This weekend April 17, 2011 I participated in a Project Appleseed Rifle event. My son Michael (17), Annie (16) and me the mom (58). Why we went?  It was a chance to study about American heritage and the skills that brought the country to where it is today and to learn about marksmanship.  The marksmanship training was mixed with educational teachings about the people, events and ideas that lead to the start of the American Revolution. What they teach is real rifle marksmanship (the best I’ve seen) and safety (big-time on the safety). Not to get into minute detail, however, we learned how to use the GI sling the right way (it’s not just for carrying the gun with!) and how to shoot properly while standing, kneeling/sitting, and prone. My kids complained they could hardly walk the next day. They had fun telling their friends why they were so stiff. The guys really teach you how to shoot. I was smart enough to start taking ibuprofen before I started my day. http://youtu.be/ts18GYUmsX4  Watch this video

I learned that, and I quote the first paragraph here, “Through Project Appleseed, the Revolutionary War Veterans Association is committed to teaching two things: rifle marksmanship and our early American heritage. We do this for one simple reason, the skill and knowledge of what our founding fathers left to us is eroding in modern America and without deliberate action, they will be lost to ignorance and apathy.” I highly suggest you go there and read this statement in it’s entirety along with the report entitled The American Revolution. Who Cares? which is available via a link. The test and report are the work of an outfit independent of the RWVA (that’s the Revolutionary War Veterans Association by the way), the American Revolution Center (ARC), a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization. The results are utterly shocking; no wonder we’re in the shape we are as a nation and a people.
The RWVA Appleseed Project’s motto is (or at least I believe it is) “April 19th 1775 When Marksmanship Met History and the Heritage Began”. That sounds great, even better if you know the importance of April the 19th 1775, do you? I do, well; at least I do now thanks to these folks.
The real reason I initially attended an event. An event is what they call a shoot or gathering (it is NOT a match as you only compete with yourself). I went because they claimed to be able to greatly improve my rifle marksmanship skills in just two days on the firing line and at a very little cost.  First, I am a pretty darned good shot but who can’t use a tune-up and second, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money at a gun range. So I signed up for a one day shoot. Saturday was a lot more intense and is good for someone who has never shoot a rifle. I was only able to attend the second day and I am really glad I did. They are “marksman” they were right on when they said that I would improve my shot. They proved it and it was not only a fantastic history lesson it was a lesson on becoming an excellent rifleman. I cannot recommend these people enough let me tell you.

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/pdf/Swat_the_Appleseed_Project_Feb_2008.pdf  You must attend a Appleseed Project. The whole family will love the history and learning the history that goes with  “April 19th 1775 When Marksmanship Met History and the Heritage Began”.

Welcome to Project Appleseed

What the RWVA (Revolutionary War Veterans Association) is all about:

History and Heritage
Project Appleseed is an activity of The Revolutionary War Veterans Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to teaching every American our shared heritage and history as well as traditional rifle marksmanship skills.  Our volunteer instructors travel across the country teaching those who attend about the difficult choices, the heroic actions, and the sacrifices that the Founders made on behalf of modern Americans, all of whom are their “progeny.”

Our heritage program vividly portrays the Battles of Lexington and Concord with the kind of care and immediacy that is absent from most formal schooling. Modern listeners are confronted with the danger, the fear, and the heartbreaking separations that arose out of the choices made on April 19th, 1775. They are also reminded of the marksmanship skills and masterful organization that ultimately helped set the colonists on the path to success. Those who attend gain a better understanding of the fundamental choices faced by our ancestors as they began to set the stage for the nation we now enjoy.

Marksmanship Clinic

Our rifle marksmanship program complements our history and heritage.  We teach the traditional American marksmanship skills.  There are, however, several aspects of our marksmanship program that deserve special mention. We are particularly proud of our younger attendees. In accordance with applicable local laws, young people with sufficient maturity are welcome to the Appleseed line and can, with parental permission, join the cadre.  The RWVA recognizes the importance of introducing a wide cross section of Americans to their marksmanship heritage. To encourage participation, we offer our program of instruction at a greatly reduced price to both women, and responsible persons under 21; Finally, an important aspect of our marksmanship program is called “Adaptive Appleseed.” Project Appleseed is serious about bringing our heritage and marksmanship instruction to everyone so we’ve committed ourselves to adapting Appleseed to the special needs of those who have certain physical challenges.

Why teach marksmanship?  Because good shooting requires learning positive traits such as patience, determination, focus, attention to detail, and persistence.   Since these skills are likewise key elements of mature participation in civic activities, we urge our students to take what they have learned about themselves as marksmen and apply it to their participation in their communities and in the wider American society in accordance with their own choices about how Americans should govern themselves.

