Selling Rings & Scams

One night my girlfriend met me at a restaurant in a city about an hour away from the apartment I was living in. She presented me with an unopened rose and said she was going to buy me dinner. "It's been a long drive so this rose is kind of wilting, I'm going to put it in water," she said, hustling off to the bathroom. She came back with the rose in a water glass of warm water.

We ate a lovely dinner, I believe I ordered salmon. That sounds about right. About halfway through dinner she said, "smell that rose, it smells amazing." I leaned over the rose, which had started blooming in the warm water on the table and the light glinted off it. In the center of the rose was this beautiful ring.

I said yes, of course.

Within weeks, however, I remembered that I'm a bull in a china closet. I walk into walls, slam this beautiful ring into my forehead. Anything I can to injure myself or the ring, basically.

So we decided to sell the ring. I listed it on Craigslist, a wonderful site I have used many times before. I've had two bites. One backed out within a few hours. The other one is a bit more of a story.

I received the email just before one of my classes began yesterday. "Is your item still for sale?" My hackles went up. My "item" and not my ring? Hm... Seemed fishy. But I texted the man per his instructions in the email. Yes, it's for sale. 

What happened next was a series of text messages about how he wanted it as a birthday gift for his girlfriend, he would PayPal me the money, plus a little extra for shipping. Once I received the money I would ship it right to his girlfriend's house. I played along. 

I received the email he said I would, however since I have used PayPal many times before I am fully aware of what is and isn't supposed to happen in a PayPal transaction. I know PayPal has never sent things to my junk mail before, the emails always come through with a PayPal header and html and PayPal knows my name, they don't address me by my email address.

At this point I knew my suspicions were correct. This was a scam. However, he didn't stop. He continued to text message me telling me I just needed to click on the link in the email. Desperate for me to click on it, almost. So I took my last step. I went to Google with his phone number.

This is what I found: 800 Notes.

And many other sites showing the same exact thing. 

Aside from the fact that I wasted much time emailing and texting this jerk, I also was very disappointed to have still not sold the ring. I am financially strained right now anyway because of a series of health issues in the household and I really was hoping to sell it, move on to getting a new ring and use the extra money for some school supplies and such that we are lacking. I am now on to different ways of trying to sell it. It's listed on Ebay if anyone is interested. Of course, if a reader approached me about it the price may be more negotiable.

Be Your Own Advocate

The last two months have been crazy. I am at the new job at the hotel, which I love and we had final exams. The week before the exams my partner ended up in the hospital and eventually had surgery. Now we're at the long ever exhausting healing part of the surgery, however it appears there were two issues going on at once and they haven't yet identified the second one.

Financial nightmare, btw.

Since I haven't been able to post (or do much of anything) the last few weeks now that I can I figured I would share the lesson I've learned in medical care.

BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE.

We went into the hospital April 15th pretty sure that we already knew what was wrong. All her symptoms said gall bladder failure. The doctors told us that it wasn't her gall bladder because there was nothing on the ultrasound. It had to be something else. They sent us home and told us to wait for a visit with her primary care physician.

Two weeks and four hospital visits, three doctors visits and multiple specialists later and the doctors finally agreed with us and removed her gall bladder. It was failing the entire time but they didn't run the right scan until we insisted on it. Her mother, sister and I told the doctors exactly what scan they needed to run to prove what we already knew.

Through years of working with Autism I have seen a lot of evidence as to why someone must advocate for themselves, but never to this extent. We were actually told by one doctor that it was just gas and that the extreme pain she was feeling must be in her head.

Do not let a doctor's opinion be your last call if your instincts are telling you otherwise.

(Oh, and somewhere in that few weeks I got an acceptance letter on a poem I wrote which will be published in an annual journal this winter. More on that later.)

Another Year of Blogging

This will be a quick post as I am quite sick and plan to ring in the new year on the couch with a giant stack of books.

I created my first blog in 1999, around the same time the term "blog" was being coined. Since then I have gone through multiple websites including LiveJournal, MyDiary.org and Blogspot. I have had numerous blogs, some focused on a particular topic, some personal. 

This blog has become a mash-up of all of the other blogs. It includes some of my  poetry, photos, my personal life, my political views and my career aspirations. I kind of enjoy that because I don't feel like I am tied down to a topic, nor do I feel pressured to write on a topic that I've lost interest in. 

In 2013 I am hoping to blog more often and I would like to create more dialogue between myself and my readers. 

