A while ago someone asked why I was updating my house since I "didn't live in the right neighborhood" for that. This was a nice person but one who never thinks before they speak.

I had to do some knee-slapping laughter because it reminded me of the time when I had a church visitor over to my house once. We had just moved from Texas to another state. We decided to sock away our money so we moved into a small apartment in order to save money to buy another house. Sounds reasonable, right? My mom had been living with us for a few years by then (long story) but that is what family does and we never thought anything of it.

It never dawned on me that people would find all that odd until this visitor came by. She was trying to give a friendly, spiritual message on being thankful since it was around the Thanksgiving holiday. She was telling me what she was thankful for and I kid you not, these were her words verbatim,

"...and I'm so thankful for my family and for having a house, I mean a real house, you know, and not having to rent...you know...like yooouu." "And for being able to stay home with my kids, and for my husband who has a job that supports us, and not having to work outside of the home, like yooouu..."

I'm not sure why she held out the word but it only emphasized the fact that she was glad she wasn't me. I don't know, maybe it was a nervous thing.

I began to tune her out but heard her also say something about my mom living with me and she was thankful it wasn't her, but "like yooouu..." of course.

By this time I could tell that she realized her whole foot was in her mouth (hello!) and was trying to pull it out but doing a horrible job. She began to squirm a bit and I wondered what. in. the. world. she could possibly say next.

Then she nervously asked what I was thankful for, and swallowed hard. I literally heard her gulp. I said, "Hmmmm..." and then I heard another gulp.

A smile crept on my face.

I wondered if she could see the wheels spinning in my head or the angel and devil on each of my shoulders? Mwaahahaa...Probably.

There were all kinds of things I chuckled to myself about saying to her and they whirled around in my head and begged to bust out of my mouth.
Do I? Don't I? Ah, the moment was perfect and frankly, probably warranted, heck yeah - After all, I am only human.

But in reality, I didn't want her to worry about it because it didn't bother me that much, even though that was thee most suckiest spiritual message I have ever gotten.

So, I'm sure there was another thing she was thankful for but didn't realize: that in these situations, I ultimately decide that most people are generally good. We're just dumb sometimes so I was ok with her assessment. I knew all of the back stories, did I really care that she didn't?

After all, it was a funny evening for us. All night my mom, Jon and I kept laughing and saying things we were thankful for, like, "I'm so glad I don't suck at sports like yoouuu.." when we were out throwing the football and one of us would miss a catch. Or, "I'm so thankful I'm not a bonehead like yoouu..." when we would watch "Jeopardy" and answer incorrectly.
Or one of them would say, "I'm so thankful the baby likes me better than yoouuu.." but then when I realized she had a messy diaper, I took her to Jon and told him he was right, she does like him better and that she "only wants to be changed by yoouuu...suckah." hee hee hee...

Hugs,
Laura

Customer service not found

Every time I go to buy gasoline, I get yelled at by the gas attendant lady.

Apparently, she does not like the fact that I pre-pay when I use cash. Every station is different when it comes to cash, so I just always pre-pay.

The last time she was so mad she was literally shaking. I was worried for a moment that I was sending her into an anxiety attack.

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRE-PAY YOU KNOW! she yelled.

"I know, thank you." I said smiling.

"THEN WHY DO YOU DO IT?" she yelled.

"Because I prefer to?" I said, feeling a bit stumped by the question.

She rolled her eyes, gave me a big, "Hummphhh!" and snatched my money.

"Thank you." I said.

My kindness was killing her. Hopefully not literally.

******************

Then at a home improvement store the other day, I ran into the most lackadaisical employee ever. I must have had a sign on my forehead asking who the most lazy person in the store was that day.

I bought a small grill and the wheel came off, twice, as I was wheeling it away.

A woman behind the customer service desk saw it since there was a loud crashing sound and everyone turned to look at me. She said that she would call someone to help. While waiting, another employee thought I was in line so he asked if I needed help. Nice I thought.

I told him the wheel fell off and that someone was coming and he said with a wave of his arm, "Oh those are 100 dollar grills."

He came over to me and said "I could look aallll day to see if there is a better one and they'd all be the same." "They don't hold up to the kind of rolling we do with them." "It's a poor design."

"So you're saying they're cheap?" I asked.

"They are on the lower end, yes." he said.

"Well, whether it's a 100 dollar grill or a 1000 dollar grill, I expect the wheel not to fall off before I get to the car." I said.

And rather than say, "You're right - let me check to see if there is a better one. It should only take 5 minutes of my life that is not mine right now anyway because I represent a company that is paying me to assist its customers." he says...

"Look, the other one is probably just as loose" as he bends down and struggles to take off the wheel.

He's pulling and pulling and then says, "Well, that one does seem to be a little tighter....er, uh..."

So I say, "Then don't you think there are others that are just as tight on both sides??"

and then he says the killer ---wait for it---

"YOU'RE A WOMAN, YOU COULD SPEND $300.00 ON A PAIR OF SHOES."

Me, *blink, blink* "What does that mean??" I ask.

Him, *gulp, gulp*

Is it just me or do you find yourself in wierd situations like these??

