There is a great small business story in the link below, and good advice on packing perishables for shipping.
http://blog.ups.com/2011/05/31/easy-as-pie-packing-and-shipping-with-the-ups-store/
"Poehnelt bakes the pies, freezes them and seals them in plastic to stay fresh. She takes them to Heil’s The UPS Store where he places each pie in a 12 x 12 x 8 box with a 2-inch foam base. Dry ice is packed in the vacant space in the foam that sits under the pie. A second piece of plastic foam on top secures the pie in place. He then ships them UPS Second Day Air."
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Scott Steele
Scott Christopher Steele
December 12, 1957 - October 19, 2012
Hello honey, I'm home!
I have lost friends and family without writing about them; maybe because they were before blogs. And Scott's death was a complete shock. As good of friends that we were, I only saw him a half dozen times each year. Caddying on the PGA Tour is a grueling road warrior process. There is the west coast swing, moving to the east coast before the Masters in April. He came through Las Vegas, where he lived with his wife, Barb, on the way to the east coast. Always driving. And when he had some extended weeks off he would fly home to see Barb, and come by the store to visit us.
He had a mailbox at our UPS Store for years. Every time he came by, usually after months of absence, he would announce: "hello honey, I'm home." And hug everybody. At first I resisted the guy hug, but not for long as we became closer friends. Of course, I'm an occasional golfer, fan, and general golf nut - but when I asked him to play, he told me he was not crazy enough to play such a stupid game. We loved his candor; what a down-to-earth guy.
Barb came by the store today. She and Kathy hugged and cried for what seemed like five solid minutes. I was hiding out in the back office, reaching for the Kleenex. Kathy called me and I had to come out. Barb is sroill in shock trying to deal with it, as we are too. When my Dad died, my older brother, who only saw him every few years, spent some time before he came to grips with the loss. That's the way Mary and I feel, we can't quite believe he won't come stro lling in the store at any time, "help honey, I'm home."
In my mind, strictly from golf periodical reports, I had the details of his death wrong. He had a heart attack in the parking lot on Friday, October 14, at a Champions Tour event. Jerry Pate gave CPR and he went to the hospital. Kirk Triplett called Barb and she jumped on a plane. Kirk picked her up and drove the hour to the hospital, where he had been put into a coma. He came out of it, and Barb thinks she recognized her presence, then had another attack, passing away October 19. I wish I'd known.
Scott had been hired and fired by several golf pros, but caddies of his pedigree don't get "fired" for doing a poor job. It's because the pro thinks that a change will help his putting, or whatever. Once Tim Herron hired Scott back and won the first tournament, crediting Scott for the victory. Then he fired him again two years later. I wondered, did Scott become less experienced after two more years? Of course not. Several times I asked Scott about this player or that, or about a current rumor. He would never say a word, about his man or others. A total professional, not about to lower himself to petty gossip.
A word about Kirk Triplett. He dropped out of the tournament and spent the final days with Barb. A stand up guy, as Barb says. (He could have found a local caddy and played out the tournament, then gone to her side. It's been his best year in years, so he would expect to earn a big check. But he didn't do that. A stand up guy, and more). I've thought several times, c'mon God, why now. He just got on with Kirk the past couple of years, a great guy and a player who can really compete on the Champions Tour (i.e. make a lot of money). Why now?
Barb came back to bring us an article by Tim Rosaforte in "Golf World," and to talk to Kathy some more. I got confirmation of what I long suspected - Scott was not fond of reporters, either print or TV, mainly because their job is to weasel information out of a caddy, and Scott wouldn't talk to them, at all. So it was nice of Tim to write a complimentary piece.
Well, I've lost a friend, a wonderful guy, the first since this blogging thing. I hope when the time comes I can be like Kirk, a stand up guy to someone who needs me. Like Scott, who was professional and manly enough to know when to speak. I just wish, one more time I could hear...
November 16, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Team Mascots
October 25, 2012
Watching the World Series between Detroit and San Francisco two things come to mind.