Civic Involvement

There are those who feel that America’s future is grim, that is, that America has lost something special and it can never be regained.   And in their consternation they mutter about “dark choices” and the like.  Appleseed has a message for them.   Just over two hundred years ago our ancestors genuinely faced a tough choice.  They could submit to those they felt were depriving them of their rights as Englishmen or they could fight.  Because they chose as they did, we may never have to face their dilemma because we have a third alternative.

So what must you do with your third choice?  Well, you must roll out of the recliner, cut off the computer, turn down the TV and get involved.  That’s it.  Talk to family, talk to friends, interact with neighbors, take part in local community decisions, and become active in whatever political party best fits your idea of how America should be governed.  Write to your elected representative, attend town halls, correspond with newspaper editors, and wholeheartedly enter the discussion in both online and traditional forums.

Read!  Think!  Debate!  Vote!  And finally, we’d really like your help in shaping America’s bright future by participating in this program as a student, as an instructor, or as a volunteer in other support roles.  But even if you never pick up a rifle again, know that you are everything that Project Appleseed works for.  You are an involved, committed American making responsible use of the liberties gifted to us so long ago.  The future is what we make — YOU make — of it.

Teaching History
Shoot Video
 
Firing Line
Our Letter to the Editor

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The term pump first popped up in 1550 in England, where male servants sported the style. It is said that the noise they made while wearing the loose-fitting shoes resembled the sound of a water pump.

The word sneaker entered the language in the 1870s; the rubber soles made the shoes quiet and therefore “sneaky.”

The modern usage of stiletto, a Renaissance-era Italian word for an assassin’s narrow-bladed knife, made its debut in 1953. The word turned out to be especially appropriate, because the shoes’ pointy heels were murder on wooden floors.

In 1977 University of Vermont student Lisa Lindahl was running 30 miles a week — and her bra wasn’t holding up. With the help of two classmates, Lindahl sewed together two jock straps and — presto! — the sports bra was born.

The coeds founded the company Jogbra a year later, garnering eternal gratitude from exercise-loving women everywhere. Almost 40,000 sports bras are now sold annually.

How would you like to have or give your child or family member black aluminum wallet cards that custom engraved with your 20 most critical contacts and phone numbers. This card is virtually indestructible and will provide access to your important numbers when digital phone books are unavailable. You can have engraved your, “in case of emergency” plan and memorialize your family communication plan.
Every single person should have this in their wallet. Call me I can do this for you. (949) 631-5596 or email awardpro@roadrunner.com

I write now with a son going into his Senior year and my daughter will soon be a Jr. They have both been at this school since 7th grade. I must say that this school is truly preparing them for the hardest of hard college. I am honored that my kids will graduate from the Orange County High School of the Arts. Keep the competiton strong and fierce because it prepares you for the real world.

School started August for both my kids. My daughter is a freshman and my son a sophomore. They both started at OCHSA when they were in the 7th grade so not much has changed except I now say they are both in high school. Gee I feel old. But I want to tell you what I think of this school. I cherish the opportunity to sit in on a class or just to be on the campus of this amazing school. This OC high school is not for everyone. You child will not be on a sports team but in a conservatory. They climb stairs to their air conditioned classes in an old but made new bank building. This is my story about this wonderful school. The dancing and music in the halls is loud , exciting and infectious. It gives me the chills to be here and I love it. I could almost feel my own feet wanting to tap. Oh to be young and to have had the chance to go to a school like this. Last year I sat in for a while in my kids  math class. The kids were doing complicated math equations with I Pod music in the background. Each student had a sparkle in their eye. They were happy in class. My son’s science class was a class full of high energy and happy kids. The classes are not a lecture but a hands on creative group effort with colorful kids discovering new answers. Each student I get the chance to talk to or to see perform has found the true meaning of being happy at school. This is a school that they can be themselves, whoever they want to be. The parents here are involved and have worked very hard to prepare their children to achieve their artistic goals. You can not come to this school unless you have a strong parent. You see it is us parents that have driven these kids to their lessons and found this school for them so they can grow up be a part of the arts. This is a school that allows the student to focus on a passion that will be with them forever. They work hard to get excepted here and it is not easy to get in. My son Michael  made it into the Symphony this year and will have the chance to play at Segrestron Hall. He is a violinist and piano composer and already knows he wants to write music for the movies. Annie also plays the violin but she wants to try acting. She tried out for acting and did not make it in but this year she will take classes and try again this year.  If your child shows any creativity and you want them to be nurtured and guided to excellence then you need to look into The Orange County High School of the Arts. Kids commute as much as two hours each way just to come to this school. Good luck and remember. Practice! Practice! Practice!

