So with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada on these last few weeks, I've been watching the TV more than I usually do. I don't have time to watch much TV, but I am fascinated by the Major International Sports Event and seem to find time. Consequently, I've been also watching a lot of commercials that I never see. And I came to one seemingly evident yet deep and profound truth: THERE ARE A LOT OF DUMB COMMERCIALS OUT THERE. A LOT. A LOT There is one that they keep playing that I am particularly not fond of. The funny thing about it is that it's not got those kind of things I usually don't like in commercials, i.e. violence, sensuality, loud pushy men like Billy Mays selling a product in 15 seconds, etc. IT'S JUST THAT IT'S SO STUPID! I am not really quite sure what it is for or what I am even supposed to be enticed to buy. Nationwide Insurance, maybe? I don't know what product/service is being sold, but I already know that I don't want it. The best thing they could come up with was a the Nationwide executive goes up into the nether reaches of the Canadian wilderness ( I presume) to get "The World's Greatest Spokesperson In The World", who's really just a hairy hermit demanding a blue phone and a list of everyone with insurance, because "he cares too much." But, in a second commercial, he's in a lady's house and is able to get her a better deal on her insurance by switching to Nationwide. And in the end of the commercial he draws in the air with his finger and says "rednipnuskin. ("Discount Finder" backwards). When this commercial comes on, I am known to flee the room, hands over head, mute the TV or simply change the channel, whining and crying.
Well, Nationwide, at least you've made yourself a household name.
I had my big interview on Tuesday, there was no definite "You're hired" but it went better than I could have ever expected. The real selling point was my "dossier" (a presentation that highlights company history, the position, and how my qualifications meet their needs that they talked about when I took some classes at the Employment Center) because it really shows my energy and passion for their organization. I really owe a lot to the Staffing Center, they had been looking forward to meeting me since they saw my resume, and contacted me two weeks ago about this position. After doing my best to make a great impression, and with some French testing (the scores were extremely good for the most part), it was a shoe in. They really like that I speak French fluently as they are looking to open business in Quebec, Canada. I was so nervous putting together my resume and dossier, but I never would've guessed they'd have liked it that much! I learned more about the position, they learned more about me, I got to sample the product, and the vibe was positive and definitely reassuring that they were looking for someone like me. I really felt like things were going great and like the job offer was just about to be finalized, which it was with a call a few days later. I start Monday morning!
I don't know how many other candidates there are, and actually didn't even realize that it's okay to ask that.
This company is just taking off, and seems to be going places. Their product is an enhanced "fitness/health premium spring water beverage", designed to improve stamina, decrease fatigue and a plethora of other desirable health benefits... there definitely is something in the water.
Picking up cheap stuff is a lot of fun. A LOT. Hauling a 500 lb. back-breaker piano out of the back of a mini-van, turning it upright, dragging it inside, all while avoiding scratching up the wood floor is even more fun. Most of the scratches on this old piano were likely the result of a "Perfect Storm Cocktail" composed of :
1 boring day at Grandma's + 1 antique Chase and Baker Consul piano + 2 children with ADD, age 5 + a fist full of shiny nails
The antique piano, complete with dings and "artfully" placed scratches including a tic-tak-toe game gouged in the wood, was at the Colony Resale for $175, but when the worker at the store offered it to us for $125, my sweetheart Love, whipped out her checkbook before I could say "We'll take it!" A little out of tune, missing a hinge, a loose wheel, and no music stand, but the keys all function, the hammers and strings are in good condition. It's a great piano that deserves more love than it's been shown. When we got it home, the Ma-in-Law hit upon the great idea of highlighting the scratches with the Old English Scratch Cover for dark wood. It hides scratches on the wood very well; the scratches are barely noticeable! I rubbed that thing down until my fingers were sore, my head spinning from noxious fumes, about to freeze with the window wide open and attic fan running at full blast, my hands saturated with the liquid, but it was SO worth it to see the look on Love's face when she saw "our new piano" with it's exciting new face lift.
The look: It doesn't look like the same piano. That there bottle... a miracle in a bottle! The Scratch Cover comes in a tall, narrow eight-ounce container. Warnings all over the bottle dare small children to drink it, but the childproof cap keeps lips from liquid. Plus, it's a little more viscous (of a glutinous nature or consistency, sticky, thick) than your average drinkable fluid, so at the very least this "harmful or fatal if swallowed" poison is harder to choke down.
So, Old English, here's to you. Wherever you are, Old English Scratch Cover for dark wood, thank you. Thank you.
After:
It hides scratches on the wood very well; the scratches are barely 