1. Don Larsen pitched his perfect World Series game on October 8, 1956. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Larsen). That's when the series should be played, at the start of October, not the end, finishing in November. Brrr. The NBA season will open before baseball is done and go well into summer. Baseball is summer, football is fall, basketball and hockey are winter.
2. Team mascots have long been a hot button for me. My definition of an acceptable team mascot,from middle school through the professional ranks, has three components: (1) ferocity (2) intimidation and (3) fear. In other words, a mascot should bring all three in the mind of opponents. These are my general criteria for mascots. Acceptable - animals, usually with fur, preferably striking fear if you encounter them face-to-face, manly icons, and fierce Native Americans. Unacceptable - birds, fish, inanimate made up names, cuddly/furry animals, and most humans. A sample list:
OK: Longhorns, Bears, Tigers, Lions, Eagles, War Eagles, Wolverines, Bruins, Badgers, Giants, Lumberjacks, Cougars, Bearcats, Seminoles, Cowboys, Red Raiders, Raiders, Wildcats, Chiefs, Braves, Buffaloes (Buffs), Indians, Blackhawks, Warriors, Tomahawks, Arrows, Indians, Redskins (my high school), Utes, Steelers, Mustangs, WolfPack, Wolves, Dragons, Panthers, Snakes, Sharks, Razorbacks, Bulldogs, Rams, Hawks, Gators, Grizzlies, Crocodiles, Cobras, Vikings, Coyotes, Colts, Broncos, Bobcats.
Marginal: Trojans (a guy in a skirt on a horse is marginal, at best), Horned frogs (unless you've touched one), Celtics, Blue Devils, Gamecocks, Rebels, Pandas, Cubs, Yellow Jackets, Hornets and Bees (close call on these three).
Not OK: cardinals, orioles, blue jays, packers, jayhawks, hoyas, ducks and beavers (please), phillies, heat, shockers, thunder, corn huskers, mariners, commodores, tar heels, camels, lakers, green wave, crimson tide, hurricanes, hokies, mud hens, turkeys, owls, 49'ers, sun devils, knickerbockers, pistons, pacers, gophers, twins, terrapins, orange men (red men ok, men named after a fruit? Not ok.), buckeyes.
And the two most offensive and totally unacceptable: aggies and sooners.
Watching the World Series between Detroit and San Francisco two things come to mind.
1. Don Larsen pitched his perfect World Series game on October 8, 1956. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Larsen). That's when the series should be played, at the start of October, not the end, finishing in November. Brrr. The NBA season will open before baseball is done and go well into summer. Baseball is summer, football is fall, basketball and hockey are winter.
2. Team mascots have long been a hot button for me. My definition of an acceptable team mascot,from middle school through the professional ranks, has three components: (1) ferocity (2) intimidation and (3) fear. In other words, a mascot should bring all three in the mind of opponents. These are my general criteria for mascots. Acceptable - animals, usually with fur, preferably striking fear if you encounter them face-to-face, manly icons, and fierce Native Americans. Unacceptable - birds, fish, inanimate made up names, cuddly/furry animals, and most humans. A sample list:
OK: Longhorns, Bears, Tigers, Lions, Eagles, War Eagles, Wolverines, Bruins, Badgers, Giants, Lumberjacks, Cougars, Bearcats, Seminoles, Cowboys, Red Raiders, Raiders, Wildcats, Chiefs, Braves, Buffaloes (Buffs), Indians, Blackhawks, Warriors, Tomahawks, Arrows, Indians, Redskins (my high school), Utes, Steelers, Mustangs, WolfPack, Wolves, Dragons, Panthers, Snakes, Sharks, Razorbacks, Bulldogs, Rams, Hawks, Gators, Grizzlies, Crocodiles, Cobras, Vikings, Coyotes, Colts, Broncos, Bobcats.
Marginal: Trojans (a guy in a skirt on a horse is marginal, at best), Horned frogs (unless you've touched one), Celtics, Blue Devils, Gamecocks, Rebels, Pandas, Cubs, Yellow Jackets, Hornets and Bees (close call on these three).
