January 30, 2014 - Msg 96408: Sorry Boo, First a stubborn toilet paper eatin' Donkey, now another sick kid, when will it end! It's no wonder you're stressed out! :\
Romeena, I thought a "wringer" was when they bring someone in to play a game. Like a basketball player who is thought not to be good but in fact they are a really great player who shows everyone up. (but not in my case), this boy has no game! ( I still have good Ping-Pong moves tho) We used to have a table in our garage and my Step-Son & his friends would come over to play and I would "Smoke'em" all! "Old School Baby"! is what I'd say... So I guess I was a Ping-Pong "Wringer"..haha
MDC...Prayers for Pop's.. He's one of the tough ones hope he feels better.. Show him my video, it may cheer him up?

Heat wave, were having a tropical heat wave.. suppose to get up to 30 degrees today Whooo!

G-F...


January 30, 2014 - Msg 96409: Yep, that boy can still Ping-Pong and Sweep with the best of 'em....
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96410: Hi All.
G F you can say that this weather is playing a game of
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96411: Hey.
Boo I know the feeling about getting a am stuck in one up to about 3inc from the top.
MDC prayering for your dad.
SPOT hope you get home safe about thing are ice up.
G F the weather here is going to warm up in the 35degee if pong have it way.

TOM
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96412: Hooray! I knew you folks wouldn't let me down. What has sparked this "wringer" question is this. Our own newspaper, "The Dallas Morning News", has on two occasions in the last week used "ringer" when they meant "wringer." The context was that a family had been "put through the wringer" in the course of a legal battle. However, the writer spelled it "ringer", which of course made no sense. I'm guessing that the reporter is a twenty-something who has never seen a wringer washing machine, and has no idea what that term actually means. I was beginning to think I was the only dinosaur around who knew what a wringer was. Believe me, I know. I watched my grandmother and my mother use one, and after I married, I owned a wringer washer for several years. When we bought it, we were living in a little duplex that had no washer hookups, but the wringer washer hoses could be attached to the sink faucet, and the drain hose could be placed in the sink as well. The machine was on casters, and could be rolled out onto the back porch when not in use. Actually, I rather enjoyed doing laundry with that machine. Very hands-on, gave me a sense of accomplishment. It beat the socks off the scrub board in the bathtub that I started out with! Trying to wring towels and Dale's khaki uniforms out by hand didn't work well, lasted about two weeks, and he bought me the wringer washer.

G-F, your definition was spot-on, but that's the word without the "w." You may have been off by one letter this time, but I'd be willing to bet you could run circles around me when it comes to math. Spelling has always come naturally to me, but math was, and still is, a struggle.

Many of our old sayings are being distorted, or disappearing altogether. At church one day, I heard a young woman say "I guess I just took it for granite that he would understand." I thought perhaps in my slightly deaf state, I had misunderstood her, but no. The discussion continued, and sure enough, she said it again. I was within two feet, and was looking right at her, and she definitely said "granite", not "granted."

Also, recently in a social media site, I saw where someone had written "I could have rung her little neck." Apparently, the memory of a wringer has been lost, and the verb form has now morphed into "ring", or "rung." That's too bad.

Oh well. I guess I'm just becoming a picky, critical old lady. And that's too bad, as well. --Romeena
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96413: I know what you mean, Ro. Texting and Twitter(giving you only 140 characters to say what you have to say) have certainly not helped people learn, or want, to spell correctly. If Barney were to arrest the inventors of those two applications, he might write them up as "contributing to the dumbing-down of America".

-Sterling Holobyte
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96414: well back at work gang...still snowed in...food request....back in a bit....SPOT
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96415: SPOT, I was going to air lift you some pizza's, but I think the airport may be "snowed in" too? I'll call WKRP in Cincinnati and see if they'll drop ya a few Turkeys!..haha

Romeena, Some times definitions are regional, like Mrs. G-F has had to (try) to break me of saying: wash not worsh something.. If it's worsh or wash the dishes get done and the car gets clean. Sorta like creek & crick thing too.
Mom did have a "Wringer" WORSHER so I knew what you were talking about... And yes, when she WASHED the clothes they still came clean anyhow!Maybe Barney had a spelling rule for that one too....

G-F...
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96416: G-F, you absolutely right. Regional pronunciations vary, and sometimes there are variances that are confined to a neighborhood, or even just a family. I recall my grandmother's brother's wife not only said "warsh", but she said "rinch" as well, meaning "rinse", of course. Country folk, which pretty much describes all of my family, tend to be less precise in their grammar and pronunciation. I've been told that I "talk like a book", and I don't necessarily think it was meant as a compliment, but I took no offense. True or not, I do know that my speech patterns change when I'm around certain members of my family. I slip very easily and comfortably back into the speech I heard, and used, as a child.

