For some reason, or another, waking up today seemed to be different. I didn't really seem as tired as I normally am. Shaved and showered even before having my coffee. Put cologne on, which I never do, unless I plan something special. I noticed that my walk, even had a bit more gusto than usual. Could this be the start of a new side of me being born???? Went downstairs, remembered to turn off the alarm system, before opening the door, picked up the newspaper, this time fully dressed................no wonder all those little old ladies BBBBBBOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD !!!!!! but I waved back to them in a different spirit. Put the coffee on while I opened the paper, to my favorite section, The obituary. Lets see now..........RIZZO, RIZZO, RIZZO nope, great now I can have my coffee. OOOHHHHH exceptional taste today, nice an strong.......yah!......this will be a good day. OK! lets see, what's the plan today. OOKKay!!! lunch at 1PM at Snoqualmie Casino with two friends It's always fun to watch the wife keep an eye on the husband as he attempts to turn $1 into $100. Home probably in time to see my beloved Mariners loose another game and series. Nice nap on the couch before the real TV night goes into effect. Well, now that the day is coming to an end, I can now report to you that the best laid plans, did not materialize. Sure, we met our friends, Had a very nice lunch.......surprised myself by not trying to get my full $10 worth of food down at one sitting, something just kept telling me to eat more sensible. Home by 4, in time for Judge Judy. Slipped into my MARINER t-shirt. and now it's couch time. Yahhh!!! there is something special about today, Ichiro just started the game off with a double.........maybe, just maybe today is the day!!
On the way into the house........took my GPS out of the car and found my way across the street to the mailbox. WOW!. LOTS of mail today...............and no bills..............that's strange. Well looky here......looks like someone is celebrating something today, lots of cards, even one from the mailman. Why that cheap bast...! didn't even put postage on it and it's written on the back of a paper bag, but like I have always said, it's the thought. It's really funny how everyone knows about this day, even AARP, Social Security, IRS. and a chiropractor I went to 8 years ago. He wants me to come back for an adjustment, an a update on my records, yah! right.
Checked my computer and found that 23 emails out of 37 were from people some of which, I only hear from once a year, or that I owe money to...............OH, that's Ok, I love to hear from them. I live for days like this.!!!!! and folks, don't be shy, email me. I love to hear from each and everyone of you. JUST DON'T SEND ME THOSE POLITICAL MISREPRESENTED, UNTRUE, stories that float around the web looking for some mushy mushroom to take hold and fry my brain. I'm not stupid and know what's real in life.
AH, YES, today certainly is a day, that I look forward to each year. A day, that calls for the joys and good wishes, a day that is even better to me than Christmas. A day, when ........... one can look back on.........and honestly say............I hope this day comes again.................next year. Just seems, it gets longer and longer in between when this day ends to when it begins again, or is it just in the mind. Maybe it's just that I do things .........slower.........now. WELL, whatever it is, I still look forward to it coming back next year.
You may have noticed that only the day is noted in the title.......no year necessary. The years just bring into light that no matter what one does, the year constantly increases.....................we don't need that.
I have also taken notice, that not like in the past when the day was overcast, or a slight rain falling, or the skies have opened up with a downpour, that lately, there seems to be more of a sensation of the sun, if not out in its glory, is making a very hard attempt to bring that beautiful glow to the sky. Perhaps, its the way, I look at the day, perhaps its another force. I, for one, am thankful for at least the attempt.
I don't know about you, but I find myself clipping and saving the horoscope for this day out of the paper. It's interesting to know if what they print, actually becomes fact and if it doesn't how far off they were from the truth. For the past 5 years, my horoscope has told me that my employer has recognise my value and that I should expect compensation beyond all dreams. WELL DUH! I've been retired now going on 15 years...........my employer still has not come through with ANYYYYTHING and worst yet Margot has cut my allowance down to $20/mo. but she does let me use her credit card.
Now......just to finish this up........for everyone there will always be a June 16th, for some it will have a meaning, for the least, the meaning is very special. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VITO !
I just want to leave you with a little something from me to you. This was a birthday gift to me but being the guy I am, let me share it with you. It's a video in Swedish but with English captions. Take a gander at it. Let me know if you recognise anyone.
SO CLICK ON THE LINK AND ENJOY!!!
http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1274976734572RA17
6/22/10
6/11/10
MY NAME.............JOSE JIMEÑEZ.........OR.......JOE NAMATH......OR.....FU MAN CHU........
At some point .....................or many points in.........................one's life, some craziness happens. Don't try to deny it............Just think back and enjoy!!!! I started to think about this recently and came to the conclusion, that one of the the craziest things,in my life occurred while I was an adult, a father, a homeowner, a career minded potential management selectee........BUT STILL FULL OF LIFE.
