Some good things to start the new year :)

A couple of not-so-small pleasures to start off the new year. :)  (A post of annoying things that happened during the holidays still to come, lol.)

• I've been under the weather for the past week now -- scratchy throat, drainage, cough -- and while I didn't think it could be covid, I knew covid is a sneaky SOB and we couldn't rule it out either.  We were careful to mask in stores, etc., while we were visiting my parents, and other than my family, we only saw Parents' Neighbours' Daughter and her family as well as one of my parents' neighbours during the holidays. Two of the Little Princesses had colds -- their mom said it was NOT covid -- but I assumed that whatever this was, I got it from one of them.
• I finally got up the nerve to do a rapid test first thing this morning. Negative. That put my mind at ease. (Even if I still don't feel 100%...!). 
• You may remember that I got scammed back in late July, and as a result, my Amazon account has been suspended for the past FIVE MONTHS while my bank/credit card provider wrangled with Amazon. (Most recent update here, with links to previous posts explaining the whole saga...!) 
• I called my bank/credit card provider on Dec. 11th to check on the status of my case -- and was informed that it had been resolved -- in my favour -- and I would not be charged the $500.  I had checked before calling, and Amazon was still blocking access to my account, offering me a screen with two choices/buttons to click on:  pay up ($500!), or disagree with the charges. I mentioned this to the (very helpful) guy I spoke with at the credit card company, and he suggested I should get in touch with them. 
• Yeah, but HOW??  I searched the site (as much as I could, with access to all but basic/homepage functions blocked), and there was no easy or obvious way to ask for help -- no 1-800 number to call, no email address, no chat window.  
• I did not want to click on either of the two choices offered without knowing what would happen next (i.e., what the consequences would be).  
• I did have the email that Amazon sent to me on Aug. 6th, informing me that my account was suspended. I decided I could try the email address that message came from, or another one mentioned in the text. 
• Failing that, I was prepared to take my case to Twitter/X. 
• I sent an email to the one address later that day  (Dec. 11th), outlining everything that had happened. I apologized for not contacting them sooner but said I did not want to interfere in the process that was set in motion when I first called my credit card provider (which I initially assumed would resolve the matter quickly).  I pointed out that I had been told the dispute was resolved in my favour.  And I asked them nicely for their assistance in restoring access to my account. 
• Three weeks went by (and I was busy with Christmas anyway). I knew they were probably busy with Christmas too, but I decided three weeks was plenty long enough for a response (!), so last night I sent essentially the same email to the other address I had.  
• Lo and behold, this morning!! I received an email informing me that my account had been reinstated!!  (And thanking me for my patience!)(!!)  I opened my Kindle app on my phone and signed in, and there were all my books. 
• HALLELUJAH!!  :)  :)  :)