Have you ever>>>>>

Have you ever done something that was just so, stupid, even you wonder what the heck was I thinking? Now I mean really stupid. Something that you just knew better.

Now think about it for a moment. Something like sticking you tongue to frozen metal - what compelling reason would you have to put your tongue on any metal regardless? Let alone at -20? How about the battery on the tongue trick... 9 volt... Yep, gives one hell of a snap doesn't it.

Oh I've got one. Electric fence. It gives you one heck of a lift. Touch something that will ground you and let me tell you from experience, it will drop you to your knees. We know what jolt an electric fencer will give off, yet guys especially feel that they need to prove something by reaching out and holding on.

Ahhh, and there is the totally brain dead, finger in the electrical outlet - I kid you not, it's been done. Just to see what happens.

Well, I committed my own act of 'just what were you thinking' this week. I paid for it today. Earlier in the week, my wiper juice was running low. Now, I have two stashes of the stuff, one in the tool shed and one in the barn.

I know the stash in the tool shed is rated for -45, but it's in the tool shed, there's no light, it's out of the way and I'm not exactly sure where the box is. On the other hand, the stash in the barn is right where I put it back in the fall. I also know that my barn stash is summer windshield fluid. I know this because way back at the beginning of winter when we had our last cold snap, I had some in my reservoir. I know it is for the summer because it crystallized in my truck, making sure I couldn't clean my windshield until it got mild again. Which by the way was later that day.

So, I run out of bug juice. Being lazy, being stupid and being just plain out to lunch.... I make the trip to the barn, retrieve the summer juice and put it in. Now hubby warns me... 'are you sure this stuff won't freeze'? 'Nah' I say, 'it won't freeze, it's okay'. I'm not sure who I thought I was fooling.... of course it is going to freeze when the temps drop. Perhaps it was just wishful. Perhaps I was in denial that the cold snap would never hit. Regardless - I was wrong.

It was -20ish last night (Celsius baby). Cold as it gets. This morning, I don't around -19c when I went to hop in the truck. I drive for about 10 minutes and then realize that my squirter is not functioning. I pull over and proceed to 'bang' the ice away from the little squirter things. I get back into the truck and poof. Nope. No juice. Back out I get, open the hood and flip the top of the reservoir.... yep, frozen. Not crystallized like before.... frozen.
Shit.

I head on into the city, trying to peek around the white smudges that cover my windshield. I pop into Canadian Tire, which btw is out of my way. I drop them eight bucks for a bottle of 'booster' and a jug of Teflon good to -45 wiper juice. Out I go. In the frigate temps, pop the hood and add the booster. Get back into the truck and try the juicer..... presto... one side is working, unfortunately not my side.

I drive onward to my meeting. Still with one side functioning. Apparently the lines to the other squirter are frozen.

I leave the meeting and by now, everything is back to being frozen... so much for booster. I head back towards home base and it takes 30 minutes of driving before the truck even thinks about warming up. Man, it's cold!

Finally, one stop and over an hour of running later, the windshield washer functionis back to working. I frantically keep it working and manage to empty all of the 'bad' fluid in preparation to add my new expensive 'Teflon' fluid. Which I do, but not until I pull up the driveway at home.

Now all of this stupidity could have been avoided. I knew that the fluid would freeze. I knew that it would cause me grief. I knew that I should walk the extra 10 steps to the tool shed. What do I do though..... take the easy way out, which in the end turns out to be a colossal pain in the butt!

Now come on. You've all done something like this... time to fess up. Did I ever tell you about the poor birch tree that my friend Tyler had cut down. The same tree that the client committed to saving. 'This is my favorite tree, it has memories, do what needs to be done to save it!'. Yeah, he knew better..... still he cut it down. Dumb ass!

Have a Hot Cherry Day and please, share with us.

Hey Johnny..... I'm Back!

Please don't tell me you didn't miss my comments, ramblings and disgust at the world in general.

It's been crazy.... yeah, yeah, it's crazy for all of us - that's what makes life so damn interesting. So, no, I'm not going to go on at great lengths about just how silly my life has gotten. I asked for it, I got it, I'll live with it and damn well love it!

Speaking of love. Hubby and I went to a post wedding, wedding reception on the weekend. You see, dear Tyler 'the trying with every bone in his body to be a landscaper' got hitched back in November. Alison (his long time girlfriend and live in) and Ty ran off to Mexico to do the deed. I guess someone ticked off the family and friends and therefore had to make it up - with of course, a stupidly expensive 'wedding reception' back in Canada.

Don't get me wrong - it was a very nice event. Well done kids! Now what the heck were you smoking that made you want to part with your hard earned doe to party with the crew of demented friends you have? (yes us included)
I just don't know why they bothered...... another trip to Mexico would have made me happier for them.

I also got even with Staples last week. Yes I did! Well sort of. I'm still stinging a bit about 'the man' and his 'I just don't give a sweet shit about you chicky' attitude.

Here's my update. I go into Staples, yes, the one in Kanata. I need printer cartridges. What can go wrong? I pick up two, because the printer we have sucks ink back. Get them back, go to install and damn it all to hell.... wrong cartridge. The box says it's the right one... There is no arguing with printers - if the cartridge doesn't fit, there is no making it fit. So, back I go.

Oh, but wait, I've forgotten something. Back to the first visit. I get my cartridges, the one the book says I need, go to the cash. The cartridges are $24.99 each. I pay for them and a few other things. The bill seems high, but I pay it.

Now, just as another aside.... a good friend says she always checks her bills because there are always errors. So, I've gotten in the habit and consequently, I'm saving myself a few bucks a week.

So, I check my bill. Well, I'll be damned. I've been charged an extra $20 bucks for the cartridges. I go over to the section, find a nice looking gentleman and ask him about the price difference. Without hesitation he says - come with me. I ask why, he says, 'we owe you some money and I'm going to make sure you get it back.' I get a refund, without having to beg, run in circles or play dead.

Okay, now stay with me.... I've just returned to exchange the cartridges.... no one around to help me. The cashiers watch me walk in with distaste and disgust. Still I get the right ones this time and head to the cash. I explain my plight to the refund girl... she looks at me skeptically and says... 'oh, okay'.

She does the exchange, which btw mean $s coming back to me, my new ones are $18.45 each. Along the way to the cash though, I pick up a $10 item. I figure I owe her money. She however says 'I need your card, your debit card, the one you paid with.... huffffff'. I dig it out, she issues the refund.... yeah baby.

I'm in shock. I exit the store and only when I'm clear, do I check my bill. Well, in all of her huff and puff, she didn't look below the top receipt of 4 stapled together and see what they were all about. Oh no, instead, she works with the top reciept which was for the initial purchase of the the over charged cartridges.

The rest is history. I will never win the battle of Staples.... but I may avoid sticking them in my finger yet.

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day. I'll try to get back in touch with you this week.... I have so many stories saved up - it ain't funny!

Hey anyone going to see Larry the Cable Guy? I want to know about this guy... any givers?

Do you really want to know?

Okay, so I've kept you wondering. Just what did I do with respect to a computer?

I found one btw. It wasn't that hard really. What was really astonishing about the whole process was that the fellow who I made the purchase from, actually appeared interested in helping me out in my quest.

