Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
by Maya Angelou
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Opportunity
They do me wrong who say I come no more
When once I knock and fail to find you in;
For every day I stand outside your door,
And bid you wake, and rise to fight and win.
Wail not for preciouschances passed away;
Each night I burn the records of the day;
At sunrise every soul is born again.
Laugh like a [child] at splendors that have sped
To vanished joys be blind and deaf and dumb;
My judgments seal the dead past with its dead,
But never bind a moment yet to come.
Though deap in mire wring not your hands and weep,
I lend my arm to all who say, "I can!"
No shamefaced outcast ever sank to deep
But yet might rise and be again a man! Dost thou behold thy lost youth all aghast?
Dost reel from righteous retribution's blow?
Then turn from blotted archives of the past
And find the future's pages white as snow.
Art thou a mourner? Rouse thee from thy spell;
Art thou a sinner? Sin may be forgive;
Each morning gives thee wings to flee from hell,
Each night a star to guide thy feet to heaven.
by Walter Malone
I will kid you not, I often have to repeat to myself as Lincoln did, "And this, will soon pass."
When once I knock and fail to find you in;
For every day I stand outside your door,
And bid you wake, and rise to fight and win.
Wail not for preciouschances passed away;
Each night I burn the records of the day;
At sunrise every soul is born again.
Laugh like a [child] at splendors that have sped
To vanished joys be blind and deaf and dumb;
My judgments seal the dead past with its dead,
But never bind a moment yet to come.
Though deap in mire wring not your hands and weep,
I lend my arm to all who say, "I can!"
No shamefaced outcast ever sank to deep
But yet might rise and be again a man! Dost thou behold thy lost youth all aghast?
Dost reel from righteous retribution's blow?
Then turn from blotted archives of the past
And find the future's pages white as snow.
Art thou a mourner? Rouse thee from thy spell;
Art thou a sinner? Sin may be forgive;
Each morning gives thee wings to flee from hell,
Each night a star to guide thy feet to heaven.
by Walter Malone
I will kid you not, I often have to repeat to myself as Lincoln did, "And this, will soon pass."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
There is a lesson in every failure
We can turn failure into advantage and make them serve as a tow-line with wich to pull ourselves ashore if we observe and profit by the lessons they teach.
'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart,
Than shelter and bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the
night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day,
But the touch of the hand
and the sound of the
voice,
Sing on in the soul away.
by Spencer M Tree
_______________________________
Who ne'ver has suffered, he has lived but half,
Who never failed, he never strove,
Who never doubted never thought.
I will never give up the battle!
For I rather go down like the great men of history, Socrates, Christopher Columbus, Thomas Paine, as one who was brave enough to place humanity above the individual and principle above pecuniary gain.
I am grateful for the defeats that most people call failure, because I know if I keep on keeping on (keep trying) in the end, I will get the chance to prove my ability and rise to heights of acheivement in my chosen field.
No one can call me a failure but myself and as the wealthy philosopher, Croesus, once said:
"I am reminded, O king, and take this lesson to
heart, that there is a wheel on which the affairs
of men revolve and its mechanism is such that it
prevents any man from being always fortunate."
When I look upon the many lessons life has brought me, I make it my mantra to say to myself:
I believe in myself and do your best as honestly and earnestly as you possibly can.
'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart,
Than shelter and bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the
night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day,
But the touch of the hand
and the sound of the
voice,
Sing on in the soul away.
by Spencer M Tree
_______________________________
Who ne'ver has suffered, he has lived but half,
Who never failed, he never strove,
Who never doubted never thought.
I will never give up the battle!
For I rather go down like the great men of history, Socrates, Christopher Columbus, Thomas Paine, as one who was brave enough to place humanity above the individual and principle above pecuniary gain.
I am grateful for the defeats that most people call failure, because I know if I keep on keeping on (keep trying) in the end, I will get the chance to prove my ability and rise to heights of acheivement in my chosen field.
No one can call me a failure but myself and as the wealthy philosopher, Croesus, once said:
"I am reminded, O king, and take this lesson to
heart, that there is a wheel on which the affairs
of men revolve and its mechanism is such that it
prevents any man from being always fortunate."
When I look upon the many lessons life has brought me, I make it my mantra to say to myself:
I believe in myself and do your best as honestly and earnestly as you possibly can.
Anything good reguires a lot of sand
It takes courage and lots of courage to look upon defeat as a blessing in disguise; but any position in life that is worth having requires a lot of sand.
This poem, by an uknown author says exactly what I am thinking.
I observed a locomotive in the railroad yards one day,
It was waiting in the roundhouse where the locomotives stay;
It was panting for the journey, it was coaled and fully manned,
And it had a box the fireman was filling full of sand.
It appears that locomotives cannot always get a grip
On their slender iron pavement, 'cause the wheels are apt to slip;
And when they reach a slippery spot, their tactics they command,
And to get a grip upon the rail, they sprinkle it with sand.
It's about the way with travel along life's slippery track -
If your load is rather heavy, you're always slipping back;
So, if a common locomotive you completely understan,
You'll provide yourself in starting with a good supply of sand.
