Sunday, October 30, 2011
In his defense...he was tired.
In my line of work you have to deal with people pretty much non stop during the day. I deal with simple orders, and difficult people. I come home to a loving wife and 4 kids who are a gift from God. They bring out the best and worse in me. My life is filled with fun and intersting things. However in the ups and downs of life its impotant to remember that there are many friends that do love and care for you. Sure you might have differences of opinion on matters of politics, faith and such but Id wonder about the level of friendship if there wasnt at least a few differences. So we sat tonight and joked at my expense (I mean whats wrong with wanting to buy the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic MMORPG and have a room at some point in your life where you proudly display your nerdery). These friends still look at you and smile when your kids decide since people are here they must use them as carnival rides or honk their noses as a form of communication. You can joke about things when you are in your 30's that seemed like life and death when you were 18. I dont pretend to know everything, I am still learning to be a husband and father and friend. But so thankful for those that are still along for the ride. Someday in our new home we'll sit around the fire hopefully still joking about goofy things talking about our kids and tring to wake Jason up although in his defense he was tired.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Great moments in Customer Service Hisssssssstory!!
This is the blog post 13.5 years in the making! As you may be aware I work as a Customer Service "Specialist" (I was a Representative but I went through a series of adventures to gain reputation points to gain the new title). I sit at a computer 8 hrs a day taking calls from a wide array of people. These are their stories.
Customer #1 Mr John Q Dealmaker sends me a chat message (I do customer service online chat...see above "Specialist" title) It starts as follows:
JQD: Hello...I see you h...... (Hello how can you see me...im inside the internet)
JQD you have a magazine, i want to buy it and start with an earlier issue (ok but im not sure i want to give it to you as you can see me it makes me intensly uncomfortable)
KEV I can help you with that but you will need to call me as i dont take orders over chat ( I've tried its just very time consuming and almost always they ask for things that havent been in print since 1997)
JQD I want you give me that earlier issue for free...I'm serious (Not impossible but we charge for back issues...and I know you are serious...and dont call me Shirley)
KEV Well we sell the back issues for 8.00 (cheaper if they order more than 1) give me a call.
We end the chat and he calls a few minutes later
JQD "So you going to give me the issue for free and a discount on the magazine subscription?" (Um does he have something on me since he can "see me"now he wants a discount and a free magazine)
KEV No sir I will however sell you the back issue for 4.99 and the subscription is 24.00
JQD"Hehe (strange laughter) its a great day (sure) Its a great day to make a deal I think with me.
KEV Sir....I've made a deal with you already
JQD Well you can do better than that
KEV Im not a car salesman sir. (after almost 14 years of manning the phone, I can sense when the call is going south and I need to be firm, words do have power unless you are this guy).
JQD Well dont you give discounts to clergy? (Yes, and to folks in need, veterans, soldiers, schools, businesses, outreaches, charity groups probably Wal-Mart, Petsmart and Larry's house of Tires if they called.. but they generally dont ask to the point of madness....why couldn't he have mentioned this a bit earlier, and for all I know he just got his clergy license at Kinkos/FedEX)
So then the old saying "the customer is always right" (groan) popped in my head and I remembered a discount we recently had for new subscribers.
JQD Seeeeeeeeeeeeeee now you made me happpppppppppy (yep said it just like cobra commander yeah and now I have heartburn)
So stayed tuned till next time when I talk of the customer and her puppy...... this has been great moments in Customer Service Hisssssssssstoryyyyyyyyyyy
Customer #1 Mr John Q Dealmaker sends me a chat message (I do customer service online chat...see above "Specialist" title) It starts as follows:
JQD: Hello...I see you h...... (Hello how can you see me...im inside the internet)
JQD you have a magazine, i want to buy it and start with an earlier issue (ok but im not sure i want to give it to you as you can see me it makes me intensly uncomfortable)
KEV I can help you with that but you will need to call me as i dont take orders over chat ( I've tried its just very time consuming and almost always they ask for things that havent been in print since 1997)
JQD I want you give me that earlier issue for free...I'm serious (Not impossible but we charge for back issues...and I know you are serious...and dont call me Shirley)
KEV Well we sell the back issues for 8.00 (cheaper if they order more than 1) give me a call.
