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.

Where Monsters Lurk...

You would think I would be afraid of the darkness. I suppose on some level a small part of me is. I just can’t seem to let myself be gripped by the horror of one night. After all I have lived more than one night and I have been out many more nights where nothing went wrong than those that had mishaps. Stubborn, yes, I suppose I am. We are taught as small children to fear what lurks in the darkness. We conjure up images of monsters. Monsters so hideous in appearance that we dare not look them in the face. What I found out that night was that monsters don’t look any different than you or I. Monsters can be found among those that live within the confines of our own little community of acquaintances. Even then what the monsters take from us are nothing compared to the horror of what those we love do afterwards.

The above passage is from a book I’m writing. It seems so fitting with
this topic though I thought I would throw it out there for you to read. So
when you think of monsters do you think of the cute cuddly ones from “Monsters Inc.” or do you think of the horrid nasty little buggers from Aliens? The monsters that are lurking out there that I want to warn you about have names and walk on two legs. They have very little brain power and possess little ability to show signs of being human. I can’t give their last names without getting in trouble or their yahoo id’s or anything like that, but if you have a fear that you may know them feel free to write me and I’ll give you the details. Feel free to ask me questions. There are three guys out on the dating websites who think it’s cute to play games and try to intimidate women. Now on the dating websites one may start to feel too comfortable and at ease. I’m warning you don’t. I recently had two different guys on the sites approach me (I’m currently hidden on all the sites cause I got tired of the bull so I stopped). The first guy sent me a friend request on TAGG. Now I am a very accepting person and will attempt to be friends with almost anyone. I told this guy from the get go that I had no interest in dating him. He asked if we could just be friends, said he was dating a girl named Laurie and all he wanted was friends to talk to since she doesn’t live in Fort Wayne and he gets lonely. I saw nothing wrong with emails to keep him from being lonely if he wanted to send them. Big mistake, learn from me, don’t be that nice. He wanted to yahoo messenger so again, naive as I am I agreed. To this point no harm no fowl, until I get an email with a video of him jacking off. I sent him an email back saying I didn’t appreciate it and he pretended like he sent it in error. I told him I didn’t want anything to do with him and got rid of all his information, forgot to block him though, silly me. A couple of weeks later he pops up on
messenger asking me how my day is. I thought he was a different guy named Mark and responded. Again I got an email with a video, this time with a dark curly haired girl giving him a blow job. I went off on him. I
sent him an email asking him why on earth he would think anyone would want this. He told me I was a hateful woman. I blocked him from yahoo messenger and TAGG and I informed the health club that when I’m there and he’s there I would like a heads up because he creeps me out. Yes, unfortunately this nut bag goes to the same gym as I do. So a day later another yahoo messenger pops up from an id I don’t recognize at all. It turns out this is a guy named CJ that I had emailed a couple of times with on TAGG a month earlier and had no interest in so I had forgotten all about him. I sent him an instant message saying basically sorry I don’t recognize the id, who are you? Well the instant messaging went well for a good portion of the day. We seemed to have a lot in common and it was going well. We were going to get together over the weekend but he dropped off and I didn’t hear from him all weekend and I just assumed he lost interest. So I got a new pop up from him on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday. On Wednesday I was working with my WEBCAM and trying to figure some things out and he pops up and wants to invite himself to view my CAM. I declined his self imposed invite, which just pissed the yell out of this guy. He went nuts and told me I would in no uncertain terms let him view my CAM. He got very verbally abusive called me some very nasty names, told me I was lying to him. I simply responded that I had my rights and that he and I were not dating and I wasn’t sure what he was getting so angry about. He went off again called me an F’N C and a whore and told me he was going to make sure I was very sorry. He told me he didn’t play games. Now this was a little nerve racking, but he didn’t have my home phone number or cell or even my home address. So I was like ok so what are you going to do. I simply told him I was glad I found out about his anger issues before I met him and I’d appreciate it if he would not contact me anymore. He kept going off. I tried to be as apologetic as possible while holding my ground because he does have some seriously dramatic anger problems that he needs help with. This guy is probably the type of guy that likes to beat and strangle a woman during sex. Now that is a scary thought. Except for the fact that someone so psychotic is out there I was actually kind of relieved not to be meeting yet another guy. I kind of think I may have a relationship starting so I wasn’t sure I wanted to go anyway. What is even worse is the next morning I get another Yahoo message from this guy stating that I need to do some serious making up to him for my behavior. HUH? Yeah. Well, as it turns out other women have been bothered by CJ and his buddy Marc. Yes you read it correctly. The two nut jobs know each other. Now I blocked them, and I haven’t heard from either of them since yesterday morning so I am hoping they are smart enough to go away for my sake and for theirs. What these two idiots don’t realize is that picking on me is picking on the wrong girl. I have no qualms with letting friends and family take care of them, taking care of them myself or calling the police. I have a log of every message from these two. I’m thinking I’ll just keep that and give a copy or two to my friends. I actually know where the one works and where both of them live. I’m ahead of the game from what I can tell. Moral of the story here is be careful ladies. I suppose that goes for you guys too after having seen “Fatal Attraction.” The monsters that lurk out there don’t look any different than you or I. I do have pictures of both of these guys and I hear there is a third that works with them too. If you want to be safe I have their yahoo ids and information as well. So if you have questions ladies let me know offline I’ll be more than happy to share any information you want. One just never knows where monsters lurk.

