Does everyone remember that book Everybody Poops? In case you don’t, it is a book about how every living animal and person poops, and how it is just a part of nature. Now boys I know that may scare you since you think girls don’t, but it is true, everybody does it. This little natural fun fact also applies to dogs. Naturally as dogs are living animals they need to poop, and it is the responsibility of the owner to pick up the poop. So, seriously, STOP leaving your dogs poop all over the ground.
Dog’s are man’s best friends. They are cute and cuddly. They are always happy to see you. They are great companions. However, dogs are not self-sufficient creatures that can live with no care. They are dependent on humans for the things they need and as an owner it is your job to provide those things.
Last I checked, people in America were not required to have a dog. This means that all the dog owners out there are volunteering to take on the responsibility of having a dog. I don’t know if they weren’t aware when they got the pet that they had certain obligations, but let me lay them out for all you dog owners here. When you have a dog you need to feed it, give it water, give it exercise of some kind, take it out to go to the bath room, and then pick up any mess it might make. It is like having a child that is less high maintenance, but still needs attention and care. If you want a pet you don’t have to do much to take care of get a cat.
As a dog owner I totally understand that sometimes I don’t feel like doing the responsible thing, but I also remember when I have stepped in something unpleasant. It is not someone else’s problem that I have a dog; it was my choice to get it, and my job to take care of it!
Gilda Radner once said, “I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; thy give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.” I think we should all learn to love and respect from our dogs example, and clean up the poop. Everybody does it, but we can’t just leave it laying around!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Seriously, STOP 8
Working in the food service industry is hard. The work is usually physically demanding, and the workers are on their feet all day or night. The hours are typically contrary to normal business hours, leaving the workers personal lives for odd hours. Finally, these workers have to deal with rude people who expect them to drop everything they are doing for their other 5 tables to fetch them something from the kitchen. So seriously, STOP leaving crappy tips!
Although I am now a teacher, I did work in restaurants for about 6 years so I have a good frame of reference when I say it is a difficult job. Now I will admit the individual things a waiter has to do are not hard. I mean seriously, pouring a drink and carrying a plate are obviously simple tasks. However, I say the job is difficult because it is hard to remember everything that everyone wants, while dealing with computer glitches, the kitchen and dish staff not doing their jobs, running out of food or drinks, listening to the manager spout off about random grievances, all while seeing to it that everyone is happy. It is a lot to juggle! And the big pay out for this highly stressful juggling act is a whopping $2.17 an hour.
Servers rely on their tips. These tips are what their salary consists of. If a server works a 40 hour work week and they make no tips their check for the week is only $80. Can you live off of $80 a week? I don’t think so!! Tips should be equivalent to the service you receive, but all tips should start at at least 20% of the total bill. If they are a bad server bump it down, but only do so if the server is rude or never visits the table. If they forget one little thing, and you can see they are busy cut them some slack, remember they are juggling 10 things at once.
I know it is hard to see your hard earned money float away as a tip, but it was your choice to eat at a restaurant with a server. If you don’t want to tip take a trip to the local McDonalds. They serve everything on a tray and you only have to pay for the food. When you go to a restaurant you are paying to be served, so pay up with your tip! It is like they say, customers want, “Service with a smile.” Servers just want tips for their service, so everyone seriously, STOP leaving crappy tips!
Although I am now a teacher, I did work in restaurants for about 6 years so I have a good frame of reference when I say it is a difficult job. Now I will admit the individual things a waiter has to do are not hard. I mean seriously, pouring a drink and carrying a plate are obviously simple tasks. However, I say the job is difficult because it is hard to remember everything that everyone wants, while dealing with computer glitches, the kitchen and dish staff not doing their jobs, running out of food or drinks, listening to the manager spout off about random grievances, all while seeing to it that everyone is happy. It is a lot to juggle! And the big pay out for this highly stressful juggling act is a whopping $2.17 an hour.
Servers rely on their tips. These tips are what their salary consists of. If a server works a 40 hour work week and they make no tips their check for the week is only $80. Can you live off of $80 a week? I don’t think so!! Tips should be equivalent to the service you receive, but all tips should start at at least 20% of the total bill. If they are a bad server bump it down, but only do so if the server is rude or never visits the table. If they forget one little thing, and you can see they are busy cut them some slack, remember they are juggling 10 things at once.
