Cuba Fantastico!

I am back from my trip to Cuba and had the best time I've had in a while! (NOTE: I FORGOT TO POST THIS TRAVEL REPORT, SO AM DOING IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATE) The people of Cuba are so nice, so friendly, so caring that it made the time just fly by. I was in Cuba on a cruise that supports a people-to-people cultural exchange, so we had lots of lectures and demonstrations that we then followed up with in-port visits in Santiago del Cuba, Havana, and Sienfegios.

In Havana, I was shocked at the condition of the actual buildings: the best comparison I can make is that the city resembles Europe at the end of WWII: lots of crumbling infrastructure and residential areas. contrasted with government buildings and private residences that are well-maintained. But their living conditions don't seem to impact the people's attitude about life: they are joyous, friendly, and very interested in anything American. It is challenging to see how impoverished the people are without wanting to do something to change their living conditions.

In Santiago del Cuba, we saw a neighborhood that has been covered with ceramic mosaics -- and it is beautiful. All of the homes are covered in mosaic, as well as the walls around the various homes. There was a street market set up to accompany the mosaics, and it's obviously a big tourist attraction for the visiting cruise ships.

In Sienfegios, we went to a neighborhood that is working very hard to improve its appearance, with lots of maintenance done on the actual structures, then highlighted with brightly-colored paint that really catches one's eyes. In one neighborhood, we visited with a group that is working not just to improve the appearance, but to improve the quality of life where they live. The project was begun by a painter who lives there and uses what would be the livingroom of his home to have an art gallery that is open to the public. Some of the neighbors were playing in a small music band, while other neighbors were dancing in the street. Some of the gals from our ship, who had participated in the on-board dancing classes, joined in with an impromptu street event and really enjoyed being able to do the dance steps.

All in all, I'd love to go back and revisit all the various spots that I enjoyed on this trip. I understand more about the symbolism of the artists, who capture what it is like to be malnourished in spirit, as well as in body. I understand more what it is like when the government controls the income of its people -- and there isn't enough money to break free from the lifestyle and the government. I understand more why the people are willing to risk the journey of 90 miles to Florida, where they can live free and earn as much money as they are capable of earning to improve their station in life.

And I definitely feel the difference between a free America and a socialist Cuba, including the free medical and schooling for all residents, but the holding of the people hostage when it comes to earning income and bettering one's self.

The Post, H2O, and Forever, My Girl

Three movies to report on: Shaped Like Water, The Post, Forever My Girl

H2O is just not that good, but it really tries hard to make something of itself. The plot is predictable, but the filmmaker tries to make sure no one knows what’s happening next, but fails. The gal who plays the mute woman does an outstanding job portraying her role, but the rest of the actors don’t stand out. I was hard-pressed to stay until the end, which I predicted 1/3 of the way into the film.

The Post would have been a good 90-minute made for TV movie. Meryl Streep walks through her role, portraying little, if any, acting chops. Her cigarette has a bigger part to play and does it better than Streep.

Forever My Girl is a great rom/com and could have come off the Lifetime channel, which features appropriate films for every season. The music sound track is awesome, the acting is adequate, and the precocious young female role is rightly played by a very good precocious young female actor.

All in all, I give this week’s watching Cs across the board.

Tee-hee-hee

Y and I have been working on resumes, cover letters, and applications for jobs. He's looking for a salaried position, and has had several calls and interviews, all of which have gone well.

This week, he had an interview in Monterey, which, living in the range of the greater LA area, he thought was Monterey Park. He got himself all gussied up and left early. When I didn't hear his car leave the driveway, I was curious, but figured he was setting up the GPS and would be on his way soon.

Nope, he came back into the house and, very chagrined, admitted that when he put the address and zip code into his GPS, it told him he had a 7-hour drive ... to Monterey, up south of the San Francisco area! He never knew that there was both a Monterey Park in LA and a Monterey, CA up north.

Have to admit I got a good laugh from his discomfort. Is this one of those "live and learn" opportunities?

Synchrony

I have a notebook into which I write everything having to do with online buying. I write down people's names, all the numbers they give me, comments I want to remember -- and when I really need it, I don't have Synchrony anywhere in the little spiral bound notebook. Or the other little notebook that I used when I couldn't find my first little notebook.

I order lots of items through Amazon.com. The items ordered go directly to a Synchrony card -- a card I don't have. I've never received a statement from Synchrony, so I have no idea what the card number is, which means I cannot go to their site to receive help. I do get an online message from Synchrony, telling me I have a balance due, but I can't get into the actual site to make a payment.

This month, my bill came in and I want to pay it. In order to pay the bill, I have to know the account number, which I don't know because ... I've never received an actual card from Synchrony. I must have gone online at some point in time with Synchrony because when I went to the help site, it asked me for my user name and id -- which I don't know because I don't remember ever going online with this vendor. And, according to my little notebook, I've never gone online with Synchrony.

The good news is that Michael, who speaks with a decidedly Indian accent, offered to send me a copy of the card so I can contact the help line in the future. He's going to send me a copy of the card I am supposed to already have, rather than a new card with a new number, which is unusual. I would rather use one of my other cards, cards which I use more frequently, but my Amazon account is already set up with the Synchrony option selected (by whom?) for ease in my monthly billing cycle.

If I could just delete my past actions and start fresh, I'd be really happy, but when it comes to dealing with credit/debit cards, you have to play the game, and it's their game, their rules, and their score.

The Goose and the Gander

It’s one thing to be caught with your pants down, but it’s something else entirely to lose your dignity and your job from unsubstantiated allegations of what may have happened 40 years ago. I doubt that I know any woman who has never been harassed in the workplace, but don’t just limit that to women: probably as many men have also been the recipient of harassment but learn how to "take it like a man." If the charges against anyone are so egregious that it’s going to cost an alleged perpetrator their life’s work, the alleged harasser should at least have to be proven guilty in a court of law, not be persecuted by the court of public opinion.

Billy Bush was horrendously unfairly treated when he interviewed Donald Trump and caught not just his confession, but his cock-of-the-walk bragging about how poorly he’s treated women in his workplace. Billy Bush lost his job for doing his job, while Donald Trump went on to become our nation’s President. If anyone should have been excoriated by the press and the court of public opinion, it was Trump – not Bush.

Don’t get me wrong: no one should be harassed or subjected to unfair treatment in the workplace. It should be reported immediately and handled firmly by the personnel office of the business or organization wherein the encounter occurs. When I have been subjected to harassment, I’ve stood up to the person harassing me – and reported the incident to my supervisor. I have also confronted the harasser on the spot, letting him/her know that I would not tolerate their abuse. Usually, that’s enough to put the harasser on notice that the behaviors are inappropriate and illegal and will not be tolerated.

And if reporting it isn't enough, then take whatever action is necessary to stop the harassment, beginning with a consultation with a lawyer who accompanies you to your supervisor to discuss the allegations and explain what needs to be done with the perpetrator of the actions.

I am vehemently opposed to what’s been going on in the media, with allegations from as far back as the 1970s costing people their jobs without a hearing in a court of law to determine if the allegations are substantiated. If I were one of the many men being accused by “nameless” victims of my alleged abuse, I’d become very proactive in seeking redress in a court of law. If the allegations cannot be substantiated, the person who makes the allegations should be held accountable for falsely reporting the events—and lose their good name, employment, benefits, and retirement funds.

As my mother always said, what's sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.