Yet, one caught my eye today as I was driving around at lunch time, and I had to share it.
Hope it gets a smile from you, too, whatever your political affiliation:
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I've Mentioned Before
I've mentioned before that I don't particularly care for bumper stickers.
Yet, one caught my eye today as I was driving around at lunch time, and I had to share it.
Hope it gets a smile from you, too, whatever your political affiliation:
Yet, one caught my eye today as I was driving around at lunch time, and I had to share it.
Hope it gets a smile from you, too, whatever your political affiliation:
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
People Who Annoy Me
This is a list that I'm building. It doesn't often have specific people on it, but I make exceptions. Rather, it usually is populated by people who tend to do a sort of thing.
And, today, I'm looking at you, Mr. "thinks that stopping briefly at a stop sign and then going regardless of right-of-way or who arrived first man".
Yes, this guy (non-gender specific term) annoys me.
Case in point.
Today, a little before five, I arrive at one of Findlay's most dangerous intersections, at the corner of Western and Sandusky (yeah, it's a boring town, and that's about as dangerous as it gets, give me a break, non-Findlay folk). I arrive and stop and the guy to my right goes, as does the guy to my left. As I'm starting to accelerate, the guy who had been behind the guy to my right decides he's made his stop and it's time for him to go. So he does.
Grrrr.
That is all.
People like you raise insurance rates and cause bad accidents, sir!
And, today, I'm looking at you, Mr. "thinks that stopping briefly at a stop sign and then going regardless of right-of-way or who arrived first man".
Yes, this guy (non-gender specific term) annoys me.
Case in point.
Today, a little before five, I arrive at one of Findlay's most dangerous intersections, at the corner of Western and Sandusky (yeah, it's a boring town, and that's about as dangerous as it gets, give me a break, non-Findlay folk). I arrive and stop and the guy to my right goes, as does the guy to my left. As I'm starting to accelerate, the guy who had been behind the guy to my right decides he's made his stop and it's time for him to go. So he does.
Grrrr.
That is all.
People like you raise insurance rates and cause bad accidents, sir!
Once Again
Rick Reilly is spot on
Give the article a read.
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the backstory, but I am. And when the latest element of this saga broke public, I was sickened by it. Mainly because, as the story started, I was so encouraged by it.
I think this paragraph sums it up perfectly:
I hope one day Caleb Campbell makes it to the NFL.
I just wish it were going to happen this season.
Give the article a read.
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the backstory, but I am. And when the latest element of this saga broke public, I was sickened by it. Mainly because, as the story started, I was so encouraged by it.
I think this paragraph sums it up perfectly:
2nd Lt. Campbell felt like he was hit in the nose with a shovel. Every day during his four years at West Point, he was reminded of and lived by the Cadet Honor Code: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Instead the Army lied to 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell. Now he gets to tolerate it.
I hope one day Caleb Campbell makes it to the NFL.
I just wish it were going to happen this season.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Something I Hate About Politics In America
It's only August 4th, and I'm already sick of campaign ads. yay for living in a "swing state".
Yet, that's not what I hate.
I wouldn't mind them if they were substance, issue-focused, and factual.
But they aren't. They never are.
And what I hate about America, is that the polls show that John McCain is narrowing the gap between he and Obama by running nonsensical attack ads that do nothing to address the problems facing our country.
It leaves me completely frustrated.
And if you read my earlier posts, I was honestly excited for the election this year. I thought we had a good chance to see some honest debates about policies and problems in America. But, it seems neither of the major candidates that got through really want to do that.
Both of them, every time they open their mouths, say and do something that pushes me further away from wanting to vote for them.
I'm getting closer and closer to just flying this:
But I can talk about that later ...
Yet, that's not what I hate.
I wouldn't mind them if they were substance, issue-focused, and factual.
But they aren't. They never are.
And what I hate about America, is that the polls show that John McCain is narrowing the gap between he and Obama by running nonsensical attack ads that do nothing to address the problems facing our country.
It leaves me completely frustrated.
And if you read my earlier posts, I was honestly excited for the election this year. I thought we had a good chance to see some honest debates about policies and problems in America. But, it seems neither of the major candidates that got through really want to do that.
Both of them, every time they open their mouths, say and do something that pushes me further away from wanting to vote for them.
I'm getting closer and closer to just flying this:
But I can talk about that later ...
