When we moved to Virginia in 1988 we moved into a house in the woods.  I loved it. My then-hubby loved it. Our two children loved it.  We had a lot to learn about living in the woods, as both my hubby and I had been raised in the average subdivision neighborhoods of our day.

The second spring in VA, about the end of May, 1990, my son complained of his ear hurting. Upon inspection, I found a tick and removed it from the outside of his ear. Twelve days later, on a Sunday, my son had a headache all day.  Naturally prone to headaches since three years old, he simply spent a quiet day…never once complaining of the headache. 

I noticed he did not eat much at lunch, but again, he was never a hearty eater, so I was not alarmed.  However, when suppertime rolled around and he said he really did not want to eat, I asked him if he was feeling OK. “I just have a headache, Mom.” 

Like every mom from the beginning of time, I was equipped with a thermometer hand and as a precautionary measure, I placed it on my son’s forehead. He was burning up!  The mechanical thermometer supported my hand, reporting the temperature at 103 degrees.  So, out came the children’s Tylenol and the cool cloths to help bring down the fever.

By the morning, the fever was approaching 105 and my son was sporting a rash on the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet.  I can tell you, this was one weird looking thing and, not having the Internet at my disposal in those days, I turned to the Encyclopedia Britannica.  There it was in black and white….it looked to me as though my son had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

We were at the doctor’s, first thing that morning.  The doctor looked at my son, looked down his throat and asked me questions. I told him of the tick bite 12 days prior.  However, the doctor declared my son had strep throat and prescribes an antibiotic.  OK, so much for “at home diagnosis.”

Well, Monday went by, as did Tuesday, with no improvement. In fact, my son’s headache was so bad and his fever so high that he was hallucinating.  I was pretty scared for him, as he thought the ceiling fan was going to get him and that there were three men standing in the room with me, when I came in to check on him.  I called the doctor back and reported no improvement.  The doctor, in a rather condescending tone, informed me that it took a while for amoxicillin to work.  I told him that he had not prescribed amoxicillin. 

So, the doctor called in the amoxicillin and I began treating my son with it.  By Thursday night, there was still no improvement.  By now, he was also covered with the rash.  Again I called the doctor.  My tiny son had lost a lot of weight in the process and he was not getting better.  This time he told me that if my son was not doing better by the morning, I should bring him back into the office.

Friday morning, I was back in the office with my son.  The doctor took one look at me and in a rather accusatory tone demanded, “Was he bitten by a tick recently?” DOH!  What did I tell him in the first place????  “Yes, twelve days prior to the onset of the headache and fever….as noted when I brought him in on Monday, why?”  “Well, it looks like he has tick fever.”

Well, stumped by this disease about which I had never heard, I asked for clarification. “Tick fever?”  “Yes, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.”

A couple of blood tests later, the diagnosis was confirmed as was the fact that he was responding, albeit slowly, to the amoxicillin.  The decision was made not to change the meds again, though it was not the preferred medication to treat this illness. However, during that visit, the doctor told me that though most people are afraid of getting Lyme Disease, in Virginia at that time, there were 100 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to every 1 of Lyme Disease.  And, RMSF can caused death much faster than LD! (So good that he took nearly a week to take the situation seriously.)

Sunday morning, one full week after his fever started, the fever broke, the headache eased and my son was on his way back to good health.  Today, as I sat in the woods with my dog and cat, enjoying some quality time with them, I plucked a tick off my leg.  He had not attached himself, like the one last week, but it made me think of that day 17 years ago, when I learned how serious a tick bite could be, and how paying attention to when one is removed and when symptoms first being, can make a huge difference in accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Today I accomplished a lot. I was up and working at 6:30 AM.  I wanted to overhaul one of my storage rooms for my eBay merchandise.  I had the task completed by 11:30 AM, even though I had taken time to eat breakfast, package and ship my items, write a blog post and send my mother an e-card wishing her a happy b-day and telling her to expect us up there to take her to supper. 

After showering and eating lunch, I wrapped Mom’s gifts, printed out some photos to share with her (she doesn’t like having to look at them on the computer) and prepared for the journey.  Fate smiled on me today, blessing me with perfect driving conditions and the three hour drive to the restaurant was a breeze.

