Would you like some bailout with a side of swine flu?

Is it me or has NPR talked about nothing but these two issues - no one has any money (still) and everyone has the flu.

It has kept me in bed all week ... Who wants to get up when you know "Morning Edition" has nothing good to talk about.

This 24-hour news cycle is making me wheeze. I am travelling to California soon and my first thought is to wear a haz-mat suit on the plane. But then --it occurred to me -- people have the flu all the time. Relax. People get sick all the time. People are sick all the time.

Anyway, hope to wake up tomorrow to hear about a good natural disaster in Korea -- like an earthquake in the mountains or something.

That should help me get out of bed with a spring in my step!

Communication of Institutional Knowledge

Just got off the phone with AT&T -- have been trying to order a phone for my wife all week. It has been one big head bang. Each time, the person on the line knows one thing, but not enough to get me to get my phone.

I just spoke to a great lady. She knew what to do. And did it in record time. Thank you, lady (didn't get her name).

I said she should be a trainer/supervisor. But she didn't want to be a supervisor --too much for her. That's unfortunate because it was clear from the minute she answered my call -- she knew what she was doing. She was a Veteran of the company.

So, Ms. Veteran, thanks to you, I'm staying with AT&T Wireless for two more years.

The lesson: When you stop banging your head and talk to a veteran, things work ... you just have to keep at it. It feels great when you stop.

Next time, I plan to ask the customer service person how long they've been the company ... and then be asked to speak with a Veteran!

Have arrived...where's the coffee?

So this is my first posting. Will try to do better than before.

I had wanted to put this quote up on my company's web site, but my boss probably would have not liked the idea.

“All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.”
Harry S. Truman

Harry knew what he was talking about. All of the accountability but none of the abilty to make things happen. It's a trust thing.

Am going to try and post things here that are the things I think and want to say about things that might not be PC...this is my vent on kids, job, family, lack of control.

Don't know if anyone will read. Don't know if I care. I need to more say things for myself and hope people like it. I just feel like by having this, I will journal more and get in touch with myself more and do the things that I need to do to be happy.

That's what it's all about now. Being happy. Happy at work, family, my wife, my life, hobbies, photography, money, people, friends, ballgames, jazz, poetry, art, food, wine, beer, cigars, cigarettes, beaches, BBQs, Red Sox.

What makes you happy? Write about it. It'll make you feel better. It has helped me.