So, here goes another attempt to make a massive posting, catching everything up. I'm still debating whether to try to tackle things categorically or chronologically. Each path has its own benefits and drawbacks. I find it easier to think categorically most of the time, so I'm going to start with that. We'll see how it goes from there.
Let's see... it's tough to figure out where to start, which is one of the areas that chronologically has a decided advantage. In fact, I think it has enough of one that I'm going to switch to chronologically, with the occasional switch to categorically when it's warranted.
Looking back... it's been a while. I've had little posts here and there, but they've been largely insubstantial. I'll start with the Monday Ambra and I planned on going out together. This was like, late April. It was something fairly 'normal' - out to dinner, and V for Vendetta, which she hadn't seen yet. It's my plan to make sure everyone cool has seen that movie. I came close, but failed on one count. Well, for now, but I'm sure I can remedy it, given time. So yeah, we took Sunday night paperwork like always, then she crashed over here, like always. We crashed, like always. It's when we woke up that things weren't like they always were.
We kissed.
Not really.
But it would have been weird if we did.
There was a fire.
I'm serious about that part.
We woke up to a really, really loud knocking on the door. I went and answered it, and there was no one there. The door across the way was open too, and the guy pokes his head out and says something to the effect of "The lady was going around, telling everyone there was a fire and they should get out." So Ambra and I got up and went and sat in the grass towards the complex. Sure enough, there was a fire. Fire trucks, firemen, the whole fire-people thing. It seemed very well contained to the apartment at the very end of our building, so we eventually just went back into the apartment and commenced chilling, as it seemed neither one of us was really going to be able to go back to sleep. Sergio called at one point, at Gina's behest, to make sure we were okay. I would later learn she had told one of the office staff that one or more of her managers was in there, and that they had to knock extra-loud, since I would sleep through just about anything. But yeah, Sergio talked in that way he does when something is being really weird - "Gina wanted me to call you and make sure you were okay, something about a fire." I assured him we were fine, and that was that. Ambra received a call not too long afterwards, from Jess. Turned out she wasn't feeling very well at all, and needed Ambra to come in for her. That kind of shot our plans down, since Ambra had to go in and all. I ended up going and picking up Amplitude (which is an AWESOME game), and a few books from Half Price Books.
The only bright spot was that Jess agreed to come in for Ambra on Wednesday, since she had come in for her on Monday. So yeah, we went and had our little date-thing. Her choice for dinner was Outback, which turned out really well. Awesome blossom appetizer, always good. We both enjoyed our meal. At one point, I made eye contact with one of the people at the table of six to our right. That person was Murph, our owner. I mean, the owner of all the San Antonio, San Marcos, and Seguin Domino's. He was with Eileen, Walter, Stan, Rex, and Mike. It was... kinda weird. They didn't come over and talk, we didn't go over and talk, nothing. They did, however, end up picking up our tab, which was *very* nice of him, and unexpected. Let's see... V for Vendetta after that, which was AWESOME. Nothing notable after that.
Then, it's kind of a blur. Not much more I can say on the Ambra front. We haven't hung out a whole lot lately; she's been having to work a lot, and our schedules haven't matched up nicely like they did for a while. I did talk to her about the whole "I had been thinking about it, I just didn't want to say anything 'cause I didn't want to be tease' thing that she had said one Sunday evening. It may have even been that Sunday, right after we ate out. Not sure. But yeah, that's what she said, which was interesting. I mean, the chances of us hooking up are, well, fairly small. In a lot of ways, I think we'd be a good couple, but there are enough points of contention that it'd be interesting to see if things work out. I mean, hell, I'm in the middle of moving in with her, which is pretty cool. So yeah.
So, we'll come back to Ambra in a little bit. On to Lilie. Good stuff. So, quick recap - found out she was dating [], I kind of mis-reacted.
Freaky Girl -- Thomilla
2006-05-29
2006-05-24
2006-05-20
'Cause we snuff our little souls away
I'm in the middle of a big update post, but wanted to get this one out there before I was interrupted. But this came up earlier, and I thought I'd share it.
Man, people are immature.
Now, certainly, there are different aspects of maturity. Using myself as an example, my tastes in food, music, recreation, movies, etc., all tend to be very immature. However, and this is something I pride myself in, I'm very mature in taking responsibility for my actions and decisions, and accepting their consequences. Those are but two aspects, and there are many.
