Adversity - Our attitude is key

Black Friday is not for me

The day after Thanksgiving.  You know what that means.....Black Friday.  Here are my reasons for not participating in this cultural event.

1. Long lines - I heard one local store had a line of 1700 people waiting this morning. Crazy!
2. Lack of sleep - Why would I want to wake up in the middle of the night to go shopping?
3. Crowds - So many people, too much to do, not enough merchandise - enough said.
4. Shopping in general - I have never been a "shopper" why start now?
5. Crazy-  I just have to wonder what the US looks like to the rest of the world.  I think we're crazy when I see the reports on the news.  I dont need any help on being embarrassed on my own.
6. No Christmas list - To be successful on Black Friday you must have a Christmas list.  My list is never ready by Thanksgiving Day.
7. Sale anger - Whenever I see sales, I always have to wonder about the time I bought things at full price.  Usually it is the week before something goes on sale.  It makes me angry to think of all the money I really didn't need to pay.
8. Stuffed recovery - I am still recovering from too much food on Thanksgiving to navigate crowded aisles.
9. Budget constraints -  Black Friday = shopping cart full of items = $$$
10. Plan B -  For those like me who choose to skip Black Friday, there is always Cyber Monday!

 Did you make a purchase on Black Friday?

I was in St. Louis recently.  St. Louis is the home of the baseball Cardinals who last month became champions in the World Series.  One of the players on the team who is well-liked and plays well is Albert Pujols. 

While in St. Louis, my friends and I came across this restaurant with a statue of Pujols outside.  The restaurant is named for the player and has memorabilia inside.  I don't know if Pujols owns the restaurant or if he has just lent his name to it.   The prices were moderate average to moderately high compared to other restaurants with the same cuisine.  I had a prime rib sandwich with fries and a strawberry daiquiri for about $18 before tip.  My taste was good.    My friend was not so happy with the taste of her sandwich.

I read that Pujols is now a free-agent and can decide to stay or move to other ball teams.  I wonder what will happen with this restaurant should he decide to leave the St. Louis Cardinals. 

**UPDATE**

Pujols did decide to leave the ST. Louis Cardinals and move to another ball team.  The restaurant has been renamed.  This makes me think his name was only lent to the restaurant and he really had little or nothing to do with it. 

Have you ever been to a restaurant named for a celebrity?    

What's Up with That?

NOT.

I stopped by a  pizza place this afternoon to pick up pizza for dinner.  I had called it in earlier and timed it so I was there to pick it up soon after the time I was given for it to be done.  It was right before the typical dinner hour and there was only one car in the parking lot as I pulled in.

There was maybe 6 or 7 employees standing behind the counter when I walked up to it.  The person standing at the cash register was talking business to one of them--something about money needed for a delivery.  Two others were having a casual conversation about the upcoming dinner hour.  The others were sort of just milling around.  I stood there for a moment waiting for the person at the register to finish her business with the delivery person and turn to me. 

I waited...and waited...and waited...and waited some more.  She finished the conversation and so I prepared to tell her that I had a take out order to pick up.  She was very engaged with the register. 
I looked to other of the other 6 people  just standing there.  No one looked at me.  No one acknowledged that I was even standing there.  I could have been invisible!  I opened my purse and got out my wallet hoping to cue them to at least say hello. 
Nothing.  
I waited some more. 
I waited.........  and waited.......and still waited. 

Finally, a server looked at me and asked if I had a take out order.  I said yes and gave him my name.  He want and got my pizza.  

How long should it take for a person to be waited on after entering a restaurant?  

I can understand if it is busy.  I have a food service back ground, I sympathise with getting everything taken care of!   But to not even acknowledge me?  These people were not even busy.  They were just standing there.  Someone should have said hello very soon after I got to the counter.   Since there was so many workers just standing at the counter, someone should have asked to help me immediately,  Even if it is not their specific job. 

Come on people!  And we wonder why business is slow.....  Show a little customer service!  Make me feel like you want me there and appreciate my business.  My time is money too,  you know.

 Is the problem a lack of training?  A lack of care?  A lack of ambition? 

If this kind of service keeps up they will have a lack of customers.

Miss you, Dad

 

Dad

1938 - 2008

It has been three years since I got the news that my daddy died.  I wasn't expecting it, but I wasn't all that surprised either because he had been frail the last few years of his life.  Still it is a shock to realize that your parent is gone. Forever.

The last time I saw my dad in person was three years before that when he moved to another continent.  I knew at that time that it was probably the last time I would ever see him. He knew it too.  We both cried and neither of us were the crying types. 

My dad was brave.  He took a risk and left his home and all he knew to come to the U.S. alone as an 18 year old. 

My dad was intelligent.  He learned a new language and was sharp enough to build his own business within a couple of years after arriving in the U.S. 

My dad was generous.  He extended his helping hand to several people throughout the years.  He was the bridge to self-proprietorship for many.  He was a friend to many.

