Going Rogue...a RANT from the heart - the current state of business!

Today is tough times for many, particularly for Americans.  For my International readers this might be enlightening - it's my hard view from the trenches.  Since everyone has the attention span of a gnat - I'll keep my thoughts in bullet form. Please find it in your brain to at least 'read'- and also feel free to write me... and more importantly spread this message  .....

• For the past 30 years our American economy has been eroding from a proud strong 'manufacturing' base to one of lower priced 'consumption.'  the jig is now up....music has stopped.

• This unfortunate shift started small and has been fueled by our politicians who for their own self -interests, created neat tax incentives to help businesses move all aspects of production overseas.

•  Quietly, this 'movement' has destroyed American jobs (it's true) and worse-yet created a mindset and out-of-control demand for lower priced goods and services.

• Now, even the overseas manufactured goods are sold at a discount! This insatiable appetite for thinking that everything can or must be produced for less - slams the job market particularly hard and deeply hurts Americans.  Americans then support this demand because they don't have extra $$. Gas prices rise along with basic food items and Americans are stuck in this downward spiral.

• Companies are guilty of 'tippy toeing' around age-discrimination laws by calling it a 'position elimination' substituting capable older workers for much younger less experienced and cheaper personnel. 

•  In our culture then, (because they are more expensive) wisdom and experience is no longer valued and the older talent (especially very much needed in today's times)  is now found hanging out at Starbucks looking for non-existent 'good jobs'.

• What is left in the ashes of business and for those who are fortunate to still be working, they find themselves frantic working the job of 3-4 people.   This then contributes to health problems and chronic low productivity in the work place and from one report I read, costs our economy over +60 billion dollars yearly.  

• Everyone it seems, is in 'survival-mode', chronically exhausted, overloaded and stressed out to new levels. 

So what do we do?  How can we help ourselves????!

Because I don't have time to 'fix' this problem...(too busy working) .... I am throwing this out for consideration among my readers...note; I don't have an Economics background, so this is good old-fashioned common sense.

AMERICANS NEED TO Immediately START A SOCIAL MOVEMENT TO CONSCIOUSLY SUPPORT AND BUY AMERICAN GOODS! 

Can we all say 'DUH' here?!

 I'm not talking a cute 'marketing buzz' here- I'm talking about a full on social MOVEMENT for 100% MADE IN THE USA brands!  'Occupy our Economy'... as in buy things!   This idea (because the numbers are massive) like the 22 yr. old who 'moved' the Banks- ...can immediately create the demand needed and the opportunity for new jobs.  When people don't have a job they don't buy anything... more 'DUH' 

To further fire up this message.... just give this quote a moment of your time....and visualize it!

'400 people control more wealth than 150 MILLION of their fellow Americans'   and no, I did not make this up to be 'funny' :) ... it's from The New York Times 8/6/11 article by Drew Westen.  Sounds like someone has been cheating in Monopoly! It's an inequity worse than Bangladesh- this can't possibly be America!

It's hard for me to not visualize the 400 people...sitting properly upright in my children's school auditorium.  They would be chins high- pinky extended... eating all the 'cake' leaving the crumbs for the rest of us!  tsk tsk... now there's not even a broom left.  From this inequity, we now know the financial community won't be helping... you can't even get a loan for a good idea let alone a new house.  WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY HELP OURSELVES - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Aside from reading all labels of what you plan to buy; ...

 Here is my 'stimulus plan';

- FIRST; throw the elected officials out-of-office - replace with honorable Americans who know how to keep their hands in their pockets and understand the meaning of representing the best interests of America.  

- SECOND; show a little compassion for people who are struggling.  Emotional help or otherwise.  If friends are 'on-fire' .... don't stand in their driveway with a Dixie cup of water!  This 'cancer' of no-jobs could easily and quickly strike you or someone close to you.  Everyone is venerable. (ok, not the lucky 400) but Baby Boomers are particularly at risk.

- THIRD; give thought to the idea of raising awareness even within your local stores to highlight and feature 100% Made in America goods- if enough of us are asking and looking we just might start seeing sections or aisles popping up!   This is like 'ingredient labeling'...! Americans need to know where the goods they are buying come from.   Also, be responsible and remember when you buy overseas goods you are only hurting yourself right now.  Looking for a gift for this holiday season?  I would recommend starting here I CHOOSE AMERICAN  (exquisite American made goods)

- FOURTH;  be conscious... be alert... be mad when you see people (especially those that speak in forked tongue about American made things) to then push massive deals on TV with overseas made goods  - try to have some self control- don't buy it and then 'bust' them through twitter or FB.

- and finally... if you are emotionally paralyzed and sleepless from all this - don't take sleeping pills.... you may need Goodnighties Recovery Sleepwear  (and yes, this brand is 100% MADE IN THE USA)

Give yourself a pat on the back if you got through this - I'm very proud of you! and that I might add,  is a good start:)  Thank you!
xo
The International Laundress

Halloween 'Sheep' Counting... nothing better!

