Thursday 3/22/2012
My USAA Debit card got hacked; used on Amazon.com in Germany. They managed to execute five transactions before Amazon.de suspected fraudulent activity, and shut it down. Of course, all the email traffic from Amazon.de were written in German. Made it a little difficult to figure out what they were saying, or to follow the instructions they were providing to deal with my Amazon account. I immediately checked my bank statement online, and sure enough they had hit it. I suspect Russian or Cheznian hackers hit some company or vendor credit card database. The fact that it was used overseas in Germany kinda points to that scenario. The card was cancelled, and a new one was Fedex'd on Saturday. Of course, now I have to wait for the fraud investigation to get the funds returned to my account. The interesting thing is, we have Lifelock and Experian ProtectMy ID. Neither company has contacted, or alerted me to any fraudulent activity with that card. Both companies claim they are constantly scanning the internet for use of your bank and credit card numbers. Maybe, I'll deal with them this week.
Later Thursday, we had to opportunity to visit with some of Sally's relatives in the Queen Valley and Apache Junction areas, that was a good thing. On Thursday we visited Sally's cousin(s), Don and Patsy Hoffman. The Hoffman's are retired snowbirds from western Iowa, and have a winter home in Queen Valley; a little east of Apache Junction. Don took me on a ATV ride through the desert, which was pretty exciting, and the first time I've ever rode on and four wheeled ATV.
The Apache Junction area is a beautiful area; part of the Superstition Mountain Range.
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| Superstition Mountains |
On Thursday evening we had a 'mini' Fahrenkrug reunion at the 'Mining Camp Restaurant' in Apache Junction. No one could remember the last time we all saw each other! (too long!) Let's see...David & Diana (new residents & empty nesters of Scottsdale, AZ) were there. Looking good (& very happy with their good news about Justin & Noah - Hawaii here they come :) Of course Don & Patsy who have been enjoying the good life out in Queens Valley this winter, resting from their visit with 2 of their grandkids. Yet ready to head back to Iowa to meet a new one later this summer (Congratulations Dave & Lauren! You've brought many smiles to Grandpa & Grandma :) We didn't get to visit with Dan, but we understand he was working hard that day; maybe next visit?! Finally, "Thanks" to Glen & Carol (Dave & Courtney can't decide if we should call them "Glen & Carol #2" or "Glen & Carol - Squared', so they don't get confused who we're talking about!) for arranging this get-together! I get the feeling they both really (no REALLY!) like Arizona! Carol say there's nothing a good book & lounge chair that can't make her love retirement more! And Glen, well, he could sit back & breath-in the beautiful scenery & dry weather forever :) The bonus was, that Carol's daughters (Kristin & Kaleigh) were in town, taking a 'moms-only' vacation to visit their mom, and joined us for supper as well. What lovely girls you have raised Carol :) Did I mention they love to shop?! (I knew I liked those 2 girls! I knew we shared some kind of family bond :) Save travels Carol, for your family trip to Chicago. Lookin' good everybody! 'Til we meet again...
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| Glen, Patsy, Kaleigh, Carol, Kristin, Sally, Dave 3/22/2012 |
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| Twilight at the Restaurant |
Friday 3/23/2012
On Friday we decided to explore the area around Apache Junction again, and traveled back to the area close to where we had had dinner with the group. Up the road we found the Goldfield Ghost Town. This town dates back to the 1890's and includes many attractions; Mammoth Gold Mine, a narrow gauge train, Museum, and other shops and eateries. We walked around; each had a terrible slice of pizza, and visited the reptile Museum.
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| Goldfield Ghost Town |
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| The Long Dirt Road |
Of course after we get home, I notice there are two more routes to Lake Roosevelt, each that are fully paved all the way. Each is an 85 mile trip; I haven't convinced Sally to give either of those a try! Don't think she's going to change her mind.