Mom and John (my step father) had not yet arrived when we got there, but they seated us, and gave us menus.  My hubby headed to the restroom first and upon his return, I took my turn.  As I washed my hands, I heard, above the clatter and din of the busy restaurant, that distinctive sound of my mother’s voice.  For nearly 49 years I have heard that voice, listened to stories being read by that voice, been embarrassed when being disciplined in front of my friends by that voice, and occasionally, just occasionally, heard that voice coming from my own mouth, when raising my own children.

I was laughing as I left the restroom and returned to the table, where I found my mother engaged in conversation with another patron of the restaurant…we were, after all, eating in her favorite “hang-out.”  “Hey Mom,” I said, “I knew you were here!  I heard you all the way in the restroom!”  She laughed and explained that she had run into this friend, and yada, yada, yada….Mom has a strong voice that carries a mile.  She is the one you want to have around when help needs to be called, for she not only has a loud voice that carries well, she speaks with authority.

For the next two hours we enjoyed eating and catching up on all the news. Mom was proud to announce that at 72 she has passed both her mother and grandmother in longevity.  She will have to beat 97 to pass her father.  She loved the gifts and the photos, and the meal.  She had to introduce “her daughter” to everyone in the restaurant…those that work there…not the other patrons, thankfully.

We left the restaurant two hours after arriving, and drove back to Gloucester.  The trip was just as easy back as it had been going.  The eight hour round trip for the opportunity to share a birthday supper with Mom, was well worth the effort!

Now, tomorrow I have my sights set on another of my rooms, which I think would benefit from a reorganization!

My newest pet Benson sits on the porch, looking in at me through the French doors.  As he peers in, my youngest inside pet, Miah, sachets past the French doors taking a sideways glance at the porch dwellers.  Now, understand, I have four pets - two indoor only cats and two outdoor only pets (one dog, one cat.)  Each is well loved and cared for, and each enjoys different forms of “freedom.”

But, watching these indoor vs. outdoor critters interact with each other makes me wonder what the letter to Dear Abby would say, were they able to manipulate a pen with their paws.

Dear Abby,

I live in a nice neighborhood with a nice enough family.  They feed me and pet me plenty.  I live on the screened in porch of the house (which I have to share with a DOG) and am free to come and go as I choose.  All I have to do is open the door (which I am pretty good at) and the world is mine for the taking.  Still, I find myself gazing in the window of the house…the only place I am NOT allowed to roam, looking at those two cats who ARE allowed inside.  I think this is unfair.  Shouldn’t I be allowed to go inside too?

Hanging out on the porch awaiting your reply,

Benson

Dear Abby,

I live in a nice neighborhood with a nice enough family.  They feed me and pet me plenty.  I live on the screened in porch of the house (which I have to share with a CAT) and am given lots of exercise, getting to run at will through the 7 ½ acres of woods and explore the empty pond bed now that the water is gone, several times each day.  I was happy here on the porch until my owners decided I needed a companion (they SAY they needed a “mouser”, whatever that is).  Now I have to barter with this CAT they call Benson to sleep where I want to.  I used to be able to choose from four of five places to nap, but now Benson thinks he’s the boss of me!  Now, I have looked through the glass into the house and have noticed there are two other cats inside that house.  I think it would be only fair if my owners would make this other cat stay in the house too.  Why should I have to share?

Grudgingly sharing the porch in Gloucester, VA,

Killian

Dear Abby,

I live in a house with two humans and one other cat.  The humans are OK, though I think they could feed me more often and watch more interesting shows on the HDTV. (I like the ones with birds and fish).  The other cat is OK too, I mean he was here when I got here and is a grumpy old man, but I think he is OK most of the time.  My owners have recently acquired a new cat who is supposed to stay out on the porch.  I personally am curious about this guy (he’s pretty handsome, if you know what I mean).  I try to act coy when I see him looking in the window, but how do I know if he likes me?  My owner has taken me out for “visits” to the porch, but frankly, that whole outdoor thing scares me!  Last night there was a huge thunderstorm and my owners decided the porch dwellers should be brought in (in their travel kennels), and I did get to check that Benson out up close and personal (that Killian stinks though!)  Anyway, I noticed that Benson has HUGE claws and would probably hurt me if I got too close to him, so I’m glad he has to stay out on the porch.  Is it wrong for me to feel smug about the fact I live a pampered and protected life?

