Heads Up: There Are Hackers Out There...

WOW, did I get a great reminder about keeping yourself safe from Hackers.. I guess you really can't be 100% safe.. I mean if they can hack banks, the Veterans Admin, government stuff they sure won't have problems hacking into our emails or facebook etc. I for one went in and changed a few settings and email addresses and a few passwords.

Thought I would list a few things that you can do to help prevent this from happening to you.

• Never and I mean Never have the same passwords for every site. email, banking sites, paypal, eBay, facebook, etc. I know it's a pain to have different ones, but if you do. You may not lose everything if you're hacked.
• Change the passwords ever so often.
• Don't save the passwords to your computer
• Check your privacy settings on every site. Set them to hide your information. Everyone on fb does not need to know your instant messaging name, your phone #, your email addy, etc. Keep them visible to only you. If you purchase items for game playing on any site DO NOT save that information on the site.
• If you do purchase items online use discretion. Set up a credit card just for online purchases with a very low limit. If you use a service like Paypal make sure you keep an eye on it and keep security as tight as you can.
• Make sure you have a good Anti-virus, Spyware, maleware program. Keep them updated and run them.
• Don't click on every link you see. If you need to watch a youtube video, go to youtube and search for it.
• Check acct. settings and privacy settings often. Many sites like facebook are constantly updating and changing these settings. Make sure you keep them current and private.

A friend of mine was hacked yesterday through his email. I have heard since that Hackers are using disposable Cell phones and hacking emails. He believes someone sent a keylogger to his computer which records the keystrokes of his passwords. They got into his email, deleted files and contacts. Went from there to his facebook and right into his mafia wars. They deleted his friends, took his godfather points, his loot and accessed his paypal acct. and Credit card info. started buying godfather points on his credit card and deleted his fb acct. All while he was watching. All in only 3 minutes and 17 seconds. How scary is that.

Remember Safety First

Have Fun.. But be Safe

This was so great, I just had to share it. Thanks Kathy.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/114993/10_lies_good_mothers_tell?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=fanpage

10 Lies Good Mothers Tell Their Kids

Posted by Jill Smokler

on January 17, 2011 at 8:09 AM

• Comments (75)|
• Likes (15)

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I lie to my children. A lot. I don't think a single day goes by that I don't lie to them. Sometimes, I don't even realize I'm doing it. The lies have become such a part of me, that I forget they aren't true. They are lies that my mother told me and my kids will one day tell their own children. It's like a secret little Mother Club that we're all a part of. The Lying Mother Club and I'm a proud card-carrying member.

Below, I've decoded ten of our lies ...

1. If you keep making that face, it will freeze and stay like that forever! (Not true, but it's a really ugly face and we just don't want to see it.)

2. Your favorite book? The one that you insist on hearing every single night, three times in a sitting? We have NO idea where that book is! (Or, we threw it away because if we heard it one more time we were going to go postal.)

3. Coffee will stunt your growth. (It won't. What it will do is make you a wild animal and drive us to drink.)

4. If you don't wear your coat, you'll get sick. (Rather, you'll complain about being cold and we don't feel like dealing with the whining.)

5. The dryer ate that shirt that you insist on wearing 5 times a week. So sorry! (By ate, we mean we marched it out to the trash because we really don't need people thinking you only own a single top. You have a drawer full of shirts. Wear them.)

6. Too much TV will turn your brain to mush! (OK, your brain won't turn to mush, but you will get the glazed expression that makes us feel like negligent parents.)

7. Don't swallow your gum! It stays in your stomach forever. (We have no idea why we say this, it's just what we heard growing up and it sounds good.)

8. If you eat that candy, your teeth will fall out. (And, really, we don't want to pay for the dental care. Plus, Reese's are our favorite. Back off, kid.)

9. Of course we save every piece of your artwork! You are a genius and you're masterpieces are completely priceless! (And, if you ever find out that 95 percent of them go straight to the recycling bin, we're toast.)

10. If you keep picking your nose, it's going to fall off. (OK, it won't fall off, but it's nasty and will land you at the Weird Kid table and we don't want that.)

All totally acceptable lies, right? I think so.

What lies have you told our kids lately?

One I told mine was... If you keep rolling your eyes like that they are gonna roll right out of your head.

I know they wouldn't really fall out, but good grief the kid rolled her eyes over everything. I just figured it was better to say that then to knock them out.. LOL

You're Kidding Me, I Bought THAT...

It's Winter. We are bored. We thought we would head out to a local auction Sunday afternoon. It's been awhile since I've been to an auction with husband. We are getting "house simple" as my husband says; so off to the auction we went.

Friend Connie called and gave me a head's up. She and Jim had gotten there early to scope things out. She called to warn me about the table full of bayonets, and to clue me in to the fact that the rest of the items were Junk. I trust Connie. She has an eye for junk.

I informed hubby that maybe we should just go on by and meet them at the diner around the corner for some good hot coffee. He poo pooed that idea and to the auction we headed.

We got in the door just as the fun was starting. I love to listen to the call of the auctioneer. It's great to hear a good one. We tend to be a bit competitive at these things. We love to win. (not always a good thing) I headed to the table to get our bidder number and husband headed to the front to look at the bayonets.

I found a seat and then promptly left to scope out the pots, pans, glassware etc. Friend Connie was right. Junk. We have plenty of it. Husband and I have a kind of loose agreement that we will not add more junk. We need to rid ourselves of our own junk before getting someone elses. Unless we need it, or are going to gift it, we agree (snicker) that we will not buy it.

