Todays thought...How things can look up when all is drab
My weekend last weekend was terrible. And the week to come wasn't much better. I spent Friday and Saturday up in the hospital with my friend...My granfather came up missing in California on Sunday...and my car broke down on Monday.
Monday evening I find out that my grandpa is in a hospital 75 miles from his home from driving the wrong way down the interstate and having an accident. Tuesday I tried to get a new car and ended up wasting my time. My ex had ruined my credit so bad when we got divorced, my Pooh bear had the same deal with his divorce and it was just a complete waste of time.
Wednesday I get an update on my grandpa. He is going to have to be put in assisted living due to a head injury. He is doing ok, he just can't use his right side at all. My mama...bless her heart...was having a hard time and it takes a toll trying to be strong for her when it was hurting me inside too.
Then I see the rainbow...My light at the end of the tunnel.
Thursday comes around and mama tells me that though grandpa may be in assisted living...he is just a stubborn and feisty as ever and is going to pull through just fine. Major breath of relief there. I also find out that my Floor is pregnant again. Sniper is just like a kid in a candy store about this and is just as tickled as he was when he found out that Sniper Jr was coming into this world.
Then...Just as I think it can't get any better I talked to my Floor last night to find that she is coming home. I was so excited I screamed and laughed and probably woke up the entire neighborhood. She said that she had to pull the phone from her ear just to have an eardrum left. I could not be more happy for her and myself knowing that she is coming home. It has been a long time coming. (In actuality it has only been about 4 months...but sometimes it seems like a lifetime).
Lastly...it is Friday...I got paid today and my husband can fix our car and get it running again. It may only be a simple part or it could be a major component...either way...it's getting fixed.
The point of my story...No matter how bad things get...and how grim and terrible life seems...it will get better. Just look for that rainbow. It will all be ok in the end.
Friday, October 31, 2003
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Todays thought...customer service.
You have good and you have bad. So lets start with the bad so I can end the blog on a good note.
My mam banks with a very well established bank with branches all across America. She got a credit/check card and was at her limit. She was in another state visiting family when the payment came due so she made the payment in that state.
Long story short, the bank, never credited the acct and so the bank borrowed against the credit part on her card putting her over her limit...causing finance charges and late charges which also was borrowed..BY THE BANK..against her credit causing more charges as I am sure you can imagine. Turns out the bank in the other state "finds" her check and apologizes that they have had it the whole time and never cashed it or credited her acct.
Now in all of this...after the bank realizes that it is their fault...what do they do? Tell her that she is SOL and the charges are still owed. Now tell me...what kind of customer service is that when you know you are wrong and still refuse to do anything about it. I told my mama she needs to transfer everything somewhere else and tell that bank to shove it.
On the lighter note...good customer service.
I cross stitch. Call it one of my many hobbies. If you cross stitch you know one of the main companies to use for patters in a company called Dimensions.
My mama had bought me a pattern and I had begun working on it. Well over time and after moving the 2nd half of the instructions got lost. So I did the only thing I knew how and e-mailed them to see how much it was going to cost for just the bottom half of the instructions without having to buy the entire pattern all over again.
The next day I received a message back saying it was in the mail on its way to me. First off, this was great customer service simply due to the quick response. Second, great customer service since they were not going to even charge me for it which they very well could have.
About a 3-5 days later, it came in the mail. Third in great customer service...it was the entire pattern. Fourth...there was a letter in there. To quote this company "Enclosed are the materials you requested. Please accept our apologies for your inconvenience. If we can be of any further help to you ...please do not hesitate to contact us...We hope you enjoy the finished design"
Ok, 1...they didn't have to send it to me for free...and 2...they apologized to me for me losing the pattern. I think that shows very good customer service and let me be the first to say that if you do cross stitch, or choose to start...my suggestion...use Dimensions. The patters are realistic, and the customer service is beyond comparison.
You have good and you have bad. So lets start with the bad so I can end the blog on a good note.
