OMG! I Can’t Believe This Happened!

Angry faceOk, I need to VENT!!

 

I went to Walmart to get some stuff for tonight’s dinner. I noticed this lady was staring at me on the same aisle I was on. No biggie. I moved to the next aisle and here she comes again…STARING! So now I’m like, “WTH”, but finish up my shopping and head to the check out line. Of course this same lady was ahead of me…starts staring again.

 

Awkward. So I start playing with my phone so I don’t have to look at her. Finally she says “I want to apologize for staring at you, but you look just like my daughter who just passed away.” I felt really bad after that and gave her my condolences. She says “thank you…but I have a favor to ask. I understand if you don’t want to. Can you give me a hug and say ‘bye mama’ to me?” Inside I was like “wth”, but me being the softie that I am, I went ahead and did it. She smiles, thanks me, and leaves.

 

The cashier rings up my stuff and the total comes out to $100.87. I knew something wasn’t right, because after my coupons it should have been like $40.00 or so. The girl tells me that my total was included with my mom’s. I’m like, “What?!!!” she said, “Your mom said you were paying for her last few items along with your things. I told her that the woman was most definitely NOT my mom. She said, well I saw you hug her and heard you call her mama. I flew out of the store looking for this witch, ready to beat her a**.

 

I see her loading up her car! She saw me and jumped in her car, I got to her as she was putting her leg in, and I started pulling her leg…JUST LIKE I’M PULLING YOURS!!!! Hope you all are having a wonderful day! Don’t hate me for this!

 

Ok, you can blame Facebook. This was showing up in my news feed and each time I just laughed my butt off and had to share!  What made it most funny to me was the person I originally saw it on was a woman I know with a big heart and she would have done this very thing.

 

Have a great one!

 

~~~ Till We Laugh Again~~~

What’s Cutting into My Blog Post Time? Got Cake?

Ok, I’ll admit, I’ve had some short and funny blog posts this week.

I promise, I’m not mailing them in…..

Seriously, I have no stamps.

`~

With Father’s Day tomorrow, I’ve been making our Father’s Day Ice Cream Cakes. This is a big holiday for us, so it takes a lot of my time. Cakes are fun to make but when you stand there making them back to back and try to work in other stuff it can take all your time.

I become a walking billboard for icing, tint, etc all over my hands and clothes. By the end of the night I feel like I smell like a giant sugar confection.

Would you like to see some of the ones I’ve been working on?

I bet you do!  LOL, just kidding, the little smart ass in my popped out.

Ok, I’ll be nice. Here is a collection of some we have done. It is a mixture of Birthday and Father’s Day. Hope you like a few.

For our Beer Drinking Dads

Or a PG 13 Rootbeer Float version (lots of these made)

For the Handy Dad

Lot of Birthdays this weekend too

I shared the red bird before, we got to do a black angry bird this time

This one was odd…a wolf on the beach?? 

`

Ok, I’m off to make more cakes. These were just a few of them, thought I’d share.

See ya for our Funnies tomorrow!

`

~~~till we laugh again~~~

People Crack Me Up

People crack me up…

5 people walk in the store….

Me:  ” Hello there”

Them: Silence

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Me: “Let me know if there is something you want to try?”

Them: Silence

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Me: Stare off a moment…Make direct eye contact with one…Hello

Her: Silence

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Me: One of them will say hi dang it!  Ten year old boy staring at me now…”Would you like to try something?”

Him: Silence…grabs mom’s shirt (what am I gonna attack him?)

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Me: “Just let me know when anyone is ready”

Them: Still silence

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Me: Walk off a minute…mumble to self, “they all can’t be deaf”

Them: still just staring off at the menu

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Me: Wander back. One more try…”Any one decided yet?”

Them: Silence…. They are killing me!!!

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An eternity later (or 10 minutes if looking at a real clock – no joke)

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Mom: Chocolate

Me: Knock me over with a feather…they do talk!! Ok, at least one of them…..

