We have two WF’s in St. Louis. The newest one is in the burbs by my office. I hate urban sprawl and the Lou has lots of it, but it made for a spacious, pleasant, almost serene WF. It’s beautifully organized and most people who work there are happy and helpful.

By contrast, the WF closer to the city is cramped and a bit frenzied. I stopped by today to pick up some Dr. Hauschka’s moisturizer. There are several varieties and a few were new. Because they are so expensive, I wanted to try two samples to make sure they worked with my sensitive skin. In the burbs I’m typically asked several times if there’s anything I need. Today, I had to search for someone to help. Then, I got a bit of sigh and a run around when I asked for the samples.

I did eventually get them, but because I’d said earlier how great they are about the samples, I wanted to share my most recent experience. And I wanted to rant a bit that it would be beneficial to WF to train its employees to give samples … after the great treatment and sample I received at the Chesterfield store, I imagine I’ve spent close to $500 on beauty products there in about three months. Without the samples, there’s no reason not to buy my Dr. Hauschka’s products online. (And yes, that dollar figure makes me cringe a bit, but I’ve been fighting adult acne for about 20 years and Dr. Hauschka’s works.)

I’m curious … have any of you tried to get samples at WF and were you successful?

I felt exactly the same way when some people zealously said “we are a Christian nation” after our President uttered these words, “One of the great strengths of the United States is … we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”

Yes, Mr. President, I agree … because last I checked, we were the land of the free … free to be whatever religion (or lack thereof) we want to be. The very first amendment of our constitution makes it pretty clear … Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So to those that would prefer to say Merry Christmas … particularly in public settings like the mall, offices or public schools … I say to you that not everyone believes what you believe.

To me, saying Happy Holidays (whether it be to my friends who I know have different beliefs or to strangers or acquaintances who may or may not believe what I believe) doesn’t mean my faith or beliefs are jeopardized or weak, rather I think it shows an openness and empathy towards others, which for me is part of the true meaning of the season.

Happy Holidays!

By MNkiteman on Flickr

I had a feeling and peeked in my tea when it arrived. There was still ice and nothing looked terribly amiss. However, when I got back to my office and opened the lid to add Splenda, the ice had melted and it was clear that tea wasn’t the only thing in my cup. I walked up to tell mom, but didn’t made it in time … she had taken a few drinks. And when I looked in her cup … her diet had too been spit in. She’d just drank the spit of the Imo’s employee.

Not only is it horrifically disgusting that she drank someone’s spit, it’s also a little scary. Here’s a list of diseases that can be spread via saliva:
Swine flu (!!!!!!!!!!)
Common cold
Infectious mononucleosis
Tonsillitis
Mumps

I called the manager who was fairly apologetic, but a little doubtful. I suggested he take a look and he sent someone to pick up the drinks. I received a phone call about an hour later. He admitted I was right by saying, “I looked in the drinks and I don’t like what I see.” He said they had a zero tolerance policy and that he was going to call the district manager and get back to me. About an hour after that I received a call from the district manager telling me he agreed the drinks had been tampered with. The driver had been fired and they would send us gift certificates.

At the time, I thought they had done a fair job of handling the situation so I’d only posted a few “eeew” comments on Facebook, but the gift certificates came Friday and I got fired up all over again. The going price for spit in drinks these days is … a measly $10.

One $10 gift card for me and one for Shar, who’d actually drank the disgusting spit. Seriously Imo’s? Your employee spits in our drinks and you can’t do better than to basically give us what we’d paid for lunches to start with? Of course, I wasn’t planning to frequent that particular store again, but now … Imo’s is definitely off my list forever and I hope you might consider a boycott as well.

Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Mostly, I’ve been busy. Traveling, out-of-town guests and work have made life a little crazed … in a good way. And the thing that was none of your business … I’m still a little preoccupied with that … in a really good way. But I’d say the biggest challenge is that I’ve been without Internet service at home for a few weeks.

AT&T knows when I’m having issues because there’s no activity on the line. They’re even smart enough to call and ask if I’m having issues (a voice mail when I got home tonight). The call was a nice touch (I assume to keep me from getting so frustrated that I change services), but I think they could be even smarter.

The message asked me to call them if I’m having issues. Yeah … I already know that I can call them. I just really don’t want to … the thought of doing so makes me cringe … and I don’t think I’m the only one.

I called a few weeks ago. “Grace” in India (and I don’t really believe that’s her name) was pleasant, but I had some difficulty understanding her. Ultimately, she couldn’t help and I ended up with Ching, who claimed he was in “California” (and I don’t really believe he was). Ching was not so pleasant … condescending mostly … and there’s nothing I despise more than a condescending IT person. Plus, after talking to him … I’m still without service.

OK … now I’ve gone and offended three groups … please know I really don’t mean to generalize or stereotype … and I’m not blaming the AT&T team in India or “California” … I just wish the jobs were kept in America or at least that the team was trained to be empathetic and helpful. I’ve shared my experience with lots of people and hear the same sentiments as mine.

