SURE... CALL ME.

Hello, Blogging Buddies. Look out. I'm on my soapbox again. Sigh.

So... I didn't mention this last year when it actually happened... I don't think. (Don't ask me to remember that far back.) But... now that essentially the exact same thing has happened to me yet again, I feel compelled to rant about it.

Last year, after moving into our mid-70s Louisiana house, I thought I would check out prices for replacing the horrid, stained, original cultured marble bathroom vanities/sinks as well as the incredibly-difficult-to-clean white tile countertops and nasty, damaged composite sink in the kitchen. I called a local firm, explained what I was interested in, and was told it would be just great if I sent sketches, dimensions, and pictures. I cleared everything off, measured twice (and three times on one occasion), sketched out, photographed, and conveniently packed all of this information into a ZIP file which I sent off to the young lady who had assured me this would be all that was necessary. I received a response from her the very next day, 9/21/2009, advising that the pictures were very good (thank you) and she would forward the information to "the company" (whoever or whatever that is!) and have an estimate for me as soon as possible. Let's see. On June 21st, we will be 9 months into this. I have not heard a single word... I have not received a single written/typed word... I have not heard a thing. (Can you hear that pin dropping?!?!?!?!?)

Okay. Let's just not bother with those people ever again. (I can assure you I won't!) So... on Monday the 7th of this month (9 days ago), I stopped into a local store to inquire about sink prices. The gentleman there must have said "I don't know anything about that stuff... I do the air-conditioning work" about 19 times while I was there with him. I finally told him I would just write out my name, telephone number, and the details (size, configuration, type) on the sinks I would like prices on. He breathed a huge sigh of relief as I wrote my information down and assured me he would give it to P---- as soon as she returned and she would call me. Of course you all know what has happened... or not happened which is the reality. No phone call. Haven't heard a word. Haven't gotten a call. It appears there is yet one more firm in this town that has so much business it can select what calls to return and which to not return. Good for them!!! In the current economy and while this poor state deals with what is going to be a HUGE economic impact with the oil spill, these firms apparently are just rolling in dough. They do not need me. They have made that clear.

So... all I ask of you each is to NOT EVER treat YOUR customers (or potential customers) in such a shoddy manner and that each of you NOT put up with treatment like this. If you don't hear from them, don't beg them to call you. I assure you there is another firm, another person, another way you can achieve your desired result. Please don't make this behavior acceptable by working with people who exhibit it.

Thank you. I feel much better now. I hope you don't encounter this but I am afraid there are many more firms out there treating people this same way.

Until next time...

PRIVACY? YOU JUST THINK SO.

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies! Hope this finds you all well and happy.

I had the very good fortune to visit with one of those high-school pals who I had not seen in 19 years this past Saturday. It was such fun and the four of us (two other pals who remain here and me) truly enjoyed our catch-up time with our long-lost buddy. The pal who does not reside here has done well, looks fabulous, and apparently has not changed in the many years since high school! What a lovely time we had.

Now then... while that probably isn't really fascinating to any of you, some of the things we talked about could pique your interest... if you are concerned about your privacy and the ubiquitous reach of the internet. Personally, that is something that concerns me.

Most of you know I do not participate at all in Facebook. There are a number of reasons for that. Daniel Lyons, a writer for Newsweek magazine, has written blog posts on May 15th, May 24th, and May 26th of this year that provide some real food for thought about the social network. I seriously suggest you read these three posts if you are a Facebook member. I have had many people tell me, "Oh... I don't really put much on there... certainly not anything I am concerned about anyone seeing." I hear you. But I am afraid you don't understand the full reach of the site and what they "own" even after you may decide to close your account!! Check out this article of February 17, 2009. Sorry, guys. I won't be joining. You can email me, comment on my blog posts, call me, or send a carrier pigeon. I'm happy to respond!

But... this isn't really a post about Facebook. I know. You thought it was. Nope. Our long-lost pal mentioned a site she had visited called Spokeo and was surprised at the amount of information there as well as the inaccuracy of a good portion of it! I had not even heard of it although I am aware there are a large number of sites purporting to carry my "profile" although they actually don't. Most of those link to my public profile with LinkedIn, a business networking site I joined a number of years ago and continue to participate in. Since I choose to publish VERY little information as "public" on that site, there is very little that is carried to the sites trying to pull information from it. I check that periodically.

