This can't possibly be happening...

Well, I don't even know where to begin.

I had a date last night. An internet date. Sigh. Well, I left my house half expecting to get there and he be ugly, annoying, or possibly socially retarded. It was a coffee and a walk date, so there were no expectations and there would be many opportunities for me to leave early if necessary.

I arrive and spot the black truck that I know he drives immediately. And yes, I think driving a truck is hot. Anyways, so I walk towards the Moka House in the Cook St. area which is where we are meeting. The area is gorgeous and very much the gay part of town. Neither of us live anywhere near it, but it kinda feels like the best place to meet. I call him to see which person on the patio picks up they're ringing cell, and no one does. I start going inside and see him waiting at the counter for his coffee.

I was stunned for a couple seconds, which is rare for me. I wouldn't have been stunned if he had been butt ugly or 60 or cross-eyed. What stunned me was how cute this guy was. I was literally overwhelmed.

I said hi, and he said hi, and we picked up our coffees and started to walk towards the beach. On our way I saw Charlie parking his bike to go in and enjoy his ritual evening caffeine. We chat for a bit and he tries to mouth me something, but I couldn't understand. It seemed like a warning, but I couldn't tell.

We walk to the beach, which turns out is bloody freezing and horribly windy. Plan B, we both drive our individual vehicles downtown and go to a place named The Mint. Its a dark, foreboding, mysterious place, that is literally in the basement of a seedy area of town. When you get there though, it is the most amazing food ever, and awesome drinks. The place has an atmosphere of worldliness, and the patrons tend to be the most interesting folks, I've even heard of celebrities being spotted there when they are in town.

Anyways, so we talk over wicked mojitos. He works for the town of Sooke, which is one of Victoria's suburbs. He's in charge of recreational planning for the entire district and organising major recreational activities. He's going back to school though in September, because though he has this great job at the age of 22, he feels that he has reached the ceiling of that career.

We admire the artwork next to our table that has two metal deer procreating on a glass sheet thing, and talk some more. We split the bill and then, on a whim, he buys a bottle of wine and we go up to the top of Mt. Douglas.

We must have sat there and chatted and drank for about an hour, it was a lot of fun. We were talking about how we both never expected to find anyone mildly interesting online, when he suddenly just pulled me towards him and we kissed. I was expecting a horrible kiss, I mean something has to be wrong with him ??

But no, his kissing skills are amazing, and he really knows what he is doing. Its a good mix of changing positions and slow, continuous action, without being ravenously tongue-hyperactive or boring. Then, to seal the deal, when we stopped and were looking at one another, he said how good of a kisser I am. That did it for me, he complimented me, and he was good at it himself.


Then, for another hilarious turn of events, we decided to go back to his truck, and he was going to drop me off at my car, but neither of us wanted to go home yet. I then had the brilliant idea of us going to the gay bar, where it would definately be warm and fun, lol.

It turned out to be drag queen bingo night. And let me tell you, we were the hottest people in the bar for the entire night. I hot quite a hoot out of how many old, drunk gay men were yelling at the queens to call better numbers. It made my night. We saw two mutual aquaintences and sat with them during bingo.

Besides me having to stop a possible fight between him and a lesbian over the pool table, it was rather uneventful. We just mostly made out and drank the rest of the night. We ended up leaving at about 2:15am, when we proceeded to make out even more against his truck outside. We talked about how it was such an amazing date, and how we would both love for me to come over to his place, but that it would be best if I didn't.

I was glad we agreed on that, although, I must say it was a hard decision to make. A good one, but a hard one. I walked a block over to my car after he left, and as I was driving home, I received a text message. All it said was 'trouble'.

I knew exactly what he meant, we were both trouble for one another. We had really hit it off on the first date, moreso than I think I ever have. We might be hanging out again tonight. I even invited him to "The Devil Wears Prada" movie night with all my friends. And he wasn't even scared or intimidated by the idea of meeting 6 of my best girlfriends all at once. So, thats this Saturday. I can hardly wait.

