There were 4 employees with the same first name at the office supply store. Three of them were managers and the other was a former manager. Their first name was a common name but the funny thing was that their last names were in order of the alphabet: J.A., J.B., J.C., & J.D.
It was always a confusing day when all of them were there together and we had to refer to them by the first letter of their last name. There could not have been more of a difference between them. Everyone had their favorite J and their least favorite J.
J.A.
J.A. was a previous manager. He was very hard working and you could tell that the job was slowly but surely killing him. The fact that he once was a manager meant that he really couldn't make any mistakes but on the other end he wasn't a manager and when he went out of his way to help, the rest of the associates were puzzled. "Why is he working so hard?"
He had another job and only worked weekends at the office supply store but he acted as if that was his only means of income. He was constantly running around, sweating and just being genuinely helpful. There are a lot of stories about J.A.'s personal life that I can neither confirm nor deny.
The best way to describe J.A. would be the underdog in a movie. You want him to win so badly but you know that there is something about him, maybe a personal demon or a family crises, that seems to be hindering his progress. It was a possibility that he was really creepy or that he was a total shut in who lived with his mom. Either way no one really knows. He kept his personal life to himself mostly and anything negative you hear is just a story (very juicy stories though. I might actually write about them because it got pretty nasty).
J.B.
We should all know J.B. by now. As a manager he was one of the "cool" managers because he was young. He was the same age as myself at the time, 19, and because he was more foul mouthed than our other managers, he wasn't so bad to be around.
That is until he opened his mouth. He let "tech manager" go straight to his head. He talked down to a lot of the employees even thought most of us were the same age or older than him. We really weren't quite sure what to make of J.B. On one hand he was the young, cool, funny manager. On the other hand he was power hungry, racist, a horn dog and a kiss ass to the store manager. For every good quality in J.B. there were five bad ones. He could've made you laugh extremely hard only to be followed by him trying to get into your pants, saying the president should be shot, tattling on you for a mistake that you made, wielding a false sense of authority and disrespecting his girlfriend.
J.B. was his own kind of a guy. I've never met anyone like J.B. before in my life. He truly is one of a kind. To me he will always be the cowboy boot wearing, death metal listening, gun toting, cheating republican who I once was forced to consider an authority figure.
J.C.
J.C. was the J that I disliked the most. He was old, mean and just really seemed to hate his job. He was a manager but he desperately didn't want to be a manager and due to the store being so understaffed all of the time he continued on as a manager until they could find a replacement(something that never happened).
J.C. was mean from the first moment I met him. He told me a few hours into my first shift to take a 15 minute break in the break room and by the time I found it he came to find me to tell me that my break was too long. He also once told me that he wished my department, the copy center, didn't exist. He thought it was just space that could be used to make the store a lot less congested and thinks "the whole damn place needs to be shut down."
I could move past the fact that that he was a grumpy old man. I could even let it slide that he basically wanted me out of a job if they closed down my department. My biggest issue with him was disrespect. I currently am a manager and I treat all of my employees with the same respect. Sometimes I'm a smart ass about it but I would never not help them or try to make their work any harder. J.C. gave no shits about the copy center and he made it a point to throw a monkey wrench in the works whenever he could.
There was one instance where I was so mad at J.C. that I wanted to shake him. I was the only one working at the copy center and I had an entire counter of people. The store was basically empty with the exception of the people at the copy center. I was so swamped that one of my customers thanked me for my work but said she would go over to the other registers to get rung up for her copies because she could see how busy I was. When she got over to the registers J.C. walked up to her and told her that his section of the store will not ring her up and she needs to go back over to the copy center.
The customer pleaded with him letting him know that she just wants to pay for her copies and not be a bother to me because I had six people waiting at the counter and four people needing help at the self-serve machines. He still refused and she was forced to come back to the copy center to ring up. As I was running back and forth I stopped to see her at the counter once again.
Working Girl: Is something wrong with your copies?
Woman: No. The manager over there is refusing to let any of the copy customers ring up over there. He said I had to come back here.
I was livid. I couldn't believe he stopped this woman from ringing up with someone other than myself knowing that I had every customer in that store and there was no one to help me. I let him know how unprofessional that was and he shrugged his shoulders like he didn't care.
From that point on I completely ignored J.C. I only spoke to him when spoken to and I refused to ring up any of his customers since he basically drew a line in the sand. J.C. died about a year and some change after that due to an in-store incident. I wish that all of my stories regarding J.C. weren't negative and that we could've seen eye to eye on something before he passed but we were too different to ever be on the same side.
J.D.
