A Year

The Archway to the West

It has been a year since my last post and a lot has happened. New job, two new places to live and of course, a new city.

Let me start with the positive. Hager Companies is a fantastic company to work for. I had a very good distributor / manufacturer relationship for many years but sometimes going to work for said manufacturer becomes a disappointment. So happy that the positive experience, being an employee with Hager, continues. My boss, his boss and the Hager family are truly fantastic. Reasons why will become apparent as I relay the less that positive experiences that have happened since I moved.  I am having fun educating my co-workers and especially our sales representatives on why social media matters and how it can help spread brand recognition.  More importantly how we can use Social Media to educate others out the life and fire safety aspects of our industry.  A few reps have even signed up with Twitter! My first year review is coming up next month so I hope Hager Co. experience with me has been equally affirmative.

When I was considering moving to St. Louis I wanted to try a more urban living experience.  I rented the 2nd floor of a duplex that had just been renovated. The house was over 100 years old. Unfortunately it was site unseen through Craig's List. That was my first mistake - not negotiating for temporary housing.

The landlord promised the key would be under the flower pot. It wasn't. Visions of a scam swam in my head but thankfully that was not the case. After a phone call the landlord delivered the key in about 20 mins. We were two very hot and exhausted adults along with the two stressed out dogs. We couldn't wait to get into a cool apartment, take a shower and eat. That didn't happen either. The landlord did not turn the a/c on ahead of time

After a two day drive with 2 dogs, a packed car and a very dear friend who volunteered to help me with the trip we arrived in STL around 3 pm.even though I had transferred the electricity to my name that day and asked him too.  After hauling everything that had been packed in the car upstairs and making a Target run my friend decided to take a shower. I had brought towels so all was good. Until I hear her yelling asking if the water heater was gas or electric. She wasn't getting any hot water. Another call to the landlord. He never had the gas turned on and he forgot to mention they never showed up for the appointment I had scheduled to have the gas transferred into my name. Ok so no hot water. Oh and no hot food either because the range was gas.  Hmmm this wasn't a good start.

We arrived in St. Louis on a Saturday and my friend stayed until Tuesday. We had no furniture, except for the two inflatable beds I had
packed in the car, as the

Our "TV"

moving company wasn't scheduled to arrive until later in the week. Another trip to Target to buy two lawn chairs, to be used temporarily inside. Two dogs, two adults and two non-folding lawn chairs in a Jeep Liberty. Have I mentioned my friend was (and is) such a trooper!

The gas company finally showed up late Monday evening, after tweeting them my situation. The gas company technician had a few issues so though he turned the gas on I wasn't left with a very secure feeling it wouldn't blow up.  I had never used gas before and I can say now, I am still not a fan. Hot showers was a yay! The burners on the range worked but the oven...not so much. It was an old range and I would have to light the pilot if I wanted to use the oven. That wasn't happening so no oven.

My friend left - and I was in St. Louis, by myself, with two very confused and freaked out dogs. I couldn't leave them in the apartment by themselves without them trying to tear down the door. I was scheduled to start work the following Monday, July 29th so I really needed my belongings to be delivered by the moving company to start getting settled. Unfortunately they were delayed and it was Saturday before I was able to start unpacking and getting a home organized.

Once I had "my stuff" and I started the new job life started to get settled. Sure it was annoying to have to walk down two flights of stairs to do laundry in the basement and find a place to park on the street, but that was all part of the urban experience. And so what if I could see the 1st floor apartment through some not great wood floor workmanship. After all the landlords were still working on the first floor and assured me once they put the insulation and ceiling in I wouldn't be feeling all that heat..and cold it turned out.

 Next up - Fall and Winter in St. Louis

Moving to the Gateway

I have been slowly spreading the word that I will be moving from Tampa to St. Louis mid-July to start an exciting new job with Hager Companies. I am lucky enough to have been offered a job that merges my knowledge of the door and hardware industry with my passion for social media. 

I have been selling Hager products for the entire 20 years I have been in the industry. It started with hinges and as Hager branched out to locks and closers, I did too. I found that both the locks and closers were great products, at a reasonable cost and with lifetime warranties.  That beat any other product that I could offer. My customers have been satisfied with Hager products.  And by satisfied I mean I never have any complaints about the products! I feel I have grabbed the brass ring to have this opportunity to be a part of the Hager Team!

As excited as I am about my new opportunity I am sad to leave my home for the last 17 years and most especially the friends that I have made here. I have been blessed to have lived in an amazing neighborhood called Seminole Heights and have never experienced anything like it. People care in this community. People share in this community. I will miss the many yappy hours, yoga parties and game days. I will miss the sore muscles that come with constant belly laughs when we gather together. I will miss my new Relay For Life crew members that I have had the joy of working with over the past 9 months.

I know the friendships will survive the new distance and we will become familiar with Skype and Facetime.  I also know I will be back to visit though I am sad the dogs probably won’t see their girls, Trixie and Carsen, again.

In the meantime I am working on downsizing my belongings. That alone might be an entire blog post!  The house currently has a contract on it. Again, amazingly blessed that neighbors were ready to upsize with their growing family and thought my house, with its big backyard, would be perfect. 

The only less than bright spot has been trying to find housing in St. Louis.  I think I have it settled now.  If this is “the place” I can’t wait to share it with you!  Waiting for a lease to be emailed to me so I can sign and send a deposit!

