Cell Phone Manners

This is the post where I get to vent my frustration at working on the service industry. Working at the front desk of a hotel is overall, fun and interesting. I get to meet a lot of people and learn how interesting many people's lives are (or aren't in some cases...).

But sometimes there is the occasional frustration with people's manners. One of the worst, for instance, are the people who come into the hotel on their cell phones. Now I understand that busines is important and you need to get it done but it's not like you could put the person on hold or call them back a mere 5 minutes later.

It just doesn't feel good to be trying to check a guest in and be polite when the entire time they are completely ignoring you and just wish you would give them their room keys so they can get on with their stay. It is becoming a more and more common experience to see people talking on their cell phones - whether at the hotel, in Starbucks, or even the grocery store line.

So the next time your cell phone rings and you are in line think about the person giving you the service you are waiting for. They probably want to be acknowledged in some way for helping you out!

This is Where I Live...

Ah, fall is coming to Pullman. It went from 80 degrees to 60 degrees this weekend and there are lots of clouds covering the Palouse landscape. The signs of fall are beginning to show up. And there are some unique to Pullman.
First of all, the best sign of fall is that the Cougs played their first home game at Martin Stadium last weekend. I love Cougar football! The tailgater's, RV'ers, sitting in the stadium 2 hours early just to get a good seat in the student section. It is GREAT! Unfortunately, Chris and I didn't go the game last weekend, instead, we watched it from the comfort of our apartment while it took place less then a mile from where we sat. Hopefully, we will attend at least one game this fall.
Another unique sign of fall in Pullman is dirt! Being a farming community with the main commodity being wheat, there is lots of dust flying throughout the air. After harvest, they go back to till under the fields getting them ready for next year. It's pretty much pointless to wash your car until it starts snowing.
Now I am looking forward to the trees starting to turn and the chill coming to the air. Although I will be complaining about the cold in a couple months, for now I am eagerly awaiting fall and all that it brings. Enjoy fall wherever you are.

What's In A Name?

I knew this would happen to me but I still feel unprepared. How can you not realize that when you get married your name changes. And when your name changes, there are A LOT of people who want to know about it!
Which of course, doesn't sound to hard except that companies have decided that they all must have a different procedure for you to change your name. Different form, different documents to prove your name change, either fax or mail, or maybe even both.
That, plus the fact that it's practically impossible to reach a Customer Service Rep. anywhere, makes for long hours on the phone and lots of hoops to jump through just to change something as simple as a name.
I think from now on, when a new couple goes to the courthouse to get their marriage license, there should be some kind of notebook. A notebook that will list out for you all of the possible companies that you might need to contact as well as all the forms you might possibly need to fill out! Don't you think that might be helpful?