I blog. I facebook. I email. I am LinkedIn. I love the internet for many things. I do not, however, love it for banking and other personal things that could secrete my life's savings.
I am that girl who loves going to the bank. Face to face banking will never be replaced in my opinion. Who doesn't love bank tellers? They are always so friendly. And when you keep going to the same bank, you get to know these ladies (and the few men) and it's just plain nice. Going to the bank is warm and fuzzy.
Every trip to the bank reveals that I am not the only one who loves real life banking. (Though I note that it's usually me and a bunch of old folks, but that's besides the point.) I stand in line waiting for my turn to arrive. I sway a little to the music in my head, or hum to the radio playing in the building. Overall, it's a peaceful activity for me.
Until I am in a rush. Like yesterday. My lunch was chalk full of errands that needed to be run. The most important errand was picking up lunch for my growling belly. What can I say, my priorities revolve around food? I had decided to swing by the Italian deli for a delectable dish, but knew I had to be there by 12:30 in order to get back to my desk in time for my 1:00 appointment.
With only one person in front of me, I figured this would not be an issue. Until a few minutes later when I started to 'accidentally eavesdrop' on the people up at the teller. Wow. They were telling her their life story. And she was soaking it up like a good romance novel. (Is there such a thing? A good romance novel. Maybe I used the wrong example.) She was soaking it up like a good Timothy Findley novel. (Much better!). Crap. I looked at the time. 12:16. Still had to go to the other bank AND go to Shopper's Drug Mart AND drive up to the deli.
The woman in front of me had about 4 different bank books with her. She was here for some serious business. The other teller opened and I made my way to the front of the line. Life story still going on to my left, serious banking going on to my right. 12:20. My tummy growled angrily at me.
Sigh. Depression sank. I was not going to get the tremendously tasty lunch I had hoped for.
A third teller opened up her station and called me over. Can I tell you that she was the most pleasant lady? We joked around, she told me granddaughter was moving down here for school and she was excited. We shared tidbits of positive information in a timely and efficient manner. My banking was complete. It was both a functional and jovial banking transaction.
This, my fellow bankgoers, is how you do in-person banking. Be respectful of the line behind you! We all have places to be, but we shouldn't have to suffer just because we actually like going to the bank and you are a chattypants!!! Keep your chit chat limited to the transaction time. These people behind the counters are professionals. They know how it rolls. Just follow their lead, exchange your pleasantries and get out of the way.
Simple as that.
Even though I had to suffer through potato wedges and chicken bites for lunch from the Valu-Mart, I still love the bank...
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, December 6, 2010
Who me?
He said I looked like Carrie Underwood's twin.
I don't know about that, but it sure made me feel pretty!!
Thanks, Mister, whoever you are.
I don't know about that, but it sure made me feel pretty!!
Thanks, Mister, whoever you are.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Gym?
I would like to say that I am growing by leaps and bounds. I would like to say that every day I am moving in a new direction.
I would like to say a lot of things, but I cannot tell a lie.
No. Today I realized something. Faced with panic and over-awareness , I rushed myself to end the frantic pace I was running. Or rather, that I was walking very fast on -- on the treadmill.
Today I went to the gym. The co-ed gym. I have been a regular gym goer for quite some time now, but I strictly have attended the ladies only gym. Me and the ladies, breaking out a sweat, minding our own business, worries cast aside (mostly). I have purposely avoided the co-ed gym for many a month because, well, I am afraid of the co-ed gym.
Yes, that is right. Afraid.
I am quite positive it has something to do with my neurotic fear of the male kind. (Have I not mentioned this before!?!? Where have you been??)
From the moment I got out of my car, my pulse started to race. My new apartment is so utterly close to this new, shiny gym that I thought hey, why not? Now my beloved ladies gym is all the way on the other side of town. And this one, well...it's so close. You see my logic.
Where was I? Or yeah, racing pulse. I opened the door to the mega gym of sweaty men and women -- the endless rows of cardio machines drumming out my heartrate with every footfall of every person. Eek. It was a bit much.
