A new journey awaits.  On the tracks, a poignant shot. 
Taken by Crystal Clear Photography, Brunswick, Ohio

For more Wordless Wednesdays go here or here!

While waiting for Alan to get a broken bracket on his braces fixed this morning, I heard some interesting info on the radio that I thought I’d pass along.  It’s how to protect yourself in an easy way against identity theft.  You can do it yourself rather than pay a service to do it.  Which it what I like….free! 

I’m not only doing this for me and Shane, but also going to do this for my kids social security numbers. 

Contact the three major credit bureaus and ask them to place a fraud alert.  This will cause problems for anyone trying to open credit cards, take out loans, etc in your name.  If someone gets a hold of your social security number and applies for something in your name, the creditor will CALL you.  If you do not answer, the crook should not be able to open the account. 

It only takes a couple minutes.  Consider using your cell number as a contact if your out of the house a lot.

NOTE:  Although the credit bureaus say they share info with each other, sometimes they don’t, so call all three! 

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
Phone: 800-680-7289
Fax: 714-447-6034
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790

Equifax
Consumer Fraud Division
Phone: 800-525-6285 or: 404-885-8000
Fax: 770-375-2821
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian
Experian’s National Consumer Assistance
Phone: 888-397-3742
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013

BIG GIANT NOTE:  This fraud alert only stays in place for 90 days!  (How stupid) so you must call back and re-do it.

One more piece of info:  1-888-5-OPT OUT
Thieves like to steal your mail.  They look for those endless offers of pre-approved credit cards.  So you can call the above number and have them stop sending you all that crap.  Good to know.

Thanks to my bloggy friend Rachel for this pretty award!

:: Start copying here:::

Here are the rules for this tag:
1.) Copy the badge and put it on your blog,
2.) Link back to who passed you this tag,
3.) Spread this tag to at least 7 bloggers who you think you are bloggy friends with.

“And lovely are the blossoms
That are tended with great care,
By those who work unselfishly
To make the place more fair.
And, like the garden blossoms,
Friendship’s flower grows more sweet
When watched and tended carefully
By those we know and meet.
And, if the seed of friendship
Is planted deep and true
And watched with understanding,
Friendship’s flower will bloom for you. “

Sappy and cute!  I would like to share this with my new bloggy friends …for various reasons and all for their unique blogs and take on life! 
Cara, Sara,  Jenni, Leanne, The Hags, Salena, Aly, Donna,  Jenniferrrr

Ahhh, I seemed to have passed down to my daughter, the ‘bad driveway driving’ gene.  Today the kids decided to go to the mall.  Kaylee would drive her, her friend and Alan and Middle Child.  So a minute after getting into the car, she comes back into the house.

“Ummmm, mom? I was backing out and got to close to Christina’s car and I sorta, ummm, my mirror, ummm hit her car and my mirror is trashed.”

Me: “Oh, for God’s sake”, then I went out to see.

Well, I got outside and the dangling-by-a-thread mirror was only 1/2 the problem. I said, “Oh my God, look at the side of the car Kaylee!  What the hell were you doing?”

Kaylee: “Oh, ummm that…..(in that teenager kind of way) that’s not bad.”

Me: “Not bad? Are you kidding me? That’s gonna be expensive”

Kaylee: “Nooooo, it’s not that bad. How expensive?”

Me: “Probably about your total savings in your bank account”

So, this week will be fun filled for her visiting auto body shops getting some estimates.  Although she is very upset about it, she is at least mature enough to understand that it was her fault and she is responsible for paying for the damages.  (It’s SO nice when they mature!)

And I really couldn’t yell much, as I’ve had numerous mishaps in our driveways over the years.  Let’s just say that I’ve taken out 2 complete garage doors (pulled off the entire thing including rails) and 3 other times just sorta pulled them a little off the tracks.  But most times those were all Shane’s fault because he left the garage 1/2 shut.  (okay, okay, it was my fault ~ sorta, kinda)

Oh, btw, no damage to her friends car.  Thankfully.