I received the following message from a friend.
"This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have received. There's some mighty fine advice in these words.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older,
their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all
you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
Burton Fletcher
http://www.usamonuments.com/
http://www.valdostamemorials.com/
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Humor: The Elaborate Stone!
Joe's will provided $ 30,000 for an elaborate funeral.
As the last guests departed the affair, his wife, Helen, turned to her oldest friend.
"Well, I'm sure Joe would be pleased," she said. "I'm sure you're right," replied Jody, who lowered her voice and leaned in close.
"How much did this really cost?"
"All of it," said Helen. "Thirty thousand."
"No!" Jody exclaimed. "I mean, it was very nice, but $ 30,000?"
Helen answered. "The funeral was $ 6,500. I donated $ 500 to the church. The wake, food and drinks were another $ 500. The rest went for the memorial stone."
Jody computed quickly. "$22,500 for a memorial stone? My God, how big is it?
"Two and a half carats."
As the last guests departed the affair, his wife, Helen, turned to her oldest friend.
"Well, I'm sure Joe would be pleased," she said. "I'm sure you're right," replied Jody, who lowered her voice and leaned in close.
"How much did this really cost?"
"All of it," said Helen. "Thirty thousand."
"No!" Jody exclaimed. "I mean, it was very nice, but $ 30,000?"
Helen answered. "The funeral was $ 6,500. I donated $ 500 to the church. The wake, food and drinks were another $ 500. The rest went for the memorial stone."
Jody computed quickly. "$22,500 for a memorial stone? My God, how big is it?
"Two and a half carats."
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Ten Suggestions for Getting Along Better with People
I read this list on the Internet and I thought it was worthy of passing along. I hope it causes you to pause and think about your actions.
Ten Suggestions for Getting Along Better with People:
1. Guard your tongue. Say less than you think.
2. Make promises sparingly. Keep them faithfully.
3. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind word.
4. Be interested in others, their pursuits, work, families.
5. Be cheerful. Don't dwell on minor aches and small disappointments.
6. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. Disagree without being disagreeable.
7. Discourage gossip. It's destructive.
8. Be careful of others' feelings.
9. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Live so that nobody will believe them.
10. Don't be anxious about getting credit. Just do your best and be patient.
Here are a couple of other thoughts.
When weighing the fault of others, be careful not to put your thumb on the scale. Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish one's growth without destroying one's roots.
Mark Twain once said "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Burton Fletcher
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Ten Suggestions for Getting Along Better with People:
1. Guard your tongue. Say less than you think.
2. Make promises sparingly. Keep them faithfully.
3. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind word.
4. Be interested in others, their pursuits, work, families.
5. Be cheerful. Don't dwell on minor aches and small disappointments.
6. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. Disagree without being disagreeable.
7. Discourage gossip. It's destructive.
8. Be careful of others' feelings.
9. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Live so that nobody will believe them.
10. Don't be anxious about getting credit. Just do your best and be patient.
Here are a couple of other thoughts.
When weighing the fault of others, be careful not to put your thumb on the scale. Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish one's growth without destroying one's roots.
Mark Twain once said "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Burton Fletcher
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Striving For A Complaint Free Life Is Admirable
I read an online article on January 27, 2007, published by the Los Angeles Times, titled "Quit your whining, if you can."
This lead me to think about the author's discussion relating to a "complaint-free life." Too many folks harp on situations they cannot control and are negative instead of cheerful. Some folks are so engrained in tearing down others that they make their own lives miserable. Can you quit grumbling?
As the article suggests, whining is an addictive behavior for many folks. We have much to be greatful for and we should seek to focus on building relationships in a manner suggested by the article.
The article's author, Stephanie Simon, wrote, "I had resolved to quit grumbling after reading about a challenge presented to the congregation of Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Mo. The Rev. Will Bowen — fed up with folks whining about his choice of worship music — asked his flock of 250 to refrain from complaining, criticizing and gossiping for three weeks.Bowen, 47, is a big fan of self-help programs."
We have all known folks who were addicted to "complaining, criticizing and gossiping" when success is much more likely through positive than negative thinking.
"A few years back, he and his wife erased more than $40,000 in debt by following the financial makeover plan advocated by syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. Lately, Bowen's been hooked on the writings of a fellow Unity minister, Edwene Gaines, who promises prosperity through positive thinking. Gaines proposed the concept of a complaint-free church in her book 'The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity: A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance.'"
Then Bowen came up with a gimmick to make it stick. A former radio-station manager and phonebook ad salesman — he turned to ministry four years ago — Bowen delights in giveaways. Every few weeks, he interrupts his service by distributing small gifts: picture frames, perhaps, or candles or bookmarks. "Doodad Sunday," he calls it.
For the no-complaint sermon last summer, he handed out purple rubber bracelets stamped with the word SPIRIT. (They were intended for school pep rallies, but Bowen figured "spirit" could also signify the spirit of change.)
Bowen told his congregants that they were to switch the bracelet to their other wrist every time they griped or sniped.
Their goal: 21 consecutive days without moving the bracelet. Bowen used a quote from writer Maya Angelou as the campaign slogan: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."
There are different levels of frustratons in our lives from imagined to real and trivial to important. If we allow the insignificant frustrations to dominate our lives, we will just increase our own stress levels.
With the purple bracelet as his guide, Rennack learned to stay serene in the face of setbacks, to listen more and mouth off less. It took him three months, but he made it to 21 days, earning a "Certificate of Happiness" and the chance to hang his well-worn purple bracelet on a plastic tree in the church lobby. So far, 18 members of the congregation have met the challenge.
Many more are still working at it. I slipped up time and again in the early going. I criticized my oldest daughter for (of all things) singing happily at the breakfast table, and dismissed a sculpture at the Denver Art Museum with a disdainful: "That's so ugly!"
Even when I lapsed, I noticed my grumbles were muted.I also noticed that my family was not taking my success well. I was chirpy (and, worse yet, smug about my good cheer) until something irritated me.
Then, I sulked. Instead of coming right out with a critique, I'd give everyone the silent treatment.Our family discussions had always been loving, but spiked with sarcasm, teasing and good-natured grumbling. Now I was censoring every word, and our easy give-and-take suffered.
People deal with life in different ways," psychologist Barbara Held reassured me.
A professor at Bowdoin College in Maine, Held resents what she calls "the tyranny of the positive." In her book "Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching: A 5-Step Guide to Creative Complaining," she urges Americans to drop the pretense that everything is always rosy."Maybe I should start selling 'It's OK to complain' bracelets," she said.
She'd probably sell a bundle. The urge to complain is so universal, it's recently been elevated to an art. Under the coordination of two Helsinki artists, citizens in several cities have created "Complaints Choirs" to sing aloud their grievances about unfaithful lovers, reeking buses, even drunken plumbers.
Bowen dreams of countering such negativity with an army of positive thinkers.He has spent $10,000 in church funds (not that the board would think of complaining) to give away about 70,000 purple bracelets, taking requests through his website, http://www.thecomplaintfreechurch.org/ .
Soldiers in Iraq have put in orders. So have pastors, teachers, drug counselors, Boy Scout leaders. (Perhaps not grasping the concept, one minister returned his batch — with a complaint about the quality.)