So, back to Spokeo. I suggest you go there and type in your name, as well as other iterations of it you may have used in the past, and any family members. It did not find me using my full name (first, middle, last) but it did find me using my first name, middle initial, and last name. Interestingly enough, it showed me living at my brother's PO Box in another state!! *chuckle* It would have been funny but it had other information... most inaccurate... posted as though someone might be interested in my astrological sign (which was wrong) or my education level (which was also wrong). Check out what it provides to you after doing so. Copy the URL from the page that has your information. After you have finished spitting out words you don't want your kids to hear you say, go back to the main page, click on the itty-bitty "Privacy" menu item below the phonebook, then paste the URL into the field provided, give them the email you rarely use, type in the code shown, then click on "Remove Listing." That should do it. I have gone back and checked to make certain I do not continue to show up (and I checked the spousal-unit's name again after finding it with mostly inaccurate information and removing it).

I have a few other links you can visit including one that will direct you to similar sites. If you have some time, you might want to check to see how you are portrayed there! :)

http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2010/04/07/spokeo-com-scam.htm
Recent blog posting about Spokeo

http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/spokeo.asp
What Snopes.com has to say about Spokeo

http://www.similarsites.com/sites-like/spokeo.com
Sites indicated as similar to Spokeo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokeo
Wikipedia’s take on Spokeo

Good luck with it. It's just irritating and I am concerned that this information is being taken as gospel or being misused. If you don't think it is important, then please just move forward with your world. I'm just trying to "spread the word" and thank my friend, Liz, for making me aware of this site.

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your weekend. Enjoy yourself!!

Until next time...

REDNECK GARDEN UPDATE!!!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals!!

Well, it's been a little while and I was unable to post for a few days there... but I'm back up and ready to provide you with an update. Sorry that's all I have... but there hasn't been much excitement around here lately. :) Not that there ever is... but I can occasionally make something exciting!

Okay... Here is the update promised in the Title!

The garden has been doing pretty well. I have given up on the lettuce which bolted early on. That's fine. I may throw a squash or something in the "double-decker!" :) There is still time. The overall view of what is being "tended" at present:

What the heck? There are three of them clustered together. There are a lot of little ones hanging around, too. Hmmmmmmm. OH! These are the spousal-unit's Anaheim peppers!! They are mature when they turn red. Wonder if they are going to get much bigger?!?!?!?!?!? Hadn't grown these before!

Both Cherokee Purple tomato plants have begun bearing fruit. Both have a couple of small tomatoes growing as well as plenty of flowers being happily pollinated by an assortment of buzzing, flying critters.

Then there are the "Three Amigos" that are the first fruits from the very first set of flowers on the larger Cherokee Purple plant!! I am watching these VERY closely!!

On a non-edible note, I decided to try growing a hibiscus this year. I had tried them in Texas but never had much success. News Flash! It's plenty hot and, more importantly, plenty humid here in Swampland! Today's bloom and tomorrow's bloom sit on the plant this morning.

With my inability to actually handle the yard work recently, the spousal-unit, God love him, pitched right in and hit the Murray to whip things into shape. Since this is NOT something he usually does (I'm very particular about my yard!) and he offered to do it to spare me, I can only say "Thank You!" for helping me out!! I will also mention I sent him this photo with the demand for $100 to keep it out of the blog. Clearly I have received no money. :) Love ya', honey, but your time is up!!!

Finally, on a serious note... as you hopefully enjoy this Memorial Day holiday with family and friends and barbeque and all of the good stuff... remember why you are lucky enough to enjoy this day off and all of the wonderful things that go with it. Many thousands of fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and more have sacrificed an incredible amount so that you... yes, you... can enjoy a day off. Unfortunately, too many have made the ultimate sacrifice. While you are enjoying your freedom to boat, fish, swim, barbeque, sail, travel... whatever you choose to do... please take a moment to thank a veteran, if you know one, or thank a service person, if you encounter one. Don't you think it's the very least you can do?

