I started to wonder where everyone was... Were they studying more than usual? It would make sense, after all the semester just started amping up with the arrival of the first wave of tests. No, this is unusual. Maybe I smell and they are trying to stay away from me. I became paranoid.
After a water main breaks and the Bradley campus and surrounding areas instantly feel as if they had moved to the Sahara we have run into another problem. I have confirmed with some people close to me and we decided that we would rather not have internet at all over REALLY slow internet. That being said, having no internet in the house for 5 days puts everyone a little bit (more like a lot) on edge.
I didn't smell after all! Just that thing we all can't live without, was instantly not working. THE INTERNET IS DOWN! Man's greatest tool is absent from our home, so the occupants must go on campus to get their daily intake of networking.
We went through the typical manly man: "I'm going to fix this myself! Who needs a professional technician!?" And on and on it went for four days until we decided to call the Comcast people.
Let me be clear. Next to the guy that works "lost luggage" at the airport, working the customer service lines at Comcast has to be the least desirable position in the American economy. Their is a certain place in heaven for the person that makes it through five years of that profession without raising their voice at obnoxious customers.
Now, to the gritty. It took me 15 minutes of her running diagnostic tests over the phone before she gave up and tried to tell me to contact the manufacturer of our modem while attempting to sign off.
"No, No, No!!!," I said. "You aren't getting off that easy!" Calling Motorola and trying to replace the modem would take at least two weeks, even if I managed to talk to a human being. I told the tough to understand lady from Comcast that was pretty terrible customer service and to just send a technician and sort this whole thing out. Well instantly she turned on the apologetic mode that must be ingrained in their DNA at this point. We sorted out a time for the next morning and several thoughts came to me.
How said is it that Comcast was just going to let me go? They weren't going to send someone to resolve the situation and attempt to make good service. No, they just wanted me to go away and make it someone else's problem (specifically Motorola). It took me complaining and telling this poor woman of the terrible customer service before she decided to give me what I deserved as a paying customer: resolution.
This behavior starts to become the norm for our society: complain until you get what you want. Sad but true. And while it my seem trivial, Comcast let it happen.
I hate Comcast, but damn am I glad to have the Internet back!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
A fan forever
Okay, time to take some time to talk about myself and my journey to this point in my collegiate career. Many people know me as an athlete, a label that I am proud of. But, sadly, I am not one anymore. A heartbreaking diagnosis during my junior year left me without the opportunity to contribute athletically to the Bradley Cross Country and Track team anymore. I was told that I have supraventricular tachycardia. For laymen's terms: my heart will go from a regular "working out" heartbeat around 130 to over 200, instantly. As you can imagine this causes some problems in running a 5 mile race at the collegiate level.
I could be treated by going through a surgical procedure which would zap the pathway in my heart that causes the increased heart rate. The success rate is about 80% with a 5% chance of having the procedure go terribly wrong, in which I would have to go into open heart surgery and blah, blah, blah... Safe to say I wasn't going to risk that just to run in college. (I could have the procedure done if it ever became worse or I just felt like it was time).
If you have ever been on a team, in a discipline that you are EXTREMELY passionate about, and are told that you can't do it anymore, it is completely dismantling. I was extremely upset by the result and fell into depression for several weeks trying to adopt to college without the 20 hour per week commitment to athletics and specifically to Bradley University.
I watched my teammates, and specifically my classmates become stronger men and stronger athletes as they matured through the program. I had the opportunity to observe my team from a completely different perspective- I was now a fan, and I became the most passionate one I could possibly be. I've always been a good cheerleader but now I got to cheerlead for the people on campus I cared most about, without worrying about my own success. My path through athletics was over, but my team's path was just beginning to be paved.
I received the opportunity to be the manager for the team entering my senior year and was excited to help in any way I could. I saw Bradley Cross Country turn into a team and post the best result- for both programs- that anyone can remember. It was fun to watch and it was even better to see them wanting more. They didn't settle for the places they earned at the conference meet. They wanted more and were willing to work for it.
