I got a text message from my sister the other day, it read: I just made the cottage cheese pear mayo thing that mom used to make for us. It is not as good as I remember..." - Now, I'm sorry if you just puked in your mouth a little bit, but I'm telling you we used to love that when we were a kid (the pear, not the puking in the mouth) - we liked it almost as much as canned fruit cocktail - just imagine the fighting that took place over the one (sometimes 2) cherries that would have to be divided among 4 kids. It got rough, good thing I was the oldest in the house, I usually won. But back to the cottage cheese mayo pear business. It was one of our desserts we'd get - a little bowl of cottage cheese with a canned half of a pear and in the center where the core was and my mom would put a dollop of mayonnaise and I'm pretty sure it was topped with paprika. (everything had paprika). And it was good....at least I remember I liked it. I don't think I'd want to venture to try it today....but maybe. Maybe on hubby's poker night when I can secretly make it and try it - I'm sure that he'd gag at the thought of it!! Hmm.... I'll let you know.
But that text got me thinking about some of the other weird food stories, since I really like food, I have a lot of stories. Let me share a story that isn't my own - I heard it this weekend from my husband's grandpa: They went to the casino last week where there are amazing buffets - international cuisines and anything you can think of. Well this particular day he decided he wanted to do the Chinese buffet. He loaded his plate up with foods galore and sat down to enjoy his meal. He took his spoon and scooped up a bite of "Chinese guacamole" ..... I'll pause here and let you imagine....Chinese buffet...."guacamole"..... Chinese buffet..."guacamole"...if you've caught on let me tell you that the next 3 minutes of this story being told to me, my jaw was on the floor and I had a perma-grin of amazement. Grandpa, laughing the whole time, described how his eyes couldn't stop watering, he was coughing uncontrollably - Grandma's telling us that all he could say was "HOT! HOT! HOT!" - We then explained that that was no guacamole!!! He'd eaten a spoonful of WASABI!!! They had no idea what it was, I told them that I usually take a LITTLE bit when I eat sushi and even then if I don't mix it well my nose feels like it goes on fire. It was hilarious. I'm glad he's okay! A spoonful!!! Can you imagine? It reminds me of that movie Jackass where they snort it... bah, I just got shivers...insane!
Hmmm.... What's another quick little story? (I've got lots, I'll have to do another post someday)...ooh real quick - update on the foamy latte situation. I decided to embrace my free coffee and put aside any feeling of embarrassment for complaining about foam. I went that very next day and asked for my no foam vanilla latte. When I pulled to the counter I told that gal that I had spoken to the manager and she acknowledged that she knew exactly who I was (great...). We then had a nice discussion about how she likes foam because she does latte art and needs the foam - I told her I thought it tasted gross and that I must just be weird because apparently people like extra foam... I don't get it. Well then I watched her pay careful attention to my latte and block any foam, and then she went as far as scooping off any that escaped... now that's how it should be!!! ... and then she asked me where I got my vest because it was "so cute!" - ok Tully's keep this gal and I'll keep coming!
Alright so I just decided just now (it just came to me) that I will do a repeat "Food for Thought" blog - maybe once a week. I want to tell more, but I've got to get to bed... big day tomorrow...maybe I'll write about it!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
I think I'll write a book...
On what not to do when in a customer service position. For example: don't be a catty old bat, don't lie, and don't not apologize for being rude! - Have people totally forgotten that the customer is always right (and even when they aren't you smile and nod and pretend that they are until they leave and then you rant about how dumb they are)...seriously!
So I got a new prescription Monday, went to Walgreen's to get it filled. First off, I'm pretty sure when the managers there hire for positions they look for people who are rude, it must be a requirement because I have never not been treated nice there. (Ok, for any grammar police out there, I know that I have used a few double negatives...and I like it!)....anyway, I ask if they can fill it, the lady (scratch that, I won't call her a lady, ladies are nice and proper - she shall be called Girl 1) there asks my name and dob... I tell her, she tells me I'm not in the system and that I need to come in... dude, you call me all the time reminding me to pick up my prescriptions... I know I'm in the system. So I tell her my dob again, and then she says "ma'am, I told you that you're not in the system..." YES I AM!! ....then she realizes she put my dob in wrong. Do you think I get an apology? Heck no....I knew I was right, and I knew I was in the system...the customer was right....repeat, the customer was right. Ok, whatever, blowing it off...so they tell me it'll be 20 minutes, perfect I'll go grocery shopping.
