TGIM

Sometimes, you have to learn the ropes when you first begin your career. For example, today I learned a valuable lesson I will treasure for all of my days: if I want "Orangeade" from the vending machines, I should press the "Lemonade" button. If I want lemonade, I should press the "Hawaiian Punch" button. And if I want Hawaiian Punch, well, that's at the grocery store.

Earlier, I learned the v alue of the voice-recognition software used to help you make your way through a company's phone network. Instead of having to type in that extension with those pesky keys (why are those on the phone, anyway?!?), you can now use your native English language to navigate the labyrinth of corporate telephone directories.

[blogger's note: Just received call #1, how tempted I was to direct it to that good buddy o' mine]

Anyway, this works rather well, unless you suffer from allergies, in which case you tend to make sounds which aren't really words (or at least they're not recognized in the latest Oxford). Recently, while using one of these, I happened to sneeze...which immediately sent me to some extention (I'm not sure which buttons on the phone corresponds to a sneeze).

Finally, the non-confrontational remarks don't fly so well in all situations. Given the statement, "Do you need this right away", I probably should have opted to say "Yes." Instead, I decided to say "Um, pretty soon would be nice." Cue laughter on the other end of the phone.

That wraps up another entry for me. Until next lunch, ciao! I believe I'll go get some Doritos out of the Coke machine...