Morning McDonald's run a McDon't

I did something this week that I almost NEVER do, and I did it twice!  I stopped at one of the two McDonald's locations within two miles of my house.  On Monday morning I was running too late to make coffee for myself (stayed up too late enjoying a cucumber and mint martini with my bad-but-fun-influence sister-in-law) and decided maybe a coffee and food would be in order to get the day off to a decent start.  We all know that going through a drive through leaves us open to poor service and messed up orders, but I didn't think my two item order would be a problem.

"One large, iced, vanilla latte with skim milk and one sausage muffin without egg, please."  (Really?  How hard is it to get this right?  You are McDonald's, aren't you?)

I thought things were going well when I had a nice conversation with the woman at the first window who took my money and complimented my (grown-out) highlights.  We were quick friends by the time it was my turn to pull to the next window.  There, however, things did not go so well.  I was handed, without a "hi", "good morning", or even a smile, my hot (not iced) latte and my sandwich.  I didn't have time to argue about the coffee and figured I like it hot as well as cold, so no biggie.  Until I drove off and took my first sip.

"GAH! What the $#%@ is that swill in my cup?"  It was by far the WORST imitation of a latte I have ever had.  I'm not sure what was wrong with it, but I had to add two sweeteners once I got to the office to make it palatable.  It didn't help my morning when I opened the sandwich.  Yep, it had an egg on it.  I am not allergic to eggs or at all opposed to eating them.  I just didn't want one on my sandwich.  Lucky me, I got it anyway.  Thanks morning crew!

So, on Monday they were 0-2 for getting it right, and I was more than a bit irritated.  But, on Wednesday I found myself running late again and decided to give them another shot.  Everyone deserves a second chance, right?  This time I only ordered a coffee.

"One large, iced, caramel latte with skim milk, please."

There was no super nice lady at the first window this time, but it wasn't completely unpleasant.  What I will admit is that I failed to notice that the cashier had rung up a SMALL, not a large.  So, when I got to the second window and the MANAGER handed me my tiny latte, I stopped her.  "This is a large?"  What was her response?  "She rung you a small."  There was no "I'm sorry, did you want a large?"  or "I'm sorry, she rung you a small.  Is it okay or can I make you a large?"  I would have been willing to pay the difference.

Okay, so maybe I am pushing the hospitality factor, and maybe I bear some responsibility for not paying attention to what was on their "double-check me" screen, and maybe my $2 and change total should have also tipped me off.  But, really, McDonald's?  What ever happened to keeping your customers happy so that they will come back, tell their friends, bring their kids?  I was so pissed that "she rung you a small" was all she had to say before she actually turned her back to me to re-engage in conversation with a crew person that all I could say was "OKAY!" and slam my mini-coffee into my console as I drove off.  For a manager to treat a customer that way is truly inexcusable to me, and yes, I did work for McDonald's as a teenager, so I'm not being completely unreasonable here.  I have actually been on the other side of that drive through window, and my hubs spent 18 years working for this company.  I know about which I bitch.

I was so bugged at their 0-3 drive through stats that I got on their website to email the store manager.  The not so big surprise?  The email came back to me as having a bad address.  I guess they really DON'T care if you have a bad experience if their complaint email is even unusable.  So, McDonald's (yes, this is a link to the actual location), I'm using this forum to tell you that I won't be back.  Not that I think you care, but it makes me feel better.

Morning McDonald's run?  A McDon't.

End of another year

No, it's not December, and no, it's not my birthday.  Today is the last day of school for students in the FWCS district.  Though I graduated from high school (& college, for that matter) longer ago than I would like to admit, I am still excited and nostalgic as I wake my own kids for their last day of school.  They'll say temporary good-byes to their friends.  (Of course with facebook, Skype, and all the other modern devices, they won't be as isolated as I was from my friends over the course of the all-too-short summer.)  They'll turn in books and clean out lockers and sign yearbooks.  All things I miss, now that I am able to see those years through the colored lenses provided by age.

I did make them go today, though the ridiculousness of having the last day of school on a MONDAY, of all days, did make me consider, briefly, letting them start the summer a day early.  In the end, I hope they understand why I made them go.  They would miss that one last chance to see their friends, to collect phone numbers and emails, to look at that crush face-to-face (my 15-year-old son, ONLY, I hope), to bring home any last minute artwork, poem, or essay.  I feel wistful for those experiences as I write this and long to spend the summer days with them, though my work does not allow it.  (Which sucks, quite frankly.)

