I had some errands to run Wednesday night after being gone so much the last 3 weeks. So, Jason and I stopped at TGIFridays for a quick dinner. As we are walking into the restaurant there is another couple behind us. I walked in first and Jason held the door open for the couple behind us. I will also mention that I actually got a "bless you" out of him earlier that day too. Both of these things are pretty rare without some prompting, and trust me we all prompt him alot on his manners.
On to the rest of my story...we had a nice dinner and at the end of dinner I handed the waitress my Gold Points reward card to go with my bill. Another waitress brought back my card with a receipt with just my points on it and said, "your food is all taken care of."
Uh, back up, I'm confused. First of all this receipt says $50.04, giving me 50 points - our bill should have been $20 maybe, at the most. And, what do you mean our food is taken care of. So, I pulled our waitress over and asked about the $50 and the fact that I don't have a bill to pay for. The other waitress comes running over to clear everything up as well - another person paid our bill and used my rewards card to give us all the points as well. They chose to remain anonymous and I didn't get a reason why. I told the waitress to please thank them for me if they were still there and we left.
Well, on top of me already being sick (fighting fever and cough) and the whole bill confusion, I left my cell phone on the table. By the time I returned home and realized this, I started freaking out. I ran right back up to the restaurant to hopefully (praying the whole way) retrieve my phone. Sure enough, the waitstaff had kept it for me and had commented that they were going to try to call somebody, but couldn't figure out how. Well, no, not with all the security measures that the company has in place on our phones. All I cared about was that I had my lifeline back and didn't need to deal with telling the tech department that I lost my phone.
While I was there, the waitress was willing to share with me the whole story about my bill since the people who had paid for it had left. Apparently, it was the couple that walked in behind us. They thought it was great that Jason held the door open for them and paid our bill for us. How sweet is that?!?
If you are having any issues with getting your kids to show good manners, tell them the story. I am really hoping that Jason will have a change of heart now and at least start holiding the door open for everyone :-)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Vegas - Post-Meeting
The sales meeting was fun and educational. It was great to just hang out with friends and re-connect with people I have not seen in awhile (and some of them that I hadn't see in a week since Philly).
Ira flew into Vegas the last day of the sales meeting and we were able to hangout until we flew home on Monday. First we started off with the Monte Carlo fire which we could see from the expressway between Red Rock and Excalibur. And, of course as soon as we startd walking towards our elevators we get attacked by one of the timeshare reps. Did we want to save money on a show - sure. We had already planned on going to one anyway. On the way over to the desk I told Ira this is all on you, but I do not want to go to any presentation. Yeah, right! I am not sure how many times he said sorry in our 4 hour presentation, but we didn't have anything planned anyway and I did get tickets to Tournament of Kings and Mamma Mia, as well as $75 in gaming credit for $140. That would have been over $400 by the way, so I guess it was worth some of our time. We went to dinner that night and had two large drinks at Dick's Last Resort. Due to Ira only being on his second night in Vegas (and not feeling well) plus me being exhausted from the week at the sales meeting we went to bed early.
The next day it was shopping, gambling, walking, a yard of margarita (and a nap immediately after) and dinner with the Tournament of the Kings. At this point I was down $200 to the roulette table and not particularly thrilled about that. So, I put $20 in the penny slot machine and after 2 bonus rounds - bam, $100 back in my pocket.
Sunday it was the gondola ride at the Venetian, lots of walking, a hurricane each, some dinner at House of Blues, and off to Mamma Mia. Stupid me had the times confused from the show the night before and we showed up half an hour late. Crap!!! The usher looked at the ticket and said you are late, I'm sorry that means we will need to sit you closer - YES!!! We initially had center stage tickets in the back section. While we were not in the front row, we were in the front section, just left of center stage. The show was great and we didn't feel like we missed anything at all. Mamma Mia is actually going to be at Fisher Theatre the first week of February, so if you are looking for a fun night out, I highly recommend it. After the show, we had a drink at Dick's Last Resort and off for our last bit of gambling. While Ira was doing well at roulette, I was back down another $40. So, some last love to my penny slot machine and another $60 - Thank goodness for Cash Inferno!!!
