I know I’m not supposed to pass judgment on people, but when I read this story, I couldn’t help myself. This idiotic woman in South Austin was yelling at her three kids at the bus stop and then THREW HER FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD INTO THE STREET in front of a moving vehicle! Thank God the driver of the suburban was paying attention. I am livid about this incident, but so thankful the child didn’t suffer physical harm. Don’t get me started on the emotional damage this terrible woman has done to her kids. It irks me that this woman is allowed to have children, but I may never get to have kids of my own! Or that so many loving couples cannot have children and then this woman clearly doesn’t appreciate the amazing gift she’s been given to be a mom.
This incident reminded me of something my friend Robin & I witnessed several months ago at a fast food restaurant in South Austin. As we were eating lunch, this young lady walked in with a baby carrier. Her daughter was decked out all in pink and had on cutesy matching shoes and even wore earrings. She seemed like a very pleasant baby, very content. The first thing we noticed was after the lady ordered at the counter, she put the baby carrier down on the floor and walked about 10 ft away to go fill her drink. Meanwhile, lots of people were coming and going, passing by the baby – any one of them could have grabbed her so easily. After she got her food, she set the baby carrier down on the table, set her food down, then grabbed her purse and went into the ladies room. SHE LEFT THE BABY ALONE ON THE TABLE!!! We were in shock! I wanted to call Child Protective Services. Seriously, she took her purse (God forbid someone take that), but left her child, a precious human life who cannot defend herself, at the table all by herself. This incident still makes me mad to this day.
In my opinion, these women are simply “wastes of oxygen,” as my dad would have said. I don’t know why these things still surprise me, but they do. I can’t believe that people can be so blasé about their parental duties. People make mistakes, I get that. But these actions are unforgivable in my book. I know writing this won’t make these people change or make things fair in the world, but at least I got to vent.
Happy freakin’ Halloween.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
It Happened at McDonald’s
I’ve decided that I have lots of funny stories that happen at fast food restaurants. I wonder what this says about me? Oh, I think it means I eat that crap too much and it’s the Universe’s way of reminding me that I don’t need to be there!
One of my favorite memories with my dad was one time when he and I were out car shopping all day. We decided to stop at McDonald’s for lunch and I wasn’t that hungry, so I ordered a Cheeseburger Happy Meal. The clerk, who could not have been more than 15 years old, then asked me the inevitable question, “Do you need a toy for a boy or a toy for a girl?”
“Oh it’s for me, so I don’t really need a toy,” I said.
Her eyes grew wide as she said, “But it comes with a toy.”
“Oh I know, but I don’t need one, so you can just save it for a kid.”
She repeated, “But it comes with a toy,” as she frantically searched the keypad for the “happy meal without a toy button.”
At this point I look over at my dad, who is snickering. I was so frustrated with her, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. Somehow I managed to tell her that a toy for a boy was ok.
Another McDonald’s story
Back in like the year 2000, my sister Jill and I decided to take a trip to Las Vegas. Well, we started out there, but decided after a few days to rent a car and drive to Los Angeles because neither one of us had ever been there. It was very impulsive for me – I like to have plans and an itinerary. Jill, not so much. So with no hotel reservations or any plans, we just looked at a map and drove until we got to the ocean. That eventually landed us in Santa Monica and we had a blast. We had to evacuate our hotel because of an arson fire next door one night and had a couple of brushes with celebrity, but that’s another story.
On our way to LA, we stopped in Rancho Cucamonga, California at the McDonald’s for lunch. As we were eating, a man came in and started yelling profanities. It was like he had Turret’s Syndrome or something. I think he was yelling in both English and another language, maybe Portuguese. The staff seemed to know him and be used to him, so at first I wasn’t worried. But he kept moving closer towards our table and we decided to leave. I remember severely scratching my leg on some dry, desert bush in the parking lot on my way back to the car. But we were just glad to be out of that McDonald’s!
One of my favorite memories with my dad was one time when he and I were out car shopping all day. We decided to stop at McDonald’s for lunch and I wasn’t that hungry, so I ordered a Cheeseburger Happy Meal. The clerk, who could not have been more than 15 years old, then asked me the inevitable question, “Do you need a toy for a boy or a toy for a girl?”
