WOW Word-Of-the-Week #486: Thankful
November 27, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #486: Thankful
Thankful – appreciative and grateful.
Are you appreciative and grateful for all that you have? Do you acknowledge and thank people when they do something that is of benefit or favorable to you? When you do something kind or giving to someone, do they thank you? How does it make you feel?
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving and I am so grateful for all that I have in my life. I am thankful to be able to travel and experience different cultures. Now that I don’t have to go school, I love learning all the history and the geography. I really enjoy meeting new people and eating good food!
And I am really thankful to be home! We live in a great country with an abundance of everything. (And great paved roads) I have wonderful friends and family and the love of my life! I don’t think it can get any better than that!
And being thankful has its health benefits. Researchers at the University of California-Davis, Cornell and the University of Michigan found that people “who have a plethora of events for which they feel grateful bounce back more quickly from trauma, can undo the negative effects of stress and have lower blood pressure.”
A USA Today article said to, “Notice small things. Experts almost universally agree that some of the most significant blessings are also the most seemingly insignificant acts. Take note of a nice day, a spectacular sunset, a moonlit night.”
This week focus on giving thanks. You can never do it too much. What are you grateful for in your personal and professional life? When was the last time you told your customers, guests, clients, members, friends and family how grateful you are to have them in your life? When was the last time someone told you they were thankful you were in their life? How did that make you feel?
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #485: Invisible
November 21, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #485: Invisible
Invisible – not seen or noticed.
Have you ever felt invisible? Can you remember the last time you entered a business and were not seen or noticed, or felt as if you weren’t even there? Do you make sure that all of your guests, customers, members or clients know that you see them as soon as they walk into your business?
When we were on our Adriatic cruise last month we made friends with a lovely English couple. In talking about our travels, they had told us they had just taken the Orient Express (a lifelong dream for them) from London to Venice. The train trip was 2 days and 1 night and included a two-night stay at a 5 star hotel in Venice. (Not to mention names, but it was the Hilton.)
Out of curiosity I looked up the cost for that trip and it is over $3,000 per person. YIKES!
They said, “It was the worst experience we’ve ever had at a hotel. We felt as if we were invisible. We had to stand in line to check in (not enough staff to accommodate everyone from the train) and then waited over an hour for our luggage to arrive to our room. When it didn’t we went down and brought it up ourselves.”
I must say I am glad that didn’t happen to us! I would be livid if I spent that much money and was treated so poorly. Déjà vu: The Rocky Mountaineer train trip we did back in 2011 that was a disaster too! Are you like me, and the more you spend the pickier you get? Have you ever thought about it? I get more upset about bad service relative to the cost.
This week is all about not being invisible. How would you feel if you were on your “trip of a lifetime” and you felt as if you were invisible and no one even noticed you? Or that matter, anyplace where you were? When you are busy with another guest, member, customer or client – either in person or over the phone – do you let people waiting know that you will be right with them? Are there enough staff scheduled to handle all of your business?
FUN-travel: Terrasini, Sicily – Last Full Day
November 15, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Terrasini, Sicily – Last Full Day
Day 43 – Monday, October 28 – Terrasini, Sicily – Full Day – full sun – high 75 – low 59
Downtown Terrasini
What I LIKE
- *7:30 – get up
- **10:30 – walk to piazza & town center
- scope out dinner ops
- notice clock tower & time is one hour earlier
- buy stamp for Cinzia’s bday card (Nov 2nd)
- 2nd clock in town reads same thing – hmmm what is going on?
- Chris says “they just never changed it for DST”
- 11:50 – drive to airport (have early flight & don’t want any surprises)
- 12:20 – drive south to Castellamare del Golfo for lunch @ Soho lounge
- got rave reviews on TA
- ***Pierpaolo highly recommended going to San Vito lo Capo
- 12:55 arrive – GPS worked perfectly!
- Lunch – spaghetti w/olive oil, garlic & fresh clams VG! – caponata salad
- OMG – clock across from Soho Lounge reads 1 hour earlier too!
- it pays to be observant! we assume we went across a time zone
- +1:20 – arrive Segesta – magnificent sitting high on the hill – $6 Euro pp
- 1:50 – head back
Terrasini
- ++2:30 – need gas
- 2:40 – GPS finds one that is open
- 2:50 – back to hotel
- room happy hour w/carafe wine – $12Euro
Segesta
- discussion ensues on what to do for the 24 hrs we’re in London tomorrow – I suggest dinner & a play – Chris says the big storm that hit affected the train service – but not a problem “we’ll just get a limo!” NOT! dinner & a play would be his worst nightmare – good for a lot of laughs!
- 7:45 – walk to dinner
“The Locals”
- 8:00 – arrive Arabesque – on 1st floor under Caza Manzella B&B – pizza w/olives, bell pepper, onion pepperoni – mixed salad – Planeta Burdese 2006 $30 Euro not on wine menu VG – & 2nd best pizza on trip!
- 11:30 – time for night night
What I DON’T LIKE
- *5:30 – wake up
- **pretty small & not much to see
- ***too far on small, narrow windy roads through mountains – had enough of that!