Not OK: cardinals, orioles, blue jays, packers, jayhawks, hoyas, ducks and beavers (please), phillies, heat, shockers, thunder, corn huskers, mariners, commodores, tar heels, camels, lakers, green wave, crimson tide, hurricanes, hokies, mud hens, turkeys, owls, 49'ers, sun devils, knickerbockers, pistons, pacers, gophers, twins, terrapins, orange men (red men ok, men named after a fruit? Not ok.), buckeyes.
And the two most offensive and totally unacceptable: aggies and sooners.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
October 16, 2012
We had 12 members and no guests or visiting Rotarians.
After Steve and Ted beat me up about Texas losing a football game, the meeting proceded. Caitlin announced her Crohn's Foundation fund raiser, a muscle car show, on Thursday Dec. 6, and Ken announced that our Christmas party is Tuesday, Dec. 4. Francie did not announce it, but I think there is a board meeting next Tuesday after the regular meeting, somewhere off property.
Our small crowd was livened by the speaker, Chloe Powell, current Miss Helldorado Rodeo. She tried out for Miss Nevada Rodeo, but was not selected. However, there were some Elks Club members present and they asked her to be their Queen. The competition involved judgement in horsemanship on two horses picked at random as well as beauty. She plans to try again for the state title in April with more experience under her belt buckle, which she wore along with big hat and smile.
Chloe graduated from Faith Lutheran in 2008 where she was Key Club president. She got her first horse at age 7 and has never looked back, competing in barrel racing and pole bending as a teenager. Currently she rides cutting horses and participates in Western Pleasure, which is a competition that encompasses how naturally the horse moves and the posture and aesthetics of the rider, among other things. The Elks ask her to speak to elementary students and other groups, which she happily does, since she talks real good. Did I mention that smile? Photo attached.
Chloe told us a lot about her experiences with horses and cattle, and was a delightful breath of fresh air to our club meeting.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
St. Andrews, Scotland
July 22 - 30, 2012
Off to the home of golf for a two day tournament, the International Payne Stewart Cup. I received a personal invitation from Jim Hiskey in April. It is a biennial event to honor the late Payne Stewart, friend of Jim, Wally Armstrong and Bill Rogers. The event was presented by Bernhard Langer and Bill Rogers. Bernhard could not be there as he was playing in the Champion Tour British Open that week.
I learned it was to be two man teams for the two day tournament so I asked a friend, Brett Grant. Brett became more than a good friend, fellow Rotarian and golf buddy when he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon/rectal cancer in 2010. Suddenly Mary and I were into prayer and support mode, as were many of his close friends.
When I asked Brett, he had just gone through a round of chemo and was unsure he would have the stamina to fly overseas and play golf for two days. I told Jim, and he said "let's pray for him, and if he decides not to come we'll pair you with another partner." Of course, I didn't want another partner, so I prayed for Brett's strength, and that I would get my way. God focused on Brett, not me, and before we left he was talking more rounds of golf. The group had decided to play Crail on Saturday, following the two days of tournament play, and Brett signed us up for Carnoustie, one of the hardest courses in the world, for Tuesday. Keeping count, that makes four days of golf, so far.
A good friend in the Links Players fellowship (linksplayers.com), John Hurlburt, has friends that live in St. Andrew, Ames and Jacqueline Broen. In order to play the Old Course at St. Andrews, the actual birthplace of golf, one must enter a ballot into a lottery two days in advance. That is a new policy that started January 1, 2012. John's friends did so on Monday for Wednesday but we were unlucky. We found another spectacular course, Kingsbarns, to play that day and played in sunshine, unheard of in Scotland. That's up to five days straight. As you may know, golf in Scotland is played walking; there are no electric carts as we have in the USA. Jacqueline and Ames hosted us for a fantastic lunch prior to our round at Carnoustie in their beautiful home, just minutes from the Old Course.
Carnoustie was fabulous and challenging. We had great caddies but shot well over our handicaps. Cool, windy and overcast but no rain. Kingsbarns was beautiful, with all 18 holes having ocean views. It is a combination of Pebble Beach and Pelican Hill, but a much better course. Again two great caddies and scores improved a bit. Sunny skies up to 68 degrees, the warmest day of the week.
