Too Good to be True...

So, I was almost a victim of a scam.

My fiance and I currently live with his sister, her boyfriend and their two-year-old daughter.  Our lease is up in March, and it is a known fact that we will be all moving out at that time.  Pat (my fiance) and I have been searching already, even though it is early.  We have been checking various sites such as apartments.com, Craigslist, and Google.  The other night Pat and I found an amazing deal!  $800 a month for a 3BR Cape house in Gloucester with a beautiful yard, den, new appliances, etc.  We wrote to the people and even said that it sounded too good to be true.  The person responded and said that they had moved to Thailand for missionary work and needed someone to take care of the home until they returned home in 4 years.  They had the key with them in Thailand, as they could not find an agent to hold it and the documents before their move.  They basically stressed that they were not after the money, but wanted to make sure that the renters took extra good care of the house and were responsible tenants.

When Pat and I heard all this, we were SO excited!!  A house for $800 that allowed pets and was in a nice neighborhood?  Wow!  Although we were excited, we also knew something didn't sound right.  We were especially tipped off at the fact that the person didn't hire an agent and the keys were thousands upon thousands miles away. The writing in the email was also very iffy. Common words were spelled incorrectly, I was left uncapitalized and I was referred to as "dear" several times.  However, throughout all the sketchy parts, Pat and I wanted to give the people the benefit of the doubt.

That's when my dad, being the smart man that he is, suggested we check the city's assessor's site and see if those people were listed as the home's owners.  They were - in 1984-2008, when they then sold the house to another couple.  Right there we knew it was obviously a scam.  The people on the other line were either A.) the real former owners or B.) someone using their name.  My father and I brought the scam to the police department's attention in hopes that they could help prevent people from sending the requested $500 security deposit. The police said that there isn't much they could do, as  it was online with no real way to track the source.  They did say that they will inform the truthful and current owners so that they know their address has been the figure of a scam, little known to them.

The moral of the story is that scum pulls scams.  Seriously.  I am so enraged about this right now.  Pat and I obviously knew to triple check the source before we sent any money to "Thailand" (although the people are really probably in Salem), but others probably sent the money without checking in on it.  It's jerks like this that ruin it for everyone.  Now that this happened, I am very hesitant on checking apartments online, although 99% of the posters are probably legit people with fine purposes.  Now that this one person tried to pull this, other legitimate landlords with lose business because people are too sketched out by online sources. 

Watch who you're talking with online!!  It's common sense, but many people forget that!

Bored...

So, I am sitting here on my prep period wondering why I am not doing prep work.  I get a lunch and two 45 minute preps everyday except for Wednesdays, meaning I could get a lot done.  However, Facebook and other distractions have been calling my name...

On Monday, I joined Weight Watchers - something which I am not ashamed to admit.  Although I am not huge, I am certainly getting up there.  I have gained 35-40 pounds since I graduated high school in 2004, 10 of which I packed on just this summer!!  I get 31 points a day and 49 "allowance" points a week that I can use to pig out on.  My biggest downfall are sweets and sodas, so it has been difficult to keep my hands off my fiance's stash of candy and the supply of soda that I have had since before my diet.  I have been eating a lot of fruits, especially bananas and peaches, which have surprisingly been delicious and very filling!  I also say I am going to go on a diet, but this time I am hoping to stick with it.  I didn't pay $55 to eat and ignore my plan.  In the long run, I hope to lose 20-25 pounds, but as for now I am aiming for 10 to begin.

Ugh, as I am sitting here on my prep, my lights just went off!  They are motion sensor,  so if I do not get up from my desk every so often, they shut off.  Although they are good for saving energy and electricity, it stinks that I have to stand up and move to get them to stay on!!

Alright, time for the 7th graders.  I have them and then another prep before the 6th grade comes along.  See you later! :)

Back from Maine....already!?

Rockland, Maine Harbor

I arrived home from my mini-Maine try just about two hours ago!  Pat and I stayed up there Friday night until today, and it was absolutely beautiful (as usual).  The weather was in the high 70s, which although it was nice, I kind of wished it was cooler.  We always go up on Columbus Day because we love the fall and its weather, so this trip was unseasonably hot.

The highlight of our stay was walking the Rockland Breakwater.  The Rockland Breakwater is a mile walk to the city's lighthouse.  This was the first time that we actually walked it, and boy, it was hard!  Before you judge that I am complaining about a two mile hike, keep in mind that I NEVER exercise (although I probably should) and it was on rocks that were uneven and had gaps in between each.   It was certainly a fun walk, especially because Pat and I got to talk and took our time.  When we got to the actual lighthouse, of course we had to go to the top!  BAD IDEA!!!!!  I am terrified of heights AND drowning so standing many feet above the deep water probably wasn't the smartest thing we could have done.  Even the other visitors and volunteers were checking to make sure I was okay because apparently I turned as white as a ghost.  The good news is, we were safe and sound once we were off the top!

While in Maine, we also checked out the Pumpkinfest in a nearby city.  At this festival, people carve the absolute coolest things into pumpkins.  Below you can see a cat pumpkin.  It is amazing what the artists can create!!  Besides seeing carved pumpkins, we watched the parade, tried pumpkin desserts and took lots and lots of pictures :-).

One of the many pumpkin creations :)

Pat and I also went on a haunted history tour through Camden.  It was definatley fun and interesting to learn not only about "haunted" sites, but also the history of Camden and the surrounding areas.  Did you know that the doughnut was created in Camden, ME?  Apparently a 15-year-old boy told his mother that he loved her baked goods, but they were took soggy.  He suggested that the middle be taken out and from then on, the doughnout was born.  That's a fun fact for you!

Like I said though, we're back home.  I am off tomorrow, but Pat has to go straight back to work.  We love our jobs, don't get us wrong, but there is something in Rockland that just captures our hearts <3.  We are hoping to move up there someday & I honestly cannot wait for that day.

Relaxing at the Harbor