I know it is hard to see your hard earned money float away as a tip, but it was your choice to eat at a restaurant with a server. If you don’t want to tip take a trip to the local McDonalds. They serve everything on a tray and you only have to pay for the food. When you go to a restaurant you are paying to be served, so pay up with your tip! It is like they say, customers want, “Service with a smile.” Servers just want tips for their service, so everyone seriously, STOP leaving crappy tips!
Seriously, STOP 8
Working in the food service industry is hard. The work is usually physically demanding, and the workers are on their feet all day or night. The hours are typically contrary to normal business hours, leaving the workers personal lives for odd hours. Finally, these workers have to deal with rude people who expect them to drop everything they are doing for their other 5 tables to fetch them something from the kitchen. So seriously, STOP leaving crappy tips!
Although I am now a teacher, I did work in restaurants for about 6 years so I have a good frame of reference when I say it is a difficult job. Now I will admit the individual things a waiter has to do are not hard. I mean seriously, pouring a drink and carrying a plate are obviously simple tasks. However, I say the job is difficult because it is hard to remember everything that everyone wants, while dealing with computer glitches, the kitchen and dish staff not doing their jobs, running out of food or drinks, listening to the manager spout off about random grievances, all while seeing to it that everyone is happy. It is a lot to juggle! And the big pay out for this highly stressful juggling act is a whopping $2.17 an hour.
Servers rely on their tips. These tips are what their salary consists of. If a server works a 40 hour work week and they make no tips their check for the week is only $80. Can you live off of $80 a week? I don’t think so!! Tips should be equivalent to the service you receive, but all tips should start at at least 20% of the total bill. If they are a bad server bump it down, but only do so if the server is rude or never visits the table. If they forget one little thing, and you can see they are busy cut them some slack, remember they are juggling 10 things at once.
I know it is hard to see your hard earned money float away as a tip, but it was your choice to eat at a restaurant with a server. If you don’t want to tip take a trip to the local McDonalds. They serve everything on a tray and you only have to pay for the food. When you go to a restaurant you are paying to be served, so pay up with your tip! It is like they say, customers want, “Service with a smile.” Servers just want tips for their service, so everyone seriously, STOP leaving crappy tips!
Although I am now a teacher, I did work in restaurants for about 6 years so I have a good frame of reference when I say it is a difficult job. Now I will admit the individual things a waiter has to do are not hard. I mean seriously, pouring a drink and carrying a plate are obviously simple tasks. However, I say the job is difficult because it is hard to remember everything that everyone wants, while dealing with computer glitches, the kitchen and dish staff not doing their jobs, running out of food or drinks, listening to the manager spout off about random grievances, all while seeing to it that everyone is happy. It is a lot to juggle! And the big pay out for this highly stressful juggling act is a whopping $2.17 an hour.
Servers rely on their tips. These tips are what their salary consists of. If a server works a 40 hour work week and they make no tips their check for the week is only $80. Can you live off of $80 a week? I don’t think so!! Tips should be equivalent to the service you receive, but all tips should start at at least 20% of the total bill. If they are a bad server bump it down, but only do so if the server is rude or never visits the table. If they forget one little thing, and you can see they are busy cut them some slack, remember they are juggling 10 things at once.
I know it is hard to see your hard earned money float away as a tip, but it was your choice to eat at a restaurant with a server. If you don’t want to tip take a trip to the local McDonalds. They serve everything on a tray and you only have to pay for the food. When you go to a restaurant you are paying to be served, so pay up with your tip! It is like they say, customers want, “Service with a smile.” Servers just want tips for their service, so everyone seriously, STOP leaving crappy tips!
Seriously, STOP 7
America is a capitalistic society that thrives on material possessions to determine status. We want that shiny foreign car, and expensive jewelry. We want to be dressed in the nicest things, and eat the best food. We want to be part of the elite. But really we can’t keep up with the Joneses, and we need to take a lesson from those who don’t try to. Most of us need to Seriously, STOP buying things we can’t afford.
There is a population of people in America who are intelligent, rich, privileged, and have multiple homes to vacation in. This does not apply to most of us though. Most of us middle class working Americans are just scraping by. And many of us are going to lose our grip if we don’t start spending.
