Asha Anujeeva

I was sitting at my computer yesterday, listening to the background noise coming from the television in the other room. Suddenly I heard the Emergency Alert tone – the kind you usually hear for severe weather warnings. But this time it was an Amber alert. I was surprised – I’ve never heard an Amber alert come over the television before. Seems a young lady was abducted from a local parking lot by a group of young adults. I hope they find her safe and sound. It’s a scary thought, that one can be abducted in broad daylight from a store’s parking lot!

Posting by Linda Olivarez

Monday nights have never been the same for me since the initial broadcast of Castle. A time spot that has proven successful for me while watching Direct tv satellite.

The show stars Canadian born actor Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, both seasoned veterans in short-lived TV shows. After a few years in the soap opera circuit, and other failed TV series, Fillion landed the role of Rick Castle, a writer helping the local police department solve crimes. The sexual tension between Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion, alongside the action and drama make the writing for this TV series stand out among similar network shows.

As a marketing tool to promote the show, the producers decided to release the fictional book written by Rick Castle called ‘Heat Wave’ in September ’09. The book has since proved successful due to the TV series, and another book is soon to be released titled ‘Naked Heat’.

The show has recently been renewed for another season due to an average rating of 5 million weekly viewers and the show exhibits no signs of a future cancellation.

Guest post by Linda Bradshaw

When my hubby was injured in my car accident in 2007, I tried to get my mortage company for our house in New England that we were trying to sell to grant me a hardship forebearance. Since he wasn’t able to work due to my injuries, I was hopeful to get some empathy from the company. Boy, was I wrong!

Long story short, the mortgage company has dropped the ball and tossed me around from department to department, where I have been met with gross incompetence at every turn.

After over two years, even though we FINALLY did a deed-in-lieu with the company last November, and the deed to the house was transferred into their name in December the company is continuing to send me notices that I owe them the money and the company is still sending notices to the credit agencies that the mortgage is overdue. This is resulting in credit card companies closing my credit cards or lowering my credit limits.

Every time I call Bank of America I am shuttled around from department to department, and told the matter will be escalated and someone will call me back within the next week. That never happens. I have called them about once every two weeks, and nothing is resolved. I have sent them letters, and I get replies that someone will contact me within 20 days, and that never happens either! I got collection calls several times a day for years on end until I finally blocked their telephone number!

As of today, I have been on the phone with Bank of America for the past four hours, being shuttled around from department to department, trying to find some help. I’m on hold at the moment, waiting for a supervisor to talk to me. The lady I just spoke with said that my account was in the process of being assigned to someone in the home retention department!

I have contacted my state senator Mark Warner’s office, asking for help a couple of weeks ago. Haven’t heard back from them yet.

Anyone know a good lawyer that would like to sue this company on my behalf to get this resolved and maybe some punitive damages for emotional distress it is causing? I had hired a lawyer that I was told is an agressive lawyer that loves to sue people, but for some reason he just doesn’t seem to be in the mood to take this on! If you know of a class-action suit going on for people in situations like this, or know a good lawyer that could/would help me, please post comment to this blog and I’ll get the information!

Can you feel my pain?

Guest post written by Richard Downer

After working an extra shift at work, getting home and cooking was the last thing I wanted to do. I had heard of a family restaurant down the street called Jay’s Family Restaurant, so I decided tonight was the night for me to try Jay’s out for myself.

Since I didn’t want to eat alone I invited a co-worker to go along with me. As I put my new shoes on I stumbled across the room to set the ADT home security alarm. We met at the restaurant. It was a Friday night, and as usual, Jay’s was packed. Upon walking in you are met by the hostess who seats you, but not before walking you right past a cooler of delicious desserts.

My friend and I decided to order a meat and three plate, since this is what makes Jay’s stand out from the rest. I ordered meatloaf, turnip greens, and macaroni and cheese. My friend had pork chops with a salad and green beans. We were both pleased with the food. It was very flavorful, and the portions were more than enough to satisfy your hunger.

Since we had been tempted with the dessert cooler, a banana pudding and slice of chocolate pie were in order. Both homemade, the banana split is some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

The service was a bit slow, but they were very busy. The food was enjoyable and it doesn’t cost a lot. I plan to return to Jay’s very soon to try out the other great menu items.

Although I certainly enjoy the warmer weather this time of year, I am NOT enjoying all of the bugs! Mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks. I hate finding a tick on my body; I can never seem to get the entire thing out! Inevitably I end up with the durn head of the tick left inside my body. It takes weeks for the ensuing inflammation to die down. And I just get grossed out to think that the tick’s head is rotting in my body, being absorbed by my body. And then I’m always concerned about lyme disease. What a drag it is to be worried about things like this when the weather is so nice!