The Heifer at the Blockbuster in Upper Arlington

I rarely rent movies from Blockbuster any more. I mean, who really does? But over the 4th of July weekend, Scott and I were in the mood to watch a couple movies so we rented 3 DVD's from a local Blockbuster store. I'm a little (a lot?) overdue in returning them. Today I made the commitment to just do it. Just get those pesky rented DVD's back to Blockbuster. So I stopped by a Blockbuster location other than the store from which we rented them initially. The young clerk in the Blockbuster in Upper Arlington informed me that the DVD's had to be returned to the store where the initial rental took place. OK. Fine. I just simply commented that such a return policy is probably why people don't really rent movies from places like Blockbuster anymore. I wasn't being rude to her or nasty. I was just pointing out a fact in the era of Netflix. But this young heifer apparently wanted to fuss with me. She retorted in a nasaly, condescending way, "Actually, we do a lot of business." Now keep in mind that when she made this comment, I was the only customer in the store. Also keep in mind that I have PMS and a penchant for sarcasm. So, of course I had to turn my head and look to the left and then turn my head and look to the right in the empty store completely devoid of any customers but me and say to the heifer, "Yes, it looks like you are doing a lot of business."

Really, the snotty young heifer should have just shut up at that point. But no. She wanted to argue. Here is the next part of the conversation:

Heifer: "You don't have to be rude. I was just trying to be nice and explain the return policy."
Me: "That's actually what you are supposed to do because you work in customer service and I am the customer."

Again, really, the snotty young heifer should have just shut up. But nooooooo. She then asked if I have ever worked in customer service. What I should have said was, "My work history is none of your business." But I didn't. I got baited and said that I have actually worked in a number of customer service positions. So then she told me that I must know how I sounded. Maybe, but I also know how she sounded.

A couple of points (that I probably should make to Blockbuster instead of my blog):

#1 It is asinine to tell a customer in a retail setting that the company is doing a lot of business when there is not one single other customer in the entire store.

#2 It is unwise to assume customers are unintelligent/uneducated. The heifers comment about Blockbuster doing a lot of business is especially ridiculous to someone like me who knows that the Blockbuster company posted a staggering decline in revenue in the first quarter of this year.

#3 If you are working in customer service and you have to say to a customer, "I'm just trying to be nice" chances are good you aren't really being nice. If you are, you shouldn't have to point it out. At the point you tell a customer you are just trying to be nice, what you are really doing is being argumentative.

Bad customer service is one thing. You know, it just is what it is. But bad customer service from someone who thinks they are actually providing good customer service can really fire me up. Not to mention I still have those damn movies to return.

Two final points for contemplation:

• Am I the one who is actually the snotty heifer in this scenario? (OK- you don't have to answer that!)
• My God, does anyone have any Midol?? At the point I am this fired up over the clerk in Blockbuster I have totally lost emotional control. Maybe Midol isn't enough. How about Haldol?

Are Republicans Finally Wising Up?

I read on the news today that the percentage of Republicans who think Sarah Palin could be an effective leader (President) is 33%. This number is down from 71% who reported during the last election season that they felt she could be an effective leader. Down from 71% to 33%. I consider that progress. Are the Republicans finally wising up to her idiocy, incompetence, and narcissism? I certainly hope so, because if I have to listen to a bunch of press for the next 3 years actually entertain the idea of Sarah Palin running for President, I think I'll shoot myself.

Paying Tribute

I remember hearing my parents talk about how they remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Along those lines of the passing of historical figures, I, like many people around the world, will always remember where I was when I heard that Michael Jackson died. I was in a Tee-Jay's restaurant on Hamilton Road, but that's a different story...

Last night and again tonight I have watched parts of several different shows paying tribute to Michael Jackson. On these shows, I have heard great music, seen incredible dance moves, and listened to heartfelt interviews. Prior to the tribute shows, most of what I heard about Michael Jackson in recent years was negative and, arguably, cruel. We all know the stories. His skin color. Bad cosmetic surgeries. Financial woes. Child molestation accusations.

But these tribute shows over the past 24 hours have been beautiful and touching. Clips of Michael with his brothers performing as the Jackson Five. Snipits of some of his finest interviews over the years. Parts of his legendary music videos. Fans at his concerts screaming, crying, passing out, singing along as he performed. For the most part, the tribute shows have emphasized the positive and really downplayed all the negativity that we had grown accustomed to hearing about the King of Pop over the past number of years. I have actually teared up a couple of times because the tributes have been so moving.

So this got me to thinking. I wish these tribute shows had been aired before Michael died. I wish Michael had gotten to see the tributes instead of all the cruel press that badgered him for so long. I wonder if he really knew how much he meant to this fans, to the music industry, to the people who cared about him. I think the press did a real dis-service to Michael with all the negative publicity over the years and thinking about the pain he must have suffered behind it makes me sad.

So this got me to thinking some more. Why do we wait until someone dies to pay tribute to them? Isn't it really too late at that point? Why don't we pay tribute to people when they are alive?

