Customer care - really??

As a customer - are we really cared for by these "specialists" who have only your best interest in mind? I don't think so. The bottom line directive of any for profit company is to make money. The best way to do this is to keep the customer happy - yes - but i'm thinking this is quickly becoming a lost virtue. Customer service - real customer service is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Recently, within the last year, I got a new "Smart phone". The reviews I read were pretty good and the advertising was amazing. I was pretty excited about getting it. So I did. I have had nothing but trouble with it since I got it. Now one would think that if I had problems with it I should have returned it when I received it. Well - hindsight is always 20/20 and yes - looking back on this now I should have done just that. However - after seeing that some of the apps weren't working I called my carrier (the same one I bought the phone from) and at first they were trying to be extremely helpful. Navigating me through the map of smartphone streetsigns and explaining to me much of the smartphone lingo. But guess what - nothing was really "fixed". Some of the apps still don't work and now the phone will freeze on occassion. So I contacted my carrier whom I will not mention however I can definitely tell you this "V" is not for victory! Guess what I was told. "Remove the battery from your phone while it is still on. Wait for about 10 seconds and then replace the battery. Then power up your phone again and this should take care of your problem." So I did. It didn't. I called back and guess what I was told - the same thing. I explained that I had already done this. So I was informed that I had to call the customer care people back on a different phone so they could navigate me through possible solutions. My smartphone is my only phone. What to do?? I could call from work on lunch break I guess. This is my project for tomorrow. But I got to thinking about this whole situation. When I had just bought the phone the customer care team was only too happy to help me out. But now that the "return time" I had to return the phone has expired there is a different song in the air. That is one of "screw you customer - you're stuck with this now". I was online tonight looking at different phones I could possibly change to but guess what..........I was told that I would have to pay full price if I change phones. Can you believe it?? I want to get rid of a phone that is less than par and again - "screw you customer."

Cell phone companies aren't the only ones - have you been to the grocery store lately? Or any store for that matter. You've got uninterested teen agers who don't really care at the checkout lines talking amongst themselves without paying attention to the customers. Have you ever noticed this - when they're talking with each other they are bubbly and energetic talking about where they're going after work, or where they went last night, yada yada yada - but when it comes time to tell you how much your bill is or to ask you to sign in the box their demeanor becomes like a zombie, their voice gets quiet and they look at the belt where the groceries once were. And this is the kicker - their "have a nice day" might just as well be "ok - you've got your groceries - now get the hell out." I'm telling you - unbelieveable.

Have you been shopping at a department store lately? I've got some major chains near me, Macy's and JC Penney's. And I looooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee to do this experiment. I will go to those stores during my work day. I wear a shirt and tie to work. I will be looking at dress shirts, suits, cologne, or leather jackets. I can't tell you how many employees ask me if I need assistance. It's almost annoying. I will go home, change into either jeans or sweats, ball cap, etc and go back to the store. I will look at the same items - and not one person will ask me if I need assistance. In fact they will watch me to make sure I don't steal anything! Ya gotta love that!! Where is customer service?

These companies - especially in these tough economic times - really need to step up their game! If they want to survive they've got to care about you and me! Take a look at Circuit City - the huge electronics company that just went under last year. You want to know why they went under?? It's because they didn't take care of their customers. They turned small problems into big ones. Their managers didn't really care how the staff acted. It was awful. People stopped buying at the stores because it was a horrible experience. Retailers - take a lesson!!

Now, not all companies, stores, businesses are like that. There are some out there who get it. I'm not talking about companies who advertise how green their company is, or how they advertise they are giving back to this charity or that charity (which isn't a bad thing but its still a marketing scheme) - i'm talking about those companies who, day in and day out, really do strive to give their customers the best experience possible. One such company is the airline Virgin America. I dicovered this airline 2 years ago when I had to go to LA for a conference. I had flown on many airlines before Virgin America (United, Delta, USAirways, Continental, and all the subsidiaries) so I thought I might as well give these guys a try. Am I glad I did! From the moment I arrived at the gate for check in to the time I got off the plane this company made me feel like I was their most important client. That is why I am once again flying with Virgin America. I have to go back to LA this spring for a wedding and my first thought when it came to travel was Virgin America. Flying from New York I definitely have a huge choice of airlines. And yes, there were cheaper flights. And yes it's a 2 hour trip for me to get to JFK in NYC to catch my flight. And yes, there are closer airports to me HOWEVER - because of the true customer care I got with Virgin America before I don't mind the 2 hour trip to NYC, or even paying a little more for this flight because I know I will be taken care of.

