Tedde's BLOG

Watched the NFC championship game between the NY Giants and the SF 49ers last Sunday.  I’m not much of a sports fan but watched the playoff game between the the 49ers and the Saints the week before and was hooked – what a game – and the final few moments were the most exciting I’ve seen in a game in a long time.  But last Sunday?  These 2 teams were well matched but they couldn’t do much, I mean 1,2,3 downs and a punt.  I would like know how many punts were played in that game, it must have been a record – better GOOGLE and find out – no luck.  Per the SF Chronicle Sporting Green looks like there were 14:  6 by the 49ers and 8 by the Giants – seemed like more.  It got ridiculous but the overtime was when the real game began.

The reason I’m writing today is about that overtime and the flurry of emotions it caused.  I’m writing about Kyle Williams fumble.  Can you imagine how he felt?  I can.  Whoa – what a blow.  I’m sure he did his best, those things happen and we should not fault him.  But the response was horrific with fans (?) making threats – even threatening to kill him and his wife and kids.  OMG, it’s a game!

As a consequence there have been articles and letters to the editor on the subject.  My favorite was printed in today’s SF Chronicle.  It was submitted by a person from Sacramento.  He quoted part of a President Theodore Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech.  The section he quoted puts in perspective what goes into making a great man, including his mistakes:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the
end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. ”

You can read the entire speech at:  http://www.leadershipnow.com/tr-citizenship.html

Kyle Williams – just 24 years old -WHOA – he may have fumbled but look at what he has accomplished: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24182

When I was a kid, my Dad told me to only use 2 squares of toilet paper.  Yes, only 2 squares.  I thought he was nuts!!!  He never told me why just said, “Only use 2 squares, damnit!”  As a young adult I would think about this nearly every time I used the toilet.  I decided he was on one of his penny-pinching sprees.  My parents’ income was modest and it never occurred to me, as a child, that we didn’t have everything we wanted.

Anyway, when me granddaughter was about 4 I accompanied her to the bathroom.  She went potty and then took hold of the toilet paper and pulled out a very long piece – probably at least a yard.  “Wait.”  I said.  “You don’t need that much,” and found myself telling her 2 squares was enough.  Humph, I’ve turned into my father.

Then a few months ago, while out with my dog at the local doggy run, I began visiting with another resident out with her dog.  Somehow the conversation got around to recycling trash and garbage disposals.  She told me her husband wouldn’t let her put anything down their garbage disposal.  He is afraid that their septic tank will fill up and overflow.  Upon relfection of this conversation I thought, another reason for 2 squares – well at least for some functions.

Per an online search, people tend to use 57 squares of toilet paper a day, a little over 20,000/year, and some use as much as 30-40,000 squares.  Perhaps by reducing just a few squares each day we could squeeze out a little cash  from our budgef for say, a latte or a chai?  Happy New Year – Happy FRUGAL LIVING!

Hope you or your business is sailing smoothly through this holiday season.  I must tell you about my crazy experience with National Geographic – bless their souls.

Early in December I ordered, online, three items.  Two of the items were delivered without incident and one was backordered from Dec. 4 to Dec. 9.  Okay, I thought, no problem, still plenty of time.  We have plans to fly to our daughter’s home Dec. 21.

Well, by Dec. 14, I hadn’t received an update on the backordered item.  So I phoned to see what was happening.  The line was busy, I waited for several minutes until the operator (recorded message) suggested I leave a message and they would call me back.  Fine, I left the message with my order and phone numbers.  No return call so later in the day I emailed the company.  Let me tell you right now, THANK GOD FOR EMAIL!!!  Still no respnose.

On Dec. 17, I checked my email and a shipping notice had been sent the night before at 11:30p.m.  I immediately called NG.  The clerk who answered said that since the article had already shipped there was absolutely NOTHING that could be done.  I explained that on the shipping notice I received there was a link to UPS to “change delivery” address.  I clicked the link whereupon I was asked for my account number.  Since closing Tedde’s Tea several years ago, I no longer have an account.  So I asked the clerk if he or his shipping department could change the ship to address.  He said that was impossible and I should have called prior to the product being shipped.  I said, “I did call but you didn’t call me back.”  At this point the poor fellow – must be getting a lot of calls – seemed to take offence and said it wasn’t his mistake.  I explained that I was sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that he personally made a mistake but that no one from NG returned either my phone call  or responded to my email dated Dec. 14.  Luckily, he was able to check, and yes, they received the email PRIOR to the package being shipped.  Because it was their error I said I thought it was their responsibility to correct it.

