Take this job . . .

Hearing a bunch of disturbing accounts of coach’s losing control on all levels from rec soccer to pop warner to tee ball. When I was a young lad I remember being dropped off at the first practice and my dad told the coach he had free reign to knock the living daylights out of me should I get out of line. Feel free to take whatever means necessary to straighten him out he said. Many youth sports organizations have done a great job keeping parents in check with Zero Tolerance policies. But that mostly covers parents harassing umpires, referees and opposing teams. What about the kids? These days, it’s an all new ballgame. Kids have the upper hand. They see parent’s disrespecting coaches, teacher’s, officer’s, just total disregard for authority. Now the kiddies run the show. Instead of the parent taking their child to the coach and asking what needs to be done to get better. If precious lil Trevor gets his feelings hurt cuz he didn't play every minute of every game, parents go right to the board. How’s about a little hard work, try making more than half the practices and by all means, please try to pay attention, just a wee bit. See we don’t run these drills and teach fundamentals for the sheer joy in it. I mean, I do have some real important stuff to do like fixing the leaky faucet, unclog the lint from the dryer vent and rearrange my sock drawer.
I actually saw a kid this year laugh at a parent when they asked him to stop messing with her kid. Flat out laughed in her face. Oh boy, if my old man caught me disrespecting an adult, it was all she wrote. Didn't matter if it was a coach, a parent or the old bag in the concession stand hawking dogs, grape soda and big league chew. See in the 70's we didn't have the luxury of getting disciplined in the privacy of our own home. Oh no, my dad would march right into the dugout, smack me upside the head and ear drag my butt straight to the parent and make me apologize. And I'm not talking about a soft head down whimper sorry ma’am. Nah this was head up look em in the eye and let's hear it, load and clear for the whole stands "sorry and I’ll never do that again".
Being a volunteer is thankless enough. But now, dealing with over rewarded, below average talent, spoiled brats is just too much. Maybe I am getting old and outta touch. Did we disrespect our elders? Did I overlook the whole eff you coach era? Well at least my kid will know better, cause I got that ear drag on the down low down pat. Man I sure do miss that grape soda and big league chew.
- Stomp

Wheelin and Dealin

What is up with grown men and wheelie bags??? I can see using the wheels on vacation when you got 7 bags, 3 screaming kids and no Terminal C in sight. In that case, they are not a luxury but a necessity. I see these contraptions all over the place. They come in all sorts of designs. Luggage, backpacks, attache's, some are even small as a laptop case. What are laptops now like 4 - 5 lb's tops. Are you serious? Seeing a grown man 6 ft +, over 200 lb's with a teenie weenie glorofied euro man purse on wheels is nothing short of obnoxious. 10 outta 10 real men agree - strap a set on and pick up the damn bag. Am I wrong? Is this a fashion statement and not laziness? I dunno, but you know the old saying if you can't beat em, join em. We'll I 'm off to the drawing board, the world is sooo ready for the 'Wallet on Wheels' I've been working on. And oh yeah, if you act now I'll throw in 'i-Wheely i-Pouch' - When that 0.04 oz 1.2 inch 9g iPod Micro is just to heavy to lug around.

- Stomp

Pssssssst. Here’s a tip for ya . . .

