The Real Gina Carpanzano

I've written about my identity theft stuff here and
here. It's been a 6 year battle to the tune of over $100,000. I've cut her off every way I can think of. But, she's more resilient than a cockroach and just keeps coming back.

Yesterday I got the mail and it had one of those social security statements from the government. When I looked at my income, I noticed that I had small amounts reported for the last several years. Funny? I haven't worked since 2005 and my current full time job only pays with smiles and hugs.

I imagine she uses her fake drivers license with my info (by the way this hasn't been my name for over 6 years) and gets a job just long enough to rob them blind. Nice, right? There really is nothing I can do to clear this up. If she wants to falsely pay into my social security, then I'll let her.

But, I got to thinking. Somebody, an employer or someone she works with, has to google her at some point. I used to be an employer. I think I would now google every person I thought of hiring just to see what comes up. So, my hope is that somebody will google her and do what's right and call the police.

I got this from the car dealership where she drove off with a car in my name. A brand new Limited Edition Toyota Sequioa. I can't afford that. She's living beyond my means.

I know it's been the same person this entire time because there is almost always a signature and she always signs it with that same G. And I imagine she trails off at the end of my last name because she forgets how to spell it. I would love to hear how she pronounces my name because I'm sure she butchers it.

I have two huge Manila folders full of documentation of what she has done. Along with the following police report numbers:
Peoria, AZ #04-006866 and #04-006963
Phoenix, AZ #40975587 and #40975587A
Avondale, AZ #05-26661
Prescott Valley, AZ #07-36993
San Antonio, TX #06-768849

The police don't seem to do much. In a way, I get it. Her last incident was a $150 electric bill that was unpaid to an address that she didn't live at anymore. I doubt it's worth the effort to try to track down a ghost for $150. But add it all up and it's $100,000. And it's my life!

Her last known where abouts were in San Antonio. She's been there for the better part of 5 years. If you've seen her and know where she is, call the police and e-mail me. I really don't want to have to fight this woman for my social security when I turn 62. Or worse, how many traffic tickets do I have in Texas? I'm probably WANTED!

A Fan Of Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ben loves fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies. We buy the big tub from Sam's Club and I'll make some for him almost every night. It's one of the only treats he really enjoys. Did you know Sam's sells Pillsbury brand which bake up perfect and Costco sells Nestle Toll House which fall flat and look pathetic, maybe it's our altitude. We have memberships at both and go to each for certain things. Well, we don't pay for memberships at both. I'm married to my Dad for Costco and David is married to my Stepmom Suzy for Sam's. Hey the spouse is free, so why not?

I digress. This post isn't about the benefits of Sam's vs. Costco or Ben loving chocolate chip cookies.

It's about Noah and his new found love for chocolate chip cookies.

At first he wasn't so sure.


But, once he got a taste.


He was hooked.


We let him go to town right before bath time, which was probably a good thing.


I can't wait for his first birthday cake next month.

Around Our House

It's been hot here. Really hot and humid too. So, we've been trying to find things to do indoors.

I looked into a martial arts class for the kids. Emily went to a birthday party at a martial arts studio in January and she loved it. I asked her if she'd rather take karate or tap class. She said karate. Really? Oh well, makes it easier on me if they both want to do the same thing. I found a taekwondo studio and they took a free class this week.

They had a blast. Unfortunately, it's $60 per kid per month and the class is only once a week for 30 minutes. Basically, $1/minute for both of them. I think David may have gone into the wrong line of work. Too rich for our blood. So we are trying another studio today for free. It's only $30 per kid per month and the class is an hour. And if they want to come twice a week, they can for free. Much better, but of course there is a wait list. Oh well, they'll have fun today and we'll see how it goes.

In the meantime, Grammie Gwynne and Grampie Enrique sent Ben a new Spiderman costume. Just in time because the hole in his other one had spread to include his bottom and other parts. I'm going to put the holey costume in hiding and hope he doesn't notice/care that it's missing since he has a new one.


David and Noah are practicing the "backbreaker" wrestling move. Boys.

Do you notice the folding table behind David in that picture? That's because our little monkey is crawling all over the place. We had a Little Tikes picnic table there for the kids but Noah was getting into everything. So, we put this heavy duty folding table there and that's where the kids have to keep any and all craft and school stuff. Because if there is a tiny piece of paper on the floor, Noah will find it, put it in his mouth, choke and then puke. I know this because it's happened. Twice. Oh all right, three times. I'm learning. We didn't have this problem the first time around.

And do you think he cares? No, I'd say he looks rather proud of himself.



This isn't a great picture, I just like the monsoon clouds through the window. Now, it just needs to rain so it can cool off.


I thought Noah crawling would help him get tired and nap easier, but it seems to have done the opposite. He's too interested in exploring and is refusing to nap. By refusing I mean, he'll scream in his crib for hours instead of sleeping. I think he'll give in, but he's stubborn. I don't know where he gets that from.

Here he is cruising around the house.


And I took the kids to the dentist today. The state offers crappy insurance or great insurance at 10 times the cost. We take the crappy insurance since nobody is in need of a lot of work at this time. However the crappy insurance means that my kids couldn't be seen by any dentist in our area. Either they aren't accepting new patients or they only take kids when they turn 6. Two years ago, we drove down to Phoenix (over an hour each way) to see a dentist. David and I found someone up here to see us last year, and only recently did our crappy insurance add a new dentist in town who will see my children. A small victory for crappy insurance.