I hear the same is true with Southwest Airlines. I haven't had the opportunity to fly with them. Perhaps if I am going somewhere that Virgin America doesn't and Southwest does then I will get a chance to try them out.

Let's send these other companies a message! People do have the power and it's found in their wallets. I don't care if you've got only 1 dollar or 1 million dollars - the people possess those dollars and where they choose to use them will control the company's fortunes. Make them listen to us - make them care about us!!

I'm so riled up now I think i'm going to travel down to their corporate offices and lodge a complaint!!!!....................................Oh wait - my VZ Navigator app doesn't work and my carrier won't fix it - I guess i'll have to write a letter instead.

Freakin' Dr Jekyll!!

Ok people, it's been almost a month since my last blog - you know how it goes - work, recession, work, recession, yada yada yada. Seems like 2 steps forward, 4 steps back. I keep playing MegaMillions - most i've won to date - 16 buck-a-roos - enough for a coffee!

Anyhow - that's not what I came out of hibernation to chat about tonight. I'd like to talk about the age old problem of 2 faced-ness! Yes - we all have done it - and we all have experienced it! We say one thing and do another. We think one thing and act like another. Now - sometimes its warranted for example - when your date is wearing the outfit fresh from the Geek Squad; or how about the haircut that ate Manhattan - and puked it all over their head?? Those are the times that 2 faced-ness isn't so bad. We don't want to hurt feelings - or at the very least we want to have a good date so we may need to put on that alter ego for the evening to ensure they pay the bill. Afterall - enduring an evening with that - we are definitely paying so much more!!

No - what i'm talking about is those freakin' people out there who pass themselves off as one person only to find out that they are really a totally different person! What the hell is up with that???? This is a severe 2 facedness that needs to be paid attention to more! So many times it's later than sooner that we find this out (which is not good) and then people actually get hurt. Kudos to those who find out in time and get out of the relationship! Even if you're just in a friendship - it can still hurt and piss you off when you find out your friend is not who you thought they were. People - listen - this is a crazy mixed up world we live in - BE CAREFUL!!

Now, nothing happened to me but I am aware of situations in this world that people are getting hurt in. This is really pissing me off!! A note to those who are experiencing this type of relationship right now. If you are the one enduring the person who is being 2 faced - LEAVE! Go to the door, turn the knob, and walk through. You are worth so much more than having to endure something as crappy as that! Your life is precious - you only have one - make it count as much as you can!! Staying in a relationship like this will anchor you down to the ground and force you to become a bottom feeder, only able to survive on the scraps this IDIOT is throwing to you. You are valuable!! DO NOT allow this creep (male or female) to control you! You may "love" this person - but in order to truly love you have GOT TO love yourself first - and enough to make sure you are okay. You can never truly love if you are enslaved. What do I mean by enslaved? I'm glad you asked. To be enslaved by a person means that who you are, how you act, what you do - all of this revolves around the reactions of one person. Now there's a difference between not doing one thing because it may make someone upset and changing who your are as a person because someone demands you be a certain way. This is enslavement.

If you are in this type if relationship, whether it's your boyfriend or girlfriend (I know some pretty scary females out there), you have got to get out. If you are not strong enough to leave on your own then call someone when you can and ask them to come get you. Don't be embarrassed, don't be ashamed, this is for YOU. A true friend will not judge you - they love you and want to help you. Call them. Regarding the relationhship you're leaving - if that person truly loves you then they will seek professional help and get over the demons that are controlling their lives. Remember - they already have something ugly controlling their lives - DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOURS!!

If you are a "friend" of the 2faced one - please step back and look at the situation objectively and get your friend some help. Please DO NOT blame the abused one. Please look at all the events and try to be as rational as possible. The friend will never get better if we don't look at the whole picture!

People, this is not only a local problem, rather, this is a global epidemic! How do we combat this?? How do we support those who need the help to get out? How do we support those who need treatment to learn how to live with this type of mindset or oversome this type of mindset? I don't know all of those answers. I wish I did. All I know at this point is that if you know someone going through this - please love that person. Support that person. Help that person the best way you know how. Sometimes that means just calling someone who can help them better than you can. And knowing when to be there and when to not be there. That is love.

