Good News

My grandfather’s operation went well. He doesn’t have a bag which is a huge bonus. The bad news is that the spots on his liver were caused by the cancer and he will need to have chemotherapy for 6 months. The doctor said that should clear everything up though. I don’t wish chemotherapy on my worst enemy. The way I understand it they literally pump poison into your body to kill the cancer and it makes you very sick. He is strong though. He will get through this. I’m just really happy that the operation went well. I was very nervous about him being under anaesthetic as he’s not young anymore and there can be complications.

I was feeling really rough last night. I was sore all over. My uterus feels like it’s blowing up. Apparently it’s the size of a grapefruit now and I can really say that I can feel there is something swollen beneath my skin. There’s no more denying it. Over and above the nausea I now FEEL pregnant. I really feel sorry for Rudi at times. I’m sure I bite his head off over trivial things and moan about him moving in bed next to me because I’m afraid I’ll throw up or my breasts are really sensitive. Good times.

I’m so tired of working it’s not funny. When I came in this morning I noticed I had 3 irate customers in my list. They can all really just kiss my ass. I’m not in the mood for know-it-all customers shouting and swearing at me and not taking “no” for an answer. The customer is not always right. Sometimes they are just downright unreasonable and full of crap. One of said customers is complaining about a product he doesn’t use and is singing the praises of our competitor. He’s not even really asking a question. So I should phone him and explain the business rules, etc. to him? Why? He doesn’t seem interested. On the other hand, this is my job and I get paid to do it. I think I get paid well to do it too. So I guess I should just be grateful I have a job which grants me opportunities that others cannot dream of.*

*This little bit of perspective came after me getting breakfast and mulling it over. I really should watch my mouth. I run it off in the heat of the moment.

She's Psychotic

She's psychotic and if a car ran over her today I would not shed a tear.

No, I'm not referring to my mother, but rather a customer that just keeps coming back. This woman has been told time and time again that she is wrong and that we are right. Her query has travelled the entire company and the Internet (various complaint sites). Management gets sick of her threats and screaming and offers her compensation as 'gestures of goodwill' and sure enough she's back again.

I assisted this woman's husband with his original query and because it was taking long to resolve offered him compensation. This was a mistake. She's been back claiming the same problem ever since. I keep telling management to stop giving her 'free stuff' because she'll keep coming back. Why do anything else? She's getting all this free usage, why not complain again? Why not scream again? Like Dr. Phil always says 'You teach people how to treat you'. All we are teaching this lady is that if you scream enough and slander us enough on the Internet, we'll give you free stuff.

I will just follow management's orders to avoid a disciplinary hearing for insubordination. She'll be back. Mark my words.

Speaking of psychos, I suppose it's apt that I update you on what is happening with My Evil Mother. She is currently still sponging off of my aunt and uncle. Their child is sleeping on the floor to give the woman a bed. She's still with her boyfriend, Coke Head, who slept with someone we are kind of related to by marriage. She says she is fine with that. She now says she is just using him so she can get a lift to work, until she "gets on her feet" (FYI: She's been 'getting on her feet' for 3 years now). I'm so sick of it. My grandmother said to me this morning "You're going to have a big problem when she is old and needs someone to take care of her. She has no money saved, no pension, no future". Really? There are tons of government funded old age homes where I think she'll be really comfortable. Maybe I should send her some brochures to show her what her future will be like.

For the history of My Evil Mother, click here.

Bad Friday

I'm having what is commonly referred to as a 'data bundle' day where I work. I'm getting a lot of these queries today and they are generally notorious for being the worst kind of query. The customers that send through these kind of queries are often demanding and unreasonable. They don't take no for an answer and don't accept explanations. They will argue with you until you can't argue anymore. I have three of these queries sitting waiting for me right now. I'm working around them. Postponing the inevitable. Flitting around them, avoiding them until I have no choice but to call these customers and listen to their accusing tones.

The way customer's treat me affects me. I know I should let it roll off me, but it doesn't. I don't like being accused, held accountable, shouted at or threatened. I suppose nobody does. I take all the abuse because it's my job, but I can't stand it when people don't understand that they are speaking to a PERSON, not a computer. I can't be held responsible for business rules I didn't make or terms and conditions that I didn't write. Also, some people think that if you shout and are rude you are going to get what you want. I know for a fact that people who are treated with respect are more willing to help you than people who feel intimidated. I suppose a lot of people are just inarticulate.

There are other ways to bring across your frustrations. There are other ways of venting your anger. Stooping to petty name calling and exasperated shouting isn't going to get you anywhere. You can be calm, friendly AND firm. It is possible.

Be a nice customer. You might be surprised every now and then how far someone is willing to go to give you what YOU want.