Meeting Sue the Caterer

Today I met one of my vendors.

I order from a lot of caterers, and I've developed a really fun relationship with all of them.  The majority of them and I speak daily, whether its me calling in an order, or them calling just to "check in" with me.  I love it.  They're all awesome and SO friendly.  It's such a change from the world of mean people at reception.  But then again, these people suck up to me because they want my business.  I get free lunches, coffees, cookies and gift cards daily.  It's pretty cool.

So when Sue told me she was going to deliver my catered lunch because she was short staffed, both of us were pretty excited to actually meet.  Sue is so adorable over the phone and is extremely good at her job.  She remembers certain things that make my job easier, and as a result, I love calling them up to order.   Sue is also my mother's name, so I just assume every Sue out there is an exact replica of my Mom. 

So while tucked away at my new desk/office (have I talked about that? I might be the only "receptionist" that not only doesn't sit in the lobby or answer phones, BUT I have my own office.  Take that!) anyways, I get a call from NG saying that the food has arrived.  I practically run down the hall with excitement of meeting Sue.

Although, when I got out there, I got a little sad when I realized they must have sent this 12 year old looking boy.  Black shirt tucked into their black pants and wearing a black hat covering their short boy haircut.  

"RUBY!?! Ohmigod it is a PLEASURE to finally meet  you!"

A what what? Back up.  That's SUE?!?!  I just confused my favorite caterer in the world as a 12 year old boy?!?

She was not at all what I expected, but as soon as she shook my hand and handed over my free sandwich and iced mocha latte (just because she thought I'd like it), the feeling of love was back.  I'm dying to meet all my other caterers, just to see what they're like.  Sue called me later in the day just to tell me how awesome it was to finally meet, and how she's planning on fattening me up with all her sandwiches because I'm too skinny.  

Hey, compliments AND free food?  Sue, we're gonna get along justtttttttt fine. 

Stupid cookies

Yesterday was a mixture of snow flurries and rain.  Yesterday, was also Tuesday, my least favorite work day of the week.

I knew I was in trouble when I showed up to work and they were painting in the lobby.  Since the whole room smelled like paint fumes, the guys decided to vent the air... by OPENING THE DOORS TO THE OUTSIDE AND TURNING ON A FAN.  Yes, it's snowing out.  Yes, its about 30 degrees.   Yes, OF COURSE, this makes the most logical sense.  How silly of me to ask why they don't paint after work hours.  Apparently painting the lobby first thing in the morning is a no brainer.  Also, the heat decided it didn't want to work and only blew cold air.  Awesome.

As I sat there with my winter coat still on, I noticed that all 3 of the catered lunches were in different buildings causing me to have to go outside in the miserable cold weather.   Well, that's no different than sitting in a cold lobby, right??

As I'm setting everything up and running around like a crazy person, I realize everything is going smoothly (besides being rained/snowed on).  That should have been my first clue that things were going to go terribly wrong.

While outside conference room, I uncover all the food and start bringing everything in.  It's for a meeting with 20 people, and the room is totally packed.  Not only do I hate going into rooms to bring lunch when people are already there, I'm the sweaty girl from running around and wearing a winter coat.  I decide to be smart, load up the bucket with drinks with the plates, utensils, salad dressing and condiments.  One big trip will be better than a million small ones.

And then.... this happened:

Yup,  that's a puddle all those cookies are sitting in.
While grabbing the bucket, I hit the side of the cart causing the salad dressing to slide off.  I'm pretty sure it all happened in slow motion too, as I stood there watching it spill all over the cookie platter.  

I don't know what I was more upset about: the fact that I just ruined a cookie platter and this group of people would definitely notice that their cookies weren't there, OR that I ruined a cookie platter without stealing one for myself first!!!  The only redeeming fact was that no one saw any if it happen, maybe I'd get away with it.

I get back to my desk and see the email from the admin of the department.  "Hey, is there salad dressing?? And did they forget our cookies?!?"

I ended up having to run out and get the group more cookies, after admitting that the cookies and dressing decided to abandoned ship.

I would have posted this story last night, but after that day, I needed a drink.  Ugh.

Until my next disaster...

xoxo,
Ruby

The Pumpkin Arrangement

The construction in my office is never ending. It's still going on, and I honestly have no idea when it will ever end. However!  NG and I recently moved back into the new renovated lobby and it doesn't even feel like the same company.  In fact, I feel like I work at a hotel now.  I have this massive desk that you can barely see me behind.  I have hidden cabinets in the wall and now instead of being completely separated from the office, the lobby has glass doors.  So now I'm like an animal at the zoo that people can see... I'm not sure which is worse... haha!

