Sanity Check: Why Don't 'They' Just NOT Answer?

I just made a business call to a vendor's cell phone number. As I usually do, when he answered I asked if I was interrupting. His reply: "Yes! I was in a meeting but stepped out to answer your call. I should probably go back in (to the meeting)."

Now tell me please, why the heck didn't he just turn off his damn phone? I could have left a voice mail message. That would have been far more efficient than the exchange we had. Now he has to call me again just to find out what I want.

We live in goofy times . . . . .

More Small But Encouraging Signs Of An Economic Recovery

Yesterday's mail included one of those 'check' packets from my Master Card vendor; you know the ones I mean - the blank checks that offer you the opportunity to more easily spend money you don't have! As I tore them up, it occurred to me it had been several months since I had received one of those mailings. Coincidentally, later in the day I called a bank where I had financed an auto on a routine service issue. At the end of the call, the customer service representative offered me a new "Platinum" credit card with a significant limit and "no annual fees"!

Although almost inconsequential, would either of these occurrences have happened just a few weeks ago? Hopefully it's a sign the credit markets are loosening and more evidence the economy is turning (along with the stock market rally.) I know we're far from being out of the woods but for those of us looking for any good news to assuage the angst of recent months, it may be worth sharing. What about you? Have any good news?

It doesn't seem to have much to do with health care . . . . . . . . or, does it!?

A Dose of Good Economic News

We all know the media never reports on 'safe landings' thus the daily news about the economy is almost exclusively awful. And such negativism seems to be feeding on itself. Well here's my own positive anecdote which will (hopefully) give you reason for a little optimism.

I was in the Twin Cities over the past weekend and drove to Bloomington to visit the IKEA store across from the Mall of America. As I got near my exit, traffic was backed up onto the highway. It took me about 20 minutes just to navigate the short distance from the interstate to the IKEA parking structure; which, if you have never been there, is a huge two story garage . . . . and it was full! When I finally got into the IKEA showroom it was a mob. I can't even begin to estimate the number of people. I've never seen anything like it. And we're supposedly "in the greatest economic downturn since the great depression?!?!" Not from what I could see.

I didn't even bother going across the street to the Mall. The traffic resembled Miller Park on Opening Day except I'm sure there were even more people shopping at just these two venues.

Take heart friends. There are people spending money. Don't believe everything you read.