New Credit Security Information

September 11, 2013

Good morning.  It's warm here in New England.  Those hot temps from the Mid West have caught up with us, but only for a couple of days.  After that we will be back with the cooler Autumn temps.

I got an email from  a friend that really bothers me, and I forwarded it along to several folks.  It was about a WiFi chip that is being imbedded into our credit and debit cards, drivers licenses, passports, etc.  This chip contains all our personal/credit information.  Supposedly it will make some things easier.  Like paying for things.  Instead of sliding your card through credit card scanner at the store, just place the card near the scanner and it will be read. 

Not only is this the height of laziness, but it also puts all of us at risk.  Anyone with the right equipment (which can be purchased cheaply) can just point their little machine our way, and presto!!!  They have all our info and can make themselves new credit cards with our information on them.  Anytime we show any of our identification cards, the bad guys can easily get the information just by pointing their little machine towards our ID.

We can ask our credit companies NOT to issue us a card with this WiFi chip embedded in it.  Likewise when we get our new licenses, but we have no control over our passports.  This little goodie is on all passports issued since 2006.  Hmmmm, I did not know that.  Did you? 

There is a web site you can go to for ideas and products to keep your information private, and your cards safe.  Meanwhile, you can cover them with aluminum foil.  So. please do check out IDStronghold.com.  Also, here is a video you can watch to learn more about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLAFhTjsQHw&feature=player_embedded

I will call my credit card company later to find out if they will be putting this little chip in my new card, and whether or not I have the choice of not having it on my card.  I also want to the check to credibility of this for myself.

How about something not quite so serious.  I have some adorable photos of one the ducks at the park who was enjoying a bit of bathing, preening and wing flapping.    When they spread their wings out like this, they are quite beautiful, don't you think?

Now I am off to maybe do a bit of vacuuming, and figure out what's for supper tonight.  Janet will be here, as this is our "gals' gab fest and eat whatever we want" night.  Our choices for supper are quite yummy.  DiGiourno Pizza, Stouffers Mac n Cheese, Home made pasta and meat sauce, etc.  Only the best for Wednesday night.  lol.

I'm making myself hungry now so I think I'll make a bit of lunch before doing my little dance with the vacuum cleaner.  So, till  tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Meeting New Friends Is So Exciting

September 10, 2013

Good morning.  Yesterday was a great day to be outside, and it looks like today will be another gorgeous day.  We're getting a splash of summer weather before it cools down again. 

Yesterday morning when I got home from work, my little Pogo was dancing all around my feet, so happy to see me.  I have to say that one of the nicest parts of having to work is the homecoming.  If you have a fur baby then you know what I mean.

Well, yesterday was a real treat for me.  I finally got to meet The Queen Jester and her hubby Left Brain.  (from Life in a Canned Ham)  Gosh, they are just the nicest folks.  We ate our picnic lunch and chatted away like old friends.  Even Pogo was having a good time. 

After lunch, Left Brain enjoyed some nap time while The Queen and Pogo and I walked about taking photos.  The ducks and gulls were very playful, making it easy for us to get some nice photos.  Here are a couple of shots showing pigeons and a gull in flight.

Before leaving the park, Left Brain took photos of The Queen and Pogo and I.  Sorry for the dark glasses.  I'm not really trying to be incognito.  I totally forgot that the sun turns the lenses very dark, making me look like I have two black eyes.  lol.  As you can see, even Pogo was happy to be making new friends.

After saying our goodbyes, I got a nice shot of Left Brain getting ready to drive them home.  Travel safely folks.

I enjoyed myself tremendously.  It is so exciting to get to meet the wonderful friends you have made through blogging.  It's even better when they are such really nice folks.  Yessiree, it was a fabulous day!

By mid afternoon, I was beginning to wilt and probably looking quite zombee-ish after being up for a couple of days.  Once Pogo and I got home, I made some supper for him and finished eating my sandwich from lunchtime.  Then I curled up in my fuzzy blankets in my lounge chair to watch a bit of TV.  A few minutes later I was off to dreamland.  Except for getting up a couple of times to check on Pogo, I slept through till this morning. 

Today I have a lot of new photos to sort through.  I must do the dishes too.  Last night I was tired, and just left them for today.  Now it's time for me to get busy here.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Some Kids Are Just Awesome!

