It's Totally Out of Control.....

I'm lucky enough to have a phone that will block numbers for me. Every time I get one of those solicitation calls, I save it and block it. Only one thing wrong though.....when I get one of those calls that I've blocked, my phone will ring once or sometimes just a half a ring and then disconnect it. So it still is disturbing to a point. Like today, I thought a nap would be nice; I get sleepy around 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon. It was a foggy, rainy, sleepy kind of day. I laid down and got comfy. My phone had already blocked 3 calls, one at 10:46 a.m., another at 11:08 a.m and finally at 11:10 a.m. The 11:08 one was different from the other two. A nap was not to be, however. Shortly after lying down, I received these calls: 1:14, 1:33, 2:03, and 2:51....all from the same 800 number (1-877-213-6163, this, according to Google is from the Cancer Foundation and has really ticked off a lot of people due to their tactics. Note that they called me 6 times today.)  I gave up the idea of a nap at that point and got up.  To round out my day, I received my last call at 8 pm from the same one who called me at 11:08 a.m.(1-877-870-7409; this is the one where the aggressive, pushy people try to get donations for the cancer society....even if you give, they will pester you the following week for more.The way they have annoyed me has totally turned me off donating to them ever again. They have called me at least twice a day for weeks and weeks now)  No, honest, I'm not kidding.  These calls start as early as 8:30 a.m. and I've received them as late as 9:15 pm.  This is harassment. It is an invasion of our privacy.  I had signed up for the DO NOT CALL list, which is a huge joke. Most of these callers are able to skirt around that by claiming they are charities. Even when you ask over and over to stop calling, they still call. I often get another call too that isn't an 800 number, it originates from PA. (this is the one where they say "this is your LAST CHANCE to save yourself interest on your credit cards.....blah blah blah". Yeah they've been saying that last chance bit for months now.)

I saw a program on TV about some people who formed a class action lawsuit against these companies. On the program, which was fiction, there were 73,000 people suing. I wish we could do something like this. These calls have gotten totally out of hand and soon they will be plaguing us on our cellphones. Something has to be done about these pests.

I googled the numbers calling me and they have been annoying hundreds of other people in many different states. I don't know about you.....but I think getting 8 solicitation phone calls in a 10 hour period is just WAY out of line.  And yes.....my number is unlisted, which is also a big joke.

So......how was YOUR day?

Scary weather.....

This is a small excerpt from the weather bulletin issued this morning.
.WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING... ...WIND CHILL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY... ...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DETROIT HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING. THE WIND CHILL WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST WEDNESDAY.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER...

* WIND CHILLS WILL DROP TO BETWEEN 20 AND 30 BELOW ZERO TODAY AND THEN BOTTOM OUT NEAR 35 BELOW ZERO TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING.

* WESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS BY MIDDAY...LEADING TO EXTENSIVE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW INTO THIS EVENING.

* LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL ALSO DEVELOP AND BRING ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 2 INCHES.

We have over 12 inches of snow on the ground and more is expected. I work for a municipality and I was called Sunday evening and advised that the building was going to be closed except for emergency services (police and fire) and not to report for work Monday. Needless to say, I was happy I did not have to venture out but also concerned about the drastic weather we've been having nationwide. Of course there is nothing I can do about it except worry and wonder. I am an old bird and honestly cannot remember having weather as extreme as this for such a long period of time.  It really makes you stop and consider just how many blessings we really do have because we are warm and dry. As usual in severe weather, I always think about the homeless and then think about the outside pets of people who often get too busy to think about bringing them inside or making sure their shelters have been upgraded to provide sufficient and lifesaving protection.

My dog is definitely puzzled by the depth of all this snow. She loves it to a point, jumping around in it like a little deer, but when it comes to doing her potty thing, she's having a hard time figuring out just where to go. In between times she lounges on my Laura Ashley comforter and at night sleeps with me UNDER the covers. She sure has it better than some of her cousins, that's for sure.When I woke up this morning, my yard guy (who also does snow) had already been to my house and cleared out the driveway and front walk.

This year is not starting out too good in ways other than the weather; I heard from a relative that my half-sister is in dire condition and has been since before Thanksgiving. She is now residing in a hospice after she contracted MRSA while admitted to a hospital for tests and possible brain surgery. I don't have all the details as yet but will be talking to my niece in a day or so and find out more. Then my daughter called this morning and advised that our beloved Pastor passed away from a heart attack after shoveling snow. We are all still numb over that news. What a well-loved, special man he was! 

So, all of you, please use caution when shoveling snow. If you absolutely have to do it, then do just a little bit at a time and rest in between. Stay safe out there and I hope you all are warm and dry. I have friends in Florida who are drinking iced tea by the pool in 78 degree weather and sending me funny pictures about being snowed in. Yep.....I'm really laughing!!! Wow, it only seems like a couple months ago I was complaining about near 100 degree heat during the summer. I think I would love to complain about that again right about now.  Stay well!