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Tag Archives: friends

Customer satisfaction

by Mary Anne

One of my friends has posted twice recently that she has had some bad experiences with the local pizza parlor. One of her complaints was that she had called in her order for it to be ready at a particular time and when she arrived there it was not ready, and she ended up waiting more than an hour after that to get her pizza! That reminded me of the time when the exact thing happened to me at the same place a couple of times too!

The first time it happened when I arrived to pick up the pizza I went ahead and paid for it and then they told me that it wasn’t ready yet and it would only be a few more minutes. In reality it was more than an hour before it was ready, and I was livid! So the next time that I ordered the pizza I asked the order taker on the phone if it would REALLY be ready on time, and I was assured that it would be ready on time. When I arrived and it wasn’t ready and the cashier asked me to pay for the pizza I told the cashier that I would pay for it after it was ready and I could inspect it to make sure it was done to my satisfaction, and if it wasn’t ready within ten minutes I was leaving without paying and without the pizza.

You know what? It WASN’T ready, and I left without paying and I walked across the parking lot to Wendy’s and bought my family dinner there. I refuse to be held hostage there again by paying for my food before it is ready.


People Watching

by Mary Anne

Author: Joseph Sandoval

I hang out at this cool coffee shop in my neighborhood where locals always gather. I set up my computer and they have free wireless internet, so I can get a lot done while I people watch and drink coffee. I usually go there when I am bored and at home alone. It’s so nice to get out of the house sometimes and watch what other people are up to. I try not to be too nosy, but I hear some very interesting conversations. One day when I was just hanging out, the couple at the table next to me was in the process of breaking up. The girl was yelling pretty loud at the guy, and he was quiet and looked mortified. I felt bad for both of them, but it was pretty entertaining. Other days I end up at a table next to people at a business meeting, or a couple of friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time. I feel like I get a little window into their lives, and I have a good time.


Finding a life in a new area

by Mary Anne

When we first moved out here, I started trying to find out how and where my kids (all young adults) could go to meet other folks their own age.  Everywhere I went I struck up conversations with the young adults that I was interacting with.  The cute waitresses at the local restaurants, the young receptionist at the veterinarian’s office, and the bank tellers. 

If the person looked to be about the same age as my kids, I was talking with them, asking them “where can people your age who have just moved into the area go to meet other new people?”

I was hoping they would tell me something like “all the kids hang out a Joe’s SpeakEasy” or something along those lines.  Or “they go to the bowling alley” or “the skating rink” or “the movie theater.” 

But no, all I got was “this place is dead, there just ISN’T anyplace for them to go to meet people!”  I was hoping that maybe someone from the many places I went to would have at least ONE suggestion, but no, they all think the place is dry.  Or even it would have been nice (Where is that Southern Hospitality I’ve heard so much about?) if some of them had said something along the lines of “my group of friends is going to the movies this weekend, why don’t you have your son meet us there and we can meet up?” 

When I ask them what they do for entertainment they say that they just “drive around with friends” and go to their friends houses.

I joined the local Newcomer’s group, hoping that they might have a “young adult” section of the club, but they don’t cater to that group at all, so that was a bust.


Post card from Tiffany

by Mary Anne

Tiffany has always led a charmed life. We were really good friends when we went to school together, and even though she moved to the west coast she keeps in touch and sends me post cards from her fabulous travels around the world. If I didn’t keep reminding myself that I’m really not the adventurous type I would probably be extremely envious of her great life.

So in today’s mail is a post card from Tiffany, coming from Le Village Arc 1950 in France. The photograph shows a charming Les Arcs Accommodation; it looks like a wonderful skiing vacation village. Much like the village I stayed in many years ago when I went skiing in New England. Janene writes that the Apartments in Les Arc have great amenities and that she can ski right from their front door.

Brings back fond memories of my youth. Thank you Tiffany.


My son broke up with his girlfriend

by Mary Anne

My son called me from college last night.  He was sad because the girl he had been seeing has decided it would be wise to break off their romance.  He had seen it coming, because they were going to different colleges with a large distance between them.  When they first started dating they had talked about how this might happen, and they agreed that they would still be friends afterwards.  But that is harder to actually DO than SAY!

So, we talked about some different strategies on surviving the break up.  We talked about how he needed to take some time to heal emotionally, and avoid any kind of rebound romance.


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