The opening dinner was Wednesday night, and Jim asked Brett to tell the story of his ordeal, which he did willingly. I noticed several players come up to him during the week having been through cancer experiences - themselves or family members. There was an unbelievable mix of international players from 20 countries. We played with guys from Peru, France, Switzerland, England and Nebraska. With 40 two-man teams, including wives we totaled 97. We met those from Argentina, Russia, Germany, Northern Ireland and Tunisia. And Arkansas, too!
The tournament was played at Scotscraig, the 13th oldest course in the world and Jubilee, part of the St. Andrews golf links. We finished tied for 5th place of the 40 teams. But wait, there's more! We decided to play the New Course (built in 1897) on Sunday. That would be 6 days straight. Brett's legs were sore in the morning, so play was undecided, until he sat with Bill and Beth Rogers at breakfast. Describing his soreness, Beth said, " hey, you'll only be here once, go play!" We played. Beth is a wise woman and I know Bill is thanking his lucky stars she said yes years ago. After a week of good weather, the rain came in our last four holes to remind us are in Scotland, indeed. That made 6 straight days golfing, 108 holes. We both had some memorable shots, and a few we'd like to forget. We had caddies for each but the last day at the New Course. Some were excellent, others not so helpful, but they are definitely part of the experience. The best were two ladies at the Jubilee Course. Brett's caddy, Linzie, had won the Scottish Women's Open, beating the sister of mine, Pam. Pam's sister became a teaching pro, and Pam had a good amateur career herself. She said twice before we teed off that Jubilee was going to be a very difficult course in the wind that day. My best shot of the trip tus far was over a hill to a partially visible green. 140 yards to the front (sprinkler head yardages are always to the front edge) into a 2-3 club wind, Pam pulled my 4 wood. I couldn't believe I needed that much club, but with Brett standing behind me hit it over the hill to 10 feet. What a thrill. Missed the putt,though.
Now that I'm bragging, the best shot I hit was the last hole at Crail on 18 Saturday. I didn't have a caddy that day but took an electric pull cart, which helped navigate the hilly terrain. We walked up a set of steps to the tee box, and as I arrived with driver in hand, realized it is a par 3. Everyone had irons or hybrid clubs to play a hole 180 yards to the front into a stiff right quartering breeze. I was too tired to walk back down, and decided I probably needed the driver anyway, being the 90th hole we had played. We were playing a shamble, where everyone goes to the best tee shot and plays the rest of the hole on their own ball, and I hit it to 6 feet and made the birdie putt. The wind held up my fade to make it a perfect shot. Malcolm Gregson, former European Tour pro was on our team, and he was as happy for me as everyone. Malcolm won the Order of Merit and played on the Ryder Cup team in 1967. He too is a cancer survivor, having suffered throat cancer. For every good shot I hit I made 20 or more bad ones during the week, but choose not to remember all those shots into the gorse. Brett made many more great shots than I, and in fact carried our team to its 5th place finish.
I think Brett and I agreed that Carnoustie was the best course we played, and Kingsbarns the most spectacular. They were all so good it is difficult to choose one. As many departed Sunday afternoon, Jim and Malcolm asked to pray for Brett with me, which went something like this: "Lord give Brett many more years and let Brett give you all his years."
The trip home was more brutal than Jubilee in the wind. Counting waking up early enough to make the hour drive in the rain to Edinburgh (pronounced Edinboro) and the layovers and drive home from the airport, we spent 24 hours getting home. Tired and spent! But it was the most fun golf trip ever and the fellowship with players and spouses from all over the globe cannot be matched. The next Payne Stewart Cup is being planned for the USA, and in 2016 for Rio as golf will be in the Olympics. I hope to make both and hope Brett can make them too. I couldn't ask for a better friend or partner!
Off to the home of golf for a two day tournament, the International Payne Stewart Cup. I received a personal invitation from Jim Hiskey in April. It is a biennial event to honor the late Payne Stewart, friend of Jim, Wally Armstrong and Bill Rogers. The event was presented by Bernhard Langer and Bill Rogers. Bernhard could not be there as he was playing in the Champion Tour British Open that week.