When all was said and done I was still down $250, but that happens with gambling and over 8 days that probably isn't too bad.
Breakfast for the last day had been on my mind for 2 days. The mexican restaurant that we had the yard margaritas from serves breakfast until 11 am and I had my mind set on huevos rancheros and a bloody mary for the last day. Especially since I had to be up at 8 for a conference call. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Ira and I both cleaned our plates and would have taken more if they offered it.
After breakfast it was off to the airport and a smoothe flight home. Good times!
Ira flew into Vegas the last day of the sales meeting and we were able to hangout until we flew home on Monday. First we started off with the Monte Carlo fire which we could see from the expressway between Red Rock and Excalibur. And, of course as soon as we startd walking towards our elevators we get attacked by one of the timeshare reps. Did we want to save money on a show - sure. We had already planned on going to one anyway. On the way over to the desk I told Ira this is all on you, but I do not want to go to any presentation. Yeah, right! I am not sure how many times he said sorry in our 4 hour presentation, but we didn't have anything planned anyway and I did get tickets to Tournament of Kings and Mamma Mia, as well as $75 in gaming credit for $140. That would have been over $400 by the way, so I guess it was worth some of our time. We went to dinner that night and had two large drinks at Dick's Last Resort. Due to Ira only being on his second night in Vegas (and not feeling well) plus me being exhausted from the week at the sales meeting we went to bed early.
The next day it was shopping, gambling, walking, a yard of margarita (and a nap immediately after) and dinner with the Tournament of the Kings. At this point I was down $200 to the roulette table and not particularly thrilled about that. So, I put $20 in the penny slot machine and after 2 bonus rounds - bam, $100 back in my pocket.
Sunday it was the gondola ride at the Venetian, lots of walking, a hurricane each, some dinner at House of Blues, and off to Mamma Mia. Stupid me had the times confused from the show the night before and we showed up half an hour late. Crap!!! The usher looked at the ticket and said you are late, I'm sorry that means we will need to sit you closer - YES!!! We initially had center stage tickets in the back section. While we were not in the front row, we were in the front section, just left of center stage. The show was great and we didn't feel like we missed anything at all. Mamma Mia is actually going to be at Fisher Theatre the first week of February, so if you are looking for a fun night out, I highly recommend it. After the show, we had a drink at Dick's Last Resort and off for our last bit of gambling. While Ira was doing well at roulette, I was back down another $40. So, some last love to my penny slot machine and another $60 - Thank goodness for Cash Inferno!!!
When all was said and done I was still down $250, but that happens with gambling and over 8 days that probably isn't too bad.
Breakfast for the last day had been on my mind for 2 days. The mexican restaurant that we had the yard margaritas from serves breakfast until 11 am and I had my mind set on huevos rancheros and a bloody mary for the last day. Especially since I had to be up at 8 for a conference call. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Ira and I both cleaned our plates and would have taken more if they offered it.
After breakfast it was off to the airport and a smoothe flight home. Good times!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Vegas Chronicles
Day 6 of Las Vegas - 2 more nights to go. The biggest news (and all over CNN too) was watching the Monte Carlo burn. We are staying two hotels down and happen to be on the expressway from Red Rock to the strip shortly after it caught fire. On a positive note, our timing couldn't have been much better, we happen to get to the strip just when they started shutting down the surrounding roads, so we were still able to get into our hotel without much of a problem.
Since I am on day 6, my internal clock has pretty much adjusted to Vegas time. However, it is 11 and I am watching Ira sleep in his clothes, because he wanted to stay awake and not go to bed early two nights in a row. Ahhh - great :-) I have given up and put on my jammies.
