tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347035272024-02-10T03:56:51.407-05:00Random thoughts and Acts of StupidityIt's basically what it says...I have constant random thoughts enter my brain every day...and when I don't... I read about extreme acts of stupidity of other people...so why not share!?Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.comBlogger651125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-16891846934356009542020-03-19T23:31:00.001-04:002020-03-19T23:31:37.559-04:00Time to dust off the ol' blog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGsoz2LTOSpVDc1N8o2wKexuRW-FlO23NJldoQ9WjDg3XskWPPkCeAFsvAIRhxEY-1j5UxXkdv0dke2ouCaelwkZVcXYfOulAmflq-I_YYN43jIM6WemfV6hVN5W3DxwqaByr/s1600/2019-coronavirus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGsoz2LTOSpVDc1N8o2wKexuRW-FlO23NJldoQ9WjDg3XskWPPkCeAFsvAIRhxEY-1j5UxXkdv0dke2ouCaelwkZVcXYfOulAmflq-I_YYN43jIM6WemfV6hVN5W3DxwqaByr/s320/2019-coronavirus.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WOW! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WTF are we living through at this moment? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but this is a life changing event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Novel coronavirus or Covid-19 whatever you want to call it has taken up so much of my head space I just don't know what to make of it anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To begin with, I am not the type of person to stress out very frequently. I am for the most part pretty chill, let things roll as they will...but this really has me rankled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone else?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does anyone still read this shit?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#coronavirus #WTF #isanyoneoutthere</span><br />
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<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-54954163840274231902019-08-08T22:52:00.001-04:002019-08-08T22:52:18.936-04:00Just my random thoughts for todayAugust 3rd, 2019 - two shootings in America.<br />
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El Paso, Texas - 22 people dead and 2 dozen injured.<br />
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Dayton, Ohio - 9 people dead many more injured.<br />
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A President who is using these horrible incidents to blame people with mental illness, a Republican Senator who refuses to let gun control issues a vote.<br />
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Hearts that are broken, lives that are lost....innocent lives.<br />
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Racism?<br />
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Anger?<br />
<br />
Who to blame?<br />
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Home grown terrorism. That is who to blame.<br />
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Racism has always been in America, we cannot wipe it clean from our history or our present. There are very few people who can honestly said they are not racists in one form or another, but it is how you process that racism that defines us.<br />
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I am a white girl, living in a predominately white world. I have not experienced racism, but I have experienced discrimination based on the religion I was brought up on, which was Catholic. We moved to a 90% Methodist neighborhood when I was 5 and I didn't understand why some of the kids wouldn't play with me. It was only because I didn't go to their church.<br />
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Exclusivity - is that even a word? I am not really sure. We exclude people in our lives for so many different reasons. Their hair, their skin, their clothes, the way they talk, the way they walk, who they hang out with, their opinions, who they love, who they don't love, who they vote for, cat lovers vs. dog lovers....so many stupid reasons really. We all do it.<br />
<br />
Each<br />
<br />
And<br />
<br />
Every<br />
<br />
One<br />
<br />
Of<br />
<br />
Us<br />
<br />
I am trying to wrap my head around the shootings, the reasons, the aftermath, the fighting, the name calling....<br />
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I can't.<br />
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I cannot fathom losing someone in my life who has been killed in a random act of violence. I cannot fathom what has pushed someone so over the edge that they felt the need to open fire at innocent people....because of what? What? What can make you so mad at the world that you would take so many lives? <br />
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It hurts me to my core.<br />
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I just don't understand.<br />
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It is not mental illness, it is hatred...pure hatred that makes someone kill someone else without feeling that what they have done is wrong. When did we become this nation of hate? Can I point the blame at one person? I wish I could, but it's been there...stewing beneath the surface for a long time and the current climate has brought it out...front and center to reveal the ugly true of what our nation is. <br />
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We don't want to become a nation that is all inclusive to all people.<br />
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We don't want to protect our citizens from harm.<br />
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We don't want to welcome people who are fighting the horrors from other countries, especially if their skin is a different color other than white.<br />
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We thrive on divisiveness. Look at our history. We WANT conflict. It's in the very nature of the history of our nation.<br />
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We are a nation of outcasts. People who fled to find freedom. Think about that for a second.<br />
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Our very nation has been built on the backs of immigrants who came here looking for a better future and who were willing to break their backs and work harder than anyone else so that they could come to the land of freedom.<br />
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And we stick them in cages...no...I am sorry...we stick their CHILDREN in cages.<br />
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Then we shoot at them.<br />
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We shoot ourselves.<br />
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We are stuck in this horrible loop.<br />
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Fighting...shooting,...killing for no real fucking reason at all.<br />
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No...real...fucking reason at all.<br />
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Seriously...give me a real reason.<br />
