distressedOn to the story.
This is one of the very first duties I had to perform in my new job. My new boss called me up on her way to my office (she works in a different location) and asked me to call the local Coast Hotel and the Four Points Sheraton, check on availability and pricing for rooms, and then call her back. Nooooo problem.
I call the Coast, get the info, write everything down, then start searching for info on the Sheraton. No listing in the phone book under either "4", "Four", or "Sheraton". I check the yellow pages and get a toll-free number for national bookings. This number actually puts me through to the Kamloops Sheraton (interior of BC, some 10 hours travel from where I actually am). I tell the person who answered that I am interested in room availability in Nanaimo. "You have to call our national booking line," she replies. "In the phone book, this is the national booking line," I respond. Anyway, she gives me the correct number and off I go.
RWA: Rudest Woman Alive - and with some kind of BRUTAL, unidentifiable accent
Me: I would be WAY more sarcastic if my desk offered any shred of privacy
RWA: Sheraton Reservation Line, how can I help you?
Me: Yes, I'm interested in checking into price and availability of the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Nanaimo.
RWA: Pardon me? What did you say?
Me(speaking more slowly): I'm looking into some rooms for Nanaimo, B.C.
RWA: What is the name of the hotel please.
Me: Four Points Sheraton.
RWA: And what city?
Me: Nanaimo.
RWA: For what city?
Me: NANAIMO, B.C. British Columbia.
RWA: For. What. City.
Me (I can give as good as I get!):NA. NAI. MO.
RWA: *pause* Ok I have a room available for (some dollar amount) at the (unintelligable hotel name).
Me (getting suspicious): Can you tell me the address of the hotel, please?
RWA: *rattles off street address* Let me spell the street for you, R-U-E-D-E-G-A-T-E-A-U...
Me: The Rue de Gateau?
RWA: Yes.
Me: Where is the hotel?
RWA: Rue de Gateau, Quebec.
Me: I need a room in Nanaimo, BRITISH COLUMBIA. West Coast.
RWA: (hangs up)
Needless to say, my boss stayed at the Coast that evening.