Now, one that I have to deal with a lot is people not getting what they want. Let me clarify a few things first. If we screw up an order, we fully expect you to call back and let us know. We'll remake it, or give you a replacement free the next time you order. No problem. Not what I'm talking about at all. I'm referring to two issues that pop up repeatedly: Being closed, and not having parmesan cheese/crushed red peppers. Now, I close a lot. It's not quite as much recently, but for a while there, it was four or five nights a week, with one memorable streak of twelve consecutive closing shifts. I've been doing this since about three to four weeks after starting there, so we're talking almost 200 closing shifts. And the one thing I've noticed here - and this is certainly not unique to Domino's; it happened a lot at Sonic, but not quite as badly, and I'll get to that later - is that people are FUCKING IMMATURE about calling us and finding out we're closed. Now, I can understand being upset if we're supposed to be open - ie, it's before one o'clock Sunday through Thursday, or before two on Friday or Saturday - and we say we're closed. That's wrong, and shouldn't happen. Taco Bell does that all the time, and it's annoying as hell.
However, I digress.
We close at one o'clock Sunday through Thursday, and at two on Friday and Saturday. That's much later than the other major chains in town - Papa Johns and Pizza Hut - and the little ones - Valentino's, D'Blazio's, etc. The only ones that stay open as late as we are is Pizza Classics, and they're a local place, and more likely to close early when they're slow or don't feel like being open. We don't have that choice. Well, we do on Christmas Eve, but that's it. Every other day of the year (excepting the two days a year we're not open at all), we're there, open, until our actual closing time. We take orders up to that time, and deliver whatever's in the store when we close. So yeah, we don't close 'early' or anything. I guess word has gotten around, and we have a reputation - at least in San Marcos - for being open really late, not undeservedly so. So, when it's late night, people automatically just call us and assume we'll be open, which isn't the case.
Now, I'm very polite about it. I say the exact same thing I always say, the same thing I said at Sonic. "Domino's Pizza, I'm sorry, we're closed for the night." Now, most people are polite. They'll say thanks and hang up, or ask when we close, or ask if anyone else is open that they could call (which no one is). However, the problem is the few other people that are so incredibly immature it makes me want to go over to their house and punch them in the throat. I mean, seriously! We're closed! Deal with it! We've had the same hours for well over the last year, probably much more than that. I've had people cuss me out, denounce Domino's and everything, try to tell me that they'll give me fifty dollars for a pizza... it's just annoying to have to deal with people that act like three year olds. I had one guy try to tell me that he was a secret shopper, that the customer was always right, that he was a valued customer that ordered like three times a week from us... No. Or the guys that are like "Why the hell did you even bother answering the phone then?" Or the girls in the background yelling "Well FUCK DOMINO'S!"
Seriously, GROW THE FUCK UP.
The other thing that comes up a lot is that we don't carry parmesan cheese or red peppers. Is it reasonable to assume a pizza place has those? Sure, I can understand where they're coming from. Understandable when they're a little disappointed that we don't have it? Sure. Okay to take it out on us, to throw a temper tantrum like a three-year old? No. Most recently, some random guy calls up:
"I just got a pizza delivered."
"Okay?"
"And the driver told me that they don't carry cheese or red peppers?"
"Yeah. We actually don't have them in the store at all."
"What?! I want to talk to the manager in charge RIGHT NOW!"
"No problem, I'm going to need you to hold first."
The manager in charge was in the middle of taking an order. By the time Sergio picked up the phone, he had hung up. We didn't think much of it - there's not a lot we can do about that kind of complaint. But he calls back like twenty minutes later.
"Yeah, is your manager in charge available, or am I going to just be put on hold again?"
"Yeah, sorry about that when you called earlier. He was in the middle of another call, got to you as soon as he could."
"Yeah I did." (? First principle of working in a phone-dominated business: They don't listen. Period.)
"Alright, well, before you talked to him, I just wanted to make sure you were aware that the decision is made at the franchise level, that we don't have any say in it."
"Yeah it is. I've already called three other franchises; they all have them, and I'm getting ready to call your corporate office."
"Okay, here he is."
