Haiti Relief

It's amazing - all the support that has been given from the world.

I'm wondering how much of the money donated to the various large non-profit organizations will actually make it to the people of haiti.

Red Cross CEO Pulled Down $651,957 Salary - Bush Strafes New Orleans - source

Consider donating to an organization like the CRUDEM Foundation

Seems like forever

With Facebook and Twitter it seems like forever - since my last post - I'm headed off to CA for a couple days later this month - and I'm thinking I will catch up on posting things I've been thinking about lately.

We'll just have to wait and see what my squash will think of ....

Banana Cake recipe for Heather

Set Oven to 325º
10" Bundt Pan - Light grease & Flour

Mix:
2 cups Sugar
1 cup Canola Oil or Veg
3 large Eggs (or 4 med)
1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
together until smooth - use a stand mixer

Add:
4 large bananas - or if small use 5 - 5 1/2 bananas
mix until just combined - you will still have a few lumps - just don't over mix it

Mix (use a whisk and mix well) - in a separate bowl:
3 cups of sifted Unbleached Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Add the Four Mixture into the Banana Mixture until just combined

Pour the mix into the Bundt Pan - (turn the Bundt pan as you pour - try not to get the mixture on the sides of the pan)

Bake for 1 hour - Let sit 10 mins - then flip onto plate

Pan Massachusetts Challenge For the Jimmy Fund

This August I will be riding in my 6th Pan Massachusetts Challenge (PMC).
The PMC is roughly a 200 mile bicycle ride from Sturbridge MA to Provinctown MA.
If you can, make a donation to the is great cause.
You can learn all about the ride and view my profile at:
http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=CR0028

Not Made in China

Not Made In China.

Up until a year and half ago I was purchasing work boots made in the USA from Knapp Shoes. I would place a phone call once a year to a great little shoe store that has survived Walmart, Fred Shoes. Rick is the proprietor there. He knows me by name and by the type of boots I buy. Knapp Farm Boots, Chestnut 6” high. And like I said, Made in the USA. NOT CHINA. A week later I get a phone call from Rick to find out that my boots had come in. He told me over the phone that I was probably not going to be happy. The new boots were now being made in China and instead of $90 they were $129.00. What is wrong with this picture? The main reason they are not being made in the USA any longer is because Ironage Shoes bought Knapp boots. Way to go you fart baggers. I will never buy footwear from Ironage Shoes or their brands.

The Knapp boots that I had been wearing and ordering for the last several years are now being made in China and for a much larger price. What is wrong with these people?

The boots are not even close to the same quality as the old Knapp boots. They now have a 2-piece tongue. That’s right, right in the middle of the tongue there is a seam. They stitched 2 pieces of mush cheaper grade of leather together. No longer is there a very comfortable sneaker-like innersole. The famous 2-Shot Knapp sole has been replaced with some poor excuse of a sole.

So after viewing this poorly made pair of boots I pushed them back across the counter and said No Thanks. Can you get me a pair of similar pair of boots made in the USA? I purchased a Pair of Chippewa Boots. Not as comfortable, but well made, in the USA. They sole and leather are high grade. Don’t be fooled by all Chippewa Boots not all are made here, in the USA.

Ever wonder why gasoline is so expensive? Think bout it. It’s not about G.W.’s war. It’s about how much crap we are buying and importing. Well actually it is partly G.W.’s fault, he lifted the trade embargo on China in February of 2005. So greedy USA companies have been importing as much as they possibly can get. Like addicted drug addicts. So just think … how does all that crap make it here? By a win powered ship? NO. It all comes by oil-powered ships. They are buying the world’s oil supply. Not do they need oil for ships they need it to drive their cars they are building to drive the billions of people around. A few years ago China had about 5 million cars on the road and soon to have 25 million plus. They are consuming way too much raw materials and burning through the worlds oil supply faster than any other country presently or in the past. Be careful. China will drain the world of all its resources, Oh be careful of India they too are a headed in the same direction. They will surpass China’s population very soon. They may have done it while you have been reading this blog.

Just say no to China’s imported crap. Buying made in China stuff will not save you money in the long run.

I will continue to write about this.

I have printed, “NOT MADE IN CHINA” T-shirts on American Apparel T-shirts respond to this blog and I’ll send you one for 15 bucks.

Do you need change?

Do you need change?

I’m not very old but it seems to me that today’s etiquette is becoming more compromised every time you turn around.

Can you remember the last time you went in to a restaurant, ate, paid the bill and the waitress responded, “Do you need change?” How very presumptuous of them to assume that their tip is already in the check holder. How about a response like a good old fashion, thank you. Plain and simple, with no sugar coating or creative alternative is needed. It seems as though many waitresses and waiters feel it necessary to try and come up with alternative sayings because they are simply bored with the conventional responses. They usually don’t peek in the check holder to see what’s in there. There could be a credit card, or $100 bill for a $48.25 bill. But even still they shouldn’t look in there until they have reached the register. That too shows a great lack of professionalism.

I will usually deduct 5% off the tip total for the proverbial, “do you need change?” It’s hard to believe that wait staffs of many restaurants are not instructed with the use of good quality manners.

Another classic mistake phrase used is, “Can I take that plate for you?” I always think to myself, “Am I supposed to take the plate to the kitchen?” … As I look at my plate and there is not an ounce or a one morsel of food on my plate and the waiter is asking to take my plate. I think that there is fine line for this situation, but a great waiter will instinctively know when is the perfect time to take a patron’s plate.

May I suggest to restaurant owners, servers and wait-staffers that you could eliminate having to ask, to take, an individuals plate by having people order dessert when ordering their meal. You will make more money. Your tips will be higher. Your customers will be happier. After all the best time to get to someone’s wallet is by getting to him or her when they’re still hungry.

Things that really make my visit to a restaurant enjoyable are, courteous and polite staffers who provide exceptional service. Filling water glasses before they are empty. Paying very close attention to specific requests and fulfilling the requests without any negativity. I really enjoy it when a waitress or waiter has gone far and above the call of duty for a guest. I have paid as much as a 50% tip for exceptional service. Simply because the followed the rules of common etiquette. Without trying to put their spin on it.

So when the money walks through the door (money=customers) learn how to get all you can by simplifying your approach. Always use please and thank you. Never use the phrases No problem or you are welcome. Please and thank you are the only to needed to serve. Opening greetings should be something like, good evening. Good morning, good afternoon. Not hi guys, or what’s up folks or even hi boss. Good (what ever part of the day it is) followed by how are you, and how many will be dining with you?

Can I help You? No Problem.

When did, “can I help you?” be come the new hello?
And when did, “no problem”, become the new thank you?

Ever go down to your favorite retail store and spend hundreds of dollars and find yourself saying “thank you”, only to receive the response of, “no problem”?

Why exactly is it a “problem” that you spent a few hundred dollars? The clerk should respond by saying; thank you. Not your welcome or no problem, the line should be and has always been, thank you. After all it’s the person receiving the money that should say thank you. It should be the first thing said. Even if a customer says “thank you” the money taker should respond “thank you” also.

It could make you wonder … is it a problem that they are in business? Or that he/she’s job could be a problem. It’s no problem at all. So why mention it? The first and only response should be started and ended with Thank you. You’ll be surprised at how many more smiles you will get when you say “thank you” verses the proverbial “no problem”.

As for the greeting, “can I help you?” It could probably be the number one turn off of all time. Think about when you’ve been asked if you need help … you’ve probably quickly responded, “No, I don’t need help”. But if asked how you were, or greeted with hello, you might just start a conversation with that person. Try using a less confrontational greeting, like one that would you use to address friends or family … a hello, that would make anyone feel welcome.

Being nice is a very profitable way of life. You never really know how what you say will affect someone. It will be a memorable experience either way.
It can either help or haunt you.