'TIS THE SEASON...THERE'S A "PLAN" SO SPREAD THE MESSAGE!

Good morning on this fine Saturday as we wrap up our first week into the Christmas month. What a beautiful day it is...all clouds, cold and rainy...some would say, "more like gloomy, not beautiful". On the contrary, it's Mother Nature's way of saying time to snuggle, don't go anywhere and relax. So, here I am drinking my awesome coffee, snuggled with my Eagle Fleece blanket and typing away, reflecting on the little joys in life. The last I wrote, many moons ago, we were waiting to "de-thaw" in the land of "Frozen" while first watching the movie Frozen with my awesome family. Nine months later, we're just entering the dipping temps and while the movie Frozen is now a leading retail success for upcoming Christmas Gifts, I'm spending a lot of time reflecting on how truly this month, we all tend to reflect on the topic of "giving". In my recent Travel Tips from my website, did I mention how the best gift we can give someone else is of ourselves...our time, our focus, our energy. Sharing the cup of Go-Go Juice with someone else is very rewarding in ways one can't imagine. This time of year, while it is expected to be full of joy and excitement, is more times than none rather depressing and full of tears. It's a time when people measure themselves hoping to have accomplished more than they may have. Others struggle with health issues and other challenges that make the lights on the tree grow dimmer. And then, I met a wonderful lady this week who reminded me that the Divine Being has it all under control. The Plan is there, but we (simple minded people) spend a great deal amount of time and effort in controlling our own lives, creating our own Plan while driving it in directions using crystal balls that are hard to read and then life gets hopeless when chaos enters the scene making our own plans harder to achieve. She is a Cancer Victim and shared with me her story of the joy and crazy simplicity of beating her Cancer and living happily two months later. If my readers re-call an earlier blog post, I mentioned about an old friends wife - she too, is beating the odds. Today, my lovely Aunt is now struggling with the monster of Cancer and I can't count how many tears I've shed in the thought of loosing her. But, she has an amazingly strong spirit and she too, is still with us. As I write this, it would seem she's fallen back and taken a turn for the worse. But, I am reminded she is in good hands. There is a Plan for her and when that plan has been achieved, only then will it be her time to go. I just don't want to see her struggle as so many do. I am so thankful for her and her daughter who takes such good care of her. And, she's been surrounded by very supportive loyal friends. Then, when I think of the Plan, I can reflect on my own immediate family and our crazy life. I do a great deal of worrying when things fall short or don't go the way I "planned". I was humbled yesterday by a new friend who directly helped my family during some recent struggling times. Came out of no-where, hit me in the face (figuratively) saying "that's my purpose". Giving of himself, his time, his focus. We are all Angels to each other and our angelic ways can be the greatest gift of all to someone else. You never know who you run into, the conversations held and how you have an impact in that person's life. Even sharing a blog, a post, or someone's idea can lead to tremendous support from others. Spending time with a child or adult helps him or her learn more, grow more and you too, gain great benefit from the experience of it all. So, today, with a swollen heart, I am spreading the message that there's a plan - let it unfold and be the gift to someone else - the gift that's been waiting! Let your Go-Go Juice fill you with cheer and passion to accomplish the never ending joy. Many blessings!

FROZEN

Good Morning everyone! How have you been? I'm well - just seriously de-thawing. I see it's been since JAN when I last wrote and I must say, my Go-Go Juice truly did freeze over. Crazy winter we've all had and I think I can say for us all, how nice it is to see some higher temps. (Well, for maybe not for those who live in California or Florida or other much warmer territories). We managed to get into the 50's until yesterday when the high went to 39 and it rained and oh - yea...it snowed. Really now? But I see 60's in the forecast the next couple weeks...hopefully it really happens. Since my last post, I've been swamped. Took on a new job that has kept me on my toes non-stop. Absolutely love it! Not a whole lot of time for myself, but then with the weather, not much to do anyway. Heck, it's been an ongoing challenge just to go shopping let alone doing anything fun. But to beat the "cabin-fever" mind set, my family has spent a great deal of time watching movies...we love family time. And of course, we recently watched Disney's Frozen. What a great film! Haven't seen it? Go get a copy! You'll fall in love with Olaf, the Snowman. We tend to watch a lot of movies together - Family Time is very important. Whether in a hotel room, our RV or snuggled up in the family room, we huddle around and pass the popcorn (or, Kit Kat bars, Maltballs, Raisenettes,or anything with chocolate and full of fattening calories!) It's fun to share and listen to my children giggle or share in frightening surprises or be awed by the wonders of movie magic. Once the weather truly warms up, our family will be looking to go places - places with water like a beach or a lake (that's our favorite). Although, we're not with our kids - two are grown up and living on their own. That's hard since one lives terribly far away, so we Skype frequently with her and one lives not too far, but her work schedule doesn't mesh with ours as well, but we keep trying. Life is too short to not have quality time with your family. So as our winter turns to spring and your Go-Go Juice thaws, start planning "us-time" with your family. Life is too short not too. Until my next post, may your Go-Go Juice inspire you to live life to its fullest.

Go-Go Juice in Prayer....Quite Powerful

Good evening, First, my apologies, work comes first and man, my Go-Go Juice began with "How did we do last night?" A typical hoteliers response from the weekend, looking at overall bookings, sales potentials and upcoming reservations. And while I'm quite happy with ongoing results....something more personal hit home...a friend who's wife is battling cancer. Ok...some folks immediately roll eyes and go onto Yahoo's most popular trends, or maybe a reader here says, "Really?"..."I've dealt with enough negativity.....so I'm moving onward...". Cancer no doubt is depressing, no doubt a tear jerker and no doubt, when we feel helpless...a topic avoider..." but my topic this week isn't about "Cancer" - the Leach and blood seeking sucker disease that makes victim's lives short and miserable, let a lone the lives of the successors, yet rather the topic of courage, bravery and amazing victory over what doctor's call the "odds" and most impossible, not to mention, the most improbably. Yep....when everyone in a very tight scientific community is ready to "write you off", "call it quits", or "Throw in the towel", there is one scientific method that seems to shed a little light on the topic...Faith! It would seem, no matter your religion, no matter your faith journey, no matter your beliefs, Faith and Prayer go a long way....a recent statement made by one of my close Facebook Friends from younger Secondary School Years wrote the following: "September she was given 3 months to live. (roughly 120 days ago) She fought back Leukemia. She overcame 3 serious infections. She was given 48 hours to live. She coded and was brought back to life. She managed through a surgery that was supposed to end her life. She held on through an accidental overdose of pain medications. She suffered 2 head injuries during her stay. (wrestled delirious to ground) She survived the poison of chemotherapy sessions 3 times. She pulled through being covered in ice during 3 severe fevers. She has been in bed throwing up, sick, weak, sweating, hurting and naked. She lost all her hair. She lost her weight. She has been so weak she cant stand. She has taken showers half wrapped in plastic sitting on a chair. She has been living with tubes connected to her heart, even at home. She fought her way back from life support within 5 days of her surgery. She beat the odds. All since the middle of September. As she began to whisper, she wanted to know what had happened the last few days. I pulled up a chair alongside her. I dimmed the light so she could see me easier. Her eyes still not adjusted. I slowly explained all that had transpired since last Monday. When I finished, she just lay there. I could see she was overwhelmed. Why did so many pray? Strangers, friends, family..... People gave their time, their thoughts, their prayers for her. People asked God, if their own faithfulness over 20 years had earned any favor, they asked God to use that grace on ______ (protected in this case) instead of themselves. (can you believe that???) How did she do it? The doctors said no. The Oncologist said no. The nurses said no. The best surgeon said no. Her body said no. Her lab results said no. The E.R. surgeon said no. The cancer said no. The odds said no. But then you guys prayed. And God said yes. That's how!" - written by a close friend in another social network site. This is what I woke up to this morning on Monday...talk about a major motivator! So...I would say, when the odds are against us in any day, our Go-Go Juice can in fact multiply and convert into some powerful energy drink...no matter our beliefs, religion or faith journey, the purest act of Prayer can be the best Go-Go Juice on Earth! Keep this in mind...when faced with diversity, challenges beyond comprehension, the odds of practicality....or even the improbable...turn to Prayer....it has amazing results and long term effects no matter the situation....what's in your Go-Go Juice this week? I wish each and every one of you enough spirit to follow your "mo-jo" and to see where Go-Go Juice truly impacts your day to day and on-going motivation to say "Yes I Can" when all other odds say "No"....love to all of you...until next week!

