Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Meeting Her Majesty, The Queen
In watching tons of old movies on TCM, I have noticed that Americans used to say: "How do you do" when meeting someone. We do not say these words anymore and instead now say: "Nice to meet you." I prefer to say: "Nice to see you," in case I have met this person before and do not immediately remember them.
When being introduced to The Queen, or any Royalty, always wait for the introduction, wait for the Queen to extend her hand and wait to answer her by saying: "How do you do," NOT "Nice to meet you." "How do you do" is more formal and is preferred by Royalty as traditional.
When Prince William's girlfriend, Kate Middleton, met the Queen, she said: "Nice to meet you" and was unmercifully bashed by the media. The press said she insulted the Queen by not saying: "How do you do." The press called her "common" and "rude," and all because she did not know to say: "How do you do" to the Queen.
Sounds like such a dumb little thing, but apparently not. That is what etiquette is all about....knowing all your little rules.
Cleaning Suede Shoes
To clean a pair of suede shoes, gently rub them very lightly against the grain of the suede or in one direction only with light weight sandpaper. Use smooth and even pressure. All dirt, mud and grease will come off.
National "Read the Constitution" Day is April 20th
Castro did it. Lenin and Hitler did it. Chavez has done it.
Do the reporters and the masses not ever know their past or current history?
The Politicians are doing it again...now in America. They whip the public up to hate the super wealthy. Then they moved down to the CEO's. Then they started up with the corporate managers who received bonuses.
Today in London, the masses hate the bankers to the point that the bankers all have to come to work disguised in jeans and a t-shirt. Next they will start on the Doctors, Lawyers and Insurance Agents. Then onto the Farmers. All in the name of the common man.
Does no one know their history or care? Meanwhile, the Treasury quietly printed 1 Trillion dollars last week and all the media can do is talk about comparatively meager AIG Bonuses.
National "Read The Constitution Day" is April 20th. Write your Congressmen/Congresswomen and Senators, please. Participate in the national dialogue!
Do the reporters and the masses not ever know their past or current history?
The Politicians are doing it again...now in America. They whip the public up to hate the super wealthy. Then they moved down to the CEO's. Then they started up with the corporate managers who received bonuses.
Today in London, the masses hate the bankers to the point that the bankers all have to come to work disguised in jeans and a t-shirt. Next they will start on the Doctors, Lawyers and Insurance Agents. Then onto the Farmers. All in the name of the common man.
Does no one know their history or care? Meanwhile, the Treasury quietly printed 1 Trillion dollars last week and all the media can do is talk about comparatively meager AIG Bonuses.
National "Read The Constitution Day" is April 20th. Write your Congressmen/Congresswomen and Senators, please. Participate in the national dialogue!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Illegal aliens in France allowed to "Squat" in your empty building
Bon soir,
On a second visit last month to our favorite French restaurant in the French Antilles, my husband and the owner got into a conversation about Real Estate and tenant rights and the rights of illegal immigrants in France.
The conversation started out when I mentioned that American laws are so skewed towards the tenants. I recently had my first tenant in a newly renovated condominium paint it, re-stain the 70 year old hard wood floors, wall paper one of the bathrooms, put vinyl tiles up in the other bathroom and change out all the light fixtures. All totaled, 14 lease infractions. This tenant then, after only 5 months on a 2 year lease found a new tenant to replace him and left. I took him to court. The bottom line after spending $1200.00 on a lawyer was, I was able to keep his $1500.00 deposit and settled for $1000.00. My lawyer said I was extremely fortunate to have done so well.
The young French restaurant owner told us the most shocking truth I have heard in quite a while. In France, illegal immigrants may "Squat" in an empty building. If the landlord does not figure out the illegal "squatters" are living there within a very short period of time (weeks, not months), the illegal "squatters" can then live there forever and never have to pay rent. Ever. They must also be allowed to receive gas and electricity. French society is all about the "Rights" of the citizens. The common man. Even the illegal citizens.
On a second visit last month to our favorite French restaurant in the French Antilles, my husband and the owner got into a conversation about Real Estate and tenant rights and the rights of illegal immigrants in France.
The conversation started out when I mentioned that American laws are so skewed towards the tenants. I recently had my first tenant in a newly renovated condominium paint it, re-stain the 70 year old hard wood floors, wall paper one of the bathrooms, put vinyl tiles up in the other bathroom and change out all the light fixtures. All totaled, 14 lease infractions. This tenant then, after only 5 months on a 2 year lease found a new tenant to replace him and left. I took him to court. The bottom line after spending $1200.00 on a lawyer was, I was able to keep his $1500.00 deposit and settled for $1000.00. My lawyer said I was extremely fortunate to have done so well.
