Hello there :)
So I hope you guys have been having a good year so far, I have been busy busy busy! Back in November, I went to stay with Scott's parents to help his mom look after his sister's kids while she went on vacation. That was a lot of fun, Janie and I make a really good team and the kids are so sweet and well behaved. After that, I went right from there to my mom's place to look after her while she recovered from surgery - it was nice to have a good long visit with her and my younger brother. While I was there I introduced her to 'Netflixing' and she binge-watched the entire Gilmore Girl series which of course when it was over she had a good long cry because "IT'S OVER!!! :'( " - I found it really funny because I guess I am mean like that.
A few of you may have noticed that I started another blog called Media Reviews by Oriona which is me reviewing books, movies, music, and anything else that I find interesting. Someone on youtube asked me to review his glass ornaments that he makes that are actually really beautiful and the process seems really cool so I am going to look into doing that for him.
the first week of January, my longest and best friend Abi came up from the states to visit which was awesome! She was a little dismayed with the weather, but she had a bit of a "DUH!" minute because, hello? Canada in January... But it was still lots of fun, we went shopping and exploring and saw an IMAX dome movie at the Ontario Science Centre which is like, the coolest place ever and awesomely not that far from where I live :)
Then there was job hunting, and job finding. I am really excited to start work next week! But I am also extremely excited to be re-starting my little craft business of Starchild Creations! (Previously known as Sacred Star Creations) I am starting with a Facebook page and hope to expand to etsy.com and craft shows and things like that. So far I am making Painted Gratitude Stones and Splash Paintings, but very soon I am going to be making those microwavable heating pads and probably some other stuff. I also started writing a new book which in the last week I have written the first two chapters. It is called 'The Darkness' (working title) and it is going to be a supernatural thriller based on a terrifying thing that happened to me when I was little. *scary music*
In May, mom, Stone and I are being flown down (courtesy of my AMAZING big brother) to the beautiful (and hot) state of Arizona to see him graduate and visit him and my sisters!! There is just so much going on right now and I am so incredibly happy and grateful for this wonderful life I live.
Wishing you happiness and love
~Oriona
Friday, January 23, 2015
Thursday, December 4, 2014
My Calling
I don't remember exactly when I realized it, but for a really long time now I have realized that my calling in this life is writing. I really hit the nail on the head this morning when talking to my mom. I really love all forms of art, but the one that I feel I really have a grasp of is writing and story telling. I see pictures like this:
- and I want to be able to paint that in someone's mind. I want to be able to write in such detail as to create this in someone's head. I know the joy of reading a really good book and getting so immersed in the story I don't even see the book anymore, it becomes like a movie playing in my head. Writing is my art form and I have so many ideas and stories that I know this is what I am meant to do.
As I think I have said before, my long term plan is to write (hopefully) successful books and also own my own business which would be a store/cafe. Although I love writing and have every faith that I will become an accomplished author, I also recognize the need for a steady income.
On that note, I also need a steady income right now, and as I am currently staying with my mother while she recovers from surgery, that has become next to impossible. Lately I have been looking for online jobs which is a challenge because I have never had an online job so I am unfamiliar with how it works. It's hard trying to find something that I even qualify for and then I have to try and make my application stand out from the others and I am not sure how you do that online. In person, I can smile and have a friendly chat with my prospective employers but online I'm just a resume. Anyway, I am sure I will figure it out. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am never short of entrepreneurial ideas.
Getting back to my books, that is going very well so far. I just finished a story called Grandfather Eagle about a little girl who finds and raises a baby eagle. One day he is taken away and released into a nature preserve. He is happy there but misses the girl so he finds his way back to her. - The only thing I need now is an illustrator to do the drawings for my book. Until I find my artist though, I will get back to writing my other on the go books. There's The Ripple Effect which I think is going to be my big one. I also have the first of a series I am working on called the Adventure Girl series, based on stories my mom use to tell me when I was little. I have a lot of ideas with my books, like trying to make them all connected somehow.
