It is official! I have now joined the ranks of the small business owner, and I hope that I can live up to the label of being the backbone of this amazing country of ours. Very Needful Things LLC is now open and operating in Auburn, Indiana.
I have written at some length about the many many many hurdles that are thrown in the path of someone crazy/ determined enough to open their own business. I think that every state should open a department that has the sole purpose of supporting small businesses. This department could help create a road map to guide us hardy fools through the labyrinth of hoops and red tape that is necessary to open your doors to the paying public.
On other news, I see that the urine stream media is still trying to sell me on 9.1% unemployment. As my Father would have said, don't pee on my feet and tell me it is raining. Everywhere I look, I see someone who is either unemployed or underemployed. I also see plenty of people who are no longer counted in the unemployed statistic because they have run out of benefits. That seems to me like not counting a crime that ended in death as a murder, simply because the person did not die straight away.
Barack Hussein Sotero Obama is not the answer. He is the problem. Ronald Reagan (one of my heroes) famously asked people if they were better off now than they were four years ago and the only people foolish enough to give Carter their electoral votes lived in Georgia.
November,2012 is right around the corner. Actively help make sure that B.O. is a one trick pony. You'll thank me later.
And if you get the chance to stop by my store, make sure and say hello.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Happy Memorial Day
I had a Father in Law. He was fairly useless on most things. He feigned a break down so that his wife could support him for a while, and I don't think that I ever saw him do actual work in the 13 years that I knew him. He had cataract surgery several years before he died, and the doctor advised him not to pick up anything heavier than 10 pounds for a few days. He never picked up anything again. Like I said, fairly useless.
One of the biggest things he was wrong about, and their were so very many, was our Armed Services. His defining moment in life was making sure that he didn't have to go to Viet Nam. He had invested so much time in weaseling out of his military obligation to the United States that it stayed with him for the rest of his days. All things in his life were defined by that huge fear.
I, on the other hand, think that the reason we are the greatest country on God's green earth, is because of the brave men and women who serve our country, even though so many people do not appreciate it. There is no calling in sick when you are in the military. You do not get the option of quitting.
I have four brothers who served in one branch of service or another. Two retired from active duty, one almost did and one of my brothers did not. None of them regretted the time and the opportunities that were afforded them by their military service.
I cannot thank them and the other service members I have had the privilege of knowing, enough. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your families have made. Thank you for keeping my family safe so many times. Thank you for doing a wonderful job in spite of those that don't or won't appreciate you. Thank you and God bless.
So if you know someone who is serving or has served, go shake their hand and and say thank you. You may not have any idea what they went through so that you would not have to go through it yourself. You'll thank me later.
One of the biggest things he was wrong about, and their were so very many, was our Armed Services. His defining moment in life was making sure that he didn't have to go to Viet Nam. He had invested so much time in weaseling out of his military obligation to the United States that it stayed with him for the rest of his days. All things in his life were defined by that huge fear.
I, on the other hand, think that the reason we are the greatest country on God's green earth, is because of the brave men and women who serve our country, even though so many people do not appreciate it. There is no calling in sick when you are in the military. You do not get the option of quitting.
I have four brothers who served in one branch of service or another. Two retired from active duty, one almost did and one of my brothers did not. None of them regretted the time and the opportunities that were afforded them by their military service.
I cannot thank them and the other service members I have had the privilege of knowing, enough. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your families have made. Thank you for keeping my family safe so many times. Thank you for doing a wonderful job in spite of those that don't or won't appreciate you. Thank you and God bless.
So if you know someone who is serving or has served, go shake their hand and and say thank you. You may not have any idea what they went through so that you would not have to go through it yourself. You'll thank me later.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Way to Go, Barry!
When B.O. got his Nobel Prize for breathing, it devalued the prize forever. When I think of the prize, I think of people like Nelson Mandela. This is a gentleman who was locked away in prison for questioning the racial inequality in South Africa. Mr. Mandela embodies every quality that we as humans should aim for. His wife, not so much.
