This is my first shameless plug. I’m not talking about pugs….those cute dogs with pug noses…although they are shameless. I’m talking about exploiting a forum to advertise or promote something. So that would be Me using my BLOG to talk about DEAR HAVANAH.
I can’t say enough about Dear Havanah, except that you have to listen to this great new band. I admit, I am a little partial to them… Colinboy (I’m sure the band guys don’t call him this) plays bass guitar in the band. Dear Havanah has recently posted a music video of one of their new songs, “Relief” on YouTube. The video might not be a slick MTV music-type video where there is a sexy girl who slinks around and gets the guy. But it does show 5 guys rockin’ out and sounding great. It’s all about the music…when they get BIG, maybe then they’ll get the sexy girl who slinks around. Anyway, they have a great sound and are really, really good LIVE. Don’t just take my word for it…you can listen for yourself…just click on the following link:http://youtube.com/watch?v=EXT5c9J2WjY
Being the typical mo ther that I am…I watched the Dear Havanah YouTube video…and instantly loved it. I’m always very proud and supportive of my Colinboy in whatever he does. As I watched on my lap top, I took a closer look and thought, “What is Colinboy wearing? Is that a Hanes t-shirt?? A Hanes plain white t-shirt?? I know he has better clothes than that to wear. Maybe his clothes were on the floor ….I mean, in the laundry and it was all he could dig up. The other guys don’t look like a Hanes t-shirt commercial. The lead guitarist looks good in a jacket ….but Colinboy is sporting his undershirt…Hey...maybe that's Colinboy's style...and I'm just catching on.
Wardrobe aside…. Jam on Dear Havanah!! You sound great…after the masses that read my blog, check you out…they will agree. Also please know, you have at least 5 fans out there that think you are AWESOME…….5 mothers of 5 band sons…with one typical mother questioning…. A Hanes t-shirt??? :)
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
TV on the Fritz
What's a family to do? For 12 years our big ass rear projection Mitsubishi has been a faithful family servant. The other day we gathered ‘round the tube…turned it “on”….and it promptly turned itself “off”…as if to say, “To hell with this …I’m done. Entertain yourselves from now on.”
For 12 years we gathered ‘round, and wasted many precious hours of our lives with that TV. The television is where the American family congregates…to be entertained, to be informed, to gain weight. It’s a sad day when the end comes. Where would we be without it? We might have to read books, have lively political discussions, or give Duncandog some attention. We just couldn’t roll our hard-wired friend to the TV graveyard without trying to save it.
So we invited a TV repairman over for a little diagnostics…. “Sorry ma’am…it was hit by lightening. The motherboard/red bulb is destroyed. You might not want to fix it…gonna cost more than a new High Definition TV. Just the facts…Ma’am.”
You see…I think PaulA willed this untimely death on our television. He’s been having eyes for one of those spanking new Hi-Def TVs…and I’m thinking he’s been spending some time over at Best Buy getting to know all about them. Yep, whether consciously or unconsciously, he willed this lightening bolt demise on our poor electrical friend.
Every man on the planet Earth loves a Hi-Def. Frankly, I don’t understand the big buzz around it. I know PaulA would rather watch sports on a Hi-Def.…golf, football, his beloved Red Sox. But I don’t really need a close-up of the sweat that pours from Kevin Youkilis’ face. Although I could be convinced…when the Red Sox play the Yankees and A-Rod is up to bat. Men’s and women’s circuits are wired a little differently when it comes to televisions. Watching sports on a High Definition TV to a man is like…finding the perfect outfit at a Half-Off sale to a woman.
Gather ‘round family…and say good-bye to our dear old friend of 12 years…We hope the new Hi-Def is as faithful.
For 12 years we gathered ‘round, and wasted many precious hours of our lives with that TV. The television is where the American family congregates…to be entertained, to be informed, to gain weight. It’s a sad day when the end comes. Where would we be without it? We might have to read books, have lively political discussions, or give Duncandog some attention. We just couldn’t roll our hard-wired friend to the TV graveyard without trying to save it.
So we invited a TV repairman over for a little diagnostics…. “Sorry ma’am…it was hit by lightening. The motherboard/red bulb is destroyed. You might not want to fix it…gonna cost more than a new High Definition TV. Just the facts…Ma’am.”