Okay I am kind of excited so I want to talk about some of my other story ideas, here's two:
1. Working title: Journey, about a young woman who either has amnesia and doesn't remember who she is OR she is a runaway from a foster home. But either way she is on the road following clues to who she really is and where she is from. She works odd jobs to get from place to place and also solves mysteries and helps the people that she meets. I want this to be a series, and I might work in some kind of supernatural element to the story but I'm not sure yet.
2. No working title yet, but I am thinking a future almost post-apocalyptic but not quite. The earth is dying and people are either living in anarchy or they are following crazed, warped, and extreme religions. Somehow, I haven't worked it out yet, but some select people end up being blasted into space as a last attempt to find habitable planets for mankind to move to. The main character is one of these people but I'm not sure which direction I am going to take it from there. Will she find a planet? Will some freak accident happen leaving her with powers? Will it be more of a spiritual book? Will she enter a different dimension?
Best way to figure it out is to write it out so that's what I am going to do!
Until later,
Oriona
Picture Credit: http://pichost.me/1560923/
As I think I have said before, my long term plan is to write (hopefully) successful books and also own my own business which would be a store/cafe. Although I love writing and have every faith that I will become an accomplished author, I also recognize the need for a steady income.
On that note, I also need a steady income right now, and as I am currently staying with my mother while she recovers from surgery, that has become next to impossible. Lately I have been looking for online jobs which is a challenge because I have never had an online job so I am unfamiliar with how it works. It's hard trying to find something that I even qualify for and then I have to try and make my application stand out from the others and I am not sure how you do that online. In person, I can smile and have a friendly chat with my prospective employers but online I'm just a resume. Anyway, I am sure I will figure it out. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am never short of entrepreneurial ideas.
Getting back to my books, that is going very well so far. I just finished a story called Grandfather Eagle about a little girl who finds and raises a baby eagle. One day he is taken away and released into a nature preserve. He is happy there but misses the girl so he finds his way back to her. - The only thing I need now is an illustrator to do the drawings for my book. Until I find my artist though, I will get back to writing my other on the go books. There's The Ripple Effect which I think is going to be my big one. I also have the first of a series I am working on called the Adventure Girl series, based on stories my mom use to tell me when I was little. I have a lot of ideas with my books, like trying to make them all connected somehow.
Okay I am kind of excited so I want to talk about some of my other story ideas, here's two:
1. Working title: Journey, about a young woman who either has amnesia and doesn't remember who she is OR she is a runaway from a foster home. But either way she is on the road following clues to who she really is and where she is from. She works odd jobs to get from place to place and also solves mysteries and helps the people that she meets. I want this to be a series, and I might work in some kind of supernatural element to the story but I'm not sure yet.
2. No working title yet, but I am thinking a future almost post-apocalyptic but not quite. The earth is dying and people are either living in anarchy or they are following crazed, warped, and extreme religions. Somehow, I haven't worked it out yet, but some select people end up being blasted into space as a last attempt to find habitable planets for mankind to move to. The main character is one of these people but I'm not sure which direction I am going to take it from there. Will she find a planet? Will some freak accident happen leaving her with powers? Will it be more of a spiritual book? Will she enter a different dimension?
Best way to figure it out is to write it out so that's what I am going to do!
Until later,
Oriona
Picture Credit: http://pichost.me/1560923/
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
A Walk in Two Worlds
It is really strange being a child of two worlds. There's the "white" part of me that looks something like this:
But feel like this:
I just don't know, it's like I know who I am but I feel like a poser even though I know it's not true. Then the logical `wise` side to me remembers what my dad told me when I wanted to go tanning and colour my hair black, he said; "Mija, don`t ever let anyone try to tell you who you are. When you cut your finger, you bleed just as Red as anyone else." And Sacred Star Woman would tell Oriona that both sides are equally part of who I am. As long as I walk in my truth then that is all that matters. Creator made me the way I am supposed to be for one reason or another. Even walking through these city streets, when I feel the wind blow through my hair and hear the Thunder Beings rolling in, I feel the Creator and I know who I am - even though I struggle sometimes. I hope that one day I will fully be able to realize and accept all aspects of myself. The pressure is on now that I am trying to follow in my father's footsteps. But he wore big moccasins so maybe I will need to take a path that runs beside the one he followed.