This was my morning read. I really found this story to be heart warming.

Separated by years and oceans, pen pals reconnect.

After many years of driving a large luxury SUV I decided it was time for a new car. My kids are also at the age that they need a car to learn in. The Navigator is just too big for them to drive. When I went to a gas station I could never fill up my 28 gallon tank with the $75.00 limit. Time for me to downsize and maybe I could get a car that used regular gas. OH happy day! But what I was not looking forward to was working with a car salesman. I thought it best to look at the cars on the road. Then if I like the look of the car I did the research. www.consumerreports.org was my starting point. I soon realized that the research did not help because they gave accolades to many of the cars on the road that I was not interested in. I did know that I wanted a small SUV and not a car. So time to go to the car dealership and test drive cars that I thought I would like.

I started my quest on Harbor Blvd in Costa Mesa, CA. The Ford dealership was first and the only car I wanted to look at was the Ford Edge. The car salesman came up to me and wanted to shake my hand and ask me how I was. I will never understand why people ask how you are with no intention of finding out and anyway, I don’t know this person why would I tell him how I feel. So I just smiled and asked to sit in the car. I need a car that has a left and right place to put my arms, a place to store small odds and ends and most important I wanted places to plug in an I Pod and a computer. Have you sat in the Ford Edge? This car is hard to see out the back and you also could not see the where the front of the car ended. Thank you Mr. Salesman, I am just looking. Next stop Chevrolet to look at the Equinox and Traverse. I sat in these cars and it felt like I was in a tank. This is a good thing if you want this feel. I must admit I did pass on looking at any Toyotas. Too many recalls and I just did not love any of the SUV’s. The car salesmen each had a story that their car is the best car on the road; sit down in my office and I will make you a deal. No I said I prefer to stand. Then when I kept looking they would tell me the 0% financing and I told them I was paying cash. I told them I was looking for a white car and they wanted to show me a black car. But they would say they could make me a good deal today and I could drive off in a brand new car today. They said I should finance the car and keep the money in the bank. I kept saying no and they kept saying I should lease or finance the car. This was getting funny. Thank you and I left. Then he came up to the car while I was getting ready to drive away and said that they have a red car with low miles and I could drive it home tonight for no money down. MR. SALESMAN I WANT A WHITE CAR.

I drove every SUV I could imagine. I do not understand why they make cars that require back up cameras. Can’t you just look out the back window? Oh yeah they forgot this part of the car. After driving every car on every lot I went home to think about which car I liked.

The Honda CRV EXL white or blue with gray leather was the car I really liked. It was a simple car that felt right. I went to Freeway Honda dealership and asked more questions. I walked in and someone came to great me. Then he introduced me to a CRV expert. Looks like the commission will be going to both people. As soon as they new that I wanted a specific car you could see the show start to go on.

This is where the lights came on the stage and the car salesmen went into their act. They sat me down and tried to get me to commit to buying a car at the MSRP. You have got to be kidding.

How much is this car? He pointed to the sticker on the car. This is what you pay he said. I pay the MSRP? Really? No Mr. Salesman how much do I pay for the car really? MSRP – “Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price”: Note here that the word “suggested” is key. Basically, the manufacturer builds the car, sells it to a dealer, and suggests to that dealer what the dealer should sell it for. This is NOT the price the dealer pays for the car, nor should you EVER pay this price for any car!

Mr. Salesman says I need to come into his (cage) office so he can show me his list price for the car. List Price – There’s no such thing. The only things that have list prices are Santa Claus. If a dealer uses this term, insist that he clarify whether he means MSRP, Dealer Price, or Bank Value.

Let me show you the dealer cost then. Dealer Price – This misleading term is usually not the final cost a dealer will shell out for a vehicle! Yes, the dealer did initially drop an amount of cash equal to “dealer price” to get the vehicle, but there are ways that dealer will get some of that money back. Consider this the INITIAL money the dealer put out for the vehicle, not the FINAL cost he or she will pay. Likewise, there’s no reason for you to pay even this amount, either!

This car buying experience was starting to make me laugh and it was becoming a hassle.

I was showed the “invoice” for the car and I think he thought that I thought that this was what the car should sell for. Then he said we should talk about options for the car.

