A Little Advice

I was standing in line today at the grocery store and the person ahead of me had an issue with one of their items. I’m going to assume that an item was coming up for a price they didn’t agree with. Either way the missus was giving the poor cashier a time about it. Whenever I witness an event such as this I always take it a little personally because I was a grocery cashier for a few years and there is one thing I can tell you:

Don’t piss off the people who handle your food.

Believe it or not but cashiers have very little if nothing to do with the price that comes up on our screen after scanning an item. That’s the grocery/deli/produce/Gm/whatever-other-department’s problem. Sometimes even the scanning system itself won’t save a new price! I remember this one time a brand of crackers were on sale and for whatever the reason, even after resetting the price multiple times in the main computer system, the price would not come up as the sale price. So if something does not come up for the right price, don’t look at the cashier as if it’s their fault.

Anyways, the cashier who was handling the order explained that she had to call grocery and just check the price. This missus was having none of that, “I saw the price tag and I just told you how much it is.” Checking with grocery to confirm a price is not an attempt to insult you, it’s just a company policy set in place so a cashier can verify why a price had to receive an override and be changed in the system. A lot of the times the customer is actually right but it’s just a check because sometimes the tag you saw was for the 10oz can of beans and not the 20oz.

This happened to be the case for lady in front of me. The cashier explained that it was actually a different sized item that was on for the sale price. This put the lady in an awful huff and continued to mutter and complain the entire time her order was being processed. When it was all rang in the cashier politely told the lady to have a nice evening, turned to me and said a friendly hello.

I understand that everyone has bad days and on particular days it can be the smallest thing that may send you into a fit; but please, don’t take it out on your cashier. They scan your groceries but they do not enter prices into the system, put up sale signs, or stock the shelves with products (or at least in my store cashiers didn’t). Do not blame them for something they have no control over. Cashiers also can’t help it if departments do not answer intercom pages or calls to their phone.

Cashiers may not be able to take out any frustration by spitting in your burger like they could at a fast food joint, but become a customer that always has to cause a scene ever single visit trust me, you’re going to be assigned a nickname so that you can be identified once you come in the store and straws can be drawn over who has to deal with you.  

To all you cashiers out there, grocery or otherwise I salute you, for you guys all do job I would never think twice about going back to.

Rebecca 

 "Just keep smiling and maybe Horned-Rimmed-Glasses-Lady won't yell at you this time"

Lady Gaga- The Edge of Glory

Hi Folks!

This is a bit different for me but I was inspired to write about Lady Gaga's new video for The Edge of Glory after I checked it out on youtube shortly after the premiere on "So You Think You Can Dance".

For those of you who haven't seen it, here it is..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWBS0JBNzQ&feature=fvsr

As much as I love Lady Gaga, I found this video really boring.. I'm not sure what she was going for but it didn't really work for me. Basically the whole video is just Gaga shifting her weight around a building and having some song time..nothing more, nothing less. I think all her videos usually have some wow factor and this was just way to toned down.. Usless her wow factor was the fact the Ms. Gaga was toned down.. Is she playing with our heads here?

This song has no made it into the books of one of my favorites ever so maybe I'm a little biased because to me, nothing could live up to the song. I should really get Bec's opinion on this one!

One another note, I love how my friend and I were both inspired by music videos this week.. We share parts of a brain.

Well by the looks of this post I could have almost put this on twitter but it's totally not my fault.. It's Lady Gaga's <3 :)

x.x (fail)

Ashlee

Next to you-Chris Brown ft. Justin Bieber

I do not understand Chris Brown. After beating his girlfriend, going through anger management, and then breaking a window on the set of Good Morning America, Brown has continued to make some money off his record sales. While doing some browsing on Youtube today, I stumbled across this little gem.

This video should be considered for Video on Trial.  Under normal circumstances I would not be able to watch this video for more than 20 seconds tops- especially with Justin Bieber in it. A special exception was made in this case, as I couldn’t stop laughing.

For starters we have Chris Brown’s hair. Seriously? Does he honestly think that looks presentable? At least he isn’t wearing that ridiculous outfit from Good Morning America, cause he looked…well ridiculous pretty much covers it. I think this photo sums it up pretty well. 

