Color Me Orange

Okay, so today I had a wonderful, odd moment that I think I could only have.  You see I went to make this amazing new recipe from Better Homes and Gardens (yes, I am that old lady who gets that magazine) and I ran into a bit of a predicament.  You see I don't like oranges, well really I shouldn't discriminate, I don't like citrus.  And it's not for a lack of trying.  Over the years I have tried my fair share of orange wedges, and I don't get why everyone finds these fruits to be SO AMAZING.  I find them squishy, slimy, and nasty.  They manage to always leave residue between my teeth, and then later I get heartburn.

So you might then be asking yourself, "Paige, if you hate this fruit so much, why are you cooking with it?"  Great question!  You see, I am always willing to set aside my hatred and try new recipes.  Besides, the orange would be cut up and mixed in with other ingredients, negating the texture and acidic issues.  As I went to add it into the recipe, I came to a very funny stop.  I don't know how to peel an orange.  I mean why know how to peel something, I will NEVER eat.  This logic had always held solid until today.  I had to actually call Mark into the kitchen to ask what to do.  I know this seems silly, but my fingers weren't getting under the peel (I almost called it the skin) and I was at a loss.

By the time Mark got into the kitchen (approximately 5 seconds later) I had already cut it in half and was trying to take the peel off that way.  (His pace was much to slow for me.)  He then explained to me that you just have to dig in, and you don't cut into it because then all the juice comes out.  This had not even occured to me.  The orange did eventually make it to the food processor, and dinner was a success!  I guess it's true, we do learn something new each day.

I Just Want a Human!!

Right now, as I sit here typing, I am on the phone, with "customer service" for Microsoft.  I just don't understand why we have to go automated?  I am sure that the agents don't understand why, when they talk to customers they are so angry.  I can tell you exactly, because when I have a problem I just want to talk to someone!!  I get it, you need to figure out what I need the help with, so you put me through a rolladex of different options so you can better get me through the process and to the person who can help me, but when I have to go through eight different menus pressing buttons or talking to a machine, it gets old really fast.

It doesn't help that while trying to talk to the automated male, or typically female voice that can't understand me I end up getting hung up on.  I don't want to talk to the machine and yell, with exacting clarity what I want to talk to them about.  I want a human, even if I am transferred 15 times wrong, I would rather speak to a human being, and preferrably one who's native language is mine or that doesn't mumble into the phone.  I just need to understand the person and have confidence that they understand me.  The worst is trying to call a government agency.  You might as well fall down an abyss.  There is more chance of you actually hitting the bottom then getting to an actual human being, who not only will help you, but has a positive attitude while doing so. 

I know that this rant is nothing new, but honestly, with a recession, let's get over ourselves and hire some of these unemployed to answer phones and help direct call traffic.  I get that this is totally simplifying things and very unfeasible, but while I finish this, I have been hung up on by the computer for the fourth time, so hey, a girl can dream can't she?