Not Quite Right

Andrea and I have always been computer people.  We use it for school, entertainment, shopping, banking, you name it.  I've never been big on monitoring because Beazle didn't monitor my sister's or my reading, music, TV shows, or phone calls and we both turned out well.  Unfortunately, now I can make a case for monitoring internet use. 

My youngest Daughter got cought up with someone I would call a predator.  At the end I learned she had deliberately lied to me about several things.  Her behavior had became erratic, defiant, and uncaring.  To me, it seemed as if her reasoning ability had gone out the window. 

According to Andrea she met, I'll call him "X" through a friend.  "X" is reported to have a fairly common name but not so common to arouse suspicion.  He's supposed to live across the country, eighteen years old, and a college freshman.  They would play games online and Skype. 

Shortly thereafter, Andrea starter referring to "X" as her boyfriend.  I didn't pay much attention because she'd had quite a few boyfriends for a couple weeks each.  Her internet relationship stretched into months.  I asked her on numerous occasions how she can call somebody she never met her boyfriend?  I suggested we pay "X" a visit during our road trip this summer.  She didn't want me to meet his family because she said they were prejudiced against Black People.  I told her she had a problem on her hands and that's another reason to meet.  I told her she needed to see if this is something she can live with. 

As time went on Andrea spent more and more time playing games or using Skype with "X".  When I'd tell her to get off the computer or to do something she'd get angry and belligerent.  Andrea's grades started to suffer but we were able to buckle down and get good grades first semester. 

Andrea had a math course she needed to make up second semester.  That gave her two math classes and what a mess?  She was having trouble with the makeup course again.  She said "X" was good in math and could tutor her.  They spent a long time doing the wrong assignments.  That was all our faults because even though the first semester assignments were listed, they did have due dates and one of us three should have noticed.  Andrea was discouraged because she'd done all that work for nothing.  "X" started telling her she should get her GED.

I told Andrea she should keep plugging along.  I told her to work on her other subjects she got behind in trying to learn that math.  I started looking for another tutor because it was clear "X" was trying to learn the material along with Andrea.  The math and school issues are another problem interlaced with this on.  I may deal with it another time.

Andrea let her studies go.  All she was interested in doing was playing games and Skyping with "X".  I questioned Andrea about why he had so much time on his hands.  He wasn't away long enough to even be at school part time or working at all.  She said his parents didn't mind that he spent so much time doing nothing.
Andrea wouldn't do her school work, wouldn't help around the house, had tremendous mood swings, was interested in little other than games and Skype.  She started talking about moving in with "X" after graduation.  In one sentence she'd say she doesn't want to live in a camper/trailer all her life.  I'd tell her if she doesn't want to live in a trailer all her life not to move into a trailer.  The next sentence she's talking about how to make everything fit.

Andrea started telling me what she wasn't going to do.  She wasn't going to go to church, she wan't going to help around the house, etc.  I told her she was going to mind me as long as she was a minor or face some steep consequences.  If she didn't pick up her mess and be in church Sunday morning all she was getting is basic support.  No cell phone cards bought by me, no eating out, no new clothes, no more make up.  Just basic food and pads.  And on December31st she could get up and out of here.  To show how short sighted she is, she didn't go to church that Sunday.  I had already told her she had to got to church until she gets her drivers license in June.  We're talking two months at most.  Conference is one time we don't go and if our ride doesn't go, we don't go. 

Since she was passing only two classes and had no chance of passing the rest this semester, I decided a GED would be her best bet.  For some reason she signed a contract saying she would study the curriculum I lay out toward her GED.  She did well for the most part.  One day some new game came out and she thought she and "X" should spend the day playing it.

I felt something was seriously wrong; something more than my inability to control my daughter.   I placed a FaceBook post asking for prayer.  I didn't go into detail but lots of people said they'd pray.  And it worked!  It worked quickly.  Things started falling into place.  Thank you Heavenly Father.

"X's" FaceBook page was disturbing.  No location, no contact information, no photos at all.  I even have a few.  He only had cartoons and graphics.  Only 37 friends.  What active FaceBook user has only 37 friends?

Yesterday morning started off really well.  Then Andrea said something about waiting until she gets to where "X" lives before she gets her drivers license.  She said that would be easier.  I explained to her that she wouldn't have to retest.  All they'd do is take her Georgia license and give her a license from there.  She blew up all of a sudden and among other things said she wasn't driving, she is flying.  That did it.  Why I don't know.  I decided I was going to put a stop to this if I could.

My incoherent thoughts.  She's going across the country to live with somebody she hasn't met with no means of escape if she needs to.   .

I couldnt get much useful information from Andrea so I Googled him with the information I had.  I found a few entries with the age range I was given so I jotted down the phone numbers and people he may know.  My intent was to call his parents to express my displeasure and to remind them of Andrea's age.  I didn't want to call these random people looking for his parents though.