Well, like I said at the beginning of this journey - I don't know where this trip will bring me. Sometimes I guess part of life is going through dark tunnels. This definitely is one of the darkest you can go through - but necessary to face in order to make it through life triumphantly because this is a reality. Together we can emerge on the other end of this tunnel stronger than when we entered.

Then there will be a time for peace.

Freakin' Dr Jekyll!!

Haiti Relief.............Finally

Hi everyone - i'm sure your soul, just as mine, has been impacted by the earthquake and it's devastation in Haiti this week. I can't even begin to think how people keep going forward another minute let alone another day in that place. Haiti, being such an impoverished country to begin with, has truly lost it all. No amount of world economic crisis could come close to matching the horror of what that country is going through. I was in Haiti for 10 days back in 98 on a workteam project. Helping build a school. Even though we stayed right in Port Au Prince and saw, smelled, tasted, and touched the poverty every day we still had no clue what it was like to live there. We knew we were going home. We knew what we were going home to. No matter what the problems were at home - they didn't begin to match those in Haiti. We knew that we were going home to a bed, a roof, running water, and some sort of meal - 3 times a day every day. We had hope. So many of the people in Haiti don't have a bed - they sleep in the dirt. They don't have a roof as we know it - just a piece of corrugated tin maybe with a faded slogan of some company on one side being held up by some sticks, another piece of tin, or rocks. The only constant flow of water that I saw was the stream of waste running down the side of the road that you would have to be careful to step over. For most in Haiti, 1 meal a day is a luxury. ---------------->And now - an earthquake. Just when one thought it couldn't get any worse.................it hits. For thousands it was the end of the world. For many others their world is now ending. For even more they will want their world to end. Nature?? Coincidence?? Terrorists?? Charma?? - No matter what you believe - these people are beyond hurting, beyond shock - words can't describe where they are at ===========>> They just need help!!





Relief................finally! My hat off to the governments of the world who are flooding into Haiti with relief. Finally - this is a glmpse of what it means for the world to come together, to set aside differences for the pursuit of a common goal, a common purpose, the common good. Some "critics" may say that some are pushing the aid to score "brownie points" or to look good, etc. Guess what - I will bet you 10 to 1 that if you were to ask the Haitian which he preferred, the Chinese water, the American water, or the French water? He'd probably reach his hand to the Aid worker standing next to you who wasn't paying attention to labels - just providing the water. Of course this scenario would never happen because we would never see these critics out in the field. Only in their comfy chairs barking orders at things they no nothing about. That's usually the way it goes!





Also - HUGE HUGE HUGE - and I can't believe i'm saying this - HUGE Kudos to the participating cell phone carriers who are taking part in the $10 text fund raiser for Haiti. As far as I have read - ALL of the $10 proceed is going directly to the Red Cross for Haitian Relief. As far as I can tell they aren't taking "administrative costs" out at all. Everything through this campaign is going directly to Relief. Finally finally finally a reason to be proud of my cell phone carrier - I happen to have VERIZON! Thank you Verizon!!





Now, as is the case many times with many good efforts there is a slight dark lining somewhere. Well, this is true in this case as well. There is a dark lining i've come across and its names are LIMBAUGH and ROBERTSON! One at a time I think. First Robertson - Pat, Pat, Pat - it doesn't matter what your belief is, nor does it matter at this point what may or may not have happened in the past to gain freedom from an oppressor. The fact of the matter is that these are people in need. Now, if we look at the New Testament what do we see? Why, we see Jesus not only talking to sinners, but ministering to them as well. How can this be? What is Jesus - the Son of God - doing in amongst those who are doomed to Hell?? He's healing them, He's counseling them, He's providing for their needs. Why is He doing that?? Because they need it!! Yes, many of them became His followers however, many did not yet He still provided for them. The feeding of the 5,000 (which was actually probably more when we count the women and children as well). Do you really think that every single one there became His follower? Probably not. Yet He still provided for them. My point is this Pat - if Jesus gove food to only those who were His people, or who became His people then that account would have had a completely different ending to it. Perhaps it would have been the feeding of the 2,734 and the starvation of 2,266? The point is - in a situation such as this we don't withold aid to someone because of who they are, what they've done, or what their ancestors have done. Besides - think carefully - What Would Jesus Do?