Option – This is something that you can choose to have installed in your vehicle. There’s no such thing as a “standard option,” so when the dealer says that, inform him that it’s a standard, not an option. Options are things such as a sunroof, which you have to pay extra to get installed. If the car you want has options installed that you don’t want, insist to not pay for those pieces. After all, you don’t want them. If the dealer really wanted to, he could order you a new car from the factory with those options not installed. Insist on having the dealer split the cost of these “options” with you if he doesn’t want to order a new version from the factory.

Well this was making me angry. So I said that I would like one price that is “out the door”. He had to go has his boss. The price was higher than all my research. I left. Sorry Freeway Honda you do not have a deal.

After I left Freeway Honda I thought it would be best to do more research since I knew that the car had every option I wanted. I went home to do more research. How come you can not buy a car at Nordstrom’s? It would be so much easer. I visited Kelly’s Blue Book (www.kbb.com). This place is great! It shows you how much the car costs on the retail market, and then how much it costs the dealer! In reading this site, you are told how much the dealer paid for the car, in addition to what the “retail” value of the car is. Retail value is simply a marked up price that you should never pay, but a lazy person who never reads an article like this, or the billion other web sites out there saying the same thing, will simply pay this price. Lazy people buy for sticker price, and make it that much harder for people like you and me to buy cars. These people believe that the dealer actually paid just about retail price. No I did not fall off a turnip truck.

After I had all my information about the price of the car I called. Fladaboe, Norm Reeves, Power and Hardin Honda. I also called dealerships out in the desert, Riverside, the Valley, Los Angles and Long Beach. I gave each and every person exactly what I wanted. Told them where I lived and I wanted the price to be exactly how much cash to bring in. Oh yeah, I called the Schools First Credit Union. They were one of the higher priced quotes. One car and everyone had a different price. Why?

Supposedly internet pricing is supposed to be better. I did get what I thought was an ok price from Norm Reeves internet. So I decided armed with all my information I went in to the lair of the dealership.

I deiced that I would drive the car one more time. I still liked it I was ready to buy it. I went into the booth of the salesman and he too started to tell me what the car is worth. I told him that I would like to make a deal and he leaned over and talked to me like I was at a timeshare sales office. You want to make a deal right and you want to be in a new car tonight to go home in. He wrote down a price and it was $800 less then the internet price. He said you like this price and I said yes. “Ok, we make a deal” he asks, I say I am not sure but this is a good price. I tell him what I will offer and he comes back with the papers that tell me what the list price is. I start to walk out and he says to pay the sticker price. NO I gave you an offer. Then he gets his boss and he comes over to me like he is the only one on this earth that can sell a car. OH gee. I tell him I am interested in buying a car but I have had three quotes from the salesperson. He said that the sales persons can not accept offers or make offers. I took the paper out of his hand and showed the “boss” what the sales person wrote that I could buy the car for. “Oh no”, he said he can not tell you a price I do. I walked out. Norm Reeves did give me a bottle of water to wash down the pills to make the headache go away.

This is the day that I knew that car salesman are MORONS.

A few weeks go by and I really want a new car. So I go back to one of the dealerships that is close to my home, Power Honda. I was greeted by several sales people and each one handed me off to another person. OH gee. I felt that I just walked into a lion cage. The person that I decided to talk to seemed nice. Johnny a retired police officer and I say in my mind, I will buy my car from you. He keeps repeating my name and he sits at his desk like he is ready to do a deal. He wants to show me the cars that he has. I tell him I know what I want but he said, “Let me show you the car you want”. OK I go with him to see the car. OK this is what I want. Now let’s talk price. HERE WE GO AGAIN. Then his price is higher than all of them and I told him that his price is too high and to find me a used car with low miles. This is why I think Power Honda should not hire stupid people. My Passionate Opinion!

Several weeks go by and I have yet to get a written quote for the car. Then I get an email that says they have a white CRV-EXL in white 2009 with 15,000 miles. I make a formal email appointment. I go to the dealership and he takes about 20 minutes to find the car. He motions me to come with him and I follow him out to a car, AN OLD car, not a 2009 with 15,000 but a 2007 with 80,000. The car never came in to the dealership and they do not know when the car will be in. So he shows me a “white” car alright. He is so stupid. I go and talk to the sales manager and they appear normal and not stupid. I tell them I want to by a car in cash. I do not think they care.

