Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 21, 2023
No Comments on Customer Service Problems

Customer Service Is A Nightmare

I have purchased many items over the years, and I wouldn’t say I like it when I cannot talk to a human being. Sometimes you do not know how to explain your issue to an online automated being. If you do not know how to explain what you want to be resolved, and they keep asking you the same question repeatedly, you get nowhere quickly. I keep asking to talk to a human being, and eventually, they give up, and then I have to wait on hold for an hour or more, and sometimes I am disconnected. I am livid, and the next person gets a piece of my mind. I tell them I have been calling and holding for over an hour now and want a resolution ASAP. I don’t give up easily and will contact them all day until they resolve my problem.

You Didn’t Get What You Ordered

I like dealing with companies with online protection to protect you from dealing with dishonest salespeople on the internet, as buyer protection is critical. I ordered what was shown as giant metal statues to scare away birds and critters from your garden, and they were only 8 inches high when they came. I got my money back with buyer protection. I ordered items with missing parts, and the company replaced the parts after I took pictures of the package in the shipping box. I ordered a lamp one time that was broken when I unpacked it, and I received a full refund after I sent them pictures of the broken glass shade. Take pictures and keep all of your receipts if there are any warranty issues down the road.

After Market Insurance

I have never had luck with any after-market insurance I purchased for a product except once. I purchased insurance for my HP printer through Best Buy, and they handed me a brand-new printer one day before my warranty was up. I bought car insurance for breakdowns once, and they would not live up to their warranty no matter what I said or did. A mechanic friend said never to buy car breakdown insurance as they never pay out what they say they will, no matter where you purchase them.

Mistakes Can Be Made At The Time Of Purchase

Ensure every purchase detail is in writing, or there will be problems later. It is always your word against their word if it is not in writing, and once you sign on the dotted line, the odds are in their favor. Put down the item’s color, size, shape, warranty length, the year it was made, and much more, depending on your purchase. You would not want to be driving a pink truck home for your husband. One party ordered a blue car and ended up with a white car because the car’s color was not in the contract, and they sold the blue car to another customer. Get every little detail in writing no matter what the salesperson tells you because word of mouth does not stand up in a court of law. Be a savvy customer.

Tags Customer service issues, tips

Take Pride In What You Do

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 17, 2023
No Comments on Take Pride In What You Do

Pride In Your Work

If your work does not represent your best effort, you do not take pride in your work. If you paint a house, scrape off all the old paint, put on a primer, and then paint it with a brush for better adhesion. A carpenter’s work should show that he takes pride in his work as it will be here for many years to look at, and people will ask who did the excellent or bad carpentry project for you. If you bake wedding cakes, they better look fantastic if you want repeat customers and good reviews about your nicely decorated and great-tasting wedding cakes. Famous painters capture the accurate and exact image of the person they are doing the portrait. A person that takes pride in their work is thoughtful, trustworthy, and takes time to spot the little details that add that extra flare to the finished work.

Treat People With The Utmost Respect

People want to be treated like they want to be treated. Do not give one friend an extra expensive gift and the others a gift that would not even add up to your standards of what a gift should be. One time I received what would have been a gag gift for someone. I did not appreciate receiving it, so I burned it in a burning container. I thanked them for the gift, and later on, it got to the burning container. Pride stands for what kind of gift you give to someone. If you do not like a gift that you receive, do not re-gift it, as the next person will not like it either. Take pride in all things, great and small.

Don’t Forget The Important Details

If you give someone flowers, ensure they are in a nice container or vase. If you mow someone’s lawn, try to cut the grass the way you would if you lived there. Take pride in how you trim bushes. Walk around the bush trimming the areas that do not match up until your bush looks perfect from all directions. If you have a candlelight dinner and forget to light the candles, you have ruined the atmosphere for a romantic evening. Small details forgotten can ruin the sale of a home or sealing a business deal and much more.

