Recipe for Success

Recently I got myself a pleasant surprise when I went to a neighborhood laundry mat to wash a few area rugs. It was the same one I had used before. The proprietors there were pleasant but their service area was poorly lit. Its Spartan facility could also use a coat of fresh paint to spruce the place up a bit.

On that day the moment I walked into that shop, I was taken aback by what I saw. The place is bright and spotless. The shining chrome frame on many washing machines gleams with the soft lights from the many florescent tubes above. A coat of pastel blue-colored paint also emits some pleasantry in the air.

I learned later that this essential business provider has a new owner. Obviously, the simple improvements the new owners made to their investment over the last two months have brought them the expected results. While one of the mild-manner owners took care of the drop-off business, the other patiently explained to a customer of the different features an oversize washing machine provides. It is certain that their newly acquired business is booming!

As a consumer, this much improved laundry mat is a good news to me. Now I know there is a pleasant place to bring my future laundry business to. Unlike the many businesses, small and large, that I have known, invariably their services deteriorated after there was a change of the ownership. - Ayee

Amazing Kitties (I)

I thought my cats are smart ones until I read about "Eponine" in "The White and Black Dynasty."*

I will not go into the details on why this petite female kitty was so named. Perhaps growing up in the household of a literary family has something to do with a name like "Eponine."

Theophile Gautier, a renown nineteen century French poet, writer and critic, kept a pair of Angora cats with ermine like pure white coats. This handsome and gracious couple bestowed upon the prolific writer three jet black kittens. One of them was named Eponine.

Eponine must be the great poet’s favorite. She adored her famous keeper a great deal as well. Eponine always followed her master around when he was home. To return the many favors he had for her, she kept him accompanied whenever he was at his desk writing his next book. Furthermore, to earn her keep, Eponine became a page for the house. When the door bell rang, she would go to the door greet the guests, then usher them to the drawing room.

Unlike other cats, this endearing furry ball ate at the dinning table instead off the kitchen floor. Imagine a little black cat sits on an oversized dinning table chair for supper! Sitting next to her most beloved, she polished off her three-course meal with a half glass of water in style.

We all know cats are crazy about fish. When Eponine detected that delectable seafood was in the air, she would try to skip her soup. Her feline rationale on skipping the soup is no different from any of ours: less soup means more room for fish. Unfortunate for her, her master read her smart logics, and told her if she was not hungry for soup, she was not hungry for fish either. Eponine somehow got the message loud and clear and would finish her soup quickly whenever there were fish in the offering.

Eponine also knew when she was not invited for dinner. When silverware was placed by the dish on the table at where she normally sat, she knew to retreat to other place in the house during dinner time. However, Eponine would still get a few tasty morsels under the table from the guests who she knew had a few soft spots for her.

Such an amazing kitty Eponine is. It is no wonder that her dear master cast her as the star in one of his many short stories. * - Ayee

Eggs on Our Face

This week on PBS, The Nightly Business Report included a discussion on the recent massive egg recalls. The suspected eggs were from two of the largest egg producers in the States.

It is daunting to see on television millions of chicken cramp in barns many times of a regulation football field. The lit chicken house does not impress me as a hospitable place. The size of it also makes me wonder how the well-being of these all white birds is monitored? To me it will very likely take a chicken catcher a long time to reach a distressed hen in an over sized barn.

Contrary to the reason for the recent egg recalls, the proponents of mass production system suggested that the better and bigger equipment these big companies can buy help to improve the safety of the foods they produce. But I am with the critics of the food industry that our food producers are getting too big. The dominant position of five or six producers in the country enables them to dictate the fares on our dinner table. And efficiency has also taken a toll on safety. Now food recalls have become common occurrences.

In old days, we were taught to be appreciative of the foods on our table and the clothes on our back. Now these days there are many families still pray before enjoying their bountiful meals. Perhaps now we should also think where our daily bread is coming from - Ayee

Life is not fair.

Steven Slater has my sympathy too. What he did on that JetBlue flight may not be the best way to vent his frustration or to land himself a realty show act, he did bring to our attention of the plights of many front-line workers now facing. Airline attendants, customer services agents and even fast-food cashiers are all convenient and easy targets for irate customers.

Now economy is in the dog house. Company cut their work force to the bone. The poorly paid front-line employees not only have to work harder. In addition to unhappy customers, they also face the grim prospect of losing their stressful job. This explains why now we saw more often of irrational outbursts, some with deadly consequences, of rank and file employers in the news.

This also brings out a sore point on the ultra generous multimillion dollar compensation to many company executives. If one of them were paid one million dollars less, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out on how many additional workers the company can hire.

Lately, there was not much news on what had happened to Mr. Slater: whether or not he still works for JetBlue. But I do hope his employer through this unruly incident sees the light in the tunnel, and takes steps to improve the working conditions of their many hard-working but discontented employees. - Ayee

Too much is no good either!

