I’m not generally one to come home and down a bottle of wine by myself, but let me tell you – today was a real eye-opener as to how awful dealing with the public can be.
Until this particular customer came in, I was having a great day – busy, but not uncomfortably so – and it was going by quite quickly. Anyway, this guy comes in and is irate because we can’t process his drug plan (even the woman at the company who processes the plan said it couldn’t be done) and proceeds to berate me and call me names in front of a bunch of customers. ACK!!! I swear. I’ve been dealing with the public in various situations since I started working at 16 and I’ve NEVER come across a customer that was so rude and evil.
Thankfully, the people that I work with were great – told me I handled it well, and then Foxy called when I got home to see how my day had gone and I was able to vent to him. All I can say is that I’m glad I’ve got some sort of support network. However, that didn’t stop me from breaking the “watch what you eat” trend and down the bottle of wine (which could be the reason this doesn’t read well…) and a whole bag of Ms. Vickie’s potato chips… I hate the fact that I take solace in food…
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Wisdom comes with age...
I’m constantly amazed by my relatives. I’m not saying this because it’s a bad thing, but I think that all of us young people have certain expectations about what our older relatives (especially our grandparents) should say or think.
Case in point: my grandfather, who I thought was staunchly conservative, actually told me that it’s a good idea to live with someone before you get married. I almost fell over when he said that because I couldn’t believe that he thought it’d be okay. I mean really – this is a guy who’s more than 80 and he said to me, “You should live together! I tell you, things would have been really different in my time if people did it instead of getting married – it would have certainly made things more interesting.” So I am, and he’s right – not that I’ve learned anything about Foxy that I didn’t already really know, but it’s still nice to know that my grandfather doesn’t think I’m going to burn in eternity for living together out of wedlock… However, upon writing this, maybe he’s only saying that because he wishes he could have gotten some before getting married, which in turn makes me think about him getting some which is just NOT a pretty thought…so I’ll move on.
Second: my grandmother (not married to the afore mentioned grandfather) is so technically savvy, she’d put many people my age to shame. This is a 70 year old who is burning cds, scanning pictures, emailing people, surfing the web and shopping online. It’s so cool to think that my grandma is so hi-tech.
Maybe my older relatives are an anomaly? I guess I’m just lucky to have them and know that, despite what all of us young people think, they’re not living in the past. Either way, I’m glad that I’m living closer to them now that I’m older and can actually appreciate all the stories that used to put me to sleep as a kid…
Case in point: my grandfather, who I thought was staunchly conservative, actually told me that it’s a good idea to live with someone before you get married. I almost fell over when he said that because I couldn’t believe that he thought it’d be okay. I mean really – this is a guy who’s more than 80 and he said to me, “You should live together! I tell you, things would have been really different in my time if people did it instead of getting married – it would have certainly made things more interesting.” So I am, and he’s right – not that I’ve learned anything about Foxy that I didn’t already really know, but it’s still nice to know that my grandfather doesn’t think I’m going to burn in eternity for living together out of wedlock… However, upon writing this, maybe he’s only saying that because he wishes he could have gotten some before getting married, which in turn makes me think about him getting some which is just NOT a pretty thought…so I’ll move on.
Second: my grandmother (not married to the afore mentioned grandfather) is so technically savvy, she’d put many people my age to shame. This is a 70 year old who is burning cds, scanning pictures, emailing people, surfing the web and shopping online. It’s so cool to think that my grandma is so hi-tech.
Maybe my older relatives are an anomaly? I guess I’m just lucky to have them and know that, despite what all of us young people think, they’re not living in the past. Either way, I’m glad that I’m living closer to them now that I’m older and can actually appreciate all the stories that used to put me to sleep as a kid…
Saturday, July 22, 2006
What's for dinner?
Ah, an important question...
Tonight, I'm making Salsa Chicken (one of our favourites), Caesar salad and garlic bread.
SALSA CHICKEN (measurements of ingredients depend on how big chicken breasts are and how much salsa you actually want)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 package of taco seasoning
1/2 bottle of salsa (we use medium)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp of sour cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°C. Dredge chicken breasts in taco seasoning and then arrange in a lightly greased (we use PAM) shallow baking dish. Pour salsa over chicken breasts and put in the oven. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until juices run clear. When finished, remove chicken from oven, sprinkle cheese on top and return to oven for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream.
