Tuesday, May 31, 2011

vacation scam

You know what makes me angry?

When companies call little old ladies and talk them into things they don't understand.

That makes me angry.

As most of you know, Gary's mom is 74 years old.  She'll be 75 in September.  She lives in an assisted living here in the D/FW area.   In our opinion she lives in a fun place.  It is nice, she has scheduled activities and games, she gets 3 hot meals a day and she has help with her medications.  She uses a walker to walk, so she also has help making her bed and keeping her room clean.   She can get manicures and pedicures and get her hair done right there at her home.  We feel so lucky she is there because it is really hard to find a nice place to live on her very limited income. 

Gary and I basically have a 3rd child.  She has other children, but Gary is always the kid she calls.  We get overwhelmed with it all.  My parents are going through the same thing with my grandparents. But my parents are my parents and they don't have young kids at home.  So yes, I am having a pity party. Sorry.  But it is hard sometimes.  I feel like most people are older when they take care of their parents.  I know God has a plan and this is happening for a reason.  So, we are learning as we go.  I can tell you more about assisted living paperwork and social security than any other 34 year old...haha!

Gary's mom {Memaw} received a phone call on her mobile phone yesterday, yes I did say mobile phone.  The caller talked her into a vacation.  She said she couldn't go on vacation, she walks with a walker.  So then they proceeded to say that her kids should take the vacation.  It was only $300.   I believe she was so confused she didn't know what to do.  How can a vacation to Florida only cost $300??  Ugghh! They pushed all this on her and now she is basically stuck with a charge of  $300.00 to her checking account.   Yes, I do understand this is our fault to because she shouldn't have her debit card, but it is so hard to take a debit card from someone.  It takes their independence.  But we will take the card now. 

Gary spent a few hours this afternoon calling and calling and calling.  It feels terrible to get the run around.  He got so mad and worked up.  He left a million messages.  One phone call led to another, one website led to another and slowly Gary began to realize this wasn't a vacation at all.  IT was a huge scam.  When you show up to vacation they sadly just wouldn't be able to find your reservation number.  How horrible are these people??  The company wouldn't talk to Gary or I because we aren't her...due to privacy.  It is such a dang mess and a total waste of time because people are being hateful.  Taking money from old people is WRONG.  Through researching online Gary found the parent company of this scam company.  He read ALL the million complaints form other folks being scammed.  It is bad y'all.

I'm glad it wasn't more than $300. Although $300 is a lot of money for someone her age especially when all her monthly income goes to her living expenses.

After a long afternoon {while he was working and between conference calls for work} he finally got someone on the line to help him.  After basically pulling teeth he got the gentleman to agree to refund her money.  He gave Gary a confirmation number, but we aren't holding our breath just yet.  I really hope she gets her money back.  We are also working with her bank, so one way or another we will get this resolved.

I tweeted about this yucky mess.  I got so much support from twitter!  Thanks y'all!  I love my twitter people.  Lots of friends said we should call an attorney and/or contact the news to have the company thrown under the bus.  We have so many options.  But first we will wait to see what happens.  


So if you get a call from this number OR if you want to see the complaints we saw...google this number.  866.280.3120.  This number will take you to a company that is under the parent company.  They make it impossible to get your money back. Grrr.

So how was your Tuesday afternoon?



Monday, May 30, 2011

Muted Monday


{splashing}


{lounging}



{flexing}

Sunday, May 29, 2011

single sentence Sunday

Shirts


are


over-rated


in 


summertime!

Friday, May 27, 2011

summer's a comin'




Gary and Bogey fired up the grill yesterday.





We had chicken, beef fillets, and grilled potatoes & onions.





The kids played in the water sprinkler.  Layla was jumping for joy!
Just a few more days of school...I'd be jumping for joy too.





Hayden wasn't really into the sprinkler.






We decided to try out the slip n slide.  Look at Harley in the background...haha!  
She is just chillin' watching the madness.






Hayden liked the slip n slide better.  Bogey wanted to participate too.





This is one of my favorite pictures.





If I did this I'd break my knees.  Oh to be a kid again!






Fun times!  

I'm thinking we will make tons of awesome memories this summer.  Layla asked her daddy to teach her to "baseball slide" on the slip n slide. {like they do in Sandlot} Haha!  If this lesson happens I will take pictures for SURE!  

Thursday, May 26, 2011

randomness on Thursday

This blog is now a .com.  All you have to do if you don't have us bookmarked is enter in www.justshyofay.com  I love it!


I write exactly how I speak.  If you have heard me speak you know this.


A fly swatter is called a fly spanker.  Hayden said so.


If I say I'm going to do something I do it.  Since having kids I do find that I sometimes forget stuff, but I find time to do what I say I'll do.


I don't know why Thursday's are my random thought days.  But lately they have been.


Next Friday at noon I will have a 1st grader.  AND I will be 35 years old.


We have a 'measure wall' in our guest bathroom.  It's fun to see how much the kids have grown.




Gary went to the store to get me Skinny Girl margaritas yesterday and they were out.  
Wha?  How do they run out?


I am a germophobe and I wan't this way before I had kids.  Seeing my kids sick makes me want to anti-germ everything.  Sometimes the thought of my kids going to a bounce house party makes me cringe.  But then I come to my senses.  Those parties are the bomb.  Kids LOVE bouncing around like wild banshees. But if you think about it too long....it is nasty.




