Idenity Theft Sucks!

That's it in a nut shell. If your identity is stolen, you feel violated and never truly recover. Oh, let me tell you from experience its a scary thing!

My story started a couple of years ago when we noticed money was moved from our joint savings account to my husbands checking account that neither one of us did. When a large amount of money is moved all by itself, you freak out.

After the money was transferred, the person on the other end wrote out an e-check to be sent to an address we of course have never heard of. Also, happening at the same time, I couldn't sign-in to my online banking website since my password wouldn't work. What!?!?

We contacted the bank to tell them all about the issues. It was discovered that someone had called the bank to change the password on our online banking, then transferred the money using MY social security number and name. It defiantly wasn't me. So, the next business day we went to the bank branch to change our account numbers. Oh, and they couldn't tell us the identity of the person who did this to us, but they did stop payment on the check.

About a week later, after we had swapped everything over to our new account numbers & new passwords my husband called me and told me it had happened again. I couldn't believe it! So, we went back to the same bank branch & had to explain to someone else what had happened. He laughed at us, like we didn't know what we were talking about! Um, this is serious and he was acting like it was all a mistake! I wasn't happy. Finally we got through to him because that very moment, it was being attempted again! So, it showed this fool that it wasn't us and it was actually some bad person out there doing this to us.

After the third attempt (and poor customer service), we decided to switch banks! It was such a hassle, aggravation and scary thing to happen!

We almost were free & clear without any issues since our bank incident, but on the Saturday before Easter I received a phone call from one of my credit card companies. The fraud department was calling to see if I wanted to transfer $5,000 from my credit card to a bank account that was known for fraudulent charges. Um, no! I told her what happened in the past and explained to her most likely who ever this was found my SS# & was trying to do some tricky business, again, with my information. Thank goodness for fraud protection!

So, I guess my lesson for today would be to protect your personal information as best you can. Its tough since everything is electronic, but just beware of where your information is going. I am always combing everything over with a fine toothed comb now just in case it happens again.

To this day, I don't know how my information was found or what was out there, but its out there and there is nothing I can do!

New Neighbor

A few weeks ago I noticed a morning dove flying in & our of a hanging basket that I left outside on our side porch from last year. I didn't think anything of it, I was still happy that it was beginning to be more spring like outside.

About a week ago, I noticed a nest was built inside of the basket. I thought it was pretty neat, but I didn't see any birds around it so I had assumed the birds were scared off since it was so close to our back door and driveway.

On Saturday, there were now two birds in the basket. They would each fly away when we would approach the porch so we didn't think anything of it.

By Sunday, the female bird would remain in the nest while the male would fly off. Wow! I was amazed how brave this bird was being. I was assuming she had an egg that she had to keep warm & protected, but there was no proof.

On Monday, it was confirmed one egg was in the nest. This had confirmed why the mommy bird would wait until the last possible second to fly off. She hasn't flown off when I'm around so it take something pretty scary for her to fly away (it must have been the kids next door playing to close to our back stoop for her to fly off when it was determined how many eggs were in the nest by my husbands sister).

Now I am so protective of the nest. Any large object coming in or out of the house, it has to go through the front door. Any fast movements around the nest are prohibited. I need to help out my new neighbor. I am pretty excited to be able to be so close to mother natures magic! I will let you know when we have a new baby birdie in the nest!

I heard it!

I heard the new single from New Kids on the Block on the radio yesterday! Its called Summertime and if you missed it, you can listen to it on their website nkotb.com

I like it! I had my windows down driving home reminiscing about singing along & dancing to the songs that are now classics (yikes). It reminds me of when I was is *LOVE* with the boys when I was 13 years old.

Of course they had listeners call in after the song and give their opinions. All the young girls called in saying how much it sucked and they didn't understand the hype.....well, they weren't around the first time around. We were!

I think the boys are even hotter now then years ago and I'm going to buy the new CD when it comes out. I hope they come around MA during their tour (they better since they are from Boston). My husband doesn't know yet, but he is so going if my cousins can't go!

Who's with me!?!?!?!

MeMe Tag

I was checking out other blogs & I can across this tag. I guess the object is to answer the question using one work. So here it goes...

