It's Free!

I put this sign out on my front lawn, but literally have no interested parties.

What is the matter with people in New England?
Don't they know a good sale when they see one!

Craigslist Scams

I hate scams! Today I received an email in response to a resume I sent out from Craigslist. The women, Michele B (no last name) from JTL Management said that they were very interested in me and if I was interested in the job to please fill out a credit report. What? Afterall, I hadn't even had an interview yet. Why would they need my credit report.

This is how the email read:

Hello,

Thanks so much for getting back to me.

Let me first tell you a bit more about the position I e-mailed you about.

* You will be answering the phone and taking messages when applicable
* You will be scheduling the company meetings
* Running errands for the company for things such as purchasing supplies and making bank deposits.
* You will be provided with a company car while working.
* While you are running errands, you will also be given one of our company credit card(s) for all business purchases.

I have gone through your previous resume and you seem more than qualified. I would like to take the next step with you. However, before I am able to schedule a formal meeting, my company will require that you acquire a recent credit report. Let's just say the person we just let go, took advantage of having access to a company credit card.

Both myself and the company will prefer that you use this company to acquire your check as they are offering the check at zero cost to you (unlike other places). I have tried their service myself and their scores contain the most accurate information I have seen, but feel free to use any service you like.

Once you submit all of the required information, they will show your personal report. Please print it out and save it for the meeting. Please do not email me the report, as it will have private content. We can discuss it when we meet in person. If you have a lower than expected credit score, it will never prevent you from a position with us.

Once your finished please e-mail me your phone number that you can be easily reached, and your availability to arrange an interview.

I am looking forward to your quick response.

Have a great week,
JTL Management HR Dept.

I have been applying to a lot of job posting over the last few weeks, and hadn’t had much luck, so I thought I’d look into this a little more and I am glad I did. What I found were a bunch of comments on the web from other people who had also applied for this job and who had received the EXACT same email!

This is a total scam that attempts to get you to use the credit services. I'm not sure if it's legal r not, but regardless, don't do it. Be careful of this and all others like it and don't click on the link the provide you either. If they are shady enough to send emails like this one, you'll never know what dangers are lurking behind the click of your mouse.

You can submit such complaints to https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Where Have I Been?

I love fall. It is hands down my favorite season. I love the changing leaves; that cool crisp feeling in the air, as I drink my morning coffee in the warmth of the sun; the first day of school, the start of the kids activities and just the genuine newness of what the season brings.

Unlike most who make their resolutions for the new year, I make mine in September. I vow to get more organized; maintain a better schedule; stay on the kids about their homework and projects; help them set their priorities; set and stick to stricter bedtimes rules; help out more with the PTO and Girl Scouts and the list goes on.

As much as I love summer and the lazy days that it brings, I also welcome autumn with all the gusto it brings. It's not that I haven't found time to blog this summer - I have, it's just that I haven't found time to do anything to actually blog about!

So, as I put the lazy days of summer behind me and focus on a new season, I thought I'd share with you some of what I have been doing instead of blogging.

Kids parasailing in Lake George, NY.

Pretty in Pink this summer at Saratoga.

Hannah swimming in our pool.

Hannah in her 1st performance of Oliver!

Now that summer is winding down, I am sure I will find more things to SpoutOut about, but right now, I have 5 more days to do "nothing."

Happy 15th Birthday Casey!

Here's a Shout Out to my little boy!

Happy 15th birthday Casey!

We love you!

Mom, Dad, Victoria and Hannah

Why do we pay auto insurance anyway?

I hate auto insurance! Late in December, I backed into a friend's car in my driveway causing $3000.00 of damage to the other vehicle. Not having $3000.00 in my bank account to pay out of pocket, we had to claim it on our insurance.

What I didn't know at the time was, that the other accident I had in 2007 (where I again, backed into a car) combined with the accident in 2009, took us out of the premium pool and moved us to a high risk pool. These two little 5mph fender benders caused my auto insurance to go from approx $1700.00 a year to over $7,000.00 a year! Let me say that again, over $7,000.00 a year! $7,000.00! You get it, right?

I know you are thinking I don't know what I am talking about, but I called 6 times for clarification, getting the same answer every time, therefore validating that we are officially ~ screwed! And I tell my kids not to talk like that.

