Thursday, July 12, 2018

The Pay Off

There is really something thrilling about a reader's reaction to a story you've written.

It's just...awesome. 
Especially when you write something that just makes a person react so strongly to the story given, to the details provided, to the story told. 

I just love it.

I love including little details and nods to things and waiting to see if anyone notices.
I love writing a tiny moment that later comes into play in a huge way.
I love building the world and seeing the readers fall in love with said world.

It's just....ah.
I love writing guys.
I love it. I love it. I love it!! 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

The Tip

I never wanted to be a waitress. 
It seems like a hard thankless job really.

My one attempt at it in a Jr. High Home Economics class quickly convinced me that I probably wouldn't be the best at it....at least for the first week or so lol. 
Because like...that one experience I forgot to ask drinks and details on what people wanted on their food etc.

So like...I never wanted to be one. 
Especially with the knowledge that a lot of your income is (was?) reliant on tip money.

And it would probably be extremely frustrating to work hard to please a customer...only to find no tip at the end of their stay. 

*shakes head*

In any case...
The waiter in this particular experience....seemed to be having a rough day. He just didn't seem present at the job really. After ordering our food....we barely saw him.
It was someone else who came and brought out the meal when it was ready. 
It was someone else who checked in to make sure we were doing alright and enjoying the food.

I feel like we didn't see the waiter for like...twenty minutes? Which is rather long when the place wasn't that busy. 

So I had to wonder....if there was something going on with him. 

It seemed like an off day for sure.
Though the food itself and the company was great. 

Yet.
When it came time to pay....
The dude forgot to give us the coin part of the change when he handed back the difference in what the bill said and what cash was given to him.  

Which it literally was pocket change, and a very easy mistake to make if one isn't totally focused on the job. 

But it was enough that some of the company was like "Why should we leave him a tip? He already took the change, therefore that can be his tip." 

Yet...I couldn't....leave it like that.
Because seriously. The dude hadn't done the best job in the world by any means. But he'd been friendly when we'd seen him, got our orders right. And hadn't constantly interrupted us. So like...why not give him a tip?

So I ended up leaving him one on the table. Taking initiative. 
Because if I can help brighten a bad day just a little bit....why not do it? 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Working the System

It was the end of my shift.
I was technically off, but hadn't clocked out yet because I was waiting for a coworker to get back from their break first before I left so that work would have the optimal coverage....even though the store was like....completely dead at that point. 

But I was standing near the front, when a woman walked into the store. 

And she makes a beeline straight for me and holds out a leash in her hands.
It's one of those retractable leashes. Pink in color. With part of the retractable leash wrapped around the handle/holder part. 

And the thing looked ancient.
Like it was worn, beat up, dirty and the pink was definitely very faded. 
It looked like crap really. It had had a hard life.

The woman? 
She was like "I've had this under a year and it's no longer working!" 

O.o
Lady....that thing does not look like it's under a year old, more like two or three, soo like...unless you've used it hard and left it out in the yard in harsh weather for days on end.....*shakes head* It was hard to believe that it was 'under a year' but...whatever.

But the woman...she didn't really give me more than that. "This is no longer working and I've had it under a year." 

I could guess she wanted to return it.
Though I was hoping she wanted to just buy a new one. 

Yet she hadn't clarified. So I was like... "Sooo what do you want me to do to help you?" 

"I want you to take care of it!" Was her response. 
*mentally rolls eyes* 

"Well. We only have a 60 day guarantee/return policy in the store." I told her. And she'd told me it was nearly a year old. Therefore, outside of the policy. But I told her "Maybe the manufacturer has a longer guarantee on your product." 

Obviously she was less than pleased.
"Last time you guys just took care of it! This has been an ongoing problem you know!" 

O.o 
Ongoing?
Like you've had multiple occurrences of the leash failing in under a year? 

-Honestly I was thinking she was crazy for wanting us to return a product that was so beat up/worn/and obviously used. I mean....it's not like the old days when things were made to last. There are a ton of products that aren't designed to last forever. And retractable leashes? I could totally see that being one. I could see the gizmo that retracts the leash breaking easily if a) too much strain is put on it or b) you use it hard. Like constantly having the dog on the leash or something.

But like...if this is an ongoing issue...why not buy a different leash? A different brand, or maybe a non retractable one? 

Still.
Trying to be helpful I was like "Okay....so do you have the receipt?" 
Negative.
"Well...we need the receipt to have proof of purchase." 
-Like we can look them up, but after a certain time frame....we can no longer access old receipts. 
So I was like "How old is the leash? You said under a year but is that like six months, nine months, or three months?" 
She wasn't sure.
Which again...makes it difficult to help her.
So I ended up with "Well, let me go check in with the manager and see what they say."