I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to making purchases. I tend towards big box stores and warehouse types fooled by the perception that less frills = low cost. Once again, my ideals have been quashed.

Large retailers so I have come to find out do not really guarantee lower prices. A friend of mine who sells beds and mattresses will reinforce this. (though, I will say, even though I have never bought anything from her, I understand from many that have, she goes the extra distance and does indeed pass huge savings along to her clients - she is also extremely successful!) Large retailers often have 'price guarantees' and 'price protection' using statements like these: 'if you find this product (small print, exact product or group of products) for a lower price anywhere, we will match that price and give you a further discount'. What they don't really tell you is that the price comparison needs to be for the exact items.... not a version different, not a similar product, not a very much the same but with this iddy bitty tiny difference. Often they use this trick when they are the only chain to carry that exact version of that exact product, so finding a comparision is impossible.

Once again, I react that way most consumers do, I assume that there are better deals to be had. This past week of computer shopping however, changed that perspective. What I found was that a smaller, independent retailer can match and often can out do the sales points for items stocked by the big retailers.

In my quest for a new system once I was completely ticked off at Staples and 'the man', I ventured down a road I don't take often - I called a smaller outfit who was referred to me. As it turned out, I should have called them a week earlier and saved myself tons of grief and aggravation.

The store I ended up calling and dealing with was Northern Micro - located in Ottawa. Thanks to Kris and his side kick Allen I got the system I needed, at a price I was happy with, without having to fight, kick or scream. I walked in, Kris showed me my options, I made the decision, Allen installed the operating system and software and I was done. The total process took less than a day. I even flipped for the non pressured extended warranty, a 1/3rd of the cost of the large retailer's warranty. The total package, and I mean total + the extended warranty, a wireless keyboard and mouse and a very nice wide screen monitor was $350 less than the comparable system at Staples.

The moral of this story? I'd say that nine times out of ten, you are better off shopping in a smaller local store vs. a large and likely US owned retailer.

Thanks Kris and crew for making my computer buying decision that much easier. Maybe next time I need to make a purchase I'll better consider my options.

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day!

Sometimes you should just kick me!

Yeah, you read right. You know when you bitch and complain about something, yet for some reason, you keep right on subjecting yourself to more of the same. We all do it. We all need to stop it - NOW!

Last week I set out to purchase a computer for a business requirement. Not a huge task, or at least I would have thought initially. I do not need to have a top notch, extremely lightening fast, gaming type system. I need some graphics capacity, good memory, able to run a few applications at a time. I want, not need, a flat screen monitor of good proportion, a colour multi function printer, a roller mouse and we are off to the races.

I start my search as so many others do now, online. I take a look at all of the competitors who advertise broadly and try to figure out who has the best value system at the time. After many clicks and several 'huffs' I resort to the fact that I am going to need to hit the pavement as purchasing online is almost impossible. (now, if I didn't have questions and fully understood what I could and could not live with, it would have been a task for 'check out online' - but of course I couldn't keep it that easy).

So, into the mess of stores I go. Here's where the story gets going. Years ago I attempted to purchase a PDA from Staples. I went to the Kanata Ontario store, spoke with a 'peripheral specialist' and was prepared to make the buying decision. With one catch. I wanted to actually see what the screen of this new PDA looked like (it was a featured Staples special, my VP at the time was covering the cost of it for me (sales incentive) and I needed to purchase from Staples (company arrangement)). The 'specialist' however could not allow this. You see, none of the PDA were charged and ready to view. In fact, none that were on special were even on display.

Now, I thought this odd and I also thought my request was within keeping. Oh no. 'We can't have an open box' says the clerk. 'But I'm not buying it without seeing the thing, what if I take it home, charge it up and hate the screen, then what, can I bring it back for a full refund?' 'Oh, no' says the clerk, 'we only give credit notes on opened handheld electronics products'. 'Oh yeah' I says..... I leave the store, call the manager to complain. In return I get a voice mail: ' Sorry you feel the way you do, we don't have a floor unit, this is our policy, when would you like to come in and pick up your PDA?'

I bought a PDA from Staples that time, but not from the Kanata store. My next trip to the pain in the butt store was for office supplies and for a multi function printer, fax etc. It was a no brainer, there was one in stock, I picked up the box (which was open and got an open box discount!) and left. No one so much as attempted to help me and given my experience, I did not care.

Fast forward to last week - now that you have my 'Staples Kanata' background. So..... I was shopping for a computer system. I'd done all the research, but still hadn't settled on a system. The one hinge was the printer - so many questions that I couldn't be answered online. I'm off to do in store shopping and make the purchase.

Against my better judgment, I enter Staples Kanata. I walk over to 'the man' and proceed to ask, 'Sir, what is your best value for a complete computer system right now?' 'the man' gets a flyer, hims and haws and says 'this one'. I says, 'humm, what does it come with?' 'Comes complete'. 'Hummmm' I says, 'printer/fax/multi function'? 'No, no fax, that'll be $75 extra, plus you loose the rebate'.

After further discussion on the necessity of a fax, cost of replacement cartridges etc. I decide I can go without a stand alone fax and ask 'the man', 'what is the total cost, tax included and is there anything else I will need to add to the cost or system to have word-processing, spreadsheets etc?' 'the man' says 'the total cost is $850 plus taxes, complete, walk out, no extra charges... oh, expect for a $30 USB cable.' I then ask ' how many do you have in stock (5:00pm) now and do you anticipate them all being sold tonight?' 'the man' says, 'I have nine complete systems and I will likely have them all tomorrow'.

I leave the store as I still need to shop one other location. Fast forward to the next day.

I decide that Staples has the best bang for the buck, even though 'the man' is not the most informed or friendly person I've ever met, I return to the store to buy the system. It is 11am the next day.

In the door I walk and I ask for 'the man', 'he's over there'. Off I go. I walk up and say, 'hello 'the man'. He looks at me like I'm from mars when I tell him I was in last night at 5pm and spoke to him and that he told me that he had nine systems in stock and that I'd like one of them. Not only does he not have any recall, he says, I didn't tell you that we had nine system, we are sold out. I'm floored.

'The man' does tell me to follow him as he checks to see if he can order more. He can. Now I'm a bit pissed and feeling like I should walk out the door when I ask the fatal question. 'Now, 'the man', do I need to purchase any other items, is it a fully functional system right? with MS office? and an operating system installed? - correct?'

Have a seat now! 'the man' says, (with a ton of disgust), 'It doesn't come with an operating system or Office - that's $500 extra.' WTF!!!!! I'm floored. I can barely speak. 'What do you mean, you said last night that the price you gave me was complete, not that I needed to pay all of this'. 'the man' looks me square in the eye and says, 'I didn't say that, that would be stupid, EVERYONE charges extra for operating systems and Office'. He adds the disgusted look to boot as I tell him.....'the man', 'thanks, but no thanks, you did tell me, now you've changed it, others do include it, $500 is excessive and at that rate, his good deal falls to one of the worst, out the door I go.

I'm still a wee bit pissed. What did I do about that computer system that created all the kuffle? Ah, that's another story!
Have a Hot Cherry Week.

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The following blog contains graphic content and is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. The blogger does not endorse or recommend the activities depicted in this blog as they may be considered harmful and are not necessarily healthy.

k....so you've been warned now...

avert your eyes if you're a prude etc..


still here, eh?


BUNCHA PERVS!!!


Ahhhhhhh the Holidays...a time of overindulgence..it's all wonderful. I am a true hedonist. I don't deny myself any pleasures. Actually, I lack that little ' Jiminy Cricket ' voice in my head that says.." whooooooa girl....you don't need another drink..or...heyyyyy, honey...that's your 3rd serving of pie...or...Listen Lady...you need to stop laughing..it's not funny...you're at a funeral ." Remember that scene in Charlotte's Web where Templeton the Rat goes to the County Fair and he's rolling in the cotton candy and licking all the discarded candy wrappers and he has that little rodent look of bliss on his face....I can totally relate.

So...on Christmas Day...I was tipping back mimosas all morning...champagne and chambord all afternoon...and chenin blanc followed by Bailey's all evening..basically...I was pinned by midnight.

There are a few things that you should never do when you're drunk

1. never drink and drive
2. never drink and sign into S&M chatrooms thinking it will be a hoot...these people have no sense of humour.
3. never attempt to create a homemade dildo using your husbands penis as a template.

Okay so....a few weeks before Christmas I was perusing my local Sex Shoppe ( doesn't it look so much more fancy when you add the e on the end of shop? ) And I stumbled across this really cool kit

CloneAWilly

naturally...I had to buy it..I figured, what a terrific way to celebrate the birth of Christ! Clone my husbands willy!! ( yeahyeah I know ...I'm going to Hell )

So...at 1am Christmas night..I decide..this is the BEST time to do this..I stagger to my closet, where the kit was hidden, and present this ' stocking stuffer ' to my husband...I was about to tell him how I thought it would be fun and when I turned around to see his reaction I noticed he was completely naked and prying off the cap with his teeth. no encouragement was required. go figure.

If you clicked on the link...and read anything about the Clone-a-Willy..you will see that it says..JUST ADD WATER..sounds easy enough..even an inebriated blonde at 1am should be able to do that blindfolded. Pffffftttt......it was so NOT that easy...yeah sure I needed water...and a SMALL list of other household items.

1. marker or pen
2. scissors
3. large mixing bowl
4. thermometer ( provided )
5. measuring cups
6. stopwatch
7. duct tape
8. cock ring

Took me an hour to round that stuff up...couldn't find an intact cock ring..substituted an elastic band that was securing a head of broccoli in my fridge..

my husband..whom I might add has done NOTHING to help me, is now laughing as he's watching me set up the Chemistry Lab in what was once our bedroom. The only thing missing was a freaking bunsen burner and litmus paper and it would have looked exactly like Mr Butler's 9th grade science class.

Now the last nightcap has hit me hard...but of course..I decide to have another...because reading the instructions with one eye closed just wasn't challenging enough I guess. And this is where the fun begins..

The directions say...and I am only going by a rather fuzzy memory because I tossed the instruction sheet...but it goes something like this.

1. Ensure that the penis to be cloned is fully erect..at it's maximum erectedness..and begin mixing molding gel with water...water HAS TO BE AT exactly 98 degrees..stir mixing gel and water *WARNING*...YOU HAVE 2 minutes from the beginning of mixing to the insertion of ubererect penis or the entire process goes to HELL...start your stopwatch!!! mix with right hand...use left hand to ensure ' maximum erection level' has been maintained...THE CLOCK IS TICKING HERE...pour the gel into the cylinder that has been taped off on one end with duct tape..TICK TOCK TICK TOCK...!!!

2. Immediately plunge erect penis into gel filled cylinder and ensure that the owner of erect penis is aware that he has to stay THAT ERECT for 2 minutes or once again the entire thing goes to HELL. yelling at him to KEEP IT UP at this point can be counterproductive.

3. Ensure that you do this in a bathtub because they fail to tell you that when you slap the cylinder on the erect penis...a whole lot of the mixing gel floods out and pours all over the carpet..and it DOESN'T come out of the carpet...like EVER. ( if I was sober I may have reasoned that this spillage could have occurred )

4. after 2 minutes...TICK TOCK TICK TOCK!!! remove the cylinder SLOWLY...hahaha!! it wasn't that easy at all...it had formed some sort of impenetrable suction device...I don't even think light could escape...my husband..who was all a grinning through the entire process...suddenly looked worried...I of course laugh my ass off because as I mentioned earlier...I don't have the Jiminy Cricket voice in my head...

5. let mold dry....FOR a FEW HOURS...( damn...okay that alright.. what's a few hours..it's already 5:30 am )have another drink ..or 2....or 7...

6. IT'S TIME!!!!! now prepare the liquid rubber mold...and pour it in to the hardened pre mold and allow to set for ....WHAT??? TWENTY FOUR FREAKING HOURS??? 24 hours?? get out of here!!! I want IT NOW...24 hours..sheesh....

As it stood....the 24 hour wait wasn't a bad thing...I threw up for close to 16 of the 24 hours so I had something to do whilst I waited for my masterpiece. I wasn't feeling quite up to unmolding the next day...so I actually waited an additional 24 hours until I felt a wee bit more...ummmm....human again...BIG MISTAKE...the mold SHRINKS quite abit after the first 24 hours....like ALOT...

The unveiling was intense... so much hard work ( no pun intended ) and now it was time for the big reveal ...I was banking on it looking exactly like one of the beautiful johnsons in the Gallery


it didn't unmold well...actually..it didn't really unmold at all...I had to shove my toothbrush handle in the end and kinda 'crowbar' it out. ...it looked like some 'shrunken penis witch doctor 'created this..I have NEVER even seen a cock that is THIS colour?? It actually had a hump in it....kinda like Quasimotopenis.. when I showed my husband...he instantly denied it...stabbing his finger at it and sounding like Bill Clinton...." That is certainly not my cock, I had nothing to do with the creation of THAT penis, what the hell did you do..put it away!!!"

I was laughing too hard to care that I dumped close to $ 70.00 on this thing.

I think I'll keep it...just because I love the look on my husbands face when he sees it...all mortified and pinched.

How to hide the extra Christmas cookie pounds

There are days when multi-media fluffy info bothers me. There are other days however, that I just like to shut my mind down and allow the flow of senseless information in. You guessed it, today is one of those days.

So, in honor of the 'I have so little energy to care' day (which btw, I know 98% of us are suffering from today) this is what I've found for you. Grab a tea or being a true Hot Cherry Chick - a glass of wine, put your feet up and prepared to be filled with details that likely will make no difference to you.

According to 'Good Housekeeping' (okay, who in this day in age has much time to worry about how to keep a better house, I would have thought an update of brand might be a good idea) here are 6 ways to look thinner:
1) wear a suit it makes you look thinner, but only if the jacket is fitted and the pants are straight (so much for updates in fashion styling)
2) cover up you flabby middle with a poncho or a tunic, they are designed to cover!
3) make sure your bag is large enough - one that is too small will make you look bigger. OMG, need I say anything more on this one?
4) emphasize your assets - wear a substantial fabric skirt that hide heavy thunder thighs and shows off pretty, elegant calves - I just don't buy it.
5) when you dress up, opt for the two piece separates vs the gown - better fit is the result. No kidding, now how do two pieces that emphasize my not so tiny waist offer slimming qualities?
6) distract with details, a ruffled neck or plunging takes the mind off of the other areas that are not so good. Don't we call this smoke and mirrors..... this isn't a slimming trick, it is what it is, a diversion.