September 9, 2013

Good morning.  It is quite dark outside at the moment.  Of course, it's only 3:55 a.m., and I'm sitting here at work instead of snoozing away in my little bed.  I was hoping to catch a few winks tonight at work, but it was not to be. 

Later today, Pogo and I are going to have a little picnic in the park, and meet some new friends.  Cheryl (Queen Jester of Canned Ham) and her hubby have stopped here in Massachusetts for a while on their travels South.  Pogo and I are so excited to finally get to meet her in person. 

For Cheryl and anyone else who has wondered or asked, I almost always use my Tamron 18-270 mm lens for all my photos.  Even my macro shots.  It's not a heavy lens, and I don't have to keep changing the lens for different types of photos.  At my delicate age, that is a very important factor for choosing a lens.

I have the munchies, so I have just made myself a big bowl of instant cinnamon and apples oatmeal.  Mmmmmm.  I carry all sorts of stuff in my work bag for just about any situation.  Like hunger!!  I used to have a backpack with wheels and a handle for my workbag, and I think I just might go back to using one again.  Everything feels heavy to me now, and carrying this work bag is getting to be cumbersome.  (Now there's a great $20 word.)

Once again, it is Mandarin Orange Monday, and I have a photo of a gorgeous peachy orange rose from my garden.  I have added a new background with layers, textures and a gradient to enhance my rose.  The rain texture is from Bonnie at PDPA.

I also have a photo that I took of the sky yesterday morning before I left work to go home.  It was the prettiest blue with fat, soft white puffy clouds. 

Now is a good time to start looking around for the beginnings of our Fall color show.  The leaves on some of the trees are beginning to change colors, reminding us that it will soon be Autumn.  Here's the top of a tree just across the street from the Mrs' house.  You can see that some of the leaves have already turned colors.

Last night I watched one of the new cooking challenge shows on the Food Channel.  This one is called "Kids Cookoff", and the contestants are children.  Wow, the food these kids cooked up is just amazing.  If you did not watch them prepare and cook the food, you would never guess that a child did it.  I am so impressed.  Hmmmm, I wonder if they might do a fashion design program with children as contestants.  Hmmmmm?

The other new food challenge program that I have been watching is called "Cut Throat Kitchen".  The creativity needed to participate in these challenges is simply awesome.  This program is also on the Food Channel.

My friend Nani at The Chronicles of Nani has been dealing with some new challenges of her own with MS and has not been able to post on her blog for a while.  Folks, do stop by her blog to wish her well and let her know that she is missed.  Nani, if you're reading this, Pogo and I send you big big hugs and lots of licks to help you mend quickly.  We sure do miss your beautiful smile.

Well, that's all my news for this morning.  Now I think I'll try to catch up on some of my emails and do a bit of blog reading while the Mrs is sleeping.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Want A Veggie Cupcake?

September 8, 2013

It's a bit cloudy this morning, but it's early yet.  Only 6:30 a.m.  I'm still at work and the Mrs is asleep so I've been spending some time playing on my laptop.  This morning I have to stay a bit later because I got a late start last night.  The babysitter was a half hour late, so I'm making my time up this morning. 

The Mrs was in a good mood last night.  Oh joy, oh joy!  She even went to bed a little early, so I got to watch a couple of the cooking challenge programs on TV.  Ever watch Cupcake Wars?  Wow, some of the ingredients that go into the cupcakes is amazing.  Not just fruits, but veggies and meats too.   

Would you like an eggplant cupcake?  Or maybe one made with squash or sausages?   I'm not very brave, so I'll stick to the plain old cake and frosting kind.  However, I do love watching the creativity involved in these challenges.

Today I have a couple of dragonfly photos to share.  In the first photo, the wings are up.  Just a different wing view.  In the second, I'm shooting the dragonfly from the back.  I thought this one was quite interesting.

 

This next photo is one of the small plants in the little garden by my door.   I looked it up on Google, but I don't know if it is flea bane or chamomile.  If you know, do let me know.

 

 

There really isn't much news for this morning, so I think I'll try catching up on a bit of my email until it is time to leave for home.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fabulous day.

 

Hugs, Edna B.

