Thanks to all who sent your condolences here and on my other blogs and social networks, about the hack attack I suffered. I am happy to say that (Lord willing) the problem is resolved. My blogs are clean. Because of the nature of my web hosting (shared hosting), all my blogs (13 of them!) were affected in some way. This blog and my travel blog were especially attacked. It was nasty. I spent four entire days working all day long to get in under control. Thanks to Hostgator, they helped me sift through stuff, deleted some of the malicious crud, endured my wailing and crying, and scanned my blogs endlessly until we were all sure they are clean.

I have been moving everything over to a spanking new server. LOTS of work, and I have just one more blog to move (the biggest project, my travel blog). I have to redo the theme and basically start from scratch there.

On the bright side, I have learned more about SQL databases and php script in four days than I have in 14 years.

You know, whenever I met anyone who’d been hacked, I was always full of questions: what?! how?! when?! what did you do?! I always wondered why they were so quiet about it and why they didn’t tell their whole story…

Well, now I know.

IT’S EXHAUSTING. After such a long, tempestuous, and near-fatal experience, it’s exhausting to rehash the entire thing again. It’s almost like: I SURVIVED. I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT. I WANT IT OVER.

I hope to sometime recover from the exhaustion to be able to tell my story, at least as a warning or a help to others. Like many blogs out there, my hack came from a (most probable) theme vulnerability. I was totally unaware that my themes needed updating and apparently there were some serious vulnerabilities. I had also installed a plugin that was a hacker tool. Watch those plugins, folks.

So anyway, I’ll rehash the entire sordid story. Someday. Right now, I’m going to peel my sore eyes off the computer monitor, pluck my fingers from the keyboard (they were nearly grafted on), and get some much-needed rest. I still have to build the other website yet, so I must reserve my energy.

I finally finished the income taxes!!! :iquit: Good gravy, I was barely clinging to the sanity can with it all this year.

WOW.

So my life is sloooowly starting to come back. Everything has kind of been in upheaval right now. In a week where we had both snow and warm weather, both the snow blower and the lawn tractor broke. Sweet. :rants:

On the bright side, I’ve been clobbered with work assignments, many of them things I love to write about (WordPress, home improvement, and gardening!). So I’ve been very busy researching and writing that stuff. Not much time for blogging, nor visiting blogs.

In a way, it’s good to get away for a bit. After so many years of writing, you start to feel a little drained of good stories. Life settles into the mundane, and the creative juices slow down a bit.

Plus, my house is a total disaster and SOMEBODY has got to clean it out. lol. The IRS has made sure that I can’t hire a maid any time soon…..

Thanks to all you devoted friends who have been visiting and leaving me comments. They make me smile. Something we always have need of after April 15th.

I remember that smell. I smelled it almost 40 years ago. I was sitting in a classroom. My desk was the in the middle of the room, the second row away from the windows. OH how I wanted a window seat in school, but never got one. I wasn’t as quick and competitive as the other children so I usually got a desk in the back or nearest the classroom door. But THAT year, I’d gotten a row ONE REMOVED from the windows. Oh, the glory!

I think we school kids were doing “silent reading” (remember that?) or perhaps working on a worksheet. The teacher had opened the window (this was back before kids were pampered with air conditioning!) and the fresh breezes blew in. The custodian was mowing the vast lawn somewhere outside. The smell and the breeze just about drove me bananas. I WANT TO GO OUTSIDE!!!!

It was tough. TOUGH. I loved the outside. It took every ounce of self control to remain sitting on that pocked slab of uncomfortable wood in that ugly pale green and gray classroom. I remember feeling that dark discontent, like a hard stone in my breast, realizing I had to control myself and not run out of that classroom into the glorious outdoors. I had never been to the principal’s office for bad behavior (unlike my brothers!) and I wasn’t about to do so. But OHHH the agony of sitting in that chair!

Such a flood of reminiscence in such a brief instant, by simply closing my bedroom window.

Memories are funny.

