Customer List: Short and Sweet

Anybody who works in the service industry knows that some people are a pain-in-the ass.  They demand, complain, and drag their feet paying what is owed to you. 

I heard a tip from a business owner who got tired of the type of customer who was the pervasive complainer.  Don't get me wrong as business owners need to deliver what is promised.  I'm specifically addressing the type of client who just badgers wanting more and more and more unrealistically; therefore, taking advantage. 

This business owner kept his top accounts and let go of the rest as they were just nothing but a time/energy suck that did nothing but frustrate and cause him stress.  He wrote a letter to the "loser" accounts stating that he no longer did the type of work he was doing for them.  Buh-Bye.

He said it was the best decision he ever made. 

I think my next business venture will be profiling "pain in the ass" customers/clients and keeping a giant data base.  Give businesses a chance to turn the tables like "Yelp" and other online consumer sites.  I am by no means wanting to dismiss legitimate complaints and issues.  It's just that some people want something for nothing. 

Not all customers are worth keeping.

Freaking even MORE people out

I think I need to keep my list of people I share my abilities with a very short one.  Even those who truly know me are getting weirded out.  I'm reluctant to share anything anymore.  It's part of the reason I have so much trouble connecting with people on an intimate level.  Nobody wants to go down the rabbit hole with me --  not even Neo.

Psychic Abilities Expanded

You all would think I'm insane if I told you that the government has a very keen interest in how my brain works.  No, I'm not typical.  I'm different. Sometimes I wonder if the government is out to kill me so they can dissect my brain for research.

All kidding aside, the psychic hits keep coming.  A few nights ago I dreamed about a deceased relative.  In the dream I was talking to this deceased relative on the telephone.  This relative lived in Sonoma for decades.  She was asking me over the phone as to when I was going to show up to pick up my daughter as she was babysitting her.  During the telephone conversation, even in my dream, I realized this relative was dead.  I said quite forwardly, "Aunt Gertrude, I know you're dead.  What is heaven like?"

There was a long, silent pause. 

It was at that point Aunt Gertrude said, "They said I needed to go back.  I have unfinished business and I need to return to finish it."

That was the end of the dream.

In the morning when I awoke I was visibly upset.  When I was telling the other family members about my dream the night before they all became quite white and silent.  It was at that point I was told by other family members about a ghost-like figure coming by them and tapping them and then suddenly disappearing. 

Aunt Gertrude is definitely trying to say something...... 

Canned Heat: Goin' Up The Country

Salute to the best WORST lead singer of all time.  Canned Heat has the ultimate award for "bad" singers going down in history as "good." 

Anybody not stoned out of their minds would have boood them off the stage.  The same argument could be made for Bob Dylan.  Sooooooo bad, but soooooooo good. 

Enjoy!  Take a toke, and relish in this classic rewind. 

Tuesdays With Morrie: Quiet Rage Style

Do you all remember to book "Tuesdays with Morrie" about a guy who was super busy doing his day-to-day busy work routine crap but took the time to visit Morrie each Tuesday who was dying?Morrie's words of wisdom to the author about traps of life are haunting to the core.

For starters, the superficial things we think are important really are not.  If you think about it, most of our stress and busy work is artificially created by our own egos.  Your pet dog does not worry about taxes, the mortgage, clothing, test scores and grades, etc.  We created these traps and associated judgements ourselves.

Now I have my own personal version of Tuesdays with Morrie going on.  A woman I have known since childhood and looked up to has been told she has six months to a year to live.  Now, when faced with the end of life, can I hear her hopes, dreams, regrets, and what would have been done differently....  I guarantee none of it involves forms, paper, receipts, documents, etc.

I have this feeling that I already know the answer myself, but I have yet to embrace it:  Love more, judge less.  Feel more, think less.

Turning Japanese: For T-Bone a.k.a. Tiberious

This for my son who is now living his life-long dream of touring Asia, and more specifically Japan and South Korea.  I'm proud of you, T-Bone.....Gangnam Style.

Rain Dance

Ever since I was a small girl, I was summoned to perform the "rain dance" in Dakota for the crops to grow.  I think I better do it again here in Sonoma County now that we are experiencing an epidemic drought.  I don't know if it will work, but I'm dedicating this dance to Karey W.

State of the Union: Same as it Ever Was

The only difference between Obama and the Bush Brigade is that Obama is more charismatic and ethnically diverse than the (yawn) old, stuffy, republican, white dudes donning a toupee and business suit (which is soooooooo out).   Obama is also a better public speaker. 

Other than that, it's business as usual on Capitol Hill.  Money talks. 

I agree whole-halfheartedly with the notion of raising minimum wage.  Nobody can  live on $8.75 per hour.  I also agree with affordable health care for all.  The hard part is getting there.  These are admirable goals. 

