I've removed old nail polish, shaved my legs, colored my hair (what color? Not mousy brown with gray/white mixed in -- I'm now a radiant "warm golden brown.")
My suitcase is packed with the exception of my toothbrush and other toiletries and two shirts in dry cleaner bags.
I have fondled and protected my car pass. It's now in its original envelope in my purse.
I have packed my tote bag with books on CD, magazines to read, a book to read for pleasure, my AAA Trip Tik
oh, let me interrupt -- if you ever hear or see me write about my AA membership, no, I haven't taken up drinking. I mean AAA.
I even put in some plastic grocery bags to use as litter bags in the car. I have my computer cords, various chargers, a USB stick, extra batteries. I have various invitations, a notebook and pens.
What remains to be done:
Pack computer with power cord in totebag.
Pack toiletries.
Pack dry cleaner shirts.
Now I'm going to order dinner, eat it and relax.
Ana was here today and changed the sheets. I told her to not change them next week as I will have only slept on them one night. She said she is coming anyway and she said "because this is my apartment and I have to clean and water the garden." I said yes, I know it's your apartment and you just let me live here. But it makes me happy she thinks of it as hers.
Meanwhile, back to books for a second. I had lunch with Barbara today and I brought her Burgess Boys -- the book I enjoyed so much that I ordered the first book Olive Kitteridge that the author wrote (and won the Pulitzer for). When we sat down, I said "Before I forget..." and went to pull out the book and she said, "I have a book for you too" -- well, she was giving me Olive Kitteridge and had wanted to get Burgess Boys. Quite a coincidence so take it from me for Burgess Boys and from Barbara for Olive Kititeridge, we Love, love, love this writer.
I bragged that I got my Olive Kitteridge for one penny at Amazon and she paid $3 for her used copy. Then she had to point out shipping so she wins!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Renewing Subscriptions
I don't remember how -- I think it was expiring frequent flyer miles on an airline I never fly on -- that got me started subscribing to Entertainment Weekly. I got a year's worth, then let it lapse because the renewal was so high and I didn't like it THAT much.
They kept sending it for a few months, really a long time, and then it stopped. Out of the blue, I got an offer to get 52 issues for something like $19.95 and I thought ok, that's a good price and I subscribed.
Today I get this special, super-duper offer since I'm so loved and so valued -- Renewal at $26.96 and I thought OK, I'll do that because I like the magazine. Took the paper to my computer where I noticed it's only for 26 issues and how I could do better than that.
Googled it.
Found a deal after about 15 seconds where I got 52 issues for $25. I mention this only that if you are subscribing or renewing, there are so many deals on the Internet that it's worth researching for 60 seconds. It just grates me to pay more than necessary.
They kept sending it for a few months, really a long time, and then it stopped. Out of the blue, I got an offer to get 52 issues for something like $19.95 and I thought ok, that's a good price and I subscribed.
Today I get this special, super-duper offer since I'm so loved and so valued -- Renewal at $26.96 and I thought OK, I'll do that because I like the magazine. Took the paper to my computer where I noticed it's only for 26 issues and how I could do better than that.
Googled it.
Found a deal after about 15 seconds where I got 52 issues for $25. I mention this only that if you are subscribing or renewing, there are so many deals on the Internet that it's worth researching for 60 seconds. It just grates me to pay more than necessary.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Friday Dinner a Week from Now
Lane and I always have our annual dinner at Oshkosh. For years, we've gone to the same place in Appleton (north of Oshkosh) that we really loved. Melissa and I ate there one year too. It's away from the crowds of Oshkosh and quiet and relaxed.
When I went there with Melissa, I have this one place in my teeth where if I eat something potentially stringy like beef or lobster, a bit always gets stuck there -- on the top, the second molar back, in the back, and that happened with Melissa and it was driving me nuts trying to discretely dislodge it. Impossible. I realized I was so consumed with this bit of meat in my tooth that I was no longer enjoying dinner, told Melissa I was going to the restroom and why and she whipped out this little plastic toothpick device and one discreet swipe, at the table and I was cured. That feeling is one of life's cheap thrills! And I got to keep the plastic toothpaste device!
Anyway, this place, called Seasons, is now closed.
So I asked around and got a recommendation for another place for Lane and me. At this show, people will wait at a crowded bar to be seated an hour or more and I hate that. People enjoy that hustle and bustle. Not me. I want to get in, eat, talk quietly and leave. Lane is more of a food snob that I am, and she's also a wine person. A client gave me three recommendations, of which we picked a place called Cena <-- click="" here="" p="" place.="" see="" the="" to="">
Here's what it looks like:
One thing that was a little too cute was their description of a brunch entree -- this said "two prebirds..." and I thought Prebirds? I'd never heard of it. I googled, and here's the too-cute part, prebirds is slang for eggs. Did anyone here know that?
