Customer Service and Kindness

For the last several months it seems all I have gotten when I go to places is tacky at best customer service.  I think most of these companies have forgotten that the customers experience will decide whether they return or continue to do business with them or not.  I know most of these companies have also forgotten that your customers experience good or bad comes from how the employee feels about their job. An example of poor service?  Well I have several.  I think other than the occasional shake I'll go get I've given up on the Wendy's in Fort Wayne. They are never really very friendly.  They also assume things like that I would want a spoon rather than a straw with my shake.  Yep.  Last 4 times and they looked at me like I had three heads when I asked for a straw.  To me it's like DUH Shake here.  Then you almost have to beg them for napkins.  I guess they are figuring that is what your sleeve is for.  Now I say Fort Wayne because I have been to the Wendy's in Indy several times and it's like evasion of the body snatchers, they are friendly, polite, give you a spoon and a straw and OMG napkins!  Your service in most of these places is not much better.  I really think they need to think about their service before they act and whether that customer will ever return.  I do most of my shopping at Meijer.  Not because they have lower prices but because they are more helpful and friendlier than their competitor.  I shop Target because their people are ALWAYS friendly to me no matter what and I know their prices are not the lowest.  No matter how good a product is the service is what sells it in the end.  I always use to tell a friend of mine that liked Ford's that I wouldn't have one.  He said why they are gorgeous cars.  I was like yeah but I like my car running.  If you have a Ford and it works good my appologies but I have had nothing but trouble from them and don't know anyone else who's had good luck including this guy whose vehicle was in the shop (brand new vehicle) every time he looked around.  I don't care if it's comfortable and gorgeous.  The service on it sucks if it's constantly broken even if friendly people are saying sorry it's down again.  It's just a fact in my life. One exception here is Ford Trucks now those suckers run and they run very well.  Cars not so much.  So as of late I've been watching my own avoidance of places from their customer service and getting discouraged because I just assumed there was no where left where you got good service.  This past week I found a service center and employee that cared.  I went to Midas on North Coliseum out by Kmart.  I went in there at 5pm on Friday to have them check my brakes which were rubbing or pulsating.  I expected hundred of dollars of work and prepared for the worst.  Scott the guy behind the counter apologized and said they could check them but if they needed work it would have to be on another day since they close at six.  His guy came out and said there is nothing wrong with them.  Specs are fine.  I said I know there's something wrong with them.  Scott then went for a drive with me in my car so he could figure out what I was talking about. He said he'd learned the customer knew their car and if they said something was wrong it was.  so it didn't take him long to agree with me.  They just need reconditioned and cleaned.  Old man winter had rust in there and it was making it hard for things to maneuver.  So Saturday morning he fit me in, knew I had to be to work at 10:30 and promised to get it done in time.  He gave me the remote to the television to flip through the channels and kept me updated on my car.  While I was in there a homeless man came in and needed money.  He gave the guy a couple of bucks.  I was awed.  Great, honest and friendly service and my work was completed just as promised on schedule.  If this guy could bottle up what he has going for him and his shop and sell it to companies the economy would be booming and business would be back to giving good customer service.  I don't wow easy.  So for me this was a great experience.  It was also a pleasant surprise to have great customer service and kindness all in one spot.  Made for a nice start of a Saturday morning.

Editorial Letter

The following is an editorial letter to the papers written by my friend Bruce. He has authorized me to post it on my BLOG. I felt it worthy of sharing and I hope you feel the same.

