checking out and checking in

America Chooses to Change

Dreams have been realized. Fears did not materialize. Barack Obama has been elected the next President of the United States. And today, it feels so very good.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR poster on flickr by springhill2008 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike

I was in the fourth grade when I first became aware that there was supposed to be a difference in black people and white people. Little Michael Morris joined our classroom at Longfellow Elementary that year after Dunbar Colored School in Mayfield was closed and our classes were integrated by court order.

I remember how small and quiet and scared he looked as he took his seat in the row next to mine. His eyes never left his desk. Thankfully, that allowed me not have to meet his glance since I was sure staring.

I was so curious with wonder at what made this sweet little boy with downcast eyes and dark skin different from me? Must have been something I couldn’t see. But different he was, I had been told. My parents had instructed me to leave him alone. “You just don’t need to talk to him,” my mom and dad had warned.

Good girl that I was, I obeyed. It made me feel bad inside, though, until one day he looked up and finally, together, we smiled. After all, another thing that Daddy and Mama had taught me was to always live by the Golden Rule.

That is all I recall of him as my classmate after that time. Our smiles.

During the years that followed I believed that perhaps I had dreamed that awful mandate to not speak to the black child. My father proudly introduced me to black friends of his when I joined him on daily excursions around town. I realized then that life sure was full of interesting contradictions and surprises.

I loved going with Daddy to the little market on the other side of town or to the uptown courthouse and post office. It made me feel special to meet and greet all different kinds of folks outside of my regular church and school groups.

As I entered high school, I had many black classmates but not any that I could call friends. As I planned my 16th birthday party and made out a guest list my parents questioned me about each name they didn’t recognize. “Now, just who is this Don Tharpe?” they asked.

“Oh,” I said proudly, “he is president of the senior class.” More details were needed for their satisfaction and when they learned that he was black he was instantly nixed from my list. I was hurt, humiliated and heartbroken. This contradiction horribly surprised me.

The last time I checked up on Don Tharpe, he was receiving the 2005 Murray State University Distinguished Alumnus award as president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C. I would love to shake his hand today.

As I recalled these memories during the last week, I could hardly imagine that there was hope for change in America on Election Day.

But now, I believe, that we can hold these truths self evident, that all men are created equal. We now must continue to pray for peace with liberty and justice for all.

the old Moon in the new Moon's arms photo on flickr by circulating / Iris Shreve Garrott - Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike

Add comment November 5, 2008

Who Will You Vote For?

So. Just for a few moments. Imagine you can see inside these homes.

Watch the elderly lady who lives alone waiting for a ride to her doctor’s appointment today.

See the child who struggles to make a good grade in school this year.

Worry about the family whose dad got laid off last month.

Rejoice with the mother of three who finally got her GED.

Wonder at the smiles on the faces of the teenage couple, just married, about to become parents next spring.

Photo by Kittie55 / Kittie McMillan © All rights reserved

Be fearful of the temptations of dependence, depression and thievery that haunt the safety and security of neighborhoods like these every week.

Please click on this amazing photo, shared on flickr by Kittie McMillan, for anothe view of the Shotgun Houses slide-show.

Imagine you can see the people inside these homes.

Then consider, if you will, how Election 2008 will truly affect them. And finally, make sure you remember someone besides yourself when you vote on November 4.

I know that is what my daddy would have wanted me to do.

1 comment November 3, 2008

Kentucky Polls Open 6:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Lots of questions are coming in about McCracken County election ballots, precinct maps, and polling locations. Looks to be a great turnout if search queries are any indication.

All Kentucky Polls will be open 6:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. and if you are in line at closing time you will be allowed to vote. Remember that, in Kentucky, state law forbids the use of recording equipment at the polls.

For a list of FAQS, Frequently Asked Question, visit Kentucky Election Protection to download a Kentucky Frequently Asked Questions document.

I Voted badge by Hilyin on flickr Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike

You can track the McCracken County Races Unofficial 2008 General Election Results on Tuesday, November 4, after the polls close from this Kentucky State Board of Elections page and watch statewide results as they are reported as well.

Vote!

Add comment November 3, 2008

Bathroom Blogfest 2008 Best Tips

After a whole week of celebrating Bathroom Blogfest ‘08, it is now time to take action!

