Three Things That Don't Seem Good, But Were...

[lagilman]

1. The branch of my bank I stopped at was closed (and closed off) while they filmed a marching band commercial (no, really). Annoyed, I asked one of the camera guys what people who had come to use the bank were supposed to do? Apparently, we were supposed to go over to the very nice man holding an umbrella, who would hand me into a very nice black SUV, and drive me to the next nearest branch (all of 6 blocks away, but it was raining), wait while I did my transaction, and then bring me back. And I got a lollypop. TD Bank FTW, methinks.


2. My story had its head handed to it repeatedly at the crit group tonight, in pointed but polite fashion. And I now know exactly what wasn't working, and have strong ideas on how to make it all work, which I didn't have clue one about beforehand [it's a good story, it just needed to give up on one aspect of itself and focus on the others. [aside: one of the most useful things you learn, working with a group, is how to take useful info from people who would never be caught dead reading That Sort of Story of their own accord. Because they do give useful crit... once it's filtered)

3. I was told about something that I probably wasn't supposed to know about, and it clarified for me if I wanted to continue dealing with someone on a purely professional basis, rather than professional/friend, going forward, which I had been wavering about.


And a bonus bit of advice:

If you have a workman who does the job so badly you have to come back and fix it, and then you run late not once but twice, by an hour each time, you really should not be surprised that the homeowner does not respond to your flirtation attempts. Because She is Not Impressed (although he would probably clean up reasonably well, for that value of cleanup)

Comments

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

You bank with TD? Cross-border infiltration FTW!
(Not to mention black SUVs with lollipop bars FT even bigger W)

[lagilman]

well, I banked with Commerce, until TD et 'em...

[sizztheseed.livejournal.com]

one of the most useful things you learn, working with a group, is how to take useful info from people who would never be caught dead reading That Sort of Story of their own accord. Because they do give useful crit... once it's filtered

Ooo.. That's what I like about my crit group. None of them have ever read any fantasy. Not even LOTR. Absolutely no room for relying on comfortable cliché or fair assumptions. Everything must be spelled out, but without spelling. A very zen exercise, if I say so myself.

[0eris0.livejournal.com]

The crappy painter guy? After all of that, he had the nerve to flirt with you too...*rolls eyes at Cromagnon Man*

Great kitchen by the way, despite his misdeeds. ;-)

[lagilman]

it is a lovely kitchen, innit? And some day you need to be here while I'm here, so I can actually show it off properly...

[arouraleona.livejournal.com]

...you took candy from strangers? 0_0

Still, a lollipop from a bank, AND they're actually going out of their way to do things for their customers. That's awesome!

[jslinder.livejournal.com]

TD/Commerce is great to customers.. Their employees, not always so much (my wife works there).

They also have milk bones for doggies at the drive thru!

[arouraleona.livejournal.com]

Woooow... that's amazing.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I bet he thought the flirtation would make you so happy you'd forget the unprofessional work. I've had that with a couple of crappy repairmen. And then they get offended when I go up like a rocket.

[chibiaingeal.livejournal.com]

If you have a workman who does the job so badly you have to come back and fix it, and then you run late not once but twice, by an hour each time, you really should not be surprised that the homeowner does not respond to your flirtation attempts. Because She is Not Impressed (although he would probably clean up reasonably well, for that value of cleanup)

But maybe he wanted a reason to have to keep coming back to see said homewoner? (;