Aaaaaaand they’re off! …

This is the latest line from Steve to have me completely losing it at work. Thing is, the break bell in the plant next door (also piped quite loudly through the cafeteria area, unfortunately) sounds exactly like the gate release bell at horse races.

Work is going quite well, I must say. I’m learning the ropes. There’re always more ropes to learn when you think you might be getting it, but they are much fewer and farther between. They take me by surprise now, to be honest.

“Please hold, Sergeant: I’ll ask about that right now. …”

“Ah … Jesse?…”

“Yeah, babe…”

Whaddya do if the cust received an item back in May, stored it away for future use, and is only now claiming that it might possibly have been damaged because the box was wet when he received it — and it’s a cartridge — and Office Max doesn’t take cartridges back, do they?”

“Yes, they do.”

“Oh good. So I can get an ATR (authorized to return) on this and…”

“Ummmm… Are you still working on #IB145399?”

“Yes.”

*Sigh* “That ink cart is from United Stationers … not Office Max … in which case … I’m not sure…”

Sigh is right.

In good news, my boss’s boss took me out to lunch on Friday. (Take a Lowly E-Commerce Peep to Lunch Day, I guess). But it was really nice. He took me to P.F. Chang’s because I’d never been there and I adore Chinese! He then proceeded to order two appetizers (lettuce wraps and crab Rangoon) because I couldn’t decide. I had the ginger chicken with broccoli (had to include all that because — ahhhemmm — some of you — would have asked because you’re *cough*freakishly-obsessed-with-what-people-are-eating-at-any-given-moment*cough* !

Anyhoo. He predictably asked all the “How are you liking it? — How do you feel about frustrated customers? — Where do you see yourself in the future with the company?”-type questions: the answers to which, he was very understanding and supportive of. He didn’t even flinch when I said I’d like to travel in the future and do sales. (I think he was hoping I’d mention sales and marketing, actually, because he jumped immediately into his plans for the future of our department — which included selling!! And commissions!! And he did say “There’s plenty of travel involved in that line” … YAY

I always hesitate when asked things like that, because the president of the company said a few promising things when interviewing me for the job that turned out to be more sparkle than substance when I took the position. What if ‘e-commerce would be a temporary position’ proved to be another fake out? But with this guy, I did feel free to go ahead and have out with the insinuation that although I would be content in customer service for a couple of years, I didn’t want to retire having done nothing but sort out and smooth over customer/supplier relations my whole career. And he wasn’t at all surprised. So, I feel quite good!

The weekend was crazed! My parents came to celebrate Steve and Laurie’s birthdays (two days apart, they are). We went to Ling’s (yyyyum … More Chinese!). Ling’s will be the site of the rehearsal dinner as well, and we needed to approve the menu.

Laurie’s maid of honor and I decided to go with Laurie’s tailor for our final gown alterations, so we went as a group Saturday morning. I’m evidently a bit thinner than I was when buying the dress (I’m in 8 territory now, and loving the view!), so enough about my pizza and Chinese already! I get out. I walk. I play with Chutney, and I run all the way to the vending machines at work at least twice a day. Back up off this. And that’s that.

And then, there’s Laurie! … Can’t say too much more than that (because STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVE is reading this! LOL) — All he’s allowed to know is that Laurie’s get-up has more buttons than the old lady in the cardigan behind the switchboard at Grand Central Station …

Speaking of buttons … I have a new obsession. A new and blazing desire — and it’s all Laurie’s fault. But really, it’s Steve’s, because he took Laurie to Goldi to begin with. (I was along for the ride) Goldi is a high-end discount boutique on Oakland Ave. I guess they’re kind of known for three things: women’s clothing, cool bling for your house, and … and SHOES!!

And there’s this line of cass heels called Indigo from Clark’s of England! SO. FRIGGIN.’ KYUUUUUUTE! The ones we liked (and Steve was going to get her for her birthday) are called Mademoiselle. They were soft leather with an eligant heel and a double row of velvet stitching. They had tread, I tell you, and a darling little button on the front. These babies were all that was fashionable in fashion, plus all that is preferred in comfort. But they didn’t have her size. They had mine … and they were $74 … and I was THIS close to utter happiness … and then I remembered who I was and what was and was not in the bank. *sigh* But they were shoes! And they were, and still are, absolutely perfect.

I love my dad.

Dad, at dinner: “Did you know anyone when you went to that other church?”

Sas: “Yeah.”

Dad: “Like who?”

Sas: “Like Cindy Weihearst, and this guy, Dustin …”

Dad (suddenly intense): “Dustin, huh? Who’s Dustin?”

Sas: “Some guy from Maranatha. He’s really cool.”

Dad: “Oooooooh. How old is he?”

Sas: “My age … but Dad … “

Dad: “There ya go.”

Sas: “Dad. He was kicked out of Maranatha for @&@*$$&#.”

Dad: “Your age? Sarah, you should get to know this guy.”

Sas “Did you not just hear … “

Dad: “You know, I was a rebel, too, in college … Only I left of my own ‘free will’ – Pardon the pun.”