My favorite store

http://www.dreamstime.com/yarn-thumb5448317.jpg

Most of my friends know how much I love to crochet. I have really come to love the challenge of the pattern and the rhythm with which each twist is made. Part of the fun is shopping for yarn. So many colors and textures. I have always been a fan of one store, AC Moore. I have always been able to find what I want, and gotten some reasonably good deals on yarn. My conquests have always been of good quality also.

Recently AC Moore instituted a Rewards program. The customer received one point for every dollar spent. I was offered the program in October. For every 200 points accrued, a $10. gift card would be issued as a thank you for being a good and faithful customer. Well, having spent hundreds of dollars in that store over the years, I happily joined. The quirk of the program was that any points not credited to a gift card, would expire on Jan.4 of the new year.

Now, I am not arguing policy here. The store has every right to set up policy. But, as of Jan. 4, I earned 145 points. And all were dissolved. I understand the policy, but I didn't think it quite fair, given I only had 3 months to earn points. So I wrote to Customer Service. I received an email back from a representative saying that he would forward my letter to the Reward points people. Today I got an automated response, thanking me for being a customer, and hoping for continued loyalty. Nothing about my questions or comments.

Well, I think I have learned my lesson. I have been a good and faithful customer for many years. But sadly, I am no more than a number on a card. AC Moore doesn't really care about its customers, and they probably no longer need my patronage. I don't need the gift card, or the points, what I wanted was a person to read my comments and respond accordingly. AC Moore obviously doesn't have what it takes to be aware of customer feelings. I am saddened that my favorite store is nothing more than an automated warehouse.

It is time to try shopping at Michaels. I hope they consider the customer a little more.

Our Birds!

http://www.dreamstime.com/bald-eagles-rest-on-tree-image4344078

Aren't they beauties???

Eagles VS Giants Sunday Jan 11.
Let's go Birds. We love ya!!

Back

"Back to School, Back to School..." Adam Sandler sings it so well in his movie Billy Madison. That is exactly what today was for me. Back to school after the Christmas break. It was a long day. A very long day.

I wonder, what makes the first day back to work after a vacation so long? We work the same number of hours, do the same tasks, basically, but why is the day so long??

I think, for me, I get easily accustomed to the "stay at home" mentality. I enjoy my lazy mornings, laboring over a steaming cup of coffee and the morning paper. I love the daily crossword, in the morning!! Having my most difficult task of the day be deciding what to do that day is a dream. My work days aren't anything close to my off days, and that is a good thing. But what makes that first day so long?

As a Middle School Teacher my days are always busy. I am always running somewhere, and solving some problem. But today wasn't like that. It was calm and laid back. It was just a very long day. I wanted desperately to come home and crochet. But alas I am too tired.

Ah--there is always tomorrow. I think maybe it is bedtime.....