AMR
~Oriona Star Woman
Disclaimer: I do not own the photos above, they belong to Disney.
That part of me loves books and writing and art, Disney movies (obviously), and other 'western world' things, sometimes she wants to get dressed up and go dancing and be elegant and maybe even one day rich and successful.
But then there's the First Nation side of me who doesn't really care about material things and just wants to downsize all my belongings down to a van and go on a spiritual adventure. That's the part of me that wants to live at one with nature and I basically try to apply my spirituality and culture in my every day life, but when someone asks me what my background is, and I tell them I am Native American, and they say 'no you're not' - I can't even express how much it frustrates me.
Maybe it's stupid - as a lot of people tell me, that I shouldn't care what other people say - which I try, but this is a deep rooted issue. When I was younger, I didn't even know I looked white until other people pointed it out to me. When we went to South Dakota the kids there would say: 'why are you here? you're white.' And when I would try to talk to the kids at school about my culture they would tease me and say 'what, can you talk to birds Pocahontas?' Now I am older and every time I see an elder or another First Nations person I want to talk to them in the way that feels natural, like saying 'Hello Grandfather, here would you like to sit down?" I shy away because I am afraid they will see a "wannabe white girl." One time I was at the Peterborough Canoe Museum and when we were sharing food that an elder had prepared and brought in for us, I got up to help because that was the respectful thing to do. My classmates were just sitting there waiting to be served and then they started whispering 'what is she doing?' and 'why is she dressed like that' (I was wearing a long skirt - omg so weird right?) and then when I was talking to one of the museum people about my background he got mad and called me "one of those hippie-dippie types" - which might be part of the reason I am shy now. The only time I felt like I belonged and that people accepted me at face value is when my dad was alive. Being introduced as "Manny Twofeathers' daughter" left very little room for doubt about my heritage. Now I'm going through this identity crisis where I don't know which side is the real me.
When I look like this:
Maybe it's stupid - as a lot of people tell me, that I shouldn't care what other people say - which I try, but this is a deep rooted issue. When I was younger, I didn't even know I looked white until other people pointed it out to me. When we went to South Dakota the kids there would say: 'why are you here? you're white.' And when I would try to talk to the kids at school about my culture they would tease me and say 'what, can you talk to birds Pocahontas?' Now I am older and every time I see an elder or another First Nations person I want to talk to them in the way that feels natural, like saying 'Hello Grandfather, here would you like to sit down?" I shy away because I am afraid they will see a "wannabe white girl." One time I was at the Peterborough Canoe Museum and when we were sharing food that an elder had prepared and brought in for us, I got up to help because that was the respectful thing to do. My classmates were just sitting there waiting to be served and then they started whispering 'what is she doing?' and 'why is she dressed like that' (I was wearing a long skirt - omg so weird right?) and then when I was talking to one of the museum people about my background he got mad and called me "one of those hippie-dippie types" - which might be part of the reason I am shy now. The only time I felt like I belonged and that people accepted me at face value is when my dad was alive. Being introduced as "Manny Twofeathers' daughter" left very little room for doubt about my heritage. Now I'm going through this identity crisis where I don't know which side is the real me.