October 17, 2008

Subject: Upcoming Election

An open letter to American voters:
The upcoming election is nearly at hand and we all know that the results will have a historic impact on our country and our state. This writing is not intended to endorse any candidate, rather, to provide some factual information, education, and contrasts between the parties on the performance of the United States economy. I believe that it is not only important to us as Americans to vote, but also to vote based on established fact rather than opinion or innuendo.
There is no question that the upcoming election is first and foremost a referendum on the state of the economy in the United States. We are facing the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression (1929-1939) and history is in grave danger of repeating itself. The Great Depression in the United States began on Black Friday, October 29, 1929 and is said to have lasted until the onset of World War II and was accompanied by world wide economic collapse. Political and economic factors leading up to the Great Depression are eerily parallel to the current situation in the United States. The Great Depression started in the first year of the Republican Presidency of Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) following two terms of the Republican presidential administrations of Warren G. Harding (1921-1923), who died in office and was succeeded by Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929). Conditions of high unemployment, poverty, and deflation continued through Hoover’s term in office. Americans elected Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) in 1933. In 1935 Roosevelt created by executive order the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as a relief agency to put unemployed American workers back to work and build American infrastructure. Also in 1935, President Roosevelt, with the backing of a Democratic Congress and Senate, signed into law the Wagner Act, today known as the National Labor Relations Act, which offered workers the ability of to organize unions and bargain collectively to improve their wages, hours, benefits, and conditions of employment. Union membership in the United States grew from one million workers to 12 million workers in the ten years following the passage of the Wagner Act and predicated the largest growth of the American Middle class in history.
As a matter of local parallel, the Great Depression occurred also ten months into the first term of Republican Indiana Governor Harry Guyer Leslie (1929-1933) following the term of Republican Governor Ed Jackson (1925-1929). Indiana was led out of the Great Depression by three terms of the Democratic governorships of Governors Paul Vorie McNutt (1933-1937), Clifford Townsend (1937-1941), and Frederic Schricker (1941-1945).
History is both a good teacher and a reliable predictor of the future. Facts of history clearly tell us that workers and the economy in general always fare better under Democratic leadership than they do under Republican leadership, and that it was Democratic leadership that led our country and our state out of the Great Depression. According to the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), unemployment has peaked in every Republican administration and been at its minimum levels during every Democratic administration since World War II. Characteristic differences in the economic policies of the parties are widely known and detailed in a new book called "Unequal Democracy," by Larry M. Bartels, a professor of economics at Princeton University. In a New York Times article dated August 31, 2008, Alan S. Blinder, a professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University and a former Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve cites two key historic factors from the work of Bartels, which relies on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The first, which Blinder calls "The Great Partisan Growth Divide," is simply stated that the growth of the United States economy, on average, has grown faster under Democratic Presidents than it has under Republican Presidents. The unprecedented economic growth during the Clinton years and the historic decline of the economy during the Bush years is fresh in everyone’s mind. The current administration has presided over the loss of more than 700,000 American jobs in the past eight years and has yet to address that as a crisis.
The second, which is the focus of Professor Bartels’ work, is referred to as the "Great Partisan Inequality Divide." In his work, he unearthed what Blinder calls a stunning statistical regularity in regard to income inequality in the United States. Income inequality is defined as the gap in income between the poor and the well to do. Over the 60-year period since World War II this income gap widened substantially under Republican presidents and narrowed under Democratic presidents, resulting in an overall widening of the income gap. The New York Times Article of Alan Blinder (view this article at www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/business/31view.html) includes a chart adapted from Bartels’ work. This chart illustrates family income at various income levels and clearly shows that lower income families experience slightly faster income growth than higher income families when Democrats are in the White House, and in stark contrast much faster income growth for the better-off when Republicans are in the White House, a key factor in widening the income gap.
Many voters place their votes on issues other than the economy, such as gun and pro-life issues. It is important to note that there has been no significant legislation in recent history affecting these issues, save the ban on partial birth abortions and a ban on assault weapons lobbied for by national law enforcement in the interest of protecting our country’s public safety officers. Many of us do fairly well in terms of wages and benefits with our employers, a factor which I believe takes our focus from the economy. But every one of us has a parent, a sibling, a child, or a friend who is struggling in the face of the current economic crisis. We should consider them and all who are struggling when we cast our vote in this election. I would ask that every voter weigh the issue of the current state of our nation’s economy, along with the aforementioned historical data, against other issues when casting your vote on November 4th. According to Alan Blinder, " . . . statistical regularities, like facts, are stubborn things. You bet against them at your own peril."
If driving at speed toward a brick wall, normal human reflex would be to turn away from the wall to avoid a crash. There are clearly two choices in the upcoming election. We, as American voters can turn away from the wall or crash into it. We can put the Republican Party in power, which would effectively align the stars, so to speak, by putting in place every key political and economic factor that led us into the Great Depression; or we can put the party in power that led us out of the greatest economic crisis in the history of our country. The choice is ours.

