Ali Gator

You should have texted him while sitting next to him. It would have been more effective than talking to him while sitting next to him.

Maybe this was sprung on him last minute ? I know I had 'free time' booked for myself this past Friday / Saturday (Dec 22-23) and was looking at ads to book some 'fun time', and my free time suddenly filled up with last minute changes due to it being a 'holiday weekend'. I went from having 48 hours of 'very little to do' and having 'me time' before the holiday, to running around doing errands for others and pitching in where I could. I'm certain I'm not the only one - and providers (in any service business) should realize it's the nature of the beast. I have a part-time job on Sundays, and my schedule is usually 'set'. However, when I accepted this job, I also agreed to filling in on weekend shifts should someone call out and they are short-staffed. The rule is that my manager has to give me three hours notice. Plenty of times, when I am scheduling (in advance by a few days) a provider on a Saturday or Sunday evening, I will let them know I will confirm a few hours prior, and explain that I am 'on call' for the weekend (easiest way to explain), so I may be called in and will have to reschedule with them. I also encourage them to fill my appointment with someone else, if they want to be assured of an appointment for that time and I will reschedule. 99% of the time this works out fine. If a provider isn't understanding with this, I simply cancel the appointment altogether.

" In documents filed Wednesday, Cher claims her 47-year-old son is "substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues." The documents state Elijah is entitled to regular payouts from a trust set up by his late father, legendary musician Gregg Allman, but Cher is concerned the money will immediately go toward drugs rather than basic living necessities." Cher Files for Conservatorship Over Son Elijah WWW.TMZ.COM Cher doesn't seem to trust her son Elijah to make sound financial decisions right now ... so the singer-songwriter has filed for a conservatorship to control...

In the photo in my OP, she looks like she's morphing into Faye Dunaway.

Got an email from Amazon today, telling me that starting next month, some 30 second ads will interrupt the streamers I watch, all for my benefit ! Yes, I'll get to watch commercials so that Amazon can bring me better programming. However, for an upcharge of $3 a month, I can skip the ads. I think I will fork over the $3. For 2023, I'm done with : Lume deodorant for your ass crack, to keep it smelling fresh and clean. Christina (and her vocal fry) for Jacuzzi. Javier and his Botox. Josh Sanabria, the vet owner who cries when Alexandria K (Tammy Faye Baker look-alike) from Bank America tells him his loan is approved. Balance of Nature fruits and vegetable supplements - and all the copycats. Miserable Martha who's 75 and doesn't want to pick out her Medicare health insurance supplement. Marlo Thomas for St. Jude's.

I'm not sure why she - and so many other celebs - opt for the 'Southeast Asian' look.

There's exceptions to every rule - and I'm certain there are more like him out there (I hope). However, in general, the Zoomers have proven to be very removed from socializing, making small talk, etc. since they have not been exposed to this growing up. This is the tech generation.

Hollywood analysts were expecting to take in at least $10 Billion at the US Box Office in 2023. With just days to go to finish off the year, it will be lucky to see it hit $8.6 Billion at the Box Office. Ticket prices increased 15% this year, but less people went to the movies, it seems. Hollywood insiders blame "Superhero Fatigue" as many of the "Superhero" movies flopped at the box office. Others say the writers strike, overlapped with the actors strike this summer, was also to blame. Actors couldn't promote their movies from May - October, and some movies were postponed to 2024. 88 films were released in 2023 as compared to 108 in 2019 (looking at pre-pandemic) when the box office hit $10.5 billion, and tickets were at least 15% lower back then. This November was much worse than last November - 11% worse - with 'Wish' and 'The Marvels' proving to be an expensive flop. Two films helped the box office surpass the $7.5 Billion take it did in 2022 : "Barbie" and "SuperMario Bros", wit each taking in $500 Million at the box office.

Madonna premiered her new face for the Holidays in a series of photos of her with her family. The 65 year old's face doesn't match her hands. Her hands are holding a 'Madonna' Christmas ornament which looks more like her than the 'person'. Madonna shares a series of festive photos of her celebrating Christmas with her six children: 'Santa Babies' | Daily Mail Online WWW.DAILYMAIL.CO.UK The day after the holiday, the 65-year-old singer-songwriter took to Instagram to post a festive slideshow of her and her family enjoying the day...

