Where Is It?

It's always an interesting experience when I go to get my oil change.
Mostly because, while I know the general formula for how these interactions will go, I can never expect things to go exactly as they went the last time I dropped by.

Which isn't surprising because I don't always visit the same location to get my oil changed --Especially if I have other car things to do like Registration and Tire Rotations and such. 
Plus...each person is different in how they go through the services and such.

So it's...well fun.
Because you'll get those guys that will go into detail about every little thing and try and tell you that you need to be spending money on everything.
While others will be like. "Here's the major things, I think this should be done, you're good here." etc. 

Today, it was more of the latter one.
The dude went through a quick spiel of things -most of it I didn't catch because wow those guys can talk fast in their mechanic lingo lol. 

But the one thing I did get was the guy was like "Do you know your dipstick is missing? Because we couldn't find it and therefore we couldn't check your oil levels for you. So do you need us to replace that for you?"

And I was like. O.o No? It's there. The top just broke off years ago, so it's not easy to see.

So the mechanic was like. O.O Huh? Can you show me where it is? Because like...I can't find it. 
-And he was quick to point out that he's been a mechanic for a while now....so I think he was trying to establish that a) he knows what he was doing (which I kinda figured he did, he had the aura of one who knew what he was doing) and b) was genuinely curious as to where it was because if he couldn't find it....where would it be?

So he took me out into the shop, to my car where the hood was open.
And on the walk over there I was thinking to myself. "I really hope I remember where that thing is."
Because like....I haven't actively looked at it in a couple of years or so.

But yah, once I saw the inside of the car, I was like "Oh it's right here." And I point to this thin flat piece of metal sticking up out of the engine (which part of the engine I have no idea, I am not a car person lol) 
And the dude was like. ()_() I don't believe it, but yah! It's right there!!! Wow. 
lol he was again quick to point out how he had missed it the first time around.
Which basically boiled down to the metal is thin enough that it blends in, so if you're looking at it from the wrong angle...you're not going to see it. 

lol. ^^;; Sometimes it's fun to be the 'smart' one.
Though when it comes to cars....those moments are always far and few inbetween lol. XD 

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

An Evening Out

My family went out to eat tonight. At one of our favorite places. 
A favorite, because the food is cooked right in front of you, and the chefs often do cool tricks and tease the diners and such. So you basically get a show while watching your food cook.
It's great! 
lol Plus the food is pretty great too. 

Though admittedly, each experience is slightly different when we go to eat dinner there. 
After all, we don't always get the same chef twice. Especially because we end up visiting different locations...and we only end up going like once or twice a year because it's kinda well...pricey lol. 

So some experiences are great! Where the food is delicious, the chef is fun to watch, and it's just...well great.
Others are so so. Where the chef just cooks the food, where the food tastes weird, or isn't quite what we were expecting, etc. 

And unfortunately, the last couple of experiences have been more in the soso range. 
Less of a show, the food not tasting right....

Especially the last last one we went to.
 It was just. O.o Weird. 

So understandably, we weren't quite sure what to expect when Kikay decided that we should eat there again. 
This time though, we (and by we I mean mother dearest) thought ahead and looked up reviews of the different restaurant locations in the surrounding valleys to see what people thought of it.

The ones located in my valley? Nope. No good.
Our favorite to go to was two valleys away from us....so  kinda not worth the drive out because it was oooo far away.
Our old favorite location had been closed down in the last year or so.....

But mother dearest came across a location midway between all the family that we hadn't yet tried. 
So we met up there.

Which first impressions.
Nice looking....the hostess staff didn't give off the greatest first impression as they didn't really greet us or acknowledge us when we entered.
But the place was big, it was clean, and had people in it. 

I do think that we all weren't expecting to get much of a show though, when we were taken to our seats.
As the table next to us was in the middle of having their food prepared in front of them.
And the chef wasn't doing any of the cool hijinks that my family has come to love. 

So we were preparing ourselves to basically just watch the noodles, veggies, and meat cook. 

When our chef came out.
And proceeded to entertain us the entire meal. lol. 
It was great!

And I'm pretty sure the table next to us was jealous, as well as the other nearby tables. 
Watching us laugh and clap and just have fun interacting with the chef as he showed us a variety of tricks as well as surprising us and such. 

Which made an already good dinner end on a great note. 
Because it  really feels like it's been a while since I've seen one of the chefs actually enjoying cooking for a group. 
I feel like the other chefs in the building were all...well....just there to cook. Nothing more.

