THE INTERNET

A friend of mine wrote a blog, about how tired she was of people playing games with others online and why some do not show themselves as they truly are, or don't really care about someone elses feelings. They feel online is just a game and play accordingly.

I've been online since 1998 and believe me, I know all too well what she is stating. I've spoken to many, witnessed and heard both sides of online friendships and relationships.

Once you've been online for a while and if you do speak to someone over a period of time, you can definitely sense if the person is really who they say they are. I believe you have to treat the "online" world, as you would the "offline" world. You wouldn't give a complete stranger your personal information, such as address etc, until you felt you knew them well enough and felt comfortable enough to do so and you should do the same with those you meet online. There is not one person, who can say they haven't had at least one bad experience online and that also includes me, but there can be so many positives as well.

For me, the Internet has provided a path in which I am able to share my thoughts, views and writings and meet some very interesting people, some"characters" as well as those I consider friends along the way. Through this medium, my path has crossed with some, that I would never have had the good fortune to meet otherwise. I feel blessed in this respect. Together we have been real enough, to not disguise who we truly are. What you see, is what you get. We not only discuss the good times, but the bad times as well....successes as well as failures. We've shared births, celebrations and deaths of our loved ones. As in the "offline" world, when the chips are down, you know who your true friends are and I have found who my true friends are, both online, as well as offline. I was going to say, as well as in the "real world", but cringed when I saw it in print. That phrase has always bothered me, because for the minority that are not who they profess to be, there are more of those who are. They are real people with real emotions and should be treated as such.

. I have met 4 wonderful people face to face and the experiences were extremely positive. There are those I have yet to meet and have been friends with since 1998 and hope that in the not too distant future, we will finally get a chance to meet face to face as well..

Now there are those who would say that only meeting who they consider to be about 6 good friends is not many, considering the 8 years online. But who can say that offline, they have met 6 people that they would consider as such. We usually have many acquaintances, but how many "good" friends do you really have?
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You have to use your head, as well as your heart The cyberworld is a learning and growing experience, as are all life lessons, but it can also be a beautiful ride:)

A REAL FIND!

Living in Florida has its definite advantages. However, one of its major downfalls, is not being able to find some favorite foods cooked in the Northeast fashion. One dish is sausage, peppers and onions. I remember the first time this was tried here. It was covered in a tomato –relish type sauce and didn't even come close. Chinese food is the worst! lol At the Publix Supermarket, you can get a Sub the way you would like, because you tell them what to put on. The only condiment they don’t have, is the hot peppers. At least I can get an Italian Sub with oil, instead of mayo and vinegar….the way most order it. Yuck….lol I guess it all comes down to what you're used to:) I can’t understand why someone from the Northeast hasn’t established themselves in the Restaurant business here, because they would be the owners of a virtual gold mine! . There are so many people from the Northeast who reside here!

I do searches constantly to see if I can locate a Restaurant that serves Northeast seafood…in particular..New England clam chowder, Haddock, Flounder, Scrod and fried clams with bellies. I got excited when I was told about a placed called, "Monstah Lobstah, " Though the decor was that of Maine and they did have many Northeast type dishes, the portions were miniscule, compared to what they charged. It was a great disappointment, as this was more of a tease, than a meal..

I was informed last week by a Co-worker, about another seafood place called, “A Taste Of Boston." It had received rave reviews in the paper, so I decided to give it a try. I figured it couldn't be any worse than Monstah Lobstah and if it was, then it would just be a learning experience and the path to finding what I was looking for, would continue. It was located about 25-30 minutes from my home.

“A Taste Of Boston” itself is a small place, where you are over dressed if you’re wearing anything other than beach wear or jeans, so you start by being extremely comfortable. They have a few tables inside, but if you prefer, they also have tables set outside. I was in awe of my surroundings! I had no idea that it overlooked Tampa Bay. The view was spectacular! You could watch the cruise ships and boats. People were sitting on the docks fishing and taking leisurely walks along the pier, which seemed to go on forever. The view was unlike anything I have ever witnessed before. There is a huge park and picnic tables equipped with grills, for those who wish to do their own barbecuing. Across the way, is the State Trooper’s barracks….talk about feeling safe:) and what got me even more excited….if that was possible….was that there was a Riding Academy and Stable located next to the Barracks. Unfortunately for me, there were no horses out at the time, but I do plan on calling to see if they have any trails. The homes that are located in this area, are what dreams are made of and it was fun just driving by them. With all my ooh’s and ah’s, you’d swear I was a child…..not always a bad thing….:), but I just adore experiencing new things and finding new places to go to. I just didn’t realize that this “picture perfect” location was so close to home. And if that wasn’t enough…now I’ll get back to the “food” part.

To say it was better than Boston, is putting it mildly…at least in the category of food that was tasted. The fried clams were Ipswich clams(the sweetest) and fresh, not frozen…… dipped in the lightest of batter and was fried to perfection. The onion rings were the best I ever tasted…..fresh, sliced thin and this too was fried to perfection. The price was comparable to Boston, although I expected it to be much higher….considering everything is shipped here, but the amount of clams received, was far superior. I couldn't believe the portion that was served. The clam chowder was thick and guess what? It had clams in it….lol. The Caesar salad was a definite winner! I am already thinking of the Lobster salad, which will be “the pick” on my next visit.:)

“A Taste Of Boston” and its surroundings truly won my heart and I plan on becoming a “regular.”

If you’re interested in learning where this "treasure" is located, just let me know.
I just might tell you:)

RADIO SHACK AND SHAYNA'S THOUGHTS

I would like to take the time to comment on the Radio Shack issue. I've tried to hold my tongue about this, but I guess my tongue is going to win....lol

I realize that companies have to downsize and I am also aware that the employees were notified of this and were also told that they would be notified electronically, as to the decision of their employment. However, let's be real about this. I doubt that the employees thought that it would be done as coldly as it was. It was not even personalized. It was just a form letter and didn't explain anything other than, that their position was no longer needed. There are companies that are much larger than Radio Shack who use kinder and gentler approaches. What a slap in the face, to those who have worked for so many years and are "brushed away" with an E-mail. No thought or regard for them in any way. There should have been Representatives or Supervisors in each location to help soften this approach. Instead, the employees were directed to an Intranet site, where their questions could be answered. The act of firing or letting an employee go, should not be done in this way.....as much as Radio Shack thinks it to be the efficient way. Efficiency, for this reason.... should not, in my opinion...come into play when it is dealing with peoples' lives. It's dehumanizing and there definitely should have been some human interaction.

I for one will think twice before purchasing anything at Radio Shack. There are many other stores that carry the same and more of the merchandise that Radio Shack sells. My bottom line feeling? If they have such disregard for their own employees, how must they feel about me......the consumer?

I shudder to think!