There have been numerous specials lately on the spending of money, and how people don’t NEED a manicure and pedicure, or Starbucks, or a $200 pair of jeans, or an SUV. There have been specials showing people who bought a $500,000 home with no savings in case they lost their job. We keep seeing bankruptcy and foreclosures. So when does it stop? When do people realize they can’t afford the way they are living?
If the recession we are in stays on the track it is on, many of us are in some real trouble. We need to start talking to our frugal friend to get some advice, which will start with the simple things. If we don’t have the money we should eat out, do unnecessary grooming, bye new cars or homes, shop for things we don’t need or go on vacations. Those are all fun things to do, but we are digging ourselves into a hole. We need to ask, is this something I NEED?
When I was a child my mother answered this question for me a lot. I would want a new bike, and she would tell me I had one. I would want a new Barbie, and she would say I had 10. I would want a candy bar, and she would tell me we would have dinner soon. Where did this voice go and why can’t I find it for myself? The time has come to find the voice and listen!
My mother once said to me, “I don’t have a money tree growing in the back yard.” I think we all need to remember that money trees don’t exist, so we all need to seriously, stop spending without thinking.
There is a population of people in America who are intelligent, rich, privileged, and have multiple homes to vacation in. This does not apply to most of us though. Most of us middle class working Americans are just scraping by. And many of us are going to lose our grip if we don’t start spending.
There have been numerous specials lately on the spending of money, and how people don’t NEED a manicure and pedicure, or Starbucks, or a $200 pair of jeans, or an SUV. There have been specials showing people who bought a $500,000 home with no savings in case they lost their job. We keep seeing bankruptcy and foreclosures. So when does it stop? When do people realize they can’t afford the way they are living?
If the recession we are in stays on the track it is on, many of us are in some real trouble. We need to start talking to our frugal friend to get some advice, which will start with the simple things. If we don’t have the money we should eat out, do unnecessary grooming, bye new cars or homes, shop for things we don’t need or go on vacations. Those are all fun things to do, but we are digging ourselves into a hole. We need to ask, is this something I NEED?
When I was a child my mother answered this question for me a lot. I would want a new bike, and she would tell me I had one. I would want a new Barbie, and she would say I had 10. I would want a candy bar, and she would tell me we would have dinner soon. Where did this voice go and why can’t I find it for myself? The time has come to find the voice and listen!
My mother once said to me, “I don’t have a money tree growing in the back yard.” I think we all need to remember that money trees don’t exist, so we all need to seriously, stop spending without thinking.
Seriously, STOP 6
All day long I listen to high school girls complain about boys. All night long I listen to my single adult friends complain about “men”. And all I want to say to them is, Seriously, STOP dating someone you don’t even like.
We have all had the toxic relationships where we have so much chemistry with a person that our brain tricks us into thinking they are “the one.” Well I have news folks, that is a pheromone thing sometimes, not fate knocking on your door. We all need to take a step back from dating to see what we really want from a relationship. If the person we are with is not providing that, and we aren’t married, it is time to say good bye.
I have a friend who has been with her boyfriend now for a year. They have broken up a few times, because they can’t provide what the other needs. However, they always come back. (I am telling you it’s the pheromones!) Recently they have been on the track to be broken up. She doesn’t like that he can’t tell her he loves her, and he doesn’t like that she is so in need of that. This to her is an essential part of the relationship because she doesn’t want to be with someone for this long that doesn’t love her. So my question is why are they still together? Why do we wait for something that may never happen? Isn’t there some breaking point that has to be the end all?
For many relationships I see there is so much compromise, and chipping away at who the people are. Isn’t the point of a relationship to better yourself and the other person, not to break each other down? I need to go with Shakesphere on this one, “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” And for some of the people out there it is time for them to lose the person they are with before they lose themselves!
We have all had the toxic relationships where we have so much chemistry with a person that our brain tricks us into thinking they are “the one.” Well I have news folks, that is a pheromone thing sometimes, not fate knocking on your door. We all need to take a step back from dating to see what we really want from a relationship. If the person we are with is not providing that, and we aren’t married, it is time to say good bye.
I have a friend who has been with her boyfriend now for a year. They have broken up a few times, because they can’t provide what the other needs. However, they always come back. (I am telling you it’s the pheromones!) Recently they have been on the track to be broken up. She doesn’t like that he can’t tell her he loves her, and he doesn’t like that she is so in need of that. This to her is an essential part of the relationship because she doesn’t want to be with someone for this long that doesn’t love her. So my question is why are they still together? Why do we wait for something that may never happen? Isn’t there some breaking point that has to be the end all?
