shelly-bean.com

The Olympics

So, I know a lot of people aren't into the Olympics and are seriously grumpy at the moment because there's nothing else on TV. But, I know even more people who are obsessed with the Olympics and given the chance would do nothing but sit in front of the television and watch all day.

I fall into the second category. I haven't actually done that, mostly because I haven't had a day off to be able to. However, I totally would if I could. What this means though, is that I stay up way too late at night watching first the feed from Toronto and then the feed from Vancouver, which goes off the air at 2am. And then after that? Well, TSN picks it up and shows it all night.

Just slightly obsessed. What can I say?

I just really enjoy seeing all these sports that I don't normally watch. Because really, how much coverage does beach volleyball get on a regular basis, or what about gymnastics? I think the American networks cover a lot more of that than I see, because I don't spend my Saturday afternoons parked in front of the TV watching whichever sport happens to be on that day. My fault perhaps, but there it is.

So when the Olympics come around and there's nothing else to watch but all these really cool sports which I don't normally see. I watch! And I get excited. And I cheer for Canadians, and against whichever people from other countries I take an instant dislike to (there's got to be someone to lose afterall!). And I enjoy it.

And I've seen some incredibly fantastic things. For instance that 4 x 100 m mens relay where South Africa swam like there was a shark chasing them to win the gold was brilliant. And that American dude yesterday who won the gold in the all around mens gymnastics final? Aside from his vault which he landed on his ass, he was absolutely brilliant. And likely I'm forgetting some other things. But those are the two things that stick out in my mind at this moment.

So, quit complaining people. If you're not a fan of the Olympics, then don't watch. Go bury your head in the sand for two weeks and come out when they're over. But shut up and let me enjoy it! :)

New Photos

The pictures are actually a lot clearer than this, but for some reason the scanner made them fuzzy. If I'd paid more attention when I was scanning, I probably could've done something about it. But, I didn't.

Anyway, here's a couple that I think are stunning. Of course...I would think that, I took them afterall :)

Dear Customer

Dear Customer,

When you come into our store and order books, they do not necessarily arrive on the day you want them to. Generally they arrive when the office ships them to us. We don't have control over this, when we give an ETA, it is always that, an estimation.

Once you find out that your books are not in our store, please do not hang around all day pressuring us to find out why they're not. We put in our phone calls, left voicemail for pretty much anyone we could, after that our hands were tied. We did in fact have other customers who needed to be served, and also other jobs that needed to be done today.

When I tell you that the savings you're getting on your books is better than a corporate discount, do not ask me for a further discount. Your books cost $7.99 each, surely 35% off is enough. You're re-selling them anyway, if the discount we already offered is not enough, then make your prices slightly higer.

Our company will not let you drive up to the warehouse and pick your books up yourself, nor will they like it if you start phoning all of our district managers to see if you can't just have a few percentage points more than 35 off of your books. When we tell you that our RM is on the top of a mountain in BC on vacation, please believe us, we are not lying to you just to make you go away.

Also, I probably should have mentioned that when we say that we'll call you when the books come in...we mean it. We will call, because we do not have room to store your 200 books. Also, we like to save people from wasted trips.

Please do not treat us like we were not trying our best to help you solve the problem. We called and emailed everyone we possibly could, but got no immediate response. Surely even you can understand the concept of a lunch break.

I understand that you were short on time, but standing overtop of us all day really wasn't a very good use of your time, was it? I imagine there must have been something else you could have been doing.

When I finally got things sorted out for you, and had the books redirected to the store nearest to your house, thus losing the sale, you could have at least said thank you. Yes, you are a fireman, which makes you a hero, but guess what? You are also an asshole.

Sincerely,
Michelle