My Aluma-Wallet

I told Walt about two friends who recently had their credit card information stolen and were notified by their banks of possible fraud.  One person was wiped out within 3 hours after going to a grocery store and talking to an overly friendly person in line.  The bank notified him of the large cash withdrawals in his checking and savings accounts. The crook got his Debit Card info.  The other person received a call from the bank indicating “strange activity on her card in London.”  The card was blocked immediately.  These events inspired me to buy an aluminum credit card wallet.

Walt pulled out his Smart Phone- which doubled as a Credit Card Fraud Machine.  He pulled up a simple Tic Tac Toe game on his Smart Phone.  While he was playing Tic Tac Toe he was transmitting his Credit Card information to his home computer in a matter of seconds. (Note: this was a test Credit Card) Had I not had my cards in my special wallet, all of my information would have been at Walt’s House.

He said, “Do not download free games to your cell phone. Many of these Apps are loaded with scanning programs that will transmit your information over and over again.  As soon as you get a new card and play the game again your info can be transmitted anywhere in the world.”

I carry all my credit cards including my Phil the Mover debit card, in my Aluminum Wallet and feel much better about it. Electronic Credit card theft is a multi-billion dollar industry and the Bad Guys are smarter than the Good Guys.

The Aluma-Wallet is available at Walgreens Drug for about $11.00.

Walt is becoming famous on talk shows around the country and with his TV commercials.  If you aren’t convinced yet, take a look at his appearance on our local Fox Station.

http://www.youtube.com/user/waltaugust/feed

Hudson, Senior Salesman

He usually sits on Judy’s lap during our outings, but if we stop at a traffic light or a Stop Sign he runs back and forth between the windows to see where we are.

The other day we were stopped at the traffic light at the corner of Beneva and Clark.  Hudson jumped on my lap, put his paws on the window and looked out as usual.  He went crazy with excitement. He saw a little boy about 8 or 9 years old looking out the window at him.  Hudson loves kids and went wild while the little boy waved. The father driving the car looked over and waved at me as the light changed.

That night when we returned home after dinner at Jackson’s house, we had a Voice Mail.  It said, “Hi, I saw your signs on our truck and we are moving soon. We would like an estimate for moving.

Hudson's Assistant, Jackson.

You don‘t know me but your dog was looking at my son in the car at Beneva and Clark today…”

After Hudson’s first day on the job and he wants a raise- more Milk Bones.

Discounts

My long-time friend Lynn Brock, a realtor in Sarasota and Manatee Counties sent me a list of Restaurants that offer discounts to many people starting at age 60. They are all common national names.

In the future I will be developing a local list for Sarasota and Manatee that have specials other than just for Seniors.

We frequent many of the restaurants on the list.  Feeling younger than my years,  I often forget to ask about senior discounts.  This list is a good reminder of places to go.  Judy and I usually have Date Night on Friday Nights and the first place she picked off the list was Sweet Tomatoes which is very healthy and affordable for dinner.  Our check including tip was under $25.

Click the link and don’t forget to pass it along to your friends.  Senior Discount Deals

Phil the Mover

Has anyone ever said to you, “I never forget a face, but I can’t remember your name”?

For most of us this has happened more than once.  That means the person visually remembered you, and probably orally forgot you, or may never filed your name next to the mental image of you.  Sheryl Nicholson recently addressed a group of new members of the Tampa Bay Business Owners (TBBO) and gave us some tips on how to remember names.

Here is the process Sheryl gave us and I will give you some examples. Practice makes perfect.

1. Repetition x3 –  When you meet someone – offer your name first and then when they say their name, repeat it once out loud (making sure you got the right pronunciation) then repeat it 3 times under your breath.

2.  Mind writing – Ask how to spell their name and mentally write it in your mind. If it is a common name like Steve Jones, ask “Is that Stephen Jones with a “ph” or or Steven Jones with a “ven.”? Then repeat it out loud, “Oh Steve Jones with a PH.”

 3.  Paint pictures with their name – Sheryl even does this with her grocery shopping. Instead of writing cereal on her list – she pictures 2 scoops – that way she never forgets to buy Raisin Bran.

But what about Steve Jones with a PH?  Here is a trick. Imagine Jones Little Pork Sausages and Steve running around a bunch of pigs with his PhD Diploma held high in the air. Now you have Stephen Jones.   Warning: if you ever meet a Steve Jones, don’t say, “Oh the guy with the pigs and the PhD.”

