I has snowed continuously all day. Don't know what the total for the weekend is, but we have several inches on the ground. It's also freezing cold! This is the time of year when the dogs get confused trying to find a place to use the bathroom. All of their fall "markings" have been concealed by the snow, and they sniff all over looking for a familiar place. That dog's life ain't so easy in the winter!
I was thinking today about the sounds of the seasons. It's easy to recognize spring because you wake up in the morning to the sound of leaf blowers and lawn mowers getting the yards uncovered from the winter. Summer sounds are all about boats and jet skis on the water. Fall doesn't have a sound so much as it has a smell...leaves burning. And now it's winter. When you wake up in the morning, you can hear the highway department trucks plowing and salting or sanding the roads. The other distinctive sound comes from the snowmobiles on the trail. It must be easier and faster to get a snowmobile ready than it is to get a boat ready. Everyone seems to be out today enjoying the snow.
It's Thanksgiving week and once the turkey and all the trimmings have been digested (hopefully) on Thursday, Friday is the day for the "lighting" of Indian River. There's a huge craft show at the high school, all kinds of sporting events, and in the evening, the Christmas parade ending with the arrival of Santa. If the weather permits, he will arrive on a dog sled. It's all very festive. Wish all of you could be here. I do have plenty of room and looking at my calendar, do no have any guests scheduled. The vacancy sign says YES!
Last night Gracie and I went to the Cheboygan Opera House for the Northland Players performance of "White Christmas". My wonderful neighbor was one of the stars - actually she was THE star! During the final singing of the title song, the audience was invited to join in the singing. What fun we had!
So the season has begun! I wish each of you a Thanksgiving to remember. As one of the songs in "White Christmas" reminds us, count your blessings. We all have so much to be thankful for and yet there are others who are struggling at this time of the year. Their hearts may be heavy, their finances depleted, their homes cold or maybe destroyed during last week's tornado, or maybe they have health issues. Several weeks ago one of my oldest, dearest friends told me her husband had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma. We both cried and prayed his treatment would be successful. I spoke with her last Thursday to check on her and her husband and as soon as she answered the phone, she began to cry. Once she recovered she told me she had been to the doctor for help with fatigue, thinking it was due to taking care of her husband. After lots of blood work and tests, she has been diagnosed with another form of cancer. So on Tuesday's and Wednesday's, she drives her husband to chemo treatments and on Friday, he drives her to her treatments. I ask your prayers for both of them and for all those suffering whatever pain is in their hearts.
Love to all of you and remember to count your blessings. xxoo
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Mad as a wet hen!
Not sure how mad a wet hen is, but I am sure I can top it! OK, I admit I am 66 years old and probably not as tech savvy as I should be, but gimme a break! My story begins 5 months ago.
HISTORY -
I saw a "help wanted" ad in the local newspaper for a writer. The company "looking" was the local newspaper, The Cheboygan Tribune. Having been thinking about finding something to do, I thought this could be a great opportunity. The ad requested a resume and samples of my writing. Not a problem. However, I did not have a current resume and was pretty sure my old resume did not present an updated approach. I went on-line to find a "FREE" service to help me. I found Live Career - Home of America's #1 Resume Builder. I read through the website and saw "FREE" everywhere. The website also promised to promote my resume to thousands of employers around the world. I worked on my resume and put together one that had all the 2013 appropriate buzzwords and phrases used in today's workplace. When I completed it, I tried to post it to my own computer so I could forward it to the newspaper along with my writing samples. It wouldn't post. So, I saw the link for a live chat, and believing my tech skills sufficient, I clicked it. Someone immediately answered my "call". I explained I didn't want my resume posted for 1000's to see, I only wanted to post it to my own personal computer. Well, it turns out I am apparently selfish with my resume and consequently that would cost me $2.95. I asked about the "free" part and it's only "free" if you allow Live Career to do what they want with it. I decided I would exclude Live Career from my job hunting experience and spend the $2.95. GET READY - HERE COMES THE REALLY BIG MISTAKE I MADE! I put the $2.95 on my credit card. It's a major credit card and linked to my personal checking account. Believing all was right with the world, I clicked the "fine print" request (without reading it) agreeing to the terms of the website and went on with my life. By the way...I sent the resume and writing samples to the newspaper and NEVER heard a word from them. I even e-mailed the contact information listed in the ad and still didn't get a response. I cancelled my subscription to the paper! What's wrong with these people? Idiots, that's what's wrong with them!
