House I saw on way dt to see tree lighting.

Black Friday/Weekend Deals I find noteworthy – will continually be updated

APPLE/at&t

- offering 1 month upgrade advance on iPhones – see JB @ Washington Square at&t store. He will be there Friday 6-3 & Saturday 9-6.

MACMALL

- offering HUGE discounts on all Apple products

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Happy Thanksgiving, what I am thankful for, & some Thanksgiving Humor

I am thankful for:

• Matt
• my wonderful family
• friends
• my career
• my clients
• the fact business & the economy is picking up
• our housemate Jen & her dog Mia
• my condo finally being rented!
• good health
• living in the NW
• PABA
• Q Center
• HMBA
• My Subaru
• having a wood stove in our room
• the fact I can upgrade my iPhone to the 3GS tomorrow
• Craigslist (for selling my old iPhone at a profit
• rain
• snow
• Netflix
• surround sound
• Apple & Steve Jobs

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The tree is raised. Not sure why this post didn’t go through earlier.

www.coreykaster.com

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Cutting the tree. Timberrrr!

Seeing red over Palin parody – Uneducated fans buy wrong book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: 11:08 AM, November 23, 2009

Posted: 1:19 AM, November 23, 2009

Via NY Post

A parody of Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue: An American Life” has been causing huge confusion — forcing Palin’s publishers HarperCollins to take out ads to direct buyers to the official version.

The rival book, “Going Rouge: An American Nightmare,” was released on the same day as Palin’s memoir and features an almost identical cover.

Colin Robinson, co-publisher of the book, compiled by Nation magazine staffers Betsy Reed and Richard Kim, told Page Six: “We have been contacted by numerous media outlets across the country asking for interviews with Sarah Palin, or companies offering security for her while on tour.

UPI

“One Web site not only thought we were Ms. Palin’s publishers but called the book ‘Going Rough.’

“We’ve noticed that someone, presumably HarperCollins, has been buying ads on Google redirecting people looking for ‘Going Rouge’ to ‘Going Rogue,’ which seems very unsporting of them.”

Victims of the “Rogue”/”Rouge” saga include CNN’s Political Ticker, which quoted Obama adviser David Axelrod saying he’d be borrowing Obama campaign manager David Plouffe’s copy of “Going Rouge.”

USA Today’s section The Oval wrongly posted the cover of “Going Rouge” with a review of Palin’s book. It has since corrected the confusion with the statement: “Erratum: An earlier posting featured the photo of a different Sarah Palin book. The Oval regrets the error.” Last week, Fox News Channel apologized for showing the cover of the takedown book while discussing Palin’s memoir.

Robinson added: “We are sure that many people who mistakenly bought our book will have been pleasantly surprised. You learn more about the real Palin in our version.”

HarperCollins did not respond to calls and e-mails for comment.

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How to Stop Saying, I Can’t, and Start Saying, I Can

Posted by Layne Schmidt via Good News Network

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Do you ever wonder where it came from, this tendency to argue for your limitations? We talk ourselves out of trying something new because we assume it won’t turn out well.

Personally, I don’t have a clue about when my habit started, but the cool thing is, I have begun to turn it around.

I’m beginning with me, but have started a quest to help more people to believe in the limitlessness of their own abilities. For me, the goal is to do this without motivation or willpower. This is not about mind over matter this is about changing a belief.

If you think you can do a thing,

or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.

~ Henry Ford

This is about being conscious whenever I enter a new situation and immediately begin talking myself out of it. It sounds something like this: “I’m not good at those types of things,” “I can’t do that,” “that won’t work,” “that’s too difficult,” or “it will never happen.”

Have you ever used those phrases? I doubt I’m alone here.

I find these beliefs cropping up most whenever anything mechanical is broken. I just assume that I can’t fix it — but that’s changing.

The Shift

The shift began a few years ago when I first moved out to the country. My washer stopped working and I didn’t own a truck to take it to the city for repairs, so I called the manufacturer’s toll-free number and explained my predicament. The repair guy thought it was likely a faulty fuse.

I asked if he’d be willing to walk me through it and he did. First I had to pull out the little drawer where you pour in the soap, I had to find a little release button so it simply popped out of its holder. When I got the drawer out it exposed 4 little screws that I had to un-do. Then I was to pop open the front loader door (which meant first finding the emergency release lever in another panel) and once the door was open I had to unscrew 3 big bolts that loosened the front panel from the drum. Then I had to pull another panel off the very bottom, unscrew 2 more little fasteners. Once that was completed the whole front of the machine opened up and exposed the tube that held the fuse. I opened that and sure enough the fuse was burned out. I replaced the 28 cent part and reversed the instructions to close up the machine and it was as good as new.

The first thing I learned was that if I were designing washing machines I would make getting at the fuses a heck of a lot easier. Truthfully though, the fact that it was a little complicated gave me a unique satisfaction in the accomplishment.

The experience made me a little more sensitive to moments when I find myself in a new or uncomfortable situation and I begin arguing for my limitations.

It’s not so much about accomplishment, as it is about trying. What a shame it is to walk away from something before even making the attempt. The key is to break things down into stages and then take one step at a time. The truth is, most of us can figure out nearly anything (if we’re interested).

Are there any places in your life where you argue for your limitations?

Perhaps you talk yourself out of trying something because you think you will fail or someone might laugh. Have you ever thought about going to the opposite side of those thoughts and consider, “What if I succeed?” Or what if you might inspire someone by trying — like your kids, or your sister?