I learned it was to be two man teams for the two day tournament so I asked a friend, Brett Grant. Brett became more than a good friend, fellow Rotarian and golf buddy when he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon/rectal cancer in 2010. Suddenly Mary and I were into prayer and support mode, as were many of his close friends.
When I asked Brett, he had just gone through a round of chemo and was unsure he would have the stamina to fly overseas and play golf for two days. I told Jim, and he said "let's pray for him, and if he decides not to come we'll pair you with another partner." Of course, I didn't want another partner, so I prayed for Brett's strength, and that I would get my way. God focused on Brett, not me, and before we left he was talking more rounds of golf. The group had decided to play Crail on Saturday, following the two days of tournament play, and Brett signed us up for Carnoustie, one of the hardest courses in the world, for Tuesday. Keeping count, that makes four days of golf, so far.
A good friend in the Links Players fellowship (linksplayers.com), John Hurlburt, has friends that live in St. Andrew, Ames and Jacqueline Broen. In order to play the Old Course at St. Andrews, the actual birthplace of golf, one must enter a ballot into a lottery two days in advance. That is a new policy that started January 1, 2012. John's friends did so on Monday for Wednesday but we were unlucky. We found another spectacular course, Kingsbarns, to play that day and played in sunshine, unheard of in Scotland. That's up to five days straight. As you may know, golf in Scotland is played walking; there are no electric carts as we have in the USA. Jacqueline and Ames hosted us for a fantastic lunch prior to our round at Carnoustie in their beautiful home, just minutes from the Old Course.
Carnoustie was fabulous and challenging. We had great caddies but shot well over our handicaps. Cool, windy and overcast but no rain. Kingsbarns was beautiful, with all 18 holes having ocean views. It is a combination of Pebble Beach and Pelican Hill, but a much better course. Again two great caddies and scores improved a bit. Sunny skies up to 68 degrees, the warmest day of the week.
The opening dinner was Wednesday night, and Jim asked Brett to tell the story of his ordeal, which he did willingly. I noticed several players come up to him during the week having been through cancer experiences - themselves or family members. There was an unbelievable mix of international players from 20 countries. We played with guys from Peru, France, Switzerland, England and Nebraska. With 40 two-man teams, including wives we totaled 97. We met those from Argentina, Russia, Germany, Northern Ireland and Tunisia. And Arkansas, too!
The tournament was played at Scotscraig, the 13th oldest course in the world and Jubilee, part of the St. Andrews golf links. We finished tied for 5th place of the 40 teams. But wait, there's more! We decided to play the New Course (built in 1897) on Sunday. That would be 6 days straight. Brett's legs were sore in the morning, so play was undecided, until he sat with Bill and Beth Rogers at breakfast. Describing his soreness, Beth said, " hey, you'll only be here once, go play!" We played. Beth is a wise woman and I know Bill is thanking his lucky stars she said yes years ago. After a week of good weather, the rain came in our last four holes to remind us are in Scotland, indeed. That made 6 straight days golfing, 108 holes. We both had some memorable shots, and a few we'd like to forget. We had caddies for each but the last day at the New Course. Some were excellent, others not so helpful, but they are definitely part of the experience. The best were two ladies at the Jubilee Course. Brett's caddy, Linzie, had won the Scottish Women's Open, beating the sister of mine, Pam. Pam's sister became a teaching pro, and Pam had a good amateur career herself. She said twice before we teed off that Jubilee was going to be a very difficult course in the wind that day. My best shot of the trip tus far was over a hill to a partially visible green. 140 yards to the front (sprinkler head yardages are always to the front edge) into a 2-3 club wind, Pam pulled my 4 wood. I couldn't believe I needed that much club, but with Brett standing behind me hit it over the hill to 10 feet. What a thrill. Missed the putt,though.
