MEA Customer Relations Roundtable
Posted on September 20, 2013 by Ching under Travel.
Who says you can’t have fun at work conferences?
I had the opportunity to attend the MEA Customer Relations Roundtable this week. The highlight of the conference for me, besides the big bling, was meeting Terry Ousley, VP of Customer Satisfaction at MidAmerican Energy Company. They were ranked #1 on the JD Power Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study (MidWest Region: Large Segment, the same class that we are in).
MidAmerican Energy has held the #1 spot for the last five years. Quite an impressive record, considering that we are usually just in the middle of the pack. Naturally, I wasted no time. I started picking his brain over rum punch at the networking reception on Tuesday night. I didn’t have anything available to take notes right then, but I wrote a bunch of stuff down as soon as I got back to my room.
The next morning I found myself in the opposite side of the room but I figured that he would probably sit at the same seat the next day so I moved over to that side of the room when we started our session on Thursday morning. Mr. Ousley was not just a wealth of knowledge; he’s also super nice and very willing to share best practices. He even invited me to visit their call center in Iowa (note that you fly in to Illinois, even though their office is in Iowa — he says that always confuses people) and he said we could bring as many people as we’d like. He says it usually takes a whole day to go over everything. I was super excited and told him that I will definitely be reaching out to him, but we may not be able to visit until next year because our department is already over budget on our travel for the year. LOL.
Anyway, I can’t wait to go back to work and share everything I learned with my coworkers! Monday can’t come fast enough.
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More Polka Dots
Posted on September 20, 2013 by Ching under Shopping.
I’m obsessed with dots!
I love these new shoes!
I just want to wear them everywhere because they are so awesome. If you want to get yourself a pair, you can either go to the Nike web site or click here
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My New Flip Flops
Posted on September 15, 2013 by Ching under Shopping.
When I was at Beau Monde getting my waxing yesterday, I noticed that they had lots of products (mostly summer items) marked down to 40%, 50% and even 75%. As luck would have it, I found flip flops, that matched my Sorbet Spots smart phone wallet, for just $5. I couldn’t pass it up. LOL.
The flip flops also match the small duffel and cross body bag that I got earlier to take with me to 2013 Zumba Instructor Convention in Orlando. I didn’t even get to use either of them so they’re still unused and in storage.
Once I started packing, I realized that the duffel bag was too small because I had to pack a costume, etc. If I was just packing for three or four days of working out, that wouldn’t have been a problem. However, I was packing for workouts and parties. There were several people at the ZIN Soiree with really elaborate costumes and props. I can’t imagine what their bags must have looked like.
The cross body bag idea got nixed when I found out that we were getting these nice Zumba backpacks at convention because I wouldn’t need my cross body bag then. So the only piece of the whole Sorbet Spots collection that I’ve been using is the wallet and I’m not even going to be using it much longer. Since summer is technically over, it’s about to be retired.
Perhaps next summer I’ll get more use out of these really colorful bags. I doubt that I’ll be wearing all of them together simultaneously though because that would just be overkill; not to mention look ridiculous. LOL. As for the flip flops, I know that summer is over but I had to get them. They were only $5. Besides, Brian and I have been traveling a lot lately. I can bring them with me when I travel so I don’t have to walk barefoot on hotel carpets and they will bring me happiness and sunshine wherever I go. I just know it!
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MaMac’s Peach Cobbler Recipe
Posted on September 15, 2013 by Ching under Family, Food and Drink.
We had a full day of Brubakers today. First, we had grandma over for brunch. I had a waxing appointment at Beau Monde so I just picked her up from her place on my way home. Brian had our wonderful breakfast spread ready by the time we arrived.
Later that day Brian’s parents stopped by to borrow the pickup truck. We figured they would come back to return the truck so Brian made dinner for us. Donna brought the ingredients for MaMac’s peach cobbler so she could show me how to make it.
It’s actually really easy to make. I’m posting the recipe here for you guys and also so that I won’t ever forget it.
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup milk28 oz can of peaches in heavy syrup (drain and reserve the syrup because you’ll need it later)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons sugar
- Place butter in 9 X 13 pan. Place pan in oven approximately 5-7 minutes so that the butter melts. Remove from oven.
- Mix sugar, flour, and milk. The batter will be lumpy but that’s okay. Pour batter into the buttered pan.
- Spoon peaches over the batter. Pour peach syrup over the peaches and batter. Do not mix or stir.
- Mix sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle mixture on top.
- Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour (or until done). Ovens will vary so remember to check periodically.
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Serendipity
Posted on September 14, 2013 by Ching under Movies.
I showed Brian this TED talk today…
And then tonight when his parents came over for dinner they brought Now You See Me
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