NG and I decided to buy each other the same bouquet (on my company credit card) to "welcome" each other back into our area.  We decided to pick something "fall-ish" since, well, it's Thanksgiving and why not. 

We both bought the same bouquet.  
At the same time.  
From the same florist.
 

Her's arrived in the morning, mine late afternoon.  Clearly the arrangements are NOT the same.  They don't even have the same flowers!

To make matters even worse, and email went out saying SURPRISE! The lobby is back, please start using the main entrance again.  Stop by and say hello to RUBY AND COMPANY.

NG and I are now known as Ruby and Co.  Not that I'm complaining, but NG was a little annoyed.  Seriously people... is it that hard to make us receptionsit feel appreciated??!?   


...Oh, and because I know you want to know... my bouquet is the bigger one ;)

Happy Halloween!

To much of my surprise, lots of people came dressed up to work today for our annual Halloween Costume Contest.  We find out of the winners tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted. 

...And no... this girl did NOT dress up.  Obvs. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!  I hope everyone had a great night!!

Love, 

Your Favorite Witch,

Ruby.

Marshmallows

I came into work today, and these were on my desk:

What the?

1. Why are there marshmallows on my desk?

2. Stackermallows!? Seriously, why have I never seen these before?

3. What am I supposed to do with these??

4. Mmm... I want s'more now.

The dishwasher

Today was my first day back from my first tropical vacation.  It was glorious.  The weather was perfect, I made some amazing friends (one guy was particularly cute, swoon), and got an
incredible week away from work.  In fact, I didn't even think about it once.

I left at the perfect time.  There's a lot of drama going on lately.  I've also been swamped with work and staying late regularly.  Yes, I'm the only receptionist you know that works long hours doing non-reception related work.  But good things are hopefully to come of all this hard work.

I arrived to work today just depressed.  I don't want to work.  I don't want to read the 128 emails in my inbox folder.  I don't want to read the 30 more in sub folders.  I want a pineapple daiquiri (umm, don't judge, they're amazing and a perfect 11am drink), I want my beach chair and I want my friends.  But of course, the vacation is over and it's back to reality. 

I spend the better half of my morning, going through emails and attempting to make a to-do list.  Between the annoying callers and being easily distracted by any and everything, I make very little progress.  NG finally comes in and I am happy to hand the phones over to her so I can accomplish something.  But first I need more coffee.

I rush down to the kitchen and stand there for a good 5 minutes talking myself out of coffee and to just drink water.  Still trying to convince myself, I open the dishwasher with hopes to throw my mug in there forcing myself to drink water.

And then it happened.

The damn thing was running!  It was so quiet, I never even heard it.  Water and suds come GUSHING out.  So in true Ruby fashion, I scream, slam the thing shut and debate running away and acting as if nothing happened.  Unfortunately for me, someone came in (the scream probably made that happen...) and I just started laughing about how dumb I am.  There wasn't much of a mess, so I cleaned that up, and Laura and I just blamed it on being "a Monday". 

Yeah, let's blame it on the fact that it's Monday.  Not the fact that I didn't even hear the dishwasher going!  To my defense, my parents have a wicked quiet dishwasher as well and I never hear theirs.  Mine is easily from the 70's, so it's like a rocket launch when that thing is going. 

Also, the majority of the people at work didn't even realize I was gone.  It may be because my out of office only worked for half the week, but still.  Nothing like feeling special and welcomed back at work. 

Womp, womp, womp.

I look nice, right?!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii :)

Currently my lobby is getting a little make over.  I sit at the side entrance now, tucked in a cube.  Luckily it's temporary, because it's a terrible reception area.  Guests and employees rarely see me and just walk right on by.  (Not that I'm complaining...)

Today Pam walked in made an effort to say hi.  She quickly looses interest since right next to me is a picture of what the new renovated lobby will look like.  It looks cool, and to be honest, I'm actually excited to see what it will look like.  I'm also very interested to see if I'll be sitting out there when it's complete, or if I finally get the promotion I deserve!

Anywho, Pam looks at me and agrees that the lobby is going to be pretty fancy.  It almost looks like a hotel lobby, not a corporate office.  She then looked me up and down and with a straight face says"

"Well I guess you're going to have to start dressing up to sit somewhere so fancy all day!"

Shut the front door.  Did she just insult me?!  

I know we have a business casual environment now, but I thought I still looked nice.  Yes, I wear jeans every day, but I try hard to pair them with a cute top!  

What the effff just happened?!

Happppppppppppppy Monday everyone!

 

Look, it's ME!