It's been another great Halloween! ..... Emma our Old English Sheepdog is always a good sport in her  'Sheep' Costume ... Her sister 'Lollipop', was on board as well (although looks a bit reluctant here!) she is the perfect 'black sheep.'  :)

Happy Halloween!

nite nite (er, I mean Goodnighties to all!)

xo

The International Laundress!

Tricks are TREATS for me! Happy Halloween!

As I've stated before, my ultimate life-goal is to be alone in the woods, painting - birds chirping with an occasional visit from a sweet cleaning lady - so to put a 'visual' to that  'dream' here is my inspiration...  an original painting by my wonderfully talented art instructor, Didier Nolet. 

After my favorite part of my day -- sleeping -- I carefully open one eye before hitting the whirling mess and noise (in my real life) and gaze at this painting.  You might like to take a break too! :)

So now on to the title of this post!  Since the Halloween-of-my-life- began - the new 'normal' - I have 'trick's' that have become 'treats' for me....and the fact that I think these are great ideas, just speaks to how low I am in this abyss of Parenting.

Yes, I am aware that this is not a 'box' but a deco basket !

The first brilliant suggestion is one that I can't take credit for. It's from a dear friend who is also an older Mom in 'survival mode' who was not only blessed with one child - but then twins!   She personally developed what we call the 'SOCK BOX'.    It was something my family  easily transitioned to ... and it was especially  liberating for me.   I was tired of looking at a large bag of 'sock orphans' and my friend  happily suggested the 'SOCK BOX SYSTEM' that has worked for her for years.    All I can say is.... it was invigorating for me !   As I age, I tend to care a WHOLE lot less about things like matching socks.  I wasn't always like this and was actually horrified one day when I saw Darling Son running in a soccer game in one bright green sock and one maroon-colored sock (when his team was 'blue') but later concluded it was a benefit for me as my eyes were failing and it was easier to 'spot' him!  Yet another defining moment for me! :)

Another 'system' that has also evolved around here stems from having neat beautiful laundry baskets for each child that quickly  and conveniently for them, morphed into portable 'drawers' to never be seen again.  We now have a fitting place for newly washed clothes... (Brace yourself, Grammie )   an oversized chair in the middle of the living room! it works for us - we are now like a family of crows picking through the pile as we breeze by.  If we have guests, this 'pile' then goes into a laundry basket to temporarily 'hold' - for the next dump (so we are still using them!)

I know these are not ideas for Real Simple Magazine.  The editors would puke to see such a sight. I 'get it' and like my life, things are still completely and utterly disorganized but you can't say their clothes aren't clean... ok, I know they're stained.

Someday... as I day dream about my house in the woods I'll have clothes too, that aren't dull, stained, wrinkled and all mixed together.   It will be nice.

xo

The International Laundress

'Daddy's Little Fatty'... Mystery Solved! Once Again, Communication Issues Abound!

For awhile now, we have been singing the  old C & W song by Bob Wills, with a lyric line.... 'Daddy's Little Fatty' when referring to our beloved dog, Lollipop.  Her physique has changed this summer and I was blaming the weather and sadly on her behalf, no one pays attention to anything around here -- like robots in forward movement only ... chugging through daily things....not giving a wit of thought to anything. (especially things of routine)

Today, much to my surprise, Darling Daughter stated....'I hope you're NOT feeding the dogs after me'...huh? she even added...'I thought you'd know!'  (since apparently the dogs now talk to her!) It turns out that after we started insisting that she put 'The Girls' out at 5 am it seems she was also feeding them.  Then in line like a programmed robot....Good Sport Husband would feed them AGAIN each morning too !   I guess, they didn't 'tell' him they were 'full' LOL... woof woof  :)    So our dogs (for quite a while now) have been fed 3 TIMES a day !!

Lollipop... a cozy pillow these days!

This now explains the term; 'Daddy's Little Fatty'... our black Border Collie/ Chow Chow mix.... I actually thought she was having menopause-like symptoms....she hates the hot weather and is gaining weight.  Lollipop also doesn't run nearly as often as Emma (the Sheepdog) who is 3 years older.  So that explains it.  One of the great mysteries around here is solved....now the idea of buying expensive dog food all this time has also been solved.  a 2-fer today.

And for my toe-tapping readers - here is the fun Bob Wills C&W song... 'Daddy's Little Fatty'  ... :) really called 'Roly Poly'- it will bring a smile to your face!  For those of you with ADHD ... be patient because the words in this song begin after a :45 second fast clip intro... hang in there!  it's really cute!

xoxo
Ya'll have a good day!
The International Laundress

Attention Spans..... itired, istressed....NEED SLEEP Zzzz

Warning:  This is not a silly rip on my family - but a needed RANT! :)  ......  I feel better already! :)

You would think that I would be 'seasoned' to a life of short attention spans, after all ... I've been watching people with ADHD (which is my whole family) and seeing them actually become 'distracted-from-shiny-things' before it was a popular phrase! ..... What I believe now cranks this idea into a new gear are all the electronic gadgets (shiny and non shiny) beckoning our attention 24/7.   One would think that having a laptop, ipad/tablet or smart phone would make life easier, but I think it complicates things if you start getting some volume and you are not used to managing things this way.  (like I am)   In addition to this mindset and new way of communicating is the FACT that most people today are in 'survival mode' for their own lively hood.  Everyone is stressed-out and chronically exhausted with information overload....  An unfortunate fact indeed. 