Online Scammers - Don’t Be A Victim

So a lot of you know that I have been evaluating dating websites. I'm trying to decide if they are a good thing or a bad thing. This was done at the request of one of the websites I'm evaluating. I have to say that although I think I may have found a couple of possibilities for possible future relationships, there has been more aggravation than good as far as I can find. It seems to me, and maybe I'm being unfair, that a great majority of the people on these sites have no desire to find a real relationship, but simply want to see if they can "hookup". I am not here to talk about that sort of thing in this particular article though, so let me get on with the topic at hand. Schemers seem to crawl out of the woodwork's on these sites. It seems that they feel if you are on this site you must be desperate, which I for one am not and I doubt seriously if several of these people on here are. There are people that steal pictures off the Internet and make up a fictitious name and set out to see if they can find lonely hearts, tell them what they want to hear and then relieve them of cash. There are several facets to these scams so you really have to be on your feet. First of all anyone who professes love and devotion and they have never ever met you... get real, especially when they have only been sending you emails for a week. I have had not one, not two, but three of these schemers on my sites so far. All of them couldn't live without me and I was the only person on the planet they could trust. One wanted me to send him money because he lost his luggage and his wallet was in his luggage. now I don't mean to be mean but if you're a big enough dumb ass as to pack your wallet in your luggage instead of having it on you, then you may actually deserve to be in a foreign county with no money. I know that sounds mean, but it's how I feel. Uh, let me see do I send you money. Hell No! Then one of course was traveling out of the country, left his twelve year old son in he states, and lost his wallet. Oh NO! No Money, no friends in the states and I'm his only hope. It gets better with this one though because he wants me to actually receive a Western Union transfer of money from his 'client' and then Western Union him the money. My questions were many. He didn't like I asked them. First of all why are you trusting someone you don't know with your money? Why can't your client just wire you the money or why can't the person watching your son do it? I researched this to see where either scam comes in because it seems innocent enough to receive money by Western Union... Right? Well, if you want to be a "MULE" for money laundering or be the one who is receiving funds from someone who has been scammed by one of these idiots then yeah go ahead and accept it. You could end up in prison on federal charges. You read it right. You could be an accessory after the fact or if you don't do prison you could be liable for all the money that was taken from the scandalized person. Money orders, cashiers checks and regular checks in general can all be forged and fake and you can be liable for all that money as well. If you don't know the person, don't do money transactions with them. This is especially true if they are out of the country. I can't believe I've had three of them. I am going to share a couple of their emails just to let you see what I'm talking about. These people will always try to get personal information from you. One of them wanted my banking information for a money transfer. Yeah right. I wasn't born yesterday, or the day before for that matter. Here are some examples: Whatever you do don't be a victim.
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Dear Sheila

Life is so unpredictable. changes always come along, in big or small ways. I don't know hat happened that this sudden change has turned my world upside down. I don't know exactly it was that hit me, but there is something really special about you.

It might be all the things i see on the surface, the things that everyone notices and admires about you, qualities, capabilities.... (it goes on and on like this)

Only the most special things in my world get to come inside my heart and stay. And now I realize how deeply my life has been touched by you.

From,
Terry

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Good Morning:

How are you doing? I just can't sleeping thinking and dreaming of you angel, your thought is always in mine heart. I love nothing more than being with you. (more drivel)
Plenty of love,
Terry
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And YES two of the three were named Terry.
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Here is something else to remember too... They try to play on your sympathy. All three of these men who tried to do this to me were single dads raising a son alone who needs a mother. One said his wife died of cancer, one died in a motor accident, and one simply ran off and wanted nothing further to do with him or his son. They all at one time or another pretend to have the son type on the yahoo messenger. Theses people make calls to your home. they try to seem as real as possible. They give you phone numbers where you can call them. These are scams. Don't be taken in. Don't be a victim. If you think it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.