But really, it's probably more than that. 

Like I can see chefs not being willing to put on a show if they get no reaction from the people watching.
Why show all your tricks if there's no smile, no applause, just blank faces? 

So the fact that we were smiling, and laughing, and applauding the chef.
Probably inspired him to pull out more tricks.

As they probably all come prepared.
But I can totally understand that if your audience doesn't react to your first couple tricks....why would you want to show them any thing more?

I get that way with customers at my own work when I can tell they're not paying attention. So I give less details than I would to customers who show a genuine interesting in wanting to hear what I have to say. 

So it was probably a nice change of pace for this chef. To get a group of diners actually wanting to see a show....instead of just getting their food delivered to them. 

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Neon Saga

So a while back, work implemented a set order that we need to be opening our department in. 
Meaning that we take care of certain animal tasks before others. 

Mostly the thought behind that order was to make sure that the areas that customers visit most frequently would look the nicest they can. 

Those main three spots? The Crickets. The Cats. and The Fish.

Have the crickets swept and prebagged, the cat litter boxes scooped and fresh water/food in the cage, and pulling dead fish. 

Which most days isn't an issue. 
I can do the order just fine. 

The only sticking point....
Is the fact that work also wants us to be on the floor once the store is open so we can greet the customers that come in.

Which means that we also need to have the backrooms (where we keep our extra animals) finished before the store opens. 
Which if we work quick, the order can still be done as Backrooms are next on the list after the top three. 

But there are days where I don't....open in order. 
Because sometimes I come into the store only an hour before we open.
Other days I'm opening by myself. 

Which means, I adapt the order so that I can get things done, but also be on the floor when customers come into the store.

Today was one of those days.
Where I was going out of order.
Because a) I had an hour before the store opened and b) I was opening by myself. (yay double whammy) 

So I chose to focus on opening the areas of my department that would take me away from customers. 

Which meant that I was looking to get cats and the backrooms done in that hour. 
Because if I have all the cat cages full, that can take up to an hour to clean.
If the backrooms are also full? That can take up to another hour. 

Thankfully both weren't as full, so I was able to get them both done in that hour.

Which the plan had been after getting those tasks -which take me off the floor-finished.

Was to go over to the fish and pull out the dead ones. So that the customers wouldn't see them.

*shakes head* Because for whatever reason, whenever customers see a dead fish they apparently can't just ignore it.
No. They have to call out loudly. "There's a dead fish! You have a dead fish over here! Do you know that you have a dead fish?!"

*rolls eyes* Nooooooo I didn't. (Like...I'm not surprised that there are dead fish in the tanks, it happens. Fish die and sometimes I don't see it before you do. It happens.) 

So that was my goal. Finish the 'off the floor tasks' and then go pull the dead fish, as that was more important than bagging up crickets. Because people can wait for you to come get them crickets, but apparently can't ignore a dead fish in the tank without needing to point it out and announce it loud enough that the entire store can hear. 

In any case.
The store had literally just barely opened.
And I was just starting to go through our tanks and check to see if there were any dead.

When....my manager walked over towards me with a customer in tow.
*exhales*
Which the managers usually only bring customers over my way...if they're expecting me to help out.

So yah, right at opening.
This customer was like "I need to buy a ton of fish, but first I need your opinion on said fish!"

So I gave my opinions, stated some information, gave more suggestions, and you know, as I was finally getting to the point of catching the customer's fish.
The customer was like.....
"You have a dead fish over here."

*exhales* Nooooo reaaaallly????
What I actually said was "Yah I know" (I didn't) "You came in right as the store opened so I haven't had time to pull the dead yet."

Which probably not the best way to phrase that. I mean, I'm not always so...well blunt. But first thing in the morning my 'customer service' filter isn't always had a chance to activate yet.  
Especially when I'm wondering. "Why are you not sleeping in like a normal person?! Why are you here first. thing. in the. morning?" 

But, thankfully, the customer was like "Oh, yah that makes sense." 
*nods*
Yes. Yes it does.
Because if you come in right at opening and I've only had an hour to get the department ready...obviously things aren't going to be perfect yet. 

In any case.
Now that I've set up the background. 
The main part of the story is this.
The customer bought like six neon tetras first thing in the morning, 
To put in their 10 gallon betta tank.
As they had the betta and was looking to put other fish in with him. 

So yah, I fished them out.
Gave them the bag.
And didn't think much of it.

