I had this idea at the beach. I would start using OneNote to write my blogs and then just upload all of them to Blogger when I got back home. I haven't done that yet. Today's my first day back at work and I got really tired of waiting for iPhone to catch up with my typing speed on my Blogger app. Damn new update... I ended up writing ONE entry and I'll post that later.
In the end, the vacation was awesome!
I got home to a disaster, though. My patio furniture was stolen, I moved my stuff from upstairs to downstairs without a place to live since I STILL didn't have a key with hours left before I HAD to be out of the old room... My apartment management is awful! They even put me in the wrong room! So after I got permission to move my stuff, I find out I'm supposed to be in a different room THEY ASSIGNED early, despite my request MONTHS ago for the room I wanted. That office management came scarily close to seeing me lose my temper. Thank God A was there to keep me calm.
The best part about coming back home so far is the welcoming hug I got from A when I got home. I love being held that tight. I missed him.
Now I must get back to work... Corporate day...
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
One Pooped Puppy!!
I am feeling a little too drained to write. But I want to write.
I thought I wanted a night to myself and now I'm bored. In my defense, it's been super hectic the last two days! Yesterday at work, I got stranded at a gas station for hours while Habeeb, the manager, kept telling me, "You are too small to drive that big van! Too small! Why do they have such small girl drive such big van!?"
Before Habeeb chided me for driving a huge Econoline, I was fighting with FAFSA about the loss of my grant... at this moment, I just realized that I did NOT get to call back today to find the form I need to fix that... GDMFPOSGD!
Then I got home much later than expected and had a pizza, beer, and packing party with future roommate and a co-worker. We got so much done! Thank God! Now all I need is the key to my new room and to move my clothes. It was very helpful having three sets of hands putting things I know I'm not going to need immediately in a box and moving them to the new apartment as I could. We had fun, too, or at least I did.
Now my "to-do" remaining pretty plastic. I knock a few items off, pack room up, go to Birmingham, wash clothes, and I'm only making room for more things to be added. Go to library, pack for beach, finish the weekend warrior list at work, sleep.
I've got so much going on in such a short period of time that burn out syndrome is really kicking in! I'm so ready for this vacation! More mentally than physically... especially after I had to step on that scale today... I'm so ready to have books, sun, and sand!! A whole week of zero responsibility: home, school, or work! -- OK, ONE responsibility that I didn't get to do today that must be done ASAP!
So after packing, working, moving, driving, waiting, pushing, organizing, recording, digging, fixing, bleeding, arguing, and I can't remember everything else because it's all blurring together, I'm sitting down and enjoying a beer.
I just may sleep tonight...
I thought I wanted a night to myself and now I'm bored. In my defense, it's been super hectic the last two days! Yesterday at work, I got stranded at a gas station for hours while Habeeb, the manager, kept telling me, "You are too small to drive that big van! Too small! Why do they have such small girl drive such big van!?"
Before Habeeb chided me for driving a huge Econoline, I was fighting with FAFSA about the loss of my grant... at this moment, I just realized that I did NOT get to call back today to find the form I need to fix that... GDMFPOSGD!
Then I got home much later than expected and had a pizza, beer, and packing party with future roommate and a co-worker. We got so much done! Thank God! Now all I need is the key to my new room and to move my clothes. It was very helpful having three sets of hands putting things I know I'm not going to need immediately in a box and moving them to the new apartment as I could. We had fun, too, or at least I did.
Now my "to-do" remaining pretty plastic. I knock a few items off, pack room up, go to Birmingham, wash clothes, and I'm only making room for more things to be added. Go to library, pack for beach, finish the weekend warrior list at work, sleep.
I've got so much going on in such a short period of time that burn out syndrome is really kicking in! I'm so ready for this vacation! More mentally than physically... especially after I had to step on that scale today... I'm so ready to have books, sun, and sand!! A whole week of zero responsibility: home, school, or work! -- OK, ONE responsibility that I didn't get to do today that must be done ASAP!
So after packing, working, moving, driving, waiting, pushing, organizing, recording, digging, fixing, bleeding, arguing, and I can't remember everything else because it's all blurring together, I'm sitting down and enjoying a beer.
I just may sleep tonight...
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Just warming up...
It's not even noon yet, as I write this, and I have so many tactless opinions to vomit currently it's not funny. Maybe I'm talking to you, maybe I'm not. Bottom line: I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I've collectively had about 12 hours of sleep the last three days; I'm in a bad mood.
Side note: I'm listening to Beethoven's Symphony 9: IV and it's getting me more charged for my vent. I haven't sipped my coffee while I've been writing this.
That being said,
I feel a good bit better now. God, I love writing...
- Don't tell me that I'm under review, that I have to turn in an unknown document by Saturday or get an automatic one on my review, and then not reply to my question of WTF the document is and what I need to do SINCE I'M OFF THE REST OF THE WEEK!
- Roommates: Clean up after yourselves. Some of you live like filthy pigs. It's disgusting! I get dust bunnies, I get scraps of paper left on the floor. I'm not cleaning up your dishes anymore, I'm not paying for you to use my toilet paper, I don't want your chicken juice on my food when it's thawing, I don't want the bacteria you let fester in the kitchen near me! If the dishwasher is clean and you have a dirty dish, empty the fucking dishwasher. Simple. Takes three minutes. Then put your dirty dish in. If the dish washer's full, start it! If you wash your clothes, please be considerate of others who need to wash their clothes; don't leave a load in the washer the night before you leave on a week long trip to somewhere. You're clothes are going to mildew cause they're just going to sit on top of the dryer, wet, until you come home. We cohabitate! Be considerate! And when you take the garbage out, put another bag in the damn can! Takes two seconds! I bought the damn bags, use them!
- Political activists on the Right and Left: SHUT UP! All of you! Right side: I didn't vote for him either but remember how the last 8 years all you said was, "We should support our President even if we didn't vote for him"? Yeah, waffle if you like, I was in political talk radio then, I've got it on tape. You said it, now act on it. He's you're President, support him. You don't have to like him, you don't have to agree with him, but he is your President now. Left side: I haven't said anything negative, I haven't said he needed to be impeached, I'm quite the moderate now as I get older so, quite frankly, you're not going to sway me either way. Please don't be like the Right for the last 8 years and rubbing in that their man's in a leadership position. Both sides: GROW UP! How many years have we been protesting, starting activist groups, leading campaigns against this and lobbying for that? Put active thought into that question, consider all of the rallies, protests, and petitions you can think of. --- I'll wait.----------Now that you've put some real thought (hopefully) into old and new political war cries, how many have actually worked without voting in the person to put into action? So instead of complaining how bad our economy is and whining about who put us in that situation, how about going back to work, be productive, make money, PUT THE MONEY BACK IN THE ECONOMY and make an active effort to fix our financial problems. Stop sitting on your funds because you're afraid. It takes spending it to get the economy moving again. It's how the system is designed to work. Tea Party People: You're just crazy to think anything is going to reform there. Yeah, just get over you're ideas. Stop saying they governments after your pelf when you know that majority of you (not 100%, but majority) are of the upper-middle class and say you're now live in poverty because of the economy. Taxes aren't going any where, they aren't going to be reformed in the near future unless we get a President elected who has the support to move the Fair Tax system.
- Coworkers: I can't work on Thursdays. I never ask for Saturdays off. Stop asking me to swap my A-day with you. It's not happening. I can't work Thursdays. It requires me to be in two places at once. I can't physically do that. Write it on a post it note, put it in your phone, tattoo it on your hand, put it somewhere you can remember to look. I've been there a year now, you've each asked on more than one occasion; the answer will always be no! Not on Thursdays, not right now. I will let you know when and if that should change!
Side note: I'm listening to Beethoven's Symphony 9: IV and it's getting me more charged for my vent. I haven't sipped my coffee while I've been writing this.
- The average Tweeter: Read the links before you post the story with your opinion in 140 characters or less. I'm annoyed with the number of people reading titles, assuming they know what the article is about, putting a little opinion about it next to the bity link, and submitting. Do you have any idea how stupid you look when people actually go read the link and find out that you're opinion has zero relation to the article you posted? I should unfollow you.
- Parents: Teach your damn children how to drive better! I'm a biker, I follow the same traffic laws as automobiles. That means you treat me the same way as a automobile. I am on a vehicle. I yield for you at yield signs, you yield for me. I stop for you, you stop for me. I will stay on the sidewalks as much as possible but three different teenagers almost committed manslaughter yesterday while I was heading to and from home. What makes me nervous is that teens follow their parents behaviors; you probably don't pay attention to pedestrians and bikers either. I just hope you have good insurance and don't kill me. DrSxDP will be pissed.
