Craigslist scams [updated]
I just nearly fell for one of these scams running around Craigslist and eBay. Thankfully, I managed to recall the package in time. Basically, I posted something on Craigslist, was offered more than I was asking along with an additional $100 for shipping the item to Nigeria. Yeah, I know, this should have been my first clue. I received an email stating that I had received payment through PayPal. It looked very authentic.
I urge every one to always check the actual PayPal site before believing any e-mail purporting to be from PayPal. Also, when dealing with Craigslist, always, always deal locally. One more thing I’ve learned, never send any merchandise to Nigeria! After looking through various posts on forums all over the net, there are various scams for regular folks selling stuff online.
If this helps even one person out there from falling for this type of scam, then it was worth my learning it the hard way.
***Update: I was able to get the item back before it left the country. I posted it again on Craigslist and the next day someone tried the same thing again! Suffice to say I didn’t fall for it a second time. Just remember, be careful!
I don’t even know what that is…
or the the search for Borders.
I went down to Oregon this weekend with my girlfriend for some back to school shopping for her oldest. Unlike last year, we had directions and an idea of where we were headed. We skipped downtown Portland altogether and went down to Clackamas Mall. We pretty much finished our shopping there, which was a disappointment and a relief. It was a disappointment because I was hoping to stop at a few bookstores in the downtown area, and a relief because my feet were killing me. Knowing that the chances of running into a Borders was slim from the highway, I decided to ask a store clerk were the nearest one was. See, Breaking Dawn came out on Saturday, and I very much needed to pick up a copy. I wanted to go to Borders because I am a member of their Borders Rewards program, which meant I would 40% off instead of the 30% discount I found at B&N. Well, the first clerk was no help, but at least she was polite.
The next clerk, a young woman perhaps in her late teens, met my question with a blank stare and a belligerent, “I don’t even know what that is.”
I will pause there to let you reflect upon that, all those living in the Continental United States. I have traveled from South Florida all the way to Washington taking a less direct route than most who take I-10 straight across into California and I-5 all the way north. We decided to go through the national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Tetons with a stop in New Mexico. If we stopped in your town, chances are we stopped in your Borders. Therefore, I know most people have a Borders near their closest mall.
Having said that, I was flabbergasted. That one sentence left me speechless. My friend was much quicker on the uptake and elaborated, “um, Borders Books?” A light seemed to go on however briefly, and she pointed us to (again belligerently) the B&N that was in the mall.
It doesn’t end there, though. We stopped at a Target once we crossed the Washington/Oregon border, and again I asked where the nearest Borders was. This time, the cashier said “I don’t know what that is, but I’m new to the area.”
Two people?! I live in Washington where there is a higher than average rate of people with Bachelor’s degrees, so perhaps I expect too much. I’m not sure. I just find it very strange considering I met my husband at a Borders and every significant relationship my husband’s had before me began somehow at a Borders. This store has had an impact on our lives. Is anyone else surprised at this or am I overreacting here?
and don’t get even me started on the Starbucks barista who didn’t know what a phone book was… I’m thinking generational gap here to be the culprit but still
Seattle Symphony
I have never been to an orchestral concert. I have listened to classical music on CDs, and I’ve been to the ballet. I went to a piano concert once and was bored out of my skull. Last night, however, I went to the Seattle Symphony for the Hollywood Romance concert. I was thrilled, to say the least. The music was wonderful. I loved when they played the suite from A West Side Story and Rocky. I was freezing that night unfortunately even though I at least looked lovely. I just had such a great time, I will most definitely go to the symphony again.
Ferry Ride & Deception Pass
Took a ferry ride to Friday Harbor yesterday. The ride was wonderful but Friday Harbor was a bit boring. We did get there late though. Everything was pretty much closed, plus a lot of stores only open in Spring.
Deception Pass was awesome. It was freezing but beautiful and invigorating. Went down to Little North Beach and West Beach. Took some nice pictures, but my DH was not all that impressed with them, oh well. Will have to post some pictures soon.
Downtown
Went Downtown Seattle yesterday with my mom and step dad. It was a typical Seattle day, overcast, windy and chilly, but at least the rain held off until we were headed back to the car. We went down to Pike’s Place Market. It was crowded as usual. My husband and I stopped at one of the food stands and picked up some fried chicken. I think he’s still raving about it. I love that spot. I discovered it when my mom visited me for the first time up here. With five bucks, my mom fed my sister, my niece, herself, and me and it was good. Stopped at the Chocolate Shop to just admire the gourmet chocolate and think about the gelato (too cold to have some unfortunately!).
