Survey Me

There are lots of different surveys out there. Every time you open a magazine it is asking you to take a quiz or survey to figure out if you and your mate are compatible, what your IQ is, what type of personality you have, etc. I have to admit I have filled out more of these than I care to admit. Which in my mind is surprising as I already know that my husband and I are compatible, I am a little OCD (quiet Sam) and I don't think anyone needs to know if I love hugs or kisses more.

Recently, I have been on the job hunt and have done surveys to tell me if I have taken the correct career path (I have) and then a couple of IQ ones which tell me I am smart....like I didn't know this one...no, I have not taken one to tell me if I am self-absorbed....I don't need a survey for that!

Today I was asked by a potential employer to take a survey based upon my management style and was a little surprised how a simple survey was correct. There is more, but I will save you the full detail and just provide the summary.
"Summary:

You are very thoughtful about what is right and fair for the people with whom you interact. Your communication style is highly persuasive and articulate. You are inclined to show an unselfish concern for the welfare of others which, when recognized, offers you a sense of accomplishment. At times you place ideals before practical considerations. You show strong devotion to the principles in which you believe. A great deal of action and variety in your environment appeals to you."

I guess I am not so self-absorbed after all...maybe I do need to take a survey:) I wish there were other surveys out there that could tell me other things like: what I want for dinner, where have all the good TV shows gone, is the design of the bathroom going to cause my husband to tear his hair out...you know..useful stuff. I do not need to know which Simpson's character I am most like, what my body type is or how long I will live.

So I guess, Like others I will have to wait for life's little surprises instead of awaiting the next survey to tell me how wonderful I truly am....after all that's what parents are for! Love you mom and dad:)

Where..oh where has all of the service gone?

I am never more angry shopping than when I walk into a store and not one person acknowledges you. The other week I went in search of a pair of jeans. This in itself was a depressing feat but off I went to inflict torture on myself. My goal was to search high and low and I didn't care how much they cost as long as they looked good. So off I went to a local shopping district where the stores are lined up and ready to hit. I went into three well known brand stores (Mexx, Calvin and Tommy) and out of these three stores I did not get greeted by one person. Not a nod, smile or even a simple "Hi".

I am not asking to be greeted like Blockbuster where you make a game of dodging the staff nor do I want to be hovered over like a furniture salesperson; but a simple acknowledgment would do. I must admit that this lack of customer service is becoming a trend. You would think that in a declining market stores would be pushing customer service to try to gain loyalty but I guess I am off this mark. Mind you, each of these stores I walked into had young ladies (I use this term loosely) behind the counter who seemed more interested in talking with each other about last nights events...and one of the stores the sales person was more interested in her book.

I would like to blame all of this on the X-generation but it is not so. I have gone into high end stores with older salesperson and until I literally dropped my purse and tried something on in the middle of the store (It was a blazer people I am not committing indecent exposure) before the salesperson moved away from the steam machine to acknowledge me. Once I even had a $300 dress in my hand and had to go search for a salesperson to let me into the dressing room. When I discovered I was the only person on the floor and the salesperson had abandoned me for her friend downstairs I put the dress back and went to another store who was more than willing to help me.

This has made a difference in my shopping habits as well. If I am looking for something specific I will go to particular stores I know do well with customer service(Laura, Tweed and Hickory and Samuel & Co.) and if not then I go some place where I can wander the aisle to browse without being bothered but can easily find a staff member to help and there is always someone stationed at the dressing room. ( I love Winners). Occasionally I have ventured to other stores as mentioned above and been sadly disappointed.

Retail is not the only place I have noticed the disappearing trend as I have been to some restaurants where I have waited for 20mins to get my drink order.

Now I also must let you know that I have been on the other side of this as well. I once worked in a retail store where we were to offer our name and assistance within the first three minutes and never let a customer carry anything, offer to put it in the dressing room. (I still shop at this store and the rule has not changed) BUT once I did forget a client in the dressing room until she came out and bought something.

I have also worked in a restaurant where I openly admit I was a horrible waitress and apologize to anyone who was ever my customer. I was always surprised when they left a tip as I was that bad. One time I waited on a couple who only had an appetizer and left me a $10 tip. I thought they had left the $10 there accidentally (again horrible waitress) so I caught up to them to give it back (I may have been horrible but I was honest) and she told me that she is used to people treating them differently as her husband was deaf and his speaking voice is not always clear so she was very pleased that I didn't treat him or her any differently. What I didn't tell you is that I didn't even notice he was deaf!

So while many of us have off days and not always on our game I believe we should lobby for the return of customer service. Then maybe I would pay $100 for a pair of jeans where the sales assistant makes a commission off of me and provides assistance instead of ignoring me. Soap box closed!

Feel the burn

In life there are many things you would like to "fix". Whether it be your weight or getting your husband to aim his dirty undies a little closer to the laundry basket. I have decided the latter is a life long project so I have decided my weight would be an easier task. But here is a little secret that makes this process harder...I HATE EXERCISE. There I said it, no matter how taboo it may be. I just don't get how people get up at the crack of dawn to go workout or go for a jog. They keep talking about the rush of endorphins you feel, but the only thing I feel is the need for a shower and my head examined.

Yet here I sit ready to go off to yoga. Some may say it is for relaxing the mind, body and soul, but I actually joined (along with my husband) to see the pure torture in his eyes as they try to bend and manipulate his body into forms it is not accustomed to. As usual though, the joke is on me as the intro class is all about strength and your core. The only core I have see in years is the one of an apple.

We have also decided that the weight bench at home is not a dust collector and my husband devised a workout plan which we have been doing for about a month now. Do I feel better and more energized? No, but now I do not have to rationalize eating another square as you know "I did work out today".

Let me also say that this is not my first adventure in working out. I have done a variety of exercises and discovered I like the ones that I don't consider exercise. Go figure. I like rowing, Kayaking, taking the dog for a walk and frolicking in the waves. unfortunately though, I am a fair weather girl. Should there be the slight chance of rain or chill in the air and I am OUT!

There are also lots of things in the world to discourage you from this weight loss goal. Like candy at the checkouts at the grocery store, air brushed models, hereditary and already fit friends. I was not blessed with the most desirable genes. It seems I was given a mishmash of all of the unwanted parts from my family. I did not get my mother's thin thighs and ample chest...no I got my grandmother's thick ankles and abundant hips and butt. JLo ain't got nothin' on me. So I am fighting a battle from the beginning...plus there are days when I just plain feel lazy and nothing is going to make me get up off of the couch.

A couple of years ago my husband got the bright idea we needed a new bathroom scale (speaking from the man who runs around the block and looses 5 lbs..urgh!) Now most people would go out and buy a run of the mill scale...but oh no we needed one to tell us how fat we were...like I needed help in this category. The day it arrived my husband hopped on it after filling in his height, activity level and age...only for the scale to tell him that at 6' and 174lbs ...he was obese. There was no way I was going near that evil piece of machinery unless it was with a sledge hammer.

So here I sit, breathing in and out and still able to see my toes in plain view so I would say I am doing OK. I may never be a 10 ...more like a 6 maybe 7...but I am OK with being a "C" student!