I get an email from Mr. Johnny and he says that he can not give me a better deal. Deal? I have never seen your deal. He says, sorry that he can not get the car in that I want. (There is one sitting on the lot)

Are Car Salesmen Really Stupid? Yes and I can prove it

It’s a pretty powerful thing to call a car salesman a stupid person, but I’m going to say that yes, for the most part they really are. Not all salesmen are, and in fact, I hope to find a really great salesman who I will recommend to you, but only after I am driving my new car. What is really sad I am on my 12^th dealership and have talked to ten morons so far.

Why Car Salesmen Are Stupid

There’s no minimum education, intelligence, or even training requirement to be a car salesman. All you have to do is show up, and sell cars. In my study, I found that no car salesman, regardless of his age, had been selling cars for more than 3 years!!! This may not be the case in every circumstance, but it surely is something that should make you really suspect about the person who’s pretending to be an expert in car sales. Most of the salesmen I met had been selling cars for less than one year, and only had a high school diploma.

Many of the salesmen were in the 50′s. I’m sorry, but a guy who’s 50 years old, working an entry-level job either means he’s an early-retired financial genius, a guy who’s working a second job to make ends meet, or he’s a moron. Financial geniuses don’t sell cars, so that means your guy is either a hard-worker, or a moron. It should take about 10 seconds to figure out which one he is.

I did finally buy my car. One price and it was the lowest of them all. I was even picked up by the owner’s son and driven to the dealership. Spreen Honda had my business. No stupid car salesman here.

In the 16th century, drawers became a common term for both men’s and women’s underpants. Made of linen, the items were no-frills and looked more or less interchangeable (this being well before Victoria ever had a secret; decorative lace trim started appearing on the garments only in the middle of the 19th century).

Most likely, underwear earned this distinctly unsexy epithet because it describes the way that people put on their unmentionables — drawing them up and over the lower part of the body

Once upon a time, ladies stored their essentials in a little waist sack tied under their clothing (sort of an early ancestor of the fanny pack) and accessible through slits in their skirts.

Around 1800, thinner, silkier fabrics and slimmer cuts came into vogue, and women could no longer hide the bulging sacks around their midsections. The solution? They began carrying their belongings in small pocketbooks instead.

Bored Palm Beach socialite Lilly Pulitzer opened a juice stand in 1959 to pass the time, but she found one drawback: The citrus concoctions discolored her clothes.

She instructed her dressmaker to create a uniform that would camouflage the bright stains, and the “Lilly” design — sleeveless cotton shifts in vibrant prints — was born. The style was an instant hit with customers, who soon began placing more orders for dresses than juice.

Not quite: The most widely held theory is that the single-strapped footwear was named for a character in “Buster Brown,” a children’s comic strip that was popular in the early 1900s. Mary Jane was either Buster Brown’s sweetheart or sister, depending on which source you consult.

When the economy slowed down I needed to speed up my ideas. On my Birthday January 4th, 2009 I started Braille Awards and Menu transcribing. This so happens to be the day the Louis Braille was born over 200 years ago. I needed to find a niche that I would be passionate about. When my kids were in middle school they had a blind skier come to the school and talk about himself being blind and his love for skiing. They gave this remarkable young man a beautiful certificate…. but it was behind glass. I knew I wanted to create awards for the blind.  Braille transcribing has become a necessity. The most crucial fact of the matter is that visually impaired people cannot enjoy an independent dining experience without Braille menus and they can not feel independent if an important document has to be read to them. So this is what I do now. Well, I should say one of many jobs I do. This is what makes my job fun. I received a call from the Irvine Company to transcribe the Pelican Hills Hotel restaurant menus. What I love about this job is not only helping with the transcribing but the very important menu itself. I am working with a menu company to custom make the covers exactly like they have but in the standard size to fit the Braille Menu. The feel of the menu when it is presented and the way it is presented is very important. It’s our pleasure to offer menu printing in alternative formats to you so that your company can serve the visually impaired community.  Imagine a visually impaired person is at your host stand right now.  Can you provide them with the best of service and the respect and dignity of independence?  With the help of Braille Awards, Document and Menu Transcribing, you can proudly show them and others how much you value their business, by having accessible Braille menus, important documents(or large print menus) ready and available for them.  Imagine the positive response of your sighted customers when they see you care enough to provide alternative menus or important documents for those with visual impairments.

Become Efficient – Having a time-crunched server reading a menu to someone who is visually impaired is not efficient.  Or when the visual impaired customer comes to you and they have to sign important documents. How nice that you took the time to have them transcribed into “their” words. 

 Improve Customer Service – By allowing your patrons who are blind and visually impaired access to your menus or documents, you’ve not only empowered them, but made them feel comfortable in a place they may otherwise not be comfortable.  Happy visitors = repeat customers to your restaurant or business.  After all, people don’t like to frequent places where they are not comfortable.

