Grin and Bear It

Reno and I have a ongoing debate. I maintain all people (well mostly) are predominantly good. He believes the polar opposite. It's probably just as well that of the two of us, I'm the one who works in retail.

I waited on the most obnoxious customer today. He was most dissatisfied with the selection my department offered basically because I didn't have any beige silk poinsettia's. He simply had to have beige poinsettia's to go with the red ones. Nothing else would do. Nothing else in the beige family could be substituted. And I was told repeatedly of his disgust. I could see my staff watching and listening the dialog. I could tell they would be dropping to their knee's and thanking their lucky stars I got this customer and not them. Sometimes, no matter what options you offer it is never good enough.

Besides the verbal rudeness, the customer went on to drop the "M" bomb. He asked rhetorically if he'd have to go to Michael's to find the poinsettia's I simply did not have. He added (to soften the blow I think) that he comes here first, but that he'd go there if he had to. Those of us who work for independently owned craft stores cringe when the "M" word is waived at us like a red flag at a bull.

Several thoughts came to my mind on how to reply to this not-so-gentleman. I'm sure you could also come up with some choice words. That part is easy. That part is not, however, what customer service is all about. My response was that not all my product was over from the warehouse (yes, my staff was shooting daggers at me when I said this). And, that possibly I'd have other product coming in that might work for him. No, I couldn't guarantee the beige poinsettia's. Between you and I........I don't envision a huge demand anywhere for beige Christmas flowers, but who am I to tell him his vision may be slightly warped?

We were glad (understatement of the century) to see him leave. If he finds his beige stems elsewhere so be it. If he returns, I hope we can find the strength to smile at him and try to be of assistance. That much pressure to find beige, and that much dissatisfaction must be a heavy weight to bear.

But his attitude does not have to color mine. For those who live full of joy time flies. For those who live by darkness and doom, I imagine the days drag on. My choice is to grin and bare it. To believe there will be three really fabulous customers for every one like this. At least three, maybe even more.

Random Thots on Dancing

I was listening to my Trans Siberian Orchestra CD today. I didn't get to hear them perform this season, so I'm listening to try and make up for it. There are a couple songs that just make me want to get up and sing with them. Bear in mind I am not a good singer, but I do think (with absolute certainly) that I would have made a hell of a back-up dancer.

All those years of dance lessons could have paid off. Granted I don't sing, and am not as tall, or as slender as most of them. And, and this is a big one, I can't wear heels like they do. I can't dance in high heels anymore either. Come to think of that I never could.

But I have rhythm, I can clap hands, or snap fingers, and yes, could flip my long locks of hair if I had them, heck there was a time I could have worn the slinky costumes. And I would have just rocked at that. Maybe in another life I will be that back up dancer I dream of being.

In the meantime, I provide back-up in other ways. Without song, dance and usually without other fanfare. I do that for my honey, for the dogs, my kids, coworkers, friends and family. Of course, there is never that big round of applause to performers sometimes get. I must be more of a behind the scenes back up dancer.

And that's okay too. When I'm alone I'll do my on stage back up dancing and love every minute of it. In real life, I'll do back up however I'm led to.......and count those moments as blessings.

What? You Want Me To Go Out?

With the colder, wet weather we have discovered a new side to Sidney. Several words come to mind to describe him. They are - stubborn, pig headed, prone to selective hearing when being called, one might even call him a cold weather sissy. This is the same dog who when it's warm and sunny runs the yard all day.

Now that it's cold one practically has to drag him outside to do his business. Right before we go to bed at night it's last potty call for the dogs. Everyone (the dogs, that is) has to go out. When it's cold it's more difficult to rouse all of them from their various nests to venture forth. Last night I nearly had to do back flips to get them all up and headed to the door. But after many 'come on dogs, let's go, here we go, let's go outside' I had them all alert and headed for the door. I open it up and one, two, three dogs shoot out into the rainy night. And Sidney?? He indulged me by running to the door and then running back to his big pillow on the sofa. Uh uh, ain't going out Mom - it's wet and cold out there. Surely you don't expect me to go out there. Don't mind me I'll just snuggle in here where it's warm and dry.

I foresee a long winter ahead with one totally reluctant foster dog. If he thinks it's too cold to go out now, he is in for a big surprise. One can only hope he finds his forever home in a more temperate climate where he doesn't have to endure the cold, wet and/or snowy weather.

Let Me Help You Brother

I marvel at the dogs. Pretty amazing creatures. With the cold weather Mickey and Maddie are sleeping on the bed more and I love to see them sleeping next to one another. They are the Ying and Yang of dogs. Maddie is mostly brown with a little white, and Mick is mostly white with a little brown. Their fur makes me think of polar opposites. So different, and yet, so much the same.

