Why do most of the plots in movies involve a misunderstanding? Is it because it creates drama? Often they are so simple that you can figure it out fairly quickly. Sometimes people take a misunderstanding too far. They tend to take something small and insignificant and blow it out of proportion. Then it escalates and anger ensues, hurt feelings and worse. A misunderstanding at a bar leads to fighting, possibly jail, and injuries. The alcohol compounds the problem but it tends to explode. How many movies have you seen where a girl is waiting for her boyfriend and another fellow starts talking to her? The later the boyfriend is the longer they speak and sip drinks. Once he arrives, he sees them, assumes the worst and then it turns ugly. Even though it wasn’t really anything except a simple misunderstanding, people seem to over react and then allow their emotions to run wild. If they took a few minutes, didn’t assume, and allow the other parties to speak, then there wouldn’t be a misunderstanding or any issue. Remaining calm helps just as in the Good Gus series, in book one, “Pecos Meets Bad Bart.” Sheriff Gus assessed the situation. As Bad Bart’s temper and voice raised, he spoke in an even tone and made it clear that the problem could be solved. Rather than resort to violence or name calling, Sheriff Gus came up with a plan to satisfy Bad Bart. It was easy but Bad Bart misunderstood and took out his frustration and anger on Bob at the sweet shop. Available on Kindle, the series is a good starter for young readers. “Misplaced Trust” is full of people misunderstanding everything. They take their anger, greed and frustrations out on the person available. Each chapter is unique in that it gives the adult reader an idea of how people really behave, related or not, when money is involved. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
There are pros and cons to taking multivitamins and nutritional supplements. Multivitamins are not a cure all. Sure they help you replace what your body is missing. They are also handy to help you prevent sickness. However, many individuals believe that they can just take multivitamins and they will be healthy. Seriously, if you are a couch potato, never exercise, and feel a meal isn’t a meal unless it is high fat and sugar vitamins are not going to make your life better. Many government agencies discourage taking any type of nutritional supplement. I disagree. There are many people I know, including myself, whom as we age are always thrilled and proud when asked what medications we take especially when our answer is always zero. Often I have been quizzed about this and my answer does not change. There are many new diets that discuss and claim to be the best. What we learned a long time ago still applies today. Eat right; in moderation; exercise; skip excessive alcohol; stop smoking; and try to sleep seven to eight hours a day. If you follow a simple plan, coupled with multivitamins and supplements, you should do well unless you abused your body for most of your life. I had a friend who didn’t really exercise but was a healthy eater. When he turned sixty-five, his son, the doctor, insisted he begin an exercise program. He chose swimming and lived until he was 92 1/2! In the Good Gus series, available on Kindle, multivitamins had yet to be invented. The history is fascinating as to how and when scientists discovered vitamins and the lack thereof in our foods beginning in the early 1900’s. Back then, food was not transported very far so they didn’t lose their potency and health benefits. “Misplaced Trust” has absolutely nothing to do with multivitamins. It is still good summer reading on these warm and even hot days. So, grab your tablet, sit under a tree or stay indoors with air conditioning and enjoy a good read. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Once again drinking is in the news. It is causing serious damage to the up and coming young drinker. It is particularly on the rise in the United States. Younger adults are drinking themselves literally to death. They are developing cirrhosis of the liver at an alarming rate. In the past eighteen years the rise in drinking with fatalities has risen 65%. That is significant. In addition, the U.S. also has an opiate problem which is out of control. Just the other day my plumber came by to unclog a couple of drains. When I asked him about his girlfriend I was shocked when he said she passed away from an overdose of opiates. The opiates are prescription, but liquor is available everywhere if you have money. Liver cancer has risen to sixth in the leading cause of death, again in the U.S. The over indulging of alcohol, if not careful, can lead to binge drinking and even addiction. It sends messages to the brain that often numbs whatever a person is trying to escape from. It was originally called a condition. However, it has since been relabeled as a disease. It really is because there are individuals who become addicted and will drink until they can’t feel anything. The consequences to their bodies are horrible and now with the new excesses, it’s even worse. Drinking was never an issue in the Good Gus series. Available on Kindle, it would have been inappropriate. Plus, these are stories for children to enjoy and slip into the fantasy of the old west. They face enough reality everyday without reading about it as well. It also gives their brains a rest from monsters, violence, and other make believe that doesn’t lend a bit of history in their reading. “Misplaced Trust” did have characters who had drinking problems and it was clear as a few of the chapters unfolded. Grab your table and keep cool while reading this summer. You can find it on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
