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Humorous

AM I THE ONLY ONE…who saw through the scam?

Donna Chandler

Get a Job Scammer
By: Donna Hale Chandler

I’m not completely stupid.  I know there are crooks out there in the big bad world, but I had no idea that there were sooooo many!

A few years ago, I moved from my comfy little one-bedroom condo into the home of my sweetheart. We did not make this decision on a whim and had discussed the pros and cons for quite a while. For Dick, the most rewarding ‘pro’ was that he would no longer be forced to make the long 10.9-mile drive to see me. Yes, I’m serious. He truly checked it and it was exactly 10.9 miles from his driveway to mine, and this very nearly was a deal-breaker when we first met.

But that is not the purpose today’s message.  Today I want to let you know that crazy, bad guys are out there walking amongst us. Scammers who spend more time and energy on their latest and greatest scam then most people do at their ordinary job. It’s a sad state of affairs that some of these people are very smart and if they’d only use a portion of that intelligence in a positive way, the world would be a much safer and happier place.

After the move into Dick’s home with a real front and back yard, I investigated the cost of listing my little condo for rent in the local newspaper. The price was amazingly expensive, so I instead listed it, complete with pictures, on Craig’s List. Ahhhh, I can see that some of you are already clicking your tongue and saying, “Silly woman, what was she thinking?” I’ll tell you exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking that Craig’s List costs exactly $0.00 for a 30-day listing and that was exactly what I was willing to spend.

I read all the instructions and warnings, but I was only offering a rental. How could that bring any unsavory characters into my life?

First my email box was immediately filled with offers to list my property here, there and everywhere else. Spam flew my way like bees to honey. I had a few inquiries that seemed legitimate, and I diligently answered each question, offering to make that 10.9-mile drive to show my condominium to anyone interested.

Then came the email that seemed almost frantic in the writer’s need to find a residence. It seems that this young man (or old, oily, deviant for all I know) was working in a foreign country.   He was employed with a major corporation of some sort and even provided me with an impressive-sounding name of the business. He stated that he was thrilled to find my ad because he was being transferred to my area within the next few days and would need a home immediately. He went on to tell a little about himself, that he was a non-smoking executive and very able to pay the amount of rent I was asking.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! This major corporation that employed him would be paying his moving expenses, the security deposit and his first month’s rent. (Now, isn’t that just wonderful?) HOWEVER, the company would be issuing him ONE check for the total amount of the cost of his move. Being the nice guy that he was and wanting to put me at ease that he was trustworthy; he was willing to send me the entire check. I could keep the security amount and first month’s rent and wire the remaining back to him. And please, Mam, keep enough to cover any wire transfer fees. 

My mamma would have been proud of her eldest daughter because I immediately saw through this ruse. Anger consumed me and steam started to creep from my ears. How dare he?!? I’m just an ordinary old lady, trying to get through each day. How dare he try to cheat me?!? The longer I stared at his slimy email the madder I became. I finally hit the Reply Key and sent my response to him: GET A REAL JOB, SCAMMER AMD STOP TRYING TO CHEAT YOUR WAY THROUGH LIFE.

 A few days later, after I’d calmed down a bit; I thought it would probably be wise to alert the local authorities of what had happened. The response from law enforcement, “I believe that Craig’s List warns against scammers.” I’m not quite sure what I expected but that callous response wasn’t quite it.

Moral of the story: Sadly, we have to be on constant alert. Complete trust needs to be earned and should be reserved for only our very best of friends.

Uncategorized

AM I THE ONLY ONE . . .  who met his perfect match?

dickking44

I was a single man for a good many years after my wife’s passing and it’s no secret that I dated a number of wonderful women during that time, but for one reason or another none of those relationships ever came close to turning into evermore. 

Then, one day, all that changed and it seemed we knew it almost immediately.

SWEETIE
©By: R.L.King – From the book Memories & Time ©2017

He met his perfect match; she fits him like a glove
and it didn’t take him long to believe that it was love.

Since they met, she’s yinged his yang, she’s the booga to his loo
She’s been the versa to his visa, in everything they do.

She’s always the ebb to his flow, the refreshment with his ice
and everything they do, she makes it twice as nice.

He’s Desi to her Lucy ,,,, Sonny to her Cher.
no matter when he needs her, always she is there.

She’s the hoot to his holler, or is that the holler to his hoot?
She’d be the one to toot his horn, had he a horn to toot.

She’s the switch that turns him on, the power to his steering,
and when he writes his verses, always she is cheering.

She’s given reason to his life, which, maybe he was lacking,
whatever his endeavor, he relies upon her backing.

He met his perfect match, she fits him like a glove
and it didn’t take him long,,, to believe that it was love.

********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #540

About: Hope

“Small steps can lead to
accomplishing big dreams.”

********

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Patriotic

AM I THE ONLY ONE . . . who’s feeling patriotic today?

dickking44

IT’S NOT MY JOB
©By: R.L.King – From the book Wanderin & Wonderin ©2012

It’s not my job to fight the war, nor did I declare it.
But, the freedom that it brings, well I certainly want to share it.

It’s not my job to train the troops, nor even to recruit them.
But, for the job that they all do, I certainly do salute them.

It’s not my job to arm the soldier, I’m not in uniform.
But I must show my support, as they expertly face the storm.

It’s not my job to fly the planes, nor do I drive the tanks.
But all of those who do, deserve their entire country’s thanks.

It’s not my job to be a warrior. I may not be that brave.
But I have humbly bowed my head at many a warrior’s grave.