Sacheting back and forth in front of the French doors,

Miah

Dear Abby,

I live in a house with a bunch of idiots. Two are human, one is a cat (rather annoying at times too.)  All I want to do is eat and sleep.  Occasionally, I like to have my head petted and such, but for the most part, I could care less.  I don’t understand why the humans appear grossed out when I jump up on their lap for my petting time and thy get a little wet…have they never heard of drool?  We old codgers have a bit of trouble keeping the saliva in our mouths, but is that so bad?  Anyway, onto my question, I have noticed there are two other critters who live out on the porch. I could care less.  But when the thunderstorms start up, my owner always lets those two critters come in the house. Sure, they are in their travel kennels and all, but can’t they just stay out where they are?  Miah used to be half decent until that Benson showed up, and now she is always paying more attention to him than to me.  I think if you are a porch dweller, you should stay on the porch and let the house dwellers enjoy the house.  Am I wrong?

Drooly kisses,

Mel

I started talking at a very early age. My sister, just fourteen months older than I, was not as early a talker, but her diction was perfect.  Mom always said Jeannie never spoke until she could use full sentences.  Not me!   I was jabbering away and blissfully unaware that I was talking with a lisp.  OK, so I’m not really sure at what age I developed the lisp, but I do know that when I was in elementary school, I had to go to the “speech” class several times per week.

I recall the speech therapist or teacher or whatever she was very patiently instructing me on the correct placement of the tongue, BEHIND the closed teeth rather that protruding slightly THROUGH the teeth when attempting to make the “S” sound.  In front of the mirror I practiced and honestly, though I achieved the desired effect, I could never actually discern the difference myself.  So, week in and week out, I lisped happily through my days and visited the speech lady as directed, and NEVER changed.

My lisp and I grew up and, in fact, I was in good company, for all of my four brothers parroted my speech patterns, rather than those of my clear speaking sister.  As with all things democratic, majority rules, so, though we were wrong, we felt “good” about it! 

In the process of the maturation of my lisp we moved to England and then back to the states.  I acquired a British accent while living in the UK, but I did not let it interfere with THE LISP.  Upon our return to the states, not particularly thrilled with being called “English Muffin” by the other kids, I spent after school hours practicing in front of the mirror…losing the British lisp for the American one.

About this time, my youngest brother, now in elementary school, now subjected to the speech classes, found out he had a lisp and very quickly rid himself of it.  Hmmmm. The democracy was changing before our very eyes.  Now the five pro lisp vs. one anti lisp had shifted to four to two.  Never mind, what did they know?

One day, at age 15, I was visiting a friend with whom I had become chums in England and who now also lived in the US.  Typical teenagers of that time, we had the records playing and we were singing along.  I was in heaven…right up until my friend Linda said, “Judy, you know if you ever want to sing professionally, you’re going to have to get rid of that lisp.”

Well, I was shocked! This was the first time that I BELIEVED anyone could hear that lisp. Ten or more years of adults sending me to speech class had made no impression on me, but a simple statement from my friend made me a believer.  Thankfully, though I had not rid myself of the lisp through the speech classes, I had learned HOW to do so.

The next day my family left on vacation to Florida. On the drive down, I corrected myself every time I lisped.  I drove my family mad correcting myself.  And I successfully changed the lisper demographics of the Fletcher children as we became a three-to-three ratio.

A lesson I learned from this, and one I tried to remember when raising my own children, is that my own imperfections can be pointed out to me by many and yet, I will not see them. But when a person I thought of as my peer pointed out the very same thing, I listened.  I also learned that educating the person who does not accept the precedent for that education can still be very worthwhile.  One day, when the light bulb goes on, those lessons kick right in.

Organized Chaos? -- jcarolek

Taking a break from my real work, I leaned back in my chair and took a look around my office. I began to wonder whether I am an organized person or a scatter brain.

My office is a 10 X 12 room and serves as

• my main work place for my real job,
• my eBay headquarters,
• eBay unlisted merchandise staging ground
• eBay shipping central
• my sewing room and
• guest overnight room number 3….

 

I wonder.  How much activity is really supposed to take place in such a small space?

