Ok, I have been thinking about this for some time now and I have decided that the employees at the Wendy’s across the street from where I work are psychic.
Every time I go there, which happens to be quite often since it is cheap and close, I pull up to the speaker to order and then pull around to pay, and before I even get my change, the person who hands me my order is HOLDING MY FOOD OUT THE WINDOW. Ok, now I realize that Wendy’s is fast food. And I also realize that a lot of the food is mostly prepared beforehand. But come on. I always order my sandwiches without pickles, and anywhere else I might go I have to wait at the window at least a few minutes for my order.
I have worked in many, many food service establishments in my day. I have never seen anyone who could cook a burger in less than a minute. So it comes down to one of two reasons: either Wendy’s utilizes some sort of ultra-super-sonic modern cooking method, or they hire psychics. Since I have never heard of this sort of technology, and I try to stay fairly informed, I have deduced that it must be the second reason…they are employing physics.
Now this got me wondering what the going rate for psychics is these days. And not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill psychics. Psychics who are also cooks. My first instinct would be to say minimum wage or something in the general vicinity. But then I wonder, why wouldn’t they work for one of those pay by the minute psychic hotlines? Wouldn’t they make more money that way?
Of course, with the economy the way it is now, perhaps the need for phone psychics is dwindling. Maybe people are just going about their days not knowing what will happen. I know, I am as shocked as you are. How could that be? People can’t actually live their lives like that, can they? I mean, really.
I am going to say it again. We REALLY need a sarcasm font.
Anyway, perhaps these amazing people are now being forced to get regular jobs like the rest of us. They are just using their special gift to help us get our burgers even faster. Because, you know, those 2-3 minutes I have to wait to get my special order at McDonald’s is just too frickin long. Yeah, don’t get me started with the whole impatient, “I want it NOW” attitude that is permeating our culture. That’s another post.
So the next time you are thinking about going to Wendy’s for lunch, do yourself a favor. Close your eyes and concentrate on what you want. Maybe it will be waiting for you when you pull up to the drive-thru.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
In love with a chicken.
Well, ok…not in love with a chicken per se. More like in love with chicken prepared a certain way. From a certain establishment. Yeah, yeah…I know. Get to the point already. The point is, recently I found a place that makes chicken. Just chicken. You’re probably thinking, yeah right, they only serve chicken…that will never work. Well, it does. And it works wonderfully.
Okay, they do make a few other things. French fries, garlic bread, sauce for dipping, coleslaw, lemonade and iced tea to be exact. Basically chicken enhancements. If you’re into that sorta thing. Which I’m not. I am into all sorts of things most people don’t want to know about, but this isn’t one of them. I like my chicken…at least this chicken…unadulterated. Well, except for the sauce they serve with it. Without that it just wouldn’t be the same.
Now you probably want to know the name of this place, maybe where it is. Well, too bad! It’s my secret and it will die with me! Muahahaha! Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system…it’s actually a fast food restaurant. The name of said restaurant is Raising Cane’s. Right now they have locations in 14 states, mostly in the south. Click here to see if yours is one. We are lucky enough to have several of these bastions of chicken goodness in our city. If you aren’t as lucky…well, perhaps it’s time to move.
The actual location I patronize has been there a while, at least a few years. I have actually been to the restaurants on either side of the building. I have noticed it and thought, They only sell chicken fingers? and It’s named after a dog? Really?, and driven right on by. I don’t remember exactly what eventually persuaded me to try it, but am I ever glad it did. Ever since that first bite of chicken, I have been hooked. I think maybe it’s the sauce. I can’t find out what’s in it, but I’m convinced it must be some sort of addictive substance. Like, well…um…kettle chips. What!?! They’re addictive! Okay, so maybe not the best example.
Anyway, you should get thee to a Raising Cane’s location near you and judge for yourself. I personally have never been a huge chicken finger fan. I don’t ever order them at other restaurants. Of course at Cane’s I don’t have a choice. That’s all they sell. Except for those chicken enhancements.
