Here are a few pics of both of my girls!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
License and Registration Please
So............I drive 30,000 miles a year. Yep, that is a lot of time on the rump, in a car, behind the wheel of whatever it is I am driving at that point. I have done a lot of speeding. Going to Cleveland everyday during rush hour means you need to do 10mph over the speed limit to just stay with traffic. I was always surprised when I really thought about how I never got pulled over for speeding.
Well, life is funny. I have had a Lincoln LS with the V8 engine for about 3 years. It was fast and I would let it out occasionally. To be fiscally conservative, I got rid of the Lincoln and bought a beast (95 Honda Accord), with a 5spd and 4cyl. I thought I would save some money at the pumps. I started calculating mpg's everytime I filled up. I wanted to see how many mpg's were possible so I decided to go 65mph and try not to top 70mph during my daily commute.
Along comes Saturday. I have to work bell to bell (9am to 9:30pm) and I am actually doing 60mph up 71N. Cars are blowing by me and against all of my machismo, keep it at 60. Then I see that all the cars behind me start slowing and moving into the right lane. I soon see why... a highway patrolman is coming up. Since I am not speeding I continue steadily and the guy pulls past me. He stays a car length in front of me, then slows and falls behind me. Again, I have done nothing wrong (that I can think of) so I continue trekking to work.
Then the lights..... I pull over to the side of the road and realize that I just submitted my application for my conceal carry permit. Remembering this, I keep my hands on the wheel even when he is at my passenger window. He waits, I wait. Did I mention I am driving a POS 95 accord.......with crank windows!!! Crank windows. UGH! So I ask the patrolman if I can roll my window down. He looks at me like I am nuts. I rolled it down and first thing I told him was that I had just submitted for my application for conceal carry but had not received it yet.
He asked if I had a fire arm in the car and I replied no. He asked where I was going. When I told him work and it was in N. Olmsted he commented "that is a far drive for work everyday". I agreed, but wanted to say "you're telling me. Look at what I am driving. If I worked close I would drive an Expedition". Instead I stayed polite and watched as he looked all over the inside of my car while we sat there. He let me know that he pulled me over because I did not have a front plate on and asked why that was. I explained I had just gotten this car and that I had not made time to put the plate on yet. He then spotted the front plate in the passenger seat. He proceeded to ask me why I was not wearing a seat belt, and if I normally wear a seat belt. I told him I did normally, and there was no good reason why I wasn't today. "It is a law" he exclaimed.
After a few minutes he came back up and said he would give me a warning on the front plate but that I was getting a seatbelt violation ticket. $95 Ticket later I was on my way to work.
I kept a happy attitude all the way to work. I had driven that Lincoln for nearly three years, WITHOUT ever having a front license plate and no issues. I also ALWAYS wore my seatbelt in the Lincoln because it beeped until I put it on.
At work we had a $20,000. Sales goal for the day. First guest in returned for $5,000 then an hour later a $3000 return. To add insult to injury we were very slow and took another return. To end the day we actually finished negative and dropped over $20,000 on the last day of the month!!! Obviously not my day!!!! I am trying to look at days like these as character builders. Certainly tough to stay positive when everything goes sideways, but I think, Anyone who is winning will seem to have good character, but when the chips are down true character is revealed.
I will continue to try to look at days/situations/experiences like these as a learning tool.
However, I hope there aren't too many more coming soon.
Til next year....
Mike
Well, life is funny. I have had a Lincoln LS with the V8 engine for about 3 years. It was fast and I would let it out occasionally. To be fiscally conservative, I got rid of the Lincoln and bought a beast (95 Honda Accord), with a 5spd and 4cyl. I thought I would save some money at the pumps. I started calculating mpg's everytime I filled up. I wanted to see how many mpg's were possible so I decided to go 65mph and try not to top 70mph during my daily commute.
Along comes Saturday. I have to work bell to bell (9am to 9:30pm) and I am actually doing 60mph up 71N. Cars are blowing by me and against all of my machismo, keep it at 60. Then I see that all the cars behind me start slowing and moving into the right lane. I soon see why... a highway patrolman is coming up. Since I am not speeding I continue steadily and the guy pulls past me. He stays a car length in front of me, then slows and falls behind me. Again, I have done nothing wrong (that I can think of) so I continue trekking to work.
Then the lights..... I pull over to the side of the road and realize that I just submitted my application for my conceal carry permit. Remembering this, I keep my hands on the wheel even when he is at my passenger window. He waits, I wait. Did I mention I am driving a POS 95 accord.......with crank windows!!! Crank windows. UGH! So I ask the patrolman if I can roll my window down. He looks at me like I am nuts. I rolled it down and first thing I told him was that I had just submitted for my application for conceal carry but had not received it yet.
He asked if I had a fire arm in the car and I replied no. He asked where I was going. When I told him work and it was in N. Olmsted he commented "that is a far drive for work everyday". I agreed, but wanted to say "you're telling me. Look at what I am driving. If I worked close I would drive an Expedition". Instead I stayed polite and watched as he looked all over the inside of my car while we sat there. He let me know that he pulled me over because I did not have a front plate on and asked why that was. I explained I had just gotten this car and that I had not made time to put the plate on yet. He then spotted the front plate in the passenger seat. He proceeded to ask me why I was not wearing a seat belt, and if I normally wear a seat belt. I told him I did normally, and there was no good reason why I wasn't today. "It is a law" he exclaimed.
After a few minutes he came back up and said he would give me a warning on the front plate but that I was getting a seatbelt violation ticket. $95 Ticket later I was on my way to work.
I kept a happy attitude all the way to work. I had driven that Lincoln for nearly three years, WITHOUT ever having a front license plate and no issues. I also ALWAYS wore my seatbelt in the Lincoln because it beeped until I put it on.
