Centauri65's Blog

I found this article about a girl being escorted out from a prom in Texas. She was not allowed in because of a custom made dress. The people running the prom thought it inappropriate. My question - What was she thinking and what was her mother thinking?

http://www.khou.com/news/local/education/stories/kh
ou080509_tj_promdress.e4ef3d2b.html

Time to rant..........

I seldom go to McDonald's anymore. Just once in a while and then only if I am asked to pick up something for someone else. There are two in particular that I have problems with and one that I will never go to again.  I am talking about the McDonald's on Brown Deer Road - near where Northridge used to be. (off 76th and Brown Deer).  No matter what time of day I stop there I always have problems in the drive thru. I stopped there twice for lunch within the past three weeks (around 1:00 pm). Each time I have had to wait at the ordering menu for 5 minutes before getting someone to acknowledge me (there were a couple of cars ahead of me).  Then I order, pay at the first window and drive to get my food at the second window. Each time I have been told to  "please pull up and we will bring your food out". The first time it took 8 minutes. I did not order anything special - just a cheeseburger. They forgot the coffee and it took 5 more minutes for them to go back and get it.

The second time was even better. Same type of order. Nothing special about it. This time after 8 minutes I call the store on my cell phone. I tell them I am waiting outside for my order. I get hung up on twice after being told to "please wait". Eventually I see a woman carrying a bag out but she bypasses my car for another. When I get out and ask her about my order she had no idea where it is. I wait again. Five more minutes and another hang up from the restaurant. After about 15 minutes total (and watching them bring more food out to other cars) eventually I get my order. Cold.

I have also driven past this particular McDonald's late at night - after 10PM. I drive up to order. I wait. I say "hello" a couple of times. Eventually I get someone who says "please wait". It usually takes at least 5 minutes for someone to take my order. Then waiting at the drive through for the vehicle in front of me. The first couple of times I did not think anything of it but then one night saw a vehicle skip the drive through and drive straight to the window. The person in the McDonald's had a long coversation with the driver and his friends. Since I am right  behind I can hear snippets of conversation - apparantly these are friends of those inside. Eventually they move (pulling up behind me) so I can get my order and they can talk more. There have also been people just standing outside the drive through window so that once again I am waiting until they are finished with their conversation with those inside until I can get my order.

Rather than deal with this anymore I will no longer go to this McDonald's. There are other fast food restaurants in the area that have people inside who care about the customers a lot more than this. Those restaurants will be the ones to get my business when I have to stop for fast food.

We may not always agree but that is the nature of things. I hope you have a good Christmas, a nice end to 2007 and a great 2008.

 We may not always agree with each other but that is the nature of things. I hope everyone has a nice Christmas, a great end to 2007 and a fantastic 2008.

Greetings,

Due to my sister in law's work schedule she has to work second shift on Christmas Even and Christmas Day. I would like to take her, my brother and nephew out for breakfast on Christmas Day so she can at least have a little celebrating. Anyone know if there is any places open? She lives near Southridge but location is not really a problem. She has to be home by 1:00 to get ready for work.

Thanks.

I went to my nephew's Holiday concert today at his grade school (close to Southridge). It was really nice. It was Kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade. There were a couple solos and a lot of chorus. The kids played instruments as well. The song selections varied from contemporary  (Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel") to traditional. There was a really cute song about a snowday too. Songs represented Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa and the holiday season/winter in general. There were songs from a couple of other countries as well. I left the program in my car and do not remember exactly which ones (I am too chilly to run out to the car right now and get it).

What I really liked was that everyone was happy. No protesting because of religious terms being used. No protesting because religious terms were not used.  No protesting when the kids were singing songs in support of one religion then sang a song representing another religion right after.  No one upset because Santa Claus was mentioned. Just a group of happy (and probably nervous) kids performing in front of parents and relatives. The audience was happy (I was discussing digital cameras with one woman) and I took a lot of photos.

I think the school and the kids had it right. Technically this was a "Holiday" concert but that only meant that there was something for everyone. Big deal if a note was slightly wrong or if you could barely hear the kids when they spoke. They were performing twice (there was a morning performance and an afternoon performance). It was a fun time for all (especially my nephew when I told him that I would take him out for lunch after school).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aWWMk5vhtBU

Now this is the type of person you should be supporting. Someone who actually cares and thinks of something other than his own personal gratification.

I shovelled a path in our backyard for my dog. I have been doing that for years with each of my pets. This time I have a little dog and he really needs it (even though he still jumps in the snow at least he has an area he can walk in).