Next I called my sister, Constance, to see if she still had contact with her lawyer friend who was good at finding people.  Andrea was in the room Skyping with "X".  I decided to speak a bit loudly so they could hear me.  I had been looking up how to report a suspected child predictor.  To my surprise the Department of Homeland Security has a lot to do with investigating suspected child predators. I told Constance about my plans to call his parents if I could find them.  I went on to say if I couldn't find them I was going to contact Homeland Security.  Maybe they could drop by and see if he is really who he says he is.  I don't what made me think or say that but when I did it made sense.  We really didn't know if he was an 18-year-old kid, or who.  I told Constance that way I'd know if I've got a big problem or a gigantic problem. 

Next, Andrea said "X" wants to speak to me.  I said I didn't want to talk to him, I want to speak to his parents so have them call me.  Andrea said to, "Grow a pair and talk to him."  I said I'm not talking to "X", Have him give his parents the landlines number. I was told they were at work.  I just said have them call me tonight or I'm calling Homeland Security.

The phone rings a few minutes later and guess who?  "X".  He says if I don't want him to date my daughter he won't.  He says if I want him to disappear he will because he didn't want to get Homeland Security involved.  He admitted being older than 19 but didn't say how old.  He says he's in the state Andrea said he was.  I told him I thought his disappearing is a good idea if that's what he does but I'm skeptical.  Your relationship isn't right when Andrea is compelled to or feels she needs to lie about your age. 

He had the audacity to ask what made me suspicious.  I told him the obvious one; plans to live with someone she has never met.  I left the rest vague, "Too many things didn't add up." 

I called Constance back to tell her what happened.  She asked how Andrea was taking it.  I said she wasn't mad enough so I've got to keep a close eye on her.  Either She and "X" cooked something up or she's hurt because he didn't even try to fight for her. Constance thinks I should report him anyway.   If if find out he and Andrea are in any kind of contact I will. 

I dialed Star 69 to get the number he called from.  It was a cell phone from yet another state.  Granted, I kept my Arkansas number for years after moving to Georgia, but it could be another red flag. 

I made another FaceBook post asking people what does Homeland Security do other than deal with terrorists and be a pain at the airport.  I got one response and it had nothing to do with investigating suspected child predators.  So if hardly anyone knows Homeland Security deals with this issue, why did it spook "X"?  Yeah.

I decided to give Andrea a couple days to process and think about all this.  Then we'll have a talk. 

Entering the 21st Century

I've wanted a tablet from the first time I saw an iPad.  I thought it would be so great to have all that internet capability with me at all times.  Because iPads were and still so expensive I didn't buy one. 

Tablets by other manufacturers got cheaper and became tempting again.  Kim Komando said not to buy a cheap tablet because they didn't measure up to the iPad and most people would be disappointed.  So I continued to wait. 

The Samsung Galaxy became popular and also got Kim Komando's okay.  My neighbor has one and she likes it a lot.  I was unempressed with her internet speed so I continued to wait. 

Earlier this month Andrea and I went in to Best Buy Mobile in the mall.  They had a really good deal; buy a hot spot for a dollar and get a hundred dollars off certain tablets.  I was excited because the salesman told me I could use Google Voice or a third party app to use the tablet as a cell phone.  That clinched it for me, I could get rid of my cell phone and have a tablet to boot!.  I got the small Samsung Galaxy S3 or whatever it is. 

Andrea started setting it up while we were still shopping.  The hot spot worked great because our internet was fast.  I got the google voicy app put we couldn't get it to work.  I thought I needed to make some changes to my account on my computer or something like that.  I got the MARTA app that has all the bus and train schedules but the best part is it will show where the bus is along its route.  I was really excited about that one.  I had Andrea pull up coupons to show the cashier in JCPenney and Kohls so we could take advantage of discounts we didn't have paper coupons for.  I'm loving this thing and couldn't wait to get home to explore it more on my own.

I found it difficult to use.  Some was due to my sight problems and some was due to the size of the tablet.  I couldn't hold the tablet and magnifyer at the same time it tap the screen wery well.  It was combersome to use.  typing on the touch screen was a challenge for the same reasons.  I thought I could get used to enough of thses things to still make it worthwhile.  Then I discover Google Voice isn't set up for what I wanted to do.  I kept getting a message saying I can't forward to a Google voice number.  So we tried the third party phone apps.  They either didn't ring any phone or the delay was too annoying to deal with.  I was disappointed and decided to return everything. 

I got Andrea to show me her smartpone.  I played around with it and made an unexpected discovery.  The smaller size is better for me than even a small tablet.  I asked her lots of questions about when I needed the phones internet and when I could use WiFi.  I came to the conclusion I could use a cheap smartphone like the Virgin Mobile's Awe to do all my tablet use and have a phone if I wanted to. 