It's No Fun Being In The Dog House!

September 7, 2013

It's a gorgeous day here in New England.  Last night was a two blanket night.  Well, for me at least.  For some reason, I was chilled to the bone.  But the cooler night temperature made for a great sleeping night for me.  This morning I stayed under the blankets as long as possible before getting up to start this new day.

Yesterday, Pogo spent the day at daughter Deanne's house.  He got to play out in the yard all day with Sassy and a new doggie friend, Amy.  Needless to say, when I arrived to pick him up to go home, he was not very happy with me. 

When I picked him up to leave, he kicked and squirmed and whined because he did not want to leave.  In the car on the way home, he barked and yapped at me, and then gave me the silent treatment.  Well now, what a surprise all this was for me.  I may have to think about getting another little doggie so that Pogo has a playmate.  Hmmmm.  Well, Pogo, what do you think of this idea?

I do have a couple of new photos from yesterday.  The Mrs' backyard was chock full of bees of all shapes and sizes.  I guess they know that the seasons will soon be changing and they want to get all the food they can now.  My favorite shot is the one with the golden rod.  The colors are wonderful.

Well, that's all the news for today.  Tonight is a work night and I need to wash the dishes and maybe run the vacuum a bit.  So till tomorrow, Y'all have a fabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

An Ambitious Bucket List

September 6, 2013

The sun is shining brightly, and the temperature is a bit on the cool side yet.  Maybe in a few hours it will be a bit warmer.  I'm at work and the Mrs just got up for her breakfast.  I think it's going to be a long day because she is so full of crabby this morning. 

I found an interesting article in the newspaper a couple of days ago that I want to share.  It seems that Ms Anderson from New Hampshire has just checked off another item on her bucket list.  She completed a safety class, and last Sunday she drove a race car eight laps around the New Hampshire Motor Speedway race track.  Woo Hoo!  Ms Anderson just turned 88 years young this week.

Driving the race car was one of the last items on her extensive "to do" list which included trips to 45 states and more than 20 countries.  She has also been rafting in Canada, flown in a twin-engine plane over Alaskan glaciers, kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland and hiked in Israel.  My hat's off to you Ma'am. 

I want to share a couple of photos with you before I have to get back to work here.   This first photo is a gorgeous butterfly enjoying my butterfly bush.  The second photo is one of my roses that just blossomed yesterday.

Now I must get busy here.  "Ms. Crabapples" is almost finished with her breakfast and will be wanting to be bathed and dressed.  So till tomorrow, Y'all have a fabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Some Great TV Programming Coming For Fall

September 5, 2013

My goodness, it's almost 8 a.m., and I feel like I've been up for hours.  Well, actually I have.  After tossing and turning for about an hour, I got up around 4 a.m. and decided to make scrambled eggs with green peppers and diced potatoes.   Oh yummy!

I also went through my previous blog posts to eliminate download links in order to get the posts ready to be printed into a blog book.  January through April is now ready to be uploaded and printed.  Over the next few days, I'll be getting May through August ready for printing. 

This morning, Lifetime Channel is re-running Project Runway from a previous year.  Am I enjoying watching this again?  Oh my, yes!!   To see my wardrobe and every day attire, you would never guess how I love watching designers creating new fashions.  It is just sooooo fascinating!

I watched one of the new Fall TV programs the other night.  I think it  was called "Cold Justice".  It's all about solving cold murder cases.  It was interesting to watch the two main characters try to find missing clues to solve an old murder.  This program is written totally different from "Cold Case" which I also enjoy watching. 

Another new program that I am looking forward to is a children's cooking challenge program.  Bravo and the Food Channel also have some really interesting food challenge programs in the this Fall's lineup.  So I guess I have some really enjoyable TV watching to look forward to in the coming months.

Today, I have some more dragonfly photos to share.  I took these a few days ago at work.  Below each photo, I've posted a close up so that you can see how handsome this critter is.  Although I must say that in the last photo he really does not look too happy with me.

 

Now I want to do a bit of blog reading and catch up on some of my emails.  I got a gorgeous new layout in my email this morning from Kyra, and I'm going to wait to post it until the kit she used to design it is available.  Something nice for you to look forward to.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a really wonderful day. 

Hugs, Edna B.