I think we have narrowed down the reason that Borders went out of business.

Courtesy of National Confidential:

Sarah Palin’s latest book is causing a headache for the bankrupt Borders book, based on pictures release online. The national chain, closing its doors and attempting to rid itself of inventory, appears to have a Palin sized problem.

Okay I am exaggerating a little bit...maybe. But you have to admit that it certainly did NOT do Borders any favors to purchase all of those crappy books when there was NOBODY who wanted to murder their brain cells by reading them. After all there are only SO many paint chip eaters, and most of them have never actually read one them there books. "Cletus stop trying to push it into the damn VCR slot! You have to open it up and try to make sense outta those squiggly lines."

I like how they said they had a "Palin sized problem." I think we should all start using that in our day to day lives.

"Yeah Bill, you certainly do have a problem, but at least its not a PALIN sized problem!"

Divorcing my best friends husband.

I met with my best friend today.  It's very apparent that was once a vibrant, fun relationship is no longer.  That I'm going through a divorce with her husband plays the biggest part if not the whole of it.  Divorce with her husband you ask?  Well my bff wasn't my sister wife if that's what you were thinking, and I know you weren't.  Her husband was my boss for seven years.  She's been my friend for 18.  I said at the time I took the job that if it ruined my relationship with her it would be the worst thing I'd ever done meaning taking the job.  Here it is after a very polite conversation watching her eight year old play football I knew it's over.  We both said almost simultaneously at the end of our 90 minute painful meeting, "keep in touch."  I can tell you not once in 18 years have those words exited our mouths and that we both arrived there tells me she knows it's over too.

There are so many unspoken things floating in the air around us that it's thick.  Her husband's character is of serious question to me and I was treated not only badly but fairly abusively before I left.  My best friends father has taken on my role and he openly disdains me.  What chance does she have in keeping our friendship?   I also wonder about her too, a natural feeling seeing as how she watched it all unfold.  She did tell me once that she felt I was getting a raw deal and particularily hated how her dad talked to me.  She's not a huge fan of her father and told me she didn't understand why her husband would bring him into the company.  I haven't behaved unethically and stayed long after my welcome in order to see a healthy transition.  It didn't go the way I feel it should have.  The owner is an absentee manager/leader and had never directed the agency, he left that to me.  When he cut my pay by many thousands of dollars after the market took a dip and then told me I was unlikely to see the return of them, then added he was changing the business model giving me more responsibility and less support I knew my days were numbered.  I came up with my own business idea the week between Christmas and New Years.  I told him of  my plan, I told him I needed to recapture my lost income and that what I saw as a part time opportunity to begin with could grow into full time down the road.  He didn't ask what the idea was.  That was January.  In mid-February I lost a key person due to an unexpected family situation and I was now on my own running a multi-million dollar, high risk company without a senior manager.  (I'd already lost key people - one in November and another one in February and had no permission to hire replacements).  Then when the family situation arose with the senior manager two junior team members handed in their resignations, seeing the writing on their already busy wall.

At the start of January the boss had told me he'd be bringing on my bff's father.  I was happy he had a plan.  After the sudden departure of three key people  leaving me down five managers I asked when he'd be starting, we were reaching a critical situation.  He said he didn't know.  I gave my written notice one week later saying I'd be leaving in five weeks.  I knew it was going to take a serious fire under the owner to move him in a sensible direction.  It wasn't a bluff.  I was going but I said I'd continue as long as he'd like after the end date as a consultant using my own company.  He said he was interested.

Father in law didn't arrive until my fifth week of notice!  When he met me on the Monday, he told me he'd let me know Wednesday if I'd be there past Friday.  I was flabbergasted.  This is not an easy enterprise and there was no one who knew my job or was capable of taking it - including him.  He was from an entirely different sector, 65 and didn't know how far in over his head he'd be.  On Wednesday he asked if I would work two days a week for the next six weeks.  I agreed.  He brought with him a former co-worker of his to train in a senior management position and I was to get her ready for the job. (This was interesting because I was told there would be no other managers -which was a crazy decision to begin with)  The job prep was for a role other than my own and I did as good a job as can be done with a person who had no idea what the job was about or education to back it up.  She really didn't want the responsibility and it was a very responsible role.  I gave my concerns to the new guy and the owner.  They paid little heed.  She quit eight weeks after my last day.   Through a trusted source I heard that one of her reasons for leaving was witnessing how awful I'd been treated. Apparently she was appalled.  i.e. my last day they didn't buy me lunch or acknowledge I was leaving and she was the only one to offer to take my belonging to my car.  

