Thursday, August 30, 2012

Get a Life!

Since early January, someone has been targeting my online accounts - I got a bit of a reprieve for the past couple of weeks, until this week when attempts have been made to access my Facebook and Dropbox accounts...

Thus far, I've had accounts at places created using my email address - which while irritating, is not terribly difficult to deal with. The person has used the name "Kim" with various last names and created a variety of accounts. I just close the account and move on. But it often involves a bunch of stupidity (why I hate dealing with customer service centers, generally) - just one example of the idiocy I encounter when I try to get rid of the accounts - after already having explained the issue - that someone, who is not me, used my email address to create an account (obviously they did not read the original support ticket where I tell them who I am and what has occurred):

Let me repeat myself again and again and again...please

Now my Twitter account has been compromised (not that I use it much at all, and I did manage to get it back no worse for wear) and there have been repeated attempts to access my Facebook account:

No, Facebook, in fact I did NOT request to have my pw reset...and certainly not twice in the same day!

There have also been attempts to access my Gmail account as well as my PayPal. It's become tiresome... Obviously, someone has so little in their life, they have to resort to this childish behavior. Thankfully, my RL is rich enough that this isn't more than a mild irritation, that really shouldn't even warrant this blog post. But I think it amusing that someone has so much time on their hands. To have irked someone so much to drive them to such behavior, truly amuses...

Funny, it's only happening to accounts where my email address is used, and only my primary email address. Not ones where I have a username or where I have used an alternate email address, which are completely varied. So it's someone who only has my email address to go off of.

In my irritation over having to deal with all of this, I deleted a bunch of the emails and such, not wanting to linger on this idiocy, having saved little more than a couple of the emails as shown above. I wish I had realized that there was going to be a long term pattern or I would have saved more of the items - though to what end, I know not. It does not matter.

Months of this subtle harassment have gone on. And after receiving that anonymous email back in December, I'm really just done - I can't imagine who is at the bottom of all of this, nor do I really want to. I've updated my passwords and just keep shutting down the random accounts.

Speaking of RL - it's amazing. :-) I'm sorry I had forgotten the awesomesauce of a life less virtual. What a  waste of time by comparison. There is part of me that regrets having spent three years on such worthlessness. Spending my valuable time with people who have to invent a virtual life because their real lives are so lacking in meaning and substance. Their achievements are meaningless out of context, have no impact on the real world - all in the name of "fun". And in context, so what? It's fairly meaningless there too.

Fun is to not be chained to a computer, to have actual contact with real people, exchange real ideas and actually do things that make a difference. To have real experiences - to really feel things (both tangible and intangible).

To think, I was counted amongst those ranks is laughable now. Since December the things I have actually done amounted to more than what I had done in those three years.

My recent vexation required some introspection - and what it boiled down to was my real life and the stupidity were at serious odds and I was being dragged back in again. It angered me to the point of losing my temper on a couple of occasions. And then it dawned upon me, I don't want to be sucked back in. My real life is far more interesting and important than the nonsense. And those who wish to keep me engaged in it aren't really worthwhile. What I want for my life is what I am going out and getting. And spending any more time on the idiocy isn't going to get me the things that I want.

Now, regret can only go so far because out of that time, I come away with Snowy, Mai, Lisa, Beau, Kevin, and Ry just to name a few - people who have changed my life for the better, people whom I love without question, without hesitation. People who reciprocate, radiate and reflect that same love back. And, had things not gone the way that they have, I may not be in the current position that I am - which would be truly unfortunate. The Fates have a wicked sense of humor. ;-)

This weekend should be fun, Friday is date night, Saturday I've got errands, shopping, and plans with my Grasshopper (hopefully, I'll get some Snowy/coffee talk this weekend too), Sunday is a BBQ with the family and Monday will be my usual laundry, some work around the condo and probably reading - unless my new someone dangles something shiny in front of me, as he is wont to do. And yes, yes - I will get in some studying too - ugh. Lol.

In closing, my message to my "fan" is this, get a life. A real one. If you don't find it much more rewarding than trying to irritate me, you should also seek some help. You obviously have larger issues that need addressing. And if it's more than one person participating, maybe you can get a group rate. :-)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

SleepyKitty

Long day followed by far too much falafel...

Need a sunspot...

Curl up...

Purring...

Monday, August 27, 2012

Tell me why...

I don't like Mondays!