You see…I think PaulA willed this untimely death on our television. He’s been having eyes for one of those spanking new Hi-Def TVs…and I’m thinking he’s been spending some time over at Best Buy getting to know all about them. Yep, whether consciously or unconsciously, he willed this lightening bolt demise on our poor electrical friend.
Every man on the planet Earth loves a Hi-Def. Frankly, I don’t understand the big buzz around it. I know PaulA would rather watch sports on a Hi-Def.…golf, football, his beloved Red Sox. But I don’t really need a close-up of the sweat that pours from Kevin Youkilis’ face. Although I could be convinced…when the Red Sox play the Yankees and A-Rod is up to bat. Men’s and women’s circuits are wired a little differently when it comes to televisions. Watching sports on a High Definition TV to a man is like…finding the perfect outfit at a Half-Off sale to a woman.
Gather ‘round family…and say good-bye to our dear old friend of 12 years…We hope the new Hi-Def is as faithful.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Southwest Airlines Sends Their Best
Does anyone appreciate receiving a birthday card from a business? I can MAYBE understand receiving a card from my local life insurance agent…the guy keeping tabs on my life/death status. I noticed that this year PaulA’s life insurance agent…cared to send him the very best.
For the life of me…I just do not understand why Southwest sends out birthday cards. I understand that they might want to make a connection with people and hopefully gain their business, but this just seems like an odd way to go. It feels like such a personal gesture…when I didn’t even know we were friends.
Does Southwest think that we display their cards on our mantle pieces…right next to the birthday cards from Grandma and Aunt Millie? They are so lucky if we even open them before throwing them in the trash.
If I worked for Southwest…I would tell them to save the bucks they spend on postage and cards, and reduce the airfare…give the people what they really want. But then again, I would be very unpopular with those who work in the Sending Out Birthday Cards To Random People Department…they would not be happy with me.
Let’s think for a moment about what Southwest could really do for us if they really cared to send their best. Maybe they could give us a decent meal and not peanuts, pretzels and snack mix. And seeing it is our birthday…a little birthday cake would be nice. Or how about give us a coupon for a reserved seat, so the next time we fly, we don’t have to stand in group A, B, or C. For one day of the year, Southwest would not make us feel like cattle being herded onto their plane. Moooooooo...
I hope, when my birthday rolls around this OCTOBER 13th (just a little reminder), Southwest Airlines leaves me off their birthday list. Unless…someone from Southwest’s Sending Out Birthday Cards to Random People Department actually reads my blog...and I find free stuff in the card before I throw it out.
I might even display their card….right next to Grandma’s.
For the life of me…I just do not understand why Southwest sends out birthday cards. I understand that they might want to make a connection with people and hopefully gain their business, but this just seems like an odd way to go. It feels like such a personal gesture…when I didn’t even know we were friends.
Does Southwest think that we display their cards on our mantle pieces…right next to the birthday cards from Grandma and Aunt Millie? They are so lucky if we even open them before throwing them in the trash.
If I worked for Southwest…I would tell them to save the bucks they spend on postage and cards, and reduce the airfare…give the people what they really want. But then again, I would be very unpopular with those who work in the Sending Out Birthday Cards To Random People Department…they would not be happy with me.
Let’s think for a moment about what Southwest could really do for us if they really cared to send their best. Maybe they could give us a decent meal and not peanuts, pretzels and snack mix. And seeing it is our birthday…a little birthday cake would be nice. Or how about give us a coupon for a reserved seat, so the next time we fly, we don’t have to stand in group A, B, or C. For one day of the year, Southwest would not make us feel like cattle being herded onto their plane. Moooooooo...
I hope, when my birthday rolls around this OCTOBER 13th (just a little reminder), Southwest Airlines leaves me off their birthday list. Unless…someone from Southwest’s Sending Out Birthday Cards to Random People Department actually reads my blog...and I find free stuff in the card before I throw it out.
I might even display their card….right next to Grandma’s.
Monday, July 7, 2008
What's Her Name?
The worst is not remembering names….especially a person you know…or should know. You see her coming, and you wanna run, because you are blanking out. What the heck is her name?? I have always been bad with names, so this is nothing new. I try everything to avoid having to say the person’s name…”Hey, friend. Hi ya! Hey you. Hi amigo.”
