Golf Digest Magazine

Dear Golf Digest Magazine,

Thank you so much for your sending the October, November and December issues over the past few days. I appreciate you being so conscientious about getting my subscription caught up.

Interestingly enough, however, I in fact did not subscribe to your magazine. While I'm sure it is a lovely publication filled with glossy yumminess, (my magazine addiction speaks for me at times), I am actually not a golfer. I neither play nor watch golf. The last time I played golf, if we can even call it that, I was in Estes Park, Colorado, holding the iron (insert: lighting rod) while a terrible thunder and lightening storm rolled in right on top of us over the Rocky Mountains. I lived, thank you for wondering.

I'm not sure how it is that I subscribed to Vanity Fair Magazine and received 3 issues of Golf Digest Magazine, but I think we can all agree that a gross error has taken place. I look forward to your assistance in this matter.

Best,
Belinda

As long as we're talking about music...

I'm wondering what you think of the new Taylor Swift record. I'm not going to discuss the merits of her singing with you, but I will say, the chic can write a song. She's writing such appropriate songs for her personal experience, and for that, I bought the record. Yes, kids, I'm one of the million or so who bought the record in the first week. As a songwriter, I wasn't disappointed. While I'm not trying to wish her life away, or mine for that matter, I do look forward to hearing what she writes at 28...and at 35...and so on.
-b

Beating the Homeless, Killing their Dogs, and Staying Silent...or Not

Try as I may, and believe me I try, there is a part of me that just cannot keep silent about certain injustices. There are times in which every moral fiber of my entire being demand that I say something, speak up, lest my silence be misconstrued as apathy. Here is the first in a series of letters I've written this week. Will they make a difference? Maybe not. Will I sleep better knowing I said something? Absolutely.


Dear Kroger:

I have been following with great interest and disgust the story regarding your Madison, TN, location. Your armed guard shot and killed a dog and beat his homeless owner because the homeless individual stole some firewood.

Frankly, the entire story is appalling. This type of behavior by a gun-weilding officer is completely opposite of what your customers not only expect, but demand of you. I propose there is a basic code of human conduct and in no account have I found justification whatsoever for a firearm to be pulled out of its holster in reaction to the events which took place.

You have a security guard who fired his weapon four times on your behalf. He beat an individual to the ground and killed his dog to "defend" your merchandise. I'm mortified that you condone this type of behavior.

My information indicates that you have refused to take any responsibility for the incident. No apologies, no remorse, and perhaps that is the part of this that compells me to write. Your success or failure as a corporation is directly correlational to your community support. Let there be no question that we, your customers, do you the favor by choosing to spend our money at your store when we are being courted all the while by Publix, Wal-Mart, and Food Lion to name just a few.

I am calling for you to make this right. An apology that the situation got so out of control and a dismissing of the 'guard' would be a great start.

Sincerely,
Belinda L. Smith

p.s. The next time you're deciding between killing a guy's dog and beating him to the ground over a bit of stolen firewood, give me a call. I'll cover the bill.

Rewards and Opportunities

It is time, entrepreneurs. Invent a single rewards card that will hold all my other rewards cards.

Are you all having to sign up for all kinds of credit-card-like thingys in order to NOT have to pay a stupid inflated price for things you want? I get it: they want my information for research purposes. What I don't think they understand is that I become some random personality with each "application." At this point, I'm a doctor, a lawyer, an entertainment executive and a construction worker. Now GIVE ME MY REWARDS!

I've turned down what feels like a million rewards card, but these are the ones which are in my wallet as of tonight:

1. A drug store
2. Bookstore
3. Grocery
4. Coffee/Pastry house
5. Clothing place
6. Pet store
7. Art Supply Store

Gang, I have SEVEN rewards cards in my wallet right now. As far as I'm concerned, this is seven too many. How on Earth am I supposed to keep up with all these? Much less the ones I've turned down because my purse is too big. Hence, it is time for one of you business savvy programmers to develop a card which holds all my other rewards. Hurry before someone beats you to it.

-b

I cannot do another rewards card. This is absurd.

You Don't Bring Me Flowers...

A few months ago, I was standing in Kroger near the floral section thinking, "Wow, I would love to justify some fresh flowers today." They all looked so happy and bright and awake. I wanted that in my home. But, really, flowers are things other people give to you, or for special events, right? You don't just buy flowers for yourself. How lame.

But, in the time it takes to push your cart from the soda aisle to the frozen foods aisle, I stopped waiting for people to give me flowers and started getting my own. And that's a tiny bit of the weekly budget that I'd fight for now. Why? Because we really should be kinder to ourselves.

-b

Someone Asked Me Questions

A little bit of background. Thanks for the electronic press, Mr. Mount.

http://www.southerngospelblog.com/archives/8001

-b

Muses and Fruit

Sometimes writing a song is just copying down the words and music that something greater is giving me freely.

Sometimes writing a song a like birthing a watermelon.

Guess which one this is?

-b