I explained that the backordered article was a gift for my grandchildren.  He finally asked me to hold while he talked to his supervisor.  When he returned to the line he told me they would reship the backordered article to my daughter’s address and send me a return label for the ones shipped to my home.  Great, problem solved, right?  Not so fast.

Today, Dec. 19, I receive a notice that not only had the one small package but the whole entire order was being shipped to my daughter’s house.  AND, they were shipping it 2-day delivery – luckily at their expense.  WHAT?  I immediately called NG again.  Spoke to another clerk.  She was very pleasant, as was the first clerk, and said they would send return tags to my daughter’s house.  Since it was a return tag, UPS would pick up the extra packages at her house which would save me the trouble of taking them to their distribution outlet.  NOW, if only it all works out.  The fun of holiday shipping.

Hope your preparations for the holiday are going well.

Best Wishes for the Holidays, Tedde

My husband, David & I volunteered to help one hour a week at the local elementary school garden.  This is a project of my garden club which donated $ as well as volunteers.  Today, November 18, was our first day. We were assigned to help  2nd graders. We started with groups of 5 which was the perfect size. The children were so cute, well behaved AND enthusiastic.

We began by looking at the whole school’s garden – there were beds that had been weeded, some bare, some with healthy plants.  Then we found their room’s beds.  Their job: weeding the beds.  David showed them what happens when a weed is cut off – it grows back quickly – whereas if they got the whole root out it wouldn’t return.

Next, we went to the “shed” and gathered up some tools.  We showed them how to put their pitch fork or shovel perpendicular to the ground and step on it and then pull it back at an angle to bring up the plant.  Before pulling too hard we made sure the whole root was intact.  They learned quickly and did a great job. They were very excited when they were able to extract a very large weed or a super long root.  Have you ever had so much fun weeding?  It was inspiring.

After 2 groups of 5, and fearing rain, we took the last 10 children out as one big group – whoa. It was like trying to “corral cats.” But we survived, so did the kids and we all had a lot of fun.  And my respect for teachers grew exponentially.

If you want to have a good time and contribute to your community I highly recommend volunteering.  Believe me you’ll thank yourself.  This hour spent gardening with these children was the quickest and best I’ve spent in a long time.

This is so easy you don’t need a recipe.  Altho does it take time, but can be made ahead – even a couple of days.

POACHED PEARS

1 quart Oregon Chai Original Concentrate

Bosc pears, peeled and cored (I cut them in half to take out the core)

Place chai concentrate in pan and add the pears.

Bring to boil.  Turn off heat.  When cool, remove pears and place in container and refrigerate

Pour remaining liquid into a jar and refrigerate.

CLOTTED CREAM – from Alton Brown’s Website – Good Eats

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1 paper coffee filter

Place sieve over a bowl

Line sieve with paper coffee filter

Pour cream into coffee filter

Place in refrigerator

Stir every 2 hours – whey will drip below

When cream is consistency of cream cheese it is done – place in container and refrigerate

Place whey in jar and refrigerate.

Use clotted cream on scones as well as on warm fruit – delicious

WARMED POACHED PEARS

Warm a couple of pears in microwave

Top with a teaspoon of clotted cream

CHAI/PEAR LIQUID LATTE

Put 1/2 cup chai/pear liquid in cup

Add some whey – to taste – doesn’t take much

If too sweet, add black tea – still wonderful flavor but not as sweet.

I just finished reading The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant about the NFL Player, Michael Vick’s dogfighting scandal.  This is a very powerful story.  It begins with a gruesome description of the dogs being held at Vick’s residence.  Most of these are pit bull terriers.

For several years I have been opposed to pit bull dogs.  It seems like the newspapers and television are frequently reporting about attacks by this breed but Gorant paints a very different picture.    He tells how the breed with its strong jaw and neck developed from a very old type of bulldog (NOT the English bulldog we know today) that was used by farmers to hold large animals by the nose while they were slaughtered.  Not long after this the dogs were shown in carnivals holding bulls and bears.  This eventually led to fighting.

Since men were in the ring with the dogs – urging them to fight each other – the dogs also had to be responsive and “non-agressive” toward humans.  In fact, in the 1800s pit bulls were also called “nanny dogs, because they were so great with children.”

According to Gorant the pit bull was a combination of the Staffordshire terrier that was crossed with local dogs and consequently became known as the American pit bull.  Because these dogs were bred for fighting, they became the breed of choice for people who wanted a “fierce” guard dog.  And, as Gorant points out, as the number of pit bulls increased, so did the number of incidences.

