Friday, October 26, 2012

KC and the Sunshine Band: I'm Special!


Hubby and I went to a KC and Sunshine Band this past weekend. It was an awesome concert for starters. We put on our "Boogie Shoes" and Shook Our Booties!

MyHubby had bought the tickets. We had not been to Paragon Casino so we were not familair with the layout. There were no floor seats left so he bought the 'bleacher' seats which our seats were of course on the very top of the bleachers.

As we entered the center, there were many employees helping concert-goers find their seats. A cheery middle age bespectacled light skinned African American female employee walked up to us and looked at our tickets and said, "Oh, no! I can't let you walk up the steps. Do you want to  be on the floor?"

I responded  casing the steps I would have to climb, "Our seats are up there and I can walk up the steps. He'll help me." I did not want any special privileges or put out anyone else.

Hubby wasn't understanding her as it was noisy and I guess he wasn't focusing. She reports that her job was to make sure the disabled were comfortable and I was "Special' and repeated she did not want me to climb the steps.

I could have taken that statement as an insult or just go with it.  I decided to go with it.

I guess I am getting mellow and and accepting more easier ways of doing things at my ripe age!

However, when Hubby understood what she was saying, he asked to confirm, "You can put us on the floor?"

She nodded, "Yes, that is what I said. I don't want her walking up those steps. I am in charge of the disabled."

He looked at me and I shrugged, fine by me. I then told him, " She says I am special.' She said, "She certainly is!"

So she walked us to the last row on the floor and told us to wait there. A few minutes later, she returns with a man hauling 2 chairs.  They started a row just for us. Later a lady on a scooter was placed on the side of us.

We thanked her profusely and she responded, "That is my job!" But you can tell it was just not a job, she seemed like she enjoyed her job and took it seriously. We could not catch her name as her name tag was partially blocked and I didn't think of asking her. I can kick myself when I forget to do that.

Throughout the concert, this very nice lady checked on us periodically to make sure we were okay. Now I say that is awesome!

The concert was totally awesome. It was the first time I saw KC in concert and he put on a good concert. He even danced with his dancers. Choreography was out of this world. I can not recall ever seeing KC move away from his instrument and dance like he did that night.

On our way home Hubby admitted he was somewhat offended by the lady. I told him that was my job to be offended but it was one of those "aww moments." I know he loves me, accepts me and even forgets I have a disability. But when an emotion comes out of him like that it clarifies that he understands me more than I realize and he truly cares.

I keep mentioning when he buys tickets or plans some things, we need to ask about disability accommodations because although I am mobile, I've figured out there are so many things to make my life easier and as I grow older I am willing to accept them.

The parking was a bitch, for me anyway. We didn't know what part of the building it was so we parked way in the back near the highway as there were no handicapped spaces vacant. We couldn't figure out if the parking garage was closer than where we parked.  We don't do valets. I estimate it was two blocks we had to walk from our parking space to the front entrance of the casino. Maybe it is an exaggeration but it sure felt like it. As we walked we saw cars leaving and I pointed out if we drove around once we could have parked closer.  He responded with insignificant utter.

  I think I will have to be more assertive with him in regards our parking practices. I have to realize we have two different views of what is a long walk and because he has that male DNA some things just don't stick in his mind. But I love him nevertheless!

Now, I turn to him when we are clowning and I say, "I"m special!" Like schpeciallll..lol..He responds, "Yes I knew you were always special!" LOL!



Thursday, October 25, 2012

Response to Complaint From District Manager and Customer Service

I received two responses to my my complaint letter I wrote about on my last post. One was by email from customer service:

I do sincerely apologize for the incident that occurred while you were at our station. I am going to advise our district manager of all these issues so they can address them right away. We definitely do not condone rude behavior from any of our employees and furthur action will be taken. If you have any more issue, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

This morning I received a telephone call from the district manager (DM). She needed to know who the employee was. I could not see her name tag so I described her. DM apologized and said she will talk to her employee and remind all of her employees to be courteous.

In regards to the pump not printing out the receipt, she said they have had them repaired but it is not that it is broken or out of paper. It is because the way the people tear off the receipt. If it is torn off a certain way, it won't print out for the next person. It is a constant battle. 

I reiterated how frustrating and inconvenient it is. She said she will look into it more to see if it can be fixed.