The Name of The Game is Blame...

I'm generally a person who believes everyone has a right to their own political viewpoints. As long as they are making them on sound, well informed judgements. I don't mind that half my friends are republican and the other half democrats with perhaps one or two independents in between. Nothing wrong with that. I for one though am completely and totally over the blame game that is going on with politics of all offices. Who gives a flying fig who caused the problem or the issue. All I want is someone to go in and fix it. What am I looking for in a president? Well if I had my idea president he or she would be someone who said "I don't care who caused it, I'm owning it and I will fix it." This person would be someone who would look at all these damn government rules and say: "You know, sometimes too many rules defeat the purpose." What am I saying. Our children are a prime example. We are raising a society of delinquents who think that everything should be handed to them on a silver platter without their having to work for it. Why? Not because the mom's and dad's want it that way, but because Uncle Sam has decided in school our children don't need to learn how to budget their money. Gee not like they will need that skill. They also have decided that they don't need to learn that sometimes we lose. Little Johnny needs to think he's a winner even when he can't read and he's a freshman in high school. They have decided that we should shelter children from the harsh reality that life isn't fair. Gee don't they think they will figure that out the day after graduation? Oh and heaven forbid our kids learn that there are prejudices and inequalities in life. We are raising children who have no imagination. Why would they need one. The government does all their thinking for them. It's not only our children. Look at how we handle our welfare offices. People who will lie and cheat are practically paid to stay off work and have little to no motivation to go back, but let someone honest go in there and they have a hard time getting the assistance they need but may have gone forty years without needing to ask for. Oh and here's a kicker. If you file bankruptcy there is a cigerrette allowance for you in the mix. When did the government decide that we have to allow for and supply someones habitual needs? Our government it seems to me is so screwed up I'm not really sure any person out there can correct all the blunders they have made over the last thirty years. I'm pretty sure that covers both parties. Then there is the fact that our government looks out for the physical needs of children to a exaggeration that they take children away from parents for things that had nothing to do with abuse, yet leave children in homes with extreme mental abuse. I want a president who can walk a mile in my shoes. One that says it's not ok to drop out of high school when you're sixteen. One that says mom and dad guess what you're responsible for your child until they are eighteen and they aren't going to hold a job until then or drive --- they are going to be kids and get an education. One that says it's not ok that Little Johnny got to freshman year without being able to read. One that says we are not going to do job qouta's based on sex, health or race, but rather on qualifications and how hard you work. I want a president that says HELL NO you are not shipping U.S. jobs over seas. If you want to do that move your Ass over seas and become a citizen of that country. I want a president that says if you try to guage us on oil then guess what... our products we are shipping that you need just trippled in price. I want a president that says our country and our people come first. Let us feed our own and cloth our own then give help to other countries. I want a president that collects on our debts, lives within the means of the country and promotes family values. That means encouraging family time and making it so that it can happen. I want a president that says I may not believe in abortion but I can't force a woman to do something with her body she doesn't have the strength of character or health or mind to do, so I'll pray for her and leave her to her own affairs. I want a president that says no to the over whelming debts that are increasing due to banks lending to easily to people who can't afford. One that will promote an old notion that we need to learn to live in our means. I want a president that understands our borders need to be secured and if you came into this country illegally you do not belong here. We welcome those who took the time to go through the appropriate channels and we aren't paying for those who came over with no thought to how it affects our country. Harsh words? Yes, they probably are. I believe we need some harsh restructuring of the way things are though. I believe we truly need change. More than either candidate that is running at this time has proposed. I suppose baby steps though. I know one will stay the course of our current administration. That sure as heck has not done anything for anyone over the last eight years unless you have millions. Either way you're planning to vote I respect your rights to your opinion and your vote. I want you to all know that. Just vote! It's important to get your voice heard. It's important to express your opinions. I believe one choice will lead us to more job loss and one will get us on the road to recovery. That is my belief. It's no secret to anyone who knows me that Obama was not my first choice, but given the choice of him or McCain he is my choice. I don't believe Sarah Palin can step in should something happen to McCain, which is very likely given health and age. I do believe Joe Biden can. Whether you agree with me or disagree I still encourage you to vote. Hopefully we can all stop the blame game. I know everyone can agree we are all sick to death of it. Next Tuesday polls are open until six pm. See you there.

