I have two things to write about after weeks of nothing to say. I'm choosing the topic of phone manners.
Since I work in a large retail store I see lots of people every day. It is typical to see people on their phones. I don't have a problem with that. Even the folks who are rude to who they are talking to can be ignored - mostly. But this conversation happened to me. See what you think.
Man - (on phone throughout this conversation). Where's the _______? (fill in with whatever you want - I hear it all.) I think he is talking to me since I'm walking by and I don't see his phone because it is in the ear that is not facing my way. I stop and ask him to repeat his question because I didn't hear what he said. He waves his hands, scowls and says "I wasn't talking to you." in an irritated voice. OKAAAAAAY. I start to walk away and he yells, "Hey, Lady! I asked you where the __________ is!" I turn and ask him if he is speaking to me and he says "Just leave me alone, *&%**." It doesn't take a train approaching me to make me get off the tracks. I turned to leave and he says, "What is wrong with you? I needs some help here!" I tentatively turn towards him, reasonably sure this man is in need of immediate medical attention - the kind where they lock you behind strong doors and observe you for a couple of weeks while giving you lots of pretty pills. He finally turns enough that I see the phone sticking out of his ear. GIVE ME A BREAK!!
I turn towards customers all the time because they are standing by themselves and talking and I think they are talking to me. Either that or I'm the one in need of the observation and pretty pill party. It's one thing if the phone is handheld, you can see that sometimes. But those itty bitty phones that are stuck in your ears?? Do you think they don't know how stupid they look walking around talking to themselves? The ones that really look stupid are the ones who are yelling and cussing to themselves.
Bathroom stalls are another place that I think folks should refrain from talking on the phone. They have lots of jokes of where someone was carrying on a conversation with the person in the stall next to them until they say, "Look, I've got to go - there's some nut in the stall next to me that's talking to themselves." The other point on bathroom phone manners?? Do you really think the person you are talking to wants to listen to you as you use the bathroom?
I guess what I'm saying is that you should think about what you are doing before you do it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
32 years ago
Jan. 20, 1977 was the day that I started a journal and I addressed it to my unborn child. I told him about how a new President was taking over on that day and what it meant. Tonight I watched the movie "Swing Vote" about how one vote counted in a presidential race. Two weeks ago I had a conversation with someone who tried to insult me because I didn't vote for the person she thought I should have voted for in the election. All these facts bring me to these thoughts.
I began my voting career as a young girl in school. I wasn't old enough to vote but I had classes and teachers that showed me the importance of voting and especially knowing what each candidate stood for and voting for the person I felt could do the best job. As the years went by and I was old enough to vote, I slowly became discouraged. Too many of the candidates didn't please me, yet I had limited choices of what to do. Vote for the least worst candidate or not vote? What a horrible place to get to in life.
I still (and probably always will) feel that the media has ruined America and the world. Yes, I know there are many good things about the fact that the media is "watching" each candidate. I also know that they don't care about good, happy news. The fact that a person is a righteous individual who doesn't sleep around, lie or cheat is not exciting news worthy information and so that means that it doesn't make the news. Instead, they will dig until they find SOMETHING to smear a person. In today's media driven campaigns only the warts are news. { Heaven forbid the candidate is boring. Gonna have to dig for the dirt. } I've heard it said repeatedly that FDR would never have been elected in today's world. Yet, supposedly he was a great President. The media knew things about FDR, health and personal facts, that would have kept him from even being on the platform. The media didn't show that side of him. It would never happen today.
The fact is - I did not vote for Obama. I didn't even vote for McCain. I didn't like either one of them. I voted for the woman so therefore I had to bring ole McCain along with her. Two people on each ticket and of the four I only liked the VP of one ticket. SAD.