In a Word

1. Where is your cell phone?
desk

2. Your significant other?
wonderful

3. Your hair?
up

4. Your mother?
witty

5. Your father?
caring

6. Your favorite thing?
family

7. Your dream last night?
none

8. Your favorite drink?
tea

9. Your dream/goal?
baby

10. The room you’re in?
office

11. Your hobby?
photography

12. Your fear?
needles

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
same

14. Where were you last night?
home

15. What you’re not?
lazy

16. Muffins?
warm

17. The last thing you did?
lunch

18. What are you wearing?
corduroys

19. Something you’re not wearing?
coat

20. Your mood?
happy

21. Your summer?
wonderful

22. Person(s) you tag?
anyone who reads my blog

The Circus is in Town

We went to the circus today! It was me, my husband, my BIL, my niece & my FIL (my SIL had to attend to other family business, sorry Sarah). Thanks to my husbands company, we got free tickets to go. His company donates money to the Melha Shrine Circus (the circus is part of a children's hospital in our area) and in turn he receives tickets to hand out to his employees.

As we were driving to the circus, I let my niece use my camera. Here is the people she rode with in Auntie's van through her eyes.

Her Daddy

Uncle Jeff (my husband)

Auntie Mana

Ally (my niece) & Grandpy

My niece had no idea where she was going, only that a surprise was waiting for her. When we walked into the arena, she really didn't say anything but was looking around at all the people, food, animals (there was elephant and horse rides before the show, but we were too late to participate) and all the other sites to see.We made it to our seats just in time for the show to start. Here are some more pictures that she took during the show.

The elephant act

A self portrait

Grandpy (the guy in blue)

Her daddy

Intermission Horse Rides

Setting up for the Tiger Performance

The show was great! It had a trapeze act, clown shows, a tiger performance, balancing acts, roller skating performance, elephant acts and so much more. It was really a great time. Also, the cotton candy and popcorn were a treat too. It was fun watching my nieces reaction to all the different things. We all had a wonderful time.

Friday Top 10

Its finally Friday! We all made it in one piece, phew. I can't wait for the weekend (even if its going to be a busy one, its still time off from work).

Since I am in a calgon take me away mood today, I want to share with you my personal top 10 vacation spots. These are in order too this time.

1. Oahu
2. Scottsdale, AZ
3. Las Vegas
4. Any bed & breakfast in the green mountains of VT
5. Cape Cod (Yarmouth, MA)
6. York Beach, ME
7. Orlando
8. Bahama's
9. NYC
10. Washington, DC

Happy May

Its May! Yeah! Well, here in MA its been chilly all week & I want it to be warm & sunny like it was last week. Its been in the 30's in the morning & if we are lucky, it makes it to the mid-60's during the day but the chill is still around.

My office area tends to seal in either the chill or the hot sticky feeling, so its hardly ever a perfect setting when the heat or AC is off, so we are stuck with what ever temperature awaits us. The heating plant shut off our heat most likely over the temperatures from last week. But last week was beautiful so it made sense. But, what do I know about heat management, I sit in an office all day.

So, today its cold in here. I have to sit on my hands to help warm them up. I'm not the only one cold here, so at least I know its just not me being cold all the time.

With that in mind, I wanted to think of things that remind me of the month of May. They may be mindless facts, but it helps me think of warm thoughts. So, here are some interesting facts about May-

According to the early Roman calendar, May was the third month. Later, the ancient Romans used January 1 for the beginning of their year, and May became the fifth month. May has always had 31 days.

Several stories are passed around to show how the month of May was named. The most widely accepted explanation is that it was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. Her name related to a Latin word that means increase or growth.

May is of the most beautiful months of the year in the North Temperate Zone. Usually the snow and ice are gone and the hot temperatures haven't arrived. The first garden begins to sprout in May. The wild flowers are blooming, and the trees and grasses have turned green. Wild flowers that bloom in different parts of America are the forsythia, dogwood, violets, and jack-in-the-box. Many birds have built their nests, and mother birds are sitting on the eggs, which will soon hatch.

Hawthorn and Lily of the Valley are the flowers for the month of May.