Thea Newcomb

11 to go…Phew!

How’d that happen?? Time flies the older I get…or maybe it just seems like that.

Clyde@Sunset

Been super busy of late…And super-productive too. That’s a good thing!

THURSDAY night was my wonderful friend Nicola’s book launch in the City. I am so proud of her. I am inspired by her achievement and a little put to shame. I mean I’ve been working on a book for years and she goes and does it in less than a year – start to finish. D’oh.

FRIDAY night met up with a friend J for a coffee and then when the place shut, we went on to a bar/brewery in the south side for another drink or two…A great spontaneous night. Before he’d arrived, I’d been trolling over old journals and what not – looking for inspiration on a short film I’m working on…(watch this space).

Been very productive on the real film – So You’ve Been Dumped – too. Having meetings and phone conversations with a variety of people.  I believe all funding is now in place to complete and I’m starting to look at where I’ll go for a few more interviews – then into the edit suite (again).

SATURDAY walked to town to have a lovely dinner with David. It was so enjoyable to see him and shoot-the-shee-at for a few hours.

SUNDAY was a bit of knitting where I gave the gals a preview of my new music video.  Delighted to be learning a new type of stitch “feather and fan” and it’s a beauty so it is…

Then it was off to dinner with the lovely Karen. We had a fantastic Mexican meal over looking the river and then hung out at my house for a while. I gave her a preview of my latest video  also, and asked her whether she thought I should post it, she said “yes” so up it went this morning (see below). After I dropped her I went to Nicola’s to pay off a debt and borrow the WIRE. Am up to SEASON 5 episode 7. Classic and distracting stuff!

I am feeling so incredibly BUZZED at the moment, let me tell ya. Miss Productive., that’s me

After posting the video this morning – off for an hour’s swim I went. Well I did 50 laps. I could have done double that but I like to add laps every week (did thirty, two weeks back, forty last week, and fifty today…) I believe 64 is a mile so maybe I’ll do that on Thursday…?

If you have a moment would you consider checking out my So You’ve Been Dumped blog today. It gives you a bit of background about the video below. I appreciate your support. Gotta grab my dinner and get back to the WIRE

If you like the video – forward it onto your friends, your ex, your colleagues or anyone you think it might help…Please tweet, post it on your Facebook profile and MySpace or anywhere you have a presence….I’d really appreciate it. Let’s help the singletons of the world at this trying time

Well good news, (for me anyway!) – from March I’ll be returning to RADIO SIX INTERNATIONAL just in time to celebrate they’re 10th anniversary. It’s an exciting time for the station and I am excited to have given carte blanche to play whatever it is that I like.

So you can expect – rock, pop, indie, acoustic and no doubt a bit of alt.country too.

‘Been seeing LOTS of movies this past week. Three or four since Saturday alone. I walked out of AVATAR once “Grace” bit the dust. It was oh-so-boring. Even those now legendary “special effects” couldn’t keep me in my seat.

Monday it was YOUTH IN REVOLT which I predicted to be as abysmal, but was actually better (well at least I stayed in my seat until the end).

Some great music there – a favorite was “When You Love Somebody” by the SUB POP (I think) band the Fruit Bats. Class. That was a knee tapper.

Tuesday was a Mel morning as he starred in EDGE OF DARKNESS. I actually was really enjoying it, but had to leave to make a noon appointment, so I missed the damn ending.

It’s OK though, I have  a plan…I’ll go buy a ticket to it next week. Sit in the bar for about 90 min reading a book or knitting and then enter at that point, and see the final minutes.

It was worth a view – the best of the three this week – but challenging for any of those with strong father-daughter bonds. Really I kept crying. Sometimes my empathy for things like this is on overdrive…

In addition to films – I seem to be studying my way through the APPLE SUITE. I’ve now had iMovie, iLife, and Garage Band courses. Today it’s Video for Business.

After which, I hope to be meeting up with my most-talented, musical friend Geoff Martyn. Geoff was a one time member of Travis, he’s multi-instrumental, had songs played in some of my favorite US dramas (always a trip to hear his songs coming on), and even more importantly he’s the fabulous guy who helped me build So You’ve Been Dumped from the first pixel back in the summer of 2000. Hard to believe we’ve lasted a decade!