If your track is steep and hilly and you have a heavy grade,
If those who've gone before you have the rails quite slippery made,
If you ever reach the summit of the upper tableland,
You'll find you'll have to do it with a liberal use of sand.
If you strike some frigid wheather and discover to your cost
that you're liable to slip upon a heavy coat of frost,
Then some prompt decided action will be called into demand,
And you'll slip 'way to the bottom if you haven't any sand.
You can get to any station that is on life's schedule seen,
If there's fire beneath the boiler of ambition's strong machine,
And you'll reach a place called Flushtown at a rate of speed that's grand,
If for all the slippery places you've a good supply of sand.
This poem, by an uknown author says exactly what I am thinking.
I observed a locomotive in the railroad yards one day,
It was waiting in the roundhouse where the locomotives stay;
It was panting for the journey, it was coaled and fully manned,
And it had a box the fireman was filling full of sand.
It appears that locomotives cannot always get a grip
On their slender iron pavement, 'cause the wheels are apt to slip;
And when they reach a slippery spot, their tactics they command,
And to get a grip upon the rail, they sprinkle it with sand.
It's about the way with travel along life's slippery track -
If your load is rather heavy, you're always slipping back;
So, if a common locomotive you completely understan,
You'll provide yourself in starting with a good supply of sand.
If your track is steep and hilly and you have a heavy grade,
If those who've gone before you have the rails quite slippery made,
If you ever reach the summit of the upper tableland,
You'll find you'll have to do it with a liberal use of sand.
If you strike some frigid wheather and discover to your cost
that you're liable to slip upon a heavy coat of frost,
Then some prompt decided action will be called into demand,
And you'll slip 'way to the bottom if you haven't any sand.
You can get to any station that is on life's schedule seen,
If there's fire beneath the boiler of ambition's strong machine,
And you'll reach a place called Flushtown at a rate of speed that's grand,
If for all the slippery places you've a good supply of sand.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
When Nature Wants to Make a Man
There is no failure for the man or woman that fights on. A man or woman has never failed until (s)he accepts temporary defeat as failure. The is a BIG difference between temporary defeat and failure.
Here is a poem by Angela Morgan a turn of the 19th century poet. Her poems express the theory that adversity and defeat are generally blessings in disguise.
When Nature wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man,
When nature wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When she yearns with all her heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall praise --
Watch her method, watch her ways!
How she ruthlessly perfects
Whome she royally elects;
How she hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him,
Into trial shapes of clay which only Nature understands -
While his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands!
How she bends, but never breaks,
When his good she undertakes...
How she uses whom she chooses
And with every purpose fuses him,
By every art induces him
To try his splendor out -
Nature knows what she's about.
When Nature wants to take a man,
And shake a man,
And wake a man;
When Nature wants to make a man
To do the Future's will;
When she tries with all her skill
And she yearns with all her soul
To create him large and whole...
With what cunning she prepares him!
How she goads and never spares him,
How she whets him, and she frets him,
And in poverty begets him...
How she often disappoints
Whom she sacredly anoints,
With what wisdom she will hide him,
Never minding what betide him
Though his genius sob with slighting and his pride not forgot!
Bids him struggle harder yet.
Makes him lonely
So that only
God's high messages shall reach him,
So that she may surely teach him
What the Hierarchy planned.
Though he may not understand.
Gives him passions to command.
How remorselessly she spurs him
With terrific ardor stirs him
When she poignantly prefers him!
When Nature wants to name a man
And fame a man
And tame a man;
When Nature wants to shame a man
To do his heavenly best...
When she tries the highest test
That she reckoning may bring -
When she wants a god or king!
How she reins him and restrains him
So his body scarce contains him
While she fires him
And inspires him!
Keeps him yearning, ever burning for a tantalizing goal -
Lures and lacerates his soul.
Sets a challenge for his spirit,
Draws it higher when he's near it -
Makes a jungle, that he clear it;
Makes a desert that he fear it
And subdue it if he can -
Do doth Nature make a man.
Then, to test his spirit's wrath
Hurls a mountain in his path -
Puts a bitter choice before him
And relentlessly stand o'er him.
"Climb, or perish" so she says...
Watch her purpose, watce her ways!
Nature's plan is wonderous kind
Could we understand her mind...
Fools are they who call her blind.
When his feet are torn and bleeding
Yet his spirit mounts unheeding,
All his higher powers speeding,
Blazing newer paths and fine;
When the force that is divine
Leaps to challenge every failure and his ardor still is sweet
And love and hope are burning in the presence of defeat...
Lo, the crisis! Lo, the shout
That must call the leader out.
When the people need salvation
Doth he come to lead a nation...
Then doth Nature show her plan
When the world has found - a MAN!
--------------------------------
Defeat talks to us in a language all its own; a language to which we must listen whether we like it or not.
Here is a poem by Angela Morgan a turn of the 19th century poet. Her poems express the theory that adversity and defeat are generally blessings in disguise.
When Nature wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man,
When nature wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When she yearns with all her heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall praise --
Watch her method, watch her ways!
How she ruthlessly perfects
Whome she royally elects;
How she hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him,
Into trial shapes of clay which only Nature understands -
While his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands!
