Mini-Med "Graduation"

Last Tuesday night was graduation from Mini-Med. I must explain. Mini-Med is an annual program offered to the community by the University of Michigan’s Medical School in Ann Arbor. It consists of six weekly classes taught by med school profs, often renowned specialists in their fields, who volunteer their time. And it’s incredible!

A friend and I enrolled in Mini-Med six or seven years ago. My son, who shares my fascination with medical subjects, started attending four years ago. And my husband joined us in 2008. (I think he goes mostly because he likes stopping at P.F. Chang’s in Northville for a late dinner on our way home!)

Each year’s syllabus focuses on a new topic. The subject for my first year was cancer. Every week, we had two doctors who lectured on various cancers, the latest research and their experiences. After each lecture, the doctors took questions from the audience, and people could go up and speak with them individually at the end of the evening. To say that it was interesting is a huge understatement. Subjects since then have included, the brain, the biology of aging, the metabolic syndrome, the G.I. tract and this year’s metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes. It’s an amazing program that’s well worth the $75 fee. We learned a lot and now have the names of some great doctors, should we ever need them.

But back to graduation. On Tuesday, we celebrated with cupcakes and a gift, which this year was a cool key chain with “U of M Mini-Med 2010” engraved on it. If you think you might want to check it out next spring (sign up early, because the class fills up fast), here’s the Mini-Med website:

http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/minimed/

And all these years I assumed that Mini-Med was exclusive to the University of Michigan. But I was surprised to see that U of M’s site has a link to the National Institutes of Health’s list of American universities with Mini-Med programs. Here’s that link:

http://science.education.nih.gov/home2.nsf/DC+Area+Programs/+Mini-Med+School/33AE0968ECE91CDD85256FFC006B245D

If you’re a medical information junkie, this class is for you!

Mini-Med "Graduation"

Goodbye, Cavalier Telephone

In the beginning, which I’m told was 2003, we were happy with the rates for Cavalier’s phone service. Over the years, however, they kept climbing, and we now pay $65 for our home phone (no international calls) and $52 for phone service in a second home (only local calls). It’s embarrassing, because we should’ve stopped this a long time ago.

On at least two occasions, my husband called Cavalier to say that we would be switching phone companies if our rates weren’t lowered. Each time, the Cavalier representative’s response was a version of “too bad”. The last call was made in late 2009, and we intended to switch carriers immediately. But life got in the way, and we didn’t follow through. Finally, almost two weeks ago, I called AT&T and switched our service . . . or so I thought.

On Wednesday, the AT&T rep called to say that Cavalier wouldn’t release our phone number. She said that Cavalier “freezes” its customers’ phone numbers, in order to protect customers from unauthorized switching of phone carriers. Right. I’m sure it has nothing to do with discouraging people from seeking better rates elsewhere. Anyway, I was told I’d have to call Cavalier to get our numbers released.

When I called, the guy I spoke with initially told me they freezed our phone number for our own good. Then he told me that neither my husband nor I had called Cavalier about rates since 2007. Apparently, when Cavalier reps tell customers they can’t do anything about the crazy rates, they don’t always note it for the record. And then because my husband’s name was the only one on the account, the rep said he couldn’t discuss anything with me.

When my husband was available, I called Cavalier again. This time I got a woman who said that because our account was older, there was no freeze on either number. Isn’t it strange that the previous gentleman was unaware of that fact? And AT&T wasn’t told, either. Nothing like being cooperative, huh? Now it’s going to take several more days for Cavalier to release the number. WTF?! We’re SO finished with Cavalier.

Goodbye, Cavalier Telephone

Babies Are Using Sign Language!

Our 17-month-old granddaughter and her mom visited just after Easter. It had been almost five months since we last saw them, because they live in Georgia. Anyway, at such a young age, five months is a long time, and we marveled at our little darling’s progress. She’d started walking just after their last visit. She dances whenever she hears music. She says a few words, including the toddler’s favorite “NO!” And she’s got teeth!