My nerves were trying to take over and make me turn around. But I persevered. (You should be proud.) I changed into my gym clothes, I filled my water bottle and I stepped on the treadmill. I tried to refrain from looking around but everywhere I looked, there they were. Men in stretchy shorts and damp tshirts. Walking around like kings (oh wait, is that any different than usual?) I became aware of my own attire -- an older tshirt, black cotton pants that were mildly too short (stupid dryer). I saw the other ladies looking all confident in their Lulu Lemons. Way out of my budget but I desperately wished they weren't. Hmmm...oh confidence. I know you are in there somewhere.
I tried to occupy my mind. I wonder how much energy could be generated by these people on the treadmills? Enough to power the building? The city block? Or just my cell phone?
Ok. I felt like enough time had ticked by. My typical route would have been to go on the weight machine circuit. Pump some iron and all. The panic in my throat was catching my breath, and I found myself making a beeline for the change room (this is where you start to be disappointed in me.) I quickly changed and scooted out the door into the pouring rain. Sigh. Life was so much better out here!
I don't know. The ladies gym is just so...safe. I'm chicken, what can I say? I'm afraid of the big bad co-ed gym.
I would like to say a lot of things, but I cannot tell a lie.
No. Today I realized something. Faced with panic and over-awareness , I rushed myself to end the frantic pace I was running. Or rather, that I was walking very fast on -- on the treadmill.
Today I went to the gym. The co-ed gym. I have been a regular gym goer for quite some time now, but I strictly have attended the ladies only gym. Me and the ladies, breaking out a sweat, minding our own business, worries cast aside (mostly). I have purposely avoided the co-ed gym for many a month because, well, I am afraid of the co-ed gym.
Yes, that is right. Afraid.
I am quite positive it has something to do with my neurotic fear of the male kind. (Have I not mentioned this before!?!? Where have you been??)
From the moment I got out of my car, my pulse started to race. My new apartment is so utterly close to this new, shiny gym that I thought hey, why not? Now my beloved ladies gym is all the way on the other side of town. And this one, well...it's so close. You see my logic.
Where was I? Or yeah, racing pulse. I opened the door to the mega gym of sweaty men and women -- the endless rows of cardio machines drumming out my heartrate with every footfall of every person. Eek. It was a bit much.
My nerves were trying to take over and make me turn around. But I persevered. (You should be proud.) I changed into my gym clothes, I filled my water bottle and I stepped on the treadmill. I tried to refrain from looking around but everywhere I looked, there they were. Men in stretchy shorts and damp tshirts. Walking around like kings (oh wait, is that any different than usual?) I became aware of my own attire -- an older tshirt, black cotton pants that were mildly too short (stupid dryer). I saw the other ladies looking all confident in their Lulu Lemons. Way out of my budget but I desperately wished they weren't. Hmmm...oh confidence. I know you are in there somewhere.
I tried to occupy my mind. I wonder how much energy could be generated by these people on the treadmills? Enough to power the building? The city block? Or just my cell phone?
Ok. I felt like enough time had ticked by. My typical route would have been to go on the weight machine circuit. Pump some iron and all. The panic in my throat was catching my breath, and I found myself making a beeline for the change room (this is where you start to be disappointed in me.) I quickly changed and scooted out the door into the pouring rain. Sigh. Life was so much better out here!
I don't know. The ladies gym is just so...safe. I'm chicken, what can I say? I'm afraid of the big bad co-ed gym.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Movin' on and movin' up
Moving. Relocate. Transplant.
In just a matter of days I am shimmying myself back to independence! What has felt like clipped wings are free and full again, ready to fly.
*To be honest, I clipped my own wings. It was no one's fault by my own. Shame, shame, for shame.
November 1 the sweet and quaint apartment is mine. November 6 will see my delightful belongings on display exactly how I want them. They have been boxed up for two years. TWO YEARS!!! My serving tray has been doomed to the gloom of a box. My artwork carefully wrapped up and packed up. My scrapbooks full of happy memories have been ushered to silence. And I...well I have been biding my time. I feel the return of all of me is on it's way!!
In just a matter of days I am shimmying myself back to independence! What has felt like clipped wings are free and full again, ready to fly.
*To be honest, I clipped my own wings. It was no one's fault by my own. Shame, shame, for shame.
