In the business that I am in, it involves a certain amount of intestinal fortitude. You need to be able to have 100 doors slammed in your face, figuratively (sometimes literally), and keep on trekking as if nothing ever happened.
When I do meet someone that seems genuinely kind at the door, I try to make a mental note that when I call them, they should be the same nice person...WRONG!
Case in point. I knocked on this nice older lady's door. She invited me into her home, offered my a cup of coffee as it happened to be quite chilly that day. We spoke for a few minutes, she told me about her family, then I went on my way feeling quite good about this prospect. When I phoned her a few weeks later, she was so rotten to me on the phone, she must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed right before someone pissed in her Cheerios! It was awful!
I've learned in my time in sales and customer service that you can't really judge someone right out of the gate, you have to get to know them a bit more. Most people I meet that are nice, remain nice. It's just the rare case where you just get your socks blown off once in a while.
Oh well, it's just the nature of the beast I guess. It just makes me enjoy the nice people that much more.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
A Baby Is No Longer Safe In His Mother's Arms
Last night, it was reported on CH News that a mother here in Hamilton was arrested after her baby of only 4 months was taken to Hospital with stab wounds to his chest!
I thought that the safest place a baby could be was in his Mother's arms. I guess that fad has long passed. What kind of deranged woman would think that it is acceptable to stab her baby? The things that people are capable of now are downright scary to me. I can remember when I was a kid, being able to go to my mother/grandmother and feel totally safe, and not have to worry that they were going to stab me or something.
Kids these days have enough to worry about with drugs and weapons at schools. They shouldn't have to worry about mom going off the deep end and stabbing them to death in their sleep. These people should be put away for a long, long time.
I thought that the safest place a baby could be was in his Mother's arms. I guess that fad has long passed. What kind of deranged woman would think that it is acceptable to stab her baby? The things that people are capable of now are downright scary to me. I can remember when I was a kid, being able to go to my mother/grandmother and feel totally safe, and not have to worry that they were going to stab me or something.
Kids these days have enough to worry about with drugs and weapons at schools. They shouldn't have to worry about mom going off the deep end and stabbing them to death in their sleep. These people should be put away for a long, long time.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I Am So Sore
Yesterday, I went to the Church to help them build the set for their Easter production. Now, this sounds like a fairly simple feat right? Wrong.
If you haven't ever seen the sets that this guy comes up with, you would be shocked. Now, Bethel is a huge Church, they've got huge budgets for stuff like this, so they can sort of push the envelope a bit.
There are two huge set pieces flanking either side of where the choir stands. The one is a platform that is 8 feet deep, 20 feet wide and 8 feet off the ground. This is where I will be performing in the Last Supper scene.
The other monstrosity on the other side has two uses. First, there is the underside, being used as Jesus' tomb. This part is 12 feet deep, 20 feet long and about 6 feet high. Sitting on top of that is the Calvary's cross scene. This, again is 12 feet deep, 20 feet wide, but this time, the set reaches an additional 12 feet in the air, so we're looking at a set piece that is 12 feet deep, 20 feet long and 18 feet high. You try and get strong enough lumber up that high.
I never claimed to be in the best condition, but I can't remember feeling this sore after any kind of physical work before, except after Sledge Hockey. I'm not an old man, but today, I sure feel like one.
If you haven't ever seen the sets that this guy comes up with, you would be shocked. Now, Bethel is a huge Church, they've got huge budgets for stuff like this, so they can sort of push the envelope a bit.
There are two huge set pieces flanking either side of where the choir stands. The one is a platform that is 8 feet deep, 20 feet wide and 8 feet off the ground. This is where I will be performing in the Last Supper scene.
The other monstrosity on the other side has two uses. First, there is the underside, being used as Jesus' tomb. This part is 12 feet deep, 20 feet long and about 6 feet high. Sitting on top of that is the Calvary's cross scene. This, again is 12 feet deep, 20 feet wide, but this time, the set reaches an additional 12 feet in the air, so we're looking at a set piece that is 12 feet deep, 20 feet long and 18 feet high. You try and get strong enough lumber up that high.
I never claimed to be in the best condition, but I can't remember feeling this sore after any kind of physical work before, except after Sledge Hockey. I'm not an old man, but today, I sure feel like one.
Friday, March 9, 2007
What Are You Doing On April 13th, 2036?
Not sure? Well, mark you calendars and head off to Home Depot and start building your backyard bunkers. NASA is very worried that on that date, April 13th, 2036, an Asteroid will strike Earth.
They are giving it a 1 in 45,000 chance that it will actually enter our atmosphere, but this is really worrying the folks down at NASA. They've gone to the United Nations and asked them you fund some program that basically monitors outer space for potential Asteroid threats...isn't NASA supposed to be doing this themselves?
Anyhow, if you aren't busy on April 13th, 2036, come on over to our place, we're having an 'End of the World' blow-out BBQ, we'll have Asteroid burgers with all the fixin's. Unfortunately all of the bottled water and canned goods will be off limits, after all, we have to save all of that for the nuclear winter hibernation after the Asteroid strikes.
They are giving it a 1 in 45,000 chance that it will actually enter our atmosphere, but this is really worrying the folks down at NASA. They've gone to the United Nations and asked them you fund some program that basically monitors outer space for potential Asteroid threats...isn't NASA supposed to be doing this themselves?
Anyhow, if you aren't busy on April 13th, 2036, come on over to our place, we're having an 'End of the World' blow-out BBQ, we'll have Asteroid burgers with all the fixin's. Unfortunately all of the bottled water and canned goods will be off limits, after all, we have to save all of that for the nuclear winter hibernation after the Asteroid strikes.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
What If?