More after we get back.....
Since I am on day 6, my internal clock has pretty much adjusted to Vegas time. However, it is 11 and I am watching Ira sleep in his clothes, because he wanted to stay awake and not go to bed early two nights in a row. Ahhh - great :-) I have given up and put on my jammies.
More after we get back.....
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Philly
Finally home from Philadelphia. I took two Tylenol PM last night and just collapsed.
All in all the exhibit hall traffic was a bit slow. Seemed like it would have been busier since we announced a slew of new collections, but we were talking more to each other just so that we would look busy. I prefer to stay busy doing demos, setting up trials, and talking to customers.
Nothing really exciting happened, worked in the booth, had some nice customer meetings and meals. The customer appreciation dinner was very nice and the location was very spacious. Everyone had the chance to sign a book that signified signing the Constitution. All of this was set up in a room in order to give you the feeling of recreating this historic event with bronze statues.
I did get to have a genuine Philly Cheese Steak and I did get to see the Liberty Bell. So, the tourist stuff has been completed :0)
It was fun to see everyone that I haven't seen in a few months, while having a couple of beers and watching the football playoffs. Although, I am not happy that the Cowboys lost.
5 days until Vegas!
All in all the exhibit hall traffic was a bit slow. Seemed like it would have been busier since we announced a slew of new collections, but we were talking more to each other just so that we would look busy. I prefer to stay busy doing demos, setting up trials, and talking to customers.
Nothing really exciting happened, worked in the booth, had some nice customer meetings and meals. The customer appreciation dinner was very nice and the location was very spacious. Everyone had the chance to sign a book that signified signing the Constitution. All of this was set up in a room in order to give you the feeling of recreating this historic event with bronze statues.
I did get to have a genuine Philly Cheese Steak and I did get to see the Liberty Bell. So, the tourist stuff has been completed :0)
It was fun to see everyone that I haven't seen in a few months, while having a couple of beers and watching the football playoffs. Although, I am not happy that the Cowboys lost.
5 days until Vegas!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Addictions
Ira and I were having an interesting conversation on addictions and it got me thinking....
Basically, our discussion was centered on my family this time. My Dad's side of the family and I mean everyone that was in his immediate family that I ever knew had an addiction of some sort - alcohol, drugs, and gambling. And, to top it off they all smoked at some point too. So, those of you who know me well are asking how did I escape this? Honestly, I don't know that I exactly escaped.
Given that I am not a psychologist, my opinion is not an eduacted one, just a lifelong one. I honestly believe that addictive personalities can be and are hereditary given certain genes. Obviously, when you look at one family and out of 6 people only 1 has not shown any signs of a major addiction, that is a hereditary case of addictive personalities.
Not to sound like the goody two-shoes that I have always been labeled in my family, but I have never smoked regularly (maybe a couple of drags at the bar), never been addicted to drugs, am a social drinker, and have no desire to "need" to gamble (enjoy it, but I have my limit and I can walk through a casino and not spend a nickle). Does this mean, I missed the gene? Probably not. My biggest fault (well, the biggest one that could carry an addictive label anyway) - I love to spend money. I literally need to just stay out of stores sometimes so that I will not browse the racks when I know I don't need anything. Is it an addicition, I don't think so - I don't need to go shopping and I don't need to spend money. I personally think that we all have momentary addictions - a new relationship, you just can't stop thinking about the other person, a new car - you want to drive it all the time or at least sit in it and figure out all the gadgets, a new cell phone that you can't leave alone, a new house you don't want to leave. And then we have unintended habits - eating out all the time or shopping are probably my biggest two. Fortunately, all of those things are usually broken given a short hiatus or whenever you get comfortable with the new item, relationships included.
So, how have I stayed away from all the major bad stuff? I grew up watching what it did to my family. I saw all the bad stuff, I never really saw the positive sides of any of the addictions. Some people are drawn to these addictions because they don't know anything else or they want to be like their older siblings, relatives, or parents.