For many relationships I see there is so much compromise, and chipping away at who the people are. Isn’t the point of a relationship to better yourself and the other person, not to break each other down? I need to go with Shakesphere on this one, “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” And for some of the people out there it is time for them to lose the person they are with before they lose themselves!
Seriously, STOP 5
I remember back to a time of men opening doors, and needing a quarter for the pay phone; a time of shoelace hair ties, and scrunch socks; a time when I could go to a restaurant, bank, post office, park, and grocery store without hearing what was happening in someone else’s life. It was the time that I call the pre- cell phone era.
People… you need to SERIOUSLY, STOP with the cell phones!!
I realize the cell phone craze came fast and suddenly, and that people haven’t had a chance to check Emily Post’s rule on cell phone etiquette. But really people, you know you don’t want to hear someone’s conversation so why would you think they want to hear yours?
I think it has to do with our co-dependency issues as Americans. All of a sudden with the magical cell phone we can feel loved and wanted no matter where we are! We can talk to people near and far, and other people around us will know we are loved and wanted. When did we stop having the ability to be alone? When did we all of a sudden develop this complex that tells us we need human contact at all times?
The bluetooths are the worst though! The tiny device that goes in your ear that not only allows you to have your hands free, but also makes you look like you are talking to yourself. I mean really people, it was bad enough when we knew you were on the phone; now we look at you and think you could be talking to us, then we realize your not and we look stupid for thinking you were. All the while you are really the crazy one talking to thin air. IT HAS TO STOP!!
All I ask is think before you speak. Then only use that cell phone if necessary. It is rude to impose your life on someone you don’t know, and all we need is mercy. So when you are about to get on that cell phone think about Will Rogers advice to, “Never miss an opportunity to shut up.” You may find you can make it with out the jabbering!
People… you need to SERIOUSLY, STOP with the cell phones!!
I realize the cell phone craze came fast and suddenly, and that people haven’t had a chance to check Emily Post’s rule on cell phone etiquette. But really people, you know you don’t want to hear someone’s conversation so why would you think they want to hear yours?
I think it has to do with our co-dependency issues as Americans. All of a sudden with the magical cell phone we can feel loved and wanted no matter where we are! We can talk to people near and far, and other people around us will know we are loved and wanted. When did we stop having the ability to be alone? When did we all of a sudden develop this complex that tells us we need human contact at all times?
The bluetooths are the worst though! The tiny device that goes in your ear that not only allows you to have your hands free, but also makes you look like you are talking to yourself. I mean really people, it was bad enough when we knew you were on the phone; now we look at you and think you could be talking to us, then we realize your not and we look stupid for thinking you were. All the while you are really the crazy one talking to thin air. IT HAS TO STOP!!
All I ask is think before you speak. Then only use that cell phone if necessary. It is rude to impose your life on someone you don’t know, and all we need is mercy. So when you are about to get on that cell phone think about Will Rogers advice to, “Never miss an opportunity to shut up.” You may find you can make it with out the jabbering!
Seriously, STOP 4
Seriously, STOP 4...As a teacher there are some things you want to do to help your students succeed. However, we all need to sraw the line somewhere, and I have drawn the line at caring more than they do. Teenagers need to Seriously, STOP being so apathetic.The war against the teenager has gone on for centuries, and maybe I am just getting old enough to realize why people have been so frustrated all these years. It isn't because teens are stupid, it is because they are lazy. They want everything handed to them. And I proclaim right here that I quit perpetuating their problem!I recently gave a speech to my class of sophomore language arts students about the PSAT (which they get to take for free), the SAT and college requirements. My lower level classes all looked terrified as I spoke. They were realizing that their grades from last year counted and they probably were not getting in to UGA the way they planned. However, they were more concerned with that than how to fix what they had messed up. My "honors" students however were terrible. They seemed bothered that I would want to tell them about this test they should be taking in the next year or so. They seemed to look at me like I was crazy as I told them the entrance requirements. And then their was the straw that broke the camels back!! A girl looks me dead in the eye and says, "We are in honors, this is not something we need to worry about." I was speechless!It occured to me that these "honors" kids think that they are so smart the requirements don't matter. They don't care about studying for some stupid test. They are smart, they always get an A or a B, so how could they possibly do poorly on the SAT? This example of apathetic behavior is not in isolation. They need to seriously, STOP, and so do we!We as teachers need to stop catering to their every need and follow the old Chinese proverbial saying, "Give a man a fish he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." We need to stop giving up our fish, and they need to stop expecting us to!!
