ROCKANUJ's Blog

Never scrape burnt leftovers from casseroles. Soak in a weak solution of vinegar, salt and soapy warm water for an hour or so. The stuck particles will come off very easily, without scratching the dish. Always soak cauliflower in warm salted water for some time to get rid of the tiny insects sometimes present deep inside the florets and not visible to the eye. If pizza sauce (or gravies) has become very thin, thicken by adding 2 slices of dayold bread, run in a mixie to make very fine crumbs. Using too much cornflour may make the sauce taste pasty. Rub used lemon halves dipped in salt over greasy pans, and wipe clean with an old newspaper before washing. This will remove all the extra grease and make the washing easier. You may even rub some flour instead. Add a cupful of soaked poha to 5 cupfuls of rice soaked for idlis and grind with the rice for softer and lighter idlis. Place a tsp. of soda bicarb in a corner of the fridge in a small crucible. This will keep smells of foods in the fridge from permeating each other.

There are times you may want to go without nail polish and  realize after removing your polish that the nails are yellow. Smoking can cause nails to turn yellow as well as wearing nail  polish in dark colors. There are a re few things you can do to  whiten the nails and remove the yellow easily...

Lemon...Probably the easiest way is to slice a lemon in half and stick your fingers in the halve for a few minutes. The natural acids in a lemon will whiten the nail...

If the yellow is a little more stubborn, soak your nails in a 50-50 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. This will clean the nails nicely...

A whitening toothpaste can be brushed on and scrubbed gently with a clean toothbrush to whiten the nails...

Some people soak their yellowed nails in a bowl with solution of  water and a few drops of bleach...

*******

there are many theories about birth order and great deal of research has been done.
these are just some of to the observations that many psycologists agree on:

1-parents talk to first -born babies more than to later children.

2-parents are less strict with later children than with their first child.

3-first born children use physical power to get what they want;whereas later children make more use of persuasion.

4-first born children are more bossy than later children.

5-later children also tell tales to their parents and teachers about other children.

6-first born children identify more strongly with their parents and are more influenced by them.

7-first born children have more communication with their parents than later children.

8-first born children are under more pressure to do well at school.

9-psycologists have a clearer idea of the personality of first born children than of other children.

Make four squares with 16 match sticks .

Now remove four sticks  and shift three to get “what matches are made of.’’

1. The Bible, the world's best-selling book, is also the world's most shoplifted book.

2. Someone paid $14,000 for the bra worn by Marilyn Monroe in the film 'Some Like It Hot'.

3. Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.

4. More than 1,000 different languages are spoken on the continent of Africa.

5. In the U.S.A over eleven thousand people (up until the end of 2003) have visited a tortilla chip that appears to have the face of Jesus Christ burned into it?

6. A kiss lasting one minute can burn more than 100 calories.

7. Buckingham Palace in England has over six hundred rooms.

8. There was once an undersea post office in the Bahamas.

9. Abraham Lincoln's mother died when she drank the milk of a cow that grazed on poisonous snakeroot.

10. After the death of Albert Einstein his brain was removed by a pathologist and put in a jar for future study.

We have shared all the laughter,
We’ve been through all the tears…
About our dreams we have talked,
While holding hands we walked…

You can read my thoughts,
I have laughed at your jokes,
Things are much, much better
When we are together…

Remember when we first met?
That day I will never forget!
Seems like everything was set,
You’re destined for me, and I won’t ever regret!

You captured my heart so easily,
You accept me, though sometimes I am so silly!
With you, only happiness I will cry…
Hurting me, I know you won’t try!

All that I need was a simple bliss,
God gave me more, with you, I’m now at peace
I promise in my next life, I will love you again
This feeling I have for you will always remain

Oh yes, for you, I won’t get tired of loving
A life with you is always worth living
Forever in your arms, I want to lie
Even until the day I die …

Hot Stud called last night. He was typing away online while we were talking. Annoyed me. He said he was shopping online for a new laptop. I said that I'd let him get back to his laptop shopping (although he was the one who called me). Then he totally changed directions and said that I should come over.