Secondly there was the Cell Phone Chick. In the midst of all the city destruction that seems to be going on, CPC seems stunned and just stands amongst the sea of running people trying to dial a number. Ok, I can understand trying to call someone during some disaster, but multi-task and at the least walk while on the phone. If you can’t manage that your best bet is to move to the sidewalk or something. That way there is a smaller chance of getting trampled in the crowd.

Next we have the outfits, specifically Chris Brown’s. My favorite is the overly tight black getup he wears while dancing next to Bieber. That getup looks like something Chris Tucker would’ve had to wear as Ruby Rhod. Added to the way he flails about with his dancing I suddenly had the urge to watch The Fifth Element. Actually the dancing in this video was also something that made me laugh.

Lets not forget the awesome dramatic sequences! I was particularly fond of the sequence where Brown finds his love interest but a deadly ravine blocks his path. For a second, I thought he was just going to run away and abandon her but he did something even better and tries to jump the ravine. As he was moving mid-air I’m thinking “Fall! Fall!” and he actually does! He doesn’t make it! This just goes to show that they were going for accuracy in this music video. This ain’t the movies where heroes can defy the laws of physics and jump beyond their capabilities. This is a music video where they try and abide by the laws of physics and men cannot leap over large ravines.

I feel kinda bad for aiding in getting this video more views, but it couldn’t be helped. It’s like crappy T.V. you know is rotting your brain but you continue to watch anyway. I’m just not looking forward to when I actually start hearing the song on the radio.

Rebecca

Hands on the Wheel Please

There are many different emotions a person can go through while driving a car that does not belong to them. If it happens to be something like a go-kart you feel like a kid in a candy store. You can zoom around as fast as you like and pretend you’re in NASCAR. If it is something along the lines of a company car, you’re an emotional roller coaster.

With the company car first you may feel excitement at driving a snazzy car that is kept clean and in top-notch shape. You can drive around feeling like you’re important since you get full use of the company rig. But as you’re driving along, the person behind you is getting a little too close. Suddenly you find yourself muttering, “Hey now, two car lengths buddy! Two!”

You now notice every piece of debris on the road and take extra care to avoid the potholes. Welcome to my world.  

During the month of June my job involves a lot of driving, as I have to go to sites all over the province. While I’m driving the company car I notice how many people don’t follow the rules of the road and that an alarming amount seem to be at an age where the only driving wheel they should be in control of are those belonging to a video game. For instance today I’m 99% sure it was a twelve year old kid that got the bright idea to try and run me off the road by creating a third lane by straddling the solid line on a merge.

Whether I’m driving the company car or my own, I am sick and tired of dodging idiots who are blabbing on the phone, doing their makeup, and eating a breakfast sandwich all at the same time. Your hands are for driving, not your elbows. Take yourself to the mall, get a hands-free calling device, do your makeup before you leave the house, and refrain from eating a five-course meal during your commute because I’m sure that you want to arrive home in one piece just as much as I do.

Safe Driving,

Rebecca

Still an Old Fart

A few nights ago, my co-blogger Ashlee started bringing up the topic of Twitter again. She was met with a blunt "No." Back in November I addressed my issues with Twitter in a post on our old blog and I thought, "now Rebecca, aren't we being a little close minded about all this?"

I decided to check things out on the website and I still don't understand!

For one, I think Twitter hates me. I couldn't get beyond the homepage because it took too long to load the little "About" section at the bottom. Seasons changed while I waited for the darn thing to load. I just kept getting a big white screen when other websites load perfectly fine. Twitter must have found out about my previous post...

Then I did what I always do in these situations, I Googled. FYI: I am the queen of Google. It's really unhealthy how much I rely on it but it has helped me in so many ways from finding a perfect bruschetta recipe to instructions on fixing my original duck hunt game. Anyways, I found this neat little video called "Twitter in Plain English"

Plain English? Yes; convincing?no.

The video focuses on how Twitter brings this lady Carla closer to all the people she cares about. The video explains that Twitter is useful because now you don't have to email your friend and say "I'm out for coffee!" because you can just tweet it.