There are all types of reunions including school, families and even in the workplace. Once the committees for reunions post a date, invitations or announcements sent, anticipation begins to rise. If it is school, most people wonder how their classmates will look. Will they have aged gracefully? Will the people labeled to be most successful be in that category or the quiet person who barely spoke become one of the most successful? You can never tell. Anyone divorced or widowed may think about possibilities and remember old flames. They may even hope they are available. After one day of reminiscing, most people want to return to their lives. It might be fun but its not reality. Family reunions are another matter. Often infighting occurs, the jealousies arise and over indulging turns what might have been a fun week-end into misery. Thinking about the past is great if you remember both the good and the bad. Often when a person passes, everything they ever did that was wrong leaves with them. They are then the best person ever, a hero, free of faults and in general a new image that the living cannot endure. So when those reunions notices arrive, remember we all don’t look the same and the only thing that matters is that we are excellent individuals who do our best everyday. In the Good Gus series, there are a few small reunions of characters who move away and then return for a visit. The whole town celebrates and it is fun for everyone. The five books available in print and on Kindle will make the young reader enjoy their summer and possibly make it a little bit brighter. There are reunions in “Misplaced Trust.” However, not the enjoyable type but more along the lines of “Where is my money and how fast can you give it to me?” Still time to peruse before the summer ends on your table its at 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
At one time or another, we have all been through the employee interview process. Whether you interview for a new position or are looking for upward mobility within your current job, the employee interview process is no longer a simple matter. When I had my contract service, the employee interview process was straight forward. The individual was interviewed, questioned as to his or her skills, references were checked and then it was a yes or no answer. Often a person who had applied at a company, a few months prior and was never called back would approach me to assist them with obtaining a job. After I rewrote their CV or resume, it was generally a slam dunk! Over the years, as human resources gained more control, it changed. A live body didn’t answer the extension and voicemail became a way of life. Various individuals have told me about their experiences. Here are just a few. Human resources, often after leaving numerous messages, may respond by email, but rarely return a call. The hiring consultants may go through the employee interview first by phone. Several individuals have told me that they rarely ask about their education or experiences. It is almost as if they are more interested in their personal lives rather than their qualifications. So, if it has been a while since you have gone on an interview, be prepared as it will be nothing like the past. In the Good Gus series, available on Kindle, Dr. Moore did an extensive search for a nurse. The only nursing schools available at that time were were in London, England. Nurse Joyce, in book seven was introduced. Her employee interview consisted of letters to the school and recommendations from her instructors. In “Misplaced Trust” the individuals making decisions for people to handle their affairs and money really needed to do an employee interview. It may have made a difference in many of the chapters. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Whenever you watch an action thriller, someone uses scare tactics. Obviously, the police and governments use scare tactics for a variety of reasons. Often, as you see in TV shows and movies, the police play good cop bad cop and one uses scare tactics to see if the suspect will confess. It goes beyond that though. If you have ever listened to a medical prescription commercial in the United States, the verbiage after they finish informing you about how their product will do fabulous things for your health, would instantly stop you from ever purchasing it. The possibility of death, paralysis, stroke, heart attack, and more is enough to convince you that you don’t need that product. They do it so that if anything does goes wrong they can easily claim you were informed and therefore, took it at your own risk. Even when you are in court, the opposing counsel uses any and all scare tactics to win. The truth doesn’t appear to be an actual option. Recently, a law firm has been using scare tactics against me. They have claimed that I used, POSSIBLY, but not 100% guaranteed or official, copy written pictures. As I always choose my pictures from free Google or Yahoo sites, I disagreed. It is wrong to try to brow beat people into paying for something that may not be true. In the Good Gus series, Bad Bart tried being intimidating and use scare tactics, but it didn’t work. Available on Kindle, the series offers a refreshing story line of adventure for young readers. “Misplaced Trust” clearly has characters with scare tactics. The threats because of greed and the immediate demand for money, open your eyes to what family and friends suddenly become when money is involved. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Have you applied for a position knowing you are well qualified and then been turned down? Or, even worse, they put your CV or resume into their database and then begin sending you jobs that aren’t even a close match to your skills or education. Technology is great if used properly. However, most of the companies that have a database store the CV or resumes using a scanning process. The system looks for key words and then when a new position arises they input the data into the program. The computer gives lists of people and the majority aren’t really qualified. When I ran a contract engineering firm, I was trained by engineers in manufacturing, electronics, hardware, software, etc. A classification system was developed that insured that qualified candidates would be pulled from the system for each new position. At that time there was no scanning software. Basically, a data entry clerk would input all names and their skills based on a numerical system. Then when a new position occurred, they would enter into the program the particular skills that were needed. Often we only submitted two or three CV or resumes. Most companies submitted about forty and rarely out of that group were people with the skills the clients were looking for. It became a hit or miss proposition. Obviously, over time the other firms perfected their skills. One of my paralegal friends has been looking for a new position. She was very explicit about her skills yet their poor system sends her jobs that is clearly not in her area of expertise and not remotely qualified to handle. In the Good Gus series, no one was really qualified for any jobs except for Miss Patty, Dr. Moore and Nurse Joyce. They had training and had attended school. As the stores begin to bring back to school items in stock, remember, always available on Kindle, there is still time for your young reader to catch up on their summer reading. “Misplaced Trust” has characters who were definitely not qualified to handle the responsibilities placed on them. However, rather than give up, they sought advice from the right people to succeed. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Have you ever stopped to think about the cost of doing business? It’s not just about the products, services, space, utilities, insurances, payroll, and obviously making a profit. There is much more to it than that. For example, let’s look at wholesale produce distributors. They deal in real time with possible expiring products. There is one company in particular that I am familiar with. They have a fleet of delivery trucks that deliver orders everyday. Often, due to heavy traffic, the deliveries are late. The customers become furious and change their buying to another company. The basic motto of the company for their sales staff is that they need to see at least seven customers a day and sign up at least one new one each day. It’s a numbers game. They have figured out that they will continually lose customers and are unable to keep their current customers happy. It’s simply the cost of doing business. This also applies to lost leader items that a grocery will sell. They will offer a few items that everyone needs on special. When the customers come in looking for the great deals, they often buy other items they may or may not need. Even though the grocery loses money on the specials, it’s made up because the customers buy other items. It’s the cost of doing business. In the Good Gus series, the only real cost of doing business was the utilization of kindness and good manners. Available on Kindle, the stories remind children of the good morals and values that seem to be lost in the violence of many books and TV shows. “Misplaced Trust,” believe it or not, does have a factor about the cost of doing business. It occasionally is easier to settle off with a person rather than pursue a course of action that leads to more difficulty and higher expenses. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Have you ever noticed while you are talking that people will interrupt you? Do they think their conversation is more important than yours? It is understandable with children as they become excited and need to express their thoughts immediately. Eventually, they learn patience and stop interrupting. However, there are individuals, who simply refuse to allow you to finish a sentence or express a thought. They often believe that their thoughts and ideas are more important than the speaker. Often they aren’t. These same individuals who interrupt tend to be idea stealers. You may express, and this could be at work or at home, an idea for something. Let’s use work as an example. You have seen this occur in the movies dozens of times. A person who is intelligent and hard working develops an idea that is then stolen by the person who continually interrupts. Your thoughts are suddenly modified ever so slightly and they present them as their own. If you try to interrupt, they have excuses such as they were trying to assist you, or that was your goal so they were really just presenting to the boss on your behalf. If the origin of the thoughts and idea has any common sense they will stand up for themselves, and if the boss doesn’t believe them, quit and find a new position. In the Good Gus series, the only interruption in any story was in book one, “Pecos Meets Bad Bart.” Bad Bart is stopped by Sheriff Gus from bullying Bob at the Sweet Shop. It’s a really important lesson for the young reader. Available on Kindle, the children learn how to handle a bully without name calling and violence. As “Misplaced Trust” progresses in each chapter, you can see how people interrupt the person in charge and how it impacts all the chapters and characters. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
Life is full of broken promises. Individuals often make promises that they know they can’t keep. The old saying “Don’t say anything you will regret” is really applicable to broken promises. Parents give guarantees to their children that they hope will occur. When my son was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes when he was eleven, we were assured that there would be a cure within five years. Twenty-Two years late still nothing. My guess is that diabetes is such big business that there never will be a cure at least in the United States. Between the insulin, test strips, test machines, lancets, doctors’ visits, and now pens, it is a multi-billion operation. Corporations will never give that up. In romance, broken promises seem to occur on a regular basis. During the first two weeks in July in the United States, the Hallmark channels offer Christmas in July. Last night I watched a movie about a girl who worked really hard but had her heart broken at Christmas a few years ago in the story. She didn’t really celebrate Christmas because of the broken promises of a man whom she thought was her true love. Eventually, he reappeared in the story. As she worked for a publisher, he arrived with a book he had written. It turns out it was about their romance. When she finally confronted him, while he secretly is still trying to hurt her not only in business but personally, she reminded him of all his broken promises. The point is that there are individuals who appear to be truthful but the first time they fail to keep their word should be the last time you ever speak to them. In the Good Gus series, available on Kindle worldwide, as I wrote yesterday, Liam seemed in his short life to be a victim of broken promises until he was found by Sheriff Gus. “Misplaced Trust” is full of broken promises by many of the characters. It is available on 24 Symbols, Apple, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Page Foundry, Scribd, Playster and Tolino.
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