DISNEY On Go-Go Juice - Get's Put On Ice!

Good Frosty Morning to you.... Writing from Fairborn, OH on yet another chilly morning, sipping on some fully leaded delight. You know, I wanted to write about taking on a new job as I'm thrilled to join a great new company with an awesome new boss and discovered an amazing staff of talented hoteliers, but, something else crawled into my Go-Go Juice this last week and I decided the new job can wait. In fact, taking on a new job, one of the adjustments any individual has is realizing there are many differences out there - differences in opinion, character, skill sets, visions, etc. Adjusting to this shouldn't be so difficult as that's what makes America so great, right? I mean, we're built on a foundation that embraces differences hence the ole' saying, "America's a Melting Pot", right? Sadly, not so. Differences aren't embraced as easily as some of us would like and in recent public discussions, one icon got discovered for his differences that were in fact, negatively blasted. Mr. Walt Disney. Really? The one American Entrepreneur who's legend stands for just the opposite? Were Mickey and Minnie really founded on a platform of bigotry, sexism and antisemitism? Well, it seems with the help of Meryl Streep and Mr. Walt Disney's close relative confirming it, such accusations do have its merits. (http://laist.com/2014/01/08/meryl_streep_disses_walt_disney_for.php) Don't get me wrong - I love Meryl Streep as an actress and as a person. In fact, to speak out on a negative note publicly regarding the character of someone who is embraced by millions can have its challenges and takes quite a spine to do so. But, is the news really all that bad? In fact, in light of learning of Mr. Disney's not so charming character, enlightened me even more. Taking another sip of my juice, I reflect on Disneyland and the one ride that captures his vision that does in fact embrace the differences of people - It's a Small World. Then I reflect on the original cartoons and movies (that I remember during my childhood) such as Lady and The Tramp, Fantasia, Dumbo, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella...many of them touch the topic of negative differences and how the characters overcame such differences that became heroic, successful and won the hearts of many. Even after Mr. Walt Disney's death in 1966, his visions must have left a positive vibe throughout the company that helped to maintain the essential heartbeat of ensuring future stories and concepts continue to pursue good over evil and that differences in people are indeed a positive strength to carry on. So how does such a man who behind the scenes portrayed something he was not? It goes to show, he must have had to come out of his own skin and think and act beyond his own beliefs. This is not an easy task, but serves as proof that it is possible. Our world history displays many people in leadership roles who could not live beyond their beliefs - who were the center of tyranny, segregation and poor management that lead to much demise. And, no doubt, Mr. Disney lived during an era of many changes....So in the end, Mr. Walt Disney, no matter how "bad" he might have been, is proof to us that people can still impart a positive reaction onto others that benefits mankind - and that's pretty magical. So, this week, as you reach for your cup of Go-Go Juice, reflect on how you too, can reach beyond your beliefs and see how you too, can make a positive "difference", even in your little corner of the world. Until next week, be the awesome person that you are and keep that Go-Go Juice fresh and flowing!

Keep Your Go-Go Juice on the Burner Today!

Good Monday morning to you! But then, you might not be saying "It's not so good", more like, "rrrr and brrrr and more rrrr". As most of us know, the US is experiencing an Artic Vortex across over 25 states and the temps are " *enough to freeze your face off degrees" (*saw that recently in a web cartoon and thought it was quite appropriate). And that's no joke...poor folks up in Minnesota can experience up to -65 temps with the wind chill factor that can cause frostbite to any exposed skin within 5 minutes of being in the open air...OMG! So...I'm hoping everyone stays indoors and watches out for big ships floating in! It's every reason to keep that Go-Go Juice on the burner all day to stay hot! Well, we're one week into the New Year and I'm hoping your year is off to a great start! Mine is...I got a job and am moving the family back to Ohio! It's an awesome opportunity with a great company and I can't wait to get started. But not so many are so lucky!!! In fact, many are going to hit rock bottom again once unemployment benefits end if they hadn't already and it's going to e 2008 all over again. That's about the time I started writing my blog - actually more like 2009/2010 after I went two years with no job. I've been there folks, so I know the pain, the challenges and yet, you just can't give up! So, warm up your favorite Go-Go Juice, bundle up in a comfy blanket, take a nice deep breath and let's review some ideas to change it up a bit.... First and foremost, remind yourself about all the talents and passion you have to offer? Think I'm kidding? Nope! Get a piece of paper and write down all the things that make your heart sing. When times get tough, we get desperate and start going after any job, anywhere that will render a paycheck because the bills have to get paid...right? Wrong. I'm not talking set yourself up for a dream job...I'm just pointing out that as we search job vacancies and apply to jobs that don't match you, your past experience, or are in line with your goals, the HR person or hiring manager will totally see that and you are less likely to even get an interview. They'll sense you're applying just for the paycheck. Now, you can find an employer who doesn't care and may hire you regardless...but chances are, the job will not be as rewarding, you probably won't be treated so well and not last very long before either you quit or do something stupid to get fired. So, no matter what stay on track to your goals. Now, maybe, once you've identified areas you fit better into, but there's no job openings - what to do then? Look for volunteer opportunities. Why? One, you're not being paid anyway...you're not doing anything other than job searching and quite frankly, you're likely to run into negative complacency or just plain depression. Your mind truly needs to functional and your emotions filled with new environments, projects and social stimulation. By volunteering, you're contributing not just your time, but you - your passion, your skill and knowledge. Plus, your giving a company or organization the opportunity to see you in action. This will be helpful for future paid opportunities in many ways. And, if you're volunteering to do "something" in line of your skills, past experience or goals, chances are, you'll find the volunteer job painless and rewarding. Now, I don't suggest volunteering 40 hours of your time, but try 10-15 hours a week. How do you find such opportunities? Call or show up to the place you'd like to work and speak about joining the team. Offer the idea to the HR person or hiring person...they may have not considered such a thought. Do realize, that some companies aren't hiring because revenues are down and they're trying to cut the labor cost...but, "free labor"? Trust me, more will raise an eyebrow to the thought...and the best thing is...you can't lose with rejection cause...it's not paid anyway - so you don't feel as bad as if the job came with a check. Second, consider trying something new...all together - still within your line of interests. This is a bit of re-inventing yourself. Let's say you’re an IT Developer or Network Troubleshooter...ok. Basically, you're skills revolve around computers, data and wires...you're used to a particular position and either work for companies or contract yourself out...how about offering training? If you're the one who's done the work, surely you can train a group of people to do the same. You could look for "Training Jobs" or start up your own business...this is just an example. What about a Waitress of a restaurant...this is all you know, but you're not getting anywhere with restaurants....look at what you do as a Server? A Server provides customer service, stays organized, cleans, preps food, handles multiple duties simultaneously, maintains knowledge of food temperatures, plate presentation, manages cash and credit card transactions, stays calm in hectic environments, maintains effective communications with guests, staff and management and plans ahead. In some diners, Servers have been known to even jump on the line and perform some short order cooking - there's more skills learned. So, still out of a job? Take those skills and convert them into something else...front office clerk, grocery clerk, secretary, personal assistant...see where I'm going with this? Third - network, network, network. I highly recommend joining LinkedIn. What's that? A huge online network site for professionals. What if you're not a professional? Ummm...here's my opinion...whether you're in a line level or Entry Level type worker or you're an executive, you're still a professional. I expect all my staff members to be professional regardless of their pay grade. In addition, if you present yourself as a professional, see yourself as a professional and work like a professional, others will treat you the same. And on LinkedIn, you'll have access to hiring managers, HR people and get connected to folks who can help you build new relations that may finally lead to the job opportunity you were seeking. There's also groups available that can provide a lot of insight that you can learn from. What about local network activities in your community? Call your Chambers of Commerce and ask about Network opportunities available to local residents...it's a great chance to meet local business representatives who one day, may need you. Developing new relations is the greatest thing to open new doors to new possibilities. Plus, it helps keep you sane! If there's anything I can attest to is NEVER EVER GIVE UP! Giving up only gives yourself an injustice, plus the people around you and those whose live you cross. You are here for a reason and impact each of us with your talent, your passion and your experience. So - keep sipping on your Go-Go Juice and get movin'! I know I for one, am looking forward to your successes in 2014! Have an awesome (and warmer) week!

