Time for a new mailbox

So yesterday I sit down at my computer to download my banking into quicken. As the information rolls in I noticed that Greyson had written three checks out of his new business checking account we had just signed up for and transferred funds into. I asked him what he was writing checks for already and he said "what checks, what are you talking about". Well US Bank scans in all checks cashed against your account and you can view them online. So I started opening the checks up and sure enough, someone else has our checks and is spending our money. Apparently someone went ahead and helped themselves to our mail, including our new checks and was spending away. So we went through all the steps of calls to the bank and calls to the sheriff. They say they have to conduct an investigation and then they will give us our money back. The thing that I found odd that two of the checks were for $15 to winco and $25 to Safeway. If you were going to break the law and use a stolen check, wouldn't you get a little more bang for the buck with each check? I sure would. My co-worker had his info stolen by the parking garage attendant a couple months ago. He gave him a check card to pay for parking and the attendant wrote down the numbers real quick while it was processing and then bought a couple thousand dollars worth of eBay goodies. So I guess the moral is that we have to be a little more careful. hence, our new locking mailbox. We will have to install it tomorrow. One time is enough for me.

I think that was the breaking point for me yesterday. I was feeling stressed out with work since I started working with our Vancouver office last month doing a new type of environmental consulting I haven't done before, including cold calls to potential clients. Next, I was surviving on a limited budget but then our dryer broke a few weeks ago so we have been using a clothesline(which is fine till say Oct.), and then yesterday the dentist said I had 2 fractured molars and need $800 crowns on both and a $400 splint to keep me from grinding my teeth at night and breaking even more teeth. "But your teeth look great" he tells me. How can they look great but be falling apart? What else... Oh, I almost forgot the whole upcoming "lets have you stick yourself with needles twice a day and just ignore all those side effects that make you feel like you are going through menopause for 6 weeks as we try a process that probably won't work" stress. So when the whole stolen money thing occurred it sent me into a stunned/freaked out trance. But with a quick hottub, hug from my hubby and a good nights sleep I awoke renewed.

So on the bright side (which I can see today):
-I will get my money back.
-I now have a locking mailbox that no one can steal from.
-I like the way my clothes smell from blowing in the breeze and my house stays cooler without using those power hungry dryers.
-Once my teeth are crowned I won't have to worry about cavities.
-And hey, there is a chance for a baby where there otherwise wouldn't be. And as a side note, if those of you who have been trained for giving bee sting kits would like to give me a shot here and there for practice I would love to be your pin cushion.
So seriously, things are really pretty good around here.

What else is going on in the Sharp/Rudd household? Well my chickens finally figured out they can fly over a 3' fence. It took them about 4 months but they finally tasted a bit of freedom and are loving it. I am not sure if my flowerbeds will ever be the same. Ada has not killed either yet which is good. I had 2 hummingbirds in the house today that I rescued and one I freed from Miles grasp. I save about 2 or 3 animals a day from Miles even though he is equipped with not one but two bells. I have seen him with birds, bugs, snakes, squirrels, rodents and scorpions. He stalks the chickens but is smart enough not to mess with them.

Our summer has been good but a bit lonely sometimes. It doesn't seem like we have gotten out much or had much company the last few months. I am also working from home a couple days a week which is nice but keeps me from getting out as much as I used to. I have been working out quite a bit and have started doing the bike ride down to SR14 with Greyson. I tried sewing a dress last weekend and I think I over adjusted the pattern for height. I got part way through and the waist was too long, so I tried to adjust here and there. The final product was cute on the hanger but just didn't quite fit. It might have been a tad overambitious for a beginner. I might go back to another shirt for next time.

I think that is all for my update. See most of you at the reunion next weekend.
-Mel