Mothers Day weekend was a busy one for me, we had a client that needed overflow done but my boss and I were having problems navigating the client's EMR system, so we had to go through IT department to have them download this properly. Saturday evening, I had work IT people on my computer, so the issue got fixed and I was working in the website, and somebody pinged in. Without thinking when the ping came up I allowed this thinking it was my IT department checking back into see if the 3rd party site was functioning okay or that it was a staff monitor in the clients' EMR system, when in fact it became apparent after about a minute it was not my IT department, nor was it anyone associated with the client. Come to find out, the window or site that our India IT work counterpart used to have remote access to my computer was left open and not shut, which therefore left me wide open for hackers.
Now, I consider myself an intelligent being, and I would never allow anyone access to my computer remotely (except my IT department from work), so I was not concerned at this point, but when he asked me my phone # and after I answered and realized it was not our IT guy, "Kash", rather some guy from India clearly struck a little fear inside the pit of my stomach. He was trying to tell me I won a gift, and in order to get it, I would have to put in my 'personal information' well, he was very bossy and rude, that didn't go over really well, and I ordered him to get out of my computer immediately. He was trying his best to scam me out of money says my IT department, bringing up a Western Union screen, then probably going to run a scan to scare me (which would not have worked either), but after only a few minutes, I got him out of my computer and all systems were cleared after a few phone calls and scans, thank God. I immediately reported this to my IT department (which I feel should not have left me wide open), but the afterthought for me was that I was in a client's EMR which had pt names and personal information and this really scared me thinking that privacy could have been invaded. I also had a name and phone # of this individual, so our IT department was going to track it down; also this information was given to Microsoft and HP for purposes of tracking and identifying the culprit.
Not to mention, attached to my work computer is a router and I have a personal PC, of course my first thought was does this guy have access to my personal information, bank accts, etc.. I had email open and all kinds of stuff, so in order to further thwart off any attacks to any personal information he could have gotten into or downloading some tracking program, I opted to change my bank accounts and online information. This was probably something I didn't have to do, but in the back of your mind you are thinking months later you'll check in and poof! your identity and/or your bank accounts and all have been stolen or depleted...it was a nightmare just to think about it, but both computers have run efficiently without any problems, the only thing was the scare of it, and the timing of it, as I happen to have a portal open. I do hope that our IT team which was based in India at the time of all of this, has decided upon something else to use besides that remote access site. They should have known the dangers. This really was upsetting to me personally, as well as to my boss.
Clearly hacking and scamming have become the #1 professional activity for criminals, as no longer do they have to wear ski masks and carry a gun, or break in-home to steal, such as this latest scary heist, NY Times.
new toys!
well I am posting this from my new tablet! I just wanted to see if this works ...talk about one finger typing!
Tech Withdrawal versus Childhood
Well, I'd love an I-Pad if I could afford it, or a laptop, but as it is I saw this little 7 inch HP tablet that I am going to spend under 200 bucks on, so that's not so bad, and it has wi-fi capabilities, so it'll be enough suit my purpose (though the camera is not that good). What does one expect for under 200 bucks! I did not need this but I thought it might be fun. I really need to stop buying these techy toys!
I can't believe its May already and June is almost here, wow! Isabella has got a birthday coming up the 25th, she'll be the ripe ole age of 11. Geeze, it's been a while since I was 11, chasing butterflies and dreams of growing up (which came too soon I might add), catching fireflies at night and putting them in a jar, the simple joys, pb&j sandwiches for picnics and hours we would roam down to the creek and hike until we had no idea where we were, but like a good hound dog we always found our way back home.
Kids are exposed to so much technology now days, and I am having to de-program Isabella from it. Even at 10 they are seeking out social networking sites, its just too much, and Isabella is pushing boundaries as it is. The music they listen to is crap! The other day, Isabella came in the house in a huff and said, "Mamaw, there's two police cars out here..." I said, did they come for you? She can be a little unruly and I tease her sometimes that the police are gonna show up. Well, she said, no, that the teen next door called the cops because her mom took her cell phone from her! Imagine that? Isabella says I would never call the police about something like that...I reminded her of the fit she threw when just a week earlier I snagged her IPod to put up, and grounded her from all electronics! wow, I know I'm the meanest Mamaw ever! I tell her a kid needs to be a kid, not a high-tech lazy!as it appears I got that base covered! LOL
Tree Pollen...