I worked hard during my part time stint and was told numerous times that I'd be contracted for my services.  Made sense to me.  No one had even bothered to ask what I did or what I was in charge of.
It was very surprising to me when I was told I could stay only if I gave 25% of my profits of my new company to my boss.  WTF! This was a ludicrous proposal, but rather than laugh in his face I gave myself a night to think about it before turning it down.  When I said I'd be interested in contracting but wouldn't consider the profit piece I was cut off.  My business phone was cut off immediately. They had kept me attached in order to ask me questions when things came up.

Recently I was told that pension monies I'd been expecting to be paid out would not be forthcoming.  I've decided to let that go, it was under $10,000 and I don't have the time or money to pursue it.  So you can see there's been a nasty divorce going on with my best friend's husband and her dad is part of the mess.

I'm thankful for my experience at the company because for 6 of the 7 years it was very beneficial.  I wouldn't be able to start my new business without the old one.  That my old boss is furious that I won't share profits is his own issue and one he needs to search his character for.  His lack of insight into his own part in what he feels is my betrayal does not bode well for his company down the road.  When he finally realized what my company was about (helping others succeed) he was very angry, he felt I was taking away competitive advantage.  This is not even close to the truth.  The companies I support are required to meet contractual and standard obligations and they all do, their struggle is in managing the details and planning effectively.  There will be no new number of companies surviving, they'll just be thriving with my support.  Just like his company did with me there.  He was so shortsighted in his approach to a market crunch raising his wife's salary, lowering mine not to mention that many years earlier I'd advised a reserve fund for times such as this and he hadn't done it.  He lost fantastic intellectual capital which he'd helped create all for short term financial gain.  I've seen this family go from a very low income and joblessness to wealth in a relatively short time period (10 years), I wonder if the sense of power he has in building two companies due to his significant gifts as an entrepreneur have made him lose sight of what builds a business  - people.

My friend and I kept things very neutral and saw each other frequently throughout the entanglement.  Now that it's permanently unresolvable I can only imagine the stress it creates for her to be involved with me.  She has made a million excuses to cancel our walks or visits and even lately when I could use a friend because of my sisters illness she has been absent.  Today was a polite ending to a chapter.  We both respect each other enough not to bring the drama and the blame. I thought I'd be sadder than I am, at one point this would have devastated me.  Maybe I'm just emotionless because of what's transpired and the energy it takes to avoid at least 50% of my life (my new company and their company) is too much.  Sorry for the book, but damn it feels to get that out!

Divorcing my best friends husband.

I met with my best friend today.  It's very apparent that was once a vibrant, fun relationship is no longer.  That I'm going through a divorce with her husband plays the biggest part if not the whole of it.  Divorce with her husband you ask?  Well my bff wasn't my sister wife if that's what you were thinking, and I know you weren't.  Her husband was my boss for seven years.  She's been my friend for 18.  I said at the time I took the job that if it ruined my relationship with her it would be the worst thing I'd ever done meaning taking the job.  Here it is after a very polite conversation watching her eight year old play football I knew it's over.  We both said almost simultaneously at the end of our 90 minute painful meeting, "keep in touch."  I can tell you not once in 18 years have those words exited our mouths and that we both arrived there tells me she knows it's over too.

There are so many unspoken things floating in the air around us that it's thick.  Her husband's character is of serious question to me and I was treated not only badly but fairly abusively before I left.  My best friends father has taken on my role and he openly disdains me.  What chance does she have in keeping our friendship?   I also wonder about her too, a natural feeling seeing as how she watched it all unfold.  She did tell me once that she felt I was getting a raw deal and particularily hated how her dad talked to me.  She's not a huge fan of her father and told me she didn't understand why her husband would bring him into the company.  I haven't behaved unethically and stayed long after my welcome in order to see a healthy transition.  It didn't go the way I feel it should have.  The owner is an absentee manager/leader and had never directed the agency, he left that to me.  When he cut my pay by many thousands of dollars after the market took a dip and then told me I was unlikely to see the return of them, then added he was changing the business model giving me more responsibility and less support I knew my days were numbered.  I came up with my own business idea the week between Christmas and New Years.  I told him of  my plan, I told him I needed to recapture my lost income and that what I saw as a part time opportunity to begin with could grow into full time down the road.  He didn't ask what the idea was.  That was January.  In mid-February I lost a key person due to an unexpected family situation and I was now on my own running a multi-million dollar, high risk company without a senior manager.  (I'd already lost key people - one in November and another one in February and had no permission to hire replacements).  Then when the family situation arose with the senior manager two junior team members handed in their resignations, seeing the writing on their already busy wall.