Sunday, October 5th Marks 10 Years

I made it! Ten years at this company tomorrow. Whew! So far about 9 1/2 was about my limit. I hope to retire from where I am now, but you never know, especially with this wavering economy. I have worked a lot of jobs over the last, ugh, twenty six years. Mostly part time jobs as I worked full time jobs and most of the time went to school while doing that. I guess I just never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, besides a millionaire. Nope haven't made it to that one yet. Guess I have to just keep trying. Would be nice to work at something you love and not just have to work to pay the bills. I wonder if the few people out there that have it that lucky actually realize just how lucky they really are. My guess is they don't. Believe it or not I still remember what it was like to work when I really didn't have to. Those carefree days of living at home with mom and dad. When of course I was a teenager and knew everything. So much so that I couldn't wait to get into the working world and get out of their house and start living my own life. Boy what I would give to go back to those days of living under their house and just working for money to get the items I want instead of need. As Irony would have it too, no matter how much we try to tell today's youth that this is indeed the best years of their life and that they should relish the pre-work days, they won't listen. Remember they know it all and we are just a bunch of silly people who couldn't possibly understand. Either way I look forward to and dread retirement all at the same time. I mean what do you do when you finally don't have to work? Not to mention my fears that so many loved ones may be lost and gone by then. Living in the here and now sometimes is so hard, because I know how fast the approaching future will be here. I know how much today will seem as if it were merely a dream. How I will long for these days back even though one might wonder at this moment why. I know why. It's a fleeting thought to think that some day it will all be gone and I'll be basically counting down to my own demise. For now though I celebrate my own achievement of making it ten years at a company that is really good to work for. I know some of the people out there that work with me may be saying "what is she talking about?" but trust me I have worked a lot of jobs and they all have their frustrations, but this one is paid well and has good benefits. I've worked harder for a lot less. I'm thankful for my blessings you might say. So for now I'm going to enjoy life the best I can and I'm counting down to Wednesday when I can go to the new target and look at purses. Below here is a picture of one of my favorites in my collection. Well, happy trails to you, until we meet again. Or at least until tomorrow. Ten years! Whew Who!

Watch Out, Target Opens Next Wednesday!

Wednesday October 8, 2008

The new Target will open it's doors this next coming Wednesday, but I thought I'd make you all jealous and tell you that I got to take a sneak peak inside today. It's huge! Let me also tell you that it's lucky that as I was walking around the store today they were not open cause I'd have probably done some serious damage to my wallet. The merchandise is wonderful. Especially the purses ladies. I have a purse fetish, don't ask me why cause I don't know. This Target store is set up the opposite of the other two though. When you walk in the doors your clothing is on the right and everything else to the left. I would advise everyone to get out there this week and check it out. I think it's going to be a wonderful addition to the Fort Wayne shopping scene and just in time for the holiday shopping.

Corporate America - Not so Smart!