Trip to DC
Well, Isabella made it back safe and sound from her 4-day trip to Washington, D.C. She said she loved it, had a great time, and actually learned a lot of history about our nations founding fathers. They also played history trivia in the evenings about what they saw that day, making it fun for the kids to learn at the same time earning a prize! She even brought back all her clothing and stuff sent with her, amazing! I believe she thinks she's the Queen Bella...LOL...and half asleep here!
Safety Patrol Trip to Washington DC
Well, today was the big day for all the kids who have been safety patrol monitors at their respective schools in the district, as they all were rewarded with a trip to Washington, DC. I got a phone call at 4:20 AM telling me to have Isabella at the local mall, west end, at 5:15 for roll call. I live 5 minutes away from the mall so a call that early was a little annoying! LOL...but I couldn't go back to sleep, so around 4:45 I got her up and she said, "Mamaw, I just felt like I just got to sleep" being so anxious last night it took her forever to fall asleep! I, of course, had the job of packing her suitcases to ensure everything got packed to include Ipod chargers, snacks, socks, underwear, you name it! She got up, pulled herself together, and out the door we left at 5:05 to the mall. Once we got there and she spotted her friends, she took off leaving me standing there. I talked with the sponsors for a bit and they were pulling out at 6 AM sharp. Around 2 PM they were at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, exploring the inside, listening to stories about Thomas Jefferson and his family life, then exploring the grounds gardens, museums, and other buildings to include a pond out back! I have lots of pictures already as the sponsors/chaperones are posting. I also have an itinerary that includes where they are and what they are doing, plus a local radio station having updates every 2 hours for the next 3 days. She comes home a little after midnight Saturday nite (early Sunday morning at 1:30 AM); again I will get a call out of my slumber!
Here's a few pics! You can't miss Isabella, she's the one with the hot pink shoes with her gray jacket tied around her middle! LOL...
Here's a few pics! You can't miss Isabella, she's the one with the hot pink shoes with her gray jacket tied around her middle! LOL...
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| gorgeous shot with the reflection in the pond! |
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| the kids at Thomas Jefferson's gravesite |
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| at the bronze statue |
sakura
When the cherry blossoms blossom,
they remind me of your passing.
It was the year when a cloud
almost obscured the sun.
It was the year when my heart
was filled with sadness.
It was so heavy to carry
the secret unseen burden of it
often caused me to stumble.
I did not weep, sometimes
nor cease to sleep, sometimes.
Though at times the loss
of you made me feel
that I might drown on the air
of a day in a world without
you as part of it.
this rash has a name...
Yes folks, I never thought in a million years that I would come down with a case of shingles.
I woke up two weekends ago with a rash that appeared from my breastbone over towards the right breast/upper torso area and on out towards the left shoulder. It was itchy, but scratching this set off a whole new meaning of the word 'pain!' Nope don't itch it, cause if you do, it hurts so much more, feels like a deep bruise and major burn! I couldn't figure out where this rash came from and had put up with the worst of it for over a week before I went in to have it checked. I hadn't been around a patch of poison ivy or sumac, nor pulling weeds, hadn't changed the laundry detergent, and I tried some ointments which didn't work. The other day when I had Isabella checked out because she fell and hurt her finger, the PA looked at my rash and asked me about it, said to me it looked like shingles. Shingles? seriously? so she recommended I see my doctor, who confirmed this diagnosis today.
This is not a picture of my rash, mine is not that big, but nonetheless is that red and angry! wow...so its a prescription of Famvir for 7 days and pain pills! It appears that shingles occurs as the result of a virus attacking the nerve endings under the skin, no wonder its so painful to scratch and just really really sore! Famvir is supposed to slow down the nerve inflammation and contain in. My doctor says this is fairly common to see, the severity of which depends. I'm not sure why, but if you had the chicken pox you could possibly develop shingles. I've never had anything like this, not even a fever blister. They say if/when the rash goes away you could then develop the post-herpetic pain, heavenly day I hope it doesn't spread and it never comes back!
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