How she bends, but never breaks,
When his good she undertakes...
How she uses whom she chooses
And with every purpose fuses him,
By every art induces him
To try his splendor out -
Nature knows what she's about.
When Nature wants to take a man,
And shake a man,
And wake a man;
When Nature wants to make a man
To do the Future's will;
When she tries with all her skill
And she yearns with all her soul
To create him large and whole...
With what cunning she prepares him!
How she goads and never spares him,
How she whets him, and she frets him,
And in poverty begets him...
How she often disappoints
Whom she sacredly anoints,
With what wisdom she will hide him,
Never minding what betide him
Though his genius sob with slighting and his pride not forgot!
Bids him struggle harder yet.
Makes him lonely
So that only
God's high messages shall reach him,
So that she may surely teach him
What the Hierarchy planned.
Though he may not understand.
Gives him passions to command.
How remorselessly she spurs him
With terrific ardor stirs him
When she poignantly prefers him!
When Nature wants to name a man
And fame a man
And tame a man;
When Nature wants to shame a man
To do his heavenly best...
When she tries the highest test
That she reckoning may bring -
When she wants a god or king!
How she reins him and restrains him
So his body scarce contains him
While she fires him
And inspires him!
Keeps him yearning, ever burning for a tantalizing goal -
Lures and lacerates his soul.
Sets a challenge for his spirit,
Draws it higher when he's near it -
Makes a jungle, that he clear it;
Makes a desert that he fear it
And subdue it if he can -
Do doth Nature make a man.
Then, to test his spirit's wrath
Hurls a mountain in his path -
Puts a bitter choice before him
And relentlessly stand o'er him.
"Climb, or perish" so she says...
Watch her purpose, watce her ways!
Nature's plan is wonderous kind
Could we understand her mind...
Fools are they who call her blind.
When his feet are torn and bleeding
Yet his spirit mounts unheeding,
All his higher powers speeding,
Blazing newer paths and fine;
When the force that is divine
Leaps to challenge every failure and his ardor still is sweet
And love and hope are burning in the presence of defeat...
Lo, the crisis! Lo, the shout
That must call the leader out.
When the people need salvation
Doth he come to lead a nation...
Then doth Nature show her plan
When the world has found - a MAN!
--------------------------------
Defeat talks to us in a language all its own; a language to which we must listen whether we like it or not.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Dumb Language of Defeat
This language is the simplest and most effective language of all, and I am beginning to understand it. This language is natures way of say, "Hey Marla! Listen up girl! There is a lesson to be learned and there is no other way to learn it than by me cry out to you and making you learning through failure!"
I am glad that I have encountered much defeat in my life! Because it has given me the courage to undertake tasks that I would never have begun had I been surrounded by protecting influences. Influences that I have always had in my childhood, and have in adulthood.
Defeat is a blessing in disguise!
Joaquin Miller is an American Poet of the 19th Century (died in the early part of the 20th Century). He expressed a notable thought in the following poem:
"All honor to him who shall win a prize."
The world has cried for a thousand years;
But to him who tries, and who fails, and dies,
I give great honor, and glory, and tears.
Give glory and honor and pitiful tears
To all who fail in their deeds sublime;
Their ghosts are many in the van of years,
They were born with Time, in advance of Time.
Oh, great is the hem who wins a name;
But greater many, and many a time, Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame
And lets God finish the thought sublime.
And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
And good is the man who refrains from wine;
But the man who fails and yet still fights on,
In, he is the twin-brother of mine.
There is no failure to a man or a woman who fights on.
A man or a woman never fails until he or she accepts temporary defeat as failure.
I am glad that I have encountered much defeat in my life! Because it has given me the courage to undertake tasks that I would never have begun had I been surrounded by protecting influences. Influences that I have always had in my childhood, and have in adulthood.
Defeat is a blessing in disguise!
Joaquin Miller is an American Poet of the 19th Century (died in the early part of the 20th Century). He expressed a notable thought in the following poem:
"All honor to him who shall win a prize."
The world has cried for a thousand years;
But to him who tries, and who fails, and dies,
I give great honor, and glory, and tears.
Give glory and honor and pitiful tears
To all who fail in their deeds sublime;
Their ghosts are many in the van of years,
They were born with Time, in advance of Time.
Oh, great is the hem who wins a name;
But greater many, and many a time, Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame
And lets God finish the thought sublime.
And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
And good is the man who refrains from wine;
But the man who fails and yet still fights on,
In, he is the twin-brother of mine.
There is no failure to a man or a woman who fights on.
A man or a woman never fails until he or she accepts temporary defeat as failure.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Horse Sense
"Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success." -- Dale Carnegie
So to be successful, one needs some horse sense. What exactly does this mean? It means looking beyond yourself to maximize your full potential through others.
I guess you can say that you cannot get anywhere worthy without other people helping you along the way.
I am learning I can't do it on my own.
Salve Maria... ayudame porque me muero! Me ahogo!
So to be successful, one needs some horse sense. What exactly does this mean? It means looking beyond yourself to maximize your full potential through others.