Looking around watching our corporate big wigs these days one has to wonder if book smarts is all they have and sometimes one even wonders at that. I watch these younger supervisors who are afraid to have employees who are smarter than they are and who are afraid to help you work your way up the corporate ladder in fear you might pass them on it or take their job. They also seem to think their title entitles them to loyalty and respect. Well, I have news for them - it doesn't! Smart management and smart companies realize that the way to succeed is to surround yourself with people who are smarter and wiser than you are. Not only that but make these people your friends, make them like you. Make them want to work for you because they really do respect you. If a supervisor can pull that off they have the world at their feet. Not that all employees will. We all know there are a few who want to do little work and get paid big bucks, but most people will not only go that extra mile, but would carry their supervisor for it if they had to if their supervisor has gained their respect. The problem is this younger generation has forgotten what respect is. They have forgotten how to gain that respect they so desperately want and need. It's not that hard, so I find it laughable at best that they just don't get it. How you might ask? Treat people as you want to be treated. The long lost golden rule. Treat them with respect. Care enough to listen and honestly care. Go out of your way to know your employees names, the names of their spouses, their children. Know their aptitude and their attitude. Don't try to buy their respect. That one will back fire big time. Then there is listening to their issues and attempting to address them. If you can't then simply explain your position and why you can't do what they need but wish you could. Most people understand even if they don't like it if you give them the opportunity. Keep them apprised of things and don't let them find out through the grapevine or gossip's. I remember working in the 80's and thinking how well oiled the machine was. There was a supervisor named Dave that knew several hundred employees names and family names and he was really impressive. Not only that but the company I worked for at the time had a counselor on staff full time for employees to be able to go to and talk out their issues and problems. It made you feel they cared and in return you busted your butts for them. Now, it's hard to get off work for anything. If you're sick you're still expected at your desk unless you want to lose your job and heaven forbid you want a little time off early to go to your kids soccer game. And who does these top corporate places surveys for female workers or the working family? Obviously the people who answer these surveys are way up the ladder or have lots of money because I have known several people who work at several top rated companies and it's nothing but a joke to them. If corporate USA is to survive they better start listening to their employees. They better start expecting more than book smarts out of their top execs and they better hope the government lets us start teaching our children about the real world while they are in school instead of waiting for reality to hit them when they start working. Most companies have forgotten customer service and they have long forgotten the loyalty that should lie between employer and employee and I for one think it's sad. Corporate American --- really isn't so smart now is it?

Bicycle Anyone?

Gas prices have once again ventured past the four dollar a gallon mark. This gas station I passed today was selling the low grade regular for $4.15 9/10 per gallon today. WOW! This got me to thinking how pampered and spoiled most of us have gotten and then I got to wondering how far most of us would go to not have to leave the comforts of our cars for other transportation. I mean bicycle's would be a more cost effective form of transportation and would even help us get in shape. Is it me or is it ironic that people spend good money on gas to drive a car to a gym where they then again spend good money to ride a stationary bike? I can see the irony in that situation. I also think that it would bring gas prices down in a hurry if the American people would unite and stop driving so much. Take the bus, ride a bike, walk when close enough, and car pool. As much as I like my car I for one didn't drive anywhere this past weekend. My car went two full days without ever leaving my drive. Now I did go out with my brother and family shopping, so I did get out and who knows if I would have driven anywhere if I had not had other mode of transportation, but I for one do think twice before going out these days. Well, I guess that about sums it up. Think the biking industry can come up with something with four walls and a heater for winter?

Toothpicks Anyone?