That being said,
- Pedestrians: USE THE SIDEWALK AND CROSSWALKS! If you jump out in front of my bike or car in a parking lot when I'm going 5 mph and flip me off for not stopping before you do so, you are jaywalking. I'm not psychic, I don't have x-ray vision. That's why I'm going 5mph! If I'm on my bike, or if you are around any biker for that matter, don't stand still in the bike path and look at us funny when we have to slam on our brakes from hitting you. Stupid twats, you almost deserve to be hit by a car. My insurance isn't that good, though, so you're lucky around me. Though, the mood I'm in today, jump out in front me and I may speed up!
- Some friends in particular that you already know who you are and I don't have to point you out because I've already given you my two cents on your predicament(s): If you aren't going to take my advice, please stop venting to me about how you don't know how to handle something or your life is in the shitter. I am your friend and will always be there for you, however, I will not tolerate pity parties when I've already told you how to handle a problem and you refuse to do it or listen. Honestly, for some of my friends more than others, I'm honestly concerned about how adamant you are about continuing your self-deprecation. You do not live in Shittown unless you want to. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, get back on again. But remember the definition of insanity it doing the same thing over and over again. You want to stay out of Shittown? Stop focusing on the things you can't control and focus on the things you can. When you control what should be organic, you create side effects like what you're experiencing now. Stop trying and let life happen naturally. Because I love you, I'm not listening to it anymore. It may be tough love, and it may hurt, but I don't like seeing you in the place you're in right now. It's time to start accepting the changes in life and going with things instead of manipulating them
- Internet Service Provider: Get off you're lazy ass and fix my connection problems already! Geez, it's old having to swap between all of your routers every five minutes!
I feel a good bit better now. God, I love writing...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
These last two weeks have been great! I should probably explain, that's because I quit my job! I have been doing absolutely nothing...well that part's not true, really. I have been doing quite a lot.
Truth is, I have made a huge change and that's required a lot of tedious things to be done. I haven't just lost my ever-loving mind and have decided that jobless will pay my bills. In fact, I already have another job lined up, but I am not starting until I get back from the beach.
Which is where I am right now.
Be jealous - it's beautiful down here!! OK - don't be jealous - pack a bag and come see how beautiful it is!!
The water is clear, the weather is perfect, the sun is out, the tanned resort boys are out putting the cushions out this morning...it's great!! In fact, the view is so awesome, my bed is right next to the window facing the ocean!
Truth is, I have made a huge change and that's required a lot of tedious things to be done. I haven't just lost my ever-loving mind and have decided that jobless will pay my bills. In fact, I already have another job lined up, but I am not starting until I get back from the beach.
Which is where I am right now.
Be jealous - it's beautiful down here!! OK - don't be jealous - pack a bag and come see how beautiful it is!!
The water is clear, the weather is perfect, the sun is out, the tanned resort boys are out putting the cushions out this morning...it's great!! In fact, the view is so awesome, my bed is right next to the window facing the ocean!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sounds like you've got a case of the Mondays!!
Yesterday was just one of those long days. Everyone seemed to be in the Monday funk. And that Monday funk started, for me, when we had to put out keys (which are another story in of itself, entirely!)
The keys had been put in a box. No big deal. We all sorted out the mess and marched outside and started locating cars. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. At least, not until we got to the Sonatas.
Just to let you know, some trims levels are a lot, A LOT, more popular than others. Those others may sit there a minute and sometimes a light may have been left on, a door ajar, something that has run the battery down. So we had to jump off a few Sonatas. No big deal.
Right. No big deal til I got to lift the hood on the white one with an f'n wasps nest in it!!!
I don't know if you know this about me or not...I am deathly afraid of those things.
So D comes to the rescue and puts the charger on the car while I'm in the driver's seat, freaking out! The only thing I could think of was to leave the door open in case on of those pointed-ass bastards came through an air vent!
All of a sudden, D, who is a nice size dude, starts screaming, "Crank it already!! I'm going to get stung!!"
Ohhhh yeah.... I forgot you were over there!!
The keys had been put in a box. No big deal. We all sorted out the mess and marched outside and started locating cars. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. At least, not until we got to the Sonatas.
Just to let you know, some trims levels are a lot, A LOT, more popular than others. Those others may sit there a minute and sometimes a light may have been left on, a door ajar, something that has run the battery down. So we had to jump off a few Sonatas. No big deal.
Right. No big deal til I got to lift the hood on the white one with an f'n wasps nest in it!!!
I don't know if you know this about me or not...I am deathly afraid of those things.
So D comes to the rescue and puts the charger on the car while I'm in the driver's seat, freaking out! The only thing I could think of was to leave the door open in case on of those pointed-ass bastards came through an air vent!
All of a sudden, D, who is a nice size dude, starts screaming, "Crank it already!! I'm going to get stung!!"
Ohhhh yeah.... I forgot you were over there!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Old Man is Snoring
It is raining.
It has been raining for days.
I am sick of rain.
Why? Besides the fact it's been raining for days?
Because I have customers who want to stand outside of the car while you tell them why it's such a great product and leave you to stand in rain puddles deeper than Lake Michigan when you're 5'5 tall! I should have brought a change of pants!
It has been raining for days.
I am sick of rain.
Why? Besides the fact it's been raining for days?
Because I have customers who want to stand outside of the car while you tell them why it's such a great product and leave you to stand in rain puddles deeper than Lake Michigan when you're 5'5 tall! I should have brought a change of pants!
Monday, January 5, 2009
What's that over there!?
I am definitely ADD.
I sold my first car the other night. You can look at it one of two ways: I've been at the dealership for three years and it's taken me this long to sell my first car OR I'd been a salesman for approximately 3 hours and sold my first car. I prefer that later considering that was really the case.
Yay me!
Thing is, that was pure luck. Not every customer comes in with a sheet of paper with stock number scribbled on it and says, "I've come to buy this car." I wish it always happened that way.
In reality, I have to learn product. I know, another question, "How can be there three years and not know the product?" Well, let me tell you this! If you saw all the different specs and numbers and product codes and bla bla bla's there were to all the different models we have on our lot, you'd understand. My brain feels like one big fart right now.
I have taken to studying at every given opportunity. It's hard to study answers to questions you don't know you're going to get. It makes me wonder how I ever graduated high school!
I have a little book that someone told me has all the information in it that I need know. Great! I have sat down to look at this book a hundred times. I'm on page 9!
Everything keeps distracting me. If it's not another customer, it's that I have to use the bathroom. I might have to get something to eat, the phone rings, a customer comes in, or family has arrived. This morning, I was drinking some water and at the bottom where the glass was blown together (they are handmade glasses) reminded me of a monkey...that was the distraction this morning. I never would have noticed it if I hadn't been subliminally looking for an excuse to put the book down...
Oh, I don't miss school.
I sold my first car the other night. You can look at it one of two ways: I've been at the dealership for three years and it's taken me this long to sell my first car OR I'd been a salesman for approximately 3 hours and sold my first car. I prefer that later considering that was really the case.
Yay me!
Thing is, that was pure luck. Not every customer comes in with a sheet of paper with stock number scribbled on it and says, "I've come to buy this car." I wish it always happened that way.
In reality, I have to learn product. I know, another question, "How can be there three years and not know the product?" Well, let me tell you this! If you saw all the different specs and numbers and product codes and bla bla bla's there were to all the different models we have on our lot, you'd understand. My brain feels like one big fart right now.
I have taken to studying at every given opportunity. It's hard to study answers to questions you don't know you're going to get. It makes me wonder how I ever graduated high school!
I have a little book that someone told me has all the information in it that I need know. Great! I have sat down to look at this book a hundred times. I'm on page 9!
Everything keeps distracting me. If it's not another customer, it's that I have to use the bathroom. I might have to get something to eat, the phone rings, a customer comes in, or family has arrived. This morning, I was drinking some water and at the bottom where the glass was blown together (they are handmade glasses) reminded me of a monkey...that was the distraction this morning. I never would have noticed it if I hadn't been subliminally looking for an excuse to put the book down...
Oh, I don't miss school.
Friday, January 2, 2009
People to pray for...
Today is one of those days that I'm not going to forget in the near future.
I don't want to give away too many details since it's not really my business to tell, however, I will tell you about my piece of the puzzle.