J.D. was an import. He was a buffer manager. He was put in our store for a few days until the company could place him in a permanent store. The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months until J.D. was actually considered a part of our staff. He was the J that spent the least amount of time there but the best one to be around. He was a fairly young guy who relocated from one of the Dakotas with his pregnant wife. She was funny and gave us an insight into who he truly was. I tortured J.D. with my jokes and he just shot them right back at me. He didn't take offense to anything anyone said and could ride the fence between manager and buddy very well. He was a great guy. He finally was put in a permanent location not too far from our store. Even though he spent less than 4 months as our manager he was a real joy to have around. He could go toe to toe with the best (ME) and still be completely professional.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Lydia Gorham
Have you ever met someone who is determined to have a bad day? The type of person who is so secretly unhappy that she has to make her day AND your day the worst she can? Well I have. Her name is Lydia Gorham.
Lydia Gorham walked into our lives at the hotel on a Sunday evening and the next morning is when we realized she was "one of those guests." By that I mean she was a problem from the time she checked in.
Lydia: Hi, I need a room for tonight.
Banana: Okay, the rate is $149.
Lydia: I need to see the room first.
Banana: Okay, I can show you a room on the first floor.
Lydia: I don't want to be on the first floor.
Banana: I understand, but in order for me to show you a room I have to show you one on the first floor. It doesn't necessarily mean you will be in that room.
Lydia: But I want to see MY room.
Banana: If you don't want to be on the first floor then you won't be seeing YOUR room but all of our rooms are the same.
Lydia: Well why can't you just give me a key?
And it continued like that for about some time.
The next morning she had complaint after complaint
"The smoke detector has a little flashing light. It was very hard to sleep with that light flashing so I got up and wrapped a towel around it to sleep. It was quite the inconvenience."
*Side Note: Yes, smoke detectors do have a flashing light. The light is the size of the head of a ballpoint pen. If that disrupted her sleep than she must sleep with her eyes open staring at the smoke detector.*
"You guys don't have whole milk? I only drink whole milk."
"I hate your coffee. It says it is Starbucks coffee. It is not."
"Your elevator smells like urine"
"If you want to keep my business you should comp my room because my stay was horrible."
We didn't comp her stay...she came back the next week.
During her second stay she didn't make any complaints about the room and even complimented the coffee. Everything was fine until all hell broke loose. As I sat in my office I heard my housekeeping manager yelling my name and then yelling at Lydia Gorham. I come out of my office.
Lydia: I'm on the computer and she is washing dishes and it is loud. I don't understand why she has to wash dishes.
Working Girl: It is her job.
Lydia: I understand that but I am paying money to stay here and she needs to stop or close the door.
Working Girl: The kitchen itself is normally 80 degrees. The dishwasher reaches 400 degrees. She cannot close the door.
Lydia: But I don't care I want her to stop. At least for 15 minutes
Working Girl: I will tell her to pause for 15 minutes. When 15 minutes is up she will start washing dishes the same exact way she was washing them before. You have 15 minutes.
She stayed on the computer for 30 minutes and then got up and checked out. Before she checked out an older couple who is staying at the hotel came through the lobby. We were all friendly with one another. When Lydia checked out she asked me "Why are you guys so nice to them? What's the point?"
That's 2 points in the Bitch column. Now to win the game...
Her third stay, which came two weeks after her second stay, is when she lost her mind. She started bullying the other guests because we are generally nicer to them than we are to her.
There was a woman staying at the hotel with her 2 children, both of her children are special needs. When the woman was getting on the elevator in which Lydia Gorham was getting off, Lydia turned to the woman.
Lydia: Fucking Bitch!
Then walked away. There was no reason for that. Two people in passing saying nothing to one another does not call for an insane person to turn to the other and degrade her.
After Lydia got off the elevator she walked over to the front desk.
Lydia: Why do you let those type of people stay here? It's really bad for business. This isn't Section 8 housing. It's a hotel.
That comment, and her previous antics, got her put on the "DO NOT RENT TO" list. The list that only the most disgusting of human beings get the chance to make.
There is a special place in Hell for people like Lydia Gorham.
Lydia Gorham walked into our lives at the hotel on a Sunday evening and the next morning is when we realized she was "one of those guests." By that I mean she was a problem from the time she checked in.
Lydia: Hi, I need a room for tonight.
Banana: Okay, the rate is $149.
Lydia: I need to see the room first.
Banana: Okay, I can show you a room on the first floor.
Lydia: I don't want to be on the first floor.
Banana: I understand, but in order for me to show you a room I have to show you one on the first floor. It doesn't necessarily mean you will be in that room.
Lydia: But I want to see MY room.
