A good program to use (although it does cost) is called ScanSpyware. It seems to catch everything that Ad-Aware and SpyBot tend to miss. I still use those two as well (I also run SpywareBlaster too), but I'd definitely recommend getting ScanSpyware, if nothing else.

Of course, make sure to run a firewall and a virus scanner. Two good ones that're easy to come by are ZoneAlarm and AVG Anti-Virus. There are others of course, but I really like those, since they don't hog system resources or mess up the OS (like McAfee and Norton usually do).

AVG was what I was using - however I still don't know if it was keylogging or not, nothing else was compromised, just cleaned it all up to make sure. Also use Ad-aware and use spybot from time to time.

I suspect it has more to do with Ebay and less to do with my computer. It had been months since I had logged in to ebay.

I didn't know that we could do telephone reporting .. hmmm .. do you have more info?

I don't, but I think several others (mephys comes to mind) do telephone reporting. I think... maybe emancipation did?

I never did it personally, but I've read loads of people who had like a month of cards to submit and when they were talking to Out of Country Claims office basically asked nicely for them to take the cards over the phone instead of filing a whole group of cards at one time via mail. It's not like in Canada that there is a dedicated line for it, it's just when you are talking to the gals ask them nicely with loads of sugar on top to take your cards "while you got 'em on the line"..

I think it's kinda a one time deal though, not like every week you can call in your cards.. That's my guesstimation.

There was a mix up in my cards not being mailed to me for several weeks, and I phoned EI. They didn't know what happened, but took myinformation over the phone. I asked if I couldn't just always do my reporting by phone and the lady said no, unfortunately, out of country claims can only mail in their reports except for exceptions like I was experiencing. I was thankful that incident only happened once. Otherwise, my cards and monies are always on time and deposited as per schedule.

Carla

I think I'm going to take a break from VJ for a while. All the negativity is bringing me down. It's even crept into the Canada Forum.

Ahhhh! don't go krikit!

VJ can be grim at times, but for the most part us canucks try to remain positive!! Just ignore the negative people as much as possible!! Don't feed them anything to get them started,lol

Speaking of food, I think it is lunch time!!

Awww. Thanks guys. I'm normally able to shake it off, but I guess I'm being a bit sensitive at the moment. I probably just need a hug.

And a chocolate bar! Don't hesitate to comfort yourself with food, regardless of what Oprah says

(((hug)))


*runs to find chocolate*

*hughughughug*

As an aside, I'm really frustrated at trying to find a civil surgeon to transfer my vaccination supplement over to the I-693A.

*also runs for some chocolate*

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Krikit}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!!!! You guys are AWESOME!!!

*gets grip on self*
*pulls self up by bootstraps*
*develops thicker skin*
*is thankful for what she has*
*gets bar of chocolate*
*pours glass of wine*

There. I've given myself a good talking to and have pulled myself together. Thank you SO MUCH for the hugs and the messages. They really mean a lot to me. You guys really are the best.

+ = a happy gal

Mmmmm. Red wine and chocolate. How could a gal not be happy?

Hope you can "shake it off" with some of that good chocolate! I get that way sometimes as well. Don't we all? Sensitive is a good word. It's a good emotion though too. Never let anyone tell you you're too sensitive.

Anyway, big HUGS for you!!

Carla

Awww. Thanks Carla. My husband tells me that sensitivity is a gift. I kinda look on it as a gift-curse.

I have decided to spend a little less time on VJ so I don't inadvertently step into the "Threads of Mayhem" when I wander out of the Canada Forum. It's a jungle out there.

ya, its amazing how a certain innocent topics get side railed!! Some people just want everyone to be miserable like themselves I guess.

What a day!! Turns out i went to class with my t shirt inside out!!! Went and got a haircut and the barber chick says "ur shirt is inside out" lol Oh well!!

Flames you crack me up!!

It was inside out day for you! It's fitting being Halloween.. that's your new costume!

You should have just said "I'm Canadian".

It's my Mom's birthday today and we are going to the birthday celebration, so we won't be here to hand out candy and I actually feel kind of bad about it, I feel obligated to give the children candy! Probably because I loved halloween so much as a kid.

On the other hand, I never actually go to the door, my Husband does haha. We live in a bi-level and it's too boring to run up and down the stairs every 5 minutes and they foyer just is not that interesting.

So I got my Mom a new shelf stereo and a double Willie Nelson CD (her favorite), so she will be a happy camper.

Happy Halloweeeeen!

On the news this morning, this fellow in the DC area has this huge halloween set up in his yard! Took him 6 weeks to put it all up, was amazing!! He said last year, he bought tons of candy, BUT stil lhad to make 4 trips to the store for more Halloween night!! crazy!!

Tee hee..

On Saturday we were moving friends into a new apartment and one of the girls (USC) asked me if I knew if there was a Little Ceasar's (Pizza) around.. I looked at her and said (without thinking) " I'm Canadian - I don't know anything".. tee hee... i got teased for the rest of the afternoon about that one!!

