Life’s Reflections: Hackers ruin fun times

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Like I said in my column, this may come back to bite me but I don't care. (Linda Moody photo)

ANSONIA—What could’ve gone wrong this last week— did.

I don’t like to always put negative things in my column, and I admit I have done that, but this was really a bad week in several ways.

It seemed like things were going as planned, just to find out something did not transpire. Apparently after I finished a certain project (not work-related), I did not forward it to its next level, but learned only later that the recipients did not get it because I thought it went through.

Upon finding that out, I was not getting any response, so I made a phone call and re-sent it. So, hopefully, the project will be completed in time. I am used to working on deadlines and thought I had that assignment covered, but something went awry. I apologize to those involved.

But that wasn’t the only thing that happened. I caught my son’s head cold and, of course, that made my brain even foggier,

And, what else could be so bad?

My laptop was getting hacked, according to the person I called after being given a phone number to check it out. I may be wrong, but I think I was talking to the hacker.

He talked low and in foreign voice and I had to keep moving from room to room to hear what he was saying. I know I do not hear too well out of my left ear anyway, but that was ridiculous.

I gave him some of the information that he wanted, including answering a couple of questions. He wanted to know if I purchased things online or play games… but then, at the end, he asked me to hold and finally came back on, and then told me he needed my banking information. That’s when I hung up the phone.

The message on my laptop screen about the so-called hacking, was up there most of the day, but by nightfall, I told Jamie to unplug everything. He did and soon I was back up online.

Why do people do this? They must know my technical skills are about nil. It’s starting to make me want to do away with certain technical things, but that’s not what I want to do.

I use it in my work and in my leisure and I enjoy it.

So, my advice, if a message comes up like that, don’t take it seriously until you talk to someone who knows about these things…and be aware of your surroundings.

If the wrong person(s) see this, it possibly could come back to bite me. But, you just don’t treat people that way.

Now, I am trying to get in the mindset that another week is approaching and things have got to get better.

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Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Dave Niley, Jerry Bergman, Janet Wallisheck, Victoria Hunt, May Brinley, Lois J. (“Mick” Everman) Besecker, Mary Caldwell, Kaden Max Purdin and John A. Goodpaster.

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Please pray for these people: Ron Mills, Miranda Weist Flora, Ericka Trigo, Jeanie Franicis, Noah Back, Harvey Hinshaw, Bruce Kaiser, Angie Brown, Nikole Baldridge, Melikka Riffell, Amanda Mote, Tom Moody, Gary Francis, Anthony and Theresa Grillot, Lee Everhart, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, Kara Harter, Kinley Bernard, D’Arleen Waymire, Tish Hodson Shepherd, Clinton Randall, Sherry Klingshirn, Zach Urbancic, Sharon Gamster, Connie Stachler, Rick Libert, Harold Libert, Randy Heck, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Carol Hemmerich, Sharon Hummel, Dave Hinshaw, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Michael Mowery, Debbie Mayse, Kenny Edwards, Judie Hathaway, Ralph Byrd, Della Burch, Ned and Brenda Wallace, Connie Buemi Hodson, Rick Marker, Randy Garrison, Steve Waymire, Warren Menchhofer, Kenton Turner, Gary Knick, Karen Hecht, Barbara Alexander, Jannie Barrow, Kathy Gragorace, Danny Foster, Noella Combs, Clay Sheffer, Becky Everhart, Sharon Miller, Marie Rieman, Mary Bryant Arnett, Becky Oliver, Ronnie Young, Albert Duncan, Jayden Martin, Jeff Rider, Stefani Priest, Steve Neff, James Enicks, Joann Freeman, Cathy Collins Peters, Donna Bixler, Vanna Hannam, Linda Subler, Roger McEowen, Jerri Barber, Sally Burnett Ganger, Gloria Hodge, Jeff Baltes, Cory Meadows, Judy Hoffman and daughter Shelly, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all of those who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
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Happy birthday:
Dec. 1 to Tammy Shook, Kim Dohme, Neil Schmidt, Karen Crowell and Daisy Brim.
Dec. 2 to Polo Hernandez (40), Bev Billenstein Stump, Norma Glunt, Sam Custer and Gloria Hahn.
Dec. 3 to Evelyn Sebring, Pam McMaken and Kris Shelley.
Dec. 4 to Jeff Stump, Nicole Crump, Randy Garrison, Mike Dohme and Leigh Ann Harrod.
Dec. 5 to Eric Widener, Jim Hesson, Eddie Kress, Paul Schlechty, Karen Cummings, Jeff C. Peters, Brad Birt and Linda Swick.
Dec. 6 to Deidre Cothan Stammen, Nathan Barga and Tytus Gasper.
Dec. 7 to Zach Mann, Roger Riffell, Jailyn Thwaits, Amy Frech, Judy Collins and Donna Cruze.
Happy anniversary to: Mike and Elaine Stump on Dec. 1 and Larry and Karen Duncan on Dec. 4.
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Think about it: “Creativity means making mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” — Scott Adams