Cummins Unlimited

If you typed in www.whosbill.com and landed here don’t get discouraged. I did it on purpose as it is shorter than www.cumminsunlimited.com.

Welcome. Hang around and look. I hope you find something you like.

Here is another little ditty I got a couple of days ago. I hope that I can learn from Bob’s mistake.
Subject: Bob’s Story…….

It is important for men to remember that, as women grow older, it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as when they were younger. When you notice this, try not to yell at them. Some are oversensitive, and there’s nothing worse than an oversensitive woman.

My name is Bob. Let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife, Debbie. When I took “early retirement” last year, it became necessary for Debbie to get a full-time job along with her part-time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed. Shortly after she started working, I noticed she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from the golf course about the same time she gets home from work.

Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. I don’t yell at her. Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the table. I generally have lunch in the Men’s Grill at the club so eating out is not reasonable. I’m ready for some home cooked grub when I hit that door.

She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating. But now it’s not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her several times each evening that they won’t clean themselves. I know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed.

Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think. For example she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. But, boys, we take ‘em for better or worse, so I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days. That way she won’t have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn’t hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like to think tact is one of my strong points.

When doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs more rest periods. She had to take a break when she was only half finished mowing the yard.

I try not to make a scene. I’m a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while. And, as long as she is making one for herself, she may as well make one for me, too.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Debbie. I’m not saying that showing this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating women get as they get older. However, guys, even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your aging wife because of this article, I will consider that writing it was well worthwhile.

After all, we are put on this earth to help each other……….

Signed,

Bob

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bob died suddenly on May 27th. The police report says that he was found with a Calloway extra long 50-inch Big Bertha Driver II golf club rammed up his butt, with only 2 inches of grip showing. His wife, Debbie, was arrested and charged with murder; however, the all-woman jury found her Not Guilty, accepting her defense that he accidentally sat down on it.

I got this little ditty in my email a couple of days ago. I haven’t tried it, but I thought that I would pass it along for anyone who uses 411 services and wait for the feedback. Since snopes says it is true, I think it could be.

Best wishes folks.

Cell phone companies are charging $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 Information calls. Since no one carries a telephone directory in their vehicle, they get away with it.

When you need to use the 411 Information option, simply dial 1(800) FREE 411 or (1-800-373-3411); you will incur no charge. This works on your home telephone as well.

If you enter this number into your cell phone you will always have a way now to get a phone number if you need one.

This is the kind of information people don’t mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/free411.asp

I have not posted in a while. I have been a bit busy with life. I am not going to try to justify why I have not been posting as a list of what has happened since my last post will give you a clue.

As time permits, I will put my thoughts on my experiences into writing, and i will let some of the details be known as I have no secrets, but I want to be accurate with dates and whatever information I finally commit to writing.

In early February, I wrecked my car. That was really needed.

Right before Valentine’s Day, I had a cancerous tumor the size of a lemon removed from my brain. Since I was unaware that I had either a cancer or a tumor, it was quite unexpected. I was hospitalized till mid-March. More on that adventure soon probably.

My 30 year old son died of unknown coronary problems in April. I buried him on Tax Day. Parents are not supposed to bury their children

At the moment, my mother is suffering from complications from another in a long list of strokes. I could lose her at any moment. I cannot go to her as I have no income or savings and I live 500 miles away. If my wonderful sister was not on the scene handling things that the eldest son should be handling, I just don’t know what would happen.

I am trying to take things one day at a time as I am continually being challenged by life and some of the challenges are not that easy. When you all of my current events up, it is hard to not get overwhelmed.

I have been helped by some wonderful people that I never expected to just do something to really help when I needed it and not just give me some “words of encouragement” or a “let me know what you need” and not be willing to follow up.

Well folks, I seem to have not done it again. When I started this site last August, I was full of steam and had plenty to say. However, I seem to have left some gaps in my posting pattern. I won’t say that I am turning over a new leaf today, but I am going to try to get it together soon and I really have some things to say.