God Watches How You Take Pride In The Many Areas Of Your Life

God sees how you treat and act around others. God sees you when you are helpful or if you are rude. God watches us at work, and he can see if you are doing a job to the best of your ability or if you are trying to get by with a bad work ethic or an, I don’t care attitude. Think how bad your life would be if God felt I didn’t want to listen to you today as I have better things to do with my time. God takes pride in us, and we should take pride in how we represent ourselves to God and man in all areas of our life. Thank you, God, for the many blessing you have bestowed on me.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Difficult Cats

How to Find a Good New Home for Your Cat or Kittens

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 14, 2023
No Comments on How to Find a Good New Home for Your Cat or Kittens

If you are moving or your cat has kittens you cannot keep, finding a good and loving home for them is essential. I have put an ad under giveaways in my local newspaper. I mentioned that my Facebook page had kittens that needed a good home.

When the party comes to look at my cat or kittens, I must find a new home; I ask them if they have ever had a cat. If they say yes, I know they know something about caring for a cat. I watch my cats react to them while they are holding him. If my cat or kitten growls or hisses at them, I do not feel comfortable giving them my cat. I let my cat judge who they want to live with. If your cat feels uncomfortable with the party that has come to look at them, you better feel uncomfortable with them. Cats are excellent judges of character.

For all of the cats or kittens I have had to find a new home for, I call the party that has adopted them and ask how they are getting along. One woman told me she liked her cat so much that she had adopted it from me that she also had to get another cat. I also ask the people that have adopted my cat to send pictures of my cat to me, and then I can see how well my cat is coming along in his new home.

When you have to find a new home for your cat or kitten, let the newly adopted pet parent know what your cat likes to eat and what their favorite brand of cat litter is. I have also sent some cat food and litter home with my new pet parent. Tell your new pet parent to call you with any questions or concerns that they may have about their new cat. I also give them a copy of my cat’s vet records.

I hope you can find a kind and loving home for your cat if you have to move or can no longer keep your beloved cat for some reason.

Tags cats, Kittens

Chocolate

Brownies

All of us love a delicious chewy, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth brownie. We love them with extra chocolate chips and a little powdered sugar on top. I like the ones that have chocolate frosting on top. The other day, I had an excellent brownie covered with vanilla ice cream and whip cream and drizzled with chocolate. I loved the store-bought brownies wrapped up in a little package years ago. A friend of mine makes mouth-watering brownies that her Grandchildren eat in short order. Brownies are good comfort food.

Hot Chocolate

I like the drinking chocolate that they had in Europe. It was very nice and thick and flavored with amaretto or almond flavoring. The hot drinking chocolate was so delicious that I ordered one right after I had finished one. I ordered another one on another trip that I took to England. I have made my version of this by melting candy bars and milk in my microwave oven. I like ordinary hot chocolate also if it is not watered down and almost tasteless.

Candy Bars

European and Swiss Chocolate Are The Best

Once you have eaten a European candy bar, you also do not like the American ones. I like dark chocolate the best now as it has a more potent chocolate taste and more antioxidants in it. I do like the Ghirardelli brand, which is made in San Francisco. After going to Europe, I like the quality candy bars, which taste better. Once in a while, I will order some on the Internet from a British Store. I like the ones with a little tinge of Brandy in them for the holidays. When eating chocolate rabbits, the ears go first, the middle, and the tail. Buy a quality candy bar, and you will immediately taste the difference. Treat yourself to a decadent chocolate candy bar today.

Chocolate Chip Or Chocolate Cookies

I have found two places that make lovely chocolate cookies with vast pieces of melted chocolate. The cookie is large enough for at least two servings. One place is the coffee house – Rustic Brew in Hampton, Iowa. The other place is a gas station in Northwood, Iowa which is Godfathers. Sometimes the gas station on HWY 65 in Northwood, Iowa, has them.

Chocolate Cake

I like a layered chocolate cake with lots of dark chocolate frosting on top of it. I love a moist cake that melts in your mouth. Years ago, I had one chocolate cake baked too long in the oven, which was as dry as toast. The best piece of chocolate cake I have ever eaten was from Markley and Blythe, the restaurant in the Frank Lloyd right hotel in Mason City, Iowa.

Chocolate Ice Cream

I love a dish or cone of dark chocolate ice cream. I love The Creamery ice cream in the old Brick and Tile Bldg. in Mason City, Iowa. Birdsall’s ice cream is always a winner, which is also in Mason City, Iowa. Holy Apples are in an old church in Clear Lake, Iowa, which is lovely as they make their ice cream themselves.