It's Done.

I did it, I gave my notice to Starbucks, and it went fairly well.

I just went in and ordered an iced coffee and a pound of coffee. Then, after I was rang through I went into the backroom and approached our manager. I gave her my letter of resignation, and she asked what it was as she opened the envelope. I told her it was my notice, and she half-jokingly said 'Nooo!'. I could tell she was getting upset, so I just said that I won't be on the new schedule she is doing and that I hope she has a good day and enjoys the vacation she is leaving for tommorrow.

I feel bad telling her the day before she goes on a three week vacation, but thats not my fault. I know she is taking it at a bad time, but what can I do ?

The good side is that I don't have to see her ever again as her employee, because by the time she gets back, my last day would have passed and I will be at RBC.

I hope that all the current staff who are competant and awesome to work with understand. It was a decision I had to make, and I do not regret, but one that I feel bad for doing. I leave with no bad feelings or negative wishes against them, so hopefully they will return the favour.

Plus, I'm free !

FREEEDOM !

I'm done !

I just did my final today ! I'm free !

And I've had almost two jugs of beer and I work in less than an hour ! WOOT !

I'm sure I will have more to post later...

:D

Long Distance ?

Why is it that things are always so close to perfection, without actually being ?

I've met a guy who lives in Vancouver. I must admit I'm a little smitten. He is really sweet and endearing. I just am left wondering why I am teased so badly by the universe ? I mean, he seems perfect, and even if he is not, there are some others, not many tho. In anyway, they are ALL in Vancouver. I'm sure if I lived there I could meet a perfect guy, and fall in love, but what if I do anyways ?

I guess I just never saw myself ever doing the whole long-distance thing, but what if I meet the right guy, does distance automatically dismiss Mr. Right ? I would hate the commuting, and the poor communication, but I can also see how it would make the relationship more intense when you do see one another.

The cheating thing is another worry, I've been burned before, and that was when we lived in the SAME city ! Would the distance just make it easier for that to be an issue ?

Oh, I just dont't know. It's not like this a relationship now anyways. We've not even met in real yet. But should we ? Will we just be setting ourselves up for disaster ??

Or could we hit it off, and make it work... ?

(this song speaks to me, I love the Scissor Sisters)

Music is the Victim - Scissor Sisters

I left my heart in San Fransisco
It's at some motherfucking disco
The people there where dancin' on it
And that's including Ms. Matronic

Hell if music is the victim then so am I
Of lovin' and a cheatin' the snake gon' bite
I beg and I scream and I cuss and I cry
If music is the victim then so am I

Of your bad fun
Money's all gone but you need some
Lover's on the phone but they got none
Daddy ain't home from the dog run
And you're running through the city with a shotgun

I left my bag in Pasadena
Where all them girls was doin' Tina
Them bitches sure were crunked up on it
I said I'd rather smoke som chronic

Hell if music is the victim then so am I
Of lovin' and a cheatin' the snake gon' bite
I beg and I scream and I cuss and I cry
If music is the victim then so am I

Of your bad fun
Money's all gone but you need some
Lover's on the phone but they got none
Daddy ain't home from the dog run
And you're running through the city with a shotgun

I left my man in Houston Texas
Just before he finished breakfast
He said; oh baby fry some more eggs
But I was runnin' on my own two legs

Hell if Jesus had the power than so do I
To rise up from the dead and take up to the sky
I'm buskin' for the money so I get by
If music is the victim then so am I

So thats what boys are good for !

Today I finally bought new razor blades. I've been needing new ones for about three weeks now, the soft-geanti-irritation strip is all worn off, and its getting dull. So, yesterday I figured if I threw away the one I was using, it would finalyl force me to buy more. I forgot, and this morning I needed to shave. So, sadly, I dug in the garbage, took the old razor blade and cleaned it with boiling water, to sanitise, and used it one final time.