Mucho yummy. Let me know if you try it and whether or not you like it!
Ciao peeps!
Tonight, I'm making Salsa Chicken (one of our favourites), Caesar salad and garlic bread.
SALSA CHICKEN (measurements of ingredients depend on how big chicken breasts are and how much salsa you actually want)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 package of taco seasoning
1/2 bottle of salsa (we use medium)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp of sour cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°C. Dredge chicken breasts in taco seasoning and then arrange in a lightly greased (we use PAM) shallow baking dish. Pour salsa over chicken breasts and put in the oven. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until juices run clear. When finished, remove chicken from oven, sprinkle cheese on top and return to oven for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream.
Mucho yummy. Let me know if you try it and whether or not you like it!
Ciao peeps!
Another plagarized idea...(wow, I'm unoriginal, eh?)
ABC'S of my Life
A- AREA CODE YOU ARE IN RIGHT NOW: 613
B- BIRTHDAY: May 15
C- CURRENT CRUSH: Same as always! The amazing FOXY
D- FAVORITE DRINK: Raspberry margaritas
E- EATING CURRENTLY: Nothing - it's 9:00AM - I've already had breakfast.
F- FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken and potatos on the barbeque
G- WHO DO YOU GO TO FOR ADVICE?: Mom or Grandma
H- CURRENT HATRED: My feet - they hurt
I- I LIKE TO PLAY: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 for XBox 360
J- CURRENT JOB: Pharmacy Technician
K- ANY KIDS: Nope
L- I LOVE: FOXY, our house, my family and friends
M- FAVORITE MOVIE: Love, Actually
N- FAVOURITE NUMBER: 3
O- OVER OR UNDER: Overweight, overworked, underpaid, underrated
P- FAVORITE PERFUME/COLOGNE: Glamourous Daylight by Ralph Lauren/Lacoste pour Femme
Q- A LITTLE QUIRK ABOUT YOURSELF: I've been writing a novel since I was 17.
R- LAST ROAD TRIP: Montreal with the crew
S- DO YOU SMOKE: No
T- FAVORITE TV SHOWS: War at Home, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Deal or No Deal
U- COLOR OF YOUR UNDERWEAR: Black
V- LAST TIME YOU WERE IN VEGAS: Never been
W- WISHFUL THINKING: That FOXY and I were going to the Mediterranean this year, not two years from now - and something else, but I'm not going to mention it here.
X- X-RAYS TAKEN THIS YEAR: None
Y- YOUR FAVORITE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE : 1998 (first Caribbean cruise!) 2000 (first time I saw FOXY) and 2003 (year I finally caught FOXY)
Z- ZODIAC SIGN: Taurus
A- AREA CODE YOU ARE IN RIGHT NOW: 613
B- BIRTHDAY: May 15
C- CURRENT CRUSH: Same as always! The amazing FOXY
D- FAVORITE DRINK: Raspberry margaritas
E- EATING CURRENTLY: Nothing - it's 9:00AM - I've already had breakfast.
F- FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken and potatos on the barbeque
G- WHO DO YOU GO TO FOR ADVICE?: Mom or Grandma
H- CURRENT HATRED: My feet - they hurt
I- I LIKE TO PLAY: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 for XBox 360
J- CURRENT JOB: Pharmacy Technician
K- ANY KIDS: Nope
L- I LOVE: FOXY, our house, my family and friends
M- FAVORITE MOVIE: Love, Actually
N- FAVOURITE NUMBER: 3
O- OVER OR UNDER: Overweight, overworked, underpaid, underrated
P- FAVORITE PERFUME/COLOGNE: Glamourous Daylight by Ralph Lauren/Lacoste pour Femme
Q- A LITTLE QUIRK ABOUT YOURSELF: I've been writing a novel since I was 17.
R- LAST ROAD TRIP: Montreal with the crew
S- DO YOU SMOKE: No
T- FAVORITE TV SHOWS: War at Home, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Deal or No Deal
U- COLOR OF YOUR UNDERWEAR: Black
V- LAST TIME YOU WERE IN VEGAS: Never been
W- WISHFUL THINKING: That FOXY and I were going to the Mediterranean this year, not two years from now - and something else, but I'm not going to mention it here.