Went on to finish pulling the dead fish and finish opening the rest of my department, helped more customers....and around lunch time. 
So like 4 hours later?

The customer comes back in the store with four dead neon tetras.

Which I was like. O.o You just bought these!
In that I recognized this person, knew they'd bought them within the last day or so.....

But the funny thing about being at work....
Is that time moves really weirdly here.
I have no real concept of the passage of time. 
So I might be like "Oh hey! I saw you last week!" and a customer would be like "No...I haven't been here in two months." 
O.o 

So like I knew this customer. Like "Oh you look familiar I helped you recently!" 
But I honestly hadn't realized it was the same customer I had helped first thing this morning. 
:S I just knew I'd helped them in the recent past.
But recent past for me is like anytime in the past week.

So I was like "You just bought these! Like...yesterday right?"
Customer was like O.o "This morning?" 
That's when it clicked.
OH. OH you were the first customer of the morning customer!! OOOOOHHHH
*mentally cringes*
And my brilliant response was "Oh right! Sorry, I see a lot of people." 
*face palm* 
But it's true. I can deal with a lot of people in a day, especially on a Saturday. 
So like....at least I recognized you.
And after a few talking points could remember more details about our conversation as I regathered my frame of reference and such.

But yah. Awkward moment.

In any case.
It was really weird to have fish die so quickly.
Like....Neons aren't always the hardiest of fish.
But considering that I hadn't pulled any dead neons from the tanks this morning....
That usually means that the neons are doing pretty well. 

So to have 4 already dead and the other 2 possibly dead. :S Not good. 

And since it was lunch time and I was like....starving as it was nearing my lunch break time....
My brain wasn't quite fully functioning.

Mostly because the customer was like "Here's everything I've done!" 
And after double checking facts and such....
It sounded like everything was correct. 

So the only likely reason why the fish would die so quick is a) the betta was picking on them---but considering the customer hadn't seen the betta picking on them...makes it seem less likely, especially because the fish wouldn't die all at once.
Which possibly meant that there was something in the water.
But testing said water....showed that it was fine.

It was only towards the end of the conversation as I was bagging up more neons....
That we ended up coming to the conclusion that perhaps the customer had put too many chemicals in the tank? (like water conditioner and such) 
And maybe the neons weren't reacting well to it? 
Because neons can be very sensitive to the slightest changes in the water. 

So I suggested doing a water change, and putting untreated water in the tank just in case there were too many chemicals....
And recommended that if these neons weren't reacting well....to bring them back and NOT get any more because there's something in the tank that definitely isn't working well with them.
The customer also bought other fish too at that point

-Which is another weird thing with customers. "Oh no these fish are dying, let's buy more fish!" How about...no? Wait and let the tank settle first?

Though I honestly hoped that the water change would help....

Three hours later....

The customer returned with one neon out of the new bunch dead another two about to join it, three live ones and the knowledge that the last two of the original bunch were also dead. 

O.o
But the neons in our tanks were still fine....
*shakes head*
and. 
AND.
ALL the other fish were doing fine.
It was just the neons dying.

I had nothing really to tell them, unfortunately beyond. "I'm sorry, I guess they don't like your tank? Here's your money back, I hope your other fish do better." 

I feel bad for them though. :(
Returning to the store three times in the same day?
That's frustrating. Seriously.
Especially if the employee can't give you a definite reason why the fish were dying.
*exhales*

I hope the fish truly do better.
Because I don't want customers to get discouraged in their fish hobby.
Because seriously, it's a fun experience to have a fish tank (I know I have a 125 gallon. ^^;; )

*fingers crossed*

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Different Methods

I really should create a personality test based off of how my coworkers do bedding changes for the first time.

Because I'm sure there's a connection there. 

*shakes head*

So yesterday, my coworker decided that she wanted to do the Bird Bedding change instead of opening up the rest of the department.

Which, this particular coworker, while new to our store, has worked with Starsmet before. 

So like, I was confident she knew what she was doing.

And even remembered that while she may have worked in one of our sister stores....the cage set ups for the birds aren't the same in each location.

So I gave her some tips on how to clean the cages.

Like the fact that you can't just put all the dirty bedding into one bag as it becomes waaaaay too heavy to lift, so you need divide out the cages in half and put half the dirty bedding in one bag, and the other half in the other so it's easier to move about.

I also told her that there were trays in the bottom of the cage that were removable. 

So like, she could just poor the bedding from the tray into the trash. 

And I figured. "Yep! It's all clear now!" 

