Dave Berry newsbrief reaction

Dear Mr. Dave Berry of the Miami Herald: I read in our local paper, The Des Moines Register on page 7B, about your comments to the Arizona Republic on how you questioned if Iowa has airline service or hotels and called it pathetic that our whole economy depends on getting New York reporters to eat breakfast with Mitt Romney. And by the way, last I heard the Iowa caucuses are January 18 with New Hampshire's set for January 24. Plus, I would not recommend leaving Iowa in the early in the morning the day after the caucuses unless you love waiting in line for 4 hours to go through security. And yes, the airlines bring in passengers 365 days a year, though no flights are scheduled after midnight or before 5 A.M.

Let me straighten you out on a few things. Our economy does not depend on the primaries and caucuses. I work at a car rental at the Des Moines International Airport and our busiest month is August when there is Knoxville Sprint Car Races, Indianola Hot Air Balloon Races, and Iowa State Fair in Des Moines occur close together. This year the Italian-American Community Center had an Italian Festival and Republicans had a Straw Poll closer to a carnival in nearby city Ames when these other events were going on. Everyone running for president shows up at the Iowa State Fair to pass out food to potential voters. Too bad those ABC and CNN guys coming in only reported the debate the candidates had in downtown Des Moines (they were all here anyway). We get tourists from Japan and Britain coming to just see the"Fair". Other times ABC and ESPN arrive are during sporting events such as college football, car races at now 2 racetracks in Knoxville and Newton, and professional wrestling from the WWF and WWE. They also came when Ames held the Special Olympics this year, though not so much during the Governor's Convention hosted by Des Moines this past year. I have also rented cars to people from the BBC who mainly do documentaries and presidential visits.

Since Des Moines is not much of a tourist trap, our economy depends most on insurance companies and banks home offices kept here. Our tallest building is owned by an insurance company. You may think Des Moines as a small town, but it contains 30 gangs fighting for drug dealing territory with a police run Gang Task Force to at least keep the violence down. If you wish to witness a shooting, robbery, or both try dining at a place close to DrakeUniversity. Several bars on Army Post Road have had shootings so many times the police call them public nuisances causing the owners to close their doors and reopen under other names. Granted every limo you see in Des Moinesis rented, the rich here in the suburb West Des Moines drive BMW's and Mercedes' and belong to any 7 private golf clubs. If you like non-American food, there is Italian, German, Mexican, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Cantonese,and Japanese restaurants as well as a few Irish pubs. And as for hotels and airlines, we have 54 hotels in Des Moines and suburb areas and 8 airlines to choose from, though actually getting a room and an airplane seat during the caucuses is questionable.

I'm sorry you have such a low view of my area of the country, but you if think only cows and cornfields exist it is probably because you only viewedIowa from one of two interstates.

Sincerely: Jordan Harvey

Vet visit

It was Frodo's turn to go to the vet for his booster shots. And he fought like a tiger spreading all 4 limbs to prevent going in the carrier. I finally got him pushing on his shoulder to keep him from jumping out. I guess he's learning. He meowed as if he were dying all the way to the office. He was terrified at the vet's office panting like crazy. The poor kitty. He is 12.5 lbs. with good teeth, good ears, good claws, and went right back in the carrier and cowered into a corner. He panted all the way home and calmed down reaching the stairs and opening the door of the carrier. I turned on the AC after our walk outside which mainly was in the stairwell. He is good til next year. A few days ago I put on flea stuff to their dismay. The other day a neighbor commented how raccoons in the area can carry rabies. I explained my cats had their shots. Besides my cats are so wimpy they probably run away from a giant raccoon. Sometimes wimpy is good.

I redid my closet with new connecting drawers and a shelf. I have more floor space. Now I have to do the storage closet. I have so much stuff that it falls over and the door takes a tumble. I have the door leaning against the wall. Think I'll get some shelves to get stuff off the floor. I also want to see the Nanny Diaries, my sister borrowed the book and didn't have time to read it so I gave her a book report. Rich people are psycho. The writers were on Oprah once. Well better go shoppping for shelves. Post later. Bye!