When I look like this:
AMR
~Oriona Star Woman
Disclaimer: I do not own the photos above, they belong to Disney.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Words I Live By
"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams" - Eleanor Roosevelt
That is one of my all time favourite quotes; one that has given me hope through some of my darkest times. Lately, I have been going through another one of those dark times. I think it started with not being able to go to school this year(financial reasons) and then looking around thinking 'what now?' Truly, I felt like I had been running a race - the kind that you run in your dreams but the thing is you can barely move and aren't even moving forward - and then I felt like I had lost. I felt like I had failed, or fallen off the horse one too many times and didn't know where I could find the strength to get back up one more time.
Many of you who read this blog know me fairly well, at least enough to know that I am a very positive person and usually I come up with something to get me going again. Well I did, and that idea is soap. My friend Shawna and I have started a handcrafted soap business, we have the tools, supplies, and passion to get it going. And we have been, I have every faith that with hard work we could be the next body shop. Eventually I want to get into bath bombs and lotions and other things as well.
But then there is also my writing, I want to be an author, and I have a book going in just about every genre you can think of. I am looking for a literary agent and hoping against hope that one day my books can make some kind of a difference in this world. Also in the mean time of all that, I am also looking for a regular job to help support Scott and I while we try to navigate through our lives together. In some respects, I feel very successful, and in others I just feel like an utter failure.
I recently posted an ad on Kijiji called 'Ambitious Idealist Looking for Sponsor' - it was kind of a whim that I posted it. Basically, I was looking for someone crazy enough to 'donate' some funds towards my ideas because they, like me, think they are worth something. - Turns out that it's not that crazy of an idea. Do you know people actually get paid to play video games at home? It's called streaming and basically they sit there on web cam, and you can also see their game screen and people pay them to sit and play because they want to watch. and I'm thinking; well, why can't I get paid to write my books or something? Anyway, can you believe I actually got some replies? I don't know what is going to happen with all that, but don't worry I will be careful.
There's also this contest being put on by Alesse, and a person could win $5000 towards their idea. the thing is, I have so many I don't know which one to enter! Can anyone help with this?
That's it for now - have a good one,
Oriona
PS
The other words I live by are:
You are never stuck, no matter what, there is always a way.
Never settle for anything less than what is going to make you happy.
That is one of my all time favourite quotes; one that has given me hope through some of my darkest times. Lately, I have been going through another one of those dark times. I think it started with not being able to go to school this year(financial reasons) and then looking around thinking 'what now?' Truly, I felt like I had been running a race - the kind that you run in your dreams but the thing is you can barely move and aren't even moving forward - and then I felt like I had lost. I felt like I had failed, or fallen off the horse one too many times and didn't know where I could find the strength to get back up one more time.
Many of you who read this blog know me fairly well, at least enough to know that I am a very positive person and usually I come up with something to get me going again. Well I did, and that idea is soap. My friend Shawna and I have started a handcrafted soap business, we have the tools, supplies, and passion to get it going. And we have been, I have every faith that with hard work we could be the next body shop. Eventually I want to get into bath bombs and lotions and other things as well.
But then there is also my writing, I want to be an author, and I have a book going in just about every genre you can think of. I am looking for a literary agent and hoping against hope that one day my books can make some kind of a difference in this world. Also in the mean time of all that, I am also looking for a regular job to help support Scott and I while we try to navigate through our lives together. In some respects, I feel very successful, and in others I just feel like an utter failure.
I recently posted an ad on Kijiji called 'Ambitious Idealist Looking for Sponsor' - it was kind of a whim that I posted it. Basically, I was looking for someone crazy enough to 'donate' some funds towards my ideas because they, like me, think they are worth something. - Turns out that it's not that crazy of an idea. Do you know people actually get paid to play video games at home? It's called streaming and basically they sit there on web cam, and you can also see their game screen and people pay them to sit and play because they want to watch. and I'm thinking; well, why can't I get paid to write my books or something? Anyway, can you believe I actually got some replies? I don't know what is going to happen with all that, but don't worry I will be careful.
There's also this contest being put on by Alesse, and a person could win $5000 towards their idea. the thing is, I have so many I don't know which one to enter! Can anyone help with this?