For me, being  in the field of Marketing & Communications for years... I had always learned that you research first, then nurture contacts - write them - personalize a message to their needs and in most cases they will respond.  Could I really have been that stupid!?!  The eye opener for me today is  how people (even friends) have no time for anything except their own survival.  No malice is intended I know, but after months and months of email 'follow-up' I've determined it really is a ridiculous way to communicate. 

At first, I thought I had 'email halitosis' :) 

The 'new professionals' are now hiding behind their computers armed with a simple 'delete' button... tsk, tsk... and  spending time finding phone numbers today is like being a private investigator  -- and as soon as your area code is i.d.-ed... you're done.  It's worse than breaking through a castle fortress!  

Editors proclaim;...'We'd LOVE to hear from you!' that is,... until you write! :)  Friends have no time to even respond to a quick question - lost in their fast stream of other things to do....even old friendships are scorched on the back burner.   I am sure that I am far from alone, but is this really a way to conduct business (or  basic friendship)?!   It's like the 8th wonder of the world. 

Our sluggish economy contributes to this problem and is fueled by crisis reports fanned into flames by the Media .... most reports are true, but where are the suggestions for improvement?  oops ...just saw something shiny (and it's not a coin) ....
.....has the whole world 'caught' ADHD?    Unemployment is frightening and filling Starbucks over sized chairs with talent nationwide .... older workers are replaced by younger, inexperienced cheaper workers .... compassion, loyalty and basic manners are forever gone.     So I spend my work day writing to 'Santa' ho, ho, ho... it's ironic too, because the brand I represent is now needed more than ever! Everyone is just wiped out from life...
   

Ok, I'm coming out of the closet... (er, I mean drawer).... for the past 70+ posts I have created funny words that link a wild life to the important connection to SLEEP. (in case any of you have paid attention to that).  The connection is still there, but I am going to take it to a new level (are you still with me here?).... it's new sleepwear that I personally discovered  (then joined the company) that really helps me sleep better. The brand is called Goodnighties Recovery Sleepwear  and I am also thrilled to say that it is 100%  Made in the USA .... hmm, maybe that's the answer to our problems?  Think clearly about that for a second and think about how your life might change by consciously buying 100%American Made Goods... hmm?  create demand here (in the U.S.) it's a refreshing new concept!  --- this creates jobs... jobs create security and freedom from a wild ADHD life...  It's what I would call a 'simple solution' so we can help ourselves through tough economic times.  So 'jammie testers' you know who you are... start promoting!    Even someone with an attention span of a fruit gnat can get that one!  (I think)

xo The International Laundress!

P.S. You get an 'A+' if you made it to here! Gimme '5' without squishing the gnat!

Also, if you are also frustrated --- feel free to write me! :) and if you have communication ideas for me.. better yet! xo

When 'NO' means oh, all right !

My Darling Daughter did it again -- Good Sport Husband says she has a 'good heart'.... I say she has a tin ear, so when she pulled  into the driveway tonight to tell me she had a 'problem ' I knew intuitively that it wouldn't be good.  So like I have done a million times before ... I took a deep breathe and trudged forward not knowing what to expect. 

I carefully leaned into the car window to find a full-grown Calico CAT of all

 things in her lap - found in her friend's neighborhood and after her own interrogation of people near by, determined that it was 'homeless' and brought this cat now named 'Emily' into our stable of other animals.  My budding Veterinarian (darling daughter)  had already determined that this feline was extremely dehydrated ('practically starving') and after checking her teeth -- knew the CAT to be about 4 years old!

 I vehemently protested about this idea but in her usual fashion, with 'NO' being her starting point for negotiation....she swiftly marched by me .... into our house with the CAT to find her ally, Good Sport Husband who gave her the nod.  I was actually surprised by his reaction since he complains endlessly about having to change our current litter box every other day because of the smell.   Good Sport Husband is a softy for animals....especially cats.  They both are crazy in my opinion.  So now tonight we have a true menagerie of animals.... 3 cats, 2 dogs a fish and a bird.... I feel like I should add a partridge in a pear tree.  And now... my new job is finding a home for 'Emily'... I just learned that 'the cat favors classical music'....(I am not making this up)  any takers? meow, meow... ;)  It's fun writing a blog in 'real time'.... can we say...it's the 'cat's pajamas' ?

 xo The International Laundress

P.S. NEWS FLASH update:  Darling Daughter received a very stern phone call around 11:15 pm  from Emily's owner (at least she had the sense to leave a phone number with someone!)  so Emily the CAT (age 18) was promptly returned and her  'excellent adventure' has come to an end  :)