Miss Teen South Carolina

On Inside Edition the introduction of an interesting answer of Miss Teen South Carolina on Why 1/5 of children can't find the U.S. on a world map was advertised, so of course I have to hear this. Well I missed putting together my drawers and shelf in my closet, so I plug into my internet's MSN.COM page and it was a big news item. If you didn't watch the Miss Teen USA pageant Friday night (I was at work), it goes something like this.

Question: Why is it that 1/5 of kids in America can't find the US on a world map. Answer: Many people don't have maps and went on saying that we need to help children in South Africa and Iraq with their education and help them find the United States on a map.

I probably would have said something like kids sleep through history and geography thinking it's not important, or say 1/5 of school children are too young to take geography class or better yet, because that question is not on the mandatory state tests, or they are use to political maps with the 50 states divided and can't identify the US on a elevation map without state and country borders.

What would your answer be? Post later. Bye!

Trip to boyfriend

My trip started lousy. First I slept longer than planned cause of a late flight I had to wait for, then after taking my cats out I had to go shopping because of delayed flights on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday lost my initiative to go shopping after work, and finally I got lost or miss turns 3 times. The first misstep was at the corner where I turn to get to the Interstate, road/corner was closed so I got lost driving around trying to find the Interstate in Rush Hour Traffic. Next due to construction on the Interstate and lousy signs, I miss my exit to head toward Muscatine. So I turned around in Ankeny (10 miles north of Des Moines), get off the correct exit better labeled, and head toward Muscatine. Now Muscatine is south of Davenport so when I saw a sign saying 30 to Davenport, I got out the directions Romeo gave me to find the hotel. I missed my exit and had to turn around. Finally get to the hotel and checked in, and I open the door to a woman in bed thinking I'm the maid. Go back to the desk. The couple were not assigned to that room in the computer. I took it the couple changed rooms and were still listed in the old room when the girl called the room. Girl takes $10 for the mix up and tries to find another hot tub suite for me. They don't have anymore hot tub suites so I get downgraded from a king size bed to 2 queen size beds knocking the prize down $16 instead of $10. it was right next to the intruded upon room so I could hear their TV blasting. At least I didn't walk in on them having sex.

Call Romeo on my cell phine and start eating my Long John Silvers. He calls up and I'm surprised he got there so fast. He takes me to meet his mother who shows old pictures of the family. She was very nice and chatty taking us around the house on the guided tour. A little small but not too crowded. Talking, I figured out I'm a lot like his Mom. His stepfather thought Romeo was weird when they first met because he would go to work and go home and go back to work. His girls are druggies and party animals so that was his "normal". The cat that is terrified of strangers climbed onto my lap. She must have smelled my cats and knew I was friendly. I also found out Romeo got a nickname as a kid when his former stepbrother referred to him as Bert from Sesame Street and the former stepbrother was Ernie. Other people I was introduced the next day all call him Bert.

He drove over to his friend's house and introduced me to his 2 guy friends and one guy's girlfriend living in the house. They were smoking on the porch. We went back to the hotel and he opened his birthday present. He liked his silver and gold watch, and a harness and retractable leash for his kitten Honey. It is easier to train a kitten than an old cat on these things. When I was in the middle of a story, he gave me my birthday present, a promise ring. He got a kiss on the cheek and I finished my story. He asked if I wanted to watch a movie. No, I wanted to go to bed. After I turned off the light, he got into the other queen size bed and took his shirt off. Early the next morning he says "Good Morning" and I fall back asleep. I wanted to go swimming since NO HOT TUB, but couldn't get up in time, and I missed the free continental breakfast. He got up at the same time as me and took a shower after me. I left a tip for the maid and stole the paper pad and pen. And we were off again.