********* Plenty Of What? ***********

So after a long break from the dating world I decided to give it a whirl a few months back. It has been an interesting adventure to say the least. The dating game has changed over the years that I took myself out of it. Did you know that “hooking up” is now terminology for get together to have sex? Funny when I say it I mean lets do lunch or dinner or a movie. People also now have a more open concept to when sex should be started in a relationship. I for one don’t think it should be on the first date. So I decided to check out some of the websites out there for singles. The three I chose to check out where “ZOOKS” on face book, www.LatinoPeopleMeet.com and www.plentyoffish.com which is a free website. The “ZOOKS” website and “Latino People” both charge you a monthly service fee to utilize their websites. I doubt I will be a member for more than one month on either of the chargeable sites. I haven’t found them to be much different than the one that is free so why bother. I tried “ZOOKS” simply because it was connected to face book. On it I have only found one guy that I would consider relationship interest to me, but did find one that is a friend interest so I guess it has been worth it on that. On Latino People I have found several prospects but so far nothing that has come to have anything come of it. I joined that site because Latin mean get my blood to pumping. Unfortunately a lot of the guys on there don’t get that a woman might be on that website because she’s looking for Latin men, but then I guess the men could say the same about the women. I’m not Latin. When I first signed up, the first website I signed up for was Plenty of Fish. What an awful name first of all. Shouldn’t we women be offended? I guess I’m over it though because I have had seven dates in the last two weeks off that site. When I first signed up for the site though I sort of felt like fresh bait in a piranha tank. I couldn’t believe how quickly and how many emails I got. I started out trying to be friendly for niceness sake with anyone who emailed me. Trust me when I say I’ve gotten over that rather quickly as I was asked a bunch of things I really don’t find polite conversation. It’s amazing though how asked by one can offend you and by another not so much. I guess human nature that if someone attractive asks it doesn’t sound as bad? That is bad isn’t it? What kills me though is one guy I had great emails going on with I gave my cell number and the first thing he did was send me a picture of himself in a Speedo. Let me tell you this guy should NEVER be seen in a Speedo and I guess his sending me that picture should have been a clue to run right then and there. Since he and I had such good emailing conversations before that though I tried to look past the ugly picture that was now embedded in my mind. I mean after all personality can make people who may not be that attractive, attractive to me. So what happens. This guy not only tells me he wears a size sixteen shoe and he hopes “size” isn’t a problem for me, but then he tells me he has a “lip” fetish and likes them big (no he wasn’t talking about the ones on my face, I know sick right?). Oh and get this… the final icing on this guys cake was that he told me he had to sleep with me to find out if there was a possibility of a second date. Say what? What a conceited, selfish, idiot this guy was. He’s a fireman in Elkhart too. Feel sorry for them. At least he really was good at putting out fires cause I wanted him before he revealed himself to be the big jerk that he was. Fire successfully put out. Good job Mr. Fireman. Then there was a twenty-one year old guy who wanted to VTEXT me naked pictures of himself so I could see if I wanted to screw him or not because he definitely wanted to hook up with me. First of all he’s young enough to be my son, secondly I’m not sure that is a good foundation for a relationship, of course I really don’t think he was looking for a relationship. Then there is this one that seems really sweet and all, but I’m thinking he has a wife or a girlfriend. He’s never on in the evenings or weekends… .only seems to be on from work. I’m thinking what is wrong with that picture? My over all opinion though.. I think it is possible that on one of these sites one could find a good relationship. I had a very enjoyable dinner on Thursday night with a man and laughed and laughed. On Friday night I enjoyed the company of a very nice man as well. So I guess they do exists. I also met someone not on the website… Not sure any of them are the one but I guess time will tell. I don’t really see a reason to pay a website with a free one out there though. I also think there are some old fashioned ways that are still good to find a date. At least on Plenty of Fish you know right up front whether the person has kids and whether they want more or not. For me that is a big issue right there. I mean if I never have children I am fine with it, but if I get with a guy that wants kids then he needs to know one or two at the most at my age. There are lots more guys I could tell you about on these dating sites and I am sure they have their own war stories, but for now I am going to give it a little more time and see what happens. I will update you as I go along. As they say for now I guess I will keep fishing and see if anything nips at the bait. Again, plenty of what?