Have you ever wondered, "What If?". Such a silly question, sure you have, to one extent or another.
I sometimes find myself thinking about what life would be like if we were still living in Calgary. We'd darn sure have more money, I'd probably be a front runner for the next District Manager position, and Natasha could have looked into getting her Teaching degree transferred over. But, as life happens, things change.
We're here in Hamilton, with all of our family, trying to dig ourselves out of the debt that we sunk ourselves in when we moved back. Are we happier? I think so. Natasha and I have become closer in the last few months than we ever would have if we had stayed in Calgary. I think change is a good thing (contrary to what everyone in my family will tell you). Let me rephrase that...change is a good thing in moderation. This coming from a guy who got married and moved 4,000 km away from home.
But, we're here, happy and together. That's the important thing, that's all that matters.
I sometimes find myself thinking about what life would be like if we were still living in Calgary. We'd darn sure have more money, I'd probably be a front runner for the next District Manager position, and Natasha could have looked into getting her Teaching degree transferred over. But, as life happens, things change.
We're here in Hamilton, with all of our family, trying to dig ourselves out of the debt that we sunk ourselves in when we moved back. Are we happier? I think so. Natasha and I have become closer in the last few months than we ever would have if we had stayed in Calgary. I think change is a good thing (contrary to what everyone in my family will tell you). Let me rephrase that...change is a good thing in moderation. This coming from a guy who got married and moved 4,000 km away from home.
But, we're here, happy and together. That's the important thing, that's all that matters.
Monday, March 5, 2007
...Never Again
Have you ever been so terrified of something, something you know you had to do, but you still couldn't bring yourself to do it? Up until the last few months, I really hadn't ever felt that way before. I am ashamed to say that if someone told me that they were feeling this way, I would have scoffed and told them to just suck it up and do it.
My job, as great as it is sometimes, has its downfalls. As a new business owner, I have to build my business from scratch, that means nothing, nada, zilch. To help get us clients, the company asks us to go door knocking to introduce ourselves and the company.
I knew from the second day I was doing this, that something just didn't feel right. I was having anxiety attacks first thing in the morning, throwing up and stuff. If it weren't for my wife, I don't think I would have made it this far, she was always behind me, gently nudging me, always supporting me.
I don't know what it is, I have been in sales all of my life, there's nothing that would otherwise intimidate me the way that this door knocking does. There's just something that clicks inside of me when I even think about doing it. My entire body suddenly feels like someone has poured cement into it, I can't move. If I do get myself to the neighbourhood that I want to door knock, I can't seem to get myself out of the car. I don't know what to do sometimes, I just don't.
If you're reading this, and I have ever told you to just suck it up and do it, I want you to know that I am sorry for saying such a heartless thing to you, I honestly didn't know what you were going through, now I do.
I hope all of this will go away in time, the sooner the better. I am running out of old contacts and an slowly coming to the realization that I will eventually have to go and door knock some more, probably sooner rather than later.
I guess I'll just have to suck it up and do it.
My job, as great as it is sometimes, has its downfalls. As a new business owner, I have to build my business from scratch, that means nothing, nada, zilch. To help get us clients, the company asks us to go door knocking to introduce ourselves and the company.
I knew from the second day I was doing this, that something just didn't feel right. I was having anxiety attacks first thing in the morning, throwing up and stuff. If it weren't for my wife, I don't think I would have made it this far, she was always behind me, gently nudging me, always supporting me.
I don't know what it is, I have been in sales all of my life, there's nothing that would otherwise intimidate me the way that this door knocking does. There's just something that clicks inside of me when I even think about doing it. My entire body suddenly feels like someone has poured cement into it, I can't move. If I do get myself to the neighbourhood that I want to door knock, I can't seem to get myself out of the car. I don't know what to do sometimes, I just don't.
If you're reading this, and I have ever told you to just suck it up and do it, I want you to know that I am sorry for saying such a heartless thing to you, I honestly didn't know what you were going through, now I do.
I hope all of this will go away in time, the sooner the better. I am running out of old contacts and an slowly coming to the realization that I will eventually have to go and door knock some more, probably sooner rather than later.
I guess I'll just have to suck it up and do it.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Angelina Jolie Adopts Again
I heard on the news this morning that Angelina Jolie wants to adopt another foreign child. Now, don't get me wrong, adoption is a wonderful thing, but don't you think that she should have to go through the motions just like everyone else?
The last time her and Brad Pitt decided to adopt a child, they jumped on a plane and flew right into his village and took him home. This doesn't really sit well with me, they should have to wait just like everyone else. There are people who cannot have children who have waited years for an adopted child to come into their lives, people wait endlessly for their turn. But, if you have a few bucks and are famous, you can just go to the African Orphan Drive-Thru and pick one up and take him home today!
I think that if you want to adopt a child, which is a great idea, you should have to submit your paperwork and wait along with everyone else. That's just the way things go in this world...for the rest of us at least.
The last time her and Brad Pitt decided to adopt a child, they jumped on a plane and flew right into his village and took him home. This doesn't really sit well with me, they should have to wait just like everyone else. There are people who cannot have children who have waited years for an adopted child to come into their lives, people wait endlessly for their turn. But, if you have a few bucks and are famous, you can just go to the African Orphan Drive-Thru and pick one up and take him home today!
I think that if you want to adopt a child, which is a great idea, you should have to submit your paperwork and wait along with everyone else. That's just the way things go in this world...for the rest of us at least.
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