Okay, they do make a few other things. French fries, garlic bread, sauce for dipping, coleslaw, lemonade and iced tea to be exact. Basically chicken enhancements. If you’re into that sorta thing. Which I’m not. I am into all sorts of things most people don’t want to know about, but this isn’t one of them. I like my chicken…at least this chicken…unadulterated. Well, except for the sauce they serve with it. Without that it just wouldn’t be the same.
Now you probably want to know the name of this place, maybe where it is. Well, too bad! It’s my secret and it will die with me! Muahahaha! Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system…it’s actually a fast food restaurant. The name of said restaurant is Raising Cane’s. Right now they have locations in 14 states, mostly in the south. Click here to see if yours is one. We are lucky enough to have several of these bastions of chicken goodness in our city. If you aren’t as lucky…well, perhaps it’s time to move.
The actual location I patronize has been there a while, at least a few years. I have actually been to the restaurants on either side of the building. I have noticed it and thought, They only sell chicken fingers? and It’s named after a dog? Really?, and driven right on by. I don’t remember exactly what eventually persuaded me to try it, but am I ever glad it did. Ever since that first bite of chicken, I have been hooked. I think maybe it’s the sauce. I can’t find out what’s in it, but I’m convinced it must be some sort of addictive substance. Like, well…um…kettle chips. What!?! They’re addictive! Okay, so maybe not the best example.
Anyway, you should get thee to a Raising Cane’s location near you and judge for yourself. I personally have never been a huge chicken finger fan. I don’t ever order them at other restaurants. Of course at Cane’s I don’t have a choice. That’s all they sell. Except for those chicken enhancements.
When I grow up…
The other day while I was contemplating whether I should start a blog, I began to think about high school and what I thought I wanted to do with my life when I was young.
As a very young child I went through all the popular careers girls at the time wanted to have when they grew up…ballerina, teacher, airline stewardess (in the 70’s there was no such thing as politically correct)…and as I got older it changed. When I was about ten I decided I would be a veterinarian. I have always loved animals. My family has always had dogs. Then I got my first kitten and found out I was allergic to cats. My dreams were shattered.
Then in high school I found I had a gift for several things. One was art. I had always taken art in school, and loved to paint and draw, but I realized in high school that I had a talent for it. Then I met two brothers at my school that REALLY had artistic talent. Crazy, amazing talent. Maybe I wasn’t so great after all. The second was dance. It had never crossed my mind that dancing was something I could do, or that I would like. My freshman year in high school I tried out for flags with my friends. We all made it of course. No offense to all you former flags. When time came to try out again for my sophomore year, another friend decided she was going to try out for the drill team. She didn’t want to do it alone so she coerced me into trying out with her.
Now, as I said before, it had never even occurred to me to try out for a dance team. But being the pushover I am, I gave in to my friend and went with her. I went to the info meetings and found out what I needed to do, I worked on my kicks, and I made up a half-assed routine. Imagine my surprise when I found out I actually made it. Well, the backfired on me. I figured I would do it to make my friend happy and there was no way I would ever get picked. So I sucked it up and made the best of it. And wouldn’t you know, I actually liked it. Except for the make-up. I know, I know. I’m one of those rare, elusive creatures-a woman who hates wearing make-up. And those of you who have been there, you know that when you are doing the halftime show you don’t just wear make-up. You wear a whole cosmetics counter. I felt like a clown.
Anyway… back to the main story. The third thing I realized I had a knack for was writing. I had always enjoyed English. Yes, I said I enjoyed English. And yes, I was one of those kids. To this day I find myself having to bite my tongue when someone uses terrible grammar. I’m the one everyone goes to when they want something proofread. I took the AP English class in high school, and was fun and easy. And everyone else in the class hated me. The teacher told me she thought I should consider journalism in college. And I did. Consider it, that is. I actually didn’t end up going to college. Well, not right after high school anyway. I kick myself every day for that decision. That’s a whole different story though, so let’s move on.