Now, let's be fair to Geico. I did add my daughter as a new teen driver and a 10-year old car to the policy, but after hearing that figure, one of them had to go and since I can't get rid of the girl, it had to be the car. I asked the rep about dropping the car and asked how much that would save me. She said that if we removed the 3rd car from the policy that our insurance would go up $474.00. Yup. Up. I asked her to repeat herself and to explain. She said that the coverage on the 1st and 2nd car was higher than the 3rd car and putting the new driver on either the 1st or 2nd would cost more. Good Grief!

Sadly, this is not even related to my teenager. That was only going to be about another $700 for the year.

Needless to say, I have started shopping around. I did find one agency that is quoting around $3500.00 as long as they can write our homeowners policy. If they can come in at that price, they can write whatever they want.

I jokingly told the Geico representative that I was going to relinquish my license and get a bike. However, she quickly informed me that they would charge me for insurance anyway, because I was married and living in the same house as my husband. Isn't that where you are suppose to live when your married? Who the hell makes up these rules!?

Oh well. It's not the end of the world, just the end of the bank account, food, heat, new shoes for the kids and oil, but hey, you need insurance. After all, someone has to pay for those fender benders. Oh yeah, that's right....we do.

But, ya gotta love that Gecko.

The Blessings of Life Long Friends

It's been said that people remember the things they want to remember. I suppose to some extent it is quite true. For me that would be my high school years, which most people just want to forget.

Last week, I got together with two of my three best friends from high school. I hadn't see either one of them in over 10 years, but the minute we saw each other, it was like we were back in high school and had never left.

We went to this great little place in Manchester called Corey's Catsup and Mustard and talked for hours. Well, at least until the band came in around 11pm. Years ago we would have moved closer to the front to be sure we weren't missing any of the action. This time however, we moved further away. Further away, as in straight for the back and out the door...right to a 24-hour Dunkin Donuts. How time has changed us.

We again sat for hours talking about life ~ then and now, our families, friends and the death of all of our fathers. We reminisced about how high school was a time of "firsts," for us -first kisses, first loves, first cars, first jobs. It was a time when we reached many important milestone. I suppose this is why the thoughts of high school are still with me long after high school has ended.

We told story after story and laughed into the morning. Most stories were as I remembered, others were not. Some, I didn't remember at all, but apparently was there! We remembered back to a time when we had a bond so strong, that it could not be broken ~ a time of laughter, tears, broken dreams and broken hearts. We were inseparable back then.

As I drove home alone, I felt sad. Sad remembering a time when we were young and had our whole lives ahead of us, a time where we could dare to dream and take chances. A time where we could map out the rest of our lives and start over if it didn't work out.

Our dinner together reminded me of forgotten memories, great friends and a youth I can never get back. As I turned the radio dial, Trace Adkins sang, You're Gonna Miss This.

I already do.

Olay rebate

I got my rebate check yesterday, $7.99, so now my lotion is offically free! Not to mention, I love it. It is probably some of the best lotion I have used.

I confess

Okay, I was kidding that was not me in the lime green shirt, but wasn't she cute!

We're gonna Zum, Zum, Zumba Zum....

Am I showing my age? Okay, so it's not Zoom, but it is Zumba! I am thinking of signing up to take a Zumba class, you know, in my spare time. Apparently almost 1 million Americans have taken Zumba classes.

Zumba is a popular fitness program inspired by Latin dance. The word "Zumba" (pronounced ZOOM-buh) comes from a Colombian word that means to move fast and have fun, which is just how people describe the routine. Using upbeat Latin music together with cardiovascular exercise, Zumba is aerobic dancing that is lots of fun and easy to learn.

Zumba mixes cardio intervals with resistance training. It also gives you an interval/resistance combination that maximizes caloric output, fat burning, and total body toning. Zumba mixes effective body sculpting movements with easy-to-follow, fun dance steps. People seem to forget about working out during a Zumba session, allowing them to exercise longer, and burn even more calories.

A typical Zumba session lasts about an hour and incorporates several dance styles. The Latin music includes both fast and slow rhythms, allowing for a great cardio workout as well as body sculpting exercises.

Anything that gets you up and moving is a good thing. My friend in the black shirt taped this, but check me out. I am in the bright green shirt in the back. Pretty good, huh!?