I could be at a party and just meet Bob and Arleen. Five seconds later…I have no clue what their names are. Was it…John and Lisa? So sometimes I have to ante up and just say, “Sorry…I am a lame brain and I already forgot your name.”
For 12 years Wishy has gone to school with a girl whose mother I run into…every now and then…but not often. I can never remember her name. I have some kind of mental block. I am trying to remember her name now….it starts with “M”….no, it definitely starts with “R”. Helga. I think! By the time graduation comes around….I swear I am going to learn her name.
We have a principal in town who recently retired from the elementary school and who could remember every child’s name in the entire school…K-5. Not only did he remember every kid’s name, but also their siblings. The very weird thing is, when I ran into this man (I forget his name), he asked, “How are Chelsea and Colin doing in college…and then added, “Isn’t Chelsea graduating this year?” What planet is this guy from? He is a freak of nature…a good freak, but a freak.
So does Mr. Retired Principal remember names by using association? Does he see your kid and think…Hmmm…Allen has an apple head. And Penny is a pea brain. I swear he must have spent every night at home with pictures of the students and their names…all spread out on his living room floor...playing the matching game. Or maybe, his wife quizzed him with flash cards. Yea…probably that.
Personally, I am an advocate for name tags. I wish that when we left our houses, we were required to put them on…that you could get fined if you weren’t wearing one. I especially love going to events where you have to wear tags. Most people hate adhering them or pinning them to their clothing…but I say bring them on. When someone is wearing one…I like to say their name a lot. Like…Heck, I would have known your name without these lousy name tags. “Hey Bob. Hey Arleen. Bob. Arleen. Arleen. Bob.”
Only one problem….the name tags are getting harder and harder to read.
I could be at a party and just meet Bob and Arleen. Five seconds later…I have no clue what their names are. Was it…John and Lisa? So sometimes I have to ante up and just say, “Sorry…I am a lame brain and I already forgot your name.”
For 12 years Wishy has gone to school with a girl whose mother I run into…every now and then…but not often. I can never remember her name. I have some kind of mental block. I am trying to remember her name now….it starts with “M”….no, it definitely starts with “R”. Helga. I think! By the time graduation comes around….I swear I am going to learn her name.
We have a principal in town who recently retired from the elementary school and who could remember every child’s name in the entire school…K-5. Not only did he remember every kid’s name, but also their siblings. The very weird thing is, when I ran into this man (I forget his name), he asked, “How are Chelsea and Colin doing in college…and then added, “Isn’t Chelsea graduating this year?” What planet is this guy from? He is a freak of nature…a good freak, but a freak.
So does Mr. Retired Principal remember names by using association? Does he see your kid and think…Hmmm…Allen has an apple head. And Penny is a pea brain. I swear he must have spent every night at home with pictures of the students and their names…all spread out on his living room floor...playing the matching game. Or maybe, his wife quizzed him with flash cards. Yea…probably that.
Personally, I am an advocate for name tags. I wish that when we left our houses, we were required to put them on…that you could get fined if you weren’t wearing one. I especially love going to events where you have to wear tags. Most people hate adhering them or pinning them to their clothing…but I say bring them on. When someone is wearing one…I like to say their name a lot. Like…Heck, I would have known your name without these lousy name tags. “Hey Bob. Hey Arleen. Bob. Arleen. Arleen. Bob.”
Only one problem….the name tags are getting harder and harder to read.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Fourth of July
Happy Birthday to our country. I would sing Happy Birthday to America, but that would seem a little corny…but definitely All-American. I am damn proud to be an American.
I am the daughter of a retired U. S. Air Force Serviceman…retired after 20 years. As a military family we traveled the country and the world…moved every two years. You would think the constant acclimation would be hard, but everyone else in the military community was doing the same thing. So the big question while living on Air Force Bases was always, “How long are you here for?”….kinda like you were doing time…hard time. The only hard time I remember was when we were separated from my dad. Remember the first line from the Marine’s Hymn?... “From the halls of Montezuma to shores of Tripoli”….we lived there…the shores of Tripoli. We did time in Tripoli for two years.