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Turns out they all can talk!

Just not to me.

I’m pretty sure I showered this morning.

sniff sniff…. yep

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Sad part is….. People do this all the time to us… never acknowledging us.. I have to teach the kids not to take it personally.

Even sadder?  These people actually turned out really nice once they ate they ice cream. Then they started talking to me and laughing.

~

People are odd creatures….

~

~~~till we laugh again~~~

I Swear! That is my REAL Name…

If you are like me, you have a special attachment to your name. I’m proud of my name. My name stands for ME. I hear my name and it is who I am. There is only one me. I would never change my name. For anyone. Period. In my world, my name represents who I am at any given moment.My name isn’t just a name… it is me.

My name is Tammy. Not Tamara. I don’t have a problem with the name Tamara. One of my best friends is named Tamara. I know two Tamaras as a matter of fact. But my name isn’t Tamara. It’s T A M M Y. Also, not Tami or Tammi. Once again, I’m fine with those spellings. It is who they are. Just not me.

My mother named me after the movie from the 60’s Tammy and the Bachelor. And yes, many an older man has sung the song to me through the years. Definitely creepy when I was in my teens and early 20s.

Ok, now with that said. I have a great story to share. I’ve told this story many times and people think it is hilarious. And it is 100% true.

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It was around 1994, I was a 27/28-year-old Store Manager for Home Depot. One night while working late, the phone operator popped his head in my office and said that I was going to love this call. A woman was on the phone, freaking out and wanted to speak to THEE Store Manager.

I told him no problem, just shoot her over. He said you might regret it, then laughed as he left to go transfer the call.

Here is what happened next…

ME: Hi, this is Tammy how can I help you?

CRAZY LADY: Who is this? (with a mean tone)

ME: This is Tammy, how can I help you?

CRAZY LADY: I want to speak to the Store Manager! (even more irritated)

ME: Ma’am, my name is Tammy and I’m the Store Manager how can I help you? (trying to stay as nice as I can)

CRAZY LADY: You can’t be the store manager! I want to speak to the store manager!

ME: Ma’am, I promise you I am the store manager, how can I help you tonight? (now I’m starting to laugh inside)

CRAZY LADY: What is your name again?

ME: Ma’am, my name is Tammy, what can I do for you?

CRAZY LADY: That isn’t your name! What is your real name?

ME: Ma’am, my real name is Tammy how can I help you?

CRAZY LADY: WHAT IS THE NAME ON YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!? (she punctuates each syllable in case I’m a little slow)

ME: (now a little irritated) Ma’am, my name is Tammy Adams and that is what is on my birth certificate. How can I help you today?

CRAZY LADY: Well you need to change it!

ME: (ok, I bite) Ma’am, why should I change it?

CRAZY LADY: No man is going to take you seriously with a name like that.

ME: (oh no you didn’t) Ma’am, I’ll keep that in mind, what can I do for you today? (before I say something I regret)

CRAZY LADY: You know, some people think I’m crazy, (some????) but I actually have an above average IQ. (you don’t say)

ME: That’s great, so ma’am what can I do for you today?

Twenty minutes into the call I learned she had a concern with the relocation of the store we were just starting. She felt the construction folks were about to create a massive catastrophe with the way they were building the berm for the dirt walls. I wont bore you with the rest of the story. But let’s just say this is how it ended….

CRAZY LADY: You know, you really should change your name.

ME: Yes ma’am, I’ll keep that in mind….

100% True Story – I Pinky Swear

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Thank you crazy lady, for giving me one of the best stories I get to tell through the years. And maybe, just maybe, this phone call helped reinforce my passion for what my name is.

~~~till we laugh again~~~

Do You Ever Feel Like You Are Talking To Yourself?

Do you ever feel like you are talking to yourself? Not the kind where you are the only one in the room and you really are talking to yourself. But the kind where you are looking at a person, speaking to them, finish the conversation, they nod then forget the entire conversation – type of talking to yourself?

