Supporting two local businesses

On Saturday, a couple of cool things happened to me. Both deal with small local businesses.

For one business, it had a campaign that invited folks to suggest new flavours for teas and shakes that have no to low sugar. I suggested German chocolate cake. The business tested out the flavour suggestions, and names one tea and one shake after the person who suggested it. I now have a German chocolate cake shake named after me. It's on the place's permanent menu starting on Monday.

I am thrilled to bits to have a menu item named after me. 

The second business is closing its store and strictly operating online to save costs. Its last day is today before the store closes down for good. I went there to visit it one last time.

I am a loyal customer. It's to the point where the owner recognizes me when I walk in and knows my name. 

We had a good chat today. I bought a sugar cookie in the past and she asked me whether I enjoyed it. She also showed me a secret project that she's working on. It was lovely to get that inside scoop from her. I am excited for what she will be offering down the road.

Although I'll miss dropping by this store, I am happy that it's still in business and I can continue supporting it.

My intern's work term has been extended at the eleventh hour!

It's amazing what a difference a day makes. Well, it's kind of more than a day.

On Tuesday, I had a talk with my manager. He let me know that he was trying his best to extend our intern to stay an additional four months. He told me, "Don't hold your breath." It has been difficult due to hiring freezes.

Yesterday, I had a good chat with my intern. I thanked him for everything. He said nice things about working with me. It was great.

Well, in our team meeting, our manager asked me if it was okay to assign work to our intern. I had to remind him that his time with us was limited. It was only then that my manager said that our intern is with us for another four month.

Both my intern and I are ecstatic that he's staying. He genuinely likes working with us. It was just odd how secretive our manager was about sharing this news, which drives me nuts.

The best part of the chat that I had with my intern was that we both like Marie Kondo's method of organizing. He has her book. Impressive!

Catching up with an friend and having a secret admirer

I grew up in the Beaches area of Toronto. A high school friend of mine is in town and asked whether we could meet. It was nice that it didn't take much effort to figure out where to go and at what time we'd meet.

We chose a restaurant-pub that was a block away from where I had attended elementary school. We spent nearly four hours together catching up.

I haven't seen her since my last year from high school. She came to the school to visit and we chatted.

She told me that I look the same. She also noticed that I have a good memory and that I am naturally musical.

It's nice that, after all these years, it was effortless chatting and catching up with her.

I told my guy earlier on Tuesday that I'd be seeing her.

"I'd like to visit where you grew up," he told me.
"Sure, I can show you where everything is when you're back," I replied.
"That would be nice."

My guy is still feeling the effects of jet lag. Although he was sleepy, he sent me an e-card for Valentine's Day. He is sweet that way. Ever since we have been a couple, he sends me e-cards like clock work. This one had a penguin. He knows that I love penguins.

"I like how you addressed the card by secret admirer," I commented. "It took me a while to figure out who that was until I saw your e-mail address."

He chuckled.