I am proud to be from America…the Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave. Nothing makes me prouder than when I see a U.S. service man or woman in their uniform…young people willing to protect our freedom. I tear up at the very thought of it. Colinboy has a buddy who finished his basic training in the Marines and is heading off to Afghanistan soon. He is going to be a gunner on a tank…I think I’m going to turn into Niagara Falls now. Growing up as a child on a military base, hearing the planes overhead everyday, was like my blanket…sign of security. I thank the men and women who have volunteered to protect our freedom.
I am proud to be an American…I know I have mentioned before that I have dog tags…official ones given to me by the U.S Air Force. We wore them as kids when traveling. Those dog tags are one of my most prized possessions. My own kids were shocked…and proud when they first saw them…shocked to see that their mom had Rappa tags…and proud that ...Rapppa katBreezy might be tight with Fifty Cent.
This is a beautiful country and we are very fortunate to live in this Land of Liberty. Now…after stepping down from my soap box….I am gonna indulge in a little apple pie.
Happy Birthday, America.
I am the daughter of a retired U. S. Air Force Serviceman…retired after 20 years. As a military family we traveled the country and the world…moved every two years. You would think the constant acclimation would be hard, but everyone else in the military community was doing the same thing. So the big question while living on Air Force Bases was always, “How long are you here for?”….kinda like you were doing time…hard time. The only hard time I remember was when we were separated from my dad. Remember the first line from the Marine’s Hymn?... “From the halls of Montezuma to shores of Tripoli”….we lived there…the shores of Tripoli. We did time in Tripoli for two years.
I am proud to be from America…the Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave. Nothing makes me prouder than when I see a U.S. service man or woman in their uniform…young people willing to protect our freedom. I tear up at the very thought of it. Colinboy has a buddy who finished his basic training in the Marines and is heading off to Afghanistan soon. He is going to be a gunner on a tank…I think I’m going to turn into Niagara Falls now. Growing up as a child on a military base, hearing the planes overhead everyday, was like my blanket…sign of security. I thank the men and women who have volunteered to protect our freedom.
I am proud to be an American…I know I have mentioned before that I have dog tags…official ones given to me by the U.S Air Force. We wore them as kids when traveling. Those dog tags are one of my most prized possessions. My own kids were shocked…and proud when they first saw them…shocked to see that their mom had Rappa tags…and proud that ...Rapppa katBreezy might be tight with Fifty Cent.
This is a beautiful country and we are very fortunate to live in this Land of Liberty. Now…after stepping down from my soap box….I am gonna indulge in a little apple pie.
Happy Birthday, America.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Habitual Returner
I shop…I return. Well not every time…every now and then I get it right…the right color, size, and type. But that is every now and then and not the norm. Sometimes when I’m shopping…I’m not sure which item to choose…the yellow, blue, or pink (I like them all) so I buy all and return…another trip back to the store.
I am surprised there isn’t a return limit at stores. This would encourage people to be better shoppers. A policy so that in a given year you are allowed x number of returns…and when you try to return…one too many times…a whistle blows. Well, maybe nothing so startling and dramatic…some ole lady my keel over from a heart attack or something. But some red flag goes up to let the salesperson know…this woman is a habitual returner…tackle her.
The worst thing about the return process is finding the receipt. I try to be organized, but then sometimes I come up empty handed. Where is that receipt? The other day I bought an iPod at the Apple Store. That store is the coolest…I like how they don’t need a register to “ring” you out. The employees just rove the place with some magic box and do it right from there. But the coolest part of the whole transaction is...the sales guy asked me if I wanted the receipt emailed to me. “Yea…sure dude. Email it to me.” That way, if I ever needed to retrieve it…I would know exactly where it is…smack dab on my computer. Man, I am hip…or is that hop?
Yea…Kat is cool getting her receipt emailed to her….I can’t wait to go home and find it online. A few hours later, after some expert shopping at the Taj MaMall…I ran home and looked for my receipt online…You've Got Mail! Yep, there it is. Yep, there it is.
I am thinking now….why don’t other stores do this? It would make the consumer’s life so much easier. But then again…there are those who are afraid of their computers…afraid to touch them…so it wouldn’t work for them. But for us computer savvy geniuses….it works.
On the other hand…now that I look for my receipt…this genius isn’t sure what “folder” it is in now. Is it filed in My Documents…Shared Documents…Disc C Documents...Kat Documents?….Where is that receipt????.......Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
I am surprised there isn’t a return limit at stores. This would encourage people to be better shoppers. A policy so that in a given year you are allowed x number of returns…and when you try to return…one too many times…a whistle blows. Well, maybe nothing so startling and dramatic…some ole lady my keel over from a heart attack or something. But some red flag goes up to let the salesperson know…this woman is a habitual returner…tackle her.