Maybe I Shouldn't Put All My Eggs in One Basket

Hey there! I am writing to you because I want to WRITE. No, I don't want to write informative helpful articles about things nobody outside a 2-mile radius of my house is interested in. I just want to write. You know, stuff I hate or like, things I think about or hear about, things that make me happy or things that make me angry. You know, just Spoutin' Out kind of stuff.

I am not loving my other gig. It's not much fun and it's hard. My news has to be local, but I work full time, so don't have time to interview people at local events, which I love to do, but can't. I keep trying to make my articles locally based pulling from research I have completed, but they keep telling me it's not local enough, so I don't get paid. The reality is, local news is boring. Nothing happens in my town. Nothing anyone wants to hear about anyway.

My life is a series of strange dilemmas isn't it? They are never too stressful, thank God for that, they are just strange. I am not sure what I am going to do going forward. I suppose I will keep trying to please them, but I miss all of you and I miss my blog. My blog is a place where I can be Editor and Chief and nobody can tell me what they like or don't like. It's a place where I can write at the end of the day about whatever I want, and know that someone somewhere is reading it.

NHCTH Day

From one gorgeous gal to another......




Today is National 'HOLY CRAP, YOU'RE HOT' Day! Send this to someone gorgeous, but don't send it back to me, I've been getting this message all freakin' day.

Spoutin' Out Updates

1st - Remember I told you awhile back that I was going to go to a Gold Party? Well, I went last night and had a blast. I dragged my mother with me kickin' and screamin'..not really, but I did really have to push her to give up her old gold jewelry. She had stuff sitting in boxes that she hadn't touch in years!

The whole process was really interesting. We watched at the representative checked the gold with a magnet, tested it with these little things that looked like jumper cables, scratched it, weighed it, separated the gold from the non-gold and finally - wrote us a check! My mother got just over $91.00 and I got just over $167 and two really great glasses of wine! Not bad for a night out with the girls.

I signed up to have a party of my own in May. I am on the fence as to whether I will take the proceeds for myself or host it as a fundraiser for Casey's trip to North Dakota with his wrestling club. I suppose it depends on how well he is doing raising funds on his own by then. If it becomes a fundraiser for him, you can bet he will be there and serving the moms. Soda of course.

2nd update - It seems that the Examiner wants me to keep my blog going. Not only do they support it, but they encourage me to promote it on my/their website. Gee, where am I suppose to get all this time? Three kids doing 5 different sports, a full-time job, a house, bills to pay, a dog and....you get the picture, you've run the drill.

So, buckle up for a bumpy ride and be sure to keep visiting my blog. I can't promise you a smooth trip, but I can promise you an interesting journey. Hey, you've hung around this long.

Blogging vs. Writing

Sorry that I have been away for so long, but I have some really exciting news! I (my blog) have been recognized by the Examiner.com as a popular “teenblogger” and they have asked me to write for them.

As you know, I have been looking to grow and change my blog beyond its existing presence and am thrilled that it has finally been recognized by a "higher power." You may remember back on April 14th, I wrote to you about wanting to do something different with my blog and although I am not sure this is it, I have to take the chance.

I have spent the last week working with the Examiner.com to provide them with several writing samples that were not so "bloggy." I will miss writing about all the control chaos that goes on in my life, as my writing for the Examiner.com will have to be more informational and less, "according to Gwenn." I am excited about this opportunity and the challenge of a much more formal setting. I think it will be good for me to try something new, afterall, one has to take chances. Although, I will be back occasionally to post on my blog, I wont' be able to write every day.

My page for the Examiner.com has not been set up yet, because I still owe them a few things before I can get started, but I hope it will be by the end of next week and as soon as it is, I will post my link on Spoutin' Out and Facebook.

This is a huge step for me and I hope you will come along for the ride. Who knows?

Can Aesthetics Drive College Choice....

.....they can if you're Victoria.

Victoria's college search started officially yesterday with an informational and group tour, hosted about two hours from our home. During the first of the two campus visits, we checked out the bookstore and art building, dorms, cafes and athletic fields. We gathered brochures, and then headed to our second destination.

I thought the college was appropriate for her, educationally challenging; clean, secure, friendly campus; close enough to home. So, as we headed out of the main gate, we asked her how she liked it.