B.O.'s prize, on the other hand, was simply a repudiation of the United States, a give away to help the liberals feel better about themselves.Please keep in mind that Joseph Stalin was nominated twice for this prize. That is some company Barry keeps, isn't it?
I hope that B.O. went home and polished his symbolic trophy after effectively chucking the best ally we have in the middle east under the proverbial bus. Suggesting that Israel retreat to its former border is an insult of the highest order to our one true and constant ally in the middle east. Hamas is not interested in peace in the middle east until Israel has been effectively wiped off the map. They do not want a peaceful accord, they want victory. For B.O. to think any differently not only shows his ignorance, it shows his bias and naivety. This is more proof that B.O. is simply unsuited to the job at hand. His overwhelming affection for all things Muslim cannot be denied by any sane person.
His agenda is dangerous and will take years to fix after he has gone home to where ever it turns out he calls home. November 2012 cannot come soon enough. For us, or the free world. I'm doing what I can to make sure he isn't elected in 2012. Are you? Sign up to hand out flyers, knock on doors and get the conservative vote out. B.O. needs to go. There, I just gave them a slogan to use, and the powers that be may use it with my compliments. Just help defeat the biggest threat to the American way of life since the1930's. You can than me later.
B.O.'s prize, on the other hand, was simply a repudiation of the United States, a give away to help the liberals feel better about themselves.Please keep in mind that Joseph Stalin was nominated twice for this prize. That is some company Barry keeps, isn't it?
I hope that B.O. went home and polished his symbolic trophy after effectively chucking the best ally we have in the middle east under the proverbial bus. Suggesting that Israel retreat to its former border is an insult of the highest order to our one true and constant ally in the middle east. Hamas is not interested in peace in the middle east until Israel has been effectively wiped off the map. They do not want a peaceful accord, they want victory. For B.O. to think any differently not only shows his ignorance, it shows his bias and naivety. This is more proof that B.O. is simply unsuited to the job at hand. His overwhelming affection for all things Muslim cannot be denied by any sane person.
His agenda is dangerous and will take years to fix after he has gone home to where ever it turns out he calls home. November 2012 cannot come soon enough. For us, or the free world. I'm doing what I can to make sure he isn't elected in 2012. Are you? Sign up to hand out flyers, knock on doors and get the conservative vote out. B.O. needs to go. There, I just gave them a slogan to use, and the powers that be may use it with my compliments. Just help defeat the biggest threat to the American way of life since the1930's. You can than me later.
Monday, May 16, 2011
More Hurdles Than the Olympic Runners
I am still in the process of moving in and opening my resale shop. The move in is complete, I just can't find anything. I got a new electric mower and I am in love. No fumes, to bother my asthma, and it starts with the push of a button and the squeeze of a handle. Nice.
The opening of my store is another story. I am jumping more hurdles than any runner I can think of. I applied for the license to collect sales tax, and my postal carrier in his infinite wisdom did not realize that my business was in existence and did not deliver this vital piece of information to me. Of course, he also mangled my change of address form as I moved to the same house number, different street. I did this once before, believe it or not, and I guess the coincidence has fractured the carrier.
This leads me back to two of my favorite rants, the Post Office, and moving in general. First, the move: I am a peaceable person, contrary to the opinion of one stupid friend of mine. The only thing that I ask of anyone is just let me be. Simple enough, no? No, it isn't. I have a neighbor with a biting dog. I have been bitten by this dog twice. Both times left bruises, but luckily I was wearing fleece and thick socks, so only once did it break the skin. I just want the dog to quit biting me, not such a difficult request, in my opinion. But because I have twice reported this biting dog, my stupid friend thinks that I am being a bad neighbor.
I asked the police if they could be made to either a) fix the screen door that doesn't close and lets the dog run out, or b) put a door on the screen porch that would stop the dog from being able to clear the porch, run out to the sidewalk and bite me. This officer didn't have an answer to either one. My tax dollars at work, yes?
