bagels, bell, and banks.

[da]

Our favourite bagel shop (Rise and Shine) is likely closing at the end of the month. Brian, the owner, made $6k profits on $30k sales last year. That's not a business, it's a labour of love. And he ain't got the love any more, that's for sure. Sigh.

Change can be so annoying. Except when standing still is more annoying. Cases in point:

Our Bell long-distance plan (since 2004) has been outdated for a year and a half. I just switched us to a plan that costs half as much per minute (5 cents) and cheaper international calling rates. The agent was surprised that none of the other Bell agents I've had to speak to in the last year happened to mention our stale plan, as convenient as it was for Bell. She also reminded me too much of Brian from Office Space. She started the conversation with, "How may I make your day?" and it went downhill from there. Perkions begone!

This morning I had to talk to too many bank representatives, because the acceptably useful system between my US investments bank and my Canadian bank has crashed in a series of mergers. Three entities with "TD" in the name. Now, two of them (in the US) aren't particulary cozy, and one of those two has my US investments (hopefully soon to be CAD mutual fund investments). I think I got this particular mess straightened out, and it's just a roadblock costing a few days' time and hopefully not money. Hopefully.

But enough with the grumpy.

Comments

[bats22.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I always wondered how bitter bagel dude stayed in business, when seeing the pile of change on the coffee maker (i.e., a given day's profits). Seems like it wouldn't have covered much.

He has talked about selling the place before though--do his plans seem more real at this point?

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

He seemed more angry-bitter than the last time.

[says-simon.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Office Space, I have told you about my beautiful new red Swingline stapler? If they piss me off at work, I'll burn their fucking building down!

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

Ha ha.

Coincidentally I have a friend who's finishing up work at a credit-card processing company today. Someone asked him last night if he was bringing in that floppy disk...

[catbear.livejournal.com]

Bagel dude has a very, very bad location. We've driven, cycled and walked by countless times and never stopped -- for no reason. But there wasn't ever any particular reason to incite us to stop, either.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

...Other than a sign saying "open today." Or, often, not.

I've idly wondered how different it would be with a better location and a less surly owner, but not enough to become a bagel-maker myself. Though it might be fun for a while.

[nobodyhere.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to try that place but they're never open when I'm there. I'll make an effort to be there before they close.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

Bring cash- he's like City Cafe that way, but fewer customers. :/ (only being open thursday, friday & saturday can't help).

For what it might be worth, he said he was going to see how business was this weekend, as a last chance to see if it was worth staying open.

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

"How can I make your day???" Ew.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

Also, "OK then, I'll change that up for you?"

I barely refrained from asking her if she had all 30 pieces of flair on.

[pnijjar.livejournal.com]

What would happen if you put Grumpy Bagel Guy and Perky Agent in the same room together?

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

D'ough.