*exhales*

I really need to keep in mind that what I think is clear...is often not clear.

Lol. 

Because seriously, it's interesting the different methods my coworkers take to clean out the birds. 

-Which also differ slightly in what I remember to tell said coworkers before I set them on their task. 

But like....

What I usually do is I go into all the cages and take out all the toys, nets, hay balls, branches, food and water dishes, etc. 

And go put it all in the sink to soak. 

Then return and clean half the cages via pulling out the tray and dumping it into the large garbage can I dragged over there for that purpose, before cleaning tray and the windows of the cage, putting new bedding in the bottom of the tray, and putting it all back and moving onto the next cage.

Then once all the cages are clean, I go grab the stuff that was soaking in the sink and clean it/rinse it off and go put it back in the cage. 

So like...I try to minimize how often I need to go back and forth and such. 

My coworkers don't always do that. 

I've had coworkers not realize that they need to clean the windows.

Others not realize that the trays can be removed.

Still others don't know that the branches that have metal holders keeping them in place...can be slid up and out of the groove so you don't have to take apart the holder from the branch.... 

While others choose......

Well like we have this tiny enclosure, that can only fit in two people at most inside of it, that we go into the catch birds and feed them and such.

Me, I usually have a large garbage can outside that door, and work outside of the enclosure where I have a bit more space to move around.

But I had a coworker try and get all the bedding and the trash can and themselves into the small enclosure and clean the cages entirely from within....which sooo awkward and cramped. 

-All because they didn't want to deal with opening and shutting the door constantly.

And my coworker today did something similar, where she had a large garbage bag -without the garbage can- and was also working from inside the enclosure by pouring the bedding into the garbage bag and ....I don't know what else they were doing in there....

But it seemed more awkward.....

Plus...this coworker worked only a couple of cages at a time.

Taking the decorations out of two or three cages, cleaning them, cleaning the cages, and then putting them back before moving onto the next set of cages.

Which I've noticed my coworkers doing for this and other bedding changes as well. Where they take it a section at a time. 

So I'm sure that says something about their mindset and mine....

Where I take everything out all at once from all the cages.

And they take a little out at a time from one side or one section of cages. 

Like it could show how I see the big picture and how to work everything out so that the big picture can come together.

While my coworkers see the little picture and work to fit the little pieces together and put a piece together at a time to eventually form the bigger picture....

*shakes head*

It just goes to show....that we're all different lol. 

And I really need to remember to give slightly more detail to my coworkers in hopes that it will make their lives easier the next time they do said bedding changes. lol. 

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Praying to Act

During the Korean War, Ensign Frank Blair served on a troop transport ship stationed in Japan.
The ship wasn't large enough to have a formal chaplain, so the captain asked Brother Blair to be the ship's informal chaplain, having observed that the young man was a person of faith and principle, highly respected by the whole crew.

Ensign Blair wrote: "Our ship was caught in a huge typhoon.
The waves were about 45 feet high.
I was on watch ... during which time one of our three engines stopped working and a crack in the centerline of the ship was reported.
We had two remaining engines, one of which was only functioning at half power.
We were in serious trouble."

Ensign Blair finished his watch and was getting into bed when the captain knocked on his door.
He asked, "Would you please pray for this ship?"
Of course, Ensign Blair agreed to do so.

At that point, Ensign Blair could have simply prayed, "Heavenly Father, please bless our ship and keep us safe," and then gone to bed.
Instead, he prayed to know if there was something he could do to help ensure the safety of the ship.
In response to Brother Blair's prayer, the Holy Ghost prompted him to go to the bridge, speak with the captain, and learn more.
He found that the captain was trying to determine how fast to run the ship's remaining engines.
Ensign Blair returned to his cabin to pray again.

He prayed, "What can I do to help address the problem with the engines?"

In response, the Holy Ghost whispered that he needed to walk around the ship and observe to gather more information.
He again returned to the captain and asked for permission to walk around the deck.
Then, with a lifeline tied around his waist, he went out into the storm.

Standing in the stern, he observed the giant propellers as they came out of the water when the ship crested a wave.
Only one was working fully, and it was spinning very fast.
After these observations, Ensign Blair once again prayed.
The clear answer he received was that the remaining good engine was under too much strain and needed to be slowed down.
So he returned to the captain and made that recommendation.
The captain was surprised, telling him that the ship's engineer had just suggested the opposite--that they increase the speed of the good engine in order to outrun the storm.
Nevertheless, the captain chose to follow Ensign Blair's suggestion and slowed the engine down.
By dawn the ship was safely in calm waters.

