I've finally found a second job that I think will work well around my somewhat odd hours at the newspaper. I'll be taking customer service calls from home for a utility company on the East coast. Extra income is always a good thing ;)
To all of you who gave me advice, tips and support, thank you!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Betty White on SNL
As you probably know, Betty White was the host of Saturday Night Live on May 8.
While I didn't find any of the sketches mind-blowingly funny, it was a vast improvement over many of the efforts made this season. I got at least a chuckle at most of the sketches and laughed out loud at many of them.
Betty's opening monologue was quite funny and I especially enjoyed her pokes at Facebook users - especially since the Facebook campaign was instrumental in getting her to host. To my surprise, one of the other sketches featuring her that I quite enjoyed was the Scared Straight bit. I thought it was hilarious - and usually I just find that sketch monotonous. I'll never be able to watch Willy Wonka or The Wizard of Oz with a straight face again. The census bit was a hoot as well.
All of that said, the funniest bit of the night (to me anyway) was the Really?!? bit on Weekend Update. It was kind of sad though - it just shows how much SNL is missing the presence of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
All of the sketches are available on Hulu.
While I didn't find any of the sketches mind-blowingly funny, it was a vast improvement over many of the efforts made this season. I got at least a chuckle at most of the sketches and laughed out loud at many of them.
Betty's opening monologue was quite funny and I especially enjoyed her pokes at Facebook users - especially since the Facebook campaign was instrumental in getting her to host. To my surprise, one of the other sketches featuring her that I quite enjoyed was the Scared Straight bit. I thought it was hilarious - and usually I just find that sketch monotonous. I'll never be able to watch Willy Wonka or The Wizard of Oz with a straight face again. The census bit was a hoot as well.
All of that said, the funniest bit of the night (to me anyway) was the Really?!? bit on Weekend Update. It was kind of sad though - it just shows how much SNL is missing the presence of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
All of the sketches are available on Hulu.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Good-bye, Sookie
Sookie Stackhouse, I'm breaking up with you. In print, anyway. I've long been a fan of the novels about you, but after the tenth in the series, I think I've had enough. And, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I like the t.v. show better.
Actually, that's two vampire book series this year where I prefer the t.v. show to the books they're based on. I couldn't stand the Vampire Diaries series but love, LOVE the show. I tried to read the books three different times and couldn't get past the first 100 pages. This is very unusual for me. When I start a book, I finish it - no matter how good or bad it may be.
Much to the bewilderment of my parents, I've always been a fan of vampire stories. I can trace it as far back as Bunnicula in elementary school. Does anyone else remember the story about the vampire bunny that drained veggies?
And then, in middle school, I discovered Anne Rice. I was a pretty innocent 12-year-old and much of what she was writing about went completely over my head but I had older friends that were reading her novels and I wanted so badly to appear cool that I started reading them. Needless to say, it was an eye-opening experience. To this day, I can't believe my parents let me read those books.
When I think about it though, Mom and Dad were always pretty good about letting me read what I wanted. Whether it was Anne Rice, Ken Kesey, Kurt Vonnegut, Harper Lee or anyone of a hundred other authors, it was always my decision.
Boy, this sure didn't end up where I thought it was going to...
Actually, that's two vampire book series this year where I prefer the t.v. show to the books they're based on. I couldn't stand the Vampire Diaries series but love, LOVE the show. I tried to read the books three different times and couldn't get past the first 100 pages. This is very unusual for me. When I start a book, I finish it - no matter how good or bad it may be.
Much to the bewilderment of my parents, I've always been a fan of vampire stories. I can trace it as far back as Bunnicula in elementary school. Does anyone else remember the story about the vampire bunny that drained veggies?
And then, in middle school, I discovered Anne Rice. I was a pretty innocent 12-year-old and much of what she was writing about went completely over my head but I had older friends that were reading her novels and I wanted so badly to appear cool that I started reading them. Needless to say, it was an eye-opening experience. To this day, I can't believe my parents let me read those books.
When I think about it though, Mom and Dad were always pretty good about letting me read what I wanted. Whether it was Anne Rice, Ken Kesey, Kurt Vonnegut, Harper Lee or anyone of a hundred other authors, it was always my decision.
Boy, this sure didn't end up where I thought it was going to...
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Attack of the Cable Company
Since the respondents to my poll were overwhelmingly in favor of a crazy call center story, I decided to go ahead and post it a little early. This took place while I was working for a call center which handled everything from after hours cable/utility calls to taking orders for infomercials.
Me: Thank you for calling [Cable Giant]. My name is Katie. How may I help you?
Caller: That (expletive) cable company is out to get me! They're only playing sounds in Spanish! I want my (multiple expletives) money back!
Me: I'm sorry this is happening. Please let me collect some information so I can let the office know you're having a problem.
Caller: No you stupid (bad word for female genitalia that starts with a c). I want my money back. I know they're doing this on purpose. They've been out to get me ever since I canceled my HBO.
Me: Please don't use such language or I'll be forced to disconnect the call. Let me collect some information and we'll try to get you back to normal, okay?
Caller: Okay.
Me: May I please have your name? address? phone number?
Caller provides information.
I walk them through the steps to turn off the SAP function on their cable box. (The SAP function allows Spanish language subscribers to hear dialog in Spanish when possible)
Caller: Well, I'll be! It's a miracle. How could this have happened?
Me: Not a problem - I'm glad we were able to get it fixed. Someone probably pressed the wrong button on the remote control.
Caller: I'm the only one here but for my eight-year-old autistic kid. I know it wasn't me - it must have been him. BRANDON! Get your a$$ in here! I'm gonna beat your butt! You broke the t.v.!
I then try and (POLITELY!) persuade the caller that there is no need to beat an autistic kid's butt. I think I was successful - they were a lot calmer when they finally hung up.
