So you use a debit card to buy gas?????

Using Debit Cards At Pump Can Be Costly -- Temporarily Debit Hold Can Be Much Higher Than Anticipated

GREENVILLE -- It can be quite a shock going to the gas station these days and dropping $50 or more on one tank of gas.
But what if you found out that by paying at the pump, that $50 tank of gas was really costing $150?
Many people know that gas stations will sometimes put an extra "hold" on your debit card at the pump until the money actually clears your account. But when the price of gas shot through the roof, it caused something else to happen that few people saw coming. Last weekend, Jerry Canady filled up his motorcycle at a Pumper's gas station using his Visa debit card. The bill was a little more than $12. But the next day, Canady discovered something wrong with his account
"I was looking online on my computer and noticed a $100 charge against my account from Pumper's. So, I figured it was just a mistake and be easy to clear up," he said.
But it was no mistake. The "hold" on his debit card was $100 -- not because of Pumper's, but because of Visa. When gas prices rose, and drivers needed more than $50 worth of gas at a time -- which was the limit for pay-at-the-pump transactions -- Pumper's raised that gas limit to $100. But the hold amount for Visa debit card transactions also went up from $1 to $100.
"A situation like what happened really, really does put a strain on us," Canady said.
Pumper's President Stephen Whitney said, "We were as surprised as anyone … we lowered the pump limit as soon as we found out." But it was not lowered before Canady filled up a second time, resulting in a second $100 hold."So I ended up with $200 worth of charges on my account," he said. The hold disappeared from Canady’s account in 24 hours, and he was charged
only for the gas he bought.
Because Pumper's has gone back to the $50 gas limit for pay-at-the-pump transactions, people with Visa debit cards don't get hit with a $100 hold. However, drivers who need more than $50 worth will have to do two separate transactions to fill up their tanks.
Consumer advocates say that oil companies often have their own hold amounts for debit transactions, ranging from $50 to $75, and the hold can last for as long as 72 hours. They point out that the best ways to avoid the holds are to pay with cash, use a credit card instead of debit card, or -- if you must use a debit card -- make sure you go inside to use your PIN –- PIN-based transactions are registered immediately. Some pay-at-pump machines also allow PIN-based transactions.

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No more drama

I am at the point in my life when I do not want any drama. Actually I reached this point a few years ago, but I got comfortable and too nice. As a result I forgot my own rule about checking people out throughly. And what did my lax attitude get me??? A hard time. So I am back to my old cynical, cautious self. And it feels good.

No more lending money!
No more doing favors for people don't want to return the favor!
No more drama!

Who is with me? Give me a shout out.

This is my cousin from across the water- you know we are English :) 

This is the newest edition to my little household. His name is Max. Isn't he a cutie? Well I think so. And you know what?I think he does too. He is so funny. And already knows how to pose and everything.  

BBQ in Hodges: Fiesta fiesta

We had fun last week. The food was good. Y la asocacion era mejor!!!
Gracias a todos que contribuyeron a su exito! Vamos a hacer otra vez? Claro que si. =)

I forgot to publish this pic earlier. This is the finished KH from last week. And to think on Thursday it was just a foundation. On Sunday it just needs a certificate of occupancy. Sweet! 

So I thought I would share my two fave Dilbert cartoons.
The first one is funny to me because it illustrates the lack of respect for inadequate managment. And when I see cartoons like this one I am grateful that my boss is not an idiot.
The second one is funny to me because it is SO-O-O true. This cartoon describes EXACTLY how some upper management people sounded when the CEO was to visit our site. And I was thinking "This man has a PhD. Do they think that he will see through their BS?" When HR practices are not always so people-friendly or show respect for people, there is the concern that someone might take the opportunity to bum rush the CEO and let him know what is really going on in the work place.  

I got some comments about stuff happening the world

-More than four years after her headless body was found, a child known nationally as "Precious Doe" has been identified and her mother has been
charged in connection with her death, authorities in Kansas City, Missouri, said today. Erica Michelle Maria Green was days away from her fourth birthday when she died. Officers searching for a missing man found her body on April 28, 2001, in a wooded area. Her head, wrapped in a trash bag, was found days later. With no hint of natural affection for her child- I mean what kind of sicko decapitates her own daughter- I think she deserves whatever punishment is given to her.