So I handed the phone to Sergio. We could only hear his half of the conversation. But as far as we could tell, he was acting like an immature three year old. Sergio kept saying things like "Well, you need to call the franchise office." "The decision isn't made at the store." "Arguing with me isn't going to help, I didn't make the decision." "The company isn't run from this store; you need to call the franchise office." "I don't know how many other franchises carry them."
I mean, if you want to complain about it, go ahead. Talk to the people that make the decision. Sergio gave him the number like three times.
I guess I can kind of understand it from college students, since most of them are worthless pieces of human shit anyway, but still. I seriously think everyone should be required to work for six months in an entry-level customer service position, just to understand what jerks people really are. I mean, how would you feel if someone was such a total ass, yelled at your child, brother/sister, wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend, etc., for something that's not their fault, they have no control over, and it's just the person doing the yelling being an immature ass? I venture to assert that no, most people would not react kindly to finding out that someone they care about was treated like that. I'm not going to drop the obvious platitude, that people need to treat the person behind the counter that way, because if the people were considerate or smart enough to actually do it, they wouldn't have to be told that.
"But they just need to vent."
Fuck off. Seriously. That doesn't excuse that kind of obnoxious, inappropriate behavior.
"But the customer is always right."
No, they're not. That was a business axiom that finally failed in the nineties because of THE SHEER WORTHLESSNESS, GREED, AND IMMATURITY of the American consumer. Certainly, the customer deserves to be treated with respect, and should be given all REASONABLE accomodations. However, that's a two-way street. Once a customer stops being civil and respectful, they seriously loss any right to expect it in return.
"You're just upset 'cause you don't have a real job. // Get a real job."
A) That's a personal attack, seeking to distract from the argument at hand and refocus it on me. B) The upset part tends to stem from having to deal with rude people. C) I'm working on it.
Girls Aloud -- Life Got Cold
Man, people are immature.
Now, certainly, there are different aspects of maturity. Using myself as an example, my tastes in food, music, recreation, movies, etc., all tend to be very immature. However, and this is something I pride myself in, I'm very mature in taking responsibility for my actions and decisions, and accepting their consequences. Those are but two aspects, and there are many.
Now, one that I have to deal with a lot is people not getting what they want. Let me clarify a few things first. If we screw up an order, we fully expect you to call back and let us know. We'll remake it, or give you a replacement free the next time you order. No problem. Not what I'm talking about at all. I'm referring to two issues that pop up repeatedly: Being closed, and not having parmesan cheese/crushed red peppers. Now, I close a lot. It's not quite as much recently, but for a while there, it was four or five nights a week, with one memorable streak of twelve consecutive closing shifts. I've been doing this since about three to four weeks after starting there, so we're talking almost 200 closing shifts. And the one thing I've noticed here - and this is certainly not unique to Domino's; it happened a lot at Sonic, but not quite as badly, and I'll get to that later - is that people are FUCKING IMMATURE about calling us and finding out we're closed. Now, I can understand being upset if we're supposed to be open - ie, it's before one o'clock Sunday through Thursday, or before two on Friday or Saturday - and we say we're closed. That's wrong, and shouldn't happen. Taco Bell does that all the time, and it's annoying as hell.
However, I digress.
We close at one o'clock Sunday through Thursday, and at two on Friday and Saturday. That's much later than the other major chains in town - Papa Johns and Pizza Hut - and the little ones - Valentino's, D'Blazio's, etc. The only ones that stay open as late as we are is Pizza Classics, and they're a local place, and more likely to close early when they're slow or don't feel like being open. We don't have that choice. Well, we do on Christmas Eve, but that's it. Every other day of the year (excepting the two days a year we're not open at all), we're there, open, until our actual closing time. We take orders up to that time, and deliver whatever's in the store when we close. So yeah, we don't close 'early' or anything. I guess word has gotten around, and we have a reputation - at least in San Marcos - for being open really late, not undeservedly so. So, when it's late night, people automatically just call us and assume we'll be open, which isn't the case.