I decided to take photos of my office and let you decide….

is this an organized space or chaos???

 

 

Unlisted merchandise.

 

Once listed  my items are in plastic bags, labeled.

Arranged by item type.

Tonight I was thinking about my brother Ted.  No particular reason.  He just popped into my brain.  I was thinking about the time I returned home from college to discover he was sporting a rather large “bandage” on his face.  It turns out it was whatever they used to “fix” a broken nose. 

Now, I asked my brother, “How did you break your nose?”  He went into a lengthy explanation (yes, the genes MANDATE our giving lengthy explanations) about how he had been playing football with some friends and had gone out to intercept a pass, and run into a tree….breaking his nose.

Well, of course, most football fields are not laid out with trees as strategic “traps” so I had to ask, “Huh???”  It turns out, the explanation was quite simple.

He and his friends had been playing football with an imaginary ball, at dusk, in the neighbor’s landscaped (with trees) yard.  Yes, friends, you heard me right, Ted broke his nose going out to intercept an imaginary football, at dusk!  I have always wondered how he would have known if he had actually intercepted the ball…..

Ahhhhh…the good old days of the 14 year olds!

For many years I actively participated in community theatre productions. I have played violin in the pit orchestra, acted, built, moved, and broken down sets, done props, produced shows, sewn costumes and sung and danced both as chorus member and solo.  I thoroughly enjoy the experience, but have been away from it for about eight years now.  My work has prevented me from active participation these days.

This morning, as I was eating breakfast, I was pondering the pros and cons of theatre in the round…the presentation of a play to an audience that views the actors and actions from all sides, rather than from “stage front.”  In theatre in the round, the actors must consider all angles.  There is no “backstage” in which to “hide” the props and the “tricks” that are used in the standard theatre.  And the actors must be as aware of their backside as they are of their front.

Basically, I think those who are successful at performing in theatre in the round scenarios are very disciplined and take care to ensure they present themselves, coming or going, "in character.”

It occurred to me that, though we in eBay-land have the ultimate backstage, for indeed we operate entirely from the backstage, we would do well to consider what our operation would look like to our “audience.”  What would they see if they could see our operation from all angles?  Would they see a consistent approach to our “performance?”

This question is not simply directed at sellers, for buyers are every bit key performers in the eBay theatre.  

At last I sold the final framed print that a friend had asked me to sell for him last year. Yes, these prints sat, listed in my store for months.  The first person who bought, bought two.  Both were professionally matted and framed, with glass, of course.  Both were signed by the artist.  I was thrilled.

I bebopped down to the local office supply place, where they also do lots of framing.  I asked it they had a box large enough to properly ship my two framed prints.  Well, it turns out they recommend against shipping framed anything with glass, because it is so likely to get broken.  If the glass breaks and moves around in the packaging it can scratch the print.  Their suggestion, as they handed me the gigantic boxes I could use to ship them….don’t…have the customer pick them up.

Well, too late for this sage advice, but, I did contact the buyer to let her know this recommendation.  Still, she felt it was too far to drive (three hours) for us to meet to make the exchange, so I set about packing.  Paranoid about the glass breaking, I decided to use clear contact paper to completely cover the glass.  This way, if it broke, it would not move around and scratch the print.

I made my own box out the huge ones given to me. I used solid sheets of styrofoam placed between the glass of the two pictures. I wrapped the two in double blanket of bubble wrap.  I then cut pieces of cardboard the same size as the wrapped frames and taped those to either side of the bubbled bundle.

Now, I placed this bundle into my self fashioned box and fillied all gaps with packing peanuts.

UPS accepted my box for shipping and I crossed my fingers.  Two days later, I received the email from the new owner…She was thrilled…the pictures were in perfect shape and the glass was intact.   The actual shipping cost for her two framed pictures was $16.00…I charged her $20.00 and spent close to an hour packaging it,

Many months passed, and though I changed to store listings to HIGHLY RECOMMEND local pick up, this past month I sold the last two of these framed prints and both customers chose to have me ship them.  Saturday I sent the last out, wrapped, as I had the others. This last one had the farthest to travel, as it was heading to Ohio from my Virginia home.  Monday afternoon I received the feedback from my customer.  Another safe arrival!

