PREPAREDNESS -- BB EAGLE EGGS -- RESOLUTION

PREPAREDNESS

Expect we’re all paying mind to issues associated with the Coronavirus including recommended care we each should take so I won’t repeat instructions here.  This is a dynamic situation with potential changes daily to be expected. 

I believe there are knowledgeable individuals we can trust including credible press who will keep us all informed as to the science and facts associated with the status of this virus in the U.S. -- whether or not some government officials not known for their belief in science or veracity attempt to control information distribution otherwise. 

Mostly I’m approaching this pretty much as I have with my earthquake emergency preparedness though there are some differences.  Importantly, we must remain calm, rational and not panic. 

***

Big Bear Bald Eagle eggs did not hatch so no eaglets this year.

***

HANGIN’ FIRE ISSUES RESOLVED

Don’t you love the feeling when you’ve resolved some issue that has been ‘hangin’ fire’, so to speak.   I recently received an email from a gal who had been in a writing group with me several years ago.  In a few brief words I was asked to please review a large attachment she sent.  I had reason to be surprised she would send me this request plus the attachment was on an unfamiliar-to-me formal business-looking form I’d never seen before.  A net search revealed such a business site, but I was uneasy about opening the attachment.      

I recalled encouraging her to publish a book of her flash fiction short-short stories that always ended with an unexpected twist our group really enjoyed.  Maybe she had written a few more tales, wanted me to review them before submitting for publication.  But I still had a niggling little feeling of unease about this attachment so decided to follow my gut’s dictates to not click to open.

I thought I’d try to contact the writer to verify the email actually was from her, but this was easier said than done since our group never exchanged phone numbers and communicated only by email, plus the other members had either moved away or died.  I’ll spare you the gory details of all the time and effort I expended in this effort, encountering repeated dead-ends in the process.   

I’d decided to just let it go and if she didn’t hear from me, maybe she’d contact me.  But then the matter would cross my mind again and I’d think of something else to try. I kept feeling like this was unfinished business hanging over me and I wanted to simply wrap it up.  But I finally decided to put it on hold for a while.

Just as I had put that issue on my mental back burner I received an email from a prominent national department store thanking me for purchases pictured with an accompanying receipt – a scarf and 3 pairs of sheer thigh high hosiery of a type these legs of mine now weren’t likely to be wearing any more.   Subsequently, I received several more emails from the store inviting me to sign up (requiring I reveal personal information I expect) to a special club they have, telling me about all their other related stores including some with bargains and a $40 bonus for future purchases. 

Immediately, I’m thinking a phishing expedition since I hadn’t made these in-store purchases in NYC.    In the event this could be the beginning of a fraud, I  forwarded those emails with a brief explanation to the store.   Chat and other exchanges the next few days finally resolved the matter when I noticed on the receipt copy sent to me that they had an email address for the purchaser with an additional repetitive alphabet letter different from my email address.  Either the store or the email provider mis-sent these notices to me. 

Years ago, something similar had happened several times when I received emails meant for some other person but who had a slightly different username and address.  I was finally comfortable this was resolved with no harm done, but I was reminded of my other unresolved email issue.

So,  I searched again on the net, came across what I thought was my former writers group member’s name, but in a nearby city – not where she had lived in my town.  I took a chance, phoned, and the man answering insisted no one by that name there.  I pressed, did he know of anyone by that name elsewhere, mentioned the writing group and instantly he said, “Just a minute.”   Next thing I knew I was talking to her.  Her email had been hacked.  She thought she’d contacted everyone to not click on the attachment.  I was relieved to wrap-up that issue and that I had avoided malware on my computer.   

I’m glad to have resolved these matters once and for all avoiding possible complications.   Feels so good!   

Have you encountered  similar computer complications or matters you resolved leaving you feeling a sense of relief?