So now we come to my adult life. I have never actually had a career. Jobs, yes. Lots of those. Let’s see… I’ve been a waitress, bank teller, line cook, restaurant manager, baker, cashier, busboy, dishwasher, preschool teacher, receptionist, cocktail waitress, secretary, and teacher’s aide. Sometimes all at once. Ok, that's an exaggeration. I have worked in copy and paste-up for a magazine, at the meat counter in a grocery store, as a graphic artist, and trying to sell Mary Kay. I say trying, because I never actually sold anything. I took a course to become certified to teach painting, was one class away from a certificate in baking & pastry, and attended college with the intent to get into teaching. That last one ended abruptly once I realized what a thankless job teaching is. I was working in a school and my best friend was a teacher. I saw the ugly, dark side of the education system. You didn’t see it, but I shuddered just then.
The point is… I have no career. I have always had a job, occasionally two or three. But to this day, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. And I am grown up. Really grown up. In fact, I’m starting to grow old. Well, okay…older. Not ready to be old just yet.
As a very young child I went through all the popular careers girls at the time wanted to have when they grew up…ballerina, teacher, airline stewardess (in the 70’s there was no such thing as politically correct)…and as I got older it changed. When I was about ten I decided I would be a veterinarian. I have always loved animals. My family has always had dogs. Then I got my first kitten and found out I was allergic to cats. My dreams were shattered.
Then in high school I found I had a gift for several things. One was art. I had always taken art in school, and loved to paint and draw, but I realized in high school that I had a talent for it. Then I met two brothers at my school that REALLY had artistic talent. Crazy, amazing talent. Maybe I wasn’t so great after all. The second was dance. It had never crossed my mind that dancing was something I could do, or that I would like. My freshman year in high school I tried out for flags with my friends. We all made it of course. No offense to all you former flags. When time came to try out again for my sophomore year, another friend decided she was going to try out for the drill team. She didn’t want to do it alone so she coerced me into trying out with her.
Now, as I said before, it had never even occurred to me to try out for a dance team. But being the pushover I am, I gave in to my friend and went with her. I went to the info meetings and found out what I needed to do, I worked on my kicks, and I made up a half-assed routine. Imagine my surprise when I found out I actually made it. Well, the backfired on me. I figured I would do it to make my friend happy and there was no way I would ever get picked. So I sucked it up and made the best of it. And wouldn’t you know, I actually liked it. Except for the make-up. I know, I know. I’m one of those rare, elusive creatures-a woman who hates wearing make-up. And those of you who have been there, you know that when you are doing the halftime show you don’t just wear make-up. You wear a whole cosmetics counter. I felt like a clown.
Anyway… back to the main story. The third thing I realized I had a knack for was writing. I had always enjoyed English. Yes, I said I enjoyed English. And yes, I was one of those kids. To this day I find myself having to bite my tongue when someone uses terrible grammar. I’m the one everyone goes to when they want something proofread. I took the AP English class in high school, and was fun and easy. And everyone else in the class hated me. The teacher told me she thought I should consider journalism in college. And I did. Consider it, that is. I actually didn’t end up going to college. Well, not right after high school anyway. I kick myself every day for that decision. That’s a whole different story though, so let’s move on.
So now we come to my adult life. I have never actually had a career. Jobs, yes. Lots of those. Let’s see… I’ve been a waitress, bank teller, line cook, restaurant manager, baker, cashier, busboy, dishwasher, preschool teacher, receptionist, cocktail waitress, secretary, and teacher’s aide. Sometimes all at once. Ok, that's an exaggeration. I have worked in copy and paste-up for a magazine, at the meat counter in a grocery store, as a graphic artist, and trying to sell Mary Kay. I say trying, because I never actually sold anything. I took a course to become certified to teach painting, was one class away from a certificate in baking & pastry, and attended college with the intent to get into teaching. That last one ended abruptly once I realized what a thankless job teaching is. I was working in a school and my best friend was a teacher. I saw the ugly, dark side of the education system. You didn’t see it, but I shuddered just then.
The point is… I have no career. I have always had a job, occasionally two or three. But to this day, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. And I am grown up. Really grown up. In fact, I’m starting to grow old. Well, okay…older. Not ready to be old just yet.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
World of Warcraft, my perspective.