Why don't we make more of an effort to validate others, show appreciation, take time to think about them in the most positive light, offer forgiveness and the benefit of the doubt, express our gratitude, and make certain that those we love know we love them?

Why do only famous people get tributes? Why don't each of us pay tribute to the "ordinary" people in our lives? Think about it. One day out of the blue someone pays you a tribute. Tells you all the good and beautiful and wonderful and meaningful things about you. Wouldn't that feel so great and so encouraging? I think paying tribute would not only feel good for the person receiving it, it would feel equally good for the person offering it. Watch out now.... that kind of good will is contagious.

Maybe, for example, instead of sending commercially produced Christmas and birthday cards, we could hand write a few lines from the heart on a plain old sheet of paper to give to our friends and family telling them how much they mean to us. We could thank someone for an act of kindness they offered to us. We could call a friend we haven't talked to in a while. We could take some time to get together with friends and loved ones (if we really want to, we can all find an hour or two here and there, can't we?) We could share a funny story or memory. We could ask someone how they are doing and really care about the answer. There must be millions of ways to tell and show someone that you care.

But, why wait until Christmas, birthdays or special occasions to express our love for each other in this way? Today is the only day that's guaranteed to us. Why wait? Why not find ways, big or small, to pay tribute to someone special in our lives today?

It's Been A While (and unfortunately I'm still stuck on the Palin theme)

It's been a while since I have posted anything to this blog. I had so much energy invested in the 2008 presidential election, I think that after Barack Obama was finally elected, I was emotionally spent. I'm rested up now though and I'm back......

So, here's what's got me going now (you'll notice I'm still stuck on the Palin theme, at least for the moment):

Last night on the preview to the news, local news anchor Jerry Revish said the following when giving the upcoming news highlights-- "The surprising news from Bristol Palin." Later in the actual broadcast, I learned that the "surprising news" was that Bristol Palin and her boyfriend/baby's daddy split up.

#1 Surprising? Really?? Is this really surprising?

#2 Is this really news?

From Election Heartache to Election Joy

I have never been so happy to stand corrected! When I wrote my last posting this past Sunday, I was feeling quite anxious about the election. I am beyond overjoyed that my feeling of dread about the election was for naught. I feel a tremendous sense of relief and elation that Barack Obama won the election and will serve as the 44th President of the United States of America. From the depth of my heart I thank God.

When I watched Barack Obama's speech last night, I had a surge of guilt when he used the words "cynicism, fear and doubt". Although I'm not proud of it, I am willing to admit that those words described me. Fear was the most predominant of the feelings. I was very fearful that not enough Americans had evolved to the point where such a monumental milestone could be achieved: a black man will be President. I don't know. Maybe I owe some kind of apology for doubting. Maybe cynicism is one of my character flaws. Maybe I am weak for not being able to overcome fear. Each of us looked at the election through slightly different lenses. I consider myself a person of strong convictions. I also know that I am usually cloaked in a shroud of uncertainty. My personal challenge now is to accept my feelings for what they were and to find my own sense of entitlement to celebrate, irresepective of those who use hope and faith as a basis for judgment and superiority (and I ain't talkin' about Barack Obama here, a man who seems genuine in his hope and faith).

What happened yesterday in the election is nothing short of spectacular. Barack Obama is the right choice. What a triumph that character prevailed! I absolutely believe that he has what it takes to change the political culture. While the road ahead will be difficult, Barack Obama has already graced us immeasurably with his reverence, composure, and humility. He is a class act, a role model, and an inspiration of proportions large enough to make even an old uncertain, doubtful, judgmental, fearful cynic like me feel hopeful for the first time in a long, long time.

Election Heartache: A Somber Commentary

Well over a month ago, my friend Renee and I were talking politics and she used the phrase "election heartache". That phrase stuck with me and I have given it a lot of thought over the weeks since we had that conversation. Recently, I moved from thinking about "election heartache" to actually feeling it. My heart has been so heavy over the offensiveness and absurdity of the Republican party and it's supporters that I have had to tune out from as much election coverage as possible. I reached the point where I felt like I just couldn't take it any more. I haven't even been able to write on this blog. I've had a bad case of election heartache as I've watched this debacle unfold in a frenzy as election day nears.