It does not take that long and it makes it easier for them to "do what they have to do" while outside.

Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays/Season's Greetings

I have already heard the debate beginning. My question though is why is it a debate? It seems that anyone who says "Happy Holidays" is shunned and thought of as "PC". I used to say it when I worked in a call center but it was because I thought is was being polite and showed whomever I was speaking to (either in person or on the phone) I was respectful toward whatever they celebrated. If I know the person celebrates Christmas I will say "Merry Christmas". If not what is wrong with "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings to you"?

From blogs (not on this site) that I have read it seems that anyone who says "Happy Holidays" is attacked. Why? What difference does it make? I would think that someone saying anything at all is polite and should get a polite response back.  Usually I will say "Thank you. You too." Not an attack. Not be treated as offensive. All that would do is get people to not say anything at all.

Any comments?

What is the worst job interview you have ever had? Or the strangest?

Recently I had an interview at a company with two people. The first person was great. It went very well, she let me sit with someone doing the job so I could see it - everything went smoothly. Until she "handed me off" to the HR manager. Right away I got the impression he was only going through the motions. The way he asked questions, the questions he asked - all very condescending.  He even sighed during the interview. Two weeks later I got an email stating that I did not get the job. I do not know what was the problem with the HR manager. For example:

I see that you have not been to college. Why is that? Do you not believe higher education is important? What have you done in your spare time? You should have had some time since you graduated to have gone to college.

Did I say the job for a position I had ten years of experience in?  I have a feeling he already had someone in mind for the position - and that he was barely going through the motions with me.

I have been posting complaint style blogs so here is one that is not!

 I made homemade meatloaf. It turned out really nice.

1 pound ground sirloin

1 pound Italian sausage

1 package dry spaghetti sauce

1 package dry gravy

1 egg

1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

Italian seasoning to taste

some type of sauce (ketchup, barbecue, secret stadium...whatever)

Combine all ingredients except for the sauce. Shape in a meatloaf pan but remove from the meatloaf pan and put in a bigger pan (the sides should be free). Pat the sides of the meatloaf with the brown gravy mix. Bake for about an hour (give or take) at 400 degrees. Put the sauce on the top and sides of the meatloaf for the last five minutes of baking.

It turned out really nice. We had it with salad and wine. I love Italian food so the Italian flavorings were really nice. If you want it spicier you can add a tablespoon or so of Italian style seasonings.

A couple of friends and I were talking about trick or treating. They understand why it is during the day but prefer it at night (I do too). The conversation then turned to costumes and a trend we have seen each year. Trick or treaters (usually teenagers) 1-not even dressing up and 2-just standing at the door without saying "trick or treat".  I make them say it. I will say "hello - can I help you?" or "Why are you here?". A couple of kids last year said "for candy". A honest answer! 

Two years ago I sat on the front doorstep with my doberman mix. Kids got the candy if they would walk past the dog. (my "trick" on them). Funny in that the smaller kids had no problem (I heard "doggy" and they would come up) but the bigger kids would avoid him (he did look grouchy).

Is it too much to ask that the trick or treaters actually dress up? If it is a money issue you can get makeup at any dollar store or even borrow it from a sister/mother/cousin. Anyone else have comments?

I went with a group of friends today to see 30 Days of Night. For those who do not know what it is about here is the plot:

"In Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost town in the United States, the winter sun sets and does not rise for 30 days and nights. From the darkness comes an evil force that strikes terror on the town, and all hope is pinned on a husband-and-wife cop team."

It is an R rated vampire movie.  During the movie I thought I heard kids. At first I thought it was the movie. Then toward the end I heard a child very clearly and turned around. A woman was walking out of the movie holding a baby and walking what looked like a small child. The first thing that came to my mind was "are you out of your mind"? First of all - this is an R rated movie. Why would you bring a small child? Second - this is a horror/action movie. Do you really think is was appropriate to let your small child watch vampires tear apart people?

I understand that parents cannot always get babysitters but still want to get out sometimes. In that case get a babysitter or go to a family appropriate movie! Or go with someone else (a teen or a family friend) who can take the kids to a family movie while you are watching the horror movie.

I liked 30 Days of Night but it was not appropriate for a young child. I know that a parent or guardian can take someone under 17 to a movie like this but I think that was more geared toward teens - not young children. Maybe there should be an adjustment to R ratings and not let anyone under 12 in even with a parent or guarding.