Wow - Cup Runneth Over!

Wow - so I see I haven't been here since 2010! There must have been something else in that last Go-Go Juice to keep me going this long!!!! Well, and be that it may, yes, there's been a lot of activity! To catch you up, I worked at the Hyatt for about a year - did real well! Met a lot of neat folks at the Hyatt Corporation and the brand was very unique. Then got called to "Open" a full service Hilton out in Colorado - sounded real good - long term and excellent growth - I took it. And, then once there, owner apologized for not being "up-front" about financial issues, couldn't pay as agreed nor was the position to go long term...just begged me to open it. So, what did I do? I made lemonade out of lemons....Got the property opened and moved on (and yes, eventually got paid right). Didn't move on too far - in fact, did some volunteer work for Jefferson County of Golden Colorado while I maintained my job searches. After almost a year, another opportunity to assist owners took me to Mississippi...this time, for a Wyndham property. Just finished their project Nov 1st after being there for a little more than a year. Now, I've joined forces with a great corporate company and am heading back up to Ohio...and hopefully, no more moves...! ;) I am so exceedingly grateful to maintain wonderful relations and keep the jobs coming...I am now an active LinkedIn member and am helping others to gain the opportunities to land great jobs! But I know, there's so many who still struggle. I recently read an article on how the unemployed are going to survive as they begin losing the benefits from the extensions they've been on. My heart goes out to many of them...as no doubt, many suffered and have entered depression, given up and have little to no more motivation left. But, because of this, many will be forced to make some big decisions - reinvent oneself, take what you can get, or improve your career opportunities and move. And, folks - this takes a lot of Go-Go Juice, hard work and determination! If you're one of these folks, I urge you to stop relying on yourself only - get to major networking, get noticed, get creative and be as resourceful as possible. Aren't a member of LinkedIn? Become a member - great place to meet the decision makers, get advice, get support and refill that cup of Go-Go Juice! I will keep writing once a week on Mondays to stay fresh and keep my Go-Go Juice flowing...I've actually missed being on here. Until then, enjoy and have an awesome NEW YEAR!!!! Happy Incoming 2014!

Time for Go-Go Juice - My Cup is Reved Up!

Wow! It's been since June since I wrote in my blog and realized that my cup got so reved up that I forgot to share - I got a job! Pretty amazing after all we had gone through and sad, that there's still so many more waiting for their turns to get out of the unemployment line! So, where has my journey taken us? To central Virginia where I am now the Hotel GM for a Hyatt hotel! My Go-Go juice has been filled with meeting new people, motivating new staff, turning a property around to improve company scores and helping my family re-adjust to their new surroundings.

I would love to maintain my blog and hopefully provide some interesting trivia and news as our journey continues, but for the most part, my blogs will remain short, but hopefully valuable. My Go-Go Juice blog will always remain personal and continue to advocate for families, the unemployed, the less privledged and be a place to motivate and raise the strengths of others. I will always welcome ideas, comments and continued support - like most, our journey will never end and is ever changing!

For those of you who read and watched our life the last two years know from first hand my philosophy...never give up, falling down just means standing back up and always be thankful to those who keep you standing! And NEVER go anywhere or do anything without your own Go-Go Juice - the one and only inner motivator that no one else can provide!

Have a fantastic week ahead! I will be writing again soon!

Love and blessings!

Victoria

Time For Go-Go Juice! - What? Employers Won't Hire the Unemployed?

Ok – it’s hot, it’s muggy, I just threw on shorts, my fans are running full blast and the storms are brewing. And it’s like ten o’clock at night! How’s your Go-Go Juice been brewing this week? We’ll, I’ve been putting ice cubes in mine, although, they just simply melt. Central Ohio is purely mid-town USA where all middle states just seem to bake, sweat and where people take extra showers. This week, large dark swirly clouds brought tornado's South of Columbus and North near Michigan and the tips of Eastern Indiana a few days ago. Tonight, the storms are coming in from the North. But here in my little world of Central Ohio, my Go-Go Juice steams worse than the storms when it comes to hearing negative issues regarding the unemployed.

I read an article this week written by Chris Isidore, senior writer of CNNMoney.com about how the unemployed are getting the huge message from potential employers – ‘Don’t waste your time applying – if you’re not employed, we don’t want you.’ Many people who know me, know how I’ve been unemployed for awhile myself. I’ve watched this economy crash and watched fellow friends and colleagues lose their jobs too. And, once job openings slowly emerged, employers have been seeking solely the “cream of the crop” – candidates with high education, 10+ years experience in selected fields with varying credentials…you know the kind. They’re the Vice Presidents of companies who got unfortunately downsized from internal changes. Many of the top executives are leaving us middle managers in the dust and way out in left field. Well – I must say, that’s competition and it’s been truly fierce. It never did stop me though from trying. I listen to fellow out-of-workers who’ve experienced the same. So for a while, I didn’t feel so bad. I have tremendous credibility out there and one hell of a resume (so I’ve been told) yet, I couldn’t get an offer if my life depended on it. While I still do contract work as it comes available, when all is said and done, it is not a replacement of my normal hotel executive career that I’ve invested so many years in. However, now I may know why – because I’m not already in a “persay” job. And don’t think for one moment, such recruiters or people of human resources want to see just any job – such people in these positions are mindless drones who do not wish to put quality to the test. If they don’t see you in a job in the exact title and time frame for which meets the parameters they’ve set forth, forget it. Just any job will not do.