I work a shift, that honestly I suppose is not meant for everyone. You'll find me at work most nights from 3:00 P.M. until Midnight. I actually find this shift quiet enjoyable most nights though because I have until about 2:30 P.M. in the day to enjoy the gorgeous summer days we have been having. For what ever reason, I know WTH was I thinking, I decided to be nice and help out and do some over time for third shift tonight. I told them I would stay until 4:00 A.M.. I know it doesn't sound too hard in theory, but let me tell you, Toothpicks are required. About 3:00 A.M. My eyelids started feeling as if someone put fifty pound weights on them. My head started doing that bobbing thing that is reminiscent of heavy metal head banging and my body cried out for my pillow and blanket. Again I ask you. What the hell was I thinking. Ahhh yes, MONEY. I believe if I were to be more honest with myself and everyone else it would all boil down to good old dollars and sense. Or lack of any common sense. Which ever way it is, I survived! Seems to me when I was younger this wasn't quite so hard to do, but now a days I'm guessing I'll be paying for this for the next few days. Anyone have an IV of Coffee that they can hook me up to? Anyway, this is short and sweet, but I just had to ask. Toothpicks anyone?

Free Credit Report...

We've all seen the commercials on TV. Get your free credit report! Do you know your credit score? Some are pretty clever. I like the one where they say: "You can keep on top of your credit, or just roll the dice? Who knows maybe what happens in your credit report stays in your credit report." Think they are mocking the Vegas monologue? Then there is that crazy commercial where that guy has a semi truck driving around with the city with his social security number written on the side swearing they can protect your credit. Everywhere you look, magazines, radio, TV, Internet pop up ads, people are talking about how important it is to know what is going on with your credit score. Now it's not that I don't agree with them, I do. I just think there are a few things that you should consider before putting your money down
on the table to get your credit score. First and foremost you do NOT have to pay to get your credit score or report. Yes, it actually is free and if you go to a web page and it request you give them a credit card number or anything else to procure that information. Please stop and exit immediately. You are entitled to your credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com once annually free. Please be sure you go to the correct address. There are tons of web address's out there stating that they are giving this service, but trust me they are charging you for it on most accounts. This web address will give you all three of your reports and yes it is important that you procure all three reports. Just because one gives you a clean bill of credit, doesn't mean either of the other two will. Case in point is a few years back I went to get a car loan. The gentleman at the car dealer didn't want to give it to me because my credit report showed I had not paid my child support in years. What is wrong with this? I don't have any children. Not only that but the guy I was suppose to be owing child support on was only two months younger than me. After checking my credit history I found a disgruntled young man who had lost a law suite against me, in which he wanted me to support him for the rest of his life due to a car accident that didn't even knock the dust off the fender, had filed that I was his mother and that I had not paid child support while he was growing up as I was suppose to. I asked the car dealer how I could possibly be the mother of someone two months younger than me and he said maybe I had been the step mother and been held accountable for this child on the disillusion of the marriage. I had never been married. I still had to go to the attorney that handled the law suite and procure documents and then get this cleaned off my record. It was a big mess. Two of the credit bureaus showed this debt. One didn't. The car company reviewed all three. This leads me to another point. If you are ever turned down for a credit card or loan, if you request it the company that turns you down is required free of charge to provide you with a copy of your credit report that they obtained the information from. Knowing your credit score and how it works can be of a big benifit in many ways. How many of you knew that a lot of companies are now checking your credit history before they hire you? That is right. Their theories are that if you can't manage your personal life then maybe you can't manage your job. They also seem to feel that if you are out of control on debt, perhaps you are not the most honest person and they don't need you as well. So this credit thing that Lord only know who came up with can really come back to bite you in the behind. If you are feeling the credit crunch there are some avenues out there to help you. Most jobs, and credit unions offer credit counsiling services. If yours doesn't then there are several right here in Fort Wayne and other local cities, like Consumer Credit Couseling, that offer a free evaluation. They can help you get back on your feet and most fees are minimal to cover staff costs. They can barter with your creditors, give you one monthly payment for all your bills and help you come up with a budget that is a sure fire winner. I know what it's like to feel lost in debt and like it's useless. You just keep getting deeper when you feel like that because you feel like: "What is the point?". Well, hopefully you'll all go out and check your credit reports. If there is something on there that doesn't jive, don't let it surprise you. After all in the credit world you are guilty until proven innocent and unfortunately you are the one that must prove your innocents. Save yourself some hassel and perhaps some money and check it out today!

