KristineGalvan's Blog

...But its still your fault.

WOW!  Thats what my mom had to tell tonight.  Mind you this is the first time that my mother has EVER told me anything like that.  She's always looked at me through rose colored glasses.

My better half's in-laws are in town this week as we RUSH to finish this "oh-why-did-we-take-this-on" house. Notice I call them his in-laws, rather than my parents.  I absolutely hate to be stressed out, in a bad mood, and not have my mom telling me how right I am and how wrong everyone else is.  My dad, by the way, is as happy as lark.  Nothing ever bothers him.

I, on the other hand, am ready to lock myself in a closet and scream until my voice goes out. 

But here's something to smile about.... My parents will celebrate their 34th Wedding Anniversary on July 27th!  Here's hoping Aaron and I get there someday....

 

So my faith in good, solid customer service was restored today....for about 15 minutes.

I made a quick stop at HEB on 18th street for a couple of items.  It seems my better half has developed quite a love for Subway's new "The Feast" sandwich, so I decided to stock up on lunch meats so he can make his own anytime he wants at home.

Thats a disclaimer because I dont want anyone to think I LIKE salami (yuck!). 

Back to customer service... I couldnt find it.  Someone had stocked the Salami spot with Roast Beef (which I also bought).  So, I put Pastrami in the cart (thinking he wouldnt know the difference) and went on my merry way.  Three minutes later, an HEB worker tracked me down (huffing and puffing) in the laundry aisle (I needed Tide too).  He found the salami, brought me two cases (in case I needed more than one) and offered to take the Pastrami back with him.

I walked away with the salami and the pastrami and a big smile on my face.  Now THATS great customer service.

On to the checkout... the cashier scanned and bagged my items but no one was there to put them in the cart.  Thats ok.  I always help the sacker put the items in the cart because I like to get in and out of stores as fast as I can.  I didnt mind loading them myself...UNTIL I saw a sacker HIDING behind the $1 DVD rental box.  He couldnt even look me in the eye as I walked passed him with my self-loaded bags.  I am not exaggerating.  This guy clearly didnt want to work.

Oh well....

Wait there's more!

Tell me what you think....

Do you think cost cutting is resulting or will result in poorer customer service?  Or, is our "Energy Capital of the World" immune to the ecomonic crunch?  I'd love to hear from you...

Astros GM Ed Wade isnt a big guy.

Ok, he looks kinda "extra-small" in my opinion.  Yet, this well built pitcher grabbed him, threw him to the ground (several times, according to Wade) and tackled him, BUT he has NO visible scrapes or bruises?????????????

I guess I'm not saying, but I am thinking.....

Things that make you go "hmmm?"

 

Now about those Wrestlers/Actors....

I got assigned to the big WrestleMania 25 announcement today.  Problem:  I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about wrestling.

While interviewing one of the guys, I asked for his name.  He said something like "New Money Man,"  so I asked why is that guy calling you "Punk?"  Well, thats also his name....?????

Okay next problem, so what is a wrestler?  Are they athletes?  Entertainers?  Performers?  Actors?

I loved it!  

This was my first time driving a hybrid anything and I thought there would be a bigger difference.  Other than the stop and startup when you come to a complete stop...it drives like a regular Tahoe.

I really like this car, but I'm a bit skittish about buying something that hasnt been out long.  My biggest concern is with the batteries.  The dealer says they're made to last as long as the car, but what if they do go out?  How do you get rid of them?  And it seems weird to be driving around with two huge batteries under your back seat.  (It didnt help that there was lightning around.)

Any thoughts on the hybrid?  Is it worth the extra cost?  Or am I just getting sucked into a trend?  I cant help but think those batteries have to be bad for the environment...which basically negates the whole purpose. 

I'd love some friendly enlightenment...

The Rice Owl Baseball team heads off to Omaha today to gear up for the 2008 College World Series.  Owl fan or not...you got feel some loyalty to the only team from the Lone Star state.

Good luck Rice!  Hope you bring home another national championship.

 

Where's the George Strait station on XM Radio???

I'm so sad!  He used to be on 24/7 on Channel 17, now its gone back to Old Country, which is fine, but its not all George.

Hmmph, You leave town for a week without XM and look what happens.

So Dr. Jim and I are on a week long tour of some of the states most high profile coastal towns in preparation for the upcoming tropical storm season.

Day 1: Brownsville
Bad situation in my old neck of the woods. Too many people, just one evacuation route and add the checkpoint immigration policy .... uh oh, can you say Hurricane Rita replay! I know, I know.... people are going to say illegals shouldnt be in this country to begin with...hard to feel sorry for them...etc.

But heres the deal... even if you dont feel sorry for them, what about all the American citizens born in the United States but living in the Rio Grande Valley? They'll all be waiting in line too, waiting to get their immigration status checked out. And what about all those folks vacationing on South Padre Island, trying to make it back home????

Just food for thought. By the way.... Dr. Jim snapped some great pictures of our crew in BV. Look for him to post them here soon. (He forgot his cable). There are some funny pictures of him playing in the sand, looking for shells, courtesy of yours truly!

Today, we're in Corpus Christi....We'll let you know what we found here tonight at 9!

