I Don't Live In A Fish Bowl

After starting my new job, the thing I am amazed by the most is how many people feel the need to tap on the bulletproof glass.  Do they honestly think they can test its strength with their fingernails?  Or do they think I'm a fish?

Although there are people that make me glad that there is bulletproof glass in between us.  The scary ones that make me wish that I was armed, just in case.  But for the most part, it's just people who have made bad decisions and are struggling with their demons.  And unfortunately, maybe because I'm really mean deep down (and not so deep down), but some of these stories strike me as really funny.

Like these:

1.  I came across a file labeled "Thor" today.  Thor?  Yes, Thor.  But not, apparently this guy.

2.  The young black man who asked me what time I got off of work.  Um, for you?  Never.  I live here.

3.  The same old lady who has called me three times in the last three days to complain about the fact that her neighbor's water has been on a long time, the fact that her neighbor has dandelions in their yard, and that her neighbor's yard looks terrible, and the ordinance officer hasn't been calling her back.  And although I politely tell her that all I can do is transfer her to the ordinance officer again, I want to just tell her that maybe the officer's not returning her calls because she's complained about everything.  And yet, every time I see her name on the caller ID, all I can think is:

4.  I had one woman call me and tell me that I had messed up big time, and got my name, and asked to speak to my supervisor.  So despite the fact that I hadn't even worked there when this "mistake" occurred, it was all my fault, and I'm pretty sure she was on the other end of the phone looking like this:

So I told my supervisor, and she went back and listened to the tape.  Turns out, the woman was WRONG.  VERY, VERY WRONG.  And although I longed to call her back and just yell:

and hang up, I decided to do the professional thing and let my supervisor call her and inform her that the mistake was on the woman's end, not ours.

After working with the public, I think the biggest thing I've learned at my job so far is that even when you think these things in your head, it's important not to say them out loud.  And it's important to always have a smile on your face and be polite,

even when you are less than pleased with them.