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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

MAYBE I'M A GOOD LISTENER?

by Just_Lin


I frequent a small, local coffee shop.  I've been going there for years so I'm one of the "regulars".  This means that the cooks and waitresses know my name and I know theirs.  I often chat a bit with the waitresses if time allows.  Not every day, though, and I'm usually reading my book while I eat. On occasion, I may end up sharing a booth with one of the other "regulars' and we'll have a little conversation while we eat.  We have some nice chats but, generally, I'm not a real big talker.  I'm more on the quiet side.
 
The coffee shop has a new waitress, Theresa.  I would guess Theresa is about 60 years old and wears her hair in a single braid that reaches her waist.  Theresa is a talker.  Today during my 1/2 hour lunch Theresa told me the following, all completely unsolicited by me.
 
Theresa likes to go to the other end of the mall to visit the tobacco shop because the clerk there has a chihuahua behind the counter that jumps up and down, up and down, so it can see her over over the top of the counter.  She said it's like he's on a pogo stick or something and she thinks it's soooo cute..... Unless, he's barking at something, then he's not so cute.  Very yappy.  She can't stand yappy dogs.  She could never have a yappy dog, she's more of a cat person.  She used to have a house cleaning business and she really liked it.  She cleaned some businesses, too.  This one house that she cleaned regularly was really quite large and a really nice house.  She really enjoyed cleaning that house but the owner was one of those people that cleaned the house before she got here.  (Tinka, are you reading this?)  She didn't like it that the owner would do that because then when she, herself, cleaned it, she couldn't tell that it looked any different than before she started.  Next door to this house was another house and the people there had two small dogs.  Those dogs would bark all day long.  They were very yappy.  Theresa wouldn't be able to handle that.  She asked about my dog, a pit bull, and answered her own question that pit bulls don't stand around barking all day.  She doesn't know how anybody could stand to have a dog like that and it would drive her crazy to live next door to that constant barking.  When Theresa got done at the coffee shop today, she was going to go to the store to pick up wine for her elderly mother who lives in a senior apartment complex.  It's really a pretty nice complex but she thought the one where she used to live was a little nicer.  Her mother didn't have any friends in the old one, though, so she wanted to move and this new place has worked out better because she has friends there, now.  When she talks to her mother on the phone her mother always complains about the phone not working well but Theresa suspects that the real problem that her mother is probably losing her hearing. 
 
I love to sit at the coffee shop, quietly reading my book while I eat.  This book is taking me a lot longer than usual to get through.  I think it has something to do with Theresa.

34 comments:

Just_Lin said...

Ha! I am first on my own blog. Is that still against the rules?

sacBarb said...

J/L, I think that rule has gone by the wayside long ago. That was quite a story and frankly, it wore me out just reading. If Theresa talks to every customer like that, how does she get any food out? I do agree with her about yappy dogs, though!

sacBarb said...

BTW, what are you doing up so early?

sacBarb said...

I am waiting for someone from the electric company to come and pick up a refrigerator from my laundry room. They gave me a window of 7a.m. to 7p.m. and said they couldn't narrow it down more than that. I sure hope they get here before 5:00 because I have to leave then for a doctor appointment at Kaiser.

Tina~in_ut said...

I'm thinking Theresa needs to be smacked into next Tuesday!!!!!

J/L~ thanks for the blog....I wanted to strangle her tho while I was reading it!!!!

Sackie ~ I hope it guy comes early!!~

Tinka said...

Good Morning Just_Lin - Congrats on being first. No I don't think it's against the rules. It's been done once or twice before LOL. I loved your blog. All I could think of while I was reading it was "Theresa may not be working there very long". Not everyone is as good or patient a listener as you are.
I don't clean anymore before my lady comes. It's much less stressful this way and she loves to clean.

Good Morning Barb - You are up early too. For about a year I was staying up late and sleeping until almost nine. Now I am back to early to bed and up at seven. It was dark until a while ago.

Jack is in Vancouver today so I am on my own - not one of my favourite days. I guess I will play on my farms and work on my Tango DVD. It is taking me a long time because I have to scan the pictures onto the computer. The pictures of Tia were all on the computer before I started her DVD. It's very cute.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone.

Tinka said...

Good Morning Tina - You landed while I was trying to get my comment to post. It now takes about 5 tries before my password works. I was just about ready to give up when it finally posted.

Dianne/Denver said...

Good Morning....

JL: I seem to meet people like that too. My new nurse yesterday to,d me how she was with a cheater until last month and now she's online dating. This was all during taking my blood pressure etc I've never even seen her in my life!! It sounds like you have a brand new friend with Theresa. Don't be bringing her to blog parties! Barb, you might need to get another bed ready. Lol.

Barb: dang, what a window. That's silly to make you wait that many hours. Why does an electric company want your refrigerator?

Tink:I don't clean but pick up before the cleaning lady and always make sure my toilets are clean.

I'm up today awake at 7:30. I guess I'm turning into a morning bird after 65 (almost66) years. Now if I could just learn to get up early.

Tina: what are you up to lately? Any trips planned?

Zona said...

J/LIN: You ARE a good listener! I don't think I'd remember half of what Theresa said an hour after she said it! I think I need my inhaler just from reading it..LOL! Great blog..thank you!

BARB: Seriously? 12 hours? I'll never complain about delivery times again!! Well..of course I will..but hopefully I'll never get a 12 hour window..dang! I hope that shiny new fridge is already there by the time you read this! :D

TINA: Maybe an ankle kick would do? ;)

TINKA: I hope Jack has an easy day in Vancouver and gets home early today! :) I wonder what is up with that password..very weird.

DI: Good Morning Early Owl! Pretty good guess..wasn't it? :D

Zona said...

TINKA: I had to submit my comment 3 times..Blogger wanted my phone number again..when I said 'no' it got mad..maybe it's just in one of those moods..lol..

Dianne/Denver said...

Barb: are u getting a refig or I thought u said they are taking it? Zona has confused me

Zona said...

DI & BARB: Oooops..my bad..I need to read more carefully!!! :/

BARB: Ok..let me try this again..

I hope they have taken away the old refrigerator by the time you read this!! :)

Remember when you visit..grape jello..bubbles and songs..thank you.. ;)

Dianne/Denver said...

Zona: thank u for clarifying that for me. You were making me confused!!! I'll be in a place first so u come visit. I think mine is very near.

sacBarb said...

OK, here's the story of the refrigerator: The one in my kitchen, which I've had for about 25 years is really too big for the space since I remodeled the kitchen and I've been wanting a new one, but they are very expensive. My neighbor got a new one recently and it is just the size I've been looking for. He bought it online and got a screamin' deal. So, I decided to order one.

Separate from that, I also have a spare refrigerator in my laundry room that quit working recently. Our electric company will pick up old appliances and they will even pay $35, so they are supposed to pick it up today. However, if they aren't here by 5:00, I'm outta here!

Whew! I feel like Theresa.


sacBarb said...

Well, I called about a half hour ago for a 'better' ETA and I got a four hour window between 1:00 and 5:00. Well Damn, it was already almost noon so basically there wasn't much left. I did tell the guy that I HAD to leave at 5:00. He said I could leave it at the curb and it had to be plugged in. What? They are coming into the house to get it because I CAN'T GET IT TO THE CURB BY MYSELF!!! Plus, how many people have a plug near their curb? I suppose I could get a very long extension cord and run it to my house...NOT!!!!

Just_Lin said...

Thanks for the comments. Theresa only works a few days a week, thank goodness.

I'm at the airport waiting for my flight home.

Barb. I hope they got there in time. As for hsving it at the curb and plugged in....Thst was the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time.

Just_Lin said...

Tina. I purposely didn't separate Theresa's monologue into paragraphs to give the impression of her constant chatter. I guess it worked. LOL

Just_Lin said...

Dianne. I guess Theresa and your nurse wouldn't get along. Both would be talking and no one would be listening. Isn't it surprising what some people will share with a complete stranger?

Just_Lin said...

Tinka. I'm glad you don't clean for the cleaning lady anymore. : )

Just_Lin said...

Zona. I can walk into a room and not recall why I went in there so why I remember all this stuff from Theresa is a mystery. Just lucky, I guess.

