may i help you?

I am not big on shopping, but when I do it I usually leave the store mildly annoyed. What has happened to customer service today? It seems to have gone to two extremes and neither one makes for a pleasant shopping experience.

The first is the overly-helpful-to-the-point-of-phony-enthusiastic-"can I help you" type that feels like an overly needy lover that does not give you an inch of space. They greet you with a too cheerful "Hello, hi, how are you? Can I help you find anything?" before you even pass the first overpriced item. Um, ease up there, Cowboy, I just got here. "Well, my name is Charles and let me know if you need any help?" (feigning weak smile of acknowledgement in hopes that he doesn't approach me again to start a "conversation" about the latest "hot item" that they just got in, exclusively to their store. (Hey, didn't I see that in the last overpriced boutique?)

The other is the cooler-than-thou sales associate that cannot be bothered to even give you a hello when you have entered the store and are standing in front of a high priced item trying to figure out what features brand B has, that A is missing. Or the coffee shop where they'll get your order together but will not actually hand it to you until you interrupt their conversation about which new lousy band has more relevance in today's political atmosphere. Then they push your order into reach with a look of annoyance on their face. (Yeah, have a nice day and both those bands suck and have no relevance to anything.) When did it change that you have to look like you fit into a certain role in order to get good customer service? Apparently, I am just not cool enough to expect decent service, and you have the nerve to put a tip jar on the counter? For shame!

Yes, I know there are people who take some pride in their jobs and provide truly good service, and I always give kudos to those that do (especially since many customers are rude and obnoxious). I wish I could have had a taste of the days when customer service was in it's heyday. When you could walk into an establishment and the people there knew you by name and were truly glad to see you and help you get what you want. And you, Mr Customer, were happy to come back again and again, not just for their quality wares, but for the friendly smile and, yes...quality customer service. I long for this.

donations, please

There was a sweet story (pun intended) from the AP about an elderly woman in Maine who was quoted in a previous news story about high fuel costs effect on the elderly in which she had mentioned that her vice was an occasional chocolate bar. After the first article ran, people and companies, including Hershey Company, began sending her tons of chocolate. In the current article she explains that she had so much, she shared with others since she could not enjoy it unless she was able to share (and a person could only eat so much chocolate).

This made me wonder, if I penned my own article here about my vices, if people and corporations would start sending me things as well. It is worth a try, so here is my 'chocolate':

My vices in no particular order are: 1. wonderful new people entering my life and old friends returning, well, because I collect good people, too. 2. health, fitness and yoga buddies 3. fresh organic foods to share with good company 4. a sense of balance, goodness and groundedness 5. love, love and more love 6. humor, laughter and joy 7. a group of people to get together periodically to make crafts for fun, drink coffee and talk about life. I think I will stop my list here....do not want to appear selfish ;)

So there you have it, my vices. Anyone want to 'donate'?

ring it in

Here we are, folks, in a new year. 2008. Write your checks correctly. I rang in the new year similar to last...with a wicked cold making my nose all snuffily and my body achy. Sat on the couch wrapped in a warm new christmas gift blanket (thanks Paul and Joanne!!!), sweatshirt and scarf lovingly knitted by Greg :). As my Italian grandmother always did, we had money in our hands at the stroke of midnight to welcome prosperity into our lives. This year I additionally held some Emergen-C, a piece of paper with a heart and a polished stone. Wealth, Health, Love and being grounded.