With that in mind, what would you like to read on my blog in the upcoming year? I have posted much of my political views on Facebook and Twitter, primarily because it is quick and easy. I could move more of those to blogspot or I could stick with more about my writing and my personal life.

You tell me. 

Stay safe as you welcome in 2013!

"Here's my Christmas speech. Ahem. 'Thank you all, and Merry Christmas.'"

For today a lighter topic. Some of my favorite Christmas ornaments and the story behind each.

Trisha's electric guitar ornament I bought for her.

My wine glass, because red wine and Christmas just go together.

Although I don't have many people who call me Trina anymore, I did as a child. My grandmother made this for me when I was little.

I am a bit obsessed with holiday villages. I began to collect mine my first Christmas on my own when I was eighteen years old and I continue to add to it whenever I can.

Viewing my grandmother's Christmas tree always had two steps. First we had to view it with just the Christmas lights on, and then we had to turn those off and try to spot all of her tiny glow in the dark cherubs. 

I love giraffes.

And, our stag tree topper.

Happy Holidays!

Peace to all!

Brain Candy

When I was a child I was hooked on "Saved By the Bell" and "Family Matters". As a teen I spent every friday night parked in front of the tiny television in our kitchen watching "Boy Meets World" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch."

I recently read that sitcoms give your brain time to shut down and relax. The familiarity of the characters and the feel-good moments all add up to television that is the equivalent of a warm cup of tea and a hot bath for the brain.

We Will Rock You

So I wanted to share two of my favorite sitcom moments with you. Unfortunately they won't embed, but they are worth the click.

Humming in Central Perk

Now, back to my brain candy.

Pull Out That Glue Gun! Holiday Crafting Time!

I've finally fallen in love with my Pinterest account. I knew it was coming if I ever sat down and spent a little time on there.

I'm using it to create my holiday gift ideas. As I said in my last post, I'm not interested in giving gifts just for the sake of giving them. This year I'm not only putting thought into gifts, but they are all hand-made. Because I'm getting started on this late (used to be I was done holiday planning by now) I am loving Pinterest for quick and beautiful ideas.

I grew up in a house where the smell of a hot glue gun meant Christmas, even if that hot glue gun was turned on in July. With craft fairs and theater productions and parades to create for my family never stopped crafting for the holidays. Nothing has really changed in my adult home.

These are some of my favorite Pinterest craft finds for this holiday season with links to them. (Can't post too many because most of my family reads my blog...)

Gifts for teens or kids:

Some ornaments:

Some wrapping ideas:

And some some antiqued tags.

Here is a link to my boards if you want to follow me.

Oh, and if anyone is wondering... I'm in love with these and would love them in alpaca wool with green embroidery:

Allagash Beer

Allagash White brewed right in Portland. So good.

Home...

Is where I fill this mug.

When I Was a Kid

This was my world. What about you?

My Next Sand Castle Will Definitely Feel Weak After This

On the way home from a tour of NHIA a couple of weeks ago we decided to go for a swim. We weren't anticipating walking into this event, but it was fascinating. The 2012 Master Sand Sculping Competition at Hampton Beach, NH.

Some PlayDoh Round Here

This is my afternoon. PlayDoh gets the creative juices flowing.

Making a Life

My sister Kymmy went to Jamaica.
My brother to Egypt.
My other two sisters have done their share of traveling.
My dad has been everywhere.

I have never left New England.

I was asked recently why this is. I am an ambitious person. I love to be busy, so it doesn't make sense. I should have seen the world by now. Last night I came up with the answer. I have been making a living and forgot to make a life.

I moved out of my parents house ten years ago and I have spent the last ten years working. I have taken only two real vacations. I spent both of them in the state of Maine or in Boston. I have been successful at every job, but have been so busy earning a paycheck I forgot to take time for myself.

That's not to say I haven't done some amazing things. Maine I know well. I have traveled every inch - from Fort Kent to Kittery - and I love Maine. I have been on puffin watches and whale watches. I have hand fed baby bats and held reticulated pythons. I have pulled lobster traps and climbed mountains. I have seen Elton John in concert and been to nearly every museum in Maine. But all of this has been done within New England, without the need to get a hotel or a passport. With appropriate plans made ahead of time. Never last minute and rarely with much financial risk.

Last night at 4:45 Trisha called me at work and said "Ani Difranco is doing a free concert in New Hampshire tonight. Let's go." I said "you're crazy." the apartment we were counting on fell through so we are not sure where we will live in two months. We are transferring to a new school and will be going to New Hampshire on Friday for that. It was completely irresponsible and crazy to go to this concert.

So we picked up a friend and the three of us hit the road.

