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Austin Ranch Review - Yelp.com

Five years ago when I first moved into Austin Ranch I would have suggested it as a wonderful place to live for anyone moving into the area. Sadly, much of the care and "extras" that once abounded here are gone, especially in the north side due to the expansion of the south side. There are areas that have not been taken care of the way they once were. Resident activities, the brunches, the socials, jazz nights, movies nights, etc. have all but disappeared unless they are just not being promoted anymore. The pools are such an attraction that people will steal your access card, as mine was stolen. Now I can't use the gym, and it is $50 to replace the card! My building, and several other residents I know, have had severe leaks and water damage that has taken repair after repair to fix. My neighbor downstairs had crickets all over her new apartment when she moved in. Her carpet was not clean. There was paint on the blinds. The worst situation right now is the trash removal system.There are currently too many residents and too few trash areas. There are a few dumpsters around the property, and AR has done their best after some complaints to "hide" the dumpsters. When I first moved in, AR had curb-side pick-up. Then, for a year or so, all of the areas had curb-side except Phase I, my phase of course. I have heard from a maintenance man that all of the phases will no longer have curbside pick-up. What this means to me is that more people have to take their garbage out when it is convenient for them and annoying to me. Also, it creates a great deal of garbage setting out at trash deposit spots for an extended time, and with the skunks, coyotes, and the bob cat that live nearby it becomes a dangerous situation. I have seen all but the bob cat in my area! The dumpster by my building is a compactor, and is the largest dumpster on property. People come by and throw trash in at all times of the day and night, often waking me and my neighbors above and below. The compacting part is terribly loud and makes sleeping a nightmare, mornings annoying and afternoons relentless. When the dumpster removal truck picks up the dumpster and brings it back the task in extremely loud. After asking AR to remove the dumpster and relocate it to an area not so near residents I have been told that they can't move it. Even the dumpster company truck driver I talked to said his company had suggested to AR that they move the dumpster. I have been told that the dumpster will be shut off at night and not used until absolutely needed in the mornings, but so far, I am still be annoyed by this noisy, smelly, eyesore.

Austin Ranch Complaint

Austin Ranch:

To Whom It May Concern,

I have been a resident of Austin Ranch for five years. Upon first arriving here I was impressed by the way the grounds and gardens were cared for and the obvious care of the management for the residents. There were many resident events, and Austin Ranch felt more like a community than just a place to live. Over the last few years as progress has been made on the south side I have felt like the north side where I live has been somewhat neglected. In areas where plants used to thrive, after many storms and a bad slope, the area remains simply dirt. However, my main concerns have been the internal problems in my apartment created mainly by a water leak. I must thank Cassandra for her assistance, and more importantly, Chad Stone who oversaw the entire job on my apartment. His dedication helped make my apartment more live-able.

My biggest complaint though is definitely the compactor dumpster just outside my window. If I had seen it when I was shown my apartment I would not have taken this unit. Sadly, the original plans for this area placed a noisy, smelly and unsightly dumpster within feet of resident walls, with no thought to any resident dissatisfaction with the eyesore. Cassandra has taken steps to help me with the problems of ongoing noise, particularly in the early mornings and in the middle of the night by having the evening staff turn off the dumpster in the evenings and turn it on as late as possible in the mornings. This has helped with residents who dump their trash and push the compactor in the middle of the night. Yes, strangely, as I have learned, people throw away their garbage at all times of the day and night. It is particularly annoying when they open their car doors with music blasting with no thought about the residents sleeping within mere feet of the contraption.