That's it for now - have a good one,
Oriona
PS
The other words I live by are:
You are never stuck, no matter what, there is always a way.
Never settle for anything less than what is going to make you happy.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Random Thoughts
I realize that I think some random things a lot so I have been jotting some of my thoughts down for the past while and decided to share them with you guys - enjoy!
Sept 20
I see all these 'awesome pic/photography ideas' and all I can think is - do people actually just get together to take pictures that just make them look like they are having fun? Is that a fun activity? 'Omg now that we are done in the pool, let's go take pics of us throwing leaves around for fall!' Why don't people just go have fun and take spontaneous pictures of actually having fun? Is maintaining the appearance of a happy life more important than actually living it?
Sept 24
I wonder if I should just post my random thoughts on Tumblr- that's what everyone else does
What if I don't even realize I'm having random thoughts because it seems normal to me?
Sept 26
Do you ever see a person and think 'I could totally be friends with that person' - and you want to be friends with them but you're too shy to actually say anything
Usually when that happens I think they will miss judge me because I'm usually more comfortable around 'weird' people but I don't think my appearance always reflects that.
September 30
Laying sick in bed I realize how truly not good I'm feeling when I realize I'm laying here trying to figure out how folding chairs work.
By the way did I mention that I've had my phone for a year and only realized a week or so ago that the reason I couldn't hear anything was because my 'screen protector' - actually the packaging I just never took off - was covering the ear piece. - I feel like one of those really special kind of dumb people, like that person who doesn't know the sun is a star. fml.
October 4
Okay, so I enjoy a broad spectrum of entertainment everything from Oscar winning masterpieces to spongebob squarepants. And I'm like this with everything pretty much; music, books, my taste in fashion, my sense of humour, etc. and some people might say something like 'oh well this is stupid, I only listen to classic rock because it has soul and the music today sucks and has no soul - but I'm like 'hey, this is a pretty good song and it makes me happy to listen to it.' Why do people have to be so pretentious? I mean some people actually just refuse to like something BECAUSE it's so popular - what kind of system is that? Has the need to be unique forced people to become this crazy? How about liking stuff because YOU like it and leave everyone else out of it? Or vice versa?
October 8
I'm the type of person that would stretch with a drink in my hand and accidentally dump it on my head.
Little kids scare the crap out of me - especially 2 year olds - they just constantly run around doing stuff to get themselves hurt or they just tear stuff up and laugh like crazy little psychos
Went to go see Annabelle with my friend the other day and I was fine until she told me she hadn't been able to sleep because of nightmares - then last night I couldn't sleep because I kept seeing this sh** in my head:
So I smudged myself and my room and concentrated hard on my happy place!!
Last but not least, with my mom and brother coming this weekend, all I can think is:
Cleaning is the grown up 'never ending story' that is way overplayed and it sucks.
Goodnight!
~Oriona
Sept 20
I see all these 'awesome pic/photography ideas' and all I can think is - do people actually just get together to take pictures that just make them look like they are having fun? Is that a fun activity? 'Omg now that we are done in the pool, let's go take pics of us throwing leaves around for fall!' Why don't people just go have fun and take spontaneous pictures of actually having fun? Is maintaining the appearance of a happy life more important than actually living it?
Sept 24
I wonder if I should just post my random thoughts on Tumblr- that's what everyone else does
What if I don't even realize I'm having random thoughts because it seems normal to me?
Sept 26
Do you ever see a person and think 'I could totally be friends with that person' - and you want to be friends with them but you're too shy to actually say anything
Usually when that happens I think they will miss judge me because I'm usually more comfortable around 'weird' people but I don't think my appearance always reflects that.
September 30
Laying sick in bed I realize how truly not good I'm feeling when I realize I'm laying here trying to figure out how folding chairs work.