My boss called me into my office earlier today. I like my office. It's big, it's roomy, I have eucalyptus in it so it smells nice. I have a photo from my wedding day sitting behind me; always showing off my husband. Comparitively speaking to some of the other offices in the building, it's huge!
"I have to give you a choice," my boss started. It's never good to start a conversation like that. I knew today was going to be a strange day and I knew in my gut that it was going to get weird for me. I had been praying for weeks that I'd have a job after today; during this meeting, I was about to find out. My boss knew that was my first concern as soon as he started his speech.
"Don't worry, I'm not firing you. Don't freak out," my eyes must have been about to pop out of my head because I was holding my coffee in my hands so he wouldn't know I was concerned. I like to play the poker card; I don't want you to know my true thoughts sometimes. My eyes always give me away, though!!
After we finished our meeting, which I'm not going into any further detail as juicy as it may be for you, I assured him that I didn't want to go anywhere.
"I'm a team player," I promised. I'm being put into a position that kind of sucks if you look at the glass half-empty. But I'm a person who always looks at the glass as half-full. I'm not stupid either; I know what's going on, I know this has to happen. Plus, I have faith that I'll be rewarded for my hard work and loyalty.
When I write this blog, I like to pretend I'm really sitting with you discussing my day over a cup of coffee. Or you're reading a book while getting your afternoon-tea-pick-me-up. I regret not being able to really discuss this in that fashion but please understand that some things aren't meant for you to know about me but I will vent about them cryptically anyway. That being said, I hope I can be motivational enough for other people who may not always see the glass as half full.
Life is always challenging. Life is not fair. Life doesn't always give us what we want. Actually, life never gives us what we want; we have to work for it! Take for example this half-marathon. Pretend for a second that you were going to run the race tomorrow. You couldn't finish 13.1 miles automatically! It takes training and diligence to condition your body to running that distance.
Side note: Alabama is playing Utah right now and my day is getting worse because JP Wilson just threw an interception in the first minutes of the game; right after Utah just scored. What the crap!!?
My point in the marathon is, if you train hard, work hard, play hard, you'll finish faster, better and have more fun. God says we have to persevere. God also says we'll be rewarded for finishing the race.
Many of you could have the same reaction as my husband. Or you would have the same reaction: quit.
I'm not quitting.
I'm not leaving my job. I love my job. This is a great opportunity for me! I can learn -- Utah. just. scored. again. -- and get better at what I do. I can be more successful and make more money. Why would I quit a good thing? Yeah, so what if it's hard!? That makes the reward that much better!
Let me just end with this: there are many people who don't have a job right now. I could be one of those people. Your attitude has a lot to do with what you achieve in life. If you have a shit attitude, you aren't going to make it far. Everyone who may not be as fortunate as me to have a job to stress over is in my prayers tonight. It may be a scary market to not have a job in but trust me and believe me when I say it's getting better. I work in a business that is dependent upon a good market: trust me when I say I see it getting a lot better and quick! If you don't have employment right now, I dare you to learn something new and do what you're afraid to do. Even if it's hard. I promise you it will be worth it. Just keep looking at the glass as half full!
Was that motivational enough?
I don't want to give away too many details since it's not really my business to tell, however, I will tell you about my piece of the puzzle.
My boss called me into my office earlier today. I like my office. It's big, it's roomy, I have eucalyptus in it so it smells nice. I have a photo from my wedding day sitting behind me; always showing off my husband. Comparitively speaking to some of the other offices in the building, it's huge!
"I have to give you a choice," my boss started. It's never good to start a conversation like that. I knew today was going to be a strange day and I knew in my gut that it was going to get weird for me. I had been praying for weeks that I'd have a job after today; during this meeting, I was about to find out. My boss knew that was my first concern as soon as he started his speech.
"Don't worry, I'm not firing you. Don't freak out," my eyes must have been about to pop out of my head because I was holding my coffee in my hands so he wouldn't know I was concerned. I like to play the poker card; I don't want you to know my true thoughts sometimes. My eyes always give me away, though!!
After we finished our meeting, which I'm not going into any further detail as juicy as it may be for you, I assured him that I didn't want to go anywhere.
"I'm a team player," I promised. I'm being put into a position that kind of sucks if you look at the glass half-empty. But I'm a person who always looks at the glass as half-full. I'm not stupid either; I know what's going on, I know this has to happen. Plus, I have faith that I'll be rewarded for my hard work and loyalty.
When I write this blog, I like to pretend I'm really sitting with you discussing my day over a cup of coffee. Or you're reading a book while getting your afternoon-tea-pick-me-up. I regret not being able to really discuss this in that fashion but please understand that some things aren't meant for you to know about me but I will vent about them cryptically anyway. That being said, I hope I can be motivational enough for other people who may not always see the glass as half full.
Life is always challenging. Life is not fair. Life doesn't always give us what we want. Actually, life never gives us what we want; we have to work for it! Take for example this half-marathon. Pretend for a second that you were going to run the race tomorrow. You couldn't finish 13.1 miles automatically! It takes training and diligence to condition your body to running that distance.
Side note: Alabama is playing Utah right now and my day is getting worse because JP Wilson just threw an interception in the first minutes of the game; right after Utah just scored. What the crap!!?
My point in the marathon is, if you train hard, work hard, play hard, you'll finish faster, better and have more fun. God says we have to persevere. God also says we'll be rewarded for finishing the race.
Many of you could have the same reaction as my husband. Or you would have the same reaction: quit.
I'm not quitting.
I'm not leaving my job. I love my job. This is a great opportunity for me! I can learn -- Utah. just. scored. again. -- and get better at what I do. I can be more successful and make more money. Why would I quit a good thing? Yeah, so what if it's hard!? That makes the reward that much better!
Let me just end with this: there are many people who don't have a job right now. I could be one of those people. Your attitude has a lot to do with what you achieve in life. If you have a shit attitude, you aren't going to make it far. Everyone who may not be as fortunate as me to have a job to stress over is in my prayers tonight. It may be a scary market to not have a job in but trust me and believe me when I say it's getting better. I work in a business that is dependent upon a good market: trust me when I say I see it getting a lot better and quick! If you don't have employment right now, I dare you to learn something new and do what you're afraid to do. Even if it's hard. I promise you it will be worth it. Just keep looking at the glass as half full!
Was that motivational enough?
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The day I exploded
What a very strange week it's been.
We've had some crazy customer after crazy customer come into the store! One cussed me out a few hours ago!
This woman should be on medication! I have done nothing but bend over backwards to help her while she has continually antagonized me, my boss, the salesman and the name of this dealership. And she tells me to "Shut the f*ck up!"
This whole situation has been brewing for a few weeks now. Starting dollars in change. Literally. It's ridiculous. She's proof that there are crazy people well disguised walking around in society. She's evidence that no matter what you do to help, you can never make some people happy. She's further proof that no matter how much you brown nose and kiss ass a person, that person still has the choice not to appreciate your efforts just because.
I have never in my time here at this dealership walked away from a customer. I never imagined in my wildest that I would tell a customer they could help themselves. But when she accused me of not doing what I had proved to her I had done, accused me of being a liar, refused to allow me to show her where I had done everything within my means to help her, and continued to throw F-bombs at me for trying to show her what we had done in order to help her, I stopped myself from slapping her into the corner of my office for wasting my time.
As the woman began cussing and spewing her venom, I could feel my blood pressure rise. I could feel my pulse quicken, my hands start to shake. I've always wanted to be able to tell a customer where they can go with some of the idiocy he may bring and this lady had given me that opportunity.
I picked up her paperwork, the evidence of my case. I threw it down on my desk, lightly tossing it in her direction. I threw my hands down on my desk with my hands in tight fists. I stood up and as she began to follow me, I leaned over my desk and looked her dead in the eyes. For a second, she was frozen, half-way standing up as I spoke.
"Mrs. [Customer]," I stated as calmly as was possible, "I am done trying to help you. I will not be spoken to that way."
"I'll just call my attorney," she screamed as she stood all the way up. I was already walking out of my office door before she could put the period at the end of her sentence.
"That's fine! This conversation is officially over then," it was getting harder for me to keep my voice low. I was turning the corner in the hallway by this time and saw the owner walking past us. His eyes looked like they needed some assistance staying in their sockets. "If you speak to your attorney, I am no longer allowed to speak with you, Mrs. [Customer], have a nice day." I could feel my voice starting to shake. Why am I letting this customer get to me?
