In Training

Waitin' on a Woman

I've been a Brad Paisley fan pretty much since he came on the music scene. I love the emotion that he brings to his songs. This is one of his newest singles - Waitin' on a Woman. Even if you're not a country fan, give it a try, it's beautiful.

It's a great Sunday video :o)

Put Heather on, you're not fooling anyone!

We finally got my husband set up with a cell phone of his own about a month ago. Since then he's received a few texts for a person named Heather who obviously had his number before he did. No big deal, right?

Last night we're lying in bed talking when his phone rings. He picks it up...
Royal: Hello.
Loud chick that sounds about 20: Is Heather there?
Royal: No, I think you have the wrong number.
Loud Chick: No I don't, get Heather!
R: No, you really have the wrong number!
LC: Ugh.

She hangs up. She calls right back...
R: Hello.
LC: Give the phone to Heather!
R: What number are you trying to call?
LC: This number!
R: What number are you tryin--
LC: That accent isn't fooling anyone, have Heather to call me.

She hangs up again. She waits a few minutes and then calls back... I pick up the phone.

Me: Hello.
LC: Why are you letting that guy mess with your phone?!
Me: Because you have the WRONG NUMBER!
LC: But... I... no...
Me: You were just talking to my husband Royal, I am Kath, this is the wrong number.
LC: Wow I just spoke to her on this number 30 minutes ago!
Me: No. What number were you trying to call?!
LC: [states our number] She must have changed it...
Me: We got this number about a month ago and this is not the first time this has happened, it's okay.
LC: Tell that guy I'm sorry I messed with him, I thought he was a friend of ours.
Me: That's okay, bye.

Royal's reaction?

I can't believe my accent isn't convincing!!

Food Blogs!

As you may have noticed there is a new section on my sidebar -- The Food, Yum! I've been reading some of these blogs for a while and finally decided to include them. I'm no cook or baker, but man I love food and I heart photos of food. I've even taken some of my own on occasion! You can call me crazy, but those on The Food, Yum section won't!!

Matter of fact, here's a few I've taken over the years:

Lovely meat pie, England 2005


Perfect Full Breakfast, Scotland 2007


Mom's homemade tacos, Texas 2006


Yummy Eggs Benedict, San Antonio, Texas 2008

I know they aren't as pretty as the photos on the actual foodie blogs, but I love taking and having them! Y'all go check out the sidebar :o)

When a real person calls you, be NICE.

I work at a vehicle dealership. I make follow-up calls :
- if you speak to a salesman, that makes you a prospect and I call to make sure you're satisfied (many times a person will tell me something that they didn't tell their salesman)
- if you purchased a vehicle or brought one in for service, I call to make sure that you're completely satisfied and to remind you about the survey you'll get in the mail

These calls take less than two minutes usually and I only call if you've contacted our dealership in some way first. I make no cold calls, no other sales calls. I'm not a salesperson. Remember, YOU contacted US.

Now, I have years of experience working with the public - four years at a Chamber of Commerce, another as a wholesale administrator, several months planning events in Britain - but I've never had so many people be rude so often.

Most of the people I call are just blah. No friendliness, but no real insolence either. I'd say that 80% of the people are like that.
Then there's the definite 10% that are so mean that I have to take a few minutes after their call to just breathe. For example:

Me: Hello! This is Kathy with , how are you doing today?
Mean Man: Fine.
Me: That's great. I was calling to make sure that you are completely satisfied with your new 2008 Dodge?!
MM: It's okay, I guess.
Me: Okay, may I ask, was it not what you expected?
MM: [Angry voice] What do you want me to say?
Me: I just wanted to make sure that you were satisfied with the process and the sale...
MM: [If possible, voice is even more angry] I just said it was okay!
Me: Thank you sir, bye. (Yes I admit, I slammed the phone down, it felt so good)

Seriously, sir, WHY? You should be happy that you have a new truck, most people are. And you know what, I'm not a robot. I sure as hell don't sound like a robot - I am excellent at my job, that's why they hired me. I actually SMILE while I'm talking to you. There's not much that I am good at, but I am GOOD at THIS. Show some respect.

