Beth's Holiday thoughts on Freedom, Perspective and Gratitude

[Beth]

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

My stomach is currently growling with thoughts of the upcoming FREE LUNCH of chili verde, must be yesterday's FREE LUNCH of curry chicken, rice and salad that must be enticing me to today's...oh yeah, that's all Ernie's money being spent.

That said, I just want to express my gratitude for everything I have in my life that I know I take for granted sometimes. Healthy family, great friends, a forum full of kooks to keep me entertained (you know I love you guys), and my job/career/passion here at EB/MM. I have the freedom to do what I want with this department with the guidance and expertise of my boss, Mr. Sterling Ball. It can be scary at times, but the growth and wisdom I've gotten in the 7.5 years I've worked here is worth every gray hair.

Koogs, you forgot the self-flagellation on your "worshipping BP" post. My back still hurts from the one I gave to myself last night while concurrently shouting "WE'RE NOT WORTHY!!!" and playing the YouTube video from Jackie's Pachelbel thread.

Poor Sterling and his Uncle Scrooge silo full of gold coins to spend through. Knowing Scotty and Brian, the snot-nosed spoiled brats that they are ( Love you guys, you're like little brothers to me) , they're trying hard to spend through it too. Certainly Casey Lee will find a way to find the bottom of it, but somehow, the silo just keeps getting filled. I guess you still can market a good product without the help of outsourcing...

Really, folks, the Ball family is one of the least spoiled, most grounded and generous family I've ever met and had the pleasure and pride to be associated with. For that, I am grateful. They're like family to me too, and treat me as such. I'm not saying that to kiss any a$$, I really mean it. To see the kind of innovation, passion and dedication in not one, not two, but THREE successive generations in this business is heart-warming and I am so proud to be rolling up my sleeves and getting to work alongside them. It truly is an honor.

I'm really sorry for my sarcasm in the beginning of this thread, but most of it is true. I wasn't going to jump in on any of these onery threads that have been popping up like zits on my face after a chocolate-gorging session in the EB kitchen, but now I feel I should. I feel like I should express how I feel this close to Christmas, especially when it seems like many people lose sight of what's really important around this time of year. *Yawn* Doesn't this come up every year, the true "meaning" of Christmas and how we all get jaded? Haven't we all learned? Don't you all watch the Grinch every year? The Whos in Whoville all sang, even when all of their material Christmas items were stolen. This is why I am so shocked at the behavior and sense of entitlement of people in general this past week.

OK I have to post the rest in a different post, because I think this was too long to post in its entirety....hang on a sec...

 

[Beth]

Yesterday I got really down (I'll admit it, I cried, I'm a total weiner)
about the loss of perspective. We should be so lucky to have a roof
over our heads, let alone computers and a forum with which to harass
people. Some people are thinking about where their next meal is coming
from (thanks BP! My next sustenance is coming from the production lunch
area!) while others are saying that they won't have a Merry Christmas
because of EB/MM's long-standing international business policies. I
really shouldn't get so down and let this bother me and my ability to
have a Merry Christmas nor spread the cheer to my friends, family and
coworkers. It's been hard, but I'm remembering what my Mom told me
years ago which sounds hauntingly familiar: "Give them a break,
Elizabeth. You know that 80% of the people out there are lucky to find
their way out of a paper bag." Frank Zappa once said "Stupidity has a
certain charm to it - ignorance does not". I'm asking all of you,
including myself, to think long and hard about that quote. My college
philosophy professor quoted some famous guy who said "Ignorance is
claiming you know when you do not". Boy, have I seen a lot of
ignorance around these parts lately.

We're doing our very best to continue to materialize the passion that
Sterling, Scotty, Brian have and propel it into the hands and hearts of you,
the customers. Don't get your panties in a bunch. You'll get the MM
website and it's gonna be even more fantastic than you ever dreamed!!!
I can't wait myself, but I don't take potshots at the company's
priorities and business plans because of it. I love maddog's quote
about the fat guy in the gym. What about leaving the fat guy alone
BECAUSE he's in the gym??? What about a hooray for effort? You do get
more flies with honey than with sh*t, you know.

All I'm asking for this Ch

 

[Beth]

Sorry for the formatting, folks. Was having trouble posting such a long idea so had to copy and paste and junk. Cheers!

 

[bovinehost]

I love you, Beth. I really do. I could thank you for this or that or the other thing, but all I really want to do is thank you for being you.