I remembered to get more today after school. I went to London Drugs and bought a pack of 8 and was happy. Upon returning to Sidney, I realised I had bought the wrong kind and that they didn't even fit my razor, CRAP ! There is no London Drugs anywhere near where I live. not only that, but I didn't get my receipt. I was screwed. So, in desperation, I went to the nearest drug store, Pharmasave, and went to buy another package. Low and behold, a guy that I went on a date with was working. Thank the gods ! He's totally cute, but not out of the closet fully, so its kinda annoying. In any case, when I told him that I had bought this package a couple days ago from them (white lie) and that I had no receipt and no proof, he stopped what he was doing with a ladder to help me. He got down, walked me over to the tills, opened up one just for me, so I skipped a line of about 5 people at the only one open. He rang me in the ones I needed and they turned out to be on sale for cheaper, he gave me the sale price, and refunded my credit card the difference. He was such a huge sweetheart, we chatted for a bit, as he completely ignored the other customers in line, and made sure to convince me to take my receipt this time. I even caught him checking my ass out as I left, hehe.

I will most definately give him a call later, and a second date if he wants to, which I'm sure he does. It most certainly pays to know boys, it turns out they are good for something !

Damn Boys !

I have a final in five days, and I've done almost no studying. I have a big date on Tuesday. I'm copying Steph and going out for dinner with a guy from further up the island and then to the movie 'Nacho Libre' and then for a walk/drive. He has a hot new Jetta, so the drive was a necessity.

I've become really enamoured with a couple boys right now, and I can't focus on studying. I need to just take a quick break from them all, and do this exam. I really want to have a boyfriend by the end of the summer, but we will see if it happens. Its my personal goal, so yeah, I hope....


UPDATE:

yeah, I give up. He called today to say that he has to work tommorrow suddenly. He is an addictions counsellor at a local drug recovery centre called Edgewood. I'm really quite mad, not necessarily at him, although he gets some of it, but more at just fate. Fine, if the universe doesn't want anything to ever work out for me in the way of dating, then I won't even try. I mean, so far I have wasted a huge chunk of my time on it, and I've literally gotten no benefit at all.

Fate is a concept that has existed since the beginning of humanity. The idea that our lives are guided by some overwhelming purpose or plan. So if such a plan exists, doesn't it defeat the idea of trying to acheive something. I mean, if fate is all powerful, then whats the point in trying ? Or, do we, by trying, fulfill our own fates ?

Whatever the answer, I know one thing, I'm sick of all this. Sick of settling for mediocre, sick of being disappointed on the first date and wasting money and time on it, sick of all the crap and work of matchmaking. If fate exists, then either it doesn't want me to have a relationship, or it wants to make me work hard for it. Either way, fuck fate. I'm fine on my own, and so shall I remain, for eternity.

New Favourite Song

This song rocks, and everybody has to watch the music video. I uploaded it from my computer, which I must say Google Video has made it amazingly easy to do, and I can't believe I was the first one to upload it onto there. So now I can share it with the entire world, Muwahahah !




P.S. Don't you think the DJ's are both amazingly hot !? Especially the black one.... rherrr.

P.P.S. The song is called Waterman by Olav Basoski.

Top Shop here I come ?

Ok, so ask anyone that knows me, I change my life plans a lot. But, this time, I think its my true inner self is expressing its desires.

You see, I've always been very fashion-conscious. I have even watched runway shows online when I couldn't find a channel showing my favourite designer's line (I'm particularly fond of Miu Miu and DSquared).

Anyways, so tonight I was watching the season finale of Sky One's Project Catwalk. I simply loved the line that the girl that won designed. However, she was not my choice, the third-runner-up was my favourite. She used the most amazing fabrics and was totally over-the-top with her colars and emphasizing details to the extreme. It was while I was critiquing them that I realised that fashion is my love. I am currently reading "The Devil Wears Prada" for the third time, so that it is fresh in my mind for when the movie premiers the end of this month. I just bought a Gucci belt over eBay for a fabulous price, and it simply made my week. I have the best taste and style,... my mom says I inherited her 'painfully expensive' taste.