But the most intriguing thing was that she signs. She actually learned some sign language and uses it to communicate her needs. I find it charming and amazing. I’d read about how babies are being taught sign language, so that they can communicate before they acquire spoken language. But I’d never seen one use it. It’s a fabulous idea, since I remember how frustrated my son would get when he tried repeatedly to tell me something in his version of baby talk that I just couldn’t decipher. Sign language cuts down on that frustration. But it can be hard on grandparents!

When our daughter went out for the evening and left the baby with us, she played for a while before starting to look tired. I held her and tried to give her a bottle. But she sat up and ran her hand across her chest, which she learned as the sign for “please”. As she did it, she looked at me and said, “Momma? Pease”. She was asking for her mom and adding “please”, hoping that I’d somehow make her mom appear. When her mom didn’t show up, she repeated herself a few times and started to curl her lower lip. It killed me, because I couldn’t produce her mom, and she didn’t understand why. I walked around with her, rubbing her back, until she fell asleep on my shoulder. Sign language is great for babies, but now I’m the one who’s frustrated, having to tell her that I can’t give her what she's asking for.

Babies Are Using Sign Language!

A Class That’s Cheaper Than Therapy

I missed my jewelry class the other night. Aside from the fact that I didn’t get to finish any of the bracelets or chains I’d been working on, not being there was really a drag. That’s because the class is not only fun and interesting – it’s therapeutic. We have a great eclectic group of students, and we kind of feed off each other, talking and laughing all evening.

The instructor is a brilliant jeweler whose stunning pieces are truly works of art and whose patience has nurtured hundreds of students. The few guys in attendance are a lot of fun. There’s the retired insurance exec who makes flawless rings, bracelets and pendants that could pass for David Yurman pieces – they’re that gorgeous. (And this guy never forgets a joke!) Another talented artist makes his living as a mortician, and his beautiful jewelry sells like crazy on the internet. Then there’s the attorney who makes fantastic pieces and whose specialty seems to be adorable sterling baby spoons. And we have a very talented autoworker who makes impressive gifts and commissioned pieces.

But the women students far outnumber the men. We represent a hodgepodge of backgrounds – teachers, nurses, a doctor, automotive, saleswomen, stay-at-home moms and a number of other lifestyles. Almost all of them have one thing in common – they’re artists who create amazing objects of beauty. And probably the most skilled is Mary, to whom I felt an instant connection.

Mary knows so much about metalsmithing that she teaches it at art centers, schools and other establishments. She sells her creations at several area art fairs and a few galleries and has even sold a few of my pieces. Because she’s so knowledgeable, she ends up spending a good portion of her class time teaching the rest of us how to do stuff. Just being around her as she works makes me want to produce more!

But perhaps the best thing about the group is the wicked sense of humor that seems to permeate the room. The bantering goes on all evening, and sometimes we laugh ‘til our guts ache. Because of the camaraderie, we help each other with projects and personal issues alike. We care about each other. And the energy in the studio is amazing! That’s why I can arrive feeling frazzled and worn out and leave renewed, like I could take on the world.

Yes, when I miss my jewelry class, I get really bummed out. It’s way cheaper than therapy, and those people fuel my soul!

A Class That’s Cheaper Than Therapy

Beware, Robo Callers - Paybacks Are Hell!

I should start out by saying that marketing robo calls drive me nuts. Nobody has the right to tie up my phone line with a recorded sales pitch for something I don’t want to buy. A few weeks ago, we got one of those maddening calls, this time for furnace duct cleaning. My husband waited ‘til the recording stopped and left a message that we were on the Do Not Call list and to not call us again. Unfortunately, yesterday we got another call from the same company, Quality Control of Royal Oak, Michigan. This time, my husband left our number, and today Quality Control called back to schedule an appointment.

My husband asked the woman who called for the name and location of the company and the owner’s name. He then told her that we’re on the Do Not Call list and that he’d left a message to that effect after their last robo call. Then he asked her why she’s working for someone who’s breaking the law with his repeated phone calls. She got angry and said, “I need a job, Asshole!” and hung up. While sympathetic to her plight, we’re not willing to put up with Quality Control owner Ron Chandler’s harassment.

