Natalie Cole

I worked at Pottery Barn today and Natalie Cole was there to sign her CD. FYI Pottery Barn is not a music store. It sells home funishing and accessories as its core business. I had a not so positive experience with the whole will you sign my CD epxerience. I only wanted to get some signed for friends who are fans. I had written my personal message on stick notes on each CD. I went up to her and gave her the covers and the notes. She was about to start and I was going to tell her I was praying for her health when her publicist came and told me to step aside while he edited my notes to just the names of the people they were to go to. He was so rude, had I not opened the CD wrapper I would have returned the CD's to the store. One of my pet peaves is that I never spend my money at stores or on people who do not respect me. However I endured and I got the CD signed in the most impersonal way. And then they had the nerve to ask me if I wanted a picture with her and I said no I do not. I do not know if she heard me but honestly I did not want a picture with her. Her publicist was rude/mean to me. Why would I want a picture with someone who allows her staff to be disrespectful to me. I walked away from this experience torn. Was I wrong to say no the pciture? Was I wrong to feel that that the publicist was rude. I was the the fith to the last peron is line, she was probably tired? Right. But then as I reflected on it I just felt sad for her and people that go gu gu for ga ga over such people. Sad for her because she is currently in need of a kidney transplant and has dialysis three times a week. Either she needs the money from such events or her self esteem is in need of the attention she receive. Sad for the people who are gu gu for ga ga in that there are so many more people who have made more substantial contributions to the world such as Gandhi's peace movement, Bill and Melinda Gates and the Gates foundation's contribution to AIDS research and public health in resource poor countries or the winner of the MacArthus genius award winner.

Quotes by George Washington Carver

There is no short cut to achievement. Life requires thorough preparation - veneer isn't worth anything.

When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.

Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.