Identity Theft: Who's in the club?

Identity theft, everyone watches the news and hears about how to protect themselves from it and the latest bust they had. Has it ever happened to you? It happened to me! When I was still living together with my husband I got a call from a creditor. 

Someone used my information to get Direct TV for 6 months.. How they got a hold of my information is beyond me. The funny thing is that I had all the information I needed to get the low life that did this. I had the address and the time period that used the service and the cops couldn't. I give a big W, for a big whatever!

What inspired this post? If you guess a LifeTime Movie, you are correct! lol. I'm watching Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story. Great movie, it stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Jason London, and its based on a true story of course!

During my episode of identity theft, although not as crazy as Michelle's, still hurt me. The stress of dealing with the police department, changing your credit information, and red flagging your credit is just something no one should deal with. I hope that person that wanted Direct TV so bad, as to steal someones identity and information, got caught for something else and is suffering in jail.

Drowning in my own unorganized life!

Have you ever heard the term, self sabotage? Well, I'm living it. My world is complete chaos, every thing about me is a mess. My car, my degree, work, Pickle, my family, everything but me and R seems to be a mess, and even him and I aren't that perfect. My ex co-worker, who I will call A, went to Steak N Shake with me on a lunch break and saw my car. She said my car is messy because my life is messy, or chaotic! This makes total sense. It all trickles down, here's an example. Car is messy because life is messy, search car for something needed, can't find? Then attitude blows, stress rises, you feel bad for having messy car, and end up with a guilt trip and minutes wasted. See?

That is me, and I sometimes feel like I look like Amy Winehouse...ehhh.

I guess it could be worse, I could BE Amy Winehouse.

How do I get from this...

To this...

Without all this?

I really don't want to overdose on caffein to get my life straightened out. I need to figure out my main stress point, the real reason why my life is chaotic, and set a realistic plan to fix it.

Here are the things that I want in life, maybe this is a start.

Career: I have a 10 year plan. I want to be a physicians assistant within the next 10 years. I want it more in 5 years but realistically, it'll take more time. I want to become an lpn within the next two years so I can have a job that will allow me time wise and money wise to live, save, and go to school part time to become a PA.

Closer job: Yes I drive about 100 miles a day for work, it sucks. This would actually help alot of different things in my life. I would spend less time in my car, which means less chances of a car crash, I will get home sooner, and I have less time to make a mess in car. lol. School this semester was difficult especially because 5 days a week there was an extra 2 1/2 hours added on to work because of the comute. That could be studying time which would help in the career and college category.

Another thing this would benefit is money. I am spending so much money on gas and the upkeep of my car that it is really hurting my wallet. That means less money for savings, fun, and massages.

Well this is it for now, I wish everyone a wonderful Sunday and look forward to seeing how everyone did on their Set it Sunday goal, and the new goals that you guys set this week!!!

Where in the World Wednesdays on Thursday!

Today, the only place I would like to be is at the beach with my daughter. We have never been to the beach, just the two of us, and with my work schedual being so loopy  I haven't been able to be around Pickle on her spring break. Of course I feel guilty because she starts crying and then I feel guilty. Ugh! But anyway, the beach...Pickle...

What a Girl Wants!

Ever watched "What a Girl Wants" with Amanda Bynes? I have alot! I'm a sucker for those funny movies especially if they include traveling oversees in the search for something. I'm actually watching it right now and the beginning of the movie made me realize something. I realized how I wish I could do what she is doing. No, not looking for her long lost dad in London, but just being on the search for something. Then I realized I did do that. Right before my 18th birthday I convinced my dad that I belonged in Germany for a while. After torturing him for a while with crying, bugging, and manipulation, I was able to buy the ticket.

Me and my cousin at our favorite spot

Isi waiting in Wolfratshausen after a day of shopping for the bus

I left 4 days before my birthday and landed there the day before my passport expired, it was perfect! Ever since I was little I've always wanted to live in Germany again. The food, the air, the scenery, EVERYTHING, just seemed better. Of course there was always a boy, everytime I left Germany I would wish that he would get up at the crack of dawn to give me a romantic kiss and see me off. Never happened, but he did say he loved me when I was 15.