The young French restaurant owner told us the most shocking truth I have heard in quite a while. In France, illegal immigrants may "Squat" in an empty building. If the landlord does not figure out the illegal "squatters" are living there within a very short period of time (weeks, not months), the illegal "squatters" can then live there forever and never have to pay rent. Ever. They must also be allowed to receive gas and electricity. French society is all about the "Rights" of the citizens. The common man. Even the illegal citizens.
Cash is now King in America just like in France, Yes?
Bonjour mes amies! Ca va? Last month, my husband and I were chatting with a young French owner of a fine restaurant in Marigot, St. Martin in the French Antilles. His comment "People in France do not go out and buy flat screened TV's on credit like the Americans do" sparked an even more interesting conversation.
He stated that French citizens and Europeans do not have access to credit cards like the Americans. He said the European societies run mostly on Cash because taxes are so high (about 60%). Yes, health care is "Free" as are many other types of Government programs and accessible to all citizens. He says: "successful citizens are quiet with their money. Europeans do not flaunt their money around and act as though they own everything, like the Americans."
One of our other young friends is saving to buy a restaurant in the Marigot Marina. Her husband is the chef and she waits on tables. During the busy Winter season, she hires 1 other waiter and they have 1 dishwasher. They probably sell 70-90 dinners per night. They are open 7 days a week. These folks work! They do not have any children. She says they cannot afford to have children yet. She tells us she keeps a cash box in her small, meager apartment, and states: "I save cash first for what I want to buy. If I do not have the cash, I wait and save more cash, because, I do not work for Carla."
Cash may become the new currency running under the tablecloths of American businesses if our taxes rise to European levels. Retirement at 65, or at all, may become what it was before Roosevelt implemented it, just an "American Dream." Bon chance et Au revoir, y'all.
He stated that French citizens and Europeans do not have access to credit cards like the Americans. He said the European societies run mostly on Cash because taxes are so high (about 60%). Yes, health care is "Free" as are many other types of Government programs and accessible to all citizens. He says: "successful citizens are quiet with their money. Europeans do not flaunt their money around and act as though they own everything, like the Americans."
One of our other young friends is saving to buy a restaurant in the Marigot Marina. Her husband is the chef and she waits on tables. During the busy Winter season, she hires 1 other waiter and they have 1 dishwasher. They probably sell 70-90 dinners per night. They are open 7 days a week. These folks work! They do not have any children. She says they cannot afford to have children yet. She tells us she keeps a cash box in her small, meager apartment, and states: "I save cash first for what I want to buy. If I do not have the cash, I wait and save more cash, because, I do not work for Carla."
Cash may become the new currency running under the tablecloths of American businesses if our taxes rise to European levels. Retirement at 65, or at all, may become what it was before Roosevelt implemented it, just an "American Dream." Bon chance et Au revoir, y'all.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Neighborly Giving vs. Government "Giving"
My Father said when he was growing up during the height of the Great Depression, his Mother would make extra dinner once a week, enough food to feed the family at the end of the street with 6 kids. During the Depression, only one person per household was allowed to work to spread out the jobs. The father had lost his job. The mother had to raise those 6 kids. They were poor. They were thin and starving. All the neighbors took turns. Everyone pitched in to help this family in need. The neighbors were only too happy to share what little they had with their neighbor not as fortunate as they.
America was not a wealthy country, yet, people appreciated what they had. Respect for each other and respecting a neighbor's feelings was paramont. One never embarassed another person for any reason. What we now refer to as "Old World" values and ideals were the rules of the day. Upon meeting someone, the first questions one would typically ask were: "Who is your family?", "Where are you and your family from?", and "What is your education." Families lived within their means.
We started this country for the purpose of small government and in the 1930's, government was still small. There was no public assistance, no food stamps, no Section 8 housing, no Social Security and workers had few rights. With progress came the good and the bad, but have we now bought into the mindset that government owes us everything as a "Right?" Please, help thy neighbor, treat others as you would wish to be treated. Please, be responsible for onself, one's children and one's family.
America was not a wealthy country, yet, people appreciated what they had. Respect for each other and respecting a neighbor's feelings was paramont. One never embarassed another person for any reason. What we now refer to as "Old World" values and ideals were the rules of the day. Upon meeting someone, the first questions one would typically ask were: "Who is your family?", "Where are you and your family from?", and "What is your education." Families lived within their means.
We started this country for the purpose of small government and in the 1930's, government was still small. There was no public assistance, no food stamps, no Section 8 housing, no Social Security and workers had few rights. With progress came the good and the bad, but have we now bought into the mindset that government owes us everything as a "Right?" Please, help thy neighbor, treat others as you would wish to be treated. Please, be responsible for onself, one's children and one's family.
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