I got the grand tour of Muscatine and walked down a trail on the river. I got tired so we turned back. I was introduced to kitten Honey, so sweet and soft. Romeo's apartment has very little furniture. His bed doesn't have sheets or pillowcase, single bed and boxsprings lying on the floor. TV with tall entertainment center right next to the bed along with a recliner next to the bed. The living room had a table and some hard chairs so we sat on the floor to play with Honey. We saw his stepfather leaving to go fishing and went over to his guys' friend house. We petted the shedding dog and soft gray cat. Later went to his father's apartment. Father promised to be clean-shaven and sober when meeting me. He was alseep and Romeo woke him up. He was so ashamed of his messy apartment I stood out in the hallway. We met at Dairy Queen. Romeo had not eaten all day and yet was not hungry. I ate like a pig and had leftover fish from Long John Silvers for lunch. Maybe it's all the Pepsi and water he's drinking. We went to see the Hairspray remake. He has never seen a musical before. We touched shoulders and arms at his mother's house, but nothing more so I was determined that he get his arm on my shoulder. I waited for the right moment as his arm was brushed up against my arm. When the girl sang how happy she was cause a cute guy touched her, I grabbed his hand and placed over my shoulders. He held out his other hand for me to hold. We held hands throughout the movie. FINALLY!

As we left he put his arm around my shoulder and took me back to his tiny apartment in the attic of a house with a hallway of steps leading to the door. We played with Honey again and he checked his messages. People at work wanted to meet me so I followed him to the store so I could leave afterwards. He grabbed my hand in the store and walked to the backroom. Met everybody working. Anyway, he guided the way out fo town and I went home. Precious and Frodo were so happy to see me. Post later. Bye!

Horrified

I was out with my cats when a girl about preteen age (10-12) comes out with her puppy trotting along. She drops the leash handle (retractable kind) and the puppy picks up the leash and runs away. Amusing. She grabs it back and the puppy continues running away. The girl jerks the leash and the puppy slides across the sidewalk with a yelp. Assumed it was accidental until she jerked it again causing the puppy to somersault and dragged an extra distance with another yelp. And she jerks it again causing the puppy to somersault with yet another cry from the puppy. And another drag across the sidewalk with a whimper. Then she lets the puppy go a distance, stops it with the retractable button stopper, lets it go and stops it, and lets it go and stops it. I was horrified with my cats sitting at my feet watching this too (they are very wary of any dog appearance). The girl sees me and sits on the sidewalk inspecting the puppy's fur and petting it on her lap. I'm sure my mouth was hanging open from the shock. She takes the puppy inside with it trotting along on the leash. What does one say to a kid yanking a leash incredibly hard that the animal somersaults and yelps? I gave her the beneifit of the doubt that it was her first puppy and didn't know any better. Post later. Bye!

How's your day?

I had the pleasure of the new management advertising updates of the New Era of Making Customers Happy by emailing most recently 40 pages of press releases from stock market prices on top car rentals, ours included, to Hybrid cars will be available at Avis soon to new government laws making car rentals more expensive to Old Management and New Management having meetings to discusss the company's plan for success. Like I care. I'll just read the Cliff Notes labeled "How All This Effects the Ability to do my Job". That's all I care about.

I PO'ed a couple customers today. One wanted to pay in cash at the end of the rental and just pick up their car from us w/out paying a thing. That's not how it works and they released the f-word a few times before leaving. I was close to explaining that if they don't stop cussing at me I will call security, but they took the consumer's affairs # and left. I said, Please do call customer service because the reservation line should not tell people we take cash upfront.