And now Limbaugh. Let's just leave it at this---------->you take your pudgy legs and haul your fat lazy butt onto a plane (coach) filled with aid workers and supplies in the cargo hold and go to Haiti. When you get there, roll yourself off the plane and then walk, yes walk (like most of the others who are VOLUNTEERING their time down there) to the nearest Aid station. Once there, see if you can find it in yourself to actually hand out water to the Haitian boy who's had to drink the dirty water from the street; or give some food to the Haitian girl who hasn't eaten anything for 3 days. Maybe give the Haitian man a pair of used shoes for his feet (doesn't matter if they're a perfect fit - as long as they go on his feet) so he can continue his search through the rubble and devastation without cutting up his feet looking for his family that was lost in the earthquake and he hasn't seen since it hit. Or maybe hold the flashlight for the nurse trying to set a broken arm in the dark because there's not electricity. Or maybe assist the doctor in the out-of-doors (because the hospital has collapsed) when they have to amputate a leg that got crushed. And at night, don't worry about giving up your bed for someone else because there aren't beds - but no worries, i'm sure they will have a mat for you next to the hundreds of others sleeping on the ground as well. You, RUSH LIMBAUGH, spend 24 hours there. NOT at a media camp, NOT at a government outpost - but i'm talking right in the thick of it all. In the middle of Port Au Prince at either a Red Cross aid station or one of the MANY MANY religious, humanitarian, or other aid stations that are face to face with these people day in and day out. JUST 24 hours - that's all - and then you can come home. After that - then let's talk and see how your tax dollars will be best put to use.





I really want to end this particular blog on a positive note. How can there be something positive in a country of devastation?? Well - as I said earlier in this blog - there are many governments really stepping up to the plate, as well as companies, individuals, and organizations. But I would be remiss if I didn't talk for a moment about the organizations that were already in Haiti doing a boatload of work that virtually go unseen. I'm talking about the Missions. There are dozens of different religious organizations who are already established down in Haiti and have experienced the brunt of the devastation for those who are in the Port Au Prince area. I, when I was down in Haiti, went with an organization called Partners With Haiti http://www.partnerswithhaiti.org/ who is still there, does a phenomenal work and has suffered greatly. I also know happen to know a couple who are missionaries with Berean Mission Alliance www.olssonsinhaiti.org who also do incredible work down there and are right in the midst of the devastation. The Red Cross does a great job but if anyone is looking for another venue to support and help then check out either of these websites. There's information there on how to help out. Also, I encourage you to check out your local church, synagogue, or organization you may belong to. They will definitely have information on how you can get involved as well. There is much to do and every little bit helps! I want to finishi tonight's blog with this true event that happened to a friend of the missionaries I know down in Haiti - this is an excerpt from their recent email:

"....emotionally it's a roller coaster. One man lost hisbrother and can't find his mother, one person lost his whole family, and awoman lost her foot and her husband his arm - they were evacuated fortreatment. The pain is real and is hard to deal with. One story has both -on Thursday we saw a friend we've known for a long time who sells paintings,walking up our street very distraught telling us he'd lost both is wife andyoung daughter - we were stunned and it tore our hearts. The earthquake wasTuesday afternoon and on Thursday afternoon he's telling us this. Fridayafternoon he came again saying he was standing in the middle of a street ingrief, and heard a female voice say 'Josue.....Josue,' and as he turned hesaw his wife and daughter. He said he fell on his knees hugging her feetpraising God - can you imagine his emotions?? Wow - praise God."



Yes friends, there is a Light in the darkness!

Kermit vs the "They" mountain...........

............not even close to moving it. What is it in life that makes us so tense and twisted up inside?? I mean, when it really comes down to it who is "they" and what is this hold "they" have on us??? You all know what i'm talking about. For example, we shouldn't eat too much sugar because "they" say it is bad for us. We shouldn't sit too close to the TV because "they" say we could damage our sight. We should only talk about certain issues or avoid others because "they" would say we were being politically incorrect or insensitive. Who is "they" and where did "they" get "their" power??

Has anyone seen any of the vintage Sesame Street shows recently? There's a disclaimer that states that those particular Sesame Street episodes are intended for adults and may not meet the needs of today's kids. Who decided to put that there and where did "they" come up with that idea?