I had never wanted to be more part of the team than at that moment. I wanted to be sweating and exhausted by the morning's 12 miles of pain and focus. I couldn't experience it anymore but that is when I found what my strength really was. I was never the best runner on the team. I was never the worst but I always tried to have to best attitude. Now, in my new role, I could make everyone's experience a little better with a big smile and some loud words of encouragement.
I had realized what could make me happy while providing happiness for so many others. No feeling in the world is better than finding your value in it.
I still am jealous of the guys running around the concourse of the arena at 6 am but smile at the fact that I got to experience it while I could.
Make the best of anything you can. AND most importantly...
GO BRAVES
I could be treated by going through a surgical procedure which would zap the pathway in my heart that causes the increased heart rate. The success rate is about 80% with a 5% chance of having the procedure go terribly wrong, in which I would have to go into open heart surgery and blah, blah, blah... Safe to say I wasn't going to risk that just to run in college. (I could have the procedure done if it ever became worse or I just felt like it was time).
If you have ever been on a team, in a discipline that you are EXTREMELY passionate about, and are told that you can't do it anymore, it is completely dismantling. I was extremely upset by the result and fell into depression for several weeks trying to adopt to college without the 20 hour per week commitment to athletics and specifically to Bradley University.
I watched my teammates, and specifically my classmates become stronger men and stronger athletes as they matured through the program. I had the opportunity to observe my team from a completely different perspective- I was now a fan, and I became the most passionate one I could possibly be. I've always been a good cheerleader but now I got to cheerlead for the people on campus I cared most about, without worrying about my own success. My path through athletics was over, but my team's path was just beginning to be paved.
I received the opportunity to be the manager for the team entering my senior year and was excited to help in any way I could. I saw Bradley Cross Country turn into a team and post the best result- for both programs- that anyone can remember. It was fun to watch and it was even better to see them wanting more. They didn't settle for the places they earned at the conference meet. They wanted more and were willing to work for it.
I had never wanted to be more part of the team than at that moment. I wanted to be sweating and exhausted by the morning's 12 miles of pain and focus. I couldn't experience it anymore but that is when I found what my strength really was. I was never the best runner on the team. I was never the worst but I always tried to have to best attitude. Now, in my new role, I could make everyone's experience a little better with a big smile and some loud words of encouragement.
I had realized what could make me happy while providing happiness for so many others. No feeling in the world is better than finding your value in it.
I still am jealous of the guys running around the concourse of the arena at 6 am but smile at the fact that I got to experience it while I could.
Make the best of anything you can. AND most importantly...
GO BRAVES
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Starbucks Etiquette
For this weeks post, I wanted to change it up to go more in depth on what I was thinking this week that had to be discussed. Nothing in particular happened in our house this week outside of the boil-order which I might touch on next week. I suspect the lack of action was due to the speeding up of classes as we are already in mid-February.
A lot of college people visit Starbucks. A lot of people in general, as a matter of fact, visit Starbucks. Sometimes while working there on a lovely Saturday, I could be stuck at the window taking money for up to eight hours. As you can imagine this task can get obnoxiously redundant and it could make anyone go insane. I'm sure you know a person that has a very customized order and won't remove themselves from the premises until it is JUST RIGHT. Trust me when I say their are more of these people than I ever could imagine.
Instead of talking about customers that are often difficult to get along with I'm going to touch on simple drive-through etiquette, for your next visit to the world of caffeine. (Or anywhere you make an order)
1.) Number one is not a surprise, nor should it be. No one can tell me they really like being greeted with a frown and a passive attitude. I thrive on giving someone a good experience and I guarantee if you give it a shot I will make your day a little better, but you have to help me out. Always give me a smile. It will make you and I feel a little better. Plus, you're at Starbucks! How does that not make you happy?