Jump to 25 minutes later: I pull in the drive through again (I'm beginning to wonder if I have a thing about drive throughs... they are always an intricate part of my stories as I'm noticing while blogging...hmmm) ok, so I pull in. The same gal answers the window and says, your name ma'am and dob...really? Do you really not remember me? Ok, so I tell her. And this next part just blows my mind - she says "oh yeah, we can't fill your prescription here." - that's it. No sorry, no explanation. So I ask her if they called me to let me know and she says in this snarky voice, "no, I knew you were coming back." - really? REALLY? So I tell her she really could have saved me the trip across town and that it was ridiculous. (yeah, I know I was just across the street grocery shopping but they don't know that!) - So then she proceeds to tell me that I don't need to worry (ha!) and that I can go to the other Walgreen's where they'll have it (and I quote) ready when I get there.
Like a fool, I believe her and drive down to the other Walgreen's and pull up through the drive through - not only is this gal catty and rude (she actually gave me "the hand" and told me to wait... you know the "talk to the hand" hand?) I hadn't even SAID anything yet!! The other girl must have called and warned her I'm thinking... and then she proceeds to tell me that nothing has been called in (big surprise, this is just my luck!) and that it'll take 27 minutes until it's ready. No way, uh uh, I am NOT waiting any longer, this is enough. I'm pretty sure Girl 2 could read the pissed on my face so she just got all rude (again, what has happened to showing empathy and compassion for the customer...don't they know that I need to get home to watch One Tree Hill?!) Nope, I've decided that Walgreen's only hires rude, catty people.
So I tell Girl 2 that I am NOT going to wait around and that it SHOULD have been called in and that this is the WORST service, and that I CAN'T STAND coming to Walgreen's and WHO DO I CALL to complain?? She tells me she doesn't know. No joke. She said I could try calling tomorrow and see if I can talk to the manager. Perfect. Maybe I'll discuss hiring decisions. And then the worst part is, she tells me, by the way, you have a $50 copay for this prescription.
WHAT?!? Screw this night. No way am I going to pay $50 stinking dollars. I'll call my doctor tomorrow and ask for a generic. That does it. But do you think I'm going to surrender now and show defeat? No way! I tell Girl 2 that I don't have anymore time to waste tonight go ahead and fill it and I'll come back when I've got time and I drive off. (yeah, I'm totally not going to pick that prescription up, I'll wait and get the generic, but they might as well have to work for their money.)
So I got a new prescription Monday, went to Walgreen's to get it filled. First off, I'm pretty sure when the managers there hire for positions they look for people who are rude, it must be a requirement because I have never not been treated nice there. (Ok, for any grammar police out there, I know that I have used a few double negatives...and I like it!)....anyway, I ask if they can fill it, the lady (scratch that, I won't call her a lady, ladies are nice and proper - she shall be called Girl 1) there asks my name and dob... I tell her, she tells me I'm not in the system and that I need to come in... dude, you call me all the time reminding me to pick up my prescriptions... I know I'm in the system. So I tell her my dob again, and then she says "ma'am, I told you that you're not in the system..." YES I AM!! ....then she realizes she put my dob in wrong. Do you think I get an apology? Heck no....I knew I was right, and I knew I was in the system...the customer was right....repeat, the customer was right. Ok, whatever, blowing it off...so they tell me it'll be 20 minutes, perfect I'll go grocery shopping.
Jump to 25 minutes later: I pull in the drive through again (I'm beginning to wonder if I have a thing about drive throughs... they are always an intricate part of my stories as I'm noticing while blogging...hmmm) ok, so I pull in. The same gal answers the window and says, your name ma'am and dob...really? Do you really not remember me? Ok, so I tell her. And this next part just blows my mind - she says "oh yeah, we can't fill your prescription here." - that's it. No sorry, no explanation. So I ask her if they called me to let me know and she says in this snarky voice, "no, I knew you were coming back." - really? REALLY? So I tell her she really could have saved me the trip across town and that it was ridiculous. (yeah, I know I was just across the street grocery shopping but they don't know that!) - So then she proceeds to tell me that I don't need to worry (ha!) and that I can go to the other Walgreen's where they'll have it (and I quote) ready when I get there.