Banana: If you don't want to be on the first floor then you won't be seeing YOUR room but all of our rooms are the same.
Lydia: Well why can't you just give me a key?
And it continued like that for about some time.
The next morning she had complaint after complaint
"The smoke detector has a little flashing light. It was very hard to sleep with that light flashing so I got up and wrapped a towel around it to sleep. It was quite the inconvenience."
*Side Note: Yes, smoke detectors do have a flashing light. The light is the size of the head of a ballpoint pen. If that disrupted her sleep than she must sleep with her eyes open staring at the smoke detector.*
"You guys don't have whole milk? I only drink whole milk."
"I hate your coffee. It says it is Starbucks coffee. It is not."
"Your elevator smells like urine"
"If you want to keep my business you should comp my room because my stay was horrible."
We didn't comp her stay...she came back the next week.
During her second stay she didn't make any complaints about the room and even complimented the coffee. Everything was fine until all hell broke loose. As I sat in my office I heard my housekeeping manager yelling my name and then yelling at Lydia Gorham. I come out of my office.
Lydia: I'm on the computer and she is washing dishes and it is loud. I don't understand why she has to wash dishes.
Working Girl: It is her job.
Lydia: I understand that but I am paying money to stay here and she needs to stop or close the door.
Working Girl: The kitchen itself is normally 80 degrees. The dishwasher reaches 400 degrees. She cannot close the door.
Lydia: But I don't care I want her to stop. At least for 15 minutes
Working Girl: I will tell her to pause for 15 minutes. When 15 minutes is up she will start washing dishes the same exact way she was washing them before. You have 15 minutes.
She stayed on the computer for 30 minutes and then got up and checked out. Before she checked out an older couple who is staying at the hotel came through the lobby. We were all friendly with one another. When Lydia checked out she asked me "Why are you guys so nice to them? What's the point?"
That's 2 points in the Bitch column. Now to win the game...
Her third stay, which came two weeks after her second stay, is when she lost her mind. She started bullying the other guests because we are generally nicer to them than we are to her.
There was a woman staying at the hotel with her 2 children, both of her children are special needs. When the woman was getting on the elevator in which Lydia Gorham was getting off, Lydia turned to the woman.
Lydia: Fucking Bitch!
Then walked away. There was no reason for that. Two people in passing saying nothing to one another does not call for an insane person to turn to the other and degrade her.
After Lydia got off the elevator she walked over to the front desk.
Lydia: Why do you let those type of people stay here? It's really bad for business. This isn't Section 8 housing. It's a hotel.
That comment, and her previous antics, got her put on the "DO NOT RENT TO" list. The list that only the most disgusting of human beings get the chance to make.
There is a special place in Hell for people like Lydia Gorham.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Sold Out
Sold Out. It's a common phrase in customer service. It's also a phrase that turns a completely sane person into a screaming, profanity using, psychotic lunatic. But it makes for a good story to tell.
Crayons
At the office supply store 'Back to School' was the biggest time of the year. It's when the store made the most money and when we were the busiest. Because we were so busy, unfortunately the copy center had to help ring up the customers.
A little note about back to school is that there is always a sale. Even if the sale is shitty, it's still a sale. The biggest thing for the store were the crayons. Each box of crayons was one penny. Granted, they weren't Crayola crayons but since a five year old is only going to draw with them or eat them, they really wouldn't know the difference.
Due to the fact that crayons were so cheap, they went fast. They went on sale weeks before 'back to school' actually happened. People who worked in hospitals, teachers, and parents with way too many kids were coming to the store in droves. Obviously we sold out of crayons instantly (even with the 10 per customer limit) and when back to school night actually happened, all hell broke loose.
Working Girl/All Other Employees: We're SOLD OUT.
I feel as if when we said "sold out" time had started to move much more slowly and our voices became distorted in the customers eyes. Soooooold ooooouuuutttttt.
Customer #1: What do you mean you're sold out?
Customer #2: Do you have more in the back?
Customer #3: Well why would it be advertised if you were sold out?
*Side Note: An advertisement for a corporation with over 100 locations is not specific to just 1 location. People never seem to understand that.
Customer #4: When is your next shipment?
Customer #5: Oooh Oooh Oooh AH AH!!! (begins to throw feces)
If something is sold out then it is sold out. No amount of begging, pleading, cursing or screaming is going to make 1000 boxes of penny crayons appear.
No Room At The Inn
As a hotel employee, if you work in a nice enough hotel, you will say the phrase 'We're Sold Out' at least 10 times in a 2 month span. At my hotel, we say it at least 10 times a day. That does not go over well with people.
Working Girl/All Other Employees: We're SOLD OUT.