Tags brownies, cake, Candy, chocolate, death by chocolate, ice cream

How To Run A Business Right

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 7, 2023
No Comments on How To Run A Business Right

How Not to Run Your Business

Do not be a pushy or overbearing salesperson. Do not follow someone around in your store like they will steal something. I had a woman follow me in a clothing store, and I let her follow me right out of her business. Do not be a car salesperson telling someone they have to make up their mind ASAP as there is someone else interested in the car you are looking at. Stand behind what you sell 100% of the time. Never argue with the customer that they ruined the product from everyday use. My parents purchased a can opener, and the owner told them they abused it and he would not give them a new can opener. Do not try to sell someone something you know they will not be happy with.Do not waste the customers time and wait on him on a timely manner. Never be nasty to people in your store. If someone is making a ruckus, ask them to leave polity or call the police for assistance. Never accuse someone of stealing until they are outside your store with the merchandise.

Closing A Sale

After the customer has tried on a dress and walked around, ask them if you could wrap it up for them. You could mention accessories that they may want to go along with it. If the party looks good in the outfit, tell them it looks lovely on them. Call back a customer that has looked at a car and ask them if they would like to make an offer on it or if they would like one in a different color or style. When selling your home, have it as clean and neat as possible and have all your pets out of it at the time of the showing. Make sure your yard is mowed and everything is all trimmed up. Curb appeal helps sell your home. When selling a TV, find out what size or features they may want and explain the options, then try to wrap up the sale.

Friendly Employees Or Owners

I like it when the people that I hire become my friends. I consider the people that I conduct my business with my friends. I have become friends with restaurant owners, carpenters, bankers, renters, mechanics, store owners, and many more. I leave if a store owner does not address me while I am in their store. Visit with your customers and get to know them. Do your best job, and you will have repeat business. Smile and go the extra mile for people.

Service After The Sale

I like it when a car salesperson calls me and asks if I need any help with some of the various features of my new vehicle. One mechanic years ago said here is the wrench. Fix the car yourself. I never went there again. If something breaks shortly after purchasing it, I want a company to fix it ASAP. If you offer service after the sale, word of mouth will bring you many customers. Keep your customers happy no matter what it takes within reason.

Tags business, management skills, skills

Knowledge

How Do You Use Your Knowledge?

I hope you use your knowledge to help others. If you are knowledgeable in a particular area and do not share your knowledge with others, that wastes your time and their time. You cannot take your knowledge to the grave, which wastes your life on Earth. God shared his expertise with us; we must share our knowledge with future generations. If our parents did not teach us, we would never grow and learn new things. Never use your knowledge to hurt someone or to put them down. No one knows everything except for God, our creator. Share your knowledge with others freely, and remember that you will not live forever. One older gentleman I knew took his knowledge to the grave, where it remains buried and does not help anyone.

General Knowledge

Most of us have graduated from High School. We have a general knowledge of what we must know to survive in today’s World. A college education will make life much better and more accessible than just a High School education. College graduates are paid more than those that have not furthered their education. A master’s degree is almost a must anymore if you want a high-paying job that has room for advancement. The more years of college you have, the higher your pay will be, and you can do more for humanity’s progress in this modern world of electronics.

Never Hide Your Light Under A Buschel Basket

If you know something, speak up and let others know. Never keep quiet when you know someone is doing something wrong and are right there to see it go down. Tell them that is not how someone should act. I used to appt. myself as classroom monitor when the teacher stepped out of the room. I wouldn’t say I like it when anyone wastes time when they could be learning something valuable. I would tell my classmates they would be in big trouble if they kept on with their shenanigans. The teacher would punish them when she came back in the room, and I got to leave school early that day as my teacher heard me tell them to behave. Let your light or knowledge shine through every day that you are here on Earth. Help others joyfully and willingly.

Gods Knowledge

God knows how we spend every single second of our days on Earth. I want to make God proud and be productive and helpful. God’s knowledge is so vast that we cannot vast his incredible knowledge. God is our guide and compass in this World. If we follow God’s lead, we are destined to do great things with our life that will help humankind for many years to come. God knows what we need daily and tries to put the right people or connections in our lives to make it happen. God knows my every thought and prayer, and his constant care and love surround me.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Cats That Followed Me Everywhere

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 31, 2023
No Comments on Cats That Followed Me Everywhere

My First Cat Flossie

My grandfather found her in our field as a very young kitten. Flossie had a section of the barn that was all of her own. Flossie drank milk, and she ate mice and table scraps. Flossie would follow me when I swang on the swing set by our house and when I visited my grandparents next door. As I got older, she would follow me into the farm buildings. As Flossie got older, she had kittens that I loved and played with.