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Anyone?Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-24666268180839857042018-10-30T22:37:00.000-04:002018-10-30T22:37:00.788-04:00Where am I?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello world - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot has happened since I posted. Mostly it's been Donald Trump winning the election as President of the United States.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How the fuck did this happen? We can blame it on so many things, but I blame it on fear. Fear and deep rooted hatred has taken over this country. We've allowed a narcissistic jackass to rule over the greatest country on earth and he is breaking it down to it's knees. He incites violence, racism, antisemitism, anti- equality.....anti anything that isn't about making money and ruining our natural resources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even larger than that...the Republican party has become the party of greed. The party of "What is mine is mine and I will not share with my fellow Americans". They want to deregulate and ruin our natural resources. They want to strip away Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to hurt some of the most vulnerable people - the poor, the elderly and the sick. They call these programs "entitlements". They are not. How about we get rid of your healthcare and salary once you leave or are voted out of office? I think that would improve some deficit issues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:::sigh:::</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sit here some nights and I just wonder what has happened to a country who used to pride itself on helping others. Now we are turning people away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are a nation of immigrants and on their backs we built this country. Without them we do not exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the arms of one of our most cherished icons is this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4ffWoMMUAGzrMXUysyZKMEIQKucYmb-SiDtwNemOWFvELgcWwRPzx-z0B4rl_M2_0KnTGm-FtG5CGoQo_PjqeYjzHEaDpj68Wk3DmTW-RbyvMQfhGsTY4KtLY-n9gOiZp4iF/s1600/statue-of-liberty-vgnt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4ffWoMMUAGzrMXUysyZKMEIQKucYmb-SiDtwNemOWFvELgcWwRPzx-z0B4rl_M2_0KnTGm-FtG5CGoQo_PjqeYjzHEaDpj68Wk3DmTW-RbyvMQfhGsTY4KtLY-n9gOiZp4iF/s320/statue-of-liberty-vgnt.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now we push them away. We tell them they are not wanted, not needed. We feel threatened by their presence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Grandparents experienced signs like these: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYIgPyvH2GVnRErFJFBuSmNv1idxKDz2dLNPUtT4qhSlFsrKUvT7hIheX8v-kaCFIfVZdodJypz9ir8UuMN2RjYzLtRXNFKxMcaTwSUlhUZbhXGE7N1l4yM9BOZY6ZqH41xmh/s1600/no+irish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYIgPyvH2GVnRErFJFBuSmNv1idxKDz2dLNPUtT4qhSlFsrKUvT7hIheX8v-kaCFIfVZdodJypz9ir8UuMN2RjYzLtRXNFKxMcaTwSUlhUZbhXGE7N1l4yM9BOZY6ZqH41xmh/s1600/no+irish.JPG" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I thought we had come so far. I had hope with President Obama, but I also had dread. I heard the "Monkey in the White House" jokes and heard the "N" word for the first time in so many years. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I remember a conversation with someone who said to me, very honestly: "Do you think this country is ready for a black man as the President?" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">My answer was, probably very naively: "Yes...</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">absolutely! Why not?"</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">He shook his head and just said to me that there were too many people who don't like it at all.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That was in 2008, ten years later we have fallen farther backwards then we have ever fallen before.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Please tell me there is hope for a better America. An America that I grew up with that believed in taking care of each other and that we were all created equal and that if there is someone who is struggling....help them. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Please...let me know this America still exists. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-20881173382466462252018-10-06T23:42:00.002-04:002018-10-06T23:42:36.564-04:00Wake up!#Kavanaugh<br />
#Trump<br />
#Metoo<br />
#Nofuckingway<br />
#why<br />
#RESIST<br />
#VOTE<br />
#BlueWaveShazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-9788756098835287702015-06-15T21:34:00.001-04:002015-06-15T21:34:54.425-04:00Retail RETREEEEEEAT!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a little over 5 years ago, Margie and I embarked on an adventure. We opened up our own small business. It was a wonderful dream and we loved our little business, but unfortunately like so many other small businesses, we now have to close it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't need to bore you with the details...because it's boring and I'm tired of telling the story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Retail is a bitch! Ask anyone who has been in retail for any length of time and most of them will kind of roll their eyes and moan a little bit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next business is going to be a retreat for retail workers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will be a 5 Star hotel/resort/spa on a beach with a pool where they can come and relieve a little stress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Activities will include: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inflatable Sumo Wrestling - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w8bvydLljeRHCAfxAu7QD6z8KEvFUQ92OtvRpp03NASDmBg2ne7pi6Ws5E2EFzTE3JvBwTHlUT1h3Ybfob-fa-2fqgCIcMgGeDsNyOlcdmVSdzJQAG64DC2gv21po6tyihiF/s1600/sumo_suits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w8bvydLljeRHCAfxAu7QD6z8KEvFUQ92OtvRpp03NASDmBg2ne7pi6Ws5E2EFzTE3JvBwTHlUT1h3Ybfob-fa-2fqgCIcMgGeDsNyOlcdmVSdzJQAG64DC2gv21po6tyihiF/s320/sumo_suits.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stabbing/bashing life-sized dummies of irritating customers -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaJPLxSDF7SoX7YV7dY27RnPKYVkpsVF5oUd0XZBZGPZuOvKDM8tlitQb9TCsc2OWvMDkUMWBA_hKQC1GAUNbClHeqo5vkb6fL20B-ylDl4l2BH7nEMXPuq2rZGtlXHCVQIVr/s1600/customer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaJPLxSDF7SoX7YV7dY27RnPKYVkpsVF5oUd0XZBZGPZuOvKDM8tlitQb9TCsc2OWvMDkUMWBA_hKQC1GAUNbClHeqo5vkb6fL20B-ylDl4l2BH7nEMXPuq2rZGtlXHCVQIVr/s320/customer.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naked bongo drumming with Matthew McConaughey - why the hell not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmbUsB6iCW2yfQNqf_WPGxSFW5ASNMyB7ScgWxa_3E1Mqh5SxdwnU63T85kdODvDQygsDSaFN0A9nXfuiKvut9kiZRNBclxjlcRWXzpYaxjkRsguW2VvNDPojfH2aVijoYRym/s1600/matthewmcconaughey-high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmbUsB6iCW2yfQNqf_WPGxSFW5ASNMyB7ScgWxa_3E1Mqh5SxdwnU63T85kdODvDQygsDSaFN0A9nXfuiKvut9kiZRNBclxjlcRWXzpYaxjkRsguW2VvNDPojfH2aVijoYRym/s320/matthewmcconaughey-high.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free libations!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwPRwSlBDELOm1wFpRLO0bDRUs5ctiklJe3ZIMOUmL_omplA7w_Z__f-nwDks8F4neR3K7aP-PC9Ktylwf6hclguHz9X0ETPTWChpvnacSrMGlAG610UG-IkL1WJI1LWxZ4DB/s1600/libations_bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwPRwSlBDELOm1wFpRLO0bDRUs5ctiklJe3ZIMOUmL_omplA7w_Z__f-nwDks8F4neR3K7aP-PC9Ktylwf6hclguHz9X0ETPTWChpvnacSrMGlAG610UG-IkL1WJI1LWxZ4DB/s320/libations_bottles.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full contact Hamster ball races down a hill!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And drunken asses Karaoke!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it would fill up pretty quickly don't you?</span></div>