This Sunday, like many Sunday mornings in the past, a crew consisting of several men, women, teenagers and more disturbingly, an infant daughter, began throwing out garbage at 8:39 AM. An Austin Ranch maintenance man came by to talk to me after I questioned the workers. He explained that they weren’t supposed to turn the dumpster on until 9:00 AM. He also explained that they were a third party hired by Austin Ranch. The crew looked very unprofessional, and made me feel that the area has really gone downhill as they carted furniture, cardboard boxes and other debris on their pick-up trucks. The people doing this work are often loud, blasting Tejano music, talking and laughing and usually waking me up or ruining my morning coffee on my patio as I listen to the clanging of trash and the growl of the compactor for hours at a time. This Sunday, the compactor ran almost non-stop for about three hours. I find Sunday morning absolutely inappropriate as a time for this work to be done. This work, should it be handled in this manner, should at least be handled during the work week, and not before 9:00 AM. Honestly, this compactor, since it is mobile, should be relocated to an area that will not affect any residents.

I was further dismayed, as was the other resident, Linda, whom I met outside while questioning the early morning practice, by the news from the workers that the recycle is simply thrown away. She and I both take measures to recycle as much as possible, and it is a real shame that this matter is not recycled. Residents have been asked to pay for special blue bags for this purpose. Not only was the recycle material being thrown away, but two dining room chairs and a cat scratching post were tossed into the compactor as well. A month or so ago, I saw them put in a headboard and push the compactor until it broke. There is a sign posted there expressly forbidding the disposal of furniture. You can only imagine the noise created. When they throw in the cans and beer bottles from the recycle, the clang I hear resonates all the way to my apartment. It has become intolerable.

I am asking that Austin Ranch take measures to move this mobile dumpster to another location. When it is picked up and dropped off there are loud beeps of the moving truck. Again, I hear the beeps when the device is returned as well as the thundering and apartment -shaking noise of the compactor being dropped back into place. Yes, my apartment shudders when this procedure takes place. An ideal situation would be to relocate this device, which mind you, has been having the compactor button pressed over and over for the duration of this composition by a similarly non Austin Ranch attired worker. If not, please consider disallowing this morning crew from working on weekend mornings. My HOME should be a place of relaxation for me on the weekends at least, and at present, my apartment is bombarded by this incessant noise.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Carter

Grateful for the Hateful - The Story of a Silver Lining

Yesterday I received a text message from my cousin. "Don't let that Facebook message get you down," it read. What message I wondered. I had been at a Cultural Competency training all day, learning about not just "tolerating" or being "sensitive" to others, but really accepting them.

Later I finally saw what all the fuss what about. Earlier that day, my sister in Germany had suggested I put my Mary Kay goal of 30 faces in 30 days on my Facebook page so that she could comment and it would show up on her friends' pages. The idea was that if anyone wanted to participate in a facial they could ask.

Well, I receieved a really ugly message from someone on my friend list, someone I don't really remember, from high school.

It was dissappointing, but the great news was that I recieved 11 positive and affirming messages, messages that made me feel amazing and cared for. This is a true story about dark clouds that really have a silver lining. This is also a story that makes me think that when you are doing what God really wants you to do, the guy "downstairs" tries really hard to attack you. Too bad he didn't realize I have someone stronger on my side!

So, I haven't really done anything to promote my business the last couple of days, but I hope to really solidify some plans tomorrow, print some fliers and get to work! I need bookings! I need to give facials!

Woo Hoo! - The Bubble

So, this morning seemed to start out with a commercial, yes, a commercial about air conditioning repair. The goal of the commercial was to dispel the reasons people sometimes give for not taking care of a seemingly expensive "fix". It presented the various arguments and then pointed out how this particular company did not fit with pre-conceived ideas or hurdles. As the commercial pointed out, you wouldn't stay home from work just because ALL of the lights weren't green! And you wouldn't turn around and go home just because you hit a red light.

I decided that this commercial could really be used to encourage people, myself included, that when we take on something new, big, scary, daunting or out of our comfort zone, that we shouldn't just stop because we "hit a red light".

I hit a red light yesterday evening, but today I kept on truckin'.

I am so proud to say that I gave out my business card twice today. Jill works at Tuesday Morning, and we just started chatting. Sue worked at the next register, and before I knew it we were all just chatting. I gave Jill my last business card and a fragrance scratch and sniff card and felt bad I didn't have anything for Sue. Then I remembered I had some fragrance samples so I let Sue pick one out and gave the other to Jill. She seemed excited about Mary Kay, so I hope I hear back from her.

