Don't Get Me Started with Linda Sharp

To New Beginnings...

May the turning of the calendar page bring a wave to wash clean the slate of 2011, and prepare for a new chapter to be written.

I Am NOT Entertained

Entertainment Coupon Books.  I'm sure all of us - of a certain age - remember them as staples of the 80s.  Sold as fundraisers by the band, drama club, PTA, church groups - they were chockful of coupons entitling the holder to free food, BOGOs, hotel discounts, etc.  The buyer of the book got boatloads of local deals, the seller got the kick back from the company.

Fast forward to 2011, they are still stuffed with bargains, covering more cities, areas, regions than ever before, and still being hawked by clubs in need of raising funds.

Personally, I have never bought one.

That doesn't mean I have not received one.  Many.  I am now up to 18.

None of which I ordered.

The latest batch showed up via UPS last night - 12 books covering Puget Sound (North AND South), Rochester, NYC, Austin, Buffalo, Seattle, Vancouver, Long Island, Albany, the and the Mid Hudson Valley.

Ordered by someone I do not know.  Charged to someone's credit card I do not know.  The invoice containing the phone number of a Linda Sharp in another part of Austin.  (Thank you Google.)

I write this as a warning to everyone. 

Three months ago, when I received the first shipment of 6, I also stumbled onto the fact that although I had not been charged for THOSE books, someone had used my credit card and rung up $630 in fraudulent charges for books sent elsewhere.

Yeah.

When I contacted the Entertainment Book company, they were less than helpful.  Less than interested.  Frankly could not have cared less that they were quite obviously a mechanism of fraud - and my guess is, a frequent one.  In fact, the girl I spoke to said, "Oh yeah, we flagged that as a possible fraudulent order."

Yet they still took the money, shipped the books, and added to their bottom line.

So here we are three months later and the cycle continues.  I have checked and it does not appear my cards have been used to buy this order, but my fear is that in the great circle of fraud that seems to be rampant, I will get hit again.  Last time I had to cancel my card, have a new one reissued, and wait while Wells Fargo investigated.  JUST LAST WEEK I finally received the letter that the claim had been settled in my favor.

Yes, I have attempted to contact the Entertainment Book company today - of course, they are closed for the holidays.  I have emailed their Customer Service and will hopefully get further down the path on this on Monday.

I am angry.  While I have not had money stolen this time, someone has.  And some piece of shit out there - probably a whole human cesspool of shit - sits in a room with a list of stolen credit cards, names, and phone numbers and does this crap all day long. 

Be warned.  If you receive any of these books and have not ordered them, you are now most likely caught in the circle of fraud, along with your credit card #. 

I am NOT Entertained.

First Happy Snaps From Our Elfing!

If you were on Santa's elf list and took pictures, please send them this way!  They can be posted anonymously - no names, etc - but it is always nice for the blog family to see the happy faces they helped create with their generosity!  And if you'd like to send a note to the blogmunity, that would be great, too!

Let's Celebrate Daisy!

All Aboard The Polar Express To CUTEopia!

It's Judith's Day!

Please Stop For A Moment Today

DGMS Family - This morning, Magda, Mike, their family and friends will begin the heartbreaking process of saying goodbye to their son, Chris.  Please stop for a moment between 11am and 1pm CST to reflect and send your support towards them.

It is impossible to fully grasp the pain, loss and bewilderment they are all experiencing.  Chris was an amazing young man, gone far, far too soon.

Flowers have been sent on behalf of DGMS.

When Your Family Expands, So Does Your Heart

I truly hope your Christmas was as wonderful as was the one in the Sharp casa.  Laughter, warmth, togetherness.  All the hallmarks of a great day.

But this year's was made even more special because our family truly has grown.

And no, I don't mean the fact that I took in another cat two months ago.

I mean Debbie.

I know that I don't need to explain to this group how true friendships manage to grow out of the initials DGMS.  They just do.  And they are real, they are reaching.

Like a seed we never expected was there, Debbie bloomed into our lives, and all I can say is that she belongs.  From the trust she and I share, to the comfort level my daughters have in truly being themselves with her, to Rudy not even blinking an eye at having her come for Christmas - Debbie is a Sharp.

This is a the kind of friendship I wish everyone to continue to find here.  Yes, the internet is full of potholes, but it is also full of the seeds of friendship.

May someone special bloom into your lives in 2012. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While we were having too much fun to think about reaching for the camera much yesterday, we did take a few pictures here and there.  We are heading to the resort soon and I promise to take more while we are there.

Debbie with her wonderful gift made by Carson

Debbie and Carson - Artist Extraordinaire

Happy feet courtesy of Natala!

Chindall, er, KENDALL, throwing the infamous "face"

Kenny with Leo

Merry Christmas!!

I wish you all a wonderful day of family, memory making, and warm feelings.  The Sharp house is up, presents have been unwrapped, and we are all settled in watching the continuous loop showing of A Christmas Story.  Perfection.  Love you all, Linda

It's Rachel's Special Day!