Not many Fridays ago, I was on a bit of a tight schedule to get some things done before going to work. I had a rehearsal at church and needed something to eat before heading there. Thinking through some of the logical progressions, I decided to go to McDonald's. After all, McDonald's solved the issue of inexpensive, distance from my destination, and my time sensitive schedule. It was a win-win situation.
When I got to the restaurant, I was a bit concerned about the drive-thru lines, so I decided I would go inside to eat. It would still be tight, but the line inside didn't look quite as haunting as the drive thru ones did.
Upon entering the restaurant, I saw the person (yes, singular) working the counter taking orders. My initial thought was not exactly a kind one at that very moment. I have frequented this McDonald's enough to know several of the staff, and this particular person was not among my favorites. I stood in line waiting to place my order. Please be reminded that I am on a relatively tight time schedule.
A full ten minutes after I had walked inside McDonald's, I texted my wife letting her know I was still waiting on my food. She knew the time crunch I was on, for she was waiting for me at the church for that rehearsal I wrote about. She was watching the clock right along with me.
When I got my food and made my way to the drink station for my soft drink, ketchup, and napkins, I began to look for a place to sit. The place was relatively full. It was a good night for the owner of this particular McDonald's franchise. I decided I would sit at the high tops in the center of the restaurant. This McDonald's has had a recent facelift, and I hadn't sat at one of the newly installed high tops. It didn't take long to realize that it would probably be the last time I'd make that choice. Those weren't designed for me in mind ~ at all.
May I offer some suggestions of lessons learned at McDonald's on a Friday night in Vero Beach? First, fast food may or may not, in fact, be fast. Along that line, Friday night on a time crunch may not be the best time to fit McDonald's on your schedule.
Second, the high top seats are hip and trendy, I suppose. But I strongly suggest that portly sized men like myself probably will not be comfortable at the stationary high top seats.
Third, if you are in need of employment, there was a sign in the window encouraging potential employees to apply ~ look in the mirror, practice saying, "Would you like fries with that?" Now, go apply, they need your help!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
People Watching at Starbuck's
I've written that I enjoy people-watching. Today is one of those days that I'm able to spend a little time observing folks. I'm even able to combine that with a cup of coffee at Starbuck's. So, along with my cup o' joe, let me just tell you about some people that I've watched today.
First, there was the attorney-type. I have no idea if the gentleman was an attorney or not, but he had on designer dress clothes and his hair style wasn't that of a doctor or financier. He just seemed to carry himself like a high powered attorney who thought of himself to be God's creation to the Florida Bar Association. Please understand I realize that is a characterization at best, and not intended to be critical of attorneys across the board.
Then there is the couple sitting next to me. It's pretty obvious they're not a 'couple' as we typically think of couples. This is an older gentleman speaking with a younger lady. They're both dressed nice, but she's in more of a business suit. She's listening intently to his stories, and offering an occasional understanding response. It's almost as if he's in session with his counselor.
Oh, and there's the lady sitting across from me. She's in a warm up suit using an iPad. The unopened book on her table has a title something like Advanced Strategies In [some sort of] Art. I haven't seen the book opened yet, but she really doesn't look the artistic type. Then again, if she knew I just wrote a paragraph about her in my blog, she may take one look at me today and say I certainly don't look like the blogging type.
I suppose I was most fascinated today by the gentleman who came in wearing a kilt. I'm not so naive as to say he was wearing a skirt. I KNOW it was a kilt. I don't know if he is a Scottish man or not, and if he's comfortable wearing a kilt, more power to him. I, for one, am thankful I'm not expected to wear one.
I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not the only one thankful for that!
First, there was the attorney-type. I have no idea if the gentleman was an attorney or not, but he had on designer dress clothes and his hair style wasn't that of a doctor or financier. He just seemed to carry himself like a high powered attorney who thought of himself to be God's creation to the Florida Bar Association. Please understand I realize that is a characterization at best, and not intended to be critical of attorneys across the board.