At Sonic I was contemplating giving a "pretend" business card (a customer info card) to the girl who worked there. I was nervous, but then she smiled at me, and I knew I could do it. I told her I became a consultant in March, but had fizzled because I wasn't brave enough to talk to people, and that is was my goal to talk to one person per day. She told me I was doing a great job, and I explained that it was her big smile that gave me the courage. Wow, what a difference a smile can make! She said she would definitely call me.

So, I have four potential shows and I am starting to take off from the red light. You know, you don't just zoom off from red lights or you hit the car in front of you. So, I am moving slowly and steadily, and I feel I making progress.

Yeah! Doesn't it feel good to make people feel good.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

Day Two in a Pink Bubble

Today I prayed again as I walked Skylar. I asked God to help me today, and I thanked him for the small successes I felt yesterday. As we walked along I ended up talking to a lady sitting outside of Gecko drinking coffee. She owns the Dry Cleaners next door. We got to talking, and as it turned out she is a Christian trying to be a voice for God. Her prayer is that there will be a church service at Austin Ranch, a place where people can find God with their flip flops on, without the possible intimidation some churches may unknowingly create. I was so excited to hear her vision, and I thought about how we could forge a relationship for the good of Christ.

Today I sent a lot of emails about Mary Kay through Facebook. I received two possible bookings at the end of the day. It was a somewhat discouraging day, but looking back I shouldn't feel that way. I need to think again on the small successes, and try to keep making them so that over time I look back and realize I have reached some of my larger goals.

My first goal is to get 5 parties booked by the 5th, so I have two more days. My other goal is to sell $1800 wholesale by September 15th so I can win a cool prize in the Star Consultant Program. I have already bought some product, but I have a ways to go.

Keep my in your prayers.

Shine On! - Seminar 2009

Last week I went to the annual Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas, Texas. The theme was Shine On! and I want to Shine On! this year! Of course I want to make lots of money, but there are other things about Mary Kay that I love, like the idea of a company centered around the Golden Rule. Another philosophy I love is that Mary Kay says put God first, Family second, and career third. So, I left the seminar totally pumped. Terri and I went out to lunch afterwards, and the waiter started to tell us about the Cadillac Special. Our eyes grew big and we exchanged knowing glances..."it's a sign" we thought. Later, I pulled out my name tag which had various ribbons recognizing our unit's achievements, one of them being "Cadillac Unit". I smiled and showed it to the waiter and told him that was why we had looked mischievous when he had mentioned the special to us. Then Terri asked if he had a sister or girlfriend who deserved to be pampered, and he said he had a girlfriend. Great! I offered her a free facial and $10 off a purchase and wrote my contact information down. I was out of business cards. I later realized I wrote down my website wrong. Maybe that's why I haven't heard from her. The great thing about the entire experience was that it gave us faith that we CAN work this business. Bringing up Mary Kay to a stranger seemed so scary, but we had done it, and we felt amazing!

The next day I prayed to God to help me, to give me opportunities and courage. When I got home I had an email. It was the daily devotion that I rarely read. I opened it up as soon as I saw the title, "Your Life Purpose". I had truly felt that God had called me to this business, so I was expectant that he would help me with it, keep His end of the bargain so to speak. I felt that the email was truly from God, affirming that He was indeed there to help me. “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9 I wanted to keep His commands, even though it is sometimes scary, like starting a business, but I felt reassured. Thank you God!

Later, I found three business cards with my MK materials. I packed a fragrance promotional and a business card into a cute little cellophane bag and determined to give them away to people I met while out running my errands. I was so pleased with myself later. I gave two of the bags away. The first girl was a cashier at Michaels. She seemed so pleased, and told me her sister would love the facials I was offering. I gave one to the lady at the grocery store who I talk to all the time. I did it! I didn't get their numbers, but I felt so great. I had passed a test.

I ordered product and materials today, so I HAVE to schedule some classes so I can Party with a Purpose!