Do you know what this world really needs? Labeled sponges. Yes, I do believe this would create family harmony which ultimately leads to world peace. Think about it. Labeled sponges means you'll never have to say or hear this again. "Honey, you mixed up the sponges again. I told you the pink one is for the dishes and the blue one is for the tubs. Ugh! This is so gross!" I've tried labeling our sponges myself with permanent marker. Guess what? It wasn't so permanent. And yeah, we should be able to remember how we've assigned our sponges but.....well....we just don't. So listen up Chore Boy! Forget the pretty little patterns on the scouring pad side. Just produce pads with sewn in labels.
My suggestions are:
kitchen
bath
dishes
gross stuff
really really gross stuff
C'mon I know you can do it. Make the world a better place today! :)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Compensation Czar should check on customer treatment
President Obama's compensation czar Kenneth R. Feinberg has been quietly meeting with several corporate welfare recipients to develop plans for paying their top employees. These corporate giants; American International Group, Citigroup, Bank of America, General Motors, Chrysler, Chrysler Financial and GMAC, have all been been saved by large government bailouts. Still, it is anticipated that these corporate giants will lobby to stay as close to their normal business paradigm as possible. Feinberg has the unenviable task of reigning in excesses while ensuring the companies remain competitive so that they can pay the taxpayers back.
One thing I would really like Feinberg to take into consideration is whether these companies are reciprocating the mercy and largesse of the taxpayers who are also their customers. My experiences and those of several people I know lead me to the conclusion that the answer is no, if anything these companies have become more aggressive in nickel and diming their customers to death, showing no empathy for the customer who bailed them out. It is an issue that has gone under the radar because most people don't want to reveal their personal financial affairs. But I'm going to boldly step forward and share a personal example.
A few months ago I miscalculated my account and became overdrawn. It triggered a domino of outrageous overdraft fees. Paying an extra $35 for a $2 purchase made me sick to my stomach. It shouldn't have been that bad, but the bank cleverly paid my biggest charge first so that several small charges each incurred a fee. (Note: all of these charges came in on the same day.) I went into the bank to plead my case for a few waivers. My major argument was that there had been enough funds in the account to pay all the small items so if the bank had paid those first then I would actually have had only one overdraft fee. I was very polite and humble and what did I get in return? A lecture. Yes, the bank representative looked over my expenditures and suggested I could manage my money better by cutting back on dining out. The dining out she was referring to were a couple of trips to McDonald's and Pizza Hut. To say I was insulted is putting it mildly. Its not like we were going to fancy restaurants or say throwing a party in Vegas. Honestly, if my bank (one of the bailout babies) wants to highlight these minor treats for the kids as extravagant spending then they should learn to live more frugally too. Cutting out office birthday and holiday parties might hurt employee morale but hey at least you'll be saving money. (Note the sarcasm, I would never support punishing the worker bees.) My bank basically took a handout from me as a taxpayer then turned around and chastised me as their customer. How arrogant and unappreciative! Did I get the waiver? Yes, with the caveat that I will not be eligible for any other fee waiver for one year. The policy doesn't bother me, its the treatment. If this is how corporate welfare recipients express gratitude to the American public then they need an attitude adjustment. Feinberg can help achieve that by making customer satisfaction a key component to keeping the big bucks flowing.
One thing I would really like Feinberg to take into consideration is whether these companies are reciprocating the mercy and largesse of the taxpayers who are also their customers. My experiences and those of several people I know lead me to the conclusion that the answer is no, if anything these companies have become more aggressive in nickel and diming their customers to death, showing no empathy for the customer who bailed them out. It is an issue that has gone under the radar because most people don't want to reveal their personal financial affairs. But I'm going to boldly step forward and share a personal example.