My mam banks with a very well established bank with branches all across America. She got a credit/check card and was at her limit. She was in another state visiting family when the payment came due so she made the payment in that state.
Long story short, the bank, never credited the acct and so the bank borrowed against the credit part on her card putting her over her limit...causing finance charges and late charges which also was borrowed..BY THE BANK..against her credit causing more charges as I am sure you can imagine. Turns out the bank in the other state "finds" her check and apologizes that they have had it the whole time and never cashed it or credited her acct.
Now in all of this...after the bank realizes that it is their fault...what do they do? Tell her that she is SOL and the charges are still owed. Now tell me...what kind of customer service is that when you know you are wrong and still refuse to do anything about it. I told my mama she needs to transfer everything somewhere else and tell that bank to shove it.
On the lighter note...good customer service.
I cross stitch. Call it one of my many hobbies. If you cross stitch you know one of the main companies to use for patters in a company called Dimensions.
My mama had bought me a pattern and I had begun working on it. Well over time and after moving the 2nd half of the instructions got lost. So I did the only thing I knew how and e-mailed them to see how much it was going to cost for just the bottom half of the instructions without having to buy the entire pattern all over again.
The next day I received a message back saying it was in the mail on its way to me. First off, this was great customer service simply due to the quick response. Second, great customer service since they were not going to even charge me for it which they very well could have.
About a 3-5 days later, it came in the mail. Third in great customer service...it was the entire pattern. Fourth...there was a letter in there. To quote this company "Enclosed are the materials you requested. Please accept our apologies for your inconvenience. If we can be of any further help to you ...please do not hesitate to contact us...We hope you enjoy the finished design"
Ok, 1...they didn't have to send it to me for free...and 2...they apologized to me for me losing the pattern. I think that shows very good customer service and let me be the first to say that if you do cross stitch, or choose to start...my suggestion...use Dimensions. The patters are realistic, and the customer service is beyond comparison.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Ok...Todays thought...the winds of change.
We all know it's coming. Just sometimes it is a little sooner than planned. My Pooh Bear works for a company. He is in the restaurant business. He has been there for 5 years...worked his butt off...and has had a total of $0.30 raise in the last 5 years. He has been looking for a new job for a little while now. But yesterday I was very proud to hear that he turned in his shirt and quit.
It was a very hard decision for him as we are coming into the Christmas season and now down to one income. The final straw though was when the place was heald up and robbed the other night.
3 men came in with black masks on and ordered everybody on the ground. They stole their cell phones and got about $350 out of the cash register. They beat the ever living snot out of one of the customers...because he was a security guard and did not decide to go home that night and change before coming in and doing his school work. He wasn't a security guard for this establishment...but got beat up simply because he had his work uniform on.
One of the guys put a gun to the cooks head as the other 2 tried to break into the office for more money. He then put the gun to another customers head and yelled at him.
They finaly left. The police were called and the security guard was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He is out now and doing ok. Everyone else is fine aside from the emotional and mental scars.
Hearing about that I told my Pooh Bear to call his boss that night and quit. He deliberated on it and asked me the next day if I would support his decision to quit. I of course gave him that blank stare and said "Well DUH!! I told you to quit YESTERDAY!!" I told him to blame it on me. Thus he made the call and said Adios to the establishment. He is now job hunting...but as I told him...I would rather be poor, living in a cardboard box with him by my side all the time then having to worry about weather or not he was coming home to me the next morning because some jerk needs a quick fix. Thankfully in all of this mess, my Pooh Bear was at home with me.
Ahhh...the winds of change. They may be for the better, they may be for the worse...you never can tell...and they usually never come when you want them to...but yet, they still come like it or not. It's just what you decide to do with them when they get to you.
We all know it's coming. Just sometimes it is a little sooner than planned. My Pooh Bear works for a company. He is in the restaurant business. He has been there for 5 years...worked his butt off...and has had a total of $0.30 raise in the last 5 years. He has been looking for a new job for a little while now. But yesterday I was very proud to hear that he turned in his shirt and quit.