It was after 10pm. I had already told him I was exhausted, in my flannel jammies and had to be at the fish tank at 8am.

I've been trying to transition our 'relationship' to more of a platonic one by suggesting we get together for coffee or show him the fish tank. He's made some more suggestive comments that I've just ignored, hoping he'd get the picture.

Apparently, this strategy isn't working by last night's 'veiled' booty call.

Hot Stud (in addition to being hot) is a nice guy. Someone that I'd like to have in my stable as a friend. He asked if I was involved with anyone and I said no, that I'd dated some but no one that was really captivating - that I hadn't even kissed anyone (since him).  That I wasn't interested in something less.

He ignored that comment.

Rather ironic?

I've commented several times about how disappointed I've been at the lack of eligible men I've encountered at the fish tank right?

Tonight, I was in the Beluga area - it's dark and rather mesmerizing to watch the white whales float thru the water like something out of 2001 Space Odyssey. I'm talking about them to about 10 people around me.

Then there's this one (really cute!) guy next to me asking me lots of questions about them. He asks me how I know so much about them. I tell him that we have training and we interact with the marine biologists and learn a lot by observation.

Now it's just the two of us.
And I'm thinking how utterly cute and impressed this guy is.
(Psst! I admit it,  I glanced and there was no wedding ring!)

After a few more minutes, he thanks me and walks away.



And I see him playing tonsil-hockey with a rather homely unfortunate-looking girl - we're talking a SERIOUS mutual mauling in the middle of the gallery.

The business function I hosted was last night. It started off bad before it even started. Hot Stud texted me saying he wasn't going to be there. He's missed several - when I've gone out of my way to invite people that would be good contacts for him. And to text me the news - that's just weak.

Supposedly, the event was going to be 'co-hosted' by Mr. HighSchool (who is a drunk). He claimed he'd bring in a lot more people.

If by the term "a lot" you mean his 3 drinking buddies... Where he ordered pitcher after pitcher of mojitos and sat at a table insisting on everyone giving him a card. (That's his version of networking) He was slurring all over the place and once again, making really inappropriate comments to people.

At the end of the evening, he claimed it was a stellar success (imagine a drunk person saying that) and 'our' next one would be even better.

No chance in hell. In fact, I'm going to deliberately not invite him to future ones. I don't want to be associated with him. Maybe I'll tell him the next one will be at a Caribou Coffee or some other place that doesn't serve alcohol. He won't show.

An important senator arranges to use an escort service and winds up with a beautiful japanese girl who speaks no english.

They go into his hotel room and start having  sex and she gets into it like there's no tomorrow! She starts yelling the same japanese word over and over and making faces and he can tell he's driving her crazy! He's never had it so good.

 

The guy that sits next to me in cubicle-ville is a really nice guy. It's touching to see how devoted he is to her - he's sickeningly sweet at times. He talks to his wife about a dozen times a day. It gets old. The woman calls him for everything.

Case in point. (not suitable prior to breakfast)

She calls him yesterday to tell him she has diarrhea. (Not that I can hear her side of it)
He keeps asking questions about it.
She needs to pick up the kids from 'school'. (daycare)
So she has another 'attack' half-way to school.
She calls him to ask if she should turn around or try to make it to school.
This leads to a discussion.
He's asking her details.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to conduct a sales meeting with a prospective client on the phone.
Ick.

Supposed to have a dinner date tonight but just not feeling it. Called him and said that something had come up. He was cool with it.

However, "Chuck" (a kiss is just a kiss) called last night. Asked if I wanted to get together this weekend. I said sure. My laptop needs help and I enjoy spending time with him.

