Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Stop! Read The Directions!!

I do the grocery shopping for our family.

And I take some degree of pride in how quickly I can complete shopping for seven people for one week's worth of supplies.

Yes, the keyword to this story is "pride."

Yesterday, as always, I finished shopping promptly. It was with the deepest satisfaction that I pushed my Very Full Cart into the shortest, most quickly moving line and began unloading it.

It takes a while to unload a Very Full Cart.

About a quarter of the way through my unloading, I noticed people checking my line to see how short it was, rolling their eyes and moving off. Sadly, this is somewhat normal. Did I mention my cart was very full?

About halfway through unloading the cart, I heard the voice of my checker over the loudspeaker, requesting further helpers at the checkstands.

In my final burst of energetic efficiency, I hadn't bothered to look for directional signs before getting in line. Now, hearing his distress call, I looked at the sign above my head with a sinking heart.

My face reddened. My efficiency was no more a shining halo on my head, but now a badge of disgrace the world could stare at.

For there I stood, with a Very Full Cart, half unloaded, directly below a sign that said in Big Bold Letters fit for the half-blind to read:

"Express Checkout
15 items or less."


Did you ever hear that "pride comes before a fall"?

It's true.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

A Complaining Moment

It's not that I mind paying taxes...

....I just wish that my tax return would auto-file.

I don't like paperwork.

I don't like math.

And I don't like record keeping.

***

Why am I so much more likely to complain about the things I don't like than express gratefulness for the things I enjoy?

God commands me to "give thanks in all things," but half the time, I don't even bother to "give thanks" for pleasant things.

I wonder how often ungratefulness sullies my witness for Christ in the world?

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Reporting From Duty

Well, in case you all haven't kept track, I thought you'd want to note that I started training for my job two months ago.

Don't worry, I had to look up the date in order to tell you. I haven't kept track either.

Are you wondering what it's like to work in a call center?

I can tell you. There are frustrating moments, challenging moments, thrilling moments, puzzling moments, relaxing moments, and embarresing moments...but there is never a dull moment!

I talk to between seventy and eighty customers most of my work days and no two calls are identical. There's more than enough variety to go around when you're handling situations like these...

A gentleman who demanded that I make his new phone arrive at his house Saturday afternoon. It had already been shipped Fed-Ex overnight, and was scheduled for delivery Monday. Fed-Ex does not deliver on Saturday.

A gentleman who downright refused a $25.00 monetary credit to his next bill.

A gentleman who called to ask if he needed to do anything to activate his new phone and make it work. He called from his new phone to ask this question.

A husband and wife team who took turns yelling at me for about ten minutes because I wouldn't give them $200.00 for an old phone they didn't want anymore.

A lady who wanted me to keep her son from paying his bill with her credit card.

A salesman associated with our company who couldn't figure out how to make a wireless headseat work.

I've been hung up on, and had people ask for my extension so they could talk to me every time. I've been accused of being unproductive and unhelpful, and I've been told that I made someone's day by being so helpful. I've been called heartless and stupid. But I've also been told that I'm the friendliest customer service representative ever.

So I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle.

I'm just an ordinary person who answers telephones for a living....and who's not about to complain about it.

Imagine!! I actually get paid for talking all day!

This is the life...

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Keepsakes

I like a dash of drama in life.

So, I admit I enjoy an occasional hail storm. Escecially if I am wrapped up in about three sweaters, rolled up in a blanket, and watching it come down with a pane of glass between.

Last week we were treated to a hail storm about once every day. I would have been delighted, but since I spend most of my days cooped up in a big building far from the windows, I missed most of the show.

Please don't feel bad for me, however. John, Abigail, and Peter were so impressed by the size of the hailstones that they caught a handful and stuck them in the freezer to show me when I got home.

Life is short...preserve it if you can!

Sunday, March 05, 2006

An Entirely Random Thought

Have you ever thought about how difficult it would be to invent a truly new and unique type of breakfast cereal?