The worst thing about the return process is finding the receipt. I try to be organized, but then sometimes I come up empty handed. Where is that receipt? The other day I bought an iPod at the Apple Store. That store is the coolest…I like how they don’t need a register to “ring” you out. The employees just rove the place with some magic box and do it right from there. But the coolest part of the whole transaction is...the sales guy asked me if I wanted the receipt emailed to me. “Yea…sure dude. Email it to me.” That way, if I ever needed to retrieve it…I would know exactly where it is…smack dab on my computer. Man, I am hip…or is that hop?
Yea…Kat is cool getting her receipt emailed to her….I can’t wait to go home and find it online. A few hours later, after some expert shopping at the Taj MaMall…I ran home and looked for my receipt online…You've Got Mail! Yep, there it is. Yep, there it is.
I am thinking now….why don’t other stores do this? It would make the consumer’s life so much easier. But then again…there are those who are afraid of their computers…afraid to touch them…so it wouldn’t work for them. But for us computer savvy geniuses….it works.
On the other hand…now that I look for my receipt…this genius isn’t sure what “folder” it is in now. Is it filed in My Documents…Shared Documents…Disc C Documents...Kat Documents?….Where is that receipt????.......Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
iGet Real
Sometimes advertisers are right on the money when it comes to marketing and advertising. They totally get it…they have a great gimmick or a smart look. There a few commercials that I find entertaining; for example, the GEICO cavemen commercials. And any commercial where there is a person dancing foolishly…off-beat…for some reason that cracks me up. So when the GEICO caveman dances…that’s a double knee slapper.
iThink Apple was extremely clever with naming their products so that they start with a small i…a great marketing iDea. Have you noticed since the launching of the iPod and iTunes…that there are so many new products and services that start with a small i? It goes on and on….iThis and iThat. iAmazed how much you see it when you start to look for it. It is all over the place. The other day iNoticed our Sunday paper has a new section called iTowns. Did someone really get credit for coming up with that iDea?
The iThing is so over done…kinda like what happened with reality shows. First we had Survivor…and then American iDol, and you know where we have gone from here…downhill. Every other show is a reality show. All the shows are beginning to look the same. We take one idea and exploit it…use it again and again…beat it until it is whipped …cook it until it is crispy. There is even a new reality show about coming up with iDeas for reality shows!
I’ve heard… “there is no such thing as an original idea.” This may ring true. Before American Idol, there was Pop Idol (in England)…same idea, they just moved it across the pond. Before Facebook, there was the college “face” book…same idea, they just put it online. Before Survivor, there was Gilligan’s Island…same idea, they just hadn’t voted Gilligan or the Professor off yet.
And before blogs, there were very thoughtful newspaper commentaries written by educated people…same idea, they just gave uneducated people a forum online to unload.
ikatOUT
iThink Apple was extremely clever with naming their products so that they start with a small i…a great marketing iDea. Have you noticed since the launching of the iPod and iTunes…that there are so many new products and services that start with a small i? It goes on and on….iThis and iThat. iAmazed how much you see it when you start to look for it. It is all over the place. The other day iNoticed our Sunday paper has a new section called iTowns. Did someone really get credit for coming up with that iDea?
The iThing is so over done…kinda like what happened with reality shows. First we had Survivor…and then American iDol, and you know where we have gone from here…downhill. Every other show is a reality show. All the shows are beginning to look the same. We take one idea and exploit it…use it again and again…beat it until it is whipped …cook it until it is crispy. There is even a new reality show about coming up with iDeas for reality shows!
I’ve heard… “there is no such thing as an original idea.” This may ring true. Before American Idol, there was Pop Idol (in England)…same idea, they just moved it across the pond. Before Facebook, there was the college “face” book…same idea, they just put it online. Before Survivor, there was Gilligan’s Island…same idea, they just hadn’t voted Gilligan or the Professor off yet.
And before blogs, there were very thoughtful newspaper commentaries written by educated people…same idea, they just gave uneducated people a forum online to unload.
ikatOUT
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