The fact that they do not have to be read to like a child is a reason why all restaurants and business should be required to have on hand Braille menus or Braille Documents. We all love to be independent and how thoughtful the restaurants and business that have taken the extra step to provide  Braille menus or documents.  We’ll translate your menu or documents into Braille or Large Print and deliver it to you bound with a durable cover. You can send us your menu or documents in a variety of formats including CD-ROM, e-mail attachment or regular mail. Does your menu change often? No problem – we can make the necessary edits and send you the updated menu very quickly.

 

Today I received a call from someone that needed help with attracting trade-show traffic. They wanted to keep women and men in the booth. I asked your standard questions about what they are selling? What color is the booth and the design of it? Will each of the people working in the booth have a uniform on? They said that they were selling a new medical devise and the color of the booth was black and purple. The team would not be in anything but business suits. I was able to see the trade-show booth from photos of previous events. It was not great. This is where I took over. I met with the booth design team at the company and they too said it was boring. I was in heaven with this project. First I needed to see the products they wanted to sell and I needed to see the graphics. I asked them could we go high tech and put your information on a DVD and this would be played on a HD Screen in the booth. They loved it. The background colors we changed to on the major colors in the video and it remained purple but instead of black we went with a soft gray. Each back board will be designed by www.TheMeetingCollection.com Radius Display Products (www.radiusdp.com), Showdown Displays and help with a construction crew we were done.  We made it look like a movie studio. We used Directors chairs and color coordinated everyone that was going to work in the booth. The give a way was two fold. Each attendee was mailed a dog tag that had the “movie studios” (name of the medical device). and on the dog tag it also had a special number on it. They bring this ego id. (look for this on my web site www.TheMeetingCollection.com When you came to the booth your dog tag id was scanned and you found out if you won one of several different give a ways, one was a trip to resort with a wonderful spa. If you did spend time in the booth you also received a flash light. While they were hearing about the medical device the booth workers put batteries in the flashlight. This gave the salesperson plenty of time to explain what they were selling. At the end of the day logo cookies  (information is on www.MonkeyBusinessPromos.com) with the companies information were handed out. The event was a hit and I had so much fun creating a very busy booth for a very appreciteive client. I love being a full service Promotional Merchandise Company.

Trust, isn’t this suppose to be what brings people together? This whole trust thing isn’t going very well, from hanky panky to stealing fortunes to the priest that we take bread from while kneeling in prayer. We all want to trust. You would think from what is going on in the world we all would be more cautions. But we are not. You trust the person that reads the Bible yet lies to you and asks God to forgive them. I think these people use the Christian schools and the church like hospitals. They are sick and hope to get well. Or the girlfriend you told a secret to and asked her not to share what you said. Then later you find out she told someone and what she told them was not true. You know that feeling of, “how could they”? Or remember the boyfriend that says, “I will call you tomorrow”. Or better yet, you trusted someone with your money and now it is all gone. Trust, do you trust the person that says they will never drink again? I must say I did trust and really wanted to believe in people but now I do not trust many people at all. Do you trust the police to tell the truth or to be on your side? I don’t! They are not your friend. They make mistakes. And they do not care to make it right. So who can you trust? How do you know when someone is telling the truth or not? After you get hurt by another liar how do you start trusting again. I am close to sixty and I am still learning about friendships. I let a lady into my life that used our family and tried to tear us down. Darn. I wish we could read someone like a book and know if you want to buy it or not.

 