I guess you can say that you cannot get anywhere worthy without other people helping you along the way.
I am learning I can't do it on my own.
Salve Maria... ayudame porque me muero! Me ahogo!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Slap in the face Baby Shower!
I just received a baby shower invitation from a "supposed" close friend of my husband, yet this person didn't even acknowledge my husband when he was in the hospital.
Her invitation comes as a slap in the face. I feel bad for her and annoyed at the same time, which I just don’t think is the desired reaction from a baby shower invitation.
Her invitation comes as a slap in the face. I feel bad for her and annoyed at the same time, which I just don’t think is the desired reaction from a baby shower invitation.
USPS nightmare
Have you ever been the victim of a lost or misdelivered or damaged package sent via the US Govt Postal Service?
I have. What follows is a detailed letter to Postal Service for an insured package lost by destination postal service branch.
My goal was to have the right balance of pithy treatment yet with adequate detail; threatening yet sensible suggestion for resolving this matter; formal yet the sense that a forceful, persistant human being has written the letter.
-----------------------------------------------
November 2, 2009
CLAIM APPLEALSACCOUNTING SERVICES
PO BOX 80141
ST LOUIS, MO 63180-0141
Subject: Package not delivered
Claim ID: 1321187
Case number: CA100142347
Insurance label number is 13080370000098523759
I, [deleted], am the shipper of the package that was presumably delivered. This letter is in response to your denial of my claim. I write to demand immediate payment of the $90.00 for the insured package that was never delivered.
On September 23, 2009 I mailed a 19.6 lb package containing birthday presents for my niece and nephews and my sister-in-law, [deleted]. Per your records this package was delivered on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. However, this package, was in fact, not delivered to the recipients I shipped the package to.
Accordingly, I made a claim with the 1800 clerk to investigate why the package was not delivered and the clerk said they will forward to the Snapper Creek Postal Service Branch in Miami, Florida. According to a clerk at the above mentioned branch, the package was scanned by another mail carrier not the carrier that delivers to my sister-in-laws address [deleted], Miami, FL 33176-1799. The carrier that delivers to that address is Route 42.
This matter was handled very poorly by this branch. First, the service provided by this branch has been nothing efficient. I was given evasive excuses, made to wait for hours on the phone, and even experienced rudeness. Who is in a better position to solve this problem—your office?
Furthermore, I called the 1(800) number again on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:00 a.m. and the clerk advised, I call the Snapper Creek Branch and ask them to advocate for me. I called the branch at 7:20 a.m. after hanging up with the 1800 clerk. A lady by the name of Izabel answered the phone, she said she would investigate the problem placed me on hold for nearly two hours. I called again, and a George answered and said no Izabel worked there. He claimed to be a supervisor and then handed the call to a clerk by the name of Suzanne. Suzanne was very nice and took down the information and said, “I don’t know why supervisor gave me this call, I don’t think I can solve this problem. This should be the supervisor's duty.” Then she placed me on hold for a few seconds and returned to the phone saying, “John supervisor is in a meeting. Give me the Insurance label number and I will have him call you back.” No one ever called back.
Understand that I bought insurance for just this reason and USPS should indemnify me for the loss of the package. USPS defected in the delivery of the package to a different address (or it was stolen). The actual recipient did not receive this package.
Additionally, I have included [deleted] affidavit as proof that the package was not delivered to the address I shipped it to. You may contact [deleted] at [deleted].
These are reasonable demands. If I don’t hear from you by November 16, I will assess what legal recourse I should take against the US Postal Service.
Very Truly Yours,
Marla F. Benavides
Copy to Ms. Autria Finley, Supervisor, Domestic Claims (by certified and regular mail)
------------------------------------------------------------------
USPS Results from demand letter
I sent a demand letter in October of 2009 to the Postal Service and I received a response. The postal service wrote a check out to me for the full amount of the insured package plus some extra cash. Yea!
I guess my letter was so effective, Postal Service wanted to reward me for a job well done.
I have. What follows is a detailed letter to Postal Service for an insured package lost by destination postal service branch.
My goal was to have the right balance of pithy treatment yet with adequate detail; threatening yet sensible suggestion for resolving this matter; formal yet the sense that a forceful, persistant human being has written the letter.
-----------------------------------------------
November 2, 2009
CLAIM APPLEALSACCOUNTING SERVICES
PO BOX 80141
ST LOUIS, MO 63180-0141
Subject: Package not delivered
Claim ID: 1321187
Case number: CA100142347
Insurance label number is 13080370000098523759
I, [deleted], am the shipper of the package that was presumably delivered. This letter is in response to your denial of my claim. I write to demand immediate payment of the $90.00 for the insured package that was never delivered.
On September 23, 2009 I mailed a 19.6 lb package containing birthday presents for my niece and nephews and my sister-in-law, [deleted]. Per your records this package was delivered on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. However, this package, was in fact, not delivered to the recipients I shipped the package to.
Accordingly, I made a claim with the 1800 clerk to investigate why the package was not delivered and the clerk said they will forward to the Snapper Creek Postal Service Branch in Miami, Florida. According to a clerk at the above mentioned branch, the package was scanned by another mail carrier not the carrier that delivers to my sister-in-laws address [deleted], Miami, FL 33176-1799. The carrier that delivers to that address is Route 42.