It was a very hard decision for him as we are coming into the Christmas season and now down to one income. The final straw though was when the place was heald up and robbed the other night.
3 men came in with black masks on and ordered everybody on the ground. They stole their cell phones and got about $350 out of the cash register. They beat the ever living snot out of one of the customers...because he was a security guard and did not decide to go home that night and change before coming in and doing his school work. He wasn't a security guard for this establishment...but got beat up simply because he had his work uniform on.
One of the guys put a gun to the cooks head as the other 2 tried to break into the office for more money. He then put the gun to another customers head and yelled at him.
They finaly left. The police were called and the security guard was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He is out now and doing ok. Everyone else is fine aside from the emotional and mental scars.
Hearing about that I told my Pooh Bear to call his boss that night and quit. He deliberated on it and asked me the next day if I would support his decision to quit. I of course gave him that blank stare and said "Well DUH!! I told you to quit YESTERDAY!!" I told him to blame it on me. Thus he made the call and said Adios to the establishment. He is now job hunting...but as I told him...I would rather be poor, living in a cardboard box with him by my side all the time then having to worry about weather or not he was coming home to me the next morning because some jerk needs a quick fix. Thankfully in all of this mess, my Pooh Bear was at home with me.
Ahhh...the winds of change. They may be for the better, they may be for the worse...you never can tell...and they usually never come when you want them to...but yet, they still come like it or not. It's just what you decide to do with them when they get to you.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Ok...Todays entry goes to my Munchkins Mama.
She is having a hard time right now. Her grandpa died and I feel so much for her. I have not been able to get ahold of her. I think she has gone back home for the funeral. I am of corse worried for my friend.
She had told me the day before that she thought this may happen soon, however when I got the message at home that it had happened I could have cried.
All I wanted to do was to go down to her and give her a hug and tell her it was going to be ok. She has her booby, my munchkin and her son batman to comfort her of corse, but sometimes there is nothing like the hug of a friend that makes it somewhat easier.
Though this is a short entry, I call out to you my friend and tell you that I love you as a sister and am truely so sorry that you have had this loss. I received an e-mail at work today that may help you on this journey.
"Keep Your Fork"
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given 3 months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriputres she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
"This is very important," they young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand"
The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That suprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also, always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.
In all of my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!
So I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork...the best is yet to come."
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye.
He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.
She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than may people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.
Over and over, the pastor heard the question.
"What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.
During his message the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably wouldnot be able to stop thinking about it either.
This is dedicated to you...my munchkins mama. Know that I am a phone call away. I am sorry for your loss and wish to say that losing someone is never easy but know that I am here for you even if it is just to cry or get a hug...It will get easier with time.
She is having a hard time right now. Her grandpa died and I feel so much for her. I have not been able to get ahold of her. I think she has gone back home for the funeral. I am of corse worried for my friend.
She had told me the day before that she thought this may happen soon, however when I got the message at home that it had happened I could have cried.
All I wanted to do was to go down to her and give her a hug and tell her it was going to be ok. She has her booby, my munchkin and her son batman to comfort her of corse, but sometimes there is nothing like the hug of a friend that makes it somewhat easier.
Though this is a short entry, I call out to you my friend and tell you that I love you as a sister and am truely so sorry that you have had this loss. I received an e-mail at work today that may help you on this journey.
"Keep Your Fork"
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given 3 months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriputres she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
"This is very important," they young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand"
The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That suprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also, always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.
In all of my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!
So I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork...the best is yet to come."
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye.
He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.
She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than may people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.
Over and over, the pastor heard the question.
"What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.
During his message the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably wouldnot be able to stop thinking about it either.
This is dedicated to you...my munchkins mama. Know that I am a phone call away. I am sorry for your loss and wish to say that losing someone is never easy but know that I am here for you even if it is just to cry or get a hug...It will get easier with time.
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