She continued to scream at me as she chased me down the hallway. That's why she's getting to me. I realized as I paced to the front of the showroom that I had somehow picked up the paperwork again. She continued as I walked, sounding like the parents in the Peanuts cartoons, "Wa wa wa, wa-wa wa waaa."
I finally reached the top of the tower, still hearing her spew out her hatred for me. What have I done to offend you other than bend over backwards and kiss your big, fat, white ass, you bItch! I wondered. "Ma'am, I'm done."
"Wa-wa wa, wa wa wa-wa wa," she continued. I don't even know what she was saying as my blood pressure was about to pop my ear drums. Enough, already! I could feel every pair of eyes on us as the conversation continued to escalate.
"Ma'am, I've already told you that if you want to consult your attorney on this matter, than I can no longer speak to you. I am just telling you now that I will not tolerate being spoken to that way, especially when I have done nothing wrong and everything in my power to help you in your situation!" I threw the papers back down on the desk and let the sales manager take over.
She finally left and the owner and sales manager just looked at me. "She told me, in her exact words, we 'never f*cking sent the check when we were supposed to send the f*cking check,' and told me to 'shut the f*ck up a minute' while she told me it was my fault for the fifteenth time." I could feel how red my face was getting.
Both of them looked at each other, awestruck. They knew as well as I did that I never treat customers that abrasively. The paused their stares at me. Then the owner smirked and snorted, "Good for you!"
We've had some crazy customer after crazy customer come into the store! One cussed me out a few hours ago!
This woman should be on medication! I have done nothing but bend over backwards to help her while she has continually antagonized me, my boss, the salesman and the name of this dealership. And she tells me to "Shut the f*ck up!"
This whole situation has been brewing for a few weeks now. Starting dollars in change. Literally. It's ridiculous. She's proof that there are crazy people well disguised walking around in society. She's evidence that no matter what you do to help, you can never make some people happy. She's further proof that no matter how much you brown nose and kiss ass a person, that person still has the choice not to appreciate your efforts just because.
I have never in my time here at this dealership walked away from a customer. I never imagined in my wildest that I would tell a customer they could help themselves. But when she accused me of not doing what I had proved to her I had done, accused me of being a liar, refused to allow me to show her where I had done everything within my means to help her, and continued to throw F-bombs at me for trying to show her what we had done in order to help her, I stopped myself from slapping her into the corner of my office for wasting my time.
As the woman began cussing and spewing her venom, I could feel my blood pressure rise. I could feel my pulse quicken, my hands start to shake. I've always wanted to be able to tell a customer where they can go with some of the idiocy he may bring and this lady had given me that opportunity.
I picked up her paperwork, the evidence of my case. I threw it down on my desk, lightly tossing it in her direction. I threw my hands down on my desk with my hands in tight fists. I stood up and as she began to follow me, I leaned over my desk and looked her dead in the eyes. For a second, she was frozen, half-way standing up as I spoke.
"Mrs. [Customer]," I stated as calmly as was possible, "I am done trying to help you. I will not be spoken to that way."
"I'll just call my attorney," she screamed as she stood all the way up. I was already walking out of my office door before she could put the period at the end of her sentence.
"That's fine! This conversation is officially over then," it was getting harder for me to keep my voice low. I was turning the corner in the hallway by this time and saw the owner walking past us. His eyes looked like they needed some assistance staying in their sockets. "If you speak to your attorney, I am no longer allowed to speak with you, Mrs. [Customer], have a nice day." I could feel my voice starting to shake. Why am I letting this customer get to me?
She continued to scream at me as she chased me down the hallway. That's why she's getting to me. I realized as I paced to the front of the showroom that I had somehow picked up the paperwork again. She continued as I walked, sounding like the parents in the Peanuts cartoons, "Wa wa wa, wa-wa wa waaa."
I finally reached the top of the tower, still hearing her spew out her hatred for me. What have I done to offend you other than bend over backwards and kiss your big, fat, white ass, you bItch! I wondered. "Ma'am, I'm done."
"Wa-wa wa, wa wa wa-wa wa," she continued. I don't even know what she was saying as my blood pressure was about to pop my ear drums. Enough, already! I could feel every pair of eyes on us as the conversation continued to escalate.
"Ma'am, I've already told you that if you want to consult your attorney on this matter, than I can no longer speak to you. I am just telling you now that I will not tolerate being spoken to that way, especially when I have done nothing wrong and everything in my power to help you in your situation!" I threw the papers back down on the desk and let the sales manager take over.
She finally left and the owner and sales manager just looked at me. "She told me, in her exact words, we 'never f*cking sent the check when we were supposed to send the f*cking check,' and told me to 'shut the f*ck up a minute' while she told me it was my fault for the fifteenth time." I could feel how red my face was getting.
Both of them looked at each other, awestruck. They knew as well as I did that I never treat customers that abrasively. The paused their stares at me. Then the owner smirked and snorted, "Good for you!"
Thursday, December 18, 2008
From under the rock
I've already had a confusing morning. I just don't understand some people.
I was literally putting my salad, apple and banana in a bag, about to walk out the door when my phone rings. I didn't have to think about it; I knew it was work even though I was secretly hoping it was my friend, Brooke, telling me if she was having a boy or a girl (or babies!).
"Stephanie, W's customers are here. They've been here since 8. Is the paperwork ready?" It was D. Thank God he knows the paperwork, too! It's 8:20 in the morning and I'm confused as to why the customer is there so early.
"Yeah, it's printed. All they have to do is sign," I confirmed. "W told me 8:30, D, I'm sorry I'm not there! I'm literally walking out the door, though!"
D sounded frustrated, like he didn't know exactly what to tell this customer. Tell them we open at 8:30 and W confirmed 8:30 with them as they were walking out the door last night! I thought. But I wasn't sure if D knew that. Better he stay naive.
I drove to the dealership, not worried about flying. The roads are wet, traffic's been kind of crazy, these people were told 8:30, I know, and I live three minutes from the dealership, anyway. I parked my car thinking that by the time I'd get to my office, the customers would be finished and all I'd have to say was, "I'm sorry."
Before I could get out of my car, W was standing at me door.
"Stephanie, I don't know where she got 8 from. I know I told you 8:30. She might have confused me. I told her we didn't open until 8:30," he looked like he was worried he was going to get in trouble. I was only worried about his survey. If he doesn't get a 10, he doesn't get paid. At the same time I was thinking this shouldn't have been such a big deal; if she wanted to meet me at 8, I live just down the street! It would've been fine with me.
"Don't worry about it," I tried to brush it off.
"Do me a favor, though."
mmm..."What?"
"Tell her your sorry you're running late?" he asked. W looked like he knew he was asking a lot. It's not uncommon to step out of the humility comfort zone in my position; I knew it was coming.
"Yeah, no big deal. I'll take care of it."
I walked in the dealership, put down my bag, grabbed me keys and explained the situation to C. I ran back to my office and immediately, "Hey, Mrs. J. I'm so sorry I wasn't here. Please accept me apologies. I ran a tad late. I hope D has been able to take good care of you. Again, I'm so sorry!"
The woman's eyes looked like they were trying to bore into my head to find truth. "You hear 8 didn't you?"
"Honestly, ma'am, I heard 8:30, but I will honestly say I may have misunderstood the times. I'm so sorry."
D looked at her and mentioned something about not being open until 8:30; meanwhile I couldn't get over the look she had in her face. I tried to help D out while he finished her paperwork. She said she'd "think" about our survey and left.
About and hour later, I get this phone call:
"I bought a 2005 Hyundai and I bought it from another dealership that's out of business and I had a quick question about if you honor the Hyundai Warranty there."
"Yes, ma'am we do. As long as it's under manufacturer's warranty, we can do warranty work."
"Ok, I had another quick question."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I had the tire's for life there. Do you honor that?"
"No, ma'am. That was something with your dealership."
"Well, I just had to get new tires from somebody else, will ya'll do the tires for life?"
"No ma'am."
"I have another question."
"OK?"
"About the tires for life. With the new tires I got, will ya'll replace them there?"
"No ma'am, we don't honor the tires for life from the other dealership."
"Well they told me I to get my oil changes done there for the tires for life. Does that matter anymore?"
"No, ma'am, not if they're out of business, but we don't honor the tires for life."
"Well, how much are oil changes?"
"Let me connect you to the service department..." Thank God!
Is it another full moon already???
I was literally putting my salad, apple and banana in a bag, about to walk out the door when my phone rings. I didn't have to think about it; I knew it was work even though I was secretly hoping it was my friend, Brooke, telling me if she was having a boy or a girl (or babies!).