Like a fool, I believe her and drive down to the other Walgreen's and pull up through the drive through - not only is this gal catty and rude (she actually gave me "the hand" and told me to wait... you know the "talk to the hand" hand?) I hadn't even SAID anything yet!! The other girl must have called and warned her I'm thinking... and then she proceeds to tell me that nothing has been called in (big surprise, this is just my luck!) and that it'll take 27 minutes until it's ready. No way, uh uh, I am NOT waiting any longer, this is enough. I'm pretty sure Girl 2 could read the pissed on my face so she just got all rude (again, what has happened to showing empathy and compassion for the customer...don't they know that I need to get home to watch One Tree Hill?!) Nope, I've decided that Walgreen's only hires rude, catty people.
So I tell Girl 2 that I am NOT going to wait around and that it SHOULD have been called in and that this is the WORST service, and that I CAN'T STAND coming to Walgreen's and WHO DO I CALL to complain?? She tells me she doesn't know. No joke. She said I could try calling tomorrow and see if I can talk to the manager. Perfect. Maybe I'll discuss hiring decisions. And then the worst part is, she tells me, by the way, you have a $50 copay for this prescription.
WHAT?!? Screw this night. No way am I going to pay $50 stinking dollars. I'll call my doctor tomorrow and ask for a generic. That does it. But do you think I'm going to surrender now and show defeat? No way! I tell Girl 2 that I don't have anymore time to waste tonight go ahead and fill it and I'll come back when I've got time and I drive off. (yeah, I'm totally not going to pick that prescription up, I'll wait and get the generic, but they might as well have to work for their money.)
Blind as a hawk?
So we've all heard the sayings: "blind as a bat" and "eyes like a hawk" right? Well I've come to the conclusion that my husband is as blind as a hawk. That's right... if you were to ask any eye doctor they would probably tell you he's close to legally blind without his contacts. So I ask myself how it is even possible that he sees some of the things he does. Now, he wear his contacts all the time, and I mean all the time....when he sleeps, when he showers, all day, all night 24/7. It boggles my mind... if I go one night with my contacts in I'm paying for it with dry red itchy eyes the next day, but it doesn't phase him a bit. Anyway! Back to my story...so yes, I continually wonder how his contact prescription gives him what I could consider close to x-ray eye sight. He'll point out a hair on the floor, that even with my contacts in, I still can't see. He'll spot a snag in a shirt that would have been barely noticable unless you'd been searching for it. It drives me crazy! But let me tell you about yesterday...
So yesterday we've gone out to brunch with his grandparents to celebrate his grandpa's birthday. We're headingback out to the car, and we're not even 5 feet from my car when he's all of a sudden freaking out...."Where'd that scratch come from!?...What'd you run into this time?!" and I'm like...(in my head of course) "what the.... seriously??"....so naturally I'm say, "I have no idea what you're talking about, I don't see anything!" ...then he points out this tiny little scratch on my bumper.
Now, let me provide a little more information before I proceed. There may have been a slight incident on Wednesday when I was backing into a parking space against a concrete barrier... that I may have nudged ever so slightly...damn car needs those back up warnings... but anyway, I immediatly went out and inspected like mad and saw NO evidence, none, I looked everywhere - so I did a lil thank you prayer and went on my way never to worry about it again. Until yesterday when it came back to me like a flashback... but do you think I'm going to admit that? Heck no! Especially on my brand new car - I learned not to go into detail on lil incidents like that with my old Aveo....like the one time I was in the drive through at Starbucks and accidentlty pulled in a little too close and got my car stuck under the the counter... it made a terrible screeching sound, totally embarrased me, and left a crazy scratch on my left side mirror...when my husband noticed it (right away I might add) and I denied anything - he suggested that someone must have dragged their purse over my mirror in a parking lot and scuffed it...(yeah, that's a good possibility!!) ...so I went along with it, until I finally told him the truth 5 minutes after I sold my car this summer.
But back to this weekend... so we're in the parking lot at the Quay (best brunch ever) and I'm literally nose to my car trying to see the scratch that I deny is there, and then I see it. This TINY LITTLE scuff on the bumper...really?? How in the heck did he even see that?! Especially from 5 feet away?! And then it got worse, he goes, "Look! Right there too! You totally hit something!".... I licked my finger and rubbed the spot which temporarily made it disappear and I told him, "Look, it's just dirt, I just need to wash my car" (also true.) .... So I'm pretty sure he doesn't believe me, but i'm sure as heck going to stick to my story....and in the meantime I'm going to call Toyota to see if they sell touch up paint, I'm sure I'll need some eventually anyway.