And so, even though my own school days a long over, it's with a sigh that I see my children come to the end of another year.

Vacation from the Rearview

So, we've been back from vacation for awhile, and I haven't yet posted about it.  Well, I would love to say the week was a shocking and wonderful success, but that wouldn't be completely true.  It probably should have been a clear warning when, outside of Columbus, OH, the rain that had been plaguing my driving turned into snow and ice in a matter of about fifteen seconds.  Luckily, it turned back into rain is just about as short a period of time, but there were a few minutes of "holy crap, I need to slow down NOW, and I'll slide if I use the brake!"  We had rain for about the first half of the long drive.  Add driving in the dark to the rain, and you can imagine how fun the first hours of the trip were.

Once we got out of the rain and into the mountains, we had snow again.  At about 3,200 feet elevation, these are not huge mountains, but they were high enough, and it was cold enough at night, that the ground and trees were covered in snow.  At that moment, W. Virginia reminded me of the way Indiana had looked not too long ago.  We were supposed to be headed south to WARMER temperatures.  What the heck??  Anyway, after the snow, there was fog.  Oh, and at some point in there, we had a two hour stop at a rest stop for the drivers to be able to rest and sleep, during which time one of the drivers couldn't sleep anyway.  Can you say, "waste of precious time?"  We survived the fog, though it was touch and go with people's nerves (everyone but the hubs, of course).  He was frustrated most of the drive down because he couldn't drive as fast as he would have liked.  At one point he was driving five mph UNDER the speed limit when my mom radioed us that he needed to slow down.  I thought I saw a little steam come out of his ears, but that could have been my imagination.

Okay, so after we made it to the island, which was like coming home for my family, we checked in and proceeded to unload luggage at by far the nicest house we have stayed in to date.  It was gorgeous and comfortable with flatscreen TV's in each bedroom, updated appliances, a pool, the works.  The week progressed about as expected.  We visited Poplar Grove Plantation and drove into Wilmington to spend one day visiting the USS North Carolina, the serpentarium (which contained almost every deadly snake known to man), eating ice cream from Kilwin's, and taking a short tour of an active USCG Cutter.  As time wore on, so did everyone's nerves.  The kids shopped at the local gift shops and we took mom on a brief tour of the southern part of the island.  The real drama started on Thursday when mom's hubs, who had been fighting a cough all week, ended up with a temperature over 102.  My mom with worry/stress is an emotional ride, but my mom with worry/stress and no sleep is a roller coaster from hell.  Friday was not a great day, and I won't belabor the story.  I'll just say that by Friday night, my hubs and I were happy to get to have a dinner alone (we left the kids with the other kids and adults) away from the passive-aggressive chaos that was unfolding over their dinner, laundry, and packing.

The drive home proved eventful due to bad weather, again.  There was more rain and fog through the W. Virginia and Virginia stretch, and then as it got dark heading into Ohio, the fog only got worse.  I was driving at this point, and because I don't see well at night or in fog (and I was dealing with both here), my nerves ended up stretched too tightly.  I had to pull off and rest.  This is where we hit a major crossroad with the other adults who basically refused to drive a mile further until light came or the fog lifted.  It was only about 1:00 am at this point, so my hubs was not stopping now.  We were only a few hours from home, so he took the wheel and we continued while the three other adults and two kids (16 and 12) crammed into a Dodge Caliber to sleep and wait.

In the end, everyone made it home okay, and we're still all speaking to each other.  We had a nice time while we were there, but I don't think I'll ever convince my mom to make that drive again.  Not that I'd ask.  Well I would ask, but maybe not for a few years.  Hopefully my sister and kids would travel with us again.  But, looking at Spring Break 2011 from the rearview, it might be better if my family spent its next vacation alone.

Carolina Bound (& not any too soon)

This is one of those rare times when, though there are several things I could write about, I don't really feel inspired to do so.  Life has just been too busy.  Practicality and to do lists are beating out creative impulses.  Frustration at work is squashing humor and lightheartedness.  I guess it shouldn't surprise me.  We are headed out of town on vacation next week.  (By "we" I mean the hubs and I, the 2 kids, my sister and her 2 kids, and my mom and her hubs.  Yes, this could be a vacation worth skipping, but I digress.)  So, in addition to work stress, I have the added pre-vacation stress:  laundry so we all have clean clothes, making sure the kids pack what they need, packing what I need, packing sunscreen, toiletries, medicines, snacks, arranging dog care, etc., etc.  On top of this, my mother is calling me (& my sister) with questions like "What kind of salad dressing should I bring?" and "What time are we going to eat on the road?"  My answers?  I don't care, and I don't know.