Clean Up by marinegirl / Rebecca Weeks Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike

After following the posts of my fellow members of this year’s official, Bathroom Blogfest Community, there seem to be many different methods as well as attitudes toward considering ‘Cleaning Up Forgotten Spaces Around Us’. What an amazing array of ideas they have shared.

But after much thought, I have decided that probably the best tip is to not get yourself into a mess to begin with. How much work do we create for ourselves just because we didn’t plan ahead?

Even something as simple as remembering to put the chocolate pudding on the top shelf might be something we shouldn’t forget.

Put Chocolate Pudding on the Top Shelf !! photo by RIPizzo / RI Pizzo Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

Bathroom Blogfest 2008 has inspired me to wash it, dust it, sweep it, paint it, get rid of it, reorganize what is left and refresh myself all over again. Please make sure to visit all the other bloggers who shared their best tips!

Bathroom Blogfest

Susan Abbott at Customer Experience Crossroads
Katia Adams at Transcultural Marketing
Shannon Bilby at Floor Talk!
Laurence Borel at Blog Till You Drop
Jo Brown and the blogging team at Kohler Talk
Lisbeth Calandrino at Lisbeth Calandrino
Sara Cantor at The Curious Shopper
Becky Carroll at Customers Rock!
Katie Clark at Practical Katie
Iris Shreve Garrott at Circulating
Ann Handley at Annarchy
Marianna Hayes at Results Revolution
Elizabeth Hise and C.B. Whittemore at The Carpetology Blog
Maria Palma at Customers Are Always
Sandra Renshaw at Purple Wren
Kate Rutter at Adaptive Path
Claudia Schiepers at Life and its little pleasures
Carolyn Townes at Becoming a Woman of Purpose
Stephanie Weaver at Experienceology
C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer

2 comments November 1, 2008

When You Care Enough to Clean the Very Best

Does your business hire a housekeeper? Maybe you employ a maintenance crew. Does anyone still have janitors?

No matter what you call your clean-up crew, they have to truly care about what they do.

Clean-up crew by Xanboozled / xan latta Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike

Hands-down, the very best housekeeper we ever had at work was a retired school janitor. She took everything personal. It mattered to her that the windows were finger-print free and that the bathrooms smelled of citrus cleaner no matter what time of day you visited.

Outside trash receptacles were not just emptied but cleaned daily. Ashcans were swiped to a shine and no butts were left to linger at curbside either.

Oh! the joy of dispensers always fully stocked with soap and toilet paper. You know what I mean? Surely you do if you have ever visited a ladies room to find only a shred remaining on the roll of TP.

It is wonderful to have lovely designed facilities but more heavenly to find them immaculately clean. Thanks to those housekeepers, maintenance crews, and janitors who care enough to make a sparkling difference that can be seen!

Follow this year’s official, Bathroom Blogfest Community as we celebrate Bathroom Blogfest ‘08 – Cleaning Up Forgotten Spaces Around Us! Consider the customer experience and all of those forgotten spaces that need cleaning up, including the bathrooms.

Bathroom Blogfest

1 comment October 30, 2008

Review – Baby Love

Photography, quotes, poems and babies…!! What a lovely coffee-table book this turned out to be.

Baby Love: An Affectionate Miscellany

Filled with precious cherubs captured in cute settings and with gorgeous light, Baby love : an affectionate miscellany by Rachael Hale is full of inspiration for new parents and grandparents alike.

Sure does make you want to get your own camera out and try your luck making photos like these of your special little one. ABC’s Good Morning America recently featured Rachael Hale and Baby Love where Hale offered tips for doing just that!

Well-known for her bestselling animal portraits, Hale’s previous books — which include 101 Salivations, 101 Cataclysms, It’s a Zoo Out There, Smitten, Snog, and Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds, have sold millions of copies in 11 languages. She has been designated as a Master of Photography at the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Awards

Baby love : an affectionate miscellany by Rachael Hale is published by Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Add comment October 30, 2008

Tweet the Vote

*TWEET THE VOTE* Text it. Share it. Map it. Protect it!

Twitter Vote Report announced today that voters can use Twitter and the code, or hashtag, #votereport on Election Day to report whether they had a long wait, or voting machines were faulty or if there were registration problems – or if everything went well.

