They Hate Me.

So it's been almost two whole months since my friends, Carisa and Michelle, handed me a birthday card that read "Tramp" and a nice, fat gift certificate to the Aveda Insitute of Chicago. Two whole months, which according to my calendar adds up to about 14.7 years.

God passed me up when he was handing out patience.

So two whole months have passed and during those months I have called up the Aveda Institute to try and schedule an appointment for a Caribbean Therapy Body Treatment. Here's a blurb on this treatment:
A rejuvenating and nurturing hydrotherapy treatment that uses the healing touch and plant ingredients of the Carribbean to create inner calm and renew the body and senses. Treatment begins with dry exfoliation, followed by a warm, seaweed body masque and wrap to smooth and detoxify. A vichy shower water massage and restorative face and body massage complete this island inspired experience.

Doesn't that sound heavenly!?!

But for the past few months, Aveda has run out of a key ingredient to provide the Caribbean Therapy Body Treatment. Therefore, they aren't offering that service until they get stock of this ingredient.

Now a sane person would probably browse the pamphlet again and choose another spa service., but we're talking about me here and God gave me an extra dose or two when he was handing out Stubborness. So instead, I have had to wait and wait and wait for this "key ingredient" to come into stock.

I called again this past Tuesday and asked for an ETA and the poor schmuck who answered my call responded like I asked him to explain Torque. (which, thanks to Paul, I can actually, sorta, kinda explain. anyhoo...) I then asked for the phone number of someone who could tell me the ETA. He kindly gave me the corporate office number and then hung up.

So I called up Aveda Corporate, being super nice and friendly as my folks raised me to be. A nice lady, by the name of Jen, answered the phone and was very apologetic for the short supply. She explained the concept of sourcing to me and I responded that I completely understand sourcing product. It's my job to handle the sourcing of products that my company uses. I understand that sometimes you just can't get the product from the supplier no matter how badly you need it. And I said all of this very kindly and sympathetically. But I still wanted an ETA.

Jen asked to put me on hold.
She came back on with the VP of Marketing.

Holy crap.

The VP of Marketing, also a lovely lady, apologized for my inconvience and said that they will work on coming up with an alternate "key ingredient" so I can use my birthday gift card. (Oh you bet I told them all about Carisa and Michelle and my birthday...I never let a moment pass where I can talk about my friends. or my birthday.) She offered to call the Chicago location, work with them on creating a new product and then have them call me to arrange an appointment.

I was ecstatic at this customer service! And I waited patiently (well, as patient as I can be) for someone to contact me to arrange an appointment. And lo and behold, Brad called me! And he told me that he's grateful for the challenge to find a new "key ingredient" and could I come in sometime in November? So the appointment is made and I'm super excited.

Cut to last night.
Carisa, Michelle and I are sitting around watching America's Next Top Model. I relay this story to Carisa and then I ask, "I wonder what the new key ingredient will be?"
Michelle responded, "For you, urine."

Great.