The Good Life

I joined my officemate (as her guest) in the gym today.
We went straight ahead to a gym in ABS CBN after office. Actually, it was my third time already to be there, as a guest. Seriously, I enjoy the workout, the facilities and amenities but I am not willing to shell out a hefty amount just to get physically fit.
Anyway, I was interviewed first by the receptionist and she tried persuading me to get a passport membership. I politely declined saying that I have to think about it first. Which I already have done a gazillion times.
After warming up and dong some mid-body workouts, we joined the body combat group exercise. It's like sparring with choreography. It was fun but sadly I had to stop after 15 minutes because my heart is pounding really fast.
Mind you, there were nearly-senior citizens in group exercise and they have lasted all through out the session. I was thinking, it might be they really have good stamina that n I have or they just want to show off or convince themselves that they can still do it.
Oh good luck with that! I don't know if they've got clearance from their physicians to do strenuous workouts. As for me, I don't want to push myself to the limit, I have mitral valve prolapse and i still want to live a little longer.
I just sat in the lounge and waited for my officemate to get done. I felt nauseous. Good thing soda is free flowing.
When she's done we just changed into casual clothes. Yeah, we did not hit the shower. I did not bring towel because I was thinking it will be provided for since the monthly gym fee is ceiling high. Well I was wrong. I just forgot that they were not really providing towels for the people there.
I was not able to talk my officemate into getting a body spa so I just went on alone. It was outside the gym.
The masseuse was very good although she did not talk much during the one hour session. She focused on my stress points especially on my back.
All the pain and some discomfort that I have been feeling since my last spa treatment in September last year just vanished.
It's really good to treat yourself once in a while and feel guiltless about it.

Raising the bar on customer service

I have a very thick, wavy and frizzy hair.
That is why I don't go to expensive salons for a hair cut because I’m not willing to throw away some serious cash just to get a good hair for a day.
After a tiring errand running day, which I was not able to finish by the way because the school of schmucks closed at 4 pm, I decided to get a foot spa and a hair cut at a salon near the jeepney station to our home.
I had my foot spa in that salon before.
Before the girl started to work on my feet, I clearly explained to her what I just want her to do to my toe nails. No removal of in-grown nails and she just had to cut them straight. I kept on repeating this instruction to her for the fear that she might forget. My goodness, she actually forgot and shaped toe nails oval! I was so disappointed but I was not mad. She kept on apologizing. I just told her that she should learn how to follow instructions.
Then I said I will be getting a hair cut. The receptionist/cashier asked me to sit and she will just call me once a hairstylist becomes available. I said okay. But 15 minutes had passed and no one approached me. So I went to the counter and told them to cancel it and I will just pay for the foot spa. Then the receptionist/cashier exclaimed, "Ma'am sorry po nakalimutan ko kayong tawagin. Meron na pong available" (I forgot to call you there's already an available hairstylist). Then I said, no it's okay I'm already late for the church.
So I went out and headed to the church. After the sermon, I told myself that I really need to get a haircut so I went inside a salon. The woman said that the hairstylist is yet to have his dinner (that's around 9 pm already) so I said okay I'll just go to another salon.
I walked the long street towards our home and I passed by another salon. Luckily, there's an available hairstylist who happened to be the manager.
He asked one assistant to shampoo my hair which I found odd since it's already past 9:00 pm and I will just be sleeping after the hair cut. But I just gave in anyway.
Then the manager snipped my hair for a little less than five minutes then he asked another assistant to blow my hair dry.
While this assistance was doing my hair, I was staring at what he's doing. After about 15 minutes, he said in a very nice way “Ma'am pasensha na po kayo, baka po naiinip na kayo. Ang kapal ksi ng buhok ninyo eh (Ma'am I'm really sorry. Blow drying your hair really takes a lot of time because of your thick hair). I laughed because I was just waiting for him to complain how he was getting tired because my hair was so thick but then he was the one apologizing. I'm used to parloristas (hairstylists) complaining how thick my hair was and that they tell me that my hair is actually good for 2 persons already. This assistant is different. The whole people at the salon were all friendly that I have decided to get my hair rebonded there soonish. (I still have to save up for it)
Now this is what I call, excellent customer service.

p.s. Joie called me up this afternoon inviting me to go surfing this weekend in Zambales.
I told her I'm so there!!!!!!

WW - Reward yourself whether you've been naughty or nice

photos source: www.sanurparadise.com