It is always a happy and satisfying occasion for me when I found a stray cat a new home. But there was one instance that I wished I could undo what I did to a gentle pussy whom I named Billy. All the extra attention this good looking cat was provided with at his new home did not do him any good as far as his longevity is concerned. Many cats, particularly the indoor ones, can live up to 20 plus years. Billy died of cancer not more than three years after he was with his new family. And he was only about five or eight years old then.

Billy with short white hair came to us like many other strays did. He entered through a toll-free cat flap. When we first saw him at our home, his entire body was covered with some yellowish oily substance. After a head-to-tail bath, he turned out to be a prince-charming. A grayish smidgen on the top of his white round head made him stand out among his peers. He was also a gentle cat. He might know a thing or two about not getting into fights or avoiding hostile confrontation while out courting. Unlike other toms we saw, he did not have a single bite or scratch on his bony body.

Soon, a neighbor decided to adopt this espeacially handsome cat. But this kind lady might have erred on being too cautious on Billy’s health care needs. Each year, she made sure Billy had his annual booster. At his new home, he, an indoor cat, was also given flea remedy each year even though he was free of any parasites on or in him. I did see Billy a few times when I was taking care of him while his dear mistress was away. Despite the facts that he was showered with the best care, undivided love, and tasty kibbles, he did not seem to be happy. One day I met his owner by accident. I was in shock when I heard that Billy had died of cancer.

After hearing this grave news, I often wonder Billy’s untimely death. I wonder if too many vaccinations and flea control medications are harmful to our pets. In the past before these new effective and strong medications were invented, I had seen cats lived up to 18 plus years. One of them, Lucky, an adorable toothless gray and white mixed Ragdoll, lived to twenty-some. Moreover, I do not know if it is a coincident or the outcome of poor care, over the past several years, three of my cats all died at a young age. All of them had been treated with parasite control meds. - Ayee

Dog Business

The other afternoon, a disobedient dog got my attention. He and his young mistress were crossing the same intersection as I was. This bullterrier like young dog with extraordinary long floppy ears did not seem to be happy at all. He constantly resisted his mistress’ lead. He looked about six to eight months old and would soon become a full grown mongrel. This might explain why his rib-cage was sticking out from his lanky body. Or maybe he was hungry, hence, his unwillingness to heel.

After we reached the other side of the streets, I decided to offer a few dog biscuits that I had with me for one of my canine friends to this "hungry dog." The offering was welcome but the interest in the treats was fleetingly short. While his mistress and I stopped to chat, unlike other pooches, hungry and not hungry, who would devour the treat in one bite, he dropped the biscuit on the pavement. When I bent down to pick the cookie, he took a few side steps to the grassy area next to the sidewalk where we were. On that patch he started to relieve himself. Once he had emptied his bladder, without any enticement or coaxing, he was next to his owner and ready to trot.

From our brief chat, his young owner told me that she had just adopted him and that is why she had not had a name for him yet. And it was a he. I also learned that he was either starving or mistreated in any way. And he is going to start a new life with this seemingly responsible and caring young woman. While waving goodbye and wishing them the best, I saw a changed dog in him. Wthout any resistance, willingly he followed his owner to continue their unfinished journey. - Ayee

To Insure or Not to Insure

Recently, we relocated to a smaller residence. Once we found the place, the first thing we did was to book a date with a mover. Since there was a local mover who served us well in the past, naturally we decided to use the same company for this time as well.

When I called to book the move, the gentle voice on the other end of the line sounded friendly but very businesslike. It gave me a feeling that since our last move six years ago this family business has grown. In the past, when we called to book the move, it was a done deal once the date and time were agreed upon. This time, the young person on the phone had to advise me of additional information. They included terms such as a minimum four-hour charge, maximum 50-pound per box and the requirement of a deposit. Yet, these were not the only extra conditions we, the customers, were subject to.

On the moving day came a marked van manned by two young fellows. Before loading any boxes onto their dolly, one of the movers with an intimidating clipboard asked if we wanted to insure our household goods in case they were damaged in transit. Since we had our own insurance, I declined the offer.

Once the required formality was adhered to and the waivers were dotted, the two young men sprang to action. But somehow, they appeared to be not as apt in their job as their colleagues in the previous moves. Finally their laborious mission came to an end after five long hours.

And this time to my utmost surprise there were some damages to one of the end-tables and a lamp shade. In addition, three boxes were placed upside down on the floor at our new home. Apparently, the young movers had paid no attention to the wine glass direction on the cardboard boxes. Fortunately the damage to our worldly possessions was not catastrophic. But this instance did make me wonder what the outcome would be if we insured our belongings as offered?

It also illustrates that bigger is not better. Now this reputable business charges their customers nearly 100% more than it did nine years ago. To my disappointment, its higher tariff did not translate into a better services thou! - Ayee