So yesterday we've gone out to brunch with his grandparents to celebrate his grandpa's birthday. We're headingback out to the car, and we're not even 5 feet from my car when he's all of a sudden freaking out...."Where'd that scratch come from!?...What'd you run into this time?!" and I'm like...(in my head of course) "what the.... seriously??"....so naturally I'm say, "I have no idea what you're talking about, I don't see anything!" ...then he points out this tiny little scratch on my bumper.
Now, let me provide a little more information before I proceed. There may have been a slight incident on Wednesday when I was backing into a parking space against a concrete barrier... that I may have nudged ever so slightly...damn car needs those back up warnings... but anyway, I immediatly went out and inspected like mad and saw NO evidence, none, I looked everywhere - so I did a lil thank you prayer and went on my way never to worry about it again. Until yesterday when it came back to me like a flashback... but do you think I'm going to admit that? Heck no! Especially on my brand new car - I learned not to go into detail on lil incidents like that with my old Aveo....like the one time I was in the drive through at Starbucks and accidentlty pulled in a little too close and got my car stuck under the the counter... it made a terrible screeching sound, totally embarrased me, and left a crazy scratch on my left side mirror...when my husband noticed it (right away I might add) and I denied anything - he suggested that someone must have dragged their purse over my mirror in a parking lot and scuffed it...(yeah, that's a good possibility!!) ...so I went along with it, until I finally told him the truth 5 minutes after I sold my car this summer.
But back to this weekend... so we're in the parking lot at the Quay (best brunch ever) and I'm literally nose to my car trying to see the scratch that I deny is there, and then I see it. This TINY LITTLE scuff on the bumper...really?? How in the heck did he even see that?! Especially from 5 feet away?! And then it got worse, he goes, "Look! Right there too! You totally hit something!".... I licked my finger and rubbed the spot which temporarily made it disappear and I told him, "Look, it's just dirt, I just need to wash my car" (also true.) .... So I'm pretty sure he doesn't believe me, but i'm sure as heck going to stick to my story....and in the meantime I'm going to call Toyota to see if they sell touch up paint, I'm sure I'll need some eventually anyway.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Foam is for the sea...not for me!
I finally did it. After months and months I finally called Tully's up and complained. Let me point out that I think their coffee is great, and the people are wonderful - super friendly and complimenting every time I come in. So what could I possible have to complain about? EVERYTIME I order a latte I ask/request/demand NO FOAM. I hate foam on lattes for 2 reasons. One, it's gross. Two, that's an extra 1/5 oz of coffee I could be enjoying for my $4. So yes, everytime I ask for no foam on my latte...now, I usually go through the drive-through and it's usually busy so I'm not one of those coffee snobs who's going to check my coffee and complain right there...because really - it's kinda of ridiculous complaining about foam - especially when they just told me I had a really cute top on. :)
So I tried some tests... I ask for a NO FOAM grande vanilla latte. I ask for a grande non-fat NO FOAM vanilla latte. I ask for a grande vanilla latte with NO FOAM. Every variation wondering if that will change the outcome....nope, never. So I even boycotted for a while. I started going back to Starbucks, okay, it's coffee, nothing special - at least they get the no foam concept! But the coffee is mediocre, no drive through, and no punch card.
So I came back again today, for one last attempt...and the crazy part is, I think it's just me. Yeah, for example: I went through the same Tully's drive through with a friend this last weekend. She ordered a vanilla latte with no foam (as a test) - I ordered no coffee... I had attempted to make my own pumpkin spice latte at home that morning (whole other story) - so we got the coffee...and not only did the barista apologize for the slight amount of foam that they couldn't bypass...there was virtually NO FOAM in her latte!! I couldn't believe it. So I thought, FINALLY! They get it, they know what NO FOAM means, I can come back!
I came back today, and well, you know the outcome. So I called them up. I explained that I totally love their coffee and their service (you know the compliment sandwich?) then I went into detail about the stupid foam, then I wrapped up with a few more compliments. The gal was super apologetic - I'm sure whe was rolling her eyes wondering why someone would really take time out of their day to call and complain about a little foam, but like I said... this has been an ongoing frustration. So, she took my name and told me to come back tomorrow for a free coffee that they would ensure would have NO FOAM.