I know this all sounds very negative, but it's not really.  I am actually so excited to be taking everyone with us (and to being able get away from work and "real life") that I'm ready to hit the road now.  Never mind the 15 hour drive, overnight.  Feeling the sand between my toes, hearing the surf, and spending time relaxing with family will make it all worth it.  So, while I don't feel all that inspired by a story or situation because there is too much stress during these last days of the getting ready process, I know that next week is going to be fun no matter what does or doesn't happen.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll have a story or two to share.  A week spent with family, especially mine, is sure to inspire!

North Carolina coast?  Ready or not, here we come!

How long until Spring?

I had a long and funny story about some recent home incidents I had been hoping to post, but today the weather seems to be a more annoying and appropriate topic.  Last week we enjoyed three days of near Spring-like temperatures here in northeastern Indiana.  It was actually in the lower to middle 50's three days in a row in the middle of February.  People were putting on flip-flops and getting pedicures.

Today, however, is a different story.  We woke to a thin layer of ice on our cars and later on the street.  Several kids, my daughter included, slipped and fell on the sidewalk trying to get to the bus stop.  The ice rain started again at about 9:30 am, and it has been coming down since.  As I was headed back in from lunch errands, it was starting to get large enough that the ice balls stung when they hit flesh.

Now, as I look out the window, it has converted to snow which is now coming down quite heavily.  Our local forecast beginning this afternoon and going into tomorrow looks something like this:

TODAY                                        TONIGHT                                     TOMORROW

Icy conditions with periods of freezing rain. High 31F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Snow accumulations less than one inch.

Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 19F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.

Scattered snow showers during the morning. Then partly to mostly cloudy for the afternoon. High 26F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.

The view from my window and this forecast both beg the question:  How long is it until Spring?

Here come the cookies

Last night I sent an email to family and friends announcing/warning them that as of today their New Year's resolutions are in jeopardy.  As of today, the local Girl Scout council begins selling cookies.  And, as my daughter is a member of this council, I now have several cases (um, 10) of cookies in my possession for sale, IMMEDIATELY!

It also never fails that I am the biggest supporter of her efforts.  Everyone in our household has his or her personal favorite, which means that we regularly buy at least 12-15 boxes of cookies.  We're still polishing off Christmas cookies, and the extra pounds that always result.  Why do they sell G.S. cookies in January?  Is it because they KNOW everyone is still wearing their winter weight and think they won't care about adding another pound or two (or ten) for a good cause?  Is it because our council got the short straw nationally when they decided, by region, when each region could sell?  It is because everyone already thinks we're fat in the Midwest, so we would eat the cookies no matter when they were on sale?

I can't answer those questions.  I do know that waiting another month or so to start would help me...but no one asked me my opinion.  Regardless of what I think, I'll be out there at the cookie booths with her and helping to ask, "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?"

No, seriously, would you?

Mama Drama

My mother is a wonderful mother and always has been.  She comforted me, disciplined me, loved me, and taught me to love others.  If there was one thing I would change, it's that she doesn't love herself enough.  She is a worrier and a bit of a pessimist, which eventually adds up to being overly protective of her children and grandchildren.

Case in point...my sister had "procedure" a few weeks ago.  Because of all of the privacy laws in the U.S. and because my sister did not list her as a person with whom the doctor could share information, when our mom arrived at the office, they would not tell her if my sister was checked in or not.  Long story short, she eventually found her and my dad (they're divorced, i.e. more drama).  But, not before worrying herself into a panic and then being rude to the girl at the reception desk and yelling at my post-procedure, drugged up baby sister.  My dad apparently then pointed out the inappropriateness of her behavior and indicated to her that she was smothering her girls.

How do I know this, and what does this have to do with me?  Well, because my sister was loopy and sleeping most of the evening, I am the one who had the tearfully asked "do I smother you guys?" thrown on me when I called to check on my sister.  In typical passive-aggressive fashion, however, she dropped it as soon as she asked it.  So, for now, it sits quietly on the shelf of unresolved issues in all of our houses.

I know all kids have dramas with their mamas.  Looking ahead, I see my own daughter and what she might say about me...not good...not good at all...