What Makes You Happy?

Today in the midst of the turmoil of work, I stopped everything, stepped back and looked at the world – my world. 

The question is: What Makes Me Happy?

Certainly not the turmoil of the phone calls, requests, requirements, demands, and all those other realities of working for a living.  Sure, there are moments that it feels good.  …especially when I’m teaching a class and I spy an “ah-ha” moment in someone’s eyes…  So, yes, work can make me happy.

Ah...the gentle sound of water falling...

Tonight I put my Happy List together and find that most of it is simple stuff.  And, just about everything that makes me happy, I have already.  So, isn’t that fabulous! …no need to spend anything!  Here’s my list:

• Gentle, peaceful music – like Chris Botti
• Fun 1960’s music – like Brazil 66 or Take 5 by Dave Brubeck
• A great story and time to read it from beginning to end in one day
• Hugging my husband and feeling his arms around me at night
• Listening to a babbling brook or a small waterfall
• That first sip of a light scotch and water on ice
• Laying down on a freshly made bed with lavender scented pillow-slips
• A fresh bouquet of flowers picked straight from a garden
• Getting dressed up for an evening of fun and knowing that I look incredible (jeez…just a little vanity there perhaps?)
• Petting my cat – Come Again the Rigging Cat – and hearing her purr and purr and purr
• Being warm – 110 degrees is just fine with me
• Scuba diving a wall of coral and looking out at the vastness of the blue ocean and marveling at the beauty under the sea
• Being thanked for doing something for someone
• Our quiet room at work (thank goodness we did that for ourselves!)
• Seeing an employee grow and learn and begin to realize that they are achieving something they didn’t know that they could
• Thanking someone for something they did for me
• Desert 4-wheel driving slowly through the washes

Come Again the Rigging Cat - She is Our Love!

There’s my happy list.  It’s much more simple than I thought.  I believe I will concentrate on that list and find that perhaps my days will go just a bit easier.

So my friend, what’s your happy list?  I’ll bet you’ll find out like I did, it’s much more simple than you think!

As the years roll on, I am finding that simplicity is probably the most peaceful state that we can put ourselves in. 

Richard & I both subscribe to a couple of blogs on our Kindles, and the other day I was shocked to find out that for the past year he has been reading the same blog as I do - “Zen Habits.”  We had never compared notes on our blog reading (guess that’s the neat part of the Kindle – - you can have secret reading materials!).  …guess we are just a little more alike than we really knew! 

If you have a chance, check out Zen Habits.

David Copperfield’s Show – January 1, 2010

We all love the "rose trick" that he did...don't know how he did it, but it was cute!

As a tribute to the advancing age of Richard’s sister Angela, (that remark ought to be stricken from the record, but it makes me giggle–we’re the same age, don’t you know) we usually do something special that is “Las Vegas-like.”  This year out of the two choices she was provided: #1 – Would you rather smash your finger with a hammer or #2 – See the Copperfield show, it didn’t take her long to chose the David Copperfield show. 

These days David is hanging out at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand. 

Hmmmmm.  Just 10 years ago I think he was yanking in crowds at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  That should have been our first hint.

“Something is amiss here,” muttered my husband Richard.  This muttering was as the first act came on.  By the end of the 1-1/2 hour show there was no doubt in my mind that the nightly performances kill David Copperfield physically and mentally.  I punched Richard’s arm, and said, “Honey, you’re absolutely right.  Something is not right here…and I think you know the answer.”

Mr. Copperfield has done his job just a few too many times and for too many years to be a leader in the magician world anymore.  Lackluster attitude combined with his tired, achy body almost screams at you during the performance.  “Please let me out of here…I just want a warm cup of cocoa, an epson salt bath, and my teddy bear so I can sleep peacefully.” 

Well hells bells, the man is 53 years old and has put on so many shows that I doubt he can remember all of the countries and cities where he has performed.  Give the poor man his back massage, foot bath, a hot toddie, and let him go away peacefully . . .

I think Mr. Copperfield looks a bit like the Unibomber with his hoodee down here, what do you think?

Hey David – I wish that I had seen you when you enjoyed your craft and the challenges of your work.  But, today, man, you really gotta’  head on out to another job or retirement.  If you have a 401K – break it out and start using it, okay?

The four of us did have a “Lovely” evening as Angela so sweetly said, but this night on the town needs a “RE-DO” if ever there is one possible.  Tired acts, fake ducks, obvious shills in the audience, and a grand (and boring)  tribute to himself, David Copperfield’s show is one to just pass on by. 

I used to like magic.