To Request your Credit Report by Phone:
Call 1-877-322-8228
You will go through a simple verification process over the phone.
Your reports will be mailed to you within 15 days. Please, allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
OR
To Request your Credit Report by Mail:
1. Download the https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/requestformfinal.pdf(You need an Adobe viewer to view the requested form. Download the free Adobe viewer) http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
2. Print and complete the form
3. Mail the completed form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Your reports will be mailed to you within 15 days. Please, allow 2-3 weeks for delivery

$$$$$$$$Garage Sale Fever$$$$$$$$

I've had many garage sales over the years. I actually like having them and I enjoy going to them. The thing I like most about having or participating in garage sales is the time spent sitting with family or friends just talking. Actually taking the time to do nothing more than enjoy the outside weather and each others company. I use to do three a year every year with my ex-sister-in-law and her mother. I miss that. The past two days and today though I had an opportunity to participate in my friend Chris's garage sale. I loved it. There was a wonderful cool breeze and a friend that I haven't gotten to spend much time with over the past couple of years and I got to sit and just shoot the breeze, so to speak. The picture above though is from my garage sale I had at my house in June. Yes it is a long and I mean long driveway and I had a lot of stuff to sell. I still do believe it or not. I'm trying to organize my house (maybe actually get a style) and I'm trying to empty out my storage unit so I can get rid of it. I will be doing another garage sale with my friend in September.

Along with enjoying the time spent with family and friends there is always a good show guaranteed. Along with the tons of bargain shoppers who are looking to get a a good deal there are always those people who look at something priced $5 and ask you if you will take a quarter for it. Now what logic goes through someones mind that says it's OK to ask someone to drop from $5 to twenty-five cents? I would never dream of asking someone to drop more than 40 to 50% and I probably wouldn't ask them to drop that much.

Another thing that just shocks the heck out of me is how people who come to garage sales just seem to want to tell you their entire life stories and will tell you things I would blush telling my closets of friends. (And trust me those who know me know I don't embarrass easy.)

One thing is for certain. Garage sales are enjoyable to go to and for me enjoyable to participate in. Lots of work yes, but everything in life worth while you have to work for.

Garage sale anyone? Catch the fever.

A Piece of The Pie

A friend of mine, Joe, recently did a blog about how sexy Tupperware was. I thought the bowls were really nice that he showed on his blog, but imagine my surprise when I went to the Tupperware site and found the above items. Let me say I love them to and if anyone wants to buy these towels and things and send them to me I'd love you forever. However that isn't expected. I just thought they were a great addition to the Tupperware line. It did lead me to thinking though. Companies that use to specialize in products are now expanding. It seems like they all want a piece of the "American" pie. Or perhaps it is that in order to survive they have to cater to the "One-Stop" shopping theory. I believe I have mentioned this theory once before. Companies are finding that to keep customers coming back they have to more and more offer variety and quality.

Now when I say everyone is doing it I mean everyone. These items on the left are a few of the things you can now find when shopping with Avon. There are some Avon products I dearly love. For instance the NATURALS collection of lotions and body sprays, especially "Cucumber & Melon" or "Banana & Coconut" scented lotions. Now in case you are wondering, no you can't buy the dog with Avon, but you can however buy a variety of pet products including the rain jacket this dog is wearing. Avon also has a complete set of bowls and a variety of gifts, footwear and health care products. OH, yes they do also sell Bibles.

To top off competing with multiple products you can also order these products on-line and have them shipped to your door if you do not wish to host a party or go to your local Avon dealer. My Avon lady I liked moved to Florida, but I simply go to her web site and I still use her today. I tried local ladies, but none of them measured up. So technology and time have come together to give you more and to get it to you more easily. Don't be surprised to hear that Tupperware is selling a clothes line some day. I know I wouldn't be surprised at all. You can check Avon out at http://www.avon.com/ and you can check Tupperware out at http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/home.

