'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you'

'When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better'

We have choices. The other day I was driving and was thinking about something sweet, and I guess I was smiling. As I drew up to a stop light. I turned to look at the car next to me - and the woman was smiling back. I guess there is something to be said about leading by example, eh?

I promise I will love whomever you choose to marry.
I promise I will be fair & open-minded.
I promise I will back the decisions you & your wife make.
I promise I will be a good example for grandkids.
I promise I will be honest and morally sound.
I promise I will be there when you need me.
I promise I will not be there when you need me not to be.

I promise, with me, it will be different.

'Customer Service'.

Remember the idiom, that "the customer is always right"? In an economy nowadays, where consumer spending has been curtailed - it would seem to me that a retailer should examine this premise more closely than ever before.

I was at a warehouse type store yesterday and bought a bottle of Pinot Grigio, while checking out - I had accidentally left it there. After my hour drive home, I called and spoke to the store manager - who said all I needed to do was to go to the local store of this chain with my receipt and they would be happy to make right, she further made me feel human by telling me that "this happens all the time"!

Time, I figured was of the essence - so I headed out this morning. I was first faced with an employee in "Customer Service' who said she was sure they didn't do this kind of thing. Who made a call to the manager - who asked her to call the other store's manger *with whom I'd spoken*... once she had done that - she called the store manager back and he came down to tell me that they don't like doing things like this - but would honor it.

I KNOW I should've been all 'grateful' but I just couldn't help myself. I told the manager that as a frequent customer of their store - I did appreciate their helping me out, but at the same time, I questioned just why he had to let me know that they 'don't like to do things like this' - what they did was the 'right thing' to do for a customer - and I really didn't care that he wasn't happy about it. I told him that he would've been much better off just telling me that they'd make good and leaving it at that - I would've left feeling like a valued customer - rather than a mistake maker who was being helped out against their better judgement.

I think I'm growing up - but who am I turning into?

I love delicious words. I loll them around and let them loose very carefully - as I love to hear them launch. Sometimes there is ONLY one word that is able to convey the idea.

un·e·quiv·o·cal

(ŭn'ĭ-kwĭv'ə-kəl) Pronunciation Key adj. Admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; clear and unambiguous: an unequivocal success.

While we were living in Germany a word was discovered like this. It has made its way to the US and is now incorporated into our language for those very specific times when you intend to say only what you had intended. angst 1 (ängkst) Pronunciation Key n. A feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression.

I have been selling online now since 1998, and it just hit me tonight as I surfed Etsy - how much the level of presentation has come up. Back in the 'old days'... photos were often blurry or of poor quality... layout and delivery were just not up to snuff. I've always felt that with your one time shot at selling online - you needed to deliver your best, truth in advertising was very important - as to build a client base, no one wants to feel that they've been duped. Good pics, great descriptions and the truth about the item... all of it.

The online competitiveness may well be the culprit who forced people to step to the plate and serve up their best. With this - I'm sure online tutorials on everything from photography and presentation to marketing make it much more of a 'fair fight'.

The Internet is amazing. I know it sounds corny - but I've always been quite adept at being able to find whatever I seek online. Today, I was found by an old friend, and it was a nice feeling. How did people *before Internet* re-connect? Reunions? That sure sounds hit and miss...

I know that it can be a big scary world out there - and you have to have the smarts to know what kind of content shouldn't be put online...

I remember reading someone's site and finding that she had posted pictures of her kids, their names, and her husband's name... I don't exactly recall - but the proper nouns may have become hypertext and with one simple click, I pulled up a website and with a few keystrokes - had a map to their house. Not that I wanted to get there - but - it was just THAT easy!

Aside from all the scary things about being online - they are far outweighed by the ability to find/order just about anything you desire.