About 9 or 10 days ago I ordered some fly tying materials and tools from Cabelas. The order totaled $153 and some cents. I had a $20 coupon so that was motivating me to act. One of the items I ordered was a bodkin. If you click on the link you will see that it cost a whopping $2.99. I do have a bad case of gear lust so when the box came I opened it with the delight of a child. That's not LIKE a child, that's WITH the delight of a child.
But oh look, the little plastic bag with the $2.99 bodkin was empty. I thought about throwing the bag in the garbage and forgetting about it. I called Cabelas and told them I was missing my incredibly important new bodkin but said I didn't want them to waste postage on sending me just one item. I suggested they put it in my electronic cart and ship it to me the next time I ordered something. The gal who I was talking to in customer service told me she needed to transfer me to customer service. "What?..." I was on hold with customer service for a few minutes and then I got a recorded message that said customer service was closed. I thought, "heck it's a $3 item; throw the little envelope in the garbage and be done with it."
I let it sit on my desk for a few days and called back after I ate lunch one day. Someone answered and put me on hold. After holding the call went dead. I called again and I repeated the same story about opening the box and finding the envelope for the bodkin empty. I suggested that they put it my electronic cart and just send it to me the next time I ordered something. This person in customer service told me that she needed to transfer me to customer service. I held for 15 minutes and really had to ask myself, "What the HELL are you doing?" When a nice lady finally came on the line I told her that I should have thrown the empty envelope away and got on with my life. Instead, I was into this for 30 minutes of wasted time and no darn bodkin. The last customer service rep I talked to couldn't find a bodkin in their system at first so she couldn't send me one.
A small part of me thinks its the "principle of the thing" and they should send me the $3 bodkin. Okay, it IS the principle of the thing. Let's see here... Where else in Snohomish County, in Washington State, in the USA, or in the world are there concerns about the "principle of the thing." In Cairo there are millions of people concerned about the principle of the thing right now.
A bodkin? A THREE DOLLAR, stupid fly tying tool?!! GET A GRIP!!! Was I really even a little bit annoyed about that? Sadly I was. I should have thrown the empty envelope in the garbage, not given it another thought, smiled, and thanked God for all of my blessings.
Get a grip! It is the principle of the thing after all and that is that I need to not just count my blessings but feel them!
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
Oh, and feel your blessings too.
P
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Proud to be an American: Part III
Two Sundays ago I was holding an open house for a listing of mine in Redmond. The home is just minutes from Microsoft. There were people looking at the home virtually the entire time I was there. Much of the time there was more than one person or more than one group of people. Most of the visitors spoke English as a second language. Throughout the day I heard at least five different foreign languages; it may have been six. At about 3:00 there were three families in the home. One was from Russia, one was from India, and one was from France. They spoke to each other in their native languages. I was the only one in the home who couldn't understand a single word that was being said. It was fascinating and kind of amazing.
How many other places on the planet could this happen? Yes, we have experienced a serious recession. Even now where else is there the economic opportunity for people like there is here? What other country welcomes people of such varied backgrounds? Where else on the earth is there such diversity on so many levels? There could easily be a few countries that have the opportunity, tolerance, and the freedom that we do but not very darn many if any at all.
I am far from perfect as an individual; I have plenty of room for improvement. My country isn't perfect; it has plenty of room for improvement. I stood in that home, listened to families talking in three languages, smiled, and felt grateful to be an American.
How many other places on the planet could this happen? Yes, we have experienced a serious recession. Even now where else is there the economic opportunity for people like there is here? What other country welcomes people of such varied backgrounds? Where else on the earth is there such diversity on so many levels? There could easily be a few countries that have the opportunity, tolerance, and the freedom that we do but not very darn many if any at all.
I am far from perfect as an individual; I have plenty of room for improvement. My country isn't perfect; it has plenty of room for improvement. I stood in that home, listened to families talking in three languages, smiled, and felt grateful to be an American.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Listening Part III: A Man Named Volunteer
Working out at the “Y” sometimes I see a man wiping down the exercise bikes and the elliptical trainers. His pants are hiked up and his t-shirt is always tucked in. His t-shirt says “volunteer” on the back. He looks like a special ed person. He looks like someone who would have attended our Life Skills Christmas party back in the day. Working slowly and carefully he wipes down virtually square inch of the machine he is attending to. In the past several weeks I have seen him 7 or 8 times. I make a point of saying hi to him when I walk by. He looks at me blankly but doesn’t answer. When I am on a machine near him I can hear him either making quiet noises sometimes or possibly saying something to himself. I’m not sure what he is doing. It just sounds like the occasional odd noise to me. He has a name tag on the front of his shirt. It wasn’t until the third or fourth time I had seen him that I could see the nametag. It says, “Volunteer”.
This past Tuesday I walked by him on my way to a different machine. As I was approaching I thought to myself that I think he makes funny noises; I wonder if when I say hi to him he thinks to himself, “That guy makes funny noises." I said hi to him as I walked by. He looked at me and said, “BraaNoo, BraaaNoo, BbbbrraaaNoo.” I was surprised to have him answer me. I asked him to repeat what he was saying. He said it several times and I realized he was saying “Brand new.” I answered, “You are making the machines look brand new?” He said, “LieBraaNoo, LieBraaNoo.” I said, “Like brand new?” He nodded. I told him he did good work and thanked him. Since I had not heard him talk before I wasn’t even sure he could talk.