Her response: “It so pretty.” So, I learned something important just then: Aesthetics are important to Victoria's overall college experience. Trying to learn more about what she likes in an effort to narrow our search further I asked, “What look do you like?” She loved the quaintness of the campus, the multiple bodies of water scattered over the grounds, the fountains, bridges, the cleanliness of the entire school, the colors in the cafe and most of all the beach at the edge of campus in this great little beach town. And, of course, the easy access to Boston via the commuter rail.

Like most girls her age, familiar with the magazines and clothing catalogs advertising “collegiate style outfits” photographed on beautiful college campuses, Victoria had a “college image” in her mind and it was my job (and anyone else who wants to help) to help her see the bigger picture: the major she wants; affordability; value; accessibility; and yes, aesthetics, because looks and atmosphere are important to her.

As we arrived at our second destination, I could immediately see the disappointment in Victoria's eyes. It was off a major road, there was no quaintness, the buildings were ugly and far apart, the grass was barely green, there were no flowers, no ponds, no activity and barely any students.

During the tour we listened as the student guide say how wonderful the school was and how much she loved it there. I was proud of Victoria, as she announced that she was going to keep an open mind. However, as we toured the grounds and facilities, I could tell that Victoria was just going through the motions. If only they had a beach nearby.

College Bound

Off to a few colleges today. Heaven help me!

Wrestling Fundraiser

You'll remember that a few months ago, my son, Casey went undefeated in the regular wrestling season, placed first in his LL tournament, and was runner up at the State Open where he advanced to New England’s. Because of his success, in July, Casey will head to Fargo, North Dakota with the Connecticut National Team to wrestle in the Free Style Nationals.

Awesome! Right? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, this is a great opportunity for Casey, but it is going to cost us. Literally. The total trip will cost us over $1000.00. Some of you are probably thinking that we are crazy for even considering it, but its a great opportunity for him and if he want a scholarship in college, these are the things he has to do now. At least that is what I am told.

We however, can't afford to pay $1000.00 to send him there and will be holding a fundraiser. This is not uncommon for the kids taking this trip. However, I don't have any ideas and hope you can help. Has anyone ever conducted a fundraiser for an individual, not a group or organization? My husband wants him to go stand at the local grocery store, but he won't do that. I don't blame him. That just seems weird.

Casey would like to give something to get something, or sell something and keep the profits towards his trip, not just stand with a bucket at the entrance to a grocery store. I like the selling idea, but am not sure what he should sell, candy bars? He have to sell thousands to get enough money in time.

I also told him to reach out to local stores for sponsorship donations, since it would be a tax-deductible donation. I am sure they get asked by the local schools all the time, but its worth a try.

Does anyone have any other ideas? If so, Casey and I would love to hear them.

Distracted Drivers - No More!

Remember awhile back I posted about a new technology that was going to shut off cell phones in cars? At the time, I had only heard about it, but couldn't find anything concrete about it, until now.

It's call ZoomSafer and it was created to ensure safe and legal use of mobile phones while driving. As a mom of a teen driver, I am especially interested in ZoomSafer. It was designed to prevent the urge to text and use your phone while driving. It locks your keypad to help fight the urge to send that quick text back, and will also even send out an auto-reply for you saying your driving right now and can’t text/email back.

If you really need to check to see if you got a new text, ZoomSafer can read you your texts via computerized and even let you record replies to send back. The teens can still make and receive calls, but they will need to be over a Bluetooth or other hands free device. You are the one who turns ZoomSafer off once you reach your destination, and if you are a passenger in a car and want to use your friend’s phone, you can still exit the app and use the phone and text, IM, email whoever you want and yes, if you’re a driver and want to ignore ZoomSafer, by all means you can do that too.

ZoomSafer is the practical answer to the problem of distracted driving; it activates automatically when you start to drive and applies customizable safe driving policies to help protect you, your teens and everyone else on the road. Click here to check it out.

Safe driving!

Again, with the Tax Cuts?

Last night my two teenagers and I went to our town’s Board of Education meeting. Our town is yet again, threatening to cut school sports, music in our middle school and the gifted program.