What Does One Really Say…

It’s been a little over a decade since I met Mr. Wall. Sometimes it’s hard to believe how fast time flies by. I remember the first time I met him and his wife as if it were yesterday. I had just moved into the house I live in now and a major storm blew through Fort Wayne. His wife and he were out trying to clean up all the limbs and branches out of their yard. Our power was out and my dad and I were walking around the neighborhood canvassing the damage. His wife was quick to let us know that she was a go getter and that she should be in a wheel chair, but she wasn’t about to see that happen. She never did either, not even up to the day she died. She had issues with keeping on her feet, but her spirit to remain out of that wheel chair and independent rose to the top. Her illness also kept her indoors much of the time so I never really had the opportunity to get to know her. I remember talking to Mr. Wall a lot that spring and summer she was dying. He loved her more than anything. He loved her enough to let her go. That is true love if you ask me. He wanted her there but she was suffering and he was angry because the hospital kept bringing her back to life through machines. He wanted her at peace. In September of 2008 she succumbed to her illness and passed on. After she died I spoke to Mr. Wall of how she was in a better place. He said he hoped so but he wasn’t religious. He was a man of science and didn’t really believe, but his wife did. She had told him many times she had faith enough for both of them. He planted flowers in his yard, not because he cared, but because she had made him promise he would and he always did what she wanted. He told me that in life to make a happy marriage one has to make sacrifices, but that if you love someone they really aren’t sacrifices in the end at all. He said most people forgot that when you love you have to stop being selfish. He had many women who attempted to gain his interest that summer after his wife died. I always smiled as he talked of them. He said he didn’t’ want another woman. His wife had been the only woman he would ever want and another one would just be trouble and work. I spent a lot of time last summer talking to Mr. Wall as well. I always enjoyed my conversations with him. He had lots of stories to tell and not a one of them left you anything but wanting for more. After his wife died he had basically no one. I find that sad. No children left alive, no brothers and sisters, and no family to speak of. His wife had a couple of friends still living that checked on him. He had a couple of neighbors in our neighborhood that would look in on him from time to time. Our family would take him holiday meals, which he seemed to enjoy and look forward to, but other than that he was completely alone. One thing he had always had until this past year was antique cars. He worked on them and took them to the shows in Auburn. I think they were his pride and joy. He sold his off last year. As with that he started giving neighbors little pieces of his life. To me he gave me a complete silver set in a beautiful wooden box that had belonged to his wife. I shall always treasure it. I know it meant the world to his wife because he told me so and for him to have given it to me makes it so very special indeed. There was also one point last summer where he had found their camcorder and he wanted me to show him how to play the tape that was in it. The tape was a tape of his wife from a year previous to the last one. It showed her laughing and smiling at him as he took the video. I have no doubt he played it many times over the last year. It was plain to see that Mr. Wall was preparing for his departure from this world. Another thing was also plain as time went by this past year and that was Mr. Wall had found religion. He took out his FIOS TV, not because he hated Verizon, but because television had too man vulgarities on it. He said there were too many things that were not pleasing to God. He chose not to watch it. Again, he was preparing to leave this world and he was making his peace before he left. A few weeks ago he told my mother he’d been having chest pain. He said he just wasn’t doing well at all. He had told us on several occasions that he didn’t’ believe in doctors and he didn’t go to them. That is right the man never went to see a doctor in his entire life. He lived a healthy life and I can still see him in my mind those first six or so years I lived there coming out of his house. This little old man in his 70’s coming out in jeans and a leather jacket and getting on his Harley and riding off. Yes he lived life. I believe he loved life, up to the day his wife died. That is when the light went out of his eyes. I know he was elderly, but I think without her here with him, he saw no reason to be here. There is a song that reminds me of this…It’s a song I love. “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” by Asia - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLqz_wl0dak --- I know the song is of another kind of loss of relationship, but somehow just the refrain says it all. The smile had left Mr. Wall’s eyes the day his wife died. So this morning I looked for that familiar light in his living room to tell me he was up to start his day, as he had been every day since I could remember. There was no light. There were no lights on last night either. My mother tried to call him about 9:30AM and called me to say she had no luck, so I called the desk sergeant at the police department and spoke with Jodie. She said they would have someone go out and check on him. My mind was screaming at me for what they would find. It also made it extremely hard to concentrate on work as a swell of tears for a man who meant so much is such little, but important ways to my life. So here is where you think the story has that sad ending don’t you… well no. The police called me as they left Mr. Wall’s house. The lady officer was laughing and talking about what a great guy Mr. Wall is. He really is a character and a little feisty the woman said. They had the paramedics check Mr. Wall out and found that he has two broken ribs and is having heart issues. They tried their best to get him to let them take him to the hospital, but he wouldn’t go. He told them the same thing he’s always told us, that he’s never been to a doctor and he doesn’t plan to start going now. The lady said she would set him up with hot meal delivery and check into getting free aid to work on his house and his yard. She also said she would set up for hospice to start dropping by and checking on him. She asked if I thought he’d let them in, that he’d agreed to it, but she wasn’t sure. I told her if it was someone willing to listen to his stories he’d open the door with a smile. She did say his life is winding down and it probably won’t be that long, but for today he is full of life and feisty and she thanked me for caring enough to call them and for the opportunity to meet him. You see that truly is the kind of man he is. So for today he still lives and I still have opportunity to speak with him again. It’s a life I admire and one long lived and lived well. So today he’s still here, but I’m still sad at the thought that he won’t be here much longer. Death is a part of our lives. It’s something I will never get use to, even though I understand it finds us all. So of a man like Mr. Wall, what does one really say?