I know what you’re thinking. There I go again pretending to read minds. Just play along, okay? There have been hundreds, perhaps thousands of reviews and columns about World of Warcraft. I have read a good amount of them, and while they all have valid points (ok, so a few were just plain garbage), most only speak of actual game play mechanics. I wanted to write a little about why I still play the game, even though I am not happy with many of the changes Blizzard has made, especially recently. Like the dungeon finder. I know it can make it easy to find a group when none of your friends is on, but when a good portion of players don't actually know how to get to an instance because they have never had to find it, I become concerned.
WoW, for me, is first and foremost a social game. I do it because I like the people I play with. I have made and lost many friends over the course of the 3+ years I have played the game. People who don’t play MMOs can’t really understand what the fascination is with them. I think it’s probably different for everyone, but I know that for many of the people I game with it’s about the other people they play with.
I have made some really good friends in WoW. People that I IM with during the day, even when I’m not playing. People I text message or call on my phone. I even sent cookies I had baked to a few of these people this past Christmas. I consider these people my friends. We talk in vent on a daily basis. Sometimes even when we aren’t actually playing WoW.
Lately I have started to get a bit frustrated with the game. Mostly because of the pace most of the players seem to be going. Blizzard is catering to the instant gratification crowd that is MMO players these days. I realize that they are in the business of making money, so I don’t go on the forums and troll. I don’t send them hate mail. Er, I mean email. Like anyone actually uses snail mail anymore. Why would they? When it can be there RIGHT NOW with a click of a button. Okay, so it’s not just gamers who want instant gratification. Don’t want to drive to the store to buy a new, um…anything? Just type in what you want and choose from a long list of online merchants. Click the button and BAM! Whatever you desire is at your door the next day. And I do mean anything. Go see for yourself.
NOT NOW! Finish reading first. Sheesh! Talk about a short attention span.
Anyhow…back to what I was saying. What was I saying? Oh, yeah, right. World of Warcraft. Even though I am fed up with all the gamers in WoW who are rushing around, earning badges all day in heroics, trying to get good gear, so they can start raiding ICC and get even better gear. For what? So they can have ICC on farm until the expansion comes out. Sooo…hurry up and get to end-game so I can wait? Hmm, that sounds like fun.
Ok, people are right. We need a sarcasm font.
Regardless of the frustration I am feeling about the game right now, I still log on most nights. Why? The people. I log on in the hopes that my friends will be on too. In the hopes that maybe there will be enough of us to do a raid. Not necessarily ICC. Maybe Ulduar. Maybe even Blackwing Lair. Yes, I said BWL. Most of the people I have met in WoW over the past year or so have never even set foot in the classic raids. I enjoy going with them to experience it. Seems like they don’t make ‘em like they used to. I laughed my ass off when, after making our way through two suppression rooms (at a snail’s pace) to Broodlord Lashlayer, he knocked everyone all the way back across the room. As we were making our way back to the boss (again, at a snail’s pace), the tank was cussing like a sailor because he couldn’t get back and someone else had aggro. And this tank isn’t normally cusser. I have to admit, he had been drinking a little. Not as much as the time he tanked Mage-Lord Urom off his platform. Three times in a row. Ok, so you had to be there.
I have to admit that the changes made lately in WoW have caused me to play less. A lot less. And also to try other MMOs. A lot of them. Most of the other games I have tried have been much inferior to WoW in most aspects. A few have been decent, some even better in some ways. So far none have kept my attention for more than a short time. A few days ago I found one that looks very promising. I will let you know how that works out.
For those of you who don't play MMOs and have no idea what I am talking about...perhaps you should give them a try. Wait...on second thought don't. The last thing WoW needs is more impatient people.
More than likely I will keep playing WoW until everyone I know stops playing. Or until I convince them all to make the pilgrimage to another MMO. For some, it’s about how many lowbies they can gank. For me, it’s about making friends.
WoW, for me, is first and foremost a social game. I do it because I like the people I play with. I have made and lost many friends over the course of the 3+ years I have played the game. People who don’t play MMOs can’t really understand what the fascination is with them. I think it’s probably different for everyone, but I know that for many of the people I game with it’s about the other people they play with.