Had a strange dream last night...
I was being admitted to a woman's prison. Sitting in a waiting room. I was trying to ask what was going on, what the procedures were, etc. There were some print-outs in plastic sheet covers laying around and I was sitting there casually reading over them. Meanwhile, there is a lot of drama going on with the current residents - water gun fights, lots of skirmishes, the current women trying to hassle the newbies. A woman sitting next to me, we were looking at each other with "we don't fit in here, we're educated and these women belong on the Jerry Springer Show" glances.

I didn't know why I was put in the prison and I was calmly asking if someone could tell me why I was here, how long I was supposed to be there and if there was early release for good behavior.

Then, some woman came over to us with a sort of cafeteria-style rolling food cart going over sample meals. Everything looked repulsive. Overcooked unidentifiable veggies. Meat that was slop and gravy. Mushy white gelataneous stuff. There were color-coded toothpick in each item and she was indicating that this meal technically failed nutritional guidelines but they try to make it work. (I think this was inspired from a convo I had with Krazedone)

Then I was walking away from the prison on a gravel road. I had a feeling I had been there before with my mother - we weren't inmates or visiting anyone, but we were there on business. Deja Vu sort of feeling. As I'm walking, I'm seeing $10 and $20 bills on the road. They said that prisoners want to get rid of the evidence, so they toss the money before they get to the jail.

Looking at what's going on in my life, this dream says a lot... I definitely feel imprisoned right now, I don't know why or when I'll be released. I feel like I don't belong. And I've certainly had financial issues. And the mom stuff. Oh boy...
More thoughts on it later.

Diva's Method of Removing Very Large Dark Wine Stains from a Light-Colored Expensive Fabric Table-Topper

1) Cuss excessively, making up some new combinations of profanity.
1a) Glare at the cat that knocked the wine over and yell "BAD!"
1b) Cat runs over table, spreading wine further.
2) Grab the nearest fabric to try to stop the wine from continuing to spill (which incidentally, was a rather expensive sport sock which turns out not to be very absorbent)
3) Soak the fabric in cold water and curse some more.
4) Coat the stain in Zout, Spray and Wash, OxyClean Powder, and Tide. Repeatedly until it makes a multi-layer pastey concoction.
5) Let sit overnight.
6) Put the whole mess in the washing machine with another 3 capfuls of detergent, say a prayer, and let it go.
7) Adjunct prayer when washing complete, before inspecting fabric.
8) Jump up and down on sore ankle when you realize that the stain is miraculously gone.
9) Realize you need another large glass of wine to kill the pain in ankle.

Where's that sippy cup I needed? What do I do with one purple sport sock?

Candlelight. How romantic for a Saturday night, right? Well, not exactly!

Power went out last night right after I sent an email to April around 6pm. They said it would be back on by Monday night at 11pm.

I've done just about everything I can think of that didn't require power or to be able to see anything. "The mom" offered to pick me up and let me stay over there. (You'd be proud of me, I didn't say "HELL NO!", just "it might come on at any time)

And it was the night of bored men from my past to call last night. The artist called around midnight. Then, can you believe "Mr. Easy Access" called me at 1am to talk? (UGH! - no caller id b/c the power was out, so I answered the phone...)

Alas, the power came back on around 1:30 p.m.! I'm going to take a shower and blow dry my hair - the power has flickered a few times since it came back on a little while ago!

I need snuggling reserves STAT!

Listen to the words I write for you
I found a love that I know it’s true
It’s precious and a gift from you
The way it’s take away my blues

I found a love that makes me happy
Even when things are not just right
Making the best of all that can be
Always feeling my heart take flight


My precious love is gift of happiness
Souls are bound with passion fire
To be able to live with out it never
As it has fulfilled my every desire


I found a love and its name is “YOU”
Your name is love, all its meaning
I know this because of what you do
As well as the way I have been feeling

It's hard talking to a drunk.

Since we do not live together right now J and I talk on the phone each night, mainly so that I can see how he is before he talks to K (our daughter), also because I am a fool and I just want to talk to him.

