Clarifying ?'s

I'm going to dog on men here for a minute. I know women are guilty of this as well, but for the moment I'm calling out men because I've had a rash of men customers who are guilty of this.

I work in customer service, and we get calls from all types of customers, some are super easy to communicate with and some are not. Lately the most difficult type of customer for me has been the old, hard of hearing man, and here is why!

Several times this week, I have had middle aged, or older men land on my phone line, and due to their poor communication skills, it resulted in a frustrating experience.
EXAMPLE 1

ME: ESS I'm Natalie, how may I help you today
HIM: Yeah, I've got a 20 foot trailer I'd like to store
ME:  Okay, sir I'd be happy to assist you with that today, is it a utility trailer, toy hauler ...???????? what type of trailer is it?
HIM:  IT'S A TRAILER!!!!!  (Using that you're a stupid woman tone with me)  
ME:  Is it a camping trailer by chance?
HIM; YES!!!!! (in a pissy I'm tired of talking tone of voice)

I proceeded to find a spot for a "camping trailer" which is an important distinction, since they're all different heights, and there are different requirements on those... but my hell to get pissed off because he calls me with a vague question and when I ask a clarifying question, he gets pissy with me as if I'm the stupid one!  JERK!

EXAMPLE 2   The worst offender:

Me: ESS My name is Natalie, how can I assist you?
HIM: I've been storing with you for 12 years, and I'm looking in the yellow pages and I can't find your number, what is the number for Springfield?

Now...bear in mind he called up my Philadelphia Wayne Junction location's number, so I see that he's a customer, but I wanted (like I always do) to clarify and make sure it's the Wayne Junction number, because I heard him mention Springfield, and since I'm a nation wide number and Springfield is a brand new property, I wanted to make sure he wasn't someone calling the wrong company (which happens a lot with old people)  They call up their storage business thinking we're directly assistance or something!  Very common occurrence!

ME: Okay, I see you're calling the Wayne Junction number, is that the location you're looking for?
HIM: SPRINGFIELD!!! Can I get the number or not!!!

Bear in mind he's hard of hearing, so I literally had to shout this phrase to him about nine times already! 

ME: OKAY, sorry sir, I'm just trying to clarify the location, since I'm a national number and you're calling our Philadelphia location's number, which location are you trying to reach... Springfield what?

Of course despite my yelling into my headset, and speaking very slowly, and trying to figure out what the hell he wants as I'm not directory assistance..... and I've never heard of a Springfield site, I'm making sure of the number he wanted!  I mean why would you call Wayne Junction, if you really wanted Springfield? Hasn't he heard of directory assistance? 

At this point he's getting pissy with me, and acting like I'm the stupid person ( I'm quite sure this happens to him a lot) Finally I tell him "Sir I'm just trying to figure out which location you're asking about, since we have several in the area, let me pull up your account info, and I'll check to see which location you're storing at.... of course he didn't hear me and he went off on a tangent, because he only heard a fraction of what I said and assumed I can't help him... he completely went off on me in a wrong communication direction if you get my metaphor!

To keep a long story short, I pulled up his account my his full name ( getting his name was like pulling teeth)  where he was storing at and got him the number, after much push and pull, and lack of cooperation on his part, plus he needed a hearing aide (that would have helped a ton)  I got him the number, had to repeat it to him several times and remind him multiple times his location is now closed as it's after six pm now.

He asked for my name, I said "Natalie" very slowly and clearly
HIM:  Madelyn???
Me: no, N-a-t-a-l-i-e   Natalie!
HIM: Natmalee??
ME:  No, it's..... N-A-T-A-L-I-E!  NATALIE! 

Geeze finally he got it, and hung up...

Ironically my very next caller was a woman here is how it went:

ME: ESS my name is Natalie, how may I assist you today?
HER:  Hello, I'm looking for the phone number to your Orem, Utah location just off of Center Street, could you give me that number?
ME:  I'd be happy to... (breathing a sigh of relief) finally someone who can ask a clear, concise, question and has ears that work too! ..............it's bla, bla, bla, bla bla.....

Now why the hell can't men do that? Luckily my shift was over, and I can pour myself a stiff drink!

The Real "Meet the Mormons" of Utah

There has been a lot of buzz about this newly released move Meet The Mormons around town by all my Mormon friends of course. One friend told me yesterday that "YOU MUST TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO SEE THIS!" she exclaimed. WOW! What for? I have already read the reviews in all the local and national papers.