***

I heard my first law mower yesterday. It’s officially spring. Our lawn, however, has not yet been mowed….. yeah, we’ll get to that. yeah.

***

If you’re a mom and you like forums, I found a nice one for you. It’s the Mom Forum. It’s very cute with nice bright colors. The topics are nice, too– there’s a lot of stuff for new mothers and mother-wannabees, as well as a general parenting forum, discussions on childrearing (all stages), and even discussions on stuff like home improvement, health, reationships, and just etting to know the other members. It looks very friendly and has a growing membership. I am an “older” mom and I sometimes feel left out of these kinds of groups, but they are very friendly. As an older mom, I can offer a little but of my experiences (especially with homeschooling and home improvement) for the younger moms.

***

I have a funny story to relate. The weirdest things happen to ME! Only me, I tell ya.

See that phone in the photo?

It rang JUST as I walked by! Loudly! It was like something out of The Bourne Identity! At first, I jumped. Then, I was like, “How’d they find me?!” lol. Yeah, my paranoid mind. I turned around, wondering if I should answer it.

“I should answer it,” I said to my husband next to me. He quickly recognized my mischievous mood. “I wouldn’t,” he cautiously warned. “But what if it is Chuck Norris or someone, needing my help?!”

He snickered. “Go ahead,” he said.

I circled round and round the phone looking for a way to pick it up. Apparently, the phone is locked in a box. I’d have to karate chop the box open. It was probably planned to test my strength and valor, ha!

***

I found this video and made ALL my kids watch it. HAHAHA!!!

***

I wish you all a happy resurrection day. He is risen!!!!! Have a great weekend. I hope to be back with a bit more energy next week.

***

When I sign up for some new fangled blog roll or other listy kind of thing, I am always so tempted to enter weird information in the sign up forms. For example, when they ask “What kind of blog do you have?” I SO want to choose “wrestling” or “martial arts” or “astrophysiology” or something. But I always play it safe and choose “general.”

***

For the first time in my life, I read Joni, the autobiography of Joni Eareckson Tada. It was written in 1975. It is a very good book. I first remember hearing about Joni a long, long time ago. I saw her on TV way back (maybe in the late 70s) and I remember my mom telling me her story, how she became completely paralyzed when she dove in shallow water. She “got religion” and somehow overcame her disabilities. That’s about all I knew about Joni. The book was very engrossing and I read it in one night!

***

I had to turn my heaters back on. Temps dipped down into the 20s. Yesterday, the weather guru mentioned something about the “remote possibility” of 4 to 6 inches of snow for Friday. WHAT did he SAY?!    He reiterated that it was a “remote” chance. Oh, yeah, thanks, buddy. Sometimes I reeeeally wonder if the weather guys like to provoke us, just for fun. Hardy har har. Well, I’m prepared, at any rate. We still have our shovels on the back porch, next to our leaf rakes. Thus is New York State.

***

And now I am tired again. I’m going to try to stay up to write another article and blog post somewhere, and then I’m going back to bed for a while! See you later.

I’ve been busy writing new articles. I got hired by another company and things have finally started to pick up a little. I’m so grateful for the work but professional writing is no piece of cake. I got hit with THREE rewrites in two days. Even though the communication problem between me and the client was probably an honest one (other writers were hit with rewrites from this client, too), they were still rewrites. Pro writing is wrought with tension. You have to know your topic (or do a heck of a lot of research first), you have to write succinctly yet meet the usually large word count. You have to use impeccable grammar and proofread the piece to death. And then when it’s all said and done, you hope what you submitted pleases the client. Whew. So after a couple of 800-word, War-and-Peace-style theses, I’m a little too tuckered for blogging.