Now, I'm very polite about it. I say the exact same thing I always say, the same thing I said at Sonic. "Domino's Pizza, I'm sorry, we're closed for the night." Now, most people are polite. They'll say thanks and hang up, or ask when we close, or ask if anyone else is open that they could call (which no one is). However, the problem is the few other people that are so incredibly immature it makes me want to go over to their house and punch them in the throat. I mean, seriously! We're closed! Deal with it! We've had the same hours for well over the last year, probably much more than that. I've had people cuss me out, denounce Domino's and everything, try to tell me that they'll give me fifty dollars for a pizza... it's just annoying to have to deal with people that act like three year olds. I had one guy try to tell me that he was a secret shopper, that the customer was always right, that he was a valued customer that ordered like three times a week from us... No. Or the guys that are like "Why the hell did you even bother answering the phone then?" Or the girls in the background yelling "Well FUCK DOMINO'S!"
Seriously, GROW THE FUCK UP.
The other thing that comes up a lot is that we don't carry parmesan cheese or red peppers. Is it reasonable to assume a pizza place has those? Sure, I can understand where they're coming from. Understandable when they're a little disappointed that we don't have it? Sure. Okay to take it out on us, to throw a temper tantrum like a three-year old? No. Most recently, some random guy calls up:
"I just got a pizza delivered."
"Okay?"
"And the driver told me that they don't carry cheese or red peppers?"
"Yeah. We actually don't have them in the store at all."
"What?! I want to talk to the manager in charge RIGHT NOW!"
"No problem, I'm going to need you to hold first."
The manager in charge was in the middle of taking an order. By the time Sergio picked up the phone, he had hung up. We didn't think much of it - there's not a lot we can do about that kind of complaint. But he calls back like twenty minutes later.
"Yeah, is your manager in charge available, or am I going to just be put on hold again?"
"Yeah, sorry about that when you called earlier. He was in the middle of another call, got to you as soon as he could."
"Yeah I did." (? First principle of working in a phone-dominated business: They don't listen. Period.)
"Alright, well, before you talked to him, I just wanted to make sure you were aware that the decision is made at the franchise level, that we don't have any say in it."
"Yeah it is. I've already called three other franchises; they all have them, and I'm getting ready to call your corporate office."
"Okay, here he is."
So I handed the phone to Sergio. We could only hear his half of the conversation. But as far as we could tell, he was acting like an immature three year old. Sergio kept saying things like "Well, you need to call the franchise office." "The decision isn't made at the store." "Arguing with me isn't going to help, I didn't make the decision." "The company isn't run from this store; you need to call the franchise office." "I don't know how many other franchises carry them."
I mean, if you want to complain about it, go ahead. Talk to the people that make the decision. Sergio gave him the number like three times.
I guess I can kind of understand it from college students, since most of them are worthless pieces of human shit anyway, but still. I seriously think everyone should be required to work for six months in an entry-level customer service position, just to understand what jerks people really are. I mean, how would you feel if someone was such a total ass, yelled at your child, brother/sister, wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend, etc., for something that's not their fault, they have no control over, and it's just the person doing the yelling being an immature ass? I venture to assert that no, most people would not react kindly to finding out that someone they care about was treated like that. I'm not going to drop the obvious platitude, that people need to treat the person behind the counter that way, because if the people were considerate or smart enough to actually do it, they wouldn't have to be told that.
"But they just need to vent."
Fuck off. Seriously. That doesn't excuse that kind of obnoxious, inappropriate behavior.
"But the customer is always right."
No, they're not. That was a business axiom that finally failed in the nineties because of THE SHEER WORTHLESSNESS, GREED, AND IMMATURITY of the American consumer. Certainly, the customer deserves to be treated with respect, and should be given all REASONABLE accomodations. However, that's a two-way street. Once a customer stops being civil and respectful, they seriously loss any right to expect it in return.
"You're just upset 'cause you don't have a real job. // Get a real job."
A) That's a personal attack, seeking to distract from the argument at hand and refocus it on me. B) The upset part tends to stem from having to deal with rude people. C) I'm working on it.
Girls Aloud -- Life Got Cold
2006-05-17
Approaching a full week without a decent night's sleep.
Though, let's be fair. I could have gotten some sleep tonight, but chose not to. Well, kind of. It's a *bit* more complicated than that, but not too much, and the distinction isn't really worth it. It's a bit too fine, too much hair-splitting for my tastes. Last night, also a choice on my part.