“Oh it’s for me, so I don’t really need a toy,” I said.
Her eyes grew wide as she said, “But it comes with a toy.”
“Oh I know, but I don’t need one, so you can just save it for a kid.”
She repeated, “But it comes with a toy,” as she frantically searched the keypad for the “happy meal without a toy button.”
At this point I look over at my dad, who is snickering. I was so frustrated with her, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. Somehow I managed to tell her that a toy for a boy was ok.
Another McDonald’s story
Back in like the year 2000, my sister Jill and I decided to take a trip to Las Vegas. Well, we started out there, but decided after a few days to rent a car and drive to Los Angeles because neither one of us had ever been there. It was very impulsive for me – I like to have plans and an itinerary. Jill, not so much. So with no hotel reservations or any plans, we just looked at a map and drove until we got to the ocean. That eventually landed us in Santa Monica and we had a blast. We had to evacuate our hotel because of an arson fire next door one night and had a couple of brushes with celebrity, but that’s another story.
On our way to LA, we stopped in Rancho Cucamonga, California at the McDonald’s for lunch. As we were eating, a man came in and started yelling profanities. It was like he had Turret’s Syndrome or something. I think he was yelling in both English and another language, maybe Portuguese. The staff seemed to know him and be used to him, so at first I wasn’t worried. But he kept moving closer towards our table and we decided to leave. I remember severely scratching my leg on some dry, desert bush in the parking lot on my way back to the car. But we were just glad to be out of that McDonald’s!
Blogging already old news?
This was an interesting article. So I just discovered that this little blog I just started a month ago is already out of date! How's a girl to keep up? Good thing I started Twittering about the same time!
http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/16-11/st_essay
http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/16-11/st_essay
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The inevitable
I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I last washed my car, but yesterday I took it to get an oil change and car wash. One bad thing about car washes: after the dirt is cleared off, you can see every scratch, knick and dent. Time to get out the car wax, I guess.
The other bad thing about car washes? It’s inevitable – it either rains (which I would not have minded since we need it so bad) or a bird poops on it. Yep, you guessed it. Just a few hours after my shiny car got a bath, some stupid bird somehow found the clean windshield. It was only parked outside for about three hours! Seriously, it’s like the damn birds look for clean windshields! Argh.
The other bad thing about car washes? It’s inevitable – it either rains (which I would not have minded since we need it so bad) or a bird poops on it. Yep, you guessed it. Just a few hours after my shiny car got a bath, some stupid bird somehow found the clean windshield. It was only parked outside for about three hours! Seriously, it’s like the damn birds look for clean windshields! Argh.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Whaddya want? A cookie?
Everyday, as part of my job, I scan several news sources about recycling and garbage services, among other things. Today in Waste News’ Waste Daily E-mail, this column cracked me up! I’ve always said this about what the author calls proclaimers. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves – people who walk around telling everyone how great and wonderful they are!
Mr. Fehrenbach has a much better attitude about these people than I do. But you know what? I’m a good, forgiving person, so I’m gonna go eat a cookie and just try to forget about all the proclaimers of the world! ;)
Mr. Fehrenbach has a much better attitude about these people than I do. But you know what? I’m a good, forgiving person, so I’m gonna go eat a cookie and just try to forget about all the proclaimers of the world! ;)
From Waste News In Box:
Let´s start today with a cleaned-up version of comedian Chris Rock´s devastating rap on -- hmm, what to call them? -- deadwood, I guess. Loiterers. People who sleepwalk through life taking five.
[Deadwood] always want credit for doing things they´re supposed to do. They´ll brag about stuff a normal person just does. They´ll say something like, "Yeah, well, I take care of my kids." You´re supposed to, you [idiot]. "I ain´t never been to jail." Whaddya want? A cookie? You´re not supposed to go to jail, you low-expectation-having [expletive deleted].
I´ve never been much of a proclaimer. Sign-wearing isn´t for me. It´s how I was raised. Low key. Do what you´re supposed to do. Treat people as you want to be treated. Be polite, work hard, give a good effort. And never waste energy jumping up and down yelling "Look at me being polite, working hard, giving a good effort."