By the way did I mention that I've had my phone for a year and only realized a week or so ago that the reason I couldn't hear anything was because my 'screen protector' - actually the packaging I just never took off - was covering the ear piece. - I feel like one of those really special kind of dumb people, like that person who doesn't know the sun is a star. fml.
October 4
Okay, so I enjoy a broad spectrum of entertainment everything from Oscar winning masterpieces to spongebob squarepants. And I'm like this with everything pretty much; music, books, my taste in fashion, my sense of humour, etc. and some people might say something like 'oh well this is stupid, I only listen to classic rock because it has soul and the music today sucks and has no soul - but I'm like 'hey, this is a pretty good song and it makes me happy to listen to it.' Why do people have to be so pretentious? I mean some people actually just refuse to like something BECAUSE it's so popular - what kind of system is that? Has the need to be unique forced people to become this crazy? How about liking stuff because YOU like it and leave everyone else out of it? Or vice versa?
October 8
I'm the type of person that would stretch with a drink in my hand and accidentally dump it on my head.
Little kids scare the crap out of me - especially 2 year olds - they just constantly run around doing stuff to get themselves hurt or they just tear stuff up and laugh like crazy little psychos
Went to go see Annabelle with my friend the other day and I was fine until she told me she hadn't been able to sleep because of nightmares - then last night I couldn't sleep because I kept seeing this sh** in my head:
So I smudged myself and my room and concentrated hard on my happy place!!
Last but not least, with my mom and brother coming this weekend, all I can think is:
Cleaning is the grown up 'never ending story' that is way overplayed and it sucks.
Goodnight!
~Oriona
Friday, September 19, 2014
Weddings
So I have been hearing about more and more people getting married these days, but I guess, summer time is the time to do it! I want to say a quick congrats to my friends on Facebook who are engaged and married/getting married. I am so happy for all of you! :)
This is going to be a totally girly thing for me to say, but I LOVE WEDDINGS!! I really do, I haven't been to a ton of them or anything, I mean I went to 2 of my sister's weddings and another close family friend had a stunning Native ceremony. For myself, I probably wont get married for a while, only because the Mister and I want to have a nice one so we are waiting till we can afford it ;) - This of course doesn't mean that I haven't you know, been thinking about our future wedding. I think it's good to plan ahead, that way I can really weigh what we want and what we need. After all, a wedding is only for a day, and although we want to have a nice one, it doesn't have to be over the top.
Since most of the planning is left up to the bride, I want to make my future hubby proud by making it as budget friendly as possible - he is a nickle pincher! (had to change the saying because Canada doesn't make the penny anymore lol) Plus for me, I think that spending a small fortune on one day - even though it is a special day - is ridiculous. I have a few things that I would like that are probably 'unnecessary' but as time goes on I am letting more and more things go and thinking of more cost-effective ways to achieve similar effects. I have thoroughly convinced myself that I do not in fact need engraved napkins or personalized monogrammed toasting flutes (not that I actually wanted either of those things, they're just examples). My motto for my future wedding will be to "Remember that today is not about the centre pieces, today is about marrying the person I love."
I certainly don't know everything, but there are some things I have learned through my research that I would like to share with any Brides to be. First - DO NOT LET YOURSELF BECOME A BRIDE-ZILLA! - I think this is actually a fear for myself as well. Weddings are stressful so remember to prioritize, delegate, trust, woosah..., and in the wise words of Elsa, "Let it go!" Don't expect anything to go perfectly or everything will drive you mad, be open to mistakes and mishaps because that is life and you just have to roll with it. Like I said before, just focus on the person you are about to marry - that is what the day is really about. Also, don't over spend on silly things (unless you have more cash than you know what to do with and you have already done something charitable) - because you still have your honey moon to think about as well as your whole lives filled with happiness, love, and bills.