Now - don't get me wrong, i'm for equality, respect, and the acceptance of others differences and ideas but come on - are we so afraid of something like Sesame Street? Was someone so emotionally scarred by Sesame Street when growing up that now - whoever that is - is in a position of such influence that "they" can see to a disclaimer being put on a kids show?? They're puppets for crying out loud!! Besides I grew up on Sesame Street and I don't think I turned out too badly.

As I see it, people are so afraid of getting into trouble by upsetting other people today that we have lost the ability to have an opinion, to have a perspective, to be able to intelligently represent a way of life. And to do this in such a fashion that it won't impose a set of beliefs onto another person but rather to educate and inform them of this lifestyle. People are so afraid of being called politically incorrect that we fumble over our words and how we act - just hoping that we don't say or do the "wrong" thing. And if we do divulge a different way of thinking or a different perspective that may go against the grain - WATCH OUT!!!!! All of a sudden we become close minded, intolerant, and discriminatory. How about those who are not willing to listen to this opposing perspective?? What do they become?? Justified by the majority?? -------------> I really believe that if we really dived into the true reason many people follow the "politically correct" line and watch their step - it's not because these people truly believe it - but rather it's because these people are afraid that "they" will label them. Here we are again faced with the "they". Who are "they" and exactly who is it that decides what is politically correct? Who makes the standard and who moves the line? It's quite true that the line does in fact move - don't let anyone tell you it doesn't. Case in point - Sesame Street..............who knew that 40 years ago Kermit the Frog was potentially committing a horrendous crime against Cookie Monster that today may land him in court with, at the very least, charges of assault when Kermit hit the Cookie Monster. This doesn't even take into account the inflammatory remarks Kermit made to Cookie when he got mad and called Cookie "stupid monster" - and if Cookie is in fact - "stupid" - then could those remarks be called discriminatory and a hate crime?____________________

Now listen everyone, i'm not saying it's okay to make discriminatory remarks, nor is it okay to insult anyone because of the way a person may be or live. I also do know that there is right and wrong in the world, people need to be accountable, and we are all ultimately responsible for our own actions (which is an entirely separate blog within itself that will see the light of day at a later time). I am aware as well that people choose which path to take for their lives - some more conservatively, some more liberally, some in the middle and that's fine. Certainly not the least, but also many many families choose to raise their children by the parents beliefs (and hopefully when the children are old enough to form opinions and perspectives of their own the parents will respect that and allow their kids as they get older to form their own belief system - no matter what that may be - which will definitely be part of the "resposible for own actions" blog coming soon to a website near you)----------------------->>> BUT - let's get a little perspective here people - if people are so concerned about what a kids show is portraying then where are the parents???? Why aren't the parents right there with the kids watching the show and then having a discussion with them about the show and actually seeing how the show came across to their child? Maybe even try talking about what you didn't like on the show and why - and don't just say "i'm the parent and I say so!" Actually interact with your child - maybe the same way you would interact with your Soap Opera, your Social Club, your drink, or even your Job. It's called PARENTING!! Get a clue ADULT!_________________Listen, if you can talk with your little child now about things such as a childrens show and what it means to them then trust me - later on during the dreaded teen years you will be so much further ahead because the openess has already been established. Just don't drop the ball!!

Anyhow - I took a little tangent there so I'll get off the soap box now and back to "they". Who are "they"?? How do "they" shape this political climate we live in - in such a way that Sesame Street can have a warning label put on like a graphic video game?? How do "they" get their influence?? Where is the source of "their" power???? And how do we once again establish our individuality without fear of reprisal, being looked down upon, labeled as intollerant, or just plain shunned??

Oooooooohhhhh to live in the days of Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, the Count, Gordon, Olivia, and Grover where all were accepted no matter how different they were. They weren't told no - you can't live like that or believe that. They weren't told that they could belong as long as you conform to our way of thinking and say and do things the way we think they should be done! On classic Sesame Street there was true diversity and not everyone always agreed with everyone else but they AGREED TO DISAGREE.

Does anyone know how we can regain this??
Maybe we should go next door and ask Mr. Rogers??

How secure is National security??