This matter was handled very poorly by this branch. First, the service provided by this branch has been nothing efficient. I was given evasive excuses, made to wait for hours on the phone, and even experienced rudeness. Who is in a better position to solve this problem—your office?
Furthermore, I called the 1(800) number again on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:00 a.m. and the clerk advised, I call the Snapper Creek Branch and ask them to advocate for me. I called the branch at 7:20 a.m. after hanging up with the 1800 clerk. A lady by the name of Izabel answered the phone, she said she would investigate the problem placed me on hold for nearly two hours. I called again, and a George answered and said no Izabel worked there. He claimed to be a supervisor and then handed the call to a clerk by the name of Suzanne. Suzanne was very nice and took down the information and said, “I don’t know why supervisor gave me this call, I don’t think I can solve this problem. This should be the supervisor's duty.” Then she placed me on hold for a few seconds and returned to the phone saying, “John supervisor is in a meeting. Give me the Insurance label number and I will have him call you back.” No one ever called back.
Understand that I bought insurance for just this reason and USPS should indemnify me for the loss of the package. USPS defected in the delivery of the package to a different address (or it was stolen). The actual recipient did not receive this package.
Additionally, I have included [deleted] affidavit as proof that the package was not delivered to the address I shipped it to. You may contact [deleted] at [deleted].
These are reasonable demands. If I don’t hear from you by November 16, I will assess what legal recourse I should take against the US Postal Service.
Very Truly Yours,
Marla F. Benavides
Copy to Ms. Autria Finley, Supervisor, Domestic Claims (by certified and regular mail)
------------------------------------------------------------------
USPS Results from demand letter
I sent a demand letter in October of 2009 to the Postal Service and I received a response. The postal service wrote a check out to me for the full amount of the insured package plus some extra cash. Yea!
I guess my letter was so effective, Postal Service wanted to reward me for a job well done.
Holiday Inn National in Alexandria
A year an a half ago, we traveled back east for a wedding and a vacation. This trip was extended from 10 days to 3 months b/c my husband ended up in the hospital. I had a terrible time with this Hotel and Orbitz. After trying to cancel our reservation, Orbitz charged my credit card b/c hotel did not want to authorize cancellation of stay. I sent thame a letter upon returning to Denver. It read:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Gates,
I am Mr. X wife, with whom your hotel has corresponded about canceling our reservation back in January. I write asking you to authorize a credit in the amount of $623.26 to Orbitz.
We made reservations for 7 days and although the hotel’s policy is that cancellations or changes made after 6:00 PM local hotel time on the day of arrival are subject to a 100% charge. Your front end manager, Mr. Joshua Forten, did agree to cancel our reservation and charge us for a one night stay.
More than that, though, Virginia law states that “Where impossibility of performance is due to … to death or illness of one who by the terms of the contract was to do an act requiring his personal performance … the promisor will be excused ...” 1 M.J., CONTRACTS, § 69.
First, the purpose of the trip was to attend a wedding in North Carolina then visit D.C. before heading home. However, my husband was diagnosed with pneumonia at an Urgent Care Clinic in N.C. on January 3rd. In the evening of that day, around 6:00 P.M., I called the hotel to state we would not be staying that evening but that we would call the next day. We stayed in Fredericksburg with family instead, hoping that the illness would pass. I called the next day, January 4th, and tried to cancel with hotel. Ms. Greshuma, supervisor on duty, stated that I would have to cancel with Orbitz, however, Orbitz stated that the hotel will have to authorize the cancellation, and that I should call on Monday, the 5th of January for a refund. On Monday morning, my husband was rushed to the Hospital with irregular heart rhythm. I tried again to cancel on that afternoon. My husband’s hospitalization was a supervening event that had not reasonably been contemplated by us at the time of reservation. It made staying in your hotel impossible. Sure I could have agreed to stay at the hotel, and you could have given me possession of the room, but it so defeated the purpose that your hotel should excuse our performance of the contract and cancelled the reservation.
I have attached the following documentation of my husband’s hospitalization: the diagnosis from the Urgent Care Clinic, the Discharge/final summary of Dr. Y, my husband’s appointed primary care provider while at Hospital, and admission history and physical from Dr. Z, at Rehabilitation Hospital of Fredericksburg. Considering the overwhelming evidence that my husband was truly ill, I request that you authorize a credit in the amount of $623.26 with Orbitz.
These are reasonable demands. If I do not hear from you by May 22, 2009, I will assess what legal recourse we should take against your hotel, and Orbitz.
Very truly
Marla F. Benavides
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After writing the manager of the HI hotel that letter, on May 20th, I received a call saying that they would refund the entire amount ($800.00). Yes, you read it right! The entire amount was refunded, and the hotel room was finally cancelled. It took me five months to resolve this issue. But a thoughtfully written letter with evidence to prove my case went a long way to getting management to see my point of view.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Gates,
I am Mr. X wife, with whom your hotel has corresponded about canceling our reservation back in January. I write asking you to authorize a credit in the amount of $623.26 to Orbitz.