Can you imagine being ready to beat an autistic kid's butt because of something they may or may not have actually done? Crazy.
Have you had a nightmare experience with a customer service rep?
Me: Thank you for calling [Cable Giant]. My name is Katie. How may I help you?
Caller: That (expletive) cable company is out to get me! They're only playing sounds in Spanish! I want my (multiple expletives) money back!
Me: I'm sorry this is happening. Please let me collect some information so I can let the office know you're having a problem.
Caller: No you stupid (bad word for female genitalia that starts with a c). I want my money back. I know they're doing this on purpose. They've been out to get me ever since I canceled my HBO.
Me: Please don't use such language or I'll be forced to disconnect the call. Let me collect some information and we'll try to get you back to normal, okay?
Caller: Okay.
Me: May I please have your name? address? phone number?
Caller provides information.
I walk them through the steps to turn off the SAP function on their cable box. (The SAP function allows Spanish language subscribers to hear dialog in Spanish when possible)
Caller: Well, I'll be! It's a miracle. How could this have happened?
Me: Not a problem - I'm glad we were able to get it fixed. Someone probably pressed the wrong button on the remote control.
Caller: I'm the only one here but for my eight-year-old autistic kid. I know it wasn't me - it must have been him. BRANDON! Get your a$$ in here! I'm gonna beat your butt! You broke the t.v.!
I then try and (POLITELY!) persuade the caller that there is no need to beat an autistic kid's butt. I think I was successful - they were a lot calmer when they finally hung up.
Can you imagine being ready to beat an autistic kid's butt because of something they may or may not have actually done? Crazy.
Have you had a nightmare experience with a customer service rep?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Friday Night Lights
Don't tell me that you don't care about football - Friday Night Lights is about so much more than that. Whether they are exploring class/race issues, faith, religion and family values (or lack there of), or portraying quite possibly the most realistic marriage I've ever seen on t.v., it is an unflinching and honest look at small town America.
I guarantee that you will feel like you know and/or relate to at least one of these characters, whether it is the hard working Coach Taylor, the dedicated Tami "Mrs. Coach" Taylor, earnest Matt Saracen, injured Jason Street, tragic Tim Riggins, wheeling and dealing Buddy Garrity, super intelligent and funny Landry Clark, sweet (and slightly spoiled) Julie Taylor or straight-razor toting Tyra Colette.
When I recommended this show to my brother, he told me he wasn't interested because he'd already seen Varsity Blues. This show is so much more than that. Give it a try - you won't regret it. If you're interested, Netflix is streaming seasons 1-3 right now. Click here to get started.
It is with clear eyes and a full heart that I beg you to give this gem of a show a try. By some miracle, it has survived three seasons of poor ratings on NBC. The fourth season premieres on NBC Friday, May 7, at 8e/7c.
I guarantee that you will feel like you know and/or relate to at least one of these characters, whether it is the hard working Coach Taylor, the dedicated Tami "Mrs. Coach" Taylor, earnest Matt Saracen, injured Jason Street, tragic Tim Riggins, wheeling and dealing Buddy Garrity, super intelligent and funny Landry Clark, sweet (and slightly spoiled) Julie Taylor or straight-razor toting Tyra Colette.
When I recommended this show to my brother, he told me he wasn't interested because he'd already seen Varsity Blues. This show is so much more than that. Give it a try - you won't regret it. If you're interested, Netflix is streaming seasons 1-3 right now. Click here to get started.
It is with clear eyes and a full heart that I beg you to give this gem of a show a try. By some miracle, it has survived three seasons of poor ratings on NBC. The fourth season premieres on NBC Friday, May 7, at 8e/7c.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Deep Impact
No, this isn't about the cheesy late '90s flick with Elijah Wood and Leelee Sobieski. This is a rant about how BP seriously messed up the handling of an accident on a deep sea oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil spill itself is larger than the island of Jamaica and growing. It's now estimated that this will be worse than the notorious Exxon Valdez spill in the '80s.
Let me count the ways (and these are just off the top of my head):
1. Even with a history of accidents on said oil rig, BP failed to have a plan on how to handle a major spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It seems like that should be an automatic anytime you have a rig somewhere, whether it's at sea or on land. It doesn't take a genius to know this.
2. The families of the 11 men lost will never be the same. They will be effected emotionally and financially and children will grow up without their father.
3. The entire Gulf Coast will feel the effects on an environmental level. The fragile wetlands along the Louisiana coast may not survive, not to mention the sea and animal life that will be effected. The beaches all along the Gulf coast are expected to feel the effects. Which leads to...
4. The economic impact will be in the billions. This will effect whole industries - seafood boats, restaurants, tourism, etc. And the lawsuits that will come piling in... good grief, the impact might even be in the trillions.
Not to beat a dead horse, but all of this may have been avoided if they had just had a disaster plan on the books...
Let me count the ways (and these are just off the top of my head):
1. Even with a history of accidents on said oil rig, BP failed to have a plan on how to handle a major spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It seems like that should be an automatic anytime you have a rig somewhere, whether it's at sea or on land. It doesn't take a genius to know this.
2. The families of the 11 men lost will never be the same. They will be effected emotionally and financially and children will grow up without their father.
3. The entire Gulf Coast will feel the effects on an environmental level. The fragile wetlands along the Louisiana coast may not survive, not to mention the sea and animal life that will be effected. The beaches all along the Gulf coast are expected to feel the effects. Which leads to...
4. The economic impact will be in the billions. This will effect whole industries - seafood boats, restaurants, tourism, etc. And the lawsuits that will come piling in... good grief, the impact might even be in the trillions.
Not to beat a dead horse, but all of this may have been avoided if they had just had a disaster plan on the books...
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