We did not address the vagrant issue because we spent so much time talking about the pump and employee the vagrant issue was forgotten.

At least my letter was not ignored. I was happy how fast they contacted me. I received an apology and was assured the problems will be addressed. That's all I can ask for, 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Walmart: Complaint Letter


This pretty much sums up my trip to get gas yesterday. Hubby had used my car the day before, used almost all my gas. It was a little less than a 1/4. He meant to replace the gas but my poor honey was pooped so I excused him. When I told him about my ordeal, he apologized. But he did not need to.

I was so fed up I wrote this email. If I get any response I'll write another post.

To Whom It May Concern,

Yesterday I visited your business on Evangeline Thruway in Lafayette, La as I do regularly. 

The past 3-5 times my husband and I have visited your business to purchase gas, the paper was out EVERY TIME on Pump 7 so we had to walk to the window to get a receipt.

When I visited yesterday I decided to try another pump so I went to Pump 5. Again, I had to walk to the window to get a receipt because the receipt did not print out at the pump.

What is the purpose of having a self serve pump and pay at the pump when it does not work? If this occurred  occasionally that would be a different story. But I am not exaggerating when I say 3-5 times. My husband visits the station at least every 2-3 weeks and I visit 1 or twice a month, nearly the same times. We have also called the number on the receipt with this very same complaint.

But my visit got worse yesterday.

When I walked to get my receipt your employee was blatantly rude not acknowledging my complaint. I felt like I was talking to deaf ears. She did not say ONE word to me, not even a hello. And then, she did not hand me the receipt, she pretty much flicked it to me.  This is not the first time Murphy's employee's have been just rude. I am sure there are many others who would like their jobs.

Lastly, there has been an increasingly number of what appears vagrants soliciting your customers at the pump. Yesterday, a vagrant man was begging and when I told him no, he pursued me until I got into my car.  I felt unsafe. As I inched my way out I nearly hit him with my car because he was walking begging another customer not paying attention to traffic. Luckily for him and your business I saw him before it was too late. By the way, this is not the first time I have seen this particular gentleman begging.

I am feeling unsafe and irritated every time I go to your business and will consider moving my business elsewhere if these issues are not addressed and resolved. Feel free to contact me to discuss this. 

I gave my NAZ and telephone number so we shall see.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I am Half a Century

It is my birthday! The Big Half Century! The Big 50!

By the grace of God I have reached the ripe age of 50!  Hopefully many more to come.

As I reflect on my life, I have to say I have lived a fairly good life. Life has not been a bed of roses. It has thrown obstacles I've had to jump over, or trudge through but here I am.

I am blessed.

My life is good.

My hubby and I have had many talks about where we are. If someone had told me 20 years ago, I would be alive and this happy, I would have laughed in their face.

But here I am. I feel great. I have a wonderful family. I have awesome friends such as yourself.

Overthinking Mama wrote a blog post mentioning goals. It got me to thinking what my goals have been. How many of you have actually written down goals and tried seeing them through.

In my life the most important goals I remember having were:

I don't recall having any goals as a child until my teen years.

During my teen years my goal was to trudge through school to graduation, get a job and work making lots of money. Accomplished.  I have to give my parents credit for  graduating because I hated school (except my Senior Year because I knew I was getting the hell out of there!), That was one thing my parents pushed us to do and there was no ifs, ands or buts.  I have failed to make lots of money but with the world we live in, who does?

I wanted to be a nurse since when I can remember. Accomplished. I went to nursing school, earned my Nursing license and worked as a nurse. 

My goal was to work until I retired as a nurse. God had other plans and I became disabled but I think that goal was partially accomplished because I did work and helped people.

Another goal was to travel. Well that sorta went out the window although I have been traveling more lately so I guess it is a goal in progress.

If you follow my blog at all, you know one of my reasons for living is BabyGirl. I have accomplished the goal of living until she graduated high school and PLUS some thus far. Out of all my goals I think this the one I wanted to accomplish the most. I faltered some along the way but I think she is a well-adjusted (sorta! HA!) young lady who will be successful in whatever she decides to do.

I think every one's goal is to be happy and I have to say I am HAPPY! ACCOMPLISHED

How can I not be with awesome friends like you, my loving awesome hubby, my wonderful adorable daughter and my fabulous family!