Ok everyone......................today I watched President Obama's national address regarding the security review of the breakdown on the attempted bombing of the Delta flight on Christmas Day. So these are my thoughts - and please remember - these are just my thoughts......i'm not a political analyst.......i'm not running for office.......nor do I have any type of political ambitions. I'm just John Q. Public. That being said.......President Obama said it wasn't one particular person that was at fault however it was a systemic failure throughout. It seems the systemic failure happened again the other day (9 days after Christmas) at Newark airport when someone walked through a "secure" area when the TSA agent left his post for just one minute. It only takes a moment. How does that make you feel? That makes me think twice about not only the state of security of our airports but what about other areas such as the bus sytem, train system, borders, etc.?? President Obama said that the Intelligence community was able to "collect" the dots but wasn't able to "connect" the dots. How can that be? How can these "agencies" not utilize the information they had? Now - of course I am not a part of the government nor do I have access to any of these agencies information so one could say I don't have the "whole picture" - however............it seems to me that one BIG reason that the dots couldn't be connected is because of the historic inter-agency rivalries. And what about the congressional oversight? Aren't our elected officials - who we put into office, keep in office, and pay their paychecks - aren't they supposed to be watching these agencies to make sure things are running well? Or at least correctly?? I guess in 2006 there was supposed to be a restructuring of the agencies and an effort to open the channels between the agencies for the sharing of information to avoid situations such as this. Well - how is that working for us?? That was 4 years ago and it seems, though not very well publicized until now, that the channels really haven't been opened. Who was supposed to do the restructuring and who was supposed to be watching to make sure it happened? I got that message today when President Obama talked about removing obstructions from sharing agency information. This makes me ask - what were the people in charge of opening these channels doing for the past four years?? Again, don't we pay their paycheck?? You know - this makes me think back to 1993 and the failed bombing attempt of the World Trade Center in NYC. I'd have to go back and review all the articles written after the fact but I seem to recollect that not only did the agenices zero in on who was responsible for the bombing but was also able to raid a place in Queens - NY that were concocting more bombs for further terror in the mainland. Now - you would think that after some major incidences such as these that the agencies in charge of searching all this out would keep on researching and pursuing this. Afterall this was the first terrorist action on the US homeland in years! Or - at least this was the first that was very public in years! Also - when we look back on this we've got to ask - was it really a failed attempt? Perhaps these extremist groups had a "botched" attempt on purpose to see how the "system" would react? And then - why was there a pause of over 8 years between that and 9/11? Some people may say it was because those groups in 1993 weren't organized, or they had to get more money, or get a leader, etc. Maybe that's not exactly accurate - maybe these groups were so much more organized than our intelligence agencies either knew or were willing to admit and these groups were just watching over those 8 years to see how the governmental agencies would operate and how long it would take to lessen their guard to these incidences? Remember over 8 years passed between the 1993 WTC bombing and 9/11 - and now it's been about the same amount of time since 9/11 and present day. Are we the general public surprised?? And if not then why apparently are the agencies surprised or at the very least caught off guard?? And if they aren't surprised or caught off guard then what were they doing with all that information for the past 9 years?? Even the press was able to see a connection between the suspect in the recent Ft Hood shooting and one of the extremist groups. Maybe Katie Couric should be in charge of researching this information? Now - please don't get me wrong - this isn't a blame game pointed at one administration or another administration. This isn't the fault of the Democrats or the Republicans. This is a "system wide" failure which encompasses all of us - Democrats, Replublicans, Independants, Green Party, etc. All of us!

I could go on and on but its just about dinner time and i've got to get something to eat. Probably chicken and pea soup.

Closing thoughts - am I being an alarmist or am I just looking at what's going on? And for everything that is seen how much more isn't being seen? No - i'm not in a state of panic. I also am not saying that we the general public need to be told about every incident, nor do I think these agencies, those in charge, and those looking over them should reveal sensitive information to the public. As a matter of fact there are many things - probably most - that just need to remain secret. I'm not an idiot. BUT there has got to be some sort of accountability for the work that is supposed to be done through these agencies. The bottom line is this: President Obama said that the buck stops with him - that may be - and if he is ultimately repsonsible for the systemic failure in the system then in the next election the people's vote should reflect that. BUT I don't believe that we the people can blame just him for this failure - and shame on us if we do. This is a failure of the Administration, the governmental agencies and their freakin' stupid bickering, Congress and the bloated egos therein that have only self interest in mind. And also to a degree us - the public - for not being educated about those out there who are looking to harm us, and for not keeping tabs on those we put into office who are supposed to be overseeing these agencies. President Obama said this is not a time for partisanship but rather a time for citizenship. I agree with him. I know that we all have different ideas on how the country should be run and everybody has their own set of values and ideals. That diversity makes our country great and we should respect that. Afterall, we can all learn from a different perspective. But - there comes a time when those in charge need to swallow some pride, agree to disagree, set aside their differences for a while and come together to figure out what needs to be done to fix something that is obviously broken. I'm glad that President Obama is putting on the pressure. It has to be done. I don't think there is an easy fix to this nor do I know how to fix this broken system but this I do know - we MUST fix this. Maybe we should take a lesson from an ally or two of ours - hmmmmmmmmmmm maybe Israel? We don't have to agree with every ideology of theirs but come on - let's face it - Israel has had to deal with terrorism ever since they became a State - so I don't know..........they might know a thing or two about security!