Yesterday, we walked all afternoon in the rain, poking in little shops, dodging the bigger droplets as best we could. Ducking under awnings when possible, though I wasn't really minding being rained upon - but my shoes got really soaked which was a little icky. Probably not smart to wear my sparkle shoes in the rain. I wasn't thinking....

There was this adorable shop that I must return to and then a shop of puzzles and board games that were totally fascinating. I will be back to do real shopping there - I found a set of adorable coffee/tea mugs and some other random accessories that I wouldn't mind owning, once the condo gets in order.

We stopped for sushi and debated going to the movies, but we ended up on his couch - he hadn't seen The Duchess yet and it's one of my favorites (Yeah, I know stuff doesn't blow up but I do love a good costume drama). I didn't linger long after the film, needing to head home to study and do laundry - both were almost failures - machines were in use, I got distracted by shiny objects and wondering if people explode when they're jettisoned into the vacuum that is outer space. Ok, so not so shiny - but I bagged up some junk that I jettisoned out of the condo this morning and I learned that people do not explode in space but the moisture on your tongue might boil. I played a few logic games but they made me sleepykitty and I started to pass out. Not a total fail of an evening but a touch off course.

Anyway, I should get on with the day and get myself to work!


Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday Bloody Sunday (or the weekends go by too quickly)

Up and out to get my coffee early, it's a beautiful morn. These weekends go by too quickly. I need to paint my nails. They're bubble gum pink with sparkles and I'm thinking they need to be purple and sparkly. And who knew the post office closed at noon on Saturday? Ugh. I don't really have much to say. We're considering sushi and a movie this afternoon. I want to see Total Recall. We watched Notting Hill the other day - not so sure that was my kind of movie - they needed prettier cars and far more explosions and fewer "moments". Oh, and some aliens. And Vin Diesel. Don't get me wrong, romantic comedies have their place and there are a few I have enjoyed...but...there are times I wish I made movies.

Vin playing the part of Hugh Grant. And his roommate being an alien. Or maybe Julia Roberts (yes, I too am surprised I remember their names) is the alien. Oooo, or better yet Julia and the roommate are both aliens from warring planets. And they all drive street racing cars with under carriage neon and nitrous tanks. That fly. And shoot lasers. And there is something that blows up every 5 minutes - and every time Julia and Vin kiss. And Will Smith makes an appearance ala Independence Day AND Hancock AND Men In Black....Now...that's a movie! Hehe.

I looked at under carriage neon and chrome details for Mia (they have this wonderful package that would allow me to chrome her door handles and some of the detailing - it would match her chromed grill *sigh*). And pretty chasing lights - though I'm not sure for what, exactly. It's hard to justify the expense but I can dream....Funny, in discussing this with R, he mistakenly thought that my desire to turn Mia into a pimpmobile had something to do with drawing the attention of others. This error amused me, the pimping of Mia is for my own enjoyment. I could care less what others think or if they even noticed and frankly, I would prefer that they didn't. I like what I like and I like things that are shiny. And sparkly. And light up.

I suppose the story of me and the HIDs warrants retelling as I got an education recently. And next Saturday, I am taking donuts to the guys at the Dodge dealership and ABC for all their help in teaching this noob about her own car....

Recently, my cute neighbor (who admires my Mia - and I must confess, I admire him...especially when he's in jeans and a tshirt, sitting on the steps, smoking and he stops me to chat about cars - he's got these amazing eyes and is quick to smile) pointed out that my headlight was out. So, in my infinite ignorance, I drove to Jiffy Lube to have them replace it. It was a stormy night after work, I'm waiting in the little room, texting and talking on the phone when the man comes in. He says they cannot replace my headlight as they are HIDs. I had no clue what this meant - it was like he was speaking Latin and Greek and French all at once. He went on to say they're very expensive. And he couldn't tell me where to go to find them - he said Google them...

So, I went home that night and Googled HIDs....

I found that they are somewhat pricy but not nearly what I was thinking. I couldn't find a retail location within a reasonable distance so I called a number on a random site and left them a message. The guy calls me back an hour later, yes, he has what I need. However, he needs to get in touch with "his guy" who is on the north side. He says to get the bulbs I need, I will need to go to a residential address. So on my lunch hour, I drive to a random location about 15 minutes from my work. I park, stand outside of the building and call the first guy. He in turn calls "his guy" who comes out a few minutes later with an unmarked white box. I hand over my cash over the fence and leave, feeling like I've just done something dirty.

That evening, I go to my regular Jiffy Lube and ask if they can install them. They are as inept as I would have been, if not more so. After a frustrating 45 minutes, they give up. I get my brake lights replaced as one was out and go home.