I’m also doing a lot of daydreaming. Spring is a-coming and the fresh breezes fill my little head with all sorts of ideas for new projects. A new shelf here, a built-in cabinet there, a whole new bathroom here and here and here…. oh yeah. Plus, I’m going to New York City again and am very excited about the trip. I’m going to peruse some of the sights in Washington Heights (unfamiliar territory) so I’ve been scouring Google Earth to get my bearings. And I’m also doing more reading again. I was always a voracious reader and I think it largely fueled my blogging activities. I stopped reading so much after I began writing full time, though. But now I am trying to pick up again. Right now, I’m reading The Testimony of Watchman Nee and a book he authored Love Not the World which are very sobering. And I’m spending time every day reading through the New Testament again, in order.

Sometimes I feel that the blogging udder is dry, that I have nothing more to give to the blogs. I’ve always been a gal with diversified interests but after a couple of years things do slow down a bit. I’ve been around long enough to know that these kinds of thoughts are par for the course– they wax and wane for every blogger and there comes a time when you must reassess your goals. I don’t have any intention of stopping (I just paid for another year of web hosting!) but I’m obviously having a slow spell. Knowing me, things will pick up soon and the frentically blazing steam engine will roar once again. Especially after a few cups of my daughter’s high octane coffee.

Everybody goes through these kinds of seasons– a time to learn, a time to give, a time to reflect, a time to be silent, a time to learn and give all over again, and on it goes.

What have you been doing lately? Have you been a blogging fiend or have you slowed down to recoup?

As an ardent admirer of Kathryn Kuhlman, I have heard of Smith Wigglesworth. He was a plumber in Wales, born in 1859. He was an evangelist who did AMAZING miracles of healing. I don’t know what you believe about God still doing miracles– all it takes is one or two times to logically prove that they do still happen, right?

Well, I recently purchased the “Smith Wigglesworth Devotional” book. It was compiled after his death, I believe. It is full of events and Bible teachings about believing in God for healing. The book is MIND BLOWING. You can read a quick, free sample of the book here. Pretty amazing.

Smoking Teeth

The kids are taking a health course called The Seven Pillars of Health by Dr. Dan Colbert. It’s a pretty enlightening course. This week is about “detoxifcation.” It might more accurately be called “toxification” because Dr, Colbert explains all the chemicals and toxic stuff we are exposed to on a regular basis. No wonder cancer has become the Number One cause of death of people in industrialized nations.

Of great concern is the high mercury content in amalgam dental fillings. If you think the USDA and FDA protect us, think again. Dental fillings account for FIFTY PERCENT of our toxic exposure to mercury. The FDA and other groups have been sloooooooooooooow to stop it. I found a very good video about mercury in fillings, called Smoking Teeth. I don’t always believe everything I see or hear, but just knowing that there’s 50% mercury in our dental fillings is enough to make me very concerned.

Presidential Election

While my husband is riveted to the news and stories about the presidential election, I am purposely avoiding it. It’s too stressful right now. Besides, I did my homework a long time ago and already did my homework– I know who I am voting for when the time comes. It’s not the Tooth Fairy guy from Massachusetts, it’s not the marriage-breaker guy with the white shaggy hair, it’s not even the fake conservative who is part of the Political Machine in Washington that has destroyed our country… nope. It’s the guy from Texas who insists that we abide by the Constitution, also known as Dr. No by the Congress. His last name is Paul. ;) GO RON GO!

Going to the Big Apple

It’s still a ways away, but I am slowly getting excited about my upcoming trip to New York City. I am a country girl through and through, but I like the city and its energy. It’s so full of history and things to do! I recently watched a video of how to get a MetroCard for the subway. When I lived in NYC there were no cards, you paid cash. Now, there are vending machines! The choices had me baffled and I needed to refresh myself on how to get 3 cards. Last time we were there, my credit card company froze my account because I used the card three times in a row to get 3 Metrocards (each person has to have their own). this time, I’m bringing plenty of cash!

Working Online

When I first started working online, I thought, “How easy!! Easy easy easy! I can make lots of money and it will be so easy!”

Um. NOT.

I write articles for companies, websites, advertisers. It’s pretty durn tough. For one, advertisers by nature are not the most expressive and communicative people. Their grammar is deplorable and they change their minds on a whim. It’s like trying to grasp water sometimes. So even though I work at home, there’s still tremendous pressure and the tasks are tough. At least I don’t have to wear pantyhose, though, thank God for that…..

