Politicians Cannot Read!!!

What I gather from everything I am reading is that those we have elected to represent us in Washington, D.C. either cannot or better yet refuse to read before voting on any Bill put before them. The link below is an interview with House Majority Leader Rick Cantor. It is very enlightening. 

Is this a problem? Yes, for those of us who keep seeing more of our liberties taken away by tyrannical politicians whom think that they know what is best for us, it is a HUGE problem. I for one would like to know what are in the bills (Immigration/Amnesty, Obamacare) that the politicians that are placing their vote on, on my behalf. 

If you cannot read a bill thoroughly why would you vote on it? Because money talks in D.C.? Or because someone is forcing your hand to do so? Or are you showing your constituents you really do NOT give a damn about them? Can someone please answer me, or are all the phone lines to the nations capitol on hold or better yet, re-routed to somewhere in Asia to be answered by a customer service representative whom cannot speak English? I will take the answer number 4, because this is definitely what it feels like when I call my Representative's or Senator's office, or even the Speaker of the House, John Boehner's office.

I am tired of being walked upon by those in Washington who swore upon a bible the day they took office to "...uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America..." but have NEVER read this living, breathing document that made this country into what it is, or rather was when men like Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Truman, Kennedy, & Reagan were the men whom occupied the Oval Office of the White House (which by the way belongs to the people of the United States of America). 

Wake up Senators & Representatives of "We The People" your days are numbered in your current occupations. If you were in the private sector you would not be working for very long, some are not fit to flip burgers at a fast food joint or wash dishes at a restaurant. Remember, just as we voted you into office, we CAN and WILL vote you out.  

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/news/cantor-immigration-vote-t-tell-big-senate-bill-233320198.html

Toddler's & Tiara's

For those of you whom do not know what I am talking about, tune into TLC on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. for a whole new meaning of the title "Stage Mother". Some of these women need to get a grip on reality, truly! Dressing your yet to be 2 yr old on up in dresses that cost a fortune, tweezed eyebrows, making them up like street walkers is NOT good for any child, let alone a girl. 

Childhood should NOT be filled with the angst of "not being good enough to win the 'supreme trophy' at the end of the pageant" it should be filled with playing, pre-k, potty training, jumping rope, playing hopscotch, have tea with your friends, and making mud pies. I doubt that any of the little girls I saw on television last night is allowed to do any of those things, let alone get dirty. 

PLEASE, please, please don't tell me your child just LOVES to do this, they don't their crying as your make them up, rehearse constantly, tease their hair (one little girl looked as if she was losing her hair due to all of the processing that was done to it). If you have to bribe your child to sit still long enough to have makeup put on, have rollers taken out, or do it one more time for momma it means you as a parent have crossed a line. I saw one child through a fit because she didn't win the top prize, my initial reaction was, that child needs a swat on the behind and a nap! By the way, a swat on the behind NEVER killed any child, period! 

Honestly I blame the parents whom think that this will make their child more popular, it wont. LIFE is NOT a popularity contest, period. If you truly think it is, you need to honestly take a good long look at your finances, your home life, and your other children that by the way you are neglecting because you are raising the next Little Miss Sunshine, Miss California Tropic, Miss whatever pageant you are at. While I think that a young lady at twelve or thirteen whom wants to enter a local pageant to see if she can make it is all well and good, however anything younger than that is way too damn young!!!

For all of the father's out there whom allow their little girls to be tarted out, then put on stage every weekend or other weekend, grow a set. Say, "NO" to your wife, sure she isn't going to sleep in your bed, do your laundry, or cook your supper however you will be showing the world you wear the pants in your family and you refuse to have your child dangled like a piece of meat for all to see and bid on. Good self esteem is built when children are raised with God, morals, rules, and boundaries. If you do not believe me ask Dr. James C. Dobson, a Child Developement expert. 

Don't our girls have enough to contend with as they become young ladies? Peer pressure for them to be thin (anorexia, bulimia), popular (sexually promiscuous), and being like the starlets they see in Hollyrude. 

Yes, now I will get off my soapbox and put it away! 

Best Friends Forever

BFF. Best Friends Forever for the older crowd who haven't quite mastered the lingo of the younger less talkative, less imaginative, and oh yes, less literate than most of us old folk. But I digress, forgive me please! 

What makes a BFF, well in most cases it is the person sitting next to you in jail while you wait for someone to bail your butt out of jail, nudging you saying, "That was a blast, we need to do it again, but let's not get caught the next time!" or the one holding your hand as chemo drips into your body to kill the cancer that is eating you alive; or last but not least, it is the person that has been there through thick and thin no matter what, no matter where, no matter when. 