And I am so glad we did. The concert was amazing. The drive was fun. And it was an eye-opener for me. I have missed similar opportunities because of responsibilities and obligation and now I am wishing I hadn't.

And ya know what? The boxes I need to pack are still here. I am headed to work this morning, but I can pack later. There is something to be said for responsibility, but sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and live. Life is going on today even though I wasn't home last night.

The paperwork for my passport is in my backpack. It's time to fill it out.

My niece

What I Have Learned Walking to Work

As many of you know this summer I have been walking to work. This is the first time in my adult life that I have been forced to walk to work and it's been a very new experience for me.

Today I am getting my new car. I am counting down the hours this morning. I have to go to the DMV for my temp plates, stop at my bank for the withdrawal, do an interview someone for a magazine article and then get my car! I am so excited I could just... well...

Yesterday on my way to work I was thinking about the things I have learned this summer while walking. I started making a list...

I have learned to close my eyes when a tractor trailer truck flies past because a cloud of sand is likely to follow.

I have learned to keep an eye on large puddles.

I have learned that some people slow down when they see a pedestrian near a puddle and wave politely as they avoid splashing you.

Some people don't. Those same people don't stop when you're in a crosswalk.
(I don't blame those people. I assume they have a lot on their minds. And I'm not in a hurry.)

I've learned that some places I frequently drive to aren't as far away as I thought.

I've learned some other places I frequently drive to are much further than I thought.

I've learned I don't need to carry nearly as much in my bag as I always do, but I do always need a warm shirt, an extra bottle of water and a notebook because inspiration is everywhere.

I've learned that listening to upbeat slam poetry makes me walk faster, but it is also likely to make me look like a fool as I laugh hysterically on the sidewalk.

I've learned that I'm okay with looking like a fool.

I've learned that when you're walking there is almost always a straight path to where you need to go that you can't take when driving.

...and the scenery is usually better on that path.

Selling My Truck

I hate selling vehicles. I hate buying vehicles. I hate going to car mechanics. I hate all of it. I feel dumb when talking to a mechanic. Since I have no athletic ability I pride myself on my education, so feeling dumb about something is very difficult for me. Half the time I don't even know what mechanics are talking about and I just keep a poker face so that I don't get played. Over the years I've looked back on repairs and realized, to my own embarrassment, that I was played more than once.

My dad isn't exactly Joe-Mechanic. The only person who ever attempted to teach me about vehicles was my uncle and I regret how often I walked away from those conversations. I should have listened to him. Now I want to know what he was trying to tell me. I want to know everything about cars because I'm tired of them breaking down and not being able to repair them myself. Or, worse, having a small issue become a big issue because I don't know the signs to look for.

I've read a few books but I'm really a hands-on kind of girl. I have to touch it, see it, repair it myself in order to understand it. I know a lot about brake systems because I drove an SUV for so many years. If you've never had an SUV you don't realize just how tough they can be on brake systems. But the rest of the vehicle is a mystery to me.

I have a really great mechanic named Brad who takes the time to explain everything to me. I am so grateful to him for the extra time he spends with me, but I wish he didn't have to.

One day - when I'm not busy taking college courses and working multiple jobs - I will take a class on car repair. I'm pretty good with tools, I think I'd be good with cars if I just had the education I need.

Car repair should be a required class in high school.

Learning to Ride A Bike Again

My truck has died and is likely on its way to the great truck heaven in the sky. And I have the arduous task of learning to ride a bike again.

As a child and teen my bicycles were very important to me. I bought quite a few at lawn sales, and kind of mixed-and-matched to pull the best parts off of each and create my ideal bike. In the end I had a red city bike with mountain bike tires and multiple special features, including a water bottle rack, a bag on the back, and some nifty looking reflectors. I loved that bike.

The bike I ride now is purple. That could be better. I'm not a fan of the color. But it's an alright bike, if you ignore the rust. Frankly, I feel like a teenager riding it around town. This is both good and bad. My teenage years were ... interesting. They weren't my happiest years, but they were the beginning of my freedom, and my bike symbolized that for me.

Now my bike is not freedom. It is cumbersome. They say you never forget how to ride a bike. You may not, but you have muscles that do, and after just two days on mine those muscles are screaming at me. I have to stop and walk the bike frequently as I work my way up to long distance riding.

The worst part is I can't work with the blind child I work with. He lives in a different city and until I have a vehicle again I have to stick with the job I do here. I feel that job is one of the best things I've ever done with my working life, and it kills me that I have to stop doing it for awhile. So although I feel like I am doing something good for the environment, I also feel like it is keeping me from something good I do for humanity.