But that very moment, Robin Stanley headed her way, carrying an overlooked stack of mailing labels. "We got more," said Stanley, 53.Martin took a deep breath."Yea!" she said, attempting a chipper tone.Bowen came over to check on them. "I'm tired," Stanley told him, adding: "That's not a complaint. Just a statement of fact. I didn't realize what a production this was."Listening, I realized that I may have been taking the complaint-free life too literally.
It wasn't reasonable to suppress every remark or tone of voice that could be construed as a complaint. Even Bowen and his wife stretched the rules a bit. When someone irritated them, they'd remark, "I bet he sure can whistle."
It was an inside joke, a way of saying that even the most aggravating souls have a ray of good in them. It was also, perhaps, a way to vent in code."Everything comes down to the energy you put into it," Bowen said. "If I say calmly, 'I smashed my finger last week and it still hurts,' that's a statement of fact. But if I'm whining, 'Oooh, I hurt my finger! It hurts so bad!' then that's complaining…. And 99% of it is not beneficial."Back home after visiting the church, I put aside my purple bracelet. But I resolved to keep watching my words.When the fourth big storm in a month dumped eight more inches of snow on our neighborhood, I made a point of not starting every conversation with a grumpy "Can you believe this weather?"
Instead, I remarked on the beauty of the white-capped Rockies.I think it gave my neighbors a lift. How could it not? The mountains truly are stunning.Then again, the view only goes so far when you're driving the kids to school on roads rutted with hard-packed snow and ice. It would be great if the county could send a plow. That's not a complaint. Just a statement of fact.
This lead me to think about the author's discussion relating to a "complaint-free life." Too many folks harp on situations they cannot control and are negative instead of cheerful. Some folks are so engrained in tearing down others that they make their own lives miserable. Can you quit grumbling?
As the article suggests, whining is an addictive behavior for many folks. We have much to be greatful for and we should seek to focus on building relationships in a manner suggested by the article.
The article's author, Stephanie Simon, wrote, "I had resolved to quit grumbling after reading about a challenge presented to the congregation of Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Mo. The Rev. Will Bowen — fed up with folks whining about his choice of worship music — asked his flock of 250 to refrain from complaining, criticizing and gossiping for three weeks.Bowen, 47, is a big fan of self-help programs."
We have all known folks who were addicted to "complaining, criticizing and gossiping" when success is much more likely through positive than negative thinking.
"A few years back, he and his wife erased more than $40,000 in debt by following the financial makeover plan advocated by syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. Lately, Bowen's been hooked on the writings of a fellow Unity minister, Edwene Gaines, who promises prosperity through positive thinking. Gaines proposed the concept of a complaint-free church in her book 'The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity: A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance.'"
Then Bowen came up with a gimmick to make it stick. A former radio-station manager and phonebook ad salesman — he turned to ministry four years ago — Bowen delights in giveaways. Every few weeks, he interrupts his service by distributing small gifts: picture frames, perhaps, or candles or bookmarks. "Doodad Sunday," he calls it.
For the no-complaint sermon last summer, he handed out purple rubber bracelets stamped with the word SPIRIT. (They were intended for school pep rallies, but Bowen figured "spirit" could also signify the spirit of change.)
Bowen told his congregants that they were to switch the bracelet to their other wrist every time they griped or sniped.
Their goal: 21 consecutive days without moving the bracelet. Bowen used a quote from writer Maya Angelou as the campaign slogan: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."
There are different levels of frustratons in our lives from imagined to real and trivial to important. If we allow the insignificant frustrations to dominate our lives, we will just increase our own stress levels.
With the purple bracelet as his guide, Rennack learned to stay serene in the face of setbacks, to listen more and mouth off less. It took him three months, but he made it to 21 days, earning a "Certificate of Happiness" and the chance to hang his well-worn purple bracelet on a plastic tree in the church lobby. So far, 18 members of the congregation have met the challenge.
Many more are still working at it. I slipped up time and again in the early going. I criticized my oldest daughter for (of all things) singing happily at the breakfast table, and dismissed a sculpture at the Denver Art Museum with a disdainful: "That's so ugly!"
Even when I lapsed, I noticed my grumbles were muted.I also noticed that my family was not taking my success well. I was chirpy (and, worse yet, smug about my good cheer) until something irritated me.
Then, I sulked. Instead of coming right out with a critique, I'd give everyone the silent treatment.Our family discussions had always been loving, but spiked with sarcasm, teasing and good-natured grumbling. Now I was censoring every word, and our easy give-and-take suffered.
People deal with life in different ways," psychologist Barbara Held reassured me.
A professor at Bowdoin College in Maine, Held resents what she calls "the tyranny of the positive." In her book "Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching: A 5-Step Guide to Creative Complaining," she urges Americans to drop the pretense that everything is always rosy."Maybe I should start selling 'It's OK to complain' bracelets," she said.
She'd probably sell a bundle. The urge to complain is so universal, it's recently been elevated to an art. Under the coordination of two Helsinki artists, citizens in several cities have created "Complaints Choirs" to sing aloud their grievances about unfaithful lovers, reeking buses, even drunken plumbers.
Bowen dreams of countering such negativity with an army of positive thinkers.He has spent $10,000 in church funds (not that the board would think of complaining) to give away about 70,000 purple bracelets, taking requests through his website, http://www.thecomplaintfreechurch.org/ .
Soldiers in Iraq have put in orders. So have pastors, teachers, drug counselors, Boy Scout leaders. (Perhaps not grasping the concept, one minister returned his batch — with a complaint about the quality.)
But that very moment, Robin Stanley headed her way, carrying an overlooked stack of mailing labels. "We got more," said Stanley, 53.Martin took a deep breath."Yea!" she said, attempting a chipper tone.Bowen came over to check on them. "I'm tired," Stanley told him, adding: "That's not a complaint. Just a statement of fact. I didn't realize what a production this was."Listening, I realized that I may have been taking the complaint-free life too literally.
It wasn't reasonable to suppress every remark or tone of voice that could be construed as a complaint. Even Bowen and his wife stretched the rules a bit. When someone irritated them, they'd remark, "I bet he sure can whistle."
It was an inside joke, a way of saying that even the most aggravating souls have a ray of good in them. It was also, perhaps, a way to vent in code."Everything comes down to the energy you put into it," Bowen said. "If I say calmly, 'I smashed my finger last week and it still hurts,' that's a statement of fact. But if I'm whining, 'Oooh, I hurt my finger! It hurts so bad!' then that's complaining…. And 99% of it is not beneficial."Back home after visiting the church, I put aside my purple bracelet. But I resolved to keep watching my words.When the fourth big storm in a month dumped eight more inches of snow on our neighborhood, I made a point of not starting every conversation with a grumpy "Can you believe this weather?"
Instead, I remarked on the beauty of the white-capped Rockies.I think it gave my neighbors a lift. How could it not? The mountains truly are stunning.Then again, the view only goes so far when you're driving the kids to school on roads rutted with hard-packed snow and ice. It would be great if the county could send a plow. That's not a complaint. Just a statement of fact.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Make A Difference, Not A Mess!
I received an email from a gentleman with the thought, "Make a difference, not a mess!"
It would be great if everyone were to follow this principle. Think about your opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Unfortunately, too many people make a mess for themselves and others that will need to be cleaned up. It is all too common that folks who make messes leave them for other people to clean up.
Decades ago, I learned that people would rather point fingers at others without taking responsibility for their own actions. Too many people feel it is better to deny responsibility and shift the blame, than to be accountable for their own actions.