This is going to be a totally girly thing for me to say, but I LOVE WEDDINGS!! I really do, I haven't been to a ton of them or anything, I mean I went to 2 of my sister's weddings and another close family friend had a stunning Native ceremony. For myself, I probably wont get married for a while, only because the Mister and I want to have a nice one so we are waiting till we can afford it ;) - This of course doesn't mean that I haven't you know, been thinking about our future wedding. I think it's good to plan ahead, that way I can really weigh what we want and what we need. After all, a wedding is only for a day, and although we want to have a nice one, it doesn't have to be over the top.
Since most of the planning is left up to the bride, I want to make my future hubby proud by making it as budget friendly as possible - he is a nickle pincher! (had to change the saying because Canada doesn't make the penny anymore lol) Plus for me, I think that spending a small fortune on one day - even though it is a special day - is ridiculous. I have a few things that I would like that are probably 'unnecessary' but as time goes on I am letting more and more things go and thinking of more cost-effective ways to achieve similar effects. I have thoroughly convinced myself that I do not in fact need engraved napkins or personalized monogrammed toasting flutes (not that I actually wanted either of those things, they're just examples). My motto for my future wedding will be to "Remember that today is not about the centre pieces, today is about marrying the person I love."
I certainly don't know everything, but there are some things I have learned through my research that I would like to share with any Brides to be. First - DO NOT LET YOURSELF BECOME A BRIDE-ZILLA! - I think this is actually a fear for myself as well. Weddings are stressful so remember to prioritize, delegate, trust, woosah..., and in the wise words of Elsa, "Let it go!" Don't expect anything to go perfectly or everything will drive you mad, be open to mistakes and mishaps because that is life and you just have to roll with it. Like I said before, just focus on the person you are about to marry - that is what the day is really about. Also, don't over spend on silly things (unless you have more cash than you know what to do with and you have already done something charitable) - because you still have your honey moon to think about as well as your whole lives filled with happiness, love, and bills.
That's it for now! If you want, feel free to check out my Wedding Board on Pinterest :)
Hasta la vista!
~ Oriona
Sunday, August 31, 2014
How I Accidentally Bought a Wagon
So I didn't actually buy a wagon, but I work at the information line for a large city fair and this was one of the funniest calls we received today. A customer called and he had 'lost track of time' and didn't bring the wagon back in time and THEN decided it would be a good idea to take it home... so obviously he lost his deposit - as outlined in the agreement he signed. Anyway this is a transcript of the conversation, the call was actually taken by my co-worker. "D" is our supervisor - and awesome friend.
Customer: Uh so… When I tried to return the wagon yesterday at… Midnight… Everything was closed and I couldn’t return it. If I bring it back… Can I still get my deposit back?
Me: … Midnight?
Customer: Yes. I tried to return it but uh… Everything was closed, and I couldn’t give it back so I brought it home now.
Me: (o_O;;) Can you please hold on for a few seconds?
Customer: Sure.
Me: Thank you.
-Customer is on hold-
Me: Uh… D (name is withheld :P), when are the wagons supposed to be returned by again?
D: 10 PM.
Me: So, there’s a customer here that didn’t return his wagon and…
D: Took it home?
Me: Yeah. XD
D: Well then. Tell him: “Congratulations! You just bought a Wagon!”
Me: Ha-ha, alright.
-takes customer off hold-
Me: Hi, thank you for holding.
Customer: That’s alright.
Me: Basically, the wagons were supposed to be returned by 10 PM and…
Customer: Oh, I know. But I just lost track of the time and… Well, I had to take it home because everything was closed.
Me: … Er, unfortunately, you cannot get the deposit back.
Customer: No?
Me: No. The deposit can only be returned if you bring the wagon back by the correct time.
Customer: But then… What should I do with this wagon? I don’t need it.
Me: Basically what ended up happening was… You paid $60 for that wagon. You may return it if you’d like, but unfortunately we cannot give you back the deposit.
Customer: You can’t?
Me: No. Unfortunately, we cannot.
Customer: ……
Me: ……
Customer: … Uh, okay then. Thank you. Bye.