I can now breathe a sigh of relief.  Each of those pictures took far more time and care in packing than I had considered when agreeing to sell them for this friend.  And yet, the customer had a right to get what he had paid for.  And each customer did get his in perfect condition.

For anyone shipping large framed prints, I highly recommend the use of clear contact paper to protect your customer’s print, should the glass break in transit.  And I also recommend figuring out what it will cost to properly package your item and including a note in the listing regarding the extra cost due to extra time/materials.

My father tells the story of how he came to fear giraffes.  Now, understand, he was raised during those early years in a three room house on Long Pond in New Bedford, MA. Giraffes were NOT running amuck in those parts, even in the 1930’s.

So one night, Dad, then a little boy, dealing with a cold of some nature, was tucked into bed by his mother.  As she left his room, closing the door behind her, she commented to my grandpa, “I’m worried about Brucie…there’s a wicked draft in that room.”

My father, scared to budge from his bed, lest that wicked giraffe get him, still tells the story…I think he was about three at the time….every year, at least one family member gives him something “giraffe” oriented to decorate his house.  A casual visitor might think Dad loved giraffes…if they only knew!

I’m not trying to sell another's product.  I have enough work cut out selling my own.  But I wanted to let sellers and buyers alike know there is a less expensive way to insure your packages.  I read about this in another blog a couple of months ago and decided it made sense.  When I found out it is the same insurer that Auctiva  sellers use to offer their customers insurance (getting 25 cents for each customer who accepts the insurance) I decided to give it a try.  I have been pleased.  The cost is much better than through Auctiva and the coverage is extended to all types of shipping, even internationally.

You have to submit an application and the representative will call you with a quote.  Mine was well worth it.  One thing I find amazing is that I can insure packages sent to me from other sellers.  So I can pay 65 cents to insure a $100 item, rather than pay the seller $2.60 to insure the same item.

If you are interested, here is the link to their site.  In the end, sellers are responsible for getting the product to their customers in good condition.  Since I offer 100% satisfaction guarantee, I certainly want to reduce the number of points of failure.  Good luck!

http://www.u-pic.com/

When I was twelve, my friends and I liked to play around with the Ouija board.  We lit candles and we adopted an air of hushed anticipation as we posed those all important questions of the future and awaited the reply delivered through our hands as the “pointer” moved about the board.

Yes, the question of who my sister would marry (a man from Cairo) was of utmost importance to us then, but, interestingly, has yet to come true.  And of course the question of how many children I would have (12) was apparently a ten-spot off the mark, but we BELIEVED nonetheless. 

One such night, my friend Linda and I sat in our temple of Ouija and scooted the pointer around the board, gathering such insight into our future as how old we would live and from what we would die (I died at age 37 from a brain tumor).  Having determined our own fate, we looked to our “circle of friends” and asked similar questions about their longevity.  We were pretty creeped out when the powers that drove our hands announced that one of our friends would die at the age of 13.  He was already 13.  We asked it again and received the same answer.  But we got no answer when we asked how he would die.

Well, we went to bed that night, worried sick that our friend was going to die, and knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that we had no control over it.  For if we somehow acted on the “knowledge” we had, the fate predicted would never come true, and yet, we knew it had to come true….the Ouija board said so.

I did not tell my parents.  I did not tell my friends.  I thought it would be a burden I would have to carry with Linda.  The burden, as it turns out, was not to be carried long.  For two days later our friend was swimming at the pool we called the Lido.  He went head first down a slide and hit his head on the floor of the pool.  He did not live out his 13th year.

Linda and I never again played with the Ouija board.  I never wanted to “know” what was going to happen in my future or another’s.  The burden is just too great.  I have always felt profoundly sad for those who do “see” the future.  I believe it would drive me crazy.

I’m far more comfortable living each day, one day at a time, making the day the best I can for myself and those around me, knowing, of course, that someone, somewhere, might be burdened, already knowing of my demise, and yet being able to change nothing.  I am quite blissful in my ignorance.

Yep, it’s spring alright, in these here woods of the “middle peninsula” of VA. How do I know? 

• Well, I have played and sung at two weddings in two weeks,
• I have mown my lawn for the first time this year,
• I see the bulbs pushing up through the ground, sending up the stalks that will eventually fill my garden with the glorious colors of gladiolas,
• and the single most telling sign….I removed the first tick from my body today! 