What have you done recently to make a difference! Think about making positive changes in your life and the lives of others. Just do it! After all, it is the right thing to do!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
It would be great if everyone were to follow this principle. Think about your opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Unfortunately, too many people make a mess for themselves and others that will need to be cleaned up. It is all too common that folks who make messes leave them for other people to clean up.
Decades ago, I learned that people would rather point fingers at others without taking responsibility for their own actions. Too many people feel it is better to deny responsibility and shift the blame, than to be accountable for their own actions.
What have you done recently to make a difference! Think about making positive changes in your life and the lives of others. Just do it! After all, it is the right thing to do!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
WD-40
WD-40
Water Displacement #40.
Interesting. . . . . Water Displacement #40.
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.
The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
The workers were so pleased with the product, they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home. The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest, as they say, is history.
It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the "shower door" part, try it It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.
Here are some of the uses: Protects silver from tarnishing. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery. Keeps flies off cows.
Restores and cleans chalkboards.
Removes lipstick stains.
Loosens stubborn zippers.
Untangles jewelry chains.
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
Removes tomato stains from clothing.
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
Keeps scissors working smoothly.
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
Removes splattered grease on stove.
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
Removes all traces of duct tape.
Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers."
The favorite use in the state of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. ****** It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!
Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL
Water Displacement #40.
Interesting. . . . . Water Displacement #40.
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.
The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
The workers were so pleased with the product, they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home. The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest, as they say, is history.
It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the "shower door" part, try it It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.
Here are some of the uses: Protects silver from tarnishing. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery. Keeps flies off cows.
Restores and cleans chalkboards.
Removes lipstick stains.
Loosens stubborn zippers.
Untangles jewelry chains.
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
Removes tomato stains from clothing.
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
Keeps scissors working smoothly.
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
Removes splattered grease on stove.
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
Removes all traces of duct tape.
Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers."
The favorite use in the state of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. ****** It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!
Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL
Humor: Useless Facts
Okay, my friend sent these to me and though they are called "Useless Facts," I think they are pretty interesting. I do not know what number 1 was, but I'm also afraid to ask. Here goes!
2. The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan."
3. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
4. Every time you lick a stamp, you consume 1/10 of a calorie.
5. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
6. Studies show that if a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building it has about thirty percent less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the twentieth floor. It supposedly takes about eight floors for the cat to realize what is occurring, relax and correct itself.
7. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself.
8. The citrus soda 7-UP was created in 1929; '7' was selected after the original 7-ounce containers and 'UP' for the direction of the bubbles.
9. 101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Mulan are the only Disney cartoons where both parents are present and don't die throughout the movie. .
10. A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.
11. 'Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.
12. To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, push your thumbs into its eyeballs - it will let you go instantly.
13. Reindeer like to eat bananas.
14. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver and purple.
15. The word "samba" means "to rub navels together."
16. Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.
17. The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
18. The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II Killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.
19. More people are killed annually by donkeys than airplane crashes.
20. A 'jiffy' is a unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
2. The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan."
3. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
4. Every time you lick a stamp, you consume 1/10 of a calorie.
5. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
6. Studies show that if a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building it has about thirty percent less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the twentieth floor. It supposedly takes about eight floors for the cat to realize what is occurring, relax and correct itself.
7. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself.
8. The citrus soda 7-UP was created in 1929; '7' was selected after the original 7-ounce containers and 'UP' for the direction of the bubbles.
9. 101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Mulan are the only Disney cartoons where both parents are present and don't die throughout the movie. .
10. A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.
11. 'Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.
12. To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, push your thumbs into its eyeballs - it will let you go instantly.
13. Reindeer like to eat bananas.
14. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver and purple.
15. The word "samba" means "to rub navels together."
16. Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.
17. The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
18. The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II Killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.
19. More people are killed annually by donkeys than airplane crashes.
20. A 'jiffy' is a unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Bad Bosses I Have Known....
What is the worst boss you have ever had? I have had several bad bosses and from time to time I have been a less than perfect boss too. Over the years, I learned how to be a very good but sometimes imperfect boss.
I worked for a boss once who would look at his watch when he saw me arrive to work and then he would look up at me. He was so enemy centered that the ultimately was forced out of a high-paying position when his life fragmented.
He could talk the talk, but I'll be damned if he could walk the walk. He was forced out of his employment due to a wide variety of abuses.
This man wore a racial chip on his shoulder. He saw all criticism as racial bias and he acted in often bizarre ways.
When meetings were run, long periods of time would be spent just arguing over the minutes of the previous meeting as the minutes were often manipulated to distort the reality of the process of the management style of this individual.
He was mean and malicious, wasting government resources to constantly spy on his enemies. Without fail, this bad boss sent his secretary by my office 5 minutes before my scheduled departure to make certain I was in my office.
Bad bosses should not hire individuals for the government payroll with whom they are having an affair. A big bussomed woman may make a man happy, but she shouldn't make him stupid.
You too have probably had a bad boss; however, it is my hope that your experiences were less wayward than my own observations.
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
www.ValdostaMemorials.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
I worked for a boss once who would look at his watch when he saw me arrive to work and then he would look up at me. He was so enemy centered that the ultimately was forced out of a high-paying position when his life fragmented.
He could talk the talk, but I'll be damned if he could walk the walk. He was forced out of his employment due to a wide variety of abuses.
This man wore a racial chip on his shoulder. He saw all criticism as racial bias and he acted in often bizarre ways.
When meetings were run, long periods of time would be spent just arguing over the minutes of the previous meeting as the minutes were often manipulated to distort the reality of the process of the management style of this individual.
He was mean and malicious, wasting government resources to constantly spy on his enemies. Without fail, this bad boss sent his secretary by my office 5 minutes before my scheduled departure to make certain I was in my office.
Bad bosses should not hire individuals for the government payroll with whom they are having an affair. A big bussomed woman may make a man happy, but she shouldn't make him stupid.
You too have probably had a bad boss; however, it is my hope that your experiences were less wayward than my own observations.
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
www.ValdostaMemorials.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Life Is More Like A Jar of Jalapenos Than A Box Of Chocolates!
I'm always receiving fun and often crazy email, sometimes with a message worth thinking about and passing on to others.
Remarks made with humor can often convey more meaning than the same dialog without spice!
The Granite Troll, whom I admire, can often say the wildest things that I would never say!
Remarks made with humor can often convey more meaning than the same dialog without spice!
The Granite Troll, whom I admire, can often say the wildest things that I would never say!
I enjoyed Forest Gump's wisdom and I think he had a point of view worth considering. The title of this article is another point of view equally worth sharing.
Burton Fletcher
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Communication: The Written Apology
I am certain that in the course of communications I have irritated more than my share of folks in this world. For those whom I have caused offense, please accept my apology.
Saying you are sorry for an action can be catharthic for all involved. It is easy to be misunderstood in face-to-face communications, and even more so during written communications.
I read an email today that I think is humorous, good natured and progressive.
"Thanks, Guy. Point well taken. The "Rosanna Dana" comment at the end of my original note applied in large part, because, in large part, we were all in agreement. As I wrote Tony privately, my misunderstanding of his original note led to the string of emails where folks who actually agree seem to think they don't. My fault. Tony is great. You're handsome. Jim is brilliant. Jay is wonderful. My dog is not fat, just big boned. Group hug. Separate showers."
What a terrific message to express sorrow at causing offense, but doing so in a way that is humorous and will leave positive feelings with all on the board. I admire the ability to write this way. Perhaps all of us can learn from this person's apology.
