Google yourself...

And you may be surprised at what you find.

I have this habit of googling my name every so often (just to make sure I'm not on a hit list or something, or because I'm BORED) and after screening the usual sites that pop up, I go about doing whatever un-extraordinary thing occupied my time before the urge to search arose.

This morning my will to study was overborne. Once again, I plugged my name into the little widget on the top of my browser, scanned where my name popped up and to my surprise, I noticed a site that I had not seen my name associated with before.

Apparently I have an unclaimed fund with the NY state comptroller! I clicked on the link and a list of people with my last name appeared. I saw my name and my old address next to it and clicked on my "account number" which led me to an "Unclaimed Funds Form". The company who reported this unclaimed fund was Ann Taylor, Inc.

Now the only considerable time I've spent shopping at Ann Taylor was five years ago, after receiving an expensive gift from the councilwoman I worked for. I returned the items she bought me and exchanged it for store credit. I thought I had used it up when I bought gifts for my mom and sisters but perhaps there is some value left that has yet to be claimed?

Thank goodness I'M not the one indebted. Ah the discoveries one makes on a Friday morning!