enjoy the raspberry jelly filled chocolates on Christmas Eve.)

Lighten up?

Halloween Spook House? Nope, right in the front yard and close to an elementary school where children walk, or are driven to and from every day. Controversial? You bet! The comments to the news postings are pretty much split on this subject. One group of people say it's too much, too graphic, too hard on the children that see it. Another group of people say these folks are within their rights, name calling the nay-sayers, and they should grow a pair. I didn't read all the comments, but one person actually said screw the kids. I will say that it sounded like a lot of the comments for the yard art were from teenagers and non-parents, though not all. I will say that most of the commenters that think it's great, cannot spell and use a potty mouth.

Somehow, in light of all the events happening in the news, I don't think it is the wisest move to have something like this on display in your yard for over three weeks. That is just my opinion. I say they are well done, although not appropriate where little kids will see on a daily basis. Would be great in a spook house or for a backyard party. 

For those who think this display is all fun and after all this is Halloween and we should suck it up - please tell me how a small child is supposed to UNSEE THIS?

 

Houston er... Ancestry.com, we have a problem...

Seems they have a problem with 3 brother marrying 3 sisters...

My mom has been gone 20 years now. Think I will go watch a movie before I go insane. (Probably too late for that though.)

No Sale

We found out that the house was built back in 1959 - Everything about the main part of the house was 21 years older than we thought. I will say we were shocked that the information wasn't given to us sooner.

We are not happy. It's kind of like hiring someone to be a stripper at your party and it turns out to be a 55 year old geezer. He can probably dance, but how's his liver? Everything is that much older. Resale would be less after we poured all the necessary money into it. Insurance would be higher. Makes a person leery as to what else had not been disclosed - that the inspector couldn't see.

Our realtor said that Alabama was a "Buyer Beware" state. Humph!

No Sale

We feel we have already put out too much cash. Never believe in 'Move in ready', no matter how much you like the place. For now - I give up.

I am sick today - not just because of what's going on, I have an intestinal bug of some sort.

Date with a scary old lady...

I don't know how they took such good pictures for their listing. I decided not to go upstairs when I saw the treads were split and someone had broken through about half way up. The house was a real nightmare. I had been given the impression that the work inside was well underway. It wasn't. The inside killed any thought of a tea room or B&B... as soon as we walked into the foyer. Ah... a girl has to dream, but the reality of it was too much! She must have been beautiful at some point, it's just too bad they let her go too long.

House Hunting, the end for now...

This is the rambler - we did make an offer (10.5% higher than the selling price), and then we sat waiting to hear from the agent... until this morning. The way I understand it, they had a half dozen offers. The people who actually got the house offered less than we did, but they had cash in their hot little hands.

Of course, I am disappointed. Now, I am leery about trying to finance another house before we get this one sold. I have gone through the panic of selling and having to find something acceptable by the time we have to hand over the keys. Banks do not lend money on fixer-uppers without collateral (this house), so buying something cheap is out. The loan officer at our bank said the payments on a 'better' home were more than we want to shell out, especially if we find another money pit, like this one. Most of the flaws and problems were hidden ones.

I found a couple fixers, but, there is that higher % interest of an equity loan. I wish I had a crystal ball or something to predict how soon this one will sell. Maybe I could relax a little.

I am a dreamer of impossibilities

Today is Wednesday, I had hopes that I would be able to post the before and after pictures of the bathroom remodel, for wordless Wednesday. What was I thinking? Maybe next week - IF all goes well. So far they haven't, but I was able to go potty by 3:00 this afternoon.

He finally got the tub pipes to a non-leaking state, last night at 8:45. Famous lost words - "I will only have the water shut off a couple of hours." Try 10:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.... He will be coming back an hour or so every day to get all the mudding done on the sheet rock. He can't put the vanity in until the mudding is done and I think maybe the painting. I really don't know.

I will get to take a relaxing bath this evening, it has been ages! I have decided showers are a necessary item, but a bath is too. Next time shopping, I am going to but some tub items, for sure!

I sold the golf cart. It is no longer a lawn ornament. Pretty nice, not to see it parked out there in the front. The buyer said he would be back in a couple of weeks - I offered him some of my figs. They are mighty tasty, but I don't have the time or energy to mess with them this year. The next house will have a couple of fig trees too. ;-)

All for now, it is almost time to luxuriate in that tub!