First, I found the FCC website for reporting illegal calls:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall/

You can fill out an electronic form here:

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

You can file an email complaint at this address: fccinfo@fcc.gov

Or you can do it by phone or fax at these numbers:

1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice
or
1-866-418-0232 fax


Interestingly, I also Googled Quality Control to find customer reviews at this site:

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Quality.Control.248-495-9400/review/list

Needless to say, most of them were awful.

So, if you’re being bombarded with robo calls, do something about it! Go to the website above and file a complaint. The only way to stop these jerks is to get them fined. When it’s no longer profitable to harass people, they’ll stop. I just filed a complaint with the FCC. Enough, already!

Beware, Robo Callers - Paybacks Are Hell!

I Once Worked for Anna From "V"

Have you seen the new sci fi TV drama “V”, about an alien invasion? Although that’s not my usual TV fare, I got hooked on it the first night. Well, there was something about Anna, the leader of the Vs, which stands for “Visitors”, that seemed so familiar. Then it hit me – I once worked for her clone.

Like Anna, this woman came across as friendly, sincere and upbeat. Everyone thought she was great . . . until they got to know her. She was ruthless. Make a mistake, and you were crucified. Turn your back, and her talons came out, ready to rip you apart. In the first few days of working for her, I watched in horror as she brutally tore into one of my analysts for making an error. And it was someone with whom she’d been overly friendly only a few weeks earlier.

Another of her endearing traits was that lies slid off her tongue like honey. She once smiled and told me how hard she’d fought for the raise that I’d just gotten, when I knew for a fact that she’d fought against it. If I hadn’t known the truth, I’d never have suspected, because she lied so effortlessly. It’s as if she had no conscience.

She also expected everyone to do “face time” like she did, staying hours after other areas left for the day. In fact, a subordinate who’d been working lots of overtime (unpaid, of course) asked if she could leave at 5:00 one day, because it was her only child’s first birthday, and there was to be a small party. Our little “Anna” looked the employee in the eye and told her there was work to do, adding “Your daughter will have another birthday next year.”

So I always suspected she wasn’t human. She’d never married and had no kids, pets or even a house plant. Nothing alive was given space in her house. She was kind of secretive about her past, and now maybe I know why. I’ll bet she’s an alien reptile, like Anna. I’ll bet she had kids once, ‘til she became enraged and ate them.

I Once Worked for Anna From "V"

Let's Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.

Recently, I checked out a shop, @Home Furniture, in downtown Rochester, MI, to look at doll beds for my niece. I ended up spending about an hour talking to the store owners about their inventory of furniture, accessories, toys and other items, all made in the U.S. They told me about their workshop behind the store, where they make much of the furniture they carry. The doll furniture is made by them and a laid off auto worker and is absolutely beautiful.

The conversation turned to their frustration over the lack of jobs and loss of industry in the U.S. and what they’re doing to fight back. When they opened their shop, they visited other stores on Main Street, and their first comment was always “Show me what you have that’s made in the U.S.” In most cases, there was little or no domestic inventory. So they explained that they would be referring their customers, who value products made in the U.S., to the stores in town that carry non-imported items. And they absolutely refuse to buy the imported stuff themselves. As a result, several stores have increased their inventories of domestic products.

They also talked about how most large companies have moved their production to China or India. For example, much of the furniture on the market now is made in China. And before upholstered pieces can be shipped here, they’re sprayed with insecticides to kill any bugs that might be in the upholstery. So I wonder if 20 years from now, we’ll be seeing an increase in cancers, potentially from chemicals on imported sofas and chairs.

Anyway, if you’re in the market for high-quality furniture, hand-made hardwood toys, like trains and doll furniture, or decorative accessories for your home, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. @Home Furniture is located at 434 S. Main Street in Rochester, MI, and everything they carry is made here. The phone number is 248-608-8483.

Although I’m aware that most items we buy come from China, I’m definitely going to start paying more attention to things made here. And I, too, will say: “Show me what you have that’s made in the U.S.” If more people did this, maybe we could eventually bring some manufacturing back home.

Let's Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.