Here is how Sheryl handles her name.

            After the first introduction she says, “That is Sheryl with an “S” Nicholson.   I have 3  sons and if you imagine me flipping a Nickle in the air and catching it and slapping it on my wrist (she demonstrates by throwing an imaginary Nickel in the air) You have “Sheryl flipping Nickle-son or Sheryl Nicholson.”

            Another Example:

            Everyone knows me as Phil the Mover but very few people know my last name.  We have struggled with our family name through three generations and Sheryl now gave me the way to end it with everyone except maybe Publishers Clearing House.

My name is Philip or Phil Frommholz. Not hard once you hear it.  How about this image:

Think of my last name first.  I am “Phil From Holes” like “Man from Uncle” and my first name is Phil with a “P” but if you Imagine me Filling Holes with a shovel then you have “Fill From Holes” or “Phil Frommholz” or “Phil Filling Holes.”

Now say it three times out loud, Phil Frommholz, Phil Frommholz, Phil Frommholz.

 For those who prefer, just call me Phil the Mover.

Sheryl  Nicholson  is a Top Rated International Professional Speaker who presents programs that advance business and the personal lives of their team members. To view her credentials and learn more about my friend Sheryl go to  http://www.sheryl.com 

The Tampa Bay Business Owners  (TBBO)  focus’ on entrepreneurial education and training, making powerful business connections through professional networking  and learning  about innovative Strategic Internet Marketing Solutions.   For more information about TBBO visit www.tampabaybusinessowners.org

                                            What’s Cooking in Yorktown, the Fall 1957 Edition is the name of the Cook Book prepared by the Women’s Asssociation of the First Presbyterian Church on Rt 202 and Crompond Street. I received the book from my mother, Betty, before she died and it is one of my greatest treasures. 

The once white, now faded brown with age, tattered and well used, cookbook contains the history of the church, local ads which is the Who’s Who of Business in 1957 and, of course, recipes provided by the members and friends of the church. Most of the recipes were written by hand and some were typed.   

Yorktown Heights, located about 45 miles North of New York City, was often a resting place for our weary Revolutionary War Patriots. There are a number of historical Markers in Yorktown but, the Church marker is the most famous. The introduction to the book includes the early history of the Church; the story below.  I have added recipes from a few of the people that my dearest friends might know. Whether you grew up in Yorktown Heights or anyway around the world, both the church and the recipes share the flavor of our little town.

I was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church in 1951and I went to Kindergarten at the church in 1952 which was part of the over-crowded public school system in those days. When in Yorktown, I often stop by the church and the cemetery to visit old friends and familiar names in Yorktown history.

Click on the link to Recipes of Yorktown Heights

Now read the history of one of our most famous places in American history.

First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown by a.e.t.  (May be a Tompkins)

“The Town of Yorktown was named in honor of the American Victory at Yorktown, Virginia, following General Cornwallis’s surrender. Although no major Revolutionary War battles were fought here, Yorktown has a rich historical heritage.

During the revolution, cowboys and skinners led raids throughout the town. The French army camped in Yorktown and General Rochambeau had his headquarters here. Major Andre ate his last meal, before his capture in Tarrytown, on the back porch of a house on Hanover Road. George Washington, Benedict Arnold and many other well known names of the Revolutionary War days passed through Yorktown.

Yorktowners can point proudly to many historical landmarks: The Lee Homestead; French Hill; the Whitney House; Hallock’s Mill.  But, perhaps the one site that best tells of the struggles of the times is the First Presbyterian Church.

Founded in 1730, the first building was erected in 1738 and the first pastor, Reverend Samuel Sacket, was retained in 1761 for 65 pounds sterling, a parsonage and 25 cords of wood. The British burned the church building June 13, 1779. Prior to that they burned the original parsonage located on the east side Crompond Street. The parsonage had been used by the committee of safety and also as a distribution center for mars for the Continental troops. 

Caleb Morgan, an American spy for the British, led Colonel Robinson to Crompond so he could carry out his threat to “burn up the committee house.”  The Continental troops then moved their supplies into the church, which was also burned by the angry British troops. 

The present building, a replica of the original, was built in 1784 when an official church seal, designed by Thomas Biganey, was adopted and used until 1914. 

Occemun, the celebrated Indian preacher, occasionally spoke at the church. 

