Friday, June 8, 2018

From Hornet to Lancer: the Colors are Still the Same



          Jenna has graduated from Middle School.  Her last day was yesterday and there was a promotion celebration last night.    The principal passed out a few awards.  The first one was for perfect attendance.  She and Kylee had both received perfect attendance awards that day.  Jenna had not missed any school - including the Monday after spring break when I told her she could stay home.  Kayla's family didn't leave until about an hour after she returned.


          The promotional award for 100% attendance went to Kylee who had not missed a day in three years.  I don't recall Jenna having ever missed a class in sixth grade, but know she had missed some during seventh grade.  She had missed the last two days when we left Oregon to go back to Utah for Jeanie's funeral.


          The last award given was for special recognition for outstanding student.  The buildup was one who dressed up for every Spirit day, was always kind to everybody, a happy individual, a great example and more.  I could see Jenna's peers telling saying her name and Jenna denying it. But guess what?  It was her!  She was surprised and I was ecstatic!  She deserved that award.


          My baby will be starting high school this fall.  High School!!!  I remember when she was born and I held her in my arms.  She is taller than me now.  I LOVE Jenna so much.  She is awesome!

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Four Areas to Acheive


          I post about my classes as because it is part of my current life.  Although the class was last mod, it still affects me, and I didn't have time to post last month as I may have this month.  I had two classes last mod, but don't generally post about my assignments or discussions in accounting.  They're boring.  Even my instructor said they were boring.  That made me laugh.  The subject of accounting is so one dimensional.  Answers have to be exact.  Everything is black and white.  Blah, blah, blah . . .

          Critical thinking, on the other hand, teaches aspects of human behavior and the way our minds work.  There isn't right and wrong in the same sense as accounting.  Not everything is black and white as with math.  Not only is there a huge variety of grey shades, but huge explosions of many colors.  Perhaps I should have gone into journalism . . .

          I've shared a bit of my assignments and discussions from my critical thinking and feel the desire to share more as there is always more than one side to the story or situation and I need to learn how to accept both (or all) side.

          Roland was getting on my case for not posting to the discussion board first thing on Monday morning, but we had specifically been told NOT to post until after we had received further instructions in the lecture itself.  The first week's discussion was to define critical thinking and include examples of how we think in various settings such as social, political, environmental and religious, which are most important and why.  This is what I posted to my first discussion:


"My husband and I have different opinions on practically everything except possibly religion, and even there we are in two different stages of understanding or development.  Let me give you some examples of how we vary.

"Economically:    When we lived in Salt Lake, we always had a tremendous amount of garbage to fill our cans each week.  The sanitation program in the area had recently sent around flyers to introduce a recycling program, and we could pay to have a recycling can for about the third of another garbage can. 

"I accepted offer believing that I was helping the economy in addition to having more room for whatever I was disposing of.  Problem is the men in my household refused to learn to sort - which is more crucial now that we live in Oregon than we did in Salt Lake.

"I view that recycling helps create jobs;  my husband looks at recycling as more cost to us both financially and time-consuming.

"Politically:         I have always had a problem with the media's interference announcing the outcome of an election before everyone on the west coast has even had a chance to vote;  some voters get cocky thinking their candidate is going to win as it was announced and may not even bother going to the polls.  The media is not always a reliable source and sometimes the cockiness has cost those who didn't vote because they believed they had it in the bag [I think the results of this last Presidential Election for example]

"Socially:   Salt Lake felt like it was all about business and growing.  No one could leave the house without marketing being thrown in our faces.  Life depended on gain.

"Here, in the part of Oregon where I currently reside, they have no clue what marketing is.  They have social events to bring the community together - not necessarily to raise money.  We're a close-knit community. I prefer the simplicity.  My husband likes the complex.  I Hate competition.  He sees it as necessary.

"Religion:    The population of the area I currently reside is less than 3500 and yet there are 17 denominations of faith. It's good to have a place to meet and share Christian beliefs (or what have you) but there are certain sectors that are ousted by others.  For example, we recently asked to use one of the rooms in the LDS church we attend; we needed space to host my daughter's birthday party as there were several friends that she wanted to invite - more than our house would hold;  we needed a larger space but without a large cost.  Some of the kids she had invited couldn't come because their parents didn't want for them to be in an LDS church specifically.

"I think the most important issue to me is how we interact with one another and how we're accepted.  I love the friendships I have made within this community.  I am not suspicious of people as I was in Salt Lake - often wondering what a person wanted from me or what he/she was trying to sell.  I like having friends who are interested in real friendships and not just what I can do for their business or political career."

