Alright, too often, perhaps, I have expressed gratitude for workers in the fast-food industry, it seems. Ha! But it's so easy for someone who is funny, fun, or just plain pleasant to make one's experience more enjoyable.
Today it was a quick trip around the Drive-Thru and the workers at both windows were very personable and smiley (but not the plastered-on-smiley you get from car sales people). The guy at the second window, in particular, clearly spends a lot of his day laughing. I'd shut off my car while I waited (having been told that it would just be a moment for my special order), and after he handed it out with a, "Well, here you go. At least you know it's going to be hot and fresh from the old grill," he then said, "Wow! Your car is so quiet!" I'm quite sure he knew it had been turned off, but was basically amusing himself, which always works for me.
Really, as a message to everyone who works in service, a little personality and pleasantness goes a long way.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Random Act of Gratitude #126: Regrouping
As we prepare for another school year, I have been reminded that I am very lucky to work with great people. Both at the school and at my "other job", I am able to look forward to seeing my colleagues.
Given that one spends hours and hours with co-workers, I really do feel blessed to spend that time with such a group.
Given that one spends hours and hours with co-workers, I really do feel blessed to spend that time with such a group.
Random Act of Gratitude #125: The Hospitality of Friends
There's been a huge break in Random Acts of Gratitude.
"What?" quoth you. "There has?"
"Indeed," quoth I. "A break of several months?"
"Truly?" quoth you. "Hardly have I noticed."
But yes, dear reader, a close examination of the posting dates will confirm what I say.
The break has not been for want of things to motivate gratitude, but merely that things in life became hectic and then ... well ... inertia.
But here I am, back again, and to set things off, I will express gratitude for a summer blessing.
This summer found me visiting British Columbia, where I was the very thankful guest of some marvellous friends. Thanks to John's excellent hosting, I was able to enjoy a brilliant area of Vancouver as well as many spectacular events and sights. Thanks to Kim, Linda, and the other John, I was able to spend time in the beauty of Bowen. My first trip to the coast was a smashing experience and for their hospitality, I am exceedingly thankful.
"What?" quoth you. "There has?"
"Indeed," quoth I. "A break of several months?"
"Truly?" quoth you. "Hardly have I noticed."
But yes, dear reader, a close examination of the posting dates will confirm what I say.
The break has not been for want of things to motivate gratitude, but merely that things in life became hectic and then ... well ... inertia.
But here I am, back again, and to set things off, I will express gratitude for a summer blessing.
This summer found me visiting British Columbia, where I was the very thankful guest of some marvellous friends. Thanks to John's excellent hosting, I was able to enjoy a brilliant area of Vancouver as well as many spectacular events and sights. Thanks to Kim, Linda, and the other John, I was able to spend time in the beauty of Bowen. My first trip to the coast was a smashing experience and for their hospitality, I am exceedingly thankful.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Random Act of Gratitude #124: Cookies
Aren't YOU thankful for cookies?
According to wikipedia,cookies "have their origins in 7th century AD Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain. By the 14th century, they were common in all levels of society, throughout Europe, from royal cuisine to street vendors."
Thankfully, they made it down to us common folk!
According to wikipedia,cookies "have their origins in 7th century AD Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain. By the 14th century, they were common in all levels of society, throughout Europe, from royal cuisine to street vendors."
Thankfully, they made it down to us common folk!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Random Act of Gratitude #123: Sesame Street
Wow. I am waaaaaaaaaay behind here. Apologies all around.
The number to this entry inspires my random gratitude.
Sesame Street.
This show is brilliant.
Brill. I. Ant.
Strangely enough, it seems I'm one of the few out there who didn't really watch the show as a kid. I saw it once in a while, at friends' houses, but never when I was really the target audience and not regularly. I was familiar with the show and its characters (and enjoyed that little typewriter guy, for some reason), but that was that.