Yesterday, had a wonderful meeting and afternoon at GMAC – spending time with a uber talented producer (and actress) called Suzanne. Regular blog readers of mine (all three of you) – may recall I babbled a lot about the “Red Carpet” event last summer for her movie RUNNING IN TRAFFIC (her and partner Dale produced it, and Dale directed).

So it was fab to have a chat with them yesterday about my own film…which I’ve decided is time to complete. . .

Yep, it’s sat ‘in the can’ for a year now – and it’s time I’ve moved it along to completion. The time is now. This year it’s done. That’s my promise to all you in blogland.

Wound off the night with a bit of knitting in the Tron Theatre – as per norm. I am learning my first “lace” pattern. (For those of you that doesn’t mean we knit with lace – it means that it has holes are gaps in what you’e doing).

I am only doing a scarf (of course) – but truly I am child-like in my excitement about learning a new stitch…just as I was 2 months ago when I learned the Fisherman’s Rib!

The bummer last night was I twisted my ankle so bad, during the day, and it started to throb while I sat there. I mean really hurt – to the point I thought I might have broken it, so had to leave within the hour.

I decided I’d wait until morning to go to the hospital and as it feels a lot better – I am guessing it was just a sprain. Hope so at any rate…

The mind is a powerful thing…

Well I need to dry my hair and get to town. It’s rained for days, and I long for the sunshine. I think me and my lovely friend Mags will jet off to Spain or somewhere soon for some Winter Sun.

Or failing that, I’ll have to buy a SAD LAMP to get that vitamin D.

My only consolation is that it’s been pissing with rain in California for the past few weeks too. So not missing much there…

Hey and don’t forget if you’re in a band or are an artist – get me your music to play on my show which I am starting to prepare now. February’s a short month!

Hello world.

It’s a sunny Monday in Glasgow.

The jetlag finally caught up with me and after 3 nights of seven-hour-sleeps, I managed more like ten or eleven last night! Woke up and compressed the video I made last night and uploaded it to youtube at lunchtime.

Then it was a question of what to do now – look for a job? Eat? Hit the gym? Head to the bank?

I opted to go for a run a long the Clyde, and boy, did it feel great to be home! I love where I live. I love my life. Today anyway! I loved the fact the winter sun was shining down and danced along the river as I ran.

Managed around twenty-five minutes and then decided to walk.

In California, I’d been up to close to an hour running, non-stop, but after a run that resulted in a painful leg and limping home, I’ve not been able to run for close to a month. Best to not over do it on my first run of the New Year.

According to my Twitter friend Gary – Britain’s Got Talent is having try outs there today. There were millions of folks milling about outside the Clyde Auditorium as I ran by…

So anyway I am loving my new KODAK Zi8. It’s great…

Here is the video I made yesterday. It’s a song my dear friend Kenneth Elliot wrote and it was recorded in his house by Mark Maclaren with Emma Bibby singing. This song should be used in films, TV etc. At the very least, maybe it will end up in mine…

If you like the song, then please log into YouTube and rate it and leave a supportive comment.  (All comments need approved).

Also if you have a blog, Twitter, Facebook etc – please promote it on your social networking sites and profiles. With a bit of luck, maybe, just maybe this song can become an internet phenomenon…

I have to dry my hair and head to the bank. Hope you enjoy the little video I made. It’s my first music video so plenty of room for improvement.

…?

And you thought I was gonna say “the heart is” I bet…

Well it feels great to be back.

I managed to stay awake until a decent hour. Nine maybe. I was in the middle of filming Ken singing songs when I nodded off halfway through (Not because of his songs but because of my fatigue).

He finally kicked my butt out and told me to go home and get some sleep – which I did – after a nice hot bath and a long chat with my lovely friend Mags.