Hey wait, I've found some more, this from a forum contributor:

"Trendy People: People with no sense of style, who will wear anything (flattering or not) because some catchy advertisement told them it was cool, and the mannequin in the store front was wearing it! Generally the kind of people who get excited when the store clerk tells them that "that item is selling like crazy", while they are looking at it.

Stylish People: People who express their individuality through the clothes that they choose to wear, regardless of what the latest advertisements are dictating to be "cool" for the moment. Whether they choose flattering or interesting outfits, these people usually find a way to determine what trends to buy into and what ones to avoid. And, they may wear the "latest trend" for a decade and still make it look good. Also, they are generally the kind of people who leave the store quickly when the store clerk says "that item is selling like crazy"."

I also found an article on how to apply a self tanner to look thinner..... if anyone wants to know more, let me know and I'll forward it to you.

So, for all you Hot Cherry Chicks who are dragging your butts this week, wondering what happened to the 'holiday' in Christmas.... the week is almost over, hang in there!

We're back!

Happy New Year all! It has been a while, feels like forever, wow - I've missed ya all.

FYI - the holidays were good. A wee bit too busy though. In other words, not much down time, in fact, no down time - wow, no wonder I am not that fond of them. I am continually reminded of how much stress the 'season' puts on everyone. There are few who escape it. Hustling and bustling around, like chickens sans heads, running off to jump in the boiling pot of water and become part of the stew..... ahh, thank goodness it is over!

Now we have yet another new year... the last one blew past, gone, in a puff of smoke. Similar to the cigars I used to smoke. I'm reminded of all of the trials and tribulations of the past year. Hubby has a saying - 'what does not kill you only makes you stronger' (yeah, he borrowed it, but it is better than, 'quicker than a fat kid on a tricycle' -don't ask me, I don't know). Well, I'm not dead but I'm not sure how much stronger I am either. I guess only time will tell.

I walked back into the gym today - yes one of the millions across North America who took a look at themselves in the mirror and just about had a heart attack. Now I'm a pretty dedicated gym attendee. I actually love to go there, work out and hide from predators and hubby for a bit. The holidays being what they are though, left me severely short on time and energy. So yeah, I slacked off.... really slacked off as a matter of fact. 'Ah, a couple of weeks out of the gym won't kill me'. Nope, that's for sure.... but the snacking instead of exercising sure will!

So, today was 'full gym day'. Many of the same ole same ole were there, but there were plenty of giggly post Christmas newbies as well. Now, let me be the first one to tell you how much I applaud folks for going to the gym. I don't care what shape you are, everyone can benefit from some form of regular exercise. Be that to slim down, better a heart rate or simply to distress - it is always a win/win situation. Back to me - so, I went, I conquered, I promised to be true (again) I worked out, watched Dr. Phil and a wee bit of Oprah... and left. Content that I was doing something for both my body and soul.

This whole story really is not about the gym so much as it is about the parking lot at the gym. Wow, crazy. Not only at the gym though (which is notorious for being busy, lacking spaces and easy navigation) every parking lot was the same. Crowded, busy, full of 'lost their minds' crazy (aka crazed) drivers. I'm not sure where everyone was headed in such a rush. Certainly there were no left over turkey sales that I saw at least. The stores had pretty much put away all of their discounted decorations (I know this because I spent 1/2 the day trying to find clear mini lights) and surely everyone had returned their 'nope doesn't fit, nope don't like it, nope - just what were you thinking gifts'. What the panic was all about, I will likely never know.

I backed into a shopping cart today too. No damage to either the truck or it. Though there was some strong cursing coming from the driver. Now the only reason I backed into a shopping cart in the first place was because idiot mittens, in the gold Intrepid, was getting impatient. I could hear him breathing heavy and complaining to his wife from inside of my truck - that's how bad it was. So in an attempt to make him happy, I backed up quickly... sending the shopping cart leaping up the curb.

I was in Walmart today too. I was very, very frightened. I remember when we first got a Walmart in our city several years ago. Service was wicked. Everyone was nice, informed and willing to help. Oh what a difference a few years make.

I made my first Wally world stop today looking for Christmas lights. The store had a few small shelves with Christmas gear, but no lights. So, I go up to the 'friendly, happy, greeter' to inquire if I should be looking in a different place. After he takes me to where I was just standing (wouldn't stop talking long enough for me to tell him I'd already been there and there were none) - confused himself, he says 'I'll ask the assistant manager, over there, he'll know'... 'Walter... you know if there are any more Christmas lights anywhere?' Yelling back Walter says 'Bill, how the heck am I supposed to know?' I left the store immediately. Damn, if the Assistant manager doesn't know, who would. (I ran!)

I made a few more stops in search of the lights, battled nasty people, in nasty little cars, all looking like something had ticked them off = maybe the met Walter and Bill? My next stop yields me no return either. In fact the nice little sales clerk, looked at me like I'd just been rolling around in pudding and says 'no, everything is packed away and we can't get it out for you, next year'. I ran from here too!

Next it was to another Walmart - still no luck. Simply no lights, anywhere. Oh, yeah just for the record. I don't shop at Walmart and I'm okay with that. I prefer to give my cash to Canadian based companies when ever possible. When it is not, I like to pick the 'less evil' over Walmart. It took great restraint to walk out of Wally world without buying something... there is just so much cheap, un-required, shinny, bobbley junk.... I ran from the temptation!

My last stop was at a grocery store on the way home. Bingo... lights baby! I bought them all. White lights are my friend.

The parking lots btw, didn't get any better. Nor did the crazed drivers on the way home.

There are so many stories we need to share with you - keep your eyes open for a few gut splitting funny till you cry blogs from Shaken not Stirred - you won't be disappointed!

Oh, and before I forget and leave you wondering... what the heck.... The pictures - can't you just see me, drinking rum on the beach, watching the world go by? Exactly. Perfect.

In the meantime, Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day.
Welcome to a new year..... may it bring you joy, happiness and allow you to 'put smiles on faces'!

Tis the season

Tis the time of year when most of us just wish our brains could go to mush. There's always too much to think about, worry about, concern ourselves about. So, how about a mindless, likley way off the mark quiz? We found this one today for your enjoyment -
Find out whether you're naughty or nice with these 10 questions
by Heather Camlot (canadianliving.com)

You're caring and compassionate, you like to have fun, you've even been known to shower a gift or two on your spouse. While all those things might make you a good person and a great catch, it doesn't necessarily mean you're a good partner -- especially if you're the only one in the relationship having fun, or you only offer gifts after a big, unresolved argument. What does it take to be a good partner? Try our quiz to find out.