- +totally missed the amphitheatre – another example of poor signage & why you should have your guide book with you and not in the hotel room!
- ++1st station not open
FUN-fact – Segesta is one of the most well preserved Doric Temples in the world.
FUN-travel: Ragusa to Terrasini, Sicily
November 15, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Ragusa to Terrasini, Sicily
Day 42 – Sunday, October 27 – Ragusa to Terrasini, Sicily – full sun – high 75 – low 59
Valley of the Temples
What I LIKE
Monreale
- *7:35 – lukewarm cappuccino
- **8:30 – checkout
- 8:50 – hit the road
- 9:45 – 2nd gas station has no attendant but people filling up
- nice man shows us how to put money in & get gas out
- ***10:45 – arrive Gela w/gas station open
- good hot cappuccino too!
- full of locals – clearly the place to be on a Sunday morning
- 12:10 – arrive Agrigento & Valley of Temples – $10 Euro pp
- +1:15 – lunch @ restaurant there – 1 slice pizza, 1 cold pasta salad, 1 diet coke – $15 Euro
- 1:45 – drive to Monreale
- rolling hills – green & brown – rocky mountains in distance
- lots of small Quonset hut like green house growing zucchini & vineyards dot the landscape
- ++3:30 – arrive Monreale – big beautiful church on top of grand hill just outside of Palermo & free!
- 4:00 – beer & cappuccino break
- +++4:15 – off to Terrasini/Cinisi for Palm Beach Hotel – only 20 miles
- 5:05 – finally arrive – Giancarlo (front desk) very nice & helpful – carries our bags up
- internet works & they have CNN!
- 5:30 – down for bottle of wine (only have carafes) – $12 Euro for liter Nero d’ Avola – not bad
Valley of the Temples
- 7:50 – walk 2 blocks to restaurant recommended by Giancarlo – Primafila
- #1 TA rated plus have Michelin sign
- 8:00 – arrive
- staff eating dinner outside family style – tell us 10 mins
- 8:15 – menu arrives
- order Adènzia 2009 Christo di Campobello di Licata – syrah, cab, nero d’avola blend $18 Euro – tri color salad, mozzarella balls, iceberg, tomato – risotto w/veggies – fresh pasta (like really long macaroni) w/fish (typical/local dish) – tastes fishy $53 Euro
Valley of the Temples
What I DON’T LIKE
- *no breakfast or server – have to go down to lobby – person on duty doesn’t speak English or know how to make a cappuccino
- **no one to help w/the bags
- need gas and no stations open
- 9:30 – go to self serve – won’t take credit card
- put in $10 Euro & no gas!
- miss turn & detour out of our way – road signs not clear
- ***take credit card inside but attendant outside has to put money in to get gas
- +the worst & most expensive so far!
- ++outside & terraces closed on Sunday afternoon
- +++once again GPS is confused – turn around & stop for directions – didn’t go far enough
- elevator is broken
- missed the eruption of Mt. Etna on the 26th – left Taormina one day too early!
Mt. Etna – What We Missed!
FUN-fact – The Valley of the Temples is a large sacred area on the south side of the ancient city where seven monumental Greek temples in the Doric style were constructed during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Now excavated and partially restored, they constitute some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself. They are listed as a World Heritage Site.
More FF – The Monreale church is a national monument of Italy and one of the most important attractions of Sicily. The impressive glass mosaics covering the interior make this church so splendid.
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #484: Inquisitive
November 14, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #484: Inquisitive
Inquisitive – eager to learn.
Do you like to learn new things? Do you think of yourself as curious? Do you ever question how or why things are the way they are?
This week is a follow up to last week on the company WD-40. Since they were celebrating their 60th year in business, and they are located here in San Diego, the UT featured them on the front page of the Business Section in September.
The following are FUN-facts (for those inquisitive minds that want to know) taken from Jonathan Horn’s article titled, “RUST-FREE AT AGE 60.” Three scientists from the Rocket Chemical Company experimented with a rust-prevention solvent to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile. They failed 39 times to perfect that solution. But the 40th attempt was revolutionary.
They called it Water Displacement, 40th formula. And while it was meant to protect the intercontinental ballistic missile, the scientists found it worked well on squeaks at home, too.
They make 56,800 gallons each month of “secret sauce” as they call it. They have expanded to12 brands including 3-In-One-oil, Spot Shot carpet cleaner, and a line of products catering to bikes.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done with WD-40? So far, fans have come up with more than 2,000 uses, according to a list WD-40 keeps on its website. Some of the notable ones?
- Remove a boa constrictor stuck in engine compartment of cars
- Spray it on golf tees to penetrate hard ground areas
- Loosen strapping tape after a hurricane
- Remove crayon from walls
- Remove ink from blue jeans
- Remove gum from hair and fabric
- Free a naked burglar stuck in a chimney!
I don’t know about you but I have become more inquisitive as I have gotten older. I love learning all kinds of things. History and geography are two of my favorites. And children are naturally inquisitive. How many times have you been asked, “Why?”
This week’s focus is being inquisitive. Are you eager to learn? Are you open to hearing new ideas from co-workers or staff? Is it time to question why some things are the way they are?