OVERHEARD AT THE OFFICE:

Earlier this week I overheard a colleague in all seriousness, comment on an event being “ironical”.

THE END IS NEAR:

Despite feeling the end of year crunch, 2008 has been a bright year for Hall Enterprises. It gives me hope.

Earlier this year we had a few set-backs with ice and flooding and twisters at World Headquarters, and we are wrapping up the Urn Garden advertising experiment using the blog as a marketing tool. No facebook or twitter. No time.

I’m excited about the possibilities that word press offers, I’m grateful to have a technical adviser that will bail me out if needed. Now, it’s just finding the precious time.

On average, it takes me a couple of hours to write a post. It’s getting better, and it helps when I’m organized. A work in progress. I’m still unsure about mixing business and personal posts, although the personal posts seem to get more comments. Really though, it’s about the families we serve and the adventure of selling the product that no one want to buy.

We’ve in the middle of relocating the warehouse, which was one of the goals of 2008. This was our sixth move in four years. I see one more in the future.

We hit the projected sales goal for 2008.

The business paid for the intern’s education.

I Hate Bank of America: Paid off!

We made some headway on a side project that will launch in 2009.

On a personal note, I did learn that not only should you not discuss politics at work, you shouldn’t comment in the comfort of your own home. Just recently, I’ve realized the toll that the election took on my marriage.

All summer I looked for rainbows and unicorns, and while I never actually saw one….I’m told they will appear. It might be a few years.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you good luck in 2009!

This might be the first Christmas that liquor did not touch these lips. However, it’s been non-stop cheese and sugar consumption in the garden. We’ll be back to regular programming after a quick detox.

Wishing you a bright and prosperous New Year.

Being buried with a cell phone is the second most requested item to be placed in a loved one’s casket, immediately after a request to be cremated with a pet’s ashes.

“We had a young man die this past summer and they put his cell phone in the casket for the viewing and it rang constantly,” says Frank Perman, of Frank R. Perman Funeral Home, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa. “It was turned to silent, but you could see the phone light up so you knew people were calling. And they were leaving messages.

THE NEW TAPS:

“Some people will call the deceased just as they’re lowering the coffin into the ground,” he says. “It’ll be prearranged and you’ll hear a faint ring.

Cell phones are the most popular, but I-Pods and Game Boys are also going to the grave.

Funeral professionals are only too happy to comply these days, as long as people don’t try to cremate gadgets along with anyone’s remains.

“You can’t cremate any kind of electronic device like a cell phone or hearing aid or pacemaker,the battery will explode. If a family wants the cell phone with a person who’s being cremated, I’ll put it in the urn afterwards.”

Continue reading….

*according to a survey of 100,000 people last year by the British charity Age Concern (sort of the AARP of England)

As Ed and I were having another cocktail, I asked James what he was looking at. “That Celebrate Life sticker, John John. You guys should do that.”

John Lee

This magnet inspires me.

The bright yellow flower, (again with the power of flowers) sprang from events of the turbulent 60′s, assassinations, war, and the worry of a son in the jungle, “My Dad had a bunch of flower stickers printed with the slogan “Celebrate Life” on them as a fund raiser for the Diocese, Anyhow, those stickers ended up in a whole bunch of places, not just on the back of automobiles.”

“A friend had a 1964 VW Convertible and we put stickers all over that bug.” said Jim Lee.

“When I first got the bus in 1992 or 1993 we started putting bumper stickers from places we’d been on the inside roof of the bus. It is pretty well full now. My Dad gave me the last ‘Celebrate Life sticker’ to put inside the bus, where it remains to this day.”

Last original CL sticker

Last July, when John Lee returned to the Ozarks for his mother’s memorial service, he spotted the sticker on Mom’s Last Bus Ride, and snapped the moment.

Later, as John’s nephew was scrolling through Jon’s blog, he spotted the Celebrate Life flower on the ceiling of the bus and suggested magnets instead of stickers. “Ed and I looked at each other…we printed them up in magnet form and I have been spending my spare time selling them to beach stores, churches, health food stores, outdoor outfitters, and basically any place else I can think of.”

Funeral homes could build a whole package around this theme and make a powerful statement tooling around town.

Contact John Lee for more information.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

Bob Lee, a decorated World War II veteran who fought in the great battle of Pismo Beach, Bob was in the newspaper and publishing business all his life. A prolific reader and thinker, Bob authored numerous books, articles and pamphlets. He was an editor and publisher for The Queen’s Work, a Jesuit publishing house and Ligouri Publications, a Redemptorist publishing house. He was the founding editor of The Mirror, the Catholic newspaper for the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Tip to longroof and busplunge

Or the air conditioner.

It’s the morning rush in the hood and the teenagers are getting it sideways on their way to school. Who am I to talk, I was on the downhill slide last night and skidded right past my turn.

At least I didn’t bite the curb.

Lead-foot moved his car only to reveal another spin out. One of the neighbors stepped out wearing her pink cowgirl pajamas and started snapping pix.

Today’s tip for better living: Ease Off the Gas

Years ago, there were a couple of Christmas’ that I had to craft gifts and it embarrassed me. I wasn’t proud of my work. Well, I’m over that and pleased to be shopping handmade whenever possible on the Etsy. I could be a poser and pretend that I stitched up this darling apron that even arrived gift-wrapped!

Or knit these hand warmers.

But my friends and family know that I’m too busy to bead up this cool copper eyeglass leash…

So, I’ll give credit and support these crafters, who came through with a quality product and speedy shipping.

Thank you and happy ho-ho!

This morning, I saw a familiar face, but the timing was off. I commented that he was later than usual and he smiled, “Not working today”. Then froze, “I lost my job Friday.” He looked like he was going to cry. Like he needed to say the words to convince himself.

There was no time to talk. Besides, what do you say? I silently gave thanks for the gifts that I’ve received. 2008 has been an encouraging year for Hall Enterprises and in April of 2009, we’ll celebrate our fifth year of leaving the corporate world and being a small business owner. It’s not the sexy world of advertising, but it works.

Even though the day to day is so unpredictable? For the first time in five years I have more clarity about the coming year. I enjoy selling the product NO ONE wants to buy.

That’s what I tell myself.

Let’s get real. Some days are better than others.

Last week I spilled coffee in my car twice and grabbed the deodorant instead of hairspray to set my style. If that’s a bad week, then I’m doing alright.*

We’re sending out good wishes to all of our associates that are on that journey of new beginnings. It can be so traumatic leaving a job. It’s taken me four years just to recover from the culture shock.

Etsy shop: Please Be Still

*Amended to include a chocolate milk spill that leaked into my keyboard.

Worst gift I ever received? A doormat from my step-mother-in-law. Delivered in a Wal-Mart sack.

Here’s my holiday gift-giving-don’t. Give an urn as a surprise Christmas gift. Bad idea.

The guy who bought the crystal urn pendant for his girlfriend. He called ahead to check the return policy in the event she was uncomfortable with his gift. She was.

Quartz Crystal Urn Jewelry

One well-meaning lady wanted to buy this urn for her daughter’s boyfriend who’d lost his mother the prior Christmas. She just knew he’d be thrilled to find the Purple Passion urn under the tree.

She was a difficult woman.

Both clients had their bad idea jeans on that day.

Please.  Call me if your significant other specifically requests an urn as a Christmas gift. It’s kind of a personal choice, don’t assume.

Merry Christmas!

Vintage Christmas pix via Square America.