I was lucky to hear Jim Gorant speak recently at the National Animal Supplement Council Conference.  There he mentioned how the media has created an image of a dangerous animal with their reporting of incidences involving pit bulls.  He said there are also attacks by other breeds but the media is more likely to report on a pit bull then any other breed.  He also mentioned that several years ago German Shepherds were the most feared dog, being outlawed in some communities, and later Doberman Pinchers.

Back to the book:  the main focus of The Lost Dogs is about the rescue of Vick’s fighting dogs which was really remarkable.  Professional dog handlers and veterinarians were able to save and rehabilitate nearly all of the dogs.  The story of how they did it along with volunteers was incredible and made for a good read.  I could hardly put this book down.  I highly recommend The Lost Dogs and hope that this story will help the breed and inspire animal lovers and dog owners, especially those hoping to adopt a dog to train their dog well and give it lots of love and attention. In conclusion, I believe the moral of this story is that owning a dog, any dog, is a big commitment that takes an incredible amount of time.  The problem with so many of these animals may be that people bring a puppy home with good intentions and believe they only need to housebreak the dog and it will make a fine companion – think again – to make a fine companion and “Canine Good Citizen” it takes LOVE AND WORK, A LOT OF WORK but they will give back to their owner love and devotion exponentially.

My dog MOBY - Pekinese/Maltese Mix

At the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club meeting this week, Tami Ipsen of the HVL Community Services District spoke about ways to conserve water in your garden.  I asked Tami if I could publish her tips and she said, “Yes.”  So for those of you who enjoy your garden or just want to save water or $$$ read her water saving tips below.

 Did you ever think that you could be saving water by using an irrigations system?

 Probably not, but if your irrigation system is correctly designed, installed and maintained, it will help to minimize the amount of water you use and still keep your lawn and landscaping looking healthy. Here are some practical tips to help you have a lush, green landscape……

 1. Don’t drown

The greatest waste of water comes from applying too much, too often – much of the water is never absorbed. Instead of watering for one long session, water a few times for shorter periods and take 15 minute breaks between each session. This will allow water to soak in while minimizing runoff.

 2. Watch the clock

Water between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.(In Hidden Valley Lake, during the summer months you should water between 2:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.) – when the sun is low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Mid-day watering tends to be less efficient because of water loss due to evaporation and windy conditions during the day. Watering in the evening isn’t a good idea either because leaves can remain wet overnight – an open invitation for fungus to grow. By watering in the morning, leaves have a chance to dry out during the day.

 3. Divide by zones

Different plants need different amounts of water. Divide your yard and landscape areas into separate irrigation zones so that grass can be watered separately and more frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees. Both sprinklers and drip irrigation can be incorporated to achieve more efficient use of water.

 4. Water only things that grow

If you have an underground sprinkler system, make sure the sprinkler heads are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. A properly adjusted sprinkler head should spray large droplets of water instead of a fine mist to minimize evaporation and wind drift.

 5. Consider dripping

When it comes to watering individual trees, flowerbeds, potted containers, or other nongrassy areas, consider applying water directly to the roots using low volume drip irrigation. This will reduce water waste through evaporation or runoff, and will prevent unwanted weeds from growing.

 6. Do routine inspections

Since lawns and gardens should be watered in the early morning hours, a problem may not be discovered until it is too late. Periodically check your sprinklers to make sure everything is working properly. A clogged head or a torn line can wreak havoc on your landscape and water bill.

 7. Be rain smart

Adjust your irrigation system as the seasons and weather change. Or better yet, install a shut-off device that automatically detects rain or moisture. These devices are inexpensive and enable you to take advantage of the water without having paying for it.

 Are you prepared and organized well enough to avoid unpleasant experiences for your customers?

I hope so because I recently had a few experiences that I would have been happy to avoid.  On my birthday my husband, David, booked a room for us at the Silverado Inn in Napa, California, and made a reservation at the popular Don Giovanni restaurant for dinner.

Using our Tom-Tom we found our way through California’s wine country to the inn and parked in front of the main building.  A valet told us where to leave our car and where to register.  He then asked for our car key.  This seemed like a simple enough request, at least I thought so.  After all he may need to move the car while we were inside.

I sat in the reception area sipping a lovely glass of water infused with fresh strawberries and lemon.  It was 93^o F outside so the cool water was refreshing.  I took a glass to my husband as he stood in line – one of his least favorite activities – but this was a special day so he didn’t complain.  Once we were checked-in the clerk gave David our paperwork and told us to return to the front door where a bellhop would provide us with our room keys and show us to our room.  However, there were NO bellhops anywhere near the door or in the immediate area.  So we waited.  Several minutes, realizing that we were still waiting, the clerk who helped us came over and said he would be happy to show us to our room.  We walked to our parked car but couldn’t find the car key.  It wasn’t in the ignition or on the seat.  The clerk looked in the cabinet where car keys are normally kept but our key was not there.