In the early years of growing up, one might say that it's relatively easy to do crazy things. But as one gets older, this phase of your life hopefully dwindles. Your always under the watchful eye of your parents, who constantly want to teach you..........something...... A boy growing up tends to learn from his father and wants to fall into those shoes, the ones that rule the family. A girl, on the other hand, seems to look more for independence...........but........of course understands the usefullness of swaying the opinion of one parent over the other. Having said that, I must first explain, once again, I was an only child..........adored by both my mom and dad...I had absolutley no knowledge of how little girls minds worked until our own daughter was born. I only knew that my growing up was my following my dad around, wanting to be exactly like him. He was, in my eyes, so smart.......perhaps not educational smart, but more like street smart. He knew stuff that always had a use-----when to be nice to people-----when to be mean to people----- when to joke with people--------when to be serious with people--------when to trust people and when to distrust them.
I wanted my kids to respect me, like I did my parents.......but.......also wanted to share their growing up experiences. I remember a time that long hair was in style along with a Joe Namath type of mustache, now how cool would that be. Joe Namath, a hero in the working. Brought the Super Bowl crown to the mighty New York Jets. I remember having 5 days off, nowhere to go, nothing to do........maybe, just maybe I should get some nerve together. In my heart I knew I would never be able to face my colleagues back at work but I wanted to have some CRAZY thrilling fun.
Since that day, I have stayed away from long hair, crazy mustaches, and any growth that did not go away by itself. Some years after that incident, I found out that my daughter, the one that would yell, IT SCRATCHES.....had a small tattoo on her left shoulder.........or was it the right shoulder.........anyway It was a little gecko. HOW CRAZY WAS THAT??? I asked her about this but never really could understand why it happened. Now........ it was not the end of it. Next it was a toe ring tattoo. "Where does this all stop. Your going to look like a sailor" "What's next............a ship on your chest???" "What would you think If I got a tattoo" HHHMMMMMM! perhaps, just perhaps............nooo this body will not have anything engraved on it, it's perfect as it is..........except for this bulge just below the chest and just above the hips. Now how did that happen??? What crazy stunt did I pull to get that???? Dr. Oz says, that measurement around that area should be equal to, half your height minus the length of your thumb or your big toe, whichever is smaller than your nose........but is that for you being a diabetic or Alzheimer's candidate..... oh! the hell with it. Guess I'll just have another glass of Vito's vino.
Now.........I'm not really sure when ......THESE CRAZIES........leave ones mind or soul but I must say, in a few days I will reach the age of 74. I still find myself thinking about things, I would have or should have done years and years ago. I was recently thinking on how much fun it would be to open up a wine bar, become its maitre-d, wearing a nice tuxedo and roaming the room checking that all my guests were happy with everything they were experiencing. Now, how CRAZY would that be??? I should be thinking about how to stay out of a looney home for the OLDIES, and here I am thinking young!! a masterpiece in the making. I must also add one more thing though, Along these lines...... all of my "BARVINOS" (young vivacious female bar tenders) would be uniformed in "mini tailed tuxedos" carrying on the theme richness. The menu, would be a Sarah Palin carry over from one of her gigs, an ink printed menu on the inside of ones hand and we would call that the CHEATMENU, no not the cheapmenu! After all, we would be carrying two types of wine -----RED-----N-----WHITE------and would not like to have them confused. Now-------the real CRAZY part of this whole idea...........is that 2 potential investors---age 71 and age 73 have already signed on. When does this CRAZY magic end?
After this, if you think the idea of a tattoo has disappeared........guess again. It's just that I can't decide on what kind to get, or where I should have it put. For this, I have to ask my CRAZY self........self.....what shell I do? Why put a blotch on something that is already perfect? Guess this crazy idea will just have to BE PUT on hold. Just had another CRAZY idea. why don't I go outside and pick some weeds????? nah, lets not. THAT'S TO CRAZY!!!!
6/6/10
WHAT HAPPENED? ? ? ? ?
Margot and I were recently in Stockholm, Sweden, the last leg of a month long trip around Europe. We were checking in at the SAS ticket counter at Arlanda airport. When it came our turn to present our baggage and tickets to the very attractive check-in agent, an interesting look came over her face when she looked at my employment date on the ticket. She asked if I was indeed an employee of SAS for the amount of years stated and I had only to confirm that those years were true. She processed our baggage and tickets and just before giving us our temporary boarding cards to help process us through security............she simply asked.............WHAT HAPPENED ? I can only imagine that this question was to do with the financial condition of a once proud airline and now an airline going through the termoil that all the airlines find themselves in presently. Simply answer...................I don't know. Anyway, on that six and a half hour flight to NY, a layover time of four hours in NY and another 6 hour flight to Seattle I kept thinking back over those 39 yrs and tried, in my mind to answer that question............WHAT HAPPENED. I can only offer that very nice young lady my comment of.............I don't know, but I do have my opinion.