A few months ago I miscalculated my account and became overdrawn. It triggered a domino of outrageous overdraft fees. Paying an extra $35 for a $2 purchase made me sick to my stomach. It shouldn't have been that bad, but the bank cleverly paid my biggest charge first so that several small charges each incurred a fee. (Note: all of these charges came in on the same day.) I went into the bank to plead my case for a few waivers. My major argument was that there had been enough funds in the account to pay all the small items so if the bank had paid those first then I would actually have had only one overdraft fee. I was very polite and humble and what did I get in return? A lecture. Yes, the bank representative looked over my expenditures and suggested I could manage my money better by cutting back on dining out. The dining out she was referring to were a couple of trips to McDonald's and Pizza Hut. To say I was insulted is putting it mildly. Its not like we were going to fancy restaurants or say throwing a party in Vegas. Honestly, if my bank (one of the bailout babies) wants to highlight these minor treats for the kids as extravagant spending then they should learn to live more frugally too. Cutting out office birthday and holiday parties might hurt employee morale but hey at least you'll be saving money. (Note the sarcasm, I would never support punishing the worker bees.) My bank basically took a handout from me as a taxpayer then turned around and chastised me as their customer. How arrogant and unappreciative! Did I get the waiver? Yes, with the caveat that I will not be eligible for any other fee waiver for one year. The policy doesn't bother me, its the treatment. If this is how corporate welfare recipients express gratitude to the American public then they need an attitude adjustment. Feinberg can help achieve that by making customer satisfaction a key component to keeping the big bucks flowing.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Stroller Envy
I have a confession to make, I am guilty of stroller envy. Its an insidious disease that started quite innocently during my first pregnancy. A total novice to the baby world, I went straight to the big box stores to do some comparison shopping. Since I was having a girl I was looking for something feminine. That was a big disappointment because at that time the majority of the strollers came in shades of navy, black, or gray. There were a few cute strollers but they looked pretty flimsy. I eventually settled on two travel systems (one for us, one for the grandparents)that met my requirements for ease of use and affordability. I was being practical because the baby needed so many things, but I couldn't help feeling wistful when I saw those chic, pricey models in my pregnancy magazines. I never saw those brands at the big box stores, so I didn't have a chance to try them out.
Now I know that even if I had tested them I couldn't have truly appreciated their upgrades until after having the baby. Once the baby was born I found myself wishing for different features on my stroller. Like wouldn't it be nice if the stroller could fully recline to allow my princess to stretch out more comfortably? Voila! A trip to a mall and there's someone with a stroller that fully reclines. I loved those old fashioned prams which were way out of my price range, and thought someone should invent a stroller that lets the baby face you. Bam! See all the mommies chatting face-to-face with their babies at the park. Everywhere I looked there were fascinating options; strollers that turned on a dime, folded more easily, weighed less, came with height adjustments, or useful attachments. I started taking mental notes of the brands, the colors, their features. I was brazen in asking the mommies with the BETTER strollers about how much they paid, where did they get their wheels, could I take a test spin? A whole new world opened up to me. I learned that there were different categories of strollers including pramettes, laybacks, joggers, tandems etc.. Visions of Bugaboos, Peg Peregos, Inglesinas, Quinnys and others danced in my head. The research was exhausting and ultimately futile. Seriously, I had two perfectly okay strollers. Plus, no one in my family could understand the desire for a stroller with such an exorbitant price tag. If I knew then what I know now, I would have realized that the luxury stroller was actually a great investment when you take into account that each of your children will use it for at least two years. And, they do great at resale.
I share this story to encourage other first time moms to take the plunge and go for the stroller you really want. The expensive nursery furniture you are buying will rarely be seen by anyone other than family and your child will be out of the crib by two. But the stroller, oh the stroller....it goes everywhere with you. It is how you present your baby to the public. You really want to be happy with your stroller. Alas, my story has a happy ending. Recently I acquired a second-hand Bumbleride Flyer in a gorgeous salmon-like color. It lays back, has reversible handles, and garners so many compliments! Of course I still check out other strollers. Like just this summer we went to a theme park and I couldn't help noticing several brands that I'd never seen before. It was a wonderful turnaround from my early mommy days, because this time I walked away thinking, "My stroller is better, my stroller is BETTER!"