It Has A Name...

Urticaria Idopathic Angioedema Pruritis - I know bless you for sneezing right? I mean what a long long name to mean simply that my body has built up an IgE antibody that periodically decides my body is under attack from foreign matter when in actuality nothing is unfamiliar in my body at all. Let me break it down for you... Urticaria is a skin rash often known as hives that is accompanied by severe itching and swelling. Idopathic means to rise spontaneously from an unknown cause. Angioedema means Swelling in the deep tissue layers caused by a build up of fluid that leaks from thin walled blood vessels. Pruritis is severe, usually chronic itching of skin that appears otherwise healthy. What the specialist told me is that there are a percentage of people, that as they age for whatever reason build up this IgE antibody in their system. The majority of these are women over the age of forty. Wow... Guess I qualify there too. He said they are not sure why this occurs but they do know how to treat it to make the likely hood that I will have another outbreak slim to none. I have a new medication, which is going to sink me about $35 a month. It's called XYZAL (pronounced SiZall). Starting tomorrow I am to take it every morning and my Zyrtec every night. I am to carry the Benedryl strips so that I can get quick relief in my purse and I go back to the specialist in three months. There is no specific item causing my episodes, just my lucky nature that I am one of the percentage of women who has built up this antibody in my system which causes histamines to get released periodically. Once the histamines are released they start attacking everything in my body... Fun Fun Fun. Yippee Lucky me, but at least we know and as Dorthy once said on Golden Girls, I'm just glad to know I have a real disease and it has a name.

Easy, Fast and Free...

Filed your taxes yet? I have. I know tons of people who go out every year and buy Turbo Tax or some other software to do their taxes. Then I know people who pay someone else to do them and a few who do their own and grumble and complain as they try to figure it all out. Me? My dad usually does the papers for me. This year though I decided I wanted to try e-filing, but I really had no desire to spend the money to get Turbo Tax to do it, so I visited a couple of websites. One was www.in.gov and the other was www.irs.gov both websites provide you with access to government approved and totally free e-filing capabilities. So I filed my Federal taxes last Monday afternoon. They found $400 that we hadn't found when I did my original tax forms and guess what... My refund was deposited Friday morning into my checking account. Yep, totally free and four days turn around. How can you really beat that? Now I just filed my state taxes today. We will have to see if they can 'Get R Done' as fast as the Feds... So if you ask me there isn't any better way to go than easy, fast and FREE.

What a Smart Idea!

Two weeks ago Sunday I met my parents for lunch at the Wendy's on Clinton. I saw this and stood back in awe. Every once in a while I just see something and go, wow what a smart idea. I mean putting the trash container under the ketchup dispenser (there are other places for trash even at this station) was a pretty smart idea. I mean how many times have you been in at a restaurant like this and the counter is nothing but a messy slop of ketchup on the counter. What smart ideas have you seen out there?

My Choice for Absolute WORST magazine Cover of 2009!

The only word that came to mind is WHY?

Turbo Snake a Big Success in My Book.

Love those, "As Seen On TV", products! Even when they don't work I find that I am somehow just enamored by them. Why? Heck I don't know... Perhaps I really do have sucker tattooed across my forehead. I keep trying them no matter how many of them don't work though. So never fear your product tester is here. I love it when I find a product that actually does what it claims though. This is the case with the "Turbo Snake". My bathroom sink and the bath tub as well took forever to drain. I tried the store liquids, such as Liquid Plumber, and I also tried bleach to no avail. Nothing seemed to make them drain more quickly, so on a whim I purchased this little guy at Walmart's last week. I took it home and first did the sink. Gross most definitely, but it did what it said and it pulled out hair and what have you. Then I did it to the bath tub. Guess what! My drains are now draining appropriately. So if you're having this problem then I am highly recommending this product. It did wonderful things for me. Just make sure you have a strong stomach when you do it. Some of that stuff it pulled out was not so enticing. The "Turbo Snake" gets two thumbs up from me.