We spent 2 1/2 hours there today. They specialize in dentures and there was nothing for a kid to do in that waiting room, but watch TV which was showing reruns of Marcus Welby M.D. That show started airing in 1969. I would've given my left pinky to have them turn on Barney after an hour. I was starting to think a trip down to Phoenix wasn't such a bad thing when they called us back. Luckily, the staff and doctor were all very nice. And the doctor was probably born during the 7 year run of Marcus Welby M.D., so at least he was friendly with the kids.

It was Ben's first visit. He was choking a bit on the x-rays. The lady would tell him what she was going to do and he'd ask her, "Are you going to try to choke me again?" I had to laugh.


Emily was a little easier.


They both had no cavities and after digging through the treasure box for a
piece of junk toy, they had forgotten all about the last 2 1/2 hours.

But I hadn't and I scheduled our next appointment for MLK day when David will be off and he can take the kids. I volunteer to stay home with the baby.

500th Post

It just seems appropriate that this post happens to be a big one.
500 posts in 2 years.

This post is about why I love Idaho.

I remember when my Dad and Suzy first bought the cabin in Idaho in 2002. They got a good deal on a run down cabin with 180 feet of river front property. It was going to be their new summer house and project for several years. I have visited almost every summer, with the exceptions being when I was too pregnant and we were moving.

And what I have is a lot of memories.

Memories of when I visited the first year with my Aunt Rosie. Both of us were single ladies. We stayed up late laughing and slept in every morning. We took the paddle boat out for a spin until our legs were aching and our belly's ached even more from laughing.

The next summer, I took my fiancee. We stayed up late doing other things (sorry Dad) and slept in. We jogged along the country road training for a half marathon. David swam the width of the river while I followed in the jet ski.

The next visit, I brought my husband and daughter. It was her first plane ride.

Then, we brought Ben. It was his first plane ride.

Then, Noah came along. It was his first plane ride.

Things have changed. We go to bed early and wake up for middle of the night feedings. David and I don't even sleep together now. We each take a kid. We don't go for a jog or swim across the river. We play frisbee with the kids. We enjoy watching them enjoy life.

The peacefulness and happiness remain the same.




Grandma Suzy is always there...ready to hold a sleeping baby on the boat, make something yummy for dinner and take the kids for a tractor ride.


And Papa is always there....to show his grandchildren how to drive a boat, play on a jet ski or just to make them laugh.


Everybody dreams of growing up and coming back to visit their childhood home. We sold my childhood home when I started high school.

David and I have lived in three houses with our kids. We know that they are much too young to remember the first two. And we hope to stay in our current home until they all finish high school, but, who knows. And then what? We will probably downsize or move to some beach town. And they won't be able to come home from college and visit their childhood home.

But that's okay.

I realized as we were driving down the road to get to the cabin in Idaho, that I was so excited for what the coming week held. Excited for the peace that awaited and the fun memories we would make as a family. I feel so comfortable in this house. I know it so well that I don't need to ask where the cups are or what drawer the silverware is in.

I was excited because we were going home.

Idaho Part 3

The day started off cool and rainy.
We headed to the movies to see Toy Story 3 in 3D.
It cost $43 for the 4 of us to get in.
And they were out of children's 3D glasses.
The adult ones would not stay on Ben, so my Dad went to talk to the manager. They got some child ones out of the recycle bin and sanitized them. They still wouldn't stay up on Ben.


So, my Dad went back out and got some scotch tape and taped them to his forehead.


It worked perfectly. The movie was great, but I didn't think the 3D was justified with almost double the price of admission. It was cool and all, but after 5 minutes, you kind of just forgot it was in 3D. Nothing popped out at you like it did in the olden days of 3D.

By the time we got home, the rain clouds were gone. We spent some time hanging out on the dock and fishing.




And we had to take another ride on the jet skis.



This video is proof that my Dad is just a sixtysomething year old kid.


I decided to get one photo of the kids. So, I told them to get together and smile.
They did anything but what I asked.




They finally posed and smiled for the last photo and you know what? I like the other ones better of them being completely themselves.

On our last morning, we were lucky to catch a fish.


And, we got out the BB guns for some target practice.



Then, it was back to the airport to head home. It actually was the perfect travel day. We got to the airport, walked right up to the ticket counter, walked right up to security (spokane is a small airport), ordered a little lunch, ate at our own pace, walked to our gate and they just started boarding, went to the bathroom and when we all got back it was final boarding call, plane took off a few minutes early, landed early, went to the bathroom, walked to baggage claim, waited 2 seconds for our luggage and booster seats, walked out the door and the shuttle just pulled up, first people dropped off at our parking spot, right onto the freeway. We got home almost 2 hours earlier than I had estimated. That almost never happens.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip.

Idaho Part 2

We had big plans for the day.
Since the water was so nice and calm, it started with a canoe ride with Papa.
I love Emily's hair braided like this. She normally never lets me do it, but since we were taking a boat ride into Sandpoint I knew that I had to have it completely tied back or it would be in knots by days end.

We started off on the hour long boat ride down the Pend Oreille River. Noah kept himself entertained for a little while.


Ben seriously needs some sunglasses because he is squinting in every picture.


I think this is possibly the most spoiled dog in the world. Katie Sue has a rough life.


The ride there is so nice. The homes are all different and every corner is a new view.




We arrived in Sandpoint and the kids made a mad dash for the water. Gorgeous.

They were dying to get their feet wet.

Let's see, we could put Em on his shoulders so he can hold all of them.

After having some pizza, the kids got in their bathing suits and went swimming.


The next day, we took a ride on the raft. Wow, was this fun!

I love Emily's hair and smile. She's carefree and having fun. I love it.

We finished the night with smores and the biggest marshmellows we've ever seen.