** a quick note here. We literally just pick up used things we think are cute, handy, or a great buy. I look for things for the kids, grandkids, my Soldiers, and my kitchen or craft stuff. Most things we pick up at yard sales and such. We rarely pick up anything at auctions. The prices are usually way to high.

I kept an eye on husband. He was doing great. He didn't bid on one bayonet. Whew, that was good. I could see the gleam starting to form in his eye. He saw a lantern. Glare, that took care of that.

Oh I saw a cute blue pitcher and some glasses, a couple of pans, and rooster door stop. But not a thing I had to have. I returned to my seat.

Husband came and sat for a minute and we discussed what we each had an eye for. deciding the only thing were a few little things that one of our grandkids collected. Husband would bid on it when it came up. Off he went to look at a few more boxes. They had just started selling a few box lots.

Then it happened. I heard that auctioneer say " now you're gonna be bidding on this nice little set of blue glassware". cool. I'm ready. I didn't see it, and they just pointed at the table. I couldn't see it, as I was sitting in the back, but I knew what blue glassware he meant I had seen it earlier. A good auction goer always checks everything out first to make sure it's not broken, cracked, etc.

that pitcher and cups looked good. I was ready..

The first bid the auctioneer asked for was $100. His way of joking. He went down to $50, then $25.. a good bidder never starts high. I was waiting.

by the way, the day of the dollar bids are gone. His low bid was $2.50. So I waited.

Knowing that I could not stand to get down to the $2.50 bid. I raised my card at $10 and figured I'd go $20 but that would be it. I waited. hmm silence. No one was bidding. Wow.. it's a miracle. Even New that set was probably $50. whoo hooo I was going to win. I did win. Then I saw him grab a box, look at me (for my bidder number) and say one of the girls would help me pack it up.

Imagine my shock and dismay when I realized it was not the Cobalt blue pitcher and 4 matching glasses. But a big set of Blue/grey glasses and a bowl and a pitcher. You're Kidding, I bought that. NO, not me, Never.

LOL oh yes, it was me. Lesson re-learned. Know what you are bidding on. You may just be taking it home.

I have come to discover the set of glassware is a Bar Set. The bowl is an ice bucket, the pitcher is a shaker. and there are 8 low ball, 8 highball, and 8 shot glasses that all match. Great if you have a bar, and drink. LOL I do neither.

We purchased an old cooler at the sale, packed the glassware in it and left for home. I am inclined to gift this to a kid, or to a very dear friend who has a bar in her basement. LOL

Husband did pretty well. He only rolled his eyes a few times. Took the bidder card away from me. and Laughed. He also said he may just leave me home next time. I may just stay home. LOL

If you fancy this set, let me know. I may just gift it to you.

OK, I'm Not Giving Up....

As most of you know,

(cause basically all of you are my friends and family)

It is time for my annual

"I'm Going On A Diet And I'm Actually Going to Lose A Bunch Of Weight"

Diet...

I'm not giving up...

Go ahead, snicker... I have a little.

I try to be all serious,

but I have done this every year for almost 40 years.

After a while you realize you need a little more then just wanting to lose weight.

You actually have to do some things.

I know what to do.

I'm not giving up...

I do those things faithfully for a few weeks, sometimes as long a 2 months.

Then March comes along and I figure

"Hey, it's my birthday, I need to just chill on this diet stuff and celebrate with my family and friends".

I'm not giving up...

I'm not saying that my birthday or my friends are the problem,

But Frustration, probably a lack of self worth/self esteem,

and 50 years of stuffing emotions down with food.

Every emotion.. good, bad, fear, joy.. all result in me feeling the overwhelming need to eat.

Food comforts me. It's my friend, It's always there.

It doesn't judge me,

or criticize me.

It is a stronghold of the worst kind.

I'm not giving up...

Other addictions we see as being bad, alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc.

But food, well we all have to eat.

The whole culture we live in revolves around food.

It's where we meet friends,

and Celebrate everything from new brides and babies,

to special times with family and friends.

I'm not giving up...

I have forged a bond with food that is strong.

I'm not living under the illusion that I will someday weigh 120 pounds.

For today I just want to manage it in some way.

I want to take away it's power over me.

I'm not giving up...

I keep getting closer and closer to the place where my weight affects my everyday life.

I have constant pain in my legs and knees now.

My blood pressure is slowly but surely going higher,

so more medication is prescribed.

I'm not giving up...

I am that fat person at most places we go.

Some days it's easy to laugh it off..

some days, not so easy.

Some days, like today it's scary,

and I fear what lies ahead if I don't make some healthy changes to my life.

I'm not giving up...

I am drinking a lot more water now. That is a big plus.

For years I never let a drop of that ole nasty water stuff touch my lips.. LOL

I'm trying more raw veggies.

I try to get more fresh fruit in my diet, and healthier grains, etc.

along with trying to eliminate the sugar. I love sweets.

I'm not giving up...

I am hoping to add some exercise to my days this year.

I'm still giving my knees some down time,

but plan to start moving more and more everyday.

I'm not giving up...

I know there will be days when I will just enjoy life,

and won't think of food at all.

I also know there will be days when stress and situations will overwhelm me.

I'm not giving up...

I know that I can do this..

I'm not giving up...