AND NOW...SOME UPCHEER!

My laptop computer now has it's 4th keyboard in almost two years. It feels like a Ferrari now instead of a VW Bug! The repair center guy asked, "Man what are you a writer or something? This thing's shot!" I laughed and told him that yes, that was part of what I do. It's was a 65 mile round-trip to the repair center, so that gave me a chance to play Bud Buckley's CD, "Feel My Love". Some of you may not know that Bud's a singer/songwriter/musician who has recently launched a fund raising campaign to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Visit him and tell him I sent you at Budbuckley.com! He's also a good guy!

Last night (and I suppose tonight) will become "British Pub Night"--someting to look forward to! That will be fun to run over to the other side of town. In this city, one must be creative if they are single. The Pub is cool and the manager's know me (and read this BLOG)-so it's really cool when you walk in and smiles are exchanged all around. They are a super group and I enjoy them all! Time for a funny story now that's also true!

When I lived in the Southwest (to no one's surprise) I flew Southwest Airlines a lot. The colorful Chairman and founder Herb Kelleher is a hoot and a half. He's a chain smoker and loves Wild Turkey Whiskey so much that he has a Wild Turkey pull handle in his office. I dropped off a pint once with a resume years ago to get an interview. When that didn't work, I polished a dress shoe and delivered it with a letter that said, "Now that I have my foot in the door" (Hey! I was desperate, okay?). But my best coup was taking an empty wine bottle and creating a label (I drew my own artwork) with a byline that read "Your Best Media Relations Candidate" and delivered it to their headquarters with my resume rolled up inside the bottle with dry flowers from a florist. THAT one got me an interview and my shoe was finally returned (with the wooden shoe tree still inside!). No job, but I guess everything happens for a reason. I interpret all of this as "the best is yet to come!"(Yes, Tony Bennett's version, please!).

Once during a Press Conference I attended, Herb was asked how his prostate Cancer treatment was coming along. He stood at the podium with a beer mug in one hand and a burning cigarette in the other. "Fine", he replied. "That's only because I don't smoke with my prostate". One of the funnier stories he told was the morning he had to meet with bankers to convince them to loan the then-fledgling carrier millions of dollars. He put his sports jacket in the back seat of his car and opened the drivers door, sat in the seat with a cup of coffee and started the car. He set the shift lever and turned his head to look over his right shoulder to back up when the car leaped Forward! He hit the brakes and the coffee spilled all over his white starched shirt, tie and gray slacks!! Knowing there was no time to change clothes, he went to the bankers meeting soaking wet and explained during his presentation why he looked the way he did. (CAN YOU IMAGINE?!!!) Herb's a hoot with a big heart. He makes fun of his bad teeth, but each year he supports the children of Ronald McDonald House! Anyway, the bankers had a good laugh and gave him his loan!! Now you know where the philosophy comes from when Southwest says "We take our jobs seriously, but not ourselves". After ongoing media events of this week, I thought this story would cheer everyone up a bit. BTW: Those of you in Europe who fly Ryanair are privy to this same philosophy, as their executives studied Southwest's business model with Herb for weeks. Having said all of this...

Have a Great Weekend!