Now I know that even if I had tested them I couldn't have truly appreciated their upgrades until after having the baby. Once the baby was born I found myself wishing for different features on my stroller. Like wouldn't it be nice if the stroller could fully recline to allow my princess to stretch out more comfortably? Voila! A trip to a mall and there's someone with a stroller that fully reclines. I loved those old fashioned prams which were way out of my price range, and thought someone should invent a stroller that lets the baby face you. Bam! See all the mommies chatting face-to-face with their babies at the park. Everywhere I looked there were fascinating options; strollers that turned on a dime, folded more easily, weighed less, came with height adjustments, or useful attachments. I started taking mental notes of the brands, the colors, their features. I was brazen in asking the mommies with the BETTER strollers about how much they paid, where did they get their wheels, could I take a test spin? A whole new world opened up to me. I learned that there were different categories of strollers including pramettes, laybacks, joggers, tandems etc.. Visions of Bugaboos, Peg Peregos, Inglesinas, Quinnys and others danced in my head. The research was exhausting and ultimately futile. Seriously, I had two perfectly okay strollers. Plus, no one in my family could understand the desire for a stroller with such an exorbitant price tag. If I knew then what I know now, I would have realized that the luxury stroller was actually a great investment when you take into account that each of your children will use it for at least two years. And, they do great at resale.
I share this story to encourage other first time moms to take the plunge and go for the stroller you really want. The expensive nursery furniture you are buying will rarely be seen by anyone other than family and your child will be out of the crib by two. But the stroller, oh the stroller....it goes everywhere with you. It is how you present your baby to the public. You really want to be happy with your stroller. Alas, my story has a happy ending. Recently I acquired a second-hand Bumbleride Flyer in a gorgeous salmon-like color. It lays back, has reversible handles, and garners so many compliments! Of course I still check out other strollers. Like just this summer we went to a theme park and I couldn't help noticing several brands that I'd never seen before. It was a wonderful turnaround from my early mommy days, because this time I walked away thinking, "My stroller is better, my stroller is BETTER!"
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Military Wife = Single Mom
I can't believe it! We just got word that my husband will most likely be going away again soon. I have felt nauseous all day since hearing the news. I'm still praying for a miracle like cancelled orders or at least postponement. This is just a horrible time to be separated; what with a new school year, a baby just starting to crawl, and a new dog in the house! Still, this is the life we signed up for. The funny thing is I never envisioned myself here. After we married my husband quit the military because I told him flat out that I could not handle the lifestyle. I didn't want to raise our children by myself while he was gone months at a time. Little did I know there was no escaping our destiny.
Today we are fully invested in the military life and for the most part its a good life. We have job security, great healthcare, community support and lots of other benefits. The biggest downside is the separations. Every time they come up I think I'm going to crash and burn. Life is chaotic enough when we are working as a team and it can get crazy when you have to go solo. Over the years I've developed great empathy for the real single moms out there. I personally know what its like to bundle everyone up in the middle of the night to get a sick child to the ER. Spend the night in the waiting room trying to keep the healthy kids entertained and the sick kid calm. Come morning you still have to race around with the usual routine; school, meals. laundry etc.. There is no backup, no one to pick up the slack and give you a break. By the grace of God I've grown stronger from each experience, but still its hard. Every time I think about going back to work full-time something like this happens to remind me why working from home is the best option for my family right now.
There are some good things about the separations, like I get COMPLETE CONTROL over everything in the home. Should I give into the kids request for pizza? Hmmm, no one to consult but myself. Maybe I'll experiment with moving the furniture around...no one here to change it back. Did I fall behind on the housework because I got sucked into reality tv? Don't need to confess that to anyone. Of course, when my husband returns there is always a rough adjustment period. The kids and I will be used to the rules of my monarchy, but with dad back in the picture its once again some kind of democracy. There are usually some skirmishes, followed by a bloodless coup, and then finally a treaty signing, but that's another topic in itself. For now its time to dig in, remember that God has never given more than I can handle, and cherish this time with my children.