The second irritation has to do with the United States Post Office. I do not know what the letter carriers are paid, but it is too much. I put in a change of address online over a month ago. It wasn't processed. I filled out a paper one two weeks ago. The genius who grabs my mail, changed the address on it to go to my OLD address without bothering to see if this was in fact the correct address. Two calls later, I am still waiting on my mail to come to my new address, not my old one. Didn't seem that hard when I started. Silly me. So having excoriated my government over two different departments, I will keep making calls and trying to find answers, if I find one for you, you can thank me later.
The opening of my store is another story. I am jumping more hurdles than any runner I can think of. I applied for the license to collect sales tax, and my postal carrier in his infinite wisdom did not realize that my business was in existence and did not deliver this vital piece of information to me. Of course, he also mangled my change of address form as I moved to the same house number, different street. I did this once before, believe it or not, and I guess the coincidence has fractured the carrier.
This leads me back to two of my favorite rants, the Post Office, and moving in general. First, the move: I am a peaceable person, contrary to the opinion of one stupid friend of mine. The only thing that I ask of anyone is just let me be. Simple enough, no? No, it isn't. I have a neighbor with a biting dog. I have been bitten by this dog twice. Both times left bruises, but luckily I was wearing fleece and thick socks, so only once did it break the skin. I just want the dog to quit biting me, not such a difficult request, in my opinion. But because I have twice reported this biting dog, my stupid friend thinks that I am being a bad neighbor.
I asked the police if they could be made to either a) fix the screen door that doesn't close and lets the dog run out, or b) put a door on the screen porch that would stop the dog from being able to clear the porch, run out to the sidewalk and bite me. This officer didn't have an answer to either one. My tax dollars at work, yes?
The second irritation has to do with the United States Post Office. I do not know what the letter carriers are paid, but it is too much. I put in a change of address online over a month ago. It wasn't processed. I filled out a paper one two weeks ago. The genius who grabs my mail, changed the address on it to go to my OLD address without bothering to see if this was in fact the correct address. Two calls later, I am still waiting on my mail to come to my new address, not my old one. Didn't seem that hard when I started. Silly me. So having excoriated my government over two different departments, I will keep making calls and trying to find answers, if I find one for you, you can thank me later.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Amazing What You Find When You Look
I read through a lot of comments and found a little more faith in humanity. I also found a nut job or two, but that is to be expected. I don't go to Walmart anymore unless I am in dire straights, or need a specific item. , Having shaken the dust of Walmart off my shoes,the last thing that I want to do is help them out much. I will say a few things about some of the comments I received.
I had a CSM complain because she didn't like my observations about standing in line for ten minutes to buy a package of hotdog buns. I would respond by telling her that Dee, a CSM in a local Walmart, can't decide between bratwurst and burgers. She knows that everyone likes burgers, but she is sick of them. Why do I know this? Because Dee didn't want to move the customers out of the store until after she finished her moving recital of what was on the menu. I like to cook as much as the next person, but why do I always find the dinner conversations?
Another case in point was brought to my attention. There is a new member of management whose sole talent for the job seems to be lasting over fifteen years. I got three emails about her, then when I went in to see (and purchase the aforementioned hot dog buns) she was standing there watching three other people work. Some things never change.
If you need paint mixed after six o'clock, wait until the next day. I had to walk the associate through the process, then explain to them how to cut a key. If you are waiting on a member of management, that will be a big chunk of your life that you will never see again. I mean it.
I appreciate all the funny things that were said about the anti walmart sites, also. Doug: I agree with you one hundred percent about the I.Q. range. You are a clever man.
I am still unpacking, and still hoping to be moving forward. Hope you all had a great day, and thank you all for the comments and encouragement. If I made even one of you laugh, you can thank me later.
I had a CSM complain because she didn't like my observations about standing in line for ten minutes to buy a package of hotdog buns. I would respond by telling her that Dee, a CSM in a local Walmart, can't decide between bratwurst and burgers. She knows that everyone likes burgers, but she is sick of them. Why do I know this? Because Dee didn't want to move the customers out of the store until after she finished her moving recital of what was on the menu. I like to cook as much as the next person, but why do I always find the dinner conversations?
