Shortly after my last post, I boarded a plane for a flight to Atlanta. The flight was scheduled for 6am, so I was up and out of bed by 3:45am. Needless to say, I only got a couple hours of sleep.
The funniest thing happened as I crossed the threshold onto the plane. As usual, the flight attendant was there to greet every passenger as he or she boarded. While most people got the obligatory "good morning" or "welcome aboard", I got a very unique response. Upon my embarkation, I was greeted with "It looks like someone missed their morning coffee!"
Utterly confused and put on tilt by this statement I just smiled and nodded and plodded along towards row 35, seat A. While making my way to the back of the plane, I brushed off the comment as an idiotic statement.
About 30 minutes later, the flight attendants were finishing drink service and of course I was in one of the last rows to be served. The same flight attendant looked at me and instead of asking what I would like, simply asked "Coffee, sir?"
I replied, "No, I'll have a tomato juice, I don't drink coffee!"
Granted, it was early and I am sure I had a rather grim look on my face, but how bad must one look for a flight attendant to assume its ok to make comments like that? Give me a break, it was a 6 AM FLIGHT on a Saturday morning!!!!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Has this ever happened before????
The White House announced that after only about 1 year on the job Press Secretary Tony Snow s leaving. Following the recent defections from the White House ship, one is left to ponder if he is just the next rat jumping off a sinking ship. The fact he is following Karl Rove out the door less than a week later isn't even the interesting part.
Mr. Snow announced that his reason for leaving is financial and that his post does not pay enough. Its hard to believe that any member of the government so highly placed as the White House Press Secretary would ever use such an excuse. Its a sad commentary on our nation, but nearly all politicos are wealthy and in the current administration this is even more true.
The big question is, how much is Mr. Snow making that isn't "enough?" Tony Snow's government salary is $168,000 per year. Let that sink in...$168,000 is such a hardship on this man that he has to quit his job as Press Secretary to the most powerful man in the world. $168,000 is almost 4 times the National Average household income (as reported by the US Census in 2003) of $43,318. I feel for Mr. Snow, I can't imagine living off a salary of only $168,000 with all the perks and benefits that come with being the mouthpiece of the President. The notion is asinine. If the White House didn't want Tony Snow's departure to look like their administration is crumbling, couldn't they have come up with a better excuse or is Mr. Snow so far separated from the average American that he is burdened by an income (paid by their taxes no less) that is unapproachable for all but the wealthiest in this country.
And the White House insists they have the average American in mind when making policy decisions. They are clearly out of touch with reality.
Mr. Snow announced that his reason for leaving is financial and that his post does not pay enough. Its hard to believe that any member of the government so highly placed as the White House Press Secretary would ever use such an excuse. Its a sad commentary on our nation, but nearly all politicos are wealthy and in the current administration this is even more true.
The big question is, how much is Mr. Snow making that isn't "enough?" Tony Snow's government salary is $168,000 per year. Let that sink in...$168,000 is such a hardship on this man that he has to quit his job as Press Secretary to the most powerful man in the world. $168,000 is almost 4 times the National Average household income (as reported by the US Census in 2003) of $43,318. I feel for Mr. Snow, I can't imagine living off a salary of only $168,000 with all the perks and benefits that come with being the mouthpiece of the President. The notion is asinine. If the White House didn't want Tony Snow's departure to look like their administration is crumbling, couldn't they have come up with a better excuse or is Mr. Snow so far separated from the average American that he is burdened by an income (paid by their taxes no less) that is unapproachable for all but the wealthiest in this country.
And the White House insists they have the average American in mind when making policy decisions. They are clearly out of touch with reality.
Monday, August 13, 2007
And the floor show is free
I live about 90 miles from my primary client. As a result I drive altogether too regularly on the same state roads. Late yesterday afternoon while I was making a return trip home, I stopped into a Taco Bell (I know, what the hell was I thinking?) for a quick bite as I hadn't eaten all day.
When I pulled in, I remembered a previous stop at this same establishment. That day, the shift manager - a portly blonde woman in her early 40s who was probably attractive in High School until life beat her down - spent the entire time I was there creating drama. This was not the normal boss/employee drama. It was more like high school girl drama. Her daughter came in and was at the counter begging for a dollar. Not money, a single dollar. The discussion quickly became an argument about where her money had gone, how the mother had no money on her, what the girl was going to use the money for and on and on. I was on the brink of giving this girl a dollar just to shut up, but I was beat to it by one of the other Taco Bell employees. Thinking the incident was over, I sat down to eat. Then, the generous girl runs out the door of the restaurant and yells "You better not be buyin' no cigarettes or I'll come git my dollar back!"
Fast forward to yesterday....Imagine my joy when I walked in and the same shift manager was working. No sooner had I ordered than a young lady entered to work her shift. Immediately the fireworks between the manager and girl started. "How did you get here? You mean my daughter didn't drive you? What do you mean she's a bitch? You're a bitch!" All while the Manager is standing behind the counter and the girl is sitting in the dining area about 20 feet away. Classic stuff. Meanwhile another young employee's shift ends and there are a couple guys she knew in the restaurant. She walks around the front counter and in one motion removes her work shirt, but leaves it hanging around her neck like a ten year-old playing Superman. I catch the following exchange between her and her acquaintances.
Girl: "Yeah, I'll be back in school"
Friend: "I though you was a senior"
Girl: "I was. Will be again. Can't wait!"
Friend: "What? You failed?"
Girl: (bragging tone) "Yeah, I only got 10 credits, I failed math. It's cool."
Shortly thereafter, having my fill of the bizarre and depressing I left and was on my way home. Truly a sad commentary on the people working at that Taco Bell....but you know what? I'll stop in there again some time. You can't beat the free floor show!
When I pulled in, I remembered a previous stop at this same establishment. That day, the shift manager - a portly blonde woman in her early 40s who was probably attractive in High School until life beat her down - spent the entire time I was there creating drama. This was not the normal boss/employee drama. It was more like high school girl drama. Her daughter came in and was at the counter begging for a dollar. Not money, a single dollar. The discussion quickly became an argument about where her money had gone, how the mother had no money on her, what the girl was going to use the money for and on and on. I was on the brink of giving this girl a dollar just to shut up, but I was beat to it by one of the other Taco Bell employees. Thinking the incident was over, I sat down to eat. Then, the generous girl runs out the door of the restaurant and yells "You better not be buyin' no cigarettes or I'll come git my dollar back!"
Fast forward to yesterday....Imagine my joy when I walked in and the same shift manager was working. No sooner had I ordered than a young lady entered to work her shift. Immediately the fireworks between the manager and girl started. "How did you get here? You mean my daughter didn't drive you? What do you mean she's a bitch? You're a bitch!" All while the Manager is standing behind the counter and the girl is sitting in the dining area about 20 feet away. Classic stuff. Meanwhile another young employee's shift ends and there are a couple guys she knew in the restaurant. She walks around the front counter and in one motion removes her work shirt, but leaves it hanging around her neck like a ten year-old playing Superman. I catch the following exchange between her and her acquaintances.
Girl: "Yeah, I'll be back in school"
Friend: "I though you was a senior"
Girl: "I was. Will be again. Can't wait!"
Friend: "What? You failed?"
Girl: (bragging tone) "Yeah, I only got 10 credits, I failed math. It's cool."
Shortly thereafter, having my fill of the bizarre and depressing I left and was on my way home. Truly a sad commentary on the people working at that Taco Bell....but you know what? I'll stop in there again some time. You can't beat the free floor show!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
The Middle Lane
If my experiences over the last couple weeks area any indication, we are facing an epidemic.
First, I passed a guy changing his flat tire in the middle lane. The guy was completely oblivious to the havoc he was wreaking on the traffic pattern. A day or two later, I was in a traffic jam at rush hour. Lo and behold when I get to the constriction, there is a small fender bender in the middle lane. Both drivers were out of the car, on their cell phones and just hanging out. They were less than a block from a large parking lot. The final sign of the impending downfall of driving etiquette appeared to me a few days later. I was pulling off the highway and saw a police car with its lights on in the center lane of the exit ramp. When I approached, I saw the police officer clearly writing a citation - while blocking the center lane of an off ramp.
People, the middle lane is for driving. If you get a flat tire, pull over. If you get in a fender bender, pull over. If a police officer is pulling you over....do just that, pull over! If you are an officer, and you are writing someone a ticket in the center lane of the road, you should just go ahead and write yourself a ticket for idiocy.
First, I passed a guy changing his flat tire in the middle lane. The guy was completely oblivious to the havoc he was wreaking on the traffic pattern. A day or two later, I was in a traffic jam at rush hour. Lo and behold when I get to the constriction, there is a small fender bender in the middle lane. Both drivers were out of the car, on their cell phones and just hanging out. They were less than a block from a large parking lot. The final sign of the impending downfall of driving etiquette appeared to me a few days later. I was pulling off the highway and saw a police car with its lights on in the center lane of the exit ramp. When I approached, I saw the police officer clearly writing a citation - while blocking the center lane of an off ramp.
People, the middle lane is for driving. If you get a flat tire, pull over. If you get in a fender bender, pull over. If a police officer is pulling you over....do just that, pull over! If you are an officer, and you are writing someone a ticket in the center lane of the road, you should just go ahead and write yourself a ticket for idiocy.
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