However, the goal of any business is to earn a profit -- usually by means that are "blurred" in law and ethics.  If businesses did not operate in such a manner, they would not be profitable.  That's the hard truth nobody wants to hear.   They need obscure loopholes and tactics to try to gain a competitive edge.  That's why your boss smiles at you while slashing your department down from 20 to 10 people doubling your workload -- you will *certainly* be rewarded for your dedication and hard work.  After months of doing the work of two people, the promises of reward for your dedication never arrive.  You will at that point be given the line of "our competitors are eating us up alive" speech to string you along for a bit longer.

Only in America: Fat, Poor and Stupid

Those starving in Bangladesh and Africa would think this the life in a motel room one of luxury:  electricity, flushing toilet, running water, obviously full bellies, eye glasses, clean clothes, comfortable beds free of insects and parasites, a  television capable of games, and of course, they want more -- it's YOUR fault they live this way despite the fact the parents entered this country illegally and had access to birth control. 

I'm getting so sick of Mexican whining.  Never a wave of immigrants has been so demanding expecting handouts and taking NO responsibility for their choices.  All they have to do is conjure up a crocodile tear, no hable Englais,  pop out kids like a human pez dispenser and we are all supposed to house, feed, clothe, and coddle these uninvited intruders at our expense.  

Clue to Mexicans or others who are mindlessly reproducing:  DON'T HAVE KIDS YOU CAN'T AFFORD!  DO NOT HOLD ME FINANCIALLY HOSTAGE BECAUSE *YOU* FAILED TO USE A RUBBER!  Planned Parenthood gives out birth control for free, and I'm sure their material is available en Espanol. 

Begging: Not Just for Panhandlers on the Corner

Miss Manners has it down correctly -- there is no polite way to solicit nor expect any kind of gift from anybody no matter the life event.  There is no polite way to direct people to how to spend their money.  Miss Manners is appalled by the offensive suggestion that wedding guests contribute to the honeymoon, mortgage payment, future baby college fund, whatever.  I completely agree with Miss Manners.

Begging has gone beyond the shabbily dressed bums on the corner holding cardboard signs.

They are now college educated people of decent means who cleverly devised the "gift registry" (which was tacky enough all in itself) and brought it to the technical age of online begging.  Somehow, this self-absorbed crop of the already privileged sees no shame in directing friends and relatives to "fund" their exorbitant trips abroad and have developed an entire industry thinking it's OK for society to follow their lead.

Creators of this offensive practice claim that they are doing friends and family a favor by taking the guess work out of gift giving.  However, the creators fail to realize that no matter the motive, there is no tasteful way - not even moderately decent way - of directing present-giving when you are on the receiving end.



 

Tornado Energy

Ever since I was a small child I've had nightmares about tornadoes.  I've seen them in real life and have taken shelter.  What I've noticed lately is how some people mimic the energy of the tornado.  You see them coming.  They are a force of nature to be reckoned with, so others are naturally in awe of their dominant presence.  However, the closer the tornado gets you get the sinking feeling something is wrong and you should get away quickly. 

The closer the tornado gets the wind picks up speed and protecting yourself from flying debris becomes priority.  You try to run but your only hope now is to lay low to the ground and cover yourself.  By then it's too late.  The tornado sucks you in taking you up with everything else in its path.  The tornado doesn't care what it sucks in... it needs to keep feeding its selfish, destructive energy and you are not even a thought.  After getting spun around and around and around in its dizzying vortex confusing you and injuring you, it then slams you mercilessly into the ground miles from your place of origin. 

Stay away from Tornado People. 

Peter Lik

Parents should *really* think about the names they give their children.  I'm sure poor Peter Lik has been taunted since childhood -- and same with his brother, Richard (Dick) Lik.  I can't make this stuff up, people. 

Maui: Surf's UP!

One of the rewards of my job is to travel to some cool places.  This time it's Lahina, Maui.  This morning drinking my coffee I witnessed humpback whales offshore jumping and splashing.  I also witnessed giant sea turtles frolicking in the bay.  Also frolicking in the waters are the surfers as this is "high surf" season for them.

I learn a lot from surfers.  They don't fight the waves.  They go with them and let nature do the heaving lifting.  Surfers relish in the power of Mother Nature without question or ambitions to dominate.  Surfers know instinctively that Mother Nature is in control and any attempts to control Her are futile and wasted energy.  Fighting Mother Nature would be a waste of energy -- like arguing with your wise grandmother.   Surfers take Her power and adapt it to their enjoyment.  That's exactly what She wants us to do.

Google Earth

How many of you have downloaded Google Earth?  Cool, huh?  Look at the bottom of the page.  The site is in collaboration with:  NGA, U.S. Navy, and our friends at Google.

None of this was ever kept secret.  You all just never read the fine print.

Apple's Bite

We've all taken a bite of the Apple.  Apple technology, that is.  Just like in the Bible, Eve seductively presented us with the apple as a wondrous temptation.  We fell for it.  