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Medication: Often Trading One Problem for Another


               It's been a year since Jeanie passed - not that I dwell on dates when people died.  Her mom does.  She's always posting the birthdays and death dates of those who have passed on.  Some days are better for her than others.  I think some days may be worse for her than they were for Jeanie.  I can't say for certain since most of the correspondence I've had with them has been through facebook.  I didn't even have that with Jeanie those times that she not only unfriended me but blocked me as well.  Apparently, it was the medication disrupting her otherwise rational mind.  It not only shattered her own emotions, but I had allowed myself to become upset as well.  I may never know the entire scheme of things; I did learn so much more about her at her funeral than I had ever known about her before.

          Biff had tried to explain it to Roland who either misunderstood Biff or perhaps Biff hadn't explained it well enough or really hadn't understood it himself.  By the time it got to me,  there were things lost in translation or miscommunications and until the day of her funeral, I did not know, wasn't aware, hadn't understood that Jeanie had been molested as a child. 

          One of her brothers had announced it over the pulpit.  It was shocking and seemed out of place for a speaker to make that the topic of discourse at a funeral - and yet I understood his emotions and the pain of the entire family.  Jeanie had been traumatized.  It left some thick emotional scars that still have not healed.  It was both disturbing and extraordinary at the same time - not the topic itself but for the love and concern that the speaker not only had for his sister but several generations of children and adults who have also been traumatized by one they should have been able to trust.  A person who should have been there to protect her and care for her.  It was sickening and so much of what he said had a profound ring.  I wondered if their other sister had been molested as well.

          Jenna had chosen to assist in the nursery, which I was truly grateful for as the subject was uncomfortable to me - I knew it would be for her as well.  And yet his talk was truly from the heart.  It was still disconcerting to learn what had happened and his plea to talk about it.  

          I knew Jeanie had been seeing a psychiatrist.  I knew it was for some kind of abuse - though I had thought it had been inflicted on by her ex-husband.  He was never even mentioned. I didn't realize it had stemmed all the way back to when she was five.  A time of innocence that she had attempted to live out again.  How difficult it must have been for the family when she would ask why her parents looked so old.  And where were her siblings?  And who was the stranger named Biff?  And where did the baby come from?  Of course, if she thought she was only five, she wasn't going to believe that Biff was her husband or that she had given birth to the baby girl.  Two of her sibs had already passed on before her and the other two were living in other states.

          We had a few family get-togethers when we would see Jeanie. Twice I remember her feeling flushed and excusing herself.  Two other times I remembered when she genuinely seemed happy. That is who she really was.  Happy.  Full of life.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to know that person.   She would cancel appointments with us.  Sometimes Biff would show up by himself.  He wasn't allowed to take Ally her first year.  Jeanie was quite possessive of Ally.  She would get verbally abusive towards Biff and her mom.  That was the person I saw.  The one that was sick.  The one that had become violent through medication.  I think when she realized who she had become, it wasn't worth taking the medication.  And so she chose to suffer as silently as she could and tried hard not to upset the rest of the family.

          I was included in that "rest of the family" and did not understand what demons she'd been dealing with. I was aware that there had been demon's in Biff's life but did not know to what extent.  I admire Biff so much for putting up with it.  He knew that the outbreaks were not her fault.  He stayed with her and blamed himself for not being there to catch her when she fell.  It wasn't his fault.  It wasn't medicine's fault.  We don't know if it was her death that caused the fall or if she died when she landed or on the way down.  The autopsy revealed that there were seven clots in her lung. 

          Some days her mom is accepting and knows that Jeanie is better off in another world where she doesn't have to take medicine to overcome emotional or physical pain.  She is free.  And she is with a brother and their sister.  But there is still a hole.  A void.  A longing.  An emptiness.

          Biff moved on with his life.  He moved in with Claire and they are raising Ally together, although Jeanie's mom would still like to be involved.  She remains in touch with Roland's sister who is a retired nurse and has been in contact and has had a better handle of the situation than either Roland or I.  Jeanie may not have unfriended or blocked Roland's sister.  They stayed in touch. 

          Our youngest son recently texted a family photo or all three boys and their families.  They are with Roland's sister and her husband and two youngest children.  Even after Biff's outbursts with behavior at times and seemingly lack of gratitude,  I was taken aback to hear that it was Jeanie's parents that were providing room and board for Roland's sister and family as my own boys were unable to make room for them.  (Randy lives in the largest space of the three - our old house in WV - which is teeny) I'm happy to hear that they are well liked and that bridges may be mended.  

