Barack Obama, a Muslim???

Barack Obama, a Muslim .... really? Come on now, have we really grown so unintelligent as a people that we have such a high percentage of our population believing this. It's obvious that the reason the number believing this lie has increased so much is due to the President's defense of the rights of those who wish to build a mosque near Ground Zero.

It scares me that we have so many people in our country willing to abandon constitutional GUARANTEES so quickly. I agree with the outrage and think its a horrible idea to build a mosque a new mosque ... however, the right to do so must be defended. I hope they change their minds and/or I hope that those workers and unions that would be involved will put a stop to it.

I for one and THANKFUL that our President is fulfilling his obligation to the Constitution of the United States. This is what makes us different, and yes, BETTER than other countries. We are not subjected to the whims of an angry mob when they're unhappy with a particular group, religion, etc ....

When we fail to protect the rights of all, we attack the rights of all and it puts our constitutional guarantees on very shaky ground.

I listened to Dr. Laura tonight talk to Larry King. I was appalled by her statements that she made on her radio show this week, but I have to say that I am disappointed that she will be stopping her radio show at the end of the year. Her straightforward style and sensible advice on many/most issues provides clarity for many of her listeners.

Making a Difference

I'm up before the sun rises.
Feeding the dog and watching the news--it's the same as yesterday--disappointing.
I get on the treadmill--same as yesterday, and the day before and the day before that--no disappointment.
My health is better than ever and I have more energy than I ever remember having before.

I water the dry spots in the grass. Position the sprinkler just so to make up for auto sprinklers that seem to be broken. I'm only guessing because the dry spots will soon be dead spots if I don't act quickly. My actions will make a difference, or so I tell myself.

Shower quickly and remember to turn off the "extra water" that is quenching the thirst of my lawn.

Ironing my clothes for the day ahead.

Management Retreat Week

It's called a retreat, but really it doesn't have any of those relaxing connotations! It's a blur of training and planning and focusing on the work that lies ahead. Among the 100 plus "managers" we have in our district we have a multitude of differing attitudes, opinions, etc ... You can guess that can create "side bar" conversations during our meetings.

I think overall this week will be great and I need to take the nay sayers with a grain of salt.

Sleep

I can't seem to sleep tonight. I'm going to head back to bed to try again. It's 1:45 a.m. and I'm still up. I need to be up tomorrow morning by 4:30. That's just two and a half short hours away. I'm not going to want to get up when the alarm clock goes off.

1800flowers.com Customer Service Conversation

Please copy and share if you find this as amusing as I do ... It is the text of a chat conversation I had with a cusotmer service representative from 1800flowers.com

Thank you for choosing 1-800-flowers.com. A representative will be with you shortly.
You are now chatting with Marchell.
You: I'm having a hard time finding something that can be delivered to the 98846 zip code ... that's a small town. Pateros, WA
Marchell: One moment please while I find that information for you.
Marchell: I am sorry, we do not have delivery for today. We can arrange a delivery for early next week. Tuesday
You: That's fine ... but I wasn't necessarily looking for delivery today ... just a product that can be delivered there at all. I hadn't put in a delivery date ... just looking for a product everything I have chose so far said it can't be delivered there.
Marchell: I will just a vendor Item and not a local florist designed item.
You: okay ...
Marchell: Ok..Has the information helped with making a choice?
You: You're kidding, right? I still haven't received the information about the product to select or how to select one that can be sent to 98446. You said a vendor item and not a local florist designed item .... How do I find that?????
You: That should be 98846
Marchell: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
Marchell: Yes I am searching that area and I suggested vendor item to ensure a delivery to the small town.
You: I will find another company .... I don't know how to find a vendor item ... you still haven't told me how to do that. Is this a real person or a computer automated response.
Marchell: I am real. If you look to our web page the vendor items will arrive in a box ready to arrange
You: Okay ... Marchell, I've looked at the web page and every time I select any item it says it can't be delivered to 98846. Is there a tab or button on the web page that says "vendor items" .... I thought my question was very clear ..." How do I find the vendor items?"
Marchell: If an item says same day it is made by a florist.If the item has a picture of a box it is made by UPS
You: Aaaaah, Okay ... we're getting closer ... so far I haven't found any pictures of boxes .... WHERE DO I FIND THOSE??????
Marchell: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.
Marchell: I'll be right with you.
Marchell: Ok..lets calm down..and look at this link for me 92625
Marchell: on the web site..ok?
You: I don't see that link ... you will have to be more specific as to where it's located on the web page.
Marchell: please put that number in the search box. At the top of the page on the right.
Marchell: Hello! How can I help you with your order today?
You: You've been helping me ... please refer back to our conversation. I put the number 92625 into the search box at the top as instructed to do so, but it comes back with "0 results"
Marchell: sorry 93625
Marchell: ok do you see how that product has a box in the picture?
You: Okay ... it looks like that item is for "Chocolate Dipped Strawberries." I'm not opposed to sending those, However, when I put in the shipping zip code and went to select the date ... It said that the item cannot be shipped to that zip code.
You: Yes I see the picture
You: the picture of the box, but it still said that it couldn't be shipped to the zip code that I had selected
Marchell: ok now with any item that has a box you will need to select a date for next week. it is defaulting to early than that.
You: It won't even allow me to select a date .... When I go to open the "delivery date" calendar a message box pops up that says that it cannot be delivered to that zip code.
Marchell: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.
Marchell: Ok I am working on a solution.
You: Okay
Marchell: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
You: You've already been helping me ... and said you were working on a solution.
Marchell: Ok dear..example..I chose item 4098 (shade of silver and yellow) I use the calendar and choose date of 5/11 and save it to the cart just as I was placing the order
Marchell: Ok can you see how it is done. I want you to call us..And agent will do it.
You: Your reference to me as "dear" and apparent lack of understanding that it is not allowing me to choose any date at all is disconcerting to me. I'm ending this conversation and will email a text of the conversation to your company. Perhaps they will retrain you. I would be less concerned if you seemed to understand the problem, but just couldn't help and said so. But you've failed to answer some very specific questions that I've had and then refer me as "Dear" I find demeaning.
Marchell: I am sorry..I apologize!!
Marchell: I did not mean to offend.
You: You can tell that to your supervisor ...

