Random Thoughts...Food, Firearms, and Fun

When I can’t sleep, I write. What I write usually upsets people, because it's brutally honest, and much like A Few Good Men , some people can't handle the truth. Recently, I've felt ambushed from some who used to be in power (and who are at least 30 years older than me) in a Masonic organization, because I wasn't giving them every detail of a fundraising activity (a bingo). I wasn't asking for help, because I had help from others, and I knew from past experience that the help I might receive would be lacking. I was duly summoned to a meeting, as was Mac. We were told it would be to discuss the future of the organization, and instead, it was to discuss fundraising. Now, as I thought it was to discuss the future of the organization, I didn't bring any of the fundraising stuff with me. When we started talking about it, because I was ambushed, and a little rusty on my Toastmasters Table Topics skills, I wasn't able to answer all of their questions...

They just about admitted it, since I bothered to point out that none of the newer employees have ever taken the time to introduce themselves, and since I admitted to my quirks... Wendy, I stand by my staff and I am very proud of the excellent customer service they provide to every guest that walks through our doors. I can only conclude from your emails that you are not happy at our store and no longer wish to continue as a guest. I will go ahead and cancel your October order. Respectfully, Dorothy Kolmer Manager dreamdinners.com Dream Dinners Lancaster P. 717-509-4530 F. 717-509-4531 lancasterpa@dreamdinners.com 1577 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 From: Wendy Lunko Sent: Sunday, October 2, 2016 10:23 AM To: Lancaster Dream Dinners Subject: Re: cancel my order   Dorothy, Sorry for not replying sooner, but as I explained, my schedule was crazy other than ...

I’ve been a Dream Dinners customer in Lancaster, PA for a few years, and have even blogged about my experiences. After last night, I may not be a customer much longer. I received a call yesterday afternoon, indicating that I was the only person in the 6:45 session, and asking if I could come in early. Calls like that are bad business practice. This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked to reschedule or arrive early, because I’m the only person in a session. The last time, I rearranged by schedule to arrive early, but it meant adding a lot of driving to my day. This time, I simply could not arrive early. Calls asking customers or guests to arrive early or reschedule are bad. Many of us opt for Dream Dinners because we’re very busy. Asking us to rearrange our schedule just adds additional stress, and part of what Dream Dinners offers is a reduction in stress. When I returned the call, I indicated that I would be there when I could be there. I also said that if it was easi...

When Mac was in the Marine Corps, I became friends with Barb. We met through an online Marine Corps wives/girlfriends group. She and I became close friends, even though we were several states apart. She helped me weather a lot of challenges, and we stayed in contact, even though we both stopped frequenting the group. Years ago, to help her son, she adopted a pup named Milo. She didn't know just how much Milo would help her son, and how much Milo would change their lives. Milo helped save her son's life one weekend, and from then on, they were extremely bonded. What Barb didn't realize was that where they lived had BSL. One day, she opened the door to police officers who told her that based on how he looked, Milo needed to go. If she failed to get rid of him, they would. Instead of surrendering him, Barb moved to another township, where she could keep Milo. To her, Milo was family, and she wouldn't abandon him. Since March, Milo had been having health problems, and...

Mac and I are both registered Republican, and for once, it looks like the Pennsylvania primary will matter. I'm still undecided about who will get my vote, because I'm not really happy with any of the candidates, Democrat or Republican. Last night, Donald Trump held a rally about half an hour from our house.Mac wanted to attend, so I agreed, figuring I'd keep an open mind, and at least listen to the rhetoric. The rally started at 7. By the time Mac got home and we ate dinner, we didn't arrive near the Farm Show Complex until 6:30. By that time, people were parking along the side roads. Every possible parking lot was being used, and people were being charged $10 to park in these lots. There were hundreds of people making their way to the complex and thousands in line at the complex. I decided I wasn't up for dealing with that many people, so Mac parked in front of the complex, hopped out, and I went off to enjoy a cup of coffee while he waited in line. The line t...

I've been very busy with school, Eastern Star, the dogs, and cooking dinners for Mac's Blue Lodge. I just realized that I never posted an update after Mauser passed. Losing Mauser was so incredibly difficult. He passed at home, on Saturday, October 3. I still cry over him sometimes. We swore we'd be a two dog house after Mauser, as Mauser was a last minute addition to save his life. Within two weeks, we'd both decided the house was too quiet, and decided that Mauser would send us a dog that he thought needed us, when he thought we were ready. At the beginning of November, by chance, I saw a posting for Jackson, a 9-year-old German Shepherd mix, surrendered to Staten Island AC&C due to allergies. Mauser had been named Jackson at the Manhattan AC&C, but didn't answer to it, which is why we named him Mauser. A few begging messages, and this Jackson became ours too. I picked him up in Matamoras, PA, while Mac was in Idaho, hunting. He didn't want to an...