1. You and your spouse argue over (enter topic here) and don't resolve it before bedtime. You:
a) Say good night, even though you're still upset
b) Sleep in another room
c) Stew and don't get any sleep
d) Wait until your partner is almost asleep and bring up the argument again

What you should do:
a) Say good night, even though you're still upset
That advice your mom gave on your wedding day still rings true -- don't go to bed angry. Anger eats a person up, no doubt, and when it festers, discussing the initial problem becomes harder. You don't have to resolve the issue right away -- you can sleep on it -- but you do have to let your partner know that you still love him or her.

2. You train with your partner for a marathon. He qualifies, you don't. You:
a) Wallow in self-pity
b) Ask him to wait until you both qualify
c) Cheer him on
d) Sabotage his efforts

What you should do:
c) Cheer him on
Guess what? Marriage isn't a contest. Sure, you may sometimes be a bit jealous of your partner's success, and you shouldn't deny your feelings, but you also have to remember that your partner's drive is probably what attracted you to him or her to begin with. "There is no trophy for bettering your partner," writes David Niven, author of The 100 Simple Secrets of Great Relationships. "The real prize goes to those who refuse to compete with their partner. That prize is contentment and a more satisfying relationship."

3. You are most like:
a) Lorelai with Christopher on Gilmore Girls: What you say goes
b) Laura with Rob on The Dick Van Dyke Show: You talk things out
c) Archie with Edith on All in the Family: You're right, everyone else is wrong
d) Marie with Frank on Everybody Loves Raymond: You're good, he's evil

Who's got it right?
b) Laura with Rob on The Dick Van Dyke Show: You talk things out.
Whatever happened to those loving TV couples? Whether art imitates life or life imitates art, one thing is clear -- Laura and Rob had an understanding and inspirational marriage. Why? Because whenever they had a disagreement, they sought a resolution and then laughed about it. They were never out to win, to be proven right or to be the "good" one. As psychotherapist David Richo writes in his book How To Be An Adult in Relationships, "We are not working individually for the ascendancy of our own positions. We work together for the health and happiness of the relationship."

4. After a disagreement, your partner feels:
a) Belittled
b) Disappointed
c) Respected
d) Stabbed in the back

Your partner should feel:
c) Respected
If you think back to all those disagreements, chances are it's not the topic you remember but how you felt afterward. If you want to maintain a loving, long-term relationship, you have to respect your partner's opinion. You don't have to agree with it, but you do have to listen and try to understand. Arguments come and go, but feelings last forever.

5. After a long day at work, you:
a) Work more at home
b) Go for drinks with colleagues
c) Hang with your kids, BlackBerry in hand
d) Recap your day and listen to that of your partner's

Partners that are good communicators usually:
d) Recap the day and listen to that of their partner's
A relationship requires two people. If one of those people is continually lonely because the other works long hours, goes out with friends more often than not or is physically present but mentally away, then there is no relationship, only two beings living in the same home. If you're causing your partner to feel alone, it's time to reexamine your relationship and the meaning of commitment.

6. When you get stressed you tend to:
a) Talk it out with your partner
b) Take it out on your partner
c) Go to the pub
d) Go for a run

You should try to:
a) Talk it out with your partner
Stress can be triggered by any number of issues. But you don't have to deal with it alone. Talking to your partner should be your first tactic -- he or she may have a solution you haven't thought about or be able put the situation into perspective. If you can't speak to your partner, try some outside help. If you need some time alone, that's fine, too, as long as you're not running away from the problem -- and toward the bottle.

7. One of your kids has been throwing up at school and needs to be picked up. You:
a) Call your partner so he or she can take the sick day from work
b) Call your mom -- again
c) Call a taxi to pick up your child
d) Remember that it's your turn to deal with emergencies and head to the school

The fair thing to do is:
d) Remember that it's your turn to deal with emergencies and head to the school
"One of the most common sources of conflict in a marriage is that both partners assume that a given task will be done by the other person," writes Greg Baer, author of Real Love in Marriage. "When that expectation isn't filled, disappointment and irritation inevitably follow." Both partners must be equally committed to a relationship -- and that includes picking up the kids, preparing meals and folding the laundry. Figure out a schedule and a division of labour that suits you both.

8. You've both been working crazy hours and finally have a chance to spend some time together. You:
a) Watch TV while your partner reads a book -- in the same room, of course
b) Tag along with whatever your partner wants to do
c) Hit the movie theatre to catch the movie you've both been dying to see
d) Clean the house -- together

Next time, try to:
c) Hit the movie theatre to catch the movie you've both been dying to see
As mentioned, spending time together fosters a positive relationship. Now, the question is, what do you do during that together time? Something that interests you both. "It is so important that people look for, or develop, common interests in their relationships," writes Niven. "Common interests encourage positive communication and fun, and they strengthen the sense of connection between partners."

9. A strong relationship needs:
a) Friends to turn to for advice
b) A sense of humour
c) A fairy-tale model
d) A stiff drink

Which of these should top your list?
b) A sense of humour
Of course you value your friends' advice, but remember that the advice is based on their experiences, not yours. Fairy tales may have some value in the search for love, but they don't tend to show you what happens after the guy and the girl hook up -- you know, how to deal with those 2 a.m. feedings, who's going to take out the garbage and, most importantly, what to do when you feel the relationship is crumbling. And drinking, well, you know heavy alcohol consumption reduces the chances of maintaining a healthy relationship. But a little bit of humour goes a long way in diffusing tense situations and brightening an otherwise dreary day.

10. Your relationship's theme song could be:
a) Black Eyed Peas -- "Shut up"
b) Elton John -- "Saturday night's all right for fighting"
c) Evanescence -- "Call me when you're sober"
d) Nat King Cole -- "Our love is here to stay"

So what's the best pick for a couple in love?
d) Nat King Cole's "Our love is here to stay"
Roman poet Virgil knew what he was talking about: Love really does conquer all!

I'm not sure what it is about the Christmas season that brings out both the worst and best in people. On one hand I know that the stress associated with this 'giving' season stretches folks both financially and emotionally - but so much more goes unexplained.

Here is one that I have been exposed to, simply because of what we do here at Hot Cherry Review (and our other assorted ventures) - the stress on couples. For whatever reason, almost complete strangers feel comfortable in voicing their concerns and lamenting the existence of their relationships with us. Others perhaps just take that licence - in either case, I am never offended or put off.

One would think that this time of year would bring couples closer, this is not always the case - or so I have been told. Apart from the very understandable stresses put on individual parties of the coupled relationship - parents/family visiting, needing to add to an already burdened schedule, the cost of the holidays financially, the desire to please, the want to have the season's trappings equal or exceed the previous year's and finally the desire to look one's best (skinny, pulled together, perfect hair and clothes) - it is understandable how individuals can feel frenzied.

Wait there is more. With the holiday season comes business functions, office parties, client lunches - opportunities to network at a more relaxed level. An opportunity to see 'work related' contacts in a whole different light.