Be safe!! Until next time...

TRAVELS AND UPDATES

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!! Welcome Back!!

I must report we took a little tour to the east to Mississippi to visit the spousal-unit's folks last week. It was the first time I had the opportunity to get over there since they moved there in retirement. It was lovely to see them, see their house, and visit. It had been a bit too long since we had caught up.

On our return, I took advantage of the drive to catch a couple of shots for you. Remember... I'm doing this while the spousal-unit is driving!! Don't expect mega-quality photos, please?!?

There is one thing I found very confusing. You will notice (like you could miss it!) the gargantuan watermelon in front of the Watermelon Patch? On the trip TO Mississippi, I thought perhaps this was a fruitstand and we should stop in on our return. My mouth watered with the thoughts of fresh fruit and veggies! Pay attention to the words across the top of the building after you have checked out the watermelon! If you can't read them, it says "Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!" When was the last time you bought shoes at a Watermelon Patch?!?!?!?!? I don't understand these Mississippians!!!

Crossing the great Mississippi River from Mississippi back into Louisiana:

I love this bridge. It connects Natchez, MS with Vidalia, LA. It's a great bridge!! If you are looking for a paddlewheeler, they come with the bridge. :)

For those who are interested in the garden experiment, here are a few pictures. There are three very tiny Cherokee Purple tomatoes on one of those plants, many flowers on the hot pepper plant, and I'm afraid I am not a good lettuce grower. They have all bolted on me! I picked the leaves from the red lettuce and enjoyed those yesterday. I haven't decided about the Bibb lettuces that you see bolted in the photo! I guess there is some more internet research in my future. But I am pleased thus far. I also included a couple of shots of my "strawberry pot" which I threw four little strawberry plants into on the off-chance they would actually produce. They have. They are producing little tiny (but very sweet!) strawberries. I get a couple each day. They go well with the wild blackberries that are growing all over the place. I've been picking those, too! It's sure a different environment here regarding plants! I'm having some fun with it.

There is a little red strawberry just below the right portion of the leaves above.

Look closely for the little green strawberry below the leaves on the left.

Hope things are going well for all of you as we crash head-on into summer!!

Until next time!!

SO MUCH FOR IDYLLIC...

Well, Blogging Buddies... I have bad news to report.

When we relocated here from Austin, Texas, I felt a little more comfortable about the lack of potential for crime, vandalism, etc. After all, we were leaving a city of 650,000+ for a town of about 10,000. Don't misunderstand me... there are crimes here and bad things happen to good people just like anywhere else. I still lock all of my doors and keep the gates on the fence locked. I still lock my vehicle at night. Most of that is simply habit. But I honestly felt like there was less potential for any difficulty here. In fact... when I was working so hard on the front yard to try to improve the property, the spousal-unit was helping me to hang my Gecko on the exterior garage wall. There was a perfect spot for it and I thought it would add interest. I hesitated briefly when we were hanging it and asked him, "You don't think anyone would steal it, do you?" We both agreed that it was unlikely and moved forward.

Tonight as I type this, I am awaiting the arrival of a city police officer to take a report on my now-missing Gecko. While I have little hope of recovering it, I want to at least make the local department aware there is theft occurring in my area. Perhaps there are others who have had items go missing. I don't know. I just know I am deeply saddened by the loss of my "critter" who has been with me for a number of years. I am even more saddened knowing that tomorrow morning my spousal-unit will be moving all "yard art" items from the front yard to the back. The worst of it is not knowing whether I will be able to find a replacement or not. Just a minute... there is the officer. I'll be back.

I'm back. The officer who arrived was a very nice young man... and the nephew of a childhood pal!! Yep. It's a very small world, isn't it? Especially here. He will make a report. I provided him with a copy of the picture I am posting below (as a fond farewell to my Gecko) for his report.

So... it is with sadness and a heavy heart I bid a fond farewell to my Gecko. He was a wonderful addition to my yard and a joy for me to see every time I pulled into the driveway. I will miss him greatly. I have also become more suspicious of every car driving down the street and less trusting of anyone who even slows to look at my yard. How sad.




Until next time, my Blogging Buddies...