Fun and busy day. I have meetings, training, presentation, and birthday cake. Every month at work we have a cake for everyone who was born in the month. It’s very corporate, but it is a kind jester. I am responsible for getting the cake. 

We get more upset customers during the holiday season. The pressure of the season gets to people and they have to take it out on someone else. We get calls were people want to talk to you on the phone to resolve an issue that has already been resolved or talk to a manager about how they were treated 4 years ago. This is not a joke this happened the other day. He just complained about everything and then wanted to talk to the manager’s manager. He didn’t make much sense, just going on and on with the poor service he had received 4 years ago. Nothing specific, just random general complaints. Things that weren’t even specific to what we do here.

It didn’t affect me, I wasn’t upset, just felt sorry for this man. When I was younger, I used to work in a grocery store and had to help people like this on a daily basis. It mostly happens during December. They seem lonely and just need someone to talk to or want attention. Not a great way to do so.  Whenever I saw them in the parking lot or at the store another day, I would always say “Good morning” or how is it going. Just chat for a minute or two. It was the world to them. It was typically their spouse had died and the children were living out of state. Just lonesome.

If you see anyone sitting by themselves, a smile and a simple pleasantry might make someone’s day.

 🌧️ 46°F – 32°F 🙂 | Seattle 

I stayed home finish washing dishes and sauteed the onions for the perogy filling. The rest of the day I watched tv and played games with the kids. I took a long bath to get my thoughts together and plan for the rest of the week. It is going to be crucial to manage my time during the holiday season.

I worked out my priorities for work. There are so many things happening that I am not making progress on my tasks I find important.

 ⛅ 49°F – 45°F 🙂 | Seattle 

 I went for a morning walk in the mall after shopping at the grocery store. I spent most of the time in the kitchen cooking and preparing fillings for our Christmas Perogies. Before bed I realized that I didn’t sauté the onions. I will need to do it first thing in the morning. When I wasn’t in the kitchen, I spent time washing towels and cleaning around the house.  I was hoping for snow today, but it never came. Before bedtime, I read with the kids and even purchased some new books. We just stayed home today.

 🌧️ 41°F – 36°F 🙂 | Seattle 

 I started the morning very tired. I slept for 5 1/2 hours and felt it. I spent the day helping the new agent. He is progressively doing better and resolving harder issues. The group is doing well and will be talking to the director to see if I can get authorization to give overtime to the agent that volunteers to stay later to resolve more tickets.

Since I have been working at the company, I never received a holiday gift. At previous companies my best managers would get use gifts. They were small but thoughtful gifts. So, I thought I would do the same. Each present is specific to each employee. I spent 30 dollars on each person. I didn’t want to purchase gift cards and just handed them out. I wanted it to be personal to why they liked or needed it.

I went shopping with my daughter to help her pick Christmas gifts at the local mall. It was nice spending time with her, just me and her without the rest of the family. We walked around talking about anything she wanted, without being interrupted by her sibling or mom. I like to just listen, so they can fully articulate what they are trying to convey. Most of the time they will be interrupted to complete what they are trying to say. I don’t like it when that happens. Let the person finish speaking. It is rude not to.

 ⛅ 45°F – 34°F 🙂 | Seattle