Last night, we went out for a movie date.  We saw the Avengers - it was pretty good, a bit overwhelming.  I think I'm getting too old for comic book characters.  Plus it was quite violent.  I always notice when parents bring their 8 years olds to see a pg-13 movie.  Makes you wonder. 
Also, I find there is just too much computer manipulation - makes it so unreal.  Not that there is anything real about comic book characters, lol...
But we had a nice evening out.  Spent a small fortune on popcorn and drinks.  Wow...that is definitely where they make their money.  We did go for the 'Tuesday Special', aka 'cheap night'.  So at least we saved some there.
On the way home, about 3 minutes from our house on a country road, just about dark, we saw a mother woodcock and 5 little babies!  They were SO CUTE!  She was taking her time crossing the road, so we stopped and waited.  She seemed a bit disoriented by our lights, and we didn't dare turn them off because it was getting dark and didn't want anyone to run into us. 
After a couple of minutes, we saw lights - a car coming the opposite way.  I didn't hesitate - I got out of the car to play 'crossing guard'.  I waved my arms at the car and started towards the birds.  Momma wasn't happy.  She turned around and started right for me, kinda flapping her wings and making very unhappy sounds, then tried to draw me away from her babies. Such a good mother!  I decided perhaps I wouldn't 'herd' them across the road after all.
The other people stopped and waited, but I don't think they saw the chicks, as it was getting quite dark and they were next to long grass.  They were so tiny.  I read afterward that they are fully feathered out at 2 weeks.  These little ones must have only been a couple of days old.
Well, they finally all went their way, and I waved thank you to the other car and we came home.  My good deed for the day.
I pondered afterwards our timing.  2 or 3 minutes earlier or later, we would likely have missed them.  Possibly the other car would have hit them, because they were still on the road.  Makes you wonder.  I do believe the Lord really does care for the smallest things in our lives.  And I was thrilled seeing them. 
But boy, I sure wish I had my nice camera with me...

Scams...

Just a quick post.  I thought this was important enough to mention here.
We are shopping for a used boat, so we've been perusing Craigslist.  We've looked at a couple, and inquired about a couple more.  We rec'd an email back in regards to our inquiry on one,  from some lady who said she was in the military, being deployed to Afghanistan this month, and needed to sell her boat within the next 2 weeks.  Excellent condition- great price.  Just what we were looking for.   
In our second email, we asked for an address and phone number, so we could come see it and set up a time.
Her 3rd email said it was in Topeka, KS, ready to be shipped.  (Funny how we found this on the Boston area.)
She would ship it to us, through EBay (Ebay?  Where did that come in?) so we could use it for 5 days before buying, or ship it back free.  She said she was a legitimate Ebayer, and would prove it.
She said she 'couldn't get off base' to show it to us, as she was getting ready to be deployed.

WELL.  About this same time, we got another email from another ad we had responded to, another boat, only 2 years newer, and about the same cost.  This was from another military lady!  With almost the same wording and excuse about being in the military.
I thought, ok, how can this be?  So I did an internet search, and lo and behold., this is a scam.  Apparently it's been going on for sometime, because the forum I found had posts dated from 2010.  And also, it's not just boats, but cars and ATV's as well.  
We didn't get to the point of talking money - I sent back my last email stating I knew it was a scam and 'shame on them'. I am assuming they get you to send a check, which they will 'hold' until you decide if you want the item.  Or perhaps they get your credit information, I don't know.  All I know is you can't be too careful these days.  If it sound too good to be true, it more than likely is.


Lesson learned.  If you can't go see it in person locally, BEWARE!  And NEVER EVER send money to someone you don't know through Western Union, etc.  

Also, as a seller, the checks sent to you can be no good, can be from 3rd world countries, which can take months to clear - only to find out they are no good. 


http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Escrow-Insurance/Car-Scam-Beware/520186369

This link will take you to a forum on EBay discussing scams, and show many people who rec'd the same emails I did, in some shape or form. 

Hope this helps inform you and keeps you from falling for something like this.