On other food news, I got my pie restaurant newsletter warning that it's the end of fresh raspberry pie season and they'll only have it "through the weekend" so I may have to go there by myself on Sunday night. I arrive Sunday afternoon, God willing.
When I went there with Melissa, I have this one place in my teeth where if I eat something potentially stringy like beef or lobster, a bit always gets stuck there -- on the top, the second molar back, in the back, and that happened with Melissa and it was driving me nuts trying to discretely dislodge it. Impossible. I realized I was so consumed with this bit of meat in my tooth that I was no longer enjoying dinner, told Melissa I was going to the restroom and why and she whipped out this little plastic toothpick device and one discreet swipe, at the table and I was cured. That feeling is one of life's cheap thrills! And I got to keep the plastic toothpaste device!
Anyway, this place, called Seasons, is now closed.
So I asked around and got a recommendation for another place for Lane and me. At this show, people will wait at a crowded bar to be seated an hour or more and I hate that. People enjoy that hustle and bustle. Not me. I want to get in, eat, talk quietly and leave. Lane is more of a food snob that I am, and she's also a wine person. A client gave me three recommendations, of which we picked a place called Cena <-- click="" here="" p="" place.="" see="" the="" to="">
Here's what it looks like:
One thing that was a little too cute was their description of a brunch entree -- this said "two prebirds..." and I thought Prebirds? I'd never heard of it. I googled, and here's the too-cute part, prebirds is slang for eggs. Did anyone here know that?
On other food news, I got my pie restaurant newsletter warning that it's the end of fresh raspberry pie season and they'll only have it "through the weekend" so I may have to go there by myself on Sunday night. I arrive Sunday afternoon, God willing.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Annoyance of the Day
A friend of mine lost her father recently -- and he had been living with her and her husband for a number of years, and his passing wasn't unexpected. But she was the go-to sibling arranging all the funeral stuff; she's the executor of the will, the hostess for out of town relatives, etc. This happened about two weeks ago, and I didn't acknowledge it at the time. Today I decided now that everyone has gone home and her life is getting back on track to send her flowers.
What I do is find a local florist and then call them -- so I found a florist, went to its website to make sure it was local -- and when I was looking at the web site, I saw you could order straight from the site, and frankly I get so weary sometimes talking to people, placing an order, repeating the same info, spelling my name five times.... ("L-E-U??" No, L-U-E.. "L-U-E_K?" No, there are six letters; I'm gonna start over...) So this is what I ordered:
She has an old-fashioned antiquey house so I thought this would fit well. The basket appealed to me more than a vase.
So I do the whole thing, delivery address, my address, credit card, etc. When I got to the gift card, you could click on what kind of card (birthday, get well, etc) so I clicked on "Thinking of You" -- so then you had 60 characters -- which is not much -- to write the card. I did that, and I'm all set. Click, click, submit, then thank you for your order.
Ok, so here's the annoyance... in the order confirmation, in big letters, that my eyes went to first, it states that I have agreed that if the flowers pictured aren't available that the florist can substitute. I have to say I don't really care if the roses are pink or peach or yellow. But I do resent that there was some fine print somewhere that I missed... I didn't even check a box... but I am sure somewhere at the bottom of one of the pages in 6-point type it said something like "By submitting your credit card number, you are agreeing to substitutions... etc."
I just felt tricked. The order was already submitted -- it was a gotcha -- and if I did care, and I thought it would be exactly like the photo, it would have been a big hassle to change.
What I do is find a local florist and then call them -- so I found a florist, went to its website to make sure it was local -- and when I was looking at the web site, I saw you could order straight from the site, and frankly I get so weary sometimes talking to people, placing an order, repeating the same info, spelling my name five times.... ("L-E-U??" No, L-U-E.. "L-U-E_K?" No, there are six letters; I'm gonna start over...) So this is what I ordered:
So I do the whole thing, delivery address, my address, credit card, etc. When I got to the gift card, you could click on what kind of card (birthday, get well, etc) so I clicked on "Thinking of You" -- so then you had 60 characters -- which is not much -- to write the card. I did that, and I'm all set. Click, click, submit, then thank you for your order.
Ok, so here's the annoyance... in the order confirmation, in big letters, that my eyes went to first, it states that I have agreed that if the flowers pictured aren't available that the florist can substitute. I have to say I don't really care if the roses are pink or peach or yellow. But I do resent that there was some fine print somewhere that I missed... I didn't even check a box... but I am sure somewhere at the bottom of one of the pages in 6-point type it said something like "By submitting your credit card number, you are agreeing to substitutions... etc."