I also don't like President bashing. So many have criticized every sitting President for nearly every decision they have ever made. The person that was so hateful to me two weeks ago went on a tirade about Bush and how the *&^%$(*&^* guy was to blame for this and that and well, everything that has ever gone wrong. It's that way with every President. I remember Carter getting so much flack about the Iranian hostage mess and just after the next President took office they were released. Gee, I wonder which administration did all the work on that deal? But who gets credit for a job well done? Yep, the new President. (That's OK, everyone turned on him too.) So, is Bush responsible for the war(s)? Wow, that's a lot of power for one man. I'm sure those folks who work in the background researching every tiny bit of information couldn't have possibly turned that information over to the folks that work for - oh, say - the President?? I do not want the job and I figure that there is a whole bunch of people working for the President and keeping him informed so the correct decision can be made. I was not in the room when ANY of those decisions were made and I don't have the information Bush did. I am not going to second guess all those folks who spend a lot of time and effort to KNOW what is going on in the world.
So - I didn't vote for Obama. Does that mean that I don't support him as the President of our nation? Of course not! He is our elected President and I will support him and all those folks in the background that do their jobs to keep the President informed. I wonder how long it will take before the media decides to slant the decisions he makes into the mud and dirt?
SO - I will continue to vote. Even when I don't want to vote. I will also remember that I live in a country that allows me to have an opinion, express that opinion and not say hurtful things to others who don't agree with me. Oh yeah, and not force me to agree with silly narrow-minded people. So there!
I began my voting career as a young girl in school. I wasn't old enough to vote but I had classes and teachers that showed me the importance of voting and especially knowing what each candidate stood for and voting for the person I felt could do the best job. As the years went by and I was old enough to vote, I slowly became discouraged. Too many of the candidates didn't please me, yet I had limited choices of what to do. Vote for the least worst candidate or not vote? What a horrible place to get to in life.
I still (and probably always will) feel that the media has ruined America and the world. Yes, I know there are many good things about the fact that the media is "watching" each candidate. I also know that they don't care about good, happy news. The fact that a person is a righteous individual who doesn't sleep around, lie or cheat is not exciting news worthy information and so that means that it doesn't make the news. Instead, they will dig until they find SOMETHING to smear a person. In today's media driven campaigns only the warts are news. { Heaven forbid the candidate is boring. Gonna have to dig for the dirt. } I've heard it said repeatedly that FDR would never have been elected in today's world. Yet, supposedly he was a great President. The media knew things about FDR, health and personal facts, that would have kept him from even being on the platform. The media didn't show that side of him. It would never happen today.
The fact is - I did not vote for Obama. I didn't even vote for McCain. I didn't like either one of them. I voted for the woman so therefore I had to bring ole McCain along with her. Two people on each ticket and of the four I only liked the VP of one ticket. SAD.
I also don't like President bashing. So many have criticized every sitting President for nearly every decision they have ever made. The person that was so hateful to me two weeks ago went on a tirade about Bush and how the *&^%$(*&^* guy was to blame for this and that and well, everything that has ever gone wrong. It's that way with every President. I remember Carter getting so much flack about the Iranian hostage mess and just after the next President took office they were released. Gee, I wonder which administration did all the work on that deal? But who gets credit for a job well done? Yep, the new President. (That's OK, everyone turned on him too.) So, is Bush responsible for the war(s)? Wow, that's a lot of power for one man. I'm sure those folks who work in the background researching every tiny bit of information couldn't have possibly turned that information over to the folks that work for - oh, say - the President?? I do not want the job and I figure that there is a whole bunch of people working for the President and keeping him informed so the correct decision can be made. I was not in the room when ANY of those decisions were made and I don't have the information Bush did. I am not going to second guess all those folks who spend a lot of time and effort to KNOW what is going on in the world.
So - I didn't vote for Obama. Does that mean that I don't support him as the President of our nation? Of course not! He is our elected President and I will support him and all those folks in the background that do their jobs to keep the President informed. I wonder how long it will take before the media decides to slant the decisions he makes into the mud and dirt?
SO - I will continue to vote. Even when I don't want to vote. I will also remember that I live in a country that allows me to have an opinion, express that opinion and not say hurtful things to others who don't agree with me. Oh yeah, and not force me to agree with silly narrow-minded people. So there!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Accountability
Let's see how I did for 2008.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
New Year's Resolutions
I've been avoiding this assignment. Fact is - I don't want to do it. For a number of years my resolution has been to not make resolutions. But thanks to a doctor who makes me do things I don't want to do - here goes.