-All the bombings in Iraq. Can you Iraqis stop blowing stuff up? We get it. You hate Americans. But I want to know where in the Koran does it say you are supposed to terrorize people. And don't give me that BS that Americans are the real terrorists. Blah blah blah. That still does not justify blowing up markets, police stations, etc etc.

-And all these little girls being killed by child molesters. How twisted do you have to be to get your rocks off from little girls. I hope all of you go to prison and get EXACTLY what you deserve (not from the justice system but from other inmates). And another question: Why ACLU support does NAMBLA? I don't think that America's forefathers thought this perversion would be an issue when they were talking about the freedom of speech.

-And I heard that there is supposed to be a movie about Jesus and apostles being gay. And I have decided that there is absolutely no sense left in the world. These people have to be smoking crack cut with rat poison to have been able to come up with some so obscenely perverse.

And that is all I have to say about that.

Black people STOP making up names for your kids! You are not doing them any favors.
http://www.thecarolinachannel.com/education/4482169/detail.html?treets=gs&tid=2655575675813&tml=gs_4pm&tmi=gs_4pm_1_03000205122005&ts=H

Last weekend I went to Laurens SC to help with the construction of a new KH. I am on the suspended ceiling crew- which is cool. So these are a few of photos when we were trying to get this job done. We were so busy on Saturday that I forgot to take any pics. So this is just Sunday.  

Spur of the moment parties are the most fun
I decided to invite a few friends for dinner and a movie. Well it was more like BBQ and a movie. All good if you ask me. On the menu was BBQ chicken (cocinado por David y bien rico), corn on the cob, hot dogs, hamburgers, and salad. For dessert, there was a light no bake cheesecake (but not out of a box kind) and ultra moist chocolate cake (tambien el biscocho era bien rico-yo hice pero no estoy jactandome- tu sabes). We danced and little and saw "Flight of the Phoenix". Some movies are better when there are many people sharing jokes about the movie. And everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
I don't want to get too excited, but I am already thinking about when can we do it again. But then I don't want to hear in a year, "Remember that party, I didn't like that..." or "I wish we could have done this..." because then I will be pissed. That has happened to me before and probably the main reason why I don't throw a lot of parties. But this crew seems cool and laid back. Next time, I hope to throw a Saturday shindig so that my girl Shakaira can come. And I hope that Gris gets to come too.  

Everyone is mesmorized 

Bon Fires are cool... 

That is why its called the GRAND CANYON 

My bro Cyro got props this week. The funny thing is that he is on the list of Who’s Who of Junior college students, yet he did not know that. We were all laughing during the announcements and then they called his name. How funny. He had to run up to the stage to get his certificate. The other guy in the picture is Cyro’s fave instructor. I think he actually nominated him for the award. In his speech he said that Cyro’s intelligence and humor will be missed the most. I was impressed. 

The days are always sad in Iraq

My friend e-mail me this. His subject header was "so THIS is what allah and muslims are all about?" I wonder the same thing.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi officials made two grisly discoveries Wednesday, finding more than 50 bodies in the Tigris River and 20 soldiers shot to death west of the capital, officials said.

Iraq President Jalal Talabani said dozens of bodies have been found in the Tigris River south of Baghdad.

He said the bodies were people who had been held hostage earlier this week
in Madain, a village south of Baghdad.

"More than 50 bodies have been brought out from the Tigris, and we have the
full names of those who were killed and those criminals who committed these
crimes," Talabani said.

Belizean air conditioner 

New Hobby

NOTE TO EVERYONE

I have a new hobby. I am studying to be a travel agent. My business is called "Travellin' Diva"

If you want to travel, I'll make the arrangments.

My cousin Brenda was a great tour guide for the weekend. She took me around to see the local flavor. I saw the fish market, the sea, the old family house, downtown Belize City, and a lot more. At the end of the day we went to Princess and had pina coladas. Smoothest I ever tasted. Props to Christian (he made them…I should have taken his picture- he was a cutie…oh well maybe next time).
 

I went to BELIZE

Last weekend, I went to Belize (for all you who do not know where that is, it is in Central America). It was awesome. First of all, why did I go? That is where my Nana was born. And I saw old family (Nana'’s brothers and my cousins-Brenda [far left], Jessica, Erica [second from right], Jordan) and met new family (Phinnie [far right], Uncle Henry[not pictured but his wife is in the middle], Auntie Vel [second from left].