First off, I know I am guilty of this at times. But normally it is due to someone just talking to get stuff off their chest and not really wanting me to memorize what they are saying. Or maybe it is my mom doing her daily rant on the phone and on my end all you hear is “uh huh”. (sorry mom, but you know I do this). I’ve been known to hang up the phone and not remember what the hour conversation consisted of. Not because I didn’t care, because I do, but really because it wasn’t the type of stuff I needed to recall in 15 min.

I’m referring to the type  of talking to yourself when you have told someone about 85 million times how to do something or not to do something but they act like it is the first time you have ever had this conversation. I get this all the time with the kids I work with. Maybe it is a teenager / young adult mentality. But I know better. I had this problem in previous jobs too with so called adults.

Tonight for example, I asked if something was done twice and was told yes (two different people). Then when I pointed out later that it still wasn’t completed (it was half done), I was told A) that that isn’t what I asked (I did for the record) and B) I explained for 2 years I’ve said it needed to be done by a certain time (which it wasn’t). I got a strange look like this was new. Which it wasn’t. I say it every single day.Everyday it seems to be a surprise. No matter which of these young folks I ask.

Sometimes I wonder if it is a mechanism the body uses of self denial that they couldn’t possibly be doing anything wrong. Because had I told them before, they surely would have rectified the behavior. Silly me thinking that after 2 years of me telling you to do something a certain way that at some point it just might stick in your noggin.

Then again, it also happens when I’m speaking directly to them and they turn away mid conversation and start doing something. I’m like, HEY, I”M STILL TALKING TO YOU.  They act like they are listening (which they aren’t). So I stop mid sentence and say – “Then what did I just say”. This is usually 40/60. Yep, 40% of the time they will shock me and at least heard part of what I said. (the part usually before they turned away from me). And even then, it will still be missing the key parts of the story/lecture/direction.

I’m not sure if this will ever change. I guess I’ll just have to keep talking to myself. It’s not like I have anything important to say. I’m just the one in charge. I think

Must be Karma. I really should listen to my mother more when she is telling me stuff.

