That's My Name...Don't Wear It Out!

Throughout my life I have had a many nicknames. A couple extremely obvious ones such as Meg and Awesome, not to mention Sexy (which only my friend Martha can call me). Then there are some more embarrassing ones like Meggie Moo Moo, which is only acceptable when my cousin Bailey calls me it (everyone else has been warned!) then there is French Fry, which is one I developed back in the fifth grade by people who weren't exactly my friends, and a name that I wasn't quite fond of.  There is one nickname that I have developed though that I am pretty proud of, and isn't quite as clear as the others, that is the great name of Lil' Ash. 
No, my name is not Ashley or anything close to something that "Ash" would be short for, so let me explain.  I have this friend.  Her name is Ashley. Better known as Big Ash.  She's tall, so that's where the "big" comes in.  I'm not as tall, so that's where the "Lil" comes in.  Big Ash and I are pretty alike.  Physically, we are both blonde, skinny, we both wear glasses, and we are both super attractive.  But recently I've found that it's not only the physical similarities that make us so alike, it's everything... well maybe not everything, but a lot of things.  It's our love for a cheesy joke, and a good Katherine Heigl movie (mainly Killers actually), even better, a cheesy joke IN a good Katherine Heigl movie.  It's the way we complain about how fast everyone else at Wednesday night basketball move up and down the court.  It's how we both find learning about the Holocaust to be particularly interesting (even though I'm not really that into all things history, but the Holocaust sparks my attention).  It's how in the beginning stages of employment, we both found ourselves at an elementary school surrounded by kindergarteners. But mostly I think it's the fact that we always seem to enjoy each others company, no matter what we are doing.
Sometimes when I think of Big Ash, I find myself singing the words to a Bette Midler song:

But yeah, at the end of the day, I think that if I have to be a "Lil" anyone, I wouldn't want to be anyone but Lil Ash, because Big Ash is pretty darn cool! 

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Best Buy Worker.

I've been looking to buy a laptop recently, you know, for school of course.  But anyway I decided that since yesterday I had a day off of school and work that I would go on down to Best Buy and check out the laptop I had been looking at.  I walked straight back to the computer area, and just like that I found the nice looking laptop that I wanted, and boom, on sale for $220. Perfect. Right in my price range! Just then the Best Buy employee assigned to "help" in the computer area wandered over to me.  This guy, lets call him Bill asked if I needed any help and I told him that I had been looking at this particular computer for a little while.  "this computer sucks" he said. "Really?" I responded, quite puzzled because most of the customer reviews I had read on this particular motherboard left me quite hopeful. "really" he said. Then he said "you know, you should really do a little more research on stuff like this... not just look at the price, because I'm assuming that's all you did". Wow. Great customer service dude.  Really.  I'm super impressed with your ability to make potential buyers want to breathe the same air as you.  Then he says "come here, I will show you a better computer". He then guides me to the $700-$1,000 section and says that these are the only quality computers in the building.  I seriously doubt that. I listen to his obviously rehearsed sales pitch and tell him that I was just going to keep shopping around.  He gives me the you're stupid for passing up this awesome deal that is for sure going to deplete your bank account, and I turn around and walk away. Getting in my car I was definitely not pleased with my experience. As I turned the key, Michael Buble's "Feeling Good" was coming through my radio, but I was for sure not feeling that way.  So now not only was I resenting Bill for his patronizing advice, but I was now resenting Michael for "Feeling Good" when I was not, which only led to me resenting Bill even more for making me resent Michael. It was just a vicious circle of resentment going on all because of some rather inadequate customer service.  Thanks Bill.  My whole point in all of this that your attitude matters. Attitudes, good or bad, are contagious... end of story. So dear Mr. Best Buy worker, this is how I think our conversation should have gone.
Me: Hello kind sir, I've been looking to purchase a laptop and this particular one is one I have been looking at.
Bill: Well ma'am, while this laptop is reasonably priced, in my opinion it may not be in your best interest to purchase it because, I do not think it is very reliable. You look like a nice girl and I would not want you stuck with a crappy computer.
Me: oh is the right? I've only heard good things about this computer.
Bill: Hmmm.... well, if you wouldn't mind, I am more than willing to suggest some other alternatives.  They are slightly more expensive, but I think that it might be in your best interest to invest in your future.
Me: Thank you for your advice, but I think that I'm just going to shop around for a bit, you know and try to find a computer a little more in my price range.
Bill: ok, good luck. If you have any more questions feel free to ask, I'm here Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm.
Then I would pleasantly exit the building, get in my car to find Michael Buble's "Feeling Good" something through the speakers, and sing along all the way home!
So Mr. Best Buy worker the next time a customer comes into your area just remember the wise words of my main man James Marsden when he said "If you have fun and keep a good attitude, people want to work with you!"