Another One Bites the Dust? Uh, Economy That Is

Ok.. so last Saturday my parents wanted to go to Ponderosa to eat. Not really my favorite place but they seemed to enjoy it so I agreed. We get there and there is the not so unfamiliar sign on the door advising us that they are closed for business.

Now this lovely sign informs us that they are grateful for our patronage over the years and they would appreciate it if we would visit their Auburn location. I'm thinking not with these gas prices. (Although I did see gas for under $4 a gallon today). Unfortunately the Coliseum business world is not really doing that well these days.

It hasn't been that long ago that another familiar restaurant Don Pablos also closed it's doors.
It's almost heart wrenching to see the weeds growing up, the grounds unkept and a once vibrant restaurant empty and giving way to decay.

Restaurants are not the only ones suffering from this less than wonderful economy that we have going. I know, can you believe it after President Bush telling us over and over how wonderful our economy is he finally admitted that wait, stop the presses, it may not be that wonderful. I say go figure.

The building above use to be a very nice hobby shop (when people could afford hobbies) that my nephew and my brother loved to go into. Now it's sat empty for months with few if any reminders that the layouts inside once thrilled children and adults alike.

And who could forget about K's Merchandise? I loved going in that store. It gave people like me who didn't love going to the mall a store we could go to and get a mall flavor without all the hassle of going from store to store. A lot of what they had can't even be found in the mall. It was refreshing, but in this modern day of I need to make one stop, it just couldn't compete.

Now I understand that coliseum business's are not the only ones hurting. The economy is less than wonderful everywhere. This is why I believe this election coming up is an extremely important one. We can not afford another four years of the economy heading in the same direction. I will not preach my politics though or try to persuade you to vote my way. I would only ask that you research history of economics and presidential elections so that you can make an educated vote come this November. I would ask that you listen with your heart, your mind and your research on the candidates. Mostly I would ask that you vote. It is extremely important that we not sit back and say well I can't decide which I like so I'm not voting. It's also important that we stand united and voice our concerns. One voice can be heard. After all every bill that has become a law started with one voice crying out alone in the night until someone finally heard them. I'm afraid for Fort Wayne. I'm afraid it won't be here in the future. It can't afford a long economic drought, although if you research it's history you'll find this is not a first time our wonderful city has seen this type of economic frustration. I believe in our city. So I only hope we can soon stop seeing the multitude of signs for empty buildings, dreams that were lost and restaurants where memories were made with signs of closure on their door.

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet.. But Maybe the Economy

Tuesday evening before going into work to work a little overtime I stopped into the new Dollar Tree located in the plaza at the intersection of Lima and Dupont roads. In this store a conversation was struck up with a postman who was also in there shopping. I don't know his name, never got it; however we were discussing the economy and technology and it's affects on the local post offices. Seems that the mail that goes through the United States Postal services has somewhat deteriorated over the past year. Economy is probably one of the major reasons for this; however, it also has to do with the fact that people are more and more paying their bills on line and having companies email them their bills rather than mail it. It also has to do with new ways that people can stop the junk mail from coming to their homes. The very things we are doing to make our lives a little more pleasant may be putting our postal service workers at risk of unemployment. When the mail is light at your home, your postman doesn't necessarily get as much work as what is required to make the numbers look good somewhere up the working food chain. This of course causes them to rethink "routes" and whether or not all the bodies are needed. From what this postman said they even want to find a way to do away with Saturday delivery, but they have not found a way to do this without upsetting the business that they so desperately need to keep the flow of cash running. As if this isn't enough new technologies of machines that can read our mail and sort it and bundle it are also causing job cuts. And to top it all off.. when the mail loads get light, your stamp costs go up to cover the cost that the post office has. Along with the price of gas going up impacting it as well. I guess that means it's all just one vicious cycle. Either way I have family and friends that work in the postal industry, but rarely talk business with them so I found my conversation with this man enlightening and found myself thinking junk mail can come and I'll just throw it away. Far be it from me to help slow the mail that once was stopped by nothing.