November 1 the sweet and quaint apartment is mine. November 6 will see my delightful belongings on display exactly how I want them. They have been boxed up for two years. TWO YEARS!!! My serving tray has been doomed to the gloom of a box. My artwork carefully wrapped up and packed up. My scrapbooks full of happy memories have been ushered to silence. And I...well I have been biding my time. I feel the return of all of me is on it's way!!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
This is merely procrastination
Guess who doesn't want to do anymore homework today? This kid, that's who.
Instead of diligently reading my book on the quality of life, I will tell you about my assessment of my own quality of life. We have to create little activities for ourselves throughout the book to help us understand the context better. Genius, I tell you. I totally get it now. (HA.)
The topic of behaviour patterns is examined in this book, so I decided to look at patterns, habits and behaviours I have implemented into my own life. And do you know what it made me realise??
I am kind of a geek.
Yup. That's right. The habits I have changed/developed/scrapped/etc/etc over the past few years have not been drastic or fun or really even blog worthy (yet here I am blogging about them.)
This is me in a nut shell.
In 2003 I decided no more red meat for me. I'll go with chicken. And pork -- the other white meat!
In 2004 I decided I was no longer going to watch TV after 10pm. Still stickin' to that plan.
In 2005 I decided that I was going start having a morning coffee at 10am. Yes, specifically 10am. It took about two months for the extra caffeine in my system to adjust and not affect my sleep. From here stemmed the "no caffeine after lunch time" rule, because it would keep me awake at night.
In 2006 I realized that dairy and I were not friends. I stopped eating yogurt and ice cream. I still dabble in cheese and lactose free milk.
In 2007 I decided to ban myself from the mall. HA! Like that one stuck!!!
In 2008 I decided to join the gym. I stuck to it for almost a whole year! Then I moved to the town with a crappy very expensive gym.
In 2009 I decided to ban myself from the mall again. No such luck.
In 2010 I joined the gym again. And cut out tomatoes. Those red little morsels are good for my soul, bad for my stomach.
Look at that list. Sigh. I am not cool, am I? Or, as my friend Laurie says to me "Wow. You live with a really mean lady!" I am just too strict for my own good. How is this impacting my quality of life???????? Actually....pretty damn well ;) I am a happy lady, albeit, a boring one.
Well, I wrote this faster than I planned. Guess it's back to reading homework....I hope you can think of exciting things you implemented in your life!
Instead of diligently reading my book on the quality of life, I will tell you about my assessment of my own quality of life. We have to create little activities for ourselves throughout the book to help us understand the context better. Genius, I tell you. I totally get it now. (HA.)
The topic of behaviour patterns is examined in this book, so I decided to look at patterns, habits and behaviours I have implemented into my own life. And do you know what it made me realise??
I am kind of a geek.
Yup. That's right. The habits I have changed/developed/scrapped/etc/etc over the past few years have not been drastic or fun or really even blog worthy (yet here I am blogging about them.)
This is me in a nut shell.
In 2003 I decided no more red meat for me. I'll go with chicken. And pork -- the other white meat!
In 2004 I decided I was no longer going to watch TV after 10pm. Still stickin' to that plan.
In 2005 I decided that I was going start having a morning coffee at 10am. Yes, specifically 10am. It took about two months for the extra caffeine in my system to adjust and not affect my sleep. From here stemmed the "no caffeine after lunch time" rule, because it would keep me awake at night.
In 2006 I realized that dairy and I were not friends. I stopped eating yogurt and ice cream. I still dabble in cheese and lactose free milk.
In 2007 I decided to ban myself from the mall. HA! Like that one stuck!!!
In 2008 I decided to join the gym. I stuck to it for almost a whole year! Then I moved to the town with a crappy very expensive gym.
In 2009 I decided to ban myself from the mall again. No such luck.
In 2010 I joined the gym again. And cut out tomatoes. Those red little morsels are good for my soul, bad for my stomach.
Look at that list. Sigh. I am not cool, am I? Or, as my friend Laurie says to me "Wow. You live with a really mean lady!" I am just too strict for my own good. How is this impacting my quality of life???????? Actually....pretty damn well ;) I am a happy lady, albeit, a boring one.
Well, I wrote this faster than I planned. Guess it's back to reading homework....I hope you can think of exciting things you implemented in your life!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
I have to admit it. After my last post all heartfelt and concerned for the authors of the bargain section at the bookstore, I betrayed those hardworking writers.
