This story makes me laugh every time I think about it

One thing that is very frustrating for a customer service rep on the phone (she said, speaking from experience) is when the caller doesn't provide the information that the rep is asking for.

"Can I have your name, please?"

"Sure - my kid's name is..."

OR

"What's your provider's ID# with our company?"

"I don't have that handy, but here's his federal tax id#."

But the biggest one is when people start spelling things without pronouncing them first.

"Could I have your name, please?"

"Yup - it's S-Z-A-U-C-H-T-O-R-I-A."

Well, that's fabulous, but I have no clue how to pronounce that, so now I must resort to "sir" or "ma'am."

There's an older lady where I work, who has been on the phones for multiple years. She doesn't have the epitome of service style (ok - not even CLOSE), but she's still there... I don't know why, but maybe she just hasn't gotten caught by the right people, or something. And becuase she's been there, taking calls for so long, she doesn't have a huge amount (ok - NONE) of patience left for people who don't answer her questions the way that she wants.

Overheard from her cube a little while ago.

"I asked you for your name, and all I'm getting is an onslaught of letters!"

H-O-L-Y M-A-C-K-E-R-E-L!!

A Shining Star in Service

So, every now and then service isn't quite what "they" refer to as, "Back then." Today I was going through a drive-thru and ordered a Dr Pepper. I pulled away, took a sip, and was nauseated! It had no syrup, just tonic water, which I loathe! So, I looped around, went inside and told them what was up. They all looked perplexed, said that they didn't drink Dr Pepper, so didn't know what it should taste like, and then went over to the machine.
Much arm-waving and rolling of the eyes ensued when they discovered the empty syrup container. Then they had to holler to someone who was not in this entranced circle to "bring out the Dr Pepper syrup."
Out came this one-armed man, lugging a huge box of syrup to fill the soda fountain for all the other Dr Pepper fans like me.
After a few minutes he assured the others that the change had been made, and another person graciously filled up my cup.
I got back in my car, headed out the driveway & burst out laughing as I took the first sip...
IT WAS ROOT BEER!

I'm BAAAACK

Hi Everyone! I'm back in commission after having spent the last week dealing with a not-so-fun class at work, and spending lots of time in the evenings with Mom.

You may now look forward to many enchanting blogs coming soon...

Pakistani Yumminess

So, tonight Amy & I went out for dinner. And the food was tremendous! She had found a little Pakistani place in Manchester, and it was atmospheric, cultural, and tasty. For the first while, we were the only patrons, and that was kind of odd, but then people started coming in, and the phone was ringing off the hook. She got "Butter Chicken" and I can't for the life of me figure out why it was called that. It had some sort of creamy, spicy sauce on it, and didn't taste or look like butter. I got something that I couldn't pronounce, but it was fantastic! It was rice & chicken, nuts & "exotic spices."

And on another note... Happy Mom-and-Dad-Will-Be-In-NH Eve! I haven't seen them since Christmas, and am very happy that they should be here when I get home from work tomorrow!

Kitten Slippers

Every morning now as I get ready for work, I wear kitten slippers. They are a lively footwear, and not all that cozy, but cuter slippers you will not find.

These slippers are composed of four different kittens. Two are black & white & look just like The Cuteness. One is all black, and one is gray & white. While I am putting on my make-up & drying my hair, they cavort all over my feet, periodically stopping to attempt teething on my toes or heels.

When their nails or teeth make too much contact, it causes me to do little jigs that have never before been choreographed by humans, as I attempt to get the offending kitten off my smarting foot while trying not step on it's siblings.

Anybody want a pair of these slippers? They'll be ready to go a week from today!

Reality Check

The other day I was having my nails done.

The Vietnamese lady who was doing them struck up a conversation with me, and it started like most conversations do when you're my age and not wearing a wedding band.

"So - LinCEE - you are married?"

"Nope, not married."

"Oh, you are picky?"

"Yes, I guess I am picky."

"I picky too, when I your age. Then I got tired being lonely, so I decide if guy 60% good, that ok."

I laughed at her funniness, and she paused, then looked me directly in the eye.

"Now I unhappy," she said.

Wow - what a phenomenal reminder to let God be God, and choose who He has in mind, not jump the gun.

Mrs Holland's Legacy

Growing up on Chestnut Hill, Mrs Holland played a huge part in our lives. We shared a house for over eight years, and she grandmothered our entire family.

She prayed for us - we prayed for her
She loved us - we loved her
She's in Heaven - we miss her

When it became apparent that she no longer needed the lower half of the house she had lived in for over 50 years, she graciously moved into a beautiful apartment that was built especially for her. It was attached to the house that she shared with us, and it's the apartment that I now live in. I love the fact that I sleep in the room that she slept in, and pray kneeling on the same floor where she prayed. She left a legacy of faith that will live on in the lives of those who knew and loved her.

There's also another part of her legacy that continues. For years, as a little girl, I remember hearing Mrs Holland pray that the blue birds would come back to Chestnut Hill. They had been chased away by sparrows, and I remember the joyful tears in her eyes when her prayers were answered, and the beautiful birds once again built nests in the houses she lovingly put out for them.

On Saturday, I saw the blue birds building nests in the birdhouse right in front of my apartment. And I too had tears in my eyes, because I know that, like the blue birds that were gone and then seen again, it will be the same with her. She's in Heaven now, but soon we'll see her again. And what a joyful reunion that will be.

I've been re-named

The class that I'm training at this time is disturbed by the fact that I don't swear. In fact, they've taken it upon themselves to get me to swear by the time the class is over... which, by the way, is tomorrow.

They like to come up with different scenarios to pose to me, and then are shocked afresh when they discover that even THAT wouldn't make me swear.

"Well, what about when you're in the car??"

"How about when we all walk out of the classroom each night?"

"Or maybe just in your head, but you don't verbalize it???"

Yesterday, as they were obsessing about this fact yet again, one of the guys asked me, "Well, what are you? Just a good little Catholic girl?"

"No," I replied.

"Well then, what are you? A Christian?"

"Yes," I answered.

One of the girl's piped in, "Well what are you called if you're not Catholic?? It's like Crotestant, or something, right?"

Yes - you win! Crotestant or something. That's what I am.