Saturday, January 01, 2005
the latter, I'm afraid.
back when most republicans gave a shit.
when greed, vengence, aggression, bullshit and then some were considered crude and counterproductive.
back when mccarthy was drummed out of leadership, when presidents could have affairs and it was a personal matter, when the public trusted their government because good men did not live to screw everyone else regardless of consequences, when you could leave your doors unlocked, your car unlocked, your locker unlocked cause nobody gave a shit about what you had in there. no one brought guns to school and, if you wanted to carry a bible around, that was your business. people raised their hands to go to the bathroom and, if there was graffiti on the walls in the john, you were thankful for something funny to read and, after school, you knew to avoid the one or two bullies and, if there was a fight, the worst thing that could happen was a bloody nose followed by a handshake. if you went on a date, the worse thing that could happen was a hickie and the best thing that could happen was a hickie. when you got a job, you could keep it for life cause, back then, loyalty was more important than money and productivity, but you wanted to be productive and you were thankful for the money you made cause the boss valued your contribution and understood if you needed a little personal time. it wasnt written down and codified cause it didnt have to be. getting sewed was a really big deal so you worked out your differences over coffee. everyone knew who the good bosses were and avoided the bad ones. when you retired, you got a gold watch and became a neighborhood icon. you had been somebody. you were allowed to be somebody. and everyone knew it.
I'm glad I live in 2005, but, geez loueez, things have changed a lot in the last 50 years.
back when most republicans gave a shit.
when greed, vengence, aggression, bullshit and then some were considered crude and counterproductive.
back when mccarthy was drummed out of leadership, when presidents could have affairs and it was a personal matter, when the public trusted their government because good men did not live to screw everyone else regardless of consequences, when you could leave your doors unlocked, your car unlocked, your locker unlocked cause nobody gave a shit about what you had in there. no one brought guns to school and, if you wanted to carry a bible around, that was your business. people raised their hands to go to the bathroom and, if there was graffiti on the walls in the john, you were thankful for something funny to read and, after school, you knew to avoid the one or two bullies and, if there was a fight, the worst thing that could happen was a bloody nose followed by a handshake. if you went on a date, the worse thing that could happen was a hickie and the best thing that could happen was a hickie. when you got a job, you could keep it for life cause, back then, loyalty was more important than money and productivity, but you wanted to be productive and you were thankful for the money you made cause the boss valued your contribution and understood if you needed a little personal time. it wasnt written down and codified cause it didnt have to be. getting sewed was a really big deal so you worked out your differences over coffee. everyone knew who the good bosses were and avoided the bad ones. when you retired, you got a gold watch and became a neighborhood icon. you had been somebody. you were allowed to be somebody. and everyone knew it.
I'm glad I live in 2005, but, geez loueez, things have changed a lot in the last 50 years.
Friday, December 31, 2004
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953 (well known liberal, Democrat, wimpy anti-war friend of terrorists, appeaser and man of no values...or is it famous 5-star American Supreme Commander of all allied troops in WW2, 2-term president of the US, Republican, West Pointer, Christian from Kansas? I can't remember.)
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953 (well known liberal, Democrat, wimpy anti-war friend of terrorists, appeaser and man of no values...or is it famous 5-star American Supreme Commander of all allied troops in WW2, 2-term president of the US, Republican, West Pointer, Christian from Kansas? I can't remember.)
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
I have several raves...one at a time.
it's only fitting, since I've benefitted from it so often, that I give a major shout out to the culinary expertise of the kristen. the xmas standing rib roast was as good as it gets. and I consider myself something of a critic since I spent many many years eating in downtown hotel ballrooms and country clubs, where the best chefs in dallas did their magic.
five of my favorites from her bag o tricks...arranged according to your typical day.....
old fashioned euro breakfast...her german years showing with soft cooked eggs, pistoletta bread and organic cheese, bacon and various fruit jams. washed down with an incredible latte and juice.
green chile stew...her santa fe years definitely shining through, she has totally converted me to the cult of the green chile.