I was always told Federal Government employees are not allowed to receive tips or gifts - especially not at Christmas time. I tried to give my carrier a card with a tip in it years ago, and he told me he couldn't jeopardize his job and accept it. When did this change ?

If you're in New England, this gentleman has been around for about a year or so. He used have nudes in his ad, and he was rather 'impressive'. I've never hired, and don't know anyone who has. Martin_nSF - Pornstar Performer, Rentboy, Gay Massage in Providence, RI | RentMen RENTMEN.EU Pornstar Performer & Rentboy in Providence, RI - Martin_nSF: Submissive Gentleman

When I first opened my store in 1987, I had just turned 24 years old. I was fortunate that I had some 'small business managerial experience' behind me (while I put myself through college) and had some mentors who had their own business over the past 5+ years advising me. That's what made me successful from the beginning - but I still had a huge 'learning lesson' ahead of me with customers. Some of the best advice I got early on (from a neighboring storeowner who had been in business for 7 years - she owned a children's toy store) : "Don't let your customers run your store," meaning : do what you can for your customers, but set boundaries and limits. You don't say "Yes" to everyone and every thing. It's OK to say 'No'; your customers respect you even more for setting your limits. I think this advice goes to providers, as well. (This goes on 'price negotiations' as well - if someone hesitates over a price, you stand firm. If they want you they will pay the price for your services.) She also said to me, "This is your business - don't let it become your grave." Such sound advice, and true for providers as well - set your working hours / travel days, etc. and learn to take time off and keep time to yourself each week. She told me to 'learn to lock the doors and walk away' (not worrying about customers I might 'miss' when I'm closed - they will come back). My advice to providers - 'Learn to shut the cell phone off and put it away, until you're back from your refresher time (whether it be a weekend, a Monday & Tuesday, a week's vacation, etc.). ' Don't worry about clients you might miss when you're 'closed for business'; they will come back.

What you've described is the experience of just about everyone who has been self-employed and servicing the public (I owned a retail store for 25 years - the stories I could share ! Especially the Christmas season, and what the customers expect from you.) Last night, I spent time with a friend of mine who owns her own hair salon. The salon is just her - she doesn't 'rent chairs' out, so it's just her and the client in a quaint, private studio. She's been hairdressing for 30+ years, and opened this salon in 1998 (she opened next door to my old retail space, so I'm familiar with the neighborhood and her clientele). She's been able to support herself by running a tight ship, but the past few years (since the pandemic) has been tough sailing - and giving her second thoughts about continuing once her lease is up next summer. Anyhow, she was saying this was the worst season she's had since 1998. Because of the holiday season (and holiday parties), she's extended the time she's there this past month (and will do it again this last week for New Year's Eve). She's been there from 7 am - 7 pm Tuesday - Saturday, trying to accommodate everyone - and this is what she has to put up with: The extraordinary amount of last-minute cancellations every day, the number of 'no shows', the number of last-minute calls demanding appointments by new and regulars, the number of new clients wasting time on the phone going over the 'price menu' and then telling her she's 'too expensive' (for the area she's in, and offering a private studio space - she's not), etc. As she said, if she knew her last three appointments would be no-shows and cancellations, she could've gone home early most days. If she knew most of her 7 am and 8 am appointments would be 'no shows' (they claim 'they forgot'), she could've slept in a little later. Aside from this, she said everyone was 'cheap' this year - no cash tips for Christmas (granted, she's an owner but she would always get 'cash tips' as a Holiday gift at this time of year), no gifts for Christmas. But with years of experience, she learned (just as I did, and you will to if you haven't already) this behavior goes with the territory - all year long, but especially during the Christmas season. Everyone thinks it's great to be in 'business for yourself' (and it was for me for 25 years), but it's not as easy as it appears and you are at the mercy of 'the public'. Good luck!