Burton Fletcher
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
Saying you are sorry for an action can be catharthic for all involved. It is easy to be misunderstood in face-to-face communications, and even more so during written communications.
I read an email today that I think is humorous, good natured and progressive.
"Thanks, Guy. Point well taken. The "Rosanna Dana" comment at the end of my original note applied in large part, because, in large part, we were all in agreement. As I wrote Tony privately, my misunderstanding of his original note led to the string of emails where folks who actually agree seem to think they don't. My fault. Tony is great. You're handsome. Jim is brilliant. Jay is wonderful. My dog is not fat, just big boned. Group hug. Separate showers."
What a terrific message to express sorrow at causing offense, but doing so in a way that is humorous and will leave positive feelings with all on the board. I admire the ability to write this way. Perhaps all of us can learn from this person's apology.
Burton Fletcher
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
Align Your Perception To Your Reality Through Proactive Feedback
As a former educator, I worked for a not so gentle person who was constantly spouting, "your perception is your reality."
Unfortunately, beyond the phrase, which he used almost as a mantra, he never took the time to explain what he meant by his words.
In the perception of a great many of his subordinates, he was a person who was incompetent and his performance was so poor that he was ultimately forced out of a high-paying position.
I will share my thoughts on the subject of perception and reality.
What you perceive to be true is what is real for you; but, what is perceived may not be real beyond your own mind.
Your perception may be real for you, but your reality may not be real beyond your own perception.
I have often known people whose perception did not match reality as I knew it. I think it is important for everyone to ask, "Does my perception match reality?" Many people I have known have had a distorted perception of the world and I too have been guilty of a misaligned perception from time to time.
Instead of being passive about our perception, we need to actively seek feedback that will help us to align our perception to an accurate reality, as this will facilitate the successes in our personal and professional life.
As an educator, I observed that feedback was often threatening to faculty and administrators alike. Whether you like it or not, people are constantly evaluating others, including you and me.
Thus, you might as well invite feedback so you can adjust your perceptions to your reality and so you can improve your performance.
As a professor, I had students evaluate my performance anonymously as often as weekly. With this information, my perception and my reality could be better harmonized.
Honest feedback must be invited, interpreted and used in both personal and professional settings. At the same time, we must be alert to the potential for smoke and mirrors in both the giving and the receiving of feedback.
Feedback can be useful to blow away the smoke to better see the image in the mirror. It is important that you understand and own your own personal and professional performance plan. "To thine own self be true," or, in the vernacular of the street, "Do not bullshit thyself!"
Feedback in the performance of individuals, teams and organizations is critical to proactive management. But, more than just receiving data, the data must be analyzed, interpreted and acted upon to present real value as information.
Fundamental to any successful feedback plan is a desire to shift the paradigm from being evaluated to seeking constructive feedback. The value is that for most people, being evaluated is a negative experience; however, when you seek feedback, you are in control, proactive and in charge to positively shape your perception to match a more accurate reality.
What you perceive to be true is what is real for you; however, far too many people operate within a closed reality sphere that is inacurrate due to defective perceptions of themselves and others. A willingness to be open to criticism is fundamental to self improvement.
I performed an Internet search and found several articles worthy of sharing. See, http://www.godchannel.com/reality.html; and The Reality-Based Community, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_based_community. So, how accurate is your perception today? How would you interpret the expession that your perception is your reality?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Unfortunately, beyond the phrase, which he used almost as a mantra, he never took the time to explain what he meant by his words.
In the perception of a great many of his subordinates, he was a person who was incompetent and his performance was so poor that he was ultimately forced out of a high-paying position.
I will share my thoughts on the subject of perception and reality.
What you perceive to be true is what is real for you; but, what is perceived may not be real beyond your own mind.
Your perception may be real for you, but your reality may not be real beyond your own perception.
I have often known people whose perception did not match reality as I knew it. I think it is important for everyone to ask, "Does my perception match reality?" Many people I have known have had a distorted perception of the world and I too have been guilty of a misaligned perception from time to time.
Instead of being passive about our perception, we need to actively seek feedback that will help us to align our perception to an accurate reality, as this will facilitate the successes in our personal and professional life.
As an educator, I observed that feedback was often threatening to faculty and administrators alike. Whether you like it or not, people are constantly evaluating others, including you and me.
Thus, you might as well invite feedback so you can adjust your perceptions to your reality and so you can improve your performance.
As a professor, I had students evaluate my performance anonymously as often as weekly. With this information, my perception and my reality could be better harmonized.
Honest feedback must be invited, interpreted and used in both personal and professional settings. At the same time, we must be alert to the potential for smoke and mirrors in both the giving and the receiving of feedback.
Feedback can be useful to blow away the smoke to better see the image in the mirror. It is important that you understand and own your own personal and professional performance plan. "To thine own self be true," or, in the vernacular of the street, "Do not bullshit thyself!"
Feedback in the performance of individuals, teams and organizations is critical to proactive management. But, more than just receiving data, the data must be analyzed, interpreted and acted upon to present real value as information.
Fundamental to any successful feedback plan is a desire to shift the paradigm from being evaluated to seeking constructive feedback. The value is that for most people, being evaluated is a negative experience; however, when you seek feedback, you are in control, proactive and in charge to positively shape your perception to match a more accurate reality.
What you perceive to be true is what is real for you; however, far too many people operate within a closed reality sphere that is inacurrate due to defective perceptions of themselves and others. A willingness to be open to criticism is fundamental to self improvement.
I performed an Internet search and found several articles worthy of sharing. See, http://www.godchannel.com/reality.html; and The Reality-Based Community, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_based_community. So, how accurate is your perception today? How would you interpret the expession that your perception is your reality?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Folk Wisdom Before Dale Carnegie
Here's a quote worth remembering, right up there with The Golden Rule and probably expressed before Dale Carnegie ever thought of writing a book.
"As we all know, it's easy to bristle and argue, but you will usually catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
Your thoughts or wisdom?
Burton Fletcher
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
"As we all know, it's easy to bristle and argue, but you will usually catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
Your thoughts or wisdom?
Burton Fletcher
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
New Chapter Found For Book of Genesis Regarding Pets
Where do pets come from?
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, " I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."
And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.And Cat would not obey them.
And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't give a hoot one way or the other.
Author Unknown, But He or She Was Smart As Hell!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, " I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."
And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.And Cat would not obey them.
And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't give a hoot one way or the other.
Author Unknown, But He or She Was Smart As Hell!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Thought For The Day Regarding Time
I read the following on the email of a colleague this morning. I think it says a lot!
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
We Need More Unity In Our Industry....
I read a post on another website, that read like this: "How many are attending the convention? I am not, and have heard attendance will be lower than usuall. I wonder why? We need more unity in our industry."
Yes, we do need more unity in our industry. I think it is worth analysis that the monument industry is seriously fragmented.
There are two major groups of monument builders: those who belong to the Monument Builders of North America, and those who do not belong to MBNA.
Of course there are those who are diehard members and another group who are only lukewarm members. The same is true for those who do not belong to MBNA. There is one group who are adamant they will never be members again, and many others who are not members but who may we willing to join if approached in the right way.
There is a significant group of monument builders who refuse to join MBNA and the organization has done an ineffective job at recruiting and managing relationships with monument builders. I hope this can someday change for the sake of both MBNA as an organization and for the industry as a whole.
