fitover50

It’s hard enough to do everything that needs to be done as it is. I have a pet peeve, however, when it comes to repetitive work that takes up valuable hours of my life and never seems to actually be completed. You know what I mean. Stuff like laundry, dishes, general household maintenance, taking out garbage. . . The stuff you do over and over and over again. Do it today. . . it needs done again the day after tomorrow. Do it this morning. . . it needs done again tonight.

I have this great fantasy of actually accomplishing something meaningful in my life. When I spend hours doing something that is never really done, I feel like my life is draining away right before my eyes. Yet, if I don’t spend the time necessary to complete these repetitive tasks, I am weighed down by the burden of unfinished business. And so it goes.

I guess that’s part of the answer to the questions about the meaning of life. A lot of it is simply doing the stuff that must be done.

I just wish I could have two more hours each day to accomplish the mundane tasks that must be done. Yeah, I know, men in hell want ice water.

I’ve spent half a lifetime in search of the right purse. I like to haul my junk around, so I think I need a purse on the larger size. I don’t want to be bothered changing my purse to go with every outfit so I need a more neutral purse - basically black leather fits the bill. Much of my life is lived in a conservative world, so I need a conservative purse - no tassles, chains or bizarre graphic designs.

A simple, normal, grown up handbag. I can’t find it. I’ve tried cheap. I’ve tried moderately priced. I’ve gone a little higher priced than that (I refuse to invest in a really expensive purse; I would have to carry it for the rest of my life).

There must be some psychological issues tied up in this for me. That’s the only explanation.

Knowing that, I’m ready to go out on a fresh expedition. Somewhere out there, a purse I can live with is just waiting for me to find it, take it home with me, and fill it with the paraphernalia of my life!

I am confused about something. If a potential employee came to me to interview for a job, I feel certain that he would arrive, resume in hand, with a long and detailed description of all his grand and glorious qualities and a list of all the reasons why I should hire him. He would never even consider the possibility of berating the three other candidates out in the reception area awaiting their turns to impress me with their qualifications.

So, why is it, during political campaigns, I am being beaten down with long lists of what’s wrong with the other guy? Doesn’t candidate X realize that every time he tells me candidate Y is pond-scum he is reinforcing candidate Y’s name in my brain? If the only thing a candidate has going for him is that he’s not as bad as the next guy - well, I might as well just write in my next door neighbor’s name for the office. At least I know some of his good qualities.

I do not want to elect the lesser of two evils. I want to know what benefit there is for me if I vote for one candidate over the other. After fifty + years on this earth, I am smart enough to know that voting for a candidate solely based on his party affiliation is a bad idea. The candidate being elected is basically the front man for an entire political movement that he represents. I need to know what he represents before I can make an intelligent decision.

And, so, Mr. Politician, please don’t waste another breath telling me what’s wrong with Larry, Curly or Moe. I probably already have a good idea. Tell me what you plan to do about it.

I don’t like everything I see in the world today. Oh sure, I think technology is great, medical advancements thrill me, and I’m glad people in general are more free to express their beliefs and cultures as they see fit without fear. But, there is a deterioration in attitude in society that I find disturbing. I’m talking about what I perceive as poor customer service in every corner of the market place. I see a lot of impolite responses, lack of caring, and out and out disregard for the most important element of a business community - the customer.

I’ve gotten to the point where, when I am shopping for something, I don’t want the sales person anywhere near me. I don’t want to be made to feel like an imposition. I’m sorry if I am interrupting your conversation with coworkers, your argument with your boyfriend/girlfriend on the cell phone, or a general purpose day dream. I’ll just stay over here in the corner and try not to disturb you any further. These are my general feelings most of the time during many shopping experiences.

It wasn’t always this way. Maybe this is one of the down sides to being over 50. I remember better days. In our race to whatever finish line we are seeking, good manners and good business practices are evaporating. It’s almost as if the people who should be customer service oriented think they are too good for the job they are doing.

It’s a shame, really. This may go a long way to explaining the surge in popularity for Internet shopping services - it helps us to avoid the caustic customer service support system that we find in so much of our world today.

Do you have a good customer service story to share? If so, drop an e-mail. I could use a lift and so could others, I’m sure.