The view from our balcony (Oma lives in a townhouse)

The view out of the front upstairs window

I was there for 6 months, fell in love, picked up a nasty habit of smoking cigarettes, and had my heart broken. My search involved everything. I wanted to fall in love, find a job, and live happily ever after in the land of the knodel. I'll never forget the first time I had ever ridden the train to Munich by myself. It was October, freezing cold. I listened to the entire Linkin Park CD on the train ride before I got out at the Marienplatz station. I bought CD's I wanted to take with me back to the states, since I was leaving in a few days, and wanted something nice to bring back. I discovered H&M that summer. I was obsessed with their bras and panties. I actually ended up with a follower that day. I noticed this turkish looking guy following me around, saw him staring at me, and stopping whenever I stopped. It was like a freaking movie! Finally I ditched him, and realized even in Germany people can go missing. But that day was so close to perfection. I will never ever forget it.

Right now I am in a dry spell in the adventure dept. I know I will have a search of some kind if not anytime soon, then down the road. I tell myself that this is just where I am at right now, and not forever. I worry about getting into nursing school asap, but maybe down the road I'll be a sculptor, or novelist. I look forward to having an adventure again somewhere in a distant place. :-) It can be St. Pete, FL, Arizona, or Moscow. Life is a crazy thing.

The street in front of my Oma's door

Isi, me, and a friend after he got his tongue pierced in Munich

Where in the World Wednesdays!

Thanks to Classy In Philadelphia for this great idea for Wednesdays, if you want to join in just press the link to go to her page and follow the instructions to follow along.

So here is my Where in the World Wednesday.....IN.....Germany! I'm in love with Germany and have been for all my life. My parents we're stationed in Germany shortly after I was born and I was able to live their for about 7 years. My parents met there years before and married. My mom is a German so half of my family is there, which opens many opportunities for visits, and this is the latest one. Me, my friend, her boyfriend, and my best freind flew there for 10 days and stayed at my Oma's house is Waldram, Germany. Waldram is outside of a bigger town named Wolfratshausen which is about a 45 minute train ride from Munich.

This is the famous hoffbrauhaus in Munich! Terrible food, good beer, fun times!

This is a shot of the Isar river in Bad Tolz, a cool little city about 30 mins from my Oma's town. This is where my parents first lived after they were married.

This is outside of the city hall in Munich with my two friends

This is the famous Neuschanstein Castle, or Cinderellas Castle. If you don't pay for a horse drawn carriage ride up the long mountain to get to it, expect 45 mins to an hour walk up.

Enjoy! Getting ready for bed finally, tomorrow is a well deserved day off that I get to spend with my boyfriend. After I pick up Pickle from school I am driving us to his neck of the woods for a fun day of watching How to Train a Dragon at the movies and lunch at Steak n Steak...not to mention I booked an appointment at my usual massage place. My boo is not very happy and says I am wasting money, but I need to spoil myself especially with all the lifting, bending, and crap I have to do everyday at work in the nursing home.

Set it Sunday 3/28/2010

Set it Sunday!

Set it: My schedual as most of you guys know is pretty hectic. I haven't been very well in the delivering out the Set it Sunday tasks dept, however it is a new Sunday. A new week to accomplish new things. Very excited, and here are my goals, along with my schedual.

I have to:

~Go to school to withdraw from my classes before the 31st

~Go to a fire safety meeting at 2pm Tuesday before my shift

~Go to the movies with R and Pickle

~Call my divorce attorney

~Clean the upstairs

~Start studying for the nursing entrance exams

Monday: Work 3 to 11:30

Go to school to withdraw from classes

Call lawyer to see when my hubs will be served

Clean upstairs

Laudry

Tuesday: Pick up Pickle from school

Work 3-11:30

Wednesday: Off from work

Study while Pickle is at school for NET

Take pickle to school and pick up

Go to R's house and go to movies with him and Pickle

Thursday: Take and pick up Pickle from school

Study while Pickle is at school

Work 3-11:30

Friday: Off from work

 Take and pick up Pickle from school

Study while Pickle is at school

Spend the day with Pickle

Yoga

Saturday: Pickle leaves at noon to go to her dads

Work 3-11:30

Yoga

Not very much room for excitement but this is my basic life lately. There might hopefully be a coffee in there with a friend or something like that. I don't know why I decided to publish my whole weeks schedual on the internet for anyone to see, but I think I need this to keep me responsible for what I need to do since other people know I am doing it.