I experienced the fights to the emergency rooms over gashed faces, cracked heads, bottomed-out blood pressure, and drunk decisions to go to rehab (that I held him to). I dealt with the broken furniture and smoke filled rooms. I saw the loss of property, dignity, bodily control (and fluids), and a general loss of self-importance. Why the hell would I want anything to do with that?
So, I did the opposite, I resented it and I lost respect for everyone involved in it. I did not stop loving anyone, but I literally lost respect for every member of the family I loved most. I chose to step up and be the first one to get a college degree, I had a drive to make something out of my life, and I wanted to be better than what I was spawned from. However, I also know that that addictive personality is in me somewhere and I am very conscience of the decisions I make.
Has it been an easy path - no. Has it been worth it, looking back - you bet! I am happy with my life and honestly, I thank my severly dysfunctional family for having their addictions because while I have had to deal or observe more than most kids (or even adults), it made me a better person and while I still don't understand it all the time, I understand that I can't fix it. I can support it when they ready for help and I can be there when they fall, but I cannot fix it.
Now, if I get addicted to saving and investing money and getting to the gym more frequently (like I used to) then those are two things that would be worth getting addicted to.
Basically, our discussion was centered on my family this time. My Dad's side of the family and I mean everyone that was in his immediate family that I ever knew had an addiction of some sort - alcohol, drugs, and gambling. And, to top it off they all smoked at some point too. So, those of you who know me well are asking how did I escape this? Honestly, I don't know that I exactly escaped.
Given that I am not a psychologist, my opinion is not an eduacted one, just a lifelong one. I honestly believe that addictive personalities can be and are hereditary given certain genes. Obviously, when you look at one family and out of 6 people only 1 has not shown any signs of a major addiction, that is a hereditary case of addictive personalities.
Not to sound like the goody two-shoes that I have always been labeled in my family, but I have never smoked regularly (maybe a couple of drags at the bar), never been addicted to drugs, am a social drinker, and have no desire to "need" to gamble (enjoy it, but I have my limit and I can walk through a casino and not spend a nickle). Does this mean, I missed the gene? Probably not. My biggest fault (well, the biggest one that could carry an addictive label anyway) - I love to spend money. I literally need to just stay out of stores sometimes so that I will not browse the racks when I know I don't need anything. Is it an addicition, I don't think so - I don't need to go shopping and I don't need to spend money. I personally think that we all have momentary addictions - a new relationship, you just can't stop thinking about the other person, a new car - you want to drive it all the time or at least sit in it and figure out all the gadgets, a new cell phone that you can't leave alone, a new house you don't want to leave. And then we have unintended habits - eating out all the time or shopping are probably my biggest two. Fortunately, all of those things are usually broken given a short hiatus or whenever you get comfortable with the new item, relationships included.
So, how have I stayed away from all the major bad stuff? I grew up watching what it did to my family. I saw all the bad stuff, I never really saw the positive sides of any of the addictions. Some people are drawn to these addictions because they don't know anything else or they want to be like their older siblings, relatives, or parents.
I experienced the fights to the emergency rooms over gashed faces, cracked heads, bottomed-out blood pressure, and drunk decisions to go to rehab (that I held him to). I dealt with the broken furniture and smoke filled rooms. I saw the loss of property, dignity, bodily control (and fluids), and a general loss of self-importance. Why the hell would I want anything to do with that?
So, I did the opposite, I resented it and I lost respect for everyone involved in it. I did not stop loving anyone, but I literally lost respect for every member of the family I loved most. I chose to step up and be the first one to get a college degree, I had a drive to make something out of my life, and I wanted to be better than what I was spawned from. However, I also know that that addictive personality is in me somewhere and I am very conscience of the decisions I make.
