Doing and Getting the Run Around

I have too much time on my hands without running.  And without running my self opinion goes down, down, down.  So it doesn't help that during this time we are redoing our closets.  I took one look at myself in the mirror and all my clothes I was removing from my closet and went, "yuck!"  Earlier this week I went to town on my wardrobe.  I put together two large laundry baskets of adult clothing and teenage clothing (I worked for Abercrombie for three years - I have lots of teen clothing).  Then on Tuesday I ran all over town to different consignment shops to try to resale my clothes.  I had to drop them off to be evaluated and quoted.  Then they would send me a text so I could go get my money/leftover clothes.

This whole time I was dragging my son around with me.  It was hot and we weren't exactly having fun.

First I got a text from the teenage shop.  They gave me $19 for some of my clothing and then gave me a bunch back.

Then I went back to the adult clothing store.  They gave me NOTHING and returned all of my clothing.  They told me they didn't sell many of my labels (snobs) and that my clothing was too old and out of style.

I'm sorry but when does a suit, a tailored jacket, and a jean skirt go out of style?

I was pissed.  And what do I do when I get pissed?  I turn to Facebook.  I started posting my clothes on different Facebook selling pages.  You know what?  I had hits immediately.  I started meeting people and selling my clothes and making better money than I was at the resale stores.  And I didn't have to host a garage sale.

Now I'm going through the rest of the house and getting read of my excess.  I'm so sick of all my stuff.  It's just sitting around, collecting dust, and has not or will not get used.  Time to clean out, the modern-garage-sale way.

Oh, YMCA (and my short fuse)!

Can I have a moment to just vent?

Maybe it's the summer heat.  Maybe because I can't run and it's driving me batty.  Maybe because it has rained every day this week and it's been hard to find activities for the kiddo and me.  Maybe it's because the kiddo hasn't taken a nap this week.  Whatever.  I about flipped out at the Y this morning.

School is out for summer and the Y is crawling with kids.  Summer camp is held every day from 9-noon, which is in the range of time in which I go to the gym.  Summer camp has reduced the swim lanes down to 3 or 4, depending on the availability of the outside pool.  Because it was pouring down rain this morning, the outdoor pool was not open for camp.  Therefore, there were only three lanes available for lap swimming.  And when I got out to the pool deck, they were all full.  There was a very large older man waiting on a lane, so I stood there and waited too.  One lane already had two people in it and the two other lanes were only occupied by one person each.  Both were not very good swimmers.  Neither could hold a straight line and both had such bad form that they were taking up the whole lane.  One of the ladies I see there every day and knew I didn't want to share a lane with her.  The other was swimming backstroke with her arms literally out to the side.  Let's say if you're swimming with your hands above your head you're swimming with your hands at zero or 90 degrees.  Her arms were flailing at 45 degrees.  Understand?  Anyway, she came to the end of the lane and asked me if I wanted to share.  She said she only had a few minutes left.  I asked the very large gentleman if he wanted it, he was first, and he let me go ahead.  By the time I got my cap and goggles on, she had already hopped out of the pool.  Why did she even ask me to share?  So, I did the nice thing and asked Mr. Large Man if he wanted to share.  He reluctantly said yes and warned me that he had a lot of gear.  He did.  He had a snorkel and GIANT fins.  I mean, giant.  They were like scuba fins but stiffer.  By the time he got all his junk together I had already swam like 500 yards.  When he did get swimming he was terrible.  Look, I shouldn't critique.  I'm no Michael Phelps.  But geesh.  He was splashing and flailing and not even using his fins at all.  Shoot.  If I was wearing those fins I would have been across the pool in three seconds.  At one point I came up for air and he splashed me full in the face.  Awesome.  I'm used to open water swimming.  I can handle that.  The another time he about took my arm off with his.  I was hugging the line to tightly I was touching it with every stroke and he still clothes-lined me.  By this point I had had enough.  I had only swam 1000 yards but it was enough.  I hopped out, collected my kid, and went on home.

Seriously, what time do I need to go to the pool to not have to share a lane or at least share a lane with someone who can actually swim?!?

Hang Up!!!

Manoj, this post is for you.

I realize that everyone has a cell phone. For me, it has revolutionized my work and has allowed me to own a business and have a life. But, come one people. Hang up! We live in an affluent part of town where everyone owns a big giant Range Rover and even if they don't try to, they flaunt their wealth. Today while riding my bike there were many big ol' cars that would creep through stop signs and not look at all for other traffic or for bikers. And every person I saw in these cars were talking on their cell phones. Here's what I don't understand...who are you talking to all the time and why are you ALWAYS on the phone in the car?! Ohio is not a place where you have to be hands-free, but I think it should be. Hang up your damn phone!!!

A Little Complaining

Being a business owner myself, I understand the importance of your customers having correct and accurate information. I also understand in this digital age how important it is to have information online because as a consumer I'm more likely to look for something on the internet while I'm sitting at my desk at work than doing any research at home.

Here are my complaints for week ending June 7th, 2008. ;)

We're busy people. Between working full time, running a business, training for our triathlons and running, we barely have time to do anything else. At one point this year we made the executive decision that it was time to outsource. Several months ago we hired someone to clean our house and it is wonderful. For a small amount of money, I get my house cleaned twice a month and it's one less thing I have to do myself. If I could find someone to grocery shop for me I would love that too. I wanted to hire someone this summer to do a little landscaping for us. I just need someone to weed and put down some new soil and new mulch. We have an acquaintance we used to go to church with who owns his own landscaping company. Yesterday while working so hard at work (that one's for you Noj) I tried to find his company online. Turns out he doesn't have a website. What?! Who doesn't have a website? Heck, my 6 year old niece was talking this week how she wanted to make a video and submit it to iCarly. She gets it. So now, he's probably not going to get my business.

At the company I work for, we have what are called "Summer Hours" in which I get every other 1/2 Friday off. Sounds great right? Well, the kicker is that I have to work those other hours during the week. So, it's not really that great a deal. Nonetheless, I'm taking advantage of it. Last Friday was the first week of Summer Hours and I went home around lunch time. It was a nice day outside and my plan was to go to the outdoor pool for a swim and then ride my bike. I had checked the pool's website and it said it opened Memorial Day weekend. When I got to the pool, however, it was baren. The gate was locked, there were no lifeguards, and I was the only one in the parking lot. What the...? On Monday, another nice day, I checked the website again, called the hotline (which said it was open), called the office like a million times, and finally sent them an e-mail. Yesterday I received a response. I guess the pool is only open on the weekends until school let out, which was yesterday. Today is the first day the pool is open all day. Here's the thing...UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE! Your website says the pool is open. If it's only open on the weekends, say it's only open on the weekends. Heck, I called your hotline and it said the pool was open. Change it!

You know, I didn't study business in school. The only business classes I took were economics and accounting and I hated both (although I loved engineering economics and even TAed for that class). But, I have enough logical sense to understand how business should work. People, you're killing me this week! If you are a business owner and you read this blog, make sure your information is correct and up to date.