We end the chat and he calls a few minutes later
JQD "So you going to give me the issue for free and a discount on the magazine subscription?" (Um does he have something on me since he can "see me"now he wants a discount and a free magazine)
KEV No sir I will however sell you the back issue for 4.99 and the subscription is 24.00
JQD"Hehe (strange laughter) its a great day (sure) Its a great day to make a deal I think with me.
KEV Sir....I've made a deal with you already
JQD Well you can do better than that
KEV Im not a car salesman sir. (after almost 14 years of manning the phone, I can sense when the call is going south and I need to be firm, words do have power unless you are this guy).
JQD Well dont you give discounts to clergy? (Yes, and to folks in need, veterans, soldiers, schools, businesses, outreaches, charity groups probably Wal-Mart, Petsmart and Larry's house of Tires if they called.. but they generally dont ask to the point of madness....why couldn't he have mentioned this a bit earlier, and for all I know he just got his clergy license at Kinkos/FedEX)
So then the old saying "the customer is always right" (groan) popped in my head and I remembered a discount we recently had for new subscribers.
JQD Seeeeeeeeeeeeeee now you made me happpppppppppy (yep said it just like cobra commander yeah and now I have heartburn)
So stayed tuned till next time when I talk of the customer and her puppy...... this has been great moments in Customer Service Hisssssssssstoryyyyyyyyyyy
Monday, October 24, 2011
1600 Times at least
So it seems at least after about a month now, that this exercise routine is starting to work. I cant recall hurting so much but yet having so much more energy. My legs havent hurt like they used to, for at least a week now. With this progress is also the struggle I continue to have with the food. I love tasty food and old Kev loved to grab a variety of good things and sit here downstairs eating them when I was stressed about the kids or work or Erin or the combo of all of these things. I've reached this point in my life where I just cant settle for the same old pattern. This really feels different this time, I just hope I can stick with it, lots of motivators even some I cant mention. Tonight I came in and I looked at Payten and saw her beautiful blue eyes.
Payten, have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are?
1600 Times at least daddy...whew
Yeah you tell us I love you alot too.
Yeah I guess I do
Payten, have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are?
1600 Times at least daddy...whew
Yeah you tell us I love you alot too.
Yeah I guess I do
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Best Buddies
Somehow it still just doesn't seem possible to me, that I am a father. I grew up in a period of time where fathers on TV were doctors whose wives were also lawyers and family problems were solved 30 minutes or less. Greatest catastrophes usually involved discovering the report card had been altered or that someone....might be smoking. Steve Urkel would then exclaim "Did I do that?" canned audience laughter and see you next week.
Been going to a Wednesday night activity for a little over a year now and recently Collin has come of age to where he can join in on the fun. There are games and songs and activities with a Christian theme to them, the girls enjoyed them last year and Collin is so excited to go. He and I at this point in our lives "best buddies" which after I ask him if we are he smiles hugs me and gives me the thumbs up sign. It is the simple things that bring me joy. We've dropped him off with our last moment for the next hour and half is the thumbs up and the "I uv u daddddddie." Off he goes and for just a moment I have a retirement commercial vision, where he is 30 and coming to my house to thank me for telling him about the Gerber life insurance plan. His last couple of visits however have ended with a phone call asking to pick him up as he just a little too interested in grabbing others a little too tight. The first time resulted with him having to skip a week while we explained the finer points of non-tackle friendship, we extended this out for two weeks and were confident that we were behind it.
"Mr Bridgers, I don't want to have to make this call" Where is my comedic comeback to this moment, where the audience laughs as I make Rudy clean his room? This time a little too touchy to a little child and a call to both sets of parents. I go to pick him up and there my little buddy is between 2 teachers, he runs to me and give me a big hug. "He is really a sweet boy" (Yes he is just got energy in spades) "Would you like the teacher to tell you of the incident" (Can I just say "Did HEEEEEEEE do that? laugh and call it a night?). Sigh.....I just don't....well Erin and I have been working with....I am very sorry. I can make excuses with the best of them I assure you, but all I could do is look at my best buddy and remember when he came to us orange, on the verge of organ failure, thinking back to Valentines Day when I got to shout at the rooftops "He's mine!" He's come so far his speech improving daily yet, in his first real time with kids his own age with out me and Erin near him he's struggling. Am I not being consistent enough?