It’s not my job to protest while lives are being lost,
nor to mock the freedom, which comes at such great cost.

Ours is the greatest country, we look out for all the rest
and it’s that sense of duty, which makes us the all-time best.

It’s my job to honor my country and in every way I can,
to stand behind her soldiers and fall in line behind the plan.

If I can’t do my job, it might be time for me to leave,
to seek another country in whose constitution I believe.

“When you remove the people’s right to bear arms, you create slaves.”   ~ Author Unknown

********

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check us out at:   

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Kindle versions of most of our books are available at only 99 cents.

Uncategorized

AM I THE ONLY ONE . . . who can get a little flippant now and again?

dickking44

Every so often I write something that makes no sense at all. (To my son, it’s nearly everything I write) When that happens, I usually don’t throw it away, I just store it someplace and hope that one day I’ll be more enthused about making use of it.  Often, by the time I’m finished with it, there is no resemblance between the finished product and the original thoughts that brought about its existence.  

Such was very much the case with the following poem.  I have no idea what inspired me to write it and it’s not about anyone that I know and yet, it could be about any number of the guys I know.  It just sort of popped into my mind. 

MINUTEMAN
©R.L.King2012 – From the book Wanderin & Wonderin

He was a Minuteman; she, his soon-to-be lover.
T’was more than a title, she soon would discover

A minute to kiss her, a minute to converse,
a minute to convince her then, “Don’t ferget yer purse.”

A minute to the car, ten more to her pad,
a minute in the elevator, this begins to git sad.

A minute to her door, a minute to undress,
a minute to finish, more or less.

A minute to apologize, another to re-dress,
a minute to find the door, at least that’s my guess.

“He was a Minuteman, she was his lover.
Twas more than a title, she soon did discover.”

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #236

About: Luck

“When it gits right down to the nitty gritty,
…most-times, skill beats luck.”

********

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check us out at:   

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amazon.com/author/donnachandler

Kindle versions of most of our books are available at only 99 cents.

Family, Humorous

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO …..who has ever developed a headache after dealing with telephone answering recordings.

Donna Chandler

By: Donna Hale Chandler

TO SWITCH OR NOT SWITCH, THAT IS THE QUESTION

Wouldn’t it be nice if, when you have trouble with a particular company, you could pick up the phone, talk to ONE real person who actually has been trained to take care of you and do-it-right-the-first-time?!?

Some years ago, (maybe A few years ago) we made the decision to move from one TV/ telephone/internet provider to another. It didn’t seem to us to be a major undertaking but once on this road, there was no turning back. Unfortunately, it would take a novel to tell the full story of our nightmare so I’ll try to keep it short and sweet; actually, it’s not very sweet.   It went something like this.

Feeling that we were paying too much for TV/phone/internet service from Company C, we called Company D. After listening to their well-rehearsed sales pitch, we agreed to switch our service. This momentous decision that was to save money was made on February 7, 2012.

The first step was to send an Inside Lineman to our home to make sure we were getting a good signal from the existing wiring. As it turns out, we were NOT. That meant an Outside Lineman had to come and see what was wrong with the line coming from the pole to our home.  The line was replaced (on the second trip) and still no signal. Another Outside Lineman had to check the line from the main box to the pole behind our house.

Are you beginning to get the picture? It is now February 24 and we have, as yet, not had service. For those of you considering switching your TV/telephone/internet service to Company D, let me save you some time and tell you who you need to talk with to make the move much smoother than ours.

Call their 800 number. Be sure you have several hours to spend on hold or being transferred from person to person. Allow time for being disconnected and having to start all over again. Be prepared to have your order confused/delayed more than once and be sure to have a spare phone handy because it is unlikely that you will get through this process on one battery. You will need to talk to Rob, Vicki, Matthew, Ben, Paul, Jimmy, Brian, Ronnie, Ryan, Stephen, Jacob, Ian, Mark, Aaron, Troy, Julie, Valerie, Rosa Jena, Juliana, Cherina, Frank, Amos, and if I’ve left anyone out, I sincerely apologize. I was so silly as to believe that this would be easy and started out not bothering to write down employee names.

You know what? On second thought, if you find yourself thinking about making this kind of change, JUST SAY NO, and fix yourself a bowl of ice cream instead.

Note: In order to not sound as if Company D is a complete and total experience in incompetence. I should also list a few things that they do extremely well. Every single employee, whether on the phone, in our back yard or standing in our living room was very well trained in apologizing. The conversation would start with, “I’m so sorry you’re having a problem,” and end with, “I’m so sorry I was unable to help you.” It appears that Company D excels in training their employees to apologize. Perhaps there are even company workshops stressing this action. I may be wrong but perhaps some training in Getting It Right the First Time would be beneficial.

The second action that all employees had down pat is ‘taking your information’. Whether you talk to two or twenty employees, each one must have your complete name, phone number, address, last four of your social security number, your favorite restaurant, mother’s maiden name, how many cups of coffee you had that day and whether or not you had sex the night before. After giving your life history and promising your first born, you must start from the beginning and explain your problem to each and every person you talk with. I’m just an ordinary female with perhaps less than ordinary technical skills but it seems to me, that in this day of amazing technology, information just might be able to be stored and passed from person to person the same as passing along the phone call. Maybe not ……. That would probably be much too simple.

And on that last note, I shall retire and take my newly prescribed blood pressure medication.   Hmmmm, wonder why I suddenly have high blood pressure.

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