any other day. It was about 75 outside, but I had work to do. It started off slow, built to a crescendo and I have just now cleared the work for the day. The day was a good one, but it got crazy at one point with 3 phone lines ringing.
Here's hoping your day was as fun!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Today is....
my older sister L's birthday. She would have been 53 today. The daily phone calls, the trouble shooting of computer problems, trouble with the car, trouble with the appliances, general conversations with her are missed greatly. She raised a great son and did well with what she was given. She was very well educated and could generally construct a good agrument, and my how we loved to argue. On many fronts, we did not agree, but we never let that get in the way of being family. She was good to my kids, and generally fun to be around. She had a huge heart.
Big Sis, you are missed!
Update:
This was posted when I knew I was going to be traveling and didn't want to miss an important event.
Big Sis, you are missed!
Update:
This was posted when I knew I was going to be traveling and didn't want to miss an important event.
Yard work, part 2
K and I, mostly K, have also created a planting bed in the side yard. It is primarily there to create, in the future s sound barrier between us and a local highway. In this bed, there are Leland cypress trees on the right, some mums, azalea's, hostas and 4 or 5 crepe myrtle of varying color. This area is where there were 9 pine trees, a persimmon tree and an old dogwood that died recently. The bed is over 90 feet long.
Here is a second view. K haulled over 50 wheel barrow loads of mulch to fill this bed. We still have some left over, need some?
Yard Work
K and I have been doing some landscaping recently. In the back yard, Our rock (the plastic thing that covers our well head) is now surrounded by some azalea's, and mums. We had plenty of mulch from the removal of some trees.
C..
Some have said that I have been partial to my other, so this particular post will be about C and C only.
C has been a busy person. She is involved with the Junior Civitans, Student Government, and the Varsity Dance team.
The Junior Civitans had a school clean-up over the weekend, after the football game. C spent about an hour and a half helping to clean the stadium.
As far as student government goes, C is the Secretary of the Sophomore Class. I am not sure of any real responsibilities, but it looks good on the resume. She is helping to coordinate the Powderpuff Football game.
As far as the dance team, C is not have as much fun this year as last. Seems there is a conflict between two dance studio members. Also, the team practices only one day per week, but several of the team members want to go to a competition, and in C's mind it is a waste of time and money as she says they are not disciplined or good enough.
School work come easy for her, so her grades are wonderful. She is currently tied for #1 in her class with 5 other people. She does study a bit, but enough to develop a habit, not work really hard.
We are proud of her.
C has been a busy person. She is involved with the Junior Civitans, Student Government, and the Varsity Dance team.
The Junior Civitans had a school clean-up over the weekend, after the football game. C spent about an hour and a half helping to clean the stadium.
As far as student government goes, C is the Secretary of the Sophomore Class. I am not sure of any real responsibilities, but it looks good on the resume. She is helping to coordinate the Powderpuff Football game.
As far as the dance team, C is not have as much fun this year as last. Seems there is a conflict between two dance studio members. Also, the team practices only one day per week, but several of the team members want to go to a competition, and in C's mind it is a waste of time and money as she says they are not disciplined or good enough.
School work come easy for her, so her grades are wonderful. She is currently tied for #1 in her class with 5 other people. She does study a bit, but enough to develop a habit, not work really hard.
We are proud of her.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Yesterday..
One of the reason yesterday was so interesting is that I am an adamant but non belligerent nonsmoker. As long as tobacco products are legal, the health ramifications are out in front, there is no reason people should be harassed about smoking. I would strongly prefer not to breathe the stuff, but occasionally choose to do so for association.
So here I am at Phillip Morris, trying to sell them pumps. Almost seems like a double standard.
So here I am at Phillip Morris, trying to sell them pumps. Almost seems like a double standard.
Monday, September 18, 2006
A day...
This long is tiresome. It is interesting what we will do for a dollar. Drove from Greensboro to Richmond, VA and back today.
I had an interesting appointment today with Phillip Morris in their Richmond VA facilities with PHD's. It was a neat meeting that took over 4 hours of business time. It was interesting in what they were trying to do, run 3 liquids through one tube separating them by a bubble of air. It was fun just to think that far outside of my paradigm.
400+ miles, back before 3:45PM. Enough time to lose 2 autions on eBay.
I had an interesting appointment today with Phillip Morris in their Richmond VA facilities with PHD's. It was a neat meeting that took over 4 hours of business time. It was interesting in what they were trying to do, run 3 liquids through one tube separating them by a bubble of air. It was fun just to think that far outside of my paradigm.
400+ miles, back before 3:45PM. Enough time to lose 2 autions on eBay.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
At School..
with A today. The whole family went. A, C, K and I had a great time. We took A shopping for some shoes and pants for her part time employment. Then went to dinner at Fuddruckers. All too soon, it was time to go home.