Then I hear these words, "We know hes just a little boy trying to have fun, how can we help him?" I struggle to formulate an answer as Erin has the van warmed up long enough for me to toss the kids in and speed off. Apparently my son is quite loved there and no one wants to see him go, an hour or so later we discover the child he was too rough with is the child of the friend of Erin who wanted us to come. "We know Collin is great, please don't take him out, we would love to help too"
In foster parenting one big point that is hammered over and over again is make sure you have support as the road to their adulthood is filled with problems not easily solved as soon as the sensitive sitcom music begins to play. It takes friends and family, mommies and daddies to get through this storm. You may look at this and think this isn't a really big deal, but if I don't have a plan for the small moments how do I get through the big ones down the road...you know when Collin goes for a joyride in the principals car and crashes it and Zack and Kelly aren't there to help him (Saved by the Bell reference for the win). Now if you will excuse me I have to lay back down with my best buddy. Cue my music......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ym2PaYk2DU&feature=related
PS Erin I love you...you are a great mom
Been going to a Wednesday night activity for a little over a year now and recently Collin has come of age to where he can join in on the fun. There are games and songs and activities with a Christian theme to them, the girls enjoyed them last year and Collin is so excited to go. He and I at this point in our lives "best buddies" which after I ask him if we are he smiles hugs me and gives me the thumbs up sign. It is the simple things that bring me joy. We've dropped him off with our last moment for the next hour and half is the thumbs up and the "I uv u daddddddie." Off he goes and for just a moment I have a retirement commercial vision, where he is 30 and coming to my house to thank me for telling him about the Gerber life insurance plan. His last couple of visits however have ended with a phone call asking to pick him up as he just a little too interested in grabbing others a little too tight. The first time resulted with him having to skip a week while we explained the finer points of non-tackle friendship, we extended this out for two weeks and were confident that we were behind it.
"Mr Bridgers, I don't want to have to make this call" Where is my comedic comeback to this moment, where the audience laughs as I make Rudy clean his room? This time a little too touchy to a little child and a call to both sets of parents. I go to pick him up and there my little buddy is between 2 teachers, he runs to me and give me a big hug. "He is really a sweet boy" (Yes he is just got energy in spades) "Would you like the teacher to tell you of the incident" (Can I just say "Did HEEEEEEEE do that? laugh and call it a night?). Sigh.....I just don't....well Erin and I have been working with....I am very sorry. I can make excuses with the best of them I assure you, but all I could do is look at my best buddy and remember when he came to us orange, on the verge of organ failure, thinking back to Valentines Day when I got to shout at the rooftops "He's mine!" He's come so far his speech improving daily yet, in his first real time with kids his own age with out me and Erin near him he's struggling. Am I not being consistent enough?
Then I hear these words, "We know hes just a little boy trying to have fun, how can we help him?" I struggle to formulate an answer as Erin has the van warmed up long enough for me to toss the kids in and speed off. Apparently my son is quite loved there and no one wants to see him go, an hour or so later we discover the child he was too rough with is the child of the friend of Erin who wanted us to come. "We know Collin is great, please don't take him out, we would love to help too"
In foster parenting one big point that is hammered over and over again is make sure you have support as the road to their adulthood is filled with problems not easily solved as soon as the sensitive sitcom music begins to play. It takes friends and family, mommies and daddies to get through this storm. You may look at this and think this isn't a really big deal, but if I don't have a plan for the small moments how do I get through the big ones down the road...you know when Collin goes for a joyride in the principals car and crashes it and Zack and Kelly aren't there to help him (Saved by the Bell reference for the win). Now if you will excuse me I have to lay back down with my best buddy. Cue my music......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ym2PaYk2DU&feature=related
PS Erin I love you...you are a great mom
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Great Escape
Erin and I aren't really adventurous travellers well I should say I am not, I tend to get sweaty at the thought of having to go across the Ohio River to the zoo. Erin tried to book a trip to Chicago a few years ago and I whined a trip to Gatlinburg instead as I was nervous about hailing a cab. I'm telling you its sad. This time however I looked forward to the trip the Louisville with the missus as we needed to get away. We love the kids but my eyes needed to spend time seeing my wife and not the dents and holes in the house so it was time to go. Erin is the driver and I am the navigator and this arrangement has worked well over the years, as I inspire fear when I drive. I mean 70 is just the suggested speed right?!??
