momtojosh's Blog

It's been on the local news for 2 days now - High Point's own Fantasia is singing on Idol tonight.  My response to this is "big whoop".  I'm no longer impressed by Fantasia Barrino and haven't been since she thumbed her nose at the very people who supported her throughout her time on Idol.  I'll bet if you referred to her as "High Point's Own" in her presence, she'd dispute that claim...

High Point voted for her and came out in droves of support for her during her stint on Idol and the minute she won, she moves to Charlotte and has someone write a book about her where she does nothing but bash High Point....at that point, in my mind, she became no longer news worthy in the Piedmont.  When her movie came out on Lifetime - I refused to watch it and I have continued my boycott of her in my decision to not purchase her CD's. My decision to not support her has nothing to do with her lifestyle before Idol, but is based solely on her actions after having won Idol.  Just my humble opinion.

My best friend's son is on the wrestling team for Archdale Trinity Middle School. Yesterday at their meet against North Eastern Randolph Middle School, something happened that sets my soul on fire. When my friends son, Jake, stepped up to meet his opponent - a child who was bigger and older than Jake, he did what he does before each of his matches: he stepped over to the corner of the mat, took a knee and said a short prayer. His position when he did this, placed him right in front of the videographer for North Eastern. The videographer, an adult, looked at him and said, and I quote:"You better get off your knees and back out there on the mat, nobody prays to God." Jake finished his prayer and took his position across from his opponent, who also exhibited some unsportsmanlike behavior.

I'm sure that you can imagine my anger that in a free country where professional sports figures take a knee in the end zone to offer up a prayer, that some jerk adult would have the nerve to say that to a seventh grader!!! When are these adults going to learn that when you have a 13 year old who's not afraid to show his faith at a sporting event, that you should respect that kid and be glad that he's on the right track in life.

Adults, especially ones involved in organized sports in our schools, are supposed to set good examples for these impressionalbe teenagers. Clearly, the videographer for North Eastern didn't get that memo.

I think it should also be mentioned that Jake pinned this kid in the 3rd period and the final score of the meet was ATMS 70, North Eastern 18. Maybe there's something to be said for good sportsmanship, huh??

Well, Well, Well....goodie, goodie gumdrop for Rose Furniture - they are staying open. Looks like the Kesters will continue to drive their expensive cars and buy their wives nice jewelry.

I have no time for this company. Not after the way they let lots of people lose their jobs 6 weeks before Christmas. Of course, that was after they initiated an across the board 10% pay cut. They called a meeting of all of their employees and told them that they'd have their jobs for 90 more days. The first round of "layoffs" took place 2 days later. So much for temporary peace of mind. Of course, all of these layoffs took place while Buck Kester was in the middle of a half-million dollar remodel of his home.....wonder who paid for that??

I'm glad that the close-out sales generated so much income that they can now stay open....I'd be more interested to see if all of the customers who had paid for furniture that never arrived, actually get theirs or any money back from the Kesters.

I watched his interviw with Brad Jones this morning. Needless to say, I was unimpressed. He has such tunnel vision that he totally fails to be effective in anything he says or any points that he trys to make.

What happened to this man? When did he turn into such a biggot? I remember his days on the board of Commissioners in the early 90's and I used to think "this guy's gonna do some good here." He didn't constanly scream "race, race, race" and I felt that he was an asset to the board. Now, years later, I wish someone would just be able to unseat him in an election. I'm sure it wouldn't shut him up, but at least he wouldn't get quite as much media attention.

His idea to encourage the black community to patron black-owned businesses would be good if his intentions weren't to put "whitey" in his place. His statements this morning about blacks having to give their business and money to white owned utility companies is absurd. These are GOVERNMENT OWNED companies - not white owned companies and if you don't give them your money, white or black owned, you can sit in the dark with no phone, water or power.

I live in a small community in Randolph county and small business owners, white and black, have commented about why locals don't support local community business more. I've seen more than one small business fold in just a matter of a few years because people would rather patronize Wal-Mart or Target or other large chain stores, than go off the beaten path to patronize small speciatly businesses in their own community. Perhaps Skip Alston's solution wouldn't be to single out the black - owned business to patronize, but rather the large chain stores to boycott so that small business owners everywhere could benefit.

Just my two cents.

I attend church with a very sweet and perky lady named Penny. A week ago we were discussing a common interest at one of our church softball games. That common interest is a love of a particular country music artist. We commented that his new CD was coming out the next day and how we needed to get our hands on one.

Fast forward to yesterday morning after church: Penny casually walks by and hands me the all anticipated CD. I said thanks and went about my business. When I got out to the car and went to open the CD and put it in my CD player, I noticed that it was still sealed and the price tag had been pulled off! I thought I was just getting to borrow her copy, but that sweet lady had gotten a copy of the CD for me! What a wonderful surprise. It's not even my birthday!!! What Penny probably doesn't realize, is that her random act of kindness made my day yesterday and it has spilled over into today too. It kind of puts that "pay it forward" thing into perspective. Now I must find someone to do a random act of kindness for too.....

Have any of you out there ever had someone do a random act of kindness? How did it make you feel? Did you pay it forward too??? I'd love to hear your comments.

I am an office manager for a small company in High Point and part of my job is to provide customer service to the people who call in to place orders for our product. I take great pride in my job and I make sure that every customer is greeted by a pleasant and helpful voice on the line when they call.

Here is my conundrum: I spend all day giving what I consider to be excellent customer service to people, only to go out into the world and become a "customer" myself, whether it be shopping, or needing service of some type, only to be treated rudely or downright ignored all together. It's so frustrating. For example, I recently called in a pick - up order at a local restaurant and was instructed on the phone to pick it up at the bar. Upon arrival I went straight to the bar where there were 2 patrons sitting. I stood in plain view of the bartender for 5 minutes, was looked at by the bartender several times without ever once being asked if I could be helped. I finally said to them "Is this where I pick up my to go order?".....

I'm not singling out food service personnel. I think it's a hard job. I'm just tired of getting snappy "how are you"'s and practiced "have a nice day"'s when I go out and about and spend my hard earned money at a store or restaurant....

Am I the only one?? Is it just me??