Tricky Customer Requests

I tell the truth to customers.  (Especially if we are talking about wine.)  I've learned not to waste my breath on mini-lectures, but I have a hard time letting someone walk away without a tidbit of enlightenment. [the previous statement is null and void if the consumer is impatient, rude, or pushy...then all bets are off]  Anyhow, to get this intro moving along, the following are tricky customer requests that are more about the communication style than what is actually said, which can be sad and also fascinating.

Jane: I'm looking for a red in the $50-$60 range that is sweet for a graduation gift.

Crystal: *pause* Honestly that doesn't exist.  If you want to spend that kind of money on a sweet red then you should get several bottles and make a great gift basket.

Jane: Well, I'm not a wine drinker and I don't know anything about it, but I know she likes sweet and she is health conscious, so she drinks red wine.  I want the perfect commemoration bottle for her graduation.

Crystal: Really, there are some fabulous sweet reds in the world, but if you are paying that much for one then someone is making a great profit off of you.  There are a few exceptions in the world, but we don't carry them here.  Sweet red is not meant to be serious and full of pomp and circumstance.  It's cheap and easy.  I would recommend the Banfi Rosa Regale, but it's only $24.

Jane: That's it?  Well, I'll get it, but I'd better check Lee's too.

She was in a hurry and didn't want to really listen, but I didn't want her to get ripped off!  Wine makes a great gift but if you are considering spending the bucks on it, then know what you are getting into right?  And then I remind myself that with some people, I should just find a way to take as much of their money as I can and let them remain blissfully naive.  Evidently I wasn't quite convincing and telling the truth just doesn't cut it all the time.

Conviction & Well Noted Effort

Thank you to Miss Sarah Barrie Fenton for setting up this lovely blog site for me.  You want me on-line, you want me motivated, you want me writing, you want to push me, and you know I get lost in the details.  So sincerely, thank you for removing the roadblocks you knew I would encounter (at least in my mind).  Here's to effort, day 1.  Cheers!


P.S. - I love the clovers!

Unattended

So yet again I left my toaster without guard.  (I tend to get distracted, which is why the tea kettle that was older than myself is no longer employed, but that's another story.)  No worries, there wasn't a tragic house fire, smoke alarm disruption or even any melted plastic, but I do thank you for your concern.  Yes, the manufacturer's warning is very clear on the matter.  It is safe to assume that the majority of the population of toaster owning peoples are well aware that the consequences are usually less than desirable when one chooses not to heed said warnings, myself included.  Voilà!...burnt toast.  Usually burnt toast is less than desirable and often reminds me of being sick with a vicious sore throat or a really upset tummy.  Oh how, I love the exceptions in life!  It turns out that a really crispy piece of Hawaiian bread tastes like toasted marshmallows.  Yep it sure does and if you like your mallows blackened (like myself) then go for the burn!  (Maybe you should deactivate the smoke alarm temporarily or wear earmuffs.)  I would imagine that a fine layer of Nutella would produce "worldly" smores, half Hawaiian and half Italian and what an interesting child it would be.

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