Today I was able to experience a couple things that really chap my ass.  One thing that gets me all bent is lazy speaking skills.  What is that you ask?  Well, let’s take the upcoming romantic holiday, St. Valentines Day.  Pretty simple actually and a very clever twist on a story to get people spending money a month and a half after Christmas.  I was subject to three, yes, three people today at three different times refer to the upcoming as “Valentimes Day.”  Really?  I have this quirky thing I do if I am unsure how something is pronounced or what its meaning is, I look it up and make sure I am using it correctly.  On that note, I am not perfect nor do I expect anyone else to be.  I just find it aggravating when someone is so lazy they don’t even try to do the work of finding the correct letter. I don’t correct, I just let that person go on doing what they do.  So I guess it must not bother me that much, right?  Lastly, I had a customer show up at 3:58 today.  That is two minutes before we close.  Keep in mind, we have been open at this point for 9 hours and fifty eight minutes.  I know because I have been in the branch for ten hours and thirty eight minutes.  This particular customer has a habit of showing up at this time of the day just about every time he comes to see us.  Today, I was in no mood.  He walked in with a smile and laughingly said “Man, I just made it!”  My glare was that of a sniper, only thing missing was the scope.  “I just need to return a few things and ask you if you have ever heard of a product that…blah blah blah!”  I couldn’t help it.  I cut him off right there.  “Listen, I’ll process the return for you but if you need advice, ask google.  We close in one minute and thirty seconds so if you need to pick up something else I need to know now.”  He looked at me for a few and retorted “Whats the big deal, You’re not closed yet and besides you’ve got nothing better to do.”  Yes, he said that.  I took a deep breath and explained that we are open for ten hours a day and I am here before and after those ten.  I told him if he couldn’t make it to us during our regular business hours, there is a Home Depot right down the street.  If you are going to charge into a place when they are closing their doors, have the courtesy to know what you want and get in and get out.  People have families they miss and a life outside their work to get to.  If you need more time with the specialists, don’t snag them all up at the end of the work day.  I can guarantee that you will not get good info or product when you are the last man standing ten minutes after closing time.  Rant complete.  Starting weekend sequence…NOW!