#1 - No unrealistic resolutions I think I did pretty good on that one. I only blew it on one.
#2 - I will do my best to care about losing weight and IF it happens then I will do my best to lose some weight. I lost 47 pounds from Aug 1st to the end of the year. I call it the WalMart diet and it's working my butt off and not having an appetite. I had nothing to do with it.
#3 - This one is easy. It's time to get a job. It took me much longer than expected but I like it.
#4 - I will continue my blog even if I stop seeing my doctor. I was tempted to stop way too many times, but here I am.
#5 - I will have yard sales to get rid of the STUFF in my house and will dejunk as much as possible. I know that Ken and Lisa will never believe this but I did work on this one - a lot. It was just to overwhelming to actually accomplish.
OK, there is your five resolutions for 2008. Phooey!
So - 2009? #1, #2, #4 and #5 are the same. #3 is changed to get a promotion and I'm adding getting my finances straigtened out.
Now for humor. It's a myth about what you do to bring the New Year in will foretell how the year will be. Man, I hope not. I didn't have any problem with being at work. I arranged to have my last break at midnight. I got some chips and my usual celebration drink of Sprite and grape juice. (The purple one) At the stoke of midnight I spilled the juice in my lap - on my light khaki pants. Sigh.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
New Year's Resolutions
I've been avoiding this assignment. Fact is - I don't want to do it. For a number of years my resolution has been to not make resolutions. But thanks to a doctor who makes me do things I don't want to do - here goes.
#1 - No unrealistic resolutions I think I did pretty good on that one. I only blew it on one.
#2 - I will do my best to care about losing weight and IF it happens then I will do my best to lose some weight. I lost 47 pounds from Aug 1st to the end of the year. I call it the WalMart diet and it's working my butt off and not having an appetite. I had nothing to do with it.
#3 - This one is easy. It's time to get a job. It took me much longer than expected but I like it.
#4 - I will continue my blog even if I stop seeing my doctor. I was tempted to stop way too many times, but here I am.
#5 - I will have yard sales to get rid of the STUFF in my house and will dejunk as much as possible. I know that Ken and Lisa will never believe this but I did work on this one - a lot. It was just to overwhelming to actually accomplish.
OK, there is your five resolutions for 2008. Phooey!
So - 2009? #1, #2, #4 and #5 are the same. #3 is changed to get a promotion and I'm adding getting my finances straigtened out.
Now for humor. It's a myth about what you do to bring the New Year in will foretell how the year will be. Man, I hope not. I didn't have any problem with being at work. I arranged to have my last break at midnight. I got some chips and my usual celebration drink of Sprite and grape juice. (The purple one) At the stoke of midnight I spilled the juice in my lap - on my light khaki pants. Sigh.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
FYI - I'm not left handed
I want to post about my accident but it takes too long to type. So here are the facts - short and sweet.
Two days before Christmas.
Walmart Toy Department
Helping three customers at once.
A ladder to get the two baby dolls from the top shelf.
Coming down the ladder answering questions as I go down.
Where did that bottom step go??????
OWWWWWWWW!!
One ER visit, x-rays, bad sprain and bone contusion, blue brace
Days of light-duty work, meaning no use of right hand
Continued pain
Visit to "Walmart doctor" with new diagnosis
Probable break of small bones in thumb area of the wrist.
New brace that immobilizes the thumb.
Much less pain.
On that note: I am sooooo happy to have Lisa and crew in the house. Willow is too.
Two days before Christmas.
Walmart Toy Department
Helping three customers at once.
A ladder to get the two baby dolls from the top shelf.
Coming down the ladder answering questions as I go down.
Where did that bottom step go??????
OWWWWWWWW!!