Hello … AT&T … maybe you don’t suck, but you do have some issues to fix. And now, I just have to get my gumption up to call and get my Internet fixed!

Store No. 2 – Searching and not locating much beyond the basics. Receiving no offers of help. Looking up to see the “open” light on at the register, making eye contact with the associate and … watching him walk away without even acknowledging me. Assuming he’s coming back, placing my items on the belt. Realizing that no … he’s chatting at the customer service desk even though he knows I’m here. Putting my items back in the cart and going to wait in a longer line.

I’m a Target girl. My experience tonight (store No. 1) resembles the positive experience I always have there. Occasionally, I throw K-Mart a bone, but my experience yesterday (store No. 2) is typical. I almost always find myself pissed at the K-Mart checkout … slow associates, opening a new lane and helping someone who just walked up rather than people have been waiting and now … being left hanging.

K-Mart clearly isn’t focusing enough on customer service in their training. I also think they aren’t hiring the right people … I can’t even imagine an associate at Target pulling the stunt I experienced yesterday. Maybe they have an inferiority complex. And after this tale of two stores … I’d say rightfully so.

Seriously QT?

According to this Wikipedia article on obesity in America, 64 percent of American adults are overweight or obese. More than 20 million people over the age of 20 have diabetes and more than 200,000 people die from it each year. Plus, nearly one million people die of heart attacks or other cardiovascular illness, including stroke, every year.

I, not surprisingly, can’t find any nutritional facts for the delights at QT online, but on the billboard the pastries appeared to be about the size of a large Pillsbury rolls. Counting both of them, here is the considerable damage:
* 640 calories
* 20 grams fat (6 grams saturated fat)
* 44 grams of sugars

Life will definitely be too short with regular breakfasts like that. I say bring on the oatmeal (and fire the advertising genius that came up with that ridiculous billboard).

And just so you know, I don’t think this will be the last post because I was reminded when I saw/heard him in my Minneapolis layover waiting area that I’m definitely inspired by cute, mild-mannered Canadian men and their adorable accents. He’s a tall, Kennedy-esque hottie from Edmonton who … is seated in my row because there is a God!

But I digress.  I’ll start with the kudos.  I’ve never been impressed by the main terminal at Lambert airport.  But my check-in was simple and security was breeze this go round – the agents were even pleasant.  Then came Diane at the Terminal A CPK.  She was fun and efficient – a good combo for starving flyers waiting in long lines for food. I really wanted a banana and they were out.  Diane was frazzled by all the people crowding her register and she could have easily said “I don’t know” or “no” when I asked if they had more.  Well, actually she did say both of those things … but lo and behold then she quickly said, “wait a minute … I’ll go check.”  And she promptly came back with a dozen of them. She went above and beyond, which I’d say is unusual for airport restaurant workers, and I truly appreciate it.

Now for the rant … dear Northwest Airline and all other airlines besides Southwest (American Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines – I’m talking to you): Efficient, assigned seating was the one thing you had going for you — I hate the cattle call, although it’s much better now.  Now that you are ridiculously charging $15 for the first checked bag, pretty much everyone is trying to shove too many bags in the overhead bins, creating a BFCF of the boarding process (BF stands for big fat – and if you don’t know what CF is, e-mail me and I’ll fill you in). 

Also, my flight to Canada (not overseas mind you) cost $550 – freaking robbery if you ask me – and it completely pisses me off to be forced pay a fee to check my suitcase – seriously!!!  Maybe you could waive the fee for flights over $350 or something.

Plus Southwest’s magazine is better than yours, their flight attendants are more entertaining, they don’t charge $3 or $5 for a snack and their planes are clean and shiny, which I realize is cosmetic, but it makes me feel safer.  Southwest was not an option for this trip, but you’d better believe when they are, I won’t choose you.

Of course, now that I think about it, Southwest probably has fewer Canadian flying their friendly skies, but next time I’ll have to travel during the day (it’s so dark, I can hardly see the cutie asleep across the aisle) so I get my money’s worth!

It was Mistie that lead me to the better WORD (it was inadvertent … she was talking about her 2-year-old, mind you; and I imagine her Dixie Heart will cringe at that other WORD I’m talking about ).

Any-hoo … I completely understand not every date works. It’s either there or isn’t … that pesky chemistry. But I do not understand the men who give every appearance of it being a great date (who walks you to your car and gives you an awesome hug???) and then are basically never to be heard from again. Unfortunately, this has played out in a variety of ways with several different guys, but the end result has been me having to deduce they aren’t interested without them being man enough to tell me themselves.

So here is my unsolicited dating advice for the men/boys who don’t know how to use your words …

“I’m sorry, I’ve had a nice time, but I don’t think we’re very compatible.”

It’s not easy, but it’s the nice thing to do, you, (to use another five-letter word) spine-less wonders .