Grandiose greetings,

I learned this week that “greetings” translated into Spanish is “saludos”.  I learned that by myself with google translate.  Then shortly after that I learned that “saludos” is used by at least Mexicans to end correspondence similarly to how we use the word “regards”.  This was troubling to me.  I like the word “greetings”.  I don’t particularly care for the word “regards” as it is used in emails.  Now I find out that via Spanish they are one and the same.  I feel a little betrayed.

Today I had two unusual experiences.

Unusual experience number 1: I called one of our vendors to ask about a Telemecanique part I needed some information on. (Its a company, I don’t know why every time I mention this company name the person I’m talking to says, “What?” like I was stuttering or something.  Its a real company.)  The vendor didn’t know what I was talking about so they gave me the 1-800 phone number from memory for Telemecanique’s tech support so that I could talk to them.  The number ended in 6969.  I thought that a tiny bit of an odd choice for the phone number of a giant industrial electrical parts manufacturing conglomerate and proceeded to call it.  A recorded greeting began to play, “Hello there sexy.”  A little bit of risque advertising from a giant industrial electrical parts manufacturing conglomerate I thought. They are getting creative though these days in the make believe world of marketing.  “You are only moments away from talking to beautiful, sexy women…”  I kind of blanked out a little at that point as I batted wildly at the phone clicky thing on my desk.  Hmmm.  I called the vendor back.  “Sorry, I think I gave you the wrong number.  I checked my book after you called and the number is actually…” (ended in 6699).  He had no idea who he had put me in contact with.  Later I got an email, “…of all the numbers I could have picked, that was the worst possible…”.  Thank you vendor.  You made my day more interesting for which I am sincerely grateful.

Unusual experience number 2: I learned the name of the premier of British Columbia because she visited the company I work for.  We made broad statements suggesting that government could make things easier for businesses and CeeCee (that’s what I’m calling her) made broad statements suggesting that we should all vote for her party sometime.

Brillante Saludos (Scintillating Regards),

Benjamin