We made reservations for 7 days and although the hotel’s policy is that cancellations or changes made after 6:00 PM local hotel time on the day of arrival are subject to a 100% charge. Your front end manager, Mr. Joshua Forten, did agree to cancel our reservation and charge us for a one night stay.
More than that, though, Virginia law states that “Where impossibility of performance is due to … to death or illness of one who by the terms of the contract was to do an act requiring his personal performance … the promisor will be excused ...” 1 M.J., CONTRACTS, § 69.
First, the purpose of the trip was to attend a wedding in North Carolina then visit D.C. before heading home. However, my husband was diagnosed with pneumonia at an Urgent Care Clinic in N.C. on January 3rd. In the evening of that day, around 6:00 P.M., I called the hotel to state we would not be staying that evening but that we would call the next day. We stayed in Fredericksburg with family instead, hoping that the illness would pass. I called the next day, January 4th, and tried to cancel with hotel. Ms. Greshuma, supervisor on duty, stated that I would have to cancel with Orbitz, however, Orbitz stated that the hotel will have to authorize the cancellation, and that I should call on Monday, the 5th of January for a refund. On Monday morning, my husband was rushed to the Hospital with irregular heart rhythm. I tried again to cancel on that afternoon. My husband’s hospitalization was a supervening event that had not reasonably been contemplated by us at the time of reservation. It made staying in your hotel impossible. Sure I could have agreed to stay at the hotel, and you could have given me possession of the room, but it so defeated the purpose that your hotel should excuse our performance of the contract and cancelled the reservation.
I have attached the following documentation of my husband’s hospitalization: the diagnosis from the Urgent Care Clinic, the Discharge/final summary of Dr. Y, my husband’s appointed primary care provider while at Hospital, and admission history and physical from Dr. Z, at Rehabilitation Hospital of Fredericksburg. Considering the overwhelming evidence that my husband was truly ill, I request that you authorize a credit in the amount of $623.26 with Orbitz.
These are reasonable demands. If I do not hear from you by May 22, 2009, I will assess what legal recourse we should take against your hotel, and Orbitz.
Very truly
Marla F. Benavides
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After writing the manager of the HI hotel that letter, on May 20th, I received a call saying that they would refund the entire amount ($800.00). Yes, you read it right! The entire amount was refunded, and the hotel room was finally cancelled. It took me five months to resolve this issue. But a thoughtfully written letter with evidence to prove my case went a long way to getting management to see my point of view.
Scammers
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If you take a quiz on Facebook, you may be automatically subscribed to some crap service. This service will text you crap and charge your cell phone about $10.00 per month.
No te rindas
The Author of this poem is unknown but it inspired me when I was younger and it still inspires me... Heck, it inspired a young boy I knew while working at a Middle school.
Cuando las cosas vayan mal como a veces pasa,
Cuando el camino parezca cuesta arriba,
Cuando tus recuerdos menguen y tus deudas suban,
Y al querer sonreir, tal vez suspiras;
Cuando tus preocupaciones te tengan agobiado
Descansa si te urge, pero no te rindas.
La vida es rara con sus vueltas y tumbos,
Como todos muchas veces comprobamos
Y muchos fracasos suelen acontecer
Aún pudiendo vencer de haber perserverado
Asi es que no te rindas aunque el paso sea lento.
El triunfo es fracaso al reves;
Es el matiz plateado de esa nube incierta
Que no te deja ver a su cercania…
¡Aun estando bien cerca!
Por eso decidete a luchar sin duda,
Porque en verdad, cuando todo empeora,
El que es valiente, no se rinde
¡LUCHA!
Cuando las cosas vayan mal como a veces pasa,
Cuando el camino parezca cuesta arriba,
Cuando tus recuerdos menguen y tus deudas suban,
Y al querer sonreir, tal vez suspiras;
Cuando tus preocupaciones te tengan agobiado
Descansa si te urge, pero no te rindas.
La vida es rara con sus vueltas y tumbos,
Como todos muchas veces comprobamos
Y muchos fracasos suelen acontecer
Aún pudiendo vencer de haber perserverado
Asi es que no te rindas aunque el paso sea lento.
El triunfo es fracaso al reves;
Es el matiz plateado de esa nube incierta
Que no te deja ver a su cercania…
¡Aun estando bien cerca!
Por eso decidete a luchar sin duda,
Porque en verdad, cuando todo empeora,
El que es valiente, no se rinde
¡LUCHA!
A four-leaf clover
I have much silliness, and this poem was inspired by that silliness. :-)
I live my life "in clover "
I am like a four-leaf clover
Rare am I
And yet, the clover is said to bring the luck of the Irish
With a clover you can have all you want
Well, I dream of a champagne fun
A fabulous cruise in the sun
Can you see me
I am laughing in the intoxicating moonlight
Being the life of the party
Yes, me wild as can be
But I am like a four-leaf clover
Can you see me high above a mountain?
Standing tall, radiant and bright
And I am like a four-leaf clover
When nature really over-achieves,
It gives its clover a lucky fourth leaf
Can it be a sign from up above
The more leaves, the more luck
I am like that four-leaf clover
Can it be that I too sometimes can over-achieve?