Tonight I asked him about helping me with the cost of taking K to the Dr. She needs to be seen for a minor thing but mostly just for a check up, she is hitting puberty and I want her to just have one. Neither one of us has insurance and office visits are $68, and that is alot on me right now.

That one question started off a full circle of crap conversation!

J pays child support, not as much as he should and he is the first to admit it. We have worked this out ourselves, no courts or anything and right now he is making alot of money, alot more then when we first decided on an amount. So, when he started making this money I talked to him about maybe giving me a little more each week. He said no, he didn't think that that was the way to do it, but he would start taking care of the things that K needed extra... clothing, shoes, haircuts....etc. All I had to do was to call him and tell him she needed something.

Well, I have done that twice. Once to get her some more winter clothes and once for Girl Scout money for something. He on the other hand has offered extra here and there for her, which of course I took. Children are expensive!

So anyway, tonight he says "When I told you that I would pay her things I didn't mean for you to call me every night with something new" Well shit, I haven't really asked for anything! He has given, but I haven't asked.. and here I am asking to HELP me, not to PAY for it, to take her to the DR.

He proceeded to tell me that he was taking her to get her eyes checked and since he was shelling out that money, I could take her to the Dr. And then he talked about all the times that I have asked him for money for her. Which of course, after he had to talk about it he remembered that I didn't ask for any of it in the first place, so after about 5 mins he said that he would help because he was wrong.

Ha! Not two sentences later we started to go through the whole damn conversation again, at which time I just said whatever and that I would take her to the Dr myself.

Tomorrow, I will talk to him again before he has more than a 6 pack in him.

That is just a small example of our conversations if I happen to catch him to late in the evening.

"Only good girls keep diaries. Bad girls don't have time."
Tallulah Bankhead

Hmmm. It's Saturday night and I'm home blogging... It doesn't look good. LMAO

But I'm running a fever, I have no voice and my brain is full of snot. What fun would I be anyway right now??? I accidentally took the non-drowsy version cold medicine, so I can't sleep now.

An old bf called me today. He said I sounded "really sexy" with my raspy voice. (I personally think I sound like Bea Arthur right now.) I'm sick as a dog and this cretin is trying for a booty call or phone sex. And why did I quit seeing him? Oh yeah, because he's a selfish horndog that didn't even ask if I was ok - just if I was dating anyone. He's a gem - must elaborate on him later. He has the title of "Worst Kisser in ManKind".

Those of you of the male persuasion - I'm not a hater by any means. You guys crack me up and entertain the hell out of me with the dating/mating game.

For those who love the philosophy of hypocrisy and ambiguity....


1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.....

3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

5. The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

7. What if there were no hypothetical questions?

8. If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

9. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

10. Is there another word for synonym?

11. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

12. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

13. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

14. Would a fly without wings be called a walk? (LOVE this one!!)

15. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

16. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

17. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

18. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

19. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?

20. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?

21. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

22. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

23. Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra?

24. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

25. How is it possible to have a civil war?

SOCIAL SECURITY SEX: Two men were talking. "So, how's your sex life?" "Oh, nothing special. I'm having Social Security sex." "Social Security sex?"
"Yeah, you know: I get a little each month, but not enough to live on!"

LOUD SEX: A wife went in to see a therapist and said, "I've got a big problem doctor. Every time we're in bed and my husband climaxes, he lets out this ear splitting yell." "My dear," the shrink said, "that's
completely natural. I don't see what the problem is." "The problem is," she complained, "It wakes me up!"

QUIET SEX: Tired of a listless sex life, the man came right out and asked his wife during a recent lovemaking session, "How come you never tell me
when you have an orgasm?" She glanced at him casually and replied, "You're never home!"