Customer #1: Really?
Customer #2: Why?
Customer #3: WELL WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW!?
Customer #4: But I just called 3 hours ago.
Customer #5: Are you sure?
Customer #6: What about just 1 bed?
Customer #7: So you don't have ANY rooms?
Customer #8: I just saw that you have rooms online.
Customer #9: Well do you think someone will cancel right now?
Customer #10: FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK!!!
This is not an exaggeration. These are all things potential guests have either said to me, one of my coworkers or one of my employees in person or over the phone. People do not like you to be sold out.
It's a weird concept. You want to stay in a nice hotel that obviously other people want to stay in as well but yet you don't want the hotel to ever have enough guests to sell out. If a hotel never sells out, the hotel must not be all that great.
Hotels with rooms for $500 a night sell out because they are nice hotels and people are willing to pay that much for everything they offer. There are some hotels with rooms for $50 a night and they have availability. Why do you think that is?
Crayons
At the office supply store 'Back to School' was the biggest time of the year. It's when the store made the most money and when we were the busiest. Because we were so busy, unfortunately the copy center had to help ring up the customers.
A little note about back to school is that there is always a sale. Even if the sale is shitty, it's still a sale. The biggest thing for the store were the crayons. Each box of crayons was one penny. Granted, they weren't Crayola crayons but since a five year old is only going to draw with them or eat them, they really wouldn't know the difference.
Due to the fact that crayons were so cheap, they went fast. They went on sale weeks before 'back to school' actually happened. People who worked in hospitals, teachers, and parents with way too many kids were coming to the store in droves. Obviously we sold out of crayons instantly (even with the 10 per customer limit) and when back to school night actually happened, all hell broke loose.
Working Girl/All Other Employees: We're SOLD OUT.
I feel as if when we said "sold out" time had started to move much more slowly and our voices became distorted in the customers eyes. Soooooold ooooouuuutttttt.
Customer #1: What do you mean you're sold out?
Customer #2: Do you have more in the back?
Customer #3: Well why would it be advertised if you were sold out?
*Side Note: An advertisement for a corporation with over 100 locations is not specific to just 1 location. People never seem to understand that.
Customer #4: When is your next shipment?
Customer #5: Oooh Oooh Oooh AH AH!!! (begins to throw feces)
If something is sold out then it is sold out. No amount of begging, pleading, cursing or screaming is going to make 1000 boxes of penny crayons appear.
No Room At The Inn
As a hotel employee, if you work in a nice enough hotel, you will say the phrase 'We're Sold Out' at least 10 times in a 2 month span. At my hotel, we say it at least 10 times a day. That does not go over well with people.
Working Girl/All Other Employees: We're SOLD OUT.
Customer #1: Really?
Customer #2: Why?
Customer #3: WELL WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW!?
Customer #4: But I just called 3 hours ago.
Customer #5: Are you sure?
Customer #6: What about just 1 bed?
Customer #7: So you don't have ANY rooms?
Customer #8: I just saw that you have rooms online.
Customer #9: Well do you think someone will cancel right now?
Customer #10: FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK!!!
This is not an exaggeration. These are all things potential guests have either said to me, one of my coworkers or one of my employees in person or over the phone. People do not like you to be sold out.
It's a weird concept. You want to stay in a nice hotel that obviously other people want to stay in as well but yet you don't want the hotel to ever have enough guests to sell out. If a hotel never sells out, the hotel must not be all that great.
Hotels with rooms for $500 a night sell out because they are nice hotels and people are willing to pay that much for everything they offer. There are some hotels with rooms for $50 a night and they have availability. Why do you think that is?
Friday, June 21, 2013
GAY: Update
One of my first blog posts was titled GAY. If you haven't read it, I would suggest you read it now otherwise you just won't understand this post.
In the previous post I spoke about a couple that literally brought tears to my eyes. They were an older couple who had brought their adopted, closeted, son to the Bay Area to show him the San Francisco Pride Parade. I spoke to one of the men for hours about his life with his partner and I was not only touched that he was willing to share his story with me but I was touched by the story itself.
Ten days ago I was speaking to an employee when the elevator doors opened. Around the corner comes the man who had shared his story with me a few years ago. I lit up. I was so excited to see him and I wanted him to remember me so badly because I had hoped that my time with him meant as much to him as it did to me.
Mr. Groom: You're still working here!?
He remembered me. I was delighted
Working Girl: Yeah, I refused to leave until I got to see you again.
I walked around from the front desk to give him a hug. We started right where we had left off. We talked about life, love and everything in between.
Mr. Groom: You're not still having to deal with that loser ex boyfriend of yours are you?