Nothing in the world would make me happier than the idea of working with fashion and design for the rest of my life. I don't know in what capacity, but I know that is what I want to do. And that is worth listening to, right ? Or am I crazy ... ?

One thing is for sure, I am doing a degree in Economics right now, and that has nothing to do with fashion. I'm halfway through my degree though, so it seems dumb to quit now.

I seriously am considering the possibilities. I don't necessarily have to be a designer, I could open a store and hire a designer for the line, or buy from other designers, but I dunno. I really like the creativity of design. I think the point is that I am an amazingly creative person, and there is literally no creativity in Economics, its just math. I'm good at math, but its not that interesting.

Have the last two years been a complete waste of my time, money ($10,000 of it !) and efforts ?!?!

ARgh, I feel like I am at an impass right now, and I feel the pressure to make the right decision. Maybe I will just complete my degree and save up money working in banking to one day open my store or line, or maybe I'll go to design school after UVic, or maybe I'll just drop out and try design and fail and be a loser....

I fear failure SO much. I want to be successful, and so I base all my decisions on the possibility of success. It's soo many unknowns.... I just don't know.

The Honey Kissy Huggy Lovey Dovey Ghetto Princess is BACK !

(the pic is from last summer, and I'm on the left)

I turn into a part animal EVERY summer, then I go into dancing-hibernation every September. It's later this year, but its been the BEST weekend EVER (for detail see previous post) and I'm totally doing this shit every weekend until I die of exhaustion !

Oh you're so filthy
And I am gorgeous

When you're walkin' down the street
And a man tries to get your business
And the people that you meet
Want to open you up like Christmas
You gotta wrap your fuzzy with a big red bow
and you know some bitch gonna treat me like a ho
I'm a classy honey kissy huggy lovey dovey ghetto princess

Cuz you're filthy (filthy)
Oooh, and I'm gorgeous (gorgeous)
Cuz you're filthy (filthy)
Oooh, and I'm gorgeous (gorgeous)
You're disgusting
Oooh, and you're nasty
And you can grab me
Oooh cuz you're nasty

When you're runnin' from a trick
And you trip on a hit of acid
You gotta work for the man
But your biggest moneymakers' flaccid
You gotta keep your shit together
With your feet on the ground
There ain't no one gonna listen
If you haven't made a sound
You're an acid junkie college flunky dirty puppy daddy bastard

Cuz you're filthy (filthy)
Oooh, and I'm gorgeous (gorgeous)
Cuz you're filthy (filthy)
Oooh, and I'm gorgeous (gorgeous)
You're disgusting
Oooh, and you're nasty
And you can grab me
Oooh cuz you're nasty

every day and every night the people they say to me,
'miss ana thank you for the beautiful work that you be doing for our people,
because everytime you get out of your corvette stingray in your white pumps and your pink acid wash jeans with the matching pink rabbit fur coat... we say miss thang you got it going on you is gorgeous.'
and i say,
'i am so proud to serve you people, because i know that with my looks i can achieve anything in this world yes ive got that revlon contract, and oh yes i'll take that revlon contract too because you know what im gorgeous and my job with my gorgeousness is to serve the people serve and i serve some more yes thank you ladies and gentlemen for letting me do my beautiful work in beautifying this beautiful world that is already already so pretty.'

(giggle)

New York City ladies are blessed with the best dressed chest.
Don't miss that quest for the best set.
Confess, are they siliconeless?

Sally walks the street, gotta meet with the freak for the street heat.
Skip a beat till the next week.
Let's freak, freak, 'tween the silk sheets.

"Filthy/Gorgeous" ~ Scissor Sisters

Party Palace in James Bay

Ok, so the new one is not my future husband, but he is the first person whom I have ever smoked pot with !

It was a great night and morning and afternoon. I just got home from last night and had a shower, its almost 8pm. I could go out tonight too, but I don't think I will. I work tommorrow at 9am. bummers...

Anyways, so I went home after work last night, and showered and made myself pretty. I then headed to Temple to meet up with Lanny, his friend Jeremy (a fabulous, famous, flaming fag), Kyle (whose birthday it was, he was boring), and Shannon (A mutual girlfriend of theirs and mine). We had a couple drinks and then headed back to the small, two-bedroom appartment that three gay men and a woman share. Its funny cause they are all friends and some share beds, but none of them are dating one another. Anyways, so we all head back there, and have some beers. Low and behold some pot appears from somewhere, and they all take turns toking. I turned it down at this point because I am sober and can think.

The party possy then heads out to Hush, a gay-friendly dance club, the music they spin is amazing, but the place is tiny and drug-filled. Seriously, I had almost a dozen people offer me whatever I wanted, but whatever. So, at Hush I drink a LOt, and much to Larry's happiness I turn into my normal slutty-drunk self. Thank god I didn't try to take over the dancefloor like normal, although I distinkly remember hitting on his friend. I also had two cigarettes for the first time since I stopped smoking. They made me light-headed, and felt SO good. Meh...

Anyways, so we then all pile into someone's car and head back to the party palace in James Bay (the aforementioned appartment). The weed appears again, and this time I take it, and proceed to hog it a lot. Before I know it, I am ripped for the first time. I was so high that I was giggling at the word 'toast' for almost half an hour. I tried explaining economics and apparently said it was all about living in a ball. Also, at sometime Lanny starts talking about how he doesn't believe in 'gay momogamy', which made me happy. I don't see myself with him as a monogamous boyfriend, but I can see us as good 'special' friends.

At about this time I decided to go up to a drag queen and start a conversation about how amazing her hair was ! It was great, hilarious in fact. We talked a lot about wigs and the pros and cons of nylons. I also almost hit on a transvestite. S(he) was HOT ! The only reason I know it was woman undergoing surgery was someone who knew Kyle told me, as he tried to pry us apart. Thank god.

Anyways, so at this pointeveryone is at their place, including some Indian guy that Jeremy brought back with him. They then preoceed to 'disappear' into one of the rooms for the rest of the night. I hang out with them all, including a fun trip of four blocks to a "Mac's" for nothing in particular, just snack foods, munchies are no lie !

So at about 7am, we all finally mellow out and start falling asleep. Lanny and I head to his bedroom that he shares a BED with the girl who lives with them. Luckily she isn't there, so we have the bed to ourselves. Fun was had, nuff said.

We are then woken up at 9:15am by his bed-roomie. We apparently left a window open in their basement appartment, and her freaking-weird cat got out. She freaks out at us and punishes us the worst way she can, by not shutting up with the yelling and repition of the word "fuck". She then kicks us out of the room onto the futon in the livingroom. She later found the cat, and appoligised for 'being a bitch'. Damn right HOE !

Lanny and I then make out and snuggle on the futon for about four hours. At this point he has to get up and help his friend that has to attend a wedding today. He is a rare sub-breed of gay men, and was born without an ounce of fashion sense. Thank god I was there. We paired a nice black pinstripe pant with a red shirt and Gucci-knockoff belt. It took all of my powers of reasoning to convince him that wearing that outfit with brown loafers was dispicable. He finally gave in and took some nice pointy black ones.

What would people do without me ?

Anyways, so now its early afternoon and Matthew needs his coffee beverage. Luckily Lanny's building is literally across the road from a Starbucks. Thank the Caffeine Gods ! So, I pick up some liquid-joy-in-a-paper-cup and head back into their place. Jeremy heads off to work and Lanny does the same later that afternoon. At this point I call my friend Breena and meet her and her boyfriend at the Cactus Club for some drinks and a late lunch. We hang out and watch some of the hockey game (hurl).

After a couple Spiked Fraps I get into my car and drive the horrid 45 minutes home. I hate living in the middle of nowhere. However, being at home is GREAT. I finally am sober and showered and there isn't an ounce of cat hair on me !

I am debating going out again tonight, Lanny wants to cuddle after is work at 11pm. I work at 9am tommorrow tho, so I don't know if it is going to happen.

I am kinda feeling ugly tonight now. There's nothing like an entire night and day with a big group of hot fags to make you feel a little self-concious. Seriously, they are ALL sooo hot. I need to go tanning and loose about 4 inches off my tummy. I need to work out my ass too, its flabby. Then I can head out with them for the "Hot Buns" contest at the gay bar !

So yeah, it was a GREAT time. I need to do this more often. I think I might go out again either tonight or Monday. I love summer.

New Boy !

OK, scratch the last post, I'm over him (it turns out he is a bus driver, and is broke, I'm such a bitch!).

The new one is my future husband !

He is the CUTEST, 23, gorgeous dark features, smart, laid back, and an ex Starbucks employee ! He was fired cause he was 2 hours late for an open three times, haha. He rocks ! (now he works at the front desk of a hotel)

We just talked for 2 hours about our signs, and our passions and loves. He is Scorpio and firey and passionate like me, Aries. Our signs, according to the internet, mean we will either have a perfect long-lasting relationship, or will have passionate sex and then fall apart. Since we are such fiery personalities, we can either feed off each other or explode and die. haha !

He is also a Hilarious drunk, its awesome, he is the opposite drunk that I am. While I am the most easy going person when I am drunk, he gets loud and rambunctious. He gets bossy and funny, I will do anything when I am drunk. Hrm, This may not be the best fit actually on second thought, lol. I am soo enamoured with him, he is cute and lived in Montreal so he can speak some french. He smokes, and I'm sorry, but I find smoking hot. I know its dumb, but I think its gorgeous, plus EVERYONE there smokes. Europe is like that too.

OH, he is 23 and has had 44 cars, no joke. He loves cars, and half of them were Hondas :D I love hondas. He even had the same car as what I currently drive. hehe, I'm sorry, but driving a hot car totally has bonus points.

I'm SOO excited for tommorrow, I'm getting my hair cut in 6.5 hours and then I'm going out for coffee and brunch with him. I'm excited cause I will look fresh and hot. I want to reel this one in ! Then I'm off to class, he goes to work, then I go to work. Then we both are going out tommorrow night after our work ! hehe. I can't wait.

I think I might end up spending the night over at his place....

Bad Boy ...

Oh dear. It's happened. I've started falling for the bad boy !

He is the most perfect guy in the world. He is about 5'10 maybe 5'11, so only slightly shorter than me, and sooo hot. He is built like no one's business and looks quite a lot like Vin Diesel, its hot. He has the most awesome earing that goes perfectly with a sort of bad-boy look he has going on. He rides a motorcycle, which is hot, it just is. I want to post a picture of him on here, to show him off, but I'm not sure he would exactly like that seeing as he knows nothing of this blog, so I won't. Trust me, he's hot.

I can't believe how perfectly my type he is, its really surprising. There is a slight glitch though, he is 34. I'm 20. I don't think its that big of a deal, but I'm starting to wonder if I should think it is. I mean, he is all I look for in a guy. He is physically attractive, outgoing, knows what he wants, assertive, sensitive, honest and has a great smile. It's almost overwhelming how perfet he is, the only issue is the age difference.

But I think I should look at it like this: If he was near my age would I still see him ? And the answer is a resounding YES ! Therefore, I think I should continue. We just hung out for a bit today, and he drove all the way out here to see me for only an hour, it was sweet (seeing as its a 45 minute drive one way). We're apparently going for a ride on his bike on Monday, which will be most exciting. I've never been on a motorcycle, let alone for a ride, but we'll see. It's kind of scary how a machine like that can be such a turn-on.