This may be the universe's way of making me pay for driving an SUV for so many years, as if the pump prices and repair costs weren't enough...

Just a Silly Poem I Wrote

Just because I like
To write poetry
Doesn’t mean I have
To wear scarves
And hang out in coffee shops
Drink red wine
And wander art galleries
It doesn’t mean
I have to read books
About Mary Cassatt
And use superfluous diction
In everyday speech
Just because I like
To write poetry
Doesn’t mean I have
To wear silly hats
And shop in dusty
Bookstores
And eat pretentious food
And walk alone in the rain
Daydreaming about Utopia

But you know what?
It sure is fun

The Sounds of My Home

You know how when the power goes out you notice the silence more than anything else? The silence overwhelms the space. The house somehow seems louder without the hum of the refrigerator. My home has some rather unique sounds. Some noises you notice more when you are caught in the tension of a Stephen King novel than you do at other times. As I was sitting on my couch reading Dolores Claiborne I was thinking about those noises that can become so familiar and get lost in the background of our lives. Kind of like people talking about the end of the world, and how it all is just blahblahblah at this point. Background noise.

My computer is nearly always turned on when I am at home. Elizabeth's computer is always turned on. I believe this is the same in nearly every home in America. I rarely sit at my computer for more than ten minutes at a time, unless I am deep in a project, but I return to it frequently throughout the day. The low hum of it is steady, though.

My big fish tank in my living room has its own noises. The bubbling of water of course, but that happens in most of my home due to all of my tanks. One can also frequently hear the tat-tat-tat noise of my fish redecorating. My Oscar fish, who measures about ten inches long, is very particular about his home environment. Behind his big blue castle he digs out all the rocks and spits them off to the side. I smile every time I hear them tapping against the glass of the tank.

My upstairs neighbor vacuums obsessively. Normally noise from neighbors drives me nuts, however I've grown accustomed to her vacuum and most of the time it is just the comforting background noise of my home.

My chinchilla has nightmares. Often. Chinchillas are nocturnal so maybe she has daymares? Whichever. In the middle of the day with her eyes squeezed shut she starts to grunt. If I have company their eyes will often open wide as they try to figure out what that odd noise is coming from my office. I go in and pet her a little on her head, tell her she's safe, and she goes back to sleep, but it's so familiar to me I don't think about it unless I have company.

I know, I'm crazy about my animals. Particularly my fish and my chinchilla. I bet I have readers rolling their eyes thinking "oh gods, she's talking about her damn fish again." I hear you. I can't help it. Some people have kids, some people have politics, some people have obsessions with the Zombie Apocalypse. I have a chinchilla and fish.

And frankly I'm so sick of hearing about the end of the world that I wanted to post something completely off-topic and flippant. How did I do?

Zen masters teach you to sit and just listen. To yourself, to your environment. Spending so much of my time with a child who doesn't have the use of his eyes has made me even more aware of the noises around me. So much of our lives become background noise and sometimes I think it's worth taking a minute to pay attention to it. To just listen to our surroundings and know our world.

Unless, of course, the world is gonna end in two days. Then I wouldn't suggest wasting your time.

I Love Geeks

I was thinking I should update while I have a few minutes this afternoon and I couldn't think of anything to say so I went to mindbump to get a random prompt. The prompt was to write about something others think is silly that makes you happy.
I love geeks.
I love geeky stuff.
When I was two my father, the king of sci-fi geeks, introduced me to Doctor Who. I was very excited this week when this news link was posted on epbot. How cool would it be to find a Dalek in a pond!?

I've noticed a lot of geeks in children's movies recently and I love it. "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" is an adorable movie in which the hero is a science nerd who doesn't understand metaphors. In "How To Train A Dragon" the kid is the same sort of wimpy geek who becomes a hero. I suppose that's why Belle was my favorite Disney princess when I was a child. She was the town geek who walked around with a book in hand and didn't care about boys or makeup.
I also love being aroung geeks. My partner doesn't like to admit she's a geek so I won't expose her geek-traits (even though she has plenty) but I will talk about Manda. Manda is one of my best friends and used to work at the pet store with me. We spent a lot of our time trading random useless facts. She would tell me what she'd learned about the biology of geckos while I told her the latest on the debate of who Jack the Ripper really was. Since she moved to Massachussetts this geeky habit has moved from verbal conversation to text messaging, but we still share and it's one of my favorite things in the world.
The geeks shall inherit the earth.
What silly thing makes you happy?