When I joined SAS, it was only about 14 or 15 years after its formation. That in itself gave all the employees the inititive to be the best. Like all the other carriers flying, with a few exceptions, we all belonged to a common organization named IATA, based in Montreal, Canada. IATA (Internation Air Travel Association) was the controlling association of all its members for everthing from the food it served to the price it charged. There was no compitition between carriers in anything...........except.......service. I still remember a law suit placed against SAS by PAA over sandwiches. PAA believed that when they served their sandwich of 2 slices of white bread neatly stuffed with baloney, ham and cheese, salami, peanut butter and jelly or whatever else it had, that IT was the true meaning of a sandwich. When it was discovered that SAS was serving one piece of bread neatly covered with, decorative sliced egg with a little dill decoration and a cute little squeeze of majo on top, or a decorative little roll of salami in the shape a pointed hat on top with an olive and not covering it with another slice of bread,............... or that slice of bread, little lettuce and some great tasting cheese and served along with a knife and fork it was seen as a meal. .............well booo hooo to you PanAm.!!! Little did they know that Scandinavians create these decorative little OPEN FACED SANDWICHES, that can be eaten either with a knife and fork or by holding it ones hand for centuries. The makers of these little sandwiches still take great pride in how each sandwich looks. Well, needless to say, PAA lost that case. Now, I mention this .....not to put down PANAM but to point out the fact that people think of service in totally different ways. To explain this I compare the same two airlines. PAA would place a bunch of different kinds of sandwiches neatly labeled in a wicker basket and make their offer to the passenger. SAS would lay out a tablecloth, over the top of the cart , place a variety of open faced sandwiches on a silver tray and make the total presentation , serving each passenger their choice 1 , 2 , 3, with a silver serving knife by a steward dressed in a chefs uniform including the high hat, checkered pants with a serving towel hanging from the string tie of the apron. Best though it was served on a china plate with knife and fork and one thought.....OH, my gosh....how will I finish all this food. In those days, stewards were all men trained in culinary arts. Hostesses were all woman trained in assisting passengers with grace most being trained in the nursing field. Now-a-days, its all mixed up and some pride has been lost. Now, its carts being rolled down the isle by both men and woman, and pre made up trays placed in front of you. The personal end has long gone. Food is served in little aluminum trays and eaten with plastic utensils that usually break during the meal and you must learn the art of STABBING the food. Now who do I blame for this ?? both the airlines and the personnel. Everything happens much to fast. service is the thing of the past. Even on the ground one can see that people are moved like cattle from one station to another by people that either do not speak in sentences but in some kind of mumbled vocabulary and hand jesters............when we finally got to NY and had to go through the government facilities all we would get from the so-called welcome committee is.............Americas here. no Americas dare. WHAT DID SHE SAY?? If she can't speak the language how will she be able to read enough to help someone fill out those forms needed by the authorities. Now, I mention all of this for the simple reason to point out ...............people just seem to work ...........for the wage, not for the pride. Companies seem to be in business for the big profits, to satisfy their investors and board of directors..........not for the services they provide to passengers.. The airlines just move people from point A to point B. Employees no longer seem to have pride in their jobs, themselves or their companies. "I'm here for my 8 hours, which includes an hour for lunch and 2 coffee breaks of 20 minutes each, 4 bathroom breaks of 15 minutes each and whatever time I can waste talking jibbish with my friends. What else do you want from me?" I was always taught that if a customer is standing in front of me, I was to acknowledge their presence, THEY were the people paying me. I noticed on this trip the sad fact that some agents never lifted their head and continued talking with their colleague, more so in America than in Europe. Europeans still have the sense of giving more service but lack the one skill of smiling. Now, in my opinion, the reason for all this is very simple. In order for the airlines to make the desired profit they must reduce costs. One of the most expensive costs seem to be people and their demanded amenities.Sssooooo ! the airlines go and employee handling companies, that usually offer minimum wage and reduced or no amenities. In all due respect, these employees are capable of handling a specific job, under stressful situations for the under wage they receive. Most speak broken or incorrect English, Spanish, Italian,German, Swedish, etc. etc etc ..............but have the willingness to work...........others may have the willingness to work....but.....only for the wage....they think they deserve. The last group of employees lack the proper training..............and inititive to do more than they think they should.
