Good for the goose...

Ageist Target Marketing?

As a marketer I know about target marketing, web trends, data pools and all that good stuff. I always get a pop up about a dating website or hey your single let us tell you why that sucks, lots of dog ads and cat videos because apparently single people require these in multitudes. But as I've just ebbed into a new decade I feel that the data pool for the latest swath of marketing ads is, shall we say, less than accurate.

-Walk in bathtubs installed today!

-AARP what to know when you collect your retirement benefits

-Estate planning

Now listen here fellas, I think your data is a bit off unless we are using the data pools from 1864 when the life span was dramatically shorter than today. Or maybe it's a sign of the times? Obesity, smoking, drinking, pollution, cancer will soon put you down.

But, I will say I'm slightly offended and think that 40 is not the "end times" for the major populous. So dear marketers lets not always rely on the 'systems' which is my biz, remember the good ole application of sense can only guide proper automation.

And of course if there's a new AARP promotion for the 40-something's by all means keep me posted. Riding for free on the MAX and discounted movies are good for the goose and the gander.

#40isthenewblack


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Location:Liverpool, England

Amuse Bouchée This!

It's a thing.
It's a daily meal kinda of a thing.
I've experienced this little extra before, but now it's like a necessity.

After ten days of beautiful dining experiences I have come to know that the seemingly uppity amuse bouchée has a permanent place in one's dining experience. It's the pre-appetizer experience that at first seems a bit over done, but in truth we've all experienced it in something as simple as the bowl of nuts. But, it's the art of the unexpected, the surprise you didn't think you wanted but quite enjoyed and a gesture of giving. A gesture of extra care for your palette and your guest and a gift in the runway of portions from your chef.

So, to you amuse bouchée, I say Mes Oui!


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Location:The pampered palette

Travel Etiquitte #106: When it's just NOT okay

If your on a train headed to somewhere or nowhere there's a few things to consider, and like it or not, that includes your fellow passengers.

The hard core smokers, which is essentially everyone in France, take every chance to get in a full ciggy before the next stop. The exceptionally strong tobacco smells follows them through the cabins and since it quite a lot of the passengers it makes it feel like a smoking train. I'm hoping that my 10 days of intense second hand smoke inhalation doesn't increase my chances of MERS, currently making its way around. Anywho, other than that pet peeve, there's just ONE thing that's simply not on....

On a 6 hour train ride through lovely French vistas it is NOT, I repeat NOT okay for you to take your shoes AND SOCKS off so, I can only assume, you can test your fellow passengers staltworthiness. Take your cheese toes off the seat, contain whatever stink you've been carrying around and head on outside my friend. Free-wheeling toes not allowed.




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Location:TGV Train to Paris

The Final Frontier at 30,000 Feet

The unspoken most valuable piece of real estate on your flight isn't what you'd might expect.

Overhead space?
Legroom?
Isle, window or the dreaded center seat?
Nope.

While all of those are critical to increasing our travel satisfaction nothing rivals the 'unclaimed territory ' that is as precious as the claims staked out west in the hopes of gold.

Can it be shared? Unlikely. Once seat belts are latched and carryons are stowed the showdown of elbows is set to begin. Front, back, middle ... we all try that egalitarian division of the sliver of plastic between us, but ultimately there is always a winning elbow. It's not always the sharpest point or biggest arm but often the most determined that can also play it off as mere necessity that wins the unspoken battle of the cherished arm rest.

Today, I have won this small territory for my 2 hours of bliss for one arm, and one only. All hail the arm rest Queen for a day!

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Location:30,000 Feet

Porn, Two Weddings and a Prom

After a long work week at our huge annual conference, a friend and I planned for some relaxation time and thus begins the revelry of this glorious (eh-hem) Florida weekend
Upon arrival, midday, we are unpacking our bags to the rhythmic and cacophonous noises next door. At first you think ... hey, good for them. Then the carnival starts! With the volume increasing, some shouts of encouragement and strangely enough ... apology ("Iiiiiiii' mmmmmm ssssooorrrrryyyyy) - we decided it was time to take a respite from the entertainment and vacate our room to escape to the beach.

The beach was repleat with wrinkly tattoos and butt cracks, while the ocean breeze deposited unpalatable amounts of sand in my direction ... OK ... next idea? After a walk down the strip we went back upstairs and called to head to the spa. While the carnival next door continued we headed out in hopes of true relaxation. Let me just say this ... by way of advice ... don't get a massage BEFORE you do any sort of soak at the spa, it turns you into a human slip and slide and you are fighting for your life in that "relaxing soak tub".

After just barely escaping drowning the rest of the weekend continued on its comical rant of porn-like noise from next door, a huge prom party on our floor and two weddings in the hotel. So much for a relaxing weekend!

Testing ... testing ...

Stepping into a new adventure has lots of pieces that require courage, fear, stepping into the great unkown and apparently ... test taking.

I've always said that I'm "test shy" ... it spans from school times to the citizenship test and most recently re-taking the written driving exam in my new city! Heart pounding ... feeling 16 again ... lamazesque breathing ... 1 wrong ... 3 wrong ... ahhhhhhhh OMG why do I need to know the speed of farm machinery. OK Breeeeeaaaaathhhhhhhheeeeeee ....

Passed. Proceed to the green line.

Now for the photo ...

Quiet But Smelly Torture

To the guy who clearly had garlic for dinner last night,

Although I appreciate the sentiment, dousing yourself in cologne this morning is not to the benefit of any of your fellow travelers olfactory senses.

Musk au garlique NOT the new seasonal sent of choice.


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