Yep, the sneaky little deer tick had made his way onto my hip bone, and was getting ready for his “long spring slurpee,” but..too bad…he was BUSTED!

Last night my daughter returned from a bonfire where she had visited with my son, their dad and a family friend for the last time before she headed back to CA.  She arrived back at my house around 10 PM.  She and I had a great time. I introduced her to the new cat, Benson and she spent some “quality time” with our dog, Killian, who loves Jen to death!

And then, Jen and I just sat and talked, and talked and talked.

Though she is doing well in CA, she has decided she wants to return to the East coast before the end of the year…..and she was not looking forward to returning to CA today.  She said if she could pack me into her suitcase, she would be fine going back!  LOL.  I guess I will get busy looking for another ticket out to San Francisco in the very near future!  Luckily, she only has to wait two more months until her boyfriend graduates and flies back to the US for a couple of months!

She and I slept in the guest room on the double bed, where we chatted until we fell asleep around 2:00 AM.  This morning when we packed her up to go, she asked if she could take with her one of the tie blankets I had made.  Of course, she could, and so, with a hug, and  a cuddly fleece tie blanket, I sent my daughter back on her way to CA for a little while longer.

I can honestly say, though I had only a couple nights with my her on this trip, those nights were fabulous.  My lovely, talented daughter is maturing into a young lady, more and more certain of who she is and what she wants out of life, and what it takes to get there.  She will always be my adventurer, and will continue to provide me entertainment as she tells me of her adventures.

And one day, I know she will make a wonderful mother and I will embark on a whole new adventure…that of being a grandmother!  Of course, this is some time well in the future…but…I just got to thinking!

Tonight I had dinner with my daughter, son and hubby.  As we sat eating our meal at the restaurant, we chatted about Justice of the Peace presided marriages.  Jen wanted to know whether when getting married by the Justice of the Peace, the couple had to say vows, or just sign a piece of paper. 

Well, I began to answer, explaining what I knew about it, and listening to Jen’s thoughts about writing their own vows, when all of a sudden my son started laughing.  It turns out he had misheard the question.  He did not understand why Jen wanted to know whether the marrying couple had to say their “vowels” in order to be married by the JP!

Well, we had a good laugh.  We decided that when Jen and Benoit make their way to the JP (this is their current plan, and then to follow it up with a “real” wedding in a year or so) they should tell the JP they want to read their own vowels, which they will have carefully written out on their paper.

It might be the shortest marriage of all time…

A E I O U…I now pronounce you husband and wife!

We all listened with horror this Monday as the story unfolded at VA Tech.  We, those who live in VA, whose friends and family members attend this fine university, or who attended it themselves, felt as if our loved ones had died, even if we did not know those who actually did.  My friend and cohort at work, the gentleman with whom I have clocked many hours of travel to and from Northern VA, and with whom I worked very hard with as we both earned our Master's degrees in 2001, was especially shaken by this horrific event at his Alma Mater.

My afternoon meeting today, brought me back together with this fine man, and, as it had been at least two months since we had seen each other, and we had not realized we would both be at this meeting together, we greeted each other like long lost chums!  We hugged, laughed and “caught up” with each other, and the haggard look he had worn when he’d entered the room was, for a few minutes, replaced with his old characteristic grin.

My friend has a reputation of making a point of making it to any free meal, and tonight was the “appreciation dinner” for those of us who had given up family and normal living to ensure “the project” completed on schedule, against all odds.  So, he took a few pokes from the upper level folks who teased him about always being in attendance when free food was on the agenda.  But, dinner was not for another hour or so, so we got on with the meeting.

When the meeting ended, as we prepared to leave for the restaurant, I noticed my friend standing a little way down the hallway, talking on his cell phone.  I could tell by his face, there was something dreadfully wrong.  I thought it must be more than the VA Tech loss, and when he hung up, he came to tell me and the VP he had to go.  For while we had been in that meeting, while he had taken the goodhearted ribbing, while we had enjoyed seeing each other again, his father had suffered a heart attack and passed away.

My heart went out to this man who, already dealing with an overwhelming sense of loss, now had suffered the loss of his father.  He told us he was driving directly back to Newport News, a three hour drive in perfect traffic.  I offered to drive him back, but he thought he’d be OK. 