It seems that when one is in direct sales, one has a lot of friends in direct sales. A friend is a consultant for PawTree dog products, so I figured I'd try it. The dogs loved the PawTree beef liver treats, so I thought I'd see how they enjoyed the food. After looking at all of the choices, I selected the X-Large read Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe. It says that it is for all breed sizes, so I figured it would be good for my three large-breed kibblers. When I ordered the X-Large Real Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe, I expected to receive one bag. My order was delayed, and I never received an update to it until I reached out to my consultant. I finally received a tracking number, with a note that they were going to be out of the office for the weekend, and not much of an apology for the delay. When my package arrived, it wasn't one large bag, it was three smaller bags. It also included a form letter saying, "Our label printer wasn't working, so we couldn't print ...

Mauser joined our family at the age of 10, after being found tied to a fence at the corner of Jackson and Grand Streets in Manhattan. At New York Animal Care and Control, he developed kennel cough, and he was scheduled to be euthanized. A volunteer described him as “He is a little opinionated, like barking back when I put him back in his kennel. His upset is short lived though and soon enough, he is kissing me through the bars…Or, when I first pointed my camera at him, he protested than got used to it. He is like my old grandpa but a spunky version of him.” An urgent plea on Facebook found its way to us, and an hour before he was to be killed, we reserved him. His adoption built and strengthened friendships and bonds, before he even left the shelter. He came home from Manhattan on September 20, 2014, and immediately found his place in our pack. He lived his life with us showing his spunky side. Once he felt better, his spunkiness really manifested itself, as did his...

For the last few weeks, Mauser hasn't been doing well. He's had an intestinal bacterial infection that the vet likened to colic in babies. His arthritis has been getting worse, and on Monday, his front legs gave out, and he fell down the outside steps. He's 11, and for a few days, I wasn't sure he'd give me my wish: to give us at least one good year. But, he rallied late during the week of his adoption day (September 20), and until this last Monday afternoon, it seemed like he might give us far more than a year. Watching him is more than tough. I cry before work, I cry at night before bed, I tell him goodbye and that I love him every time I leave or go to bed. I knew when we adopted a 10-year old dog with arthritis that it would be tough at some point. I just didn't think it would be this tough. He had been eating chicken and pasta three times a day, and was still spunky enough to spit out the pasta when he only wanted chicken. So, we fed him what he...

I hope Michael Vick is worth it to the Pittsburgh Steelers, I really do. Signing him has upset a lot of fans, a lot of rescues, and has a lot of people trying to justify how he's "turned his life around," or "done his time." I've been a lifelong Steelers fan. I'm 37, and some of my earliest memories are watching games with my father and going to training camp every year, as a Daddy-Daughter day. I remember the One for the Thumb t-shirt that was huge on me, as a child, but that I proudly wore. Steelers football days were Daddy-Daughter days, and the Steelers were always something that my father and I could discuss, a tie to bind even as I was looking to find my own way. One year, on Christmas Eve, when I was maybe 8, my father slipped on ice and broke his leg. A few days later, I remember watching a Steelers game with him sitting in his recliner, me on the couch. They started showing a replay of the Immaculate Reception, and as Franco Harris somehow fou...

I've posted before about my sinus issues, and after fighting a sinus infection for February and March, my primary care doctor suggested I see an ENT. I've seen several ENTs, and only one of them suggested surgery. The others said that surgery probably wouldn't help. They suggested allergy tests, I've had those, they don't show anything that would really minimize sinus infections if treated with shots. Off I went to the ENT this morning, anticipating being told that I needed to have a CT scan, being told to use Flonase or something similar, etc. Instead, I was told that the sinus pain may be from TMJ, or from septal spurs, or a combination of both. I have nasal spray to use when I have a sinus headache, to see if the spurs are the cause, and I'm to use a night guard and take muscle relaxants for a week to see if that helps. I'm intrigued, and am hoping this solves it. Now, I don't think it'll solve the sinus infections, but if it helps with the pa...

Wow, it's been ages since I took time to write! I started a new job a few months ago. It's at another engineering firm, but it's only a few minutes from Mac's job, so that will be nice when we find a new house. It has changed where we are house-hunting a bit. I'm still selling Pampered Chef on the side, and if anyone wants to place an order for anything, I have a fundraiser for Mended Hearts Rescue right now. The link for that is: http://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/wendylunko/guest-landing/8908395822235;jsessionid=C5723B2FD4543152EE0CE5B6A7DEA0BB Mauser is getting along quite nicely with the rest of the pack. Geno gets very possessive of me, but it's usually more that he'll insist on pushing his way in and climbing onto me if Mauser is nearby. Mauser has a good amount of energy for a 10-year-old dog, although in the past few days, it's been obvious that his arthritis is acting up, as he's not wanted to do much but hold down the furniture. He's comf...

