Wishing Everyone
The Happest
and Best
For the New Year
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas Lights
These are our lights for Christmas. Electric ones and luminerias from our front door. Hard to take photos of lights.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Good Tidings
What ever you celebrate make it a good one.
Merry Christmas
Good Winter Solstice
Happy Holidays
Where ever you might be.
Merry Christmas
Good Winter Solstice
Happy Holidays
Where ever you might be.
Luminarias?
So you are asking what a luminaria is - it is simply a paper bag with dirt and a candle in it. Sounds weird to those who have never heard of such a thing, but to us here in New Mexico it is a Christmas tradition. Sometimes now they are called farolitos. When I was growing up I never heard them called that, but both Spanish words mean the same thing - small fires. For hundreds of years the tiny bonfires were lit to guide people to church for a Christmas mass. In time some said it was meant to guide the Christ Child, or St. Nick, to the homes with children where St. Nick or the Christ Child, depending on who is telling the story, would leave a gift for good children. When paper bags were invented it became tradition to put a small amount of sand, or dirt in the bottom of the bag for weight to keep the bag from blowing away, and a votive candle in the center. The sand will hopefully help to put the candle out if it catches the bag on fire.
People all over New Mexico and the southwest put out thousands of these luminarias on Christmas eve to light the way for Santa Claus, as well as for the fact that they look really nice. They even seem to blend in well with all the electric light displays that we are so fond of putting out for the holidays. I remember doing this back in the late 60's when I was in highschool, and I have done it off and on over the different Christmas's since, especially when my son was of an age where it was fun for him to do.
We hadn't done it for a number of years and tonight, Christmas Eve, spur of the moment, we decided to see if we could put a few out. They look best if you can do at a minimum 25 or so, but a 100 or more always looks better. Old Town Albuquerque always does thousands of them as well as a few other places in Albuquerque and other New Mexico towns. There are even bus tours in the Old Town area for those that don't want to fight the crowds of cars that line the streets to see the luminarias. Lots of people park and go walking among the luminarias and shop at the little shops that stay open on Christmas Eve for the festivities.
As I started to say we decided to put some out this year. It was already dark when we decided this but we have plenty of sand everywhere so that wasn't a problem. We located 20 bags and 18 candles. Soon we had a little fires lining the driveway to the house. There are no children here for St. Nick to visit and we don't go to church but made it feel more like Christmas to set them out.
People all over New Mexico and the southwest put out thousands of these luminarias on Christmas eve to light the way for Santa Claus, as well as for the fact that they look really nice. They even seem to blend in well with all the electric light displays that we are so fond of putting out for the holidays. I remember doing this back in the late 60's when I was in highschool, and I have done it off and on over the different Christmas's since, especially when my son was of an age where it was fun for him to do.
We hadn't done it for a number of years and tonight, Christmas Eve, spur of the moment, we decided to see if we could put a few out. They look best if you can do at a minimum 25 or so, but a 100 or more always looks better. Old Town Albuquerque always does thousands of them as well as a few other places in Albuquerque and other New Mexico towns. There are even bus tours in the Old Town area for those that don't want to fight the crowds of cars that line the streets to see the luminarias. Lots of people park and go walking among the luminarias and shop at the little shops that stay open on Christmas Eve for the festivities.
As I started to say we decided to put some out this year. It was already dark when we decided this but we have plenty of sand everywhere so that wasn't a problem. We located 20 bags and 18 candles. Soon we had a little fires lining the driveway to the house. There are no children here for St. Nick to visit and we don't go to church but made it feel more like Christmas to set them out.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas Cards
When I was a child growing up my mom would let me help her with the Christmas cards. At first all I could do was help pick out which ones to send to who. Later I could address them and put stamps on them. We would send them to just about everyone we knew. With a lot of friends it was the only time of the year we heard from them and there would be interesting letters in with the cards. Sometimes mom would let me write the letters we put in with our cards because it was in the time before computers. It was almost as exciting to get a Christmas card as it was to get a present.