        For family home evening the other night, we wrote letters to each of the boys.  I finished my thoughts yesterday and mailed the letters along with Jenna's most recent photo from school.  I am so happy to see all of my boys together again.  Jenna's been a little sad that she is not sharing their lives in person.  I guess we all are.  If only we could get all of them to come to Oregon. 

Monday, June 4, 2018

Analysis and Recommendation for Hallmark


          Each time I post an assignment, I realize I'm providing opportunity for someone else to cheat.  To take my words and try to make them their own.  I even provide references for the sake of the reader and not the cheater.  I have decided I will not to include references on my blog but in a different file. 
 
          The final assignment given in one of my accounting classes, was to create an analysis and recommendation on a company recognized by its trademark.  Initially, I picked Coca-Cola - but my research provided more information than I knew what to do with.  Frankly, I was overwhelmed with how many pies Coke hands have been dipped into (so to speak) and wasn't interested in doing a recommendation on a company that seemingly owned so many others.  And so I changed it.

          While using the T.V. remote, and using the grid to see what would be on, Roland suggested that I research more about the Hallmark company.  What a marvelous suggestion!  I was totally impressed with what I found - and even by what I didn't find.  I couldn't do a market analysis as part of my recommendation as the financial records are not released for public information.  I like that!  Here is what I ended up with:

           "Many of us recognize the logo associated with the golden crown over the cursive letters that spell out the word "Hallmark" - which has gone beyond more than just a trademark of greeting cards.  According to Hallmark Trivia, their logo is recognized in more North American retail outlets than McDonald's. (Trivia, 2016). Hallmark also has the great slogan: "When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best" (Murtaugh, 2017).   This slogan was created in 1944 by Ed Goodman, a sales and marketing executive at Hallmark.  This is what Hallmark stands for.  For many, Hallmark means caring and quality (Corporate, 2018)



           "The Hallmark Corporation has been around for over 100 years which is one of the reasons why I would recommend this company. Their innovative ideas and wholesome products are a major contribution to their success. Their marketing skills and connection with the public interest is awesome.  It is a company that makes people happy and take pride in sharing.
           "There is a rich history that goes with the Hallmark industry. The business was started in 1910 during a time when every proficient member of each household contributed to the family finances if at all possible.  Joyce Clyde Hall, or J.C. as he was called, along with his brothers William and Rollie, would carry shoeboxes full of postcards as they traveled from door to door to sell their goods (Franzen, 2013). 
            "As a young teenage boy, J.C. was quite innovative and became interested in creating a business as the picture postcards provided inspiration. He and Rollie created a business with selling cards.  In 1915, when the public showed a desire for a more private communication than the postcard would allow, the Hall Brothers'  business created personal greeting cards that came with custom sized envelopes (History, 2018). The brothers continued their business under the name "Hall Brothers, Inc." until 1928 when they decided to use a "hallmark" or trademark on the back of their cards using their name Hall in the mark and the sign of the crown, thus the Hallmark logo was born (Corporation, 2018).
            "Hallmark is a family owned business that does not share financial statements with the general public, nor are they listed on the stock exchange as they are privately owned and unavailable for purchase. There is, however, the opportunity of investing in franchising and personal ownership (Corporation, 2018). There are over 30,000 independently owned retail stores that sell Hallmark products.  Some of these store names can be found under the names "Shoebox" or "Ambassador" in addition to Hallmark (Incorporated, 2018).
            "Hallmark does offer paid internships for both creative and corporate positions. "The internships we offer are hands-on and one-of-a-kind. As an intern at Hallmark, you will work on projects tied to Hallmark's business priorities and gain exposure to Hallmark’s leaders" (Hallmark, 2018).  Employees have the opportunity of investing in a deferred compensation plan as well as opportunities to became shareholders if they so desire (Corporation, 2018). Hallmark employs over 28,000 people worldwide.  It is so awesome to know that there is such a large and recognized worldwide business that continues to be privately owned.
            "It was suggested by some that Hallmark's biggest competitor in greeting cards has been with American Greetings (Barmash, 1983) though Hallmark is a more recognized name and trademark (Star-Gazer, 2010).  By the 21st century, I think the biggest competition has been with the internet where everything is instantaneous and comes with several options, such as voice and movement (Verge, 2013).  However, the internet does not always gratify the desires of recipients or senders. People still like to receive tangible items in the mail. The personal touch that one would like to achieve is often not found on the internet.
            "There is also a new 3-D card company on the rise called LovePops (CNN, 2017) that may be headed in the direction of Hallmark competition. According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans purchase 6.5 billion greeting cards per year.  Hallmark publishes in more than 30 languages and serves over 100 countries.  (Darrisaw, 2017).  LovePops does not include written words but leaves it up to the consumer, thus their cards do not need to be translated into other languages (Carter, 2015).
            "Though greeting cards may be what started the business, they are only a fraction of the Hallmark trade.  In 1917 gift wrap was introduced to consumers.  Colorful prints with inviting designs gradually replaced the trite brown or butcher wrap used to wrap gifts and packages (Hallmark, 2018).  The empire has built up from there. In 1951, the Hallmark Corporation not only provided us great commercials but had also invested in presenting us with wholesome movies which aired under the name "Hallmark Hall of Fame" (Franzen, 2013). " In the more than 60 years since, Hallmark Hall of Fame productions have won 81 Emmy Awards" (Corporate, 2018)


