And now we know!! Pass it on.. Let's get these jobs back on US soil

Any time you call an 800 number
(for a credit card, banking, charter communications, health and other insurance, computer help desk, etc)
and you find that you're talking to a foreign customer service representative
(perhaps in India, Philippines, etc),
please consider doing the following:

After you connect and you realize that the customer service representative is not from the USA
(you can always ask if you are not sure about the accent),
please, very politely
(this is not about trashing other cultures)
say, "I'd like to speak to a customer service representative in the United States of America."

The rep might suggest talking to his/her manager,
but, again, politely say, "Thank you, but I'd like to speak to a customer service representative in the USA."
YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED TO A REP IN THE USA.
That's the rule and the LAW.

It takes less than one minute to have your call re-directed to the USA.
Tonight when I got redirected to a USA rep, I asked again to make sure - and yes, she was from Fort Lauderdale.

Imagine what would happen if every US citizen insisted on talking to only US phone reps from this day on.
Imagine how that would ultimately impact the number of US jobs that would need to be created ASAP.
If I tell 10 people to consider this and you tell 10 people to consider doing this - see what I mean...it becomes an exercise in viral marketing 101.

Remember - the goal here is to restore jobs back here at home - not to be abrupt or rude to a foreign phone rep. You may even get correct answers, good advice, and solutions to your problem - in real English.

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it….
But I’m afraid He might ask me
the same question.”
Anonymous

Buda Family Adoption



Grab This!

Although I don't know this family, a dear friend who is also in the process of adopting 2 precious girls with Down's Syndrome passed this along with me. Please feel free to pass this info along. Most of these special kids are institutionalized in horrific conditions in foreign countries. Thanks

Too Good Not to Share



A Blue Rose

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox. So off I went.



I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."



It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"



"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.



"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve."



"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"



"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.



"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."



I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement, because he was the centre of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.



Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him.



I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.



She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"



Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God's garden."



She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes.



May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.



From an old dandelion! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.



"People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them

feel!"

~Diary of a Dumbass~

Okay.. so I have been prompted and prodded by waaayy to many friends that I really need to post the following.  It seems as if my new job has become to entertain the masses with my extraordinary skills at hurting & humilitaing myself for the masses..  And the bruise is so dang horrific that no truly gifted newly made lie can ever explain them.. I do have an extremely gifted talent of finding new ways to inflict pain and embarrasment to myself and those around me..
This might be a good time to swallow any beverage you might be drinking and abstain from sips...

Deja Vu Vu Vu~


> So is this when you are living vicariously thru someone (Deana Beana) and then unexpectedly decide to instead make it a closer reality in one's own life?

> So I joined the YMCA right?

> And I was scheduled for my physical assessment this morning..

> I get up and get rolling along.. let Rachel sleep in later to help her little circles under her eyes.., So we get to her school 40 minutes later...

> I hightail it to school so I can meet w/Dayton my mentoring child..

> He was in a pissy mood.. sorry.. just no other word can suffice at this moment..

> I run to Kohl's so I can get some decent athletic gear (translated.,.. anything other than a pr of crappy denim shorts) and too tight tshirt..

> Grab a bag full of clothes.. not even trying on second run of clothes.. Something to at least fit the Big Mama Butt.. Run the dog home and change.. I left her in the car while I did the other stuff..

> Get to the Y 10 minutes late..only to find out I was really 20 minutes early..

> So I was told to get on the awesome treadmill.. and I proceed to watch the non volume "House Hunters" and jam to my recently newly purchased IPod.. with the best tunes I know will keep me motivated..

> So the trainer set me up at 2.5 speed.. I didn't know how low she had set it.. And I'm jamming and having a truly wonderful time.. Now this is the point to which the viewer and anyone else who truly knows me may be questioning if I am now dabbling w/ an illicit drug.. Cause me and enjoying working out are not connected anywhere on the body of mine..

> So I'm having such a great time.. I decide to work myself up to 3.3 speed w/a .5 incline. And I'm all proud at the workout I'm doing..Watching those precious calories burn.. burn baby burn..

>

> Now this is where the train goes off the tracks.. Cause anyone who truly knows me.. knows this can't possibly continue safely for this child.. The trainer comes over and starts talking to me.. She's behind me to the side.. Now I can't hear her due to the awesome Rocking tunes.. and I at that exact moment totally lose any awareness of consciousness that I am on a treadmill. Do I turn off the tunes? Even better do I push the stop button? Yea right~ That would be the LOGICAL thing to do.. Something every sane and athletic person would do..

> Well Hells bells.. Now when have I EVER been mistaken for one of THEM?