Personally, I would rather be anywhere than a town meeting where they banter back and forth and get nothing done, but the entire town was planning to attend and I was not going to be the only one to miss it. So, the kids and I jumped in the car and drove to our middle school. Once there, we were herded like cattle passed the room where the meeting was taking place to a separate room down the hall where we would be able to sit and watch the meeting on a closed circuit T.V. Really? I could have stayed home and done that. Regardless, we were there now and turning to run at this point would be like running with the bulls at Pamplona, dangerous. There were 4 classrooms packed with anxious parents and students and limited seating in each…more people stood in the hallways.

We listened as countless parents and students begged the Town Council to support the Board of Education’s budget, as it was proposed to them and NOT to make the cuts that the Council claimed were necessary. Parents who stood at the podium announced the importance of sports, saying that they are such a big part of the kids' lives; that they are the reason some kids do well in school, and stay out of trouble; they are one of the reasons they stand out in the application process for colleges, that they teach life long skills and lastly, other than the obvious, education, they are the reason they moved to our town.

I know times are tough, particularly in our schools. We don't have the money, beleaguered education officials say, “For every student who wants to play games after class.” So, school sports have to go. And yet if you reflect for a moment, you may remember your own school days where you too saw this kind of financial austerity as shortsighted. It’s like cutting back on English classes because most kids already speak that language.

Many of us remember some competitive activity that became a vital force in our childhood. It gave us a self-awareness and self-confidence that changed us forever. And don't forget the story we heard from the lips of our very own Barack Obama and how had he not discovered basketball, he would not have become the leader he is today.

I have read research studies that show that although math had the biggest impact of any skill on adult earnings, playing sports and having a leadership role in high school also were significant factors. Maybe that has nothing to do with gutting it out on the wrestling mat or taking the ball down the field for the winning goal in lacrosse. Maybe athletic talent produces leadership skills even if you never go out for school sports. But research indicates otherwise.

If cutting out sports means jeordizing ours kids leadership, teamwork and discipline skills, aren't we creating a false economy? Helping teenagers discover that with grit, teamwork and determination they can be successful, is not an aspect of schooling that I want to sacrifice, even if it saves a few tax dollars.

SpoutinOut is not Spoutin anymore...

Everyday someone approaches me to tell me that they've read my blog and that they love it. I didn't realize it, but ~ A LOT of people read my blog. It is such a nice feeling to know that others enjoy it and that I may be making just a little bit of a difference in someone's life...at least entertaining them.

Of course I love to hear that people enjoy reading my blog, but yesterday was different. Yesterday, a friend of mind told me that he too loves to read my blog, but that sometimes, I am boring. Only a true friend, right? Right. Thanks, Jayce. He didn't say that to be mean or hurtful and I did not take it that way.

The truth is, that since my return, I have want to ratch it up a notch or two, but haven't had the guts. I have written post after post, but haven't published them [11 unpublished to date]. Why? Because I am afraid to insult or hurt someone or some group. I am afraid someone at work will read it and my employer will not like what I have posted. I have been reluctant to throw all of my family's dirty laundry on my blog or talk too much about my kids for fear that something I say will get back to them and hurt them.

Sure, I have a point of view and I’m sure sometimes it rankles. But up until now, even those have been safe. If I was to Spoutin' Out, I would be respectful, somewhat. Sitting on the fence all the time is pretty boring for you to read, and me to write. I am not a political or religious blog, so would stay far away from the stuff that I was taught not to talk about at cocktail parties. I struggle with my blog, its posts, its design and mainly, its name, because, Spoutin' Out is not Spoutin' Out about anything anymore.

So, help a girl out would ya? If I am not going to Spoutin' Out, then should I continue with the blog as is? Should I find a different name, theme or mission? I love blogging, because I love writing, but if my blogs are not worth the read, it may be time to find a new venture. Thoughts?

Going Green and Saving Money

Lower the temperature on your hot water heater from 145 degrees, which used to be standard, to 120 degrees. Cunningham swears you won't notice a difference at all, but you will see savings when you get your next bill, by as much as $36 to $61 each year.

Another easy money saver? Wash your clothes in cold water and you'll save about $40 in the fuel that it takes to heat up the water you'd typically wash with. You can save another $34 each year just by cleaning out your dryer's lint trap, which increases the efficiency.