My dad was funny.  He would get a kick out of telling jokes --especially to his grandchildren. It was one way he could connect to them. 

My dad was dysfunctional. He seemed to have more trouble with close relationships than he had with simple friends.  I think this was because he grew up in Europe during WW2 and a civil war. I've heard stories of people not able to trust their neighbors or even their brothers during this time.  Life was not certain or to be taken for granted.  My father was the baby of a large family and his own father died when he was only four years old.  His mother struggled to keep food on the table for all her children.  The older children were sent out to work as soon as they were out of elementary school.  Even my father never had any schooling past the age of 11.  Everyone was expected to help out.  Perhaps that is what gave him the courage to leave for a new land.  Perhaps he had no deep bonds.

My dad was a provider. I always had a nice home to live in and food to eat. Each of my parents drove moderately nice cars. I was given dance lessons, swim lessons, and music lessons as a child because those were my interests.  My sisters were given lessons in their interests.  I never had to concern myself with the worries that my father must have had when he was a youngster.  He saw to that.   

Theodore Roosevelt said,

 "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 

 I think this is what my dad did.  Was he the best dad?  How would you define best?  My dad did what he could do- he loved his kids the way he knew how; with all that he was given - his money, his upbringing, his background, his charm; where he was. 

Was he the best dad?  He was my dad and he was my best dad. 

I miss my dad.  I honor his memory.  I appreciate him for the things he was able to give to me.



Graveyard Walking

While out walking this morning I came across this "grave."  You never know what you will find this time of year ! Some neighborhoods go all out to decorate for Halloween.

Wise Words

Take 15 minutes of your time and listen to Steve Job's 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University.   Wise words.



What can you take away from this ?

Goodbye Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs

1955 - 2011

comment overheard:

"If Steve Jobs made it

       then people will buy it. "

He changed the world.

We will miss your creativity and ingenuity.

Thank you. Rest in Peace.

creator of all things Apple: Mac, I-pod, I-phone, I-pad. 



A Day in my Pretend Life

Oh yeah, I know you wish you could be on the cover too.  *Snap*Snap*Snap* 
Unfortunately, my days as a cover model will always reside in my fantasy world  or through photoshop!  Oh well. 



Happy National Coffee Day

Coffee is my go-to drink.  I drink it everyday and can drink it morning, noon, and night.  The caffeine does not seem to affect me although sometimes I get a feeling to switch to plain water and I think it is my body telling me I have had enough caffeine for the day. 

I drink my coffee black.  This is good because otherwise I would be racking up calories throughout the day with my drink.  I do not like drinking coffee with milk or sugar, but recently I have broadened my horizons to start tasting things like latte's and cappuccinos.   This is because I have been volunteering at the coffee area of my church and they serve these things.  I figure I need to know about them.  I think at this point I have to be in the right mood to like them.  I just prefer a nice cup of straight joe.

My sister does make an awesome frozen drink with coffee, milk, & sugar.  It is a homemade frappaccino.  It is fantastic, but lots of calories! 

September 29 is National Coffee Day.  So go get a cup of coffee ( some places are having specials on coffee and some places are giving away free cups of coffee)  and enjoy! 

What's up with That?

One needs to have a psychic sense if watching your transportation budget.

Case in point:  I needed gas in my car last week.    Since it was near the end of the month, I thought I would try to hold out as long as I could before investing my dollars in a tank.  But it got down to only 2 gallons, so I went and filled up.  The very next day prices in my area dropped 10 cents a gallon. 

Why, oh why can't I have better timing when it comes to putting gas in my car? 

 Today the price is back where it was 3 days ago.  What's up with that?  

Does gas in your area jump around in price or is it just in my area?

Joplin Tornado Before and After

On May 22, 2011 Joplin, Missouri was hit by a devastating tornado rated F5.  A good  portion or the city was decimated and 159 people have died to date.  The video below shows what an area of the town was like before and what is now.       The point?  Value your days.  Pay attention to Weather watches and warnings.  Don't leave your loved ones angry.  

Looking Forward to a Trip

A lot has happened since I was last here and I promise to blog about it and fill you in, but for now I want to share the topic of the moment -   I am looking forward to a trip that I am going to take in August. 

I have been wanting to take this trip for at least 3 years now, but have made all the excuses:  I haven't got the money.  I haven't got the time.  Next year is better.    I still have the excuses-- I haven't got the money, but what the heck - it's only money.    I haven't really got the time, but there is probably no better time than this summer.  I don't know what next summer will look like.  Or next fall for that matter. 

I am going to go to Greece to visit my relatives and see some of the sights.  My father passed away nearly three years ago and I would really like to go and visit his final resting place.  I would like to go and connect with his wife.  I want to go and see my elderly aunts, uncles, and in-laws.   I want to go and see them all before it is too late.  It is too late to see my dad.   With me will be my daughter and her young man who will soon be a member of our family I hope.   It will be nice to introduce him to our family there and show him that side of our culture.    I am not so sure he will like traveling so closely with his future mom-in-law though!  :)