CONFOUNDED SEX: A man was in a terrible accident, and his "manhood" was mangled and torn from his body. His doctor assured him that modern
medicine could give him back his manhood, but that his insurance wouldn't cover the surgery, since it was considered cosmetic. The doctor said the cost would be $3,500 for "small, $6,500 for "medium, and $14,000 for
"large." The man was sure he would want a medium or large, but the doctor urged him to talk it over with his wife before he made any decision. The
man called his wife on the phone and explained their options. The doctor came back into the room, and found the man looking dejected. "Well, what have the two of you decided?" asked the doctor. The man answered, "She'd rather remodel the kitchen".

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SEX: A husband and his wife had a bitter quarrel on the day of their 40th wedding anniversary. The husband yells, "When you
die, I'm getting you a headstone that reads: 'Here Lies My Wife - Cold As Ever'." "Yeah," she replies, "When you die, I'm getting you a headstone that reads: 'Here Lies My Husband - Stiff At Last.'"

A few more amusing tidbits about the "Non-Ranger"...

He got a vasectomy a few months ago (why since he's "sterile" I don't know...) But he called me afterwards to ask if I would come over and put neosporin on his incisions. [b](I laughed hysterically in the phone and told him they must have snipped some brain pathways too!)[/b]

He's notorious for very late night booty calls at least 2x a month. I've told him COUNTLESS times that I go to bed really early and really need my sleep. We've NEVER had sex - so why does he think after 2 years, I'd suddenly change my mind????

I take Ambien to sleep sometimes. It leaves me kinda "out of it" for the first hour or so. The Non-Ranger called me at this time and we apparently had a somewhat steamy convo. (I don't recall it at all). The next morning, he calls and wants to know if he can bring b'fast over. I'm like "whaaaaaaaa?" He tells me that I invited him over in the morning to ravish me. I say he's full of shit. He tells me to look at caller id - his call is there. I tell him that I was drugged and have no recollection and it "ain't happening." He replied "You know, you did kinda seem out of it." LMAO

And he is SUCH a bad kisser - has no woman not told him? Or has he been sooo clueless despite the frequent hinting that there might be some "performance issues"??? Can he seriously think he's all that if I'm turning him down repeatedly/constantly even when not involved with someone?

And there are so many more....

There's a local tv-evangelist that loves to do some really grand productions - he's got a book out on fasting - maybe some of you catch his weekly shows. As I was flipping channels, this one caught my attention...

He's got kids flying over the church members as 'angels'. There is a very large live lion chained on a platform at one side of the stage. Lion is licking his chops.

There's also a live lamb chained on the opposite side of the stage.

That lamb looks pretty freaked out. Like 'where's the exit?' Lamb is trembling - not sure if it is the hokey performance - I'm sure his agent didn't tell him what this gig was about - or if it is the fact there is a live lion eyeballing him.

This should be a very moving production, but I was laughing... Is that wrong?

I think most folks that cross paths with my blog know that I utterly adore Hot Stud. He'd be the perfect man for me, if it weren't for that whole thing he has with monogamy. (and I'm unwilling to 'bend' on that issue.)

So I've deliberately squashed any sort of 'suggestions' he's made at being 'more than friends'. As incredibly sexy and appealing as I find him, I'd be barking up the heartbreak tree. Can't fit a square peg into a round hole, nor can you make a guy want to be monogamous.

He asked me the other day why I went to N.O. - I told him that I wanted to get away. He said that I should have called him. (I got the impression that he thought I went to visit my friend down there for more intimate reasons if you catch my drift.)

Then he went on to say that he had been wanting to spend some time with me (alluding to the less-clothed kind) but he knew I had been going through a lot with the cats dying, etc.

I am not the casual fling type. It just doesn't do it for me. And adding to it someone that I have feelings for, well, that's just darn stupid to do.

So, the million-dollar question is... what do I say to him? I don't want to make him feel weird - I don't think saying that I have feelings for you and I can't go down that road with you would not be good for me. But what other alternative do I have? I'm not going to 'hook up' with him. It's hard enough as it is to keep my feelings in check.