Monday 2/26/2012
Today we decided to attend a Baseball game at Hohokem Stadium here in Mesa. Of course this is spring season down here, with half of the baseball teams doing their spring season training in Arizona. The other teams train in Florida. Hohokem is the spring home stadium for the Chicago Cubs. Today they were playing the San Diego Padres. We attempted to go to the game on Saturday, but I had received my new Debit card, and per one of Murphy's Law, it wouldn't work after I activated it. So I spent most of Saturday on the phone with USAA, ATT, and others trying to determine the problem with my card. Still hasn't been totally resolved. Anyway, back to the baseball game. It was a beautiful day for a game. We got to the stadium, got pretty good seats, and spent 6 innings watching the Padre's give it a good try, but no cigar!
But I did end up with a foul ball! I heard the crack of that bat; the ball flew backwards through the air. I couldn't believe it was heading right for us??? I jumped up, and snatched it right out of the air! What a day. Now, do you want to hear how it really happened? I was getting bored, decided to do a call to nature; then go out front of the stadium for a smoke. I was standing there in front of the stadium smoking. Of course, I was thinking and trying to solve some world crisis! All of the sudden a baseball hits the sidewalk two feet from me! Startled, I looked around and thought, who threw a baseball at me? I turned to look back up at the stadium, and there were people on the second level rushing to rail overlooking the front of the stadium. By this time, the ball had rolled to the curb; I walked over picked it up and put in my pocket. As I came through the gate showing my ink stamped hand; the guard said "aren't you glad you had that cigarette"? I just smiled! When I got back up to my seat, I asked Sally if they had just hit a foul ball? She said, yea, we kept waiting for it to roll back off of the roof. I pulled the ball out of my pocket and said "this ball"? Her eyes lit up; it was the first time she had ever reached for my ..... I just can't finish this sentence, it wouldn't be inappropriate! Anyway, that ball had flew all the way up and over the top of the stadium. It happened again, about a half an hour later!
Well, that catches us up for now!
Remember, if you want to be notified when we post a new blog; enter your email in the top right hand side!
Hope you enjoy!
Dave & Sally
Monday 2/26/2012
Today we decided to attend a Baseball game at Hohokem Stadium here in Mesa. Of course this is spring season down here, with half of the baseball teams doing their spring season training in Arizona. The other teams train in Florida. Hohokem is the spring home stadium for the Chicago Cubs. Today they were playing the San Diego Padres. We attempted to go to the game on Saturday, but I had received my new Debit card, and per one of Murphy's Law, it wouldn't work after I activated it. So I spent most of Saturday on the phone with USAA, ATT, and others trying to determine the problem with my card. Still hasn't been totally resolved. Anyway, back to the baseball game. It was a beautiful day for a game. We got to the stadium, got pretty good seats, and spent 6 innings watching the Padre's give it a good try, but no cigar!
But I did end up with a foul ball! I heard the crack of that bat; the ball flew backwards through the air. I couldn't believe it was heading right for us??? I jumped up, and snatched it right out of the air! What a day. Now, do you want to hear how it really happened? I was getting bored, decided to do a call to nature; then go out front of the stadium for a smoke. I was standing there in front of the stadium smoking. Of course, I was thinking and trying to solve some world crisis! All of the sudden a baseball hits the sidewalk two feet from me! Startled, I looked around and thought, who threw a baseball at me? I turned to look back up at the stadium, and there were people on the second level rushing to rail overlooking the front of the stadium. By this time, the ball had rolled to the curb; I walked over picked it up and put in my pocket. As I came through the gate showing my ink stamped hand; the guard said "aren't you glad you had that cigarette"? I just smiled! When I got back up to my seat, I asked Sally if they had just hit a foul ball? She said, yea, we kept waiting for it to roll back off of the roof. I pulled the ball out of my pocket and said "this ball"? Her eyes lit up; it was the first time she had ever reached for my ..... I just can't finish this sentence, it wouldn't be inappropriate! Anyway, that ball had flew all the way up and over the top of the stadium. It happened again, about a half an hour later!
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| My Ball and I |
Remember, if you want to be notified when we post a new blog; enter your email in the top right hand side!
Hope you enjoy!
Dave & Sally
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