Since I make a habit of setting goals for myself throughout the year, I do not come up with New Year's Resolutions. I prefer instead let go of things from the previous year. I learned this tradition from a peer of mine that studied at Naropa University. Her name is Sonny and she is a Lakota Indian, an amazing woman, a survivor and a beautiful person all around. Since ritual and tradition can be an important component of well being, she shared with the class a tradition that her tribe practices. Keep in mind, I am not versed in Lakota tradition so this is a very abridged version. Basically what we did was write down things from the previous year that we want to let go. This is personal and not shared with anyone. We then burned the paper and the idea is that the things we want to let go of goes up with the smoke and a Lakota spirit (an eagle, I believe) flies down and takes them away. You then bury the ashes in soil and grow a plant or flower in it. Then you can move into the new year letting go of the things that hold you back and something new grows from the intention. Having done this a couple of times, I find it very freeing and a ritual I plan on doing again this week. I have used this also when I was going through some difficult times. My mother had come to Colorado to stay with me for a few days for support. I shared this idea with her and we did the ritual ourselves. We then added writing down what we wish for each other in the coming year. Truly helpful indeed.

Whatever you want to work towards in 2008 or let go of from the past, I wish you all Health, Wealth, Love and a Sense of Groundedness.

Namaste, Shanti and Cheers,

Melissa

bullet shots

Sir Roger Bannister
Originally uploaded by misslissa13

It's been a few days, eh? Well, I have been able to get a couple of solid night's sleep and the back is a bit straighter. Things have been going well. And now, without further ado, some more thoughts/updates in bullet format:

• I watched a single guy on a tandem bike peddle down the street earlier. If I was outside, I would have asked if I could go for a spin around the park.
• I went up to Somerville/Cambridge Massachusetts yesterday. Saw Rich and "Framingham Pete" (Guess I have to change his name since they moved). Got some "for the heck of it" pictures like "Sir Roger Bannister" to the right. Had a delicious veggie burger and fries at The Druid Pub, and a cup of probably the best handmade pistacchio ice cream ever at Christina's. (Beware of the ice cream nazi if you go there. Once you pay it's "Move now, keep going" )
• Can anybody tell me what the heck that thing is on the ceiling of the Druid? [see my flickr page to see "it"]
• I am excited that Greg is researching schools of acupuncture. I would love to see him study something that would bring him to find fulfilling life work. He would be an amazing professional healer, too.
• I have my advisory meeting coming up this week at school. I can then register for classes and plot out my studies. I love school, you have no idea!
• The basil plant is finally starting to grow to a usable size and the tomato plants smell heavenly.
• I am going to make some baked ziti with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach tonight.
• I should get back to cleaning the apartment. (I will in a little while since I am enjoying this little bout of writing.)
• When the space is clean, my thoughts are so much more focused. It will also make it conducive for creativity.
• The air is so much more comfortable today than it has been in a couple of weeks. This really helps elevate my mood.
• I am going to sign up for a 5K happening on September 16th. I just have to check my schedule to make sure there would be no conflicts. This would be my first official race.
• I still want to run the Bolder Boulder 10k one day. These are personal goals, I'm not looking to win any awards, just the satisfaction of participating and completing them.
• I will get to see friends and family next week when we are "on Island" as opposed to "in" Island. Woo-hoo!
• The tenants downstairs are moving out. I guess there will be less nights of smelling marijuana wafting up through the floorboards and no more screaming matches/banging on the windows to listen to in the middle of the night. Of course, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. Next tenants could be worse. Let's hope not!
• I am still searching for a second job to help pay the bills. Human services does not pay all that well monetarily, so I am looking for a simple part-time job that can work around my full-time one. Anyone who knows of anything in or around RI, please let me know. As long as it doesn't require me to provide therapy. Forty hours a week of that is enough, I don't want to burn out.
• I would love to live in a yurt.
• Earlier, I talked to my best friend, Bernadette, and my goddaughter, Lily, on the phone. That always makes me happy.
• The sound of zippers makes me think of my winter coat being zipped up and getting to go out and play in the snow as a kid. We would build snow caves and snowmen, make snow angels and sled on the tiny hill in our family's backyard (right into the pool fence). Ah, good times, good times!
• My thoughts have been on moving again. Maybe to our own home (or yurt). I still long for a yard, and maybe even a washer/dryer/dishwasher equipped place. Ah, to dream!

Well, those are all the random thoughts for now. It is high time I get myself away from the computer and back to ziti making and apartment cleaning. Thanks for reading and please shop again!