"Stephanie, W's customers are here. They've been here since 8. Is the paperwork ready?" It was D. Thank God he knows the paperwork, too! It's 8:20 in the morning and I'm confused as to why the customer is there so early.
"Yeah, it's printed. All they have to do is sign," I confirmed. "W told me 8:30, D, I'm sorry I'm not there! I'm literally walking out the door, though!"
D sounded frustrated, like he didn't know exactly what to tell this customer. Tell them we open at 8:30 and W confirmed 8:30 with them as they were walking out the door last night! I thought. But I wasn't sure if D knew that. Better he stay naive.
I drove to the dealership, not worried about flying. The roads are wet, traffic's been kind of crazy, these people were told 8:30, I know, and I live three minutes from the dealership, anyway. I parked my car thinking that by the time I'd get to my office, the customers would be finished and all I'd have to say was, "I'm sorry."
Before I could get out of my car, W was standing at me door.
"Stephanie, I don't know where she got 8 from. I know I told you 8:30. She might have confused me. I told her we didn't open until 8:30," he looked like he was worried he was going to get in trouble. I was only worried about his survey. If he doesn't get a 10, he doesn't get paid. At the same time I was thinking this shouldn't have been such a big deal; if she wanted to meet me at 8, I live just down the street! It would've been fine with me.
"Don't worry about it," I tried to brush it off.
"Do me a favor, though."
mmm..."What?"
"Tell her your sorry you're running late?" he asked. W looked like he knew he was asking a lot. It's not uncommon to step out of the humility comfort zone in my position; I knew it was coming.
"Yeah, no big deal. I'll take care of it."
I walked in the dealership, put down my bag, grabbed me keys and explained the situation to C. I ran back to my office and immediately, "Hey, Mrs. J. I'm so sorry I wasn't here. Please accept me apologies. I ran a tad late. I hope D has been able to take good care of you. Again, I'm so sorry!"
The woman's eyes looked like they were trying to bore into my head to find truth. "You hear 8 didn't you?"
"Honestly, ma'am, I heard 8:30, but I will honestly say I may have misunderstood the times. I'm so sorry."
D looked at her and mentioned something about not being open until 8:30; meanwhile I couldn't get over the look she had in her face. I tried to help D out while he finished her paperwork. She said she'd "think" about our survey and left.
About and hour later, I get this phone call:
"I bought a 2005 Hyundai and I bought it from another dealership that's out of business and I had a quick question about if you honor the Hyundai Warranty there."
"Yes, ma'am we do. As long as it's under manufacturer's warranty, we can do warranty work."
"Ok, I had another quick question."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I had the tire's for life there. Do you honor that?"
"No, ma'am. That was something with your dealership."
"Well, I just had to get new tires from somebody else, will ya'll do the tires for life?"
"No ma'am."
"I have another question."
"OK?"
"About the tires for life. With the new tires I got, will ya'll replace them there?"
"No ma'am, we don't honor the tires for life from the other dealership."
"Well they told me I to get my oil changes done there for the tires for life. Does that matter anymore?"
"No, ma'am, not if they're out of business, but we don't honor the tires for life."
"Well, how much are oil changes?"
"Let me connect you to the service department..." Thank God!
Is it another full moon already???
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Success is not eating the leftovers
Oh! I am still so full from lunch today! Everything was delicious! Everybody who brought something did a great job! The smoked chicken was e.x.c.e.l.l.e.n.t!!!!!
Unfortunately, not all the Peanut Butter Balls got eaten so I'm taking some home with me. Looking on the bright side of that, there are enough left that I won't have to make another batch for my Mum's Christmas after all. I can just stick these in the freezer and thaw overnight in the refrigerator! Another reason for me not to eat them!
I did get some left over BBQ and some left over smoked chicken to eat. That will be a big help in getting back on the bandwagon. I didn't get any sauce but the chicken didn't need the sauce! It fell right off of the bone! It was perrrrfect! And my dear, sweet husband can have the BBQ; I'll even make him some white BBQ sauce to go with it.
Also, I have some, maybe a serving, of my casserole left. Trey can eat that for lunch one day this week if I can keep him out of the fast food line. Not a lot of people are brave enough to try my cooking and what I can cook is limited. That means Trey's menu from Restaurant Stephanie is limited to about....oh....5 items? Chicken and rice casserole, chicken tacos, pork and rice casserole, ham wraps and...and...um....OK 4 items are on my menu!
Needless to say, he gets a little tired of redundancy and is scared to try my food when I experiment. In my defense, I haven't burnt anything in at least a month and I haven't technically set anything on fire in two years! So I am getting better!!
Just to let you know, I only had one piece of the big "O" cake-- come think of it, I don't think I even ate the whole piece! I'm still stuffed though! What I missed in caloric intake from the cake I made up for with the chicken and rice casserole, hash brown casserole, dip, chips, bite of brownie, bite of peanut butter cake and peanut butter balls. I lost count with the peanut butter balls.
Soooo...I have some running to do Friday...
Unfortunately, not all the Peanut Butter Balls got eaten so I'm taking some home with me. Looking on the bright side of that, there are enough left that I won't have to make another batch for my Mum's Christmas after all. I can just stick these in the freezer and thaw overnight in the refrigerator! Another reason for me not to eat them!
I did get some left over BBQ and some left over smoked chicken to eat. That will be a big help in getting back on the bandwagon. I didn't get any sauce but the chicken didn't need the sauce! It fell right off of the bone! It was perrrrfect! And my dear, sweet husband can have the BBQ; I'll even make him some white BBQ sauce to go with it.
Also, I have some, maybe a serving, of my casserole left. Trey can eat that for lunch one day this week if I can keep him out of the fast food line. Not a lot of people are brave enough to try my cooking and what I can cook is limited. That means Trey's menu from Restaurant Stephanie is limited to about....oh....5 items? Chicken and rice casserole, chicken tacos, pork and rice casserole, ham wraps and...and...um....OK 4 items are on my menu!
Needless to say, he gets a little tired of redundancy and is scared to try my food when I experiment. In my defense, I haven't burnt anything in at least a month and I haven't technically set anything on fire in two years! So I am getting better!!
Just to let you know, I only had one piece of the big "O" cake-- come think of it, I don't think I even ate the whole piece! I'm still stuffed though! What I missed in caloric intake from the cake I made up for with the chicken and rice casserole, hash brown casserole, dip, chips, bite of brownie, bite of peanut butter cake and peanut butter balls. I lost count with the peanut butter balls.
Soooo...I have some running to do Friday...
The Full Spread
Look at all the goodness! The tinfoil is BBQ. The blue top is mash potatoes. The end of the table has an assortment of pies and the big O cake.And that's not all the food!
Now do you see why it's better for me to cave today??
Honesty
con-fes-sion /kənˈfɛʃən/ Show
Spelled Pronunciation [kuhn-fesh-uhn] Show IPA
Pronunciation
–noun
1.acknowledgment; avowal; admission: a confession of incompetence.
2.acknowledgment or disclosure of sin or sinfulness, esp. to a priest to
obtain absolution.
3.something that is confessed.
4.a formal, usually written, acknowledgment of guilt by a person accused of a crime.
5.Also called confession of faith. a formal profession of belief and acceptance of doctrines, as before being admitted to church membership.
6.the tomb of a martyr or confessor or the altar or shrine connected with it.7. I deviated from my diet plan last night and plan to do it again today.
So I have to admit something. I had the Shrimp Cypress Inn at Cypress Inn last night. I know, I know! How horrible! I've done so good! But I thought, "I have done so good! I need a reward!" so I ordered it! And I enjoyed it!!!
I had a really bad run this morning. I got very frustrated and just quit. I know, I know! I shouldn't quit! I'm blaming the bad run on the Shrimp Cypress Inn. Excuses! Excuses! The real reason I got frustrated was because I couldn't get my breathing in a rhythm and when I did, I'd have other problems. Plus, my iPod is out of juice and I'm already bored enough on the treadmill. I think I'm going to have to move my runs outside sooner than I thought. I'm going to have to find a running partner, too. The epiphany of running outside by myself doesn't sound that great.
In the meantime, today is our Christmas dinner at the dealership. All that gooey, yummy goodness. I had already planned on allowing myself to splurge today. It's really tough to ignore the BBQ, the potato salads, mashed potatoes, hash brown casseroles (I'm noticing a potato theme, here), slaw, the Orgasm cake from Thanksgiving, the peanut butter balls I made, my chicken casserole (Thanks, Paula!!), the pies, the macaroni and cheese, the dips, the chips - Oh! There is so much stuff to tempt me!