Sadly, as the economy slowly turns around, there are still millions of unemployed workers out there striving for their next career step, opportunity to shine and heck, for that matter, their next meal. Many of you know any further unemployment extensions are just out of the question. For Ohio, the agency (1)ODJFS (Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services) stated that approximately 98,000 people are about to lose the last of their UC benefits at the end of this month (June) and another 83,000 people by the end of July. Oh and let’s look ahead – Ho-Ho-Ho! By November, another 300,000 people will be out of extensions as well. There’s a nifty Christmas Gift in that stocking! So, if companies are not hiring the unemployed, then what will the unemployed do? I bet they’ll move away to another state like Iowa – where the unemployment rate is currently sitting at a very comfortable 6.8% and where professional and business services actually added over 5,000 new jobs over this past year. Now, if people move away, how does that affect (2)Ohio at its current 10.7% unemployment rate? Well, we currently have (3)approximately over 11 million, 500 thousand people living throughout the state. So…what’s the loss of a few hundred thousand people? No sweat! But, if we look at the worst areas to get hit, the urban areas like Mansfield, Delaware, Toledo, Greenville, Loveland, Montgomery, etc.? Those townships will be facing huge losses of revenues derived from the once hardworking individuals. That’s money lost for local fire departments, police departments, schools, road ways, wherever tax dollars are put to good use. We all know that a loss of tax dollars means a loss of motivators for even small business owners to come and thrive – hell, what would a veterinary doctor do if he had no clients? According to the article, businesses have been given a carrot to hire the unemployed. What’s the carrot? It’s a whopping 6.2% tax break from paying Social Security for each hired individual throughout the year. Let’s break that down. (4) Even at minimum wage, a given employee makes $7.00 per hour in the state of Ohio. In one week, at minimum wage, a potential employer would pay $17.36 per week in Social Security taxes. This tax break is an exemption for one year. For 52 weeks, the employer will get a savings of $902 from exemption for one employee. So, if even the small business owner who employs say 15 people and a fourth of those are newly hired unemployed, the business would get a huge thank you in the amount of savings of over $3,300 dollars at the end of the year. I don’t know about you, but I have many things I could do productively with savings over $3,000. So what’s wrong with these employers?

Well, let that be your Go-Go Juice for the next week! If you’re still unemployed – don’t beat yourself over the head…just get past the initial bureaucracy tied up in the line of HR and go straight to the decision maker. Welcomed or not, your chances might increase at an interview rather than waiting for nothing from someone who’s not even going to consider you at all. Good luck – keep your chin up and always keep a full cup of Go-Go Juice nearby.

Footnotes:
(1) ODJFS - Newspaper, The Plain Dealer
(2) Ohio Unemployment Rate - Bureau Labor of Statistics
(3) Ohio Population - US Census Bureau
(4) Ohio State Minimum Wage - Department of Commerce

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Oil, Water and Wildlife Just Don't Mix!

Good Morning to my many readers...how's your Go-Go Juice brewing lately? Mine is bubbling over in smelly slime and gastric distaste as our horrific oil spill continues to weigh heavy on our coast line, pocket books and worst of all, our eco-system. Millions of Americans are truly counting the immense amount of damage this event has endured, but I fear as many, the worst is yet to come. As the oil piles up, there are not enough bodies or equipment to clean it up. Meanwhile the oil is beginning to fill our streams and lakes that pour out into the rest of our country’s natural irrigation systems.

Millions of fishes, birds, plants, everything is becoming infected. Then, realizing much of this gulf area in the Louisiana territory, which is prone to hurricanes, can you imagine the oil being flung around hundreds of miles in all directions and how wide spread the damage will continue? It’s just sad and dangerous to future survival for all. I know I’m painting a rather demising situation, but the chemicals alone that will be reminiscent to our land will have lasting effects on how we treat water for usage, eat or not eat various foods, the animals prone to extinction from this, the inability to grow crops affected by this disaster…the list just goes on. Now, I do believe that nature has a way of taking care of itself – but what it will do is adapt, which means over time, we could see mutations that will affect our way of living or in the way we care for our nature. What I have a hard time understanding is why we haven’t sent welders under water to simply seal up the pipes? I understand that there are politics and policies written in place that supposedly tie hands in terms of how BP or anyone for that matter resolves the issue, but regardless, I think someone ought to just get in there and fix it and let the big chiefs fight it out later. It’s one thing to watch our eco-system, climates and other natural wonders change, immerge and die out at nature’s hand, but when man plays the perpetrator to this extent, shame on us. We’ve worked hard as a society to get people to recycle, pick up trash and somehow be more environment friendly or at minimum, mind conscience of how we impact Mother Nature, but good heavens! This is becoming a deliberate act of negligence of all leaders who are involved.

While anyone who watches these events discovers he has an opportunity or connection or idea to contribute to the resolve of this spill, I encourage any and all involvement. I added a slide show to give a visual understanding to the immense amount of oil we are dealing with, if you haven’t seen the pictures already. It will sour the cream in your Go-Go Juice instantly. So this week, support the volunteers and people out there using their Go-Go Juice at every effort to save our planet – and in this case, our own land and waters…or someday, your Go-Go Juice may not taste the same! Have a great week!

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Schools Out, Bored Teens - Can a Mom Trade?

Well – it’s 2 o’clock in the morning out here in Ohio, I’m snackin’ on a mini-chocolate crunch bar and sipping at a wonderfully warm cup of – you got it…my Go-Go Juice! All is silent in the house except for purring kitties and snoring children – all who have out done themselves for another year. That’s right – it’s all over. Whew! Another school year has come and gone…and, would you believe it? Not even three hours after coming home jubilantly from school did I hear those dreadful summertime blues – “I’m Bored!” Oh good grief! They usually give me a couple weeks before I hear those words! This proves to be a very long summer. But, after all is said and done, I have much to be proud of as Cassy walked the line in her cap and gown! Oh the tears, the memories of my high school days and the reminder of how many years have flown by. It is truly an accomplishment for us both! Oh Ya! The endless nights of burning candles of homework, the dreaded alarm clock that even beat the rooster’s call – the whining and moaning of going to school, the meetings, the greetings, the TAXI driving…my, my, my. And to think, I only have four more kids to go! LOL! But I have to say, Cassy did a tremendous job at meeting her challenges and getting great grades to boot! Is she college bound? Not just yet. It’s been a very stressful year for the family, so she will probably take a break and help me out some, but she does have her eye on returning to California and possibly going to USC! Hmmm! I’m not sure I see her as a Trojan gal – but on the other, I don’t see her as a Bruin, either! She is naturally gifted in the Arts and has an eye and hand skill in fashion design, architecture, and interior designing, but at the end of her year, she suddenly drew an interest toward education. Yep! She just might turn out to be a teacher. So who knows…the world is her oyster now and the paths ahead are full of adventure and mystery. Reality will also set in as she discovers the cost to paving the way to her dreams. Something we all face, especially today in our devastated economy.

While we as a nation are finally seeing a bit of rebound and that the growth of new business and revenues are slowly increasing, she will be facing high costs to gain the further education and expenses needed to continue her successes. Maybe she’ll be lucky enough to barter her way to a successful career. Think I’m joking? Bartering is gaining a lot of popularity as more and more people find creative means to acquiring needs without paying the hard to get cash.

As millions of US Americans are still out of work and unemployment benefits ending, you’ve read my concerns on the demands of civic organizations and non-profit agencies waning on the abilities to pick up the numerous tabs of needs – and that’s just for basic necessities. What if an individual finds a way to excel himself raising his or her own productivity by offering a service in exchange to acquire a need that someone else has? It’s like taking your cow down to the market and when others can’t give you cold hard cash for a great product, what do you do? You trade it in for two pigs, some eggs and flour.