So you say, though these items surely can play havoc on the individual, how do they effect the couple? Here's a scenario for you: Both members of the coupled relationship attend a 'work related function'. The night previous they were at each other's throat for what normally would be day to day chores, but instead of a quiet discussion on who was going to pick up the kids the next night, they had a full blown fight on their hands. They went to bed feeling used, disrespected, un-cared for. The next morning they get up, do the rush till you drop and then run out of the door, hop in their cars and speed off to work. On the way he spills coffee down his white shirt, she snags her nylon - all dealt with on a normal day, but today isn't normal is it. Noon rolls around, each of them are out of their offices running errands, shopping, feeling out of control. 4pm comes around and they are off to their festive work gathering - time to unwind, forget about home, kids and spouse - they deserve this time to themselves, with people who 'understand them'.

This is where the damage begins. The very handsome, smiling 'guy' from the office down the hall seems to be paying attention to 'her' a bit more tonight - he's mentioned how great she looks, he loves how she is wearing her hair, and 'is that a new dress?'. Wow, that's a complement she thinks... about something her partner didn't even notice. Meanwhile across town, the same thing (though with the cute red head from the administrator's office) is happening - he is feeling younger, in shape, essentially like he did when he and his wife met.....

Both feeling unloved, unregarded, unappreciated at home, they leap at the chance to feel better, feel sexy, feel desirable. Now, we're not saying that this is a bad thing, everyone needs to feel this way, without question. What we are saying is that it doesn't have to be this way.

Recently a chap told me that he was at ends with his wife on a bunch of fronts - no affections, all routine, so much stress, no sex, what did I think he should do about it. First I congratulated him on taking responsibility - even though it was clear that he hadn't and didn't think he owned that right - 'you've clearly realized that there is a breakdown in your relationship, now you just need to work on making it better' said I. Once again, not the answer he wanted. The words out of his mouth next were interesting - 'but you don't get it, I want sex, she doesn't, it's not my problem, it's hers'. Ah no big boy - it is 'both of your problems'.

At this point I have to give it to this guy, instead of walking away, he stood and took what I had to give. So I explained. Unless he had done everything in his power to fortify the relationship, induce excitement, spontaneity and connection, he could not blame the lack of sizzle on his wife - he hadn't done his job either. His one last argument was 'well, others find me attractive, funny, kinda hot (left overs from the work party), but she's too busy with the kids, her job, running around getting ready for her Mom coming to town, to notice I even exist, what am I supposed to do, dance naked in the kitchen to get her to notice me?' And what did I say? 'Yeah that's what you do!' Get involved in your relationship, add the fun back in, dance naked in the kitchen and all the way to the bedroom.

Now the same can of course go for women who are feeling that their husbands just don't care. So many speak about their unfulfilled relationships at home, but so few want to take the steps or put the effort in to turn their lives in a whole new direction.

I know you just need to know.... do we dance naked in the kitchen? let me put it this way... if you don't call before you come up our driveway to give us a warning, we can't be responsible for what you might see :)

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day! Please take some time for yourself, for your partner through this really crazy time of year.

ho, ho, ho - I'm going out of my head!

I've discovered recently, cube farm living is not for me! Not even on the very short term. No, I'm not dissing the people who are forced to work in the environment - I'm dissing the environment itself!

I personally have not found a suitable solution to making this a creative and productive environment for myself. I have gone the route of the MP3 player - to a great deal of success. I sing horribly off key at the best of times, so with ear buds in, imagine if you would how disturbing I can be. It is a matter of simple revenge - the chicky whose cube is adjacent to mine is very loud on the phone.... she chats to Mom, the daycare workers and anyone walking by. She is an example of how unintentionally disrespectful we can all be.

I've also noticed something else about this type of working environment - permission is granted on the masses. It is currently almost mid afternoon, yet over 90% of the worker bees are still out of the office. It appears that if one does it, it is okay for everyone else to do so as well - I wonder how everyone knows it is time to go back to work?

Oh enough of uninspired work situations - a challenge for the new year will need to be a remedy - I am sure there is a consulting model in there somewhere.

On to more fun and games. Good grooming Hot Cherry Chicks. Yep, once again Janine Falcon of canadianliving.com gives us some good advice. This time on the 17 top mascara's. Hummmm, I'm sure we all could have done with the top five - eliminates the confusion. Just in case you are interested and need to replenish prior to the holidays, here's the link.

On other fronts and back to the work side of life. Here's a funny (well at least interesting) story from a friend this past weekend. This friend in particular is a really big flirt - she's cute, articulate, engaging and has no problem striking up a conversation with anyone. Recently she was bored at work and even though she is in a long term dating relationship, thought she'd check out one of the many online dating sites.

She posts a profile, tells a few lies - 'I'm boring, so I just enhanced a few things' and before you know it, she is chatting with many new acquaintances. All is going well over the course of a few months, she meets a few men, develops online 'friendships' nothing more - harmless right.

Well, this past week she makes preparations for a meeting with a client. She briefly mentions to one of her online chatters, 'I've got to get going and catch this meeting with a client - they sound totally boring, it will likely be a waste of time'. Her online connection agrees, 'aren't they all' and by the way, he too has a client meeting soon that he needs to prep for, they'll chat later on in the day.

Off to meeting she goes, in to the board room she walks with her boss, she looks up about to extend a hand on introductions only to gaze deeply into the eyes of her online romance.

I of course asked her.... and what next???? 'Nothing' she says. 'My career, my life, my professionalism danced before me - I just about fainted!' I guess Buddy was suitably unimpressed and took total insult to her earlier comments. He hasn't spoken to her since.

I also wanted to know what her boss thought of all this and if indeed she told him. 'I couldn't help but tell him, he noticed that I turned a pretty icky shade of green'. And..... 'he laughed and lectured me about online messing around.....'

Moral of this story...... oh I don't have one yet..... there has got to be more to this story and I'm waiting on the second installment. In the meantime, it fits right into the 'oh my gosh.....isn't that funny'.

We know there are many of these stories out there - come on, you all know of them, share with us!
In the meantime, keep your cool in these last days leading up to Christmas - don't let the season get to you.
Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day!

Accurate weather forecasts and Christmas

How many times have you planned an outing (or an outfit) based on the weather forecast? How many times have you had to pull a last minute change up because instead of sunny and 30, it is now raining and 20? How many times did you pack for snow heading to aunt Jane’s only to get ½ way there and have it change to warm temps and melting snow?

It doesn’t have to be that way – no really. We’ve found a very accurate weather forecast system.

AccuWeather.com Canada is the site for you. We can do one better even. If you choose Firefox as your browser, click this link This takes you to an add on page for Monzilla’s Firefox that allows you to install a weather display on the bottom of your browser.

I’ve been using the AccuWeather browser toolbar for over a year now and love it. Besides being a quick link to the forecasts, it gives me up to date/time on my weather. I have actually looked at the bar as it changes to rain, though that’s silly, the sun is shining so I look out the window…. And yep, it’s raining. Very accurate!

While you are on the Monzilla Firefox page, check out the rest of the add ons. Functionality and userability are simple reasons why Firefox has become the browser of choice for many.

So now that you know what to wear as you head out to finish (or in my case start) Christmas shopping, where to go. Let me tell you a story first, then I’ll pass on some cool finds.

