Bad News Comes in Threes

I got a Google alert telling me "I" was tweeting a bunch of hog swallow so I checked it out and it was someone who had stolen my profile picture, logo, and my web sites. He set up a second account called @7MariaZannini

I immediately changed ALL my passwords and contacted Twitter. They weren't much help. They want me to send them a photo ID to prove it's me--even after I filled out their form. 

I mentioned it on Facebook and several friends went to that site and clicked on the drop down box to report that site as spam. It looks like he's been blocked. If you go there and see it unblocked, do me a favor, and keep reporting his content as spam.

This was the topping of an already bad day. 

We're expecting 6 days of bitterly cold weather, which might not elicit much sympathy from northern states, but our infrastructure isn't geared for really cold weather. I've hunkered down all the animals and water lines as best I could. Times like these I could use a husband. 

But the worst news of yesterday is that I lost Belle, my girl rabbit. Somehow she pushed her feeder out (it slides through a hole in her cage). I can't imagine how she squeezed out of that hole, but somehow she did. I looked for her in every possible hiding place.

This is a video of Blu nuzzling Belle. They were always very sweet with each other.


I'm afraid a coyote might've snatched her during the night. I've seen a coyote grab a chicken without so much as breaking his stride, so it would be no sport to catch a tame bunny.

I am heartsick. She was such a nice girl. Very friendly. If she's alive, she'll have to brave the winter storm on her own. And if she's dead...

Like I said, it's been a very bad day.

I'll keep leaving food and water near her habitat in case she comes back, but I don't hold much hope. She couldn't have picked a worst time to make an escape.

***
On a lighter note, if you want to help a friend of mine, Maureen Betita's cover (one I designed) is entered in a cover contest. If you can give it a vote, I know she'd really appreciate it. The winner gets a nice prize. You have to subscribe to InD'tale ezine, but it's a pretty cool magazine (and it's free) so look around while you're there.


Comments

Angela Brown said…
I am so sorry to hear about Belle. I'll hold out hope as you keep food out. Maybe she just wanted one evening of antics before returning?

And yeah, got that scammer blocked. Ugh!! Really people!!!

Will check out the vote.

Many hugs to you :-)
Marian Perera said…
Sorry to hear about the scammer, Maria. And Twitter doesn't act fast in cases like this, I'm afraid. There was a complete jerk who was Tweeting someone's home address (repeatedly) and a bunch of us complained to Twitter. It still took about a month or so for his account to be closed.

Hope you find your rabbit again soon, before the cold weather hits. Hang in there.
Unknown said…
I must admit, I am somewhat jealous you have our weather. As much as I complain about the snow and cold up here, I need it. It makes me appreciate the nice weather when it comes.

So sorry about your bunny. You haven't had then that long, have you?

If there's anything else I can do to help get rid of that S.O.B. let me know and I'll be all over it.
Maria Zannini said…
Angela: Belle was always curious and that can only lead to trouble.

I still have hope, slim as it is.
Maria Zannini said…
Marian: Twitter is so hard to deal with too. I know it's a giant machine, but you'd think they'd have better buffers against toads like this.
Maria Zannini said…
Darke: I wish I could hug you! Thank you so much for getting the ball rolling to stop that jerk.

Re: weather
Honestly, Canada doesn't have to be so generous with the cold. LOL! We were at 75F yesterday.
Mike Keyton said…
In a few weeks time it will just be a bad memory but that doesn't mean I'm not sorry for you now, Maria. Let's hope this is the end of your woes - for the time being at least. All best wishes.
Stacy McKitrick said…
Sorry to hear about Belle. I feel bad for Blu. He seemed to really care for her - can bunnies care?? Hmmm... I'd like to think she's okay, but if you have coyotes, well... I did almost lose a cat while stationed in Alaska. He was gone a week and I pretty much gave up hope when I spotted him at a neighbor's. So you never know!!