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Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-30292002980228614142015-06-12T20:42:00.001-04:002015-06-12T20:42:58.859-04:00In these shoes? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A regular customer came into the shop today and she was wearing shoes that were about a size too small and she was having difficulty walking in them. They were wedges, but they were a little too narrow and her feet were just busting at the seems. I felt kinda bad for her, but that was her choice I suppose. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do so many women wear shoes that are uncomfortable just because they look good?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to wear "heels" when I was in the corporate world, but only when absolutely needed. I'm not graceful in them and most of the heels I wore were the chunky thick ones, not the skinny spiked ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I've been in the retail field I've worn mostly flat shoes, sneaker, mules, clogs, boots. All the shoes that make your feet get wide and fat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always kind of admired women who wear heels and rock them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried a few times in the 70's - remember Candies? All the popular girls had them in junior high...I wanted to be popular. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf4MlGmmfMr9XM7SatEBb8nzd0ckmF2tMzlINvdPlL3sSOX6h-HdVQuyPJiR64XMcRVgZFomyLhv5VstKZCx7TG-eK0NsiG9a50t5HZi1T7rex_3rXxxPxKmQhyXLvzDGVSOf/s1600/candies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf4MlGmmfMr9XM7SatEBb8nzd0ckmF2tMzlINvdPlL3sSOX6h-HdVQuyPJiR64XMcRVgZFomyLhv5VstKZCx7TG-eK0NsiG9a50t5HZi1T7rex_3rXxxPxKmQhyXLvzDGVSOf/s320/candies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ugh...I actually wore them, walked to school in them which was a mile away...(uphill each way) and then wore them all day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What the hell was I thinking? I had blisters on top of blisters. Plastic death shoes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my girly girl days (this lasted maybe between 1980 and 1990), I would occasionally get dressed up and wear small heals...nothing bigger than an inch. Anything bigger than that and I'd fall off my shoes. (No, seriously!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could do wedges...I had better balance in them. I was all over them in the late 70's early 80's. Then they went out of style and the few pair that I had left eventually wore out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my young Mommy days...I wore shoes that I could slip on and slip off at a moment's notice. Keds were my shoe of choice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I dressed up...it was always flat sandals in the summer and in the winter a loafer of some kind perhaps. I didn't wear dresses very often and when I did I looked like the church lady so loafers were perfect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had this dress! Yes I did...I was the perfect Sunday School Teacher...oh yes...yes I was! I had it in olive green, barn red and brown. It was corduroy and I always wore it with a turtleneck. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was the queen of style I gotta tell ya! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got divorced and I had to get a job and work for a living it was time to "dress it up" a bit. Lucky for me my job was a bit casual and "chinos" and colored jeans were OK to wear. That is when I wore the hell out of these babies:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notice the heel...very minimal. I think I must have had 10 pair of these things. I'd wear them out and then get a new pair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was fortunate enough that all of the jobs I had were casual wear...not even business casual. It was just plain casual. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then came the job where I had to wear a suit occasionally. Laced up ankle boots would NOT cut it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is when I got the standard "A" business woman who can't wear heels heels and they looked like this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXtn4UkolLzQoh0YHOvRNMNatdyI-okTiB44cMIpUxlJ2vf8D9rndl1qIf84BjWLnKelM8UrVnf-LmetXwJ30Kd3iHfOZlviofWv70A3VHwaf7PmmzEHtmZIDLR0Bwy5fsvar/s1600/biz+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXtn4UkolLzQoh0YHOvRNMNatdyI-okTiB44cMIpUxlJ2vf8D9rndl1qIf84BjWLnKelM8UrVnf-LmetXwJ30Kd3iHfOZlviofWv70A3VHwaf7PmmzEHtmZIDLR0Bwy5fsvar/s320/biz+shoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had them in black, blue and brown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that is a sexy shoe isn't it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not exactly CFMP's!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Utilitarian, comfortable and I could walk/stand in them all day. I'm a very practical gal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But for all the gals that squeal over the newest, funkiest, spikiest shoes...this one is for you!</span></div>
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Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-3174564034904901172014-06-28T10:32:00.000-04:002014-06-28T10:34:31.549-04:00Stupid pet owners<br />
We have 2 dogs: Cody - a 4 year old 20lb Westie who is kind of aloof, but cute as hell and Max - a 2 1/2 year old 70lb mutt who is very sweet and affectionate for the most part, but he hates bunnies and other dogs. Well, except for Cody to whom he adores.<br />
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This morning, we were taking our usual tour around the neighborhood. I try to go nice and early to keep encounters with other dogs at a minimum. It's just generally a lot easier for everyone involved...especially me.<br />
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Max took care of some business and I was crouched and poised with plastic bag in hand to clean up after him when Cody and Max started barking and pulling me. Max is very strong and he whipped me around like a top.<br />
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Around the corner comes a woman with her dog. They are on the other side of the street but moving rather quickly towards us. <br />
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Max starts to lunge toward the woman and her dog while Cody is just barking like the little annoying yapper dog that he is... meanwhile I have a semi-full bag of dog shit in my hand. <br />
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I am doing everything I can to keep my dogs under some sort of control, but Max is a very strong dog and he is lunging and growling and pulling me looking like this:<br />
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Now I am not sure what part of my dogs posture this woman thought was friendly, but apparently in her world this is and so she approached me and my snarling, barking menacing dogs and said a very cheerful:<br />
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"Hi! Good morning!"<br />
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To which I snapped at her: "My dog ISN'T friendly."<br />
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The dim watted light bulb finally gave a nice soft glow above her head and the woman got the point and scurried off.<br />
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"Fucking idiot." I murmured to myself and I tied my stinky bag of dog poop and dumped it in the trash can.<br />
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<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-60887519450595450322014-02-13T13:17:00.000-05:002014-02-13T13:17:13.291-05:00Grumble...grumble...snow...grumble...grumble.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's another snow day here in NJ. This time we were spared the worst of the storm and were lucky enough to have a change over to rain for a while which kept the total amount of snow down. <br />
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BUT...we're in for another round tonight. Another 2-3 inches is what the weather peeps are saying.<br />
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Ugh.<br />
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Somewhere in my life I have turned from a snow lover to a "eh snow...not so much". <br />
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I don't want to say I "hate" snow, because I still love to watch it fall and it still looks beautiful when everything is covered in white. It's like your little section of the world is transformed.<br />
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This winter season has been a snowy one. I don't know how many times we've had measurable snow...maybe 6 times so far? It's been above average I'm fairly certain. We just seem to be stuck in a cold and snowy weather pattern. <br />
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When I was a kid I alway wanted to be the first one out in the snow. Me and my dog Herman would go out into the woods and pretend we were lost in a winter wonderland. I'd be out for hours in it. I would come in long enough to grab a cup of hot chocolate a change of warm dry clothes and gloves and then was right back out in it until it got dark. <br />