Let Them Eat Cake?

I love getting together with friends. It doesn't matter if we all get together just to sit and talk or to play games. Saturday we got together for "game" night. After playing a couple of rounds of Apple to Apple it was decided it was desert time. So what is a person to have? Well thanks to Scott we had a very new desert to try... Not really sure what we decided it should be called, but he did his best to be very creative and a little on the healthier side of desert. I love when people are not afraid to experiment and try new things. So we had this Angel food cake with Cherries and cream cheese and just a hint of pineapple on it. All the way around I enjoyed it because more than anything it was FUN.

No Giant Midway at Three Rivers...

All I can say is WOW. On Saturday as I passed the Coliseum to go meet my parents out off state street for lunch I noticed an ere sight for this time of year. The parking lot was empty. Every year for as long as I can remember I have made one trip during Three Rivers Festival to the "Giant Midway" for rides for my niece and nephew, or back in the day myself, and an elephant ear. I liked going there a lot better than going down town. I have wandered downtown for Three Rivers periodically but not often. This year though there will be no trip to the Coliseum for Three Rivers. Without giving a reason the people who do it pulled out at last minute literally. They were scheduled until Tuesday of last week to be there on Wednesday for their usual set up. I'm thinking it's the economy and the fact that I don't really think Three Rivers got that much attention last year. If memory serves wasn't there some type of shooting too? Either way I think it's sad to see this tradition gone on some level. On other levels it's not life shattering and there are other things to do, but for me it was just another of life changes that seem or appear to be coming in droves these days.

What A Crock!

As I posted on face book today a statement about "Wondering how one goes about losing a crock pot." I was met with two comments that added to my amusement. One asked me why I would want to and the other asked me if it just disappeared from where it usually is. Hum good questions. I didn't want to lose a crock pot, I was in the process of trying to find mine for the carry in at work. I never gave it a thought that it might not be where it normally is. It normally sits on the top of the hutch in the kitchen. The hutch is taller than me so yes I would have to look up to see it, but it's been where I have kept it for years and it has never once failed to be there until today. One would say I was floored and stunned when I reached up to get it and it just wasn't sitting there. I looked through all the kitchen cabinets, in the stove, in the over flow cabinet and not one sign of it anywhere. When was the last time I remember using it you might ask? Well, I made chili and took it to a friends house. I'm quiet certain I left with it and from there is a mystery. So I ran to WalMart's and bought the crock pot you see in the picture and rushed it home to wash it and clean it for use. Then grabbed the hot dogs for the carry in that will go in it and ran out the door to head to work. If that crock pot is sitting in it's usual place when I go home tonight I guess we'll just have to sit down and have a talk. Of course I'll be in the mental hospital, but none the less I'm sure it will show up eventually. Sigh, what a crock.

Where A Kid Can Be A Kid

On Monday, my brother and I took my niece and nephew to Coventry movie cinemas to see "Monsters VS. Aliens". The children loved the movie and I'm afraid my brother has had to add that movie to the list of must buys to have at his house. After the movie the children needed to get out and run some after sitting a couple of hours so my brother and I took them over to Indian Trail Park. I had never been there before. I tell you it's the kind of place we only dreamed of when I was growing up and as I told my brother, "If you're a kid and can't find something to do here, then something is wrong with you." This park is located off Aboite Center Road. I took several pictures and I just thought I would share them with you. There also appear to be several bike or walking paths in this area. If you have children this is a must to check out. Enjoy the pictures.