I feel like I'm on the verge of something great, and possibly my first long-term relationship, so I feel like I should just dive on in ! It just tears me up inside worrying about what some people might think, but I'm not going to think about that right now !

I will update as it progresses. I can't wait for Monday now ! :D

Starbucks Etiquette 101

Ok, so here I am up "studying" late tonight for a Quiz on Wednesday, enjoying my third Americano today and watching the season final of The Apprentice. The show ends and I start thinking about work, partly because I'm procrastinating, and partly because I'm drinking coffee. In any case, here I am thinking about work, what I hate (the hours, customers), and what I love (the staff, customers), when I realise what my main drive is for leaving, the customers. I live in a seaside town, a MAJOR tourist town. This is both a curse and a blessing. It can be amazing meeting the people from all over the world that come here in the summer, and I also feel partly blessed for living in a place that people pay to visit, especially in the summer. It can also be hell, especially at work. Most of our tourists are Americans, and no offense to those of you who are kind and respectful, but most Americans make lousy customers. But not all obnocious customers come from south of the border, there are plenty here already.

This brings me back to the reason behind this post. I don't think most people out there realise just how much their behaviour towards employees in customer service can effect that person's day. The main reason I am excited to have a new job somewhere else is that I will be treated with more respect and dignity by customers than at Starbucks, where we have made monsters out of people. Not only do people walk in the door expecting the fastest service in the world no matter how many people are in line, but they expect to unload all their negative energy on the employee in the process. I have numerous examples of new people almost coming to tears because of how snide or rude a customer was to them, us old veterans just get used to it.

This is unacceptable. Since when did the notions of a simple 'please' and 'thank you' accompanying every request become rare to find ? Are we that obsessed with efficiency and speed that we no longer care that we are talking to a genuine human being, not a coffee-producing robot ?

Now, don't get me wrong, there are PLENTY of wonderful customers out there, most of them regulars at our store. However, I must say, that on a daily basis I encounter more negative, rude or simply grouchy people at work than I ever see nice, polite or kind customers. I can remember, to this day, every time a customer has made me well up in tears, I can even remember times where I have had inappropriate and/or discriminatory things said to me. I have only once been moved to tears by a kind gesture at work, and that was when I came in on a day off for a latte, and the regular customer in front of me paid for it. I went to my car and balled afterwards, not because it was a particularly amazing thing to do. Rather, it was because she had treated me like a decent human being.

I'm not saying everyone out there should go out and buy a coffee for a Starbucks employee, but rather that they remember that the people they are ordering from are human.

Here are four few, simple things that I personally find the most important. When a customer does all these, it simply makes my day:

1. If I ask you "Hi, how's it going?", don't just start to rattle off your order. Did I ask you for your order ? If your doctor came up to you on the street and said that, would you just demand their next appointment right away, without any niceties ? Just a simple "Good, how are you?" and then your order is perection.
2. 'Please' and 'Thank you'. I know its simple, but most people never say those words, I usually hear "Gimmee a ...", or "I'll have a ...", or the infamous "I want a ..."
   
3. Don't complain to me about the line-up, I am working as hard as I can to end it, and chances are, I am more worried about it than you.
4. Last, but definately not least: If there is an issue with your drink, feel free to tell me about it. But do so in a nice way, "you can catch more bees with honey than with vinegar". I have given out 'free drink' coupons to people with minor complaints, just because they were amazingly nice. I have also not given them out to very serious complaints because they were rude and harassing to me and/or others. And yes, how nice you are to me can determine how much I am willing to help you.

Now, how hard is that to do ? It definately won't make you any later for work, or your day go any worse. But it may make someone else's day better, and speed up your service. It also, may just make you see the world from a view your not used to.
Now, how hard is that to do ?

Sunday Dreaming

Sitting here listening to the Scissor Sister's UK-only song "The Skins" (my friend sent the CD to me from the UK) I realised what I want my future business to be. It sounds corny and stereotypical, but I want to open a clothing store. But not just any clothing store, anyone can do that. I want it to be unique and classy. I was thinking a store that has on-hand designers and seamstresses.