So as I say I zonked out by 9pm and was rudely awoken, yet again, but stupid, pot-smoking, bongo playing downstairs neighbours at four in the morning. Ludicrous. Some people are so totally and utterly inconsiderate. I really ought to go have a talk with them. Or buy some extra strength ear plugs.

Anyway – I might just give myself the day off as I’ve been up since four. I did make two videos today though so at least I achieved something. I do fancy seeing a movie but just checked the Cineworld and there’s bugger all on that I want to see. Bummer.

Did sign up for some more workshops at the APPLE STORE. Love that they do them. It’s great to learn things. If only I could go to school to be an editor. I am slowly coming around to the idea of being able to edit. It’s slowly sinking in…if I really knew how I could finish off my own film and be done with it – instead of needing to find someone to do it for me!

Here’s one for you…My dear friend Ken singing about the incredible munchkin Eve:

PS: Unsure if I will be returning to L107…but I do have a variety of fantastic new music to play if I do. Watch this space…

Sitting at SFO by the window staring at the darkness. I’ve had an emotional few days – filled  with many tears. It’s challenging straddling two worlds and I can’t escape the guilt I feel leaving my father behind. We’ve had a good couple of months, but now it’s time to return to my life and make things happen in 2010 – hopefully for both our benefits!

This is the year we celebrate our 10th birthday on So You’ve Been Dumped. What an amazing decade it’s been. Punctuated with so many highs and lows. It’s time to finish the wee book, film, iPhone app and so forth.

But whether I do that in California or in Scotland remains to be seen.

People think you’re so lucky to live in a foreign country, but really it’s a case of feeling not quite whole in either place – at least for me. California has its draw – of course it does. The weather for one…and the Silly Cone Valley is where it’s all happening technology wise. So that’s a plus in the “pro CA” column…

Scotland also has its rewards…My job, my home, and most importantly my  fabulous friends.  These people have become my “family” over the past two decades (almost).

It may be an erroneous conclusion – but it feels like the Scots make more of an effort to meet up, hang out etc. Perhaps I just need to take off the rose colored specs…

In CA, it seems so many are so caught up in their lives they never quite get around to seeing you (especially those with families)…in spite of so many “Hey I want to see you when you’re here” messages on Facebook…so I end up feeling disappointed a lot in CA. (An outcome I struggle with and have to continually ‘let go’ of.)

Thank goodness for the handful or so of friends who really made the effort to call and see me here. I am so pleased about that. Thank you my lovelies…

For now though, I feel all cried out. The guilt and the conflicted emotions are subsiding and I’m just gonna embrace the present moment. It’s a long day ahead of me – with a long lay over in NJ…

I’m excited to be home in my own flat, hoping there’s at least a little snow still around (though I doubt it). Excited to see my Scottish family over the coming days and even have some Christmas-New Years celebrations this weekend with a precocious 8-year-old. So would you believe I have to go home and wrap presents? I might even pull out my little Christmas tree (it’s two foot and fibre optic) – LOL.

And all being well – I may very well be back on the radio on Sunday Night @ L107. We’ll see…

That’s all from California – next stop Newark – then Bonnie Scotland…I really could use a holiday now.

SPAIN anyone?

Well it’s the tail end of a long trip to California. Soon I’ll be piling on the woolies and thermals and returning to Scotland. Soooo looking forward to seeing my Scottish friends who have become my other “family”.

Dad has been driving a little bit – which is great. (if a little nerve-wracking for me).

He still doesn’t speak 100% or walk 100% or anything 100% – but he’s in his late seventies, so I guess that stands to reason. Really it’s challenging to know what’s the stroke and what’s just old age.

He’s forgetful, but then so am I! Aren’t we all, at times?

We have spent the day together – mostly running errands. I am so grateful for this opportunity – to spend some quality time with my dad.

‘Been trying to film him a fair bit with my new KODAK HD handheld camera. I should interview him some more (I did a few trips ago)…about his life. He amazes me at his ability to sleep sitting in an office chair. That’s one skill (ability to sleep anywhere) I didn’t inherit from him.

My IMOVIE FOR DUMMIES book has arrived today. I’m delighted. Though I’ve used previous versions for years and years – 09 has thrown me a bit. Took part in a ninety-minute workshop for iMovie yesterday in downtown Los Gatos. That was helpful.

Looking forward to another iPhone Developers meeting before I return to the UK. Have met some great people through the group. Half-tempted to launch a similar group in Glasgow…

Had a night in San Francisco last weekend with my best bud Bri, and then one in Santa Cruz this week with my big sis Wendy.

Felt so great to be near the water in both places.

My sister and I sat outside in Capitola at Zeldas and ate our lunch on Wednesday. I felt sorry for my Scottish counterparts who were dealing with minus ten degree temps.

Soon I’ll be back in the cold…and away from the earthquakes. Yes we’ve had 30 in the past few days. I’ve not felt one of them. A big one that hit yesterday occurred when I was in the workshop and there was no sign of shaking there – but dad said it was like they lifted up his place a few feet and dropped it!

Kinda glad I missed it to be honest.

Have cut back on poultry since the new year began and not had any soda at all. Feel all the better for it but find I am challenged now every single meal time…I suppose I should get back to my packing, tidying, organising and so forth. So much to do – so little time.

Have a big decision (or two) to make over the coming  days and months – do I return to California on a more permanent basis? Do I return to radio?

Relocating to CA is not an ideal situation to me (though many think I am mad). but sometimes life is having to things we don’t really want to though eh?

In the meantime I’m looking for work in Scotland. About to Google some jobs now in fact. I do sometimes wonder (as do my friends here) wonder if I’d find it easier to get work here or there.

There are certainly many good things about Silicon Valley – of course there are – but it’s just no longer my “home: after nearly two decades in the UK.

I’ve seen so few friends while being out here. It’s been challenging to not be “disappointed” but the flakiness of so many of my so-called friends here. It makes me appreciate my Scottish friends all the more. (Love you guys – you know who you are) xx

To move or not to move – that is the question and time will tell…

Well, as many of you who are regular readers of the blog know, we’re in the process of building our first ever iPhone application. It’s all terribly exciting and frankly I can’t wait to unveil it. I don’t want to write too much about it just now though – for 1) fear of jinxing it and 2) someone stealing the idea before we finish it…but I will say that ,while I’ve been in California, I joined a Silicon Valley group pertaining to iPhone developing and it’s been fab.

Having attended several meetings, I’ve subsequently meeting up with various people through it. One such gentleman whom I met through the group – I chatted to this morning has designed a great, little called Napkin Genius. In its true essense it’s a sketching application but as we spoke we came up with another more unique use for it.

Now, you may be wondering how this pertains to break-ups – but read on to get my somewhat tenuous link…

In the creator’s own words:

With Napkin Genius, (the premium version) your site members can easily channel their residual anger, hurt or frustration about their ex in a healthy, creative and cathartic way…For example, a dumpee can take one of their photographs of their ex from their iPhone (or iTouch) Photo Library, import it into Napkin Genius as a background, and then let’s say ‘augment’ the photograph to show their ex’s true self…

He gave a humorous and rather topical example – that maybe Tiger Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, might consider using it to have a little fun with her hubby’s photographs. (See right)…

I know I’ll be having a bit of FUN with a few of my exes photos later…We’re talking horns, whiskers, buck teeth – the lot.

Really the reason why I mention this is because one of the main tenents on the site is Positive Revenge. To me, what positive revenge is – is doing something that makes you feel better but won’t hurt anyone else. This is a prime example. So I just thought we’d round the year off with a bit of light-hearted fun. We all can use a laugh.

Of course this program was not invented for such purposes – it actually has wonderful, serious uses too – as I said, it’s main use is as a sketch pad (and I hear architects quite dig it,…) – but we just thought it would be rather fitting for my site’s clientele. Let us know!

But bringing it back home to SYBD – a question for all you creative types: – what do you think we could have in our App to help dumpees the most? Join in a discussion on SYBD. If you give us some ideas – don’t claim we stole your idea…Basically only give ideas if you can give them freely…We appreciate your input! It’s an exciting time at SYBD HQ. All being well it will be out before our 10th birthday!

