Driving in the snow

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I know I have touched on this subject so many times before, but it is something that bugs me to no end. I am sick of lemmings. People who just follow others blindly. Why don't they think for themselves? It is very frustrating for me. Especially on the roads. After it snows.


The lanes in the road become obscured, sometimes you aren't even able to see the dotted line, or the white solid line, or the double yellow line. But most of the time you can see it in stretches. So driving out of your own lane is still illegal, no matter what the tire tracks ahead of you do. You do NOT have to follow them. Legally you have to stay in your lane.


This morning I was on Hwy 610 in the left lane. It is a 4-lane highway, and we were crossing over the Mississippi River, and there is a shoulder on the left hand side (next to me). There also is a slight turn to the left. I was staying in my lane. Although the tire treads and folks in front of me were actually driving on the shoulder, in fact, the YELLOW LINE was to their RIGHT!!! Holy cow! I was taught to consider the yellow line as a brick wall that you cannot pass! These guys were driving THROUGH A BRICK WALL!

Unfortunately it wasn't safe to take pictures, as we were traveling about 45 miles per hour.

Then, a lady in the lane next to me, started edging closer to me (following "her" lane's tread marks). She was coming into my lane and was upset that I was already in my lane!!! OMG!!! If we could not see lines at all, that would be one story, but I could see where the lanes were! I could see that people were driving like pac man, and the dotted lines were going under their cars!!!

And she of course flipped me off, and started yelling at me.

And I can imagine her coming into work and telling her co-workers that "there was this crazy blonde driver driving a big truck that was cutting me off on the way to work" -- well lady, YOU WERE WRONG. YOU were driving ILLEGALLY!!! If you had hit me, YOU would have been responsible!!!
Bleh.


I have a picture that I took, later on where it was safe to snap a photo, but unfortunately it doesn't show the extent of what the drivers were doing BEFORE I snapped the shot. In this picture you will see a car with its left wheels on the yellow line. But a block before this, the whole lane had their left wheels OVER the yellow line (I just couldn't snap a picture of it while I was driving). THAT is A HUGE pet peeve of mine. The drivers going the opposite way were having a hard time "squeezing" by.

Hmm.

Star Tribune mistake -- again

The Star Tribune has constant issues with their website. Some that I would be embarrassed to admit I was on the web team for (thankfully I am not!) Look at the descriptions on the weather report below…. It skips Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and goes directly from Friday to Tuesday. I am really guessing that they just didn’t put the correct names of the days in, vs. the wrong descriptions. But still… how could ANYONE miss that?

 

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Murphy's law and FREEZING TEMPS

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As I left for work, the temperature reading on the display in my truck read a negative 24. All the way to work, I was waiting for a red light to snap a photo of it. The murphy's law part of it was that I got green lights ALL THE WAY from Ham Lake to 169 in Brooklyn Park, where I had to slow down to merge onto the freeway. So by then, the sun had rose and my display now read -18. But still... very chilly. The -24 reading was the coldest I have ever witnessed. Not being a native Minnesotan, I haven't had as many years to experience this as others have.

My detox foot pads and my upcoming wedding

I try to wear my detox foot pads every weekend for 2 nights. I wear 6 on each foot. I shower in the evenings usually after my workout, so I don't take the time in the morning before work to peel my foot pads off and scrub my feet, so the weekends work best for me.

I started an amazing promotion for the 60-pack foot pads (which for the time being, if you buy the 60-pack, you get 20 free). Regular price is $75, but the sale price is just $60. That is a total of 80 foot pads for $60 -- an absolutely fantastic deal.

Especially since I am one of the few foot pad companies that has absolutely NO FILLERS in my foot pads. They are super strong and will pull the toxins out like mad! :) And, I always offer FREE priority mail shipping to the U.S. and military bases. I am very thankful for all our military personnel and their families, and try to throw in an extra pack or two as a thank you gesture, when they do order.

But my point is that while I try to wear them myself on the weekends, I usually forget. I did wear them on Friday night but forgot last night. No wonder I didn't sleep as well.

I have a few things that I need to do before my wedding. One is to wear my detox foot pads more consistently, and another is to exfoliate my face / microderm abrasion etc. And, I want to lighten up my teeth. Oh, and of course, lose 15 more pounds so I can fit into my dress. I don't think that should be a problem, and I might not need to lose 15 lbs. I might just have to tone up my body and that will work. Muscle weighs more than fat, after all! Everything fits except in the chest area. I am surprised the waist fits, as I have a 30" waist and they said the measurements were for a 28 1/2" waist. But I do have flab, like in my upper love handle area, so I want to lose that and everything will be great!

And, I think I want to keep my tan. Having a golden tan next to a white dress is beautiful!