What was so notable about the sixth season was there was not a mention of Prince Andrew / Epstein (and his scandals in the early 2000s which led up to the past few years), Fergie, or Prince Edward and his family. They treated the series as though the Queen had only two children (Anne and Charles) and two grandchildren (William and Harry). WTF ?

They were fully clothed in ridiculous costumes and Christmas attire (like 'bulky ugly sweaters'). It wasn't like BB summers where they were shirtless or in bathing suits. So - no naked bodies for any of them the past two weeks (and that goes for Cody, Josh, and Xavier).

He's listing his age as 21 - even if you give a few more years on that (maybe he's more mid-20s) - he's a Zoomer. They don't make small talk, and they don't know how to socialize because they never learned how. Communicating is done via text messages. So coming face to face with a (older) stranger, what are they going to say ? They'd rather take off their clothes and get their money. As we keep hiring these new young studs entering the market, we better make allowances for this. Or - higher older escorts (40+).

Southern New England.

And 31 year old Nicole Franzel - the poster child for the 'anxiety-ridden / professional victim Millennial' - wins this year's game. Yes, the woman who speaks like Sara Palin won the $100,000 grand prize. The show was six episodes long, probably filmed in a 12 hour period (if that). As each guest left, the 'others' gave a big group hug and professed their collective love for the loser. "Love you ! Love you sooooooo much! Love you always!" they shouted. Really ? You've known each other less than a day and you're already in love with them and emotionally attached ? Once the player left the game with all that love surrounding them, the other players had to wipe their eyes - as though they were at a funeral. Frankie Grande* was the worst. *Can they ever cast a gay guy who doesn't blow all the whistles for every damn stereotype ? Any masculine looking / acting gay men they can cast for one season ?

It happened again. This morning, 2 new providers posted in my area (they would be in the area this coming week on different days). A few hours after, the ads are all gone. WTH ? They didn't even allow time to get some responses to book their week (and it didn't appear they were traveling together - not by their availability).

This Zoomer needs to be fired. Then he can post a video of him crying, asking how he's supposed to afford his cell phone bill. Maybe he can live off a 'Go Fund Me' page.

Time is NEVER running out when they benefit from the promo. They will keep contacting you and telling you the offer ends at the end of the new month - and they will continue doing this for the next twelve months. Since you engaged in a conversation with the 'cute young banker' in person, you've been flagged - they now have you marked as someone who 'is interested' (even though you're not). Stand firm.

"hide.me" is the best !

Finally finished off Season 6. It was honestly like trying to plod through porridge - horribly slow and dull. It seemed like all of Season 6 was taken straight from The Daily Mail and the NY Post. 'Recent history' of the Royals was totally unnecessary. They should have ended with Season 5.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, these are the 10 BEST movies for 2023 : 10- Passages 9- Perfect Days 8- Anatomy of a Fall 7- Showing Up 6- The Zone of Interest 5- Fallen Leaves 4- Killers of the Flower Moon 3- All of us Strangers 2- Poor Things 1- Past Lives

Last week they promoted the hell out of this movie on 'The View' (though Oprah never made an appearance). They had the cast on one day, talked about it every day. When the cast was on - they all bowed at the throne of Whoopi (and kissed her ass). Host Sara Haines kept parroting what she said one year ago, when they were promoting the hell out of the movie "Till". Said Haines over and over again (both last year and this year): "I keep hearing a lot of Oscar buzz for this movie. Everyone is saying it's going to sweep the Oscars". Last year, she'd then turn to the Almighty Whoopi and repeat, "Lots of Oscar buzz for you," to which Whoopi would grin. Well, not sure who was buzzing in Haines' ear last year - "Till" was nominated for nothing important, Whoopi was ignored - and infuriated. So Haines best be quiet for the next few weeks and refrain from saying, "I'm hearing lots of Oscar buzz for this movie" every time 'The Color Purple' is mentioned. Someone's lying to her and she's jinxing the movie's chances. (BTW, she also did this two years ago with Spielberg's "West Side Story"- she heard 'lots of Oscar buzz' in her ears).