One ER visit, x-rays, bad sprain and bone contusion, blue brace
Days of light-duty work, meaning no use of right hand
Continued pain
Visit to "Walmart doctor" with new diagnosis
Probable break of small bones in thumb area of the wrist.
New brace that immobilizes the thumb.
Much less pain.
On that note: I am sooooo happy to have Lisa and crew in the house. Willow is too.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Technical Difficulty
To those of you that I told to watch my blog for pictures of Miss Ashley Kiera . . . I've tried!!
I even emailed Kodak to see if they could help. (Got an email back that was in geekese but figured out what he was saying) It didn't help.
For some reason the SD Card that works fine in my camera and fine in the photo kiosk at Walmart isn't working in my computer. It keeps giving me a message that the disk isn't formatted and would I like for it to be formatted. Yes gives me a message saying it can not be formatted and No does nothing. So, once I figure this thing out, I'll post them. In the meantime, you could harass the father and tell him pictures are wanted. You do know he has a computer too. And access to the child and her brother and her mother. Gee, maybe even a family picture . . .
I even emailed Kodak to see if they could help. (Got an email back that was in geekese but figured out what he was saying) It didn't help.
For some reason the SD Card that works fine in my camera and fine in the photo kiosk at Walmart isn't working in my computer. It keeps giving me a message that the disk isn't formatted and would I like for it to be formatted. Yes gives me a message saying it can not be formatted and No does nothing. So, once I figure this thing out, I'll post them. In the meantime, you could harass the father and tell him pictures are wanted. You do know he has a computer too. And access to the child and her brother and her mother. Gee, maybe even a family picture . . .
Monday, December 8, 2008
Northern High School - Class of 1974
Fill this out about your high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! Re-post with the name of high school and graduating year.
1.Did you marry someone from your high school? Yeah, right.
2.Did you car pool to school? I rode the bus unlike my spoiled children who drove themselves and didn't have to ride the bus but complained because it wasn't nice enough AND still complain. HUMPH
3.What kind of car did you have? Ok, you obviously weren't reading what I just wrote.
4.What kind of car do your drive now? Pontiac Vibe named Miss Daisy.
5.It's Friday night...where are YOU (then)? at home
6.It's Friday night..where are you (now)? At work
7.What kind of job did you have in high school? I wasn't allowed to work other than occasional babysitting
8.What do you do now? Wal-Mart associate
9.Were you a party animal? HAHAHAHAHAHA
10.Were you considered a flirt? No one knew I existed. Talking to guys made my head spin so I didn't do it.
11.Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? nope, I didn't have a ride home other than the bus so no extracurricular activites
12. Did you get suspended/expelled? That would have drawn too much attention to me.
13. Can you sing the fight song? We had one but I can't remember it.
14.Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Mrs. DeMaere, 11th grade American History
15. Where did you sit during lunch? I hid from the world anyplace I could.
16. What was your school's full name? Northern High School
17. What was your school mascot? Knights
18.If you could go back and do it again, would you? Not on your life. The best punishment for me would be to send me back. BRRRRRR
19. What do you remember most about graduation? HOT! In the middle of the football field with bulldozers waiting to rip up the stadium to start a building to replace it.
20.Who did you take to prom Senior year? OK, you have not been listening. I did not exist. No dances, no parties, no Prom
21. Did you have fun at Prom? Pay attention!
22.Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? SIGH
23.Are you planning on going to your 20 year reunion? Nope, skipped it.
24.Do you still talk to people from school? Amazingly, a few. For some reason over the years the snobs and those who tortured me became human and as I'd see them in other settings we would connect.
Now your turn. What do you remember?
1.Did you marry someone from your high school? Yeah, right.
2.Did you car pool to school? I rode the bus unlike my spoiled children who drove themselves and didn't have to ride the bus but complained because it wasn't nice enough AND still complain. HUMPH
3.What kind of car did you have? Ok, you obviously weren't reading what I just wrote.
4.What kind of car do your drive now? Pontiac Vibe named Miss Daisy.