Angela wishes she had chosen #1 – smash your finger with a hammer.

Perhaps these types of shows on the strip are the major reason that Cirque du Soleil shows do so very well.  They don’t have much competition, the people who perform – CAN perform and smile at the same time, and most Cirque shows are captivating because of the energy and enthusiasm of the performers.

So, meantime I think it’s time to retire David Copperfield to the lounge or back to his island that he owns out in the Bahamas or where ever that is.  He had a good run. 

Pack your bags, buddy.  Oh, by the way, in case I didn’t say it properly, “Happy Birthday Angela!”

It’s a Rats Nest – Includes Predictions…see below…

New to “It’s a Rats Nest?”  If you haven’t dropped by before, consider yourself warned: this blog is cynical and prone to profanity in moments of frustration. 

As we welcome 2010 in, have you figured out how you are going to say the year?  Will you say, “two thousand ten” or “twenty ten?”  I’m still confused on that one…this is a little challenge for me.

I am a card-carrying member of http://www.stiffs.com – a website dedicated to predicting the death of famous people.  If you join the Lee Atwater Jr. pool, you will have a blast.  As you are ringing in the new year, drop by to visit Stiffs.com and enjoy the ride.  I’ve not won yet, but it provides me with a year of cynical humor.  It’s kinda’ mischieveous and in bad taste.  Most of all, Stiffs is irreverant and cynical.  I have two lists on-board with them…I hope I win the grand prize this year.

I always put Fidel Castro on my death list, but the old man just keeps on keeping on.  Elizabeth Taylor has been on my list for 5 years running, and she just keeps rolling around in that wheel chair.  I’m wondering about Hugh Hefner and Tony Curtis this year.  How old is ole’ Hugh now?  Sheesh…what keeps some of these stars alive year after year? 

Hugh - looking ready to party down...at the morgue?

New Year – Something Fixed!

Hanging on a telephone for over 12 hours in a week is no picnic!

Earlier this week I ranted and whined about one of our web sites being “down.”  It comes as a total surprise to me that this morning it is actually fixed and “up” again!  What excitement!  Someone finally got the darned site back in order.  Happy New Year.  So, now I can view our web site http://www.hamiltonblakesafety.com in all it’s awful glory. 

Cynical comment:  Hope it stays operational.  My left ear is aching from being on hold and talking to the “customer service reps” for….are you ready for this?  TWELVE and A HALF HOURS in ONE WEEK.  I was one persistent witch.  No blood ran in the streets, but it was a trial to get through this experience.

Adventure-Exploration-City Center-Aria

Aria Hotel & Casino

Okay, we are cynical. 

As noted in a previous blog, we visited City Center (in it’s sorta’ finished state). 

It was an interesting afternoon.  Rather than heap opinions (good or bad) on Aria and City Center as a whole without our total immersion, we plan to visit and stay at the Aria for 2 days and spend those days exploring the casino, relax in the spa, eat the food … (whatever we can actually eat, due to our health crappola), sleep on their brand new beds, gaze at the views of Las Vegas’s skyline, and look it all over from top to bottom.  Pictures will  come along with the review! 

Yep, we are going to trip on through to the “back of the house,” take pictures of everything we can, interview staff members, and get the real insider’s scoop of the Aria. 

Finally a better field trip than I had when I was 13 years old going to the Toronto’s historic museum (it sucked, but then…I was only 13 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Hey - we plan to enjoy the spa and check it all out...

Since moving to Las Vegas 9 years ago we have not spent one night on the strip.  Unless you count throwing up in the bathroom at the MGM until 4:30 a.m. 

Ok, so the field trip is on!  We will no doubt spend a bunch of money — but I’m excited and will take many photos from all corners of the casino and spa to share with you.  Field trips can be fun!

Richard and I enjoy spas, massage, and pampering.  Who the hell doesn’t??!!   We think it’s kind of an art in finding the right massage therapist, the perfect spa, and all the elements that make for a wonderful, happy experience. 

So, let’s see how the Aria stacks up on their new hotel accommodations and the spa.  Stay tuned – we’ll give you all the honest opinions.

Customer “Service”

I use the word “service” with my tongue held firmly in my cheek.  I think there’s a little blood in there right now…

One of our web sites went “down” along with the bonus, added detail of NO capability of email.  So, for a week we have been trying to get this straightened out.  Two phone calls a day to people called “Cynthia,” “George,” “Blaine,” etc…they are all in the Philippines.  Altogether I have made over eight phone calls to no avail. 

