vacation mode

I recently returned from vacation, and you know how it goes your first week back at work.

Lousy.

It's hard to get back into the habit of, well basically, life. For one thing, I find that I'm extremely tired, and could use a vacation from vacation (does that make any sense?!). There are daily routines at work that I was able to do seamlessly before I left for a week, that now require extra concentration.

Like transferring calls. There were a few calls I received this week that I felt like I transferred to Beijing, China. No joke. The customer called back and was like, “Yeah, I just wanted to talk to someone about a loan, and I didn't realize that I'd have to learn Mandarin in order to do that. Do you offer language school at a discount for all loan applications?”

Oops!

When things like that happen, I try to keep my cool and make the situation sound normal. “Sorry about that sir. As I was transferring you to our loan department, your line must have crossed with our overseas branch. Let me forward you to the right office.”

Another problem I faced this week was in our cash ordering. They updated the cash ordering system recently, so I am still getting used to navigating it (I am using that excuse as long as I can). Apparently I ordered $30,000 in ones. But again, not my fault.

It's the new system. Must be a glitch.

I also forget how... challenged... people can be. We have been experiencing problems with our outside ATM    < It's not working> So there is a bright orange cone in the middle of the lane, supposedly to keep people from using it. Also, the CLOSED sign is lit up in red above the ATM drive thru lane.

Most people would take all the above indications as a message that they shouldn't use the ATM at this time.

Most people. Not all.

There are always the customers who drive around and park across from the ATM, and then proceed to get out of their car and walk up to use the ATM. Yes, the same machine that has multiple indicators that it is not in service now.

I love this town.

We also get people who come into the bank and ask, “Is your ATM working?”

Um, yes it is. We just thought we would decorate the parking lot with orange cones today. And “closed” is my most favorite word in the English language, so I enjoy displaying it for all to see!

Vacations over for me folks. Back to reality now.

the end.