July 12^th is my last day with a-fabco and I roll out of Tampa on July 19^th. 

A Letter to Tampa's City Council

February 11, 2012

Dear Council,

As a salesperson in the building industry my job is to provide great service and product to my customers at the best price.  This typically means that I send out request for quotations to at least three and sometimes four different vendors. 

I understand the council is considering a multiyear rate plan increase of the residential garbage rates without providing the most basic provisions of customer service – getting pricing from multi contractors in order to procure the best price.  As a resident of The City of Tampa I am your customer and I expect you to provide the same excellent customer service that I provide to my customers.

The county trash rates are significantly less than the rates of Tampa which makes no sense to me.  It doesn’t seem that the new blue cans and new garbage trucks have saved the residents of Tampa any monies if the solid waste department is running in such dire financial burdens.  

Many of the residents of Tampa in one way or another is connected with the building industry and the downturn in economy has been difficult to say the least.  It might not seem like an additional $10.00 a month would put a financial burden on the residents but speaking for myself – that $120.00 add per year - does. My salary barely covers the basics provisions of food, gas, taxes etc.  I haven’t eaten out at a restaurant in years – not months – years.  I am grateful I have a job in order to keep my home.  I am grateful I chose to cut back on all extras in order to be able to keep my home.   The City should be doing more for its citizens to make sure my home and others are not added to the many vacant homes that are dotting our streets.

I am asking you to please deny the Solid Wastes Department request to increase their rates and instead cut back on extras as the citizens of Tampa have done in order to live within their means. 

Thank you.

Ginny Powell

It is Invasion Weekend!

I moved to Tampa, in January, 16 years ago.  Imagine my surprise when after just a few weeks of living here I was told we were going to be invaded by Pirates!  And quite the invasion it was...and is.  Pirates seem like a bizarre source of celebration, at least to me, yet for Tampa it works.

www.destination360

Gasparilla started in 1904 when a group of Tampa businessmen dressed up as pirates (left over from Mardi Gras) and rode through the City on horseback to celebrate May Day. They named themselves the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla after the famed pirate Jose' Gaspar.  It was so well received that next year "all of Tampa's 60 cars" participated.

This year Tampa celebrates Gasparilla with parades, a pageant, running (from the pirates I would assume) & truly one of the best Art Shows I have ever attended.

     2012 Events

www.sptimes.com

•  SAT., JAN. 21: Gasparilla Extravaganza
  3:30 p.m.: Children's Parade
  7 p.m.: “Piratechnic” Extravaganza
  7:30 p.m.: Fireworks
• SAT., JAN. 28: Gasparilla Pirate Festival
  10 a.m.: Gasparilla Invasion Brunch
  11:30 a.m.: Gasparilla Invasion
  2 p.m.: Parade Of Pirates
• FEB. 18-19: Gasparilla Pageant
• MARCH 3-4: Gasparilla Distance Classic
• MARCH 3-4: Gasparilla Festival Of The Arts
• MARCH 29-APRIL 1: Gasparilla Film Festival

Official Gasparilla Site

Though it seems to be all about beads, parties and parades there is a serious side to the more than 50 Krewe's who participate each year.   Each Krewe has a mission and the majority of those missions are about helping others.  In 2004 Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate was created and their mission is to "assist amputees, their families and organizations that work with amputees".  I hadn't realized we had so many soft hearted pirates in Tampa but we do.

If you are in town this weekend or any of the dates listed above I would highly recommend donning an eye patch and joining in the fun and frolic.

Nebraska Avenue



Centro Asturiano completed in 1914

ww2.tbo.com



11.2 miles of interesting is how I describe Nebraska Avenue.   I only drive a small portion, 2.3 miles of it, five days a week but I never know what I may see during that stop and go drive. 

Nebraska Avenue was named for the state of Nebraska in the 1870’s from an influx of Nebraskan’s who migrated to Florida perhaps for the game and fishing which was plentiful at the time.  They planted orange groves along the dirt road and settled in.

Downtowns are often times filled with people who are in challenging life situations, Tampa is no exception.  Nebraska Avenue runs from downtown at Twigg St. all the way up to Lutz.  The section I drive is between Palm Avenue in Ybor and Hillsborough Avenue in Seminole Heights. 



http://yborcitystogie.blogspot.com/



Churches both small and large, dot the blocks; along with motels that have seen their better days.  For me, the character of Nebraska comes from the people that live there.  Young people that ride their bikes or walk across the street playing chicken with the cars.  The elderly, looking so frail, that shuffle to their neighborhood convenience store.  The Mr. Lady, dressed in very short shorts, a tee shirt and had white face cream on his face, who literally flounced out into the middle of the road stopping rush hour traffic with one hand on his hip and another straight out, when he noticed an elderly woman trying to find a break in traffic to cross the street.  It is the spirit of the hearts I see sleeping on the benches in the park.  Some broken, others free.  People dressed in their church clothes on a weekday trying to do their best day in and day out. 

I see what once were grand buildings now in disarray but still providing a roof over someone’s head.  Other buildings being given a rebirth as entrepreneurs move in hoping the cheap rent gives them a chance to make a difference in the neighborhood.

2.3 miles of sadness and hope five days a week.  This is why I choose not to drive the highway.

Wordless Wednesday Sunshine

floridatrend.com



http://tampadailyphoto.blogspot.com/



http://tampadailyphoto.blogspot.com/



http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/