Now look what we have unleashed.  Technology is now in places where we don't want it and the abuse is only going to get worse. 

I've blogged about this ad nauseum, but please, PLEASE be careful what you give up for the sake of so-called convenience and expediency.  All of this will come back to bite us.  No pun intended. 

Internet Giants Do NOT Respect Boundaries

Be careful out there in cyberland.  I think all of our smart phones, iPads, email blah, blah, blah is now being recognized as the privacy nightmare it is. 

Told you so.

I strongly discourage you from downloading any "mobile apps" that are marketed using the cool, in, hipster crowd.  For starters, the security is not secure.  Second of all, can you truly concentrate on the task at hand while on a bus or other public place where strangers are looking over your shoulder?  Besides, the whole myth of multitasking is a complete lie.  We do thousands of things half-ass and nothing with conscious precision and detail -- which leads me back to security not being secure. 

There are so many layers of technology involved and cross-programming that detail and precision are not there like you are led to believe.  Programmers and tech developers are pushed to do whatever it takes to get their app up and running.  Minute details such as security get pushed under the rug.  If security were truly secure, none of the apps would actually work. 

Be VERY leery of what you do online and with your smart phone.  Those who use their smart phones for just calls, texts, and other simple communications are truly the smart ones.  All the other free apps are just a Trojan horse.  

Wireless Communication Shopping

Need a new cell phone, iPad or whatever?  The process is more frustrating than shopping for a car with all of the features, accessories, plans, etc.  Make sure you allow yourself at least half a day for a trip to the AT&T Store.  The negotiating process is no better.  Several times I was left to "get permission from the manager" for including features and devices for my plan.

Buying a car is much, MUCH easier with contracts and fees you can at least wrap your brain around. Communications shopping is much more complicated.  It ranks up there with filing taxes.

Birthday Party

Tonight a good friend of mine turned 50.  Her party was out of this world.  She is a Jewish girl who grew up in Oakland.  Her friends are extremely diverse.  Every age, ethnicity, and religion were represented there tonight.  She had a live band that was as diverse as her friends.  It really was the epitome of what humanity should be about....people every kind of color and background just eating, drinking, dancing and finding simple joy.

Marriage: Should be Illegal

Well, maybe I'm just a tad bitter to address this topic.  However, I think the institution of marriage should be completely abolished.  I don't know why states are trying to bend over backwards to address the issue of same sex marriage.  What we should all be considering is a NO sex marriage (ha ha) meaning we should abolish marriage entirely.  Period. 

If you really think about it, marriage is just a left over custom of slavery of women.  Am I missing anything?  We women suck our husband's dicks, have their babies, wash the shit out of their underwear, all the while they are fucking the waitress at Denny's behind our backs as we are too exhausted taking care of everybody else's needs to even care. 

....and the plus side of marriage is???????????

Gun Control: The Logic (or lack thereof)

I know, I know..... just mention gun control and everybody gets flipped out.  However, there is one point the gun control lobby makes that kind of resonates with me.... Here goes.....Why is it that just *one* person who puts explosives in his shoes has the effect of having us *all* have to remove our shoes for scanning at airport security?  In the same breath, there have been multiple school shootings, murders, crimes of passion using guns as a weapon resulting in fatalities and nothing is done about wanting to regulate firearms?

Intelligent debate only, please.

Life in the 'burbs: Headed for Extinction

30 years from now we will look back nostalgically at the period from 1950-2020.   Sociologists and historians will study what motivated us to:   live far away from where we worked; therefore, intentionally clogging main transportation arteries and filling the air with toxins, live in huge houses that were pretentious and environmentally wasteful, get married and procreate despite the fact that more than half of marriages end in divorce and the world is past the tipping point for food resources......

I could go on and on, but you all get my point.

This will be known as the "beginning of the end."  In a few years, when water will be the recognized prized life force for what it really is and not something to casually fill a swimming pool with, will we become aware of our selfish choices. 


I think the young adults in their 20's and 30's are starting to get it.  The educated and aware ones are not getting married and not having kids.  They want to live in cities.  They can't be bothered with the housework (yawn) maintenance on a McMansion -- they would rather travel and see the world than be balled and chained to one location.

Life in the 'burbs is headed for extinction!  Hooray!!!!!!  Perhaps the biggest question will be just what will the Bored Moms on Prozac do? 

More Psychic Hits

I guess the universe is prodding me to utilize my latent psychic abilities.  I've always known that I'm "different" but it's been something that I've kept under wraps all of my life.  Working in an analytical, concrete, male dominant environment is not conducive to the development of feminine intuition. 

My psychic hits keep coming stronger and more often.  I can't control it.  I want to learn how.  I'm leery of guru "white lighters" who prey on unsuspecting lost souls offering cosmic answers for a fee.  The only ones I trust are those in my coven.  I'm finding I am freaking people out.  I need to learn discernment in sharing what I know and sense.