At this point the concierge tried to help.  She radioed the bellhop but no one answered.  Next, she checked the break room – no luck.  So the manager came out of his office to assist.  He went to our car and found the keys between the driver’s seat and the console.  He gave my husband directions to our room which was about ½ mile from the entrance to the resort just north of the driving range.

We found our room and carried our luggage to the door.   David opened the paper work he had been given and realized we had no key to unlock the door.  He went back to the parking lot and was able to flag down a couple of housekeepers in a golf cart.  One of the women was kind enough to open the door.

Once inside, I phoned the front desk and asked to speak to the manager.  I told him I was not pleased with their service.  The valet had obviously just tossed our car key in the car. However, even though that problem had been resolved, they failed to provide us with a room key.  My husband had to walk around in the blistering heat to get the room opened.  He told us he would send someone out with a key.  After waiting several more minutes for the key to arrive, we decided to go to the pool, relax, have a drink and enjoy a cool, refreshing swim.

At the pool I pulled a chaise lounge into the shade so I could rest and drink my beer.  As I was sitting down I spotted what I thought was blood on the chaise.  Ugh!  Both the bartender and the person handing out towels were busy so I went into the restroom and got a couple of paper towels and wiped off the seat.  After a nice swim we returned to our room to dress for dinner.

I turned on the shower but there was no hot water.  So, I waited and I waited and waited!  Finally, I decided to just take a sponge bath, my daughter calls it a “whore’s bath.”  In spite of my concern for wasting water, I left it running in the shower to see if it would ever get warm.  When I finished my sponge bath the water in the shower was still running cold so I called the front desk.  I admit I was getting more and more frustrated with this resort.  I asked for the manager.  He was on another line, could he call me back.  I said, “Yes.”  The woman answering the phone then asked if she could help me.  I told her about the lack of hot water in the shower and about the blood on the chaise lounge.  She apologized.  About ten minutes later the manager phoned and David told him about the shower.

We left for the restaurant.  It was a warm evening and roses were blooming at the edges of the vineyards.  We were seated outside and had a glass of good Napa Valley wine, and a lovely meal.  My mood greatly improved.  When we returned to our room, we were surprised to find a bottle of champagne, a small box of chocolates and a note from the manager offering us a complimentary breakfast for 2 the next day.  These little gifts certainly made the resort look much better.  After all, we did have a lovely decorated room, comfortable bed, and big screen TV.  However, when David went for a cold beverage, he discovered that the key to the refrigerator was not included with our room keys – oh well, par for the course, right?  Luckily, we had the chocolates, and they were good.  And, in the morning we had warm water in the shower.

Reflecting back on this experience it doesn’t seem as bad as it felt at the time.  I did wonder, why me?  Did I have a black cloud over my head that afternoon?  Do I have bad luck?  Or, could it be that it happened to me because I was willing to bring these problems to the attention of the manager and had a subject to add to my blog?  I don’t know the answer but I do know that having a good customer experience takes planning.  It takes looking at every detail of your service and think about what you need to do when things don’t go as planned.

1)      The valet should have hung our car key in the cabinet with other car keys – not “tossed it in the car.”

2)      When I called about the room key I was told they were out of room keys. The engineer had to make more.  WHAT?  No keys?  Were they kidding?  Does the engineer need to make new keys everytime a new tenant arrives?  I asked the manager about this and he said their “brass” keys were much more secure than the plastic card type. Ok, I’m all right with that but couldn’t sets of keys be made in advance?  Or did they always wait until a guest arrived?

3)      The staff should have made sure that the room was not only clean and tidy but that all the outlets worked, the plumbing in good repair, the TV worked and there were batteries in the remote.

4)      Pool attendants should walk around, pick up used towels, litter and clean up any spills including those on the furniture.

5)      The next morning in the restaurant, we were seated on the veranda next to the railing.  It was a beautiful, warm, but not hot, sunny day.  However, there was bird shit on the railing right next to my chair.  NOT AGAIN!!!  When will this nasty stuff stop?   Why hadn’t this been wiped clean before guests were seated at the table?  Hello, I know it’s early but isn’t anybody awake?

6)      These examples show not only how to be prepared but the necessity of training your staff, and training them well.

I don’t want to be all doom and gloom so I would like to say, in conclusion, if you are a golfer, I would recommend the Silverado Resort and Spa.  They have two, gorgeous 18-hole golf courses.  For those who do not golf, they have nice, comfortable rooms, lovely pools, a pleasant restaurant and a spa.