What are your thoughts?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Yes, we do need more unity in our industry. I think it is worth analysis that the monument industry is seriously fragmented.
There are two major groups of monument builders: those who belong to the Monument Builders of North America, and those who do not belong to MBNA.
Of course there are those who are diehard members and another group who are only lukewarm members. The same is true for those who do not belong to MBNA. There is one group who are adamant they will never be members again, and many others who are not members but who may we willing to join if approached in the right way.
There is a significant group of monument builders who refuse to join MBNA and the organization has done an ineffective job at recruiting and managing relationships with monument builders. I hope this can someday change for the sake of both MBNA as an organization and for the industry as a whole.
What are your thoughts?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Monday, January 15, 2007
Thoughts On Taxes! Yes, Taxes, Taxes, Taxes!
What Happened?
At first I thought this was funny...then I realized the awful truth of it. Be sure to read all the way to the end!
Tax his land,Tax his bed,Tax the table At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,Tax his mule,Teach him taxes Are the rule.
Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat.
Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work,Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if heTries to think.
Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries, thenTax his tears.
Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass
Tax all he hasThen let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers,Then tax him some more,Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,Tax his grave,Tax the sod in Which he's laid.
Put these wordsupon his tomb,"Taxes drove meto my doom..."
When he's gone,Do not relax,Its time to applyThe inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable TaxBuilding Permit TaxCDL license TaxCigarette TaxCorporate Income TaxDog License TaxFederal Income TaxFederal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License TaxFood License Tax, Fuel permit tax Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon) Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Interest expense Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service charge taxes Social Security Tax Road usage taxes Sales Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)Telephone federal excise tax Telephone federal universal service fee tax Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax Telephone state and local tax Telephone usage charge tax Utility TaxesVehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft registration TaxWell Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax
COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What happened? (I know, we stuck our noses in everyone else's business.) And now I have to "press 1" for English. I hope this goes around the world 10 times or more!
Tax his land,Tax his bed,Tax the table At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,Tax his mule,Teach him taxes Are the rule.
Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat.
Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work,Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if heTries to think.
Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries, thenTax his tears.
Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass
Tax all he hasThen let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers,Then tax him some more,Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,Tax his grave,Tax the sod in Which he's laid.
Put these wordsupon his tomb,"Taxes drove meto my doom..."
When he's gone,Do not relax,Its time to applyThe inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable TaxBuilding Permit TaxCDL license TaxCigarette TaxCorporate Income TaxDog License TaxFederal Income TaxFederal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License TaxFood License Tax, Fuel permit tax Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon) Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Interest expense Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service charge taxes Social Security Tax Road usage taxes Sales Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)Telephone federal excise tax Telephone federal universal service fee tax Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax Telephone state and local tax Telephone usage charge tax Utility TaxesVehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft registration TaxWell Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax
COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What happened? (I know, we stuck our noses in everyone else's business.) And now I have to "press 1" for English. I hope this goes around the world 10 times or more!
Will Your Family Cemetery Be Maintained Throughout Eternity?
For anyone who has been involved in genealogy or the death-care industry for very long, you know that there is a wide-range of attention paid to cemeteries. Sooner or later, everyone is going to die, and usually it is an afterthought that someone thinks about the preservation of a family cemetery, so I ask the question, "Will your cemetery be maintained throughout eternity?"
Some cemeteries are beautifully maintained. See, http://www.valdostamemorials.com/PonteVedra.asp for photos of the Ponte Vedra Cemetery in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Other cemeteries have been neglected for short or long periods, with deterioration ranging from dense overgrowth to deteriorating foundations that have resulted in the toppling of monuments.
We believe it is the responsibility of everyone in the death-care industry to give back to the community by serving as advocates for cemetery maintenance.
Community Advocate: Lobby your town councils to maintain cemeteries as parks that memorialize the community heritage.
Trust Funds: I encourage the endowment of trust funds for family memorial and cemetery preservation.
Volunteer: I encourage everyone to volunteer to cemetery preservation. The monument industry has the expertise and equipment to make improvements beyond the capacity of lay people.
Work With Others: Boy Scouts and other community organizations will frequently volunteer to participate in community service projects. With photos and a press release, this is an excellent opportunity for publicity in community newspapers.
If you have other ideas or success stories, please share them with me, and I will post them here. I thank you for your contributions to cemetery and memorial preservation.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
MORE "IDIOT AWARDS"
MORE "IDIOT AWARDS"
IDIOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: I live in a semi-rural area. We recently had a
new neighbor call the local township
administrative office to request the removal
of the Deer Crossing sign on our road.
The reason: "Too many deer are being hit by
cars out here! I don't think this is a good
place for them to be crossing anymore."
From Kingman, KS.
IDIOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: I live in a semi-rural area. We recently had a
new neighbor call the local township
administrative office to request the removal
of the Deer Crossing sign on our road.
The reason: "Too many deer are being hit by
cars out here! I don't think this is a good
place for them to be crossing anymore."
From Kingman, KS.
IDIOTS IN FOOD SERVICE: My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person
behind the counter for "minimal lettuce."
He said he was sorry, but they only had
iceberg. He was a Chef?Yep...From Kansas City!
behind the counter for "minimal lettuce."
He said he was sorry, but they only had
iceberg. He was a Chef?Yep...From Kansas City!
IDIOT SIGHTING: I was at the airport,
checking in at the gate when an airport
employee asked, "Has anyone put anything
in your baggage without your knowledge?
To which I replied, "If it was without my
knowledge, how would I know?" He smiled
knowingly and nodded, "That's why we ask."
Happened in Birmingham, Ala.
checking in at the gate when an airport
employee asked, "Has anyone put anything
in your baggage without your knowledge?
To which I replied, "If it was without my
knowledge, how would I know?" He smiled
knowingly and nodded, "That's why we ask."
Happened in Birmingham, Ala.
IDIOT SIGHTING: The stoplight on the corner
buzzes when its safe to cross the street. I was
crossing with an intellectually challenged
coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what
the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals
blind people when the light is red. Appalled,
she responded, "What on earth are blind
people doing driving?" She was a probation
officer in Wichita, KS.
buzzes when its safe to cross the street. I was
crossing with an intellectually challenged
coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what
the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals
blind people when the light is red. Appalled,
she responded, "What on earth are blind
people doing driving?" She was a probation
officer in Wichita, KS.
IDIOT SIGHTING: At a good-bye luncheon for
an old and dear coworker. She was leaving
the company due to "downsizing." Our manager
commented cheerfully, "This is fun. We should
do this more often." Not another word was spoken.
We all just looked at each other with that
deer-in-the-headlights stare. This was a bunch
at Texas Instruments.
an old and dear coworker. She was leaving
the company due to "downsizing." Our manager
commented cheerfully, "This is fun. We should
do this more often." Not another word was spoken.
We all just looked at each other with that
deer-in-the-headlights stare. This was a bunch
at Texas Instruments.
IDIOT SIGHTING: I work with an individual who
plugged her power strip back into itself and for
the sake of her own life, couldn't understand
why her system would not turn on. A deputy
with the Dallas County Sheriff's office no less.
plugged her power strip back into itself and for
the sake of her own life, couldn't understand
why her system would not turn on. A deputy
with the Dallas County Sheriff's office no less.
IDIOT SIGHTING: When my husband and I
arrived at an automobile dealership to pick
up our car, we were told the keys had been
locked in it. We went to the service
department and found a mechanic working
feverishly to unlock the drivers side door.