What I meant to say was "I'm not from here, and I don't know where anything is!!"

That one literally made me LOL.

Some shirts are actually made to look like they're inside out (believe it or not... lol). But I guess when you've got the tag waving up and down telling everyone what size you are it's pretty hard to claim you MEANT to do that.

I use me being Canadian to my advantage at the hospital. When i first meet a patient I sometimes state that if you can't understand me, it is because I mumble Canadianese,lol helps break the ice and most seem to know or have family that is from Canada

You can make that your new tag line under your avatar now, Michelle! Or maybe we all should, and see if anyone notices!

I"M SOOOO Going to do it!!!

Did it!!

Tempting, I must admit.

Yesterday hubby and I stopped to put gas in the truck, and he asked me if I wanted to get a lottery ticket. I said sure, he's like which one you want...."huh??? I don't know them..." I must have looked stupid to the guy at the register

That's HILARIOUS!!!

I'm tempted to do it too. Or to put "Congratulations!" in there instead. (Re the Misa thread where everyone needs congratulating but I'm worried about missing someone.)

I think you need to get some tagless shirts and not worry about it anymore!

I was gonna do this if anyone asked me why I wasn't wearing a costume for Hallowe'en..... look at them straight in the eye and say "I'm going as a Canadian".

Nobody asked me though. I was sad.

lmao!! only on VJ can a topic that is about a newborn baby get locked down!!! lol Nothing is safe!! lol

the OP wanted it shut down.. I guess he thought it would get out of hand....

it just amazes me how easy topics do get out of hand!! Even babies are not safe! lol

Saw that and was more than a little dismayed. Guess I will be sticking closer to the Canadian forum for a bit.

I just went and read that. It was sickening. I surely hope that guy gets a ban for that. What an a$$.

Where is this post? I need some excitement today...soooo bored!

My brother & Sister in law are coming today to visit us today here in CT!!!! YIPEEE!!!

They are only going to be here overnight, but it's our FIRST visitors.. and I'm just excited to have them here closeby! And of course to spoil my neice & nephew!

*Sigh..

Yay!!! I hope you have a great visit with them.

I can't wait for my mom and sister to come down. I am still ragging on them to get their passports.

UGH.. it's true, i'm doing that to my mum as well.. you know when you leave Canada everyone's like -- oooh a new place to visit.. we'll be down.. nah.. it doesn't happen that way.. we've been doing all the travelling so far

same here... I told them they need to get on it soon, if they want to come down when the baby is born...

Oh! How exciting for you! And I totally agree with you about who does the travelling. lol

Having said that, my cousin Kelly and her husband Jay were finally booked to come here this Saturday. However, Jay got called to jury duty AND THEY WOULDN'T LET HIM OFF!!!! We had reservations at The Capri Inn (which were non-refundable because of the time of year, but they're letting us reschedule) on Siesta Key (which is gorgeous). I can't believe they wouldn't let him defer the jury duty. We called the local deputy chief of police (a personal friend) for advice. Jay showed them the airline tickets and the non-refundable hotel reservations. He explained how people had scheduled vacation time and how everyone had rearranged their schedules for child care and school and such. (They were leaving their 2 small children at home.) They just did not care. It was "Too bad so sad." We were SO upset. Oh well. Sorry for the rant, Michelle. Have a great time with your brother and SIL this evening!!!

THat is so cruddy!!! I can't believe they wouldn't let him off!! Gah!! and like what are the odds.. so sorry that all that happened.. that's horrible!!

I KNOW!!!! I was like "What the..... ????" You've had YEARS to call him and you pick THIS WEEK??? And it's not as if they were even going to be here for a long time. Just from Saturday till Tuesday. And it was like pulling teeth just to get THOSE few days scheduled. sheesh

UGH..... FRUSTRATING!!!!

Yeah, what is that all about?! We keep asking Derek's friends and family to come down for a visit and they act all excited and then....... nothing. And then it's another lovely 10 hour drive for us.

On the flip side, it really irks me that my Dad in Florida refuses to come north for a visit and always makes us come there. He's retired and has plenty of time and $$$ but expects us to find some vacation time and extra cash (which we never seem to have ) and fly down. At least the weather there in March/April is better there than in DC.

Oh, I have been pestering my Mom to get her passport too. Her rationale - other people need theirs more badly than she needs her, so she'll just wait.

Oh man that bolded bit made me bust a gut!! That's halarious!!! My mum's reasoning is it's so complicated.. she was born in England, has to submit her CDN citizenship papers, Brittish BC, and she's been married again since her last passport so it's all overwhelming for her. If I was home I could help.. bah... but we're trying to get her to come by bus..at least to Bangor, then she won't have to deal with all the passport stuff..

Yep.. I think honestly, you get out of sight out of mind for people... their lives continue unfortunately.. I'm starting to just resign myself to that, and not try to stress or be hurt by it.. *sigh ... but it's easier said than done.