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Something happened somewhere along the road and I have become less of the child who can't wait for a snow day to and adult who groans at the thought of looming snow storm. For me, snow is less about playing in and more about something to dig out of, clean up around and clean up after.<br />
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I've had to close my business 3 times this year because of the snow. That doesn't make me happy. I'm sure that hasn't helped my snow grumpiness at all.<br />
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You know what makes me even more grumpy about the snow? Comments on weather posts such as:</div>
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"It's Winter, its supposed to snow, get over it."</div>
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"All of the snow haters should move to where it's warmer."</div>
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"I guess this means there is no global warming."</div>
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Seriously people? That's your answer? </div>
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Yes, I know its winter, but NJ is not typically a snowy state especially for those of us who live along the coast. Usually the warmer air over the ocean keeps the snow at a minimum. Moving to a warmer climate is not only NOT an option, I happen to LOVE NJ and actually I LOVE winter. It's the fucking snow I don't like so much!</div>
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As for the "this means there is no global warming" idiots....well, they are just idiots and nothing is going to change their mind. </div>
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So yes...I'm grumpy about the snow. It's not fun for me anymore. I am losing business which I can't afford to lose. I'm tired of digging out my car and a path for my dogs. <br />
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SO there! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2pQoYkW1FEorFAS6nQh9xoIFqzWH4OxVFXODMJY-s_4d0ATdnGfU2rvmY2CosSwCbbO2-risi7vZHhfjNM_hopk_mKiZwrJiMAfi_cDMLibh6-_oS0NWH5x5zmbtlXPArkjv/s1600/raspberry+kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2pQoYkW1FEorFAS6nQh9xoIFqzWH4OxVFXODMJY-s_4d0ATdnGfU2rvmY2CosSwCbbO2-risi7vZHhfjNM_hopk_mKiZwrJiMAfi_cDMLibh6-_oS0NWH5x5zmbtlXPArkjv/s1600/raspberry+kitty.jpg" /></a></div>
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Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-58157793244349461292013-12-23T12:46:00.001-05:002013-12-23T17:55:27.918-05:00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29CLQZJK4rKG8S-RhzjM72CD-O1toewifb0WEzVSYiLbCeTkI5ATRcktMpk3XqFBdVvSCJ9x4WAOaOZrUxyx2sZbQDn7gyEKuaChs_2IIiGnmnw9NZ4DdAD9-NQjIEB2NGLUp/s1600/screaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29CLQZJK4rKG8S-RhzjM72CD-O1toewifb0WEzVSYiLbCeTkI5ATRcktMpk3XqFBdVvSCJ9x4WAOaOZrUxyx2sZbQDn7gyEKuaChs_2IIiGnmnw9NZ4DdAD9-NQjIEB2NGLUp/s320/screaming.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Caution - Raving lunatic Rant!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am all for workers rights, but I as an employer I also
have to side with some plain ol' common sense:</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you work for a company and they fire you or suspend you
because you did something either on their time or even on your own time that
they don't agree with...don't get your panties in a wad because it happens.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">YOU - are an individual....we have to deal with many
different people every single day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">YOU - represent us in your actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your actions cause controversy we have
every right to separate you from our employment.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WE - have an image and reputation to uphold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work our ass off to keep that up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you drag that in the mud with your
shenanigans – GOOD BYE!</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WE – tell you our company policies and rules and regulations…and
the BIG companies even make you sign something that makes sure you know what
those policies/rules/regs are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do
something that breaks that contract, said or unsaid….we don’t want you around
anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">YOU have the right to be treated fairly, respectfully and
without prejudice – but that also works both ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE try our best not to discriminate, but you
are hired to do a job, represent a company/organization etc…keep up your end
too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With that being said, if you are gay and you get fired
because you married your partner and you work for a Catholic organization<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- don't be so freakin’ shocked!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a redneck and say some
inflammatory remarks about gays/blacks or anyone else and we suspend your<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ass – “HELL-FUCKING-O”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a muslim and refuse to sell
alcohol to a customer because it’s against your beliefs…sorry honey, that’s
your job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work for someone who won’t put
you in that position.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come on people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>COMMON SENSE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use the freakin’ head
that is on your shoulders and guess what, you are part of a collective
universe…it’s not all about YOU!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes,
you have rights, but you don’t have the RIGHT to abuse those rights
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">OK…that’s my rant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-14658300369361379642013-07-26T18:06:00.001-04:002013-07-26T18:06:24.692-04:00After the storm<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sandysdebris.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwanW3YdT4DNMgMSjtgUaCOf3t00CACW7lWGHc0G3px3R4_wiUhP3b8EAzjMsFDDe6g-2_P28aYXWl42Tn1UJU7ljGaD4eyXomweKFRwEz_QyGqZ_BAvD0lXVMnUbg984zIoJU/s400/The+Storm.jpg" title=""The Storm" by Gregg Hinlicky" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Storm" by Gregg Hinklicky<br />
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Lessons from Mother Nature</div>
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October 29, 2012 the area that I live in was devastated by Super Storm Sandy. I was extremely fortunate to not have suffered any damage to my house or my business, but in the 9 months following the storm I am affected by the stories I hear, the images I see and the sadness in my customers eyes. </div>
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The image above is by an artist named Gregg Hinklicky. He collected items he found along the beach and his neighborhood days and weeks after the storm. </div>
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Rubble, driftwood, trash, shells, sea glass, toys, pieces of furniture, pieces of homes...fractured pieces of people's lives. </div>
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Hundreds of homes were destroyed. Thousands of people displaced. </div>
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Slowly they are coming back and slowly they are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. </div>
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The scars run deep and the shock has not worn off completely. There are those who jump right in and rebuild. There are others so completely overwhelmed by what has happened, they are paralyzed. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiKHs1cLpdkiQvCC49Po98DmkJ-DCrrxB3uXBnmCHgs-lgFMzv-qDDM9ZZ0FWqg1xBl_s3WLM8ZYlgDLo18YAn6fZDKKhBaGqnDaVXf6f87b1J9BijDfOOfVgZrJqKbxKHVHE/s1600/devestated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiKHs1cLpdkiQvCC49Po98DmkJ-DCrrxB3uXBnmCHgs-lgFMzv-qDDM9ZZ0FWqg1xBl_s3WLM8ZYlgDLo18YAn6fZDKKhBaGqnDaVXf6f87b1J9BijDfOOfVgZrJqKbxKHVHE/s320/devestated.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)</td></tr>