I'm not saying Twitter is evil or stupid, I just don't understand it. Personally I don't feel the need to update the world of my every thought or daily activity. Once a day on a blog will suffice for now :P

For anyone who is interested, this is the link to my previous rant on Twitter.
http://daringdarlings.blogspot.com/2010/11/guess-im-just-old-fart.html

Enjoy,
Rebecca

Let me cross the road!

I believe we are all familiar of the universal rule of the road:

Pedestrians hate drivers; drivers hate pedestrians; but both parties can agree that nothing is worse than a person on a bike.

Although I have plenty of experience with pedestrianism and driving, my bike riding experience is limited to the times back in the day when the neighborhood kids would form a mini bike gang and patrol the streets. This being said, I apologize in advance if I offend any of those out there who brave the city streets via bicycle.

Now to address the reason for this rant of sorts; I am fortunate enough that I live only a five minute walk from the building I work in. This allows me to walk home everyday for lunch instead of having to take those extra ten minutes in the morning to pack one. Yesterday as I was walking home I got closer to the intersection I had to cross in order to reach my building. I’m about five meters away from pressing the button that makes the little crosswalk symbol light up, when out of nowhere a ninja on wheels zooms by me, nearly resulting in the releasing of my bowels.

That’s right, a ninja on wheels or what is commonly known as a biker. I don’t know what it is but all the bikers around where I live seem to have invested in super quiet bikes. If I had been wearing headphones and jamming to some awesome tunes and did not hear the pesky biker approaching from behind, I would deserve the inevitable fright about to be inflicted.

But no. I was not wearing headphones and the bugger indeed startled me. Nothing like a mid-day heart attack to re-energize ya. That is why when I’m walking I dislike bike riders. I know they are helping reduce carbon emissions and getting some exercise to boot, but they ALWAYS sneak up and scare me. Not so much if they happen to have a bell to give you some warning, but when they seem to materialize out of thin air like a ninja assassin, I am not impressed.

After recovering and mumbling a few profanities, I press the button and wait for the lighted red hand to change into a little man. When the man does appear I begin to take my first steps towards the curb when “WHOOSH!” A big ol’ blue truck zooms by, clearly going through a red light, and would have made me a pancake if not for my slow response time to crossing the street.

This time I was not so much startled but infuriated, “That’s right buddy you better keep driving. You-” I’m sure you can use your imagination and finish the response.

All I wanted to do was go home and have some lunch. Instead I was dodging bikes and nearly getting run down by big ol’ blue trucks. It kinda made me realize what a vicious circle these three modes of transportation make. When I’m driving my car and a pedestrian seems to jump out of nowhere to cross the street I respond with, “Look BOTH ways moron!” If I was the pedestrian in this situation I’d respond with, “Hey! I’m walking here! Keep your eyes open moron!” Throw a bike into the situation and it doesn’t matter if I’m the pedestrian or driver, the guy on the bike is always going to be the moron.

Sorry bikers, it’s true. When I’m driving you refuse to use the sidewalk even though the road is not equipped with a bike lane meaning I must hug the yellow line so I can drive by without hitting you. When I’m walking I have to be on my guard because you are either going to sneak up behind me or turn a corner too fast and nearly hit me.

I realize I’m being a bit harsh and I’m sure you can come up with plenty to say about me while I’m driving my car or while I’m walking, but for now you are always going to annoy me just the tiniest bit on an everyday basis.

Sorry,

Pins  

Time for a facelift

Under normal circumstances I’d totally be against cosmetic surgery, but since this is cyber-space I’m willing to make an exception. That’s right; “The Daring Darlings” have gotten a bit of a hauling over. Hopefully this time around things will run a little more smoothly and a fan base of some sort can actually develop.

One of our major plans for this overhaul is to not just ramble (which I am entirely guilty of), but actually discuss things such as what books are worth the read, how to decorate an apartment on a college student budget, and what cosmetic products are going to give you the best bang for your buck.

So all you readers out there, I hope you enjoy the new. It may seem a little empty now, but don’t worry; it’s going to start filling up with material before you know it.

Happy Reading,

Pins (a.k.a Rebecca)