Luckily, there's the other 10% that actually seem happy to speak with me. You wouldn't believe how much this brightens my day. I set the phone back down smiling. You guys are amazing.

Please y'all, when a real person calls you be nice. It doesn't hurt you, it's not a huge effort, and it just might make someone's day better.

UPDATE Another work post here.

Raising a Little American

This should probably not be used as a how-to guide (though it worked for my parents, just sayin').
Royal and I discuss having a little one often. Now is just not the right time for us - we joke that it would be nice to live in the same country first.

One of the great things for us is that we're half n half: half straight up Brit, half crazy American. We get to bring both to raising a child.

That got me thinking...

How do you gently guide a tiny American so that they grow up to be a proud red, white, and blue-r?

1. Music. Must hear plenty of Johnny Horton, Beach Boys, John Phillip Sousa, Charlie Daniels, Louie Armstrong, Lee Greenwood, Buddy Holly, Marty Robbins, Stevie Wonder, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Glenn Miller, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jon Bon Jovi, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Frank Sinatra. There are more, many more...

2. The Olympics must be watched religiously. This not only instills pride in country, but also good sportsmanship. And it's mega exciting!

3. Reading introduced at a young age. Reading for fun! Attached to this should be many, many open conversations at the dinner table about history and current events. Can't know where you are unless you know where you've come from.

4. Exposure to foreign cultures. If not able to travel to the culture then do the next best thing - go to a St. Patrick's Day or a Cinco de Mayo celebration, or a highland games. Just some examples. I'm never as proud of my country as when I see what we're made up of.

5. Familiarity with the military. Send care packages to the troops, volunteer with the USO, etc. Watch the Military channel, but also specifically veteran's and Memorial Day programs. Listen to the marches on the Fourth of July. Treat veterans with respect, always and listen to what they have to say.

I know there's no formula - we wouldn't want there to be. Everybody has their own way and every child their own personality and beliefs. I'm just excited to share what I grew up with, with someone of my own.

Which reminds me...
Thanks Dad & Mom!

The Penguin Colonel

Serious Awww Factor.

Sorry for the not posting, don't know if you noticed but this tiny thing called the Olympics is on!

Girl fight! Royal Marine WAGS prepare to do battle

That's wives-and-girlfriends (WAG) to those who may not know. Some very cool stuff, wish I were there to go at it with them!

THE women who have to tough it out while their Commando husbands, fiancés and boyfriends are putting their lives on the line are planning to show just how tough they can be.
Among them will be friends of Royal Marines who have been wounded or killed in Afghanistan or in training to deploy there. The commando 'WAGs' all met through a support group on the Internet social networking site Facebook.

Now they are planning to tackle the gruelling Royal Marine Commando assault course — seven miles of running, climbing and coping with obstacles and underground tunnels. They aim to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity which supplies medial treatment and physiotherapy for injured soldiers.

....

Since then more have been in contact and now a total of 23 will be taking part in the challenge on Sunday, October 12. They are calling the group Team Essence, made up of Royal Marine wives, girlfriends and fiancés.
“We all met through a support group on Facebook. It is tough having a relationship with someone in the military and you often need some support. Some of us have not even met one another yet.”
They are hoping to raise more than £2,000 for the Help for Heroes charity. Said Gen:
“It is a scary thought, and one we don't like to think about often, but it is of great comfort to us knowing that if the unthinkable were to happen, fantastic organisations such as Help for Heroes would be there to give our other halves the best care possible.
“They help our injured heroes by supporting them through various stages of medical treatments, rehab, physiotherapy, and help to provide them with opportunities that will enable them to rebuild their lives, become as independent as possible and hopefully fulfil their potential again.”

If you have the urge to donate (and who wouldn't?) you can go to their website - plus there is a lot of information on the event, the charity and the Commando Challenge course. Cliche it may be but,

You go girls!