Has it been an easy path - no. Has it been worth it, looking back - you bet! I am happy with my life and honestly, I thank my severly dysfunctional family for having their addictions because while I have had to deal or observe more than most kids (or even adults), it made me a better person and while I still don't understand it all the time, I understand that I can't fix it. I can support it when they ready for help and I can be there when they fall, but I cannot fix it.
Now, if I get addicted to saving and investing money and getting to the gym more frequently (like I used to) then those are two things that would be worth getting addicted to.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Back to work
Well, it has been a relaxing 2 weeks of vacation, but now it is back to work.
I have slept, played games online, steamcleaned my living room, and read. I even set up a myspace page. I am completely justifiying the relaxing it with all the travling I am doing this month. I leave for Philadephia on Thursday and come back home Monday night. I get my car back Tuesday - yeah!!! 5 days home and then off to Vegas for 9 days (5 days work, 4 days personal). By the time I get back, I have 4 days to close out January.
Sure, I probably should have done some painting, but instead I enjoyed my lazy vacation. I can always paint on the weekends, starting in February :-)
I have slept, played games online, steamcleaned my living room, and read. I even set up a myspace page. I am completely justifiying the relaxing it with all the travling I am doing this month. I leave for Philadephia on Thursday and come back home Monday night. I get my car back Tuesday - yeah!!! 5 days home and then off to Vegas for 9 days (5 days work, 4 days personal). By the time I get back, I have 4 days to close out January.
Sure, I probably should have done some painting, but instead I enjoyed my lazy vacation. I can always paint on the weekends, starting in February :-)
Friday, January 4, 2008
Traditions, marriage, and babies
This will be an opinionated post and in no way does not mean that I don't understand that accidents happen and people have rights to make their own choices. However, it does make me ask what happened to old-fashioned family values....
Ira's cousin's girlfriend is pregnant and due to have the baby any day now. Of course, he is 22 and has a whole life of possibilities which of course, makes me ask the question, was this a child-support set up or is this love that will eventually turn into marriage and a lifetime together? I am really hoping for the latter.
Yes, I know it's a very jaded question, but while out of 3 of our kids (me 1, Ira 2) two were out of previous marriages and one was a self-centered pregnancy invoked for child-support purposes and based on manipulation and lies - so, yes I am jaded. I could do another complete post on our child-support system.
Back, to my point. A friend of mine has 3 kids out of wedlock - 2 different dads, 1 unplanned, 2 planned. My cousin has 3 kids out of marriage - 2 different moms, 1 unplanned, 2 planned. I have at least one Aunt with one child out of wedlock and she has never really been in a relationship with the father. I am sure there are more on my side of the family, after all my Mom had 12 brothers and sisters that have kids - that is alot of people to not have more kids out of wedlock. But, everyone else I can think of in my family has followed traditional values - marriage and then kids.
Ira's family seems to have an epidemic of kids out of wedlock and everyone seems okay with it. I guess when it happens this much, it just becomes part of the norm. But, I just don't get it, when did it become so acceptable to raise your kids to think it is okay to have kids out of marriage. One of his cousins actually had 3 before she married the father. I think it's great that the kids are being raised with both parents, but how easily could that have gone in another direction.
Now, this is not an attack towards his family at all, it is stictly a personal example of something that is happening all around us. How do people legitimately think it is just okay to get pregnant and have a kid when you are not even at a place in your relationship to commit to marriage with each other?
I know this is not something that just started, my Mom's oldest sister was born out of wedlock and family gossip states that she didn't even tell my Grandfather about her daughter until after he married her. In fact Ira's Mom was even born out of wedlock and later adopted by her stepdad. So, this has been happening longer than we have even thought about it. But, what were the percentages in the 1800's, 1920's, 1950's, etc, and what are they now. Back then, I am guessing more were unplanned and of course, then the decision is to have the baby and do the best you can. Now, it just seems more acceptable to consciencely decide on the pregnancies and babies without the marriage.