We arrived at the town of Louisville in the early afternoon and quickly settled into our room. We had reservations at a revolving restaurant known as RIVUE which is located at the top of the Galt House. The Galt House is a shrine to Erin as she always recalls her days of FHA where they visited here on a trip. However over the years we have never stayed here, mainly due to its 300.00 a night stays....may want to check the Campbell County FHA class of 97 books...who was the president or vice president during that time...lets just grab the ole yearbook...Erin Sebastian....oh crap. Well in her defense I was voted most likely to succeed and nicest guy in 1994. Moving on...
Revolving restaurants have always interested us, I took Erin to the one near us right after I proposed and again on our 10th anniversary, we also went to a restaurant last year in Indianapolis very nice. However the review on RIVUE good food but alot of views of their dinner plates and walls, seemed like they gave up on the view 3/4 of the way in. We did spend a great deal of time learning of cheeses and examining long plates with tiny bits of food. I think they call the rest of the plate, presentation. My wife across the table however is even more beautiful when we 1st met. Going to make sure she knows that every day till the last. Which I felt was coming soon as we walked back to the hotel. We walked everywhere and my legs were feeling it. Ever since I focused on losing weight and have lifted weights and walked more than I have in at least 10 years I needed a push. We walked everywhere during our stay, I drifted out of consciousness 2 or 3 times, but at least Erin got a nice compliment from the toothless man at the gas station. We arrived at the room where I slumped onto the couch and Erin helped me to bed and as we drifted off into sleep i look forward to.................breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep what the?!!? Erin what day is it, what do you mean put on a shirt, fire go downstairs. So we ran down 6 flights of stairs and out the side door and awaited the Fire Trucks (which we took pictures of for Collin). Seems little Jimmy pulled the Fire Alarm....Erin I cant walk anymore think Ill sleep in the van.
Saturday I noted was different as Collin was not jumping on the bed, and Payten wasn't doing flips into Collin causing him to bounce off the floor. We awoke and I felt from the nights prior events surely we'll use the van...nevermind lets walk to the baseball museum. On our way we made friends! I needed a moment to rest not long after we left and we sat at the bus stop. Around the corner comes this man..The names have been changed to protect the idiots.
Man....Hey man can you use your ID for me?
Erin (on pretend phone call) excuse me sir
Me I beg your pardon
Man Can you all use your ID for me I am trying to pawn this over here (He pulls out a denture with one gold tooth attached) *author note* he appears to have all his teeth.
Me: Sir Im not sure what...
Man I mean who needs an ID Im a man who just got out of the penitentiary, I don't need no Massey Ferguson-ing ID (words changed because I wanted to find different words for MF'in and I watch alot of tractor videos...oh wait Im drifitng)
Unified US-Sorry we cant help you we got to goooooooooooo
ME- Why cant we drive again?
It was a pretty big tooth....
More tomorrow
We arrived at the town of Louisville in the early afternoon and quickly settled into our room. We had reservations at a revolving restaurant known as RIVUE which is located at the top of the Galt House. The Galt House is a shrine to Erin as she always recalls her days of FHA where they visited here on a trip. However over the years we have never stayed here, mainly due to its 300.00 a night stays....may want to check the Campbell County FHA class of 97 books...who was the president or vice president during that time...lets just grab the ole yearbook...Erin Sebastian....oh crap. Well in her defense I was voted most likely to succeed and nicest guy in 1994. Moving on...