*****************

***Before my career as a mother took off with 5 kids, I had a career as a corporate trainer and Director of PR and customer relations. So when it comes to customer service, I feel that I have a pretty good idea of what is exceptional or at the very least, what is decent. I am still somewhat surprised when I run into situations like these, with people that are old enough to know better. Good customer service is hard to come by I guess.

Sometimes I feel like going back into training...

Remind me to tell you the story of the parking lot attendant in Portland...I thought I was going to get beat up...she was scary.***

On being banned

A sneak peak - the thrift store table I got for 9.99. Soon to be given a face lift.

Last week was extremely busy and this week is shaping up to be also. Somehow, I managed to squeeze in a thrifting trip. I know, surprise, surprise. Later in the week I'll elaborate more on the cool finds and what I am doing with them. Let's just say it was a good trip and there were hilarities and hi jinx involved. Which got me thinking about a thrift shop excursion I went on in Hilton Head, SC.

We lived there for 3 years and one day I decided to take break from the ocean. I had heard about this thrift shop where the line to get in wrapped around the building. This intrigued me. People wait in line to go thrift shopping?? Apparently, all of the wealthy people like to get new stuff every year so they donated to this place. I had to see.

So, I went and sure enough there was a line. I stood for a little while with my kids, though, not very long. At the time my kids were 9, 7 and 2 years old. Charley had to use the restroom right away so we made a beeline for the back of the store. Suddenly, I was tapped on the shoulder. I spun around to look behind me. (It was just like in the movies where someone turns and doesn't see anyone so they look down and there is this honey-I-shrunk-the-kids person.)

I did that. I looked down and this small person was standing there. I'm not so tall myself so for her to be smaller than me was something.

"Yes?" I said

Trembling, she said, "You can't be in here."

Thinking I didn't hear her correctly, I asked "I beg your pardon?"

She asked how old the kids were and I told her. She said there was a sign posted at the front stating there were no kids allowed.

Smiling I said, "You're kidding, right? Am I on a hidden camera show?"

"No." she said. Then I noticed that this person was a security guard! A security guard at a junk store! A security guard with a hand over her hip pocket as if to keep track of a weapon.

"Are you packing?!" I said.

She looked a little confused.

"Oh, it's just a radio, thank goodness." I remarked.

Charley was now next to me dancing around, almost in tears. She was doing the "cross-legged" dance and I told Belen to take her to the restroom, "Quickly!"

The worried guard said, "Uhhh..." And I politely reminded her that there was going to be a mess so she could at least let her use the bathroom and then we'd leave. She agreed.

The manager, a smartly dressed woman in her 60's, came over to see why there were evil children in the store. I assumed she was a volunteer for the church that sponsored this shop. Which, by the way, was not affiliated with this store any more.

I asked why kids were not allowed in the store.

"Oh, I love children. I have 2 of my own and I have grandchildren" she said as she turned her head with a sigh at the preposterousness of the question.

"Then why aren't they allowed to be here? You do realize that most people who shop at stores like this are mothers? Mothers that need to bring their kids with them."

"Oh, yes, I understand. I was a stay-at-home mother too, we all were at one time" and then she said, "BUT IF I ALLOW ONE IN WE'D HAVE TO COUNT THEM AS A PERSON AND I JUST CAN'T DO THAT." (Caps added to emphasize her ridiculous words.)

Because only 200 people were allowed in the store at any given time, they didn't allow children, making way for the adult spenders. "It's a safety issue." she said.

By this time, the kids were back and Reese was getting heavy. So, we began to make our way out of the store. The smug manager was following us, trying to sell me on the place, telling me they "gave over a million dollars to charities" that year and *gasp* "some were "CHILDREN'S charities."

"That's nice" I said dryly.

She just rolled her eyes and sent the security guard, whose hand was still on the radio, to continue to escort us. Some shoppers, noticing the debate that had ensued, stood and watched. My escort was like Moses parting the Red Sea.

"Ever had to use that thing, like call for back-up or something?" I said.

I finally got a laugh from her, "No" she replied.

"Is this the most action you've gotten at this store?"

"Yes, thanks" she said smiling.

"My pleasure. Thanks for not letting my kids wet the floor. That was nice of you; you do a good job."

And with that she opened the door for us and Reese waved "bye bye." She waved back and shut the door.

On my way out, I felt like shouting "Norma Rae, Norma Rae!"

And that is the story of how I was banned.

*post edit* I looked up the website of this store and now they only ban children under 6 in the store. Progress.

Linking up to Twee Poppets' Tuesday Tag-along and Midday Escapades' Friday Follow

When man's best friend doesn't like you

Trae with our neighbor's wonderful dog. He loves to run with her and she lets him. She is a good dog.

Have you ever had a run in with a dog?

I did once. I was delivering girl scout cookies when I was 8 and a neighbor's dog came running from its house and tried to chomp my arm. He jumped up and was nearly as tall as me. Maybe he wanted the cookies I was holding which I was trying to use to fend him off. I can't remember whose Thin Mints I ruined that day...

I loved my childhood dog, Darby. He was a Chihuahua. I remember my mom taking me to get him. The owner of the litter of pups had me lie on my stomach and call them to me. The one who made it to me first was the one I could have and Darby was it. We loved him silly.