Next day, Saturday, I get up, throw my hair in a ponytail and head out just before 9 AM, determined to get the damned things installed. I go to a mechanic nearby, the people there say they can do the work but not until Monday (I have a date that evening so I want them done now as I know I will most likely be driving in the dark). One guy suggests another place not far. So I head there. They say they cannot replace parts that aren't bought at their shop. So I ask if they carry HIDs. The guy shakes his head and I leave with my bulbs and growing irritation.

I drive to another shop - where a group of men are sitting around a table smoking, surrounded by lawn mowers and piles of unrecognizable parts. They were sweet and took a look but they didn't think they could do it that day, the person who knows HIDs wasn't in and getting to the drivers side light was not an easy task, however, if I wanted to come back Monday, they'd give it a try...I thanked them for their time and left.

I finally wound up at a Dodge dealership thinking if anyone knows Mia, they would. They were brilliant - willing to help at all costs. They took my baby into their shop and I headed into the waiting room. Surrounded by pretty Dodges that made me drool. After about 20 minutes, one of the guys comes in and says it's not just my bulb but the ballast. He could sense my disappointment and said he'd hook me up. He gave me an address, told me to go see Tony and tell him Squirrel sent me.

I head down the road and pull a wicked U-turn as I see the storefront is opposite me. I park on the street and walk into, well, heaven - sound systems that make me quiver, neon and chrome that cause me to quake. I walk up to the man behind the counter and ask if he's Tony. His eyes fix upon me and he nods. I tell him Squirrel sent me. He looks at me a bit longer and a peal of laughter escapes him.

I relay the saga of K and the HIDs. He takes pity upon me and assures me that not only can he help me but they can help me right away (by now it's noon). He directs me to the waiting room and offers me his wifi access - noting that I'm buried in my phone when not admiring the goods.

I wander around, daydreaming...purple neon...chrome handles...chasing lights...periodically poking at my phone...Unable to sit for any length of time with all the sparklies around me...

After pacing about for an hour, Tony and the boys have fixed Mia up - they used my bulbs, put in a new ballast and didn't charge me labor for the bulb installation. I think I fell in love that day. I owe serious thanks to Squirrel and the Dodge boys and Tony and his team. Utterly brilliant. I leave that day behind, better for the enlightenment. I now know that if my headlight goes out or if I simply want to dress Mia in chrome from grill to gas tank, simply go see Tony. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Just go see Tony. And mention Squirrel, just for giggles.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Afternoon Delight..

After a pleasant morning, I'm off to finish up my care package for a friend and then to a street fest. I've been slacking on the package - it's been the assembly that I've not been able to manage. My ADD getting the better of me. Plus the daunting trip to the Post Office - aka the 10th Circle of Hell. I always pick up a stray or make a new "friend" - something I do not need....

I'm avoiding last night. Hahahahaha...

The things he said....

The things I thought....

The things done and not done....

Anyway...I need to get going...Much love, my peeps. :-)

Ohhhh, did I mention the joy of seeing awolnation, imagine dragons, dropkick murphys and the gaslight anthem? I think I might explode!!! I cannot wait! Two days of amazingly good music. I'm beside myself with giddy anticipation. 


Pig tails and postulating....

Radio pounding.....focus on lyrics rather than his fingers tangled in my pig tails....windows down, music coursing through my veins....pulsating....headlight vibrating, almost in time...I think of HIDs, and awolnation, and 45 (let somebody else lay at my feet), and hello kitty toast, and the texas sky, and truth....anything, everything...my lips taste of his....I set my hair free...the night wind has its wicked way as I turn up the music...beautiful and complicated he said....don't fool yourself, I said....the argument refused.....debatable at best.....He wants. I want. But of what?...tin panels vibrate in my head....fake pearls drip like candle wax....and I am tangled in the netting...

I digress and run a brush through my hair....

The pieces are all there, making them fit in the right order is the challenge....

Friday, August 24, 2012

Phone, Meet Wall...

This was recently sent to me by my Grasshopper 



Thanks to http://theoatmeal.com/comics/angry_birds for reading my mind....



Thursday, August 23, 2012

In the blink of an eye...


It's August - I swear, just a minute ago it was June. Things have been busy! Life has been busy! I have been busy! And I've neglected posting anything in several weeks.

Well, I will need to do some catching up but not today. However, I wanted to take a minute and post these:


Z Open House August 17, 2012

I went to the most wonderful open house. Snapped a few pics of my faves.