1908 & 1967

The title is two numbers that don't appear to have anything in common when you just put them out there, but let me tell you these two dates are connected. How one might ask? For me it is easy. The dates are fifty-nine years apart and have always held a place in my heart and in my mind. The first is the year of the birth of my grandmother Lula who was born at a quarter till midnight on June 27, 1908. The second date, my birth year. Ok so now you'll know how old I am. I never hide that anyway. I am proud to have lived my life to this age. Never thought I would be this old or feel this young at this age. I was born on Tuesday, June 27, 1967 at a quarter till midnight. Now has anyone noticed a correlation there? My fraternal grandmother and I were born exactly to the minute fifty-nine years apart. Tonight as I walked with my dad at first and talked of sports and Obama, and Michael Jackson and Farrah, my mind wandered and then as my dad headed back in the house after forty minutes of the walk and I continued on my way I remembered the story of the day I was born that I have heard so often. My mother had started feeling contraction early in the morning, but she didn't want to go to the hospital and sit where they would poke her with needles and pester her, so she had my dad and his brother Pearlie Jr. Take her to the Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo with my brother Ritchie of course. She spent quiet a bit of time there and took a ride on the Koonville Express (The zoo's train). Then dad and her headed back home. They lived in a little apartment down town and their phone was a party line. For those that don't know a party line was a phone that several people shared the lines to. So to use the phone no one else could be using it at the same time. Does anyone see where this story is going all ready? About eight o'clock in the evening my mother decided they should head out. Guess what? Dad's car wouldn't start. So he went over and picked up the phone. He says these two old biddies (old women) were yacking about garbage. I don't know if he meant literal garbage or he didn't think their conversation was important. Anyway, he says he politely explained to them he needed the phone and they promised to be off shortly. This went on until around 10pm and they were still not off the phone so my dear old dad pulled the phone over to the stereo speakers and blasted them full force into the phone. Can we say OUCH? Dad says he was called back by the phone company and he explained the situation to them and they got off the phone and allowed him to call a cab. Yep, I was extremely close to being born in the back seat of a Fort Wayne Taxi, but I wasn't. They arrived at Parkview at 11pm and I was born at 11:45pm. Talk about cutting it close. This should have been a good heads up for them that I was going to be trouble. That and other stories of my pre-birth that I will be happy to share at a different time. My dad was so excited he forgot it was his mothers birthday. My mom named me Sheila. It was after a song my dad loved at that time. Yep I was named after a song. "Sweet little Sheila, you'll know her if you see her. Blue eyes and a pony tail." That would be me. My grandmother never let them forget that they didn't name me after her either. Nothing personal grandma. I loved you, but I am glad I am Sheila. Coincedently my first job was at "The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo". So here we are forty-two years later. I love my family and my life. Of course my mother thought I was turning forty-three today. Hum. I'm certain she was there. :>)

If Today Was Your Last Day

What is new? I'm sharing from my walking experiences. I have been listening to this song for weeks and every time I hear it I think what a wonderful song. I really want the album. Walking has reconnected me with the music world and I really didn't know how much I missed it until it and I hooked back up. The group that sings my magical song is called NICKELBACK and the song is "If Today Was Your Last Day." The concept of the song is old, but very well stated and wonderfully sung. Take a listen and share your thoughts. One can't help but think about how profound it is and really what if today was your last day?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQyZBU28q88

If Today Was Your Last Day

Songwriters: Kroeger, Chad;

My best friend gave me the best advice

He said each day's a gift and not a given right

Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind

And try to take the path less traveled by

That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last

Leave old pictures in the past?

Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?

What if, what if, if today was your last day?

One Last Summer...

Today as I have done often in the past while, I woke up and saw sunshine and thought what a beautiful day for a walk. So I put a menthol patch on my ankle and wrapped it, Grabbed my Walkman and my watch and headed out. As I went on the back street I saw a neighbor lady I have spoken two probably a few dozen times over the last ten years of living in this neighborhood. I always liked her and her husband. They were friendly and seemed very happy. Her little dog ran out to the road to great me as she has many times before. I bent down and petted her head and scratched her back. The woman walked down her drive to where I was at. As she spoke she mentioned how much she missed Jim. I said wait that is your husband right. She was surprised I didn't know that her husband had passed away on January 8Th. She said she thought the whole neighborhood knew. She then went on to tell me how in December 2007 her husband had gotten what he thought was a cold. He coughed and coughed. Shortly after Christmas he went to the doctors with what he thought was a case of pneumonia to find out he had lung cancer stage 4. He had never smoked a day in his life and none of the jobs he had in all his years of work lead to any clues as to why this otherwise healthy man had lung cancer. As I stood and talked to her I said but he looked so healthy and vibrant last summer. She agreed he did. He didn't go down hill until the fall when he started Chemo. She said she would never suggest that treatment to anyone. He had been given eighteen months to live when he found out he had cancer. I can't figure out if they knew he was terminal why they would give him such a radical treatment, but then I wasn't part of the process either. He lived twelve months and two weeks roughly after having been given his diagnosis. I went on with my walk a little bothered. Remembering his smile. Remembering him throwing up his hand from his truck. All that kept going through my mind was how would I choose to live my last summer if I knew there wouldn't be another. This man probably knew it was his last. Do you think he savored every moment? I suggest we all enjoy this summer. I plan to get in as much family and friend time as possible. I plan to make the most of it and I challenge each and every one of you to do the same. None of us ever know if it's going to be our last. We are not promised a tomorrow let alone another summer. So savor this one, for you never know if it's that one last summer.

