(no subject)
...fixed...
Dear Europeans
-There is this beautiful thing called a "queue." In the States, it's called a line, but it's purpose is the same. You stand in it, in a neat little row in front of the person who will take your order and your money (if you're unsure as to whom this may be, look at the other people and see who they give their money to), and wait your turn, and so may be served one at a time in an orderly fashion, making me much less likely to want to tell you no, we're closed, no ice cream for you.
-When you want a bottle of water, to make it easier on hheehv-ehr-y-one, please simply say "Water." I am dealing with dozens of different accents a day, often at the same time, spoken quietly, quickly, and with a lorry passing by. Do not complicate the request by adding extra syllables that may be pronounced completely differently for you than for me. Do not say "Still Water"--that's generally how it comes anyway, unless requested otherwise, and "seel" becomes the dominant sound. And you'd be surprised the number of things the word "bottle" can sound like. To make it up to you, you can probably actually order it in your own language, as there's a half decent chance I'll understand that simple word.
-This goes to everyone, Americans and Brits too. Stop asking for a "cone." You want an "ice cream." That is the word. Like "bottle" only worse, "cone" sounds like a billion other things under the wrong conditions (ours). "Coke," for one. Besides, it's not a cone you want, it's an ice cream. You also don't have to specify the kind you want--we only have one, the one you see every single person within a ten foot diameter of us licking happily.
-Remember. Queue.
Yeah, that sounds grumpy and almost downright xenophobic, or at least a little bit racist, but remember what Avenue Q taught us. Besides, I've spent ten hours on my feet in horrible, near-soleless shoes that are falling apart, in a tiny truck, getting conflicting orders barked at me all during PMS, with the really annoying softcore pop playing in the background (honestly, if I hear that "It's Too Late To Apologize" song one more time, it really will be, because I'll have done something horrible and possibly court-worthy). Bite. Me. World.
Actually, though, aside from the grumpiness, it was a good day. Chatted with Karl at lunch and on one of my breaks. I'm reading (have been for awhile) Fellowship of the Ring and I just got to the bit where Gandalf falls, and I've forgotten how powerful that whole thing was. I've forgotten a lot about all the little things I loved about this books. I can't wait to finish FotR, though, because it's in the worst shape--lost both covers, and the final page is starting to tatter rather badly. I love this book.
Also, I proved my oldest trick true--to find something, only lose something of equal importance and search for that. I couldn't find my wallet, and while frantically searching, I felt a little lump in my tiny black purse. It's a new one, and it has a wee little "secret" pocket, zipped and well-hidden. I guess last Saturday, I put my ipod there for safe-keeping. Very safe, apparently.
Need to finally go open a bank account tomorrow so they can deposit my paycheck Friday--had to get a £100 advance so I can make the first deposit, but hey, paycheck time! Which, for me, anyway, means theatre time. I worked it out, and between tickets, transportation (lost Oystercard at the last minute. Twice. >.<), tour, and merchandise, I spent about 200 bucks on the whole LotR obsession. Ah well. I regret nothing. Except being kinda stupid while meeting MT and slight unintentionally rude when meeting the understudy, and the fact that Kitty-chan isn't here, and that it launched me into a week's worth of annoying obsession. But ah well, fun times.
But...probably time to see a little bit more in the way of West End. And other things. I should probably check out the stand-up comedy now, while I have a chance, since the Fringe in Edinburgh will take it all away. I want to hit the Globe again. And again and again and again.
Oh, yeah, and I've gotta see WALL-E. And Dark Knight. I wonder if it's worth the hassel, exhaustion, and the nightbus to go to a 2AM showing (I won't even think about a 5:30 AM), because that's the only thing left at the IMAX for a whole week at least, and I'd love to see it in IMAX, having the chance.
Dear Europeans
-There is this beautiful thing called a "queue." In the States, it's called a line, but it's purpose is the same. You stand in it, in a neat little row in front of the person who will take your order and your money (if you're unsure as to whom this may be, look at the other people and see who they give their money to), and wait your turn, and so may be served one at a time in an orderly fashion, making me much less likely to want to tell you no, we're closed, no ice cream for you.
-When you want a bottle of water, to make it easier on hheehv-ehr-y-one, please simply say "Water." I am dealing with dozens of different accents a day, often at the same time, spoken quietly, quickly, and with a lorry passing by. Do not complicate the request by adding extra syllables that may be pronounced completely differently for you than for me. Do not say "Still Water"--that's generally how it comes anyway, unless requested otherwise, and "seel" becomes the dominant sound. And you'd be surprised the number of things the word "bottle" can sound like. To make it up to you, you can probably actually order it in your own language, as there's a half decent chance I'll understand that simple word.
-This goes to everyone, Americans and Brits too. Stop asking for a "cone." You want an "ice cream." That is the word. Like "bottle" only worse, "cone" sounds like a billion other things under the wrong conditions (ours). "Coke," for one. Besides, it's not a cone you want, it's an ice cream. You also don't have to specify the kind you want--we only have one, the one you see every single person within a ten foot diameter of us licking happily.
-Remember. Queue.
Yeah, that sounds grumpy and almost downright xenophobic, or at least a little bit racist, but remember what Avenue Q taught us. Besides, I've spent ten hours on my feet in horrible, near-soleless shoes that are falling apart, in a tiny truck, getting conflicting orders barked at me all during PMS, with the really annoying softcore pop playing in the background (honestly, if I hear that "It's Too Late To Apologize" song one more time, it really will be, because I'll have done something horrible and possibly court-worthy). Bite. Me. World.
Actually, though, aside from the grumpiness, it was a good day. Chatted with Karl at lunch and on one of my breaks. I'm reading (have been for awhile) Fellowship of the Ring and I just got to the bit where Gandalf falls, and I've forgotten how powerful that whole thing was. I've forgotten a lot about all the little things I loved about this books. I can't wait to finish FotR, though, because it's in the worst shape--lost both covers, and the final page is starting to tatter rather badly. I love this book.
Also, I proved my oldest trick true--to find something, only lose something of equal importance and search for that. I couldn't find my wallet, and while frantically searching, I felt a little lump in my tiny black purse. It's a new one, and it has a wee little "secret" pocket, zipped and well-hidden. I guess last Saturday, I put my ipod there for safe-keeping. Very safe, apparently.
Need to finally go open a bank account tomorrow so they can deposit my paycheck Friday--had to get a £100 advance so I can make the first deposit, but hey, paycheck time! Which, for me, anyway, means theatre time. I worked it out, and between tickets, transportation (lost Oystercard at the last minute. Twice. >.<), tour, and merchandise, I spent about 200 bucks on the whole LotR obsession. Ah well. I regret nothing. Except being kinda stupid while meeting MT and slight unintentionally rude when meeting the understudy, and the fact that Kitty-chan isn't here, and that it launched me into a week's worth of annoying obsession. But ah well, fun times.
But...probably time to see a little bit more in the way of West End. And other things. I should probably check out the stand-up comedy now, while I have a chance, since the Fringe in Edinburgh will take it all away. I want to hit the Globe again. And again and again and again.
Oh, yeah, and I've gotta see WALL-E. And Dark Knight. I wonder if it's worth the hassel, exhaustion, and the nightbus to go to a 2AM showing (I won't even think about a 5:30 AM), because that's the only thing left at the IMAX for a whole week at least, and I'd love to see it in IMAX, having the chance.