As I watched from the passenger side, I
instinctively tried the door handle and
discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I
announced to the technician, "its open!" His
reply, "I know - I already got that side."
arrived at an automobile dealership to pick
up our car, we were told the keys had been
locked in it. We went to the service
department and found a mechanic working
feverishly to unlock the drivers side door.
As I watched from the passenger side, I
instinctively tried the door handle and
discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I
announced to the technician, "its open!" His
reply, "I know - I already got that side."
This was at the Ford dealership in Canton, Mississippi!
STAY ALERT! They walk among us ... And they REPRODUCE!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Humor: Cajun Hearing Problem
During a revival the last week in November in Cheneyville, a little town between Bunkie and Alexandria on Highway 71, an evangelist was bringing the service to an end.
As people were standing in line waiting to tell him their personal problems, he asked each individual what they really needed.
When T-Coon was asked, he replied, "Mais, Ah want you to pray dat mah hearing gonna be real good.
Dat's all Ah ask - dat mah hearing gonna turn out all right."
The evangelist took his finger, put it in T-Coon's ear, raised his other hand in the air and looked up to start his prayer of healing.
Noticing that the expression changed on T-Coon's face, he evangelist - thinking a miracle had already happened - asked, "Mister, how's your hearing?"
T-Coon looked around at the curious onlookers and said, "Mais, Ah don't know, it ain't till next Tuesday in Opelousas!"
Thursday, January 11, 2007
What Are Your Core Values?
An Internet message caught my attention when I read that an Air Force staff sergeant who was photographed nude for a February 2007 Playboy magazine spread has been suspended while the military investigates her behavior in posing semi-nude and nude for Playboy magazine.
The Air Force position according to the Associated Press was that "this staff sergeant's alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do."
The staff sergeant basically takes the position that appearing nude while in uniform is acceptable behavior. I'll vote for the Air Force on this one! This staff sergeant trains airmen at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Over the years, I have followed Playboy as an afficionado of sorts, and I can recall several previous incidents where beautiful women posed for Playboy and were then relieved of their duties. Hmmmmmmm.
I'm no prude, but this seems like loose-cannon type behavior to me. I saw an interview of this woman and she explained that if Playboy could be purchased in the Post Exchange, she should be allowed to pose nude. It will be interesting to see how this incident plays out.
In the meantime, can someone please email me photos of this woman's pictures in Playboy so I can view them as part of my research! The pictures will tell me all I need to know and I won't need to read the corresponding article as a picture is worth a 1000 words!
The question I pose to the men and women of the death-care industry is to ask, what are the core values for this industry; and, what are your core values?
I would appreciate reading your responses. Email me at Burton@USAMonuments.com and I will post select responses here.
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
The Air Force position according to the Associated Press was that "this staff sergeant's alleged action does not meet the high standards we expect of our airmen, nor does it comply with the Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do."
The staff sergeant basically takes the position that appearing nude while in uniform is acceptable behavior. I'll vote for the Air Force on this one! This staff sergeant trains airmen at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Over the years, I have followed Playboy as an afficionado of sorts, and I can recall several previous incidents where beautiful women posed for Playboy and were then relieved of their duties. Hmmmmmmm.
I'm no prude, but this seems like loose-cannon type behavior to me. I saw an interview of this woman and she explained that if Playboy could be purchased in the Post Exchange, she should be allowed to pose nude. It will be interesting to see how this incident plays out.
In the meantime, can someone please email me photos of this woman's pictures in Playboy so I can view them as part of my research! The pictures will tell me all I need to know and I won't need to read the corresponding article as a picture is worth a 1000 words!
The question I pose to the men and women of the death-care industry is to ask, what are the core values for this industry; and, what are your core values?
I would appreciate reading your responses. Email me at Burton@USAMonuments.com and I will post select responses here.
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
MBNA, Consumer Advocacy & Carolyn Jacobi
Every month, the Monument Builders of North America publishes a glossy trade magazine with a "Consumer Advocacy Update" from Carolyn Jacobi.
Ms. Jacobi's writes in the conclusion of her column:
- "If this movement fails, it is because you elected to let it fail. Failure is an event and a person. There are many reasons for failures. Some of them are a lack of faith and motivation, limited self-image, complacency, insincerity, failure to plan and follow the plan, and trying to function as an individual rather than a part of a team."
With one pronouncement, Ms. Jacobi has expounded a lot of thoughts for MBNA's membership to reflect upon. MBNA, like most organizations, is often its own worst enemy, alienating now former members who decided to spend their money elsewhere.
Personally, I believe monument builders need an effective national trade association, and MBNA is, like-it-or-not, effectively that association.
MBNA needs to select folks as officers and district trustees who have a background of leadership and major accomplishments who actually know how to produce results if it wants to expand its membership and influence on a national scale.
Do I want to see the monument industry grow and prosper? Of course I do. MBNA has a lot of politics and it is ineffective in ways that it could be effective. For the sake of the industry, it needs to do more on the national and state levels to improve relationships with monument builders.
I invite you to reread Carolyn Jacobi's remarks and then think about your own contributions to the monument industry.
- "If this movement fails, it is because you elected to let it fail. Failure is an event and a person. There are many reasons for failures. Some of them are a lack of faith and motivation, limited self-image, complacency, insincerity, failure to plan and follow the plan, and trying to function as an individual rather than a part of a team."
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Do You Know How To Sell?
I received flattering feedback today from a person who I will not identify by name, lest he become a victim of my fan club.
"You certainly put ABC Corporation (name deleted) to shame (Kudos To You) - maybe they should take some lessons on website design and most importantly, how to run and manage their Retail Division.
Poor quality of workmanship, certain personnel in sales do not have a clue of product or how to sell. Worst run company I have dealt with and I would NEVER recommend them to families in need."
I hope my clients would talk better of me and my company and I believe most would recommend my company in a time of need.
Flattery, like criticism, should be accepted with caution, so I will not dwell on the kind remarks, except as a foundation to my point, do you and your employees know how to sell? Are you certain of this? Have you spent time educating yourself and your staff on how to sell your products?
I taught Salesmanship during the fall semester of 1980 for El Camino College in Torrance, California. Many years later, I would teach Marketing for one or more colleges and before my academic career was over, I had taught more than 10,000 people at 9 colleges and 4 universities. Though I have a degree in marketing and advanced coursework in the field, I would not claim to be an advanced expert in either subject.
I do know a few things about sales and marketing however that I have learned over a long career in business and education.
One thing is to listen to your customer or client. Really listen to your customer with the goal that you will understand the needs of your customer.
I also believe it is important to educate your customer as to a range of options that are available. If you are not an expert yourself on the options available, how will you ever educate your client?
The industry has been too focused on carving granite and inadequately focused on tell the life story. My opinion is based upon my observations in numerous cemeteries and conversations I have had with monument builders.
Price your products and sell the value, not the price.
Talk about the value and you will be engaged in non-price competition.
Focus on the price and you will be engaged in price competition.
Don't be afraid to ask for the order either!
Though I sometimes criticize monument builders as a group, I believe they are mostly decent, honorable and well-intentioned people. Sure, there are jerks in the lot, but that is just typical human behavior for every group of individuals. Basically, most monument builders desire to serve honorably, feed their families, help others and provide a quality service for their customers or clients.