Enough is Enough
Do you ever want to get into a window and scream out to the rest of the world "enough!" or "enough is enough!"?
About any number of things.
Well, I finally reached that point last month. I didn't shout it from a rooftop, or a window, or a podium, or anything like that.
I just started to quietly go about my business to make it not what it was.
Let me tell you what happened last month.
I looked at myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw. At all. It drained my to realize that. It sapped away my confidence. And when you're in a sales industry, confidence is your #1 friend.
Then I got on the scale. And I weighed in at a completely unacceptable 269.5.
Two-hundred, sixty-nine, and one-half pounds.
Of flesh, and blood, and bone, and, most of all, fat.
And I said to myself, at that very moment, enough is enough. This is going to change.
Today, I got on my scale again, and I'm at a slightly more acceptable, yet still unacceptable 256.
Already down 13.
57 more to go.
But I feel I should celebrate the 13, because I think it's an accomplishment.
So, who wants to go the China Buffet with me to celebrate?
About any number of things.
Well, I finally reached that point last month. I didn't shout it from a rooftop, or a window, or a podium, or anything like that.
I just started to quietly go about my business to make it not what it was.
Let me tell you what happened last month.
I looked at myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw. At all. It drained my to realize that. It sapped away my confidence. And when you're in a sales industry, confidence is your #1 friend.
Then I got on the scale. And I weighed in at a completely unacceptable 269.5.
Two-hundred, sixty-nine, and one-half pounds.
Of flesh, and blood, and bone, and, most of all, fat.
And I said to myself, at that very moment, enough is enough. This is going to change.
Today, I got on my scale again, and I'm at a slightly more acceptable, yet still unacceptable 256.
Already down 13.
57 more to go.
But I feel I should celebrate the 13, because I think it's an accomplishment.
So, who wants to go the China Buffet with me to celebrate?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Oh Happy Day!
This ... is a good day in my household.
Casey Blake is traded!
If I could do a backflip ... I would.
This is the silver lining I needed on this horrible Indians' season.
Casey Blake is traded!
If I could do a backflip ... I would.
This is the silver lining I needed on this horrible Indians' season.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Very Rarely ...
... does an article I read online make me want to stand up and cheer. This one did though.
(Ryan, I hope you can appreciate the humor behind the way I phrased this. No offense intended, 100% honest.)
(Ryan, I hope you can appreciate the humor behind the way I phrased this. No offense intended, 100% honest.)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
A Joke
Ok, so I'm a sucker for groaner jokes. The kind that make you groan, because they're so stupid, but yet you can't help but at least chuckle at them.
So, here's my favorite, and I'd love to hear your favorite "groaner" joke(s)
Two termites walk into a bar
One looks at the other and says "Hey, where's the bartender?"
So, here's my favorite, and I'd love to hear your favorite "groaner" joke(s)
Two termites walk into a bar
One looks at the other and says "Hey, where's the bartender?"
The Power of Words
Yes, it's been a while since I've blogged.
So what.
I'm sure my readership of 5 has survived.
Anyways, I have a nice anecdote of how I saved $38.
So, Friday night, our Dish Network service went a little crazy. And by a little crazy, I mean that USA network refused to tune in, even though every other channel did. Which made me more than a little upset, because Friday night was the season debut of Psych.
But, I dealt with that, and watched something we had on DVR.
So, Saturday morning rolls around, and our Dish Network service is even more on the fritz. No channel is tuning in. So, I go online to Dish Network's live chat help desk. And through an hour of working on it, I finally get it back to where it was Friday night: USA not working. At this point, the program/person I was chatting with informed me that the only solution was to have a technician come out at a charge of $29. I told the program/person that I wouldn't pay that, and asked to speak to someone else, so I was instructed to call and talk to someone on the phone.
So, I called. And I got someone who at first wanted to walk me through all the steps I had spent an hour walking through with the online support. Once he realized I wasn't happy with that, he simply had me walk through to get him the readouts of the signals, and he concluded that the only solution was to have a technician come out for a cost of $29. So, I reminded him that if I simply moved my address, they would bring me a new dish for free. He was unimpressed with this information and told me there was no way to remove the fee, as I was already getting a $70 discount on the service.