Sometimes people are listening and you just don’t realize it. I realized he was listening after all and that I just had to say hi several times before he answered. I am going to ask him his name the next time I see him.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
This past Tuesday I walked by him on my way to a different machine. As I was approaching I thought to myself that I think he makes funny noises; I wonder if when I say hi to him he thinks to himself, “That guy makes funny noises." I said hi to him as I walked by. He looked at me and said, “BraaNoo, BraaaNoo, BbbbrraaaNoo.” I was surprised to have him answer me. I asked him to repeat what he was saying. He said it several times and I realized he was saying “Brand new.” I answered, “You are making the machines look brand new?” He said, “LieBraaNoo, LieBraaNoo.” I said, “Like brand new?” He nodded. I told him he did good work and thanked him. Since I had not heard him talk before I wasn’t even sure he could talk.
Sometimes people are listening and you just don’t realize it. I realized he was listening after all and that I just had to say hi several times before he answered. I am going to ask him his name the next time I see him.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, January 7, 2011
Listening: Part II
I learned a lot about listening by listening. In 1991, I remember a student, LAJ, coming in after school to talk to me. She had said she was upset and needed to kind of unload. I listened to her talk for 45 minutes; she was crying much of the time. At this point I don’t remember much of what she said; come on, it’s been 20 years. What I do remember is that a couple times I started to open my mouth to give advice. I thought better of it and just kept my advice to myself. I continued to acknowledge that I was listening and that I understood what she was saying. After 45 minutes she paused, took a deep breath, and stopped crying just like that. She smiled and said thanks for listening. She picked up her things, thanked me again, told me it really helped, and headed for home. I thought to myself that I didn't "do" anything to help. Maybe my mouth doesn't have to move much for me to be "doing" something to help. The lesson I learned or relearned that day was that I helped Laura more by listening than I would have by giving advice. Advice works the best when it is requested. I am full of good advice after all but sometimes my good advice accomplishes the most when I just keep it to myself and be a good, supportive, loving listener.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, December 31, 2010
Listening: Part I
I learned a lot about listening by listening. It took me a long time to learn to be patiently, quietly, and supportively present for someone who needed to talk. That lesson was, and for that matter still is, the most difficult when I don’t agree with the person talking. And still more difficult yet, when the person talking is in some way expressing concern about something I have or have not done. It is too easy to mistake listening for grudgingly taking turns talking. Listening can become me waiting for you to stop talking so I can start talking again. I continue to work at being a good listener.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wedding Anniversary--"I did, I do, I WILL."
Thirty-three years ago yesterday, Katy and I were married. It sounds so much longer than it actually feels. I can’t imagine my life without having married her. I was in love when we got married and yet I am more in love today than I ever knew I could be.
We went to a wedding last weekend of a young couple. I have been to lots and lots of weddings through the years. This was the largest one I have ever been to; there were almost 450 people there. There were three videographers. At the reception there was an extensive slide show of the bride and groom from the time they were little. There was a 20 minute video of them talking about how they met and remembering their experiences together in the year they have known each other. It was pretty impressive.
When Katy and I were married there were no video cameras, no digital cameras, and no personal computers. There were film pictures and we have an album with them in it. I put a portable cassette tape recorder on the floor while we said our vows so we have a somewhat audible recording of the ceremony.
Where has the time gone? There have been so many changes in our lives and those changes aren’t just the result of changes in the world. We have experienced a myriad of personal change on our own and together. We have grown individually and together. We are still the people we were when we were married. Well, sort of. We are each someone else too. In the midst of that change we have encouraged and supported each other.
We have faced challenges together. A couple of those challenges have been very difficult. We still laugh together and so much enjoy each other’s company. Decades before the characters in Avatar where saying, “I see you,” I was saying it to Katy. I still say it. “I see you,” means many things to me but most of all I still celebrate being in her presence. I still love the sound of her voice. We are still friends and we are still lovers. We each support the other in our individual endeavors and we enjoy doing things together. I still tell her I love her every day and work to show it.
It has been said that being 60 is the youth of old age. As of October 11, 2010 we are both officially entering the youth of our old age. I look forward to the years to come; together, I embrace them with open arms.
Thirty three years ago yesterday we stood in front of our God, our families, and our friends, and made our wedding vows. We both said “I do.” As to making wedding vows—past, present, and future—“I did, I do, and I WILL!”
It is the weekend and it is a holiday weekend. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally.
PS I still think Katy is pretty darn hot too.
P
We went to a wedding last weekend of a young couple. I have been to lots and lots of weddings through the years. This was the largest one I have ever been to; there were almost 450 people there. There were three videographers. At the reception there was an extensive slide show of the bride and groom from the time they were little. There was a 20 minute video of them talking about how they met and remembering their experiences together in the year they have known each other. It was pretty impressive.