If you are a monument builder, learn how to sell, and teach your employees too, and you will go farther!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
"You certainly put ABC Corporation (name deleted) to shame (Kudos To You) - maybe they should take some lessons on website design and most importantly, how to run and manage their Retail Division.
Poor quality of workmanship, certain personnel in sales do not have a clue of product or how to sell. Worst run company I have dealt with and I would NEVER recommend them to families in need."
I hope my clients would talk better of me and my company and I believe most would recommend my company in a time of need.
Flattery, like criticism, should be accepted with caution, so I will not dwell on the kind remarks, except as a foundation to my point, do you and your employees know how to sell? Are you certain of this? Have you spent time educating yourself and your staff on how to sell your products?
I taught Salesmanship during the fall semester of 1980 for El Camino College in Torrance, California. Many years later, I would teach Marketing for one or more colleges and before my academic career was over, I had taught more than 10,000 people at 9 colleges and 4 universities. Though I have a degree in marketing and advanced coursework in the field, I would not claim to be an advanced expert in either subject.
I do know a few things about sales and marketing however that I have learned over a long career in business and education.
One thing is to listen to your customer or client. Really listen to your customer with the goal that you will understand the needs of your customer.
I also believe it is important to educate your customer as to a range of options that are available. If you are not an expert yourself on the options available, how will you ever educate your client?
The industry has been too focused on carving granite and inadequately focused on tell the life story. My opinion is based upon my observations in numerous cemeteries and conversations I have had with monument builders.
Price your products and sell the value, not the price.
Talk about the value and you will be engaged in non-price competition.
Focus on the price and you will be engaged in price competition.
Don't be afraid to ask for the order either!
Though I sometimes criticize monument builders as a group, I believe they are mostly decent, honorable and well-intentioned people. Sure, there are jerks in the lot, but that is just typical human behavior for every group of individuals. Basically, most monument builders desire to serve honorably, feed their families, help others and provide a quality service for their customers or clients.
If you are a monument builder, learn how to sell, and teach your employees too, and you will go farther!
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
PS: An excellent article on salesmanship was brought to my attention by a Yahoo member who uses the moniker "elberreton." Thank you Mr. Elberreton. http://www.coldspringgranite.com/pr/YBNews21.html
If Not Death-Care Industry, What Term Would You Use?
I commence this post with the question, "If not 'death-care industry', what term would you use?"
I recall a segment (Season 2, Episode 15, I believe) on "Six-Feet Under" a terrific program produced by HBO Entertainment, that had a discussion between Nate Fisher and the evil corporate representative from Kroehner, a fictitiously named company, typical of the large corporations that are gobbling up funeral homes across the United States.
As the discussion proceeded, David would use a familiar word, and the Krohner representative would use a euphemism for that word.
I recall a segment (Season 2, Episode 15, I believe) on "Six-Feet Under" a terrific program produced by HBO Entertainment, that had a discussion between Nate Fisher and the evil corporate representative from Kroehner, a fictitiously named company, typical of the large corporations that are gobbling up funeral homes across the United States.
As the discussion proceeded, David would use a familiar word, and the Krohner representative would use a euphemism for that word.
(If anyone has the details on which script this was please let me know and I will update this article and give you credit for the information. )
This brings me to the point that we now use the term, "death-care industry" to encompass a whole range of activities relating to the death (should I write 'passing'?) of an individual. Has the language become too sanitized? Has the industry become too commercialized?
This brings me to the point that we now use the term, "death-care industry" to encompass a whole range of activities relating to the death (should I write 'passing'?) of an individual. Has the language become too sanitized? Has the industry become too commercialized?
If anyone has a list of words that are used in the death-care industry, please pass it along to me for future publication.
For example:
Word:..........Euphemism:
Died............ Passed away
The Granite Troll
Folks want to know more and more about the Granite Troll. Who is he? What does he look like?
Is he good looking like funeral home directors, or does he look no better than average like the best looking monument builders?
In this classified report, we provide an actual photo of The Granite Troll. Isn't he pretty!
Please keep this information under wraps as this information is provided in secret.
Regards,
The Granite Troll
Are Funeral Directors Just Better Looking Than Monument Builders?
The question has been asked whether funeral directors are just more handsome than monument builders and whether this is partly to explain why more monuments are sold by funeral homes than monument companies.
What's your take on this unscientific opinion poll?
Email your opinions to Burton@USAMonuments.com and I'll post the best replies here. Don't wait! And, while you are writing, please tell me if you were born ugly, and whether you have been hindered by your unattractiveness in your competiton with funeral homes.
What's your take on this unscientific opinion poll?
Email your opinions to Burton@USAMonuments.com and I'll post the best replies here. Don't wait! And, while you are writing, please tell me if you were born ugly, and whether you have been hindered by your unattractiveness in your competiton with funeral homes.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Could The Monument Industry Survive Without Giving Kickbacks
I start this post with the question, "Could the monument industry survive without giving kickbacks to funeral homes?"
Before you answer, "Yes, of course it could," you need to give thought to the hush-hush relationships that exist as bagmen from the monument industry make their regular calls on funeral homes giving payola for referrals.
What are your thoughts about this practice? Is this "all is fair in love, war and business," or an unacceptable practice based upon greed?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Before you answer, "Yes, of course it could," you need to give thought to the hush-hush relationships that exist as bagmen from the monument industry make their regular calls on funeral homes giving payola for referrals.
What are your thoughts about this practice? Is this "all is fair in love, war and business," or an unacceptable practice based upon greed?
Burton Fletcher
www.USAMonuments.com
Burton@USAMonuments.com
Emotional Quotient: Are Funeral Homes Naturally More Effective At Monument Sales?
I have been trying to compare the emotional quotient of monument builders, compared to that of funeral directors, and whether these differences are having a negative impact on the effectiveness of the monument industry as a whole?
Are monument builders generally less educated, and consequently, less effective at oral and written communication skills compared to their colleagues in funeral homes?
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing for the death-care industry, or for the consumer?
If consumers had confidence in monument builders, as an industry, wouldn't they be the first point of contact for a monument?
Perhaps it is because of these superior communication skills that funeral homes sell more monuments than monument dealers, except for those monument dealers paying kickbacks and working hand in glove with the funeral homes.
It is pervasive across the death-care industry that monument builders feel they must pay kickbacks to obtain business. The opposite is seemingly less true.
Even the Monument Builders of North America recognize this scheme but seems to justify the practice by stating that the kickback should be disclosed to the consumer to be ethical. Okay? I would like to see the statistics on disclosure. How about you?
Are kickbacks the vehicle by which monument builders with inferior communication skills are achieving their success?
Are funeral homes naturally more effective at monument sales because of their superior communication skills? And, can the monument industry become more effective by requiring a higher level of education to enter the field?
What are your thoughts?
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
Are monument builders generally less educated, and consequently, less effective at oral and written communication skills compared to their colleagues in funeral homes?
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing for the death-care industry, or for the consumer?
If consumers had confidence in monument builders, as an industry, wouldn't they be the first point of contact for a monument?
Perhaps it is because of these superior communication skills that funeral homes sell more monuments than monument dealers, except for those monument dealers paying kickbacks and working hand in glove with the funeral homes.
It is pervasive across the death-care industry that monument builders feel they must pay kickbacks to obtain business. The opposite is seemingly less true.
Even the Monument Builders of North America recognize this scheme but seems to justify the practice by stating that the kickback should be disclosed to the consumer to be ethical. Okay? I would like to see the statistics on disclosure. How about you?