I am still trying to make sure I eat healthier, it's a little hard because its so much easier to skip packing a lunch for work and then just drive a block down from work to Wendy's. But I am drinking more fluids, which was one of my set it goals, I am also not buying anymore cigarettes because the lawyer fees for my divorce are so high. Haven't divulged any info about my divorce yet, but I will write another post to go over it more, just to go through all the things in my head and figure out if paying over 4 grand for a lawyer is worth it.

Set it Sunday 3/21/10

Another Sunday is here! It's amazing how time flies s fast when you are a full time employee among mom, friend, girlfriend, and yada yada.

This past week I have basically not accomplished a single thing I set out to do. Sorry Cheryl, I most definetly had bettter intentions when I came up with my week to do list. So..basically I am going forward with last weeks Set It with the same tasks assigned

Coffee

What is it about coffee that makes people go to a little store called Starbucks to spend close to $5 for their large cup. The long lines, the notorious coffee places shown in movies, is it just our pop culture has evolved into an obsessed world of over priced coffee?

Starbucks is a great place for me to stop, especially Barnes and Noble with their free wifi. I can even remember my first time at Starbucks. I was spending the day with a friend in Manhattan, we went shopping to different stores like H&M, Banana Republic (mind you it was 2001, so I was a sophmore in high school), and of course Starbucks. I remember walking in looking at the board above the baristas and having absolutely no clue what to order, the sizes I couldn't pronounce, so luckily my friend ordered the White Chocolate Mocha. I followed suite and I was in love. I am the kind of person that doesn't like to venture out and try new things if I know something is good, so I guess I have the usual at every place I go.

Years later, I still order the WCM, which is funny because my boyfriend is so picky and lets me suprise him with what I order for him when he can't decide what to get. Of course this is my chance to order something outlandish that I think he could possibly like, which gives me the chance to sneak a sip. :-)

I am also a lover of the Passion fruit tea, sometimes I have it sweeten, sometimes not. I also love the Mocha chip. But am I always heading over there to endulge in these drinks? No! I am on a tighter budget, even though I am spending more on frivolous items, I have stops the coffee run;-s. I have noticed usually I am in high Starbucks mode around exam times, especially final time! I remember one day last semester stopping for 3 venti's. It's a crazy life but it's mine :-)

Set it Sunday

or rather Monday at 2:46 am

Last Sunday I set the two goals of quitting smoking, and cleaning the upstairs. I did not quit, bought a pack today, and cleaned at least Haylies room, which is a good accomplishment. Even better it has stayed clean.

This Set it Sunday includes these goals:

1. Clean my bedroom

2. Go to the Metro PCS store so they can fix my brand new Samsung Code phone

3. Get nails done at salon

4. Do yoga 3-4 times this week

5. Write 3-4 blog posts

6. Try to change sleep schedual to go to sleep before 2 am

7. Drink more liquids and take multivitamin daily.

8. Organize photo albums on my laptop.

These are my goals, it's a long list but reasonable things to do this week. Other then that I have had an amazing two days off. Not so ready to go back to work tomorrow, but that is expected. I love how my schedual works, I work 2 days and then I'm off on Wednesday, and work another day and I'm off on Friday. Payday is this Wednesday.

My car payment will need to come out of this check, as well as, my cell phone bill, and credit cards. I had a great weekend hanging out with two of my old co-workers having drinks, and today going to the Strawberry Festival today with Ryan and his life long friend Nick. Here are some photos of the fair.

 I have stories to come but it is almost 3am and I am starting to feel tired.

Wish everyone a great work week!

Into the wee wee hours

Getting home at 12:30 am 5 days a week is screwing with my internal clock Lately I have found myself staying awake until 3,4, or 5 in the morning. Today I woke up at 11 am and sprinted into the shower just to make it just in time to Haylies pre k, which is about 25 mins away because I was trying to make it fair to my ex's family members that pic her up from school too,to not get charged the first time fee of $75 for picking her up 5 minutes late. These daycares mean business.