Me: Alright then. Bye-bye.
This was a funny example, but if you have never worked in customer service, let me enlighten you on a little tid-bit. "Customers" are either the dumbest, meanest, or most inconsiderate people ever. They are kind of like mean sheep, and this goes for everyone (even me sometimes with my phone company). If you become a "customer" - automatically you think that the world owes you something because you are spending money.
So for all you customers out there, try to give people a break because in all honesty, we don't really care that your food wasn't done EXACTLY how you wanted it and we don't make the prices so don't treat us like it was our PERSONAL decision - because it wasn't. And please stop asking if we can give you a discount on something 'just because' - we can't. For us, it's just a job and truthfully, if you're a jerk, we are less likely to even want to try and help you, so be nice. AND sorry, but we aren't going to do anything that will get us in trouble. So just because your 'tone' is nice or you say 'I'm not trying to be a pain, but...' you're still being a pain. My level of customer service is directly related to the way the customer treats me first - and I'm sure a lot of people are like that.
Sorry, that was my rant for the day lol
If you want to read more about funny/crazy customer horror stories, check out this other post I found.
I will be finishing up my 'Catching Up' post and will have that up soon too - just so much to write!
Customer: Uh so… When I tried to return the wagon yesterday at… Midnight… Everything was closed and I couldn’t return it. If I bring it back… Can I still get my deposit back?
Me: … Midnight?
Customer: Yes. I tried to return it but uh… Everything was closed, and I couldn’t give it back so I brought it home now.
Me: (o_O;;) Can you please hold on for a few seconds?
Customer: Sure.
Me: Thank you.
-Customer is on hold-
Me: Uh… D (name is withheld :P), when are the wagons supposed to be returned by again?
D: 10 PM.
Me: So, there’s a customer here that didn’t return his wagon and…
D: Took it home?
Me: Yeah. XD
D: Well then. Tell him: “Congratulations! You just bought a Wagon!”
Me: Ha-ha, alright.
-takes customer off hold-
Me: Hi, thank you for holding.
Customer: That’s alright.
Me: Basically, the wagons were supposed to be returned by 10 PM and…
Customer: Oh, I know. But I just lost track of the time and… Well, I had to take it home because everything was closed.
Me: … Er, unfortunately, you cannot get the deposit back.
Customer: No?
Me: No. The deposit can only be returned if you bring the wagon back by the correct time.
Customer: But then… What should I do with this wagon? I don’t need it.
Me: Basically what ended up happening was… You paid $60 for that wagon. You may return it if you’d like, but unfortunately we cannot give you back the deposit.
Customer: You can’t?Me: No. Unfortunately, we cannot.
Customer: ……
Me: ……
Customer: … Uh, okay then. Thank you. Bye.
Me: Alright then. Bye-bye.
This was a funny example, but if you have never worked in customer service, let me enlighten you on a little tid-bit. "Customers" are either the dumbest, meanest, or most inconsiderate people ever. They are kind of like mean sheep, and this goes for everyone (even me sometimes with my phone company). If you become a "customer" - automatically you think that the world owes you something because you are spending money.
So for all you customers out there, try to give people a break because in all honesty, we don't really care that your food wasn't done EXACTLY how you wanted it and we don't make the prices so don't treat us like it was our PERSONAL decision - because it wasn't. And please stop asking if we can give you a discount on something 'just because' - we can't. For us, it's just a job and truthfully, if you're a jerk, we are less likely to even want to try and help you, so be nice. AND sorry, but we aren't going to do anything that will get us in trouble. So just because your 'tone' is nice or you say 'I'm not trying to be a pain, but...' you're still being a pain. My level of customer service is directly related to the way the customer treats me first - and I'm sure a lot of people are like that.
Sorry, that was my rant for the day lol
If you want to read more about funny/crazy customer horror stories, check out this other post I found.
I will be finishing up my 'Catching Up' post and will have that up soon too - just so much to write!
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