Another gaget I love

I had been researching the Flip camcorder. I was intrigued at my last HTG meeting where a vendor gave one away (Great Idea) Speaking with my parents before Christmas, my dad was interested in getting one for my sister. He purchased it and gave it to her just before their baby was born. What a great gift. So after seeing theirs (Camera, not the baby) I had to have one. It arrived today.

• Software is easy to use.
• Manual is simple
• Unit is very simple and intuitive
• It is easy to publish to Facebook, You Tube and others
• I can create video greeting cards (VERY EASILY)
• Email videos (Via a link that is created on the Flip site)

Over all it is so very simple. I will attempt to add my first Blog Video (Probably called something)

Hey, look at that, I DID IT! I have a feeling you will be seeing more! And yes, it was that nice out today here in Kansas!

A guest blogger would like to add to Saturday's blog

Point 5. I have learned that when people ask how I am doing, they don't mean me anymore, they mean Parker. I hate to admit it, but I truly am beginning to realize how selfish I was. I have to cater to Parker now. I can't get my nails done, my hair, tanning, 5 days a week gym time for 2 hours each trip. Life is changing. Looks like gym time will be cut to 3-4 days a week for about 1 hour after Jeremy gets home from work. Parker doesn't like my nails anyway and turns out Parker doesn't care what color my hair is. It's amazing what life lessons you can learn from a baby that really don't have anything to do with what is important in life anyway. I think we will keep him, especially since he cane teach me everything I need to know about what is actually important in life since I was sadly mistaken before.

Michelle Riat

(Michelle is my sister and become a mom for the first time on December 23 2008)

The motel this weekend.

Stayed at a Marriott this weaken in Joplin MO. Was one of the greatest motel experiences I have had. That would encompass quite a few rooms in every part of the country. This on was the best. Check in took maybe 1 min. The people were very helpful. When eating breakfast they help you get drinks, refilled them even and it was a complimentary breakfast. I can't get that kind of service when I am paying for the meal. Even the janitors taking care of the facility ask if everything was fine and if they could help in any way.

In the future, every motel I stay at will be measured against this one.

0 for 4

This weekend every team I wanted to win in the playoffs lost. Oh well.

Back to work tomorrow. I thought by this time I would be really ready to return. I am not. I am sure when I get back I will be motivated. But Sunday night of almost two weeks off I could use another 2 weeks.

Went and saw Parker, my sisters baby. She looked like every new parent should
1. Tired beyond belief
2. Excited to be a parent
3. Scared to be a parent
4. Questioning everything you do

She will do great.

Is it really worth IT?

I was thinking further on yesterdays post having to do with retail sales. Is it worth being open a 5am to sell some deals on the day after Thanksgiving? Being open late on the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas? This along with so many other things like 24X7 stores and ez shops?

There are people giving up family life and so many other things for this to happen. Sure, it creates jobs but at what cost? It really isn't necessary for me to go shopping at 3am at the cost of some ones family. I am sure this is reaching however was this what started the destruction of family? It sure couldn't help. All for the $. Makes me sad.

Remembering the old days.

Today I was out driving my toy and I went by Walmart, Homedepo, The Mall and other retail chains. While you could not pay me to go to these locations till after the first of the year, I did see the amount of traffic, cars, people and things going on.

This brought me back to my days of managing a Radio Shack. It all started the end of October, but really got going Thanksgiving week. Wednesday that week trying to get out as soon as possible, driving home (3 hours) and getting in after dark (8-10pm) spending half a day with family, then driving back Thursday night for the 5AM store meeting/sign postings with an opening around 6am. Being completely slammed, barley eating (Something you could probably not see in me today) then repeating it over the next day.

Then Christmas. Working Christmas eve trying to leave for home around 3. Spending Christmas day with Family and driving home that night for early opening the day after. Busier than before Christmas and doing inventory on the 1st.

To be honest I dreaded the holidays. Sure, commissions increased significantly but so did the headaches. Customers were grumpy, more employees (Part timers) and people not showing up. Trying to get inventory out, dealing with defective products, on and on. For the 8 years or so I did that, it really ruined the holidays. Not so any more. Two weeks off, kids excitement of Santa coming, friends and family and people in the job I have now are happy. They enjoy similar experience.

So what am I saying? Well our brethren in retail sales are sales people also. While some of the worst sales people I have ever met were in retail, some of the best were found their also. I learned all my core skills there. So simply, give them a break. Be nice when the experience is tense, give people the opportunity to make it right. I know I wanted to do everything I could do for a customer, sometimes due to the amount of traffic and other factors I was not able to give the attention I should have. Here is thinking of those who help us make our gift giving the best it could be.

I am an Uncle (And no, not a Monkey's Uncle)

Congratulations to my sister Michelle and her husband Jeremy on their first child Parker. She will make a great mother. I look forward to the transition to motherhood. She is the one that told me that children will not change her life. I think that has already happened!

Michelle and I are 7 years apart in age. Maybe for the first time we are able to relate. In the past she was in Grade school, I was in High School. She was in Middle school, I was in College. She was in High School, I was starting a career. She was in College, I was getting Married. She was starting a career, I was having kids. Anyway, she is in family life and I am also. I will update everyone on this.

We are going to go see Parker after the first of the year and look forward to that!