Don't chide me! I don't plan on eating everything! Moderation is key! I know that! I won't have the sauce, I won't have the potatoes, probably - well maybe the hash brown casserole - I'm only sticking to a piece AND I MEAN A PIECE of the Orgasm cake. I'll be a good cheater! Just consider my diet for the last three weeks: salad, sweet potatoes - no butter, chicken, chicken, salad, chicken, oranges, bananas, oatmeal, chicken, egg whites, chicken, protein shakes, chicken, salad and chicken!
I think this will be good for me. Help strengthen my resolve, maybe move me over this boredom hump AND give me some more incentive to push myself harder in the gym!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
At the end of the day...
All good things must come to an end. That includes my day off. But I can't say that I haven't enjoyed it!
Supper Club tonight was a blast. I'm sure that with all 10 of us ladies there, we had to have been loud enough for all to hear but I hope that we were fun to listen to! I mean, with three pregnant women, six moms, three women who haven't had children yet and one who's not even married, I'm sure there were some great conversations to overhear! I was in such a good mood, I even got Trey a piece of Key Lime pie as a surprise.
Now that I'm home, I'm watching the Biggest Loser Finale and putting the chocolate on the peanut butter balls. Unfortunately Amy hasn't won the money but maybe Phil will...or his wife.
Now here's a recipe for the family:
Peanut Butter Balls
1 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1/2 stick melted butter
2 cups confectioners sugar (plus extra during rolling the balls)
2 bags chocolate chips
1/4 stick parafin wax
Add the first three ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Pinch off the pieces of the peanut butter mixture and roll into small balls (larger than a marble but smaller than a golf ball). Place on sheet and refridgerate for at least 2 hours.
Melt chocolate with the wax. (I like to double boil it.) Using a toothpick, dip balls into the chocolate. Refridgerate until hard. Serve, Eat and Enjoy!
Mental Health Day
I am so excited today! I have the day off from work! While it doesn't take my mind off of some of the stresses there, it does help me relax in a big way. I already have a packed schedule this evening and work on top of it was pulling me thin. So yesterday, when I asked if I could have the afternoon off a little early, I was very surprised when Clint said, "Just take Tuesday off."
That means I have a whole day to get stuff done today! Here's a little why I was getting stressed about this evening. Every month, my girlfriends and I have our Supper Club. Usually it's the second week of the month but with the holidays and all, it was much easier for all of us to get together the third week of December. We are having an ornament swap and eating dinner at a nice restaurant. We'll catch up with each other, ask how the babies and husbands are and then we'll laugh, cut up, relax and enjoy each others' company with no husbands or children around. I look forward to this every month! Especially since I work around 11 men all day, every day! That's not even counting my husband!
Tomorrow is our Christmas at the dealership. Not that I've been procrastinating at all, I haven't, I just need to get the ingredients to make my dish. I wasn't able to get to the store on Sunday and I have gotten to where I refuse to go to Walmart or Food World by myself at night over here. There was a mugging not too long ago and I don't particularly want to be the next victim. That being said, tonight, I would have to go to the store tonight to get the stuff I need for my dish. That's why I asked Clint if I could leave a little early: I wanted to be able to leave before it was dark, get my ingredients, go to Supper Club and come home to mix it together. Plus, tonight is the Biggest Loser Finale so I didn't want to be up late watching it or make my dish - a Paula Dean dish, no less - while watching people tell me how dishes like mine made the fat! Go Michelle!!
That being said, my schedule today is as follows:
That means I have a whole day to get stuff done today! Here's a little why I was getting stressed about this evening. Every month, my girlfriends and I have our Supper Club. Usually it's the second week of the month but with the holidays and all, it was much easier for all of us to get together the third week of December. We are having an ornament swap and eating dinner at a nice restaurant. We'll catch up with each other, ask how the babies and husbands are and then we'll laugh, cut up, relax and enjoy each others' company with no husbands or children around. I look forward to this every month! Especially since I work around 11 men all day, every day! That's not even counting my husband!
Tomorrow is our Christmas at the dealership. Not that I've been procrastinating at all, I haven't, I just need to get the ingredients to make my dish. I wasn't able to get to the store on Sunday and I have gotten to where I refuse to go to Walmart or Food World by myself at night over here. There was a mugging not too long ago and I don't particularly want to be the next victim. That being said, tonight, I would have to go to the store tonight to get the stuff I need for my dish. That's why I asked Clint if I could leave a little early: I wanted to be able to leave before it was dark, get my ingredients, go to Supper Club and come home to mix it together. Plus, tonight is the Biggest Loser Finale so I didn't want to be up late watching it or make my dish - a Paula Dean dish, no less - while watching people tell me how dishes like mine made the fat! Go Michelle!!
That being said, my schedule today is as follows:
- Call the radio station check
- Eat oatmeal check
- Play on the internet while oatmeal digests checking
- Go run three miles Maybe I'll run outside today, weather permitting...
- Circuit train Or maybe I'll run four miles outside today and say I had a good enough workout
- Eat egg whites Breakfast of champions!
- Grocery Shop Home and Holidays shopping!
- Cook But don't eat!
- Eat chicken and salad lunch of champions...
- Play on the internet some more
- Go to Supper Club
- Watch Michelle win the Biggest Loser! Or Ed - not Heba or Vicky! BTW, I voted for Ed!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Daycare
Fifteen minutes till the end of the business day and this verbal exchange has me curious if allowing myself to be run over or if I'm as bitchy as I sometimes feel.
Salesman, "I'm going to the store. I'll be back before 6."
I am puzzled. "We're about to close. Why don't you wait fifteen minutes?"
The salesman looks at me like I'm stupid, "I'll have to walk."
"Huh?" I must be stupid.
"I'll. Have. To. Walk," he repeats, verbally confirming that he thinks I'm stupid. "It's the store right down the street! Why don't you just let me go?! I'll be right back!"
"I don't understand why you can't wait fifteen minutes and why you can't get whomever is taking you home to drop you off by the store," I argued. I was getting frustrated with his attitude.
"You see, I'll have to walk, it's going to rain. I'll still have to walk -" At this point his rambling isn't making any sense to me. I'm not sure whether it's because it's the end of the day or if he really isn't making much sense and is just looking for an excuse to drive one of our cars considering he doesn't own a vehicle. I can say this, asking why he thinks he'll still have to walk in the rain if his chauffeur lets him take a detour is pointless and would take up the fifteen minutes we had left in the day.
"Just go," I interrupted.
"What?"
"Just. Go." I put my finger between the bridge of nose to suppress the frustration and confusion.
Ten minutes later, with five minutes left in the day, the salesmen returns, looks to see if it's time to go yet, jumps in some other salesman's vehicle and leaves for the day.
I personally feel like - or rather, I know I was bullied into allowing him to go to the store. However, sometimes it's just better to forget about it instead of saying, "Hate it for ya!"
Salesman, "I'm going to the store. I'll be back before 6."
I am puzzled. "We're about to close. Why don't you wait fifteen minutes?"
The salesman looks at me like I'm stupid, "I'll have to walk."
"Huh?" I must be stupid.
"I'll. Have. To. Walk," he repeats, verbally confirming that he thinks I'm stupid. "It's the store right down the street! Why don't you just let me go?! I'll be right back!"
"I don't understand why you can't wait fifteen minutes and why you can't get whomever is taking you home to drop you off by the store," I argued. I was getting frustrated with his attitude.
"You see, I'll have to walk, it's going to rain. I'll still have to walk -" At this point his rambling isn't making any sense to me. I'm not sure whether it's because it's the end of the day or if he really isn't making much sense and is just looking for an excuse to drive one of our cars considering he doesn't own a vehicle. I can say this, asking why he thinks he'll still have to walk in the rain if his chauffeur lets him take a detour is pointless and would take up the fifteen minutes we had left in the day.
"Just go," I interrupted.
"What?"
"Just. Go." I put my finger between the bridge of nose to suppress the frustration and confusion.
Ten minutes later, with five minutes left in the day, the salesmen returns, looks to see if it's time to go yet, jumps in some other salesman's vehicle and leaves for the day.
I personally feel like - or rather, I know I was bullied into allowing him to go to the store. However, sometimes it's just better to forget about it instead of saying, "Hate it for ya!"
