raw particles of inspiration

Whee, I can post!

I've almost had a full week's vacation and I'm just getting to the point where I can begin to calm down and realise that I don't actually have to do anything. (Except for the windows. Those, I have to clean today because it's getting difficult to see out of them.) I've been house- and catsitting for my parents for a couple of days while they're in Naples but I went home yesterday to spend the weekend in the city. I'm probably going back out to the country for a few days next week to make sure everything is fit for Mum and Dad to come home to. Sister #2 and my little brother are both staying out there over the summer and while I trust my sister to take care of things, she's also working and I don't really trust my brother, at least not as long as the TV and his computer works...

My sheppard_hc story is practically finished, I just have a few minor edits and a final read-through left to do. I can't wait until next week when I get to read everyone elses stories, and I hope my recipient will like mine. I've sweated blood over this one! On the plus side, once I started writing regularly (as in 'daily') again, I found I just couldn't stop, so I took a look at my WIP folder to see what I had to choose from. Hopefully, the Danny-moves-in story should be done soon :D

My cellphone randomly stopped working yesterday morning and I am not pleased as it's only a little over a year old. My whole life is in that phone. At least I found an old phone in a drawer so I can still text and make calls and get up on time in the morning, but I can't read my mail and access facebook (and wasn't it a bit of a revelation to realise how addicted I've become to facebook *headdesk*.) Today, I'm headed to the 3 store where I will hopefully not be a stupid customer, but possibly a mildly irate one.

( Also, Sister #1 and I took Gran to the woods yesterday for a treasure hunt and we struck gold! )

Not quite a Stupid Customer of the Day, but pretty funny anyway...

A salesperson called one of our clients yesterday and asked for Mr Batman. It's a good thing it was my non-nerdy co-worker who took the call and not me!

The big mystery is where they got the name from? No-one in our client's company has a name that sound even remotely like 'Batman'. We have come to the conclusion that the client has a big secret and possibly a huge cave somewhere.


I start my first vacation week today so no more stupid customers for a while. Yay!

Dear man-with-a-mite-problem,

What makes you think that I want to hear you talk about your scrotum? At great length? Without letting me get a word in edgeways? I understand that the itching is very irritating, but once again - TMI!

No love,
Zin

1. Apologies for not being around lately. I am alive and reasonably well. (And by 'well' I mean that if I don't think about them too much, my traitorous joints will carry me through the day...) If I go silent again, it's not because I don't care, it's because I have to save my hands for work :P

2. I'm doing my best to catch up with mail and comments but if there's anything I've missed, please let me know!

2,5. Long ago, I had a birthday and I got fantastic gifts. bluespirit_star made these adorable Entangled penguins and sgamadison wrote me a fabulous story, A Stargate Proposal . Thank you!

Also, thank you to mezzo_cammin, sgakaz, lavvyan, vida_boheme, anyanka_eg and winter_elf for the virtual gifts, and to everyone who dropped me a comment to wish a happy birthday. You made an otherwise sucky day a lot better :)

3. Hawaii Five-0! Since SGA ended, I've missed having a Team to look forward to every week and now I have it again. Yay!

( Also, I still have customers. They are still stupid. )

* Had swine flu. Got better.

* Why why why am I so far behind on NaNo? *looks mournfully at sad little wordcount*

* Today, I have put around 200 invoices in little envelopes. I also got a papercut.

( *Why why why are my customers male and obnoxious? )

Calliope practically died on me yesterday afternoon. What's a girl to do? I headed for the electronics stores in search for a new best friend. What I got was an interesting experience of the service business from the customer's viewpoint.

( The not-so-exciting tale of Zin's new laptop )

1. Happy birthday, winter_elf!

2. Half a week left until I get to go on holiday. Why does it feel so far away? And why do I still have so much ironing to do before I can leave?

3. sgabigbang progress report: 11k and counting.

4. ( Some stupid customers and a nice one! )

I don't remember the last time a Friday made me so happy. This week has been ridiculously slow. I'm planning to take it easy tonight, maybe buy a bottle of wine and cook something tasty. Does anyone know what to do with a chicken breast that isn't too complicated?

To make things a little merrier, I just had this conversation. It certainly cheered me up!

Me: Welcome to (company), this is Zinnith speaking.

Customer: Hello? Emma? Who am I speaking to?

Me: You've reached (company), how can I help you?

Customer: Oh, I must have the wrong number. I was calling a little old lady.

Me: (laughing) Heh, well, I'm not that old quite yet.

Customer: Don't worry, I'm sure you'll become a great little old lady!

I've decided to take it as a compliment! Though I suspect I'll probably become a crazy old cat lady instead.

Apparently, having long hair means you have to brush it before you go to bed as well as after, or you'll wake up with a crow's nest on your head. I'm learning new things about life!


And just to justify this post - have a Stupid Customer of the Day! Although this one is actually more tragic than funny...


Mrs Boss: Welcome to (extermination company) how can I help you?

Old lady customer: Yes, hello? Is this where you report vermin?

Mrs Boss: Yes, that's right. What do you have trouble with?

Old lady customer: Well, one just moved in downstairs.

Mrs Boss: Um... excuse me? Is this a rat or something we're talking about?

Old lady customer: No, I think he's Greek. His cooking smells funny and he plays loud music.

Mrs Boss: Sorry ma'am, this is an extermination company. We deal with vermin, like rats and ants. If you have a problem with a neighbour you should take it up with your landlord. *click*


All right, the Swedish word for 'vermin' is close to the one for 'tenant' but not that close. People never cease to amaze you, do they? *sigh*