Thursday, January 31, 2008

Can't win for winning

My stint at the moped manufacturer was drawing to a close and I though, "I'd really like the brand new, ultra sleek and sexy x2.  "Hey I'm having a birthday and I can use the employee discount"
I bought them for me, and I got the discount and I am very happy with the x2.  Then the moped company put them on extra-special sale for a price less than I paid, "Golly gee."  said I.  Then I get a call on my day off with the news that I won an x2 in the employee raffle.  "Good gravy."  

That is what I get for being impulsively indulgent.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Are you sure?

I hate old e-mail.  I want to save it (say it with me) just in case I need it.  But I also consider myself a minimalist or at least a little organized.  The wife has tax returns dating from the Reagan administration.  I set a reasonable time (sometimes advised by an expert) and then I want to chuck it in the trash/recycle or otherwise eliminate it from my world.

Jason threw me for a loop the other day when he sent me a message with a statement so profound I don't want to throw it away but I also don't want to create a folder labeled "Universal truths" (I'd only have his message in it).  Jason said, "kids don't REALLY care about homework in the same way you don't REALLY care about your job a lot of the time ".  That is some damn perspective to me.  I don't care about those TPS reports when 7 has a pinewood derby to prepare for.  Don't get me wrong I'm from stubborn, work-till-you-die, anything worth doing is worth doing well, stock.  But I know the world won't end if I don't answer 70 calls/day for people who need to reboot their coffee machine.  Some folks have more important jobs, but even Superman takes a break as Clark Kent regularly to enjoy being human.

A few words to the faithful

I'm not talking fidelity here people.  I'm talking about you.  Thank you for being my audience.  Those who come here and read me.  I mean this quite figuratively and I learned this from your comments (public and private).  Some have said, "It sounds just like the way you talk." and "I can imagine how you would say that." you are seeing a side many don't and that helps this BLOG become a place where I can leave the energy that I need to leave for better or worse.
I thank you again and pledge I will exploit my viewpoint for your entertainment.


Given all of that genuine sappy gratitude I leave you with:
One of those congregation of words that amazes me could possibly exist together in a meaningful sentence.  "Honey, can you go home and get the blowtorch?"  BTW she didn't and I had to run and not only get the blowtorch but my designated blowtorch spoon.


Monday, January 21, 2008

The little things (and 4 big ones)


  • A clean counter top
  • the cool side of the pillow
  • the "I love this song!" moment
  • 8 saying chicken marpesan (it is supposed to be parmesan)
  • a genuine laugh
  • a fully charged battery
  • time to crap
  • a job well done
  • chocolate where you try to find it
  • a deep cleansing breath
  • smooth jazz
  • more hours of sunshine
  • saying no
  • a cry that you didn't know you needed
  • deafening silence
  • 7 reading
  • knowing there are little things to look for
  • a clear lint trap
  • a stretch in the morning that punctuates a good night's sleep
  • the warm trickle of water from you ear hours after swimming that lets you hear better
  • 7 saying "Remember that time we..." and you do and it was as awesome as he remembers
  • 2 extra minutes under a hot shower 
  • that goofy feeling when you've talking to yourself and you realize someone was listening
  • being able to laugh at yourself and being OK with it
  • the moment before you pick up that new book
  • the moment as you set down that new book you just finished (within the same fiscal year)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Though nut to swallow

"What if the person you are is the person you are supposed to be?"

I guess you would have to subscribe to the concept of fate and destiny to fully contemplate this fascinating line.  I heard this as a tag line for a TV show (of all places).  I mean really all I wanted to do is see someone fall off of the jousting platform on American Gladiators and then this damn line comes up.

We are busting our butts trying to see how the work schedule fits meanwhile throwing home-life into turmoil.  Arranging and rearranging child care, running pillar to post.  But would I be more productive shouting at the wind?

I guess the best test to see if something will stand up is to shake it.  Well if this is the case then I guess my returning to work full-time is a solid structure built firmly on a foundation of dense J-ello.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Snow Day

Everyone needs a snow day. The last time it snowed like hell I busted my ass getting to and from the sun-fish cannery I work at. This morning I couldn't see but 30ft in front of me. Since then I've worked on scout projects, played with action figures and watched a Pirates movie with 7and8. Not to mention the shoveling and snow blowing. I only feel a little like a slacker but it helps to know that no one is going to die if I don't can sun-fish today.

God's Peace be with you.


BTW - to really mess with someone next time you need to give your phone number... give it in 2 number bursts rather than the 3-3-4 bursts convention dictates. I also like it when someone says the last 4 then tell them the exchange and area code last.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

No good deed

I was spoken to yesterday.  Frankly, I deserved it.  A customer called the Canned Meat Hotline (by whom I'm not really employed) and I helped her.  She was very thankful and appreciative.  So where did I go wrong?   Quality.  The ultimate corporate punch-line.  I was hired to answer calls about canned meat and give outstanding customer service.  That is what I did but I didn't follow the steps I am supposed to use and (shame on me).  I know I wasn't following the steps and the result would have been the same I was sucked into the problem (which I resolved absolutely and with a great deal of finesse).
Don't worry fair canned meat consumers; I will get back in line so as not to upset the line of lemmings behind me.

On a similar note:
A different lady called the CMH and bitched me out for not refunding her $10 for her TV Guide subscription.  I tried to tell her we just handle canned meat but she didn't want to hear it and consequentially will not be buying TV Guide anymore since I didn't refund her money.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Johnny B. Goode

Humanity at it's lowest can be found at return desks and checkout lines across the country this time of year.  And I *sound of wood lightly scraping concrete* am about fed up with *sound of shoes on wood* JackHoles trying to put one over! *I am now firmly atop my soap box*

I was in line at the 10 items or fewer line (because "10 items or less" is gramatekly incorrect and if you reed mi blog you no I'm about the accurity) and an elder statesman is in front of me.  In front of the elder statesman (let us call him scrooge) is a Mom.  The chicky rolling check-out was between popping bubble gum bubbles when she rings in the second of two 64oz bottles of laundry oil.  The ~$15 price comes up and Scrooge says, "That aint right.  It says on the end cap it is ~$4."  See Scrooge has the same laundry oil too.  Check out chick blinks her blinky light and the earth's rotation slows to a crawl.  Supervisor lady gets on the walkie and determines Scrooge is right, someone forgot to take the sign down.  Mom and Scrooge get their laundry oil for a healthy $10 discount.

As Scrooge is being rung-up and bagged he looks at me and says, "It's their fault right?  They should pay for their mistake."  I barely smile and say nothing which is why I need to tell all of you what I should have said before I explode with self righteousness.  Let us pretend I say something like, "What ever makes you sleep at night pops.  Here I thought you and your contemporaries were those who were sad that business couldn't be done with a handshake anymore and were tired of fat corporations being cavalier with your pensions.  I thought the greatest generation of role models with  upstanding morality would know the difference between an honest mistake and taking advantage of a situation.  But it seems your penchant for sticking it to the man is as ingrained as your hatred for that Elvis boy and his rock n' roll.  By the way I hope that laundry oil takes the shoulder snaps right off of your 'members only' jacket." 

I taken my discounts that maybe shouldn't have been in my time but I never told anyone else to take it nor asked someone in line for permission to feel better about it.  There is a fine line between a pricing mistake and retail fraud.  Scrooge crossed that line and now faces the unrelenting taunting of my BLOG.

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