>

> no no no~~ Grace here gets this horrific vision of my fat and out of shape butt flying across the huge workout gym to only hit the other wall many many feet away.. And I can see this image ending up on Youtube for eternity and reaching the African tribes that don't even have a written language.. And then that thought is followed by.. Oh crap!! If I pivot, then my weak knee(s) will dislocate.. and this is Such a reality in my life.. And I truly don't think another surgery for torn cartilage is doable in my book. So I twist off the thing and aim for the side rail.. Yea~~ Yes~~ I made it after my elbow caught and broke my fall..But not before butt bouncing off the conveyor belt.. And of course..What Humiliating experience would be complete w/out a really handsome fella who just got on the treadmill next to me..

>

> Dang it.. Talk about seeing stars.. And I got escorted to the trainer's office and they were nice enough to provide me w/a chair in which I couldn't exactly sit and water to drink so I didn't pass out.. I literally was seeing stars and then got the overwhelming feeling of being about as drunk as I have ever been....and that was well over 23 yrs ago..!! So we do an incident report which of course had to entail no less than 4 people including the facility director.. Oh yea..

>

> So you guys are thinking Shut Up already.. And Deana is thinking "Where in the heck do I fit into this? And WHY"?

> Tomorrow I had signed up to be a field trip chaperone for the Botanical Garden's Field Trip for Marshe's school. Rachel and I were going.. Lots of walking and lots of heat and sweating..

> And Thurs. we have field days where the kids play on the playground all day long in planned events and races.. Oh yea.. And then at noon Thur. Rachel has her graduation ceremony at school..And i was gonna mentor Harper sometime that day as well..

>

> So here I was.. finally getting my butt in the right thinking manner and plan down to lose weight.. volunteer @ Marshes school and run the roads w/ all my other responsibilities.. also housefinding and getting my clothes together that I have sold at Thred Up...

>

> And I can't help but see some familiar visions of Deana getting hurt on said field trip, in immense pain and homebound and humiliated..

> I really can't believe that there is an injury left that I hadn't discovered until today.. Who'd Thunk?

> So I am injured w/a very painful pulled hamstring.. However, I can't wait to get back over there start working out again..

>

> So this is my story.. I'm a dumbass.. I need intervention and you ladies know the real story.. I now need your help to help me come up w/a much betta one for the masses.. Those that haven't heard yet of course..

> Love yall!!

Shakin'.. whoa oohh ooohh ooohh.. (Eddie Money) =D

The Eddie Money song "Shakin" comes to mind when I see these beautiful flowers.  They are my favorite and special Spider Lilies that my mom gave to me 14 yrs. ago.  I have blogged about them before.  I planted them in our home's entrance 14 yrs ago and patiently waited..and did I say 'patiently'?  Cause I do not have patience.  Nonetheless.. I did wait for my first bloom for many years.  These delicate flowers do not bloom every year.. In fact, they are more likely to bloom every 4 or 5.  And I have learned patience through waiting for these blooms to arrive every year.  In fact, they bloom so rarely, they are a treat and special blessing when they make their surprise entrance.

I leave the home one day and upon my arrival back home I discover that Thing 1 and Thing 2 have mercilessly dug each and every bulb out of the flower bed and left them scattered and lying all over the place.  To say that I was suprised and angry would be an understatement.  I was a stark raving freakin' Mad Mama!!  They didn't realize what they had done.  The most blooms we have ever had were 2.  Two measily blooms out of something like 17 bulbs.  That's just how delicate and evasive this flower is.  I ran into the house and grabbed a trowel and quickly reset them in the ground.  My mind was shaking cause I thought I would never see these blooms again.  Especially after the most severe of weather we have had here in Central Texas.  The worst drought ever, the 2nd coldest Winter ever, followed by the 1st and 2nd wettest years ever.  Just knew I had kissed those babies goodbye for good.

My mind could only conceive of the shakin' my plants had taken.  I couldn't fathom that they would ever bloom again.  However, this year.. in all of their beautiful splendor, we were treated to many many new flowers.  The most I've ever seen.  They are growing in a different spot.  And my little mind can not deny the lesson that God has set before me.  We need to be shakin' up!!

We need to step out of our comfort zone... out of our comfortable fitting, routine and safe places we prefer to remain within.  How will we ever grow, learn and change if we stay stagnant all the time?  Change is one of the most difficult places I can take myself.  And I will be the first to admit I can try really hard to avoid getting out of my comfort zone more times than is good for me.  I have also learned...

It is good and healthy to look at things from a different perspective.  The new angles and configurations can lend to some great discoveries.  And it might even be the best thing we never thought would occur.    So once again God used my precious kids to teach this hardheaded chick a good lesson or two.. or three.. Who am I kidding?  I am humbled more often than I care to acknowledge.  But God has a wonderful way of teaching good and subtle lessons in a kind  and gentle way sometimes.   Shakin'.. whoa ohh ohh.. That girl was shakin'... snappin' her fingers....... 

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