Thursday, December 4, 2008
One cup of Irish Blend coffee, please...extra Bailey's
The past couple of years, I've not really enjoyed Christmas. I could just enjoy the season with my family and be just as happy. I don't care about the gift giving, I don't want anything, I don't need anything (except for the usual; money, Prozac...), and I don't really get into the whole "singing-Christmas-carols-while-driving-down-a-deserted-two-lane-highway-in-search-for-the-perfect-Christmas-tree" scene. Could care less. I only decorate because my husband asks me to. The first year we dated, we didn't even exchange presents!
So the fact that I always get stuck un-decorating or decorating difficult trees probably doesn't help.
We put the Christmas tree up at work today. It's a giant, pre-lit mammoth that some conniving moron menaced with an evil comic book laugh. Who ever designed this tree is laughing at me earnestly right now. And laughing at the scratches on my arms. I look like I've been attacked by an army of cats!
Here's what I learned about while putting up the Christmas tree at Tuscaloosa Hyundai today:
So the fact that I always get stuck un-decorating or decorating difficult trees probably doesn't help.
We put the Christmas tree up at work today. It's a giant, pre-lit mammoth that some conniving moron menaced with an evil comic book laugh. Who ever designed this tree is laughing at me earnestly right now. And laughing at the scratches on my arms. I look like I've been attacked by an army of cats!
Here's what I learned about while putting up the Christmas tree at Tuscaloosa Hyundai today:
- The tree has three section and fifteen plugs, at least!
- Not all the plugs' male parts have a female part...
- After you've spent 6 hours of your day trying to find the female part for the male part, it helps to know that there is an extension chord for those male parts.
- Fake, pre-lit pine trees are sharp.
- It is possible for Ed to fall asleep standing while following the cord in search for one of the much needed female parts.
- I have two kinds of co-workers; the kind that help and the kind that don't.
- Patience is a requirement when assembling a Christmas tree.
- A blown bulb doesn't mean the strand won't work.
- Don't assemble the tree infront of the owner's office. He's just as frustrated as you are.
- I have very smart-ass co-workers.
- Standing and watching a frustrated person fight with the source of her anger only makes the person more frustrated. You know who you are.
- Standing and watching a frustrated person fight with the source of her anger, telling her how to fix it, not listening when she tells you she tried it, repeating your theories anyway and refusing to help when she asks only makes the person livid.
- I work with a bunch know-it-alls.
- People watching you fight with trees shouldn't get mad at you for not getting it right when they don't offer to help.
- People watching you fight with trees shouldn't get mad at you for not getting it right and understand that somebody else told you already had all the parts to the tree the first time you asked about additional "parts".
- People watching you fight with trees shouldn't get mad at you for not getting it right and go find something else to do if they arent' going to help.
- Tequila makes any tree look better!
- Whiskey makes any tree look even better!
- It is not kosher to stand behind the person frustrated with the tree and ask them what is taking so long.
- It is not kosher to laugh at the frustrated person who is stepping away from the Christmas tree and then sing "O Christmas" tree...
- We have THE SINGLE MOST BEAUTIFUL Christmas tree in Alabama.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Hustle and Bustle
It's that time of the month for me.
No! Not that time! You're dirty-minded and gross!
I meant, it's the end of the month for me, which means that I have several papers to fill out, forms to complete and mail, fires to put out, loose ends to tie, money to count. Forgive me if I'm not posting as often. It gets kind of stressful about this time, especially towards the end of the year.
I do have some more stories to post (You won't believe the one about the guy I flipped off at the gym!) as well as recipes and jokes. Just bare with me a bit. Thank you for you patience. All of my attention is with other business at this time. Please continue to hold until the next post is written.
No! Not that time! You're dirty-minded and gross!
I meant, it's the end of the month for me, which means that I have several papers to fill out, forms to complete and mail, fires to put out, loose ends to tie, money to count. Forgive me if I'm not posting as often. It gets kind of stressful about this time, especially towards the end of the year.
I do have some more stories to post (You won't believe the one about the guy I flipped off at the gym!) as well as recipes and jokes. Just bare with me a bit. Thank you for you patience. All of my attention is with other business at this time. Please continue to hold until the next post is written.
Friday, November 21, 2008
When you think you are, you aren't
Five mornings of the week, I get up and go to the gym before work. I wake up, comb my hair into some semblance of normal, put on my gym clothes and sneakers, grab my gym bag and head on my way.
My boss, the Fitness Nazi - he knows that's his name - is the picture definition of "Gym Rat." He eats right, most of the time, stares at his muscles in the mirror more often than he'll admit, knows what every muscle does and knows every exercise and what it works. In short, he'll kick your ass in the gym. Just for fun, he's learn jiu-jitsu. He enjoys pushing his body to its limit more than the normal person.
We both have corporate gym memberships and take advantage of it. Since he goes in the morning and I go in the morning, naturally, we just work out together and work the same muscle groups. Usually, I can keep up. Usually, he pushes me further than I would push myself but I always feel competitive - I have to be able to prove to him that I can do what I or he thinks I can't. I always try! Also, we both try to eat right - or as close to right as possible. We're both at work 10-12 hours a day and work 6 days of the week. Sometimes pizza's just convenient.
So when we had our company Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday, we were both giving ourselves cheating rights. He can eat more than I can anyway. He doesn't have to lose weight like I do. We had all that delicious food...and cake.
Oh, the cake. The cake, with it's delicious whipped topping, it's chocolate flakes on top. It was so tall and so beautiful and so...tasty! It was the most moist cake you've ever tasted. More so than your own wedding cake, I guarantee. It stood two feet tall almost! The cake was already sliced and ready to go in my mouth. The individual servings were huge! Really big enough for two or three people!
I'd already filled my plate and eaten every last bit. The dinner - all the food - it was perfect! I wanted seconds. But I wanted the cake more. It beckoned me.
"Trey," I begged, "Please bring me a piece of that big chocolate cake! I have to try that!"
My husband, who always comes to our holiday dinners along with everybody elses spouse, gladly got up and brought me a piece. He grabbed him some other dessert that I can't remember because this cake trumped his!
The size of the piece on the small Styrofoam plate alarmed me. I asked a few people to share it with me because I jut knew I wouldn't have enough room.
I was very wrong!
I took a bite. It was over. I took another bite, and another. Before I knew it, the whole piece was in my stomach. I thought surely I'd regret it later. Clint knew I felt bad. I think he did, too.
"Clint, I'm going to have to do some serious cardio after this cake!" I declared.
"We'll do some circuit training in the gym on Friday," he mentioned between bites, "gets some cardio in to get all this food off of us!"
Later came, I had another piece! I actually, kind of, sort of, verbally compared it to the act of procreating without the risk of actually reproducing to one work associate or two, or all...sorry, Mum!
When the day was over, I was glad to be away from that evil, sinful food. I felt like I had ruined my day in the gym, even though I had allowed myself this cheat!
The following day, I hadn't planned on going to the gym. I actually had to do the radio show for the dealership and just got up early as usual and piddled around the house until it was time to advertise for Tuscaloosa Hyundai. I came to work knowing that our collision center was going to have its Thanksgiving dinner and that none of that food was coming to us. Thank, God! That's why I was flabbergasted when Lori came in with what she called "a gift." Of course I knew it was leftovers! I had to go see! Who can turn down free food?
I walked over to where she stood to see the white bakery box before her. I didn't think good thoughts that my mother should read and I definitely did not resist the temptation that was in that box.
Inside was the glorious cake. Larger this time, yelling at me to indulge!
"Stephanie, do you want piece?" somebody asked. I can't tell you who it was - I was in a trance.
"Definitely!" There was no doubt I wanted more of it's goodness, despite the little angel on my shoulder whispering about the work I would have to do in the gym the next morning. There was a question of how big a piece I wanted. How big a piece? Ha!
"Why don't you just cut yourself a small piece and give me the box?" I was so greedy! And the cake was that good that I could have eaten the whole thing and never lived to regret it! Lori cut me a piece while laughing at the comment she must of thought was a joke, even though I was serious! It was the power of the cake!
Lori, that was not "a gift!"
In several swift moves, the square slab with it's delicious frosting was in my stomach. I felt peace - peace that lasted an hour until I had to have another piece. And I squeaked 'Oink'! Oh, the angel on my shoulder scolded me.
Yesterday morning, I paid my penance.
I woke up at 5:45 am, as usual. I brushed my teeth, combed out my hair, dressed warm for the cold weather. I was so sleepy. I really didn't want to go to the gym. Usually when I feel that way, I get motivated because I have the best workouts, but today, this morning, it was different. I felt like the cake had sucked out all my energy.