When Katy and I were married there were no video cameras, no digital cameras, and no personal computers. There were film pictures and we have an album with them in it. I put a portable cassette tape recorder on the floor while we said our vows so we have a somewhat audible recording of the ceremony.
Where has the time gone? There have been so many changes in our lives and those changes aren’t just the result of changes in the world. We have experienced a myriad of personal change on our own and together. We have grown individually and together. We are still the people we were when we were married. Well, sort of. We are each someone else too. In the midst of that change we have encouraged and supported each other.
We have faced challenges together. A couple of those challenges have been very difficult. We still laugh together and so much enjoy each other’s company. Decades before the characters in Avatar where saying, “I see you,” I was saying it to Katy. I still say it. “I see you,” means many things to me but most of all I still celebrate being in her presence. I still love the sound of her voice. We are still friends and we are still lovers. We each support the other in our individual endeavors and we enjoy doing things together. I still tell her I love her every day and work to show it.
It has been said that being 60 is the youth of old age. As of October 11, 2010 we are both officially entering the youth of our old age. I look forward to the years to come; together, I embrace them with open arms.
Thirty three years ago yesterday we stood in front of our God, our families, and our friends, and made our wedding vows. We both said “I do.” As to making wedding vows—past, present, and future—“I did, I do, and I WILL!”
It is the weekend and it is a holiday weekend. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally.
PS I still think Katy is pretty darn hot too.
P
Friday, December 17, 2010
2010 Christmas List
Years ago, when I was younger and better looking, along with teaching Marketing I was also teaching Typing. Yes, Typing. That was the 70's. Not only were there no personal computers yet we were using manual typewriters. That's the kind where you have to press the key all the way down. Here is a picture of the ones we used. If you didn't hold the shift key all the way down long enough the capital letters would be above the line; they were called flying capitals.
Since these weren't computers we had to center everything manually. Horizontally, you went to the center of the paper and then backspaced once for every two letters and spaces to get the starting point. Vertically, you went lines available, minus lines used, divided by two, to find the starting line.
That's an interesting little anecdote but what is "really important" is that for one of our centering projects I would have kids center my Christmas list. I sure thought that was funny. Most kids thought it was funny too. At least the ones that had a sense of humor thought it was funny. I don't know about the rest of them.
Even when I went to full time Marketing in the 80's I was still handing out my Christmas list to kids. I always said, "I'm doing this as a service to you to help take the worry out of your shopping."
One year a kid told me that she had seen my Christmas listed taped up at Everett Mall. Good grief, what was wrong with kids back then?...
I have embraced my new life as a real estate agent but I still want to "give out" my Christmas list so here it is. Truly, I just want the last seven things. (But I'll take the other stuff too.)
Since these weren't computers we had to center everything manually. Horizontally, you went to the center of the paper and then backspaced once for every two letters and spaces to get the starting point. Vertically, you went lines available, minus lines used, divided by two, to find the starting line.
That's an interesting little anecdote but what is "really important" is that for one of our centering projects I would have kids center my Christmas list. I sure thought that was funny. Most kids thought it was funny too. At least the ones that had a sense of humor thought it was funny. I don't know about the rest of them.
Even when I went to full time Marketing in the 80's I was still handing out my Christmas list to kids. I always said, "I'm doing this as a service to you to help take the worry out of your shopping."
One year a kid told me that she had seen my Christmas listed taped up at Everett Mall. Good grief, what was wrong with kids back then?...
I have embraced my new life as a real estate agent but I still want to "give out" my Christmas list so here it is. Truly, I just want the last seven things. (But I'll take the other stuff too.)
Mr. P.’s 2010 Christmas List
Junior Mints
CD’s
(Cool ones of course. And by the way my mother doesn’t like me listening to explicit lyrics so DON’T get me any!)
Moonstruck Chocolates
An iTunes gift certificate
A Lamson Velocity 3.5 Hard Alox reel
A line for the reel
Rose Hill Chocolates
****A bonefish trip guided by MPHS Alumnus Michael White to wherever he says the fishing is good****
(Get this, get this!)
Moonstruck Chocolates
(I know)
A helicopter
(Slightly used would be okay)
A pilot
(Duh, I can’t fly the helicopter.)
Rose Hill Chocolates
(Yeah, yeah, I know)
An NHL Hockey Team
(Preferably in the western United States but I won’t be picky if you get me the Habs.)
My own island in the San Juans
(with a helicopter landing pad)
Microsoft
(Yes, the whole thing. Bill and Melinda would have me and Katy over for dinner I bet.)
The Blackfoot Reservoir
(Never mind I don’t want the island anymore; I’ll just take this reservoir. I really want that bonefish trip though.)
My own private parking space
(Everywhere I go)
Good health for my family and friends
(And me too)
Peace of mind and peace of heart for my family and friends
(And me too)
No suffering for my mother
World Peace
(Yes, I’m serious)
Justice
Forgiveness
Happiness and well being for my kids
Here is wishing all of you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope you get everything on your Christmas list and I hope you find some joy in helping someone else with their Christmas list.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally.
P
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