Dumber and Dumber Every Day

This is probably one of the most offensive posts I'll ever write, so please take that into consideration before delving in. One of the favorite things I like to say when some random person does something idiotic is "people get dumber and dumber every day." I'm not discounting that there are still a lot of highly intelligent people out there, who raise or teach intelligent children; however, when my Mom, a teacher in Anaheim tells me that her 5th grade students are barely reading at a 2nd grade level, who is at fault? When I heard this, I asked my Mom why teachers continue to pass these kids onto the next grade? What happened to holding a child back another year, like when I was a kid? FEAR. Our society has become so afraid of repercussions of parents, students, school district authorities, etc., that it's an unspoken rule to just push these students on. Will these children ever survive in high school or college?

Let's not lose sight of what's important in maintaining a well-rounded life (besides the obvious friends, family, love, shelter, etc.) - manners and continuous education. I thought our goal was to evolve from caveman status, not revert? Pass it on...for the sake of great teachers, such as my Mom.

Four Years and Counting

I don't have a grand post for today...simply just wanted to say "Happy 4th Anniversary" to my hubby :)

To Complain or Not Complain?

On any given day, I'm pretty easy going; however, recently, I've run into a rash of incidents that have boiled my blood. So, the question is...when should one dust off the little nuances and save their complaints for a real problem? This has been my dilemma lately.

It started with my 30th birthday dinner, which was held at a highly rated/recommended restaurant in Paso Robles. My husband and I are serious "foodies," who have years of history in the restaurant industry, so we're always more forgiving of poor food or service than your average customer. But, when a meal you've been looking forward to for months hardly rates as a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, do you say something or just chalk it up to a bad Saturday night in a busy kitchen?

My next dilemma came with the 3rd time of being double charged for an item at Target in one month. The worst part is that I always notice it AFTER I've driven home. The first couple of times it was an inexpensive item ($5 or less), and I didn't feel it was worth the trip (or gas) back to the store for a credit. The third time, it was an item that was $10, which I was charged twice for. So, I made the trip back, and was instantly credited the $10. Now, I was debating on whether I should complain to the high school cashier, because I figured that wouldn't get me anywhere. But, I decided to say something in passing, and was told that I have up to 60 days to bring my receipt back for credit of a duplicate purchase. Good to know! Should've saved those other receipts!

So, you think this is the end of it? NOPE. Last night at our Women Who Win event, there were multiple items that were disappointing to me, especially since the venue had ample time to prepare for our arrival. For those of you that know me well, you know that I'm a planner extraordinare, so I was rather discouraged by the unimpressive results of our planning. No detail is overlooked and every bit of information is triple checked. Moreover, all arrangements were confirmed with me on Monday. Everything should've been perfect, right? WRONG. So, I aired my complaints. We'll see what happens from here. Wish us luck.

Bottom line - there are many things in life that aren't worth complaining about. There are many people who have bigger issues that I can't even relate to; however, when it's important to you, make your voice heard...and double check your receipts!

Women Who Win

FORE! Today, I'll dust off my clubs and tee it up at Strawberry Farms Golf Club with 20 ladies at Women Who Win's networking event.

Women Who Win in The Sport of Business mixes spectator sports with blue-chip prospects in a casual and friendly atmosphere within many of the Southland's most recognized venues. Whether cheering for the Angels, a favorite horse at Del Mar, the San Diego Chargers or your tennis ace, there's plenty of chances to meet others just like you.

Hope to see you at a future event!

http://meetwomenwhowin.com/

Yuck the Fankees

Today, my favorite team in the whole world (the Angels of Anaheim) take on the Yanks for a three-game home stand. For those of you that don't know me, I'm an obsessed Angel fan, who loves to watch a good crushing of the Yankees. I used to think their fans were the worst, until I met the Boston and Dodger fans (they take the cake for most obnoxious)! Needless to say, many of my best friends are transplants from NY/NJ (shout out to Bruno and Booger), so it's become quite a rivalry over the years. There's a chance we can officially knock the Yanks out of playoff contention this week, so you know it'll be a good series between the two clubs. GO HALOS!!!!!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

...or should I say Hurricane, Hurricane, Go Away? Keep your fingers (and toes) crossed for Lee and I, as we track the progress of Hurricane Ike. For those of you that don't know, Lee's entire family lives on the East Coast (Charleston, SC), and we're headed there next Saturday for a two-week vacation. OH BROTHER...

Doggy Style

Get your mind out of the gutters, people! No, this isn't some twisted innuendo...it's a shout out (or bark) to my new favorite jewelry company, Dogeared. I don't yet own a piece myself, but plan on it real soon! Don't know if it's the cute logo that initially attracted me (my advertising mind is always working) or the creative descriptives that accompany each piece (Karma, Luck, Make A Wish, etc.). Either way, they've left me begging for more. Get it? Begging? OK, I'll stick to advertising, and not comedy.

http://www.dogeared.com/

My First Blog

It's official! I've finally entered the realm of blogging (thanks, Amanda!). I suppose that it was inevitable, given the amount of times I've harped on my boss or our clients to do the same. Not that I have something important to promote; rather, this will simply serve as outlet to rant about the bad or rave about the great. So, bear with me as I give this a shot. I hope you'll find my posts helpful, funny or worth reading - maybe a breath of fresh air in a sea of craziness.

Check back often, as I plan on trying to maintain a regular schedule. Feel free to leave comments, too. Would love to hear from you!