Now, what if we did that in today’s modern world of business? What if I needed a website built and Mr. IT Guy would be happy to build it for me, but he wants to find a piano tutor for his son and I happen to play piano! So, we trade! We both get what we need and no one pays the cash for it…just our own investment of time. But now, in the art of bartering, it’s not so practical if we each live on the opposite side of the country from each other. So, how do we make this practical? Time banks were developed and are now popping up all over the nation. Anyone can create a group associated with these Time Banks where members would actually invest their “time” by contributing X-Amount of labor hours of their work without getting paid. Let’s say, a hairstylist decides to become a member. This hairstylist would work for four hours each week cutting people’s hair without pay, but the hours are registered with the exchange. One day down the road, when the hairstylist is in need of a service, but cannot pay for it, he/she can then look into using his/her “time” investment dollars to pay for a “wedding cake”. This is what Maria Villacreses did for her wedding as stated by Michael Rubinkam, an Associated Press writer when he published her story as well as the stories of other “Time Dollar” members. Click here to read the article. According to the article, there are approximately 115 Time Banks across the country with another 100 preparing for new development and membership has risen above 15,000 people. One bank is listed to be over 10 years old. Ten years old! I didn’t know these types of banks existed! Now, how cool is that? And, what better time to have such resources made available to the public. Now it’s just a matter of time in getting the word out on the street! No doubt more and more people will take advantage of this amazing opportunity to beat the economic woes! So, there you have it…Cassy just might get through college with Time Dollars – sense and time well spent! No pun intended! LOL.

So dear friends and valued readers – sip your Go-Go Juice and enjoy its every drop. It may have been made available to you by someone looking to trade. Have a wonderful week ahead and don’t get too caught up into the summertime blues. I’ll have upcoming tips for some wonderful trips – where of course you’ll be able to take your Go-Go Juice as well. Blessings!

Time For Go-Go Juice! - A Memorial Weekend to Commemorate Our Heroes!

Hello! How is your Go-Go Juice today? I bet it’s full of wet, cold frothy goodness as you share some quality time with friends and family. This weekend is a nice long 4-day weekend as we all take the time to commemorate the heroes of our past, present and those preparing for our future! That’s right, it’s Memorial Day weekend. For my valued readers who may not share this patriotic holiday, it’s a time that is used to pay homage to all our US soldiers who died fighting for our country. However, we have now broadened our commemorations to include all heroes who’ve died in public service; our soldiers, firemen, police officers, civilians, coast guard, auxiliary units, security officers, ambulance drivers – anyone, who has the opportunity to serve our public, for the better interest of our public, but for whatever circumstance arose, put themselves at harm’s risk in effort to save someone else. I think public service says a lot for the individual who agrees to do such a job. Believe me, when you stop to think about the risk these people take, the end compensation is certainly not the reason they’re doing it.
Let me show you…

Any soldier, whether Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines, an average soldier who serves up to 5 years and can earn his or her way to become a rank of E5 – can make on average $2500 a month. Our average Firefighter makes an average of $40,000 per year, an ambulance driver (also known as an Emergency Medical Technician will make about $45,000, a Police Officer makes on average $25,000 to $45,000 depending on location, Coast Guards make on average $40,000, security guards make on average $20,000. Now, grant you, any one individual in these positions may have the opportunity to advance and with further education, move themselves up the ladder into specific positions that are specialized that will almost double the salary figures, however, when all is considered, the men and women who serve our public on the front line – most certainly don’t have the highest of salaries. This is where I can guarantee that money is not the driving force of our citizens. It was estimated in the year 2007 that we had 1,148,800 men and women serving as Firefighters (and 825,450 were volunteer workers). We had 87,000 Police Officers from a statistical report done back in 2000 and 2004. I would imagine we could add an additional 20% to estimate the current count – although, many police departments across the country were cut in budget laying off many officers due to our economic crisis. This is just a sample of our public service jobs. I must add that with our cost of living being so high, why then do these people work these jobs?

I’ll tell you! There is nothing more gratifying to end your day knowing you contributed to something bigger than you…bigger than life itself….to rush someone to the hospital whose barely holding onto life knowing your efforts helped them till one day, they come back to thank you; to pull kids or adults from a burning building where the victim gets to re-tell the horrific story, or where that one officer, pulled over the speeding driver ultimately stopping a 7-car pileup down the road. Think about the men and women who put themselves in front of flying bullets or mystery bombs hoping to prevent not the next World War, but an innocent victim from meeting his or her demise too early or are the front line statement of presence where the gross issue of politics will finally reach a common ground and people can reach agreements later saving each other’s countries. These unconditional acts are what define our men and women of public service and separate the timid from the heroic. They step into the blaze of glory so you can live a better more improved life. How many of us, can truly say we’d take a bullet for our neighbor or for someone we hardly know. Do you really want to suffocate and meet your own demise for the greater good of humanity? Well, these people do and it is them, who we celebrate for their victorious efforts and morn for those who gave all they had.

To all my readers, no matter what country, what time zone or what political scene we practice; we all have our heroes; those who go the distance at anytime, anywhere – unconditionally. Join me in a Toast to all our heroes – no matter their jobs, how long ago or how recent. So, today and tomorrow, raise your Go-Go Juice to commemorate those you remember. Our heroes need our support, our recognition and most of all, our heartfelt thanks. To all our heroes who have both fallen and survived – I thank you from the bottom of my heart. To their families – I thank you too, as it takes a lot of courage and effort on your part to keep them going, motivated and living strong as it’s not an easy job.

Have a very safe Memorial Day and take quality time with your family and friends. Till next week! Keep your Go-Go Juice nearby and keep it filled with all your hopes and aspirations!

Time For Go-Go Juice! - I'm Back with New Updates....

Good Evening to my many readers! I bet you wondered if I had fallen off the face of the planet – or if I just simply drowned in my own Go-Go Juice? LOL! Well, to say the least, I’ve been writing how my schedule has been getting busier by the minute. Writing daily has become most challenging. Please tell me you’ve been good to yourself and keeping your Go-Go Juice nearby and drinking plenty of it! Let’s start with some updates –

Notice the site change? I thought it was time to juice up my blog. I’ve changed a few things, besides color schemes – I’ve also changed my Adsense – again, click into what you see is interesting! Lord knows I need the income. Heck, now I’m sending one child off to college! Four more to go! Good grief, help me! You’ll also notice a couple new additions – I’m now Twittering! Tweet – Tweet! So, follow me as you wish! Also, I’m doing more on Fiverr – I now encourage people to post their websites on my blog to help them broaden their market opportunities. Go to my Fiverr for this project and I’ll add your site to my blog! You can also order me for Jingles! Cool, ha? This month’s featured websites are: New USA Friendly Casinos – now, you too can enjoy playing the slots and having a great time just like in Vegas, without leaving your living room! Forget Solitaire and Tetris – try New USA Casinos! I will get you hooked! Also, see: Resume Dictionary – are you job searching? This website is full of interesting tips, articles and support in developing the path for your career journey. Whether you’re unemployed or collecting a paycheck, Resume Dictionary will be a helpful tool and resource anytime!

Well, we’ve got just 7 more days and Cassy is done with HS – pretty much her last day and the others will end June 8th. Cassy walks the line June 6th. We’re so proud of her! What does she have planned afterwards? Sleeping – I’m sure. Ha – little does she know, I have loads planned.