That is the way it was with my mom, and her best friend Terri. Mom and Terri were born on the very same day, hours apart. They were closer than sisters, each of them had sisters, both of them had two each. They learned about life together, walked to school together, married Marine's, Terri's husband Jules & my father Ralph were best friends (best friends marrying best friends how could it get any better?). Both Terri and my mom weathered their husbands fighting in WWII, not knowing (yes I said NOT knowing) whether they were alive or dead on any given day. 

Terri stayed in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio and raised a family; while my mom and dad moved to his hometown of Syracuse, New York to settle down and raise a family. They never failed to get together during the summer when my mom & dad would travel to Ohio so my mom could visit her family. Never once did a birthday go by that they didn't call one another (back then a long distance phone call was a huge thing). As the years went by, Jules passed away, then my father, but the girls (as they called themselves) never wavered in their friendship or love for one another.

Last month, Terri met again with the love of her life Jules, and saw her best friend Jane. You see the best friends are together again, talking, sipping coffee, laughing, exchanging photos, while sitting at God's kitchen table. You see best friends never end, ever. They go on into heaven.

Rest well, mom & Terri, you are a credit to your families, whom learned that friendship is a bond stronger than blood, that lasts forever.  

OPEN LETTER TO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES!!!!

For those of you whom think I am homophobic, listen and listen well, I AM NOT!!! I am very much the live and let live type woman. I harbor NO ill will towards anyone (okay, okay I am not fond of the used car salesmen we have in Washington, DC nor the President--those I wish would find a very large, short pier to walk off into the ocean!). 

If I read another headline about a "gay" ball player coming out, I will literally scream. You are a ball player, first. Your allegiance is to your team, the man who stares back at you in the mirror in the morning, and your significant other. I DO NOT care if you are gay, bi, or straight do your damn job and stop waving a flag for your personal life. Let's face some facts some of you shouldn't be waving a flag at all (i.e.: Drug Use, DUI, D&D, Domestic Abuse, Arrests, Probation) are NOT things to be proud of.

While I can remember a time when women were thought less than an equal of a man, and had to gain equality in the workplace and on the playing field. I remember an evening when Billie Jean King played tennis and won against Bobby Riggs, her parting shot to Riggs was a piglet. Billie Jean  along with Martina Navratilova broke the barrier, the glass ceiling so to speak . These women are lauded for their feats upon the tennis court not because of their sexual orientation.

GET OVER IT MEN!!! Women broke this barrier for you long ago and it was a much tougher sell to the public than you "coming out" of your locker to admit your "gay" to your team mates and the world. Yes, I get that you can finally breathe however which do you want to be remembered for?

Your record on the field? 

- or -

Your personal life?

The choice albeit rests with you, however I prefer to see the first, NOT the second!!!!

Memorial Day

THANK YOU to the men and women who serve and have served our country without hesitation. Without your service this country would not be where she is today, the GREATEST place to live on earth.

WHAT IS MEMORIAL DAY:  Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving the United States Armed Forces. Formerly know as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had be extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

This weekend we here in the United States celebrate "Memorial Day". Many of the younger generation see it as just another day off, or beginning of summer. But for those of us who have military ties, either with a family member whom served, it is a day of recollection, pondering, and to honor those whom have fallen, and those whom serve and have served. 

We have a generation of children whom have no idea what World War II, Korea, or Viet Nam are other than what they have read in a book or taught in the classroom (and to be honest I doubt that what they are even being taught is honest, and forthcoming). We have a generation of children whom have no idea the sacrifice of men and women who died and are buried in foreign lands, not because we (the United States) would not bring them home, but because back then we did not have the modern technology of today. There are many Veteran's Cemeteries across the country especially down south, where there are fences separating those whom fought for the Union and the Confederacy. Today's military is better equipped, better trained, and are still the most underpaid people in the world.  Our servicemen are HAPPY to serve our country because they know what freedom is. They take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and they do that plus. 

Another thing, Why is it we pay major league ball players millions of dollars to play a game [let's face it some players are just trouble (drugs, alcohol, arrests, probation)], while we pay soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines less than the poverty level? Why is it our children worship these same players but do not know whom some of the greatest generals & war heroes are? There is something very wrong with this picture.

So this weekend as you watch a parade, grill hot dogs & hamburgers, sip lemonade, play horseshoes, watch fireworks, and celebrate with your family; bow your head, say a silent prayer for the men and women whom cannot be stateside to celebrate this holiday with their friends & family, those whom are lying in the gardens of stone, and those serving us so very far away. 

Customer Service???!!!

Before I begin this rant, I need to say thank you to the gracious people whom do their jobs with a smile upon their face, without argument, when all they want to do is go home and put their feet up! YOU are all amazing!!!

Now onto my rant!