A key corollary to treating people as you want to be treated is living and letting live. As long as no one is being harmed or cheated. Some people need to proclaim. So let them. Let them have their bumper stickers and lawn signs. Let them broadcast their allegiances to their heart´s content. I won´t snipe about them. Not much, anyway.
Three weeks from today a lot of people will be walking around wearing "I voted today" buttons. That´s perfectly OK. Good for them. I will vote too. I always do. I doubt I´ll put on the button, though. Voting is something you´re supposed to do. (I usually give my "I voted today" button to one of my sons. They love wearing buttons.)
Recycling is another thing you´re supposed to do. So my kneejerk reaction to a story like this -- in a nutshell, a convention center in Pittsburgh hands out buttons to people who recycle -- is: Whaddya want, a cookie? But then I remember: Live. And let live. A public good is being served. People are being -- as our president likes to say -- incentivized. Incentivized to recycle.
If buttons incentivize people to recycle, hand them out. Proclaimers need to proclaim. So let them.
Would I put on the button if I had the occasion to visit the convention center in Pittsburgh? I´m not sure. Probably. Maybe. I am sure I´d recycle, though. I always do.
Almost always. My wife, the real stickler for recycling at our house, reads this column sometimes.
Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.
[Deadwood] always want credit for doing things they´re supposed to do. They´ll brag about stuff a normal person just does. They´ll say something like, "Yeah, well, I take care of my kids." You´re supposed to, you [idiot]. "I ain´t never been to jail." Whaddya want? A cookie? You´re not supposed to go to jail, you low-expectation-having [expletive deleted].
I´ve never been much of a proclaimer. Sign-wearing isn´t for me. It´s how I was raised. Low key. Do what you´re supposed to do. Treat people as you want to be treated. Be polite, work hard, give a good effort. And never waste energy jumping up and down yelling "Look at me being polite, working hard, giving a good effort."
A key corollary to treating people as you want to be treated is living and letting live. As long as no one is being harmed or cheated. Some people need to proclaim. So let them. Let them have their bumper stickers and lawn signs. Let them broadcast their allegiances to their heart´s content. I won´t snipe about them. Not much, anyway.
Three weeks from today a lot of people will be walking around wearing "I voted today" buttons. That´s perfectly OK. Good for them. I will vote too. I always do. I doubt I´ll put on the button, though. Voting is something you´re supposed to do. (I usually give my "I voted today" button to one of my sons. They love wearing buttons.)
Recycling is another thing you´re supposed to do. So my kneejerk reaction to a story like this -- in a nutshell, a convention center in Pittsburgh hands out buttons to people who recycle -- is: Whaddya want, a cookie? But then I remember: Live. And let live. A public good is being served. People are being -- as our president likes to say -- incentivized. Incentivized to recycle.
If buttons incentivize people to recycle, hand them out. Proclaimers need to proclaim. So let them.
Would I put on the button if I had the occasion to visit the convention center in Pittsburgh? I´m not sure. Probably. Maybe. I am sure I´d recycle, though. I always do.
Almost always. My wife, the real stickler for recycling at our house, reads this column sometimes.
Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Even an elephant can do it
I’m always amazed when I see examples of how wild animals and humans have acclimated and learned to coexist. But I live in the suburbs, so I usually only see the occasional deer, raccoon or possum scampering across a busy street. I giggle when I go see my friend Linda in Dripping Springs, southwest of Austin, and see the “Loose Livestock” signs. Not sure why that cracks me up.
But in Kenya, “loose” animals have actually caused a lot of trouble. Apparently some elephants that are near extinction were wandering onto local farmers’ land and destroying their crops, their entire livelihood. Modern technology has come to the rescue! Check out the article here to see how the elephants now send text messages to park rangers when they stray towards private land.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Yearbook Yourself!
Oh, this was just too much fun! Go to yearbookyourself.com and see what you would look like back in the day. Here are my favorite years:
1962
1964
1966 (I think I like this hairdo on me! Scary!)
1968
1972
1978
1962
1964
1966 (I think I like this hairdo on me! Scary!)
1968
1972
1978
Google-worthy
When I logged onto Google today to search for something, I saw that they are celebrating their 10th anniversary. For some reason, it seems like we’ve been googling for more than 10 years, doesn’t it?