Although the morning rush, today was an awesome beuatiful day. The warm Florida sun was shining and there was a nice wind that kept my body temp cool. It was perfect! After I picked up my pickle we drove to Ryans house. We shopped at the mall by his house, bought groceries, had a picnic at the park, and then Haylie got to play at the beautiful playground while me and Ryan talked, kissed, and snuggled in the gazebo. I love that man so much. We talked about our future, my expenses, and ate the new Goldfish smores pack. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I have pics that will be posted too. I will be taking pics this weekend since I am becoming my old socal buttetfly self. Saturday I am planning to get drinks with two buddies of mine from my last job, we were all laid off the same day, December 26th, and Sunday I am going on a double date with Ryans lifelong friend and his lady friend. Were going to The Strawberry Festival which is a big fair in Plant City.

This week is going by quick but at least I am making way through my Set It Sunday plan. Me and pickle, or mostly me, cleaned out her room today. I took apart her day bed and rearranged her furniture so there is enough room in there. I'm going to wait on buying her new bed. Ryan advised me against buying the bed from JCPenney that I posted the pic of this week. It is perfect but I could buy a bed that is cheaper. He's partly controlling my finances since I have a spending problem. Today I would have bought all the shorts I tried o

Isn't this beautiful!

The bed, which you can see here, is $199. I like the flower wall lamps, the little cubbies at the bottom left corner are nice, I'm not sure about the shelving, but I just love this photo!

I really like this bed, or at least the shelves below. You can see it here and it's from JCPenney. The rest of the room I don't really know about but this is something that I like and it's affordable, actually 50% off.

Looking forward to feed back, not sure what the usualy stuff is for a 4 year old. Got to get ready for work, haven't even walked into HB's room. :-/

Another Set it Sunday

Setting it Sunday while watching Breakfast at Tiffanys.

This week I want to accomplish a very important goal, I am going to quit smoking.

Clean the upstairs of the house and I have photos to show how bad the bedrooms are.

That's it! Just those two things.

That's it? Ha! I've been telling myself and my poor poor boyfriend that each pack is the last. He absolutely hates that I smoke and I'm glad he does. All he wants is the best for me. It's hard though, even though I have only been smoking this time for about a month. See, I have this problem, I am an on and off again smoker. I usually start by being around new people, who smoke, then I'm hooked, and usually smoke until I've either lost a job, quit a job, or once I actually quit on my own. Not sure how that happened, but I think I was trying to become active, can't ride an elliptical bike and be a smoker...who wants to huff and puff at the gym.

But I have made it my goal, publically, on this little blog that is out in the internet, anonymously...oh yes.

When I started this blog I planned it on being as closely to anonymous as possible, however, that isn't really any fun. I am mentioning this topic because of my second Set it...cleaning.

I am a slob. I am busy. That makes me a busy slob. I need to clean my daughters room and my bedroom. I took photos today while we were playing so I could post them. I am also thinking about getting rid of the crib that was turned to a day bed type thing. We need more room in there, and it doesn't get used. She sleeps in my bed, and I actually enjoy it.

Me and Ryan don't live together, we actually see each other once or maybe twice a week, and I like having someone in bed with me. It makes me feel less alone. Haylie is at her dad's half the week so it makes me feel good. We snuggle, she steals my pillow, I take most of the blanket, it works. Lol. Honestly, I would like to put in a real bed for her. Have a new space that she will like sleeping in. A bed, night stands, lamps... right now her room is just a play room, so even thought it must sound weird wanting the normal standard issue stuff in her BEDROOM, it's something new to us.

This is the mess

It's embarrasing

The table was just put in there a couple of days ago so she could do some water coloring.

But at least she has a nice view... :-(

Well actually we have the same view from our bedrooms.

But yes, I will clean the room tomorrow before work, I also found some printable chore sheets at imom.com that I will start using so Haylie can help me keep her room clean and other little things she can do. I haven't made her do a clean up time in a long time, it is way overdo.

This is the bed I want to take apart and put away.

I am looking forward to finding the right things for her room. I'm not sure yet that I am going to replace everything, but it's a good idea. I'm also not sure if I'm ready to lose my sleep buddy. It's an idea though. Ryan says I need to do it finally, but it has only happened since I left my husband, which is about 2 years..? It's a long time I know. I had her trained to go to sleep on her own from when she was little, but when we moved out my parents had a 3 bedroom place and no extra beds, so we just kind of had to sleep in the same bed. When we moved into this house which has 5 bedrooms, I did try in the very beginning, bought a night light, but it was just something I didn't have the energy to fight over.