I then made no mistake in the level of my voice as I asked Rachel "Do we still have the coupons or DirecTV?" This changed his tune a little bit, but he was adamant that there was nothing he could do about the fee. I told him I was frustrated that my four years of loyal service meant nothing, and that I was shocked that Dish Network would lose a customer for a measly $29.
And then he made a big mistake.
He said "Sir, I understand how you feel"
I snapped back with a
"No, you don't understand how I feel. You're not in my situation, and you cannot possibly understand how I feel. I'm in sales, sir, and I understand the trick you're trying to pull, and I can guarantee you, it won't work on me".
in quite the emphatic tone. And that's something I'm careful to never say to anyone. Because it's true: I'm not in their situation, and I don't know how they feel. I may have heard similar things, or been in a similar situation myself, but I don't know how they feel. But that's enough of my sidetrack.
Apparently, this was enough to finally change his tune, as he came back with "well, I can give you a credit on your next bill of $29 to cover this, so on your next bill, you will see a charge of $29 and a credit of $29. Is that acceptable?"
Of course, this is what I'd wanted since I made the phone call, so I said it was. Then, he informs me that he cannot schedule a technician to visit me until Friday. Which meant I'd have to go a week without the full service I'm paying for. So, I asked him if he really thought I should have to pay full price for a partial service for an entire week. He started to say one thing, stopped himself, and with great reluctance said "I'm authorized to give you a credit of $8 on your bill this month because of the inconvenience, is that acceptable?"
Well, it was, and that's how I went from them wanting me to pay them $29 to them giving me back $8.
Not bad, I'd say.
So what.
I'm sure my readership of 5 has survived.
Anyways, I have a nice anecdote of how I saved $38.
So, Friday night, our Dish Network service went a little crazy. And by a little crazy, I mean that USA network refused to tune in, even though every other channel did. Which made me more than a little upset, because Friday night was the season debut of Psych.
But, I dealt with that, and watched something we had on DVR.
So, Saturday morning rolls around, and our Dish Network service is even more on the fritz. No channel is tuning in. So, I go online to Dish Network's live chat help desk. And through an hour of working on it, I finally get it back to where it was Friday night: USA not working. At this point, the program/person I was chatting with informed me that the only solution was to have a technician come out at a charge of $29. I told the program/person that I wouldn't pay that, and asked to speak to someone else, so I was instructed to call and talk to someone on the phone.
So, I called. And I got someone who at first wanted to walk me through all the steps I had spent an hour walking through with the online support. Once he realized I wasn't happy with that, he simply had me walk through to get him the readouts of the signals, and he concluded that the only solution was to have a technician come out for a cost of $29. So, I reminded him that if I simply moved my address, they would bring me a new dish for free. He was unimpressed with this information and told me there was no way to remove the fee, as I was already getting a $70 discount on the service.
I then made no mistake in the level of my voice as I asked Rachel "Do we still have the coupons or DirecTV?" This changed his tune a little bit, but he was adamant that there was nothing he could do about the fee. I told him I was frustrated that my four years of loyal service meant nothing, and that I was shocked that Dish Network would lose a customer for a measly $29.
And then he made a big mistake.
He said "Sir, I understand how you feel"
I snapped back with a
"No, you don't understand how I feel. You're not in my situation, and you cannot possibly understand how I feel. I'm in sales, sir, and I understand the trick you're trying to pull, and I can guarantee you, it won't work on me".
in quite the emphatic tone. And that's something I'm careful to never say to anyone. Because it's true: I'm not in their situation, and I don't know how they feel. I may have heard similar things, or been in a similar situation myself, but I don't know how they feel. But that's enough of my sidetrack.
Apparently, this was enough to finally change his tune, as he came back with "well, I can give you a credit on your next bill of $29 to cover this, so on your next bill, you will see a charge of $29 and a credit of $29. Is that acceptable?"
Of course, this is what I'd wanted since I made the phone call, so I said it was. Then, he informs me that he cannot schedule a technician to visit me until Friday. Which meant I'd have to go a week without the full service I'm paying for. So, I asked him if he really thought I should have to pay full price for a partial service for an entire week. He started to say one thing, stopped himself, and with great reluctance said "I'm authorized to give you a credit of $8 on your bill this month because of the inconvenience, is that acceptable?"
Well, it was, and that's how I went from them wanting me to pay them $29 to them giving me back $8.
Not bad, I'd say.
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