Annie Use Your Telescope, Jack's Mannequin

As most of you know I work for a national market publisher helping customers order books they want and untangle their orders (aka messes) placed on the web.

With this busy time of year I have encountered some odd situations and thought they might help you in case it ever happens to you:

• Local Public Television station calls to order DVD's we publish for their local telethon. I inform their representative that the title is out of print and that we are sold out. She immediately gets disgruntled and asks how she is supposed to show the presentation in a week and tell her subscribers that the show is not available as a gift with a donation. I let her know she can try calling our corporate office to make arrangements. Under her breath she mentions how lame of a company we are. Since when was it our problem that you decided not to prepare in advance and make sure that the DVD was available. Good thing I donate to the "other" station!
  

• "Okay let me just pull up your account... Is this Tonya Lastname?" "No sir, it's TAN-YAH, the o is pronounced like an 'A' but spelled with an 'O." I think she decided in first grade that she needed to be annoyingly different aka "My name is Sa5M, the five is silent."

• Within the past 3 weeks I have been asked several times what country I am from because it sounds like an British accent with a splash of southern hospitality. When I inform them I from the Jello state, they say that is so odd. One particular customer said it was probably because I have good diction and differing tone. "Thanks for the compliment???"
  

Enjoy these moments and check back tomorrow because it will be my annual giveaway, and this prize will help one of you all year long... guaranteed or you money back!

Happy, Natasha Bedingfield

It is interesting how one little thing can tip our emotional scales. At work this happened yesterday, and today I can laugh about it, but at the time I got fairly upset.

So three lessons:

1) If someone is literally yelling at you on the phone, do not call them hostile. It just makes them mad, even if you emphasize the fact that you really are trying to help. Try other words that could not be so offensive. Thankfully he apologized for his behavior, and then I had to as well.

2) If you want someone in customer service to be extra nice and help you (even if the problem is your fault), be nice and cheery. I always laugh to think about the perks and bonuses my friend has gotten because he works and jokes with the Customer Service Rep. My friend is very good at this, so good that he can get additional discounts from Sprint, Disney Reps, and concert promoters!

3) I have long decided that the reason why Natasha Bedingfield and Brandy are successful is because their music is well written and clean. Both are artists that one should pick up... especially the new Brandy CD!

World, Hold On by Bob Sinclair feat Steve Edwards

Its official. I have been on vacation, mostly in my head.

The past week I have hoped that Global Warming is taking its toll on the Earth, because I am enjoying it's warmth! Today was incredible, and almost made me put off life's responsibilities so that I could bask in it.

On campus, I took as much time as I could to bask in the sun. This included talking the long way to class and walking slowly. I would have liked to eat outside, but I had to get to work.

Also today I had the thought that maybe I should become a lifeguard this summer. It's always been a dream of mine, and I think it could be super fun, while achieve the laguna complexion.

Also I had an odd experience happen at work, As I was talking on the phone with a customer, she wondered if it was appropriate to ask a question. Being an open person, and willing to answer anything asked, I said yes. She then asked what country I was from because I had a beautiful accent. I described my residency in Utah, and that it was a country in it's self. She laughed and described my accent as sounding Southern, with a hint of Australian or British tone to it. I almost died, because I really wish I had an accent... except not southern. I know that when I get frustrated or "Norah Jones Pissed," I will slip into a southern accent.... Odd I know.