The other day I was paid a visit by my Best Bud Bri (BBB) and we spent ages looking through my iTunes. We went to buy my dad an electric blanket which he was really really wanting. So he’s a happy camper – a warm one at that. Brian also scored some bedding down from $120 to $20.00 – S C O R E! A great day indeed.

So I am writing to you by the light of the Christmas tree  – been this way all week.  We have had HOLIDAY INN on the telly, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, WHITE CHRISTMAS and every cheesy film that’s aired on Lifetime, Hallmark, Ion and the like. Truly it’s been a very laxed visit to CA. Lots of movies and lots of knitting.

We had a quiet Christmas Day. Picked up a rental car on Christmas Eve and then at 1pm – I picked up our meal from Safeway. 2pm we picked up my aunt who arrived on flight from Houston. Got back and did more cooking before a four pm feast.

Am a little put off by the amount of commercials played here – if they’re not health (medicine, illnesses & the like) then they’re almost definitely about shopping…some 5am sale or whatever.  It’s nauseating to be honest. It’s just ‘stuff’ and the older I get the less I need or want. I do enjoy giving (making stuff usually) it has to be said. That’s the highlight for me. I guess that’s the sign of maturity or something? That you shift from being all excited about getting presents and you get more exciting about giving them!

My aunt brought me some some DIOR perfume which was great because I seldom get perfume – unless I buy it for myself in duty free. I fancy finding some RALPH LAUREN perfumes – Polo or Romance or something.

My Christmas gift to my dad is letting him watch Wrestling. As my aunt has my bed – I’m doing that sofa thing…so I’m losing myself in a world of Johnny Mathis Christmas songs to tune out his TV show.  Glad he’s here. This really could have been a different sort of Christmas had the stroke been worse than it was. I’d say he’s 80% back to “normal”.  Maybe more. Hard to assess as he’s nearly 78 years young. Some of his wobbly-ness might just be the natural aging process. All I know is that it’s hard to see him getting old. This guy was always a big strapping man – six-foot-four and broad shoulders. Now it feels like I could snap him in half if I tried. That’s life I guess.

Anyway it’s all good. We’ve enjoyed our day. I love the rental car. Auntie D and I are both movie lovers and so we’re off to see IT’S COMPLICATED in the afternoon. Looking forward to it. Hope it’s better than the movie BC took to me last week – WHAT ABOUT THE MORGANS - or whatever the hell it’s called. Not exactly the comedy hit of 2009 that the adverts make out…

A little bummed I’ve missed out on the winter wonderland that is Scotland. It’s just not the same with bright sunshine and palm trees out your window. (“Winter Wonderland” on my headphones. Just noticed that, spooky). A snowman, I wish.

Anyway life is grand from California. Feeling blessed as usual. Maybe even more than usual. . .

Well another Christmas has come and gone. We just need to get through New Year now eh?

Happy 15th!

It’s dull weather this Tuesday afternoon – which makes a change from the pissing weather we had at the weekend – here in California. (Yah, I know that will surprise so many of my Scottish counterparts…but yes I told you, it DOES rain in CA.)

So I am eating my fave lunch in Los Gatos – the  wee (snooty) town where I grew up.

Had to drop my dad at a job in Sunnyvale and spent most of my day in the library there before coming down to LG to make a payment for my dad.

Just nipped into an overpriced Spa for a small bottle of Lavender and to my surprise I forked out fifteen dollars on it. WTF? It’s Sonoma Lavender (as if that makes a difference) and honestly I’ve never paid that much ever for it. I highly doubt it’s better than the four-quid bottle I get in Glasgow’s west end…but I thought “screw it, I’m getting it.”

I mean – hey, I’ve run out, I like it, I use it, so what if it was an arm-and-a-leg to buy it? (“Money comes to me effortlessly and easily” is my mantra). Merry Christmas to me. Least I’ll sleep like a log tonight…

LITTLE UPDATE:

On Saturday I had a nice long day off and ended up watching a PBS special by Dr Amen on  The Brain in Love: 12 Lessons to Enhance Your Love Life — It’s a book I’d like to get. Really enjoying his findings – in just how different women and men are…Some of it we saw in Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex- of course – but Dr Amen’s is more – well medically-minded. It seems to deal more with hormones and chemicals. He’s asserting that men have hormonal issues too – it’s not just us women! Hooray!

