I Am Not Setting Foot in Wal-Mart Again!

I have finally been pushed over the edge. I am boycotting Wal-Mart, even if it cost me more to buy my products elsewhere!

Wal-Mart has been known in recent years for not only offering products and good prices but also for their lack of customer services. It is this lack of customer service that is causing me to shop elsewhere. 

This morning, before church, I went grocery shopping. At least 5 times I walked down aisles with employees working and I was never acknowledged. Three times I had trouble finding specific products and when I finally found someone who recognized I was there and asking them a question, they just looked at me and said, "I don't know." and went right back to work. One nice lady did finally help me, but I cannot give her any credit, because she was not wearing a name tag. When I finally reached the check out lanes, I started to walk up to an open register. The employee was starting to walk off and when she saw me coming, she let out a big sigh and said, "Crap, my relief shift should have been here by now, and I need to go." She reluctantly started to ring up purchases, the whole time letting out signs and complaining that she, "really needed to go." (Go where? to the bathroom, home, on break?) When I paid for my purchases, she just slapped the change back into my hand, after looking on the receipt to make sure she had the correct amount, and said in a frustrated tone, "Come back." 

No! I will not go back! I am tired of being treated like an "Untouchable" to be looked down on. I am tired of waiting almost an hour, at times, to check out, when there are lanes that could be opened. I am tired of being ignored by employees, that is if I can find one to even help me when I need help. I am tired of managers making excuses about why, "they have a hard time finding good employees." I am tired of Wal-Mart and their crappy attitude. 

I am taking my business elsewhere. I don't care if it cost me more money, I will not step foot in another Wal-Mart until I hear a public announcement that Wal-Mart, Inc., is making steps to improve customer service nation wide. 

Join me in my boycott! Wal-Mart will never improve unless we take a chunk out of their profits. 

Presidents Quiz # 2 of 4

This part 2 of my 4 part quiz about the Presidents of the United States. As before their are 11 statements that you need to match to the President. The answers are in the comment section.

12. His nickname was "Old Dough face." The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by Congress during his term, which led to much bloodshed and helped cause the Civil War.

13. He was President of the United States during World War I. He pushed, unsuccessfully for the United States to join the League of Nations after the war. His "Fourteen Points" served as a guide to create the treaty that ended the war as well. He suffered a stroke late in his presidency, during which time people felt his wife "assumed" many of his presidential duties.

14. Famous for his quote, "The Buck Stops Here," he was president at the end of World War II and authorized the use of the atomic bomb on Japan to end the war. He was president during the start of the Cold War, the creation of NATO and the recognition of Israel as an independent nation.

15. He is the only President to date to have resigned from being president. He won his first election by one of the largest land-slides in Electoral College history. He is known for his famous trip to Communist China, during which he opened up U.S. trade relations with China. He was president when man first stepped on the moon and he negotiated the treaty that would end the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. His involvement in the "Watergate Scandal" almost resulted in his impeachment, but he chose to resign instead.

16. The first African-American to become President of the United States. He is also the current President of the United States. While president he has increased the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to help fight terrorist and signed orders to close the U.S. Military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has also signed legislation authorizing Congress to give money to industries, businesses and taxpayers to help "boost" a struggling economy.

17. During World War II, he was the youngest Navy fighter pilot to serve in the war. He was head of the CIA before becoming president. He organized a coalition of military forces from the U.S. and other countries to liberate Kuwait from invading forces from Iraq, during what is called, "Operation Desert Storm." He also authorized a military operation in Panama. He was president when the Berlin Wall was torn down in Germany, signaling the end of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. He also helped create the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

18. He was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms of office as President of the United States. He was the 2nd president to marry in the White House.

19. As president he issued a foreign policy that bears his name which said that, further efforts by European governments to colonize land or interfere with states/countries in the Americas, would be considered as acts of aggression that require U.S. intervention. The Missouri Compromise was also passed by Congress while he was president.

20. He helped write the Declaration of Independence and was the only Federalist to serve as president. He signed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which severely limited the rights of foreign citizens who lived in the United States.

21. He was the first president to assume the office after the death of the sitting president. Known as the "Accidental President," he failed to accomplish much while he was president. Texas became a state three days before he left office.

22. He was chosen as President by the House of Representatives after the contested election of 1876. He ended Reconstruction in the United States, bringing the last of the former Confederate States back into the Union.

SAVE TEXAS MARRIAGES! YOUR CALLS ARE WORKING!

Just to let you guys know, phone calls have been pouring into the offices of Texas Legislators all across Texas supporting the continued funding for the Twogether in Texas Program.

I just got a phone call from the office of one of our elected officials wanting to clarify some of the information in my previous blog. According to him, the Texas House of Representatives authorized and increase in the funding for our program, and it was the Senate instead who cut our funding!

Due to possible misquoting of some information, I will remove my previous blog; however I do recommend you continue to call your State Elected officials to support marriages in Texas.

Presidents Quiz # 1 of 4

In the wake of the past election and just because I am a History sort of guy, I thought I would challenge my fellow Americans to see how well you know our U.S. Presidents. I will present the quiz in 4 parts (11 presidents each)!