I live in Utah, and quite frankly Mormons don't impress me, and I'll tell you why.  I live near 2 churches, and every Sunday when I'm out walking, or in my car I must pass by their church to get out of my neighborhood. If it happens to be at the time church is getting started, you're taking your life in your hands! I've been cut off by large SUV's racing across the street in their Sunday best late for church no doubt. One time I was walking, and was nearly taken out by a white shirted, tied, and dark suited male in a Toyota who damn near killed me when he tried to beat me into the parking lot, I was walking on the sidewalk in front of the parking lot entrance. Good thing I have fast reflexes, and jumped back! He didn't even see me! If this happened once or twice it wouldn't be a big deal. I've lived here nine years, and this has happened each and every time I leave my neighborhood during church beginning time, and ending time. They're rude drivers, and hyper focused on making it to church on time, to hell with the rest of the neighborhood!

The company I work for was founded my a Mormon, BYU graduate, and the CEO is also Mormon as well. Yes they are very nice but don't practice what they preach, because we work every Sunday, and there are no exceptions. Mormon or not if business needs dictate a Sunday schedule, too bad, you work it!

One of my siblings is also a very good card carrying Mormon, and his wife is so darn rude to me it's not funny. She is snarky, ignores me, treats me like I'm invisible because I don't go to church. Yet expects me to attend all her kids baptisms, and blessings, and other events, which I graciously do despite the fact she never acknowledges my existence. I walk into her home (invited mind you) and she never says a word to me! Not a "hello, how are you?"...  nothing! It's kind of a game to me at this point, let's play the: Let's see how rude Julie treats me game! It's just expected and I get a chuckle out of it after all these years.  She never replies to any of my family emails yet everyone else does. I was recently invited to her daughter's baptism and was saddened that I couldn't attend due to my work schedule, so I replied via email telling her so, and nothing back! I sent a card, and a small piece of jewelry I purchased at a local Mormon store to commemorate the happy occasion. She must have received it, yet, no thank-you email, or call to let me know it arrived, no acknowledgment what-so-ever. I've never seen anything like it!!  Treating a FAMILY MEMBER no doubt, who has been nothing but kind and polite to her like a piece of crap!  Really?? When I complain to my Mother who is also staunch Mormon, she brushes it off by saying "oh if you knew her father you'd understand"... um... okay!

It's people like these every day Utahans who go about their lives only caring about themselves, and getting into heaven, for time and all eternity (sounds tedious to me) living with family member's who ignore you for time & all eternity! I'd rather be partying with my cool friends than with some stick-up-her-ass Molly Mo as we call them here!

These are just a few examples of why the "Meet the Mormon's" is a necessary PR campaign for the LDS church. Maybe they can go after the low hanging fruit, and leave us people who know better alone!

I have nothing against this religion, just the dip shit people who act as if they're better than everyone else that's who I have an issue with! No, I won't be paying $9.00 for a movie ticket to see this movie anytime soon, I'd watch it if it were free, but that's it.

My impression of Mormons would be something like this: " Hide the truth! "... "gloss over everything" ... "If we ignore it... it doesn't exist... and for Hell Sakes... don't let all the ward members find out!"

Recycle, Re-purpose, Re-use

Here are two exquisite 
pieces I found, fixed, and hung on the wall.
The print in the picture was a thrift store find I ended up with. The frame was ugly, so I tried painting it, and when I put it all back together, the glass broke! So the new frame is a heavier one I scored at a tag sale for just $5. It is wood, and didn't have a print inside, just matting and an ugly stain color that matches nothing in my house!   With a little Annie Sloan chalk paint and sand paper, I painted, distressed, and sealed it with a wax sealer.  I just love how it turned out!   The roman numeral clock was a bargain find at ROSS.   Only $1.99 on clearance! What a deal! Both look great on my wall above the TV table.

I'm all for re-purposing discarded stuff whether it be on clearance, or at a tag sale, or in the garbage can! So when guests comment on my decor, there is a story to tell....."Oh this is what I found at a tag sale"..... or "I found this chair on the side of the road.. now look at it!" Yup, I love it. Anyone can purchase furniture and home decor and pay the 300% store mark up for it, and watch their money disappear before their eyes, for me I like the thrill of the hunt, the creative process, seeing how I can transform something into a one-of-a-kind piece! 

Pinterest is a huge part of this, it's opened up many creative ideas inside my  head, and is a fabulous source of inspiration. I just love the way my home is turning out, and it's beauty on a budget!