Poppies--May 2, 2010

Robert and I visited the poppy fields today. This year they've put on a beautiful display!

Reaction to my Posting about Arizona's Law

Some of you will agree with my friend's response below and I can't say that I completely disagree with it, but it fails to address the point that I was making in my April 22nd post "Arizona Steps into the Dark." The fact that many (and I hope most) people abide by our immigration laws, does not justify stopping people to produce documents based on what will amount to be their racial and economic status.

I am probably going to make you mad, but that's nothing new. My comments are: I was raised to believe that the word illegal meant against the law. I am not for racial profiling, but when you break the law you have to expect consequences. ------'s brother wanted to come to the US for a visit. ------- had to do a lot of paperwork and it has taken about 5-6 years to go through the process. He was finally given permission to visit for a designated time period. They did it the right way. I know that the conditions in Mexico are not great for many. Conditions in MANY countries are not good. The US can't afford to take everyone in that wants to escape poverty, etc. We can argue more about this later.

For those of you who see this ... please read my post "Arizona Steps into the Dark" from April 22nd. I am not defending illegal immigration or illegal immigrants. However, I am saying very clearly that one will be "suspected" of being an illegal immigrant when they are brown skinned and poor--plain and simple. The problem of illegal immigration will only be solved when employers are held accountable for who they hire. It is Americans who do the hiring of illegal immigrants, and OFTEN take advantage by paying subsistence (or less) wages.

I admire those who immigrate to this country legally, and have gone through the process that can take years. This is the way that it should be done. I am not advocating for illegal immigrants. I'm advocating against a law that will institutionalize a practice that many have struggled against for years ... pulling people over because of what they look like. Now we're going to pull people over and ask for their papers and if they can't produce them then we get to haul them in for the next step. This sounds frighteningly familiar.

There will always be some who come to this country illegally looking for opportunity and some who will circumvent the process and our laws. That is not good. However, the problem we have today was created by US, ourselves ... not the illegal immigrants. Of course they come ... and for YEARS, we encouraged it and still do by looking the other way when employers do not verify immigration status at employment. Now, we propose pulling over "suspected" illegal immigrants. I will say again that the only way that I can think of that one might be suspected of being illegal is by their brown skin and their economic plight. We are in danger of returning to some very dark days if we allow this kind of practice to stand. And THIS after we have created our own circumstances.

I think some in this country have gone mad. I wonder how many of the Arizona state legislators who voted in favor of this measure have employed an undocumented nanny, housekeeper, or gardener .... hmmmmmm???? I wonder. I'm sure someone will research this and will be reporting the results post haste.

Arizona Steps into the Dark

Okay, I RARELY use this forum for political comments. However, the recent law passed in the state of AZ allowing people "suspected" of illegal immigration to be stopped and questioned regarding their legal status is a travesty and a gigantic step backward for the state of AZ and for our country. I do not favor illegal immigration or defend it, but this law will result in people being stopped and questioned purely due to their appearance as a latino ... the darker the skin the more likely to be questioned. And the shabbier the clothes and car, the more likely to be stopped. Poor latinos will become targets. Let's not forget the lessons of history. Who will be stopped and questioned next because of their appearance—don’t think it couldn’t be you. The courts will need to step in on this one and I hope they do quickly! The law does not define what would cause someone to be suspected of being an illegal immigrant. If not being latino and poor, what would it be? Perhaps a line of day laborers standing in front of Home Depot hoping for a day’s work to feed their family?