I just felt tricked. The order was already submitted -- it was a gotcha -- and if I did care, and I thought it would be exactly like the photo, it would have been a big hassle to change.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Valli Girls
The two teen girls are off to another concert -- this time Frankie Valli at Wolftrap. Here they are... They'll be humming "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" for the rest of the week.
Here's the Before and After on Frankie:
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Why am I so happy?
Because I received my coveted, valuable, couldn't-face-Oshkosh-without-it, totally-grateful-for Car Pass.
This is me tonight:
This is me tonight:
Another Scam!
I got a phone call at noon today. There was that hesitation delay that happens with telemarketing calls. Sometimes I even hang up before they can get on, although sometimes it turns out to be a friend calling from a cellphone.
Anyway, this guy called me by name and said he was calling from the International [something something] Hacking Bureau and there was a problem on my computer. In that split second, I thought, "I bought my laptop from Best Buy."
He had an Indian accent and was hard to understand and he was telling me how my computer has been "seriously hacked." I hadn't been on my computer today at the time of the phone call, but I said to him, "I am not having any problems." He said that he is getting reports about my computer and how he is going to help me.
I hung up the phone for two reasons:
1. If I had been hacked, and I have before, I would just change my passwords as I did previously.
2. I really thought it's difficult enough to get a help desk/technical support person to talk to you when you want to. They do not make helpful, outgoing calls.
Out of curiosity, I googled "scam hacking telephone call" and sure enough there it is. Here's the first half of the article... and I cut and pasted up until the helpful advice of "Be the hunter, not the hunted." It's a good thing to keep in mind.
So of course, I haven't been hacked.
In the hour or so since this phone call, the phoniness of it is obvious to me, but at the time, caught offguard, I can see how people fall for it. 12 Noon on Saturday and my laptop was the furthest thing from my mind. I'm told my computer has been "seriously hacked." My impulse is "oh no" and wanting to fix it.
Here's the first half of the article -- the rest of it is what to do if you fell for it.
My advice: BE THE HUNTER, NOT THE HUNTED!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Con artists are using old-fashioned technology to gain access to consumers' newfangled technology.
I pride myself on knowing all the latest scams, but I had never heard of this one, so I'm assuming you haven't either. Here's how it works: A crook calls you on the phone, poses as a technician from a big company like Microsoft, and claims he's detected a virus on your computer. He (or she!) then asks for access to your computer in order to "help" you.
From there, the scheme can devolve into several different money-making ploys, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The con artist may:
Anyway, this guy called me by name and said he was calling from the International [something something] Hacking Bureau and there was a problem on my computer. In that split second, I thought, "I bought my laptop from Best Buy."
He had an Indian accent and was hard to understand and he was telling me how my computer has been "seriously hacked." I hadn't been on my computer today at the time of the phone call, but I said to him, "I am not having any problems." He said that he is getting reports about my computer and how he is going to help me.
I hung up the phone for two reasons:
1. If I had been hacked, and I have before, I would just change my passwords as I did previously.
2. I really thought it's difficult enough to get a help desk/technical support person to talk to you when you want to. They do not make helpful, outgoing calls.
Out of curiosity, I googled "scam hacking telephone call" and sure enough there it is. Here's the first half of the article... and I cut and pasted up until the helpful advice of "Be the hunter, not the hunted." It's a good thing to keep in mind.
So of course, I haven't been hacked.
In the hour or so since this phone call, the phoniness of it is obvious to me, but at the time, caught offguard, I can see how people fall for it. 12 Noon on Saturday and my laptop was the furthest thing from my mind. I'm told my computer has been "seriously hacked." My impulse is "oh no" and wanting to fix it.
Here's the first half of the article -- the rest of it is what to do if you fell for it.
My advice: BE THE HUNTER, NOT THE HUNTED!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Con artists are using old-fashioned technology to gain access to consumers' newfangled technology.
I pride myself on knowing all the latest scams, but I had never heard of this one, so I'm assuming you haven't either. Here's how it works: A crook calls you on the phone, poses as a technician from a big company like Microsoft, and claims he's detected a virus on your computer. He (or she!) then asks for access to your computer in order to "help" you.
From there, the scheme can devolve into several different money-making ploys, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The con artist may:
- Ask for remote access to your computer and then change your settings in a way that makes your computer -- or the information on it -- vulnerable.
- Enroll you in an expensive -- but worthless -- computer security, maintenance or warranty program.
- Trick you into installing malware that then snags your private information, like passwords or financial details.
- Ask for your credit card information and steal it or use it to bill you for fake services or services that are readily available for free.
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