I have made some really good friends in WoW. People that I IM with during the day, even when I’m not playing. People I text message or call on my phone. I even sent cookies I had baked to a few of these people this past Christmas. I consider these people my friends. We talk in vent on a daily basis. Sometimes even when we aren’t actually playing WoW.
Lately I have started to get a bit frustrated with the game. Mostly because of the pace most of the players seem to be going. Blizzard is catering to the instant gratification crowd that is MMO players these days. I realize that they are in the business of making money, so I don’t go on the forums and troll. I don’t send them hate mail. Er, I mean email. Like anyone actually uses snail mail anymore. Why would they? When it can be there RIGHT NOW with a click of a button. Okay, so it’s not just gamers who want instant gratification. Don’t want to drive to the store to buy a new, um…anything? Just type in what you want and choose from a long list of online merchants. Click the button and BAM! Whatever you desire is at your door the next day. And I do mean anything. Go see for yourself.
NOT NOW! Finish reading first. Sheesh! Talk about a short attention span.
Anyhow…back to what I was saying. What was I saying? Oh, yeah, right. World of Warcraft. Even though I am fed up with all the gamers in WoW who are rushing around, earning badges all day in heroics, trying to get good gear, so they can start raiding ICC and get even better gear. For what? So they can have ICC on farm until the expansion comes out. Sooo…hurry up and get to end-game so I can wait? Hmm, that sounds like fun.
Ok, people are right. We need a sarcasm font.
Regardless of the frustration I am feeling about the game right now, I still log on most nights. Why? The people. I log on in the hopes that my friends will be on too. In the hopes that maybe there will be enough of us to do a raid. Not necessarily ICC. Maybe Ulduar. Maybe even Blackwing Lair. Yes, I said BWL. Most of the people I have met in WoW over the past year or so have never even set foot in the classic raids. I enjoy going with them to experience it. Seems like they don’t make ‘em like they used to. I laughed my ass off when, after making our way through two suppression rooms (at a snail’s pace) to Broodlord Lashlayer, he knocked everyone all the way back across the room. As we were making our way back to the boss (again, at a snail’s pace), the tank was cussing like a sailor because he couldn’t get back and someone else had aggro. And this tank isn’t normally cusser. I have to admit, he had been drinking a little. Not as much as the time he tanked Mage-Lord Urom off his platform. Three times in a row. Ok, so you had to be there.
I have to admit that the changes made lately in WoW have caused me to play less. A lot less. And also to try other MMOs. A lot of them. Most of the other games I have tried have been much inferior to WoW in most aspects. A few have been decent, some even better in some ways. So far none have kept my attention for more than a short time. A few days ago I found one that looks very promising. I will let you know how that works out.
For those of you who don't play MMOs and have no idea what I am talking about...perhaps you should give them a try. Wait...on second thought don't. The last thing WoW needs is more impatient people.
More than likely I will keep playing WoW until everyone I know stops playing. Or until I convince them all to make the pilgrimage to another MMO. For some, it’s about how many lowbies they can gank. For me, it’s about making friends.
Chew my...what?!?
So, the other morning I was looking for a quick lunch at my local grocery store on my way to work. As I was perusing the prepared foods aisle I spotted something called Fruit2day. Being the curious person I am (okay, so only when it comes to bright colors and cute packaging) I picked one up to see what exactly it was.
The first thing that went through my head as I was reading the package was, Chew my juice? Ew. Ok, I will be the first to admit I love juice, but generally when you have to chew while drinking juice it can only be for two reasons…one, you forgot it was in the fridge and it started growing unmentionable things, or two, you have a small child who thinks putting small things in bottles that don’t belong there is entertaining. Yes, this is me speaking from personal experience. No, I don’t want to elaborate.
Anyway… did I mention I can be curious under the right circumstances? I did. So I decided, what the hell, I will give this chewy juice a shot. I purchase a pack for my lunch that day, to go along with the hardboiled eggs (how exactly do they preserve those?) and baby carrots I also purchased. The Fruit2day bottles come two to a package, and each bottle is 6.75 oz. It comes in four flavors, but I chose Strawberry Orange for my first Fruit2day experience.