I’m still interviewing and trying to find my way in this world! I’ve met so many new people – it’s been great! Many new doors are opening – I just hope one lands a permanent professional placement soon. I truly need a vacation from job searching and scraping to get by. I recently became a member of Hire US, America – visit their website: http://www.unionofunemployed.com/ I received yard/window posters and car bumper stickers to show how I support the unemployed. If you want some of your own, you can order as many as you want for FREE. I love free. There truly isn’t enough in this world that is free – except love and hugs. Ok –well, I know – even love and hugs can come with a price, but from me, they’re given unconditionally.

Now, because of my schedule, I’ll be blogging once a week on both blogs, unless I find something absolutely necessary to write about – which will then become my “special edition”. This way, my readers won’t let their Go-Go Juice go cold while waiting for my articles. Now, with that said, go on with your week with plenty of enthusiasm, solid goals and always with your Go-Go Juice! If you ever have a question, just email me any day and time: author.vmeyers@gmail.com. I may not be writing daily, but I’m here daily for you when you need me! Have a most productive week!

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Cars...It's a Love Hate Relationship!!

Good Morning! How’s your Go-Go Juice going? Mine is still with me, but lately, it would appear I’ve needed way more to keep myself going! My car broke down this week. :(( How is it so many people can say that cars are a luxury item? Good grief! They’re almost as important as keeping stocked in toilet paper! They are truly a necessary evil, I tell you. When it broke down – it seemed like an electrical issue. But after long pain staking hours, I think it’s down to needing a Starter. Regardless, I couldn’t get it going and it was in a tow zone. Do you have any idea of how much anxiety that builds? The cost of tows today is like $200 or more. Ouch! That’s the cost of a new starter! After spending all day yesterday, it is finally back at my home and out of the dangers of getting towed, at least for the wrong reasons. Now, I have to find a cost effective way to fixing it. Have you been to the mechanic lately? Oh good grief! They charge close to a hundred dollars per hour in labor, let alone the parts. It’s no wonder so many of us pinching pennies get into the market of “Do it yourself”. Even then, the challenge is tremendous if you’re not per say a mechanic.

So, my blogs have unfortunately gone on the back burner. I will no doubt keep you posted. Surely, a diligent gal like me will get it rolling soon and I’ll be back to normal – or at least functional. Do keep your Go-Go Juice with you at all times. Everyday has the opportunity to change direction when you least expect it.

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Cutting Coupons Doesn't Always Save You Money

OMG – are you sitting down with your Go-Go Juice this morning? Well – I last remember sipping mine when a bright light swallowed my whole being while cute little green men paraded around me showering me with sparkling jewels and sweet smelling rose pedals…OK – who spiked my coffee?

Ha – just kidding. It has been tremendously busy as we wrap up the end of the school year, continue the job search and get ready for the summer season. But you’ll be glad to know, I never put my Go-Go Juice down for one measly minute. It’s my main motivator to find ways to make money and save money. How many of you spend countless waking hours in contemplating the same? In this economy…I bet everyone is. All my close “buds” know that I do what I can to make an income, at least until I finally achieve a replacement from my last lost job – I offer everything from consultation to short term projects to helping out a neighbor to writing jingles (yes – I write jingles…check out my website). But, I can attest, it’s never enough. Hence, I do everything I can to save or as some would call, I’m thrifty. Now, the one thing I’ve noticed is when standing in line at the grocery store, I get a kick out of people who are what I term as “coupon fanatics”. I look through the Sunday Newspaper goody section – but I must say, I never really find coupons for what I buy, so I don’t use as many coupons unlike others, which leads me to wonder if people change their purchasing habits or needs based on discounts they find. For instance, I don’t normally purchase Tide (although I think it’s the best product on the market, it is one of the most expensive detergents – obviously for good reasons), however, I save usually over $4.00 a bottle by buying a lesser brand detergent that still does a good job at getting clothes clean. However, there’s a coupon for $1.00 of Tide – now…I can get double coupon savings (meaning $2.00), but that means I would be still spending an extra $2.00 than what I would budget. What about glass cleaner? I buy the generic brand that costs me no more than $1.19, but Windex offers a coupon for .35 cents off two bottles whereas I would have to spend almost $2.50 more to buy the product to get the savings. Do you see where I’m going with this? I think a lot of people “think” they’re saving money by using coupons when in reality, they are actually spending more just to use the coupon. We all pinch pennies, but truly, in our own perceptions, do we actually run the calculator and determine if we’re really saving or are we costing ourselves? How many of you go shopping for clothes on regular basis? If you do, the only question is, do you wear them? Are they needed? Clearly my baby Melissa does not need more clothes – she has plenty, but my house guest comes home more often lately with new little “outfits” that she spent .50 cents to $1.00 per outfit. Now, in the spirit of saving money – how cool is it to buy an outfit at such dirt cheap prices? But on the same token, it was not money saved…it was money spent.

I’ll be the first to say; that we need to spend a little now and then…it is good health to splurge a little whether it’s for you or for someone else. But on an ongoing basis, you’ll wind up in the “poor house” or at least have a longer time getting out of it. I came across an article provided by the New York Times, written by Alina Tugend. Its title is Penny-Pinching is Fine, but it Won’t Save the Profligate. I encourage you read it.

Well, it’s onward and upward my dear readers. Keep your Go-Go Juice nearby and sip it with a friend. Have an amazing weekend.

Time For Go-Go Juice! - It's Great to be a Mom!

Amid the howling winds and thundering clouds, as rain drowns the tender leaves; The storm is mighty but short lived; again the sun will rise above the trees" - By Victoria Meyers

And that it has dear readers. Good morning. It’s the first Monday of May and it’s going to be a beautiful day here in Lewis Center, Ohio. Mmmm, my Go-Go Juice tastes pretty good this morning…how about yours? Just eighteen more school days left and we can rejoice in the end of another exhausting year (at least for the first two weeks of summer break, until we’re ready to put the kids right back in – I know they’re gonna drive us nuts!) The weekend was a success! Cassy was a Prom Princess! She wore a beautiful red satin gown with a matching shoulder scarf; her long blonde hair flowed freely in finger curls and was escorted by a very nice boy who had graduated the year prior. Having taken tons of photos, danced the night away, she returned in absolute awe. She said she finally felt like a “teenager” for the first time and she got to dance her very first “slow dance” twice with her date. I’ll never forget my Prom and am quite sure she won’t either. It’s all about creating lasting memories. This is when it’s fun to be a mom!

Speaking of which, what are you doing for Mother’s Day? May 9th, this next Sunday, we get to celebrate all the wonderful things our mothers do for us….ummm – I can think of a few things we do like wake up kids for school, cook, clean, work, make appointments, help with homework, break up fights, facilitate sibling rivalries, remind kids for all the things they forget, pack the lunch, find the missing IPod, wash clothes, play taxi driver, encourage, cheerlead at all games, write notes for (who ever needs one), resolve problems, listen, discipline, teach, mentor, hug, play nurse, throw footballs, dance with and play “make-up artist”, keep the peace and somehow in all of it, help them to find their “identity” because they lost it after they turned 15. But, this is just to name a few things on our “to-do” lists. And, would we do them whether we were celebrated or not? Yes, because we’re Mom’s, plain and simple. We want the best for our family and we can get pretty opinionated about it too! To be celebrated and thanked for our unconditional love and offerings is no doubt very cool. What can you do for your mom? Do you ever wonder what might be a unique idea that would make her feel special? Here are some ideas:

- Get a piece of paper, fold it, grab a crayon in her favorite color and write something from your heart. It reminds her of you as a wee-little one and will touch her innermost “mommy” spirit.