I still think I should have taken a photo of my ass before sending you your camera back, but isn't that what love really is all about?

Merry this, happy that, good friend of mine.

Jackie

 

[bassmonkeee]

Great post, Beth.

Other than the fact that it made Jack post about his butt, of course.

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Beth honey, I love you too

Hope the hubby gets back safely and you both have a wicked reunion when you see one another.

I have a lot of respect and thankfulness for everything you guys on the West Coast do for us knuckleheads in every way, shape and form - and I'm honoured to be a prt of this community.

I won't bother wishing a happy Xmas as it's just one day - I will just send you wishes to be Happy. Full stop

 

[Bill]

Well said, Beth! I hope you & all the gang at EBMM have a wonderful & safe holiday. Can't wait to see the rest of the new products in '07!!

 

[Psycho Ward]

I'm lucky to know two wonderful girls named Beth!

Beth, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!




... I agree with everything you said, and it was said well, thank you.

 

[SteveB]

As our Aussie friends say, "Good on ya, Beth".

 

[muggsy]

Very nicely put, Beth. If people collectively spent more time appreciating what they have and less time bitching/moaning/worrying about what they want, we'd all be a lot happier. The recent trolling and subsequent troll-bashing has been moderately entertaining, but it's such a waste of energy. Morons have the right to free speech, though it's not absolute, but everybody else has the right to ignore them.

I really enjoy the time I spend here, especially when I'm supposed to be working (like now ). I like looking at all the pretty basses, and despite my best efforts I actually learn something almost every day I come here. Well, at least once a week.

Happy holidays to all, even the asshats.

 

[wraithwrider]

Beth

I've not met you but I know that you're a beautiful person.

Nice post BTW

Peter

 

[Beth]

Thanks everyone! I'm finding more formatting problems -- have I been put into the doomed shackles area of the forum???

Here's the rest:

All I'm asking for this Christmas are some of the basic things that we
all learned in Kindergarten.. If you've read Robert Fulghum's book,
what I would quote would be redundant, so I'll refrain. But most
importantly:

PAY IT FORWARD. Be thankful for what you have and share that fluidly
with others. I've never seen such fluidity and generosity in my life as
with the Ball family. I am lucky to have them in my life.

One more thing: never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love
them. They may not be there the next time you're ready to say it.
Sterling, Brian, Scotty, all my family at EB and at home (and my husband
overseas who's coming home from his 6-month deployment in 18 days, woo
hoo!!!), all you kooky forumites, my cat Hairy Ass Truman -- I love you
all.

I hope I made some sense. Now that I read it over it sounds long and
convoluted, but I can't delete any of it, because I have the freedom to
express the way I feel, even if it does make me look like an asshat (I
love that word). I get emotional around the holidays too, I just tend
to turn into an introvert when it happens and not externalize my
problems on the world. ahahaha, I just thought of another Zappa quote:
"when it comes to a choice between fighting you or the world, pick the
world". It is inherently easier, isn't it? I think we've seen that
with the flurry of keyboard warriors this past week. I, for one, will
be using my introvert time to look deep inside and choose who I want to
be and the steps I need to take to become that person. "There is
nothing noble in being superior to some other person. True nobility
comes from being superior to your previous self." Food for thought.
Speaking of food... chili verde is here! WOO HOO!

Merry Christmas to you all. I love all of you.
-Beth

 

[jongitarz]

Beth rocks.

 

[dlloyd]

As our Aussie friends say, "Good on ya, Beth".

Talking about our Aussie friends, I sent a package over to my brother in law in Sydney for Christmas and this is what he received...

 

[Beth]

Dave.... what *exactly* were you sending over to Australia? Bark and moss covered curio? Are ya sure that's moss? *nudge nudge wink wink*

 

[bovinehost]

Gamma Irradiation?

I think that's what turned common swamp animals into horrible, murderous creatures, at least on Johnny Quest.

 

[dlloyd]

Dave.... what *exactly* were you sending over to Australia? Bark and moss covered curio? Are ya sure that's moss? *nudge nudge wink wink*

I'm pretty sure it's being processed forensically, but it was moss...

It was meant to be a joke present, but it's worked way better than I could have intended

 

[4metta]

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[shamus63]

Merry Christmas, Beth! You're a class act!

James

 

[muggsy]

Gamma Irradiation?

I think that's what turned common swamp animals into horrible, murderous creatures, at least on Johnny Quest.

That's definitely what turned mild-mannered Dr. David Banner into the Incredible Hulk.