Shooter

DON'T PRINT THAT

Thanks to Al for putting together the newsletter and maintaining the tradition last week during my absence. Last week's issue was far and away the most informative. Good job Al.

All of us here at the newsletter staff also wish to congratulate Denise and her husband on their recent marriage. At the risk of taking a controversial stand on an issue (heaven forbid) the editorial staff has decided to declare we are pro-marriage and beyond that pro-love.

JOTTINGS

Las Vegas, Nevada- Life on the road teaches one how dependent on others one is while away from home. While flying in here from San Francisco, your friendly neighborhood editor had a bit of an anxiety attack. I came upon the realization my life was literally in the hands of complete strangers. What did I know of my pilot Bob and his first officer Dennis? What if they had been drinking? What if one of them held a grudge against the city of Las Vegas for his gambling debts and decided to take it out by driving a large aircraft into a populated casino? What if one of their hearts had been broken in Vegas and the return trip was too much to handle? My heart raced like a little bunny rabbit.

On a more sensible level, when one is in a foreign city, the businesses you rely on are most likely stumbled upon by nothing more than outward appearances. Yet you depend on their services to make your trip more enjoyable. One nice thing I found in Seattle was the general friendliness of the retail personnel. It impressed me that in nearly every store I found myself in, someone would greet me and ask if I needed any assistance. (Most have been my naturally confused look.) I've never been one to get excited about all these "new" retail philosophies where clerks are trained how to treat their customers. I've always been one to stick to simplicity and treat the person across the counter the way i wish to be treated. But you really notice a difference in your perception of a city, or a business when the help you receive is indifferent and lacking in the most basic courteous behavior. For example, in a Berkeley book store while purchasing a book, the salesperson maintained a conversation with another employee the entire time he was ringing me up not even interrupting himself to give me the amount of my purchase. The entire experience left me bitter for days.

While in Renton Washington, my family and I checked into a Motel 6 where we found the sheets in our room full of hair and food crumbs. My sister called the front desk and requested new sheets. The manager came up in a storm, "Those sheets were changed this morning. I was here when they did them. It's only dog hair... if you don't like it here you can stay at the Red Lion..." By the time he was finished changing the sheets he was screaming at my father and even I, usually the last to catch on, realized this probably wasn't the best way to treat a customer. So if you're ever in Renton, I would suggest staying at the Red Lion. It might be a little more expensive but I think clean sheets are probably worth it....