SimplyComplexJen

It went from bad to worse, and I could go on to explain how I'm locked out of ebay (temporarily suspended), Facebook (hopefully temporary), gmail (hopefully fixed tomorrow), and a couple of other sites.  But I won't.  What I will explain is some common sense rules I ignored.

My IT guy in corp HQ suggested changing all my passwords every 60-90 days.  I need to come up with an organizational system to do this.  I realized I hadn't changed my email password in over 3 years.  I'm not sure it would have prevented today's attack, but it would have been a line of defense.

I'm locked out of facebook, why?  It was the same PW as my email account.  How to solve that in the future seems pretty self explanatory.  Again, a new organizational system needed to keep track of a unique password for every site I visit.

Bank accounts.  Thank G-d I used a different PW for all my financial institutions.  I went ahead and changed those passwords too, called CS and asked for a fraud alert.  I'm already thinking not all my financial institutions need the same password.  I'm starting to see a trend here.  Following me?

Overall, I could go into it, but you've heard the warnings.  No longer is it a friend of a friend that it once happened to.  It happened to me.

I don't open emails from unknown senders.

I don't click on links that I'm not sure about.

Attachments to emails get run through a virus scan.

So, how did this happen?  No clue.

Ebay was nice enough to provide me with the IP addy of the person who changed my ebay password.  It belongs to an anonymous proxy server/service (?).  I was told that means this person can't be found.

So, dear hacker who ruined by day, made me cry, has locked me out of facebook, and overall my week a hell (and it's only Monday).... I have a message for you.  I even put it in a heart to show you how much I care:

Two different conversations has brought me to almost a stand still today.  I look at my paperwork, and I look at my to-do list, and I look at the things I'm saving my money for and all I can think about is:

What is the point?

Really?  We bust our asses working for a company that only very few of us believe in, but mostly it's a means to pay the mortgage and for private school.  One hundred years from now, will my great-great grandchildren really know or care that I saved up for a year to remodel my bathroom?

Does my short-term happiness in owning that (insert name of object here) matter to those who have nothing?  My future grandchildren?  The people of Haiti?

I'm finding it harder and harder have enjoyment in my home.  It's just things that mean nothing, but in some strange paradox are seemingly important at the time.

Around Christmas a co-worker told me about a morning radio show he was listening to where a family had lost everything (fire?) and people were calling in donations to help them have a decent Christmas for their kids.  One guy called in who was a sandwhich maker at Subway.  He probably makes $8 an hour and has his own money problems.  He gave $100.  I was told that story 6 weeks ago and can not get it out of my head.

The second incident that has brought me to a complete distraction today is the following:

PRESS RELEASE
LOCAL NEWS
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2010

Homeless Guests at Kansas City Rescue Mission
Collect Money for Haitian Relief
“Heart to Heart will receive a very sacrificial gift this week,” said Chaplain Joe Roberts.

Kansas City, Mo.—When homeless men at the Kansas City Rescue Mission, 1520 Cherry Street, learned of the tragedy in Haiti, many stepped up to offer what little they had during three evening chapel services late last week.

Their collection — a total of $132.42 — will be donated to Heart to Heart International’s Haiti Quake Response efforts.

“These men have no homes of their own. Many have no contact with their own families, have only the clothing on their backs and rely on KCRM for shelter, food, medical care and hope,” said Chaplain Joe Roberts. “Yet when they learned about the tragedy in Haiti, they gave very sacrificially to help folks who were suffering even more.”

Pete Brumbaugh, a spokesman for Heart to Heart International, said, “This disaster in Haiti has touched so many lives, including those who are finding hope at the Kansas City Rescue Mission. We are humbled by their gifts, which show us that everyone has something to give to this massive relief effort providing healing and hope to the survivors.”

To learn more, for interviews and photos, please contact Development Officer Julie Larocco at (816) 421-7643, ext. 41, (816) 699-3029 (cell) or jlarocco@kcrm.org.

Kansas City Rescue Mission is a Christ-centered community offering freedom and hope to the poor and homeless, empowering them to reach their full potential.

 Homeless men gave all they had to the victims of Haiti.  All.

I'm worrying about a bathroom remodel?  I'm going to go sit in my corner now and figure out how to make these feelings feed change.

If the Subway worker and a group of homeless men living in a shelter can give to those around them in that way.... no matter how much time, money, or donations I've given in my life up  until now.... NONE of it is even remotely enough.

People like to go to church on Sundays and raise their hands and talk about the love of Christ?  There you go.  Right there.  In real terms.

The question is : What am I going to do with this knowledge now?

I love this picture. To me, it represents the best moment of the Triathlon (well, the best two).

After the swim I struggled with, I was on my bike, struggling up a hill and struggling to keep my cramp at bay. About the time I was wondering why the hell I was keeping going, I get to the top of the hill and I hear, "GOOOOOOO MOMMMMMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" really loud.

My brother, future SIL, and my daughter were at this intersection. Fortuitously they were late and unable to enter the park and the Sheriff had stopped them at an intersection. The first intersection at the top of the first hill of my 12 mile ride.

It was meant to be.

At that moment, the race was no longer about protecting my ego and simply finishing to avoid the embarrassment of a DNF. Now, it became something much bigger and much more important. It was about showing my daughter the results of those workouts I had sacrificed some of my precious time with her for (as a single parent, I feel so much of our time is eaten away by "have tos"). I needed to show her that you don't quit.


This hug post race meant the world to me, and I'm so glad my friend captured this picture, because to me, it emodies the spirit of my race.

(if the moment on my bike was the best moment, finishing was the 2nd best!)