RIP Customer Service

Let me tell you about my lunch stop yesterday (March 30, 2006). After considering my somewhat limited options, I choose Hardee's and pulled into the drive-thru. I place my rather uncomplicated order (which did not include any large burger needing a long cooking time), I hand over my money and am asked to "pull around to the front and I'll bring it out to you". Ok, I think, no problem, this has happened before, it should only take a few minutes.

Time ticks by as time tends to do. I notice that it feels longer than usual and I check the clock. Yep, definitely longer. I wait somewhat unpatiently until 10 minutes have passed since I was asked to pull up. I sigh, turn off the car, grab my receipt and march in. I have a fleeting thought that maybe the place got slammed, but that is soon debunked by the noticeable absence of a crowd.

I approach the woman behind the counter (whose badge identifies her as "shift leader") and say that I'm still waiting on a drive-thru order. She gives me a rather puzzled look and turns to the drive-thru attendant. This girl points to my order, which is sitting there waiting on the counter for its owner, and mutters something about the fact that she is "just about to bring it out". The shift leader takes the order and gives it to me, along with a half-hearted "sorry about that". I calmly mention that I understand, but the point of the drive-thru is to NOT have to get out of the car. I see that she's included a free sandwich coupon with my order, so I say thanks and head back to my car with my lunch.

I get to my car, noting that the bag does not seem hot and the shake is on the way to melting. I take a quick look at my well deserved coupon and that's when I noticed it. The date. Yes, that says "February 28, 2006".

Gee, thanks so much for the expired coupon. I didn't even bother going back in. I don't think I ever will.

These Boots Were Made for Walkin'....

My good friend Martha's son Alex is the Ambassador for our area March of Dimes campaign this year. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Our little family has signed up to support Team Alex in this year's walk, which takes place Sunday, April 2. Today I helped with a HUGE yard sale to raise money for the March of Dimes, and got a good case of wind/sunburn to prove it.

Anyway, if you'd like to learn more about the March of Dimes, or even sponsor us as we go out walking, please visit our Walk America page at http://www.walkamerica.org/personal_page.asp?w=505248.

Thanks!

Go Look At My Kid!

Hey, my baby's blog is seriously lacking in comments. Have you not noticed the gravitational pull of her cuteness? How have you not fallen into the vortex yet?

Jadyn's Journey. Go there. Now. Ooh and aah. Now.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
The world's most overly-proud BabyMama

Huggies, aka Seive Diapers

Ok, I don't like Huggies. I always thought (before Jadyn came along) that they looked cushy and anti-leaky, so I was sure I'd love them. We were given some as baby shower gifts. After finally making through the huge box of 200+ size 1s, I decided never again, no Huggies. Jadyn woke up soggy almost every morning and after every nap. May as well stick her in a colander.

So I went to Pampers Swaddlers, and while they may be a tad more expensive, I VERY rarely have a leak issue. No going back to Huggies.

Yeah, except that we had a whole pack of Huggies #2 size in the closet, and instead of giving them away only to buy more Pampers, I figured I'd be Frugal Mommy and work with what we had.

This ought to teach me to listen to my gut. We're only 1/4 of the way into the pack and I promise we've had 6-8 leaks and I even had one that ripped during application! RIPPED??? This cannot be. If we can land a man on the moon and a vehicle on Mars, can't we make disposable diapers that don't leak or rip? Gadzooks, people, what do those scientists spend all their research money on, anyway?

Ok, rant over.

Surreality

So I'm in Chicago by myself for a conference, and it's snowing. I rarely travel by myself these days, especially this far away. And I haven't seen snow like this for 7 or 8 years. This is...surreal. And I had to share. I know that for a large portion of the cyber community this is all commonplace. Good for you. I'm a little freaked out - in a good way. And I'm having a blast.

Lost in Another World

I have a new TV addiction. LOST. I picked it up at the start of the second season with the "primer" that sort of caught me up on what was going on. I have to admit I was a little confused about some things. I eventually saw the pilot on a rerun and decided I must immediately see the entire first season. So last Saturday on a regularly crazy WalMart run, I picked up the DVDs, and so it began. I can't stop watching it! I think about it. I read message boards about it. I have even started dreaming about it. I've seen all the episodes and the special features and I have now started over!!! Oh woe is me! I'm a Lost Junkie!

So, are the numbers cursed? And who are the Others? And is Dharma out to rule the world or just experiment on children? And why were the tail section survivors hit so hard? And what in the name of all that is holy is that crazy security system?

I need help.

Lent the Good Times Roll

Yes, today starts Lent, which has all sorts of historical roots that go much deeper than I care to at this particular moment. You can google it if you want more information. For me, personally, it's a time to sacrifice some things that I really need to be willing to give up anyway. It's just a good way to jump-start a good habit.

So this year I'm really challenging myself. I'm giving up:

• sweets. Ugh - it will take some time to figure out what to eat in their place.
• daytime weekday tv. I'm not a huge soap opera fan, but if I have the tv on during the day, tuned to sci fi or whatever, I find I get much less accomplished.
• eating after 8 PM. This is gonna be tricky, since sometimes Paul doesn't get home from work until late, which tends to push back our dinner time.
• nagging my husband. That's sort of a nutshell - there's more to it. I want/need to build him up and encourage him more, and that starts with not being negative toward him.

When Lent is over, on Easter, it's my hope that instead of gladly induldging in these activities on a regular basis once again, they will have by habit fallen mostly by the wayside.

So here I am, laying it all out there for cyberaccountability. I have some friends who will hold me up to this in person (and you know who you are) but I'll try to give regular blog reports on how well I'm sticking to this.

The next few weeks should be very interesting.