I tend to be more formal when I write, and that can be a problem. I love to write, but sometimes when I read back over something I wrote, it sounds very stiff and stilted, and I have a hard time loosening it up. I can say the same thing, and it doesn't sound so stiff. I think my Texas drawl serves me well in that case, but it doesn't come through in the written word. I think I wish it did. Dale used to say I was the only person he knew who could get four syllables out of a one-syllable word.

Well, anyway. Wash or warsh, wringer or ringer, granite or granted, I guess as long as we cal understand each other, that's the most important thing. Blessings, porch! --Romeena
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96417: Hahaha! What was I saying about reading back over something I wrote? Make that you ARE absolutely right - in my first sentence up there, and that should be "as long as we can all understand." Sometimes my fingers and my brain aren't in sync. --Romeena
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96418: Me again. I am sitting here at my window, watching a little squirrel, who has found her way INTO my bird feeder. She raised the lid on the top, crawled in, big bushy tail and all, and the lid is now closed. She is completely inside the feeder, just munching away. Now that's pretty cute! Poor thing, I see that the feeder is empty, and the stones below it on the ground are clean. I guess she climbed in to get the last few seeds that didn't make it out to the trays along the bottom. OK, critters. I'll come refill everything. They eat anything. Eloise gave me half a box of Captain Crunch that no one was eating at her house, and they finished that off in a couple of hours. --Romeena
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96419: Yep, my mom was a hillbilly so I heard some interesting things growing up, too. Just last night I remembered something she used to say...it was, so-and-so was, "Grinnin' like a mule eatin' briars". I realized last night that I never understood that saying but now that I have a donkey of my own, I DO. ;) The revelation made me chuckle out loud to myself late last night while lying in bed.

Well, Erin seems fine and dandy today, so I dropped her at St. Susan's and went and got my hair "did". Yes folks, I'm blond from a bottle.

Boo
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96420: Boo, you swore you only use that peroxide for gargling purposes only. :) I'm glad Erin is feeling better so quick.
Well I'm sorry I missed the great wringer debate. My folks had a washer (or is it a worsher) that had one of those hand cranks on it. The only other ringer I can think of is used in horseshoes. And I think that is where the term "bringing in a ringer" originated from.

Prayers for your Dad MDC. I hope it's nothing serious.

Well my folks were from England, so I could spend all day telling you about their words and phrases.

Well I best get doing some cleaning. A couple of ladies from our Church is bringing me dinner, bless their hearts. They worry I may starve I reckon. They must have seen the smoke rolling out my Windows the last time I tried cooking hamburgers. Lol

Prayers for all.

Asa
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96421: Asa, You must like your burgers "hard" just like Al does....
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96422: Good evening. My last comment on the "great wringer debate" is to note that MY wringer washer was very uptown! It was electric, not just the washer part, but the wringer as well! Now, just how high-falutin' can you get? (heehee)

Boo, my family had a very similar saying - we said "grinnin' like a jack@ss eatin' pr1ckly pear!" Or - another version: "grinnin' like a 'coon eatin' yellow jackets!" For you city folks, pr1ckly pear is a kind of cactus, and yes, raccoons can and do eat yellow jackets at times.

Oh, my family had some good ones, and I still use them. They usually make people laugh, which I enjoy, and they make the point quite clearly. "Don't just stand there like a duck lookin' at thunder, do something!" Or - "He just looked at me, like a calf lookin' at a new gate." "Getting this family moving is like trying to herd baby ducks." Those are just a few, and if you're from the country, you probably realize that every one of those sayings has roots in truth.

I wouldn't trade my country ancestry for anything. Not a scholar in the bunch, even my own dad didn't graduate from high school, but he was no dummy. He taught himself the construction business and had a fine career, building beautiful homes. He wasn't wealthy, but he was quite comfortable, and left a legacy to my brother and me that helps support me today. They may have started out as rag-tag country people, but they were all as good as gold, and plenty smart where it counted. Most important, they loved the Lord, they were honest and could be trusted, and would share their last dime with someone in need. And they just might say "warsh", too. --Romeena
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96423:
I'm still trying to figure out what a "hashtag" is,
or does that have to do with what the meaning of "is" is? ha
Dad is MUCH better today. He did a big one this morning and we all
breathed a sigh of relief. I had Mr. Fleet ready,
and I dont mean the band leader! :)
ASA--I bet your folks checked under the bonnet of their lorry! lol
RO- that's pretty funny about the squirrel being IN the feeder!
As to the wringer washer, my grandma had one in her basement, and when we would vacation back to Mpls, all us kids got to do the "wringin'"
G-F--Could a "ringer" also be the guy who rings the bell in a church steeple? :)
Thanks again for the prayers, because what I didnt tell you about was the 6 hour ER experience from h-ll! From a heart monitor that kept showing dad as flatlined (which he was NOT)to a quite unfriendly staff. I'm usually pretty understanding, but this place had some real issues.
Well, anyway, all is pretty good now, but they will get a call from me in the morning.
Prayers,
MDC
January 30, 2014 - Msg 96424: Wow, MDC! Sounds like quite the ordeal- so glad your dad is okay! Prayers,friend.