- Take her to a restaurant of her favorite where she never gets to go.

- Treat her to a day spa for a day of pampering.

- Put a bunch of photos together and create a film to watch together as a family that reminds of her of why she is so valued and to see her contributions light up on the screen.

- Take her out to a club and go dancing – when was the last time you remember mom going out to dance?

- Take mom to the Zoo and have a picnic there.

There are lots of things you can do for mom that tell her how much you care. Sometimes it can be a simple hug. But then, I recommend you do this more often than once a year.

Sip on the sweet goodness of your Go-Go Juice and surely you’ll come up with just the right thing that Mom would absolutely love! Have a great day!

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Paying Homage to the Godmother of Civil Rights...

It’s Thursday and time is ticking – we’re almost to the weekend! Has your Go-Go Juice been driving your successes this week? How are you doing? I am going miles ahead down the road hoping to capture anything and everything that blossoms my flowers and brightens my rays….

Today I want to pay homage to a woman’s life for all her accomplishments, contributions and huge impact she has had on our black neighbors and women throughout our nation.

On March 24, 1912, a baby girl was born in Richmond, Virginia. Little did her parents or the town’s folks realize that their swaddled gift of love would become a nationwide influence to stop racial and gender discrimination for her fellow Americans. As she grew up, she became a woman of great passion and concern for people who were ultimately limited to education and obvious rights and wanted to make a contribution in the best way she could. Early on in life, at the age of 24, she became a civil rights activist and remained steadfast throughout the rest of her life. She was awarded nationally 8-times, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004 for her continuous efforts. She organized “Wednesdays in Mississippi” that united black and white women that not only drew women in general closer together socially, but also brought out the best in women’s social contributions for use in many organizations. She was a huge influence to desegregating kids in schools, to appoint black women into government jobs, was a consultant to “African Affairs to the Secretary of State”, and served on a number of committees to include the National Council for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research and the President's Committee on the Status of Women. She chaired the Executive Committee of the Leadership Conference of Civil Rights which is the largest civil rights organization in the entire United States. During President Obama’s inauguration, she was an honored guest who had a great opportunity to be seated nearby on his stage. Today, Dorothy Height is honored as the Godmother of Civil Rights. Dr. Luther King Jr. would be so proud! She died last week on April 20th. President Obama will be giving her eulogy today at her funeral in Washington DC at the National Cathedral. What a wonderful lady she was and I can’t thank her enough for her contributions that allowed me to be the leader that I have been and continue to be.

With tremendous admiration and gratitude, I dedicate my blog today to:

Dorothy Irene Height
March 24, 1912 – April 20, 2010

“A woman who leaves behind a legacy, who has paved a road to a future where women and men of all races can come together in collaboration, leadership and social understandings that will ultimately impact our continued abilities to grow as a nation of one. “ – Victoria Meyers

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Mathew 7:1 - Do Not Judge or You Too, Will be Judged...

Good hump of the week to ya! It’s Wednesday and Go-Go Juice is flowing quickly this week. How’s your juice brewing? There’s been an explosion to new job leads this week – four times more than I’ve seen in the last few months! Grant you, my observation is with the hospitality industry mostly. But to me, it’s a good sign in our devastating economy. Today, however, I wish to bring attention to something that just shocked me – all who know me, know that I am a huge believer in the human spirit.

I constantly raise people up on pedestals for their courage, their creativeness, their support for others, for their genuine overall humanity. Now, what I’m about to mention does not reflect on the overall American Public, but a small few individuals took my guts, my heart, my soul and ripped them to shreds after learning that a hero perished while others just walked on by, walked over and gawked over his dying body. Sound familiar? You bet! I’m sorry to say, but when I learned that a homeless man who tried to help a woman victim from perpetrators, had been stabbed viciously in his ultimate act of kindness, that his only reward was ignorance, betrayal and utter repugnance from the public who didn’t give a damn.

If you are not familiar with the story, a homeless man in NY City, witnessed a woman being robbed. His immediate response was to help her and during the struggle, he was stabbed. His efforts allowed her to run away to safety and caused the perpetrators to run in a separate direction. The man fell to the ground, on a sidewalk in front of an apartment building entrance, bleeding profusely where people just walked on by without offering to help. How do we know what happened? It was all caught on tape, from beginning to end. The general consensus was that local New Yorkers have developed a pre disposed opinion of strangers lying on the ground – that they’re homeless and usually drunk or drug affected and don’t want to be involved. And, was he judged to be an alcoholic or addict because being homeless, he wore tattered clothes, or looked a bit unclean, or his hair was scraggly? Why are the “homeless” labeled in such manners? Since when was being poor considered a sin? And I have to ask, for those who consider themselves self righteous who don’t drink, smoke, or use foul language, what then is your vice, because we all have a vice and we all have committed a “sin”.

Now, folks, I am a mutt of religious backgrounds, but one of tremendous great faith. There is a world famous saying coming to mind. You know it too. “Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone”. Since when has society decided that humanity has its limitations? Ok – how many people sent help to Haitians who may have been drunk, drug addicts, thieves, mobsters, etc? But that didn’t stop people from helping to save lives, now did it?

I want to send the message loud and clear – we are a society of imperfect people. Many strive with due diligence to improve, change or effect ourselves in such ways that we hope to be better tomorrow than we are today. Some have extreme challenges to accomplish that as well. And yes, there are those who have given up. But when a life is suspected to be at harms risk, even if you do think the person lying on the sidewalk, or slumped over abnormally in chair or a bench, is not worth a minute’s time to determine if an authority figure should be involved? And for that matter, if a person who has given up on life is lying on the ground somewhere at sometime, shouldn’t authorities have him or her moved anyway to prevent further hazards? Come on, people.

I certainly hope that those who walked passed this man, saw the news, took a gasp when they recognized the scene and realized that they contributed to this poor man’s death. I hope they realize that they could’ve have helped to save his life had they been responsive just by being little more “human”.

We must look out for one another no matter our circumstances. If you find yourself in a similar situation and I pray that you don’t, but if so, please don’t look the other way. You’re immediate judgment may be tainted wrongly and you just might save the life of another person who was supposed to impact someone else positively later down the road. I suggest you read a book by Mitch Albom “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”. We all impact each other in ways we may not necessarily see. Enjoy the rest of your day. Sip your Go-Go Juice slowly today while reflecting on these issues. It’s your own humanity at stake.

Many Blessings!

To Read the Story - Click Here

Time For Go-Go Juice! - Pool Water is Not Just for Swimming...It Can Save the Day!

Good morning to you! How is your Go-Go Juice brewing this morning? OMG – I thought I had run out this morning – couldn’t find any and fervently searched the cupboards, pushing the cans of tomatoes and green beans aside and finally, I found it! Oh – to go a day without Go-Go Juice would be an absolute catastrophe! Awe! The sweet, steamy goodness of Go-Go Juice is the ultimate go-getter for every day!

