Good Service

I went to Circuit City the other day; the electronic store that sells everything from DVDs and CDs to computers and TV’s.
I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just browsing. I decided to look for external hard-drives and so I found an employee and asked where they were.
This guy looks at me and (I kid you not) says, “Yeah, you’re going to have to ask someone about that.” He then promptly turns around and walks away.
WHAT THE WORLD!!!
I did just ask someone about that…YOU.
You have to understand this isn’t a very big store. It isn’t a super Wal-Mart. I can stand in the middle of the store, turn in a circle and see all the walls in the store.
So, I continued on my way, found the hard-drives and started looking for something to wipe off my laptop screen.
I had learned my lesson and started looking for them on my own, but my friend just had to ask another employee where those were.
What was his response you ask?
“That isn’t my department, you will need to ask some one else”.
Big freaking surprise there.
I don’t care if it isn’t your department, you are being paid to help me…the customer.
We then heard two more employees talking to another customer and they didn’t know what type of blank CDs he needed to back up his data on his computer.
Maybe, just maybe you should have to take a test to see if you know anything about computers before you WORK IN A COMPUTR STORE…
I would think in a customer service store, customer service would be a big deal. Apparently not.
I can’t really get upset at the employees, it is the manager’s fault.
I managed a Subway for 3 years and if my employee was a jerk guess who heard about it? Yes, Me.
I didn’t even think about complaining to anyone, I just walked out. It will be the last time I go there.

Movie Rant

I went to the movie theater the other day.
Not something that I do often…it is hard to cough up as much money as they are asking for now, when I can just be patient and see it on DVD for much cheaper.
But I went to see the new 007 movie.
Not a bad flick. The ending was inevitable, but I think the way they went about was silly...but everyone is a critic.
But I am curious to know how much it cost to advertise in a movie. Was I the only one or did you catch what electronics brand they were pushing?
I don’t know why, but I have to tell you that when I left that movie I was all ready to buy Sony products.
Oh, wait, no I wasn’t, I don’t even like Sony.
But it was funny to see…the laptop, the digital camera and even the cell phone were all Sony brand.
Blah.
I guess it makes sense, for both the movie makers as well as Sony. The makers get a ton of money for the advertisement and Sony gets it name in front of millions people, all at the expense of little ‘ol me. I paid to get entertained, not have someone push their lousy brand name down my throat.
I wonder if advertisement like that really works. If I was looking for a good brand name electronic I wouldn’t buy it simply because James Bond used it…
But I have to assume that I am a minority and that most of the public does think like that, otherwise they wouldn’t advertise in that way.
Blah.

Leaving a Mark...

All my life I have wanted to make a mark in this world. I’m not alone in this; the world is full of people who want to do this very thing…to varying results. Only history will tell how these ambitious people will be viewed…as famous or infamous.
In my family of seven boys there are several who will make their mark in this world to some degree or another. Being part of such a large family one had to perform to some extent in order to be noticed. One had to play an instrument, be artistic in one way or another, excel in school, or be a leader. While I tried my hand at all of these and can be fairly competent at some, I am always outshined by one brother or another. The drawing talent of some of my bros is amazing. Almost all of them can play some sort of instrument well. Writing and rapping is another one’s gift. One has managerial skills up the ying-yang, I can’t count the businesses he has had a part in opening. Some are organized with their life to the extent that the next several years of their lives are all mapped out already. For others book learning comes as natural as breathing.
When I look at the talent that is in my family I am amazingly proud of everyone. At the same time I am a little jealous. I tried to play an instrument, only to work at it for over a year and have a brother pick it up and surpass me in a matter of months. I tried to draw…again to see that when other brothers drew, my drawings started to look reminiscent of kindergarten all over again. Again and again I would try my hand at something…sweat at it and would be surpassed almost effortlessly. I was biggest brother and that was one thing I had going for me…but even that was taken away recently. I love writing but I know I will never equal the class of one brother.
I enjoyed the things I tried my hand at. I wasn’t doing it just to be noticed (though that did play a role in it), but I wanted to do whatever it was I was doing, until I saw that with all my work, I could never do a good as a job as the other brothers were doing. Usually at that point I quietly stopped and never did it again.
As I am growing up I understand more and more that my acceptance and identity isn’t found in what I am doing or what I accomplish. Nor is it found in other people’s view of me. If I am looking for “myself” in any of those areas as I did for many years I will be continually disappointed and depressed.
It hit me recently that while it may be the destiny of some to leave a mark on this world it obviously isn’t the destiny of everyone. We may all want to touch the world in a memorable way but we all may not. For everyone who leaves a lasting mark there are several million who will never be noticed. Maybe their destiny is to make the famous one what he is…famous. While very few would choose a supporting role; that is where most of us will find ourselves. Our decision becomes how well we will play that role. We can resent and fight against it and thus fulfill our role poorly or we can embrace it and find fulfillment that we never would have expected in playing such a small part.
While I initially fought against me seemingly lesser role I found myself in, I am now beginning to accept it and see the importance of it. With my brothers my job isn’t to compete against them but to encourage them in what they are doing and support them anyway I can. I am learning how to sit in the sidelines and cheer others on. The clincher was when my daughter, Anarazell, was born. She only lived two weeks, but in her sort life she has left more of a mark on people and on this world then I have in 29 years…and you know what, that is ok with me.
Maybe my destiny in this world wasn’t to make a mark, but to have a daughter who did.