Only two hours later, the good engine stopped working altogether.
With half power in the remaining engine, the ship was able to limp into port.

The captain said to Ensign Blair, "If we had not slowed that engine when we did, we would have lost it in the middle of the storm."

Without that engine, there would have been no way to steer.
The ship would have overturned and been sunk.
The captain thanked the young LDS officer and said he believed that following Ensign Blair's spiritual impressions had saved the ship and its crew.

-Larry Y. Wilson -Take the Holy Spirit as Your Guide -April 2018 General Conference

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Fun Conversation

So at work, usually when I'm trying to get from point a to point b to get a task completed,
I actively work to avoid going down aisles that have customers in them so I don't have to engage them in conversation. 
(Shh don't tell work I do this.) 

But I don't always pick the right aisle to go down.
Sometimes I'll turn down an aisle and discover a customer standing midway down it...and by that point it's too late to pretend you're continuing past said aisle and so you have to engage in conversation. 

Which is what happened today.
I was heading to the back on an errand and turned down one of the dog food aisles...only to realize that there were people in that aisle. *exhales* Ooops.

Lol, but it ended up being quite the amusing conversation. 
Because the people were a man and wife, older generation. Like grandparent age.

And it was that near typical duo where the wife was trying to be all serious and ask me relavent questions, while the husband kept distracting the two of us with oddball comments and silly questions lol. 

Like "Can I help you find something?"
And she was like "Yes, I have two pets and I'm looking for--"
"For a hundred dollars." he interrupts. "I dropped it in the parking lot, can you help me find it?"
"Oh shush! You did not!" 
Me, trying to not smile too widely. "I could try, sir. But I'd say it's probably long gone by now."
"What if I showed you a picture of it, if someone turned it in--" *reaches to grab his phone* 
Wife: "Honey! Stop goofing off!"
Me: "I'd have to have like the serial number or something, to prove it's actually yours." 

*laughs* 
It's fun, I enjoy it when I can have teasing conversations with people. 

And like the woman was like "Honestly! I can't take you anywhere! You're always ready to perform! You're wasting her time!" 

To which I was like....that's not a bad thing. 
I can get how it can get frustrating to have someone always goofing off when you're trying to have a serious moment.

But I do like it when I can just...you know, have fun with a customer. 
Most of the time the questions directed towards me are of a more serious nature.
So to have someone who's just joking around and having fun because they know you know that they're joking and they appreciate you trying to play along...

It's fun.

I didn't mind it.
Lol though it does throw me for a loop nearly every time because like....I don't expect it much at work. 

Or at anytime really....

Hmmm. I need to surround myself with more less serious people apparently. ^^;; 

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

You're Cold?

I love the cold. 

I tell people that a lot.

Like if it starts getting above 76 degrees...I don't usually tolerate it well. Hit 80 and I'm like "Can I go back inside?" Get even warmer and I'm like....dead for the rest of the week. lol. 

I prefer the winter, the cold, and the lower temperatures.

But....

That doesn't mean I like living in it. 

Which I suppose doesn't make much sense. 

After all I just told you that I love the cold.

How can I love the cold but not like living in it?

So I probably should clarify and say that I don't like the house being 'too cold' 

Because if the house is too cold a) I find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Because warm and comfy is well...very nice when you're sleepy. and b) It's not easy to do things when your fingers are turning blue and fumble with the typing and such. 

So like...I usually enjoy having my home at around 72 degrees.

During the winter it feels hot enough.

During the summer it feels cold enough.

And it's great because I can function like that. 

However, I can't function when the AC is constantly going.

Because a) a cold breeze isn't as comfortable as just a room that is chilly and the AC being on creates a draft and b) the AC unit is right outside my window and it's constant whirr at night can get on my nerves and make it difficult to relax and sleep. 

So it's always 'fun' during that transitional season between Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter.

When you're running the Heat one moment and the AC the next, trying to find the right comfortable range.

And if like your thermostat likes to freak out >.> Like ours does on occasion.

Then the temperatures end up getting too hot because the stat decided that on yes I'll cool down if it's 80 degrees! 

Or too cold where it's like "Oh yah nah, you don't need heat until it's below 68 degrees" 

And it's irritating because like....

Can't you behave heating/cooling system? Work it out.

Just keep the place at like 72 and everyone will be basically happy. 

*shakes head* 

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi