July 2025 – Page 5

Scammers (Archives)

Update: Scammers are everywhere not just on the dating sites. It is a jungle out there in more ways than one. My phone has been ringing non-stop from long distance numbers and they offer anything from lowering my utility bill costs to I’m a winner! There are several who call on a daily basis and I usually don’t pick up when the numbers seem familiar. However, it is frustrating and more than agitating having to deal with these people. Get a JOB and earn money that way. Nope, they want to do it the easy way, that of scamming others out of their hard-earned money. They come on sweet, they have pity-party stories and they know how to get at your heart and to make you part with your money. Beware because it is a jungle out there.

“There are so many scams on the internet now a days. Send me $19.95 and I will tell you how to avoid them.” Unknown

Sounds funny doesn’t it but if truth be told those that have fallen prey to this group know that it is far from it. Heartbreak, sadness, feelings of loss not only of money but emotionally as well are the aftermath of being tangled in a scammer’s web of lies. There are plenty of these wolves in sheep’s clothing on the dating platforms and spotting them takes knowledge, know-how and treading carefully.

The men and women who prey on the weak, vulnerable and the lonely know exactly how to go about setting their nets and if you’re out there looking for true love online, be very careful.

Here’s how to spot these losers. According Aura.com, “Americans have lost over a billion dollars to romance scams in the past year alone,” not to mention world wide. It is a lucrative business for these unscrupulous individuals who don’t give two hoots about your heart, let alone your well-being. It is all about what they can get for nothing.

“The first step towards avoiding scams is to learn how to spot them.” Unknown

They have fake profiles and more often than not the photos are usually of attractive individuals with great smiles. Most of these photos are not their own.

They are quick to call it love even before having met you. Taking it to the next level in a short amount of time is their game plan. “I want to spend my life with you!” or “You are the woman of my dreams,” are the ploys used and for the lonely, it is a definite lure.

They push for personal information and try to move the conversation off the dating site and into somewhere more private so that they can skim personal data or information and use it to their advantage.

Once they have you hooked, the plan goes into action. Suddenly they need financial help and you’re the cash cow. Please send gift cards or cash to help me out of the predicament I am in is their usual battle cry and believe it or not many fall for it.

They will never meet in person and they will come up with numerous excuses for why they can’t. Usually they are on an oil rig faraway with only a cellphone but they can’t make calls but they can write you. So please add me to your social media platforms will be next. This will be followed by this is their last contract and they are retiring after that. Suddenly something goes wrong and they have no access to money so they need your help. It reeks of stupidity but not to people who fall for it. The scam continues as long as they can get something out of you but stops as soon as they realize it’s a dead-end.

How to outsmart a romance scammer? If you belong to the Lonely Hearts Club, remember that these lowlifes are looking for money, your money. Love is the last thing on their minds.

Ask for a current photo.

Request to meet in person.

Ask detailed questions because, “the devil is in the details.”

Request a video chat, this will never happen.

Ask for their phone number and if you do get it, it will be a fake number.

Their motto is:

“Let’s cut to the chase, you give me money and I’ll disappear faster than a magician with a rabbit.” Famstatistics.FM

If all else fails, remember what is too good to be true, usually is! Or you can say,

“I’m sorry, my scam detector is ringing.” Unknown

Whatever you do, know that they are out there in more numbers than you think possible so be cautious, get savvy and stay safe. It’s a jungle out there!

Have an amazing day and don’t fall prey to a scammer!

What Gets Better With Age?

Good question but I have no clear-cut answers for you. One thing I know is that my perceptions of certain things have changed with time. I also know that those things I thought were important at a certain stage in my life are no longer as important as they were.

In my younger days, I used to think that “looks” were important. If he was good-looking, dark and handsome I was all in. Add a gorgeous smile and I was hooked. Later I found out that sometimes looks are deceiving. There isn’t much there when you dive deeper. Sometimes intelligence is sorely lacking and after two dates, there is absolutely nothing to talk about but the mundane and the boring!

I’m older and wiser now. Looks don’t matter as much now. There has to be a minimum but it doesn’t make or break a relationship. What gets better with age? I think it is wisdom. You learn from your mistakes, you try not to repeat them again and you just know more about life and how it works. Not that you can get an handle on it, but you get adept at dealing with what life throws your way and that is a good thing. I also have the wisdom to know when to leave a table especially when nothing good is being served there. This is something new because I used to be like a dog with a bone and now it rolls over like water over a duck’s back! Perhaps it is wisdom or perhaps “aging’ brings on a new persona, one that is not all based on drama! Anyway, there is a difference in how I deal with things and it seems to be in a more mature way.

Daily writing prompt

What do you think gets better with age?

View all responses

Where Are You Going?

Do you know? Do you know where your next destination is? Do you have a plan in mind? Or are you thinking, I’ll take whatever comes my way? Here’s the problem.

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Lewis Carroll

Is that where you want to go? Just anywhere? I think you want better just as I do. Any road is not going to take me to where I want to go. I want better, I want better than what I left behind and I KNOW where I want to go. Having a destination matters and even if it’s not clear as it should be, having a plan, albeit a vague one, helps you to get moving towards your goal.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you going to get there.” Unknown

Good question but often we are caught between the past and the future. We have one foot in yesterday, or maybe for some of us both feet back there, and we’re pretending like we’re moving on when in actuality we are staying put where we are, holding on to the memories and mistakes of yesterday. You can’t move on when you keep looking at that closed door. It’s not going to open and if by chance it does open, it will bring more of the same because it hasn’t changed but it has the power to hold you captive for a long, long time.

“Each season of your life is here to help you write a different part of your story. Stop living inside past chapters.

You’ve learned lessons and you’re better for them. Honor where you are and soak up everything this season has to offer you.” Unknown

Each season has something to offer but you’ve got to keep moving to find out what is waiting for you in the next one. So, where are you headed today? Are headed somewhere nice or are your feet moving forward but you’re eyes are trained back to where you came from? Letting go is not as simple as it seems. You can say, “I let go,” but really doing it is another thing altogether. Been there, done that, and still doing it! Only you can do the act of “letting go” and only you know when the right time is for you. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. They are not walking in your shoes. Take your time but do it. Moving forward and letting go of the past requires that one monumental step, that of closing the chapter behind you.

“Keep going, because the best is yet to come.

Keep going, because you’re stronger than you think you are.

Keep going, because every step forward brings you one step closer to your goals.

Keep going, because you deserve to see what happens when all of your hard work pays off.”

Have an amazing day, breathe and keep moving forward.

Bedtime and Wake Up Times

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Why do you want to know? Just kidding. I go to bed early and some friends say it is way too early because most of them go to bed at around 11 or 11:30 p.m. or much later. I would like to stay up later but when 8 p.m. rolls around my eyes and my yawns tell me it is time to head to bed for a goodnight’s rest. Some days it is easy. My head hits the pillow and I am off to dreamland. Other days, well, Chachi comes into play. The little brat wants to play and when he sees me dozing off, he jumps over my head. He is a precisionist and I don’t know how he does it, but jumping on the bed and missing my face by mere inches is a skill he has mastered. However, it doesn’t calm the nerves and when he has my attention, my full attention, he jumps off and goes on his merry way. Those days, it takes a little while longer for me to fall asleep.

Wake up time is usually 5:30 in the morning. Not because I want to but because Little Macho dictates it that way. This morning it was 5 a.m. and I was ready to wring his neck but instead he got a kiss, a few kisses actually. At this rate, he’ll never learn but who cares. We headed downstairs and it was still dark outside. By 8:30, I had finished everything I needed to do! So I took off to the convenience store in the village to pick up a few things, made small talk with a neighbor and came back feeling like my day was almost over!

Nothing set in stone but that’s the routine most days as far as going to bed and my waking up times. What do I do the rest of the day? I’ve got to keep moving so I find things or places in the house to clean out, go for walks, write and sip on tea. I have a laid-back vibe going and I’m liking it because it is giving “stress” a run for the money AND winning!

Daily writing prompt

What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?

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Rise Up and Stand Tall

“Every morning you have two choices; continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.” Carmelo Anthony

I’ve found that it’s easy to stay where you’re at. It doesn’t take much effort and it is comforting. You can mope, scream at whoever wants to listen and sometimes look for someone to blame for all your woes but what does that bring you? You’re not going anywhere if you stay put. It takes strength to stand back up. It takes courage to fight the battle and it takes the fire within you to keep on going. There were times when I wanted the world to go away and to leave me be. Let me wallow in misery was what I screamed but when all was said and done, I stood back up as I have done many times before. It takes putting one foot in front of the other and to just keep moving. I didn’t know where I was going, I only knew that I couldn’t stay where I was.

“It’s ok if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire.” Unknown

One thing is for sure, standing back up is not for the weak of heart but there is no other choice. You can claw your way back up, grasp at a helping hand to give you the boost you need or you can do it on your own. Whichever way you choose, there is only one way to go. Rise up and stand tall. It’s scary I know and it takes superhuman strength to move even an inch at times and that rabbit hole is inviting. If truth be told, it is not a permanent solution. If you want to feel the light back on your face again, you’ve got to move. You are fully capable of doing it.

“Do not forget who you are and where you come from. You are made of the brightest stars and the widest oceans. You are made of the highest mountains and the tallest trees. You are made of magic and dreams, wishes and light. You have heroes, warriors, kings, queens, gods and goddesses flowing through your veins. You come from infinite possibilities and incredible odds. You are here for a reason.” Nikki Banas

Make that reason count. You, my friend, are invincible. There is magic within you and that wand you hold in your hand, invisible though it may be, it has the power to change your life. Put it to good use and don’t give that rabbit hole a second look, it’s a thing of the past. You are meant for bigger and better things. You are powerful, you are beautiful and you are enough as you are.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight, and with each rise, you’ll find your strength will multiply.” Unknown

Have an amazing and powerful day.

Strategies I Use

Currently there are many strategies I use to increase comfort in my daily life. First thing is not to set the alarm clock. I have nowhere to go and not much to do so life doesn’t revolve around getting up at a certain time and a rigid schedule. I can do as I please and that is a great place to be in.

Candles

I love them and I love burning them. The scented ones with lovely light scents are my favorite and I usually have one or two going. I read an article recently that candles with oils in them may not be a good thing for cats so I use the naturally scented ones. Sometimes, Chachi, the cat, sniffs the air and gives me one of his Macho Pants looks.

“What you got going there mommy?!! The whole place stinks!”

Yes, he is happiest when everything reeks of tuna!

A Cold Bedroom

This is another strategy I love. In the US, I used to have the AC going 24/7 and the bedroom was very cold with lots of blankets to cuddle under. Here, I have to make do with fans but still I love a cool or rather a cold room. I sleep better that way.

Teas

I love them all. Green tea for inflammation, Fennel and Anise tea for the stomach, herbal teas for just about anything and Hibiscus tea for the skin. They also have a calming effect on me although I like coffee too but I stick to two cups a day of the dark brew and the rest of the time, I’m sipping tea.

Cheesecake

Yes, you guessed it. It still has a hold on me. I’m down to a slice every other day but it still has a tight grip on me. I found a new recipe for Keto Blueberry Cheesecake which is supposed to not have any of the bad stuff. Made some muffins yesterday using this recipe and it was delicious without none of the guilt. However, cheesecakes do UP the comfort factor, just a slice with a cup of coffee is heaven and since I don’t have anything else to measure it up to now, it is the next best thing to HEAVEN!

SLEEP

I need my 8 hours a night or else I am a Grumpus and even Chachi keeps his distance. A lot of planning goes into getting that amount of sleep. A nice shower, roomy and comfy pjs, a bedtime tea, meditation, light music……get the picture? I have to calm myself down to sleep well. So far so good.

Those are some of the things I do to increase the comfort factor in my daily life. It works for me and it keeps me where I need to be. Calm, collected, full of energy and purring like a cat!

Chachi disagrees but what does he know!

Daily writing prompt

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

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An Exciting Future

There are two things I am excited about as far as the future goes. One is to see if that elusive guy shows up. The one who is somewhere out there and who has trouble finding his way to me. Or perhaps I have put up too many roadblocks along the way that no matter how hard he tries, there is no getting through. It could be that too. I’m good at building a dam or rather a moat so that no one gets across. However, I’m excited to see if he makes it across. It is going to take effort and a single-minded focus to get to me plus some expertise at getting over those hurdles.

The other thing I am excited about is my book. It is nearing the completion phase. How long will that take? Lord only knows. In the meantime, I’ve completed the second book. It is a sequel to the first one. Chachi, the cat, plays a cute and feisty character and it has been accepted. I’m waiting to see how the first book goes before the next one goes in.

Good things are on the horizon and fingers crossed that things work out the way they’re supposed to. One can only hope for the best and pray that all goes well.

Life, are you listening? Let’s make this happen.

Daily writing prompt

What are you most excited about for the future?

View all responses

Idolizing Reality

Photo by Natasha Fernandez on Pexels.com

“You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” Dita von Teese

What does idolizing reality really mean? It is “the act of putting a person, relationship, or situation on a pedestal, holding it to an unrealistic standard, and often becoming overly attached to it.”

How often have you cried over split milk? More times than you can remember? More appropriately, have you put that person on a pedestal, one they didn’t belong on, weeping a waterfall over the no-good, two-timing you know what. I know I have. I’ve cried a waterfall and more over that cheating ex of mine not because he was the best thing that ever happened to me but because I had single-handedly put him on a pedestal he didn’t deserve. Yes, we idolize reality and how!

“It’s so easy to get wrapped up in idolizing the relationship once it’s ended.

But in reality, the relationship had problems.

It was not meant to last – otherwise it would have.” Unknown

Idolizing reality can be a bad thing and it often is. It can take years to let go of the perception that you can’t do better. Sometimes blaming yourself for what went down but if you step back and look at it carefully, dissect it piece by piece, you’ll find exactly this. The person was sorely lacking in all that you were looking for. It would have been a lot easier if you could have flipped that light switch and moved on but as humans, we have a hard time doing that. Perhaps, idolizing that relationship gives us an out instead of, “How could I have been so gullible?”

“My life dramatically improved when I started seeing people for who they are plus what they’ve shown me, instead of romanticizing about what they could be.” Unknown

Elbert Einstein had this say: “To invent something, all you need is imagination and a big pile of junk.”

He nailed it on the head, didn’t he? We have imagination and for some of us it’s on overdrive and it often takes us places we don’t want to go. It keeps us there because we don’t see it as “junk” but as the next best thing to sliced bread. Therein lies the problem. It’s time to clean house, get your perspectives right and shut the door tightly behind you. Even a minute spent on “idolizing” that kind of reality is too much.

Note to Self:

“Happiness is letting go of what you assume your life is supposed to be like right now, and sincerely appreciating it for everything that it is. So, RELAX. You are enough. You have enough. You do enough. Breathe deep….let go, and just live right now in the moment.” Unknown

While you’re doing that, give all the things you’re holding on to like how great he was, he didn’t mean it, he made a mistake and most importantly, “I can’t find another someone like him,” a boot out the door! You’ll find someone better. Trust and believe that you will AND do the work to get you there. Yes, it takes work but it’s better than “idolizing” that sod as the Brits would say.

Have an amazing day.

Bad Relationships

I would definitely let go of a bad relationship for the sake of harmony. Gone are the days of holding on and hoping that things will change for the better and in so doing letting “harmony” go to pieces.

These days, harmony is my priority. I’ve worked very hard to get to that point where harmony and peace of mind is of the utmost importance. So any guy who walks in carrying his baggage and his only goal is to disrupt that peace is shown the door pretty quickly. There are those who love disrupting who you are, what you stand for and who think that just their presence is enough to keep you running circles around them. It used to be the case before but not anymore. I’ve emerged as a stronger person and in order to do that, I had to fight fire with fire.

I would definitely let go of a bad relationship. The kind that is just one-sided, one that doesn’t contribute to your well-being and the ones you know is not going anywhere but taking you down with them. Letting go is hard but for my peace of mind, I need to let it float out the door.

Harsh? Well, sometimes harshness works better than anything you can say to them. I know what you’re thinking. At this rate, she’s not going to find that special someone. You may be right so it’s a wait and see approach now. I know what I want, if he’s out there that is another question!

Daily writing prompt

What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?

View all responses

LOL!

Husband: “Shall we try a different position tonight?”

Wife: “That’s a good idea. Why don’t you stand by the sink and do the dishes, and I’ll sit on the sofa and watch TV?”

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At school, a boy is told by a classmate that most adults are hiding at least one dark secret, and that this makes it very easy to blackmail them by saying, “I know the whole truth,” even when you don’t know anything.

The boy decides to go home and try it out. As he is greeted by his mother at the front door he says, “I know the whole truth.” His mother quickly hands him $20 and says, “Just don’t tell your father.” Quite pleased, the boy waits for his father to get home from work, and greets him with, “I know the whole truth.” The father promptly hands him $40 and says, “Please don’t say a word to your mother.” Very pleased, the boy is on his way to school the next day when he sees the mailman at his front door. The boy greets him by saying, “I know the whole truth.” The mailman drops the mail, opens his arms and says, “Then come give your father a big hug.”

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

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A wife asked her car enthusiast husband what he wanted for Christmas. He replies, “Something that goes from zero to 220 in three seconds.”

On Christmas, he unwrapped a bathroom scale.

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A wife told her husband, “Go out and get something that makes me look sexy.”

He went out and came back drunk.

How do you think that went?