Five on Friday

And just like that, it's Friday again! It's helpful to have these kinds of regular posts, to help keep me on track with my blogging (although admittedly I posted my "Weekend Recap" on Tuesday...).

Anyways...here we go...

**ONE**

This weekend is my Big Climb. What is a Big Climb you ask? I'm glad you asked! The Big Climb is an event sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). It's a stair climb in which participants raise money for the society, and then climb either 48 or 96 floors of a downtown office building. I love supporting LLS, because it directly supports research for leukemia and lymphoma (which is what my sister had). This year, it just so happens that the event is being held in Capella Tower - my office building. Because it's in my building, it was advertised quite a bit. I had some co-workers who decided to form a team, so I figured it was a great opportunity to support an organization near and dear to my heart. I've done several events through Team In Training, which is also part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. But TNT is quite a commitment - fundraising, training, and time-wise, so it's been hard to do much with TNT since Linnea's been in the picture (my last Team In Training event was May 2012, when Linnea was about 8 months old).

Last event with TNT...Green Bay Half Marathon

So yeah. Tomorrow bright and early myself and 5 co-worker friends will be climbing 48 floors (yeah, we went the easier route) in support of LLS. I am SO proud to have been able to raise $1,140 in memory of my dear sister. I will be thinking of her ever. single. step. 

**TWO**

Speaking of LLS and Team In Training, I am likely going to be starting to train with Moms in Training, a spin-off of Team In Training specifically for moms. It's a scaled down version - fewer training sessions, less fundraising, a shorter (optional even) event at the end. I've struggled a lot with the decision. When I've done Team In Training, I'm in 110%. I go to all of the trainings, I exceed my fundraising, I rock (or at least try to rock) the event.

I know that Moms In Training would be different. Even though there's only one practice per week (Saturday morning), I know I wouldn't go to all of the trainings, because Saturdays are just too precious for me to give up. They are the days we have for the three of us.

I know I could meet the fundraising goal, but I don't know that I would blow it out of the water.

So yeah. Still deciding for sure. I will need to make a decision in the next week or so. So stay tuned...

**THREE**

I think I have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate. I didn't really realize the extent to which I am addicted to chocolate until I ran out of chocolate this week. I had been surviving off some dark chocolate M&Ms in my desk at work, and some dark chocolate kisses that I got for Christmas. But then they were both gone. And I was sad.

I mean it's not like I gorge myself of chocolate, but I do enjoy a little piece of chocolate as a palate cleanser of sorts. I usually pack a Dove Promise or a kiss in my lunch box, and it's just perfect.

Now I am forced to dig through my pockets and wallet to find 25 cents to go to my supplier the convenience store to buy a little chocolate (the sell 2 pieces of bite size chocolates for a quarter) (which is exactly what I did today).

Please tell me I'm not the only one. It's getting a bit ridiculous. I think I need to go get some more Doves this weekend.

**FOUR**

I've been thinking a lot about customer service lately. I sort of work in a customer service environment, and definitely have a better appreciation of customer service since starting my job. And am also much more critical of customer service as well.

I have had a couple experiences with Customer Service this week. The first experience was on Monday. We had unexpectedly met up with my sister-in-law and her boyfriend at Mall of America for dinner. We were a little late than desired to get there and get settled. We decided on Buffalo Wild Wings, even though I was a little nervous is would take too long.

So we put in our order and waited. And waited. And waited. For 40+ minutes we waited with no acknowledgement from the waiter. Nothing. I don't like to complain, or get people in trouble but we had a two-year-old who was fading fast, and were pretty hungry and impatient. So I asked to speak with a manager. While we waited for the manager, our food came. But it was cold. The manager came over and we explained what happened. She offered right away to get the food remade. We explained that we didn't have time to stay (by then it was past Linnea's bedtime, and we still needed to get to our car and get home). So sh offered to rush order our food, and box it up for take out...and invited us to take the cold food home too...AND she comped our entire bill. Wow. I was really impressed with the generous offer. She definitely made up for the experience...and then some!

The second experience has been with Shutterfly. It's a long story, that I actually will talk more about in another post, but I'm working with them in regards to mistakes in a photo book I recently ordered. So far, I'm less impressed with this experience. It's still in the works, so hopefully the experience will turn around.

It's a wonder what difference Customer Service makes - both for better or for worse!

What Customer Service experiences (good or bad) stick out for you? 

**FIVE**
And of course, I have weather on my mind this week. Mother Nature teased us... giving us a taste of Spring early this week, only to dump 7" of snow on us yesterday into today. I'm beyond even being frustrated or crabby with it. I'm just ready for Spring. I forget what it's like to walk outside without a coat...or to go outside and be hot.

But now it's April, so the end has gotta be in sight, right? They're predicting 60s...maybe even 70s (???) next week!

I just got these shoes this week, and am very much looking forward to wearing them (sans snow!)

How are you faring this week?