My "Lucky" Day

Question: Today is one of the best days of the year. St. Patrick’s Day! It is a great day because my roommate is making corn beef and cabbage and we are going to drink beer and watch American Idol. What could get better?

Answer: Ok, a lot of things; it’s still pretty good though.

I don’t usually talk about work but today was one of those days that I just need to speak about. While at work I sometimes have to answer phones. Unless it’s a direct call, for me to get a phone call it has to go though 4 other people in the rotation and then it hits me but only on Wednesdays. I know complicated. So today was my lucky day (Irish) and I got to answer the phone 6 times.

I love to answer the phone because it always challenges me, when people call they usually want to know 2 things:

1. They are either just moving to Sacramento and want more information and or
2. They live in Sacramento and don’t know how to use Google and or
3. They ask a really weird question no one can answer

I am told that I should do two things:

1. Try to answer the question
2. Try to avert the question, let them call someone else to answer it

This blog is going to be about 2 of the calls I had today.

The first person who called started the call off with:

Him - I want to work on a beach, how can you make that happen?
Me - Well what do want to do?
Him- I want to work on a beach and sell kites and sunglasses. I think I need a permit to be able to do that.
Me- What beach do you want to sell kites on?
Him- Well I am thinking maybe southern California like Monterey
Me- (Why are you calling me?) Oh ok well, are you going to also have an office there?
Him- No I am from CO this is just a thought I had today but I think I need a permit to work on the beach.
Me- Ok well I am going to send you some information on who you can talk too.
Him- Alright yea that sounds good and if I change my mind on the location, I will call you back tomorrow and let you know.

The second person who called started the call off with:

Her- Hello I am calling and I don’t know if you are the right person to talk too but I wanted to make something clear to you; there are no more good restaurants left in Sacramento for women.
Me- Ok
Her- I don’t like Applebee’s. Then my favorite restaurant closed about 3 years ago and that made me very mad. Do you know how sexist the advertisements are for restaurants now? They are all geared towards men. Do they not understand that women don’t want to eat stake all the time? How old are you?
Me- 24
Her- See back in my time women fought for women’s rights. Your generation just sits back and lets this happen.
Me- Ok
Her- And let me tell you something else, I moved here from New York 30 years ago and I went to LA once and I hate LA. I do not want Sacramento to turn into LA.
Me- Ok so I am sorry but what exactly are you asking me?
Her- Haven’t you been listening to me? What can you do for me to make more good restaurants open up in this area? I don’t want to be a target of sexism.
Me- I am sorry you feel this way. I am going to give you the number for the California Restaurants Association and they can help you.
Her- Ok well I guess that will work, but don’t people come to you and ask you if they can put their restaurant here.
Me- No, no one has asked me that. The Restaurant Association will be able to help you.
Her- Ok I guess that will work. Thank you.