Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Homeless Scam…
Homeless Scam...So - a few months ago (I think I even blogged about it then) Freeman and I were on our way to the train station to go home. We were walking through this park one block up from the mission. As usual it was crowded with bums and various vagrants looking for a handout. Now usually they leave us alone, there are only a few that actually bother passersby on that particular corner.
On this day Freeman and I were carrying extra baggage (Freeman was hauling a laptop down to the train for me cause I was carrying a bunch of other stuff.) Regardless, we were hauling a lot more than we usually do. And we were having our usual animated conversation about this or that. Just your basic walk to the train.
Then this homeless guy yells at Freeman that Freeman made him drop his food (there was a hotdog on the ground) and there were all these guys hanging around kind of ganging up on Freeman. They were hollering that Freeman needed to pay them back for the hotdog that he made the guy drop. Freeman would have given the guy some money... He felt really bad. But he didn't have any. I saw the situation was going no where and yanked on Freeman's arm till we left the scene.
Crisis Averted.
A couple of days ago I went out to lunch with my friend Rob. He proceeds to tell me this story about this homeless guy that was hanging out on a street corner with a small to-go box of food. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! It was almost the exact story - the exact sequence of events that had happened to Freeman only a few months before. I told Rob & Freeman about each other's stories.
It was a scam.
Now Freeman, Rob and I are all on the lookout for these people trying to pull off this scam. Making you think that you made them drop food and then trying to yell or humiliate you into giving them money. On my way to the train station tonight - I saw one of them.
I am figuring at this point there are more than one of these guys pulling this scam on unsuspecting people. As I was walking to the station, I saw a guy standing on the opposite corner from where I was. He was gingerly holding a small to-go box of some sort of food. He was watching me very closely too. I totally went the other way - there was no way I was going to fall into something I knew was a scheme. I was a perfect target tonight - carrying extra baggage and seeming to not pay a lot of attention to what was going on around me (I am extremely tired tonight) but I didn't fall for it. I am really glad that I know about this silly little scheme and that I know enough to keep an eye out for people trying to pull one over on me. So while it sucks that it happened to both Rob and Freeman - I am glad it did. It really raised my awareness of what can happen around me. I was getting a little complacent.
Anyway - I had better get back to work! These things don't write themselves!
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Holy Crap!
Holy Crap!You have to read this!
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
mensa…
mensa...I love being on the Mensa mailing lists - I get linked to interesting stories like this one about a Parrot that has stunned scientists and also seems to be psychic...
huh
huhyeah. been very busy. been way to busy for my liking. and what have I been busy doing you ask? you see - that is my real problem. I have been busy packing, moving, talking to people, watching tv (though not as much as you might think) working, working (we'll stick an extra one in there for good measure) and playing. this last weekend I took two loads of stuff to my mother's house. yeah for me. I also went to the movies - I saw school of rock - which wasn't that great. but that's okay. I really just wanted to see something. I'm hoping to see big fish while it is still in the theaters. I may have to go to that one on my own...
otherwise things are pretty good. I finally headed over to Magic Mouse Toys yesterday to spend my $25 gift Certificate. I got Rick's Birthday present and 3 wacky balls. I got this nice whooshy one - it is filled with liquid and some little colored balls and makes this whooshing noise when I play with it. I got one full of worms and another one that I can't find on the web anywhere. it looks kind of like this one except that when you squeeze it there are flies and roaches and things in it. I gave that one to Freeman. I was thinking about giving him the worm one too - but he's having a pretty good week cause he is in class. so I'll probably wait until he is having a bad time and needs some cheering. by then I will have probably squeezed the worms right out of it! oh well, I'm sure I could just find something else!
Ross was talking about these funky dolls yesterday. they are called Stink Blasters. in one article I read the photographer charged extra because they smelled so badly. it really makes you wonder what people will come up with next!
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Sick
SickThis weekend was - well - okay, except for the fact that I was sick all day Sunday. I did finish two novel this weekend, watched several movies, worked on a blanket, took a load of my belongings to my mother's and slept. Slept a lot. I think I would have slept more if it were possible. In fact, I would very much like to be sleeping now. But I can't do that, cause I am at work. Not that anyone would care if they stopped by to see me and found me crashed out on my desk. They would probably wake me up and tell me to go home. Which I would, if I could get there any faster than just waiting for my normal time to leave and leaving. At this time, it is just easier to wait for 4:30, catch the train and drive home. It's the walk to the train station that is going to kill me. I just know it.
On the bright side, Rob came by with desert bars at lunch - cause "brad's kids" are all working so hard that they deserve a treat. I have to say that it looked and tasted much better than anything I had to eat at that time. Probably better than anything else I will get this week.
I got this link today : http://home.tele2.fr/kcv/pinguin.swf
I have been sending it out to people - the response has been incredible! I can't believe you people! You are WAY to excited about hitting poor little penguins! The highest I have gotten is 319 - but my co-workers are actually sending me screenshots of the best scores they can get!
As you wake in the morning
What do you feel?
Does a rush of happiness
wash over you when,
Suddenly, you realize you are alive?