OUCH!

On the drive back from my Niece's pre-school graduation on Friday I snapped this photo as we drove by this accident. This was on US 27. I can't help but wonder if someone forgot to stop at the stop sign in the back ground or if someone turned into the path of on-coming traffic. Either way... OUCH!

You Never Know Who's Watching...

I guess I am just not a very observant person. When I go on my walks I am in my own world, my mind off somewhere on a journey and my Walkman blaring in my ears. It's a time for me to work through things that are bothering me, or be off on some fantasy in my mind. (No I don't mean that kind of fantasy.) It's a time for me to concentrate on me. So as I am walking I rarely take notice of whom is out and doing what. I mean I do sometimes. The little old lady with the power saw yesterday was pretty hard to miss. I don't think about the fact that people are watching me as I walk. I don't think about the fact that they may be making notes or having their own thoughts that might involve me. I don't see myself as that intriguing so it takes me back when people say they were thinking of me or what have you. I mean I like it. Who doesn't like knowing that they crossed someones mind. So today was an exceptionally beautiful day and I have a lot weighing on my mind. I use to sit and eat and watch television when I was uptight if I didn't have someone to go out with because it filled that void and it gave me something other than what was bothering me to think about. Then I realized that just doesn't cut it and it's taking away my life. So today when I would get that anxious I need to eat feeling I filled the void with work or exercise. I took the first walk this morning. One hour twenty six minutes and 4.42 miles. I don't know if that is good or bad time. I wasn't making a point to try for anything, but I have a watch I can wear that tells me my heart rate, how fast I'm walking and how long I have been walking and how far. It also counts the steps for me. First walk clocked in at 10175 steps. So this evening after meeting friends for Mexican I came home feeling a little nostalgic and not wanting to go in quiet yet. So I put on my watch, my Walkman and my tennis shoe's and struck out again. A little faster paced as if I had somewhere to be. I am not sure what motivated me to walk faster, but it felt right. First trip around my neighborhood was uneventful. I still didn't want to go in, so I took off again without even stopping at my house. This time I was greeting at the top of the first incline by a kindly looking man probably in his mid sixties. He and some other neighbors standing in his yard shouted out for me to keep up the good work. He said you know just going around this block is three quarters of a mile. I said I know I do this walk a few times a day. He shouted back "We know. This neighborhood is proud of you and what you are accomplishing. Keep up the good work." I said thanks and kept going. I was a little surprised. A few houses more a lady brought me a bottle of water out to the road. She said keep it up you're doing great. Did I miss something? I am not participating in a marathon, I'm just walking in my neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago another couple had said they were glad to see me back out walking that they had wondered why I had stopped after last fall. Uh, it's cold weather. I don't do cold weather. I do the mall or treadmill but I don't walk in snow and definitely with my phobia's not on ice. My neighborhood is watching me and supporting me. Why? Don't really know and couldn't really tell you unless they are sad that the biggest loser is over for the season and I am their own personal television set. I think it's nice either way. You see over the last four weeks and four days I have lost twenty-six pounds. I have a ton of weight to lose yet. But today the pants which use to be tight on me only a few weeks ago i had to pin at the top with a safety pin because I was afraid they would fall to my feet. Guess I will be needing a new wardrobe if it keeps up. I hope it does. I have faith it will. It's what I want. I want my life back. I can't believe I let it get away from me in the first place. Life is precious and short. My uncle that lost his wife the last week of March just lost his best friend this past week too. It makes you think. There isn't time to waste. I want to live my life to my best now. I want the weight off and I have every intention of getting it off. Vomiting and starving and surgeries are not for me. The first two I can't support. The third one I think good for you if you are one of those people it works for, but it's not for me. So I'll keep walking as long as I can. My ankle was killing me today! I'll push myself and as soon as it's all done I'll post pictures of my journey that started in November of 2007, stalled for a little bit and then hit the trails hard yet again. I'm thankful my neighbors are supporting me. Everyone needs a support system and in today's day and age I just think it's awesome that people who most of them don't even know my name are encouraging me and cheering for me. Guess you just never know who's watching...

PS.. Second walk tonight was one hour seventeen minutes and 3.44 miles. It was 7545 steps.

More of God's Art Work

Took this picture just a little while ago and couldn't help but think that even though it looks like it's ugly weather a coming... what a beautiful picture God painted. Enjoy!