Welcome to the Dominican: March 20, 2010

I procrastinated writing or posting anything partly because that is "who I am" but mostly because I doubted that my words could ever adequately or accurately reflect my experience. Many have traveled abroad and seen much worse conditions than I did on this trip, but the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions were my own; in real time and in Real 3-D. They are not anymore real or more important than your or anyone else's experience--except to me, because they're mine.

Melanie and I arrived at Santo Domingo airport later than planned at 10:30 p.m. As I departed our aircraft it felt as if someone had wrapped a hot, wet blanket around me. My t-shirt was spotted with wetness within only a few minutes of arrival and I knew that I had better get used to it. I was not to be disappointed--the Dominican heat and humidity assured me of this during my week long visit.

After claiming our bags we were greeted by George, the taxi driver, who had been sent by the orphanage to take us from the Santo Domingo airport to San Pedro, where we would be staying at the local Howard Johnson for the night. George spoke some English and engaged us in warm conversation during the 25 mile trip from the airport to our hotel. He was sure to inform us that his son was in Arizona at a spring training camp for baseball. The Dominican is the home of many baseball players, including the most famous Sammy Sosa. Having a successful baseball player in the family was clearly considered prestigious, and as I discovered later, a way out of poverty--sounds familiar.

During the ride to the hotel I became distracted by one sight in particular. We passed several small motorcycles that they call moto conches. What struck me about this was how many there were on the road--many, many more than we would see in the US, and even more striking was that some of them were carrying up to four people and I was told that they can carry more--and not a helmet in sight. It was not a surprise when I met someone the following day with some scrapes and bruises to his face resulting from a recent moto conch accident. I think I forgot to mention the "rules of the road." --thats because the main rule seems to be to "ignore the rules."

Welcome to the Dominican Republic!

 
 
 
 

Abracadabra!! Look Grandma, I'm Wireless!

Last night I was sitting and talking to friend about how the way we “do things” has changed so much in the last 10 years or so. I haven’t sat down and developed the timeline, but those of you who are 30 and above will know exactly what I’m talking about.

12 years ago, once a month, I would collect all the monthly bills that arrived in our mailbox and place them in a manila file folder and wait for payday. I would make that monthly trek to the post office and stand in line and purchase the stamps that I would need to return my payment in my creditors thoughtfully provided envelope. Then, usually on a Sunday evening, when I had nothing better to do with my time, I would carefully organize the bills, set out the stamps and return envelopes, secure my checkbook hoping that I had enough money to cover all the bills that were clamoring for my attention (I still worry about having enough money—that hasn’t changed a bit). I would write the checks, record my account # on the memo portion, and place them carefully in the provided envelope, lick and affix the stamp, and seal the envelope. This process would take me about 90 minutes—I had too many bills. I would then take my ritual walk at 10:00 p.m. to the mailbox on the corner and send my payments off. This was my monthly ritual--for years.

Today the bills are still there and they still clamor for my attention and my hard earned money. But my how life has changed! Last evening I sat at the kitchen table with my wireless cell phone and accessed my bank account and in a matter of seconds paid my Time Warner cable bill. I’m still amazed, in awe … call it what you will, that I can use this small, flat, shiny device that appears to be connected to nothing, to do so many tasks. I can buy a movie ticket, pay bills, send emails, “instant messages’, take pictures and video and post to a social networking page for my friends and family to be able to view instantly. I remember when I was amazed by the Polaroid camera and the instant pictures that it provided! I can now read the latest news and see live video feeds, and can even let you all know what I am doing at that particular moment (I do have some modesty and don’t tell you everything). I don't have to be sitting at my desk at home ... I can even be at the car wash and do all these things.

Wow … I think this must be something like how people felt when they first had a radio in their home. A box with a speaker plugged into the wall and then suddenly you hear FDR’s voice coming from inside giving his famous fireside chats … I don’t think they had Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 at the time. I can imagine a 10-year-old child examining the “box” closely and then begin taking it apart to look for exactly where that voice was coming from.