Not long ago, my husband was enjoying a trip to the Dentist. The office is in an old saltbox house and the steps up to the entrance flank each side of the door. There is a driveway to the right of the door which is narrow and leads to the parking spaces in back of the house. It's kind of charming.

But kind of not; it is a dentist office after all.

After his appointment, Jon bounced down the steps and turned the corner. As he rounded it he reached into his pocket for the car keys. When he looked up he was staring into the face of a huge German Shepherd. The dog was already in motion to jump and as he did, Jon took his right arm and crossed it in front of his chest in a defensive motion. It was the only thing he could do after being startled so suddenly. The dog jumped and clamped on to his arm. As the dog pulled away, he took with him a bite out of Jon's arm.

As luck would have it a Police officer just happened to be near the sidewalk when he heard the commotion and came running. Who says cops are always at the donut shop? The Dentist and his wife both ran out the side door closest to the drive-way and called off the dog. The officer, angry at the situation, yelled at the Dr. to see if he was the owner. Nervously, the dentist had Jon come in and they cleaned his wound, saying they would pay for everything and worrying that we would sue. After they bandaged him up, he went to our family doc, got stitches, a tetanus shot and antibiotics.

The police called and asked him to come in for pictures and to file a report just in case this were to happen again. His 1 pm appointment had now stretched to 7 pm.

He was asked to sit next to a girl in a waiting room at the police station. There were two officers grilling this girl about her drug activity. The officers were stern and she was crying. Jon thought at first that he was in the wrong area. He sat quietly listening to the girl's story and wanted to raise his hand to be excused but they told him to wait there. Finally it was his turn and they took pictures and asked again if we were going to press charges. Jon said no, it was an honest mistake. Someone had left the gate opened and the dog ventured out. We were just glad it wasn't a child that had been bitten.

So after all of this, and two weeks later I got a bill in the mail. Not from our family doctor but from the dentist himself! He sent over a $25 gift card for the shirt (from an outlet store) and a $59.00 bill for the teeth cleaning. The nerve, I thought, and I wanted to go bite him in the arm.

I ignored the bill for a while thinking they might get the message but it kept coming. Jon sent the payment over and inadvertantly made it out for $50.00.

AND after all of that, they called Jon at the hotel he manages. They called, not to see how he was doing, they didn't even mention it. They called to see about getting a good deal on a meeting room for their classic car club. Jon quoted him a price and they thought it was too high.

Then the puny gift card made sense to me.

A few days later, I received another bill for the $9.00 we left out of the original payment.

And 6 months later, I received many messages on my phone reminding me to make our next appointments.

"Are these people for real?" I wondered aloud.

I planned on calling them to express my frustration but I just never got around to it.

Then I figured that sometimes silence speaks the loudest and I never heard from them again.

I DO have goals, you know.

I remember one time when I was asked at a church gathering of women about my goals, I replied that I didn't really have any. The lady who asked me was the Sunday School teacher and the next morning while she was teaching she referenced how she was speaking to someone and they said they made no goals. {Ahem, that would've been ME!}

She went on to say how she thought this was the dumbest thing she had heard and never knew people existed that had no goals. I remember she was shaking her head, saying she just "couldn't understand it!"

She must have forgotten that I was in her class as I sat there and recounted this small conversation.
I wanted to hit her.
I didn't. It took all my strength not to go up and ask her about that remark but
I just rolled my eyes to myself and took delight in the fact that she was having a bad hair day.

Well, I do have goals. Some are lofty. Some are small. Some I know I will never reach and that's okay. They are now more like daydreams and I think it's fun to daydream.

I make goals that I know are within my capabilities. Some days between work, kids, schedules, church callings, my husband's career, house remodeling, a family situation that nearly drives me to hit the hard stuff, and a baby's diaper changes, I feel stretched very thin. And those resolutions that I meant to get to are put on the back burner along with my hobbies.

So, I make a few goals, incorporate my hobbies in to them and I don't worry about it too much after that. I'm just a realist which I guess plays to my casual nature. Remember, I like Bart Simpson for a reason...

I also start working on these things every October and April - just in line with LDS General Conference. That's when I hear some great talks and it motivates me to start moving in the right direction again.

So this year's resolutions are - a continuance from October:
1. Reach my goal weight in May.

2. Organize the craft room/office and create a focal wall.

3. Try some dishes out of my Julia Child cookbook I received for Christmas a long time ago.

4. Organize better birthday parties for each of my kids. I tend to only throw a party for them once in a while. I guess this stems from my parents not making a big deal out of birthday parties and I am falling into that mindset. I don't want to do that anymore. They deserve to know the day they came into my life was a bright day and their presence makes our lives better.

5. Read more books. My ability to speed read came in handy when I used to devour books. I haven't taken the time to sit and do that.

6. Get back to my jogging/walking 2 miles a day. (I slack during winter.)

7. Start my house blog and another one yet to be named.

8. Play guitar with Lenny Kravitz. Ok, that is a daydream...

And when April comes, we'll see how I do!

How do you guys go about setting goals/resolutions?