Blacknose And Siblings

Blacknose was one of her first kittens. She was a dark-colored calico cat I held on my trike when I would pettel up and down our sidewalk. She also had Sprite, Snitzel, Hoover, and more kittens later. Sprite was a friendly red tabby. I held her and petted her a lot. A dark-colored red tabby Hoover got held like any young child has a cat with his back legs dangling down, but he put up with the antics of a young child. Snitzel was a bi-colored red and white cat. Snitzel put up with a lot from me. I would dress him in doll clothes, and he would sleep in a shoebox until he wanted back outdoors, and I removed the doll dress from him.

Fresca

She was a Maine Coon cat that my cousin gave me. She lived to be fifteen years old. I loved Fresca as she was a well-manned long-haired cat. She never had any kittens that looked like her. She followed me around the farm. Many years later, a cat on my farm had a kitten that looked identical to her, and his name was Cool Cat, and I gave him to my cousin. He lived to be fifteen also. When Fresca was about ten, she blew her coat. Her coat just pretty much fell off of her, and there was a new short coat below the one she lost. I found out later on that it is very common for that cat breed to blow their coat.

Bandit

He was a male Himalayan cat that fathered some of our cats years ago. Some of his kittens looked like chocolate point Siamese cats. Our cats were then domestic short- hair and Himalayan. Bandit was a good cat, and he taught our dog never to chase another cat in her lifetime.

Honey

I adopted Honey from an older couple, and she had several kittens that were very loving, and they were domestic shot-hair and Himalayan. A Himalayan cat is part Siamese and part Persian. Honey lived with us for about five years, and then an older couple moved into our area. One day, I noticed her at their home, and she decided to live with them. When the couple moved, Honey moved with them. I was happy that she found an indoor house with an old couple that she taught needed her more than I did.

My Indoor Cats

All of my indoor cats are good at keeping tabs on me. They are there for me when I need them, and I am there for them when they need me. If I am sick, they are by my side to comfort and nurse me back to health in the best ways possible, and I do the same for them. God bless our loving and caring companions, feline friends.

Be Grateful For What You Have

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 28, 2023
No Comments on Be Grateful For What You Have

Accomplish Your Goals

Be grateful for what you have in life. If you want something, step up to the plate and work hard to accomplish your goals in life. Do not be jealous of other people’s accomplishments. All of us are in different places in our lives, and therefore our needs and wants may differ from yours.

Your Health Is Your Wealth

Be grateful for your health, as it can change in a heartbeat. If you are going through rough times, remember it may not be anything compared to what someone else may be going through. We sometimes think, why me? But remember, it can happen to anyone at any time or place.

Helpful People

Be grateful for people who help you overcome the hurdles in your life. Without those people, you would not be where you are today. Please do not concentrate on yourself; always reach out to others and lift them to new heights.

You Are Fortunate

Be grateful that you have a roof over your head, for many people do not. Be thankful for wonderful friends and family in your life. Be thankful you have food today because many people are starving. Be glad you have a warm winter coat, as many people do not. Give to charities that help homeless people and people that need a hand to uplift them.

Do Not Live Someone Else’s Dream

Never chase someone else’s goals; they are not your goals, and you will never find happiness. Create your plans, and then you can excel in life. Be true to yourself, and don’t pretend to be someone you are not. You will be grateful that you are your person, and your hard work will reflect on you and others.