At work we had a $20,000. Sales goal for the day. First guest in returned for $5,000 then an hour later a $3000 return. To add insult to injury we were very slow and took another return. To end the day we actually finished negative and dropped over $20,000 on the last day of the month!!! Obviously not my day!!!! I am trying to look at days like these as character builders. Certainly tough to stay positive when everything goes sideways, but I think, Anyone who is winning will seem to have good character, but when the chips are down true character is revealed.
I will continue to try to look at days/situations/experiences like these as a learning tool.
However, I hope there aren't too many more coming soon.
Til next year....
Mike
Saturday, July 12, 2008
My little parrot!!
Well, Grace is certainly entertaining lately with her constant dialogue. She talks to mom, talks to dad, talks to sadie, talks to herself and even talks to her imaginary friend on occasion.
Even more interesting is what she says. Grace is a great little repeater. She doesn't immediately repeat what she hears. She stores the verbage in her little brain and saves it for the perfect moment. For example, Grace was at a play group with Devon when she fell down and said "freaking dammit". Now I don't know why Dev would curse in front of Grace, but we definitely need to watch what is said.
Today our dog was in the yard and decided to walk through the big puddle in the grass. I got frustrated and said freaking dog in the freaking water. A moment later I hear mini-me say "what's wrong with the freaking puddle?"
She is soooo funny. I love my girl so much!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Govt Workers
Wow! I want to work for the government. Where else do you get that kind of job security and not have to perform? If I am not on my "A" game daily, and driving company metrics on a consistent basis, I am not going to have a job.
Here is what happened. I called this person to setup an appointment. Only this one person can actually schedule you in. Her voice mail comes on "Hello, this is Suzie Q., in charge of setting up your appointment. I am unavailable. Please leave your name and phone number. If I don't call you back, you can call me back..........."
Wow. Leave your name and number and if I don't call you back, call me back? Definitely made me wonder.
So I am considering changing my voice mail on my phone to say the same thing.
"Hello, this is Mike. Please leave your name and number. When I don't call you back, feel free to call me again. Have a great day!"
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Up against the wall and spread'em
Well, I have been thinking of starting a blog to rival Dev's. Finally, here it is. The goal is to update whenever something interesting/strange occurs in my day to day adventures. Working in retail should provide some good stories.
So today I had to visit the skin Dr. because I have "flat moles", at least that is what I call them. Since my mom had a melanoma that was malignant, Devon was able to convince me to go get mine inspected.
I went in and had heard that they would probably "mole map" (take pictures) of my entire body, so they could monitor me over time. I am in the office and of course a lady comes in and wants me to strip down and put on a plastic gown. Leave it "open in the back" was more specifically what she told me. I figured no big deal, strip down.
She then comes back in and says she has an intern that she would like to come in and observe. She asks am I alright with that? What is the correct answer? If I say no it's awkward. If I say yes, it's awkward. Of course I say "no problem", let's fill this 10x10 room with a dozen people.
She then comes in, with the intern, and her assistant. By the way, the Dr. is not an ugly woman and the assistant is about late twenties and again...not ugly. The intern is some indian kid about 80 pounds soaking wet. What do I do? Just laugh and prepare myself. The Dr begins looking at my back, and I asked if I was supposed to take off the gown. She said she could try to work around it, or if I wanted to I could take it off. So I took it off and held it in front of me.
The Dr then says she wants the Dr with his name on the door to see me. The whole crew leaves. Then a few minutes later the Dr comes in, followed by the original lady Dr., the intern, and the Dr.'s assistant. I was waiting to see if we might get any of the other staff into the small room.
First thing the Dr. says is "Looks like your farming them", referring to the flat moles. Ha ha ha.
He then inspects me for a few minutes and decides to cut a few off and to monitor me. They leave somewhat quickly. Then another young girl comes in and takes a bunch of pictures of me. "Hands outright to your sides." "Turn around." She made the comment to look up because they don't like our faces in the pictures.???? I asked if that was to protect them once the pics got on the internet?
Good times. Just thought I would share.
So today I had to visit the skin Dr. because I have "flat moles", at least that is what I call them. Since my mom had a melanoma that was malignant, Devon was able to convince me to go get mine inspected.
I went in and had heard that they would probably "mole map" (take pictures) of my entire body, so they could monitor me over time. I am in the office and of course a lady comes in and wants me to strip down and put on a plastic gown. Leave it "open in the back" was more specifically what she told me. I figured no big deal, strip down.
She then comes back in and says she has an intern that she would like to come in and observe. She asks am I alright with that? What is the correct answer? If I say no it's awkward. If I say yes, it's awkward. Of course I say "no problem", let's fill this 10x10 room with a dozen people.
She then comes in, with the intern, and her assistant. By the way, the Dr. is not an ugly woman and the assistant is about late twenties and again...not ugly. The intern is some indian kid about 80 pounds soaking wet. What do I do? Just laugh and prepare myself. The Dr begins looking at my back, and I asked if I was supposed to take off the gown. She said she could try to work around it, or if I wanted to I could take it off. So I took it off and held it in front of me.
The Dr then says she wants the Dr with his name on the door to see me. The whole crew leaves. Then a few minutes later the Dr comes in, followed by the original lady Dr., the intern, and the Dr.'s assistant. I was waiting to see if we might get any of the other staff into the small room.
First thing the Dr. says is "Looks like your farming them", referring to the flat moles. Ha ha ha.
He then inspects me for a few minutes and decides to cut a few off and to monitor me. They leave somewhat quickly. Then another young girl comes in and takes a bunch of pictures of me. "Hands outright to your sides." "Turn around." She made the comment to look up because they don't like our faces in the pictures.???? I asked if that was to protect them once the pics got on the internet?
Good times. Just thought I would share.
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