Each season we would design a new line of clothes, but only make enough for displays and fashion shows (naturally one per season). After the line is out, people come to the store and choose the item(s) they like. We then take their measurements and make the clothing to fit them. There would also be "personal fashion assistants". PFA's would be in charge of welcoming clients and helping them choose items that fit their body type and style. The client could also choose what sorts of fabric to use, from a predetermined selection of two or three.

I think it's a perfect way to ensure that no matter what body type the customer has, you can have something for them. thereby creating the largest client base possible. The clothing would be high-end but no more expensive than maybe Guess or Banana Republic. I think it's a perfect way to provide people with personalised clothing to fit their needs. I have no idea about the finances of it all, or even if it is feasible. I need to find someone who can design the stuff, lol. Well, its not like I'm doing it right now.

If you have any ideas, or criticism, tell me ! I have about three different ideas right now, I just need to decide upon one, haha ! One day, I'll have my own business, I just need to save up for a couple decades before I open it !

Sigh.

Perhaps one day....

one day...

You Belong in Milan

Stylish and sophisticated, you want to enjoy a truly European life - away from tourists! Milan fits you perfectly. Great shopping, high quality food, lots of culture... with very little hype.

What European City Do You Belong In?


Is it sad that I'm spending a gorgeous Saturday afternoon doing this ?

Possible Homicide

It is Most likely that in the near future I will go down to a Roger's Wireless store and take one of their phones, rip it in half and stab an employee to death with the sharp edges of broken cellular death. I imagine it will look something like the above photo, only more blood and in a commercial store.

"Why is Matthew so homicide-happy recently ?" you might be asking yourself, glad you asked !

It all started Monday, when I got my Roger's Bill. Not a happy time to begin with, but then I realised that my mom only uses 19 minutes on average out of her 200-weekday-minutes plan. The cellular plan is in my name because I get a corporate discount. So, I try calling their customer service, it doesn't go through, and I get a busy signal. HOW IN THE NAME OF DONATELLA VERSACE IS IT POSSIBLE FOR AN AUTOMATED CUSTOMER SERVICE TELEPHONE SERVICE TO HAVE A BUSY SIGNAL ???!!!

So, I think that I have the wrong number. Nope, I call one of their stores, and the number is correct. So, I try calling for THREE days, and it either hangs up on me from the start, or I get halfway through the selection process and it hangs up, or I dial "0" for an operator and get hun up on. F@CKING MOST AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE !

So, today I try calling a store because I am on the verge of tears about this. The first store I call doesn't answer their phone at 1PM IN THE F@CKING AFTERNOON ! The second store answers and I am getting ready to tear the guy to shreds when he acknowledges it is a major issue that they have been having for the last week and that even he is fed up with the bad service. He told me, and I quote "welcome to the wonderful world of Roger's customer service". Sarcasm ? You're giving me F@CKING sarcasm ??!?!

I hung up on him, and then called yet another store. They gave me no sympathy at all. I was simply told that even though their telephone service is f@cked up, that I can come into a store and do the necessary changes in person. I asked if I can do it over the phone, because the nearest store is a 40 minute drive from my house. Nope, I need to give them verbal confirmation in person for them to change my plan.

So, essentially they have F@CKED up big time. They have a screwed up technical issue, that they don't seem able to fix, then they have ample opportunities to appoligise or correct the issue with the customer and make me happy, but they don't. They then completely refuse to go out of their way to help me or make it easier for me, when I come up with my OWN solution. I also wasted how much of my time trying to get this situation resolved, and nothing happens, no resolution and absolutely no outcome. It makes me sooo mad, especiallt considering that I work in Customer Service. If this happened where I work, it would have not only been resolved, but it would have been resolved quickly, effectively, and with a lot of free stuff. I didn't get anything near the general area of that sort of a response.

I could honestly kill someone, thank god no one is in my house right now.