Voters can also send a message to Twitter Vote Report by:

Sending a text message to 66937 that begins with #votereport
Calling to (567) 258-8683 (258-VOTE) to leave an automated message by touch tone keypad
Downloading the Twitter Vote Report iPhone application

Voting Precincts and Locations, McCracken County, Kentucky expect to be very busy and we hope that you can visit some of these locations and report on turnout, weather, excitement and waiting time.

Check out this Google Map for county-wide directions. Then join us as we tweet and record the vote!

Voting Precincts and Locations in McCracken County, Kentucky

Facts about voting in McCracken County, Kentucky:

McCracken County has 54 precincts with 80 Electronic 1242 stand-up curtain machines plus 55 Hart InterCivic eSlateTM handicapped accessible machines.

McCracken County registered voters total 30,973 Democrats, 13,278 Republicans, 3,250 Others, with 21,631 males and 25,869 females. Of the 47,501 prospective voters, several of those will have already voted by absentee ballot.

Add comment October 29, 2008

Hidden Behind Forgotten Customer Spaces

Photo by canonsnapper / Michael Summers - Creative Commons Attribution * Noncommercial * No Derivative Works * Some rights reserved - Artwork by British graffiti artist Banksy

We have all done it in response to a quick phone call alert saying, “thought we would just drop by for a moment,” or at the unexpected sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Stash the dirty dishes in the oven! Shut the door on today’s unmade beds and tomorrow’s dry-cleaning drop-offs. Thank the heavens, as you make quick sashaying spritzes, for fabreze©.

Just by sweeping your not-ready-for-prime-time messes under the carpet, you may not always rest assured that what is hidden remains concealed. Somehow we always get caught when company surprisingly stops by with our hair down. The trick is to not be caught with your pants down too.

Good company comes to see us because they want to. Great customers come to see us because, not only do we offer what they want and need, they enjoy visiting us as well.

Remember that businesses too need to clean up their forgotten customer spaces. Could that mean forgotten spaces for customers or spaces for forgotten customers…??

Perhaps, they are but one and the same. One could be as important, if not more, than the other.

Do you truly know who your possible customers are and what they really want, need and expect from you. Is access to your products and services inviting and welcoming too? Who have you forgotten and what simple convenience are you not providing? How dare we let these forgotten customers get swept under the rug.

Join us this week as we celebrate Bathroom Blogfest ‘08 – Cleaning Up Forgotten Spaces Around Us! Consider the customer experience and all of those forgotten spaces that need cleaning up, including the bathrooms.

This year’s official Bathroom Blogfest Community:

Bathroom Blogfest

3 comments October 26, 2008

Video Your Vote in Kentucky, Just Not at Your Polling Place

Planning to video your vote for YouTube? Or maybe you intend to participate in the Polling Place Photo Project at New York Times? In Kentucky, state law forbids the use of recording equipment at the polls. Kentucky’s legislature outlawed video recording or using cell phones or cameras in the voting places in 2005 to avoid intimidating other voters.

Kentucky folks can be a creative bunch. Somehow, we can figure out how to photograph or video the vote, avoid intimidation and responsibly abide by the law.

For more information about voting in Kentucky, visit: www.vote.ky.gov, call: the State Board of Elections at (502) 573-7100 or email: Secretary of State Trey Grayson at SOS.Secretary@ky.gov

1 comment October 22, 2008

Ready to Vote in Kentucky

The Kentucky General Election is less than two weeks away. Are you ready to vote and what do you know except for what this one thinks about that one? Are you sure which races, outside of the President and Vice President, are being contested across the commonwealth and who are all of the Kentucky candidates?

With more Kentuckians registered to vote than ever before, it seems that “These healthy registration figures are an indication of a potentially strong turnout on election day,” according to Tray Grayson, Kentucky Secretary of State.

Let’s make sure we are ready to vote in Kentucky! For candidate comparisons of United States President, United States Senate, and United States Congress, courier-journal.com offers a Voter Guide where you can read profiles submitted by candidates and build your personal ballot.

For residents of McCracken County, here is a preview of the Official Ballot. For other Kentucky counties you may download your county’s ballot at Kentucky Secretary of State Election Overview.