We had the dinner.  It was fabulous.  We observed a moment of silence for our friend and cohort, and we observed another for our family and friends at VA Tech.  It was a wonderful day, tempered by the smack of reality’s hand, reminding us all that time is forever, but we are not.

In a discussion during a break yesterday, the group with whom I am working veered away from the technical discussions that fill our meeting hours and explored the topic of physical fitness and the extension of physical well-being beyond the point of mental well-being.  Several in the room apparently, are children of Alzheimer’s sufferers.

As I listened to the discussion, the very sadness of the disease and how successfully it steals the minds of once well-thinking people, I had to wonder about the fear.  These people, with whom I work every day and who are some of the brightest people I have ever met, are standing a good likelihood of falling down that same genealogical ladder into the pit of mental uncertainty.  Even as they speak of the sadness of not being recognized by their own parents, and the stress of taking care of these wonderful people who gave them life and love, I wonder about the fear they must be feeling knowing it will very likely also be their fate.

I’m not a big advocate for “cures” for ailments that, in days gone by, would have been classified as “natural causes” on the death certificate.  I support those who research cures for pervasive diseases, but I always wonder, “to what end?”  I suppose, the beauty of the research is that it will eventually better support personal choice.  Those who care to prolong their physical well-being beyond the “natural” point of failure can do so and those who are inclined to accept the natural breakdown of the physical can simply choose not to change that course.

I don’t know the answers, but I suspect the better we are at prolonging the physical health of our population, the greater the need will be for supporting those who have lost the mental health battle.  Not an easy thing to think about, to be sure.

So, today, as I sit and listen, add my two cents worth where expected, and help solve the technical issues being presented by the technology gurus of our generation and the next, I will keep in mind that documentation of our efforts is VERY important.  For tomorrow, I may not be able to recall those thoughts that today seemed so very readily in the forefront of my brain.

OK, enough from me.  I’m off to the meetings etc. and will check back in late tonight.  I hope all have a wonderful day.  Pay attention to the details and, of course, let your loved ones know how much they mean to you.

Good morning all.  I just have a few minutes before heading off to more of my four day meeting, but wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing.  Yesterday was blustery – very windy but at least the rain had subsided.  My daughter went to visit a friend of hers who lives and works nearby and then she returned to the hotel room and made supper for us.  What a treat that was!  Usually, when I travel I just grab junk to eat, as I am not a fan of eating alone, but also shy away from going out to eat with “the crowd.”

After supper, she left for Richmond and will spend the next couple of days visiting friends there and in Charlottesville.  On Saturday, after I play and sing at another wedding, we will get together with my son and his girlfriend and share a meal.  Then, on Sunday, my daughter will return to CA and her business.  She will have had a great three weeks of travel, seeing family and friends.

Below are two photos.  The first is my daughter and the friend she visited in Queens, NY, celebrating their friendship (they had not actually seen each other in more than four years.)  The second is of the two of them being silly, sharing an “Eskimo kiss” while the friend’s roommate snapped a photo.  I love seeing the girls, once co-captains of their Varsity Field Hockey team, now all grown and making their livings and still having fun when they can find some time to relax together!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Good morning all from windy, gloomy, Northern VA.  I arrived safely yesterday afternoon and shared a wonderful night with my daughter…she’s still sleeping…I will head out to my all-day meeting in just a little while, but wanted to share some of my daughter’s photos of her adventures with you.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and make many sales, find fabulous buys, or meet a new friend in the blogs.

For me, being able to see my daughter, even for just a few hours, is truly a delight!

Jen making a meal in Benoit's apartment (Toulouse)

Benoit in comparison to the smart car in France...

Benoit in the forefront, Jen and friend on steps (France)

Sheep are everywhere (France)

Bulls are everywhere (Spain)

Benoit and Jen on the "quad" on his parents' land (France)

Jen and her friend Bre in Queens, NY preparing to leave to travel to NJ on Sunday during the Noreaster.

Picture taken from the taxi in Hoboken, NJ as Jen arrived to meet her dad...

I am happy to see other sellers making their living on eBay and don’t mind if they become millionaires in the process.

I don’t like scammers.

