Customer Stories 7

Time to change things up a bit. I write most of these when I get a dumb or mean client, but this one is different. This one is about Winnie.
Winnie was a rescued dog, who had come with her new owner to our store. As I brought out the merchandise, I saw this adorable dog in the car and in true me fashion I shouted, 'Puppy!'
Winnie's owner then began to tell me Winnie's story:
Winnie's first owners were abusive towards her. They had named her Wine-O as a start. They never let her inside, and as those who live here, Buffalo winters can get harsh. They beat her when she was inside, making her afraid of couches and beds. And they only fed her left overs from their table, no actual dog food.
Winnie was taken to an animal shelter at some point, pregnant and very sick. She has a burn mark on her upper lip. Scars on her paws and legs, and a broken tail that was never set right. Winnie was so under fed and sick, all of her puppies were still borne. She had ear and teeth infections and was going to be put to sleep after she gave birth.
But Winnie was rescued. Her new owner has done good for her. Winnie has gained weight, the infections are cleared and she is great with kids. In fact as soon as Winnie gets over her nervousness around people, which is understandable, she will be certified as a service dog.
After I loaded her up I still needed to tie her stuff to her roof. And after hearing all this and knowing she needs to get used to people and my boss is great with dogs, I got my boss. Winnie was afraid of me, but my boss got her to like him though he bribed her with lose meat.
Winnie was such a good dog. She was skiddish, but she was beautiful and peaceful. And we told her owner to bring her back, which she will be doing in a few weeks. I am happy Winnie was saved.
My boss told Winnie's owner that he wants to torture all dog abusers. I said I want them all shot, as there has to be a special place in Hell for them.
This was something I felt I had to share. To Emma, Winnie's rescuer, and all the animal rescuers out there, thank you and God bless! There aren't enough of us.

Customer Stories 6

So this was the other day. It was busy day and we were short staffed. So I was bouncing between the sales and load customers jobs to help everyone.
It was a phone call to the store. There was a lady on the other end. I answered with the store's general greeting.
'Hi yes? I was looking at your flyer...'
A pause, 'Ok?'
'Yes, I was looking at the living room set listed for $199...'
Another pause, 'Yea?'
'I was wondering what the price on that was?'
For a second I think I miss heard her so ask, 'I'm sorry which set?'
'The living room set you have listed as $199, how much is that?'
I now need a moment to not be sarcastic, 'Please hold and I will check.' I place the phone on hold and start making obscene gestures at the phone, even trying to strangle her through it. After a second I'm good, 'Miss, that set is $199.'
'Oh good, and can I ask you another question?'
'Yes what can I do for you?'
'You have this tile listed as $.79 a square foot, how much is that?'
I now have no patience for this moron and want to slap the stupid out of her, but I remain as professional as possible, 'Miss I'm not sure, why don't you come down to the store and ask for the manager, he is our flooring expert and can help you out.'
'Ok thank you, you have been most helpful.'
'Ok then, bye bye.'

Oh my God, how stupid can you be? Honestly? Anyway thanks for reading.

Ten Years Ago!

There is a viral FaceBook status that even I posted about not remembering last Tuesday but clearly remembering ten years ago. I laughed and posted it because it applies to me greatly. So I figured I would share what happened to me on the day that America changed.
I was in high school still, junior year I believe, but home sick that day with the Flu. My sister and mother as well. My step father was home, but he had the day off of work. I was very sick, I mean I crawled from my bed to the couch in the family room so I could turn the TV on.
As I turned on the TV is was un impressed with the 'movie' I saw. So I flipped the channel, same 'movie'. I soon realized it wasn't a movie. Then the second plane hit, I sprang from the couch with energy I didn't have and ran for the backyard. That's where my step father was working, 'Jim, Jim come quick!' I yelled.
In his annoyed at me voice, while he was on the ladder, 'What?'
'We're under attack! They hit the Trade Center!'
He almost fell off the ladder. I ran back inside and woke my mom and sister. Told them what had happened.
Jim came inside and watched the TV with me. I was already scared, would they hit the Falls( I live in Buffalo)? What was going on? But I went from scared to terrified. I saw for the first time in my life, fear in my step father's eyes. And that scared me more than anything else.
Not long after the Pentagon was hit and I was calling people I know to make sure they were ok. I don't know why, nobody I know is in DC or NY but hey, I was freaking out. I can still remember wanting to throw up all while this was going and thinking, what right do I have to be sick, will the world falls apart.
I spent the day watching the reports as they came in, and on the phone. To be fair however, every channel but the televangelist station was showing the incoming reports, even Cartoon Network, so there wasn't a choice anyway. But I think I would have stayed on the news anyway.
After I couldn't stay awake anymore that night I went to bed. I went to school the next day, feeling physically better, but not emotionally. The world had changed, and I was terrified. And I prayed to God, and to a few gods I didn't even believe in just to be save. It was strange.
But even as I was afraid, I was also proud! Flags were being flown on non holidays. People were helping people everywhere. In New York and DC worker were risking their lives to save others, God bless you all!. I was proud to be American, still am!
Ten Years ago and two days, and I still remember! I, who barely remembers to... well I can't remember what I was going to put, but it fits here. God Bless the Workers, NYPD, NYFD, Medical Personal, our Troops and the victims of 9/11. I remember and always will! Do you? Where were you Ten Years ago?

Something I wrote!

This is a little some I wrote some time ago. Its short but I wanted to post it.
True Friendship
One of the strongest bonds in this world is the ties of friendship - truest of all brotherhood. Friends are the companions in life that let you deal with hardships, when the path your on hits a mountain. Now what comes when you reach this mountain all depends on the friend helping you. Some will help you climb it up and back down again, some will help you dig a tunnel through, some take the time to lead you around, then there are the few who will move the mountain out of your way.
True friends keep you ground when you start to float away as well. They will shadow you to the ends of the Earth just to make sure your okay. They are your voice of reason when everything else just doesn't make sense. They are that last candle that just won't go out when the rest of world goes dark. The truest of friends want nothing more than true happiness for their friends, even over their own, which is sometimes not right. Friends guide you through the good and the bad, so that they too may make it through without being lost and alone.
Friendships, like all things, hits the rough patches too. Friends will fight and argue, quarrel and disagree, only to come out stronger for it in the end. Those that call themselves True Friends don't leave the fight and not look back, for the only place to go when that happens is to your friends. They may go to blow of steam but they always return to their friends in the end.
Some one once said, 'friendship is two souls in one body,' which makes no sense. It should be, ' Friendship is one soul in two bodies.' My friends are my mountain movers, my candles, my shadows, and voices of reason. They are part of my family, and the ones that kept fighting when the fight in me was no longer there.
This is dedicated to Sparky, Red, Razr, the Becky Lady, and all of my other family! Also to all the fighters and mountain movers for everyone else out there too.