At the start of January the boss had told me he'd be bringing on my bff's father.  I was happy he had a plan.  After the sudden departure of three key people  leaving me down five managers I asked when he'd be starting, we were reaching a critical situation.  He said he didn't know.  I gave my written notice one week later saying I'd be leaving in five weeks.  I knew it was going to take a serious fire under the owner to move him in a sensible direction.  It wasn't a bluff.  I was going but I said I'd continue as long as he'd like after the end date as a consultant using my own company.  He said he was interested.

Father in law didn't arrive until my fifth week of notice!  When he met me on the Monday, he told me he'd let me know Wednesday if I'd be there past Friday.  I was flabbergasted.  This is not an easy enterprise and there was no one who knew my job or was capable of taking it - including him.  He was from an entirely different sector, 65 and didn't know how far in over his head he'd be.  On Wednesday he asked if I would work two days a week for the next six weeks.  I agreed.  He brought with him a former co-worker of his to train in a senior management position and I was to get her ready for the job. (This was interesting because I was told there would be no other managers -which was a crazy decision to begin with)  The job prep was for a role other than my own and I did as good a job as can be done with a person who had no idea what the job was about or education to back it up.  She really didn't want the responsibility and it was a very responsible role.  I gave my concerns to the new guy and the owner.  They paid little heed.  She quit eight weeks after my last day.   Through a trusted source I heard that one of her reasons for leaving was witnessing how awful I'd been treated. Apparently she was appalled.  i.e. my last day they didn't buy me lunch or acknowledge I was leaving and she was the only one to offer to take my belonging to my car.  

I worked hard during my part time stint and was told numerous times that I'd be contracted for my services.  Made sense to me.  No one had even bothered to ask what I did or what I was in charge of.
It was very surprising to me when I was told I could stay only if I gave 25% of my profits of my new company to my boss.  WTF! This was a ludicrous proposal, but rather than laugh in his face I gave myself a night to think about it before turning it down.  When I said I'd be interested in contracting but wouldn't consider the profit piece I was cut off.  My business phone was cut off immediately. They had kept me attached in order to ask me questions when things came up.

Recently I was told that pension monies I'd been expecting to be paid out would not be forthcoming.  I've decided to let that go, it was under $10,000 and I don't have the time or money to pursue it.  So you can see there's been a nasty divorce going on with my best friend's husband and her dad is part of the mess.

I'm thankful for my experience at the company because for 6 of the 7 years it was very beneficial.  I wouldn't be able to start my new business without the old one.  That my old boss is furious that I won't share profits is his own issue and one he needs to search his character for.  His lack of insight into his own part in what he feels is my betrayal does not bode well for his company down the road.  When he finally realized what my company was about (helping others succeed) he was very angry, he felt I was taking away competitive advantage.  This is not even close to the truth.  The companies I support are required to meet contractual and standard obligations and they all do, their struggle is in managing the details and planning effectively.  There will be no new number of companies surviving, they'll just be thriving with my support.  Just like his company did with me there.  He was so shortsighted in his approach to a market crunch raising his wife's salary, lowering mine not to mention that many years earlier I'd advised a reserve fund for times such as this and he hadn't done it.  He lost fantastic intellectual capital which he'd helped create all for short term financial gain.  I've seen this family go from a very low income and joblessness to wealth in a relatively short time period (10 years), I wonder if the sense of power he has in building two companies due to his significant gifts as an entrepreneur have made him lose sight of what builds a business  - people.

My friend and I kept things very neutral and saw each other frequently throughout the entanglement.  Now that it's permanently unresolvable I can only imagine the stress it creates for her to be involved with me.  She has made a million excuses to cancel our walks or visits and even lately when I could use a friend because of my sisters illness she has been absent.  Today was a polite ending to a chapter.  We both respect each other enough not to bring the drama and the blame. I thought I'd be sadder than I am, at one point this would have devastated me.  Maybe I'm just emotionless because of what's transpired and the energy it takes to avoid at least 50% of my life (my new company and their company) is too much.  Sorry for the book, but damn it feels to get that out!

Boom!

What a busy week for business!  I'm up to six business contracts and two volunteer projects.  My sister thinks I should stop volunteering my services but I know the tie into this organization is going to bring me more money, so it doesn't pay not to give.  Make sense?

I have been, as I said earlier, quite deliberate about setting myself up in an organized fashion.  This is going to pay off in spades as the work pours in and I need to assess whether I can accomplish what I'm promising.  In order to pay may bills and debts (mortgage) effectively I am only about a 1/4 of the way there in dollar amounts.  I'm fairly confident that some of my current contracts could put me up to 1/3 of the way.

I have been hired by one organization to do executive coaching for the leader.  He has a Masters in Leadership so I find it interesting that he wants my services.  We met for almost two hours the first time and are planning our second meeting next week.  He tells me he finds me  to be trustworthy and in touch with the sector, says he feels a strong connection with my ideas.   He has influence in the community I'm trying to synch myself with, so this is a very good thing!

Last week I had a nightmare that I would lose all my teeth because I couldn't afford a dentist, this week I feel like I could get a filling if I wanted it, maybe not a root canal.  I'm certainly encouraged by recent developments - gotta say!!

I also discovered that I have a label.  I'm a social entrepreneur!  I'm developing a business that supports those who have social causes.

Favorite quote of the week: "Success is the point where your most authentic talents, passion, values, and experience intersect with the chance to contribute to some greater good."   Bill Strickland

I feel like the quote sums up my personal belief.  Thanks Bill.

Boom!

What a busy week for business!  I'm up to six business contracts and two volunteer projects.  My sister thinks I should stop volunteering my services but I know the tie into this organization is going to bring me more money, so it doesn't pay not to give.  Make sense?

I have been, as I said earlier, quite deliberate about setting myself up in an organized fashion.  This is going to pay off in spades as the work pours in and I need to assess whether I can accomplish what I'm promising.  In order to pay may bills and debts (mortgage) effectively I am only about a 1/4 of the way there in dollar amounts.  I'm fairly confident that some of my current contracts could put me up to 1/3 of the way.

I have been hired by one organization to do executive coaching for the leader.  He has a Masters in Leadership so I find it interesting that he wants my services.  We met for almost two hours the first time and are planning our second meeting next week.  He tells me he finds me  to be trustworthy and in touch with the sector, says he feels a strong connection with my ideas.   He has influence in the community I'm trying to synch myself with, so this is a very good thing!

Last week I had a nightmare that I would lose all my teeth because I couldn't afford a dentist, this week I feel like I could get a filling if I wanted it, maybe not a root canal.  I'm certainly encouraged by recent developments - gotta say!!

I also discovered that I have a label.  I'm a social entrepreneur!  I'm developing a business that supports those who have social causes.

Favorite quote of the week: "Success is the point where your most authentic talents, passion, values, and experience intersect with the chance to contribute to some greater good."   Bill Strickland

I feel like the quote sums up my personal belief.  Thanks Bill.

Dysfunctions of a Team

I love to read business books.  My experience as an executive allows me to see myself and/or my organization when I read them.  I happened to hit a used bookstore when I was visiting Frenchi last week and snapped up a few.  Reading inspires me.  I very rarely make it more than a chapter when I put down the book and start focusing on some aspect or another of my business.  I'm working to achieve my project management certification but every time I pick up the text book it leads me off in a direction for my own business plan.

This week I'm reading The E Myth Revisited, by Michael E. Gerber and The FIVE Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lenicioni.  Both have been great for moving me forward.  The E Myth has me seriously building my own enterprise like a franchise.  Operations manuals, strat plans, even a dress code are all in the works.  I actually envision it as a franchise and want to set this up at the earliest stages to accommodate for growth.  The Dysfunctions book speaks to me on a deeper level.  It's painful in some ways because in my last role as CEO I failed to build a great team.  I had two fantastic members but out of my team of seven that's a low number.  To be fair to myself I had lack of support from the owner in regards to building my team - my efforts to budget a retreat were turned down as an example.  The failure of the team and the response by the owner led me to the decision to be my own owner.  in reading the book I can see where we failed and where we could have succeeded.  Some of the members were weighing us down in critical ways and I should have 'moved' them along.  The lack of a replacement kept me from doing so, but in the end it was a huge detriment.

I can't help apply the principals of the book to my personal life.  My guy and I are functioning poorly, when you look at the bottom of the book's model which is Absence of Trust it highlights the criticalness of our current state.  I don't trust what's going on.  At. All.    What I haven't done is enter into conflict with him.  I haven't recognized the benefits of honest, vulnerable communication.  In order to be healthy this is where it starts.  I have to stop being afraid of showing my real vulnerability.  I'm so damn afraid of being hurt by him/others that I pretend that I'm super cool, independent chick with a laissez faire attitude and truth is I'm super sensitive.

Last night he failed to phone me or text me. Again.

This time I slept through the night.  I've been pulling back emotionally and distancing myself.  Which feels healthy, but isn't really.  I keep saying this will end naturally, he won't work here, the relationship will end.  What have I learned from it?  Nothing.  I've shown I can be drama free, but what has it gained me?  Again, nothing.

He text this am:

Him: Gm :) got my phone, he charged me $40, not bad! Left work at 10 last night, today n tomorrow will b same! Can't work inside starting monday.  How r u?

Me: (I waited a minute...trying to figure out what to say).  Working right now.  It is busy.  Getting together with (insert sick family member) today.  They want to see me.  I'm buried in work which helps me cope.

Him: I c, good for u! How is (insert sick family member)?

Good for me?  Ummmm...i said i'm working to cope, that's not a rah rah comment.  Anywhoo I respond.

Me: Lots of roller coaster feelings.  (insert sick family member) are remarkable.

Me: It's a struggle for all of us.  Lots of family things.  You are out of the loop, contact between us is terrible.  Let's be honest.  :)

Me: Text is hard to relay feelings. Etc. Phone contact is sporadic and short.  What do you think you and I need?

Me: Besides sex.  Lol.  :)

A couple minutes pass.

Him: Time together...I miss "us"

Me: I do too

Him: Can I call u at noon?

Me: Yes please

Him: I will xxx

Me: xxx


I don't have soaring hopes about the two of us, but I do have hopes for me.  I have got to learn that conflict is healthy for moving things forward.  To have healthy conflict I have to enter into building trust with him and with myself.  He may not earn it, he may not be capable of being trustworthy.  He may be.  I just know that we are on the ground floor.

Dysfunctions of a Team

I love to read business books.  My experience as an executive allows me to see myself and/or my organization when I read them.  I happened to hit a used bookstore when I was visiting Frenchi last week and snapped up a few.  Reading inspires me.  I very rarely make it more than a chapter when I put down the book and start focusing on some aspect or another of my business.  I'm working to achieve my project management certification but every time I pick up the text book it leads me off in a direction for my own business plan.

This week I'm reading The E Myth Revisited, by Michael E. Gerber and The FIVE Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lenicioni.  Both have been great for moving me forward.  The E Myth has me seriously building my own enterprise like a franchise.  Operations manuals, strat plans, even a dress code are all in the works.  I actually envision it as a franchise and want to set this up at the earliest stages to accommodate for growth.  The Dysfunctions book speaks to me on a deeper level.  It's painful in some ways because in my last role as CEO I failed to build a great team.  I had two fantastic members but out of my team of seven that's a low number.  To be fair to myself I had lack of support from the owner in regards to building my team - my efforts to budget a retreat were turned down as an example.  The failure of the team and the response by the owner led me to the decision to be my own owner.  in reading the book I can see where we failed and where we could have succeeded.  Some of the members were weighing us down in critical ways and I should have 'moved' them along.  The lack of a replacement kept me from doing so, but in the end it was a huge detriment.

I can't help apply the principals of the book to my personal life.  My guy and I are functioning poorly, when you look at the bottom of the book's model which is Absence of Trust it highlights the criticalness of our current state.  I don't trust what's going on.  At. All.    What I haven't done is enter into conflict with him.  I haven't recognized the benefits of honest, vulnerable communication.  In order to be healthy this is where it starts.  I have to stop being afraid of showing my real vulnerability.  I'm so damn afraid of being hurt by him/others that I pretend that I'm super cool, independent chick with a laissez faire attitude and truth is I'm super sensitive.

Last night he failed to phone me or text me. Again.

This time I slept through the night.  I've been pulling back emotionally and distancing myself.  Which feels healthy, but isn't really.  I keep saying this will end naturally, he won't work here, the relationship will end.  What have I learned from it?  Nothing.  I've shown I can be drama free, but what has it gained me?  Again, nothing.

He text this am:

Him: Gm :) got my phone, he charged me $40, not bad! Left work at 10 last night, today n tomorrow will b same! Can't work inside starting monday.  How r u?

Me: (I waited a minute...trying to figure out what to say).  Working right now.  It is busy.  Getting together with (insert sick family member) today.  They want to see me.  I'm buried in work which helps me cope.

Him: I c, good for u! How is (insert sick family member)?

Good for me?  Ummmm...i said i'm working to cope, that's not a rah rah comment.  Anywhoo I respond.

Me: Lots of roller coaster feelings.  (insert sick family member) are remarkable.

Me: It's a struggle for all of us.  Lots of family things.  You are out of the loop, contact between us is terrible.  Let's be honest.  :)

Me: Text is hard to relay feelings. Etc. Phone contact is sporadic and short.  What do you think you and I need?

Me: Besides sex.  Lol.  :)

A couple minutes pass.

Him: Time together...I miss "us"

Me: I do too

Him: Can I call u at noon?

Me: Yes please

Him: I will xxx

Me: xxx


I don't have soaring hopes about the two of us, but I do have hopes for me.  I have got to learn that conflict is healthy for moving things forward.  To have healthy conflict I have to enter into building trust with him and with myself.  He may not earn it, he may not be capable of being trustworthy.  He may be.  I just know that we are on the ground floor.

Funky Town

I've been in a funk for the last two days, but I feel myself coming round.  When I funk out I sit in my room and surf the net or watch episodes of Cougar Town.  I don't leave the room even to eat.  I think its a combination of a low ball job offer, my man being out of town and worry about whether my company has a future.  One thing I know for sure if the funk continues I won't have a company to worry about, cuz it'll be gone.

I know there's only one way to fully get myself to leave funky town and that's get to work.  I've been a little lazy the last couple of weeks and it's leading to inertia. I need forward momentum and the only way to get it is to propel myself forward.  Tomorrow I'm doing cold calls to try out my pitch.  My goal is to have placed 10 calls by weeks end.  Cold calling is NOT my strong suit, I like being called and then pitching, but my website simply isn't attracting the attention I need to get called.

I remain CONVINCED  my idea is fantastic and that I'm the person in the best position to launch it and then move it forward.  CONVINCED  I tell you.  I'm passionate about it and while I still have this belief and before I get too down to believe any more I'm going to get hustling.

Rah Rah!

Picture of my real weakness!  I had the one in the foreground.  Soooo yummy.

Funky Town

I've been in a funk for the last two days, but I feel myself coming round.  When I funk out I sit in my room and surf the net or watch episodes of Cougar Town.  I don't leave the room even to eat.  I think its a combination of a low ball job offer, my man being out of town and worry about whether my company has a future.  One thing I know for sure if the funk continues I won't have a company to worry about, cuz it'll be gone.

I know there's only one way to fully get myself to leave funky town and that's get to work.  I've been a little lazy the last couple of weeks and it's leading to inertia. I need forward momentum and the only way to get it is to propel myself forward.  Tomorrow I'm doing cold calls to try out my pitch.  My goal is to have placed 10 calls by weeks end.  Cold calling is NOT my strong suit, I like being called and then pitching, but my website simply isn't attracting the attention I need to get called.

I remain CONVINCED  my idea is fantastic and that I'm the person in the best position to launch it and then move it forward.  CONVINCED  I tell you.  I'm passionate about it and while I still have this belief and before I get too down to believe any more I'm going to get hustling.

Rah Rah!

Picture of my real weakness!  I had the one in the foreground.  Soooo yummy.

2012 - Simmons Wants His Vote Back

KISS’ Gene Simmons Wants His Vote For Obama Back: ‘I Fell Victim To The Charm’
by Matt Schneider, June 14th, 2011 at http://www.mediaite.com/tv/kiss-gene-simmons-wants-his-vote-for-obama-back-i-fell-victim-to-the-charm/

Photo: Israel National News

     Gene Simmons is most famous for sticking out his tongue while singing in the band KISS, but now he’s sticking out his tongue at President Obama too.  Simmons appeared on Varney & Co. this morning [14Jun11] and told Stuart Varney that he is embarrassed by the fact that he voted for Obama in 2008.  Coming from a man who usually wears make-up in public, that’s certainly saying a lot.
     Simmons explained that he was hopeful Obama would surround himself with business leaders and not professors:

“I want my vote back. This is a good man . . . but I don’t think the man is qualified to understand the structure and what business needs, which is to be well-informed. . . . Our President had two years of local experience, was born in Hawaii and never ran a business in his life.”

     Simmons first lost faith in Obama a few weeks ago when he made the controversial comments regarding Israel’s borders. Simmons has strong ties to Israel and called Obama’s recommendation to Israel the “height of lunacy.” Given that Simmons so passionately opposes Obama now, Varney was a bit perplexed as to why Simmons voted for Obama at all. The KISS icon admitted, “I fell victim to the charm and I wanted to be a part of that moment in history and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t look at the resume long enough.”
     With Simmons jumping ship, Obama might want to take efforts to shore up the aging musician wing of his celebrity base of support before anyone else bolts!

Watch the clip from Fox Business below:

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Video of Rock Star Gene Simmons: Obama Doesn’t Have a Clue

by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, Israel news, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/144384

     KISS rock star, Israeli-born Gene Simmons, tells the CNBC Christian networkthat U.S. President Barack Obama “has no idea of what the world is like." He also calls the United Nations “the most pathetic body on the face of the earth.”

Jane Wells interviewed Simmons on CNBC and asked him what he thinks of President Obama, for whom Simmons voted and now regrets it. He answered, “If you have never been to the moon, you can’t issue policy about the moon. For the president to be sitting in Washington D.C. and saying, ‘Go back to your ‘67 borders in Israel' – how abut you live there and try to defend an indefensible border – nine miles wide?"      “On one side, you got hundreds of millions of people who hate your guts. On the other side you got the Mediterranean. Unless you control the Golan Heights, it is an indefensible position. it is a nice idea, [but] when you grow up, you find out that life is not the way you imagine it.      “President Obama means well - I think he actually is a good guy, He has no idea of what the world is like because he does not have to live there."      Simmons also told the interviewer that “women are much brighter than we are. You should have thousands of babies.”      He was born in Israel in 1949 as Chaim Witz and moved with his family to New York when at the age of eight. His Polish mother survived the Holocaust.      He has written about the United States, "I wasn't born here. But I have a love for this country and its people that knows no bounds. I will forever be grateful to America for going into World War II, when it had nothing to gain, in a country that was far away... and rescued my mother from the Nazi German concentration camps. She is alive and I am alive because of America. And, if you have a problem with America, you have a problem with me.”      Last March, he performed in a homecoming visit to Israel and said, "I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America.” He also said that artists who boycott Israel are "fools."

(IsraelNationalNews.com)

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The life of Riley aka aoefe

I really could get used to not working.   I'm deliberately not pitching the biz in order to enjoy the summer. Mind you I don't think I'm going to drum up that much business because people aren't focused on future plans at this time of year, summer is a different head space.

My old workplace is doing a bit of a tailspin, as I knew they would be.  I've been asked to come in and do some damage control with stakeholders.  It's very frustrating to see clearly their errors and not have any authority to change them.  Ah, c'est la vie, it's not mine to worry about.  I'll do some clean-up and wait for the next time they need help.  I'm willing, that's all I can be.

The picture on the left I took during last week's jaunt to the mountains.  Can you see the Native American man?  He's lying on his back and his full headdress is on, the trees are the feathers trailing down.  It's a beautiful shot if I do say so myself.  I have a pretty good eye and yesterday was asked to produce a full colour brochure for an organization because they'd seen a flyer I produced.  I was surprised because this is not the area of expertise I have (at all).  I said yes if the original producer couldn't do it this year.  I'm freaked.  It'll be a lot of hours, because I'm inexperienced, ones I can't charge for entirely, that said it'll be very good experience.  

The life of Riley aka aoefe

I really could get used to not working.   I'm deliberately not pitching the biz in order to enjoy the summer. Mind you I don't think I'm going to drum up that much business because people aren't focused on future plans at this time of year, summer is a different head space.

My old workplace is doing a bit of a tailspin, as I knew they would be.  I've been asked to come in and do some damage control with stakeholders.  It's very frustrating to see clearly their errors and not have any authority to change them.  Ah, c'est la vie, it's not mine to worry about.  I'll do some clean-up and wait for the next time they need help.  I'm willing, that's all I can be.

The picture on the left I took during last week's jaunt to the mountains.  Can you see the Native American man?  He's lying on his back and his full headdress is on, the trees are the feathers trailing down.  It's a beautiful shot if I do say so myself.  I have a pretty good eye and yesterday was asked to produce a full colour brochure for an organization because they'd seen a flyer I produced.  I was surprised because this is not the area of expertise I have (at all).  I said yes if the original producer couldn't do it this year.  I'm freaked.  It'll be a lot of hours, because I'm inexperienced, ones I can't charge for entirely, that said it'll be very good experience.  

Leisure and luxury

Packed up my office of 7 years yesterday.  There were no grand farewells, in fact the new CEO opted not to tell anyone yesterday was my last day.  He's over his head and I remind him of that daily, not because I rub it in his face, but because he's realized his perception of me and the business was off base.  Rather than have me watch how badly he's screwing up, he opted not to sign me on as a contractor.  To some critical readers this may seem to you like excuse making and I get that, but it's the entire truth.  Watching someone bungle what I worked so hard to accomplish is actually a confirmation of my skill.  He 'thought' he knew it all, despite being from another sector all together.  I worked my way up the ladder for three years doing everything before I took on the CEO position.  He legitimatly thought he could arrive and run it day 1.  It's a fiasco waiting to happen sadly. I'm very glad to be removed from what is sure to take place and not have it taint my reputation.

Today I'm working at my summer office.  When it's cool I work inside my floor to ceiling windowed room, complete with interesting artwork and hardwood furniture. When the weather warms up I head to the patio, take a seat under the umbrella and remove enough clothing to tan.  This office is large enough to accommodate large meetings should I so desire them, and the leather furniture and fire place is divine.   There's a latte' machine nearby and fruit to snack on if I get the munchies.  I am prepared.  Today I spent the entire day in my new office suite and am just now packing it in.  Think I will head home and finish planting my flower baskets.  Life is very good.