I went to Chapter's today to stroll around (actually went to find a specific kind of book, they had three on the topic, do you think I found any of them???) and found myself in the Bargain Books section. Ah ha! I could purchase myself a thrifty $4.99 book and support some random author I've never heard of. I browsed the shelves, I picked up a few books and read the back or the inner jackets. A few sounded good. But alas, my bladder was full and I need to find the ladies room. I had every intent of returning to the Bargain Books section to decide on a book to purchase. (I've recently banned myself from shopping at Winner's/Homesense and the mall, so I need somewhere to spend my money!!)
I was derailed at the humour section. There I saw it. Are you there, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. The book I've been wanting to read for many a month. I even attempted to locate it at the library, but it was always on loan to some other person who undoubtedly was splitting their sides at that very moment reading her prose.
Sigh. The internal conversation began. Do I buy it? Do I put it down? What about my new plan for the Bargain Books? Should I just shun them because I haven't heard a word about them? Do I want to toss all of my values aside for sake of humour????
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I peed. I purchased. I am about to read. I am a hypocrite.
(Bah, oh well, what can you expect?? Next time, next time I swear I'll go with the original plan.)
I went to Chapter's today to stroll around (actually went to find a specific kind of book, they had three on the topic, do you think I found any of them???) and found myself in the Bargain Books section. Ah ha! I could purchase myself a thrifty $4.99 book and support some random author I've never heard of. I browsed the shelves, I picked up a few books and read the back or the inner jackets. A few sounded good. But alas, my bladder was full and I need to find the ladies room. I had every intent of returning to the Bargain Books section to decide on a book to purchase. (I've recently banned myself from shopping at Winner's/Homesense and the mall, so I need somewhere to spend my money!!)
I was derailed at the humour section. There I saw it. Are you there, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. The book I've been wanting to read for many a month. I even attempted to locate it at the library, but it was always on loan to some other person who undoubtedly was splitting their sides at that very moment reading her prose.
Sigh. The internal conversation began. Do I buy it? Do I put it down? What about my new plan for the Bargain Books? Should I just shun them because I haven't heard a word about them? Do I want to toss all of my values aside for sake of humour????
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I peed. I purchased. I am about to read. I am a hypocrite.
(Bah, oh well, what can you expect?? Next time, next time I swear I'll go with the original plan.)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
In the name of the written word
The past few times I have found myself at a Chapter's (because really, what other bookstore do I go to? Do I support the small independent bookstores? No...I'm a jerk!), a thought keeps occurring to me in the Bargain Books section.
Imagine how those authors who poured their heart and souls into their novels must feel to know their book is on clearance for $5.99.
Disappointment, self loathing, deflation, broken hearted. At least, that is how I would feel. I've always fancied that one day I'll write up a terrific book and it will have rave reviews and fan fare and all that joyous momentum. (Still haven't really figured out just what I'd write about. Let me tell you, though, it would be darn funny and what I call "exaggerated non-fiction." Don't worry, I won't mention you by your REAL name though...)
To my fellow book lovers, I have a challenge. Let's toss aside the latest and the greatest, the Giller Prizes and adorned authors. Let's seriously browse the Bargain Books section and find a treasure or two at discounted prices, and vindicate an author's blood, sweat and tears. Let's toss aside our library cards that we got in order to help us save money by not buying books and spend $5.99!! We can do it!!
(And then tell me what new author you've found and if they are worthwhile reading.)
Imagine how those authors who poured their heart and souls into their novels must feel to know their book is on clearance for $5.99.
Disappointment, self loathing, deflation, broken hearted. At least, that is how I would feel. I've always fancied that one day I'll write up a terrific book and it will have rave reviews and fan fare and all that joyous momentum. (Still haven't really figured out just what I'd write about. Let me tell you, though, it would be darn funny and what I call "exaggerated non-fiction." Don't worry, I won't mention you by your REAL name though...)
To my fellow book lovers, I have a challenge. Let's toss aside the latest and the greatest, the Giller Prizes and adorned authors. Let's seriously browse the Bargain Books section and find a treasure or two at discounted prices, and vindicate an author's blood, sweat and tears. Let's toss aside our library cards that we got in order to help us save money by not buying books and spend $5.99!! We can do it!!
(And then tell me what new author you've found and if they are worthwhile reading.)
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