Working Girl: Not directly, but I am working on a restraining order against him.
Mr. Groom: Good!
Working Girl: How's the family?
Mr. Groom: Everyone's good. The kids are good. We're actually in town to see our granddaughter graduate from high school.
Working Girl: Really? How long will you be with us?
Mr. Groom: Ten Days....you know we tell everyone we know to stay here and I personally am very happy to see you.
Working Girl: Thank You! Yeah, they made me the manager so I'm stuck. But I'm trying to get a writing job so that I can finally leave.
Mr. Groom: Manager! So no more late night hours?
Working Girl: I avoid them the best I can.
Through this conversation I learned that his partner had gotten really sick and was confined to a wheelchair being diagnosed with a form of Polio. Surprisingly enough they found an amazing doctor who, though he isn't cured, has helped him to walk again and now he relies on a cane but he doesn't need a wheelchair. We also talked about his weight loss (thanks in large part to him becoming his partner's caregiver) and the travelling they've done in recent years so that he and his partner can truly live a full life. They even went to the Grand Canyon with his partner in a wheelchair. They are refusing to let their different bouts of illnesses get in the way of the things they've always wanted to do.
I met another son of theirs and the son that they brought the first time was also along for this trip. Each one of them remembered me and I shared a special moment with everyone in the family.
Over the past 10 days I've gotten to spend more time with Mr. Groom and his partner, once again just having my heart filled with love. It's a nice break between dumbass guest to dumbass guest. I really have enjoyed them being at the hotel and I hope that another few years don't go by until I see them again.
In the previous post I spoke about a couple that literally brought tears to my eyes. They were an older couple who had brought their adopted, closeted, son to the Bay Area to show him the San Francisco Pride Parade. I spoke to one of the men for hours about his life with his partner and I was not only touched that he was willing to share his story with me but I was touched by the story itself.
Ten days ago I was speaking to an employee when the elevator doors opened. Around the corner comes the man who had shared his story with me a few years ago. I lit up. I was so excited to see him and I wanted him to remember me so badly because I had hoped that my time with him meant as much to him as it did to me.
Mr. Groom: You're still working here!?
He remembered me. I was delighted
Working Girl: Yeah, I refused to leave until I got to see you again.
I walked around from the front desk to give him a hug. We started right where we had left off. We talked about life, love and everything in between.
Mr. Groom: You're not still having to deal with that loser ex boyfriend of yours are you?
Working Girl: Not directly, but I am working on a restraining order against him.
Mr. Groom: Good!
Working Girl: How's the family?
Mr. Groom: Everyone's good. The kids are good. We're actually in town to see our granddaughter graduate from high school.
Working Girl: Really? How long will you be with us?
Mr. Groom: Ten Days....you know we tell everyone we know to stay here and I personally am very happy to see you.
Working Girl: Thank You! Yeah, they made me the manager so I'm stuck. But I'm trying to get a writing job so that I can finally leave.
Mr. Groom: Manager! So no more late night hours?
Working Girl: I avoid them the best I can.
Through this conversation I learned that his partner had gotten really sick and was confined to a wheelchair being diagnosed with a form of Polio. Surprisingly enough they found an amazing doctor who, though he isn't cured, has helped him to walk again and now he relies on a cane but he doesn't need a wheelchair. We also talked about his weight loss (thanks in large part to him becoming his partner's caregiver) and the travelling they've done in recent years so that he and his partner can truly live a full life. They even went to the Grand Canyon with his partner in a wheelchair. They are refusing to let their different bouts of illnesses get in the way of the things they've always wanted to do.
I met another son of theirs and the son that they brought the first time was also along for this trip. Each one of them remembered me and I shared a special moment with everyone in the family.
Over the past 10 days I've gotten to spend more time with Mr. Groom and his partner, once again just having my heart filled with love. It's a nice break between dumbass guest to dumbass guest. I really have enjoyed them being at the hotel and I hope that another few years don't go by until I see them again.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Sunita Everhardt
There's a company that stays at our hotel, Thunder Lake, and their account manager is an idiot. She's an idiot AND she's a liar. She became the account manager around the time that I became the manager of the hotel. We've had a few run ins before, never face to face, but over the phone. Each time we've spoken she pulls something out of her ass that makes no sense. Instead of me just bashing her as a person (I don't know her as a person but as the account manager of a multinational company, she's awful) I will explain to you some of the things lies, she has told me.
First Encounter
The first time we spoke she was handling the charges on the Thunder Lake account. Their employees like to make reservations, not show up, and have the company pay for it so she called me to get the charges waived.
Sunita: I don't think we should have to pay because we are so loyal to you guys.