Google is a fascinating business model – they took what seemed like a simple business idea and it exploded – Google is everywhere. I don’t know what I’d do without Google to help me find information. I literally use it everyday.
I remember the day I told my mom to “google” something. I’d been using the word as a verb for a while at that point without even thinking about it, but it was still unknown to her. I think it’s an interesting study of how a company can make such an impact on the world. Not only change the way people search for information, but change the English language too!
Google has made our lives easier, but they are also known for being one of the greatest companies to work for – and for continuing to encourage groundbreaking, creative ideas. In fact, they are hosting a contest in honor of their 10th birthday, soliciting ideas from users. Wish I had some google-worthy ideas! See, I just used the word google in another way! It’s a great word.
Happy Birthday, Google!
Google is a fascinating business model – they took what seemed like a simple business idea and it exploded – Google is everywhere. I don’t know what I’d do without Google to help me find information. I literally use it everyday.
I remember the day I told my mom to “google” something. I’d been using the word as a verb for a while at that point without even thinking about it, but it was still unknown to her. I think it’s an interesting study of how a company can make such an impact on the world. Not only change the way people search for information, but change the English language too!
Google has made our lives easier, but they are also known for being one of the greatest companies to work for – and for continuing to encourage groundbreaking, creative ideas. In fact, they are hosting a contest in honor of their 10th birthday, soliciting ideas from users. Wish I had some google-worthy ideas! See, I just used the word google in another way! It’s a great word.
Happy Birthday, Google!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
300 people missing!?!?!?!?!?
Sorry to steal a topic from you, Leslie, but I just read an article on CNN about how there are still 300 people missing after Hurricane Ike! Holy cow! I’m amazed that his is the first time I’ve heard this news!
I guess it’s gotten lost with all the financial crisis and election coverage, but I am seriously shocked that there isn’t more news about this out there! After Katrina, it’s all we heard about for months. And that was a good thing – at least the stories about trying to locate loved ones. I know that in some cases, the media coverage helped find them.
It’s hard to imagine being without technology like television, cable, internet, cell phone for three weeks. Not having a way to contact my family? Heck, I’d have a panic attack if I went 30 minutes without at least one of those items! Sad, but true. And I wouldn’t last an hour without running water and air conditioning. Thank God in Heaven that I’ve never had to endure a natural disaster. Camping is about as close as I ever want to get to those conditions. Let’s face it, I’m a weenie.
My heart goes out to the people who lost homes in the storm and to the people who are still trying to be sure their loved ones are ok. I guess one thing we could do is donate to the American Red Cross or to the Laura Recovery Center, the organization based in Friendswood, TX mentioned in the CNN article.
But then again, there’s a financial crisis going on and if you’re like me, you’re broke too. Hmm. I need to think of a creative way to help. Manning the media desk at the convention center shelter for a couple hours just wasn’t enough for me. Sigh...
I guess it’s gotten lost with all the financial crisis and election coverage, but I am seriously shocked that there isn’t more news about this out there! After Katrina, it’s all we heard about for months. And that was a good thing – at least the stories about trying to locate loved ones. I know that in some cases, the media coverage helped find them.
It’s hard to imagine being without technology like television, cable, internet, cell phone for three weeks. Not having a way to contact my family? Heck, I’d have a panic attack if I went 30 minutes without at least one of those items! Sad, but true. And I wouldn’t last an hour without running water and air conditioning. Thank God in Heaven that I’ve never had to endure a natural disaster. Camping is about as close as I ever want to get to those conditions. Let’s face it, I’m a weenie.
My heart goes out to the people who lost homes in the storm and to the people who are still trying to be sure their loved ones are ok. I guess one thing we could do is donate to the American Red Cross or to the Laura Recovery Center, the organization based in Friendswood, TX mentioned in the CNN article.
But then again, there’s a financial crisis going on and if you’re like me, you’re broke too. Hmm. I need to think of a creative way to help. Manning the media desk at the convention center shelter for a couple hours just wasn’t enough for me. Sigh...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Dreaming of electoral votes...
See CNN's electoral vote calculator at http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/.
See my electoral vote wish here:
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