I think that a great place to start would be that we the public should make sure that our agencies in charge of our safety and security as well as the Congressional members in charge of them should swallow their pride, set aside their differences, take a lesson from someone who has to ensure their security levels are effective each and every day (not someone who owns a so-called security company who will get mega-bucks for consultation), and perhaps take a real look at what to do to "Fix" this "systemic failure".

Anyone know how we can do that??

And so it continues................

.............and back in the groove. The Holidays are over and we went back to work this week. Some of us never left so it all just rolled together into one.

How's those resolutions doing? Well - today was ths first day I spent money since I started to follow the budget. Already over - how does that happen? I did well at the grocery store - only spent $30 - did okay at the gas pump, $26...................then came the cell phone bill. Didn't I just pay that? And how did it get so high so fast?? Oh man - just as I was pumped to follow a budget!! But - not to despair. So I had to spend a little more than planned......I just won't eat or drive anywhere - lol. The way I look at it is if I can just get through January and February I think my outstanding bills from the Holidays will be caught up and then I think I can be right on track with the budget. What do you think? Any tips and staying on track? I'm open to suggestions..........



You know what ticks me off............its all this advertising we just went through during the Holidays. Not so much the "commercialization" of Christmas, and yes I am one of those who thinks the real meaning of Christmas is rapidly dwindling - but its the way that these advertisers are trying to "sell" good will. They push and push on how we're supposed to be nice to others and get them that something special - it almost makes you feel like if you don't then what kind of person are you?? So then we buy into it and shell out to purchase "good will" - now the bills come and good will is just way too expensive! Whatever happened to a kind word, or friendly gesture, or a homemade goodie being sufficient?

Beginning again.............

............and here we are - Phew! Another new year. So this is the time of new beginnings, new promises, fresh starts, and good intentions. This is the time that we all can make changes without scrutiny. When asked why..........it's a New Year!! Maybe we can start something new that we've never done before without strange looks - and when asked why............it's a New Year!! People - this is the time to do what you've been wanting to do but didn't have the nerve - or was putting off!

And so you ask - What are you going to do? Fair question. I really think i'm going to look for contentment in 2010. Now, "contentment" paints a pretty broad spectrum so I guess I need to ask myself contentment in what? My job? My finances? My relationships? My family? Not really sure - maybe i'm not so much looking for contentment as I am a calm within. Whoa - where'd that come from?............that's deep. Let's move on---------->So how are you going to find this calm? Another good question. And I have absolutely no clue. One practical step that I am taking this year is to get a handle on my finances. A friend has developed a workable budget that I am determined to follow. (And I mean for longer than January 23rd which is typically around when most resolutions start to fail) Will this bring that calm i'm looking for? No, not completely but I think it'll be a good start.

I really believe though for any type of success that any of us are going to have we need to have support - or at least someone who will listen. So.........................you all get to be the lucky ones - lol! This is my other step towards the calm (sounds like a line from Ghost Whisperer) - this blog - this lava flow of thoughts, feelings, and opinions oozing from my being and spreading who knows where. You - if anyone has actually found this and even more, is reading this - you are invited to join my flow, my journey, my adventure. "A Life in the Day" Each day, or at least several times a week, I want to just chat about or explore life. I probably won't know what i'm going to explore until I buckle in and start to move but this I do know - if I don't send my mind on an adventure soon i'm going to implode and burn out. You can tag along for a little while or the entire voyage. I'm just not sure when i'm going to dock. Anyways - that's what this is going to be so just hold on and lets see where we go!

Let's start this journey by cheering up. If we think we've had a bad day then read this story - here's the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091230/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_truck_theft_diary

Maybe we should pay attention every now and again - lol!!

See you tomorrow!