Working Girl: Our loyal guests shouldn't pay?
Sunita: Not for no show charges. I mean, last year alone we stayed with you for 1000 nights.
*Side Note: 1000 nights? In one year? There are 1000 days in a year? Since when did we add on 21 more months in the year?
Working Girl: 1000? Because my records show 10. I think you're adding a few zeroes there, Sunita.
Second Encounter
The hotel was sold out and when she wanted to make reservations she didn't believe that we jut don't hold 10 rooms for her employees everyday.
Sunita: Well why?
Working Girl: Why? Why don't we just hold a block of rooms for you everyday? Would you pay for the rooms not being used?
Sunita: No.
Working Girl: Then you have your answer.
Third (and hopefully final) Encounter
Two of Thunder Lake's employees came to check in with my front desk agent and they didn't have reservations. They thought they did. They gave names and "confirmation numbers" but they could not be found in the system. My front desk agent made them reservations for the night but due to the fact that we were sold out for the rest of the week, they couldn't stay longer than the one night. The next morning I explained to the guests that if something does open up, the rooms are theirs but I can't kick anyone out just for 2 people who didn't have a reservation in the first place.
I received a phone call from Sunita around 10am.
Sunita: I was told that you sent my employees to another hotel and I need to know which ones.
Working Girl: Your employees stayed with us last night.
Sunita: They did? Well I was also told that your housekeeping staff kicked them out of the room at 8am.
*Side Note: My housekeeping staff doesn't start work till 9am. Also, according to her, they didn't stay with us last night but somehow my housekeeping staff kicked them out of their hotel rooms at 8am. Did my staff go to another hotel to kick them out an hour before their shifts start since they obviously didn't stay at our hotel?
Working Girl: Your employees are still checked into my system as we speak.
Sunita: Well...I'm looking at their confirmation numbers in our system so they must be in yours.
Working Girl: Are you looking at our system?
Sunita: No.
Working Girl: Then that really doesn't make a difference does it?
Sunita: Apparently you don't need our business because you're always sold out.
*click*
A few minutes later their travel agent called me and said he didn't make two reservations for that company, only one. He doesn't know how the one didn't go through but he had never even heard the name of the other employee who claimed to have a reservation. Which is something I found interesting because Sunita Everhardt told me that she was looking at BOTH of the confirmation numbers and the guy who booked it said only 1 actually exists.
Sunita Everhardt, you need a new job. One where you can pull outlandish "facts" from your ass and people will believe that they're true. Fox News, Sunita. Apply at Fox News.
First Encounter
The first time we spoke she was handling the charges on the Thunder Lake account. Their employees like to make reservations, not show up, and have the company pay for it so she called me to get the charges waived.
Sunita: I don't think we should have to pay because we are so loyal to you guys.
Working Girl: Our loyal guests shouldn't pay?
Sunita: Not for no show charges. I mean, last year alone we stayed with you for 1000 nights.
*Side Note: 1000 nights? In one year? There are 1000 days in a year? Since when did we add on 21 more months in the year?
Working Girl: 1000? Because my records show 10. I think you're adding a few zeroes there, Sunita.
Second Encounter
The hotel was sold out and when she wanted to make reservations she didn't believe that we jut don't hold 10 rooms for her employees everyday.
Sunita: Well why?
Working Girl: Why? Why don't we just hold a block of rooms for you everyday? Would you pay for the rooms not being used?
Sunita: No.
Working Girl: Then you have your answer.
Third (and hopefully final) Encounter
Two of Thunder Lake's employees came to check in with my front desk agent and they didn't have reservations. They thought they did. They gave names and "confirmation numbers" but they could not be found in the system. My front desk agent made them reservations for the night but due to the fact that we were sold out for the rest of the week, they couldn't stay longer than the one night. The next morning I explained to the guests that if something does open up, the rooms are theirs but I can't kick anyone out just for 2 people who didn't have a reservation in the first place.
I received a phone call from Sunita around 10am.
Sunita: I was told that you sent my employees to another hotel and I need to know which ones.
Working Girl: Your employees stayed with us last night.
Sunita: They did? Well I was also told that your housekeeping staff kicked them out of the room at 8am.
*Side Note: My housekeeping staff doesn't start work till 9am. Also, according to her, they didn't stay with us last night but somehow my housekeeping staff kicked them out of their hotel rooms at 8am. Did my staff go to another hotel to kick them out an hour before their shifts start since they obviously didn't stay at our hotel?
Working Girl: Your employees are still checked into my system as we speak.
Sunita: Well...I'm looking at their confirmation numbers in our system so they must be in yours.