Much later, I started watching it now and then on a whim, mostly because of the Henson conntent. That's when I discovered how crazy good it was.
Ha!
The original team and its intentions were quite revolutionary, and they hit on something magical. The combination of Muppets, live actors, letters, numbers, and words were perfectly blended with it social context and plenty of humour. Those parodies of popular songs and television shows? Crazy good.
(Read Sesame Street Unpaved for details about the history of the show.)
A few years ago, I picked up and watched The World According to Sesame Street, a documentary which chronicles the development of co-productions in Bangladesh, Kosovo and South Africa. After watching the documentary, I was renewed in my admiration for those people who seem sincerely to want to make a difference in the lives of children.
Sesame Street succeeds on so many levels and fronts: as preschool education, as entertainment, and as pop culture. And it's pretty darned fun for grown-ups, too.
The number to this entry inspires my random gratitude.
Sesame Street.
This show is brilliant.
Brill. I. Ant.
Strangely enough, it seems I'm one of the few out there who didn't really watch the show as a kid. I saw it once in a while, at friends' houses, but never when I was really the target audience and not regularly. I was familiar with the show and its characters (and enjoyed that little typewriter guy, for some reason), but that was that.
Much later, I started watching it now and then on a whim, mostly because of the Henson conntent. That's when I discovered how crazy good it was.
Ha!
The original team and its intentions were quite revolutionary, and they hit on something magical. The combination of Muppets, live actors, letters, numbers, and words were perfectly blended with it social context and plenty of humour. Those parodies of popular songs and television shows? Crazy good.
(Read Sesame Street Unpaved for details about the history of the show.)
A few years ago, I picked up and watched The World According to Sesame Street, a documentary which chronicles the development of co-productions in Bangladesh, Kosovo and South Africa. After watching the documentary, I was renewed in my admiration for those people who seem sincerely to want to make a difference in the lives of children.
Sesame Street succeeds on so many levels and fronts: as preschool education, as entertainment, and as pop culture. And it's pretty darned fun for grown-ups, too.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Random Act if Gratitude #122: Personal Lawn Care
Sonya came down today (we were booked to to and see Grease with friends in the evening anyway) and helped work on the yard a bit. While we didn't change the world, exactly, we did make progress.
Sonya was the queen of the weed popper. I think she secretly wants one of her own. Wait. I think secretly she wants to come down and pop weeds all the time!
Thanks, Sonya!
Sonya was the queen of the weed popper. I think she secretly wants one of her own. Wait. I think secretly she wants to come down and pop weeds all the time!
Thanks, Sonya!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Random Act of Gratitude #121: A Day at Shaw
Today was Shaw Teacher's Day, at which I attended workshops and enjoyed myself immsensely at the same time.
This year was particularly enjoyable as several friends were in attendance and a few of us were in the same workshops. It's always great to go and get refreshed in the Arts. The workshops I attended were about makeup, wigs, and working with masks. The mask workshop was rather intimidating and a step out of my comfort zone (not because of the mask work, exactly, but because the facilitator was a bit demanding). Ha! Still, it was worth it in the end.
The only drawback to the day was the evening performance, usually a highlight of the day, which this year was a real let-down. It's not a good sign when half of the balcony leaves during intermission. It's also not a good sign when both Sarah and I wish we'd gone with them. Ha!
Still, a great day was had overall.
This year was particularly enjoyable as several friends were in attendance and a few of us were in the same workshops. It's always great to go and get refreshed in the Arts. The workshops I attended were about makeup, wigs, and working with masks. The mask workshop was rather intimidating and a step out of my comfort zone (not because of the mask work, exactly, but because the facilitator was a bit demanding). Ha! Still, it was worth it in the end.
The only drawback to the day was the evening performance, usually a highlight of the day, which this year was a real let-down. It's not a good sign when half of the balcony leaves during intermission. It's also not a good sign when both Sarah and I wish we'd gone with them. Ha!
Still, a great day was had overall.
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