 

 

I’m learning to flip my initial reaction over in my head and come up with a new statement. For example;

• “I’m afraid,” can become, “Won’t it feel amazing when I get through this.”
• “This is difficult,” can become, “Here’s an opportunity to learn something new.”
• “I’m not smart enough,” gets transformed into, “If I break it down into smaller steps I can usually figure out anything.”

Another thing I’m watching for are sentences (or thoughts) that contain Never or Always. These are great places to do some flipping around. So, statements like:

• “I NEVER win at anything,” becomes, “I’m ready for my luck to change.”
• “I ALWAYS fail,” can turn into “I’m open to recognizing what I’m particularly good at.”
• “I NEVER get promoted,” perhaps switches to, “I’m going to learn to articulate my abilities and contributions and ask to be compensated for them.”

This is about learning to make a case for your capabilities, instead of arguing for your limitations. And honestly, I can’t think of a downside to the transformation. Are you up for it?

If you’d like some help discovering how to develop these skills check out my website below…

Layne Schmidt is the creator of www.RubyShuze.com, an on-line course for individuals who are interested in understanding what is getting in the way of experiencing what they want. With clear pragmatic exercises; RubyShuze will open you up to a whole new way of thinking that will transform your experiences in regards to Health, Love, Money and most importantly, your Sense of Self. All course work is practical and simple and is 100% Guaranteed. RubyShuze.com offers all kinds of additional resources, including a Free Monthly Newsletter.

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Etiquette Awareness — They’re Heeere!

Etiquette Awareness

Tips, suggestions and stories…

Things to keep in mind as you interact with others

There is no denying it — the holidays are upon us. For some, it is a difficult, stressful time of year. For others, it is the season they love best, full of cheer and happiness. For many of us, it is a combination of the two.

Perhaps you have a mother — or mother-in-law — that is difficult to please and your table setting never seems to meet with her approval. Or you feel obligated to participate in the office “Secret Santa” gift exchange but you really don’t want to — or can’t afford to — this year. Holiday cards … you want to send them, you have made a list, you might have even purchased them, but will they actually go out? Then there is that wonderfully perfect friend that always has all gifts purchased and wrapped in advance, the house beautifully decorated and the cookies are homemade and ready for delivery while you still have your Halloween pumpkin rotting on the front door step!

Be kind to yourself this season. Show yourself the same courtesy you extend to others through-out the year. Much as you might ask a colleague for help or advice about a business or work related project, ask a friend or family member for the same when it comes to your holiday preparations. If there is no one to take care of the task, ask yourself, in all seriousness, if it really needs to get done?

Positive interactions with others help reduce stress, whether it is a one minute conversation as you order your coffee or a long lunch with a friend. It’s an opportunity to connect with someone else, share a smile, perhaps a laugh, while it makes the time move along and the day seem brighter.

Reminding you of the importance of smiling may seem trivial and superficial but take a look at the expressions of those around you; how many could be improved by smiling? It is a simple thing that can change someone’s attitude instantly.

Remember…

While my focus is primarily on business etiquette, I am also well versed in matters of social etiquette. If I may answer any questions for you or be of any assistance during this hectic but enjoyable time of year, please feel free to contact me.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

Please feel free to send me any of your

etiquette or customer service questions or stories!

Previous editions of Etiquette Awareness

may now be viewed at my website,

www.jodiblackwood.com

Jodi Blackwood

Business Etiquette & Customer Service Specialist

Speaker & Seminar Leader

I help individuals and businesses polish their ability to stand out among their competition.

Visit my website to see what I can do for you!

 

 

“Etiquette is about polishing your approach,

not changing who you are.”

mailto:jodi@jodiblackwood.com

360-798-4912

www.jodiblackwood.com

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Monday Motivator

 

“The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.”

– Henri J. M. Nouwen

Thanksgiving is, without question, my very favorite holiday. Somehow it has escaped the over-commercialization that so many holidays have fallen victim to. It remains a time to enjoy family and friends while pausing to reflect on and appreciate what we have to be thankful for.

Coming up to it has been particularly fun for me this year. For some reason, in this past month or so the subject of keeping a gratitude journal has come up in several different areas of my life. I’ve had the opportunity to discuss my experience of keeping a gratitude journal and what it has done to impact my quality of life with a number of people.

Since I like to keep things simple, I have chosen to use a small spiral notebook that I keep handy. I used to make entries every night before going to sleep, although I’m not quite as consistent as I used to be. But, with all this discussion the daily habit may return!

What I have noticed as a result of keeping a gratitude journal:

• I always go to sleep with happy thoughts.
• I began noticing more and more things to be grateful for.
• I could refer to my notebook when I was having a difficult day and it changed my attitude very quickly.
• It was fun to see who showed up in it regularly and share that with them.
• After a while, I found that I was just naturally feeling grateful and I didn’t have to look for things to put on my list.

So, I invite you to give it a try. It’s a wonderful practice that will impact you more than you imagine.

And, I realize you may not want to commit to a regular journal. If not, how about committing to writing down 10 or 20 things to recognize on Thanksgiving Day? Take some time to reflect and, if you want it to take on even more value, share those things with others.

Wishing you many things to be thankful for and a joyful holiday–

Cheri

Cheri Fredrickson, CPC

Small Business Coach

Reiki Master/Teacher

503-970-1973

www.cherifredrickson.com

 

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Wells Fargo on MLK has a Police Only parking spot, yet no barriers for tellers.