Then some lady said she needed the spare set of keys that she knows we have here because her 4-year-old son locked the doors with the keys inside. Couldn't find the spare set anywhere. Will have to call a locksmith to open door and make her another key, and she will have to pay the locksmith for his sevices and keys made. She disagrees that SHE should have to pay for keys because it is our fault we don't have spares. Explained she could have been in possession of the spares when she rented the car. She calls back declaring she found the car dealership on her own, not from me, and was informed they are closed (Guess why I didn't give her the # to the car dealership). Someone gets the door open and keys are nowhere in the car. Since she can't have the spare set, she wants to exchange cars. Now, not only will she be paying for new keys made by the dealership, she will have to pay for the towing. That set her off demanding the manager, the owner, the corporate office, anyone who will say she doesn't have to pay for all this. Next she demands the owner to personally drive to her another car. No, owner is at home, in bed most likely and I'm not waking him up. Manager says she pays and if she doesn't like our customers service, she can call roadside assistance for a better locksmith, so that is the end of my phone calls to higher authority. Tell roadside when they call that the lady has been told she pays for everything we do for her and put guy on hold to help customers at the counter After I call the towing company to set up this exchange, she calls to complain I never called her back. I was on the phone with the towing company. And no, we don't own the tow truck, we have a contract with the company so we get a special rate. She wants the rate. Don't know until the tow company gives us a bill and the owner handles that so I can't say what precisley he does with the bills he gets. Had to call the towing people and the make the poor girl fill out another form to change the exchange to a car recovery. So she comes to get the new car, complains the owner never showed up with her new car, and tells me for the 100th time she ain't paying for anything cause I'm imcompetent and it is our fault we don't have spare keys to all cars, and she is never renting from us again and telling all her friends not to rent from us cause we have bad customer service. Yeah, well, she can type her problems on the CNN tickertape for all I care, she will have this same problem at any other car rental, I guarentee that. And she will pay or she will be placed on the Do Not Rent List and can't rent from us again, I can guarentee that too.

I am tempted to look for a job that has no contact with people, but really, what job exists that has not contact with people in some shape or form. Better go to bed now. Bye!

Death to a dream

I'm sitting here in a rut with a dead end job with no future, but great pay and benefits, and try time and time again to earn extra money without breaking my back doing it or gettign scam out of money in the process. Read about great work at home opportunities in a magazine so look them up at home. Trying to turn over a new leaf is very hard when one gets slammed with EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. Those words are death to a dream.

One site I looked up was for virtual assistant where one can be a personal assistant over the internet. I got the computer, got DSL, got a great printer, got a landline phone, No Office Experience. Strike One.

Next I checked on being a tutor. I'm not a teacher but did get a college in history. Passed the subject test and got stumped on the essay question "What are the 3 most important issues addressed in a tutoring session?" Never tutored before (I tried but my fellow students needed math help, not history or English) and never been tutored so I have no idea the 3 most important things about a tutoring session. Strike Two.

Lastly, I tried to be an online guide or expert. I have cats, sales clerk experience, and a college degree. The topics desiring expert advice are sports, medicine, webpage designing, and natives living in tourist attractions. Strike Three. I'm out of ideas.

My only conclusion I can come up with is that what I'm good at doesn't pay well. That's why I'm poor and stay poor. I tried to freelance write once but newspapers and magazines want journalism majors still in college to pay squat (if at all) to. The best pay I saw offered was a penny a word for a 500 word essay. That is $5 an 500 word essay. I make more renting cars to people. I shall remain in my rut. Post later. Bye!

Poor doggie

The Iowa State Fair had its first casuality, a dog in a car with its windows rolled up died today from the heat. Poor dog. I assumed it was in the parking lot and not behind the farm animal buildings. I wish people would leave their pets home in the air conditioning. It's better than dying of a heat stroke in a locked up car.

Iowa State Fair doesn't usually have casualities because a few buildings are air conditioned for people to cool off in and the livestock buildings have huge circulation fans. Post later. Bye!

Today's events

It is official, I'm in hell otherwise known as ragweed season. Then the TV says the temperature is 90, heat index 103, and my thermometer says 106. I turned on the AC to rid the humidity and relieve some of the allergies. I took a shower right before taking my cats outside and came back inside an hour later with soaking wet hair from the sweat.

Anyway, outside Frodo caught a bird. It landed on a neighbor's bird feeder and Frodo jumped at it. It flew over to the sidewalk by the hand rail and rested in the grass. Frodo caught it. He carried around showing me and Precious his trophy for a couple minutes before setting it down. He growled when it didn't move and pawed at it. He picked up a wing with his paw and whined that it wasn't moving. I thought it was dead since it didn't move, but soon it fluttered and Frodo attacked. It remained still and fluttered again to have Frodo carry it around in his mouth another minute. I decided to save the bird, Frodo just wanted a toy not a meal. Frodo took it away from my reach and finally relented to me touching his trophy. I picked it up and its claws rubbed against my palm. It breathed hard and turned its head. I placed it on a tree branch and Frodo looked at me wide-eyed taking away his toy. On the branch, the bird did not move and Frodo arched his back for petting. We finished our walk and went back inside. I checked the bird still motionless on the branch breathing hard. It was brown on top with white underneath so it blended into the tree bark well, it will be okay once it figures out it another day of life to live.

