The check is in the mail!

So, I was flipping through the mail the other day: sorting out bills into one pile, mail I wanted to see, and a small pile of mail about which I had no clue as to the origin. The last pile has been growing because recently I have been spreading a bit of charity money to various organizations, like the Masonic Brotherhood fund, diabetes foundation, local volunteer fire and ambulance, etc.'

We are not talking large amounts of money here, a good analogy would be passing around a tray of cookies at a party, so each got a small treat! But if a LOT of us each gives a little it adds up. My father-in-law Rudy, taught me that.

My religion also teaches me to plant seeds. A sixties folk song says "You gotta plant the seed in the dirt my friend, if you want that thing to grow".

Anyway, the point of this is to be cautious. When you start distributing funds, the birds of prey can smell it.

What has this got to do with my mail?

I opened a plain envelope in my “no clue” pile and assumed it was junk, but wanted to at least verify that before shredding it. Wow, it was a check for $2,980! It caught my attention so I read the letter that accompanied it. Millenium (sic) Grant Inc was congratulating me that my $50,000 grant was approved. All I had to do was call them, verify my file, and deposit the check in my bank account!

As soon as they received the grant processing fee from me, they would deduct a $5,000 from the grant and send me a certified check for $45,000 I could use any I way I want.

On closer look, the letter (and check) was addressed to Tom BROWN (wrong last name, correct home address), issued by SPP Pumps LLP of Norcross GA, and drawn against the Rockbridge Commercial Bank of Atlanta, GA. Also Millenium Grant Inc is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

I was tempted to call them by phone to “verify my file” (probably to provide personal banking information from me, ha!), but it was not toll free. I just wanted to see what they would ask me!

I would like to know who to contact to report this.

SOME poor fool (or innocent trusting individual) is going to cash this check. I am sure the check will “bounce”, but probably reveal very confidential financial information in the process!

This just verifies that spamming and scamming are not new schemes. Be careful.

Happy Veterans Day!

But did you know that it was originally Armistice Day? The declaration of the END of hostilities between Germany and the Allies in World War I was signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in France in 1918.

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill into law declaring Armistice Day would be now be Veteran's Day to honor all who have fallen defending our freedoms.

If you see a veteran today - THANK HIM!

In loving memory of my father who served in the Navy from 1944 (age 18) until 1947.

Pray for peace so we do not have to commemorate more soldiers sacrificing their lives for us. Remember WWI was foolishly (optimistically?) called the "war to end all wars". How sad they were wrong.

Happy Birthday Grandma 11/7/1898

You were only 15 in this picture - you would have been 110 today!

Your Great Great Granddaughter, Leigha Faith will be 13 soon.

I love you and pray you are looking down at your family and smiling. I take comfort in knowing you are with God.

I will always miss you, Grandma. You have made my life a beautiful patchwork quilt!

Tommy

Monday, Monday - Can't Trust That Day!

bb

Whatever you do, Do it now.

Sometimes it seems we spend most of our days planning for tomorrow and regretting wasted yesterdays passed. We are reminded of this when a loved one is ill, or a friend moves away, or someone we admire dies.

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda... Three dirty words.

Do not wait until a loved one is ill, or in the hospital, or unexpectedly snatched away from your life.

Call now.

Write a note.

Stop by and give them a gift, even if all you have is 5 minutes of your time.

Make someone smile.


Live today, every day.

wHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR - START NOW!



The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone. ~Harriet Beecher Stowe, Little Foxes, 1865

Happy Independence Day!

Many say Happy 4th of July, but I prefer Independence Day. On July 4th 1776 the Continental Congress approved the wording of the document that was advising England that the colonies had had enough and were no longer subject to British laws.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

The consent of the governed. Think about that next time you complain about taxes, gas prices, NAFTA, the war in Iraq, "Gitmo", the electoral college, the two party system, and a plethora of other inequities and injustices, real or perceived. They are not foisted on us, they are by the consent of the governed. That would be you and me.

That said, what can the individual do to effect change on this gargantuan political mess? Not a lot on a global scale, but starting with our families, and our friends, and our neighbors, maybe we can make a difference.

Vote.
Help your neighbor.
Become an activist in your town.
Go against the grain.
Write a letter to the editor.

We are FREE to speak out for what is right, and against what is wrong.
We all need to wake up.

Find a way to spread the message that is over 200 years old:

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

What happened?

My last blog was early June and today is JULY!


Time is such a relative thing. Everything is based on your personal point of reference. I got to thinking about that this morning as I tore June off my wall calendar in the office. Does anyone remember June? It seems like there was a blur that started right before Memorial Day and is sliding into July 4th weekend.


I actually heard someone say summer is almost over. HELLO, it started barely a week ago!

I have not been in my pool yet! I am astounded by that. Between problems with the filter and pump, resulting in some really ugly water and the fact that most of the good weather was NOT on weekends, I did not get to swim.

Well, the pool is open for real this time!

I am going to make a conscious effort to slow things down in a busy July. I have to remember to live in the moment. You can have plans and chore lists you want to tackle and projects you are looking forward to, that is good.

But do not forget to enjoy the moment and do not do what I did in June – I looked always to what was next, and I *almost* forgot to enjoy the NOW.

Now is all you have, so pay attention. *-)

Happy Summer!