I don’t like gift cards/ gift certificates, normally. There are however exceptions; gifts to Mother in-law’s and kids over the age of 18. My Mother in-laws chooses her own gift, always had, likely always will. She’ll give us a particular item, change her mind several times and then finally say – ‘oh I don’t know’ just get me something. So now, we go out and hunt out the best source for a particular type of gift and pick up a gift card in the denomination that is close to one of the items she likes. She usually ends up with the shoppers card from ‘the home outfitters’ or ‘The Bay’ – heaps of opportunities to change her mind.

My other in-laws are particularly hard to gift – we never know what they can use, what they like, what they’ve bought for themselves in the past few months. For them – well even though we spend an incredible amount of time hunting for just the right gift – it is gift cards for them too. When forced into making a decision as time is running out, we have been known to send gift cards for ‘the home depot’, a personal favorite ‘Canadian Tire’ and then the old stand by ‘the Bay’.

Oh and ‘the Daughter’ – what to get a girl like her. Well, you guessed it – gift cards. We haven’t been able to successfully buy for her for a number of years. We get her the clothes, the electronics the music and everything is always okay. Last year we stumbled on what we thought was a pretty good idea for her – gift cards at a couple of her favorit malls. This way she is not tied to the stores that we like and she gets to really shop.

Anyone who has teenagers, growing into young adults knows what it is like to go to get a hair product or a blow dryer to find it gone. Kids will do that. Take it, use it and forget where it came from in the first place. As a result of having to hunt down ‘my stuff’ in the house, we now make sure our lovely daughter gets a gift card from ‘Shoppers Drug Mart’. I don’t think there is much that one would need (outside of clothing) that Shoppers doesn’t have. A great all around gift.

Now with all this talk about gift cards, you’ll be thinking I have caved in and allowed the commercialization of Christmas take over. I’m here to tell you, no, I haven’t. I can’t fight the in-laws – you go ahead and give it a whirl and we’ll chat afterwards. As for ‘the daughter’ – I did mention that I spend more time searching for ‘my stuff’ than getting ready to actually leave the house, didn’t I? The girl simply can not have enough clothes either and I don’t like to see her leaving for work dressed in rags. (well, she has nice clothes, she just doesn’t put them on – go figure, so we’ll contribute to the nice clothes that she might wear)

I/we NEVER give friends gift cards. That is a no no. Mind you, some of our friends would likely prefer a gift card to some of the crazy gifts I find for them. But then again, what are friends for. I simply believe that gifts to friends need to be unique and I say ‘I thought about what you’d like, saw this, and even though I questioned it myself, thought – heck, it really reminds me of (insert friend’s name) you – so there you go.

I also don’t think gift giving is about the size of the gift or the amount of money spent on it. I believe you give someone a gift to say ‘you are special to me’.

When you are out shopping, please, think about others in that light. Unless you have absolutely no way around it, make gift giving something you want to do, not something that you must do.

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day!

You can't do THAT at the office..... or can you?

It should come as no surprise that every now and again, I'm likely to hop online to go surfing. Random searches return some of the most interesting finds.

I'll share some of mine with you....
For no particular reason, I searched 'office politics' - must have been left over frustration for last week - what I found were sites that gave advice, recommended books, counseling.

My first find was hilarious; office-politics.com - here is an excerpt from one of their articles – Ears burning? Your workmates may hate you, by Misty Harris, CanWest News Service-

‘The good news is, most of your workmates enjoy - or, at the very least, tolerate - your company.

The bad news is, nearly a quarter of them hate you so much they may be considering quitting just to avoid speaking with you.

So suggests a new online poll of 2,000 adults, fully 22 per cent of whom confess to despising their colleagues. One-third of respondents say they have, at one point or another, resorted to changing jobs just to escape obnoxious co-workers.

Stapler stealers, users of hip catchphrases and those fond of making "finger pistols" should consider themselves warned.

James, who is based in Toronto, notes that those who try too hard to fit into an environment that does not suit them will likely have their behavior interpreted as “false window-dressing” and will not be accepted by their peers.

Indeed, nearly three-quarters of survey respondents say they regularly gossip about colleagues behind their backs at the office, while 25 per cent conduct their trash-talk at the pub. Even more workers - 33 per cent - don't socialize with colleagues after hours at all.

Others express themselves through technology, with about one in 10 having conducted “sneaky chats” with workmates on instant messaging or e-mail. Not surprisingly, half those people (five per cent of total respondents) have sent an inappropriate message to the wrong person at least once.

“It's so dangerous to gripe via e-mail,” says James. “Never put in writing what you wouldn't say to the person. Of course, some people would say terrible things. So perhaps the better advice is “Never put in writing something slanderous that you might get sued for!”

Keeping quiet about the person signing one's paycheque may be hardest of all. Twenty per cent of respondents named their boss as the chief cause of tension in the workplace, while senior management emerged as the least-liked group in the office.

The 11 most despised office characters:

The Brown Noser (28.6 per cent)
Spends most of the time sitting next to the boss.

The No. 1 (17.7 per cent)
Has always done something better, faster, sooner, cheaper.

The Corporate Speaker (15.3 per cent)
Knows all the lingo to impress, but is usually more mouth than action.

The Blagger (13.5 per cent)
A serial sick-day-taker, showing up to work solely to blind boss with charm and fast-talking. Irritatingly manages to get first in line for promotion.

The Clock Watcher (8.1 per cent)
Arrives on the dot of 9 a.m. and has never been seen in the office past 5 p.m. Takes a full hour for lunch even if really busy.

The Social Secretary (5.7 per cent)
Organizes the office party, whip-rounds, cinema outings and lunches out. Is rarely seen doing any work.

The Letch (3 per cent)
Spends the majority of the time e-mailing women in the office.

The Toilet Weeper (2.6 per cent)
This type spends a lot of time locked in the loo sobbing over a personal crisis.

The Mum (2.3 per cent)
Makes tea, knows where the first aid kit is and always has a hanky handy in case anyone gets upset.

The Dieter (2.1 per cent)
Always trying irritating fad diets - low GI, Atkens, Weightwatchers ...

The Love Flop (one per cent)
Always single, constantly tells colleagues all about new man/women then moans days later when dumped.

As we do when we have an important question about ‘Man’ related stuff, we go to the authority (AskMen.com) when we have a serious question, we go to Wikipedia. Here’s what they have to say about Office Politics:

Office politics is a term for both the productive and counterproductive human factors present between coworkers, in any office environment.

Office politics differs from office gossip in that people participating in office politics do so with the objective of gaining advantage, whereas gossip can be a purely social activity.

Some aspects of Office Politics:

• Social alliances often form between colleagues of similar interests, and they may team up against other perceived competitors.
• Personal factors may divide the groups, often including age, gender, or ethnic background.
• Perceived or real romantic affairs often unbalance relationships.
• Competition for favour between two executives striving for the top may create cliques or teams within the organization.
• Those using office politics are nearly always the same people who deny its workings can be revealed and taught.
• Office politics are involved with information and mis-information. This bears on the formula for power: Information with authority permits the exercise of power.

‘Kicked upstairs’

One of the concepts found in corporate executive office politics is called being "kicked upstairs". This is when a disliked or underperforming executive in charge of some portion of a corporation, is said to have been promoted (and might report then to the person his current boss is reporting to), yet is given only a small amount of responsibility, if any. This may be viewed as either punishment or damage control.

