Grumpy at Hollywood

Why can’t Hollywood use a good classic book and turn it into a movie without butchering the actual story of the novel?

I finally have my husband reading “The Classics.” Well, listening to them as audio books. It works for us. He’s becoming “cultured” and seems to be really enjoying it. He started out reading books that I had read and recommended and then he started branching out on his own. I’m so proud of him. And not only is he reading well written books, but I find we have more to talk about as he tells me the plots and describes characters. It’s been great!

Possible Telephone Scam Warning

Here is a post from Daddy. (A guest writer!! HAHA!) And I will tell you, this really did happen last night. Crazy!!  ~ F.F.S.

I received a telephone call at 8:30 pm, Thursday 5/24/2012.  I picked up the phone and heard a ring.  Then a man with an Indian accent picked up.

Me: “Hello?”
Man: “Hello, Mr. xxxx.  I am calling from Windows Microsoft.  … (Some mention of support or something like that) … We are receiving some serious warning messages from the Windows computer at your house.  Okay?”

I thought, “He said he was calling from ‘Windows Microsoft’.  Microsoft is a company.  Windows is a product.  He got the name of his company wrong…”

Me: (silent)
Man: “Okay?”
Me: “Okay, but I don’t believe you.”
Man: “Okay, I don’t believe you too.  Get Lost!”

Then he hung up.

I do not know what he was going to try to get me to do with my computer, but he was up to no good.  I am a programmer.

• I have never heard of Microsoft Windows sending anything to Microsoft without first prompting me for permission.
• I have never heard of Microsoft gratuitously offering unsolicited support to their users.
• I have some significant doubt that Microsoft would be able to associate my name, my computer, my IP address, and my phone number together.
• I have known lots of people with computers in nasty condition (with viruses and/or configuration problems) but Microsoft never called them.

I searched and found some links:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2011/jun11/06-16MSPhoneScamPR.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx   <– Mentions some cases where Microsoft might actually call you.
http://www.microsoft.com/australia/presspass/post/Microsoft-issues-warning-on-phone-scam

Beware!

Related articles

• Police, Microsoft Warn of New Phone Scam (fox4kc.com)

US Airlines Scam

Watch out, if you get a letter from “US Airlines” (Not US Airways or United Airlines), and you have been awarded free tickets, it is a scam.  Here is the text of the letter I received (in bold):

April 23rd, 2012

<My name>
<My Address>

NOTE: You must respond no later than May 3rd, 2012.

Dear <My name>,

I am pleased to inform you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets.  Congratulations.  These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. from any major international airport.  The retail value of this award is up to $1,298.00.  Certain restrictions apply.

We  have attempted contacting you several times without success.  This is our last attempt.  If we do not hear from you soon, we may need to issue the ticket vouchers to the alternate.

Please call me today at 1-866-294-2889.

Regards,
<signature>
Christine Hay

Vice President

G Q – 5 5 3 3 1

Once again this is bogus.  I searched on the web and found the following links to similar letters that date back over a year with slightly different content:

http://theunemployedmom.com/2011/04/15/us-airlines-scam-for-2-roundtrip-tickets/

http://timmathisen.hubpages.com/hub/Scam-alert-US-Airlines-Roundtrip-Airline-Tickets

100% Man + 100% Daddy = 100% My Husband

I need to take just a moment to boast in my husband. It’s mid-April, which means I am planning RB’s birthday party. In my family, birthdays seem to take on a life of their own. And most of that is because of my wonderful husband. Hang out with me a few moments and allow me to boast in the man I love!!

Take, for instance, RB’s 3rd birthday party. The theme was Curious George:

The Man with the Yellow Hat and RB.

The Man with the Yellow Hat and Sweet Cheeks

Then we had Sweet Cheek’s 2nd birthday party. There was a slight Princess theme:

Then RB turned 4. The theme was Thomas the Train:

Sir Topham Hat greeting friends as they arrived

Me with Sir Topham Hat

This past December, Sweet Cheeks turned 3. She had a Minnie Mouse party:

Mickey with a family friend

Mickey looking tough with another dad

And now it’s mid-April and RB has announced that he would like a Cars birthday party. Hmmmmm….

But this is the whole reason why he does what he does:

Mickey and Sweet Cheeks

I love my man and I am extremely blessed by him! (No matter how crazy he is!!)

Daddy needs to have a talk with someone at Huggies

Somebody at Huggies thought it would be a good idea to put princesses on their pull-ups.  They also thought it would be a good idea to put different pictures on the pull-ups in a single pack.  I disagree.  I think it was not a good idea.  I think that someone from Huggies should have to come to my house and stare down the strong-willed little girl who has taken her last stand!  She is willing to fight to the death to live out her radical fashion ideology.  You cannot reason with a 2-3 year old!  There is no convincing her that she has to wear the remaining diapers that do NOT have Aurora printed on them.  There seems to be no way that she can accept that Belle standing with that princess from that movie I never saw are just as absorbent as Sleeping Beauty.  Huggies, you have done this house a disservice!  I respect your product.  We have had many successes in containment.  But you have offended our serenity by providing a pre-schooler with unwarranted options.  Please relent!  Please do the responsible thing!

Sincerely,
Daddy