But it seems that Christmas cards are now a thing of the pass. Even though I see stacks and stacks of boxes of cards in the stores, and I buy some and add letters or notes to them I never get as many back as I send out. I wonder if other people don't receive cards form their far away friends when they send them out? Or doesn't any one send out cards anymore? Am I the last of a dying breed of card senders? I would think that if I send out a card to you you could have the descentcy to return one or at least a letter. Or let me know that you don't want to receive them any more and I will not send any more. This year I have decided that if you don't respond I won't send you more.
But it seems that Christmas cards are now a thing of the pass. Even though I see stacks and stacks of boxes of cards in the stores, and I buy some and add letters or notes to them I never get as many back as I send out. I wonder if other people don't receive cards form their far away friends when they send them out? Or doesn't any one send out cards anymore? Am I the last of a dying breed of card senders? I would think that if I send out a card to you you could have the descentcy to return one or at least a letter. Or let me know that you don't want to receive them any more and I will not send any more. This year I have decided that if you don't respond I won't send you more.
Bad Weather
We have had a bit of snow and rain here but nothing like what is happening in the northern half of the United States. It is really nasty with tons of snow and broken water-main lines, electrical outages, no mail, and no deliveries of propane, or other heating oils and such, and airports closed down, and stranded travelers, people that can't get to their jobs, causing many cities and towns to basically close down. After watching what is going on every where else we can't complain about what is happening here.
Our wish for Christmas is not only peace on earth but that the weather slacks off so that everyone having problems, and troubles can have at least a halfway decent Christmas.
Our wish for Christmas is not only peace on earth but that the weather slacks off so that everyone having problems, and troubles can have at least a halfway decent Christmas.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Stormy
Stormy needed a little encourgement but then seemed to think he was having fun as can be seen in the photo to the right.
Santa Hat
Sonny agreed to pose in the Santa Hat as did all the other horses and ponies and even our cat Murphy who can be see at the end of this blog'
Crowbait
Here we are in the driveway. And ole' crowbait decided to let lose a big fart and scare himself so that he started crowhopping for a few seconds. I wasn't expecting that.
Ultimate Reality
THE LAWS OF ULTIMATE REALITY
Law of Mechanical Repair > After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
Law of Gravity > Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of Probability > The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of Random Numbers > If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
Law of the Alibi > If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law > If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Law of the Bath > When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law of the Nap > As soon as you doze off the phone will ring. (reminds me of the bath)
Law of Close Encounters > The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
Law of the Result > When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
Law of Biomechanics > The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of the Theater > At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the asle arrive last.
The Starbucks Law > As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy's Law of Lockers > If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Physical Surfaces > The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Brown's Law of Physical Appearance > If the shoe fits, it's ugly.
Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy > As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
Doctors' Law > If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.
Law of Mechanical Repair > After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
Law of Gravity > Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of Probability > The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of Random Numbers > If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
Law of the Alibi > If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law > If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Law of the Bath > When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law of the Nap > As soon as you doze off the phone will ring. (reminds me of the bath)
Law of Close Encounters > The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
Law of the Result > When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
Law of Biomechanics > The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of the Theater > At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the asle arrive last.
The Starbucks Law > As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy's Law of Lockers > If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Physical Surfaces > The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Brown's Law of Physical Appearance > If the shoe fits, it's ugly.
Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy > As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
Doctors' Law > If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Riding
I decided to ride Sonny today and Lee took a couple of photos. Wish I felt like riding more often. In this photo we are at the back of our property. Those are the Sandia Mountains behind be.
Customer Service
Good customer service has become a dying art. No one seems to be able to do it. Especially big business.