Lots to do, but this is fun. No stress allowed!

Raw Milk

I am so thankful I found a co-op that sells raw milk near me. Fresh from a local farm, organic, grass fed. I also was able to get grass fed ground beef, and farm fresh eggs. Now, life can go back to normal!! My dog's LOVE raw milk, and so do I. It is so healthy for you. And, since my surgeries are over and done with, and I don't ever plan on having another surgery in my life, I can sufficiently say that I am on my way to being back in shape and the healthiest I have ever been in my life. Give me a few more months, and you will see. I am starting to workout to a DVD. I have never done that before. I am doing Tae Bo, and then I will do some kickboxing when I get bored with the tae bo. But my goal is to do that 3x a week, and alternate days with my arm strengthening (for my physical therapy). It has only been a few days so far and my arms / shoulders are really showing a difference. You can even see a bicep muscle on my right arm WOOHOO!! Not so much on my left arm yet, but since the bicep tenodesis, well, I think I have a ways to go.

And after my workouts I am doing the sauna for 35-45 minutes. I try to move around during the day more, stretching in the office, etc. It really helps. I am trying to cut out most sugars, and only eating sugar/sweets sparingly, as a treat. Keep the fats in, and good proteins. Whole milk, eggs, real butter. Well, I don't use much butter as it is, but when I do, I prefer the healthy stuff. I love red meat. But I will stay away from starchy foods.

So that is my game plan. Lots of water, tea, milk. Take my vitamins and colloidal minerals. Extra vitamin D in the winter.

I am tired, but I feel great.

Why don't companies listen? Some marketing advice

This is a frustrating one for me. Many large companies KNOW their customers do not like to go through huge automated phone systems before talking to a live person. And, they want to be able to press "0" to speak with someone right away. They do not want to press "1" for English. (This is America, it disgusts me that this is even a viable option!).  Yet, the companies still do it. Why? W H Y ? I really want to know. The message I get is loud and clear: "Because we don't care about YOU, we only care about your money and we know it is too much of a hassle to switch carriers/providers/companies so we think you will stay with us even after we provide poor customer service".

I am on the phone with Travelocity right now, waiting to speak with someone. I was given options on their automated system. None of them applied to me. I pressed "0", and instead of transferring me, they repeated the options. I am already upset because they JUST sent me a promotional email with prices for flights from SLC to MSP for only $238 plus applicable taxes. So I clicked on the link. No fares for that price listed. The lowest price is on at $286 plus applicable taxes. Of course I am ticked. I am in marketing, and I know how important it is to have correct information out there. Oh boy am I mad. And it already has been 10 minutes now, waiting to talk with someone on the phone. Nice way to spend my lunch break! Grrrr!!!

Ok, they answered the phone and I can tell it is a VoIP call from India. How fun. I hate that, too. And he is telling me that the promotional fare must have been sold out... I mean, after all, I received the email and clicked on it within 30 seconds of it arriving in my inbox. Sure, I can bet that is what happened /sarcasm off.

Earlier I called American Express. I got right through after punching in my account number. And, they didn't have to verify my account once I got on the line (I hate it when you have to give them your account number or credit card number even AFTER you typed it in... I mean, what is the purpose of that?). And, I needed a new card so they are OVERNIGHTING me one to arrive tomorrow. Now THAT is service. I am not a big fan of the higher fees associated with AMEX, and that some places don't accept it, but they give me great customer service.

Companies: Here are a few tips...

1. Don't use a call center located outside of the U.S. and make sure your call center representatives CAN SPEAK ENGLISH CLEARLY
2. Don't use an automated system that goes on forever, and allow anyone to get an operator by pressing "0"
3. Don't make us enter our account number or credit card number if you are just going to ask us for it again once you get on the line
4. Don't make us press 1 for English
5. Don't have an automated message that tells us to find the information on your website -- I was already on the website looking for the information and I couldn't find it

Trust me, your customers will appreciate it.

I am so happy; wedding etiquette and more

Life throws challenges my way all the time. If it isn't something, it is something else. Ice dams building up in one of my rental properties, leaking water into a bedroom through the ceiling; not having my condo rented out yet; still having shoulder pain and not sleeping well; dealing with the issue of my prior tenant suing my homeowners association over the towing of her car; it goes on and on. But, I can handle these things! I am a super woman!!

Steve and I finalized the date and the logistics of our wedding. It will be VERY small. April 1st. Most likely the ceremony will take place in our home, with just immediate family members who are able to attend. Then we will go out to dinner to celebrate. Our two favorite restaurants are El Loro and OSaka's. I am unsure of which one we will go to. But that way, my family will be able to visit longer with me vs. everyone preparing for a reception | party that will just cause me stress. Sure, I love all my friends and would love to celebrate with them, but isn't a girl's wedding day supposed to be about HER? So what I want is no stress. I don't want to be the center of attention. I don't want to be stressed out on the happiest day of my life. So I have decided I just want it to be my immediate family only.

