Calgary, Alberta, Canada

One week from today, Lord willing, I will be in Calgary with the TuneTown Show chorus for an international barbershop chorus competition. We've been working non-stop for this awesome week and we're all super excited. We compete on Oct. 11, and you can watch us online just click here and follow the instructions. I think we should be on around 12:45pm central time, but if you want to watch you might want to get on earlier.

I've never been to Canada so this is even more exciting for me. I love travelling to new, far-off, places. I'll update after I get back, I'm sure I'll have lots to tell.

How My Brain Works...

Have you ever pulled up behind a car at a stop light that is exactly like yours in every way and thought, "What if that is me one minute into the future?"

I think these kinds of thinks a lot.

Daily Observation

My favorite types of clouds are the ones that look like blankets across the sky, and I especially like them at sunset. I am always seeing photographs in daily life, driving down the street, walking through the store, taking a walk, etc. And, I was thinking today on my way back from church, that these clouds are the best for taking pictures, dramatic enough to be interesting but subtle enough blend into the background if they aren't the focus. To me, these clouds are more of a rare breed, so they tend to be more exciting for me to see.

I also like the single fluffy clouds in the afternoon.

Yes, I realize I didn't use any of the proper names, but who does? Besides people who know then, like scientists or....science teachers.

"Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong." -Donald Porter

Customer service is of utmost importance to me. I have worked in sales long enough to know that if you are good to your customers then you get repeat business and a good repoire with them every time they come to the store. If you aren't good to them, then they spread the exact details and tell all of their friends, and anyone they run into, not to go to Said Company.

I would like to tell all of my friends not to go the the Sbarro in downtown Nashville.

Let me recount...

Most of the time I get water because I just want to drink it, and buying bottled water is just silly to me. I got tap water at this not-so-authentic Italian eatery, along with baked ziti and a garlic roll. I was pretty thirsty so I took a drink of my water, and then proceeded to over to the condiment counter where I got some parmesean cheese, salt, and a fork. I got over to my seat and was about to take a drink of my water, but I noticed some black specks floating in it. Ew. I went back over to the cashier and told him I had black things in my water. He poured it out and got me some more, but this time he noticed that there were still black dots in it. An awkward silence...

"Would you like something else to drink?"

"Well, yeah.", I thought.

"I really just want some water.", I replied.

"Would you like a bottle water?", he asked.

"Yes, that would be great.", I answered back.

"That'll be $1.98.", he told me.

"Seriously? He's really going to charge me for some water when I just had black floaty things in mine?", I thought.

Awkward silence...
I just stared at him until I said, "No, I just won't have anything then".

Now, I realize that I didn't pay for a drink. I get that, but my free drink should not be hazardous to my health. If I were that Italian food server/cashier I would have (1) apologized profusely and (2) given me a free drink.

Customer service, people. Get some.

Yes, that is the same person.

If you can remember about a 2 years ago (wow), I posted some pictures. One of which, was the ugliest picture I ever took of myself. Dee, Dan, and I decided it would be fun to take ridiculous pictures of ourselves. I succeeded, by far, in taking the ugliest picture...I have ever seen of anyone. This was all in fun, of course, but still very gross.

I have made a little photo compilation with two extremes. One is absolutely hideous, and one is over-the-top-almost-silly glamorous. I thought an update after a couple of years would be a fun way to bring back that picture that caused a lot of people a lot of laughter. I also have to give props to Eddie for this hilarious idea. Thanks! :)