5.It's Friday night...where are YOU (then)? at home
6.It's Friday night..where are you (now)? At work
7.What kind of job did you have in high school? I wasn't allowed to work other than occasional babysitting
8.What do you do now? Wal-Mart associate
9.Were you a party animal? HAHAHAHAHAHA
10.Were you considered a flirt? No one knew I existed. Talking to guys made my head spin so I didn't do it.
11.Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? nope, I didn't have a ride home other than the bus so no extracurricular activites
12. Did you get suspended/expelled? That would have drawn too much attention to me.
13. Can you sing the fight song? We had one but I can't remember it.
14.Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Mrs. DeMaere, 11th grade American History
15. Where did you sit during lunch? I hid from the world anyplace I could.
16. What was your school's full name? Northern High School
17. What was your school mascot? Knights
18.If you could go back and do it again, would you? Not on your life. The best punishment for me would be to send me back. BRRRRRR
19. What do you remember most about graduation? HOT! In the middle of the football field with bulldozers waiting to rip up the stadium to start a building to replace it.
20.Who did you take to prom Senior year? OK, you have not been listening. I did not exist. No dances, no parties, no Prom
21. Did you have fun at Prom? Pay attention!
22.Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? SIGH
23.Are you planning on going to your 20 year reunion? Nope, skipped it.
24.Do you still talk to people from school? Amazingly, a few. For some reason over the years the snobs and those who tortured me became human and as I'd see them in other settings we would connect.
Now your turn. What do you remember?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Black Friday Comments
Today I saw a video clip from the news. It seems Walmart is being sued by the family of the young man who was trampled to death at a Walmart in New York. Of course I don't know every little detail so I may make an assumption that isn't correct. I hope I don't.
It seems to me that to hold one company responsible for the idiots who line up so they can save a couple of dollars while fighting with everyone else for the same product is ridiculous. How can Walmart be to blame for the actions of a crowd of people? This practice has been going on for years. Even before it was named Black Friday by the police in Philadelphia in the mid sixties (look up "origin of black friday"), it was considered a great day to go Christmas shopping.
So, #1 - All stores participating in sales on Black Friday shouldn't be held to blame for the actions of individuals. #2 - For years I've heard people talk about their experience with other shoppers on that stupid day. Most act like it's an accomplishment to get up, stand in line, have other customers and the cashiers be rude, crude and downright atrocious to them. They need to wear a t-shirt that says "I survived Black Friday 2008" so they can show off how stupid they are. And yes, I have actually seen t-shirts to that effect. The news plays up Black Friday for days before the actual day and show how awful people can be. Now why would you CHOOSE to go into a mob environment and then say that you were carried through in the crowd and couldn't help it. BULL! If someone chooses to ride an angry bull and gets hurt do you sue the owner of the bull? I hope not. So in MY opinion every one of those people in that crowd were responsible for the young man's death. I know they didn't go there with that intent. It's the way I feel about people who say they were drunk and their judgement was impaired so therefore anything they may have done while drunk wasn't their fault. "I know, let's blame the bar that served them the drinks. It must be their fault." BULL, once again. At some point they were sober and chose to put something in their body that would impair their judgment. Same for the shoppers. They knew what they were getting into - you couldn't miss it in the media. Which brings me to #3. Why not blame the newspapers for running the ads for the sales that "caused" these people to be idiots. The TV commercials were aired so the stations must be responsible too. How about the news stories about folks gearing up for the big day? I blame the MEDIA for helping to present the whole mob mentality for Black Friday.
So here's my take on the death of the young man. It was a horrible ACCIDENT. No one had any intentions of it happening. However, the media "aided and abetted" and made the whole situation possible. Was Walmart or any other store responsible? It would be financial suicide to NOT have sales on a day that brings out droves of people. If Walmart's items on sale were such a great deal over other stores then they win the game, not lose it. (I read an article on Yahoo that was analysing the "10 Best Deals for Black Friday" and Walmart was not on the list.) Is there a way to stop this insanity? Not having any items on sale would stop the flood of people and be a stupid move for any company. Force the idiots to take a number and stand in line with an army standing there with guns to make them comply? Yeah, that'll work. Imagine that chaos. The companies need to make a plan of some sort before next year but that does not make them to blame.