Another case in point was brought to my attention. There is a new member of management whose sole talent for the job seems to be lasting over fifteen years. I got three emails about her, then when I went in to see (and purchase the aforementioned hot dog buns) she was standing there watching three other people work. Some things never change.
If you need paint mixed after six o'clock, wait until the next day. I had to walk the associate through the process, then explain to them how to cut a key. If you are waiting on a member of management, that will be a big chunk of your life that you will never see again. I mean it.
I appreciate all the funny things that were said about the anti walmart sites, also. Doug: I agree with you one hundred percent about the I.Q. range. You are a clever man.
I am still unpacking, and still hoping to be moving forward. Hope you all had a great day, and thank you all for the comments and encouragement. If I made even one of you laugh, you can thank me later.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Inching Closer
I am still on track to open my little vertebrae that is the backbone of this great country of ours. I am looking for televisions, keep your fingers crossed or we'll open without them. And because I am a sadist, I have also moved in to my own home in the last week. I am not the most organized person in the first place, now I am a scattered mess.
While I was registering for all the things that a homeowner must register for in this little tiny speck of country, I started downstairs at the courthouse. I was in the wrong place. I went next door, then upstairs, then downstairs then finally upstairs one last time. Cardio. Oh yeah. Is there a reason that the four offices couldn't be lined up side by side? None that I can find. Of course, they had to put down their coffee and stop their discussions to help. Ah... the difficult life of the public servant. As I stood waiting and waiting and waiting to be helped, I thought about the wonderful benefits the public employee gets while I pay out of an orifice for medical coverage.
I left the courthouse very irritated and wondered, again, why I couldn't do all of the things that I did online. I wondered why it takes four people to hold up a counter. I wondered why there is a surplus of room on the other side of the counter while I waited in a cramped, tiny space that snaked out the door into a hallway.
Our local government is not responsive to us, and we should demand better value for our money. Why do they get such stupendous benefits? Why did B.O. exempt so many of them from his hideous obamacare? I'll keep looking for answers. You can thank me later.
While I was registering for all the things that a homeowner must register for in this little tiny speck of country, I started downstairs at the courthouse. I was in the wrong place. I went next door, then upstairs, then downstairs then finally upstairs one last time. Cardio. Oh yeah. Is there a reason that the four offices couldn't be lined up side by side? None that I can find. Of course, they had to put down their coffee and stop their discussions to help. Ah... the difficult life of the public servant. As I stood waiting and waiting and waiting to be helped, I thought about the wonderful benefits the public employee gets while I pay out of an orifice for medical coverage.
I left the courthouse very irritated and wondered, again, why I couldn't do all of the things that I did online. I wondered why it takes four people to hold up a counter. I wondered why there is a surplus of room on the other side of the counter while I waited in a cramped, tiny space that snaked out the door into a hallway.
Our local government is not responsive to us, and we should demand better value for our money. Why do they get such stupendous benefits? Why did B.O. exempt so many of them from his hideous obamacare? I'll keep looking for answers. You can thank me later.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Broken Backbone of America
I listened with a fair amount of attention to B.O.'s recitation about the need for small businesses to flourish in our country, as they are the backbone of this great nation. http://politics.mync.com/2009/03/full-text-obamas-speech-to-small-business-owners/ Unfortunately, he was pretty short on everything except flowery words. I have decided to open a resale shop, and if everything goes well, I will be open for business on May 16th. Keep your fingers crossed.
Since the day I decided to open my place, I have been following the maze of applications and permits that are required to be in business legally. First I had to find the right property. That is a tricky enough maneuver, as retail property has not heard about the market crash. Maybe that explains the dozens of empty retail locations in my area. It's possible, right? So anyway, after calculating how much square footage I would need, I had to begin the sticker shock of looking at over priced locations in under trafficked areas. Good times. I found a wonderful spot, and now I get the joy of jumping every hurdle known to man as I wander through the maze of regulations. If B.O. were truly serious about helping small business owners, he would keep his "credits" and streamline the process for opening a business. I'll keep you posted on my progress, if you manage to learn from my mistakes, you an thank me later.