TAKE THAT TIP JAR OFF THE COUNTER IMMEDIATELY!!!
Tipping is supposed to be a gesture for services rendered AND to supplement a workers income in a service industry where hourly compensation is typically below minimum wage. Serving a cup of coffee over the counter is not the same as running around a busy diner, slingin greassy eggs and getting your tooshie squeezed. C’mon, let’s be real, the toughest pat of counter work is trying to make change when a customer gives you the last minute – “oh wait, I have change”. First off, you’re makin minimum wage. Secondly, you’re barely providing a service. Heck I could probably reach over and grab my own donut and coffee, if it wasn’t for this 5’6 frame and pudgy nubs. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind tipping at all. I’ll throw an appliance installer a fiver or so. Or even the warehouse guy helping get that oversized very unnecessary and overpriced future garage sale item into the trunk. But this whole ‘tip every little service idea’ has spun way outta control. I once saw a tip jar on the counter of a self service coffee bar. No joke, the place even had the muffins on a side counter. The only task for this jacko to do was reach under the counter and grab me a to go cup and collect that $2.25 for that cold and well passed born on date coffee. Unbelievable! Hey, at least he put his cell call on hold to wiat on me. Yeah I gotta tip for ya, take that 65c in your tip jar and buy some poster board. Write up a catchy phrase about how you don’t mind beggin for money and hit the streets. Show some dignity. Cause you sure don’t warrant a tip for doing the absolute bare minimum.
- Stomp

6 million and no longer counting . . .

Last week, the US of A hit the 6 million mark for out of work citizens. Pretty big number don't ya think? I know a few of em, family and friends. I always felt there was some type of work for the willing and able available if you needed to just get by. Now I am not so certain. The financial industry is decimated. Whole lotta tumbleweed rollin thru this once hot money mecca. Just a disaster. With cutbacks across the board, government jobs just ain't what they used to be. Ugggghhhhh, how did we get here??? 2 words come to my mind, excessiveness and entitlement. Why are there 2 SUV's in nearly every driveway? In the middle of this "recession", malls were filled, and it wasn't just window shoppin. Many bags were being stuffed into the back of SUV's that over filled the parking lots. I can't lie tho, I am no better. Our "down sized" Christmas was hardly that. Only we overstuffed the mini-van. (hehehehe)
Why are people constantly looking to get their share? Used to be, you got a dollar pay for a dollars work. Nowaday's it is simply, 'that ain't my job' mentality! You think in this day an age, people would be worried, and would go the extra mile, provide the extra service or just plain be nice, for fear that they could easily be replaced by 1 of the 6 million plus in line and looking. Amazingly, this hasn't happened. In fact, I think the idea of entitlement, which should be going away is actually gaining traction. Case and point, I heard of a fella who was given a mortgage rate modifiaction and a principal reduction. For those of you not in the know, this means he got 3% Interest rate on top of bank forgiving a portion of the amount owed. Wouldn't you know he had the stones to complain to the bank that he should be getting a lower rate than 3%. Me, i'd just be happy with one or the other. Guy probably has a nice safe cushy job too. Probably with the NJ Dept of Vital statistics. Ok, that was too direct I know. Yes, they are the reason behind this unglued rambling. We adopted a little girl from China a year ago, and sought to get a Birth Certificate from NJ. So she would have something to provide when she signed up for Little League or gymnastics or whatever. Anyway, we filled out numerous doc's and went before the judge and made it official. About a month later we get the Birth Certificate in the mail and whaddya know, the Great State of NJ has her born in Guatemala. Now I know there are many adoptions being processed from all over the world. And I understand that the city or country entered on a Birth Certificate is probably some numerical code. I realize that data entry is not the most sought after position, nor is it a high paying job. But C'mon, is a little attention to detail too much too ask? Maybe it is. Maybe I am asking too much. Look at me, thinking I am entitled to a proper Birth Certificate for my daughter. Maybe 3M peeps don't want to do data entry, and the other 3M aren't qualified. I like to believe that is just not the case. I like to believe there is some sense of pride, even in doing the most mundane tasks. WAKE UP PEOPLE! My parents never made six figure salaries, but I guarentee you they greeted people with a smile and or a handshake. And they certainly gave full effort no matter how thankless the job. It's time to get back to basics. Time to Keep It Simple Stupid. Time to cut the fat, and losses and move on. Cause if you can't, it's time to step aside. Please let someone who cares to try give it a shot. Gotta be at least a handfull of the 6 million strong out there that knows the difference between China and Guatemala, right?
- STOMP