Then there is the couple sitting next to me. It's pretty obvious they're not a 'couple' as we typically think of couples. This is an older gentleman speaking with a younger lady. They're both dressed nice, but she's in more of a business suit. She's listening intently to his stories, and offering an occasional understanding response. It's almost as if he's in session with his counselor.
Oh, and there's the lady sitting across from me. She's in a warm up suit using an iPad. The unopened book on her table has a title something like Advanced Strategies In [some sort of] Art. I haven't seen the book opened yet, but she really doesn't look the artistic type. Then again, if she knew I just wrote a paragraph about her in my blog, she may take one look at me today and say I certainly don't look like the blogging type.
I suppose I was most fascinated today by the gentleman who came in wearing a kilt. I'm not so naive as to say he was wearing a skirt. I KNOW it was a kilt. I don't know if he is a Scottish man or not, and if he's comfortable wearing a kilt, more power to him. I, for one, am thankful I'm not expected to wear one.
I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not the only one thankful for that!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year
I reported to work at 11 PM New Year's Eve to work my 8 hour shift. Early on, I had the television on ESPN and listened to the Chick Fil A Bowl's post-game report from the LSU Tigers epic collapse to give Clemson a last second victory.
Just before midnight local time, I changed the TV station to Fox News to watch the ball drop in New York City. The 1,000,000+ partiers in the streets celebrated the arrival of 2013. Since it was a news organization 'reporting' the New Year's arrival, they would cut away to their bureau in Washington, D.C. to report on the F.C. They didn't want to use the term, 'Fiscal Cliff', and at one point during their production, made the statement as if they were going to ask the crowd below if they wanted to by-pass the reporting of the news for the one night. Obviously (unaware of the commentary) as the cameras panned the crowd, they were cheering wildly, as if to agree whole-heartedly with the suggestion to leave it alone for a night.
As I then listened to the report about the Senate's passage of the emergency bill regarding the budget, I thought it would be nice to escape the news for one night. Escape sounded like a perfectly viable option.
The fact is, if congress had done their job all along, they could have been home where they really wanted to be anyway. They chose to vacation first, requiring them to work later. Funny, when I was growing up, we were taught that we could play after our chores / work was done.
I don't write much about politics here at Faison Focus for a reason. It typically can rarely be positive, and so many people have opinions that seem to be almost bi-polar when it comes to politics. So, suffice it to say, I wish the media would leave it alone for a little bit. Let Americans enjoy a little peace and quiet ~~ well, except for the football games.
Happy New Year ~ may this be a year that we put perspective in our lives and our Nation once again.
Just before midnight local time, I changed the TV station to Fox News to watch the ball drop in New York City. The 1,000,000+ partiers in the streets celebrated the arrival of 2013. Since it was a news organization 'reporting' the New Year's arrival, they would cut away to their bureau in Washington, D.C. to report on the F.C. They didn't want to use the term, 'Fiscal Cliff', and at one point during their production, made the statement as if they were going to ask the crowd below if they wanted to by-pass the reporting of the news for the one night. Obviously (unaware of the commentary) as the cameras panned the crowd, they were cheering wildly, as if to agree whole-heartedly with the suggestion to leave it alone for a night.
As I then listened to the report about the Senate's passage of the emergency bill regarding the budget, I thought it would be nice to escape the news for one night. Escape sounded like a perfectly viable option.
The fact is, if congress had done their job all along, they could have been home where they really wanted to be anyway. They chose to vacation first, requiring them to work later. Funny, when I was growing up, we were taught that we could play after our chores / work was done.
I don't write much about politics here at Faison Focus for a reason. It typically can rarely be positive, and so many people have opinions that seem to be almost bi-polar when it comes to politics. So, suffice it to say, I wish the media would leave it alone for a little bit. Let Americans enjoy a little peace and quiet ~~ well, except for the football games.
Happy New Year ~ may this be a year that we put perspective in our lives and our Nation once again.
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