Facebook account suspended and now "BNamericas" is billing me?

On the morning of Monday, July 25, 2022, I awoke to learn that my Facebook account had been suspended  - for 30 days!  

My daughters both asked, "Mom, what have you done, now?" The grandkids laughed at their 81 year old Granny who was now in Facebook Jail. 

Of course, I asked for a Review. I had researched and learned that it normally takes about 24 hours, but after two weeks nothing was happening.

And then, on July 28th, I began to receive email messages to the email address that I use (which isn't checked) for Facebook from the "Facebook Ads Team."

The subject line stated:

"Your payment for Meta ads was declined."

And the email read, further:  The payment for ad account Sarah Walker Gorrell (ID: xxxxxxxx) was declined and your ads have been paused. To start running ads again, please pay the amount due.

I had previously (not sure when) received Messenger messages from "Ron@bnamericas" ..... suggesting that I call him so that we could "work out a payment plan."  Bnamericas meant nothing to me. I figured that it was either someone with the wrong info or a telemarketer.  

I have learned, today, that BNamericas is the Latin American arm of Meta which is the parent company of Facebook and also owns Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and so many other Social Media companies.

It is my belief that someone, somewhere (in Latin America?) was Advertising and using my Facebook account, and thankfully, the email address tied to that account had no access to an account that paid the bills!

I have emailed the Facebook advertising group as well as a "partners" group, but support@fb.com is returned as "access denied." 

As a friend of mine often says, "this just doesn't meet the smell test!"

 

The "Perfect" Charcuterie Board selections.......

 Plan your board. What will you serve? How many people do you expect? Do they like meats, cheeses, fruits, breads? It really doesn't matter!  You don't know what they like and what they want. YOU are just going to provide a table for grazing!!!

Find some boards - yes, boards - like cutting boards, decorative kitchen utensils, whatever. Put together some small bowls for olives, pickles, relishes, condiments, and some small plates for crackers, small slices of bread, and fruits.

Use every dish that you have in your cupboards! All those dishes that you've "saved" for special occasions - well, this is one. Use them! Charcuteries aren't just for boards - add those cute little side dishes to add to the excitement!

Now, for the meats: You'll want several different kinds; like Proscuitto, salami, summer sausage, and whatever else you like and can find. Add cheeses of every different kind - American, Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Roquefort, Blue, Cream Cheese - anything that's "spreadable." 

Breads of every kind - and crackers and even Wheat Thins. Remember......  anything goes on a Charcuterie board.

Place your meats first, then add your cheeses and breads ...and fruits (grapes, strawberries, kiwi).......add bowls of olives and condiments like honey mustard, ranch, mayo, anything that can be spread on the breads.

Keep in mind, that Charcuterie is for people to graze and serve themselves. Add some small plate and forks and something to drink...and you've got a meal.

So, find those cutting boards that mama gave you or that Granny owned ...and those long, white dishes that you never knew what to do with ....add some small bowls, and spoons and forks and toothpicks....you've got your own Charturie Board!!!

OMGoodness, you thought it was a "Meat and Cheese Tray" ....where have you been?

 Well, finally, the Pandemic was good for something!  It brought the USA out of the dark ages and right up alongside the "elite Europeans," and we stopped calling them "Meat and Cheese Trays." (Unless we hadn't been anywhere and didn't know!)

Back in the 15th Century (yes, that long ago), the French created "Charcuterie" (Shaa-koo-tuh-ree) because the shops sold meats that were flesh (Char) and cooked (cuit). The products were made from pork, including the pig's internal organs. Literally translated, it means "products of a fancy French butcher."  

However, the Charcuterie boards have grown to include meats other than pork, and they've become "all the rage." 

I recall, sometime last year, a younger cousin said she had to help with a party and was doing the "Charcuterie board." I asked, "what's that?"  I'd been pretty much secluded, in my house, during the Pandemic - don't go to many things, anyway, and had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

A few days ago, I was invited by a friend, to go to our local Garden Club meeting where a distant cousin was demonstrating how to make a Charcuterie board. I discovered that's it's pretty easy to make (if you have enough boards and dishes), but it can get expensive and time-consuming. There seemed to be lots of pre-planning involved.

It has become more than a board, more than meats and cheeses, and really ends up being more like a table for grazing. What a concept for a party. No need to make messy sandwiches or dips - just add all types of meats, cheeses of every kind, condiments, olives, pickles, breads, crackers, fruits of every kind - arrange in some kind of order ....or not.....and go for it!!

Now, just about every store sells Charcuterie boards (yes, we called them cutting boards .....and you can use those, too!) The artsy, crafty types are even making the boards and selling them. 

So, google Charcuterie boards, TikTok Charcuterie boards, Amazon Charcuterie boards - they're everywhere. 

However, if someone tells you they're having a Charcuterie demo ....go, learn, and graze, and if you're invited to a party and Charcuterie is mentioned....by all means, GO.  You'll be amazed at how one little word from 15th Century France changed our world!

Getting the table ready.

And the end results look (and are) delicious!

Have you ever heard of this?????

We're a small town - back in 2019, we had almost 2100 people. Some have come, some have gone, but we're probably still about that many.

We're the type of little Southern town where everyone knows everyone and knows what's happening with them (whether it really IS happening, or not!) It's the type of town where neighbors are neighbors and friends are friends and everyone knows everyone (almost). Even if they don't "know you" .... they "know you" on Facebook!!