By the way, since I can, I’ll bash them…don’t even think of using web.com to host your site or handle your email – or for that matter, consider the inept people from www.web.com to come over to clean your cat litter box.  They are incapable of all this and MORE!

If it were as easy as pressing the button, this is the one I choose!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know they need work in the Philippines, and are generally doing it.  But, their accents are so heavy that, as an English speaking person, I can sorta’ understand one word out of ten that they say.  And, the statement, “I’m so, so sorry you are having these issues…let me see if I can help,” is bunk.

Let’s be truthful here.  Outsourcing customer service to folks who don’t speak the same language is a joke. 

If I were a Filipino with a computer related problem and reached a customer service representative in Houston, Texas, I’d hate it. 

And guess what; I keep reaching a non-English speaking customer “service” representative in the Philippines who doesn’t have a clue that they are ticking me off even more because they can’t understand me and vice versa.

I wonder if I’ll ever get our web site and email back.  I’ll bet not.

In Memory of My Brother Tom

I only knew Tom for such a short time.  We met in the year 2000 – shocking that it took so long.  But, adopted children don’t have much luck running their biological family down.  Back in the 1950s and 1960s it was tough to locate them because of so many federal and state laws prohibiting release of information.  And, then there is the issue of the adopted parents.  They are often fearful of sharing information with their adopted child for a variety of reasons.

Pic of my biological brother Tom Hawyard

Tom Hayward was one terrific man.  When we met, we knew we were closely integrated in so many ways.  Here’s a picture of him in the backyard of his place in Redding, California.

Tom was in special forces in Vietnam before it became a “police action.”  …he knew his stuff.  And, smart — jeez, I would have matched up his brainpower to anyone on the planet.  Funny, self-effacing, cynical with a big dash of caring there in his heart…Tom was my brother. 

Today I miss him.  I am only grateful to have had met and known him for the time that we had together.

Shout Out to Mark Kline

With all the overtime work you have been doing, how the hell did you manage to make such a great dish for the potluck?  We are eating on it now.  Screw work.  Let’s eat.  Good job, Mark!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks!

Santa Stats

There are currently 78 people named S. Claus living in the U.S. — and one Kriss Kringle. (You gotta wonder about that one kid’s parents)

December is the most popular month for nose jobs.

Weight of Santa’s sleigh loaded with one Beanie Baby for every kid on earth: 333,333 tons.

Number of reindeer required to pull a 333,333-ton s sleigh: 214,206 — plus Rudolph.

Average wage of a mall Santa: $11 an hour. With real beard: $20.

To deliver his gifts in one night, Santa would have to make 822.6 visits per second, sleighing at 3,000 times the speed of sound. At that speed, Santa and his reindeer would burst into flame instantaneously.

Christmas Morning

Christmas comes complete with gifts of caring and love

‘Tis the time for childhood memories.  After all, isn’t Christmas one of the best times of the year for a child?  …at least, it should be.  Unless you live with scrouges or a Jehovah Witness, and well then – you’re pretty much screwed out of Christmas altogether.

Yesterday afternoon we had a little company Christmas potluck party and it was fun to see all of us doing something together besides WORK!  Some of our employee’s children have grown a foot or more since we last saw them a year ago. 

They all had that bright and happy look that kids have during the holidays…expectations of great stuff and happiness of being with an unbickering family….  All expressions of love.  Sometimes I wish that we could make each day a Christmas Day.  Life would be so much happier, huh?

A few of our clients and vendors dropped by – there was Joe McGeough from Foy who just flew in from New York unexpectedly, Steve Manoogian from Wynn, David S. from Foy who brought macaroni and cheese (the ONLY dish that I could eat…bless his heart!), Mikey and Judy, Paxton and his oh-so-pregnant wife.  And other customers who we were thrilled could join our little family of rigging maestros.  And, then Mona the Mystic came by to do tarot card readings for everyone.  She was a popular guest and didn’t stop for several hours of readings.  I think she was “dead-on” accurate with her readings – she got rave reviews!

Secret Santa This Year Was Fun!

The rave reviews really go to our employees and their families.  It’s been a difficult year, but through it all they continue to amaze me with their intelligence and caring.  The greatest of all – our employees really and truly care for each other.  There are no fights, anger flares, or meanness between a single one of us.  It’s a group who completely gets along with each other collectively and individually.  This spirit of cooperation is something rare.  And, it is what makes our business and our lives unique. 

Merry Christmas to All!  Love from Patti, Richard, and Come Again the Rigging Cat

Our employees are our family.  They may not know it, but they are truly one of the most important reasons that I get up every day and come to work.  …yes, I gotta’ watch out for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!