I like snowfalls like this. Everything settles down into a cozy peacefulness. And I am stricken with the sudden urge to cook, which always delights the family.

Today, I’m making Manhattan Clam Chowder. Good stuff.

If you are interested in the recipe, I posted it here: Manhattan Clam Chowder. I didn’t get up early enough today to put it in the crockpot, so I’m cooking it on the stove. It needs a little more babying that way, but it comes out just as well. And it cooks faster, too.

How is your Saturday today?

I’m participating in Hilary’s meme this week. Check it out!

1. I don’t understand ___ and probably never will.

Calculus.

2. I prefer ___ to ____

Hymns to contemporary music. My daughter is playing a Celtic hymns instrumental CD right now and it’s lovely.

3. My favorite smell is ______________because ___________________.

Lilacs. Freshly perked coffee. Burnt toast.

Haha, just kidding about the burnt toast. It’s actually one of the worst smells. I’m actually smelling it now…. apparently one of the kids had a scientific experiment go awry….

4. I suspect my neighbors of _________________.

Hoh hoh, this could be a fun fill in. Or a dangerous one! Hmmm shall I play it safe or humorous?

I strongly suspect my neighbors of… stealing my mail. Yep, we’ve had our mail stolen a few times. My husband lost several packages worth $50 or more in goods. And I’ve had checks stolen. We live in a very small town but there are a lot of transients here. They come here because there are a lot of apartments and the rent is cheaper than the city 10 miles away… so drugs and crime have increased. We finally learned our lesson this last time and got a PO box.

I’m off on this lovely Friday. I have a few articles to write and schoolwork to score, and then I’m going to work on some graphics for my new website. I just love new projects! Spring is in the air! Have a happy weekend, friends.

*long silence*

“What was that?” my husband asked.

I look up at him, surprised, from my computer. He usually doesn’t notice all the noises in the house. We have a LOT of noises. Yipping Yorkies, the cockatiel, traffic from outside, four kids ramming around upstairs in a creaky old house….. there are always lots of crazy noises and after a while you shut them out. So I took note of his notice. It must be a big deal if he asks.

“I don’t know.”

*short silence*

Husband gets up out of his chair and calls to the son in the other room (dining room).

“Hey, what was that noise?”

“I don’t know,” son says in between mouthfuls of cereal.

Husband goes out to the dining room and looks out the window. He walks back into the living room and tells me, “A red-tailed hawk slammed into the window in the dining room! It looks likes he’s injured, he’s just laying in the snow!” Husband starts to lace up his boots.

“Oh no!” I get up from my chair and rush out to the dining room. As I near the window, the son is standing in front of it.

“Ooo– there he goes!” We watch as a flurry of tawny-brown feathers filled the view and flew away. I didn’t get a very big look at him, rats. I wanted to. I DID think of grabbing the camera this time, unlike my previous failure. But a hawk is a LOT faster than a stove!

We marveled that the bird even HIT the house. Red-tailed hawks, don’t they have good vision and control? Why would he hit the house?? Is he going blind?

I then noticed rabbit tracks in the snow. I’ll betcha the hawk was looking for a tasty breakfast and the rabbit scurried to the side of the house for shelter. As the hawk was diving, he must have gotten too close to the house and crashed into it.

As I walked away from the window, I thought, “Hoh boy, do I feel like that hawk, today.” Here you are, sailing the big open blue looking for breakfast, and then WHAM you hit a solid obstruction at 30 mph. Knocks you out. That’s how I’ve felt for the past 2 months. It seems like these great big huge obstructions have entered my view, my path. I feel like I’ve slammed into a building. I’m flailing in the snow, unable to get up and terrified that something bigger will come along and eat me….

There’s a happy ending, though. The hawk finally came to his senses, rose up like a Phoenix, and soared again to his wide open spaces. The saga continues…