This and That and Pepper

 

We got to spend some quality time with our grand kitty Pepper last night. 

We visited with Willie and Debbie to iron out some upcoming plans----some of the group will be attending the women's NCAA tournament this week and we have also been planning a family trip this summer. 

Unfortunately, the airline Aer Lingus where we booked our tickets in January, cancelled our round-trip flights, which has meant off-the-charts frustration and then some. 

So, we're looking at different options while trying several times daily to reach the airline via phone. 

I'd hate to add up the hours over the past week that Debbie and I have spent with our phones dialed in to Aer Lingus, then set on speaker phone and having to endure nauseating, repetitive music, interrupted occasionally by a lady's emotionless voice announcing "Thank you for waiting. All our agents are helping other customers."

I sure hope those customers that the agents are helping are getting their money's worth for Aer Lingus taking their money, cancelling their flights and cancelling basically anything resembling customer service.

Is this the "cancel culture" that everyone keeps talking about? 

Anywho, it's been enough stress and disappointment to spit out some appropriate expletives several times a day since last week's cancellation oddly planned in conjunction with St. Patrick's Day. 

Anyway, we had a nice visit last night and came up with some ideas as well as enjoying Pepper and her antics. 

Today Bridie and I will be going to school. 

We signed up for a one-on-one lesson with an obedience teacher.  Today, she'll simply put us through some exercises and will establish a baseline to determine what needs the most work in upcoming lessons. 

This morning the most work needs to be dedicated to Bridie's pizza pilfering from the kitchen stove.  

Bill noted that she has aptitude cuz she bypassed the sausage cooking in the frying pan and went straight for the cold pizza.

I don't think obedience school offers much in strategies for stopping such behavior. And, we're getting a strong feeling that food on the counters will no longer be safe from Miss Bridie. 

I have gathered all the school supplies listed:  treats, vaccination records, collar, leash and doggie do bags. 

Bill has reported two No. 2's so far this morning, including very early when he heard Bridie whimpering. 

We hope she is not developing an anxiety about going to school.   If it is anxiety, at least she's done her business.  I do not want to have to use those bags during the lesson. 

While speaking of this lesson, I feel the need to extend a shout-out to a young lady named Kenzy who works at Petco. 

Before leaving the store the other day, I thanked her profusely for her wonderful customer service. 

Kenzy is very knowledgeable about dogs and very willing to find what the customer needs and to answer any and all questions. 

In the midst of this mind-boggling debacle with Aer Lingus, I must say that Kenzy's enthusiastic service and thorough attention to my needs and questions shined in my mind and I let her know so with heartfelt praise. 

I know I'm naive, but what has happened in our world where "professionals" in various capacities have become so dismissive?  

Never mind returning a call or an email if, in your mind, this poor sap is not going to further your own self interests at that particular time.

It's just plain rude and totally reflective on the person doing the dismissing. 

I know it works both ways and that, in addition to the professionals paid to serve the public, we have members of the public who don't mind treating our service workers like dirt. 

I heard a story the other day from a clerk who had asked a customer if he needed help.

"Do I look like I need help?" the customer snapped back to him. 

In the past few months, I've heard similar stories from several individuals working in the public sector.  

A few experiences like this would certainly turn off pretty much anyone's desire to reach out. 

This kind of behavior is becoming more and more prevalent at all levels of society.  

I don't know what can be done about it, but I do believe that---for people in all walks of life---going back to the basics of good ol' fashioned manners and showing a little more concern for someone other than themselves would go a long way to fix this disturbing problem.

People feel good when they can help others and whenever we do receive genuine service from those paid to do so, we appreciate it and don't mind telling others. 

"Please" and "thank you" and just plain doing your job go along ways. 

In the grand scheme of things these little but important gestures add up, and when that happens, it's a better world for all concerned. 

I know it's hardly a perfect world, but we could all do our part making it at least a tolerable world.     

That's all. 

Happy Wednesday.  Off to school we go! 

Also, be sure to listen to the young lady in the You Tube video below.  She sang in a bunker and then she was asked to sing to a huge crowd.