 

~~~till we laugh again~~~

I Know She Just Didn’t Say What I Think She Said…

Those that know me know how much I pride myself on great customer service. Through the years I have preached not talk back or get into arguments with them. It’s not so much that the customer is always right; it’s more about providing great customer service. Some folks will have bad days. If a customer gets upset they are normally mad at the process or the company, not necessarily you so don’t take it personal. But there are some things I do not put up with and that is customers abusing my people. You can yell at me if you are mad, but not them. Besides, I’m way better at keeping my mouth shut when people piss me off. Well, let’s say I WAS good at keeping my mouth shut.

So, the other day, the following happened….

One of the joys of our ice cream shop is how we have 31 flavors (32 if you count them – we know you remind us every day smarty pants). Many people get flavor overload when trying to make a decision when faced with so many options. So we stand there for what feels like hours waiting for people to make a choice. It is painful to say the least. And often times it kills me just standing there when I have tons to do.

So, one of these wonderful moments were occurring the other day. This one lady and her friend were deciding. This one lady was taking F O R E V E R. Finally her friend realized it and said, “Hey, we need to decide, I’m sure she has other things she’d like to do vs waiting for us.” (awe, how nice of her).

To which her friend replied, “ITS HER JOB TO STAND THERE AND WAIT FOR US. THAT’S WHAT SHE GETS PAID TO DO.”.

NO SHE DIDN’T JUST SAY WHAT I THINK SHE SAID!

All my years of being good, left me in one minute. Before I knew it, the following left my mouth, “ No, it’s NOT my job to wait for you. I actually don’t have to wait at all. I CHOOSE to stand here waiting for you.”

She then said, “YES THEY PAY YOU TO STAND THERE.”

Now I’m not getting any happier in this situation as you can imagine. My well controlled smart ass continues to use its outside voice. “THEY, dont pay me anything, I own the place, I don’t have to WAIT for anyone. As I said, I CHOOSE to wait, now what would you like?”

Needless to say, her friend was very embarrassed, (she had no reason to be – not her fault her friend is a spoiled brat with no respect for others – especially those that are offering her their services).

The morale of the story boys and girls is this…

While yes you are paying for goods or a service, those that are helping you usually are trying to give you great service out of a desire to give you a great experience. There is no need to be rude to them when they are not rude to you. Yes there are rude service people out there. Fine, be rude back if they deserve it if you want, but there is no need for you to be rude to them when they are JUST DOING THEIR JOB as you say.  LOL.

Ok, maybe I let this get to me for no reason. Maybe I’ve worked too long with no time off. Maybe I was bored of waiting for her. Or maybe, just maybe – She was just a BITCH.

ROFL     :D

Dear Teenage Job Seeker

Through the years I have hired hundreds and hundreds of people. I’ve probably interviewed thousands. I have always been amazed at what I have seen. I have even offered my advice too many and now after spending two years watching teenagers walk into my store asking for jobs I feel it is important I share some key information with this demographic.

So here is my letter to the teenagers looking for a job:

Dear teenage or twenty somethinger,

Congratulations you are either looking for your first job or your next one of many. Either way, the advice I’m about to share is for you. As a business owner I think I speak for many others when I say the following:

First Impressions are very important.

–          Do you really need your posse of friends to escort you in? Is there safety in numbers?

–          Guys – Pull your freaking pants up! I do not need to see your cool boxers to determine if you will make a great fit for my team.

–          I understand wanting to have piercings but just so you know, the cool piercing in your nose, your cheeks, your tongue, or the big gauges in your ears  are not going to help you get a job serving the public. (Yesterday I had one with one in her nose, both her cheeks, under her lip and across her eyebrows – two words – OH MY!)

  • Special note on this one – I serve ice cream to kids, some of your piercings would scare the beegeebees about of the kiddies

–          Tattoos – while yes they are a works of art and they symbolize important things to you I’m pretty sure I’m not going to hire you with the naked women down your arm or the skull and cross bones on your neck.

  • See special note above about scaring the kiddies – not to mention freaking out the little tike’s mommy.

–          Attitude – Can you at least fake some enthusiasm? My lord some of you look miserable. I know its hot outside – but darn you look horrible. Its ice cream for Pete’s sake, it’s fun. If this is how you look wanting a job I’d hate to see what you look like after you get it.

  • But I understand – you’d rather be sitting on the couch playing your xbox but mommy and daddy made you go looking for a job (especially you twenty somethings that haven’t left home yet)

Time to cut the apron strings

–          You are the one I’m hiring, not your parents, so you need to be the one to come see me, to get the application, to fill it out. I’m not hiring mom or dad I’m hiring you. I don’t mind talking to them about it, but they can’t be the one to do all the work for you. It’s your butt that will be scooping the ice cream not theirs, so I want to talk to you.

  • PLEASE SHARE THIS TIP WITH YOUR PARENTS

Ok, this letter (and blog) is getting too long. I could go on and on. From not reading the application or maybe having an answer to a simple question like – Why do you want to work here? (HINT – know what store you are in before you open your mouth and words come out – look around first) But, for a moment I’m going to stop being a smart ass and give you some good advice once you’ve done all the above and this works for everyone who wants to get hired regardless of your age:

Persistence pays off.

Just because you have dropped off the application doesn’t mean you never have to come back again. Stop by each week and show me you really want to work there. The folks I’ve hired have shown me they really want to work there and I’ve gotten to know them by their weekly returns for a job. Show me what I’d be getting. Trust me, when I am hiring it is YOU I will remember first.

Thanks for reading this long ass post – not that anyone will listen – Afterall they ARE teenagers and we all know THEY already KNOW EVERYTHING so what do I know?

Silly me thinking that 25+ years means anything.

Till next time….

TTFN as Tigger would say

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