Patience

So earlier this evening I was filling a prescription at the local drug store...nothing too exciting except they had one window open and three of us in line with one gentleman at the window.

"No biggie!"

Right?!

Well, this guy at the counter is going on and on about how he needs to do this and needs this and the poor pharmacist calmly answers that "Sir that prescription has already been filled today, that paper you have right there is a photo copy...I'm sorry sir, I cannot do a complete fill on this particular one right now...sir, that is a photocopy, and it has been filled and is in our records."

- 5 minutes pass, and now four people in line -

I ask the guy in front of me, "Hey man, how long've you been here?" To which he replies "10 minutes...{sigh}"

This guy at the window is ranting that he needs something else blah blah blah blah blah blah...I've stopped trying to listen and looking to see if another pharmacist is working." Another window opens up and

- 4.5 minutes later the two people in front of me have picked up their prescriptions and are out the door. "Hello how can I help you?"

I'm told my wait will be approximately 10~15 minutes...guy still at window complaining about something (the poor pharmacist keeps smiling and searches on here computer..."I'm sorry sir, that prescription has been filled already, and I can't give you more."

- 12 minutes go by "Scott, you're ready" -

I pick up my prescription and walk out to leave looking down at my phone.

- 30 + minutes, this poor pharmacist kept it together with one of the most obnoxious customers I have ever seen. I watched 11 people come and go all the while this bozo whined and cried about trying to fill a prescription twice.

I stopped to look at their beverages on my way out, and saw the guy step aside, and I wanted to go compliment the gal on the way she handled things...but I thought she was probably sick of talking and needed a break. :)

I'll stop in again soon and thank her for keeping her head.

Loyalty? Not so much

Sorry for the Twitter rant, but one of my favorite applications on my iPhone recently went through a massive overhaul, and in doing so created a better product. Kudos to Hootsuite for making something great even better. I liked the look of it, so I paid the $1.99 or whatever it was for the application, and I enjoyed using it as I found he interface to be such that enabled me to use Twitter in a whole new way. Here is where it gets sticky...with the upgrade, they made it so you had to purchase the "New & Improved Hootsuite...sure there is still a free version of it, but many of the functions you had in the previous version were gone or not available in that version.

Uggh, so here it is...Hootsuite upgraded their software (which is to be expected,) but then to turn around and essentially screw their existing customers (who paid for the app already) by charging them again for the app is about the stupidest thing ever. Here is where Hootsuite went wrong IMHO...They had an existing fan base...a group of users who loved the product...a group who talks to each other and promotes your product...so why on earth would you turn your back on those people and not offer that generation of early adopters a free upgrade?? Chances are, they are going to talk about the improved services, application, etc etc etc. But now, they have gone elsewhere. I have! Way to crap the bed Hootsuite!! You've lost me as a customer, and where I may not have mean that much to you overall, it makes me feel better to give you the Proverbial Bird!

Haunted By Memories...Updated 6/14/2010

Usually when you talk about Hauntings, you think of things that are bad...scary...frightening...horrific, but the Haunting that I am talking about is something different.

Have you ever had something happen to you, or met someone or been somewhere that 'haunts' you? For example...say you meet someone years and years ago, and that person made an imprint on you. It is possible that you may never see or talk to this person anymore, but they are always on your mind. Has this happened to you? It has to me...

Has something happened to you when you were younger that you can remember so vividly that you can describe exactly what happened? It has to me...

So with this in mind now...what are the things that "HAUNT" you?

In the upcoming weeks, I am going to be making a couple of videos of some of the things that Haunt me.

This blog post has been haunting me...to finish it

My Wordle - What My Twitter Friends Think of Me

http://www.wordle.net/ - Image attribution

You Know It Is Time...

So my dear wife had a craving for a fresh fruit smoothie. We have all the ingredients needed, so I thought, "Why Not? It sounds good...let's do it."

One thing...

Our blender is the one we got on our wedding day, and has seen many, many blends...so needless to say it is kinda old and loud...ok, really loud.

All the ingredients had been added, and I was ready to go when my wife said that we better not do it in the house because the children are deathly afraid of it, and it wouldn't be a pretty picture should it be the blender that woke them up.

So out I marched to the garage...in 32 degree weather carrying a frozen blend of milk and fruit. Pretty sure I woke the dead with my blending, but I think I'd rather face zombies than a screaming child! After all, I did recently see Zombieland, and I have taken the 32 Rules of Staying Alive to Heart.

To educate yourself on the 32 Rules, I recommend you go here:

http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_16631.html

So to wrap it all up, You Know It Is Time to replace your blender when you have to go out to the garage to blend something.

That is all. I love you all, you are all my children... :)

Memories of Dracula

Just today, I finished my review of thebook New Moon on TodaysMama.com, and while I was writing it, I remembered something that haunted me when I was a little, little kid. I remember a TV show on PBS called "The Electric Company," starring a YOUNG Morgan Freeman. One of the characters he protrayed was Dracula. As I got to thinking about it, he was probably the first Dracula I remember.

Searching the web for a clip of Mr. Freeman in these early years yielded a couple of clips...enjoy!

And this...



Some good times!

Lazy Sack O' "S"

So I have been seriously slacking in my blog posts, and for that I am way lame...just gotta say. If my blog has a spirit, it has been prodding me for days...no months to post something.

The past couple of months have been a complete whirlwind for me as I have traveled all over the freaking place...State College, Pennsylvania - Bend, Oregon - and then Madison, Wisconsin...all in three weeks time. It has been so nice to be home for awhile without the worry of traveling.

Well, tonight's entry I wanted to write specifically for a couple of people...Allison Lunt Harris, my Mom Susan, my aunt Laura and anyone else who makes fun of my FaceBook updates.

Many of you tease me that I type in a different language...and yes, it is it's own language...or Twialect if you will. So I am going to explain it, so you can understand what I am saying.

1. Whenever you see this #, that is a hashtag (great explanation here)

Example: "Had a great day talking with the people at @go_hotcakes (hotcakes.com) today at #ORSM09" - I have hashtagged the Outdoor Retail Summer Market 2009 meaning, that Tweet will show up in that search, and people will know that is what my Twitter update is about...kinda like a one word summary of what I'm Tweeting at that time.

2. whenever you see this @, I am talking about, or to a specific person, business, etc. on Twitter.

Example: "Spent the day walking the floor with @iGoByDoc & @JoshSPeters at the Salt Palace." - Now when you see this you can tell who I am speaking to or about, and once I add the @ before their Twitter IDs, that will show up on their page and they can see my update with them mentioned in it.

Also to note...both the # and the @ placed before something creates a hyperlink that will redirect you to the Twitter search (#) or the person's profile (@)

Ok, so you few peeps who I listed, quit making fun of me, and learn the Twitter language...we'll all be speaking it someday...oh yes, we will all be Tweeters...or Twits...#justsayin

Also, my good friend Josh Peters (@JoshSPeters on Twitter) wrote an awesome blog post on businesses who were utilizing Twitter at the Outdoor Retail Show this year. A really good read...I recommend you take a second and read it. (Shuaism.com)

Next Blog Post Tease:

The Haunted Woods of Pennsylvania