Since the day I decided to open my place, I have been following the maze of applications and permits that are required to be in business legally. First I had to find the right property. That is a tricky enough maneuver, as retail property has not heard about the market crash. Maybe that explains the dozens of empty retail locations in my area. It's possible, right? So anyway, after calculating how much square footage I would need, I had to begin the sticker shock of looking at over priced locations in under trafficked areas. Good times. I found a wonderful spot, and now I get the joy of jumping every hurdle known to man as I wander through the maze of regulations. If B.O. were truly serious about helping small business owners, he would keep his "credits" and streamline the process for opening a business. I'll keep you posted on my progress, if you manage to learn from my mistakes, you an thank me later.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Goose that Quit Laying Golden Eggs
I keep reading main stream media (or as I am coming to think of them-Urine Stream Media or USM) tell me that I must pay more taxes. They repeat B O's talking points and fret over the notion that rich people are not doing their fair share. Of course, rich for them is anyone making a decent wage, but I digress. George Stephanopolis, Katie Couric, and the whole Hee Haw gang are scared that I may not be giving enough of my wealth to those who do not have wealth. Riiiiight.
The idea that if you take more from the people who are creating jobs to pay for the things that you have given to other people is lunacy at its finest. In what alternate universe will people work harder, knowing that all of the sweat and labor from their work is going to pay for the benefits of someone else? Be it Obamacare(unless of course you are one of the lucky thousands of Union members or others that B O has given a get out of paying free card to) or anyone else.
Let me tell you one of my favorite stories when I was growing up. A man and woman (think government) discover a golden egg(think taxes) when they are collecting from their coop. They marvel over it then set out to discover which goose(think taxpayer) is giving them this marvelous egg. They watch carefully and identify the goose. They collect eggs from this goose for quite a while, buying all the things that they always dreamed of having. (Entitlement programs, anyone?) One day, the farmer(or every liberal I have ever met) has an idea. He says to his wife(the general public), "Why should we wait everyday for just one egg? Surely that goose is chock full of gold. If we butcher her, we can have all the gold right now." (Or if we tax the wealthier, we can pay for everything!) So they butchered the goose(still the taxpayer) and discovered that the gold was not inside the goose, but something she created everyday through very hard work. The farmer and his wife were left with nothing, and had to sell all the things that they had bought, just to live.The End. And if we don't get our financial house in order, it'll be the end of us as the great nation on earth, also. Think about it. you'll thank me later
The idea that if you take more from the people who are creating jobs to pay for the things that you have given to other people is lunacy at its finest. In what alternate universe will people work harder, knowing that all of the sweat and labor from their work is going to pay for the benefits of someone else? Be it Obamacare(unless of course you are one of the lucky thousands of Union members or others that B O has given a get out of paying free card to) or anyone else.
Let me tell you one of my favorite stories when I was growing up. A man and woman (think government) discover a golden egg(think taxes) when they are collecting from their coop. They marvel over it then set out to discover which goose(think taxpayer) is giving them this marvelous egg. They watch carefully and identify the goose. They collect eggs from this goose for quite a while, buying all the things that they always dreamed of having. (Entitlement programs, anyone?) One day, the farmer(or every liberal I have ever met) has an idea. He says to his wife(the general public), "Why should we wait everyday for just one egg? Surely that goose is chock full of gold. If we butcher her, we can have all the gold right now." (Or if we tax the wealthier, we can pay for everything!) So they butchered the goose(still the taxpayer) and discovered that the gold was not inside the goose, but something she created everyday through very hard work. The farmer and his wife were left with nothing, and had to sell all the things that they had bought, just to live.The End. And if we don't get our financial house in order, it'll be the end of us as the great nation on earth, also. Think about it. you'll thank me later
Monday, April 4, 2011
Please Go Away Now
I have been working on a list of people that I am so very tired of seeing on my computer day after day after day.