I have had to make several calls to big business companies in the past few weeks. Calls to credit card companies, TV companies, and companies where I want to buy something. I have had one really big problem with these companies. No one speaks decent American/English at the call centers. Why don't they speak good American? Its because the call centers arn't in the United States. I'm sure everyone has experienced this problem. It is beyond me why so many companies in the US are 'building' all their call centers in other countries - places like India, and the Philippines. There are a higher number of Americans out of work than ever and yet we have to try -note I say try - to talk to someone in another country. Someone who doesn't speak English or even Spanish as a first language. And, Yes, they do speak a type of Spanish in the Philippines but not the same thing that is spoken in most of the US.
Why arn't business keeping their call centers in the US where someone can have a job and we can understand what they are saying. It would help keep our economy better and keep the customers happier.
No one wants to talk to someone in another country when they are having a problem right in their own home.
On last Friday my husband and I received a card from DirectTV saying that we could get a new, upgraded, control box as a free gift for being with the company for 10 years. So I called to get the new box as ours is several years old and our satellite dish was 10 years old. having this old equipment meant that we couldn't get our local channels from Albuquerque without turning off the DirectTV box.
It took me 2 days, and about 3 hours of first talking to people in another country that couldn't understand what I was talking about and that I couldn't understand half of what they were saying. Finally I was transferred to a tec in Florida. But still she didn't want to believe that we couldn't get the local channels on our equipment. She insisted that we go through an hour of doing this and that on the remote control to see if what I was telling her was true. Finally - finally she agreed to send the new box, and satellite.
It was as if she was going to do everything she could to keep from having to send us new equipment even though we had been sent this card saying we were loyal customers that deserved it.
Why, oh, why does big business think that they have to do their best to make their customers seem as stupid as possible, when it is big business that is stupid.
I have had several other people say that they are having the same problems with Dish TV and the cable companies. Credit card companies are some of the worst.
Why does a company that wants customers in the US give us such hell when we call to resolve a problem. When we want to remain their customers if they would just give a little decent customer service.
I have had to make several calls to big business companies in the past few weeks. Calls to credit card companies, TV companies, and companies where I want to buy something. I have had one really big problem with these companies. No one speaks decent American/English at the call centers. Why don't they speak good American? Its because the call centers arn't in the United States. I'm sure everyone has experienced this problem. It is beyond me why so many companies in the US are 'building' all their call centers in other countries - places like India, and the Philippines. There are a higher number of Americans out of work than ever and yet we have to try -note I say try - to talk to someone in another country. Someone who doesn't speak English or even Spanish as a first language. And, Yes, they do speak a type of Spanish in the Philippines but not the same thing that is spoken in most of the US.
Why arn't business keeping their call centers in the US where someone can have a job and we can understand what they are saying. It would help keep our economy better and keep the customers happier.
No one wants to talk to someone in another country when they are having a problem right in their own home.
On last Friday my husband and I received a card from DirectTV saying that we could get a new, upgraded, control box as a free gift for being with the company for 10 years. So I called to get the new box as ours is several years old and our satellite dish was 10 years old. having this old equipment meant that we couldn't get our local channels from Albuquerque without turning off the DirectTV box.
It took me 2 days, and about 3 hours of first talking to people in another country that couldn't understand what I was talking about and that I couldn't understand half of what they were saying. Finally I was transferred to a tec in Florida. But still she didn't want to believe that we couldn't get the local channels on our equipment. She insisted that we go through an hour of doing this and that on the remote control to see if what I was telling her was true. Finally - finally she agreed to send the new box, and satellite.
It was as if she was going to do everything she could to keep from having to send us new equipment even though we had been sent this card saying we were loyal customers that deserved it.
Why, oh, why does big business think that they have to do their best to make their customers seem as stupid as possible, when it is big business that is stupid.
I have had several other people say that they are having the same problems with Dish TV and the cable companies. Credit card companies are some of the worst.
Why does a company that wants customers in the US give us such hell when we call to resolve a problem. When we want to remain their customers if they would just give a little decent customer service.
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