Later on on Saturday I ended up at the 2nd-hand record shop and gave myself permission to spend twenty bucks on CDs. Ended up spending twenty-four with tax but came home with twenty CDs – so I cut myself some slack. Most are good too (so far).

Later on I met up with my good friend Teri for a coffee and then Jenn and Nikki let me gatecrash their Lynbrook reunion. Lynbrook is a high school, and I know the girls from De Anza College – some 20 years ago….so that was awesome on Saturday.

As an added bonus – I met two, really lovely ladies; and it’s so nice to be connecting with people…making new friends and catching up with old ones too. So yep, a great night out. One of the best since arriving a month back.

You see, I don’t have too many friends left in the area. Like me, they’ve all moved on, so most of my days (and nights) have been with my dad or by myself.

I’m not really complaining (much) but sometimes it’s just good to get out and see other people. MEET other people. It feels like many of my Californian pals are so wrapped up in their own lives. I guess everyone is that way…but it seems more prominent here.

Speaking of meeting new people – I went along to another iPhone meet up for people developing APPs for the iPhone, and met some other cool people too. ‘Looks like I’ll be able to attend one more meeting before returning to Glasgow so I am pleased about that.

Did I mention the weather is so dull?? No California sun at all. My mood sort of mirrors it – though I am not down. Not by any stretch really. I guess feel introspective today – if anything. Quiet.

Sunday, my best bud Brian is came down from SF with his pug Seymour – and we took in a flick (Everybody’s Fine) and had a few good, long walks and talks.

Brian, too, has been a friend for twenty-odd years now. We laugh so much together – which is a joy. We both are pretty drama free so it’s just easy being with someone like him.

Having a pretty decent time here over all, but it has to be said, I’ve been sort of missing my Glasgow ‘family‘. I seem to have more of a social life there. Or maybe that’s an illusion I don’t know…I know it doesn’t sound like it – given what I’ve just said I’ve been doing the past few days but really the past few days have been the exception – not the norm. I can’t tell you how many movies my dad and I have sat in watching. I’ve totally lost count. If there’s a cheeseball movie on Hallmark or Lifetime – we’ve seen it.

Our little tree looks great. We bought a four-foot, pre-lit little guy which was half price at Walgreens. Delighted with it. No presents under the tree (except a little one for Brian) – but there are four or five Christmas cards – so that’s pretty festive.

Been doing my utmost to knit up a storm here too. My friend Tina wants to meet up later as she has more yarn for me. I get a lot of people just giving me yarn – because I am not a yarn snob, I guess

Also been exercising a lot. Up to 43 minutes running! Non stop (almost). Well to be fair yesterday I ran to the track – around the track for a mile – stopped the timer – walked 1/2 mile around the track – started the timer back up again and ran 2 more laps (1/2 a mile) and home again…So it was 43 min running with a half a mile walking in the middle. Still not bad. Life in the old girl yet.

Played the Sedona Method CD 2 for the entire hour. It was awesome. Double duty. I am such a multi tasker huh? It is helping me so much to feel lighter and freer. That’s my goal…Joy and lightness. Doing whatever I can to achieve it – especially this time of year!

Well it’s nearly half-four and I have to go get dad’s mail. We’re due several rebates (to the tune of a few hundred dollars) and I am hoping they’ve arrived.  Fingers crossed peeps. Catchya again soon. From L.G. – I’m Thea saying see ya.

Hello from California – I have a confession to make…Even ‘wise’ as I am on the Internet – I can still be conned…Let me share a confession with you…

This past weekend, in a moment of vanity and weakness, I decided to try two teeth whitening trials without reading the SMALL PRINT. (More fool me). Then yesterday I receive a CALL regarding one of the orders. He tries to sell me UBA and ID PROTECTION? Offering  FREE “100 gas vouchers” and a year long magazine subscription of my choice (Marie Claire or Glamour etc)  blah blah blah…Sure “Free trial” then “39.99 billed monthly” from there on for some service or other…

Really he was speaking at a million miles an hour…and I thought I talked fast.