For her part, A is trying really hard to both get good grades and have as much fun as possible. She has moderated some of her habits, now getting more sleep as the semester rolls on, realizing that she cannot stay up all night and go to class in the day. She is attending parties and as many sporting events as she can fit into her schedule. She is visiting with friends from HS attending her University and other Universities.
There was a much laughter by all during our time together. She is a good kid.
For her part, A is trying really hard to both get good grades and have as much fun as possible. She has moderated some of her habits, now getting more sleep as the semester rolls on, realizing that she cannot stay up all night and go to class in the day. She is attending parties and as many sporting events as she can fit into her schedule. She is visiting with friends from HS attending her University and other Universities.
There was a much laughter by all during our time together. She is a good kid.
Hard to miss...
to miss someone when they are always around. A has been away at school now for over 4 weeks. But either K or I have seen her at least once a week since she got to school. We will see her again today.
A got a part time job working for an on campus caterer doing food serving. she will work 10-15 hours per week and will make about $8.50/hour. This is for extra spending money at school. But she needs black comfortable shoes and black pants. So we need to take her shoping to get them. Her employment costs us money. Typical.
A got a part time job working for an on campus caterer doing food serving. she will work 10-15 hours per week and will make about $8.50/hour. This is for extra spending money at school. But she needs black comfortable shoes and black pants. So we need to take her shoping to get them. Her employment costs us money. Typical.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Been an interesting week
My company has a president that has no sales experience and is relatively young (33). While very smart technically, however his sales, marketing and people skills are lacking. He tries to delegate, then before the task can be completed, tries to do the task himself because nobody can do it better than him.
This is said because my company is struggling to meet the target sales and profits. The forecast was done last year and was a top down statement of you will do $X amount of sales, not a "where are we headed". The profits are down because the exchange rate estimation was way off actual rates.
So sales and profits are off, so what does he do? He raises prices. He announces this not directly, but through an email blast not from his email account but that of a clerk. Management needs to learn some Dale Carnegie.
While I agree that profits are good, they pay me, in times of struggling sales it is best to make it easier to sell things not harder. I am quoting from him:
"As has been our position all year, we will not let pricing come between us and a customer considering the competition. Be sure you are using our aggressive never-lose-an-order pricing strategy and contacting your DSM to strategize on how to take outstanding orders off the street or win new business. To compensate for our rising costs due to the adverse currency effect, we are pulling forward our January price increase to October 1, 2006 reflecting a 5% increase on Watson-Marlow pumps and a 3.5% increase on Bredel. Despite our need to increase base pricing to offset our rising costs, rest assured that your DSM will continue to be as aggressive as ever to gain market share and beat back our competitors."
Most of our agents went HUH????
In the words of one of my sisters, my head exploded,
KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAM!!
This is said because my company is struggling to meet the target sales and profits. The forecast was done last year and was a top down statement of you will do $X amount of sales, not a "where are we headed". The profits are down because the exchange rate estimation was way off actual rates.
So sales and profits are off, so what does he do? He raises prices. He announces this not directly, but through an email blast not from his email account but that of a clerk. Management needs to learn some Dale Carnegie.
While I agree that profits are good, they pay me, in times of struggling sales it is best to make it easier to sell things not harder. I am quoting from him:
"As has been our position all year, we will not let pricing come between us and a customer considering the competition. Be sure you are using our aggressive never-lose-an-order pricing strategy and contacting your DSM to strategize on how to take outstanding orders off the street or win new business. To compensate for our rising costs due to the adverse currency effect, we are pulling forward our January price increase to October 1, 2006 reflecting a 5% increase on Watson-Marlow pumps and a 3.5% increase on Bredel. Despite our need to increase base pricing to offset our rising costs, rest assured that your DSM will continue to be as aggressive as ever to gain market share and beat back our competitors."
Most of our agents went HUH????
In the words of one of my sisters, my head exploded,
KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAM!!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
This weeks challenge
A, off at school, got an opportunity to talk with a real faculty advisor today. Seems that only 20% of the Pharmacy School consists of 2+4 program students. Most of the rest are a degree+4, so it could take 8 years at her chosen college. It will take a minimum of 81 credit hours to get into the program for the 2+4 and A is taking 15 this semester. Seems she did not read the recommended course list properly. As it now stands, without summer school, it could take over 9 years to get completely through the program.
The real problem is that we (A and I) discussed course load and keeping pace. The difference between her and I is that I did not know what I wanted to be when I was in the first 3 years of college. At this point, she does, subject to change. Like all of the rest of my brother, sisters and me, don't confuse us with the facts we already know it, so the next short going will be a learning experience for all.
The real problem is that we (A and I) discussed course load and keeping pace. The difference between her and I is that I did not know what I wanted to be when I was in the first 3 years of college. At this point, she does, subject to change. Like all of the rest of my brother, sisters and me, don't confuse us with the facts we already know it, so the next short going will be a learning experience for all.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Today
It was 5 years ago that I was walking into a paper mill in Louisiana that I learned of the horrible acts of a few Islamic zelots. Since that time, I have learned much about history and the acts done in the name of any religion. My thoughts:
1) Zelots of any religion who kill people are wrong!
2) This conflict is about converting everyone in the world to Islam.
3) This is not " cannot we just all get along" time. They want to kill us because we do not believe the way they do.
4) Talking is not action.
5) The actions of a few zelots do in fact taint the perception of the entire group, and until the "all" proves the zelots to be out of touch, the doubt is fact. Just ask the Duke lacrosse team.
6) Every day, the news casts at noon, evening and nightly should begin with the pictures of the planes flying into the WTC Towers and show the people jumping to their deaths because of what some zelots did in the name of their religion.
That could help our people understand what faces us.
My heart is heavy for the families of people killed in fighting this conflict. It is important that they did not die in vain, but provide the strength for us to carry on and prevent savagery here, for my sake yes, but more importantly for the sake of my children.
I will not typically use this space for rants like this one, but it was my feeling for the day, and most days, so it needed to be said.
God bless and protect all American troops in harms way giving the wisdom to represent themselves as true Patriots and Christians.
1) Zelots of any religion who kill people are wrong!
2) This conflict is about converting everyone in the world to Islam.
3) This is not " cannot we just all get along" time. They want to kill us because we do not believe the way they do.
4) Talking is not action.
5) The actions of a few zelots do in fact taint the perception of the entire group, and until the "all" proves the zelots to be out of touch, the doubt is fact. Just ask the Duke lacrosse team.
6) Every day, the news casts at noon, evening and nightly should begin with the pictures of the planes flying into the WTC Towers and show the people jumping to their deaths because of what some zelots did in the name of their religion.
That could help our people understand what faces us.
My heart is heavy for the families of people killed in fighting this conflict. It is important that they did not die in vain, but provide the strength for us to carry on and prevent savagery here, for my sake yes, but more importantly for the sake of my children.
I will not typically use this space for rants like this one, but it was my feeling for the day, and most days, so it needed to be said.
God bless and protect all American troops in harms way giving the wisdom to represent themselves as true Patriots and Christians.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Latest Pic
Here is a pic of A from a recent date at University. The young man has an interesting heritage. He is 3rd generation American of Cuban decent, but of Jewish background. I thought most Cubans were Catholic!
Enjoy thi pic.
Gardening
As K and I are doing some long overdue landscaping, a question arises. Why does it cost so much to get plants? Should they just be scavenged from the wetland/wooded area across the street from my home, (nobody would even know they are gone)?
We rented a tiller and did an area about 90 feet long by 7 feet wide. Initially planted some Leland cypress trees to begging building a sound barrier to block some noise. They are only a foot tall, so the sound barrier is a way off, butcha gotta start somewhere. Soon to be added are Crepe Myrtle and probably some hydrangea. Then a dog wood or two.
We rented a tiller and did an area about 90 feet long by 7 feet wide. Initially planted some Leland cypress trees to begging building a sound barrier to block some noise. They are only a foot tall, so the sound barrier is a way off, butcha gotta start somewhere. Soon to be added are Crepe Myrtle and probably some hydrangea. Then a dog wood or two.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Gee..
It is Saturday AM. One is away at college, the other is off for the day at a regional theme park, Carowinds. There is no teenage drama. The house is really quiet. Seems a good time to get some house type work done, but, the pitter-patter of big feet are missing. Seems very strange.
Friday, September 08, 2006
The End of the Week
It has been a long week of traveling. From Mooresville NC to Spartanburg, SC to Kingsport, TN, to Roanoke, VA to Lynchburg, VA, then home. The car now has 315K miles on it and still runs great. It will be a profitable week of sales, but mentally exhausting. It is great to be back home.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Trial Pic
This is my attempt at posing a picture, one of A just befor prom this year. Yes the gun is by the door!
Facin' Forward
I was goaded into posting by CP. I have almost forgotten how. Seems as if it has been a while since the last blog, although I have been positng comments on friends and family blogs.
A has now been delivered to UNC and is loving it. It seems as if it is one big sleep over with friends coming and going until late hours. It does seem that more studying is going on, so K and I are happy.
School has started for C. It appears that school is not a favorite as the classes seem not challenging. Swimming on the varsity team and Student Government are priorities.
Otherwise all is well.
A has now been delivered to UNC and is loving it. It seems as if it is one big sleep over with friends coming and going until late hours. It does seem that more studying is going on, so K and I are happy.
School has started for C. It appears that school is not a favorite as the classes seem not challenging. Swimming on the varsity team and Student Government are priorities.
Otherwise all is well.
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