2.) When I ask a simple question, you don't have to be overjoyed to answer it but please do. I say, "Hi, how are you today?" when the next person pulls up to the window and I probably get absolutely nothing 25% of the time. That hurts.
3.) Say please and thank you. When I say "Would you like a copy of your receipt?" You say either "yes, please" or "no, thank you". It really is that easy. And what bothers me is that people often come to the store with their children in tow. Be courteous and gracious, if not for me, for your children's sake.
4.) Understand that we are making hundreds of drinks that day and we are trying to make your experience a good one. Sometimes it takes a little more time. We don't just go and grab your drink of a counter and hand it to you. Their are a lot of moving parts to make it all flow and a person that can understand that and be patient makes my day.
5.) Lastly, if you have a great experience give a little tip. It could be just a little change, but I guarantee it will go appreciated. You don't have to tip every single time or when you have a mediocre experience. If you thought the experience was great and you noticed all the prople working hard to make you happy, give a little.
Thanks
Thomas (the happy guy in the window).
A lot of college people visit Starbucks. A lot of people in general, as a matter of fact, visit Starbucks. Sometimes while working there on a lovely Saturday, I could be stuck at the window taking money for up to eight hours. As you can imagine this task can get obnoxiously redundant and it could make anyone go insane. I'm sure you know a person that has a very customized order and won't remove themselves from the premises until it is JUST RIGHT. Trust me when I say their are more of these people than I ever could imagine.
Instead of talking about customers that are often difficult to get along with I'm going to touch on simple drive-through etiquette, for your next visit to the world of caffeine. (Or anywhere you make an order)
1.) Number one is not a surprise, nor should it be. No one can tell me they really like being greeted with a frown and a passive attitude. I thrive on giving someone a good experience and I guarantee if you give it a shot I will make your day a little better, but you have to help me out. Always give me a smile. It will make you and I feel a little better. Plus, you're at Starbucks! How does that not make you happy?
2.) When I ask a simple question, you don't have to be overjoyed to answer it but please do. I say, "Hi, how are you today?" when the next person pulls up to the window and I probably get absolutely nothing 25% of the time. That hurts.
3.) Say please and thank you. When I say "Would you like a copy of your receipt?" You say either "yes, please" or "no, thank you". It really is that easy. And what bothers me is that people often come to the store with their children in tow. Be courteous and gracious, if not for me, for your children's sake.
4.) Understand that we are making hundreds of drinks that day and we are trying to make your experience a good one. Sometimes it takes a little more time. We don't just go and grab your drink of a counter and hand it to you. Their are a lot of moving parts to make it all flow and a person that can understand that and be patient makes my day.
5.) Lastly, if you have a great experience give a little tip. It could be just a little change, but I guarantee it will go appreciated. You don't have to tip every single time or when you have a mediocre experience. If you thought the experience was great and you noticed all the prople working hard to make you happy, give a little.
Thanks
Thomas (the happy guy in the window).
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Roommate Incentives
I can only hope that when choosing to live with someone or someones that you believe you KNOW the person (however you define knowing someone). At our house, we try to keep things clean and tidy. You know, do your dishes soon after finishing a meal, taking out the trash, removing laundry from the machines, etc.
How do you incentivize someone that doesn't believe in those things? I've tried everything from the "act really clean and tidy yourself and maybe that will make them feel guilty" method to the- "Hey (insert name) it would be nice for you to pick up your trail of crumbs everywhere you go" strategy. Some people are just not incentivized like me but we have to do the dishes at some point.
Mind manipulation is a tedious and ofttimes unnecessary business to be involved with. However, when my stroll to the bathroom is interrupted with the unpleasant pile of last nights dinner, manipulation becomes a high priority activity in the house.
I sometimes make intentional messes in places that my roommate will see and (hopefully) be annoyed by and it works-to the point of him being annoyed. Then the worst happens- he retaliates by doing the same thing back!!
This madness never ends...
Ideas are welcomed and always enjoyed.
Thomas
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