At my work, I have to speak with different airlines every day. Most US Airlines have recognized the fact that even though outsourcing their call centers may be more cost efficient, they lose much more than that in customer loyalty. When a) I can not understand you and b) you're not helpful AT ALL, rather you're just reading from a script... I get majorly frustrated.
Today, I was dealing with an issue that should have taken 5 minutes maximum to fix. I know. I've done it before. The company I was dealing with preferred to make proverbial mountains out of molehills, and this has now lingered on for two days, with tomorrow being day three.
What is so wrong with companies spending more money to train and hire American workers? Don't they realize that when these American workers get paid, their money will be funneled right back into OUR economy???
Until next time,
J
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Hopes and Prayers
I've always considered myself a patriotic American. However, I get complacent and take for granted the freedom that has been granted to us.
For the past year I've heard on the news about the three hikers who are being jailed in Iran, accused as spies. This breaks my heart. They were not targeted for being spies, or for crossing some unmarked border. They are sitting in an Iranian jail today because they are Americans. I hope and pray that Sarah, Josh and Shane are freed soon.
Reflecting on this brings my train of thought to another matter. One that is closer to home for most of us. America is the only place that I would ever want to be from. I'm proud to be an American. That doesn't mean that we are without flaws though. Racism is a black cloud that has been hanging over our heads from the very beginning steps of our nation, with the Native Americans, Africans, Asians and more.
Most of the time when you hear "racism", you automatically think of a white person thinking or speaking negatively about a black person, based on the color of skin. ALL races are capable of being racists, not just the "whites".
I've been asked more times than I can count "what are you?" meaning my heritage. I usually laugh it off and say that I'm an American mutt. Why am I being asked this question in the first place? Why is anyone?
As I sit here typing this, I think about my sweet little boy, in bed asleep. I hope and pray that his dreams are happy ones. I hope and pray that one day he can travel the world and not be worried about being targeted for being an American. I hope and pray that America will always be the Land of the Free for the future generations. I hope and pray that one day my little boy and all the other boys and girls in his generation will finally be able to overcome racism. So, with the risk of sounding like a silly pageant queen.... I hope and pray for peace.
Until next time,
J
For the past year I've heard on the news about the three hikers who are being jailed in Iran, accused as spies. This breaks my heart. They were not targeted for being spies, or for crossing some unmarked border. They are sitting in an Iranian jail today because they are Americans. I hope and pray that Sarah, Josh and Shane are freed soon.
Reflecting on this brings my train of thought to another matter. One that is closer to home for most of us. America is the only place that I would ever want to be from. I'm proud to be an American. That doesn't mean that we are without flaws though. Racism is a black cloud that has been hanging over our heads from the very beginning steps of our nation, with the Native Americans, Africans, Asians and more.
Most of the time when you hear "racism", you automatically think of a white person thinking or speaking negatively about a black person, based on the color of skin. ALL races are capable of being racists, not just the "whites".
I've been asked more times than I can count "what are you?" meaning my heritage. I usually laugh it off and say that I'm an American mutt. Why am I being asked this question in the first place? Why is anyone?
As I sit here typing this, I think about my sweet little boy, in bed asleep. I hope and pray that his dreams are happy ones. I hope and pray that one day he can travel the world and not be worried about being targeted for being an American. I hope and pray that America will always be the Land of the Free for the future generations. I hope and pray that one day my little boy and all the other boys and girls in his generation will finally be able to overcome racism. So, with the risk of sounding like a silly pageant queen.... I hope and pray for peace.
Until next time,
J
Saturday, September 11, 2010
9/11
My parents, and other people of their generation frequently say that they will always remember where they were and what they were doing when they found out that JFK had been shot. I have two sad events that I'll always remember.
April 19, 1995 - Never Forget! I'm proud to be from Oklahoma.
I was in my dorm room, getting ready for my English Comp class when my friend Cord called me, telling me to turn on the TV. I'll never forget that moment. I walked to class in a daze, and was relieved to find out that class had been canceled.
One of my floor-mates was celebrating her birthday that beautiful September day. We somehow managed to get her a cake and be happy for a little while that evening.
9/11/2001.
April 19, 1995 - Never Forget! I'm proud to be from Oklahoma.
I was in my dorm room, getting ready for my English Comp class when my friend Cord called me, telling me to turn on the TV. I'll never forget that moment. I walked to class in a daze, and was relieved to find out that class had been canceled.
One of my floor-mates was celebrating her birthday that beautiful September day. We somehow managed to get her a cake and be happy for a little while that evening.
9/11/2001.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Music, Sweet Music
I believe that I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. If you stole my iPod, you'd probably think that I'm a schizophrenic (don't worry, I'm not. one debilitating ailment, narcolepsy, is enough for me!) for the artist list I have.
I grew up in the South. Or Midwest. Or West. Oh hell, I grew up in Oklahoma. More defining than that though, is that I attended Oklahoma State University. What does this have to do with music, you may ask. Everything. Google "red dirt" music and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know about Stillwater, OK and the bands that got their start there. I swear if I could carry a tune, I'd be one of them. These bands, more specifically, The Great Divide and Cross Canadian Ragweed (hey, it was 2000!) allowed me to break out of my top 40 hits and love different music because I actually liked the music. For the first time, lyrics spoke to my heart. I felt as if the songwriters were writing about me, my family or my best friend. Recommendations of this genre?
Check out:
Cross Canadian Ragweed - Anywhere but here. Alabama.
No Justice - The Toast. Turn to A Smile
Pat Green - Carry On
Stoney LaRue - Shot Full of Holes. Downtown.
Randy Rogers Band - When the Circus Leaves Town
I've got more red dirt recommendations where that came from, but as the beginning of this post says, its all about the variety of musicality.
I discovered a song over the summer, by listening to Wyoming Public Radio that I fell in love with instantly. Seriously. 2 months later and it's still my ringtone.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home
A song that I heard first on The Hills (back when LC was on and Heidi was pre-Barbie) that I still love to this day is:
A Fine Frenzy - Almsot Lover
Others that top my "play count" are:
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah. STILL. GIVES. ME. CHILLS.
The Grass Roots - Let's Live For Today
P!nk - Crystal Ball
Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down
Schuyler Fisk - What am I to You
Julie Roberts - Rain on a Tin Roof
Allison Krauss - Let Me Touch You For Awhile
So... what do you think? Do these artists/songs suck more than the PAC-10? ;-)
Let me know if there's a certain artist or song that you think I need to be playing Right Now.
Until next time,
J
I grew up in the South. Or Midwest. Or West. Oh hell, I grew up in Oklahoma. More defining than that though, is that I attended Oklahoma State University. What does this have to do with music, you may ask. Everything. Google "red dirt" music and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know about Stillwater, OK and the bands that got their start there. I swear if I could carry a tune, I'd be one of them. These bands, more specifically, The Great Divide and Cross Canadian Ragweed (hey, it was 2000!) allowed me to break out of my top 40 hits and love different music because I actually liked the music. For the first time, lyrics spoke to my heart. I felt as if the songwriters were writing about me, my family or my best friend. Recommendations of this genre?
Check out:
Cross Canadian Ragweed - Anywhere but here. Alabama.
No Justice - The Toast. Turn to A Smile
Pat Green - Carry On
Stoney LaRue - Shot Full of Holes. Downtown.
Randy Rogers Band - When the Circus Leaves Town
I've got more red dirt recommendations where that came from, but as the beginning of this post says, its all about the variety of musicality.
I discovered a song over the summer, by listening to Wyoming Public Radio that I fell in love with instantly. Seriously. 2 months later and it's still my ringtone.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home
A song that I heard first on The Hills (back when LC was on and Heidi was pre-Barbie) that I still love to this day is:
A Fine Frenzy - Almsot Lover
Others that top my "play count" are:
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah. STILL. GIVES. ME. CHILLS.
The Grass Roots - Let's Live For Today
P!nk - Crystal Ball
Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down
Schuyler Fisk - What am I to You
Julie Roberts - Rain on a Tin Roof
Allison Krauss - Let Me Touch You For Awhile
So... what do you think? Do these artists/songs suck more than the PAC-10? ;-)
Let me know if there's a certain artist or song that you think I need to be playing Right Now.
Until next time,
J
Lazy? Not So Much
You know that feeling that you get, first thing in the morning? Okay, maybe it's after you've had a cup of coffee or your shower. The feeling that you can take on the world and that it's a Brand New Day....
Well, I don't. Once upon a time I suppose I must have felt that way. I first noticed changes when I was about 15 or 16 years old. It became harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. After school, I took a nap every day. My parents just thought I was lazy.
Fast forward about another 15 years.... I still have trouble getting out of bed every morning. I down two or three cups of coffee before I can coherently speak or think. I am extremely tired throughout the day, and to make things even worse, my new job is B-O-R-I-N-G. Painfully so! I've been lucky enough in my life to have a job that I absolutely love doing. Until now.
I laugh and I have to catch myself from falling because my knees buckle. This is called Cataplexy. Google it. Be glad you don't have it.
The best part of my life? My four year old son. He's my sunshine, my whole world. Parenting is hard work, even more so when you're a single parent with a sleep disorder. Sometimes, I feel so ashamed that I don't have the energy to play with him like I should. We do our best though.
Any questions?
Until next time,
J
Well, I don't. Once upon a time I suppose I must have felt that way. I first noticed changes when I was about 15 or 16 years old. It became harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. After school, I took a nap every day. My parents just thought I was lazy.
Fast forward about another 15 years.... I still have trouble getting out of bed every morning. I down two or three cups of coffee before I can coherently speak or think. I am extremely tired throughout the day, and to make things even worse, my new job is B-O-R-I-N-G. Painfully so! I've been lucky enough in my life to have a job that I absolutely love doing. Until now.
I laugh and I have to catch myself from falling because my knees buckle. This is called Cataplexy. Google it. Be glad you don't have it.
The best part of my life? My four year old son. He's my sunshine, my whole world. Parenting is hard work, even more so when you're a single parent with a sleep disorder. Sometimes, I feel so ashamed that I don't have the energy to play with him like I should. We do our best though.
Any questions?
Until next time,
J
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