Between Ebates and a Virgin Mobile sale I got the Awe for $42.50.  I got the cheapest card to see how I like everything.  I still have Sprint because neither my billing cycle or minutes cycle is over.  I want to make sure I like the Awe before I cancel Sprint. 

I like the tablet features such as all kinds of apps.  I don't like the touchscreen keyboard but I don't text anyway.  Once I get my contacts in I won't need the keyboard much.  I need to call people and talk on it more.  I'm considering keeping Sprint and using the slow random WiFi when out and home WiFi at home. 

These are the apps I have: my favorite department store and grocery store apps, Domino's Pizza, LDS Library, apps for ringtones and wallpapers, flashlight, MARTA, and Smugmug.  I don't plan to do banking on my phone because I make too many mistakes on the keyboard and there's always the theft issue; but I do have my banks apps just in case, but I'm not logged in.  I didn't get the Facebook app because I waste too much time there already, plus the keyboard issue.  I don't like browsing for apps, too many things that look like games but when I hear about or come across something that sounds interesting I get it. 

Another Kick in the Pants

I posted this on my "Blind as Eye Look" Facebook page.  I think it's worth posting here in case there's a different audience.  

Getty just shop all stock photographers in the foot. they're offering 35 million stock photos online for free. They say because people used to copy and paste them anyway. So they think rewarding them is the answer? They should crack down the way the RIAA did with music a decade ago. I've never contributed to Getty thank goodness. They still have images for sale but they think offering all these free ones will enhance sales. Bull. People will get the free images and look for more. I don't think many will even take a look at the paid once. They say the free images are only for noncommercial use, yet right; if people stole in the past they'll steal in the future, but now with Getty's blessing. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/tech/social-media/getty-free-pictures/

to add to the facebook post I'll give a personal experience.  Once I let Fotolia offer an image in their free section.  I had hundreds of downloads.  Was there an increase in sales of regular portfolio files? No.  Was there and increase in views of regular portfolie files?  The answer again is no>  

Each agency will offer a few free images voluntarily offered by the photographer.  I feel that is enough free material to offer.  We are already competing with everybody and his brother for pictures due to cameras being put on phones and tablets.  I say take your own pictures or pay for them.

A Little But.....

...prescriptions still went up.

I get my medical care and prescriptions through Grady Memorial Hospital.  Grady has a charity division which allows residents of Fulton and DeKalb counties to receive reduced priced medical care and prescriptions.  I've been going to Grady since I was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2011.  The prescription benefit has either been $3 a prescription or full price depending on income.  I ordered from a Canadian pharmacy when my income put me on the full price plan. 

Today, after I got my prescription, I was told, "Beginning April first prescriptions will be five dollars each".  I thanked her for the heads up.  Now I'll pay ten dollars for my eye drops instead of six.  It doesn't sound like a lot of money but it is a 66% increase.

I am glad they didn't skyrocket the way Beazle's medicine did.  She used to get a ninety-day supply of one of her medications for three dollars, according to her.  When she went to refill this particular prescription a couple weeks ago she said they wanted sixty dollars.  I told her it was because of obamacare.  She thinks the pharmacy is just being gready because obamacare is supposed to help people.  Yeah right!  Beazle had her doctor prescribe a different medication and she took it to a different pharmacy.  Now she pays twenty dollars for a ninety-day supply.  Again, it doesn't sound like a lot of money for a ninety-day supply but it's a 700% increase.  That kind of an increase is a lot for a retired person on a fixed income.

Remember Social Security gave a 1.5 cost of living increase this year.     

Bad Dreams

I guess we all have bad dreams occasionally.  Mine take one of three themes; naked in a public place, difficulty moving forward, or I hope this is a dream.  I had the last type last night.  That is what gave me the idea for this post.

Last night I drempt we moved from my home in the suburbs to the projects.  The building was delapidated and the unit was small.  Like in all dreams where I hope it's a dream I asked myself how I got there.  Even though there is no clear answer it feels real.  As usual I hope it's a dream but can't see how it could be.  I am always relieved to wake up and find it had indeed been a dream. 

In some dreams I'm going along just fine until I can't easily go forward.  I may be crossing a street or something is chasing me.  All of a sudden movement slows to a snails pace.  I can crawl or scoot or even move backward if I first turn around in a circle.  The dream resolve itself somehow but I don't wake up.

The naked dream is the most embarrassing.  At the beginning I am inappropriately dressed out in public. I'll be wearing something like a towel or just my bra and under pants.  I tell myself to got to a store and buy a cheap outfit.  When I get near a store I discover I'm naked and the store has moved.

Thank goodness I've never had a dream where I'm naked, can't move very fast, and wonder how I got there wondering if it's just a dream.  That would be a nightmare.