 My headline is a quote form the Scottish poet – ‡ ‡ Many lines from Burns’s poetry have become proverbial: “The best-laid schemes of mice and men / Gang aft a-gley”Many lines from Burns’s poetry have become proverbial: “The best-laid schemes of mice and men / Gang aft a-gley”

Since my Great Grandparents were fresh off the boat from Scotland, I hope I can favor old Bobbie Burns as much as I do Robert Frost or even Carl Sandburg without raising too much chaos in the family. I also like Miss Eudora Welty and Mr. Faulkner but we are not talking poety with either of them.

I was once privilaged to meet Miss Welty at the Jackson Municipal Library before they decided to create a new main branch across the street and name it after her. I am not dropping names. I am just mentioning that I was so privilaged.  My mother was slightly impressed I think. I do have Miss Weltys book called One Writers Beginnings. I treasure that volume (courtesy of Mom).

Now don’t have a stroke because I did not mention Mr. Stephen King. I will pen a few notes on him and one day Mr. Shakespear and who knows who else. I know good writing when I read it, and I have had my hands on a few good books in my day. 

Tonight I was reminded of a very sad fact. Some folks think that because someone works behind a counter that they are less of a person. I hate to bring this up, but I believe that our Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal.

I was also reminded tonight of how rude some folks can be. I had someone try to get me to do things outside my responsibility by degrading me and my work and lack of meaningful duties, like he had worked in my position, over the phone. I don’t stand for much nonsense, and when you low rate me over the phone, I have one response – I hang up.

My mother used to say something to the effect that you catch more flies with honey than with viniger. I think that we should always be nice, and if you want something extra don’t start threatening some poor clerk behind a counter. That is a very low class no class thing to do.

I think that the practice of making clerks wear name tags with only their first name is very degrading. I don’t like every yo-yo that walks into my place of business at 3 AM drunk or sober to start calling me by my first name like he knows me from Adam and I am supposed to know him from the last thousand times he didn’t stay at our hotel.

Another no class thing is to threaten to have the clerk fired or some other such nonsense. I think that anyone who says “I’ll have your job” should have to work a week in the clerk’s position. That might open a few eyes to those who had enough sense to know the truth when it bit them on the behind.

The customer is not always right. The customer always deserves respect and fair treatment. The same goes for the clerk behind the counter.Remember - Be kind to your web footed friend for a duck may be somebody’s mother.

I don’t why I should ever fear the blank page AKA – writer’s block – again. Every day the great business institutions of the world provide me with so much fodder that I should be constantly amazed and grateful for the manna from Heaven. I just don’t know where to begin so I must ask for your kind indulgence.

Since May of last year, I have experienced more instances of poor customer service than I can be certain of in any such short period in my life. I usually have a glitch or two occasionally, but I can see why companies have to spend a lot of money trying to fix the problem.

In the early days of his business, my father had a variety of advertising methods. We never had a discussion about all of his methods, but he seemed to believe in newspapers and mail outs. Besides the penny post cards, my great Uncle Billy is supposed to have sat in his wheel chair handing out information and talking to folks at the Jitney Jungle (our favorite grocery store). I believe other relatives did similar things.

Once the business was established, except for an occasional ad, his primary method for sustaining his operations was the best – Word Of Mouth – as it was called in the good old days.

What do you think customer service meant to him? It meant that if you don’t do a good job the first time, you better do better than satisfactory when you fix the problem. Otherwise the kiddies don’t get fed and the rent doesn’t get paid. He did not need high powered consultants to tell him how or why to treat folks right. You just tried to do your best for your customers because it is the right thing to do and if you treat your customers right, they will treat you right – repeat business and good references.

I started to work for him the day I started the first grade. I learned the business of business by doing all the dirty work first. He was in the janitorial and house cleaning business so I have used a toilet brush on many
occasions. I also learned to do the inside and outside parts of sales and unruffling of feathers on occasion.

I had planned to let you know about some of my experiences of this past year, but it is only the first business – non-holiday – day of the new year and garbage has been tossed into the ventilator. I hardly know where to begin and each of my experiences actually deserves at least one post of it’s own. (The first draft of this article was done on 1/2/8.)