Human ingenuity is amazing. My grandmother will be 99 years old in April. She was born in 1911, and at that time there were no transcontinental flights, or flights of any kind except by our winged friends with beaks/bills. Just traveling to the neighboring state at that time was a major event that took a week or more. My grandma “saw” the first human flight, and during the 1970’s she boarded a 747 and flew to Rome, Italy. Prior to that she watched man first step foot on the moon (maybe one day we’ll return and go beyond). She saw her grandson, Neal, become fascinated with the first home computers. In the late 1970’s, in my grandma’s basement, Neal was taking apart the “Commodore” and figuring out how it worked. Now, 30 years later after that first home computer, grandma is able to sit down and view what I write here. No need for a stamp and the U.S. Postal Service. —That is obsolete. I’m sure the Postal Service will probably exist for 20 or 30 more years because government responds so slowly to change, but truly they are not really needed any longer.

I am already amazed at the changes I’ve seen during the past 15 years. I eagerly am anticipating the next 15. What changes will I see? Will we have cars that drive themselves? Will we find something that extends life by 50 years? I remember the Jetson’s cartoon—I’m sure it’s still being replayed on some TV stations. So many of things in that cartoon are now a reality. My favorite is the “television phone call.” Jane Jetson has to hold up a cardboard image of herself to hide her “morning face.” Can you say “Skype?”

This is a picture of my grandma who will be 99 on April 28th this year, Emily, Katie and I. I am blessed to still have my grandma with us and that my daughters have grown up knowing her as well. We live in California and she's in Washington state, but we usually have the chance to visit once a year and sometimes twice.

Today

Today only happens once. I will likely cross someone's path who I will never see again. There will be an opportunity to say a kind word to someone who's having a difficult day and this particular moment will not come my way again. I will have five or 10 minutes to read an interesting article--those minutes will not come to me again. I have this opportunity to write down a few of my thoughts--it will take me all of a few minutes. If I don't do it now, it won't get done today and I will have lost this particular moment. Today happens but once and this moment happens but once. What will I do with it? What opportunities will I grab hold of and which will I let pass by me forever?

CNN Poll--Optimistic About 2010?

Optimistic about 2010? That was the latest CNN poll that just popped up for me to participate in. At first I hesitated on whether I should participate in such an asinine thing. What difference does it make if I’m optimistic or not? Will that change anything that happens during the year? What happens, will happen … good, bad, and otherwise will happen whether I am optimistic or not. Is this an optimistic viewpoint? It’s not optimistic or pessimistic … it is simply true.

What is also absolutely true is that my outlook on tomorrow, next week, next month, and the next year will chart my course and will influence what happens in my life. You and I, both experience the same tragic event—let’s say the death of a partner or spouse. I choose to focus on how my partner added to my life, made me more kind, caring and sensitive to t he needs of others …. Or I could choose the path of loss, bitterness, and anger over something about which I have no control. The latter choice will lead to unproductive decisions and choices. The former choice (I mean choice and not attitude) will lead me to make decisions that benefit myself and others. My positive impact on others will influence in a positive way how I am perceived and what opportunities and interactions come my direction as a result.

This is not what CNN had in mind when they asked if I was optimistic about 2010. They are referring to our world and to our country. I will always be optimisitic … not because I think wonderful and great things will always happen or only happen. It is how I respond to events that makes me an optimist. There will be some very good things that happen during 2010 and some pretty crappy things that happen as well—that’s just the way that life works. What makes me an optimist is the opportunities that I find in the crappy things that happen. If lose my job, will I take this opportunity to learn a new skill; when my partner is diagnosed with incurable cancer, will I take this opportunity to escort him gracefully to the other side?; when I unexpectedly encounter conflict on my job, I will examine my contributing actions and motives and I will be thankful that I have a job.

Optimism is a choice …. it is not a belief that what will happen in the future will be weighted toward good or weighted toward bad. Good and bad will happen, that is the given . . . the constant in life. What makes us optimistic is how we respond to those “bad” things. I choose to focus on the good that can and will come from the bad that happens.

Obama's Weekly Address--December 18, 2009

Obama's Weekly Address--January 2, 2010

 

This is Emily and Katie on December 27th of this past year (2009). The picture was taken at Snoqualmie Falls. I will scan and upload a picture that I was looking at from several years ago. You can see why the young men are calling.

Happy New Year

The New Year and New Decade have arrived. I sound "middle aged" when I say where has the time gone? Every year seems to be a blur. I'm sitting here looking at a picture of my beautiful daughters... they were about 5 and 7 at the time. Now they are beautiful young ladies; 14 and 16 years old and both with young men calling. Emily will be senior next school year and then it's off to college .... Wow! I am blessed to have two wonderful daughters--kind, caring, and bright. My New Year's resolution is to "slow down" and savor the moments ... since I'm not able to slow the passage of time I have to do what I can to slow myself down to create and savor special moments with those around me.