So hey, I got a free coffee, I promise that wasn't my intent...but am I gonna pass it up, heck no! I'll update you on the foam situation tomorrow...till then!
So I tried some tests... I ask for a NO FOAM grande vanilla latte. I ask for a grande non-fat NO FOAM vanilla latte. I ask for a grande vanilla latte with NO FOAM. Every variation wondering if that will change the outcome....nope, never. So I even boycotted for a while. I started going back to Starbucks, okay, it's coffee, nothing special - at least they get the no foam concept! But the coffee is mediocre, no drive through, and no punch card.
So I came back again today, for one last attempt...and the crazy part is, I think it's just me. Yeah, for example: I went through the same Tully's drive through with a friend this last weekend. She ordered a vanilla latte with no foam (as a test) - I ordered no coffee... I had attempted to make my own pumpkin spice latte at home that morning (whole other story) - so we got the coffee...and not only did the barista apologize for the slight amount of foam that they couldn't bypass...there was virtually NO FOAM in her latte!! I couldn't believe it. So I thought, FINALLY! They get it, they know what NO FOAM means, I can come back!
I came back today, and well, you know the outcome. So I called them up. I explained that I totally love their coffee and their service (you know the compliment sandwich?) then I went into detail about the stupid foam, then I wrapped up with a few more compliments. The gal was super apologetic - I'm sure whe was rolling her eyes wondering why someone would really take time out of their day to call and complain about a little foam, but like I said... this has been an ongoing frustration. So, she took my name and told me to come back tomorrow for a free coffee that they would ensure would have NO FOAM.
So hey, I got a free coffee, I promise that wasn't my intent...but am I gonna pass it up, heck no! I'll update you on the foam situation tomorrow...till then!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What's in a Name?
Ok, I'll be honest.... this name took way too long to think of. It’s one of those things… I didn’t want to start until I had the perfect catchy title. I’ve followed friends and family’s blogs where the names are PERFECT for them, so naturally, I wasn’t going to start doing this until I came up with the name of all names, the title of all titles... and now it’s been months, and no blog for this girl. The worst part is that the whole reason I wanted to start writing in the first places is because I’ve come to notice that I have a unique talent of getting into some of the weirdest and oddest situations. I saw a sign a few days ago that said, “what am I? a flypaper for freaks?” and I had to laugh because sometimes I think that! But anyway, back to my reason for wanting a blog: I wanted a place to document the crazy daily happenings of my life. The little things, the details, the things that only seem to happen to me. Now, if you’re reading this and you know me, you totally know what I’m talking about… my crazy Darci stories. So I finally thought of a name…Darcisms- (dar-cee-iz-ems): noun- situations that would rarely happen to the average human being but happen on a regular basis for me, Darci.
So I have a name. My goal now is to recall some of the best Darcisms and get them on here, as well and my thoughts on life, crazy ideas, and just day to day stuff. Eventually… as in: when the time is right, and definitely not in the immediate future – I’d like to be able to journal all the little things in certain significant parts in my life (i.e. Baby Vicks….calm down, I said not yet! J) – because looking back on things like my wedding… there SO many little things that made me so excited, or so happy…and sometimes so frustrated!! When I took part in the pageant back in the day…same thing – so many little things I would have liked to be able to remember and look back on, but I never wrote them down. So this is my attempt in being accountable to myself now, and 50 years from now when I’m one of those really cool grandparents with the crazy awesome stories that my grandkids won’t believe. And yes, for those wondering….I will be rockin’ the sweet track suit while I’m telling these stories.
So I have a name. My goal now is to recall some of the best Darcisms and get them on here, as well and my thoughts on life, crazy ideas, and just day to day stuff. Eventually… as in: when the time is right, and definitely not in the immediate future – I’d like to be able to journal all the little things in certain significant parts in my life (i.e. Baby Vicks….calm down, I said not yet! J) – because looking back on things like my wedding… there SO many little things that made me so excited, or so happy…and sometimes so frustrated!! When I took part in the pageant back in the day…same thing – so many little things I would have liked to be able to remember and look back on, but I never wrote them down. So this is my attempt in being accountable to myself now, and 50 years from now when I’m one of those really cool grandparents with the crazy awesome stories that my grandkids won’t believe. And yes, for those wondering….I will be rockin’ the sweet track suit while I’m telling these stories.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)