Below is a series of statements about the Presidents. On a piece of paper write down which President you think the statement is referring to. I will give you the answers in the comment section. If you don’t know the names of all of the Presidents, shame on you (just kidding) look them up somewhere; however, try not to cheat and read about them until after you take the quiz. (Hint: Grover Cleveland is only listed once in my quiz even though he was elected twice.)

Good luck!

1. Known as the “Father of the U.S. Constitution”, he was the shortest president and President of the United States when the British burned down the White House during the War of 1812!

2. Promising to fulfill America’s “Manifest Destiny,” this president served during the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the United States gaining control of California and much of the western United States. After threatening to go to war with Great Britain, he also gained control of much of the Oregon Territory.

3. He was president during the early years of Reconstruction, after the Civil War. He was the first president to be impeached. The 13th Amendment, which officially abolished slavery in the United States, was passed and Alaska was purchased from Russia while he was president.

4. He was the youngest person to ever assume the office of President of the United States. A hero of the Spanish-American War, he was the leader of the Rough Riders. He was known for his “Square Deal” and for being a “Trust Buster.” He won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War. He also authorized the building of the Panama Canal.

5. He was president when the Stock Market crashed in 1829, which started the Great Depression. He has a famous dam named after him on the Colorado River.

6. While President he negotiated a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He also saw American’s taken hostage in Iran, and the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan. He later became a leader for Habitat for Humanity after leaving the Presidency.

7. Shortly after he became President, a group of terrorist attacked the United States, which resulted in the death of thousands of Americans in New York, when the World Trade Center towers were destroyed, and in Washington, D.C, when the Pentagon was attacked as well. Congress authorized him to use the U.S. Military to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq in attempt to create democratic governments. During the last year of his presidency, economic problems resulted in Congress passing legislation to “bail-out” failing companies and financial institutions to try and boost the economy.

8. Although he was the youngest president ever elected, he prevented the Soviet Union from establishing missile bases in Cuba during the “Cuban Missile Crisis.” He also supported a failed attempt by Cuban Nationalist to overthrow the Communist government of Cuba during the “Bay of Pigs Invasion.” He was the first Roman Catholic president and saw the building of the Berlin Wall in Germany and the start of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He was assassinated in Dallas, TX.

9. He was the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to be elected president. He was ambidextrous, able to write in two languages at once with both hands at the same time. He was shot shortly after becoming president and died 3 months after taking office.

10. He was the first “natural born” citizen of the U.S. to become president. The Economic Panic of 1837 defined his Presidency and he failed to win a second term in office.

11. He was Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. He helped create the U.S. Constitution and created the Judicial System of the U.S. He was the only President not to live in the White House. He is commonly known as the “Father of our Country.”

The Last Thirteen Books I Have Read (As of March 10, 2009)

Normally, I would post links to all of these books, but I just don't feel like it this time.

In case you really want to know what I am currently reading, want to read or have read, you can go to Goodreads and look me up!

Going in order;

1. Same Kind of Different as Me -- Ron Hall & Denver Moore
2. The Love Dare -- Stephen and Alex Kendrick
3. The Appeal -- John Grisham
4. Brisinger -- Christopher Paolini
5. Deadfall -- Patricia H. Rushford & Harrison James
6. Twilight - Stephanie Myer
7. The Poisonwood Bible -- Barbara Kingsolver
8. Anchor Man -- Steve Farrar
9. Eat Mor Chikin', Inspire More People -- S. Truitt Cathy
10. Sinner -- Ted Dekker
11. John 3:16 : The Numbers of Hope -- Max Lucado
12. Kiss -- Ted Dekker & Erin Healy
13. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair -- C.S. Lewis

I am currently reading -- Get Out of That Pit -- Beth Moore
Next on my list is -- Beyond Belief -- Josh Hamilton

Newsboys Concert Report

Wow! What a great concert! We saw four great Christian Bands who uplifted us and praised God with a great Rock Concert!

The first band to perform was Bread of Stone. Their four songs got the concert off to an excellent start. My favorite song that they sang was called, I Want.

The second band to perform was called VOTA. Their "alternative" rock sound really pumped us up. My favorite song that they sang was called, Hard to Believe.

The third band to perform was DecembeRadio. According to my bride, Jamie, "This Band ROCKS!" Caleb saw this band recently at Winterfest in Dallas. They were a perfect set-up to the Newsboys. My favorite song they sang was, Better Man.

Finally, the moment I was waiting for the most, the Newsboys. All I can say is WOW! They were every bit what I expected out of them. They sang several songs from the past, recent songs, and some from their new album coming out later this year. The show was a sight to behold. Duncan, the percussionist, had a tilted-roatating drum platform. It was cool. When they sang the song, Breakfast, people started to wave boxes of Captain Crunch cereal around in the air.

All the bands quoted scripture and praised God through out their performances. All of them are touring together as part of the Join the Tribe Tour.

We bought the latest albums from all the groups and got autographs from all the band members, except the lead singer from VOTA and the Newsboys. The line was to long for the Newsboys and the kids were getting tired. Their were to many girls around the lead singer from VOTA and he didn't have a pen handy to sign the CD cover.

It was a great night!!