By the end of the call – I specifically canceled everything – well, except the 99 cent teeth whitening trial! I basically had NO INTEREST in what he was selling. In all honestly, I could feel my intuitive alarm bells going and just said “NO”…he sounded most-bemused by the end of his long schpiel to hear I wasn’t going ahead with it.

Do I have “mug” written on my forehead?

Anyway – so I wake up this morning and check my bank account, and low and behold a random new charge comes off my account for SOFT GEL – which upon googleling I realise are some form of tablets…which of course I never ordered.

At that point I canceled my bank card so no more ‘unauthorised’ charges can come off!

So in a nut shell, I basically signed up to try two teeth whitening ‘trials’ for 99 cents, and was double billed by both – either that or rightly billed by one and triple billed by the other. I’m not sure I can’t work it out!

I guess I am fortunate enough that I check my account daily and so won’t get any more bills from them.

MDC*LUCENT 866-2464887 CA  (two times – once for a $1.00 and the second .99c)
M42*CLEANWHITES 877-409-4406 CY – .99c
SOFTHEALTH 8772055816 CY  – .99c

I spent less than five dollars (when I thought I was spending 1.99) and will have to spend at least that to send products back.

Thankfully – I got off lightly compared to some of these people….

What was odd was that I was getting a “foreign transaction fee” in there too. Reading through some of those comments shows they were pointed to a Cypress address? WTF?

I guess I will just send both trials back as soon as they arrive, and chalk it up to not reading small print. More fool me.

I should have known better. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Well I thought I’d confess in this blog in hopes of stopping others from making this mistake and thus offering further exposure and capital to these unscrupulous types.

Oh and the companies the guy was talking about on the phone were UBA – United Benefit Advantage and ID PROT.

Their cancellation numbers he gave me were:

UBA 1- 888 235 9042
ID PROT: 1-877 240 3421

Googling these numbers provides interesting reading…how all this stuff is all linked up to teeth whitening…It’s amazing really.

Go Phish….

Other than that – am doing well here in CA. Went to see BLIND SIDE last night and laughed and cried. I left the theater feeling inspired. Also been enjoying a movie on NETFLIX called 10 QUESTSION FOR THE DALAI LAMA by Rick Ray. It too was very inspirational.

Started running again and am now past the half hour mark which is good. I should go now but was making sure the ice melted. The Bay Area mountains are capped with snow and look pretty. It’s the coldest I remember seeing in many-a-year. I guess it’s been a while since I was home in December. I’m not sure.

I’ve taken pics but not sure any will do the area justice.

Been helping dad install alarms. Well I am not sure I am actually helping on that score. I grabbed the wire cutters from 20 feet in the air and ended up dropping them behind a book shelf (no way to retrieve them). Man did I feel awful…and did that make our install on Monday much much harder! Whoops.

He musn’t have been too mad at me – he took me to ROSS and bought me 2 pairs of boots on the way home (well to be fair the ones I’d worn out that day had to be Crazy Glued back together)! So new boots in – old boots went out.

Speaking of going out. I sold my iBOOK. It went for about HALF of what I was hoping…and the cheeky beggar gets to live in Hawaii now. I’ve never been but my old laptop is moving there. The lucky thing!

Not much else to report. I spent a lot of my day hanging with pops…watching movies mostly…He plays solitaire and I knit. It’s terribly rock and roll.

Not…

My days of Scottish radio are seeming many miles away now. A different lifetime even.

Oh and good news – I received my copy of the SEDONA METHOD book. I wrote about it on the SYBD BLOG HERE…and so far it’s very good. I’ve decided I’ll commit half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening to studying the Method. Maybe one day I’ll be able to run groups to help others ‘release’ – their negative feelings and emotions…who knows?

Well I have to get the day rolling. Happy Hump Day.