Again, I know this will touch a nerve with some people and I am not out to offend anyone, but I just completely don't understand when our society decided it is now okay and acceptable to decide to get pregnant and bring children into this world as if you were already divorced or to see if the child rearing would work before deciding to get married.
Ira's cousin's girlfriend is pregnant and due to have the baby any day now. Of course, he is 22 and has a whole life of possibilities which of course, makes me ask the question, was this a child-support set up or is this love that will eventually turn into marriage and a lifetime together? I am really hoping for the latter.
Yes, I know it's a very jaded question, but while out of 3 of our kids (me 1, Ira 2) two were out of previous marriages and one was a self-centered pregnancy invoked for child-support purposes and based on manipulation and lies - so, yes I am jaded. I could do another complete post on our child-support system.
Back, to my point. A friend of mine has 3 kids out of wedlock - 2 different dads, 1 unplanned, 2 planned. My cousin has 3 kids out of marriage - 2 different moms, 1 unplanned, 2 planned. I have at least one Aunt with one child out of wedlock and she has never really been in a relationship with the father. I am sure there are more on my side of the family, after all my Mom had 12 brothers and sisters that have kids - that is alot of people to not have more kids out of wedlock. But, everyone else I can think of in my family has followed traditional values - marriage and then kids.
Ira's family seems to have an epidemic of kids out of wedlock and everyone seems okay with it. I guess when it happens this much, it just becomes part of the norm. But, I just don't get it, when did it become so acceptable to raise your kids to think it is okay to have kids out of marriage. One of his cousins actually had 3 before she married the father. I think it's great that the kids are being raised with both parents, but how easily could that have gone in another direction.
Now, this is not an attack towards his family at all, it is stictly a personal example of something that is happening all around us. How do people legitimately think it is just okay to get pregnant and have a kid when you are not even at a place in your relationship to commit to marriage with each other?
I know this is not something that just started, my Mom's oldest sister was born out of wedlock and family gossip states that she didn't even tell my Grandfather about her daughter until after he married her. In fact Ira's Mom was even born out of wedlock and later adopted by her stepdad. So, this has been happening longer than we have even thought about it. But, what were the percentages in the 1800's, 1920's, 1950's, etc, and what are they now. Back then, I am guessing more were unplanned and of course, then the decision is to have the baby and do the best you can. Now, it just seems more acceptable to consciencely decide on the pregnancies and babies without the marriage.
Again, I know this will touch a nerve with some people and I am not out to offend anyone, but I just completely don't understand when our society decided it is now okay and acceptable to decide to get pregnant and bring children into this world as if you were already divorced or to see if the child rearing would work before deciding to get married.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
B(itch)log
New Years and what it has brought to me....
New insurance and making sure that I can still go to my doctor's appointment next week. Turns out that I can, even though the online provider directory does not list my doctor - I already miss Care Choices and is has only been 2 days.
8 inches of snow that needed to be shoveled - at least there were two of us shoveling though.
Not 1, but 2 car accidents. That's right, within about 5 miles from each other. Ira may never be allowed to drive my car again :-) Nobody was hurt, but my car is just driveable enough to drop it off to get fixed.
Thank goodness I am on vacation the rest of the week, because it doesn't look like I will be leaving the house much.
I hope this is not a sign of what 2008 has to bring.
New insurance and making sure that I can still go to my doctor's appointment next week. Turns out that I can, even though the online provider directory does not list my doctor - I already miss Care Choices and is has only been 2 days.
8 inches of snow that needed to be shoveled - at least there were two of us shoveling though.
Not 1, but 2 car accidents. That's right, within about 5 miles from each other. Ira may never be allowed to drive my car again :-) Nobody was hurt, but my car is just driveable enough to drop it off to get fixed.
Thank goodness I am on vacation the rest of the week, because it doesn't look like I will be leaving the house much.
I hope this is not a sign of what 2008 has to bring.
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