Smurfed.

(I hope that the title of this post doesn't have any innapropriate connotation. A quick search of the word didn't come up with anything)

Imagine my surprise this morning when I got an email with an iTunes reciept for $119.10. Honestly, I bristle when I get an iTunes reciept for .99, so this floored me. Especially when I saw what it was for:

*The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss, v1.08, Seller: Oceanhouse Media, Inc. (4+)
Write a Review Report a Problem $3.99
*2 Toki Tori HD, v1.0, Seller: Chillingo Ltd (4+)
Write a Review Report a Problem $4.99
*Smurfs' Village, WAGON OF SMURFBERRIES, Seller: Capcom Interactive, Inc.
Report a Problem $99.99 !!!! (despite contrary belief, sometimes more than one exclamation point is neccessary. this is one of those times. )

Report a Problem? Yeah, I should say so.

Miles likes to play on the iPad Ben generously gifted me for Christmas. The iPad that took me 3 days to open because although I really did want one, I didn't want such an expensive gift. After my grandma essentially told me to stop being so cheap and to open the darn thing, I did. And I like it. But Miles likes it more. So of course we know what happened. While the iPad was babysitting Miles, he downloaded to his hearts content. Only, anytime I try to do ANYTHING with iTunes I have to enter in my password, almost to my annoyance, but I was happy for the protection from potentially expensive mistakes. So I'm not sure exactly what happened, only when I was recounting the story at the office this morning, someone told me they just read a similar story a few days ago. And she forwarded it to me: http://consumerist.com/2011/02/8-year-old-girl-racks-up-1400-bill-playing-smurfs-village-ipad-game.html. I haven't had a chance to read the article yet, and don't have time to be blogging about this really but while I wait 24 hours to hear back from Apple it serves as a therapy of sorts, and hopefully a warning to others.

So although I'm pretty certain that a four-year old doesn't legally have the capacity to enter into that kind of purchase agreement and I trust that my request to kindly remove the charges will be sufficient, I am a bit concerned. Concerned that a kids game charges real, significant money (a few more purchases and Miles could buy his own iPad) during the course of play. Concerned that you can buy your way to advancment with the click of a button (so much for achievement based on skill development and hard work). And mostly I am concerned that there is a market for this and that people (and by people I mean adults) would even spend a nickel on a wagon of smurfberries ($99), a bucket of snowflakes($19) or this other virtual nonsense.

I guess I probably got Gargameled, really. All of this has driven me to break into my box of Valentine chocolates early (thanks dad), and subsequently spend even more time finding a "mouse"-free hiding spot for what's left.

Bikini Baristas

There are lots of things I don't get. How airplanes full of people and cargo stay in the sky, how cameras capture a moment in time, the appeal of Twitter and the list goes on. I also didn't get why one local drive-through coffee hut had a large banner that read "NO BIKINIS" on it.

How was I to know that at many of these drive through establishments girls are serving coffee in their...well not much. They are known here (as far as I know this is just a Washington thing) as bikini baristas but frankly I've never seen one wearing even that much. And it's not like you have to look hard for these places. There is Java Girls, Hot Chick-a-Latte, Brewlesque, Twin Perks, Natte Latte and more. Mostly I think the concept is humorous - except that I can see the girls when I am just driving by on the street which means my kids and husband (this gal says she's not after him though which makes me feel a ton better) can see them also. And they are wearing lingerie, not bikinis. Apparently from one article I read I should be grateful that the "Sexpresso" hut that I get to drive by on the way to church has girls wearing more than pasties and thongs, because apparently that's the minimum dress code they are to abide by.

I had a camera in my car one day when I was able to snap this quick photo of such an establishment. It was 39 F outside which I guess is why this gal is so covered up.

Part of me is frightened for these young ladies and many have admitted that they get creepo-s exposing themselves to them and probably imagining far worse. One gal threw boiling water on a man who flashed her multiple times at 5am, which is decent self-defense but wouldn't it better to have a job that didn't leave you quite so vulnerable?

Anyhow, people can do whatever they want, even if I don't get it. I'm just not sure why it's allowed on a public street. Lately, they have been busting gals for doing more than serving coffee (and sometimes extra whipped cream) in certain locations. So, good on the police who cracked down on those engaging in indecent exposure and prostitution (not sure why the investigation took two months but I'm sure whoever was assigned to this case took their job very seriously).

Did you know that you have six choices for president? Six candidates who made it on the ballot? I am proud to say that I only had to Wikipedia one of the presidential hopefuls, and only one got a smirk and a chuckle. One got an I like you but you're really running again sigh. (Another got an I don't care for your platform or your parrot skit, but you're really running again eyebrow raise. Sorry Nate.) So that either leaves us with two legitimate candidates, or a lot of research to do between now and next Tuesday.

One more week until history is made*. It will be age, race or gender that breaks new ground. And while what that will mean for us as a country may not be apparent for months, we only have but a few days until we find out who America has chosen! And then I for one, will be cheering the widespread removal of signs that litter our city streets and hateful, non-issue commercials that litter our airwaves...for another four years.



*Bob Barr probably does not break any new ground if elected. Unless, of course, previous presidents have not had a mustache. I will say however, that he made a fine choice in running mate Wayne Root, who is a professional sports handicapper and author of many books including "The Zen of Gambling" and "The Joy of Failure!: How to Turn Failure, Rejection, and Pain into Extraordinary Success". I suggest that he might want to dust off that last one...

Seriously confused.

I'm not the greatest at keeping track of time (minutes and hours or weeks and months)- If I am writing a check I will for sure stare blankly at the date line until someone offers me the month for starters. And I don't have kids in school so I don't have a great gauge of seasons. Now, since we just went from endless summer to Autumn in July to a September heatwave I am really messed up - the Christmas decor popping up in the stores doesn't help either. But I really thought I had a handle on what day comes after Sunday. Today's Monday right? How come everytime I go to MSN.com it says Tuesday September 23 at the top. Did I sleep right through Monday? No wonder I got up so early today after being up so late (at least what I thought was) last night.

Spoiler Alert

Darn it MSN, do you have to give me olympic results at the TOP of the browser? I already clicked "HIDE RESULTS" from the first day you spoiled my fun. But you couldn't resist being the first one to tell me when Michael Phelps has won yet ANOTHER gold so you snuck it in RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP next to the button that says SHOW ME THE RESULTS. A girl can only stay up so late you know.

And what are you doing here browsing blogs when Whitewater Kayaking is on? Get back to your spot on the couch. Or on the floor in front of the couch doing situps because you're pretty sure that if Dara Torres can do it, so can you.

Postage Due

As Ben pointed out - it probably costs the USPS at least 3 cents to print these little envelopes up to bill me for this penny. This isn't the first time I have had to pay to receive a letter. Many years ago, I remember having to pay 10 cents to receive a letter. Otherwise it was going to be held hostage...or is it for "ransom"? Whatever the case, I'd better pay this puppy before it negatively impacts my credit.