I wrote yesterday about how the kittens smell so good - like vanilla - since they fell into my vanilla bubble bath the other evening...

Well, those adorable critters have a very stinky side.

Velvet loves to sleep on my chest. And she loves to nuzzle me - it gets to be a little much - at first it is just chin rubbing, and then she starts nibbling on my nose. A little is enough - you know? So she's sleeping on my chest. Tux sleeps between my knees (just like Sassy did). Early morning, he scoots up beside me, leaning against my arm.

Suddenly, this morning, Velvet got up and jumped off the bed.

And then I smelled it - it was Tux. It was silent and very deadly. I have not smelled something so foul come out of a grown man before - much less a fluffy kitten that weighs less than 3 lbs.

Be sure to refill the ice trays, we're going to have company after while.

Watch for the postman, I want to get this letter to Aunt Mary in the mail today.

Quit slamming the screen door when you are on your way out!

Be sure and pull the windows down when you leave, it looks like a shower is coming up.

 

Don't forget to wind the clock before you go to bed.

Wash your feet before you go to bed, they are nasty from playing outside all day barefooted.

 

Why can't you remember to roll up your pant legs? Getting them caught in the bicycle chain so many times is tearing them up.

You have torn the knees out of that pair of pants so many times there is nothing left to put a patch on.

 

Don't you go outside with your good school clothes on!

Go comb your hair; it looks like the rats have nested in it all night.

Be sure and pour the cream off the top of the milk when you open the new bottle.

Take that empty bottle to the store with you so you won't have to pay a deposit on another one.

 

Put a dish towel over the cake so the flies won't get on it.

Quit jumping on the floor! I have a cake in the oven and you are going to make it fall if you don't quit!

Let me know when the Fuller Brush man comes by, I need to get a few things from him.

You boys stay close by, the car may not start and I will need you to help push it off.

 

There's a dollar in my purse, get 5 gallons of gas when you go to town.

Open the back door and see if we can get a breeze through here, it is getting hot.

 

You can walk to the store; it won't hurt you to get some exercise.

Don't sit too close to the TV. It is hard on your eyes.

 

If you pull that stunt again, I am going to wear you out!

Don't lose that button; I'll sew it back on after awhile.

 

Wash under your neck before you come to the table, you have beads of dirt and sweat all under there.

Get out from under the sewing machine; pumping it messes up the thread!

Be sure and fill the lamps this morning so we don't have to do that tonight in the dark.

 

Here, take this old magazine to the toilet with you when you go, we are almost out of paper out there.

Go out to the well and draw a bucket of water so I can wash dishes.

Don't turn the radio on now, I want the battery to be up when the Grand Ole Opry comes on.

 

No! I don't have nine cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees?

Eat those vegetables, they'll make you big and strong like your daddy.

That dog is NOT coming in this house! I don't care how cold it is out there, dogs just don't come in the house.

 

Sit still! I'm trying to get your hair cut straight and you keep moving and it is all botched up.

Hush your mouth! I don't want to hear words like that! I'll wash your mouth out with soap!

It is time for your system to be cleaned out. I am going to give you a dose of castor oil tonight.

If you get a spanking in school and I find out about it, you'll get another one when you get home.

 

Quit crossing your eyes! They will get stuck that way!

Soak your foot in this pan of coal oil so that bad cut won't get infected.

 

It is: "Yes Ma'am!" and "No Ma'am!" to me, young man, and don't you forget it!

 

Holy God living and true, we owe Thee homage.

Not A Joke!!  You will love these tips.

Read this and make a copy for < /SPAN> our files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employee s in his company.

1.  Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on yo ur checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers < /SPAN> to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I,  an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.  
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5.  We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find
them.

6. File</ FONT> a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc ., were stolen.  This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

 

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
 

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the So cial Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.  
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equ ifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian  (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.