I know Maureen, too (met her at RT in 2010 in Columbus). I guess I have to wait until I'm officially registered (still waiting on the confirmation e-mail - either my system is slow or theirs is), then I'll gladly vote!!

Hope you fare well with the weather. We're expected to get snow here on Friday. Or freezing rain. Frankly, I hope it's all snow. I HATE the ice more than anything! I did enjoy the 60 degree weather this morning (which is now history as the temps are falling, falling, falling - ugh!).
Michelle H. said…
I just blocked that spammer too. Some people just want to make others miserable with their stupid crap.

Sorry about your bunny. Hopefully, she is fine and will come back when it starts getting colder outside. Fingers crossed.

We are just now getting the rain from a major storm front that is suppose to also bring snow. Jaq is going to have fun romping in the snowflakes.
Rula Sinara said…
That's awful stuff, Maria! I wish bad-doers would find something better to do with their time. I also hope you get a bunny miracle. Hang tight through the weather. So true about infrastructure. People forget that where it snows a lot, there's more preparedness.
Rebekah Loper said…
I am so sorry to hear about your bunny. Losing pets, especially ones that have no clue how to survive on their own, is heartbreaking. I hope she shows up safely before the weather hits.

Sounds like you're bracing for the same system that's moving through Oklahoma, too. This is check-the-chicken's-water-every-two-hours type of weather for us. The coat is not going back in the closet for a week at least.

And UGH on the twitter stupidity. I went and reported it as a spam account, so hopefully the Twitter officials will get him taken care of soon.
Maria Zannini said…
Mike: You're right, of course. But I still feel bad for my bunny.
Maria Zannini said…
Stacy: Bunnies do care--in their own way. Belle and Blu were best friends. He seems a little out of sorts not seeing his buddy next door.
Maria Zannini said…
Michelle: I just can't see what good it does them. It's a waste of time.
Maria Zannini said…
Rula: When I lived in Chicago we never worried about pipes freezing because everything was buried deep underground. Here, most of our pipes are exposed.
Maria Zannini said…
Rebekah: Thanks, hon. It all helps.

We have automatic waterers for the animals which is a pain for me in the winter because I have to blow the lines out with air.

It's a pain the keester.
Sorry about your rabbit! Maybe the coyotes are also hunkering out of the cold, and she'll see how harsh the outside world is and come right back. I hope she does.

We're getting ready for the cold, too...by going to hockey games. ^_^
Hope your bunny gets a miracle and finds her way home.
I hate cold and am not looking forward the long winter.
I hope your days improve. That's enough trouble for the rest of the winter!
LD Masterson said…
The hacker's a pain in the ass but I know you're more heartsick about the bunny. Maybe she's still out there and will find her way home.
Maria Zannini said…
Barbara: Sadly, coyotes are boldest when it's cold...and hungry.
Maria Zannini said…
Susan: I'm not fond of cold weather either. That's why Texas got extra brownie points when we thought about relocating.

Still, Mother Nature will have her way, no matter where you live.
Maria Zannini said…
Marlene: I was a little annoyed so much had gone wrong in such a short amount of time.

My bad luck continued today too. BBQ, the goat pinned me to the fence before I could push him away. I'm limping on top of everything else. Oy.
Maria Zannini said…
Linda: You know me well. I am more upset about losing Belle than anything. Belle was very tame. I used to talk to her every day and let her hop into my arms.
Sarah Ahiers said…
awww I'm so sorry to hear about Belle.
Anonymous said…
Aw Maria, I sick to hear about Belle. One thing Bugs has taught us is that if he can get his head somewhere the body will follow. {{HUGS}}

Freakin' identity thief. I know I'm late to the situation but he wasn't blocked when I checked. Reported him. So sorry this happened.
Maria Zannini said…
Sarah: I look for her every day. Still nothing.
Maria Zannini said…
Raelyn: Thanks, Raelyn. I really appreciate it.

***
I couldn't believe Belle got through. She'd grown so big.