I remember reading an article saying in parenting you need to pick your battles in order to stay sane and reduce extra anxiety.

I will take a photo of the finished product tomorrow.

Working mommy Saturdays

Bitten by the insomnia bug :-(

Insomnia, what a big jerk, right? Nobody wants it around, people make jokes about, and I'm sure no one would invite it over for dinner. I am awake, not tired. Well a little tired, I'm sick, and I guess with a little too much on the mind, I am here typing away, hoping somehow if I type my little fingers out, I will feel resolved of all issues, and fall hopelessly asleep. Insomnia is even less welcome to parents. How much does it suck feeling tired because you have been up since 4 am, (not from partying, because that isn't something that occurs anyway) and then little jack or jill awakens at 7 am sharp with a bolt of energy, I'm sure the barista at Starbucks hasn't had since she had to do a double shift.

I laid in bed for a while, hacking my lungs out because of this terrible cold I'm having and with the sudden urge I rush to the bathroom to throw up (something, anything, but nothing came out, not even flem) I got out of bed.

Today was an interesting day, I named it on my phone calender as Haylies Day! I drove and picked her up from school, which is something I can't do everyday. When she switches homes  her dads grandmother takes her to school and then I pick her up on most days unless there is a paycheck party at work. This is where they hand out the check stubs, announce who the employee of the month is, and do an inservice training about working as a team, or as this past weeks theme was, the new vacation benefits plan. Fridays my dad likes to pick her up because he is off (he has an amazing schedual, he's a community college proffesor) and he can spend some time with her and can take her somewhere to have fun. Tomorrow he is taking her to Chuck E Cheese. He gave her the choice of the zoo or C.E.C and yes, she chose the mouse. This Friday I happen to be off so I can pick her up and we can have another fun Haylie Day!

After I picked her up today we tried to handle the freezing cold at the park but that lasted less than 5 minutes, so I decided we should do something together, which is something she loves, so we both got hair cuts! It was fun, her bangs are a little too short, but these people aren't scientists or surgeons, and Nasa isn't missing them so it's ok, better her than me anyway. After the haircuts we met my boo at my house. He decided today wasn't a good day for him to play basketball with the group of men he plays with which ages range from 30 to 60, and include his best friend whose 20, so he came over and spent the day with us. We saw my doctor to check Haylie and make sure everything was ok with her cold. She has post nasal drip (possibly), so we bought kids Claritin. Hopefully this helps, and it's better than an antibiotic which my Dr. put me on. We went to eat at Pizza Hut, which is our spot to go. My boo LOVES pizza! Me and Haylie are crazy about the breadsticks and we dunk (not dip) our breadsticks into ranch dressing (the pizza too).

When we went back to my place we hung out with my brother, had italian ice (lemon), and watched Monsters vs. Aliens, good movie. So we had a fun time. After my boo left, me and Haylie watched TV and colored, and lastely Haylie had a bubble bath, and had story time. She fell asleep during the third book, which I always love. The only thing that I didn't have time for was doing her nails. I trim and paint her nails, sometimes she comes to my house with a fresh coat of nail polish on, but I think it's fun girls time, and it makes her happy. That is all I want, to have a happy (unspoiled) Haylie. I even remembered to wash my scrubs for the upcoming shifts! Woohoo! I'm doing good. I still need to desperatly clean up, but that I am doing tomorrow while she's at school. No actually, because it is almost 4 am, I will be asleep.

To divorce or not to divorce, that is the question.

I am married. I married in 2004 after learning I was pregnant and my husband at the time was entering the miltary. Well, the military thing didn't work out since he didn't make it through boot camp. We split in 2007 and have stayed legally married. The reason we have stayed married is because I was never able to find a position with affordable health benefits. Now I have. I was surprised to find out that at my new place of work I can start having benefits after 3 months. Isn't that great?

So, do I get the divorce papers ready when I have my new insurance kick in, or do I not do it just in case I get fired, laid off, or my car can't handle the drive anyway.