Revolving restaurants have always interested us, I took Erin to the one near us right after I proposed and again on our 10th anniversary, we also went to a restaurant last year in Indianapolis very nice. However the review on RIVUE good food but alot of views of their dinner plates and walls, seemed like they gave up on the view 3/4 of the way in. We did spend a great deal of time learning of cheeses and examining long plates with tiny bits of food. I think they call the rest of the plate, presentation. My wife across the table however is even more beautiful when we 1st met. Going to make sure she knows that every day till the last. Which I felt was coming soon as we walked back to the hotel. We walked everywhere and my legs were feeling it. Ever since I focused on losing weight and have lifted weights and walked more than I have in at least 10 years I needed a push. We walked everywhere during our stay, I drifted out of consciousness 2 or 3 times, but at least Erin got a nice compliment from the toothless man at the gas station. We arrived at the room where I slumped onto the couch and Erin helped me to bed and as we drifted off into sleep i look forward to.................breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep what the?!!? Erin what day is it, what do you mean put on a shirt, fire go downstairs. So we ran down 6 flights of stairs and out the side door and awaited the Fire Trucks (which we took pictures of for Collin). Seems little Jimmy pulled the Fire Alarm....Erin I cant walk anymore think Ill sleep in the van.
Saturday I noted was different as Collin was not jumping on the bed, and Payten wasn't doing flips into Collin causing him to bounce off the floor. We awoke and I felt from the nights prior events surely we'll use the van...nevermind lets walk to the baseball museum. On our way we made friends! I needed a moment to rest not long after we left and we sat at the bus stop. Around the corner comes this man..The names have been changed to protect the idiots.
Man....Hey man can you use your ID for me?
Erin (on pretend phone call) excuse me sir
Me I beg your pardon
Man Can you all use your ID for me I am trying to pawn this over here (He pulls out a denture with one gold tooth attached) *author note* he appears to have all his teeth.
Me: Sir Im not sure what...
Man I mean who needs an ID Im a man who just got out of the penitentiary, I don't need no Massey Ferguson-ing ID (words changed because I wanted to find different words for MF'in and I watch alot of tractor videos...oh wait Im drifitng)
Unified US-Sorry we cant help you we got to goooooooooooo
ME- Why cant we drive again?
It was a pretty big tooth....
More tomorrow
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Dear Kevin
Dear Sir,
Greetings and well met. It has come to our attention that you desire a change in your life. It seems you have come to some sort of conclusion that sitting on the couch is no longer desirable. We do have the ability to provide you with a more comfortable couch if you so desire. Our team of dietitians are willing to continue the Coca Cola regimen, followed by the fried Chicken and Doritos. We do see here that Taco continues to be your favorite, and can request the late night diet of Frosted Flakes if you so choose.
Exercise is a bit overrated, I mean you have a busy schedule of work 9-5 followed by resting on the couch from 6-7. I would suggest relying on your wife to do most of the rearing of the children as you have that extra level of video game to accomplish. We don't see why you would want to do anything different. Just disregard that pain in your chest I hear wheezing is "cool" with today's modern adult. With your Cerebral Palsy the last thing you would want to do is *shudder* exercise.
We do hope you reconsider your desire to change, if you should desire come back we are waiting for you.
Best Regards
Your Excuses LLC
Greetings and well met. It has come to our attention that you desire a change in your life. It seems you have come to some sort of conclusion that sitting on the couch is no longer desirable. We do have the ability to provide you with a more comfortable couch if you so desire. Our team of dietitians are willing to continue the Coca Cola regimen, followed by the fried Chicken and Doritos. We do see here that Taco continues to be your favorite, and can request the late night diet of Frosted Flakes if you so choose.
Exercise is a bit overrated, I mean you have a busy schedule of work 9-5 followed by resting on the couch from 6-7. I would suggest relying on your wife to do most of the rearing of the children as you have that extra level of video game to accomplish. We don't see why you would want to do anything different. Just disregard that pain in your chest I hear wheezing is "cool" with today's modern adult. With your Cerebral Palsy the last thing you would want to do is *shudder* exercise.
We do hope you reconsider your desire to change, if you should desire come back we are waiting for you.
Best Regards
Your Excuses LLC
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