In the church yard is a memorial to Colonel Christopher Green and his aide, Major Ebenezer Flagg.  It was erected by the State in 1800, 19 years after the two men died with 30 of their soldiers while defending an outpost near Old Pines Bridge at Oblenus Ford, a point where the Croton River was fordable. Both men are buried in the south east corner of the church cemetery.York

The history of the Church and the Town have unfolded together from the Revolution until the present as the town and church continue to grow.”

Santa’s first stop on Christmas will be right in our very own back yard to see the Biggest Ginger Bread House you ever saw.  Handcrafted and designed by Deborah Kushlan, the Master Chef at Desoto Palms Assisted Living Community, off Honore Ave and University Parkway Boulevard in Sarasota, this 12 foot House is a master piece that is good enough to eat. Deborah, the culinary designer is referred to as the “Sugar Engineer.” 

Deborah’s background includes construction design but her true love is cooking. Baking is her specialty. She began this sweet project in July and the House was open for viewing in late November and it was truly a labor of love.

The 8 foot tall house includes 40 gallons of snow, 175 pounds of Gingerbread, which took Deborah weeks to bake in her spare time. She used 45 pounds of fondant to make the 1200 sugary shingles for the roof which covered 450 gingerbread bricks. The entire house is covered with candy, icing and candy wreaths and edible Christmas Trees.

Cheney Brothers, a commercial food supplier, partnered with Desoto Palms by donating a significant portion of the ingredients to make this House come alive under Deborah’s talented hands. 

The Ginger Bread display was featured on SNN Channel 6 drawing over 200 visitors the first day. You can tour the Gingerbread House between 8:30 and 5:00 PM in the Lobby of the Community. The display will be available through December 31^st.     

Stop by and say hello to Laura Fernandez, the Marketing Director when you visit.

 Click on this link for Directions 

The problem of Hunger in our community is far greater than most realize.

Because of this, DeSoto Palms will be collecting food donations for ALL Faiths Food Bank throughout the holidays. Containers are located in the lobby.

Thank you for your generous support.

We moved her into a smaller place; something that made life  simpler.  I also distributed her  treasures to her kids in New York.  One  day she called and asked me to come over. She was starting to throw things away  and asked if Judy would like her wigs now that her hair was coming back.  Rather than hurt her feelings, I took several  wigs with their Styrofoam heads.

A couple of weeks later we did what we called “a Family  Move.”    Anytime we had a job to North  Carolina or Georgia, Jackie, Judy and I would head out in the truck.  Jackie who was 8 or 9 years old was Vice  President in charge of Cushions and Lamp Shades. Judy was often on the other  end of a sleeper sofa, a job she hated.

One particular move took us close to Judy’s mother in Asheville, North Carolina.  Judy packed up three wigs  and we decided we were all going as Jo Carless.  We put on our wigs and it was fun watching the reactions of the people as they passed us in the truck wearing our “Jo Carless’”.

When we arrived in North Carolina we surprised Judy’s family when we arrived wearing our different  colored Jo Carless wigs.  Anytime in the  last 15 years when we saw someone wearing a wig we said, “There goes Jo  Carless.”

A couple of months ago I had a call to move a unit from an  Assisted Living Facility to Fort Myers.   I met with the daughter and looked at the furniture and said, “This is  Jo Carless’ furniture.”  With a surprised  voice she said, “You knew my mother?”  I  said, “Yes, very well.”

I said, “I am amazed to  see this furniture. Your mother must have been at least 100 years old.” She  said softly, “She was 105 when she died last week.”  I told her about our Jo Carless Wigs and the  great time we had with them in North Carolina.   She got a laugh out of it and was happy to know that her mother was  remembered.

To many, moving furniture is just moving furniture.  To us, every time we move a piece of  furniture or book a reservation on the phone we have an opportunity to make a  new friend.  We are so fortunate to have  a treasure boat full of friends we have moved over the years.

 To eliminate any confusion we always point out “blemishes” and existing damage to the customer before we shrink wrap the piece of furniture.  This ensures that whatever pre-existing damage exists, it is noted by the customer.  Also it guarantees that the furniture is protected from any further damage.

This labor saving technique eliminates any possible arguments. Whether you are using a mover or moving yourself always protect your furniture with shrink wrap. It is available at most local packing supply stores or can be provided by your mover.  You can do it yourself or have it done at the time of the move.  The added benefits are many.

In addition to protecting your furniture, shrink wrapping makes it easier to pack and unpack the furniture from the moving truck saving you both time and money.