While listing to the radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlesinger’s rant of the day was about people that talk during a movie and how rude they are when you ask them to be more quiet. She was right on about how rude the youth of today is. I was at the movies withmy two teenagers over the weekend and I had to ask some teens to please be more quiet. They responded witha foul mouthand continued to be even more rude. My children said to me, “Mom don’t worry we will never act like that”. I said it is sad sometimes you have to see kids behave poorly to know how you do not want to be perceived. These kids that I said, “I don’t think you know that your talking too loud could you talk softer?” They responded so awful. Why do they feel the need to be rude? Why can’t they just say, “oh sorry, we did not know”.  What the heck is going on in the young kids minds of today? Most kids and teens are rude. This last Friday I was at the Huntington Beach Pier at a farmers market buying fresh veggies and there were 6 kids really well dressed, clean and looked like they came from a good family. A few minutes later I saw them all smoking. Their ages ranged from about 12 – 14 years old. They then started kissing and groping each other while coughing and smoking their cigarettes. I went up to them and said I am sure you guys are aware that smoking is not good for you and that it shortens your life. You all look so smart I am sure you have been told this.  I tried to tell them the awful death of my mother at 44 from smoking. AGAIN the foul mouth and awful treatment I received was not worth me saying anything. I felt so sorry for these kids. I wish their parents could see them. But would they haul off and hit me or threaten me? Or would they hurt their own kids? Or call the police and threaten me?  But then I thought about the the TV program, what would you do? You know the program that has  cameras rolling and they have actors in normal everyday life doing something that is not right and they want to see how the public will react. What scares me is what I would do. I read everyday in the newspaper about good Samaritans getting hurt or even killed when they interfere. Did you read about the MacDonald’s employee that help a women who was being beaten and McDonald’s wrote him a letter saying they will not pay his $300,000 medical bills for his life long medical problems he will have because he helped an innocent women from being killed. But he took the bullet. I was thinking that if I was to tell a parent about the behavior I witnessed on one of their kids. Would I be putting myself in harms way? I once walked up to a very pregnant women who was smoking and told here that it will hurt her baby. She said she did not care that she was going to give the kid away. I hurt for days after she said this. Why are people so angry? Road rage? Why do I see parents yelling at their kids with such venom. People that are rude and sometimes scary. You want to say something thinking that you may be the one that they listen too. That you may be able to help someone. I no longer feel this is the case. My son Michael as said to me many times, “don’t say anything mom, they scare me”. But it hurts when you see someone hurting themselves.  You wish that you could help. But the one time that you say to a mom that is yelling a child and maybe hitting them. Can I help you? When you want to help and they say awful things to you. Will the child suffer more after you interfere? Is it worth it? The angry people that I am seeing lately worry me. To raise a kid these  days takes a lot of thinking about them and not yourself. How will this effect their tomorrow. My kids came home from school this last Friday and told me that a 10th grader who committed suicide and how the whole school is taking about it. But before this young man thought the only way out of his problem was suicide. Who were his friends? Did they notice anything that they could of helped with?  This again gave me the opportunity to teach them about friendship and being a true friend. Please parents spend deep quality time with your kids. Stop thinking about your needs. Parents,  when someone calls you to tell you or to inform you that your child did something. Listen to the person telling you this and then open up a conversation with your child and find out if you could teach your kid that when they are out in the world that they are being watched by others and to behave properly and parents and if and when you get the call from another parent. Be nice. Why be nice. I called a family in our neighborhood that there son was bullying my son. ( I have more on this story later) They were rude when I called and I then knew where the child learned to be mean. We know longer with this rude family and oh yeah just to tell you these kids are the phony kids that go to Mariners Christian. I have more stories. I need to help my kids with their homework. oh and by the way my kids are not perfect. But they are polite and look the adult in the eye when they talk to you.

I have been in the promotional products industry since 1983. I love it but I also don’t need to work. I want to work and this comes across to the client that I am not desperate.  I put money away from each sale for a rainy day. This really helps. My passion and experience is designing one of kind never seen before products. I sell the other junk, stuff or what ever you want to call it. But I prefer to make my client dependent on me.  So once I find out about budget and the timing on the project off to Asia the order goes. I have never had one problem with overseas orders. They are better than buying something off the shelf . This industry is really a lot of fun but you need years  to start making a living at it. I went to work for a company they taught me the basics and then this company was soon sold to another company. Then that company said they were closing the office. I moved my office home. This move has  been fantastic. Then I figured out how to be my own company and not give up half of my commissions. But it takes discipline. So here we all are hearing about all kinds of cut backs. I know my biggest clients can not buy from me this year in the volume they have so I am taking advantage of the extra time I have to make myself more visible on the Internet.  I am taking the time to develop my web sites. I am learning to Blog and most of all niche myself. My next blog will be about what my new niche is.

Yesterday I had a new call from a client that could not find what they wanted from anyone else. Everyone has an idea what they think they want but is it the right item? My next blog will talk about how I start the “sale”

It has been two years since I wrote this story about living in a guard gated community and with the many houses that have been sold taking with them people that needed to leave and bringing in fresh new people who have no idea what is ahead.  One neighbor that left after she poisoned the neighborhood of made up stories is gone and I must say. What goes around comes around. I have new neighbors that moved from another part of the this unique neighboorhood. I think I may ask them one day if we have done something to make them so rude.