God’s Blessings In Life

I am grateful for my friends and family in my life. My friends have stood by my side through thick and thin, and I have become better for having them bless my life. Be grateful every day that you have God by your side. God is your compass in life, and he knows all of your needs and wants. God leads you on the road to eternal life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Be grateful for God’s blessings in your life every day.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Picking Out People To Hire

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 24, 2023
No Comments on Picking Out People To Hire

I Visit With People They Have Worked For

I ask my neighbors and other people they have hired to work for them. I can find out if they did quality work, cleaned up their mess, came to work on time, if they goof on on the job, and how committed they are to their job. It pays to talk to other people before you hire someone. I asked about a roofer I was considering, and they told me he pounded large nails right through their open-beam ceiling. They had to have a lot of sheet rock done inside of their home, along with a new roof again. What should have been an easy job became a very complex job. I once had an electrician terrified of wiring, and he cut around each light fixture. He also cut a large hole in the wall for each new plugin. I had a lot of plaster to patch up after he got done. He was an older electrician but was not good at his chosen profession. He came highly recommended. He did not have to do new outlets or light fixtures for them. A worker can never have too many references. Keep good workers as they are very hard to find.

Watch Them While They Work Now And Then

After watching them cut down my neighbor’s trees, I hired people to cut down trees for me. I noticed they cleaned up their mess, swept off the sidewalks, and much more. By watching a roofer, you can see how many nails he puts in each shingle or if he lays down an extensive section without nailing it. Watch a painter at work. A painter should ensure a clean surface before applying new paint, or it will come loose quickly as it will not adhere to the surface.

Listen To Their Language

I do not like to hire and hear workers cussing and cursing while working inside my home. I have had workers say the F word right to my face. If they talk like that to me, they can work someplace else. If they want to say awful words say them while they are alone. Foul language generally lets you know they will not do quality work for you.

Car Repair Shops

One of my friends told me about a wonderful place to take your vehicles to get serviced. I have a trusted mechanic that will not sell me a part that I do not need. All the workers are very polite and friendly. I get waited on quickly; I do not have to sit around and wait for hours to get in.

Health Care Providers And More

We all want a trusted Doctor, Lawyer, or Accountant to help us when we need them the most. When you are very sick, you need a Doctor to figure out your problem quickly and efficiently, as it could be a matter of life or death. If someone files false allegations against you, your lawyer has to be able to take care of it correctly and quickly. We depend on our accountants to do our taxes correctly. We need excellent nurses that will bring us back to health while in the hospital. Check their references before you pick the wrong one and have no one to turn to for help when you are down and out.

Tags employee's, tips, workers

Where Do We Go From Here?

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 21, 2023
No Comments on Where Do We Go From Here?

Working And Retirement

When I work at a job, I do my best possible work. If I complete my task early, I move on to the next task. I never sit down and have a break until it is break time. I do not like people that sit and play games on their computer on the company’s time as that is not clever. You are robbing the company and the people that come into it as they have to raise their prices because you have not completed your daily task. If one person does not do their work, it lands on everyone that comes through the doors of that business in sum way or the other. In my retirement years, I want to take in as much as possible and relax, enjoy nature, travel, and go to new places. Keep busy in retirement and do not dwell on what could have been, as that is a total waste of time and energy that could have had positivity. Spend time with your loved ones and your family, and maybe go on a vacation together. Enjoy your golden years to the best of your ability, and always think of what you can do instead of what you cannot do. Stay positive for a long and rewarding life. You empower your life and never let an illness empower you. Thank God every day for your many blessings.

Traveling

Sometimes unplanned day trips can be the most fun as you do not have a schedule, and you can do and see what you want. I’m not too fond of trips that have the whole day planned. I like trips with at least 2 hours daily to do your own thing. Traveling can be tiring if you move to a new hotel every other night. I find trips very relaxing if I can explore and enjoy the town over three days without moving to a new location. If you have an excellent tour guide which I have most of the time, you will be able to see most of the highlights of each town or village you stop at. I love to try new foods and visit with the local people, and go shopping. I love concerts, historical places, museums, living history, and more. I started traveling in the USA and then decided to travel overseas. I quickly learned to pack a light suitcase and never regretted it. I loved learning the history of each place that I traveled to. I also loved that my ancestors had walked over those streets in the 1600s. My goal was to go to every country my ancestors had come from and see the area they had come from. I got to see the farm that my Great Grandfather had lived on before he came to America, and I also visited and had a delicious meal that my relatives had prepared for us upon our arrival. I loved staying at a small Swiss village in Giswil. The small village was like I had stepped back in time. I could hear the cows clanking their bells in the morning, and I loved their small, well-kept church. Keep traveling and enjoying life to its fullest potential. Remember the song: Ain’t nothing going to break my stride. I have to keep on moving now.

Tags nature, retirement, Travel, work ethics