But yah.
She wasn't happy. 
I told the manager the situation and he was like. O.o "If it was in new condition and broken, possibly, but with it so old/beatup/worn....I can't return it." 

He ended up going over to talk to her so that I could clock out.
So I don't know the end result...if the woman got the exchange she wanted, or if she had to buy a new leash or what.

I'm hoping she had to buy it.
Because it's just stupid to expect a store to replace a product that's obviously been well used. Like within two months? I could totally see it being fine to return something if it broke.
But after almost a year?
Ha. No, you got your money's worth out of it. The style of retractable leash she had wasn't that expensive, and she's obviously used it a lot. So like....bite the bullet lady. You used the leash and it broke. Go buy a new one. Things don't last as long as they used to. 

*shakes head* 
Maybe next time at least she'll keep the receipt...
Because I get that our store wants to make the customer happy and they've been working hard to try and keep customers happy....like us having to help customers when they wander into our store even when we're not yet open.
But there are limits to how much we can help someone out.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Monday, July 9, 2018

The Cat Issue

*exhales* Uuuugggghhhhh.

So.
It was like....Saturday I think? Maybe Friday? I don't know honestly, time works weird at work.
But there was a guy and a girl who came into work during my shift.
They were memorable mostly because both were in church clothes and both told me that they were going on missions. The guy in like four days apparently. 

And from what I could gather, it was just him and his mom at home.
So when he left for his mission...his mom would be by herself.
And he didn't want her to be alone.
So he'd come to the store on a mission to find a cat to adopt so he could give it to his mom.

Which is such a sweet concept!
And like...they were debating between three different cats before settling on a sweet Orange Tabby that just loved to have attention and such.

Though I had mentioned possibly bringing the mom into the store so she could pick out the cat herself?
But the son was like "Nah, I want to surprise her."

And I made sure to tell him....that we have no return policy when it comes to adopting out cats. So if there was an issue *fingers crossed that there wouldn't be* then he or his mom would have to contact the adoption group and not us in order to work out any issues with the cat. 

The son seemed confident that it all would be fine and went along with the adoption. Buying everything his mom would need and such. And leaving the store with the cat.

And I figured that that would be the last I'd hear of it.

*exhales*
Wrong.
So wrong.

I answered the phone today at work.
To find the mother on the other end....
Guess what?

She couldn't keep the cat. 
She didn't go into specifics. But the cat just wasn't working out for her and she wanted to return it. 

Problem?
We usually don't accept returns for the cats. The only time a cat is returned to our store is only after the adoption group gives permission for the people to bring the cat back to us.

But with it being a new month...we didn't have that option as we switch between adoption groups every month and the new group had just come in. 
And with the cages full and it being a different group....we couldn't accept the cat.

So the best I could do was offer to give her the number for the adoption group so she could get in contact with them.

But she also wanted to know if she could return all the stuff that had been purchased at the store.
Which yes, with the receipt she could.
Only....she didn't have the receipt because the son had thrown it away. (probably because he didn't want his mom knowing how much he'd spent for the cat)
She'd also wanted to know if they could get a refund for the cat. Which....I had no idea. The money goes straight to the adoption group, we don't keep any of it. It gets handed straight to them along with their copy of the paperwork. So it would be up to the group on whether or not they would return the money. I know there are cases where the paperwork states that the people forfeit the adoption fee if they end up returning the cat...though I wasn't sure if this group did that or not. 

In any case....
I told the woman I could look up the receipt if I had the son's phone number (if he used it) or the card he used to pay with...but without the receipt I wouldn't be able to return the products. 

Though the woman would need to contact the adoption group first in order to have the cat taken care of first....because like you can't really return things before the cat leaves the house....

But yah...
It's frustrating...frustrating that this is the situation because I don't know what information the son passed along to the mom. Obviously not the part about them having to contact the adoption group and not my work if there were issues with the cat. Nor apparently the part about letting the cat adjust as it had only been like two or three days...
*exhales*
I hope she managed to work things out. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Sunday, July 8, 2018

In the Sun

I hate hot weather.
So like, it's not a surprise that I tend to stay indoors when it gets warm out.
And like....today was extremely hot. Probably in the high 90s if not reaching 100 or so. 
Bright. Sunny. And Hot.

Normally I don't stay around long outside in this sort of temperature range.
But today there was a Pokémon event where for 3 hours we could catch a particular pokemon! And my roomies and I enjoy participating. Just like a roomie bonding thing lol. 

