How Do You React When... (originally published July 17, 2010)

People do things sometimes that put me in an awkward position…

For example…

How do you react when…

Say there is a tall man, perhaps about 6’3. And as he begins telling you his order, he proceeds to lay his body across the glass where the ice cream is, reach his arm over and into the ghea(this is what holds the ice cream) to point to which flavor he wants.

Now imagine you’re about 5’3 and female and you’re standing right behind the ice cream. So now this man is abnormally close to you, perhaps you even feel that he’s popped your personal space bubble.

What do you do? How do you respond?

 Or how do you react when…

There is extremely affectionate couple in line. They can’t keep their hands off of each other, and their kissing even as you’re taking their order. At one point, the man even slaps the woman on the butt.

How do you respond to that? Is it wrong to feel uncomfortable?

 What about this? How do you react when…

It comes time to ring up your party and as soon you start to take one person’s money the person next to them starts jabbing a credit card at your knuckles saying, “No! Don’t take his money! I’m paying!”

Now you’re all confused. Whose money do you take? You’re asking yourself this all the while the two people are arguing about who’s gets to pay.

Is it just me? Or are these situations awkward? How would you react?

You Know You Know Me! (originally published July 20, 2010)

Everybody likes Coldstone Creamery. All different people from all different walks of life.

So many times I end up waiting on people that I haven’t seen in years.

Old teachers, High school friends, old co-workers, old enemies, even people I went to elementary school with.

Usually when I see somebody that I used to know, especially someone I went to school with, all my memories of that person, including their name (first and last) are restored to my brain…

I’m not a stalker I just have a good memory…

Anywho…

When I see this person I remember them instantly and for a moment I can see on their face that they remember me too, so my first reaction is a smile and a familiar “Hi!” Not the normal “Hi, what can I get for you?” But the kind of greeting you give someone you know and haven’t seen in a long time.

But their response after I give them that greeting is usually, “Hi, can I get…” like they forgot all about ever knowing me.

Now I feel dumb because I was actually trying to strike up a conversation and the person obviously doesn’t want to.

This is my thought process, raw and uncensored. Please excuse the improper grammar.

Hey that’s Jane Smith! We were in Ms. Paul’s class together in fifth grade

We used to sit next to each other. She took my pen that one time, then I took it back and she told Ms. Paul that I stole her pen.

Oh yeah, now I remember. I hated her.

Oh well, I’ll say hi anyway.

“Hi!”…

Mhmm... She’s just gonna act like she doesn’t know me? That’s cool.

Now I look dumb trying to be all nice. We ain’t that old. 5^th grade wasn’t that long ago! 

Why you frontin’ girl! You know you know me!

So then I just go through the process of waiting on the customer like I never knew them.

I ring them up, “Have a nice day!” I say, and that’s that.

Or there is another scenario…

 Maybe she really didn’t remember me.

Hmm…

Something to ponder I suppose…

Some of the most interesting requests from Coldstone customers (originally published May 9, 2010)

Sometimes ColdStone customers ask for some funny things…

·         Can I have a Like It Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but can you cut the edges off and only put the middle in?

  ·         Can I get a Kid’s size Sweet Cream in a cup? But can you put a kid’s cone on top? Actually, can you put it on the cone first and then put it in the cup?

·         Can I get Cotton Candy mixed with Gummy Bears? But can you cut off the heads and only mix that in? I don’t want the body.

·         Can I have Mint Ice Cream with a chocolate chip mixed in? Yes just one chocolate chip. I like for it to be a surprise.

·         Can I have a Kid’s Size French Vanilla with Marshmallows, Gummy Bears, Kit-Kat, Crunch bar, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, Strawberries, Banana, Caramel, Fudge, Hot Fudge, Kit-Kat… Oh I said that already? Well can I get some more? Alright that’s it. Oh and can you put that on a Kid’s cone?

·         Can I have a Gotta Have It of the Chocolate Ice Cream with only blue sprinkles and yellow M&M’s mixed in? And could I have extra blue sprinkles? I don’t mind paying. Thanks.

·         Can I have a Banana Caramel Crunch? But those Bananas don’t look bruised enough so could you rough ‘em up a bit?

·         Can I have a Cheesecake Fantasy with no Strawberries, Blueberries, or Graham Cracker? Oh… Well yeah I guess I’ll just have Cheesecake Ice Cream then.

 ·         Do you guys make water smoothies?

And those are just a few of them…