Dianne/Denver said...

Fun blog JL. No, You are right---my nurse and Theresa would have a boring conversation!!! Yes, it does amaze me what people will tell you sometimes. It's like--so you were with a cheater, my name is Dianne and I need a flu shot. Lol

Today was my two hour knee class and I'm very scared about the recovery on this surgery. It was very informative but I hope I can do all this recovery.

Ok barb, is the refrig there or not?

Mary/MI said...

Has the frig left the building? Inquiring minds want to know lol!

I have had a few "Theresa s in my day. Not fun especially when that person is sitting next to you on a loooog trip.
Cracks me up when I sit next to someone on a plane and they hurry up and grab a book or magazine, like I was going to be a "Theresa". Then, just as we are about to land they are talking my ear off!

Diane, quit over thinking the surgery and recovery! It will all be fine and you will feel so much better... honest :)

Tinka said...

Jack is safely home from Vancouver so the "fur babies" and I are happy.

We had a good walk today. Tango is not supposed to go on walks anymore because of her heart condition so I drive them to the park in their little trailer. They seem to like the ride. Then I let them out and we slowly walk in a circle then back to the scooter.
I feel like an old lady with my cane but I also feel protected by it because I worry about suddenly being confronted by a big dog or worse. I know the cane wouldn't be that much of a deterrent if a cougar suddenly appeared but I feel safer with it.
After Tango's slow walk I give her a cookie and let her back in the trailer. Then I give Tia a good run. If she tires before we get home I let her sit in my lap. She loves that. I think she imagines she is driving.

Dianne - Sometimes I pick up before my lady comes and sometimes I don't. She does the wash and knows where everything goes. I think she likes it here. Her 4 hours are up at noon each Tuesday but she frequently goes out and works in our flower garden until about 12:20. We were lucky to find her.

Barb - I hope you didn't wait too long to have your fridge picked up. I have been wondering all day if the guy finally came. I know what it's like waiting all day for someone and it's not fun.

Just_Lin - Please keep us updated on Theresa. It's an interesting story and may have a very interesting ending.

Zona - Did you get your sorting finished? I didn't even get mine started. Maybe tomorrow I will.

Bedtime, we are on the 6th disc of last season's Grey's Anatomy. It has been fun watching an episode each night.

Good Night Little Owls everywhere. God bless. Love, Tink.

Tinka said...

Hi Mary - You flew in while I was typing. Hope you had a great day. It's nice to see you in the nest.

sacBarb said...

Well, I called again at about 4:55 and asked where the &*%$ the guy was and the woman who answered said she would call him. Why didn't the first person do that? Anyway, she said I would be the next pick up and he would be there in 20 minutes. I gave her my 'very frustrated' speech and said I would wait but I couldn't wait longer than 20 minutes. He actually got here in 10 minutes, took the fridge and banged up a couple of walls getting it out and I followed him out the door with my purse and keys in hand. I was out of the driveway before he got it loaded on the truck. I was late for my appointment but the Doc was running late too, so it all worked out.

Just_Lin said...

Barb Sorry that your walls got all banged up. Glad it didn't end up messing you up with your appointment.

Just_Lin said...

Tinka It sounds like you and your fur babies had a nice outing today. I bet you all look so cute. I will keep you posted with any Theresa updates. LOL

Tina~in_ut said...

so Barb....did they pick up the fridge? :)~

Di~ what mary said!!!~ AND...this month I'm going to Seattle, Spokane, and Cincinnati, and next month only to SoCal~ :D

Tina~in_ut said...

J/L~ u scared me~ Glad u made is home safe and sound~

Just_Lin said...

Mary The gentleman I sat next to on the plane tonight was a perfect travel companion. Nice and friendly, exchanged a few pleasantries and then he put on his headphones and I got out my book and that was that until the end of the trip when we exchanged a few more pleansantries before deplaning. Perfect!

Just_Lin said...

Tina Why did I scare you?

Just_Lin said...

Dianne What Mary and Tina said.

Tina~in_ut said...

I thought I was alone~ :D

Just_Lin said...

Tina I should have knocked first. ;)