This post brought to you by Kapotas Designs . The content and opinions expressed below are that of Random Thoughts. I'm always looking for new wallets, probably because I overfill mine with cards I rarely use, and then complain when they fall apart in a few months. Seriously, how many times have I used my California Tortilla loyalty card? The closest location is 40 minutes away, and if you forget your card, they can look up your account by phone number. Most days, I only ever need my debit card, my driver's license, and my concealed carry permit, if all of those. On a good day, I have a few dollars in cash too. This is where Kapotas Designs and their leather, minimalist wallet enters the picture. Handmade, minimalist wallets that attach to the back of a cell phone, or really, any flat surface you'd like. They attach via micro-suction backs, and you can remove/reapply many times, without damage. Get a new phone? Peel it off and stick it to your new phone! Did I menti...

This post brought to you by Art Gallery . The content and opinions expressed below are that of Random Thoughts. I'm always looking for new art, so that when we move, I have an idea of how to decorate. I love looking at the Amour d'Art Fine Art Gallery images on their website--I'm already formulating decorating ideas, and we don't have a new house yet! We've looked at a few homes with sunrooms, and while it's not a must, I'd love to have sunroom, especially during the winter, so I can curl up there on weekends to read and relax. I love the James Coleman Art collection they have. I would love some of the Tropical Series images, especially if we have a sunroom at the new house! I also quite enjoy the Artist Sam Park and the work Amour d'Art has. Those images really transport you to the location. Depending on the style of the house, these might tie in really well too! Decisions, decisions! If landscapes aren't your thing, then consider Pino Art...

Since I'm trying new things this year, I figured I'd participate in the 52 Snapshots of Life project at The Lazy Pit Bull . Every week has a different theme, and you post a photo of that week's theme. This week's theme is "new." My photo for this week isn't a "new" photo, but since Mauser is "new" in our lives, I figured this is his chance to shine! The photo is his "adoption" photo--we'd just walked him outside of the NY AC&C Manhattan shelter.  

I received Alpo Wholesome Biscuits to Review in order to write this post. I am not being compensated in any other form for helping spread the word about the new Alpo Wholesome Dog Biscuits. Alpo / Purina  is not responsible for the content of this article. I was afforded this opportunity because I am part of the BlogPaws Professional Blogger Network. The Alpo dog biscuits were provided by Nestlé Purina. Random Thoughts only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. The opinions in this post are my own. I love finding new treats for my dogs, and as Generalissimo Geno seems to love hard, crunchy biscuits, I was very interested in the Alpo Wholesome Biscuits! Nestle Purina just introduced the new Alpo Wholesome Biscuits for dogs, and they are now available in grocery stores. They are affordable, and you can buy them when you pick up your groceries. They come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. I received the large biscuits, in a 24 oz. package, because my...

Yes, you read that correctly... I'm now unemployed, as of Tuesday. That said, I'm now working on writing a book, and have launched a kickstarter campaign to cover publishing costs. If you want to donate, here's the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/287148108/wendy-writes-a-book. I've been wanting to write a book for years, and so I'm taking this as a reason to do so! That said, if you have any leads for marketing, corporate communications, or proposal preparation, feel free to let me know!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Art Gallery . All opinions are 100% mine. I love The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery 's motto: "Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!" I enjoy some art, but some of the "great" art just doesn't thrill me! I also don't like art galleries that insist on only one type of art, or try to belittle me. I'm not an art history major, nor is art my "thing." That said, I know what I like when I see it. This is why, "Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!" is perfect for me! It's what I do now! It's how I shop for art now. If you happen to find yourself in California, and you are looking to buy art, why not check out The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery Sale ? If you aren't in California, why not browse their site? They offer free shipping with a minimum purchase. If you've never seen a Pino Daeni colle...

In exchange for my post, I will receive a CoolFit™ Foam Contour Pillow.   Thanks to Smiley360 , I was given the opportunity to try out the Sleep Number Sleep IQ technology, and in exchange for writing a blog post about it, I'll receive a CoolFit Foam Contour pillow. To try out the technology, one must go to a Sleep Number store. Mac and I checked out Sleep Number a while back, but we decided to postpone buying a new mattress until we move, because we'd like to upgrade to a king-size bed. We currently have a queen-size bed, and with three dogs, and our bedroom doesn't have quite enough room for a king-size bed, plus two nightstands. I've been intrigued by the "DualAir" technology, and the concept of selecting a mattress's firmness based on what I want that night, and how I feel. I'm also curious about how I actually sleep, and if I'm getting restful sleep. This Sleep IQ technology claims to provide answers to if one is getting restful sleep or...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Oregon Beach Vacation Rentals . All opinions are 100% mine. Looking to take a break from work and spend some time relaxing at the beach? Why not spend some time along Oregon's gorgeous coast? Consider Lincoln City! If you're like me, when you go to the beach, you want more than a hotel room. I like being able to cook meals and have some space in which to relax. This is where Oregon vacation beach rentals by A1 Beach Rentals enters the picture. They have some amazing deals for the fall. If you book 2 nights, you get a 3rd night for free in November. This also applies to weekdays during October. That's like saving 1/3 on the cost of your lodging! Who doesn't like saving money? It's not too late to book one last vacation for 2014, and you can take advantage of some great rates and deals, while enjoying a gorgeous fall season along the Oregon coast! Check it out! beach vacation rentals oregon oregon beach...