(Just so you know - My office space is aka Starbucks - heh)

Leisure and luxury

Packed up my office of 7 years yesterday.  There were no grand farewells, in fact the new CEO opted not to tell anyone yesterday was my last day.  He's over his head and I remind him of that daily, not because I rub it in his face, but because he's realized his perception of me and the business was off base.  Rather than have me watch how badly he's screwing up, he opted not to sign me on as a contractor.  To some critical readers this may seem to you like excuse making and I get that, but it's the entire truth.  Watching someone bungle what I worked so hard to accomplish is actually a confirmation of my skill.  He 'thought' he knew it all, despite being from another sector all together.  I worked my way up the ladder for three years doing everything before I took on the CEO position.  He legitimatly thought he could arrive and run it day 1.  It's a fiasco waiting to happen sadly. I'm very glad to be removed from what is sure to take place and not have it taint my reputation.

Today I'm working at my summer office.  When it's cool I work inside my floor to ceiling windowed room, complete with interesting artwork and hardwood furniture. When the weather warms up I head to the patio, take a seat under the umbrella and remove enough clothing to tan.  This office is large enough to accommodate large meetings should I so desire them, and the leather furniture and fire place is divine.   There's a latte' machine nearby and fruit to snack on if I get the munchies.  I am prepared.  Today I spent the entire day in my new office suite and am just now packing it in.  Think I will head home and finish planting my flower baskets.  Life is very good.

(Just so you know - My office space is aka Starbucks - heh)

S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y Night!

Wow! I've been super busy on the start-up for my new company.  I decided to re-work marketing materials, and I'm very glad I did.  I love my new Mac Pro Book (not a sponsor) and it does amazing publications in word!  Very cool.  I was so pumped about the brochure I had enough energy to launch my web site.  Woot!  Can you say "go girl"?

I don't have a signed contract...yet.  But I can't see how this will fail, I really can't.

I may have a glass of wine and warm tubby to celebrate, gotta have something fun to do on a Saturday right?

S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y Night!

Wow! I've been super busy on the start-up for my new company.  I decided to re-work marketing materials, and I'm very glad I did.  I love my new Mac Pro Book (not a sponsor) and it does amazing publications in word!  Very cool.  I was so pumped about the brochure I had enough energy to launch my web site.  Woot!  Can you say "go girl"?

I don't have a signed contract...yet.  But I can't see how this will fail, I really can't.

I may have a glass of wine and warm tubby to celebrate, gotta have something fun to do on a Saturday right?

Got topped up again.

I've been in hospital once again but this time I think I'm good to go.  A brutal flu took hold and required copious amounts of fluid to keep me functioning.

I've got bruises and sticky glue marks from the tape, my hands and arms are wrecks from where they tried to get veins.  I can brag that I have tiny veins can't I?  haha.

Yesterday was the first day I felt normal and today continued the trend.  Woot!  I'm off for a little trip to the US on Saturday with a girl friend and it's going to require some energy to shop and not have me drop.

I anticipate a return to 'normal' blogging once I'm back.

Good news on the new company I have two amazing leads and hope to see them translate to real business soon.  Life is pretty good!

Got topped up again.

I've been in hospital once again but this time I think I'm good to go.  A brutal flu took hold and required copious amounts of fluid to keep me functioning.

I've got bruises and sticky glue marks from the tape, my hands and arms are wrecks from where they tried to get veins.  I can brag that I have tiny veins can't I?  haha.

Yesterday was the first day I felt normal and today continued the trend.  Woot!  I'm off for a little trip to the US on Saturday with a girl friend and it's going to require some energy to shop and not have me drop.

I anticipate a return to 'normal' blogging once I'm back.

Good news on the new company I have two amazing leads and hope to see them translate to real business soon.  Life is pretty good!

Change of Life (no not THAT one)

My job as CEO of the company I've been heading for the last 6.5 years ends on Friday.  I begin being the one and only boss of my own company immediately.  I know big and exciting things are ahead for me and I can't quite contain my excitement.  It is mixed with anxiety and some financial fears, however I know a year from this date I'll be celebrating outside of this country - a promise I'm making to myself today.

My blog will continue and may be a mix mash of work, love, advice, angst and aging (de-emphasis on that one...ya).

I'm off to tell my staff who are unaware of the decision the owner and I have made.  I'll keep you updated.

Love ya.

Change of Life (no not THAT one)

My job as CEO of the company I've been heading for the last 6.5 years ends on Friday.  I begin being the one and only boss of my own company immediately.  I know big and exciting things are ahead for me and I can't quite contain my excitement.  It is mixed with anxiety and some financial fears, however I know a year from this date I'll be celebrating outside of this country - a promise I'm making to myself today.

My blog will continue and may be a mix mash of work, love, advice, angst and aging (de-emphasis on that one...ya).

I'm off to tell my staff who are unaware of the decision the owner and I have made.  I'll keep you updated.

Love ya.