I was at the gym by 6:45 am. Lori was there, getting ready for work already. She was her normal chipper self, bobbing her red head around the locker room.
"We've still got some of that cake left, Stephanie!" She putting her make-up on in the mirror and I don't think she could see my reaction. I quickly put my eyes back in there socket before she looked up.
"Oh, Lori! Keep that away from me today! That cakes so good! I wish it was already gone!"
I put my gym bag up and walked out to the floor. Clint was already there and waiting. It was like the Fitness Nazi possessed him today.
"Circuit train?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said, ignorant.
He kicked my as for an hour. I'm not sure, I think we did 9 or 12 exercises in that hour. Weights, reps, all over exercises - ass-whoopin' as us Southerners put it. Despite the months of gym time I've spent with the Fitness Nazi, I was not in shape enough for Friday morning's workout.
I just remember sitting on the floor and thinking I see Jesus! No, I'm just dizzy...
When I got to work, barely able to move, I still had to deal with hearing about this cake. The cake that got my ass kicked. The cake that made me ache. The cake that had Tylenol for dessert. It wasn't just a small portion of the cake left either. It was a rather large slab in a large Tupperware bowl with aluminum foil on top. Everybody had a piece and raved about how good it was. I heard about it all day. Looked at it all day. I got so busy at work I didn't get to eat my lunch and in the meantime watched as my co-workers indulged in the sinful treat.
At 5:30, I couldn't take it anymore. There was only a small sliver left. I went to the small working fridge, took out the devil and said, "I'm taking my lunch!"
My boss, the Fitness Nazi - he knows that's his name - is the picture definition of "Gym Rat." He eats right, most of the time, stares at his muscles in the mirror more often than he'll admit, knows what every muscle does and knows every exercise and what it works. In short, he'll kick your ass in the gym. Just for fun, he's learn jiu-jitsu. He enjoys pushing his body to its limit more than the normal person.
We both have corporate gym memberships and take advantage of it. Since he goes in the morning and I go in the morning, naturally, we just work out together and work the same muscle groups. Usually, I can keep up. Usually, he pushes me further than I would push myself but I always feel competitive - I have to be able to prove to him that I can do what I or he thinks I can't. I always try! Also, we both try to eat right - or as close to right as possible. We're both at work 10-12 hours a day and work 6 days of the week. Sometimes pizza's just convenient.
So when we had our company Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday, we were both giving ourselves cheating rights. He can eat more than I can anyway. He doesn't have to lose weight like I do. We had all that delicious food...and cake.
Oh, the cake. The cake, with it's delicious whipped topping, it's chocolate flakes on top. It was so tall and so beautiful and so...tasty! It was the most moist cake you've ever tasted. More so than your own wedding cake, I guarantee. It stood two feet tall almost! The cake was already sliced and ready to go in my mouth. The individual servings were huge! Really big enough for two or three people!
I'd already filled my plate and eaten every last bit. The dinner - all the food - it was perfect! I wanted seconds. But I wanted the cake more. It beckoned me.
"Trey," I begged, "Please bring me a piece of that big chocolate cake! I have to try that!"
My husband, who always comes to our holiday dinners along with everybody elses spouse, gladly got up and brought me a piece. He grabbed him some other dessert that I can't remember because this cake trumped his!
The size of the piece on the small Styrofoam plate alarmed me. I asked a few people to share it with me because I jut knew I wouldn't have enough room.
I was very wrong!
I took a bite. It was over. I took another bite, and another. Before I knew it, the whole piece was in my stomach. I thought surely I'd regret it later. Clint knew I felt bad. I think he did, too.
"Clint, I'm going to have to do some serious cardio after this cake!" I declared.
"We'll do some circuit training in the gym on Friday," he mentioned between bites, "gets some cardio in to get all this food off of us!"
Later came, I had another piece! I actually, kind of, sort of, verbally compared it to the act of procreating without the risk of actually reproducing to one work associate or two, or all...sorry, Mum!
When the day was over, I was glad to be away from that evil, sinful food. I felt like I had ruined my day in the gym, even though I had allowed myself this cheat!
The following day, I hadn't planned on going to the gym. I actually had to do the radio show for the dealership and just got up early as usual and piddled around the house until it was time to advertise for Tuscaloosa Hyundai. I came to work knowing that our collision center was going to have its Thanksgiving dinner and that none of that food was coming to us. Thank, God! That's why I was flabbergasted when Lori came in with what she called "a gift." Of course I knew it was leftovers! I had to go see! Who can turn down free food?
I walked over to where she stood to see the white bakery box before her. I didn't think good thoughts that my mother should read and I definitely did not resist the temptation that was in that box.
Inside was the glorious cake. Larger this time, yelling at me to indulge!
"Stephanie, do you want piece?" somebody asked. I can't tell you who it was - I was in a trance.
"Definitely!" There was no doubt I wanted more of it's goodness, despite the little angel on my shoulder whispering about the work I would have to do in the gym the next morning. There was a question of how big a piece I wanted. How big a piece? Ha!
"Why don't you just cut yourself a small piece and give me the box?" I was so greedy! And the cake was that good that I could have eaten the whole thing and never lived to regret it! Lori cut me a piece while laughing at the comment she must of thought was a joke, even though I was serious! It was the power of the cake!
Lori, that was not "a gift!"
In several swift moves, the square slab with it's delicious frosting was in my stomach. I felt peace - peace that lasted an hour until I had to have another piece. And I squeaked 'Oink'! Oh, the angel on my shoulder scolded me.
Yesterday morning, I paid my penance.
I woke up at 5:45 am, as usual. I brushed my teeth, combed out my hair, dressed warm for the cold weather. I was so sleepy. I really didn't want to go to the gym. Usually when I feel that way, I get motivated because I have the best workouts, but today, this morning, it was different. I felt like the cake had sucked out all my energy.
I was at the gym by 6:45 am. Lori was there, getting ready for work already. She was her normal chipper self, bobbing her red head around the locker room.
"We've still got some of that cake left, Stephanie!" She putting her make-up on in the mirror and I don't think she could see my reaction. I quickly put my eyes back in there socket before she looked up.
"Oh, Lori! Keep that away from me today! That cakes so good! I wish it was already gone!"
I put my gym bag up and walked out to the floor. Clint was already there and waiting. It was like the Fitness Nazi possessed him today.
"Circuit train?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said, ignorant.
He kicked my as for an hour. I'm not sure, I think we did 9 or 12 exercises in that hour. Weights, reps, all over exercises - ass-whoopin' as us Southerners put it. Despite the months of gym time I've spent with the Fitness Nazi, I was not in shape enough for Friday morning's workout.
I just remember sitting on the floor and thinking I see Jesus! No, I'm just dizzy...
When I got to work, barely able to move, I still had to deal with hearing about this cake. The cake that got my ass kicked. The cake that made me ache. The cake that had Tylenol for dessert. It wasn't just a small portion of the cake left either. It was a rather large slab in a large Tupperware bowl with aluminum foil on top. Everybody had a piece and raved about how good it was. I heard about it all day. Looked at it all day. I got so busy at work I didn't get to eat my lunch and in the meantime watched as my co-workers indulged in the sinful treat.
At 5:30, I couldn't take it anymore. There was only a small sliver left. I went to the small working fridge, took out the devil and said, "I'm taking my lunch!"
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Food...and boys at the daycare
Tuscaloosa Hyundai had its annual Thanksgiving Day dinner today, complete with turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, sweet potatoe casserole, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, crockpot mac and cheese, a cake that was to D.I.E. for and pumpkin pie - Oh it was all so good! I was in food heaven!! My favorites were the chocolate cake and Brooke's crockpot mac and cheese.
Let me explain something: I am the only female on the sales staff. There are ten other people besides me in my department. So that's ten people with XY chromosomes. Needless to say, I feel like a maid, a mother and a sister all at the same time.
Right now, I feel like I'm a teacher in preschool after all these guys ate their lunch! They are running around pulling pranks, touching everything on my desk while I'm working, being loud and obnoxious.
I feel like I need a whistle to call everybody to order! When will the sugar from all the carbs expire so they all crash??
Let me explain something: I am the only female on the sales staff. There are ten other people besides me in my department. So that's ten people with XY chromosomes. Needless to say, I feel like a maid, a mother and a sister all at the same time.
Right now, I feel like I'm a teacher in preschool after all these guys ate their lunch! They are running around pulling pranks, touching everything on my desk while I'm working, being loud and obnoxious.
I feel like I need a whistle to call everybody to order! When will the sugar from all the carbs expire so they all crash??
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