Blakeney is a familiar family name, in our town. Recently, one of our little Blakeney guys was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. It was a disease of which I had never heard. It was actually discovered, in 1897, by an Austrian doctor but wasn't given the name Legg-Calve-Perthes until around 1910 by the 3 doctors who recognized it, published it as a disease unrelated to tuberculosis, and prescribed a treatment. 

LCP is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the femoral artery. Symptoms are noticeable limping of the affected leg, and pain in the groin, thigh, and leg which increases, with time. It mainly affects boys ages 4 - 10, however, girls can also be affected but are much worse than boys. It usually affects just one hip, but can also affect both.

Landon Blakeney is 7 years old and is just the neatest, most active little boy. When he first began to limp, his mother thought he had just "played too rough and too hard."  However, when the limp increased and was accompanied by pain, her mother's heart knew that something wasn't right.

A pediatrician in the small town of nearby Ellisville immediately diagnosed it as Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and the journey began.

After appointments in Jackson with UMMC and Ochsner's, in New Orleans, Landon underwent surgery this past week to have both his legs encased in full-length leg casts - connected by a rod for from 6 - 8 weeks. Once the casts are removed he will undergo more surgery because the MRI displayed that he has no blood flow to his right hip. And then, there will be therapy to help him learn to walk, again.

I call him our "littlest warrior" and am amazed by his strength and his spirit, and his smile. I can't imagine a more uncomfortable way to have to live - legs, in a cast, spread wide open ..... for weeks.

Please remember Landon, in your prayers!!

 

The "Donut Hole" and the Deductible, both are expensive!!

Back in 2013, when my honey was in his "next-to-last" year of living with cancer, I was diagnosed with AFib. AFib can be caused by stress, and caring for a loved one, with cancer is certainly stressful.

My AFib has been mild and I am able to "manage" it.....however, stressful situations can also trigger AFib episodes. Thankfully, I've only had a few since 2013. AFib has ensured that I will always have to take a blood thinner, to prevent a stroke or heart attack. My Cardiologist prescribed Eliquis, several years ago, and it works .....but it's expensive because it isn't Generic.

I'm surprised that today (when I picked up my 90-day Eliquis refill) I didn't have an "episode."

It's absolutely ridiculous that 90 tablets (I take 2, each day) with Medicare and my Supplement cost me an additional $623.00! Of course, it's the first of the year, and I have a deductible to meet.  And then, there was last year, when I was in the "Donut hole."

The "Donut hole" (also known as the Coverage gap) is that time of year when you've reached the limit of what your insurance drug plan will pay. In 2021, it was $4,130. This year (2022) the amount is $4,430. When that period occurs, all prescription drugs become more expensive.  

I recall, in December 2021 going to pick up my 30 day supply of Restasis (Prescription eye drops to treat chronic dry eyes) and the cost was over $160!! I was in the "Donut Hole."

Eliquis won't be eligible to become Generic (and less expensive) until after 2026 and possibly 2031. Until that time, it will remain a very expensive ....though much needed ....drug.

Donut Hole or Deductible .....the end of the year or the beginning of the year....even with insurance......are costly times. (If one doesn't have insurance, there are programs to assist with the cost.)  

Today isn't just "Groundhog Day"..............

 Did you know that today is also known as Candlemas, in Christian countries? It signifies the end of the 40 days of the Christmas - Epiphany season. Some churches remove Christmas decorations after Christmas, some after "Little Christmas" (Jan. 6th), and some remove them after Candlemas.

Many church members (Anglican, Methodists, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Roman Catholics) bring their candles to their local church to be blessed. They serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, Light of the World,

Many churches remove their Nativity Scenes after Christmas, but some leave them until after the Baptism of Jesus. However, in some countries, it is a tradition that the Nativity Scene is removed after Candlemas - the end of the Christmas season.

Candlemas got its name from the lighted candles.

Who saves the "Operator's Manual"???

Years ago (no, I don't recall how many years!) when we bought our Panasonic Inverter 1250 Watt Microwave, we plugged it in and used it.

I had no idea what "Inverter" meant (and still didn't until said microwave just died). Nor did I read the manual. It was a Microwave .... I needed it to do what Microwaves do ..... heat or reheat.                                                                                                                                                                           

My microwave has been my morning cup of coffee "mainstay."  I need that one cup with cream and sweetener, but I'm not much of a coffee drinker. I heat and reheat that one cup until I may, or may not, finish it! When the microwave died, the coffee drinking was almost over. I make it to about one-half cup before it gets cold.  Well, one morning (haven't had time, yet, to get to town to replace my "coffee heater,") I did heat my coffee, in a saucepan, on my stovetop! That took me back to my Granny and her coffee pot, on the stove.

Anyway, the day the microwave died, it quit.....with a message that said, "refer to Panasonic Operator's Manual."  Where in the world would that be and why?  Well, I did search in a few places, but I was sure I had probably thrown that away, years ago. (Now, once I've replaced the dead microwave, I'm sure I'll find the manual!)

I went online and searched for Panasonic Microwave Manual.  I read down to the part where I was instructed to "unplug from electricity" (I was already beyond that), but when I got to the part about removing the front panel and removing the Inverter grid ..... I stopped. 

Granddaughter, Olivia, was over here the day the Panasonic died (she was about to heat up a snack), and said, "something else for Sawyer to fix." (Sawyer gets called on to fix lots of things at "Granny's house!") I'm sure they'll both be happy to know that I didn't have the "Operator's Manual!"  (And Amazon delivers .....to the country!!)