This practice however is controversial because it is seen as too lenient, and a waste of the shareholder's money. Often executives stay within the corporation for years not doing very much work (see the Peter principle), but also they are often finally allowed to have real duties when someone else is disliked or fails. This whole process is very hard to discern from an outsider's, or analyst's standpoint. It is often revealed only later in famous cases in business biographies.

Following the formula information plus authority permits the exercise of power the Kicked upstairs phenomenon can be explained. People with excellent lines of communication tend to be better able to manage the productive use of authority than, for example, very competent people who are loners. Therefore if you have to promote someone it is wiser to promote the person who is well keyed into the organization with many people looking out for them, even if they are less competent, in favor of the highly competent person who does not have a network to protect their interests.

Everyone seems to have answers to the Office Politics question. Which leaves me to believe that everyone must have problems with it. It’s a tough go out there in the work place, us working virtually vagabonds really don’t know how good we have it – or do we.

Now we know there are some pretty interesting Office Politics stories out there – come on now…. Share them with us. (honest, we won’t talk behind your back, snicker or call you names….or will we?)

Have a wonderful Hot Cherry Day!

Be a good girl this holiday season!

I just suffered the rudest of awakenings tonight. The ‘big day’ is two weeks away…..AHHHH. That would be why people are asking, ‘are you ready?’ Of course I’m not, I never am two weeks out. Though I usually have a better grip on the reality of the season and have at least a list prepared. Not this year.

I thought this would therefore be a very good time for all of us to brush up on our ‘holiday etiquette’. Now most of these tips I would expect any Hot Cherry Chick to know and to live by, but, sometimes even the coolest and calmest forget.

Let us start with that old shopping sprit and ‘10 Ways to keep those holiday shopping spirits bright Emily Post style:

1. Smile – You can’t do it enough. Your face (and your soul) will thank you for it.

2. Lose the ‘Bah Humbug!’ attitude. Yes, it will be crowded and there will be lines and it will take time to find a parking spot. Don’t let that dampen the season’s joie de vivre.

3. “Please, Thank You and You’re Welcome.” Make this your mantra and you will smooth the way for better service and create a kinder, gentler atmosphere wherever you go.

4. Be gracious. You have circled the lot for the fifth time when you spy a space, only to see that someone else is already waiting for it. Be gracious - let them have the space.

5. A little patience, please. Checkout counter or airline counter, the rules are the same: first come, first served, one at a time. (This is a great place to practice your smiling.) When it is your turn, be ready with documents or payment to speed things along.

6. Friendliness. Say ‘hello’ to the harried clerk behind the counter (and smile).

7. Complain to the proper person. Yelling at a salesclerk because a store is out of an advertised item only makes you look foolish and rude. If you have a problem, ask to speak to the manager. Frame your complaint clearly and simply. ( No venting, please.)

8. Cell phones: They’re useful when trying to find out your Aunt Mary’s glove size, but turn them off when you are working with a sales clerk or checking out at a register.

9. Shopping with children: Sensory overload is the word of the day: the music, the crowds, the lights, the toys, the Santas! It’s best to arrange to leave your children home. If they must accompany you, or when it is their turn to shop, make sure they are well-rested and fed – kinder to them and to those around them.

Don’t forget the lights—traffic lights that is! Please stop at the red ones and use your turn signals to alert other harried, distracted shoppers to your directional intentions.

Now that we are all set to hit the streets, buy up those gifts and take care of ourselves before the big day. We should be aware of the etiquette of tipping before we are caught, hair in foils wondering with no one to ask.

Once again, it is back to ‘Emily’, Holiday Tipping:

The holiday season is the traditional time to say “thank you” and “I appreciate the work you do” to those who have provided service to you throughout the year. Don’t forget that one of the best ways to express your appreciation is a hand-written note, which should accompany any holiday tip.

Whether and how much to tip varies widely, depending on:

• the quality and frequency of the service
• your relationship with the service provider
• where you live (amounts are usually higher in large cities)
• the frequency of the service or how long you have worked together
• your budget
• regional customs
• the type of establishment: deluxe vs. moderate

If you regularly tip at the time of service, you may forgo or give a more modest holiday tip. Try to include your child in gift decisions for teachers, day care providers, nannies, and babysitters.

Every situation is different, so let common sense, specific circumstances, and holiday spirit be your guides. The tip amounts in this chart are merely guidelines. What to give is always an individual decision.

Au pair	A gift from your family (or one-week’s pay), plus a small gift from your child
Babysitter, regular	One evening’s pay, plus a small gift from your child
Barber	Cost of one haircut, and/or gift
Beauty salon staff	The cost of one salon visit, split among the staff
Child’s teacher	Check your school’s policy first, as gift giving may be prohibited. If allowed, then give a gift that is a token of appreciation from your child, not cash. Possibilities: a homemade gift made by your child, a book or a picture frame. Or, consider participating in a joint gift from the class as a whole. Possibilities: a gift certificate to a restaurant or bookstore.
Day care providers	$25 to $70 each, and/or a small gift from your child for the providers who give direct care to your child(ren)
Dog walker	One week’s pay and/or a gift
Fitness trainer, personal	Up to the cost of one session
Garage attendants	$10 to $30 each
Home health employees	A gift, but check with the agency first, as most agencies have a no gifts or no tips policy. If this is the case, consider giving a donation to the agency.
Housekeeper/cleaner	Up to one week’s pay and/or a gift
Letter carriers	U.S. government regulations permit carriers to accept gifts worth up to $20 per occasion, not cash
Live-in help (Nanny, Housekeeper, Cook, Butler	One week’s to one month’s salary based on tenure and customs in your area, plus a personal gift
Massage therapist	Up to one session’s fee, and/or gift
Newspaper deliverer	$10 to $30
Nurse, private	A gift, not cash
Nursing home employees	A gift, not cash, but check the company policy first. Consider giving a gift that could be enjoyed by or shared among the floor staff: flowers, chocolates or food items.
Package deliverer	A small gift if you receive deliveries regularly; most delivery companies discourage or prohibit cash gifts
Personal caregiver	Up to one week’s salary, and/or a small gift
Pet Groomer	If the same person grooms your pet all year, up to one session’s fee and/or a gift
Pool cleaner	Cost of one cleaning, to be split among crew
Residential building personnel: Check with your building association first to see if there is a holiday fund that is shared among all the building personnel
Superintendent	$20 to $80
Doorman	$15 to $80; $15 or more each, for multiple doormen
Elevator operator	$15 to $40
Handyman	$15 to $40
Trash/recycling collectors	$10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations
Yard and garden worker	$20 to $50

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? I know I am. In fact, down right frightened. I love my regular service providers (hair, nails, garbage guys, mail lady – even though she is rude and leaves the flag up or down depending how she feels), I’m just not sure I can afford to tip as well as Emily says I should.

What do you think? Is Emily just a wee bit out of touch with reality? I keep thinking about my salon and it would hurt me to split $120 between them. Especially when I see them all every four weeks and tip well.

I’m wishing you all a lovely Hot Cherry Day – share your thoughts with us, how’s your holiday shopping coming along?