Where has customer service gone? Have we as people forgotten what "Excellent" customer service is? Have we just been so tired when we get to the repair shop, the grocery store, Macy's, Kohl's, Dave & Buster's, Wal-Mart, Big K, and Target, that we accept the attitude we are treated with? I for one am tired of it. 

Let me begin by explaining the situation: Over the past few months, my fiance and I have been shopping at the Wal-Mart close to our home. While it is a "Super Center" it is one of the smallest I have been in. It is also in a part of town that is not quite the best. While visiting this store, the first thing we encounter is a vehicle in the parking lot with expired tags, and a flat tire. We reported what we saw to the Customer Service desk, when we went back in a month later, the vehicle was still there in the very same place; yesterday we made a quick stop, lo and behold, the vehicle was still there. Hello???? Abandoned vehicles in a parking lot does NOTHING for your business!!!! On Saturday evening, when speaking with the front end manager about the deli being closed before the actual time they close, I mentioned the vehicle to her, and her response was it is being taken care of. We will see. 

While shopping at a "Dollar Tree" store over the weekend I was assaulted by a woman who was shoplifting, when I followed her to the front of the store and mentioned something to the cashier about her removing a marker from a four-pack of markers, she stood there with her mouth open. While I realize that most people would have just let it go because it is "just a buck" the problem is, when a store loses merchandise to shoplifting the rest of us pay. When the customer returned to the store, she walked up to me, hit me in the side of the head, and screamed, "Next time b*tch, mind your own damn business!", if my fiance had not intervened I would have been on the floor. When checking out, the store manager apologized to me about the incident, and stated, "We don't have people report shoplifters", I held my tongue but thought, "I wonder why, if I was assaulted over a dollar item, what would happen if someone walked out with $10, or $20, or $30 worth of merchandise?". 

We went to the Speedway to fill the tank, when finished it asked, "Would you like a receipt?" my fiance hit the "yes" button but nothing happened. He went inside the store, waited in line ten minutes for a receipt, and was told, "I am one person, I cannot do it all!". Well part of your job is to make sure that all the pumps have receipt paper in them. Your job is to make sure that I (or any other customer) do not have to stand in line to get a receipt. I pay at the pump so I DO NOT have to wait in line!!! 

Yesterday, while I did not want to venture out of my home, I did. My fiance and I went to the Wal-Mart a few miles away from our home. What a difference ten miles can make. Everyone at the store, from the person at the deli, to the woman in the aisle stocking shelves, to the gentlemen in electronics, all had smiles on their faces, and were happy to be helping customers. We also went to Staples where we asked a some questions about printer ink, printable note cards, and some other office items, the clerk was happy to answer my questions, and when he didn't know he asked another. You see GOOD customer service exist we as the customers MUST demand it!

Yes I know what you are thinking, "how would she know what 'good' customer service is?" because all my life (I am 50) I have worked in service related jobs, whether it was being a receptionist, a cashier, an administrative professional, a manager, or a cashier. My best foot was put forth daily because I checked my attitude and baggage at the door. I always went out of my way to smile, be polite, get answers, do my job efficiently, do whatever was asked by my supervisors. While some would say, working in a grocery store is beneath them, remember "everyone has to eat!".  Here are the rules for all customer service professionals:

Rule Number One:  The customer is always RIGHT.

Rule Number Two:  See Rule Number One.

These rules are NOT hard, but they are the most important rules for anyone in the service industry. 

So I ask you again, "Where has GOOD customer service gone?" it is out there, but to insure it we as the customers have to be willing to do our part. On every receipt, there is a survey, take the survey, be honest about what you saw, how you were treated. Without feedback, a business may think they are doing well until they close their doors because of poor customer service. 

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -

by the Divine Power of God -

cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,

who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

For those of us whom grew up Catholic this is a prayer we learned and recited daily in school. For others this is a prayer that you learned to say whether in uniform or needing a prayer that would sustain you in your daily battle whatever that may be.

Today, as a country we need to begin praying this prayer daily. We as a country we are under attack from all sides. Whether it be Al-Qaeda, our leaders whom see fit to remove our Constitutional rights, our unborn whom cannot defend themselves, educators whom fail to teach the true curriculum of American History, and Hollywood actors whom have forgotten that the American public pays them when they attend a movie.

We the people of America, need to band together, pray together, and remember that when we “indivisible” we not only make our enemies angry, and as Charlie Daniels once sang, 

“This lady may have stumbled, but she ain't ever fell. And if our enemies don't believe that, they can all go straight to hell. We're gonna put her feet back on righteousness and then, God bless America again.” 

So stand together with your family, co-workers, friends, and pray for those hurt yesterday in Boston, but most of all, PRAY FOR AMERICA, our way of life, our liberty, our service men & women, firefighters, police officers, our leaders, and our flag that it may always wave over us.