Artist -- Title
Though, let's be fair. I could have gotten some sleep tonight, but chose not to. Well, kind of. It's a *bit* more complicated than that, but not too much, and the distinction isn't really worth it. It's a bit too fine, too much hair-splitting for my tastes. Last night, also a choice on my part.
Artist -- Title
2006-05-15
Is that you doing that to me?
Argh. It's finally done. Well, yeah. At least my part is. It took a while, but in the end, it was worth it. Hopefully, they're happy in their new place. It's hard to tell from the second day, but things are going okay so far. Been running around like crazy since Thursday, but yeah, things are finally calm again. 6-12 tonight, 5-C tomorrow, training class 10-4 Wednesday... but after that, nothing Wednesday evening. Close Thursday, late Friday, then off Saturday and Sunday. Well, theoritically. Emily's insider-ing Saturday, but has a baby shower to go to, and it doesn't look like there'll be anyone else to pick up her shift, so I might end up doing it. I don't particularly want to - I'm really looking foward to the prospect of two consecutive days off, especially on a weekend. That'd rock. Don't really have anything planned just yet, though I could head up to Austin and play some DDR, maybe hang out with Rose and Lilie.
Speaking of which... nah, I'll get to that in my mega-post coming later.
But yeah, I have a few things that I need to attend to. I really need to stop dangling participles, apparently. But seriously... first and foremost, I need a really good night's sleep, both in quality and quantity. I've had one or the other, but not both lately. It's been primarily a lack of both, though last night (this morning), it was terrific quality, almost no quantity. But I can take care of that tonight and tomorrow night. But I really need to clean off my desk, and clean my room a little, and I think I might need to do some laundry.
Oh, put things in motion to become Ambra's roommate, more on that later. Like, official things and all that.
But yeah, more substantial post coming later. I hope.
Jakalope -- Feel It
Speaking of which... nah, I'll get to that in my mega-post coming later.
But yeah, I have a few things that I need to attend to. I really need to stop dangling participles, apparently. But seriously... first and foremost, I need a really good night's sleep, both in quality and quantity. I've had one or the other, but not both lately. It's been primarily a lack of both, though last night (this morning), it was terrific quality, almost no quantity. But I can take care of that tonight and tomorrow night. But I really need to clean off my desk, and clean my room a little, and I think I might need to do some laundry.
Oh, put things in motion to become Ambra's roommate, more on that later. Like, official things and all that.
But yeah, more substantial post coming later. I hope.
Jakalope -- Feel It
2006-05-12
You could be the reason why
So, I just went to Wal-Mart and saw Mindy. As usual, she was cashiering, and I kind of walked by. I think we noticed each other, but didn't really say anything. She was at the very first register, right as you walk in. I went about my business as normal, but couldn't help looking over at her as I was picking up my produce. They have large naval oranges again! I love those! Also picked up some hot yellow peppers, and some avocados. Finally decided to start experimenting a little.
But I digress.
I checked out, and didn't go through her aisle, as I had more than twenty items. Hell, I had like twelve items, just counting the yogurt. Five cans of Extra Hot Rotel, and that's 17 right there. So yeah, no express checkout for me. And even while checking out, I couldn't help looking over at her from time to time. It didn't help that my check-out-er couldn't find the produce code for the hot yellow peppers, and had to go over to the person that sits at the podium near each cluster of registers and confer with her. It worked out to my advantage, since the peppers were advertised at like 2.98/lb, but they rang them up as just jalepanos at (?) .50/lb, something like that. I walked out, but Mindy wasn't at her register anymore, figured she was on lunch break or something. I saw her in the parking lot, driving one of the motorized things with the shopping baskets on it. The initial exchange went something like
"Looks like you're having fun."
"I think this is one of my favorite parts of the job."
And we talked, for longer than we've talked since the fatal Sunday afternoon *way* back when. She asked me about stuff, mainly what I've been up to. I told her about Domino's, them trying to give me my own store and my subsequent refusal; my intent to go back to school soon, Janelle at Texas State. I asked her about what I could think to ask. She's still got the house, which seems to be going well; quit school, 'cause "it sucks", and... oh yeah! She's pregnant. It's not a typical San Marcos baby-daddy type thing. She's in a fairly long-term, stable relationship; they have a house together. So all in all, she seems very happy, and I'm certainly happy for her. It's weird. She kind of acts like a mood-enhancer. If I see her while I'm in a really good mood, it puts me in an even better mood; however, thinking about or seeing her when I'm depressed just puts me down that much deeper. Come to think of it, Lilie's the same way. Well, kinda. Since our reconciliation, not so much on the depressed part, but it still happens. I mean, I'm (as) over them (as I'm ever going to get), whatever that means.