X- X-RAYS TAKEN THIS YEAR: None
Y- YOUR FAVORITE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE : 1998 (first Caribbean cruise!) 2000 (first time I saw FOXY) and 2003 (year I finally caught FOXY)
Z- ZODIAC SIGN: Taurus
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Drugs...Jen's new frontier
Yes, you read that right. I figured why sell ice cream when you can sell drugs? Of course I’m talking about legal drugs. I’ve delved into the world of pharmacy and I’m really enjoying it.
First off, let me start by saying that I was one of many people who go into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and I couldn’t understand why it was taking so long – they (the pharmacy team) don’t look busy, so what’s the hold up? Let me tell you…WE ARE BUSY!!! From the outside, it looks like we’re just standing there, looking pretty, but there is a huge amount of stuff going on behind those counters. I no longer begin to fume at the thought of waiting in line for a prescription thinking that they’re taking their sweet time – no sir.
Second, I don’t have free samples of Viagra or Morphine – nor would I give them out if I had them.
Third, I think it’s hilarious that the guys who are taking Viagra, Cialis or Levitra (all for erectile dysfunction) are the ones who don’t care if you say what drug they’re taking – but the women who are taking progesterone or estrogen (for menopause) want it to be kept on the down low. The guys are always winking and nodding at you – like, “Hey, I’m a stud! You know what I’m getting this for – woo-eee!” You have to laugh – but at least they’re getting some! (As a bit of a side note – as I type my draft of this blog entry up in MS Word, it’s funny that Viagra is actually in the computer’s dictionary – apparently Word knows the importance of Viagra but not of Lipitor (a drug used to lower cholesterol))
Anyway, as I’m sure there will be many funny scenarios during my time at work – I’ll be sure to keep you posted. Needless to say, it’s quite a change of pace from spending 40 hours in the car. I’m glad my brain didn’t atrophy from lack of use these past few years…
Sunday, July 16, 2006
J'aime Montreal!
Now, I've never been to Europe (a problem I hope to rectify with Chris in 2008) but I imagine that it looks quite like this picture below that I took this weekend while in Old Montreal. We went with Joanne, Jason, Walter and Heather this weekend and had a GREAT time! I'd never been downtown in Montreal before so it was great to see some of the great old buildings and churches the city has to offer. We also did a bit of shopping, which never hurts either! Aside from some rain in the afternoon on Saturday the weather was perfect, as was the company. I can't wait to go again!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Things I've learned along the way...
As today was my last day working for Breyers (woo-hoo!), I thought I'd share with you some of the things I've learned in my 4 years with the company.
1) Ice cream headaches can be cured if you push the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
2) The best way to defrost a freezer is with a rubber mallet, an ice scraper and a dust pan to pick up all the ice chips.
3) There IS such a thing as too much ice cream.
4) No matter how fast you drive, ice cream will melt if transported in the trunk of your car.
5) Some customers are better than others - and will treat you like family if you let them.
6) We don't give transport drivers enough credit - there are A LOT of really stupid drivers out there that don't give transports enough room.
7) Good bosses are hard to find and even harder to leave behind.
8) If you're a sales rep, no matter how long you serve a customer, if they associate you with the product you're selling, you will always be personified by that product - thus, I am, and will likely always to some people be known as "The Ice Cream Girl"
1) Ice cream headaches can be cured if you push the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
2) The best way to defrost a freezer is with a rubber mallet, an ice scraper and a dust pan to pick up all the ice chips.
3) There IS such a thing as too much ice cream.
4) No matter how fast you drive, ice cream will melt if transported in the trunk of your car.
5) Some customers are better than others - and will treat you like family if you let them.
6) We don't give transport drivers enough credit - there are A LOT of really stupid drivers out there that don't give transports enough room.
7) Good bosses are hard to find and even harder to leave behind.
8) If you're a sales rep, no matter how long you serve a customer, if they associate you with the product you're selling, you will always be personified by that product - thus, I am, and will likely always to some people be known as "The Ice Cream Girl"
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Smudges on the pavement
Alas, I'm referring to roadkill. It seems that Ontario is officially the roadkill capital of Canada. In my 40 hours per week in the car, not a day goes by when I don't see some sort of animal smeared across the pavement. While this is sad, I must say that animals are pretty stupid when you think about it.