            "By 1960's Hallmark had added much to their line by introducing party items, candles, calendars, stickers, mugs, and toys to name a few (Stafford, 2016).  These were well-received by consumers and continue to this day.  By 1973, Hallmark had introduced us to special keepsake ornaments (Franzen, 2013).  Many patrons look forward to the holiday season as they search for the ornament that offers such a personal meaning.  In 1983 Hallmark was a three billion-dollar-a-year card company (Barmash,1983) and became the parent company to Crayola in 1984 (Crayola, 2018). Throughout all of this was their incredible advertising and marketing that tugged at the heartstrings of a people who desired for the wholesomeness and "feel good" moments that Hallmark brought. This, of course, carried over to advertising Crayola to provide family fun and creative activity through their products.


            "Not every year has been a financial success for the company. There have been some years in which the corporation had its struggles. By 2009, there was a 5.4% decrease in revenue for the greeting card industry (Franzen, 2013).  That seems pretty good when taken into consideration the recession of the entire economy during that time. Even with their struggles, Hallmark always seems to overcome and add more ideas and creativity to their line of products and marketing. If an item becomes outdated or does not sell, new products are created. As of now, they are over four billion strong (Business, 2018). 
            "In addition to their in-store products, Hallmark now offers two cable channels, over 80 million viewers and another Hallmark Channel on the horizon (SWOT, 2018). I do not see a high competitiveness with the Hallmark compared to other cable networks as Hallmark is focused on inspirational and feel good movies for lifting people.  [Note that this report was written before Hallmark Drama made its debut]


            "Though some of the other cable stations do offer said movies at times, they are not consistent about continually reaching out to a wholesome audience as does the Hallmark Channels. Unnecessary language gets censored such as NBC's "Frasier" and USA's created "Psych", each running in syndication on one of the Hallmark Channels.  It appears there are some viewers who are upset about these censors, but there is still a wide range of cable stations to choose from for those who desire a more crude or off-colored language.  Nobody is limited to just the Hallmark stations though censored and clean entertainment as a whole does seem limited to Hallmark (Ihnat, 2017).
            "There are 10% of shareholders through Crown's common stock.  Hallmark still has control on 90% of the Hallmark movie and channel industry (Whitehouse, 2016).  Hallmark was the only cable network that topped double digits on the entertaining charts according to TV AV Club (Ihnat, 2017).  It is refreshing to know how many sponsors and patrons will support family values and decency.
            "Hallmark also plans to introduce a digital book publishing business for aspiring authors;  it is proposed that not only will it benefit the author, but may be an advantage to Hallmark in the movie industry as well.  As eBooks are submitted and published, opportunities will be provide in finding scripts that can become movies. Another proposal is taking some of the aired movies and making them available on eBooks. (Lafayette, 2017). 
            "Certainly, finances are important when recommending a business, but what appeals to me most is the ethics and values of the company.  Hallmark is family owned and there has always been a Hall as acting CEO for the last three generations and will continue on to the next.  Only corruption would prevent Hallmark from serving us another century or so. As long as there are citizens who uphold decent values and personalized respect, Hallmark is here to stay.
           "Hallmark is family oriented - not just because it is a family owned business, but also because their products are "feel-good" products as is their marketing and wholesome media.  Hallmark believes that when people care enough, they can change the world (Business, 2018).  Hallmark is more than just a golden crown over the cursive letters.  It is about caring and giving.  It is about bringing together the best of each other."