Working Girl: Are you looking at our system?
Sunita: No.
Working Girl: Then that really doesn't make a difference does it?
Sunita: Apparently you don't need our business because you're always sold out.
*click*
A few minutes later their travel agent called me and said he didn't make two reservations for that company, only one. He doesn't know how the one didn't go through but he had never even heard the name of the other employee who claimed to have a reservation. Which is something I found interesting because Sunita Everhardt told me that she was looking at BOTH of the confirmation numbers and the guy who booked it said only 1 actually exists.
Sunita Everhardt, you need a new job. One where you can pull outlandish "facts" from your ass and people will believe that they're true. Fox News, Sunita. Apply at Fox News.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Reflection
It's interesting to reflect upon my jobs and how they've merged. Ever since I became the manager at the hotel, I now spend a lot of time at the office supply store. Because of my copy center background I create all the promotional materials for my company. Due to the fact that I can create things on site, I just take it to the copy center to get printed.
It's strange because I haven't looked at the office supply store in a customer aspect for such a long time. I walk in and I revert back to what I was... an employee. I see my previous co-workers and we exchange pleasantries, I walk over to the copy center and I immediately want to correct the new employees. They just don't do shit right. When I see a fellow customer struggling at the copy machines I walk over to help them.
When I'm not visiting the copy center and I need to get something from the floor, I actually find myself getting upset when the employees ask me if I need any help.
"Help!? Do you not know who I am? Do you not know that I spent X amount of time here and I know every nook and cranny of the store?"
I can't say that. I can't do that. They don't know that I am the Legend of the Working Girl. How would they know that? Why do I do that? Is that normal to be protective over something that wasn't yours to be protective over in the first place?
I was so happy to leave and give the middle finger to Mr.Budweiser but I will forever have good memories of the store. I loved working there and I had to stop because I was basically being bullied by the store manager. My love of the store and the people will run through my mind forever. I have so many memories (and stories to tell) that it cannot be forgotten.
Maybe I feel this way because I hyped myself up too much. Maybe I'm not the legend I think I am. Maybe I was just one of the hundreds of employees that come and go and I left no footprint at all...but who am I kidding? I'm the best and they know it.
It's strange because I haven't looked at the office supply store in a customer aspect for such a long time. I walk in and I revert back to what I was... an employee. I see my previous co-workers and we exchange pleasantries, I walk over to the copy center and I immediately want to correct the new employees. They just don't do shit right. When I see a fellow customer struggling at the copy machines I walk over to help them.
When I'm not visiting the copy center and I need to get something from the floor, I actually find myself getting upset when the employees ask me if I need any help.
"Help!? Do you not know who I am? Do you not know that I spent X amount of time here and I know every nook and cranny of the store?"
I can't say that. I can't do that. They don't know that I am the Legend of the Working Girl. How would they know that? Why do I do that? Is that normal to be protective over something that wasn't yours to be protective over in the first place?
I was so happy to leave and give the middle finger to Mr.Budweiser but I will forever have good memories of the store. I loved working there and I had to stop because I was basically being bullied by the store manager. My love of the store and the people will run through my mind forever. I have so many memories (and stories to tell) that it cannot be forgotten.
Maybe I feel this way because I hyped myself up too much. Maybe I'm not the legend I think I am. Maybe I was just one of the hundreds of employees that come and go and I left no footprint at all...but who am I kidding? I'm the best and they know it.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Model Good Looks
Let's face it, some people are better looking than others. Some people say "Everyone is beautiful in their own way" but that's a crock of shit. Realistically there are some extremely good looking people whose appearance makes you double take. This post is dedicated to them.
Australian Seaman
There was a group of Australians working on a boat staying at the hotel when I first started working there. The men in this group were beautiful. It was like a damn swimsuit calendar every single time more than 4 of them would come downstairs. Specifically there was one Aussie who was tall, broad shouldered and brunette. I was convinced his abs were painted on his body, they were perfect. His girlfriend was actually a part of the crew as well, her purpose is something that still confuses me. She was really dim, and thin enough to where you know her job description did not involve heavy lifting. Me, nor my drooling co-workers, could figure out what he saw in her when we were alive and breathing (we were just a little delusional.)
The epitome of their hotness came during one of my first single shifts. I was sitting behind the front desk on my laptop when I hear quite the ruckus. It was all of the shipmates getting off of the elevator and turning the corner dressed up in 'jungle gear.' What I mean by 'jungle gear' is a loincloth and apparently Afro wigs (which I didn't realize were so big in the jungle.) All the guys were only wearing thin pieces of cloth to cover up their goodies and it was quite the sight to see. They dressed up for their boss's birthday and graced the streets of my tiny town with that beauty.