Her name is Jazmin Lyn Richardson.  She was about thirty minutes old when I snapped this picture with my blackberry.  My bestfriend Gracie brought her into this world yesterday at 5:33pm.  She weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces and was 21 inches "tall." 

Mommy and Baby are doing just fine.  Daddy had to go home and take a nap.  He apparently had a really long day!  :)

 

 

This is why I sometimes snoop through the better half's email.  He's going to a Bachelor Party in Las Vegas next month for his friend Lucas.  The following is copied text from an email Lucas sent out:

 

Okay, I was trying to keep this a surprise... but the rumors are spreading and so I'll just get it out there.

 

Beginning on Friday evening there will be a contest. Everyone will have to blow on Gabe's breathalyzer. Person with the lowest BAC has to wear a bear suit (see attached photo) for the following hour. At the top of every hour, the person in the bear suit has the opportunity to challenge one person to a blow-off. If that person blows a lower BAC, they have to now wear the bear suit.

 

I already know that some of you are very poor sports and will not be willing to wear the bear suit due to your extremely large cool factor and the rest of us will ostracize and ridicule you for that. However, you can buy out of wearing the bear suit for $25 payable to me and then I will wear the bear suit (since it's my party). If you opt out of either of these selections, then I'm sorry, your invitation to the bachelor party must have gone to the wrong email address and we're sorry that we have inconvenienced your vacation with a little humor and camradarie.

The bear suit will go everywhere with us for the weekend. Please try and contain your bodily fluids and only release them outside of the bear suit since you may be wearing it again in the next few hours. Also, try and keep you language and gestures appropriate with the flock of children that are likely to follow us around outside of the casinos and hotels. No one wants a sex offender registration from a trip to vegas.

 

Send your complaints to Steven and your compliments to me...

 

Lucas

 

 

I'm about to become a God Mommy!

My BFF (thats what bestfriends are called these days, right?) is days away from delivering little Jazmin. Yes, I already bought her "boots with the fur." Her Godfather is the weekend anchor at CBS in Las Vegas. WE CANT WAIT for her arrival!

Speaking of boots with the fur... its going to be a long time before she can wear them. I am parched beyond parched. I think my skin forgot its ethnicity!

And yeah... for the first time Harris County came calling. I've got jury duty next month. Just another time I wish I was back in Brooks County. Less people, but still never called to serve.

Oh well.....

We always seem to complain when we run into people in the customer service business (waiters, waitresses, cashiers, etc) who do a bad job, but never quite the opposite.

I love shopping at the HEB on 18th Street when Roy is working.  He's awesome- always in a good mood, always happy, and it rubs off on customers.  I'll stand in a longer line just to deal with him. 

This weekend, my bestfriend and I spent hours in Babies R Us,  USA Baby, and Target preparing for the arrival of her little one (and my God Daughter).    Gracie is  just 2 weeks from delivery and she was in a horrible mood.  I had to apologize for her and tell her to settle down several times.  But we ran into a super courteous employee at Westheimer Babies R Us on Sunday.  His name was Tony, and just like Roy...his good mood put us in a good mood- well me, at least.

So since we never really take time to do it...Thank you Roy and Tony.  Your employers are lucky to have you.

I spent the weekend at a girlfriends house.  Reason?  The better half bought a surveillance camera set so he can watch our house while construction wraps up.  But in order to get familiar with it...he had to set it up and test it out.

It was so creepy...knowing something is taping every move you make.  I have no idea how those reality show contestants live like that.  I packed a bag and got out! 

On the plus side...at least we'll know if someone makes themselves a little too confortable in our new home.

That is...if we ever get it done.

 

First up:  OUCH!  My feet are killing me from running around the new Houston Premium Outlets on 290 near Mason.  Note to self (and all of you) :  wear flip flops or running shoes next time.  I feel like I've been treking all over Vegas.

Second:  WHEW!  Got out of there without spending a dime.  I tried to, believe me, I tried.  I hit the Starbucks first thing after it opened, ordered a bottle of diet pech tea, and white chocolate mocha with 2 extra shots for my photographer Todd Smith and a slice of No Sugar Added Banana Bread.  Total Cost?  NOTHING.  The Outlets Starbucks wasnt charging anyone for anything.

Next...bypass the Coach store.  Lines there WAY too long.  We're talking 2 hours outside just to get in...then another 45 to hour wait to pay for your stuff.  Browse Cole Haan, Kate Spade, Michael Kors (while we are shooting video for our story of course- its a tough job, especially on 4 inch heels), go to BCBG.  I walked out empty handed, then got a phone call from one of the centers media handlers...Apparently I had skipped over the table of $300 boots on sale for 9 BUCKS!

Those went quick, as you can imagine, but I did find a $440 dollar dinner dress for $39, a $250 dollar handbag for $60 and a pair of $258 pants for $39...Imagine my glee turn to pain (and not because of my achy feet) when I saw the line of women waiting to checkout.

So sad...but at least someone else my size will get to enjoy the stuff.  Thats not the least  bit comforting to me. 

And I never set foot in my favorite store of all....Waterford!  That should make Aaron smile.