*Well, the beginning of November started off with a bang... okay, so it was more like a screeching of brakes as our highlander was getting repossessed at 8:00 in the morning. We knew it would happen, so it wasn't SO traumatic. Funny part was when the tow-truck guy called a few minutes after leaving to see if we wanted to get anything out of it and if he could come pick up the keys. I know it's their policy since people can get really hostile over such an event, but it made us laugh. Thankfully, my parents have graciously let us borrow my dad's retired work van. It has been a godsend... even if it only gets ten miles to the gallon. It's better than a bike!!
*We hosted Thanksgiving dinner for both sides of our family again this year. It was a lot of fun! So much food. Maybe next year we won't start off with chips and salsa and guacamole and deviled eggs and actually save room for the turkey and fixins. The best part of the night was when we all got together for Catch Phrase. My favorite word was Lick!
*We then decided to participate in the midnight shopping on Black Friday. The only reason for this was to get the $50 gift cards the mall was offering if you shopped before 3 AM. Unfortunately we got in line a little too late to get them. It was fun to say we did it, but we will never do it again unless we KNOW there is a CRAZY-GOOD sale on something we DEFINITELY want.
*Ammon and I were in charge of our ward Christmas party. We prepared for 250 people and were not disappointed! The young men and young women were our waiters and they did a great job (and extra Kudos to all who helped out in the kitchen above and beyond the call of duty). The primary children preformed a little nativity scene which we missed because of backstage duties, but overall I got rave reviews from attendees.
*We put up our Christmas decorations the other day, and the Dr. Seuss tree is back. Every year we have talked about getting a new topper for our tree, one that is less overwhelming for our 30-year-old fake fir. But then, when we see the adorable crookedness, we just don't have the heart.
*And now, I have three stories that show just how frustrating people can be... (sarcastic sigh) Ahhh... working retail at Christmas:
STORY #1: A lady came into the store with a toy we sell called a Rody. It's basically a Donkey version of the balls that have a handle that you bounce around on. (Google "Rody bouncing horse" to see a visual). Anyway, she had purchased the toy for her son and wanted to return it. She claimed that he kept falling off of it and she just didn't want him to play with it anymore. Firstly, it is a bouncing item for kids under three... don't ya think a kid might fall off of it occasionally? Secondly, we have a demo in the store that kids can ride on. We encourage kids between 1 and 3 to try it out... helps to sell it. Thirdly, all of our receipts say that we don't take back anything that is opened unless it is defective. So when I told her our return policy she refused to believe it was on the receipt (which was taped to the box that she had brought Rody back in). When I showed it to her, she said, "well, then its defective". I said, "What's wrong with it?" She replied, "It won't stay inflated". I was pretty sure she was just making this up to get her money back, so I told her, "Well, ma'am we will have to do some rigorous testing to make sure it is defective before I can give you a full refund." She was so desparate to save face she said, "Fine". I took her information and she left. My manager pumped that little guy up and we squeezed the Hee-haw out of him, but he was still fine after four days. The moral of this story is: People will do anything to not be caught in a lie
Story #2: I am often by myself when I work, which wasn't a problem until a few weeks ago. The other day, it was a busier time. I was gift wrapping while trying to answer a question for someone as well as greet all of the random people that come in the store. Then a younger gal comes walking toward me from the back of the store and says, "Um, one of the kids I'm watching just had an accident on the floor, so there's like a puddle of pee back there." I start to ask, "Would you like some paper towels or a mop or whatever to clean it up?" BUT she turns around and snaps at the kids to get out of the store NOW. No offer to clean up. No request for the closest bathroom. Not even an attempt to dry the poor little girl off!!! NOTHING!!! She proceeded to point the kids out the store without an apology, so I'm left to clean up the mess. The moral of this story: PEOPLE ARE SICK!!
Story #3: I middle-aged woman came in the other day shopping for something for a 5 year old and 8 year old and needed ideas. We pointed her in the right directions, and I eventually noticed she was accompanied by some mentally handicapped teenagers (they had been close by, but I didn't realize they were with her at first), apparently she was their teacher or aid. After she had picked out some things, I asked her who they were for. She pulled one of the girls over and said, "This little girl's cousins in Seattle had a terrible house fire and lost everything including all of their Christmas presents. I wanted to do what I can for them." The moral of this story: There are Angels among us.