For today – let me say this to you —-

If you are a customer, you deserve to be treated right from the get-go and you deserve to have your problems resolved to your satisfaction. Otherwise you should vote loudly with your dollar and not return to the business that messed with you and you should be sure that your friends and relatives know about your experience. If you are treated right you should try twice as hard to spread the word.

If you are in business you should do your best for your customers and always try to do better. If you need consultants to tell you about customer service, then you don’t deserve to be in business because I believe you might not ever get the point as it must not be inherent in your character and you cannot buy character from a bunch of consultants.

If you would like to hear about some real “Pips” in Customer Service, please check back with me. As quickly as I can refrain from using all of my sailor’s vocabulary, I will expound on some of the most notable from my personal experience.

The new year has started and I have started, sort of, on my first project. It will take a long time, but I have begun my life simplification project.

A few months ago, I was told that my materialism was interferring with my perceptions of my environment and the events around me. I took exception, and I took action.

After giving away what I thought was a sufficient amount to see if I was totally materialistic or just a little bit selfish, my decision was in my favor. When I moved, I discovered that I might not be materialistic but I do have more stuff than I really think I need for a good life.

Although I cannot claim that I know a lot about Zen, I have seen some web sites that support the application of Zen to the simplification of life’s affairs.

This year and probably for several more I will be trying to find the balance between materialism and sufficiency for a nice life. I no longer wish to seek great wealth and many possessions to give me the good life. If wealth is thrust upon me I will not make a fuss about it.

I do intend to work at a “J O B” for a while longer. If I happen to make a few dollars off of one of my internet projects, I will not refuse to enjoy the benefits of it.

My mantra for building the life that I am seeking is very simple -

O L I M - Organized, Less Is More

Now the challenge is to dispose of the things that I do not need and to continually review the remainder to determine if I can change my ways of doing things so that I need even less.

If you have problems with Zen, then think about this - How rich are you if you have 3 doohickys and cannot find one when you need it and have to buy another? With less you either find it fast or know that you don’t have it. I hate to waste time looking for things because I have too much clutter and that seems to be where I have to look when I need something that I “know” that I have.

Now if you have less and it is junky you are not maximizing your potential. Putting it all in order will give you more time to do whatever it is you do because you will not have to spend as much time determining if you have something and finding it if you do.

I will be posting notes about my progress to the perfection of OLIM. I hope you will drop by often to follow my progress in the creation of a new personal environment. 

I know that ours is not the only calendar still cranking, but it is the one that I have to run my life by. Regardless of which calendar you use, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you prosperity, happiness, and the health to enjoy them to the fullest in the times ahead.

Yesterday, as usual, my sister sent me a little funny to brighten my day. I think it is funny, and it expresses my feelings about 2007.

Gladys Dunn had recently moved into a retirement community near Channelview. One beautiful Sunday morning she walked to church not far from her apartment. She was in awe of the beautiful church, the friendly folks, as well as music from the choir. She wasn’t too impressed with the sermon. She thought it was kind of boring, and as she looked around the church, she noticed that many of the parishioners were nodding off.

When the pastor finished, he encouraged his congregation to greet those sitting close by. Gladys turned toward the man sitting on her left. He, too, had fallen asleep and was yawning and stretching trying to wake up. He smiled at her, and Gladys returned the smile.

She politely offered her hand and said, “I’m Gladys Dunn.”

“You and me both!” the man replied.

—————————————————————–

Whatever 2007 was to you, now it is time to say “Hello 2008.” Although I failed to do it then and become more of a Latin scholar, I hope the we will all CARPE DIEM or seize the day — each and every day in this new year and thereafter.

As I pen these lines, it is morning. The new day is beginning as the old year is ending. It is hard to believe that another year has slipped by.

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking through some books and came across one on how to prepare for the Y2K problem. Has someone over greased the gears of the clock or is it only my imagination that time really does seem to pass more and more rapidly as I get more and more years added to the total of my experience.

I hope you are through with setting the goals for your new year and laying the plans to achieve them.

My primary goals for this year include posting much more regularly and not wiping out my files like I did earlier this year. At least  I plan to have adequate backup in case I get too adventerous.

Thank you for your patronage and indulgence this year. May you prosper and enjoy good health and happy relationships in the new year and beyond.