I hold the secret to my own happiness
With that said, the secret to happiness
Means knowing how to face life's challenges
Using your own forceful and empowering tool
And this tool forms from within you,
This tool will bring you good luck and GOOD FORTUNE
Yes, the tool is simply a smile
A smile is all you need to bring happiness to your life
So you see
I am like a four-leaf clover
Who summons luck into my life
By being my own four-clover
So smile and be your own four-leaf clover.
I live my life "in clover "
I am like a four-leaf clover
Rare am I
And yet, the clover is said to bring the luck of the Irish
With a clover you can have all you want
Well, I dream of a champagne fun
A fabulous cruise in the sun
Can you see me
I am laughing in the intoxicating moonlight
Being the life of the party
Yes, me wild as can be
But I am like a four-leaf clover
Can you see me high above a mountain?
Standing tall, radiant and bright
And I am like a four-leaf clover
When nature really over-achieves,
It gives its clover a lucky fourth leaf
Can it be a sign from up above
The more leaves, the more luck
I am like that four-leaf clover
Can it be that I too sometimes can over-achieve?
I hold the secret to my own happiness
With that said, the secret to happiness
Means knowing how to face life's challenges
Using your own forceful and empowering tool
And this tool forms from within you,
This tool will bring you good luck and GOOD FORTUNE
Yes, the tool is simply a smile
A smile is all you need to bring happiness to your life
So you see
I am like a four-leaf clover
Who summons luck into my life
By being my own four-clover
So smile and be your own four-leaf clover.
Reflections: the woman I am...
Here I try to create a serious poem but alas! I think I have failed. :(
I am...
A woman
Full of energy, and spontaneity
Somewhere in vastness of this earth...
With eyes not quite of aspen's gold,
Nor am I a blue-eyed soul,
Neither am I, an ordinary brown-eyed Susan.
I sit and wonder
if love is a tale made of dew--
A granting of sweet dreams in their purity too--
A mint leaf of freshness
Covered in chocolate delight.
I listen...
And at a distance I hear a low, gentle whisper
a southing voice, I look around with a hopeful heart,
Imagine a dark, cold night,
The wind is whistling, and it is raining…
Fear overcomes you
Then suddenly, the dawn of morning appears
Drops of light shine through the clouds
And a rainbow appears
Can smell spring flowers in the air,
A racy scent,
Hovering over the summer days
This is love.
I see
A woman, proud, and unyielding,
A bit pretentious, daring
Like a pilot flying through a thunderstorm
Piquant as pepper -- more jubilant than a cheerleaders cheer,
Punchier than a child at play
adding flavor to all withered souls
Like salt, seasoning a gourmet dish...
I want
A measure of tranquility—a certain calmness,
a yodel that echoes in the stillness of the Rockies
A serene smile to find solutions
To the vastness of my problems,
An Indifference to a world of sadness;
I am radiant
A sun that transmits heat, warming…
like a child--filling life with laughter
He gives me strength that which God affords me--
And so, I can persist, I live each day,
Enjoying every waking moment...
My emotions...
Too plentiful-- to be directionless,
Too real to be imaginary, and yet the familiar eyes
Hold much recognition -- only my reflection --
Anchored in place, affixed by the will...
I sense ...
The downy wings of hope, in wonder,
Alone and warming of his 5 wits;
the bald eagle in the belfry sits,
with integrity, self-assured ...
I worry...
Of failed opportunities; that in my longing for success
I have forsaken all -- but oh, what reward,
what divine inspiration should light the journey to accomplishment --
And how can I heed the signs.
I astounded...
For having such strength of character, for holding on like an ironclad,
And then, when by the sweat of my soul, tired
I am lifted, a cup full--not half emptied, and I smile again
For what hard work, and effort, is not lost;
I am a hopeful woman...
With the understanding...
That life is what you make it,
that sometimes, there is a shade of gray,
that marks your triumphs dimly,
Then, suddenly, in a rush there is color
Like a bountiful harvest...
Hold on...
Hold on I say
to a life shaped,
by family & friends--molded and formed--
But as always, the core of us remains,
In a world that is constantly changing,
As the earth remains,
Until rejuvenated
Like a flower blooming
After a cold winter
I am dreaming...
Of the tallest mountain, reaching
Climbing, a step upward--not looking back
Of wolves that wander in the forest with purpose,
pushing me to the top-until alas, I made it.
I try
To persist, determined
that merely the struggle holds power;
a dose of inspiration may last a day, while
a dose of determination spans lifetime.
I hope
That my light carries you through,
that love is meant for sharing, that feeling
Wields influence in the words evoked,
And that my writing motivates you.
I am
a woman,
who is intrepid and free
I am...
A woman
Full of energy, and spontaneity
Somewhere in vastness of this earth...
With eyes not quite of aspen's gold,
Nor am I a blue-eyed soul,
Neither am I, an ordinary brown-eyed Susan.
I sit and wonder
if love is a tale made of dew--
A granting of sweet dreams in their purity too--
A mint leaf of freshness
Covered in chocolate delight.
