As I visualize the robot from "Lost in Space" flalling around yelling "Warning, warning, Will Robinson!" I wish I could have been warned that my accounts were going to be frozen by a debt recovery company.

They can do it.  Send for your credit rating immediately and make sure there is no identity theft going on.

My friend had a $4,000 AT&T phone bill on hers and it wasn't hers. She only found out about it when she went to buy furniture. It took her 2 years to clear her name.

I had to go to court and get an "order to show cause". The judge, Hon. William, said to me,"This is what I wanted for you!" And he released my money.

There are free lawyers at court on Friday and Civil Law advice every other Wed, Thurs and Friday plus there is free legal aid. The Civil Court in Queens was filled with workers willing to help you with a smile to get you through the legal process.

Ironically, in the court room the Baliff had to tell the lawyers to stop talking and tell the jury to shut up. He actually kicked out a row of lawyers and told them to come back later. Cell phones kept going off. It was ridiculous. No wonder the kids can't behave in the classrooms. Their parents can't behave in the courtroom.

All in All Cut Up Those Cards and get control of your money. Start saving for your retirement now. Forget keeping up with the Jones', as my mother used to say.

Having my assets frozen for nearly a month had me truly depending on "Whatever Runs The Planet". It was amazing. I had to get one of those pre-paid debit cards to pay my bills. I had to depend on friends, my sister and my son.

Don't let this happen to you. Check your credit rating free once a year by writing to them. Google the web for the address.

It's summer- read a book- get some fresh air- Be Well- Stay Well!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes you just need a party!

My friend, Betty turned 50 and her beautiful daughter arranged a party for her at a local VFW. Everyone laughed, danced and got reacquainted.

When I first arrived Sue said,"My Sunday School teacher is here!" I was her teacher 37 years ago! LOL You see the history going on here. Her mom and sister-in-law are former Rag Shop customers of mine and we were talking about missing our favorite craft store.

I told them my latest crafty idea was covering my throw pillows with old summer shirts- just don't look at the back!

My sister brought her daughter's ashes in the car because she would have been at the party if she were alive. I had my niece's bag and pin on.

Meanwhile, my sis just recovered from a painful burst appendix and was dancing with her husband, me and her two daughters.

Also met a woman who loves to cook like me and preserve family recipes so I will be checking in with her, too.

A good time was had by all just in the nick of time. God Bless my friend and her family on this special occasion.

     My niece, Nicole and I just returned from frigid Chateauguay, Quebec where the weather was the only thing cold. Our cousins warmed us with their joy of family. It was exciting for all 18 of us to sit around the table eating Easter dinner on Holy Saturday because Derik had to work on Easter. Good for us as well because we had to drive back to NY.

     There are three new baby cousins. Two even born on the same day- Dustin and Mirakle. Cousin Bjorn was born 8 months ago. A whole new set of cousins! Amanda was with us in spirit I believe. My beloved niece, Amanda Thea -Nicole's fraternal sister passed this world into the next on 9/11/07. She loved her Canadian cousins very much.

     Family is first; remember that!

Welcome to my new world of www.homeinteriors.com! I needed a new enterprise in retailing since the Rag Shop closed and I was tired of minimum wage for my long standing efforts. I will soon have my own website on Home Interiors but until then e-mail me at

captgray2000@aol.com for information. I joined for $139 plus shipping and handling. You can join for $79 plus S&H until the end of September. Home Interiors is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. I come to your home and with a few of your friends encourage your decorating skills with our beautiful merchandise. Home Interiors bought Christmas Around the World so our Christmas merchandise is amazing. I loved helping customers at the Rag Shop pull together silk flowers in a new vase or select a frame for their new art work and I can continue doing it with the Home Interiors Company which is owned by Better Homes and Gardens. When a client purchases $30 or more she/he gets a free subscription to BH&G for one year in English or Spanish. Now, how cool is that! I am in the NYC area for local shows and those of you at a greater distance can purchase from the catalog.

Meanwhile, I am still a substitute teacher and will be teaching accelerated learning to the children I will be tutoring. If you need a tutor in my area just inquire at captgray2000@aol.com.

I am also meeting people who save strays and sometimes lost pets. A lovely lady I know encountered two pitbulls when she was walking her dog early in the morning and she was terrified. Thank goodness the dogs sat when commanded to. She was able to capture them with a friend's help and call the number on the dog tags. Last week on Pets Gone Wild two pitbulls attacked a man as he ran in his neighborhood. My friend was very lucky.

And how was your week?

I just completed a great year as a substitute teacher. The teachers at RFK Middle School have been a pleasure to work with. They provided me with excellent lesson plans and invited me to eat lunch with them. A big deal in my book. Sorry about the cliches.

This summer, my part time job at The Rag Shop is coming to an end due to bankruptcy.  They have 61 stores with 1500 employees closing. It's a shame.

  I paid my respects at two funerals this week. The first for Jamal Penn, beloved father to Rasaad and husband to Jennifer who passed away from a heart attack at 47 and my dear fellow reader, Sylvia Smith passed away from cancer at 94 on July 4th.

Meanwhile, I am a new consultant for Home Interiors, Inc. - celebrating 50 years in the biz. My store comes to you. I will be on line as well.

To be cont... Have to get to work..... 

The Key Lime Pie was a success this week but I still have to use up the apples AWL and I bought last Sunday.  By now I am sure there are rotten spots on them which reminds me of http://journals.aol.com/krobbie67/RobbiesRantsRaves/

 "There is very little in my life that I regret because I believe all of it occurs for a reason.  I wouldn’t be the whole pie if it weren’t for all of the ingredients.  In order to make an apple pie, some times you have to cut out the bad pieces of an apple in order to have enough to make a pie, but the bad apples still played their part in the making of the pie."

I will pack for an hour then go make that apple pie for Sunday.  My sister, JTRBWS is coming to help me pack tomorrow.  Then we are having a barbecue.  It's raining as I write this but the storm has passed and just a light rain is falling.  Back to work, MDL!

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."-Buckminster Fuller

The B's spent the day with me.  MB did her laundry while her daughter LB helped me throw out two bags of stuff from my bedroom.  We consolidated half the closet and the whole bookcase. It would have been overwhelming without LB's help.  "I have to be strong and throw that piece of paper out."  Feng Shui says a life without clutter is a more focused, less stressed life.  It is so hard; it really is to let go. However, it is working.  In a fortune cookie my young friend found a saying about "Getting rid of the past will help make way for the future."