When I retire I want to own my own bed and breakfast.  This has always been a dream of mine.  I can totally see myself doing this!


I hope I am able to help Layla learn to read more and more over the summer.  She is reading at a level 14.  In our school to enter first grade you must read at a level 6.  I think she is doing so well!  Gary and I are so proud of her.  I don't remember learning to read in kindergarten.  I think I mostly colored in kindergarten back in the day.  Times have really changed.  


Hayden has been talking so MUCH!  He makes us laugh every single day.  He is so funny and his imagination runs wild all the time.  His favorite thing to do lately is give us a thumbs up. 


Have a great Thursday afternoon!


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

tornado watch

Last night we had terrible storms and a tornado touched down about 7 miles from our house.
I took these pictures after we thought we were in the clear.



I can't remember a time I have ever been so terrified.  We were all huddled in the bathtub.  Gary who thinks he is a storm chaser watched the whole time.  He was only in the bathroom for all of 2.5 seconds.  He was giving me a nervous breakdown.  He even took a video of a rotating storm cell.





In all my life I have never seen a tornado in person. But I did last night. I am so thankful we are safe! I also saw the largest hail I have ever seen. A few pieces were the size of baseballs.




Spring storms make me so nervous.  I hope y'all are all staying safe.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

I have the Betty Crocker iPhone cookbook app.  I love it because if I am in the store I can look up ingredients for recipes on my phone!  While browsing the app I found this recipe.


They are so delicious and crispy!  I can't stay away from the cookie jar.


I love using my melon baller to put cookies on the cookie sheet.
It helps me to keep the cookies the same size. 
I also use my melon baller as an ice cream scoop.  So many uses :)


See the perfect little balls of oatmeal chocolate chip goodness. MMmmmmm!


Here is how I made the cookies:

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1 cup chopped slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix butter and brown sugar.  Stir in vanilla and egg.  Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix very well.  Add chocolate chips and stir, and finally add optional almonds.

Drop rounded teaspoon fulls of the mix onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 12 minutes or until brown.  Cool on a wire rack.

Lock 'em up b/c they are delish!  haha!


Monday, May 23, 2011

currently

My friend Jenn posted this "currently" post last week and I fell in LOVE with it.
Thanks for letting me join in!


Current books

I wish I were reading a book right now.  I love to read. 
I do have a stack of magazines I really need to read.  Do they count?   I stopped all mag subscriptions because I don't have time to read them. Pathetic...I know.




Current Playlist


The playlist on my iPod...it called Mom's list
It includes:


Johnny Cooper ~ Let It All Go


Black Eyed Peas ~ Just Can't Get Enough


Ke$ha ~ Blow


Stoney La Rue ~ Oklahoma Breakdown


and too many more to name.  I love my music y'all!


Current color




Mulberry Mist


It looks gold...doesn't it?



Current drink


I am currently addicted to iced tea. I can't get enough.






Current food


watermelon


It is so refreshing this time of year.  
I have eaten almost 2 watermelons already this season.  
Pretty much by myself.  & I am planning to try it with cottage cheese.  I heard it is a real treat!




Current favorite show


Friday Night Lights




Current wishlist


I want a fun colorful camera strap. But I don't want it super fru-fru.  Sounds weird right?!?


I want a new video camera.  My kids are funny and I want to capture those moments.  I have been using my old one, but it doesn't take good videos.










Current needs


I need the nasty fever that the kids have passed to one another to go away.  I need it to leave our house because I don't want to be sick.  It is the strangest thing though...they feel great.  The kids both had fever a week apart, but no other symptoms really.  Just a bit of a sore throat.  Whatever it is I just want it gone!




Current triumphs








I am giving Hayden all the glory when it comes to triumphs.  He is going to the bathroom in the potty all the time now.  He only wears a diaper at night!  Whoo to the hooo!!





Current bane of my existence






Bogey is only 8 months old, but I need him to stop being so super duper wild.  He gets so happy when we get home.  He is getting big and scratches us when he jumps.  Hopefully he will calm down before he scars me up...haha!  Poor guy, I feel like I am always yelling at him.  I do love him so much though...he is a sweet pup!





Current celeb crush






Tim Riggins


I love me some Taylor Kitsch.  This fine man stars in my favorite show from above.  
Friday Night Lights is the best show ever and if you don't watch it you totally need to start!




Current #1 blessing

I am so happy that I get to be a stay at home mom.  In today's wild economy I am super blessed to stay home.  I will never take it for granted.






Current indulgence




These gosh darn cookies are so delicious!  Why did I make these?  I did put an electric shocker on the cookie jar.  It only shocks me...they kids are safe.  I don't need to be eating them. But they are so good.






Current outfit


Black work-out shorts and a tank top




Current excitement


School is almost out AND my birthday is coming up and I want to go camping with Gary and the kiddos!!!!  
I am so excited about turning 35...Honestly I just like to have a fun reason to celebrate :)



Current mood


Happy &  Thankful

Sunday, May 22, 2011

single sentence Sunday









Layla woke up with fever so we skipped church and had a lazy but fun day here at home in our pj's.
{longest run on sentence ever...haha!}