Scammer - promises something - does not deliver (seller)

               - wants to get something for nothing (buyer)

Successful sellers offer products that

1. others want to buy,
2. at a fair price,
3. with reasonable shipping and handling rates and
4. fabulous customer service.

Successful buyers are

1.      selective in their purchases,

2.      take time to research the product, seller and price of the item.

Most buyers want:

1. 99 cent items, worth $$$$
2. USPS Media Mail shipping rates for Next Day Delivery service,
3. carefully packaged, with freebies included, and
4. positive feedback left as soon as they press the PAY button.

If I gear my selling to accommodate this type of buyer, I am certain I will

1.      keep myself excessively busy listing, printing, wrapping and shipping,

2.      be losing money..

Seller’s Pledge: I will

1. offer items at a reasonable price,
2. charge reasonable S/H, ship quickly and
3. communicate well
4. describe each item well
5.  include good photos
6.  leave feedback as soon as I print shipping label
7.  consider feedback from my customers to be “icing on the cake.” 
8. offer 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Buyer’s Pledge: I will

1. read the seller’s listing, including their terms,
2. bid only if I agree with their price, policies, and S/H
3. pay within 24 hours of winning the item
4. leave feedback as soon as I receive my item in satisfactory condition
5. attempt to contact my seller, in accordance with their policies if I have any issues with the item at all
6. only leave neutral or negative feedback if the seller is completely non-responsive.

Sellers: if you state you will accept no returns and will give no refunds, you cannot expect your buyers to contact you to prior to leaving negative feedback if they feel they have a problem with the item they paid you for.

Buyers: if you expect your sellers to take care with the items you have purchased and get those items to you at a expedient manner, you will need to pay the appropriate costs of that shipping, protected in that way.

I sincerely applaud those who have found their key to success here, using ethical selling and buying practices.

I read posts from people periodically who appear to take issue with those who use their on-line eBay selling to make a living.  Some seem to hold a view of eBay as a huge garage sale or craft show.  To me, these are just a couple of the things that eBay is.  I am happy to see other sellers making their living on eBay and don’t mind if they become millionaires in the process.

What I do not like are scammers, buyers and sellers alike.  I define a scammer as one who promises something with no intention of delivery and one who purchases something with the singular intent to file a claim (getting something for nothing, being the goal).

Successful sellers on eBay offer products that others want to buy, at a fair price, with reasonable shipping and handling rates and fabulous customer service.

Successful buyers on eBay are selective in their purchases, taking the time to research the product, seller and price of the item.

Now, I could say that the way to make millions on eBay is to offer what most people want.  However, it is my experience that most people WANT to find 99 cent items, worth hundreds of dollars, with USPS Media Mail shipping rates for Next Day Delivery service, carefully packaged, with freebies included, and positive feedback left as soon as they press the PAY button.

If I gear my selling to accommodate this type of buyer, I am certain I will keep myself excessively busy listing, printing, wrapping and shipping, but I can assure you, I will be losing money.  So, no, I will not try to make myself the “dream seller” if this is, indeed, your dream.

I will, however, pledge to offer every item I sell at a reasonable price, charge reasonable S/H, ship quickly and communicate with my customers throughout the transaction.  I will describe each item to the best of my ability and include good photos to help me tell the story of the items being offered.  I will leave my customer feedback as soon as I print his shipping label and I will consider feedback from my customers to be “icing on the cake.”  And, as always, I will continue to offer 100% satisfaction guarantee.

As a buyer, I pledge to read the seller’s listing, including their terms, bid only if I agree with their price, policies, and S/H.  I will pay within 24 hours of winning the item, and I will leave feedback as soon as I receive my item in satisfactory condition.  If I have any issues with the item at all, I will attempt to contact my seller, in accordance with their policies and will only leave neutral or negative feedback if the seller is completely non-responsive.

Sellers please understand that if you state you will accept no returns and will give no refunds, you cannot expect your buyers to contact you to prior to leaving negative feedback if they feel they have a problem with the item they paid you for.

Buyers, please understand that if you expect your sellers to take care with the items you have purchased and get those items to you in an expedient manner, you will need to pay the appropriate costs of that shipping, protected in that way.

And, though I do not make my living on eBay, I sincerely applaud those who have found their key to success here, using ethical selling and buying practices.