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Every day I hear stories from my customers. It's part of the process of healing I think. Telling their story. Getting it out. However many times as they need to. </div>
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One woman who has been my customer for years came in today for the first time since the storm. (The reason I am writing this now) She retired from teaching just before Sandy - getting ready to relax and enjoy her waterfront home. </div>
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Her home was damaged during the storm but it is still intact. The rest of her neighborhood, gone. </div>
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Survivors guilt. </div>
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She is scattered. I think she is still in shock but can't identify it herself. Our conversation today was hard to follow, the subjects she spoke of jumped drastically, instantly. </div>
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Her foundation has been shifted and she has become fearful of another storm. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuF3xQUyCtOHHs7gryFrt_KKtbT2j3mzjLKgEIip9zyVR9_QJwNpfKLUlv_perjA_HTO11FYDKlgIWlCWBZfP9G-wDoAzwa4QG_Boq_4usZBEtImO7ml0VX1fnRScvUTK7fUt/s1600/121113031211-07-post-sandy-1113-horizontal-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuF3xQUyCtOHHs7gryFrt_KKtbT2j3mzjLKgEIip9zyVR9_QJwNpfKLUlv_perjA_HTO11FYDKlgIWlCWBZfP9G-wDoAzwa4QG_Boq_4usZBEtImO7ml0VX1fnRScvUTK7fUt/s320/121113031211-07-post-sandy-1113-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We all are. We are all more vulnerable than ever before. </div>
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Every tropical depression that forms in the Atlantic Ocean puts us on alert. "Will it affect us?" </div>
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The words "storm surge" which was something we always heard but never really experienced much before Sandy make us nervous. So much of the damage to the area was caused by "storm surge". It's basically a wall of water created by the winds of a tropical storm that is over and above storm tides. </div>
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One minute your house is high and dry and within 20 minutes it's completely underwater. </div>
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We built homes along the bays and oceans because of the beautiful views, cooling ocean breezes and easy access to the beach. We tore down the dunes that were once our barrier islands so we could put millions dollar homes, condos and boardwalks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMlMx5oYHMpxoiQNAn22N3hKSp6hmf0R5pDkwd9v94n2V_edbOcjA469HEG6XJrr9FY-iadtuPbmwsJ2rJ5wTWwCOt9ReD9MKXOlj83Ni7tI4iuRHrnB1xDzhGkmmJ4rb0-jx/s1600/Dune-Walk-to-Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMlMx5oYHMpxoiQNAn22N3hKSp6hmf0R5pDkwd9v94n2V_edbOcjA469HEG6XJrr9FY-iadtuPbmwsJ2rJ5wTWwCOt9ReD9MKXOlj83Ni7tI4iuRHrnB1xDzhGkmmJ4rb0-jx/s320/Dune-Walk-to-Beach.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Now we are rebuilding. <br />
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The homes are up on stilts sometimes 14ft or higher. <br />
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Boardwalks are rebuilt so that families can come back and enjoy a good game of skee-ball, ride the Carousel, play a round of miniature golf , eat some cheese fries or soft serve ice cream. Tourism is a big business for us. Families come back year after year, rent the same house (if it's still there) and love it here.<br />
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We love it here. That's why we live here.<br />
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The buzzwords: Jersey Strong! Restore the Shore! We will be back stronger than ever! will be our mottos throughout our rebuilding process and for many more years to come. <br />
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Hey...we're from Jersey, we have a reputation of being ignorantly stubborn, we can't stop that now!<br />
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The smell of salt air is in my blood. Whenever I travel away from home and come back, the first smell of the ocean to reach my nostrils will make my body completely relax. I don't think I could ever move away. <br />
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Still - what have we learned from Sandy? <br />
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I hope a lot. I hope we will think again before rebuilding, but I already know that we are just replacing washed away homes with something else. Where people can not rebuild because of the cost the threat of developers with great plans to build big hotels or condos right on the beach will happen. Palms will be greased, deals will be made and restrictions on building will loosen up. <br />
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Governor Christie has vowed to make sure we build up our dunes to protect our coastline. His words: "We are not going through that again so you can sit on the first floor rather than the second floor and see the ocean."<br />
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Good for him. <br />
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I hope it sticks.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jackfuscophotography" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF59Z-9_Ns7ruEOZencRprnzkXW14WByI41G0zgu4ZSJcy_QIVMe-ZxJ-1lvvhF4tN04YKyYSThRD-tnNOyLC_UA1OpRnSIilhGfDYH2KbKnH7DGNilzbO4hi1OVHbxawX1Zar/s320/jack+fusco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sleep Well My Friend" by Jack Fusco</td></tr>
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<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-84378644479558437642012-08-04T18:26:00.000-04:002012-08-04T18:26:13.582-04:00JosephA gentle man by the name of Joseph has been frequenting my store lately. He's a small man, a bit hunched over so it's hard to tell how tall he really is. Thin, but not frail. Long salt and pepper hair, long scraggly beard. His clothes are not clean and hang very loosely around his thin frame. I can't say for sure how old he is, maybe late 40's - 50's. <br />
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He's had a hard life.<br />
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Joseph has a hard time looking at me. His eyes dart back and forth constantly. The teeth that he has are brown.<br />
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A combination of sweat, tobacco and urine makes me wonder if he's homeless. <br />
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He told me he lives in Howell, which is about 20 miles from my store. He takes a taxi into town. <br />
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Joseph wanders around downtown and shops. 3 or 4 canvas shopping bags are usually filled with little trinkets that he buys. <br />
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He examines everything very closely. There is careful thought in what he buys. <br />
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As he wanders around the store he brings little items up to the counter and asks me: "Can you hold this for me please?" for each item that he wants. <br />
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I make a little pile.<br />
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"Can you please take the price tags off for me?"<br />
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That is important to him too for some reason. <br />
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One of his purchases was a charm bracelet so I asked him if it was a present for a friend? He just shook his head, "No, no it's for me." <br />