Now that I'm bragging, the best shot I hit was the last hole at Crail on 18 Saturday. I didn't have a caddy that day but took an electric pull cart, which helped navigate the hilly terrain. We walked up a set of steps to the tee box, and as I arrived with driver in hand, realized it is a par 3. Everyone had irons or hybrid clubs to play a hole 180 yards to the front into a stiff right quartering breeze. I was too tired to walk back down, and decided I probably needed the driver anyway, being the 90th hole we had played. We were playing a shamble, where everyone goes to the best tee shot and plays the rest of the hole on their own ball, and I hit it to 6 feet and made the birdie putt. The wind held up my fade to make it a perfect shot. Malcolm Gregson, former European Tour pro was on our team, and he was as happy for me as everyone. Malcolm won the Order of Merit and played on the Ryder Cup team in 1967. He too is a cancer survivor, having suffered throat cancer. For every good shot I hit I made 20 or more bad ones during the week, but choose not to remember all those shots into the gorse. Brett made many more great shots than I, and in fact carried our team to its 5th place finish.
I think Brett and I agreed that Carnoustie was the best course we played, and Kingsbarns the most spectacular. They were all so good it is difficult to choose one. As many departed Sunday afternoon, Jim and Malcolm asked to pray for Brett with me, which went something like this: "Lord give Brett many more years and let Brett give you all his years."
The trip home was more brutal than Jubilee in the wind. Counting waking up early enough to make the hour drive in the rain to Edinburgh (pronounced Edinboro) and the layovers and drive home from the airport, we spent 24 hours getting home. Tired and spent! But it was the most fun golf trip ever and the fellowship with players and spouses from all over the globe cannot be matched. The next Payne Stewart Cup is being planned for the USA, and in 2016 for Rio as golf will be in the Olympics. I hope to make both and hope Brett can make them too. I couldn't ask for a better friend or partner!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tips on Sending Easter Gifts
Care packages are a great way to send love to college students, military personnel, parents and grandparents. Here are a few tips to be sure it arrives intact:
1. Send items that travel well, such as oatmeal, sugar or peanut butter cookies, brownies, molasses bars, biscotti, shortbread, snack mixes and hard candy. Use a potato chip canister or coffee can as a cookie cutter, then use it for packing the cookies. They will stack perfectly and won't crumble.
2. Avoid items that can't withstand heat or extreme temperatures, such as chocolate or foods needing refrigeration.
3. Pack soft cookies with a slice of bread to help them retain moisture. Don't pack crisp cookies in the same container as soft ones (moisture from the soft ones will soften the crisp ones).
4. Fill air gaps with squares of bubble cushioning to soften vibration and prevent cookies or brownies from breaking.
5. Use a new box specifically designed for shipping and wrap each item in bubble cushioning surrounded by at least two inches of packing peanuts. All the packing materials you need are at The UPS Store.
The certified packing experts at the UPS Store can pack your items for you so they arrive intact. Call our stores at 702-341-7722 or 702-631-6300. Vegasupsstore.com - We're open every day but Sunday.
1. Send items that travel well, such as oatmeal, sugar or peanut butter cookies, brownies, molasses bars, biscotti, shortbread, snack mixes and hard candy. Use a potato chip canister or coffee can as a cookie cutter, then use it for packing the cookies. They will stack perfectly and won't crumble.
2. Avoid items that can't withstand heat or extreme temperatures, such as chocolate or foods needing refrigeration.
3. Pack soft cookies with a slice of bread to help them retain moisture. Don't pack crisp cookies in the same container as soft ones (moisture from the soft ones will soften the crisp ones).
4. Fill air gaps with squares of bubble cushioning to soften vibration and prevent cookies or brownies from breaking.
5. Use a new box specifically designed for shipping and wrap each item in bubble cushioning surrounded by at least two inches of packing peanuts. All the packing materials you need are at The UPS Store.
The certified packing experts at the UPS Store can pack your items for you so they arrive intact. Call our stores at 702-341-7722 or 702-631-6300. Vegasupsstore.com - We're open every day but Sunday.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Due in part to prompting by friends, I have started ads on Facebook, Google and now, Foursquare. Newby tags on Foursquare get a 20 % discount on all services (except mailbox, stamps and money orders). I hope some will take advantage of it; if so, we'll come up with more offers. foursquare
foursquare.com
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