Here is a working list, I will add more as they occur to me.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Never has one person gotten so much mileage from being a home wrecking freak. I didn't really think much of her when she ran off with Billy Bob Thornton. Her stock went down further and further with each of her new escapades. The blood vials were creepy, the dry humping her brother,eew, the chick she was involved with, the list is endless. Then she met an actually married man, and started collecting children. Now to be fair, she had already acquired one when she broke up her current lover's marriage; but since then, she has added children exponentially. I have a good friend who, along with her husband have been trying to adopt a child for over eight years. I am amazed that there must be some five and dime one stop celebrity adoption place that movie stars and famous people can pop in and buy a healthy new born.
Another person I would like to see just go away is Kate Gosselin. If she would take her ex husband with her, that would be swell. I don't care if she is awful, I don't care if she is dating. I think the husband might be a jackass, but I don't really care about that either. Would someone please tell the incessant media that follows her around that her five minutes are up?
So there's two of the more pressing irritations I have. When I think of others, I'll let you know and you can thank me later
Here is a working list, I will add more as they occur to me.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Never has one person gotten so much mileage from being a home wrecking freak. I didn't really think much of her when she ran off with Billy Bob Thornton. Her stock went down further and further with each of her new escapades. The blood vials were creepy, the dry humping her brother,eew, the chick she was involved with, the list is endless. Then she met an actually married man, and started collecting children. Now to be fair, she had already acquired one when she broke up her current lover's marriage; but since then, she has added children exponentially. I have a good friend who, along with her husband have been trying to adopt a child for over eight years. I am amazed that there must be some five and dime one stop celebrity adoption place that movie stars and famous people can pop in and buy a healthy new born.
Another person I would like to see just go away is Kate Gosselin. If she would take her ex husband with her, that would be swell. I don't care if she is awful, I don't care if she is dating. I think the husband might be a jackass, but I don't really care about that either. Would someone please tell the incessant media that follows her around that her five minutes are up?
So there's two of the more pressing irritations I have. When I think of others, I'll let you know and you can thank me later
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Family Mooches
Every family has that person that will not stand on their feet, don't they? The poor poor me victim who can never catch a break. Sad isn't it? It breaks your heart to think of them without food or shelter for even one night and that is what they are counting on. I read an interesting article by John Stossell about panhandlers and the money they get. A dedicated beggar can receive over one hundred dollars a day for simple standing in one location and holding a pathetic sign. (Will work for food is the preferred wording.) I have taken them at their word and given a guy a meal and ten bucks after he changed my flat tire.
But how does one manage the family mooch? What do you do with the member of your family who receives not only a home for herself, but a another home for her oldest child? Then after giving this home to her ex husband and his third or fourth wife, what are you supposed to say when this family member has the audacity to tell you that you are spoiled because you have an apartment of your own that you pay for? I can tell you what I wanted to say, but instead I will point out the easier path to calm:
1) Realize that this moocher is going to be that way forever. Seriously.
2) Realize that nothing you say or do will dissipate the jealousy and envy that this moocher feels toward you.
3) Cut your losses. Walk away.
See that? Three easy steps. Thanks to technology, you can remove this person from your phone directory, and that along with caller ID ensures that you will never have to speak to this person again. Once you have removed them from your social media as well (Facebook, yahoo, and twitter, etc.) you are well on your way to a drama free life.
Cut your losses, you'll thank me later.
But how does one manage the family mooch? What do you do with the member of your family who receives not only a home for herself, but a another home for her oldest child? Then after giving this home to her ex husband and his third or fourth wife, what are you supposed to say when this family member has the audacity to tell you that you are spoiled because you have an apartment of your own that you pay for? I can tell you what I wanted to say, but instead I will point out the easier path to calm:
1) Realize that this moocher is going to be that way forever. Seriously.
2) Realize that nothing you say or do will dissipate the jealousy and envy that this moocher feels toward you.
3) Cut your losses. Walk away.
See that? Three easy steps. Thanks to technology, you can remove this person from your phone directory, and that along with caller ID ensures that you will never have to speak to this person again. Once you have removed them from your social media as well (Facebook, yahoo, and twitter, etc.) you are well on your way to a drama free life.
Cut your losses, you'll thank me later.
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