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Today he came in and asked me the price for an African cloth I had in the window. It was a bit on the pricey side, but I told him the price and he said never mind. Then he wandered around murmuring..."It's OK...I'm just looking now." for about 10 minutes. <br />
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He was bothered by the price you could tell.<br />
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There was a little magnet he found and brought it up to the counter. "Can you hold this for me please?" <br />
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"How much was that cloth again?"<br />
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I gave him the price...he shook his head. I tried to redirect him to something else. A little area rug made from recycled t-shirts. <br />
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"Can you get that cloth for me please? I really want it."<br />
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"Are you sure Joseph? It's kind of expensive." <br />
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"But it's so beautiful...I want it." His response was almost a cry...not like a whiny child, but of someone desperate for something beautiful in his life. <br />
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I got the cloth out of the front window for him and he delicately examined it. <br />
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I wrapped the cloth in tissue and he carefully added it to one of his bags. <br />
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You cannot see expressions on Joseph's face. Or at least I can't see them. His face twitches quite a bit. He grimaces a lot but it seems to be a reflex or habit that he's developed. <br />
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It's very humid and hot out today...so I gave him a small bottle of water that he gulped down quickly. <br />
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"Ok...thank you. See you again." he said softly as he walked out the door. <br />
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Thank you Joseph.<br />
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<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-46575209765340146132012-07-14T16:01:00.002-04:002012-07-14T16:01:47.604-04:00Why...would there be a tip jar in a self serve frozen yogurt store?Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-33408563517019671462012-07-03T22:06:00.000-04:002012-07-03T22:06:03.709-04:00Snippets90% of my clientele are women between the ages of 35 and 55. <br />
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The men that come in to the store are either there because their wives/girlfriends dragged them shopping, they are buying a gift for their wives/girlfriends/Moms or they just think the store is cool and they like to see what new stuff I get in. <br />
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Occasionally I get the guy who shops. <br />
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I don't have a lot of "guy" stuff in the store. Men are hard to shop for! I do however have a lot of genderless gifts. Oil lamps, garden stakes, fish things (in a shore town it's all about the fish), wooden sculptures, Fair Trade Coffee and chocolate...etc. <br />
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A gentleman came in today about 15 minutes before I closed up the shop. He's been in before. Quiet kind of shy. Most of the time he looks around silently, picks up the occasional item and then just walks out.<br />
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I said "Hello!" as I try to do with every customer, but I was preoccupied with the new art work that was being dropped off so I was a bit distracted. <br />
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I think it gave him time to cruise around the store and check things out without feeling like I was watching him.<br />
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He bought an oil lamp, asked about a "cool cigar ashtray" and was interested in a Buddah necklace. "Could a guy where that?" he asked me. <br />
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"Sure, I've actually sold this to a few guys already. It's either that, or the shrunken head or the Tiki necklace they go for." <br />
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He looked at one of the shrunken heads - but was zoned in on the Buddah and decided to go for it. <br />
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The pendant is actually a domino that is painted on one side and hangs from a dogtag type of chain. It was a little too long, so I cut it down for him. He tried to put it on himself but was having a hard time so I offered to help him. <br />
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I jokingly said, "see, now you can ask your wife to help you with your necklace!" <br />
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"Oh, she won't touch me." He remarked very calmly. "Not anymore anyway."<br />
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I didn't really know what to say...so I said nothing. I went back behind the counter and wrote up his ticket.<br />
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"We've been married for 9-10 years, known each other since forever so it really doesn't matter any more." <br />
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Me...silent. It's always best to keep quiet in this kind of situation. <br />
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"Basically we got married because we had a kid and I guess it's what society wants right? To see a Mom and Dad together with the kids and not split up." <br />
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"Wow" I thought...just keep your mouth shut Sharon.<br />
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"Anyway, it works. So...hey thanks and I'll be back again." I think he realized he said too much and kind of hurried out the door. <br />
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"Have a Happy 4th" I yelled, "See ya next time!" <br />
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"Oh yeah...you too." he answered.<br />
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I hope he's happy in his life.<br />
<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-59791330546301019172012-07-01T10:59:00.002-04:002012-07-01T10:59:45.464-04:00It's a good day when...You put on shorts you haven't worn since last year and they still fit!<br />
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It's an even better day when you put your hand in your pocket and find $10!<br />
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Stay cool everyone.Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-65874215471358747022012-06-23T14:54:00.000-04:002012-06-23T14:54:04.593-04:00OoopsThe woman who owns the shop next to me just backed into one of her employees cars. She got out, took a look at her car and drove away. <br />
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I heard the "bump" and immediately looked out my back door. <br />
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The employees car has a nice big dent in the fender. <br />
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Do I get involved? <br />
<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-67670717891407442652012-06-19T12:11:00.003-04:002012-06-19T12:11:33.379-04:00LOLI just had two "older" women customers that had me in stitches telling me stories about their retired husbands and their shennigans. Perfect deadpan delivery too! <br />
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I am not going to try to type what they said because I don't think it would translate as well, but it's one of the reasons I absolutely LOVE my job.Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-82944948148339981242012-06-17T11:04:00.002-04:002012-06-17T11:04:24.347-04:00Why did I do that?Did you ever buy/make something to eat because you thought you wanted it at the time and then halfway through eating it you don't want it? <br />
<br />Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-91625826066507418862012-06-03T13:39:00.000-04:002012-06-03T13:39:43.409-04:00ObservationIt amuses me every time someone picks up an unscented candle and smells them. Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-68268946876440969792012-06-02T16:56:00.000-04:002012-06-02T16:56:18.072-04:00Random Retail Musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uN5PB5aUBzd-LIGb1Hp966O2bEF-Y-5MVSc87KIKxNrKAbbGNyjQxDe0QtpnJeNqo6uF8ABbJbjzm6KN6QbPy-8ldCKdVcQweZXBAQqJpymbCxVBXK0GbcYfORGfy0pmPp5p/s1600/browsers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uN5PB5aUBzd-LIGb1Hp966O2bEF-Y-5MVSc87KIKxNrKAbbGNyjQxDe0QtpnJeNqo6uF8ABbJbjzm6KN6QbPy-8ldCKdVcQweZXBAQqJpymbCxVBXK0GbcYfORGfy0pmPp5p/s320/browsers.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Owning a small gallery and gift shop in a small town is quite interesting. <br />
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It's a good thing that in general I like people and for the most part the browsers and customers are pleasant to deal with. <br />
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Here are some examples of my customers - the good, the bad and the assholes.<br />
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I had a young boy of about 6 or 7 years old tell me that I "have the coolest store ever!" and went through the whole store saying "Wow". Somehow the praise of a young boy outweighs any other compliments anyone can give me. I told his parents that they raised a very smart young man! ;)<br />
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There is the "Jerseyliscious" crowd who accidentally wander in, peek over their Dolce Gabbana sunglasses and wince. We don't sell any designer labels...sorry. <br />
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"Lookyloos" - they have repeatedly stroll in and have yet to buy one thing, but just "Love everything in your store!" Yeah...if you love it so much buy something. <br />
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Another version of the "Lookyloo" is the "spy". These are employees from other stores in the neighborhood that come in and check out the prices of everything and also see if I have an item that they already sell or an item that they want to sell and just sell it cheaper. The spies are pretty easy to spot because they look at everything, pick it up, look at the price, try to see if there is information about where it came from etc. <br />
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I spy on other stores we all do it, you have to know what your neighbors (competitors) are doing. I just walk in and introduce myself. I guess I'm not really a spy am I? Sometimes I send my daughter in, she works retail, she's very good at checking out the scene for me. <br />
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Art lovers are fun. They like to just come in and see what is new on the walls. Some are artists themselves and are looking for places to show their work. There is always a good conversation with the art lovers which I really enjoy. They are the people who appreciate what I am trying to accomplish here and will always take a few business cards to pass on to friends etc. <br />
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Earthy/Organic types are our regular customers. They love the Fair Trade products and the recylced items. I know most of them by name, know their dogs names (we allow pets in the store) or their kids names. They are sometimes the ones with the least money to spare, but they usually buy something. <br />
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Manhandlers drive me insane! Not only do they touch everything they have such a heavy hand about it so all I hear is banging and clanging and scraping. Manhandlers also love to take one thing from one side of the store and carry it over to the other side and just leave it there. Unfold the clothes and just pile it up on top of everything. You have to watch manhandlers...they are also shoplifters. <br />
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Ohhhh, the shoplifters. In my short time as a retail owner the shoplifters are mostly teenagers. They walk in as a group and then split up. They either have a hoodie with pockets or big purses that they intentionally leave open. I have a group of girls that I know have stolen things, but I haven't caught them in the act yet. They don't steal big items...small earrings or a hackey sack. I won't let them split up anymore, they all have to stay together and I follow them around. Little bitches...I'll get ya. <br />
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We love the tourists! They have money...and they spend it! Bring them on! <br />
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Cell phone talkers. On the phone the whole time they are here. Annoying. They aren't looking to buy anything either. Just go away. <br />
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The undeciders - oh...now THEY are fun! They can take up to an hour or more deciding on one little thing to buy. The undeciders are not to be confused with the "Comparers" who will take 3 or 4 of a similar item and agonize which one they like best. I can understand them ...sort of. The undeciders will ask go around and around, and around the store looking for a gift but can't decide between Item A or Item B (if they manage to narrow it down that far). They usually ask me to be the tie breaker and will say something like: "We are going to buy this for our Aunt Freda and we can't figure out which one we like better." (I am mentally rolling my eyes) This is the tricky part because I don't want to offer any different suggestions because that will just prolong my agony, so I need to try to zero in and become "Aunt Freda" and pick something that I think she will adore. Is she fun and funky, or more reserved? Is she over 70? Under 70? <br />
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OK...if it is a single undecider...I try to watch their eyes to see which item they keep staring at more and ease them into that decision. If it's a couple...oy...it's not so easy. I had a couple around the holidays that did this to me...and all I can say is that I needed a BIG glass of wine by the end of that day! <br />
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Critics - I don't mind criticism I can take it. You don't like me or my store...no big deal, but I DO mind if you critique something one of my artisans has made and then pick it apart vocally in my store where I can hear you! That's just fucking rude. I had two women pick apart a bag one of my little ol' lady crafters made. They didn't like the color or the stitching or the price or my favorite..."Don't buy that here, I can have Susies, sister's niece three times removed make it for your for free." PISS OFF! If you could have someone make it for you then shut up and ask them. Don't fucking come in my store and criticize it. If you MUST criticize it, because that is the type of person you are...wait til you get outside, don't do it in front me me. It's my store you idiot. ugh...they are my least favorite in case you couldn't figure that out. <br />
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There are the litterers, the people who leave they cold drinks on my display cases and then I have a ring - whatever. Since we are located close to the beach we also have the people with suntan lotion and then lean on my glass counters and smear them all up...kinda nasty, but Windex will clean it up. It's part of the process. <br />
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Love the people who stand in the doorway and say to their friends behind them: "no, we don't want to go in here." Yeah...I don't want you in here either so pppppppbbbbblllllttttt! <br />
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They need to make a sitcom about retail...the material is endless.Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-16318150524088937582012-05-03T11:34:00.003-04:002012-05-03T11:34:42.748-04:00Hello - how's it goin? What's been happening with you since last I've blogged? A lot I suspect.
Yeah, me too. Busy with stuff...life...you know how it goes.
I've missed you, but I kind of forgot that I missed you if that makes any sense. You were brought up in conversation the other day and I was like, "Wow...I forgot all about you." It's been over a year - holy hell where did that time go?
I got totally hooked up in Facebook, but I have to admit it's boring the shit out of me lately. If I see one more post with one of those feel good sayings on it I'm going to feel like tossing my computer in to the ocean. Facebook has become the big SPAMspot. Find a funny picture, motivational saying, update on your bowel movement and just ad it to the other non-sensical crap I used to get via e-mails.
:::sigh:::
Anyway - I've missed you. Let's keep in touch.
See ya around.Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-25182734323968744332011-01-04T20:55:00.002-05:002011-01-04T21:06:08.091-05:00School busesWhy do school buses have to stop at every block?<br /><br />Can't the kids group up every few blocks? It took me nearly 20 minutes to go 8 miles because I got stuck behind a freakin' school bus that stopped at every freakin' corner for 3 miles.<br /><br />WTF?<br /><br />I wonder if that affects their gas consumption? Maybe there should be a study on this and it could help trim the school budget if buses don't have to stop and start so often?<br /><br />hmmmmShazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-67805151928787077482011-01-03T10:02:00.001-05:002011-01-03T10:03:41.253-05:00Monday, mondayI think it's monday?<br /><br />Between the snow and the holidays I seem to be mixed around a bit. <br /><br />It's monday right?Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-36441575003744057472011-01-02T22:18:00.002-05:002011-01-02T22:24:24.815-05:00Black SwanThis movie has jumped up on my list as being my favorite.<br /><br />It was amazing, intense, confusing, brilliant and fanfuckingtastic!<br /><br />Natalie Portman has really matured as an actress and I think this will be an Oscar nom if not a win for her. <br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5jaI1XOB-bs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5jaI1XOB-bs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-71679909446065940102011-01-01T14:29:00.002-05:002011-01-01T14:55:49.715-05:00HiJanuary 1, 2011 - here it is!<br /><br />I've fallen victim to Facebook and hav neglected my blogs big time, but I hope to change that in 2011.<br /><br />Let's see - what happened in 2010:<br /><br />I was working at a cookie bakery - that didn't work out. I had a lot of fun, but unfortunately things got a bit messy in the end.<br />I was taking classes at school - that worked out well. My computers class teacher was a real bitch and quite proud of it too. One of those short people with a Napoleon complex. I was excited about that class too, but on the very first day when she listed all of the things that will "piss her off" I know I was done for. There is something about those triple "A" personality types that rubs me the wrong way. She dictated the entire time and if you asked her a question she became irritated. Excuuuuuse me, I never took speed writing and I don't understand "bitch" so I need to ask questions. I passed the class and that is all that matters.<br /><br />I hope to be able to take more classes soon.<br /><br />Margie and I opened up our own business - that has been amazing! It's a lot of work, but it doesn't feel like work. I could go on and on about it, but I have another blog for that so I won't elaborate here.<br /><br />We also got a new puppy - Cody the monster. He is another Westie and he's cute as hell but he is a maniac. Margie bought him as a 50th birthday present to herself. He is very sweet, but just one of the most frustrating dogs to train. We are pretty certain he was a puppy mill dog. He came from Missouri and was brought up to NJ at a very young age. Too young probably. There are some things that have been imprinted on this poor little guy. Loud noises scare him, reaching over his head to pet him scares him, the dishwasher totally freaks him out. He is improving, but he has a way to go still.<br /><br />We had one the hottest, driest summers on record. Brutal. Our front yard was totally scorched and then the weeds took over. The only green lawns were the rich people who have sprinkler systems. <br /><br />Two days after Christmas we got hit with a blizzard. 34 inches of the white stuff landed on us. Not fun. Most of the roads were impassable for 3 days. Today it's 57 degrees! Wacky.<br /><br />So that was 2010 in a nutshell. I am going to try to post more often in 2011. I miss the blogworld.<br /><br />Happy New Year to everyone!Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34703527.post-76291619579320049722010-12-31T19:39:00.001-05:002010-12-31T19:40:54.194-05:00Happy New YearOne of my New Year resolutions is to blog more often!<br /><br />Happy New Year all!Shazzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196666013653201878noreply@blogger.com0