Now, back to the pretty young lady at the ticket counter. This is all I have to offer. I still do not know WHAT HAPPENED.
When I joined SAS, it was only about 14 or 15 years after its formation. That in itself gave all the employees the inititive to be the best. Like all the other carriers flying, with a few exceptions, we all belonged to a common organization named IATA, based in Montreal, Canada. IATA (Internation Air Travel Association) was the controlling association of all its members for everthing from the food it served to the price it charged. There was no compitition between carriers in anything...........except.......service. I still remember a law suit placed against SAS by PAA over sandwiches. PAA believed that when they served their sandwich of 2 slices of white bread neatly stuffed with baloney, ham and cheese, salami, peanut butter and jelly or whatever else it had, that IT was the true meaning of a sandwich. When it was discovered that SAS was serving one piece of bread neatly covered with, decorative sliced egg with a little dill decoration and a cute little squeeze of majo on top, or a decorative little roll of salami in the shape a pointed hat on top with an olive and not covering it with another slice of bread,............... or that slice of bread, little lettuce and some great tasting cheese and served along with a knife and fork it was seen as a meal. .............well booo hooo to you PanAm.!!! Little did they know that Scandinavians create these decorative little OPEN FACED SANDWICHES, that can be eaten either with a knife and fork or by holding it ones hand for centuries. The makers of these little sandwiches still take great pride in how each sandwich looks. Well, needless to say, PAA lost that case. Now, I mention this .....not to put down PANAM but to point out the fact that people think of service in totally different ways. To explain this I compare the same two airlines. PAA would place a bunch of different kinds of sandwiches neatly labeled in a wicker basket and make their offer to the passenger. SAS would lay out a tablecloth, over the top of the cart , place a variety of open faced sandwiches on a silver tray and make the total presentation , serving each passenger their choice 1 , 2 , 3, with a silver serving knife by a steward dressed in a chefs uniform including the high hat, checkered pants with a serving towel hanging from the string tie of the apron. Best though it was served on a china plate with knife and fork and one thought.....OH, my gosh....how will I finish all this food. In those days, stewards were all men trained in culinary arts. Hostesses were all woman trained in assisting passengers with grace most being trained in the nursing field. Now-a-days, its all mixed up and some pride has been lost. Now, its carts being rolled down the isle by both men and woman, and pre made up trays placed in front of you. The personal end has long gone. Food is served in little aluminum trays and eaten with plastic utensils that usually break during the meal and you must learn the art of STABBING the food. Now who do I blame for this ?? both the airlines and the personnel. Everything happens much to fast. service is the thing of the past. Even on the ground one can see that people are moved like cattle from one station to another by people that either do not speak in sentences but in some kind of mumbled vocabulary and hand jesters............when we finally got to NY and had to go through the government facilities all we would get from the so-called welcome committee is.............Americas here. no Americas dare. WHAT DID SHE SAY?? If she can't speak the language how will she be able to read enough to help someone fill out those forms needed by the authorities. Now, I mention all of this for the simple reason to point out ...............people just seem to work ...........for the wage, not for the pride. Companies seem to be in business for the big profits, to satisfy their investors and board of directors..........not for the services they provide to passengers.. The airlines just move people from point A to point B. Employees no longer seem to have pride in their jobs, themselves or their companies. "I'm here for my 8 hours, which includes an hour for lunch and 2 coffee breaks of 20 minutes each, 4 bathroom breaks of 15 minutes each and whatever time I can waste talking jibbish with my friends. What else do you want from me?" I was always taught that if a customer is standing in front of me, I was to acknowledge their presence, THEY were the people paying me. I noticed on this trip the sad fact that some agents never lifted their head and continued talking with their colleague, more so in America than in Europe. Europeans still have the sense of giving more service but lack the one skill of smiling. Now, in my opinion, the reason for all this is very simple. In order for the airlines to make the desired profit they must reduce costs. One of the most expensive costs seem to be people and their demanded amenities.Sssooooo ! the airlines go and employee handling companies, that usually offer minimum wage and reduced or no amenities. In all due respect, these employees are capable of handling a specific job, under stressful situations for the under wage they receive. Most speak broken or incorrect English, Spanish, Italian,German, Swedish, etc. etc etc ..............but have the willingness to work...........others may have the willingness to work....but.....only for the wage....they think they deserve. The last group of employees lack the proper training..............and inititive to do more than they think they should.
Now, back to the pretty young lady at the ticket counter. This is all I have to offer. I still do not know WHAT HAPPENED.
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