One last thought: there used to be some store that had numerous commercials with the crazy mob outside the locked doors waiting for the sale to start and the store employees getting padded up or making the newest employee be the one to open the door. Supposedly this was funny. It's not funny. The media each year works up the frenzy and stores have to compete with other stores for the dollars that will be spent that day. What's wrong with looking to the real source of fault. US, the shopper who participates with the mob. Stay home, the sales aren't that good, anyway.
Trivia Note: The actual busiest shopping day of the year is either two days before Christmas if Christmas is later in the week or the Saturday before Christmas if it's early in the week. Black Friday normal comes in at 7th or 8th for sales. There may be more people traffic on Black Friday but not as much buying as you would expect.
It seems to me that to hold one company responsible for the idiots who line up so they can save a couple of dollars while fighting with everyone else for the same product is ridiculous. How can Walmart be to blame for the actions of a crowd of people? This practice has been going on for years. Even before it was named Black Friday by the police in Philadelphia in the mid sixties (look up "origin of black friday"), it was considered a great day to go Christmas shopping.
So, #1 - All stores participating in sales on Black Friday shouldn't be held to blame for the actions of individuals. #2 - For years I've heard people talk about their experience with other shoppers on that stupid day. Most act like it's an accomplishment to get up, stand in line, have other customers and the cashiers be rude, crude and downright atrocious to them. They need to wear a t-shirt that says "I survived Black Friday 2008" so they can show off how stupid they are. And yes, I have actually seen t-shirts to that effect. The news plays up Black Friday for days before the actual day and show how awful people can be. Now why would you CHOOSE to go into a mob environment and then say that you were carried through in the crowd and couldn't help it. BULL! If someone chooses to ride an angry bull and gets hurt do you sue the owner of the bull? I hope not. So in MY opinion every one of those people in that crowd were responsible for the young man's death. I know they didn't go there with that intent. It's the way I feel about people who say they were drunk and their judgement was impaired so therefore anything they may have done while drunk wasn't their fault. "I know, let's blame the bar that served them the drinks. It must be their fault." BULL, once again. At some point they were sober and chose to put something in their body that would impair their judgment. Same for the shoppers. They knew what they were getting into - you couldn't miss it in the media. Which brings me to #3. Why not blame the newspapers for running the ads for the sales that "caused" these people to be idiots. The TV commercials were aired so the stations must be responsible too. How about the news stories about folks gearing up for the big day? I blame the MEDIA for helping to present the whole mob mentality for Black Friday.
So here's my take on the death of the young man. It was a horrible ACCIDENT. No one had any intentions of it happening. However, the media "aided and abetted" and made the whole situation possible. Was Walmart or any other store responsible? It would be financial suicide to NOT have sales on a day that brings out droves of people. If Walmart's items on sale were such a great deal over other stores then they win the game, not lose it. (I read an article on Yahoo that was analysing the "10 Best Deals for Black Friday" and Walmart was not on the list.) Is there a way to stop this insanity? Not having any items on sale would stop the flood of people and be a stupid move for any company. Force the idiots to take a number and stand in line with an army standing there with guns to make them comply? Yeah, that'll work. Imagine that chaos. The companies need to make a plan of some sort before next year but that does not make them to blame.
One last thought: there used to be some store that had numerous commercials with the crazy mob outside the locked doors waiting for the sale to start and the store employees getting padded up or making the newest employee be the one to open the door. Supposedly this was funny. It's not funny. The media each year works up the frenzy and stores have to compete with other stores for the dollars that will be spent that day. What's wrong with looking to the real source of fault. US, the shopper who participates with the mob. Stay home, the sales aren't that good, anyway.
Trivia Note: The actual busiest shopping day of the year is either two days before Christmas if Christmas is later in the week or the Saturday before Christmas if it's early in the week. Black Friday normal comes in at 7th or 8th for sales. There may be more people traffic on Black Friday but not as much buying as you would expect.
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