I happen to live in a guard gated community that has two beaches. This is a good hint. I married into this in 1990 so I do not have a choice and anyway I like my paid for  house. When I first moved here I thought for sure that I could borrow a cup of sugar or an egg from my neighbors. ( you can, but only a very few) I thought that when you have a party that you invite the neighborhood kids to attend. I thought that you would be invited to their party’s. I thought for sure that when you walk around the neighborhood that they you would get a smile and maybe a hello. When people gossip about the truth maybe you would have a neighbor show up at your door and ask if they could help. When you go to the beach in the summer NO you can not just sit next to your neighbor. They talk behind your back and they are not very nice.  I am really disappointed in this close living but I do like my house. The rumors that start out as, ” did you hear”. Turn into the game of  telephone. The stories get bigger and bigger and bigger. How can people be so cruel? Many of the kids in this small neighborhood are attending private schools.  I am observing  these spoiled kids with few manners grow up. The kids that attend the so called religious school are the worst. They are foul mouth and not very nice. We have had a few parent meetings about the kids that are rude and use the family golf cart as a weapon or think that your house would loved to be toilet papered . The parent I had to talk to once told me that “here son is a very nice boy and would never do that”  tooooo funny I showed her my photos from our hidden camera of her child stealing . Needless to say she does not talk to me anymore. Like I worry. The parents must be blind, or they use the church as a hospital. The kids that attend the local public schools are much nicer to the other kids and they look you in their eyes when they talk to you. They are exposed to kids that are very rich and very poor. My kids do not like the other kids in the neighborhood. One child told my daughter that she can not play with my daughter because she goes to public school.  The people that I have gotten to know through the years are really not mentally healthy. I attend the events that our sponsored and I hear them gossip about people that I am sure that they have not asked to find out what they are saying is true or not. They get drunk and really make a fool of themselves. I went for a walk just before I started this post and walked by two ladies who would not give me the time of day. I smiled when they walked by but I got the feeling I was in high school when the kids gossip.  I find the young people in there 30′s early 40′s just so darn phony. They are just want to bee’s??? All the kids in the neighboorhood were raised by Nanny’s of stay at home mothers. This I will never understand.  They are giving unlimited supply of toilet paper to decorate houses. I live here and I will not be moving and I will continue to smile. When I hear something about a neighbor I will go to the neighbor and offer help. When a child comes to my door for a fundraiser I will buy something. I will be nice and I will not gossip. By the way I have noticed the much older people are still the nicest. I am in in my late 50′s and being older is really nice. We just know that life is too short.

Awards…Did you know that this is one of my greatest passions? Awards yup the ones that you should receive when you have gone above and beyond. Here is the story.  I used to work for a company and I was in sales. In fact I was their top sales person for this year. I was very excited. The hubby was staying home with the kids, I had a new dress and my hair was styled. I drove to Palm Springs from Newport Beach and was singing all the way. I arrived in time to socialize with people I only saw at these functions. The evening was about to begin. By the way, this event was an award ceremony for the promotional product industry. The awards in the past were nice. But I was starting to line up the same awards year after year. I must admit I was hoping for something different. When you in this industry you are aware of what is available. The evening started. This year they gave all of us leather portfolios. I sell these so I had several but this one was nice and had my name debossed on it. The next awards were also leather portfolios. Gee I had two now. Soon the time came for the big awards to be handed out. I was called on stage and a speech began about how well I did and what I accomplished. I felt so special. Then it became clear that I was not going to receive anything special. They handed me a bigger portfolio and I look at it and my name is not spelled correctly and it is just handed to me. The audience was applauding and then they said to me oh and you also are being awarded the highest volume stellar award. They handed me the exact same thing they gave me for highest volume. I now had four leather portfolios that were stacked on the table. No special presentation or packaging. I was not impressed. I did not feel special. I was not honored for all my hard work. I enjoyed seeing my old friends and we all discussed they way they  presented the awards. I did not feel that the company put any thought into the awards for the evening and they were in the business. So I drive home the next day and come into the house with my awards. I express to my husband what had happened and he said, “why don’t you become an awardpro”. This is the day that awardprowas born. I want to make a difference. To be continued…

Ready set blog. Have you noticed that people that have nice cars are not driving with a smile? They have this frown on their face and they do not look happy at all. You look at them and smile and they have this look on their face of  I am too cool to smile or I am just so not going to be nice or I have a frown on my face because I am cooler then you. (no you just look sad and not happy to me) I myself drive a nice car and I love to smile. I love seeing the reaction of people that look at me when I drive when I give them a big smile. Think about this. The next time you see someone driving a Bentley, Mercedes or anything you regard as nice. Check them out. They need to see you smile at them.