I'm enjoying my days off lying on the couch watching TV. Republican Straw Poll in Ames, State Fair, Knoxville Sprint Car Races, Indianola Balloon Races all happening close in proximity makes a lot of customers wanting cars at the same time. Had John Edwards Campaign people thinking they had 3 vans reserved. Nope, not on the list. Let's fix that right now. No, don't have any vans or cars available. If they had gotten a reservation from the reservation line they would have gotten a suv or caddie cause we are sold out even for famous people's groupies. They keep coming back not understanding they don't have a reservation for 3 vans, and they don't have a reservation number to look up to prove that they do. Then they come back again asking if the credit card was the problem. No, they are not on the reservation manifest, therefore they don't get a car. People are so much fun.

So has anyone seen the new Wendy's commerical with the chicken driving a car and the police in an alley chases the car, and after almost getting squished by a truck, chicken stops the car. The cop comes out with a red hair wig. Then chicken dishes sold at Wendy's. The chicken was escaping from Wendy's. I thought it was cute. Post later. Bye!

New closet

I was thinking of my upcoming Fall Cleaning of my apartment and my birthday present for myself. I will have to do this Fall Cleaning soon cause my storage closet door keeps falling off the track because of the things falling over and pushing on it. And Yes, I buy a birthday present for myself every year because the only birthday gift I receive is $10 from my Mom. I always attemt to buy something frivalous and expensive that no one in my family would ever buy for me. This year it will be new drawers and shelves for my closet. I have cardboard drawers that suit me just fine storing off season clothes, until my cat Precious starting tearing them up. I open a drawer and he jumps in, then I close a drawer and he chews and claws to open it back up. I ordered them online so I wouldn't have to carry from my car up 3 flights of stairs. The shipping costs as much as the items ordered, but I try to convince myself the money is worth it. Anyway, I thought of rearranging my living room furniture and redecorating the walls of of my bedroom. Got to draw that on paper before moving anything, it goes faster that way. Post later. Bye!

Scratchy

Last week a neighbor asked me to remove my cat from her porch because the cat antagonizes her dog scratching at the glass patio door. Today Precious again walked over to the dog porch and I went over to remove him before the dog saw him. I trip over the dog leash tied to the porch railing and nearly threw Preicous. Feeling the jerk, Precious jumps off my grasp tearing my shirt and scratching my arm in the process. Dog is now scratching at the glass door upon hearing our commotion. Precious stares down the dog. I push on his shoulder to get him to move out of dog's sight. After a couple pushes he moves over and dog calms down. Post later. Bye!

Funny ad

Saw a funny ad I had to share:

Yamaha Trumpet, great condition, bought new 2 years ago, barely used (he never practiced), hard shell case included $400

Post later, Bye!

Surprise package

I recieved a surprise Monday, my niece is in town visiting my sister. They went swimming the first day and took her to see the new Harry Potter movie. She had seen it before, but not in IMAX formation. It is like a roller coaster ride and I don't care to see one ever again. My brother is also visiting to help with redoing the shingles on the garage. They rented a nail gun to quicken the job. I didn't know one could do that, but then I never inquired about one. My Mom says Dad would never use a nail gun even if you gave him one, cause he likes doing things the hard way. That would explain why he takes so long to finish projects. On my sister's garage, my brother works the nail gun while my brother-in-law lays the shingles down. Guess he doesn't like "More Power" Tim Allen jokes about.

Tuesday the nieces painted figurines and I did laundry. I made my baby niece cry cause I was reading "her" Avon magazine. I offered for her to sit on my lap and read it with me, but no she wanted to look at it by herself. She likes to look at the kiddie stuff with Elmo and Dora on.

Today after guys get done with the roof, we are co-carting and minature golfing. I never been in a go-cart before so this will be an adventure. Post later. Bye!