Great vacation!

Well, Dear Readers, finally no complaints from me!I had the best vacation in California. I was in LA for five days at a girlfriend's house and then two days at the beach with another one. I have nice friends. Then we went to Palm Springs to the Marriott Resort at Palm Desert. It was really amazing...a huge place with lots of lakes and swans and ducks. Many pools, great food at the restaurants and of course lots of lovely sun which I love.
In LA I did a lot of lunches and dinners with friends, five pounds worth! I'm dieting now.
Some fun parties and lots of star spottings. Dr. Phil was at a party and I told him a few things I'd wanted to get off my chest. Barry Bonds was there as well, not looking too worried. Also Joe Pesci, the anesthesiologist from Nip Tuck, Tony from Days of Our Lives, and a ton of over bleached, over botoxed, over busted blonds who were everywhere.
All in all a terrific time. Let's hope the New Year is the best for all of us!

Lala land again

Going to LA and Palm Springs for the Holidays...hope to get some sun and a new man wouldn't be bad! Have a happy new year and all good things. ss

boo hoo

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I...oh wait a minute that was "it's my party." well..then forget it, I'll go out and celebrate.

a tip

One of my favorite blogger buddies tells me there is a site that allows one to vent on consumer complaints called Consumerist.com. Oh goodie...other kvetchers! thanks, anne.

P.S. I love Kinko's

So, inspite of the nasty comment a not so Dear Reader posted, the folks at Kinko's clearly did not agree with him! In fact they were so happy I let them know of the problem (below) that they sent me huge box of the paper I'd wanted. A veritable lifetime supply!
Seriously, the excellent customer service response has made a convert and fan of me. Why I might even buy the stock. So again...squeaky wheelers...when things are not up to par, complain in a nice way and you might even improve things for others!
Now as far as anonymous blog posters...well, that's another story.

Squeaky Wheel stuff

Ok, those Dear Readers who know me, know when I get bad service from someone or a store, I don't just accept it! Uh uh. I kvetch, complain and often go right to the top! Like this morning.
I went to the neighborhood Kinko's which I hate because they are always too crowded, unhelpful, and rude. Well this time there were 10 people in line for one cashier!
All I needed was some paper and I was not going to stand in line for the questions about copying, returns, etc.
The paper was sitting right there! So I went to the Fed Ex counter and pointed to it and asked if I could buy it there. The guy, who had ignored me for a while, said "no." Why not?" You have to stand in line," he replied.
I do not do lines.
I went to another guy and asked for the Manager. He kind of ignored me and then when I asked again, he came over. Yes, he was the manager! Huh? Result of that conversation was " you have to stand in the line."
No, why don't you just open a new register? Can't do that. A woman in the line said, "it's always like this. I called the corporate office once and complained."
I stalked out.
I went home and spent about twenty minutes on the Internet finding out who the President of Kinko's is...it's a division of Fed Ex. I called the corporate office, got his assistant and told her my complaint. She was very nice, which made me feel better already and asked if they could call me back with a follow up. Sure..
and lo and behold an hour later the District Manager called and I went through the whole story and he acknowledged they were so busy there (good for them, bad for me) and he would look into the attitude problem, see about adding some registers and send me some free paper. Steve and I are on a first name basis now.
Moral of the story...good customer relations should be rewarded with shopping there and...yes, the squeaky wheel does get the oil...or the paper, as the case may be.

happy turkey

I have been a bad blogger...but keep waiting for the good news to tell you. It's going to be soon, i promise! Have a great day and be thankful for good health and friends. luv ss

happy halloween

I lvoe this Holiday...my little precious guys are going out as Baseball players and I am staying in as a wicked witch! luv to all the ghosts and goblins...

HOW DO YOU SAY OY VEY IN SPANISH?

Well kids, I'm back. With a fever and not the best of memories. Sorry to say, I am too old and almost too rich to do a tour. Too much bus time, a terrible tour leader which can make or break it. The group was fine, made some good friends as I always do. But would only go back to Spain if I were going to Marbella for a week in the sun at some fab club and then on to Barcelona. I took off from the tour there and did my own thing and called some people who knew people and that was great.
One funny thing...well more than one, but this one I"l tell you. Finally at a good restaurant with two couples we saw this stunning couple with a child. And we all said, wow..these are the first really gorgeous Spaniards we saw.
Then the next day I went to a fancy hotel on the beach and they were there...they are from Sweden!And they told me they thought I was one of the better looking 'Spaniards' they had seen. haha
All in all, good to get away but getting up for forced marches at 6:30 is not my idea of a vacation.

You have to see it!!!

Before I left for Spain I saw THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!! It's got an unfortunately dull title " Across the Universe."
It's based on Beatles music, directed by the genius, Julie Taymor. It's a combination of Hair, and the Movin On Broadway musical and an original vision of the sixties and many of our childhoods.
The most glorious photography, brilliant concept and to hear the Beatles songs in new context, sung by new voices is amazing. And it shows how extraordinary their talents were as writers.
Think I loved it? And my cousin in the Mid West who has opposite taste from me loved it. Everyone must see it!!!That's an order and my gift to you.

Spain...

Off to Spain. I always liked the dark, Latin types. Let's see what happens! will let you know...bye for now.
I'd say it in Spanish, but don't know a word. Well, 'Hasta La Vista' comes to mind...but....

ok, now something lighter

Well, clearly, you all dont want to comment on serious issues!! Ah my Dear Readers...here's something amusing.
The newspaper had an article about a Sudanese man who had "been forced to marry a goat after he was caught having sex with it."
And he had to pay a dowry!
No wonder women can't find enough guys.

Iran, cont.

Well, I just listened to the speech referred to below and all my worst fears came true.
The President of Columbia Univ. Lee Bollinger introduced the Dictator with a very strong and hostile speech. I was almost taken aback myself. It showed his courage but strangely seemed "rude and inhospitable" which is what the Dictator said later. How wierd was that?! That the truth and calling him what he was seemed like an insult. It shows how smart the guy was to come for this PR trip...it all worked to his favor.
His own speech was a rambling lofty treatise on science and the supposed search for truth. And of course then he wove in his lies.
But the questions and his avoidance yet seeming to answer was responded to by applause in the audience.
He was not a screaming lunatic which would be possibly the ONLY way it could have been detrimental to his cause. He appeared to be a reasoning intelligent man who positioned himself as an academic too and thus bonded with the kids.
If one did not know the facts, he even might come off as correct in his goals.
Then a Professor from Iran who is on the faculty was interviewed and he said it would take him a week to to undo the damage and the lies. Therein lies the danger of allowing him to come and talk. Sad and misguided under the guise of free speech.
And so it goes as it always has and we pay the price later...particularly when an unpopular war here is so mismanaged and gives him all the ammunition he needed.

Columbia...NOT "the gem of the ocean"

The invitation from Columbia University to the President of Iran is so objectionable on many fronts.
If Hitler were touring the US would they have invited him?
I realize that students (of which I was once a typical one) are by nature liberal, learning, open. And that leads them sometimes to make the wrong choices. Exposure to dictators is not a requirement to expanding their minds.
Any questions they might ask will not be answered with truth, but insane rhetoric...so what is the point?
(How's that for a parlay...from the Emmy's to Hitler...well you can't say I'm limited in interests!)

Great show!!

Wow! Tonight the Emmy Show was (actually it's still on) IS amazing! Funny, good writing, great music with The Jersey Boys honoring The Sopranos, Tony Bennett and Christine Aguilara doing a duet. Terrific hosting by Ryan Seacrest and a lot of red dresses. Red must be the color this year. Fox put it on and it is very hip.

Ok...it's later and now I'm pissed! James Gandalfini didn't win for his last year on The Sopranos! He was robbed. This is wrong. And if not him, then it should have been Hugh Laurie for House. (But it's still a good show.)

Still later. Ok, at least the show Sopranos won as best drama which it is and will forever be.
The taping of this Emmy Show was "in the round" which was a first and I think made it very fun and family like...if you are in the biz. I really think this was the best Emmy Show I can remember.
Let's see what the critics think...but trust me on this one. Night...

It's not television...

HBO's slogan has always been "it's not tv it's HBO."
Well, now they should change it to "It's not TV it's porn!" As Linda Stassi so articulately wrote in today's NY Post, the new HBO "breakout" show entitled Tell Me You Love Me is not loveable, or even likeable, but it is hard porn..not even soft! (You'll excuse the expression.)
This hour drama about sex and marriage is disgusting and boring...a hard combo to accomplish.
Actual handjobs, intercourse and suggested oral sex with really unlikeable characters.
I'm not a prude but I wrote HBO complaining. The Sopranos will be missed!

doo do doo do

Okay, this is wierd! I was sitting in a dentist office and a woman in the office waiting, came up to me and said "I'm a pyschic and I think you need a reading. I never do this but here is my card."
So, I immediately called one of my friends in LA who lives for this stuff and has about six of them on call and told her about it. She wanted to call her and so I let her do it as the experiment.
She said she'd gotten a lot right, her parents names etc. and other stuff no one could know, so I decided to go for it. I called and made an appointment and the pyschic asked my birthdate, city of birth, maiden name and made an appointment for next week. I called my friend and told her that it's obvious to me she is going to GOOGLE ME AND FIND OUT ALL ABOUT ME! She had our birthdate and city so she could get our parents names. But I decided to go through with it anyway.
Then today the psychic called and told me " I was going through your information and it seems you are not receptive to it, so I'm not going to take your money. I'll return your check."
I was in shock..and said I am and have had a lot of readings except one who cheated and I found out. But if she didn't want to, ok.
Then I thought, oh my god, she saw something awful and didnt want to tell me. Or she "vibed" that I said she'd google us, in which case she is amazing!!
Anyway, my friend and I talked about it and we decided I had to call her back and see what she saw.
I did and she said no, there was nothing bad, in fact I had an amazing aura and she couldn't see much to tell me. And she thought perhaps she was "meant to read my friend who had a lot to find out."
So...she changed her excuse. This is either total b.s. or she is amazing. My friend told her brother to call and have a reading...so I hope that will give us more info. This a first. Turned down by a psychic! Wierd!

It could happen...

In between watching amazing tennis this weekend, I looked at the NY Times marriage announcements as I always do.
There were two stories that were particularly hope inspiring for those of us still looking.
The first was about a couple who met when the bride emailed a complaint to a business and got a refund which was too much and emailed it back. The customer service guy was impressed and then emailed her and it turned into a relationship and now a marriage. Isn't that a great one? Honesty pays.
The second was a real "meant to be." A couple who knew each other at camp when kids, ran into each other as adults. He asked her out, she wasn't interested and already dating someone. They broke up and she went on a dating web site and this same guy who now didn't remember her, caught her eye this time. They are married. This couple was meant to be in the stars!
Now...as we say, it should only happen to us...or at least me!!

fugedaboudit!

It appears the new neighbor has a girlfriend. The end of the story. Knew it was too good to be true!

special delivery

I always say that I'll never meet a guy unless he rings my doorbell...that's how "lazy" I am about looking. Well, kids...guess what!?
Today I saw movers coming in next door and I knew the condo owner next to me had rented out to a "single man."
What a man! Tall, handsome, in the right age bracket...does it matter that there were two "young" women helping him move in. Let's pray they are the decorators.
I went in, introduced myself, even though I had no makeup on...foolish...and he was very nice.
Then I ran back home, set my hair, combed it out,put on some blush and some shorts and went back with a few mouse traps...well it's a welcome present.
Stay tuned!