And, I don't want presents. But there is no proper etiquette to state that to people. Emily Post and Miss Manners agree on that. What I would love? Well, I would love everyone who wants to do something for Steve and I, to do some type of good deed -- it may be volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, or donating blood. Or helping a sick neighbor mow their lawn. Things that don't necessarily cost money. Or, if money is something that someone wants to contribute, well, contribute to one of my favorite charities (of course most of them will be about animal rescue!). Then, write in a card for Steve and I, about your experience, and how fun it was, or how it touched you. See, that would be the BEST present ever. We could make a scrapbook of all these stories of good will, and we will know that the joining of mine and Steve's life has made a difference in the world.

But, proper etiquette says that it is improper to even mention gifts or "no gifts please". Or even "in lieu of gifts..."

So, if anyone does want to donate in honor of our upcoming nuptials, MN Boxer Rescue is my animal rescue of choice. They have a donation link on their website, and in the comment section you can write "in honor of Steve and Rebecca's upcoming wedding" or something like that. Or, the American Red Cross is always looking for blood and apheresis donations. If you prefer to donate blood using a local organization, there are those, too. In the Twin Cities there is Memorial Blood Center. I am sure most metro areas have something similar. Or what about the Salvation Army? I have been a volunteer for about 7 years now, maybe 8. I see the work they do, and sometimes when the folks they serve aren't appreciative, I see the unconditional love that these people give out, even when they don't get a simple thank you from the recipients. A great organization. I continue to struggle to show that same unconditional love to everyone, no matter their circumstances or attitude. Well, at least I have something to work on!

All is well.

We are leaving Panama today

Today is our 12th day in Panama, and currently I am at the Tocumen airport at my gate. Steve is at the airport bookstore trying to find a good read.

Our basic synopsis is this:

Boca Chica -- WE LOVED IT!! Wish we spent more than 3 days there
Boquete -- We could have done without this, or done it in one afternoon or morning, waste of time, too much rain
Bocas del Toro -- Of course this is a great place because Steve proposed to me here and it will always have fond memories. But we could have done without the pouring down rain, and better service.
Panama City -- we stayed here one night in a luxurious hotel. I slept AMAZING. They had great customer service at the Radisson Decapolis, except that we didn't understand why they charged us $11 for dim sum although we didn't have it... Steve didn't tell me until we were on our way to the airport, but he didn't even bother to challenge it. When we went to the hot tub, there was a family (we are guessing they are local to Panama or another Central American country), but they were SUPER rude. Their little girl (maybe around 3 years old) was using the hot tub as a swimming pool, splashing EVERYONE, and the older grandma was playing touchy feely with mine and Steve's legs. Overall very rude and inconsiderate. if they want to swim, use the pool.

I didn't take any pictures in Panama City because a fellow traveler told us that he tried, and his cab driver told him not to, otherwise they might get carjacked. Besides, there wasn't much to take pictures of. A dirty city is a dirty city, right? I know that I won't ever be able to know how to get from one place to another. It doesn't make sense to me. hah. I would get lost totally.

The customer service is very bad here in Panama. The restaurants (most of them) took their time, didn't have everything on the menu, and didn't care if they brought you out a hot meal that wasn't hot anymore. They don't refill your drinks, and when you need to leave and there are people waiting to sit down at a table, they still don't bring your bill...

It is very different here than it is in the U.S. I am more appreciative of even COMCAST (I know, I know, I can't even believe i wrote that!!) and I will be sure to tell any future waitresses I have back home that they are providing me exceptional service.

Will we come back to Panama? I think so. We want to tour Pedasi, Chitre, Las Tablos, Santiago, etc. (the Azuero peninsula) And we will probably rent a car vs rely on public transportation. And I don't want to fly Air Panama or Aeroperlas ever again. If you want to experience chaos and a cluster @#$^, then you definitely should try them out. We got out of the tiny airport (I did take a picture of that but will upload it later) 2 hours behind schedule, but all along they kept telling us that the filght was on time. We had a 2pm flight... at 2:30 they told us it was still on schedule!! HAHAHAHAH!!! That cracks me up.

Anyway, time for me to get going. We are flying to Dallas and then will have a 3-hour layover before we catch a filght to MSP. Aegis, Max, Bimp, I will see you soon!! Miss you!!!!

And I am so utterly in love with Steve. Even after almost 10 years, he is the man of my dreams.