You know, I was in a discussion last night on LinkedIn and shared some thoughts on how to put an emergency preparedness kit together when it comes to management emergencies. In the thread of discussions, I had mentioned an issue that arose in one of my hotels and how my staff and I put our “kit” to work! A participating member wrote me in utter laughter because he had identified that hoteliers have the most opportunities to share “hotel horror stories” and to hear how management resolve such stories is a hoot! With that thought, I decided how you too, could share and possibly identify with the characters of the story…read on:

This particular sold out night at the Holiday Inn of Hudson, Ohio, we had prepared for a full house, plus three different banquets to fill our 17,000 square feet of conference space totaling up to 350 people. One of the banquets had produced 250 attendees. It was a gala event that started sometime around 5PM. Everyone looked beautiful walking through the hallways – women wore gorgeous glittering gowns while their male counterparts dawned on tuxes and tails. I thought we had just sponsored the annual Emmy Awards. Everyone was enjoying themselves and was finally seated to engage into their event and their dinner had started. About half an hour into the event, the kitchen notified me as the General Manager that we didn’t have any water. Maintenance scrambled to identify the problem and discovered how our operation was not the source of the problem. Having made a quick call to the company (as if to ask, “OK, did our company pay the water bill…we’re out”) only to learn that a main water pipe located 1 ½ miles away had broken and that the entire area would be out…for hours.

Now, if you’re not experienced in working in hotels (or restaurants for that matter) then you’re not accustomed to experiencing or solving problems that occur behind the scenes. As a consumer, you become the victim and simply expect the problem fixed or to be offered an alternative. Right? Of course right. But I was charged with looking at the dynamics in whole…no water means no washing dishes, no water for drinking, no water for showers, no water cleaning and no water for…yes, toilets. And, what’s worse is in a public environment, such as a hotel, if you run out of water for 5 or more hours, you must evacuate the hotel guests and place them into other properties, paying their cost for the room and board plus make travel accommodations for the trouble because the lack of water for that long of period becomes a health hazard. So, my problem with the current situation was rather large.

While we made immediate conservatory directions for various departments, my biggest concern was maintaining the banquets without hindrance. We were told we could be out for just a few hours and no longer. So, I decided to send staff out to acquire cases of bottled water to provide our dining guests, plus bring a few 10 gallon drums of water to use for the public restrooms. I directed someone to immediately print brief notices to our in-house guests with apologies for the inconveniences and then knowing that we could not per say afford to continually purchase big drums of water for the public restrooms, that we would rent three portables conveniently located outside the banquet rooms and shut down the public bathrooms upon their arrival.

Once this happened, I went in front of the banquet gala, to the podium and spoke confidently into the microphone. To break the ice, I gave a warm welcome to the entire group and asked if everyone was enjoying themselves. The responses were full of cheer, excitement and people were smiling, laughing having such a good time. My stomach wrenched at what I was about to say – so I tried to put a lighter upbeat spin on the news…the crowd seemed to understand about conserving their requests for water in terms of delivering water bottles, however once I mentioned the bathroom situation and offered the use of the port-a-potties – the room fell silent for a couple seconds and you heard a bunch of “ohhhhh…noooo…” and a few grumbles. Hence my news went over “real well” with our kings and queens. Needless to say, they did not use the portables, making our job more challenging.

While we could not “lock up” our bathrooms, our guests used them regardless of requests – remember, toilets don’t flush without water in the bowl. It’s after dinner – can you imagine? I make my point.

However, we could not leave the bathrooms vulnerable to after dinner treasures, but I couldn’t buy the amount of water needed either. My team and I worked ferociously to come up with a quick logical answer and my Food and Beverage Manager used her Go-Go Juice and found it! The answer lay at our feet, shimmering in delight with an abundant supply of goodness: our enormous indoor pool. So, we put together a means to transfer pool water into large containers and transport them to the bathrooms where my wonderful staff would maintain the cleanliness and flushing of the public ceramic bowls for the further convenience to our guests. Yes, after a couple more hours, the pain and anguish finally subsided as the main water supply was back to normal – we managed to save the day and come out smelling (well, better than it could have been).

Hotels are an environment that are always at risk of something challenging, exciting and full of new ventures. It’s an environment that’s never dull. What about you and what you do? Do you have a story to share that stands out in your mind of an enormous emergency and the way in which it was fixed? I’d love to hear about it. Write a comment or send me an email.

So, be sure to keep Go-Go Juice in your management emergency preparedness kit – boy, it can really get you out of a bind! Have a great day!

Time For Go-Go Juice! - The Human Spirit "Twisters" with Amazing Faith...

Well, the kids are off at school, the little one is still asleep, there’s a slight humming to the refrigerator, I can hear the delicate sounds of birds chirping – probably thrilled that the rain stopped and the smell of my Go-Go Juice is finally waking my senses. Good Monday morning to you. It’s been wet and soggy here in Ohio and sadly, Mother Nature has taken a toll on our southern states with over 54 tornadoes tearing through towns, especially Mississippi where 10 people were reported killed. There was a time I could not understand why people would live in these areas. I guess you really can’t avoid the killer twisters – they can truly pop out of “nowhere” unexpectedly. I must say, in all our travels from coast to coast, we’ve been fortunate to only encounter a few minor scrapes in barely getting hit by such winds.

Once while traveling through Colorado in its far eastern borders (where most funnels occur) we out ran a tornado while traveling west bound on the hwy. While we never saw the funnel; the radio was reporting the distance to our location and all we could see was solid black clouds that touched the ground up through the sky, hail and bellowing winds. It stayed right behind us for 30 some miles while I pushed the pedal to the medal. We finally pulled off to a gas station where all travelers had stopped and the storm suddenly turned to head south just short of the station. Whew! That was close one. And, never say “oh, well I live around hills – twisters don’t come around hills”…that’s bunk; we lived in Vermont up in a resort area surrounded by hills and a tornado funnel hit the ground on the other side of our hill, and we watched how it headed toward us with its high winds and black mass just pour over our hill and within minutes, the center of the storm passed right over us. We were living in multi-level condo at the time and ran the children down to the bottom level. The sound was amazing and scary at the same time. No funnel though – but then, its elements were just as damaging as if there were a funnel.

What you see on TV appears to be horrible when reporters show the aftermath of a tornado and listen to the interviewed survivors. You may say to yourself, “how sad, wow, man – etc, then change the channel”. But nothing will compare to the devastated feeling of driving through a leveled town that had been recently hit. While driving to my job two years ago from California to Ohio, we did just that. We were in Oklahoma and while creeping along the roadway, the tears just rolled down our cheeks to see the losses and feel the pain. Shattered glass, wood, leveled buildings, tossed furniture, peoples clothes, kids toys all strewn across the town. I always thought people were crazy to live in these risky areas, but you know what? It takes a special type of person, someone proud, and someone strong and determined who is passionate about their area to stay up with the tides. The human spirit was strong and thriving among the locals that day; the survivors had already set up plans and were working hard at putting their town back together. People worked together in harmony, collaborating, teaming and all contributing to bettering each other. And suddenly I realized something – people who live in such areas are not a people who thrive on worldly possessions. It’s not about the storm or how wide a tornado was or the 15 minutes of fame from being on TV – it’s the comradery, the fellowship, the union of spirits that attract and bind these people together. They have huge backbones, are hard workers and the ones we count on to generate our dairy, grains and produce. These are amazing people with amazing spirits and believe me, their Go-Go Juice does not come in a cup or a pot or sold at a nearby shop – it is their faith in each other and maybe a higher being that drives their passion.

So, on this rainy Monday or sunny, depending on where you are) keep these people in your thoughts, say a prayer and if you have some time, go lend a hand and be sure to share your Go-Go Juice with others. You know there’s plenty of Go-Go Juice to go around. Have the most productive week this week. Thank you for joining me this morning!

Blog Update...

To my valued readers...due to a high demand for my attention on a lot of projects, I will not be writing my daily blog on weekends (Saturdays & Sundays). Still visit me though to find daily blogs Mon-Fri and to click into ads you see that will benefit you or a friend. Have a great day!