So we spent 3 hours mostly outdoors hunting for these pokemon.
Which I didn't quite mind.

As I don't notice the heat as much when I'm focused on a goal. 
I didn't realize how hot it was outside...until like I would come indoors and feel how cold it was inside lol.

But I didn't think much of it. Being outside.
Until I got home, and realized that part of my neck was feeling irritated.
I'd originally just chalked it up to having my bag over that shoulder.
But looking closer...
I realized....
I'd gotten a sunburn there. O.o
Like huh?
Just a small one between the gap in my shirt and where my hair rested in it's ponytail. 

*shakes head*
I hadn't thought I'd been exposed to the sun long enough to get burned...as we would mostly stop in shady spots to catch our pokemon so we weren't cooking under the sun....

But I guess my body isn't as used to the sun. lol.
Luckily it doesn't seem to be too bad. ^^;; 

Still strange to get a sunburn though....it feels like forever since I've had one. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Adoption Day

So every month we have an adoption day. Where at work our adoption partner comes into the store with dogs to help them find forever homes. 
Usually it's only once a month because our main adoption group is based three hours away from us. So it's not always the easiest for them to come to our store. 

Which is what happened today.
We were supposed to have an adoption event.
But.
There's this fire that started nearby their area....that's grown huge. Destroyed homes, burned a lot of land.
And the group has been busy rescuing animals.
Mostly dogs I believe, possibly other animals.

It's crazy though, as I've been told that they've taken in over 100 dogs in the past couple of days. 
Which, I have no idea how big their main home base is.
But over 100 dogs is A LOT ()_()

*fingers crossed* that everyone finds a good home once they're deemed healthy and available for adoption. ^^;; 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Friday, July 6, 2018

Working Faster

I got called into work today.
To help cover a coworker's shift.

Which then allowed my manager to actually sit down and meet with me.
Why?

Because he wanted to discuss possible options to help us open our department a lot faster.

As there are days when we don't get done with opening until like after 3pm.
And he doesn't like that.

He wants us to have the department fully opened by like noon at the latest.

Which makes a lot of sense.
In that the sooner we're done tasking in the department.
The less distracted we'll be and the more easily we'll be able to help customers.

But like....
There's one thing I don't think he's taking into consideration with all his potential 'plans' to help us get opened faster.
It's the fact that a lot of us....don't like standing around being bored.
And if the day is slow and we've finished opening early....
Then there's a lot of that being done. 
And it drives me and some other coworkers crazy to have nothing to do.

So often, opening goes slower...because we're trying to kill time between customers lol.
We want to have something to do while waiting for people to come up to us asking questions. 

In any case.
The manager brought up some other good points.
Like the fact that the others need to learn how to do the bedding changes, so in case I'm not there (on vacation) or actually decide to leave....the department won't be left hanging on how to do everything. 
As I think the manager felt the lack while I was gone on vacation lol. 

And like...he thinks I need a break from the bedding changes, but I usually volunteer to do them because I like the busy work that it gives me. Because again, I don't like standing there bored trying to find things to do to entertain myself. 
I do agree though, that my coworkers do need to learn how to do the bedding change.
So perhaps, depending on scheduling, I'll give them all more opportunities to do the major cleaning of the day, while I focus on the minor opening tasks. 

That though...comes with it's own problems.
Because it really depends on who is opening with me and what bedding change we're supposed ot be doing that day.
As I have a coworker who's pregnant and so therefore can't do most of the bedding changes due to that fact.
Then I have another coworker who can't clean the birds because the particular pellet bedding we use for the bottom of the cages....they're allergic to. So they've been banned from being near the birds. 

Which means....unless the schedule manages to work it out so that those workers don't open on the days they can't do bedding changes...I'm still going to be doing the bedding changes because currently they are scheduled morning shifts with me. *shakes head* lol. 

So overall I am interested to see what the manager comes up with....as to how we're going to open, get things done earlier, but also save me from doing the 'grunt work' while keeping me happy by not making me do a lot of customer service.

Because the obvious solution to get my coworkers doing more of the work is for me to work a slightly later shift. Be the second person who comes in instead of the first. But like....I can only tolerate so much customer service in a day.
I have such a low interactive battery that my max of helping people usually fades out around 5-6 hours. 
So having me come in later....means there's more time interacting and gah...I get so exhausted doing that.

*shakes head*
So we'll see.
See how we can work it out so that the manager feels like opening is getting done faster, the coworkers are doing more of the cleaning work, and I'm kept happy without having to socialize too much. lol. 

Should be interesting. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi