gordonzola: (Default)
gordonzola ([personal profile] gordonzola) wrote2007-11-29 08:57 am
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A day in the life

I needed three days off so I took 'em. But my Wednesday was a killer as they always are this time of year if I take Tuesday off. Wednesday is my major buying and meeting with reps day and because of the holiday, I hadn't talked to many of them in awhile so they all wanted to talk. Most of my big buying is already done for 2007, and I have little enthusiasm for planning 2008 yet, but there ya go. It's why they call it work.

I think what summed up my day was hitting myself in the head while working in the cooler. I was moving an empty milk crate when it hit something I didn't see, forcing the corner into my forehead right above my right eyebrow. It hit hard enough for me to stop for a second, but I didn't really think much of it. Until I went to get some oatmeal, that is, and a co-worker grabbed me by the shoulders, looked in my eyes, and asked me slowly if I was ok.

The cooler is… well… cold. 38 degrees-ish. At the risk of sounding butch*, when I'm receiving I often get cuts on my hands and arms that I don't notice until my body gets back to room temperature and they start to bleed. That bump on my head broke the skin and a line of blood had rolled between my eyes and down my nose without me noticing. Oh head wounds… why must you bleed so? I assured my co-worker I was fine and not in shock and he let me go with my oatmeal. Glad I wasn't working the floor!

Speaking of the floor and refrigeration, a bank of produce coolers went down which caused a customer to yell at us. In retrospect, she was not dissimilar to the "old bag' on last night's Kitchen Nightmares. "Why isn't there lettuce out there?" she demanded "Those coolers are working just fine."

"They are trying to fix them right now," I said.

She scoffed. "I stuck my hand in there. It's plenty cold. Why isn't it stocked."

"Let me get someone in produce to help you," I said. When I got the buyer, I said loudly enough to make my co-workers laugh, "I think she works for Hussman!"** The problem was that the cooler was too cold, not too warm, forming ice on the shelves which is not good for the lettuce family. What goes on in people's head? Yes, we're here at work and even though we share the profits, we don't want to sell you food. Sheeeesh.

A very nice English man tried to sell me some of his cheese later in the day. It's a traditional cloth-bound, cave aged, cheddar comfortably occupying the price point between block cheddars and the best-of-the-best Neal's Yard Montgomery and Keen's Cheddars. Unfortunately, that price point is currently covered by the local versions from Bravo Farms and Fiscalini.

It was good enough, but the name overshadowed the cheese. Even though I am not particularly into Star Wars, I guess I do have the humor-level of a 6th grader because when he told me his cheese was called "Wookey Hole", I replied "That sounds kinda dirty." He and his local rep looked at me like I was crazy.***

He explained that Wookey Hole is a town and that it's aged in the Wookey Hole Caves. Further a Wookey Hole is a place that, back in the day, villagers would push game towards so it would fall in and the villagers could feast on the fallen. He acknowledged that probably wasn't a good selling point for cheese.

I thought, Ok, maybe it's just me until [livejournal.com profile] dairryiere came up to the desk , saw the promo material, and was all, "Oh my god, Wookey Hole?!?!" This was overheard by other workers and soon there was nothing but Wookey Hole jokes for the rest of the day.

"Hey Dairryiere! Eat my Wookey Hole!"

"My Wookey Hole is salty and pungent!"

"I'm going to the Star Wars bar to get some Wookey Hole!"

I guess working in a worker co-op means never having to develop a sense of humor past grade school level. I might buy some just because I want to watch [livejournal.com profile] anarqueso sell it to people in her endearing bossy/flirty way. I need a vacation.



*As if
**Our refrigerator repair company
***They both indicated that they read the internet so hi guys! I am gonna bring in the block cheddar in 2008!

[identity profile] chreebomb.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh god that exchange between you and Ms. dairyyiere made me snort out loud at my desk.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
we were sure snorting at ours!

[identity profile] lovelikeyeast.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, my god, I can't stop laughing at Wookey Hole, I'm sobbing!

[identity profile] baldanders.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)

What goes on in people's head?


"I am inconvenienced! This is intolerable! It is someone's fault!"

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
how true. someone must always be to blame. Who can we sue?

[identity profile] constintina.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I believe you mean you are going to the Cantina to get some Wookey Hole.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
ha! you are correct. You're a Star Wars geek!

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[identity profile] constintina.livejournal.com - 2007-11-29 17:40 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] loolica.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I can hardly tell you how irresistible is the urge to photoshop up some kind of wookey hole situation. Irresistible and yet also repellent.

By the by, I am totally hooked on Kitchen Nightmares now. It was a trifecta of your recommendation, getting cable installed (and therefore actually being able to see it), and my mother telling me recently that I sound exactly like Gordon Ramsay. Which is a weird thing to be told by one's mother.
Edited 2007-11-29 19:09 (UTC)

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
you have an Northern semi-working class English accent?

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[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com - 2007-12-02 06:52 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] ammonoid.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
HOw could you not stock the Wookey Hole? Hater.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been accused of hating before... heh.

[identity profile] artnoose.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Wookey Hole!

(I'm gonna try to work that into conversation as much as possible; however, I found that my 7th grade humor is not as appreciated here in the frosty 'burgh as it was in the Yay.)

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Post industrialization is serious business. Get grim. Deny your roots.

[identity profile] uberconfused.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
oh how I love Neal Yard's Montgomery....

I take it you're working today? Maybe Emily and I can pop in and say hello.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll be here until 7.

Kitchen Nightmares

[identity profile] sarahshevett.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
There's nothing like watching this show with an ex chef turned fish monger.
The things that go on in kitchens.
However, I am learning all sorts of conflict techniques from Chef Gordon. It's like a self defense course for my esteem.

Re: Kitchen Nightmares

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I really hate the formulaic-ness, the endless "coming up" teasers that amount to nothing , and the happy endings, but I can't stop watching for the good bits. Every hour show has 5-10 minutes of TV gold.

[identity profile] cheekytubemouse.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I wanna be able to go into your store and request a sample of Wookey Hole.

[identity profile] artnoose.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
flash mob to Rainbow? (Suddenly the Wookey Hole sales skyrocket through the roof!)

[identity profile] gwenzilla.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
there are pictures!
and!
The Wookey Hole Affair in which the protagonist is named Rimmell, "a free spirit with an unquenchable love of finery and antique acquisitions."

[identity profile] loolica.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you'll find it is spelled R-I-M-M-E-R.

[identity profile] jtemperance.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
When I was a little kid, before Star Wars came out, "wookie" meant "booger."

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
ewwww.

[identity profile] brownstargirl.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Can I refer to you affectionately as 'Wooky Hole' from now on?

Also, for some reason the image of blood trickling down your nelly bear face is heartwarming.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
no you cannot.

Glad you liked the image. you were the only commenter who seemed to read that part. Everyone else just skims for the cheese I guess.

Umm

[identity profile] queen-beeanna.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I would SO TOTALLY wear a Wookey Hole T-Shirt. Do they have merchandise?

Re: Umm

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
They should but they'd have to admit why it's funny! "Have a taste of my Wookey Hole!"

[identity profile] liveavatar.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I see I'm already late to the party about Wookey Hole. :)

But I would make a special trip to your store to buy Wookey Hole and would even consider getting a T-shirt. Also, best backstory evar.

Surely there are some other good superhero cheese origin stories.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Clearly I underestimated the appeal of the name.

nice

[identity profile] bucky-sinister.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
what everyone else already said.
LJ post of the year!

Re: nice

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Bucky, sometimes I think you're my biggest fan.

[identity profile] fatfeistyfemme.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
It appears that Wookey Hole is also the name of a circus school!
http://www.wookeycircus.co.uk/

Also, please note:
http://www.viewimages.com/Search.aspx?mid=72669530&epmid=1&partner=Google

And please to take under advisement that my Wookey Hole is Haunted:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/so/2004/07/wookey_hole_spook_night.shtml

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
that Wookey Hole is packed with history.

[identity profile] leakyandsnort.livejournal.com 2007-11-29 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
May I add your wookey hole to my friend list?

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
My Wookey Hole would find that very satisfying.

[identity profile] cindymonkey.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
this made my day - the wookey hole part.

sorry about yr noggin!

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
My noggin's ok. You can't even see the wound unless you look hard.

Wookey Hole: Seriously Insidious

[identity profile] queen-beeanna.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
I have been thinking about Wookey Hole all. damned. day.

It even managed to overshadow yesterday's star phrase: "Neck Steak".

My Wookey Hole brings all the boys to the yard
and they're like
It's better than yours
Damned right
It's better than your's
You should stock it
So I'd have to charge

Re: Wookey Hole: Seriously Insidious

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
haha. thanks a lot. Now it's in my head.

I will make a post of cheese songs soon.

[identity profile] the-moonshiner.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
aaaaaaaahahahahahahaa! That is completely awesome.

[identity profile] dirtylibrarian.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
I need a vacation, too.

Wanna run off to Wookey Hole?

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Wookey Hole is very inviting.

[identity profile] nunofthat.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
At the risk of sounding butch*, when I'm receiving I often get cuts on my hands and arms

Am I the only one who thought this was even funnier than "wookey hole"?

Great post.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought that was the funniest bit myself...

[identity profile] wolfknuckles.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
you made a terrible mistake. as every nerd above this comment proves, "wookie hole" would have sold out the arse (pun intended). you should stock it.

many years ago i worked in the "perishables" department of an australian supermarket chain. i was being groomed for dept manager, so all dairy was my problem. it was a much smaller problem to me at the time than the frozen poultry.

i have a deep respect for the care with which you treat product and customers. both are salty and pungent.

[identity profile] gordonzola.livejournal.com 2007-12-01 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks for recognizing the pungency.

[identity profile] luckysaddle.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 09:08 am (UTC)(link)
I have been in Wookey Hole. And no, I didn't wear a condom.

[identity profile] woolly.livejournal.com 2007-11-30 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
He has, I saw him. It's in / near the Cheddar Gorge, which thinking about it sounds like somewhere you'd see people feeling a bit sick on cheese.

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