Are kickbacks the vehicle by which monument builders with inferior communication skills are achieving their success?
Are funeral homes naturally more effective at monument sales because of their superior communication skills? And, can the monument industry become more effective by requiring a higher level of education to enter the field?
What are your thoughts?
Burton@USAMonuments.com
www.USAMonuments.com
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Humor: Hot Off The Press
Hot off the Press
· March Planned For Next August
· Blind Bishop Appointed To See
· Lingerie Shipment Hijacked -- Thief Gives Police The Slip
· L.A. Voters Approve Urban Renewal By Landslide
· Patient At Death's Door--Doctors Pull Him Through
· Latin Course to Be Canceled--No Interest among Students, Et Al.
· Diaper Market Bottoms Out
· Stadium Air Conditioning Fails -- Fans Protest
· Queen Mary Having Bottom Scraped
· Lawyers Give Poor Free Legal Advice
· Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
· Fund Set Up for Beating Victim's Kin
· Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in 10 Years
· Cancer Society Honors Marlboro Man
· Nicaragua Sets Goal to Wipe Out Literacy
· 20-Year Friendship Ends at Altar
· War Dims Hope For Peace
· Study Finds Sex, Pregnancy Link
· Survey Finds Dirtier Subways After Cleaning Jobs Were Cut
· Alcohol ads promote drinking.
· Official: Only rain will cure drought.
· Teen-age girls often have babies fathered by men.
· Man shoots neighbor with machete.
· Dirty-Air Cities Far Deadlier Than Clean Ones, Study Shows.
· Scientists see quakes in L.A. future.
· Free Advice: Bundle up when out in the cold.
· Bible church's focus is the Bible.
· Discoveries: Older blacks have edge in longevity.
· Lack of brains hinders research.
· Fish lurk in streams.
· Our experienced mother will care for your child. Fenced yards, meals and smacks included.
· Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
· Girl wanted to assist magician in cutting off head illusion.
· We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.
· For sale. Three canaries of undermined sex.
· Wanted: hair cutter. Excellent growth potential.
· Wanted: man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.
· Our bikinis are exciting. They are simply the tops.
· 3-year-old teacher needed for preschool. Experience preferred.
· Vacation special: Have your house exterminated.
· Dinner Specials: Turkey $3.25 Chicken or Beef $2.75 Children $2.00.
· Illiterate? Write today free help.
· Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once; you'll never go anywhere again.
· Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
· Stock up and save. Limit: one.
· Semi-Annual after Christmas Sale.
· For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.
· Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.
· Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.
· March Planned For Next August
· Blind Bishop Appointed To See
· Lingerie Shipment Hijacked -- Thief Gives Police The Slip
· L.A. Voters Approve Urban Renewal By Landslide
· Patient At Death's Door--Doctors Pull Him Through
· Latin Course to Be Canceled--No Interest among Students, Et Al.
· Diaper Market Bottoms Out
· Stadium Air Conditioning Fails -- Fans Protest
· Queen Mary Having Bottom Scraped
· Lawyers Give Poor Free Legal Advice
· Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
· Fund Set Up for Beating Victim's Kin
· Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in 10 Years
· Cancer Society Honors Marlboro Man
· Nicaragua Sets Goal to Wipe Out Literacy
· 20-Year Friendship Ends at Altar
· War Dims Hope For Peace
· Study Finds Sex, Pregnancy Link
· Survey Finds Dirtier Subways After Cleaning Jobs Were Cut
· Alcohol ads promote drinking.
· Official: Only rain will cure drought.
· Teen-age girls often have babies fathered by men.
· Man shoots neighbor with machete.
· Dirty-Air Cities Far Deadlier Than Clean Ones, Study Shows.
· Scientists see quakes in L.A. future.
· Free Advice: Bundle up when out in the cold.
· Bible church's focus is the Bible.
· Discoveries: Older blacks have edge in longevity.
· Lack of brains hinders research.
· Fish lurk in streams.
· Our experienced mother will care for your child. Fenced yards, meals and smacks included.
· Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
· Girl wanted to assist magician in cutting off head illusion.
· We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.
· For sale. Three canaries of undermined sex.
· Wanted: hair cutter. Excellent growth potential.
· Wanted: man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.
· Our bikinis are exciting. They are simply the tops.
· 3-year-old teacher needed for preschool. Experience preferred.
· Vacation special: Have your house exterminated.
· Dinner Specials: Turkey $3.25 Chicken or Beef $2.75 Children $2.00.
· Illiterate? Write today free help.
· Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once; you'll never go anywhere again.
· Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
· Stock up and save. Limit: one.
· Semi-Annual after Christmas Sale.
· For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.
· Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.
· Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.
Let's Sing Together: It's My Party
I often feel that each generation is defined by the music of the generation. One of my many favorites was sung by Lesley Gore, "It's My Party." Sing along with me you crazy monument builders!
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Nobody knows where my Johnny has gone
But Judy left the same time
Why was he holding her hand
When he's supposed to be mine
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Then all my records keep dancing all night
But leave me alone for a while
'Til Johnny's dancing with me
I've got no reason to smile
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Judy and Johnny just walked thru the door
Like a queen with her king
Oh what a birthday surprise
Judy's wearing his ring
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Oh-oh-oh It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to.....
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Nobody knows where my Johnny has gone
But Judy left the same time
Why was he holding her hand
When he's supposed to be mine
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Then all my records keep dancing all night
But leave me alone for a while
'Til Johnny's dancing with me
I've got no reason to smile
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Judy and Johnny just walked thru the door
Like a queen with her king
Oh what a birthday surprise
Judy's wearing his ring
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Oh-oh-oh It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to.....
Friday, January 5, 2007
Lithochrome: Use It, Or Lose It?
Lithochrome is the paint that monument companies use to enhance (some might say denigrate) the memorial products we place in the cemetery. There are varying opinions on lithochrome, just as there are about everything else in the monument industry. We all know that lithochrome will fade at some point.
I like and use lithochrome; however, it should be cautiously used as it can quickly turn a stone into a gaudy mess if used improperly. Like all things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Personally, I like the look of gold lithochrome on gray granite. Great care must be exercised when using green or reds that they do not over power the stone. I prefer subtlety when I work with stone, or should I say harmony, as less is often more.
Though I use it, black lithochrome is not usually my preferred color. Normally, I prefer diluted black, or gray lithochrome as it provides a more subtle appearance.
If the fonts are smaller than 2 inches tall I recommend lithochrome as it makes the lettering more readable. I try to avoid fonts smaller than 2 inches tall, but we do what we have to do to make the clients happy and the customer is king.
What are your experiences and opinions on the use of lithochrome?
I like and use lithochrome; however, it should be cautiously used as it can quickly turn a stone into a gaudy mess if used improperly. Like all things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Personally, I like the look of gold lithochrome on gray granite. Great care must be exercised when using green or reds that they do not over power the stone. I prefer subtlety when I work with stone, or should I say harmony, as less is often more.
Though I use it, black lithochrome is not usually my preferred color. Normally, I prefer diluted black, or gray lithochrome as it provides a more subtle appearance.
If the fonts are smaller than 2 inches tall I recommend lithochrome as it makes the lettering more readable. I try to avoid fonts smaller than 2 inches tall, but we do what we have to do to make the clients happy and the customer is king.
What are your experiences and opinions on the use of lithochrome?
Thursday, January 4, 2007
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