UPDATE -
I do all my banking on-line (wondering about that now) and as I was reviewing charges, I saw a $34.95 charge from Live Career. WHAT????? As I continued to look, I saw they had been charging me $34.95 for months! What for and how did they gain access to my checking account? I called them immediately. "Gabe" answered my call. I don't know if Gabe was a man or a woman but I do know English was not his/her first language. Needless to say that added more fuel to my fire! After calmly (I promise) explaining the situation to Gabe, he/she checked my account (ACCOUNT??????) and told me after I completed my resume writing, I had 14 days to cancel my subscription!!!! "Subscription to what" I asked. The "service" he/she responded! You need to know I'm still not screaming into the telephone, but the top of my head is about to blow off! "What service? I payed $2.95 to not use your service"! Gabe said "I checked the box agreeing to their terms"! Dammit to hell!!!!!!!! I took a couple of deep breaths and then asked how they were able to access my checking account. Gabe said my credit card was linked to it and that was something else I had agreed to. Oh my! So I asked how I could cancel this right now. He/she said he/she could do that for me while I was on the telephone with him/her. I then asked what the possibilities were for me to receive a credit for the previous months charges. He/she said he/she would speak with their supervisor and find out. Surprise - I'm put on hold. A few minutes later Gabe came back on the line and said "Good News" (I swear!). He/she would be able to credit my checking account with $25.80! I said thank you and hung up.
FINDINGS -
I am clearly not as smart as I believe I am.
I will NEVER again not read the fine print.
I will stop using my checking account linked credit card on-line.
I will continue to use my HUGE influence to let the world know how awful I think Live Career is. I
did the same thing to Home Depot and everyone knows how effective that was!
I will continue to use all of you as my sounding board for my life as a poor retired widow woman on a
fixed income.
I love all of you and thanks for listening. The wet hen has dried off a bit!
xxoo
HISTORY -
I saw a "help wanted" ad in the local newspaper for a writer. The company "looking" was the local newspaper, The Cheboygan Tribune. Having been thinking about finding something to do, I thought this could be a great opportunity. The ad requested a resume and samples of my writing. Not a problem. However, I did not have a current resume and was pretty sure my old resume did not present an updated approach. I went on-line to find a "FREE" service to help me. I found Live Career - Home of America's #1 Resume Builder. I read through the website and saw "FREE" everywhere. The website also promised to promote my resume to thousands of employers around the world. I worked on my resume and put together one that had all the 2013 appropriate buzzwords and phrases used in today's workplace. When I completed it, I tried to post it to my own computer so I could forward it to the newspaper along with my writing samples. It wouldn't post. So, I saw the link for a live chat, and believing my tech skills sufficient, I clicked it. Someone immediately answered my "call". I explained I didn't want my resume posted for 1000's to see, I only wanted to post it to my own personal computer. Well, it turns out I am apparently selfish with my resume and consequently that would cost me $2.95. I asked about the "free" part and it's only "free" if you allow Live Career to do what they want with it. I decided I would exclude Live Career from my job hunting experience and spend the $2.95. GET READY - HERE COMES THE REALLY BIG MISTAKE I MADE! I put the $2.95 on my credit card. It's a major credit card and linked to my personal checking account. Believing all was right with the world, I clicked the "fine print" request (without reading it) agreeing to the terms of the website and went on with my life. By the way...I sent the resume and writing samples to the newspaper and NEVER heard a word from them. I even e-mailed the contact information listed in the ad and still didn't get a response. I cancelled my subscription to the paper! What's wrong with these people? Idiots, that's what's wrong with them!
UPDATE -
I do all my banking on-line (wondering about that now) and as I was reviewing charges, I saw a $34.95 charge from Live Career. WHAT????? As I continued to look, I saw they had been charging me $34.95 for months! What for and how did they gain access to my checking account? I called them immediately. "Gabe" answered my call. I don't know if Gabe was a man or a woman but I do know English was not his/her first language. Needless to say that added more fuel to my fire! After calmly (I promise) explaining the situation to Gabe, he/she checked my account (ACCOUNT??????) and told me after I completed my resume writing, I had 14 days to cancel my subscription!!!! "Subscription to what" I asked. The "service" he/she responded! You need to know I'm still not screaming into the telephone, but the top of my head is about to blow off! "What service? I payed $2.95 to not use your service"! Gabe said "I checked the box agreeing to their terms"! Dammit to hell!!!!!!!! I took a couple of deep breaths and then asked how they were able to access my checking account. Gabe said my credit card was linked to it and that was something else I had agreed to. Oh my! So I asked how I could cancel this right now. He/she said he/she could do that for me while I was on the telephone with him/her. I then asked what the possibilities were for me to receive a credit for the previous months charges. He/she said he/she would speak with their supervisor and find out. Surprise - I'm put on hold. A few minutes later Gabe came back on the line and said "Good News" (I swear!). He/she would be able to credit my checking account with $25.80! I said thank you and hung up.
FINDINGS -
I am clearly not as smart as I believe I am.
I will NEVER again not read the fine print.
I will stop using my checking account linked credit card on-line.