Seriously, STOP 3
Seriously, STOP...3I like being around people. I love to study them and see them for who they are. I like to figure people out, see what makes them tick, and experience life through their eyes. Because this is a part of me and my core values I wish that people would seriously, STOP... discriminating.We all have stereotypes that we think of when identifying people, and teaching in a high school I am reminded of these things everyday. In high school kids are very obvious about their discrimination as they fall into cliques. We have the poor kids, the middle class kids and the rich kids. They divide up by activities, musical preference, race, and grade. I can see the discrimination if I walk through the lunch room, and I am disheartened.I understand that there are people in this world that I will not click with, and will not like. I think it is ludicris to think we can all just get along. However, we need to stop deciding not to get along because of our differences. We need to stop staying away from others just because they are not the same.I thought that when I grew up these things wouldn't be an issue, but the real truth is that I think it is worse. I am exhausted by the negativity, so if everyone could seriously, stop discriminating life would be a whole lot easier.There was a man who once had a dream, and it wasn't just about being black or white, it was about all of us appreciating and respecting each other despite differences.
Seriously, STOP 2
Seriously, STOP 2...I think it is a natural goal for people to want to look good. We generally want to be attractive, and we want to feel good about ourselves. But come on, SERIOUSLY STOP... wearing clothes that don't fit!Ladies, skinny jeans are for skinny people, not everyone! They are called skinny jeans for a reason, but it is not because they make you look skinnny. In fact, if you have any body shape besides a waif or pseudo anorexic, those "skinny jeans" make you look like a big girl in some tiny pants. You are not doing yourselves any favors, please wear pants that are made for your body type.And fellas... you are not off the hook either. Your jeans are no better! First lets start with the "baggy bottoms". Boys, why would you want to make your bottom half look like a tent? And why would you want to hold on to your pants when you walk? You all look silly in those big pants, but the boys in the skinny jeans are just as guilty as the girls. If you are one of the boys pouring yourself into these super tiny pants, stop! We don't need to see the outline of your anatomy that closely.The lesson here is this, no one wants to see the following: muffin tops, pany lines, boxers over the belt, thongs, bottom cracks, smashed kankles, rippling thighs, or camel toe. Please do us all and yourself a favors and buy pants that are flattering. You will look better, feel better, and people will probably treat you better. Everyone while looks are not everything, it is nice to get a compliment. So I will close with the advice of a one Zoolander, "I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. And I plan on finding out what that is."
Seriously, STOP 1
Everyone in the world has issues they have to deal with. For some of us it is money and piles of grad school debt, for others it is a cheating husband, and for others yet it is a screaming child. But everyone, SERIOUSLY, STOP… being negative and complaining all the time. By now all of us have heard Oprah and every other celebrity talk about “The Secret”. The power of positive thought, and how it can change our lives for the better is not a new concept. The use of idea boards all over the country have sparked a wave of positive energy that people hope to get back. With all this happening why are so many of us still complaining? Does it really make anyone feel better?We all have that co-worker who makes a special trip to tell us how bad her day is. She goes over every detail with elaborate descriptions that make Steinbeck look like he got straight to the point in his 600 page novels. She will stay there for 20 minutes to make sure that you feel the gravity of her situation, which could be as small as her boyfriend didn’t call last night, and then she leaves you there with all this negativity floating in the air. Now I ask, after this happens do you feel better? Do you feel like you can face the world with a smile? Are you excited about life? No… you feel emotionally drained from listening to her and you are probably going to tell someone about it. This is your chance to stop the merry go round and get undizzied from the ride. You just have to Seriously, stop complaining and being negative. It is for your you and the people around you!!So, everyone take a deep breath, clear your mind, and realize that the world will not stop spinning if something bad happens. Believe that everything will work out and it usually will. It is not a cliché for a reason. And if you don’t believe me take the advice of Frederick Douglas, “Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must certainly pay for all they get.”
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