Going to post more, but I'm dead tired from helping Rose and Lilie move, and I have to go to work in like half an hour because Jenn's 'sick'.
Jakalope -- Pretty Life
But I digress.
I checked out, and didn't go through her aisle, as I had more than twenty items. Hell, I had like twelve items, just counting the yogurt. Five cans of Extra Hot Rotel, and that's 17 right there. So yeah, no express checkout for me. And even while checking out, I couldn't help looking over at her from time to time. It didn't help that my check-out-er couldn't find the produce code for the hot yellow peppers, and had to go over to the person that sits at the podium near each cluster of registers and confer with her. It worked out to my advantage, since the peppers were advertised at like 2.98/lb, but they rang them up as just jalepanos at (?) .50/lb, something like that. I walked out, but Mindy wasn't at her register anymore, figured she was on lunch break or something. I saw her in the parking lot, driving one of the motorized things with the shopping baskets on it. The initial exchange went something like
"Looks like you're having fun."
"I think this is one of my favorite parts of the job."
And we talked, for longer than we've talked since the fatal Sunday afternoon *way* back when. She asked me about stuff, mainly what I've been up to. I told her about Domino's, them trying to give me my own store and my subsequent refusal; my intent to go back to school soon, Janelle at Texas State. I asked her about what I could think to ask. She's still got the house, which seems to be going well; quit school, 'cause "it sucks", and... oh yeah! She's pregnant. It's not a typical San Marcos baby-daddy type thing. She's in a fairly long-term, stable relationship; they have a house together. So all in all, she seems very happy, and I'm certainly happy for her. It's weird. She kind of acts like a mood-enhancer. If I see her while I'm in a really good mood, it puts me in an even better mood; however, thinking about or seeing her when I'm depressed just puts me down that much deeper. Come to think of it, Lilie's the same way. Well, kinda. Since our reconciliation, not so much on the depressed part, but it still happens. I mean, I'm (as) over them (as I'm ever going to get), whatever that means.
Going to post more, but I'm dead tired from helping Rose and Lilie move, and I have to go to work in like half an hour because Jenn's 'sick'.
Jakalope -- Pretty Life
2006-05-11
Fucking retarded.
Q: Why did you decide to add the Draenei as the new Alliance race?
A: The Draenei visited many worlds in their travels and explored much of the known cosmos on their quest to find safe harbor. During this exodus they befriended the enigmatic Naaru -- a race of beings with a deep affinity for the Holy Light of Creation that empowers the paladins of Azeroth. The Naaru blessed the Draenei with this power in an effort to help them in their struggle. This makes them a natural ally of the Alliance races who embrace this holy power.
In addition, the Draenei hold no affinity for certain Horde races. They outright hate the Orcs, who nearly drove the Draenei to extinction in Outland. And more recently, the Blood Elves stole technology from the Draenei and also sabotaged their dimensional ship, which crash landed on Azeroth.
Emphasis mine.
A: The Draenei visited many worlds in their travels and explored much of the known cosmos on their quest to find safe harbor. During this exodus they befriended the enigmatic Naaru -- a race of beings with a deep affinity for the Holy Light of Creation that empowers the paladins of Azeroth. The Naaru blessed the Draenei with this power in an effort to help them in their struggle. This makes them a natural ally of the Alliance races who embrace this holy power.
In addition, the Draenei hold no affinity for certain Horde races. They outright hate the Orcs, who nearly drove the Draenei to extinction in Outland. And more recently, the Blood Elves stole technology from the Draenei and also sabotaged their dimensional ship, which crash landed on Azeroth.
Emphasis mine.
2006-05-09
Update coming soon
Once I can force myself to care enough to actually type it all out. It'll be a doozy.
Or not.
Artist -- Title
Or not.
Artist -- Title