I will continue to use my HUGE influence to let the world know how awful I think Live Career is. I
did the same thing to Home Depot and everyone knows how effective that was!
I will continue to use all of you as my sounding board for my life as a poor retired widow woman on a
fixed income.
I love all of you and thanks for listening. The wet hen has dried off a bit!
xxoo
Monday, November 11, 2013
First Dates!
Well, I have begun dating for the third time, and it's not like riding a bike!
EARLY 1960'S:
I remember when I was a teenager and had my first date. I was so curious about the wonder of it all. (I should add young and thin and unwrinkled too!) It was fun and exciting. I spent days wondering what to wear. The "date" day arrived and butterflies filled my stomach. Waiting for the doorbell to ring, I wondered how my mother and father would act. Were they going to embarrass me? Yes, I survived all that and much more. WOW, the lessons I learned. My father had always told me to call if I ever felt I was in a bad situation. He said he would come and get me where ever I was. I did that one time. At a party, it appeared I was the only one not drinking beer. I found the phone in the home (pre-cell phone) and called Dad. He came right away, and I never had a date with that young man again. Dad thanked me for calling him. I'll never forget that.
MID 1970'S:
After a failed marriage (not sure exactly what failed but it's safe to say "it" did), I was the mother of two precious little girls. I was working several part-time jobs and loved them all. I began to receive invitations from MEN to go out to dinner or a movie or dancing. I found it interesting that some men seemed to think a divorced woman's morals might have been left behind with the marriage contract. Oh how I loved to disappoint them. There were a few wonderful gentlemen who's company I certainly enjoyed. HC Baker was one of them, and we all know how that ended!
LATE 2013:
I am blessed with wonderful friends both female and male. And I enjoy being with all of them in casual and elegant situations. But there's something about being asked to dinner by one man knowing it will be just the two of you that made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up!!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!! And those feelings are compounded 1000 times when this is a man (one of those wonderful gentlemen from years ago) you haven't seen in over 35 years! I did spend the "morning of" searching the web for a diet guaranteed to relieve me of 50 pounds in one day! You'd think with all the diets out there, one could have filled my request! To no avail! So off I went. I told the gentleman I would meet him as opposed to him picking me up. I wanted to have some kind of control since everything else about me was so out of control! He hadn't changed one bit (dammit!) and I knew him immediately. There was an embrace and a kiss on my cheek! I had forgotten what it felt like to have a man's arms around me. The dinner was delicious, the conversation entertaining, and the evening was delightful. I survived and now my next date will not be a "first date"! Be still my heart!
Put your arms around someone you love right now. xxoo
EARLY 1960'S:
I remember when I was a teenager and had my first date. I was so curious about the wonder of it all. (I should add young and thin and unwrinkled too!) It was fun and exciting. I spent days wondering what to wear. The "date" day arrived and butterflies filled my stomach. Waiting for the doorbell to ring, I wondered how my mother and father would act. Were they going to embarrass me? Yes, I survived all that and much more. WOW, the lessons I learned. My father had always told me to call if I ever felt I was in a bad situation. He said he would come and get me where ever I was. I did that one time. At a party, it appeared I was the only one not drinking beer. I found the phone in the home (pre-cell phone) and called Dad. He came right away, and I never had a date with that young man again. Dad thanked me for calling him. I'll never forget that.
MID 1970'S:
After a failed marriage (not sure exactly what failed but it's safe to say "it" did), I was the mother of two precious little girls. I was working several part-time jobs and loved them all. I began to receive invitations from MEN to go out to dinner or a movie or dancing. I found it interesting that some men seemed to think a divorced woman's morals might have been left behind with the marriage contract. Oh how I loved to disappoint them. There were a few wonderful gentlemen who's company I certainly enjoyed. HC Baker was one of them, and we all know how that ended!
LATE 2013:
I am blessed with wonderful friends both female and male. And I enjoy being with all of them in casual and elegant situations. But there's something about being asked to dinner by one man knowing it will be just the two of you that made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up!!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!! And those feelings are compounded 1000 times when this is a man (one of those wonderful gentlemen from years ago) you haven't seen in over 35 years! I did spend the "morning of" searching the web for a diet guaranteed to relieve me of 50 pounds in one day! You'd think with all the diets out there, one could have filled my request! To no avail! So off I went. I told the gentleman I would meet him as opposed to him picking me up. I wanted to have some kind of control since everything else about me was so out of control! He hadn't changed one bit (dammit!) and I knew him immediately. There was an embrace and a kiss on my cheek! I had forgotten what it felt like to have a man's arms around me. The dinner was delicious, the conversation entertaining, and the evening was delightful. I survived and now my next date will not be a "first date"! Be still my heart!
Put your arms around someone you love right now. xxoo
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