I listen...
And at a distance I hear a low, gentle whisper
a southing voice, I look around with a hopeful heart,
Imagine a dark, cold night,
The wind is whistling, and it is raining…
Fear overcomes you
Then suddenly, the dawn of morning appears
Drops of light shine through the clouds
And a rainbow appears
Can smell spring flowers in the air,
A racy scent,
Hovering over the summer days
This is love.
I see
A woman, proud, and unyielding,
A bit pretentious, daring
Like a pilot flying through a thunderstorm
Piquant as pepper -- more jubilant than a cheerleaders cheer,
Punchier than a child at play
adding flavor to all withered souls
Like salt, seasoning a gourmet dish...
I want
A measure of tranquility—a certain calmness,
a yodel that echoes in the stillness of the Rockies
A serene smile to find solutions
To the vastness of my problems,
An Indifference to a world of sadness;
I am radiant
A sun that transmits heat, warming…
like a child--filling life with laughter
He gives me strength that which God affords me--
And so, I can persist, I live each day,
Enjoying every waking moment...
My emotions...
Too plentiful-- to be directionless,
Too real to be imaginary, and yet the familiar eyes
Hold much recognition -- only my reflection --
Anchored in place, affixed by the will...
I sense ...
The downy wings of hope, in wonder,
Alone and warming of his 5 wits;
the bald eagle in the belfry sits,
with integrity, self-assured ...
I worry...
Of failed opportunities; that in my longing for success
I have forsaken all -- but oh, what reward,
what divine inspiration should light the journey to accomplishment --
And how can I heed the signs.
I astounded...
For having such strength of character, for holding on like an ironclad,
And then, when by the sweat of my soul, tired
I am lifted, a cup full--not half emptied, and I smile again
For what hard work, and effort, is not lost;
I am a hopeful woman...
With the understanding...
That life is what you make it,
that sometimes, there is a shade of gray,
that marks your triumphs dimly,
Then, suddenly, in a rush there is color
Like a bountiful harvest...
Hold on...
Hold on I say
to a life shaped,
by family & friends--molded and formed--
But as always, the core of us remains,
In a world that is constantly changing,
As the earth remains,
Until rejuvenated
Like a flower blooming
After a cold winter
I am dreaming...
Of the tallest mountain, reaching
Climbing, a step upward--not looking back
Of wolves that wander in the forest with purpose,
pushing me to the top-until alas, I made it.
I try
To persist, determined
that merely the struggle holds power;
a dose of inspiration may last a day, while
a dose of determination spans lifetime.
I hope
That my light carries you through,
that love is meant for sharing, that feeling
Wields influence in the words evoked,
And that my writing motivates you.
I am
a woman,
who is intrepid and free
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Law of Success 2.0: Case 70: Susan Greenfield
The Law of Success 2.0: Case 70: Susan Greenfield: "Click here for her introduction. Haegwan Kim (HK); Thank you so much for your time. Today I’m going to talk with Baroness Susan Greenfield..."
The test of a [wo]man is the fight [s]he makes
The test of a [wo]man is the fight [s]he makes,
The grit that [s]he daily shows;
The way [s]he stands on his (her) feet and takes
Fate's numerous bumps and blows,
A coward can smile when there's naught to fear,
When nothing his (her) progress bars;
But it takes a [wo]man to stand up and cheer
While some other fellow stars.
It isn't the victory, after all,
But the fight that a brother or sister makes;
The [wo]man who, driven against the wall,
Still stands up erect and takes
The blows of fate with his (her) head held high;
Bleeding, and bruised, and pale,
Is the [wo]man who'll win in the by and by,
For [s]he isn't afraid to fail.
It's the bumbs you get, and the jolts you get,
and the shocks that your courage stands,
The hours of sorrow and vain regret,
The prize that escapes your hands,
That test your mettle and prove your worth;
It isn't the blows you deal,
But the blows you take on the good old earth,
That show if your stuff is real.
So with this I say that my boss,a capable lawyer, is testing me for reliability, loyalty, preserverance and other essential qualities that show my real stuff.
I have what it takes.
The grit that [s]he daily shows;
The way [s]he stands on his (her) feet and takes
Fate's numerous bumps and blows,
A coward can smile when there's naught to fear,
When nothing his (her) progress bars;
But it takes a [wo]man to stand up and cheer
While some other fellow stars.
It isn't the victory, after all,
But the fight that a brother or sister makes;
The [wo]man who, driven against the wall,
Still stands up erect and takes
The blows of fate with his (her) head held high;
Bleeding, and bruised, and pale,
Is the [wo]man who'll win in the by and by,
For [s]he isn't afraid to fail.
It's the bumbs you get, and the jolts you get,
and the shocks that your courage stands,
The hours of sorrow and vain regret,
The prize that escapes your hands,
That test your mettle and prove your worth;
It isn't the blows you deal,
But the blows you take on the good old earth,
That show if your stuff is real.
So with this I say that my boss,a capable lawyer, is testing me for reliability, loyalty, preserverance and other essential qualities that show my real stuff.
I have what it takes.
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