Today we are fully invested in the military life and for the most part its a good life. We have job security, great healthcare, community support and lots of other benefits. The biggest downside is the separations. Every time they come up I think I'm going to crash and burn. Life is chaotic enough when we are working as a team and it can get crazy when you have to go solo. Over the years I've developed great empathy for the real single moms out there. I personally know what its like to bundle everyone up in the middle of the night to get a sick child to the ER. Spend the night in the waiting room trying to keep the healthy kids entertained and the sick kid calm. Come morning you still have to race around with the usual routine; school, meals. laundry etc.. There is no backup, no one to pick up the slack and give you a break. By the grace of God I've grown stronger from each experience, but still its hard. Every time I think about going back to work full-time something like this happens to remind me why working from home is the best option for my family right now.
There are some good things about the separations, like I get COMPLETE CONTROL over everything in the home. Should I give into the kids request for pizza? Hmmm, no one to consult but myself. Maybe I'll experiment with moving the furniture around...no one here to change it back. Did I fall behind on the housework because I got sucked into reality tv? Don't need to confess that to anyone. Of course, when my husband returns there is always a rough adjustment period. The kids and I will be used to the rules of my monarchy, but with dad back in the picture its once again some kind of democracy. There are usually some skirmishes, followed by a bloodless coup, and then finally a treaty signing, but that's another topic in itself. For now its time to dig in, remember that God has never given more than I can handle, and cherish this time with my children.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Finding My Voice In Social Media
It has been a year since my first and only blog post and I am incredibly disappointed with myself for not having kept up with it. I've got a million excuses e.g. a rough pregnancy, a premature birth, sick kids, marital strife, economic worries, baby blues, the list goes on forever. What it finally comes down to is that the biggest obstacle to stretching myself into the social media realm is ME.
I'm a great gun for hire. I'll turn out amazing prose under deadline pressure for a client, but when it comes to writing just for my own pleasure I can't seem to carve out the time or settle on a topic. My mind wanders in a million different directions, do I want to comment on today's politics? parenting challenges? the scandals on my favorite reality shows? my personal growth?....can't decide. The funny thing is I do keep a journal, I update it at least a couple of times a month, sometimes more sometimes less. Why can't I do the same on a blog?
I think on some level I fear that any subject matter I tackle will forever define who I am in the blogosphere. If I talk about my children then "mother" becomes my primary title. If I natter about government issues then I'll be labeled as some sort of politico (and probably alienate a whole bunch of people). And I guess that's okay, because isn't that how we brand ourselves? But I haven't figured out what I want my brand to be. I am a writer, mother, wife, aspiring entreprenuer, concerned citizen, etc. and all these parts of me are constantly competing for my limited time and energy. Still, I've resolved to just take it one step at a time. I've started to Twitter, I've got a profile on LinkedIn and someday soon I plan to join Facebook. Stay tuned I may surprise even myself.
I'm a great gun for hire. I'll turn out amazing prose under deadline pressure for a client, but when it comes to writing just for my own pleasure I can't seem to carve out the time or settle on a topic. My mind wanders in a million different directions, do I want to comment on today's politics? parenting challenges? the scandals on my favorite reality shows? my personal growth?....can't decide. The funny thing is I do keep a journal, I update it at least a couple of times a month, sometimes more sometimes less. Why can't I do the same on a blog?
I think on some level I fear that any subject matter I tackle will forever define who I am in the blogosphere. If I talk about my children then "mother" becomes my primary title. If I natter about government issues then I'll be labeled as some sort of politico (and probably alienate a whole bunch of people). And I guess that's okay, because isn't that how we brand ourselves? But I haven't figured out what I want my brand to be. I am a writer, mother, wife, aspiring entreprenuer, concerned citizen, etc. and all these parts of me are constantly competing for my limited time and energy. Still, I've resolved to just take it one step at a time. I've started to Twitter, I've got a profile on LinkedIn and someday soon I plan to join Facebook. Stay tuned I may surprise even myself.
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