For the past week, I have been nearly immobilized by fear about the possibility of the worst case scenario coming true; John McCain and Sarah Palin being elected to the White House. I know the polls show Barack Obama in the lead, but I have this deep feeling of dread. I drive around and see all the McCain/Palin yard signs and I just get this feeling that I'm going to wake up on Wednesday morning, look at the news, and see clips from John McCain's victory rally. My God, I hope I'm wrong. When I see McCain/Palin yard signs, I just think to myself, "Who are these people that want McCain/Palin to win the election? Are they not paying attention??" I am always especially perplexed when I see a McCain/Palin yard sign in front of a house where someone who is obviously middle or lower-middle class lives. How can you be middle or lower-middle class and want John McCain to be president? In those cases, I think one of two things must be the case. 1) Those middle/lower class individuals who want McCain/Palin to win are of the religious right and believe that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. 2) Those middle/lower class who want McCain/Palin to win are racist. And that's where my fear about the election comes from; my inability to close my eyes to the pervasive racism that still exists in the country. It's always there. Sometimes it's overt. Sometimes it's covert. But it's always there. African Americans experience it in both big and small ways every single day. And now, the future of America is riding on people's ability to transcend the racist ideology that has existed since this country was founded. Can that really happen? I hate to be a pessimist, but right now I have little faith that enough Americans have evolved to the point where a black man can be elected President of the United States. The truth is, if Barack Obama doesn't win this election, it won't be because he's allegedly inexperienced, or his "ties" to William Ayers, or his Aunt's immigration status. All of those accusations by John McCain and the Republican party are hollow and everyone should know it. 140+ years after the abolition of slavery, we still live in a society in which people are judged by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character. If in this election voters selected candidates based on character, Barack Obama would win by a land slide and John McCain and Sarah Palin would be banished from politics forever. The fact that the polls are close speaks volumes about where we are as a society. Not nearly evolved enough. Still judging people by the color of their skin, character aside. And that is the root of my election heartache.

Finally, a little bit of truth spilling out...

...from the Republican party about Sarah Palin. I read an article on the CNN website this morning about Sarah Palin "going rogue". The article outlined how some of McCain's advisors are feeling frustrated with Palin. (welcome to the club)

Here are a few highlights from the article:

- one McCain source said that Palin appears to be looking out for herself more than the McCain campaign.

- a McCain advisor was quoted as saying, "She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone. She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family, or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."

- one of Palin's own associates said this abut Palin, she (Palin) is "not good at process questions".

- a Palin associate and a McCain advisor both said that Palin was not ready for press interaction and that her "missteps" in the interviews with Charles Gibson and Katie Couric could have been a lot worse. (OMG- worse? can you even imagine??)

and finally,

- a McCain source was quoted as saying this about Palin, "Her lack of fundamental understanding of some key issues was dramatic." The source also said that Palin was the "hardest" to get "up to speed than any other candidate in history."

Where to begin? There is just so much.....

1. If it's true, and I believe it is, that Sarah Palin is looking out more for herself than the campaign, that should be enough to sway every single voter in America away from voting for the Republican party (hey, I can dream, can't I?) If at the campaign level Palin is already that self-absorbed, what do you think would happen if she was elected to office? Would her values suddenly change to shift focus away from what's best for herself to what's best for the American people? Not a chance. Sarah Palin will always be about Sarah Palin and I wish that every single person in this country would recognize that.

2. Palin, a diva? That's just what we need in the White House-- a diva. For the love of God. Sometimes when I'm writing on this blog I become aware that as I'm typing I'm shaking my head in disbelief. I'm doing that now. I am just in total disbelief that an ignorant, uniformed, mindless maniac like Sarah Palin has risen to the level that across the country many of us spend time discussing her (myself included) and live in fear she will be elected to White House. My God, how as a society did we get to this place? Oh, that's right. John McCain and the Rupublicans dragged us down here. (There are also times when I'm writing on this blog that I move from disbelief to unadulterated contempt for and outrage at John McCain. I feel like punching him in his face. That's how I feel right now. At 7:10 AM ET on a Sunday morning I feel like punching John McCain in the face. I must need to get my ass to church and start praying.)

3. Regarding the quote above about Palin being a diva and diva's seeing themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom, let's be really clear here: The name "Sarah Palin" and the word "wisdom" should never, ever, ever be used in the same sentence.

4. Palin's own associate said that Palin is not good at process questions. Great. Just what we need. A (vice) president who is not good at process questions. WTF. (I'm back to shaking my head in disbelief. And, for the record, I don't think Palin is good at any questions.)

and lastly for now,

5. I am not surprised, but mortified nonetheless, at the fact that Sarah Palin has been identified within her own party as being harder to get up to speed on political issues than any other candidate in history. This goes back to a point I made in one of my very early postings on this blog: Sarah Palin just isn't very bright. She's just not. And that's fine, but not for the White House!! (I need to catch my breath. When I think about the McCain/Palin ticket being elected, I really feel like I can't breathe.) OK, back to my two final points and then I need to go lay down:

a) if Sarah Palin can't even be brought up to speed enough to manage interviews with Charles Gibson and Katie Couric, how could she ever be brought up to speed on how to manage domestic and internal affairs? If she can't handle Charles Gibson and Katie Couric, should we believe that she can handle Vladimir Putin? Of course not! So why do I still see McCain/Palin signs in people's yards? What is wrong with people??

b) John McCain better never, ever again make a comment about America not having time for Barack Obama to learn in the White House. What America doesn't have time for is Sarah Palin to learn in the White House. If learning is needed, at least Barack Obama is capable of it. That's one hell of a lot more than Sarah Palin can say. Not only do I believe that Sarah Palin is incapable of learning to the degree necessary, the comments from within the Republican Party suggest she is also unwilling to learn. That is utterly terrifying. I feel like punching her in the face too.