My husband took some wonderful pictures. I’ll have to post them soon.
Worked out some story elements that were frustrating me about Heart Betrayed last night while I was trying to fall asleep. It explains why I haven’t been able to write much on it. It’s true I have some idea where it’s going, but I had no idea how I was going to get there! I still don’t know exactly, but I’m I a lot closer now.
My Birthday
Charlaine Harris – Southern Vamp Series
Haven’t posted in a while, but here goes. I’m in the middle of reading the third book in Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vamp Series. I don’t like Bill! I’m thoroughly enjoying the books and Sookie (the main chracter) but her vampire boyfriend Bill is so… cold! He’s old fashioned in a not sexy kind of way and poor Sookie seems to be so obsessed with him that she puts up with a lot of his crap! I would so prefer her to be with Sam or even this new guy in the third book, Club Dead, Alcide.
My Birthday
I turned all of seven years old on Friday. I saw Penelope that night with my girlfriends Karen and Michelle. It was actually pretty darn cute! We went out on Saturday to Wallingford, got a haircut, bought some Girl Scout cookies and went to another girlfriend’s wedding. She looked absolutely beautiful, of course! My haircut was an adventure. As I’m sitting on the salon chair, an old guy walked in, blood dried on his face asking for a haircut, how bizarre!
I heard from so many people that day. It was really nice to be remembered. I wondered how many people come across leap year and go hey I wonder how Valerie’s doing?
Then yesterday we went down to Capital Hill for Piecora’s pizza, mmmm. Gooey cheesy and dripping with olive oil.
We walked Capital Hill for a while, just a beautiful day.
Grand Archives, Path of Blood
Grand Archives and Bellevue
Just came back from a free show down in Ballard for Grand Archives at the Sonic Boom. I was definitely enjoying myself. I was bobbing my head happily. They actually harmonized live. From what I could see or was told there are five band members and at least three that I could see from my vantage point behind a pillar were singing and playing guitar. At one point the guy at the keyboard (also playing a guitar at times) was playing what looked like an avocado! Anyway, I definitely dug. When they announced that they had another show tomorrow at the Triple Door, I don’t mind saying I was tempted.
Path of Blood
I finished Path of Blood last night, and I do believe it was the best one to date in the Path series. I felt it was the most coherent of the books. Reisl did not annoy me at all. The only gripe I could possibly have *spolier alert* has to do with Jurhnus’s transformation into a plague-healer. I guess it’s what happens to ahalad-kasaalane (sp?) when they get the plague… It just didn’t make much sense is all. It was an interesting ending, a little convenient but I liked it anyway.
I would definitely recommend to fans of strong female characters in epic fantasy.
Ballard and Sunshine
esterday was one of those rare days in Seattle where the sun is shining and there are high bare visible clouds in a blue, blue sky but its still freezing. The wind and shade did not help much either. It was however a glorious day. The three of us went down to Ballard apartment hunting and just schmoozing. I personally discovered a new artist, although my husband seemed to have it in his iPod already! I thoroughly enjoyed Second Chances by Liam Finn, son of Neil Finn of Crowded House fame.
The true crowning glory of yesterday, though, had to be our first visit to La Isla. A Puerto Rican restaurant, that had so much foot traffic, they were turning people away at the door with a promise of a phone call when a table opened up! I was thrilled. I bit into my lunch of carne guisada (beef stew, sort of), and felt like I was sitting in my mom’s living room tucking into some homemade deliciousness. I had some tembleque too. It has been too long. I felt like exploding when I finally left there. Guy fell in love with the bistec encebollado (onion steak, roughly translated) and the garlic dipping sauce for the tostones (double fried plaintains). I still had that garlic taste in my mouth when I woke this morning, sigh.
Fremont and Ballard
Spent a lovely day yesterday with my husband and his best friend. We ate at Roxie’s down in Fremont and spent some time at Sonic Boom Records. Good times. We hit Ballard after that and discovered there really was a Puerto Rican presence here in the NW. A little restaurant by the name La Isla. I didn’t see much on the menu but what I did see made me happy. I haven’t had Tembleque in like forever! Found a very cute shop called La Tienda. I found some nice things in there, jewelry and scarves and what not that got me all excited.
I am still in the process of editing and re writing The Rising but I’m so intimidated by the whole process. I’ve never been one to do my work over, always been too lazy for that.
I know that this manuscript can really use all the help it can get though, so I’m just gonna trudge along and get it done. I want to publish it!