Fast forward a couple hours, and I am starting to get a bit hungry. So I reach into my little lunch cooler… yes, I bring a cooler to work, stop judging me… and grab one of the bottles of Fruit2day. I shake it up. I unscrew the plastic top. I peel open the foil seal. Is it just me or are we preoccupied with safety these days? I take a peek inside the bottle. Well, it looks like juice. I take a small sip. Tastes like juice. I take a bigger swig. I begin to chew…tastes like…pineapple. I take another drink. Needless to say, I sucked it down in a matter of seconds. It was delicious! I drank the second bottle about an hour later. In my case this wasn’t such a good idea since it was mostly orange juice. Orange juice in large quantities happens to give me heartburn. Really bad heartburn.Really, really bad heartburn.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Well, maybe I don’t. I am going to pretend I do anyway. Chewing your juice just sounds, well… gross. And this may not be the juice for everyone. If you don’t like any pulp in your orange juice (weirdo) then you probably won’t like this product. If you’re like me and like the extra pulp orange juice, you will probably fall in love with this like I did. Go to the website and check it out for yourself. The next day I went back and bought all the flavors. Unfortunately my daughter also fell in love with it and they were all gone in a matter of days. One bonus is that the cardboard holding the juice bottles is also a coupon for 55 cents off the next one you buy. Cha-ching! Jackpot.
Only one of my local grocery stores carries Fruit2day, and it’s not the one I frequent the most. So if I want my fix I have to make a special trip. Fortunately the store that carries it is only a few blocks from my house.
Be warned. Fruit2day can be addictive. At least it’s good for you.
The first thing that went through my head as I was reading the package was, Chew my juice? Ew. Ok, I will be the first to admit I love juice, but generally when you have to chew while drinking juice it can only be for two reasons…one, you forgot it was in the fridge and it started growing unmentionable things, or two, you have a small child who thinks putting small things in bottles that don’t belong there is entertaining. Yes, this is me speaking from personal experience. No, I don’t want to elaborate.
Anyway… did I mention I can be curious under the right circumstances? I did. So I decided, what the hell, I will give this chewy juice a shot. I purchase a pack for my lunch that day, to go along with the hardboiled eggs (how exactly do they preserve those?) and baby carrots I also purchased. The Fruit2day bottles come two to a package, and each bottle is 6.75 oz. It comes in four flavors, but I chose Strawberry Orange for my first Fruit2day experience.
Fast forward a couple hours, and I am starting to get a bit hungry. So I reach into my little lunch cooler… yes, I bring a cooler to work, stop judging me… and grab one of the bottles of Fruit2day. I shake it up. I unscrew the plastic top. I peel open the foil seal. Is it just me or are we preoccupied with safety these days? I take a peek inside the bottle. Well, it looks like juice. I take a small sip. Tastes like juice. I take a bigger swig. I begin to chew…tastes like…pineapple. I take another drink. Needless to say, I sucked it down in a matter of seconds. It was delicious! I drank the second bottle about an hour later. In my case this wasn’t such a good idea since it was mostly orange juice. Orange juice in large quantities happens to give me heartburn. Really bad heartburn.Really, really bad heartburn.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Well, maybe I don’t. I am going to pretend I do anyway. Chewing your juice just sounds, well… gross. And this may not be the juice for everyone. If you don’t like any pulp in your orange juice (weirdo) then you probably won’t like this product. If you’re like me and like the extra pulp orange juice, you will probably fall in love with this like I did. Go to the website and check it out for yourself. The next day I went back and bought all the flavors. Unfortunately my daughter also fell in love with it and they were all gone in a matter of days. One bonus is that the cardboard holding the juice bottles is also a coupon for 55 cents off the next one you buy. Cha-ching! Jackpot.
Only one of my local grocery stores carries Fruit2day, and it’s not the one I frequent the most. So if I want my fix I have to make a special trip. Fortunately the store that carries it is only a few blocks from my house.
Be warned. Fruit2day can be addictive. At least it’s good for you.
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