The Life of a Mathematician

We had an employee meeting at Taco Bell this morning from 7:00 to 7:25. Various new policies (and/or revitalization of old policies) were discussed, but it sounds like the two things which affect me the most are:

1) The greeting of a customer in the drivethrough is now standardized. I must say, "Hi, how are you?" Those precise words must be used; variations are no longer allowed.

2) Every customer who does not either order a drink or specifically say he or she does not want one, must be offered a drink. This has actually been standard ordering practice for a while, but it's being emphasized because failing to offer a mystery shopper a drink is now going to be grounds for failing the test. The annoying thing is that the drink must be offered even if the customer is only ordering cinammon twists, and even if it's the same customer at the front counter adding one more item to a larger order which was handed out a few minutes earlier. This sort of policy appears to be designed to irritate customers.

In other news, I'm supposed to have a job interview by phone today. But I don't know at what time the guy intends to call me. Since getting out of the meeting I've been hanging out on campus so as not to disturb my roommate who is quite possibly still asleep. This would be a fine place to do the interview, but for all I know he's not planning to call until this evening.