Black Men's Magazine
In plenty of magazines geared towards black men there is an ongoing theme: Bitches. Not bitches as in a behavior or attitude, but women who model with their big asses in a thong covered in baby oil. I had one of those girls get some copies made at the office supply store. She was a beautiful girl with a body you either want or envy. She had her first spread (no pun intended) in a magazine and she was so proud of it that she wanted copies made to send to her family. Even though I questioned her family dynamic, I made the copies and she went on her way. There were a few copies that came out too dark and she left them behind. A few of my young male coworkers saw the pictures and started freaking out. They fell in love with a picture and made copies of the copy to take home and do ungodly things to. They became dogs in the fullest sense, woofing, barking, drooling, scratching and licking. It was disgusting. But if she can make two semi-civilized men react that way, then more power to her.
Chef You're Yummy
Very recently at the hotel there was a career fair being held. There was a huge turnout of people and one caught my eye. He came in pretty early in the morning wearing jeans, a hoodie and had headphones in his ear. He took them out, smiled at me and asked me where the career fair was being held. I responded, he smiled and walked down the hallway taking my heart with him. I had a few thoughts:
"DAAAAAAAAMN! He's good looking. But there's no way he's going to get a job wearing jeans and a hoodie."
He didn't need to get a job. He was a hiring manager/head chef for the restaurant holding the career fair. It was an amazing two days that we spent together in my head. In all reality we probably spoke five sentences to one another and smiled a handful of times back and forth. I want to say at some point he gave me 'the eye' and I gave it right back to him...but then again that could all be in my head. Either way he was beautiful and he knew it. He walked and smiled with a confidence that only the beautiful people possessed. He can cook for me anytime (originally that last sentence was way dirtier and involved the word 'meat.')
Australian Seaman
There was a group of Australians working on a boat staying at the hotel when I first started working there. The men in this group were beautiful. It was like a damn swimsuit calendar every single time more than 4 of them would come downstairs. Specifically there was one Aussie who was tall, broad shouldered and brunette. I was convinced his abs were painted on his body, they were perfect. His girlfriend was actually a part of the crew as well, her purpose is something that still confuses me. She was really dim, and thin enough to where you know her job description did not involve heavy lifting. Me, nor my drooling co-workers, could figure out what he saw in her when we were alive and breathing (we were just a little delusional.)
The epitome of their hotness came during one of my first single shifts. I was sitting behind the front desk on my laptop when I hear quite the ruckus. It was all of the shipmates getting off of the elevator and turning the corner dressed up in 'jungle gear.' What I mean by 'jungle gear' is a loincloth and apparently Afro wigs (which I didn't realize were so big in the jungle.) All the guys were only wearing thin pieces of cloth to cover up their goodies and it was quite the sight to see. They dressed up for their boss's birthday and graced the streets of my tiny town with that beauty.
Black Men's Magazine
In plenty of magazines geared towards black men there is an ongoing theme: Bitches. Not bitches as in a behavior or attitude, but women who model with their big asses in a thong covered in baby oil. I had one of those girls get some copies made at the office supply store. She was a beautiful girl with a body you either want or envy. She had her first spread (no pun intended) in a magazine and she was so proud of it that she wanted copies made to send to her family. Even though I questioned her family dynamic, I made the copies and she went on her way. There were a few copies that came out too dark and she left them behind. A few of my young male coworkers saw the pictures and started freaking out. They fell in love with a picture and made copies of the copy to take home and do ungodly things to. They became dogs in the fullest sense, woofing, barking, drooling, scratching and licking. It was disgusting. But if she can make two semi-civilized men react that way, then more power to her.
Chef You're Yummy
Very recently at the hotel there was a career fair being held. There was a huge turnout of people and one caught my eye. He came in pretty early in the morning wearing jeans, a hoodie and had headphones in his ear. He took them out, smiled at me and asked me where the career fair was being held. I responded, he smiled and walked down the hallway taking my heart with him. I had a few thoughts:
"DAAAAAAAAMN! He's good looking. But there's no way he's going to get a job wearing jeans and a hoodie."
He didn't need to get a job. He was a hiring manager/head chef for the restaurant holding the career fair. It was an amazing two days that we spent together in my head. In all reality we probably spoke five sentences to one another and smiled a handful of times back and forth. I want to say at some point he gave me 'the eye' and I gave it right back to him...but then again that could all be in my head. Either way he was beautiful and he knew it. He walked and smiled with a confidence that only the beautiful people possessed. He can cook for me anytime (originally that last sentence was way dirtier and involved the word 'meat.')
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