how may I (not) help you?

I was in the biggest store in the world (no names...just guess). I was ready to check out. I had more stuff than was allowed in the express line, so I stood in the regular check out line. Some manager was standing there in a blue shirt (that's how I know she was a manager), holding a walkie-talkie that she wasn't using. My line ground to a halt. She just watched. And watched. And watched. And watched.

Meanwhile, there was an empty cash register in the next aisle. I happened to know there was a cash drawer in it because Walkie-talkie lady locked it when the cashier left.

Walkie-talkie lady watched, and watched. I think you get the picture. This went on for an interminable amount of time. People in line were fidgeting. Some of them were actually getting surly and making rude comments.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Walkie-talkie lady finally opened the other register and asked the next in line to come over to her. She was not particularly nice about it. I happen to be next in line, cane, limp and all. Fortunately, I named it over there. But not before nearly being run down by people from the end of my line practically trampling me. Clearly they saw I was in there. Clearly they knew I was in line. Clearly they saw I was disabled. Clearly they knew they were not next in line. The people behind me in the first line were cursing now! All walkie-talkie lady said to me, with my visible limp, was "Will you please move a little faster sir, or let those people behind you go."

I have this to say about that...

Stuff it walkie-talkie lady!

good food is heaven on earth.

I've decided to write about restaurants. I have decided to do so, not because I have any kind of expertise. In fact, my range of tastes is not all that wide. I am a meat and potatoes sort of guy. I just happen to like well prepared meat and a perfectly cooked potato.

I have another advantage. I have managed to eat in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, most of the Caribbean, all of Western Europe (except Andorra, Spain and Portugal) and Japan. I hate sushi, love chicken teriyaki, hate most fish and think that Cracker Jacks are nutritional.

I had eaten in many places which are lost in my brain since my stroke; however, those memories return to me with the right stimulus. Have a favorite restaurant? Let me know. Maybe I have been there. Maybe I'll go there.

press 1 for a schmuck. press 2 for some other schmuck. press 3 to be ignored

April Fools' Day was four days ago! It's over! Or so one would think. For some companies, where customers are concerned, every day is April Fools' Day. This next, true life story is in the "you just can't believe it" department.

I have decided that I hate corporate America. Nobody answers the phone anymore. Only machines work in the billing department.

I had insurance on my van with one of those online-only insurance companies. my car was stolen, totaled, and the driver was killed. that sucks to begin with. I bought my mother's car because she doesn't drive anymore. it is already insured. so I cancel the insurance on the van in December 2010. They continued billing me. come on. It's April 2011!

I finally got my refund on April 2. Then they billed me again on April 3!

I have spent hours on the telephone and even had to drive to the bank (on my dime no less) to resolve this. we will see if they reimburse me -- and when.

automation is good for business, especially if you don't give a damn about people and don't want to talk to those pesky customers anymore!

welcome to my humble little blog

Hi. Well, welcome to my blog. I've decided to start this blog so that I can keep all my various and sundry projects all in one place. You see, three years ago I had a stroke on the left side of my brain and it really screwed me up... big time. Among many other things, it screwed with my memory. So partly, this is to make up for my crappy memory! Also, despite all the other myriad of things I have done, the one constant is, I have always been a writer. I've been published. Lots. But always business books or in the business press.

I have always harbored a secret passion. I have always wanted to write a novel! So one of my posts-stroke objectives is to do that. that is a work in progress at CyberionaEmpire.blogspot.com. right now, I'm kind of stuck on the major conflict for the first book of the series. If you're interested in science-fiction/fantasy, I invite you to look and chime in if you if you have any brilliant ideas or me ... please!

there are more projects and more blogs, but that's enough for now! You're probably bored reading this anyhow! See you later.