In Which the Crazy Lady Buys Toilet Paper

Safeway recently changed the packaging of their toilet papers and now they're more distinctive.  Prior to this change, the only difference one could really discern was that one plastic wrap was blue, another teal.  Now, one's greenish with ducklings on it, another is purple with a swan on it (kinda scary-looking swan, too, if you ask me).  The one I like is the blue one with the white bunny on it.  I've had enough time to stare at this package when I sit on the crapper at home, so I knew which package I wanted.

Safeway Beretania, however, didn't have any on the shelf.  Just so happens when Lucy and I were looking for toilet paper, one of Safeway's employees asked if he could help.  I told him I wanted the toilet paper with the white bunny on it.  He was confused.  They just changed the packaging, said he.  Yes.  I there were no bunnies on it before, but now there is.  See how this one is greenish with duckies?  This one's purple-ish with the swan?  I want the blue one with the bunny.  Despite thinking I'm a looney (it was plain on his face), he went in search of white bunnies.  And came back bearing gifts, but was quick to say to me, "I think they're all the same."

But they're not!  While Lucy and I waited, we noticed how the swan package proclaimed "Strongest"! and the duckies boasted "Softest!".  I even showed her the tiny quilting and explained I didn't want that.  Sure enough when we inspected the bunny package, it read "soft & strong".  We like the best of both worlds, thank you.

The Measure of Good Service

Sometime in my late teens, my friends and I used to spend a lot of time in all-night restaurants and coffee houses, paying for coffee, salads, and nachos on our meager budgets.  I'm guessing we weren't the favorites at Denny's when considering our money spent to time spent at their table ratio.  But still we expected to be treated like any other paying customer.  We were there to spend money, after all, and we deserve to be served.  Do you remember the measure of good service?  For me, it was always prompt beverage refilling, even if it was just water.  I can remember numerous nights at Denny's in Waikiki (the one that was on the corner of Kapahulu and Kalakaua.  We went there after my senior prom, remember?), pasty-mouthed and livid because my tiny cup of water had not been refilled in half an hour.  Outrageous.

Well, yesterday I filled out the eCafe surveys for my teachers and it brought to mind-- what is the measure of good (online class) service?  I'm so easy.  I put a lot of weight into how promptly my teachers respond to emails or discussion inquiries.  I've heard so many stories about being ignored by professors, about assignments being posted willy-nilly in random places, and so I feel really lucky that I haven't had those nightmares so far.  My teachers were all punctual, clear, and fairly transparent.  I lucked out.

If you're wondering what my measure of good service is these days in restaurants, would you be surprised if my list has grown?  Prompt refills still tops the list, but also important is whether my server asks my kids if they want dessert, especially when the dessert isn't part of their meal.  I mean, don't do it.

How do you measure good service?