In the morning, Mick will let me know when he has to go out. Not wants to, but really has too. He'll stand beside the bed and give me one woof. If that doesn't work, he'll give me another one woof. If I still fail to move physically (because by then I am doing the mental preparation) he'll give me one more Woof. Usually that's all it takes, as I am well trained.

This morning I let the dogs out, then in, and went back to bed. Shidney has had some digestional issues, so we've been making sure we let him out more frequently. Of course, he's not as good at letting us know when we are snoozing away.

An hour after their first venture out into the chilly morning. I hear the tell tale woof at bedside. Mick - go lay down, you've been out already. A little bit later, I hear the second Woof. Ughhh, I'm thinking - can't I ever just go back to bed? Finally, I hear persistent Woof #3 and I decide, yes, if you insist.

Mick and Sidney race to the door, I open it and only Sidney dashes out. Mick turns around and heads back to bed. I'm left marveling at the fact Mick got me out of bed for Sidney.

Sometimes we need another voice to sound out our needs. Sometimes we need to simply open up our ears. Sometimes even the dogs look out for each other. And we humans can learn from that.

Reluctant At Best

They say cats dislike bath's more than dogs, but I'm not so sure. Only one of my dogs loved the water so much a bath was not torture. My lab, Abby, would calmly climb in the tub for bathing.

All of the others have to be tricked into the bathroom and lifted into the tub. Personally, I think that a pointer with his legs spread eagle has the wing span, or leg span, of a wandering albatross. What exactly is the wing span of a wandering albatross you might ask? Roughly 12-13 ft, or the equivalent of Sidney's legs.

I mention this little known fact after bathing Sidney today. Actually, we've been calling him Shidney lately. It's a fitting nickname for him. Imagine the God Father in a trench coat with a cigar sauntering up and saying "how ya doin Shid?" Anyway, a dietary indiscretion necessitated a bath this afternoon. It's only his second a bath since he's been with us, and the first bath inside that scary little room Mom goes into a closes the door. He was scared, but tolerated the water torture very well. If you overlook the fact that his tail was tucked clear to his nose.

I will say when he got out of the tub he did not shake at all. That was a nice treat, and easy on the full length mirror. It certainly wasn't in Shidney's plans for the afternoon, but you gotta do what you gotta do. When Mom says it's bath time, there is no escaping it. He's seen all the others dogs go in that room dry and come out wet - it was only a matter of time.

Dog Beds

I bought a dog bed on E-bay recently. I love EBay. I payed $1.54 for this bed. Not too shabby, huh? Of course shipping was a tad bit more. But still a good buy.

The story on the bed was a lady bought it for her dog and the dog wouldn't sleep on it. I was a little concerned my pups would thumb their nose at it too. In fact, the first couple days they didn't lay on it at all. At least with four dogs my odds of getting one to sleep on it were better than hers.

I finally put it on the sofa and Mickey deemed it a sleep able object. Sidney won't go near it however. The sofa King seems to be afraid of it. Or maybe it takes up too much space on his precious sofa. Maddie would look adorable on it, but she's more of a recliner dog. And Kobe - he has his own bed and really doesn't need any more. So he tends to ignore it.

For $1.54 (and $10 s/h) if only one of them uses it, I still haven't gone too far wrong. If it gets ripped to shreds in a rowdy dog moment and I don't see it in time to correct them, it's still worth what I paid for it. I love a bargain, I love the dogs and I love EBay.

Bathroom Books

Many people have books in the bathroom. Usually, they are quick, easy reads, but others have long volumes they methodically read whenever the mood, ummm, moves them. If that is what it takes to get men to read, I'm all for it.

You might think I'd have dog books in my bathroom, and sometimes I have. Of late, my book of choice is "1001 ways to be Romantic", by Gregory Godek. Since I don't usually linger in the bathroom like some folks do, it's a good book for a quick suggestion on how to cherish your partner and spice up life.

The way I see it, we could all use some extra knowledge on how to be more romantic. For some people any idea's would equal more ideas. For others, it offers new creative ways to celebrate your love. Where do you fall in there? Could you write the book, or is it likely someone will throw the book at you for being a romantic dufus.

Sure I could take the news paper to the bathroom. No offense to the news paper readers of the world. I could take up Sudoku in there - not bloody likely though. I could take Glamour, or Oprah, or Martha in there too. But, would that help me challenge my romantic self? Hmm, perhaps not.

1001 ways - just think about it. 1001 possibilities. 1001 new ways to show my love. Sounds like a winner to me. And, no, I wouldn't dream of using a page for toilet paper. I may be pausing in my day to do some personal business, but I can come out of there a better partner if I take time to invest myself in the relationship. So could you.