turkey burger...grilled over an open flame, on a sugar buster bun with homemade slaw or salsa on the sandwich...accompanied by grilled onions and peppers, salt and pepper or salt and vinegar chips and as many beers as one can manage during the process. duh - it's a picnic. hint: if you eat 2 turkey burgers, that's an extra 2 beers right there.
leg o lamb...served with safron rice, hummus, stir fried veggies and indian bread (rota). a southwest asian smorgasboard.
double chocolate fudge cake...a fancy way to serve nestle's chocolate. in a worldwide contest, this recipe came in second, but the way kristen makes it, it tops my desert requests.
it's only fitting, since I've benefitted from it so often, that I give a major shout out to the culinary expertise of the kristen. the xmas standing rib roast was as good as it gets. and I consider myself something of a critic since I spent many many years eating in downtown hotel ballrooms and country clubs, where the best chefs in dallas did their magic.
five of my favorites from her bag o tricks...arranged according to your typical day.....
old fashioned euro breakfast...her german years showing with soft cooked eggs, pistoletta bread and organic cheese, bacon and various fruit jams. washed down with an incredible latte and juice.
green chile stew...her santa fe years definitely shining through, she has totally converted me to the cult of the green chile.
turkey burger...grilled over an open flame, on a sugar buster bun with homemade slaw or salsa on the sandwich...accompanied by grilled onions and peppers, salt and pepper or salt and vinegar chips and as many beers as one can manage during the process. duh - it's a picnic. hint: if you eat 2 turkey burgers, that's an extra 2 beers right there.
leg o lamb...served with safron rice, hummus, stir fried veggies and indian bread (rota). a southwest asian smorgasboard.
double chocolate fudge cake...a fancy way to serve nestle's chocolate. in a worldwide contest, this recipe came in second, but the way kristen makes it, it tops my desert requests.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
finally, a rave
ANGELA at 1-800-CONTACTS gets a big rave.
Of course the one thing I forgot to bring on this Canadian dream vacation was...replacement contacts. So, almost immediately, one of my contacts ripped.
Replacing them was a nightmare. I've always used 1-800-CONTACTS so I just dialed them up. They are usually very fast---like, next-day even when I don't order express delivery. So I figured this would be the same.
Nope. Various mix-ups, all human error, whatever. But basically I was nearly blind for several days waiting for them to show up. Finally I emailed customer service in a fit of frustration.
Angela is the rep who emailed me back, in record time. No last name. But very kind and comforting emails, told me what the options were, very straightforward, very effective. Bottom line, I can't get them before I leave. I'll try the town's one optometrist tomorrow. But I have to give Angela a rave. Because anytime someone on the other end of the customer service maze is more than a robot, I'm amazed. Mostly it's bored people who hate their jobs, and who wouldn't? Do you want to deal with a bitchy, cranky public? I sure don't.
Angela should get a raise.
That's my rave for the day.
All the other complaints and compliments are still on the way. I'm gonna do em. Soon. I mean it.
Meanwhile, on the other blog, some new pics.
Merry merry.
Of course the one thing I forgot to bring on this Canadian dream vacation was...replacement contacts. So, almost immediately, one of my contacts ripped.
Replacing them was a nightmare. I've always used 1-800-CONTACTS so I just dialed them up. They are usually very fast---like, next-day even when I don't order express delivery. So I figured this would be the same.
Nope. Various mix-ups, all human error, whatever. But basically I was nearly blind for several days waiting for them to show up. Finally I emailed customer service in a fit of frustration.
Angela is the rep who emailed me back, in record time. No last name. But very kind and comforting emails, told me what the options were, very straightforward, very effective. Bottom line, I can't get them before I leave. I'll try the town's one optometrist tomorrow. But I have to give Angela a rave. Because anytime someone on the other end of the customer service maze is more than a robot, I'm amazed. Mostly it's bored people who hate their jobs, and who wouldn't? Do you want to deal with a bitchy, cranky public? I sure don't.
Angela should get a raise.
That's my rave for the day.
All the other complaints and compliments are still on the way. I'm gonna do em. Soon. I mean it.
Meanwhile, on the other blog, some new pics.
Merry merry.
