You Never Know Who May Be Listening

Happy Halloween! 

 I thought it was a good day to go for a pumpkin spice latte at my local Starbucks and while there I would get some work done.  I found a small table near the few comfy chairs and love seat in a corner of the café.  As I was doing research for my nonfiction book proposal entailing my infidelity case log I couldn’t help but overhear a meeting that was taking place behind me. The woman, seated in a comfy chair, sounded as if she was on an interview as the man she was with, seated on the love seat, sat and listened.  She was talking about her history as an Investigator on infidelity cases and the various attorneys she has worked for.  What would she have thought if she knew there was an Investigator eavesdropping in on her conversation?  She moved on to describing her job as a Process Server and how the spouses almost never expected to be served with divorce papers.  She mentioned the name of one attorney who I happen to know and then proceeded to complain about his high fees, in the thousands, to his clients demanding payment in advance of his services, and how he would not always pay for her services, what little she received, until services were rendered.  She was loud enough for me to hear her in the busy café and only an earshot away I couldn’t help but listen to her as I kept my face in the book I was reading, Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write by Elizabeth Lyon.  

I was intrigued with what she was telling her possible potential employer.  I almost got up and handed her my card.  The thoughts as to what I would say to her, in front of the man she was allegedly interviewing for, was, here, give me a call sometime.  Or, be careful who you talk about in public places.  I know (so and so), and to not give her my card.  

In the end I decided the best move would be to do nothing. To mind my own business. I didn’t want to embarrass her but, handing her my card and asking her to contact me, in front of a potential employer, could have made her look good.  Perhaps I was a potential employer who was interested in hiring her.  I would have clearly posed as a mild threat, as a competitor, to the alleged interviewer she was with. 

Be careful what you say in a public places.  You never know who may be sitting an earshot away. 

Have a safe Halloween!

Las Vegas Caught In Hurricane

Everybody thinks about the recent tragedy when "Las Vegas" is heard.  The question we all have is "Why?". 

No matter by water or bullet Americans are being hit everywhere Las Vegas, in the middle of the desert, being no exception.  But, why?  There is a whole lot of bad happening to us.        

While the media dissects details about the perpetrator to learn the answers to why it happened the rest of us are questioning our own next moves.  We all know it can happen anywhere, at anytime, and to anybody.  In fact, I recall hearing one victim say "This only happens to other people.  I never imagined it would happen to us!"  Unfortunately, this could only be said after the fact.

I was in Las Vegas over the Labor Weekend and being shot was the last thing on my mind.  I could count on two hands the amount of times I have been to Vegas and never in the history of my travels have I heard of anything remotely close to this having had occurred in Vegas.  After the fact I realized this could have happened to us in our travels over the Labor Day weekend as the gunman was allegedly planning a more recent attack.  We would have been no exception.

The point is that it could happen to anybody at anytime. You are not the exception. 

The airports only take further security measures after an incident has occurred.  It's too late!
The concert and sports venues only take further security measures after an incident has occurred at a similar venue somewhere else in the country. The same with schools. 
Malls only add security after an incident has occurred only at that particular mall. 
You get the point.

Today we live in a society that requires our intuition/sixth sense/gut feeling be at the forefront.  We cannot rely on other people to alert us of such dangers ahead of time otherwise terrorism wouldn't exist and the concern in Vegas would have been canceled.  Now would be a good time for self proclaimed psychics to use their alleged powers.

What we can do to help ourselves:

• ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings including exit doors, windows, balconies, etc.  
• Be aware of the people around you.  Is someone's behavior unusual?  In other words, is someone active nervous in an environment that does not warrant such behavior?  Are they carrying an oversized bag that is not fitting for the venue they are attending?  Are there unusual bulges?
• If you feel someone is acting suspicious then alert a staff member who should alert security.  Let the professionals make the final determination.  Do what you feel is necessary to protect yourself
•  Take a self defense class.  These days they also teach you what to do if faced with danger in today's world.  
• Let your instinct be your guide.  It's the feeling you get that something doesn't feel right.  in 9 out of 10 cases it's right on target.
• Always listen to your instincts because it's the first thing that will alert you to danger if there are no external resources. 

Do not let the color of someone's skin deter you.  There are bad people in all skin colors, sizes, shapes and genders. I can only imagine what the terrorist organizations are thinking as we turn on ourselves.  Americans should be united not divided including the supremacists. 

What say you Donald Trump aka President Trump?