Squirrels will, as you approach, freeze for a second and then run directly toward your car tire. No, I'm not kidding. I did, however, come across a very smart squirrel in Brockville one day. As I was waiting for the light to change, the squirrel walked up to a crosswalk, waited until the light flashed and then proceeded to cross. My guess is that the squirrel had a previous run in with a vehicle that made him think twice about not obeying the pedestrian rules of the road, since it had a pretty sad, ratty looking tail. The driver in the car next to me also waited for this brilliant squirrel to cross and we both shook our heads in amazement at the fact that it chose to cross before we'd begun to move. In case you're wondering, I DO break for squirrels, and any other animal that should happen to venture out on the road.
Birds are a completely different story. There are so many kamikaze birds out there it's almost scary to be on the road. Numerous times I've been swooped at by birds as I drive along. I can't imagine what they're thinking hurling themselves at an object moving more than 80 km/h, but what do I know? I'm not a bird.
Last, but certainly not least, are deer. Yep, these are animals that will gracefully stand at the side of the road until you're right by them and then they'll jump at your car. The dumbest creature on Earth! I can say that because one decided to trash the side of my car, leaving a tuft of fur in the left turn signal in the process. I've been skeptical about the intellect of deer ever since.
While these animals are "intellectually challenged", it doesn't mean that us drivers should take any less care to avoid them. I have swerved many a time to save the poor defenseless animals that seem to make us aware of the fact that it's not just other drivers we need to worry about.
Squirrels will, as you approach, freeze for a second and then run directly toward your car tire. No, I'm not kidding. I did, however, come across a very smart squirrel in Brockville one day. As I was waiting for the light to change, the squirrel walked up to a crosswalk, waited until the light flashed and then proceeded to cross. My guess is that the squirrel had a previous run in with a vehicle that made him think twice about not obeying the pedestrian rules of the road, since it had a pretty sad, ratty looking tail. The driver in the car next to me also waited for this brilliant squirrel to cross and we both shook our heads in amazement at the fact that it chose to cross before we'd begun to move. In case you're wondering, I DO break for squirrels, and any other animal that should happen to venture out on the road.
Birds are a completely different story. There are so many kamikaze birds out there it's almost scary to be on the road. Numerous times I've been swooped at by birds as I drive along. I can't imagine what they're thinking hurling themselves at an object moving more than 80 km/h, but what do I know? I'm not a bird.
Last, but certainly not least, are deer. Yep, these are animals that will gracefully stand at the side of the road until you're right by them and then they'll jump at your car. The dumbest creature on Earth! I can say that because one decided to trash the side of my car, leaving a tuft of fur in the left turn signal in the process. I've been skeptical about the intellect of deer ever since.
While these animals are "intellectually challenged", it doesn't mean that us drivers should take any less care to avoid them. I have swerved many a time to save the poor defenseless animals that seem to make us aware of the fact that it's not just other drivers we need to worry about.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Plagiarized idea
While browsing through the blogs, I found one (I think it's a friend of my sister-in-law's) that had Googled her name and the word needs - so in my case, it'd be "Jennifer needs:" - and then gave us some of the answers, which generally turn out to be pretty neat. So, in true, unoriginal style, here is my needs list, according to Google...
Jennifer needs:
"a smack daddy"
"a cold shower"
"to recognize that both of you do a good job"
"you badly"
"to let go and get a life"
"space"
"your help!"
"to sex it up a little"
"to be in a mental health facility right now"
"to keep on improving"
"to stop her pity party"
How about you guys? What do you need?
Jennifer needs:
"a smack daddy"
"a cold shower"
"to recognize that both of you do a good job"
"you badly"
"to let go and get a life"
"space"
"your help!"
"to sex it up a little"
"to be in a mental health facility right now"
"to keep on improving"
"to stop her pity party"
How about you guys? What do you need?
Canada Day in the Capital
Ha ha ha! Unless you're going to sit at Parliament Hill, don't bother going to Ottawa. Everything was open here in Kingston, so E and I figured, let's go to Ottawa and do some shopping... Well, needless to say, it didn't happen. Maybe Ottawa is a more patriotic city because it's the capital of Canada, but there wasn't A SINGLE THING open. Nice drive though...
Not feeling particularly cheerful today - maybe in my past life I was an American?
Not feeling particularly cheerful today - maybe in my past life I was an American?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)