Death

I've been thinking about death a lot lately.

Steve the "Croc Hunter" gets stabbed IN THE HEART by a sting-ray. What the Crap? What are the odds? There have been only 17 reported deaths by sting-ray in the world.

A missionary in the organization I am with was bike racing between two cities...Only about an hour apart. A drunk driver forced his way past the rear protection van and started hitting racers. Out of the twelve racers, eight went to the hospital...But only one died.

At the campus I just graduated from a little boy was going to be born in about a month. His mom didn't feel movement and went to the doctors to get his checked...and he was already gone.

My daughter, Anarazell, who was born with a "genetic disorder" only lived two weeks. And that was only because she was on life support. When that was removed she only lived as long as someone can without breath...

I am seeing a pattern...There is no pattern when it comes to death. We might live a long full life, we might be famous and we might even be loved, but when it is time for us to go...We are going to go. Nothing we can do about it...So no need to freak out! We have no idea when our ticket is going to be punched so it is time to start thinking about what happens next. We are going to be dead a lot longer then we will be alive!

Airport conversations...

I am sitting here in the airport waiting for my plane.
My laptop + free WIFI = an easy wait.
It is fascinating to listen to people's conversations.

Two guys next to me are freaking out that their flight is 30 minutes delayed. I find that fascinating. What is worry really going accomplish? Really? The plane is going to get here on time...or it isn't. You will miss your connecting flight...or you won't. Either way freaking out in the seat next to me isn't going to help.
And getting all upset at the ladies at the desk isn't the answer either!! They really can't help you in this area. I am fairly confident that they can't control the weather nor the speed of the inbound plane. And, no, they don't know if you will be making the connecting flight...
But at the same time it gives me something to write about.

A fellow is up at the ticket counter trying to get the dimensions of his exit seat. The ladies are trying to tell him that the seat isn't any bigger but he has more leg room. He can't seem to grasp the concept.
"No, the arm rests are the same height...no, all that is different is the leg room."
Quite amusing.

And I am just starting my trip...I am excited to see what other great conversations this day brings...

Insomnia

I have never really had a problem with sleeping, but lately if I wake up during the night, and stay up longer then a few minutes, then the rest of my night is pretty much shot!
I think that the bout of insomnia is directly related to the time that I need to get up in the morning. Like this morning...I am needing to be up and about around 5 AM...so my daughter woke me up around 2:30 and I am still up. If there was no reason for me to get up this morning...I would still be sleeping soundly!
Usually I try to lay in bed and do my best to fall back to sleep, but when I have less then an hour to sleep I realized that I am fighting a losing battle and I might as well do something with the time. No need to waste it...

We are less then three days away from leaving the state of Missouri for good. I can hardly wait. In my life I don't waste much time on feelings of regret, guilt or other similar emotions. What is done...is done and no amount of emotions can change it. I try to look back and see what I can learn from what has happened and move on. I like to focus on the positives and let the rest roll of my back.
But when it comes to the state of Missouri I can not think of one single thing that is positive. Not one. Which for me is weird...I can usually see good in most situations.
The weather here is gross.
Everything bites...everything! From bugs to snakes to turtles...they all want a piece of you.
The roads are absolutely terrible...and I have been acrossed the country several times.
We have meet some nice people...but none of them are Missouri natives so I can't even give you a good evaluation on that.
And to top it off, Missouri is the state we were living in when our daughter died...so pretty much everything is shadowed by that fact.
I will scratch Missouri, (appropriately nick-named Misery) off my list and hope to never have to live here again...

Things I have learned about Florida

I had an interview in Florida last week, so I flew down there with my wife and daughter.
I have never been that far south before. I don't think that you can consider it the true south even though it is geographically down there. There are too many "snow-birds" from the north, then there are the latinos...alot of them. So it is a different culture from say...Alabama or Georgia.
I was only there of a about eight days, but I learned some very interesting facts:
It is so humid there that my sunglasses fogged up when I stepped outside.
You can't swim in the lakes and you are to keep your pets on a leash when you walk by a lake because they could get eaten by a 'gator.
We went to a local grocery store and then to Target...both of them...the first thing you see when you walk in? A security guard. WHAT...I must live a sheltered life.
I was told by a native there that there are six species of mosquitoes in Florida that are going extinct.
Really...
1.Why would you know such things and
2.Who really cares?
The rain in central Florida doesn't fall down...it falls sideways...I kid you not. The umbrella was completely worthless. From my waist down I was soaked...it was great heading into an interview and being drenched. Someone needs to invent a full body umbrella that is clear that you can just walk where you are going and be totally dry when you get there.
I really don't know why people are so happy to head down to Florida to live. I was told by someone there that they liked Missouri because of the mountains there.
WHAT!!!
Let me tell you...there are NO mountains in Missouri. So that makes me think that if someone from Florida thinks Missouri has mountains...then Florida must be totally flat.
Someone else told me that Florida is nice because of all the clouds...
Yeah...I'll file that one under "W"...for "Woopdy-freaking-doo". Nice clouds...
We were looking into buying seasons passes for Disney World. If we end up there it would be fun to take a day a month and go as a family. That way we don't get burnt out on trying to do everything in just a few days, like most people do.
If you are a resident...then for a year pass for a family of 3...over 1,000 Dollars.
Dang.
A little rich for me!
Well, after totally ripping it apart...I am sure that it can be a nice place to live, and after I get some more schooling I might end up moving there...But until then...OREGON ROCKS...