********************
possum under a rock
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96425: ok..ok...back in at work...still ice here....let me get busy...SPOT
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96426:
MDC, the tic-tac-toe, or number sign on a touch tone pad or cellphone, is also known as a "hash". When that symbol is placed directly in front of any word or space-less phrase, then it becomes a "hashtag". Examples include #mayberry and #front-porch and #frontporch
Although hashtags have been used in computer programs long ago, they became more widely known as Twitter usage increased. When you click on a hashtag, that takes you to any data or messages that have been grouped with that subject by the hosting service. Example: Suppose Twitter groups everything on their servers that is associated with Obama by using the #Obama hashtag. Then whenever you see and click on an #Obama hashtag, you will be directed to the location of all that data. This differs from a regular link since that only takes you to just one web page.

from Poor Horatio
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96427: PH, Your education was worth every penny! Even tho I did not ask the question, I am now more informed.. Thanks! Just 1 more question, if you are on "Twitter" does that make you a Twit? I'm kinda sensitive about being called a Twit! I may be goofy but I ain't stupid.. So I guess that's why I don't do all those other Social Media things. Now, is that Tweeter or Twitter in different parts of the country as we discussed earlier. One that tweets is a twitter or a twitter is one who tweets...I just will remember that birds say "Tweet" "Tweet" at Romeena's bird feeder and leave it at that...
How many twitter tweets does a twit tweet if he has to tweet a twit? Now do THAT one Barney 10 times...

G-F... (my birds eye view)
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96428: Well folks, I'm off to women's retreat. Please pray for safe travel and such...see ya all on sunday. :)

Boo
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96429:
BOO- have a good one! Prayers and blessings!
PH--Thanks for the info, but I think I'll just stick
to the porch and FB.
G_F--here's the "tweets" that I remember! ha...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku37PSUqltE
Have a good weekend SPOT--hope things are better now. I saw on the news about the 2000 abondoned cars!! wow!
Prayers,
MDC
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96430: Good evening, porch. G-F, you and I think alike. I finally joined Facebook, have absolutely no idea how to control or navigate the thing, and only visit it occasionally. Since I joined it, however, I'm being invited to join about four other social media sites. No way! I can't manage the one I did join, the last thing I need is a bunch more.

Thank you, PH, for clarifying what the hashtag thing is, and what it does. Sounds a bit scary to me. If someone is monitoring you on social media sites, using that hashtag thing could make it a lot easier for them.

By the way - I have to share this! You'll remember my woes with the IRS, after the tax ID thief hit me, not once, but twice. Well, last week the police got a tremendous break, and were able to bust a huge ID theft ring, most of it specifically tax ID thefts. It seems they were operating out of a hotel suite in Dallas, and two members of the gang were returning to the hotel in a cab. When they arrived, one of them decided the cabbie had overcharged them, so he grabbed $40 in cash out of the cabbie's console. The cabbie pursued him, the man kicked the cabbie in the shins and ran into the hotel. The cabbie followed him, yelling about robbery. The desk clerk saw it all, and called the police. When they arrived, he directed them to the man's room. When the cops knocked on the door, it was opened, they could see their fugitive in a bedroom, so they entered the suite. That's when they saw the computers, suitcases and boxes full of money, stacks of lists of stolen information, everything. They completed the bust, and the thieves' haul is estimated to be in the millions. Here's the best part - the other man who was in the cab was heard yelling at his partner, asking "why did you grab that X@$% $40 when we had all this money here in the room?" Good question! Well, anyway. I hope these people were the ones who caused me so much trouble, and I hope they hang them by their, uh, ahem, thumbs.

Well, back to TV, and then to bed. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96431:
Ro-great news! I hope they hang em from their, ahem, thumbs, as well. :)
I forgot to mention earlier that I was watching Perry Mason this AM, and there was tags' Mr Jackson, the speeding big shot publisher! He played a similar big shot role on PM! Good character actor.
Well, sweet dreams,
MDC
January 31, 2014 - Msg 96432: That's what I'm talkin' about MDC, those kind of tweets are what I remember!
Romeena...What goes around comes around, it will always catch up to them, can't escape the long arm of the law. It's no fun when that iron door slams shut!
Hey SPOT, here's a idea, how about telling your mayor of Atlanta, Cleveland will trade rock salt from under Lake Erie for some of the Braves & Falcons, say 10 tons per man. Heck, they will even take Chipper Jones as part of the deal. Road salt is a HOT commodity right now. It may be the best way for him to get out of hot water. Heaven knows Cleveland sports needs all the help they can get...

Possum, check in with us we need to know if you see your shadow or not on Sunday... We need a early Spring!

G-F...

January 31, 2014 - Msg 96433: Hi
Now G F do not gave a way Cleveland salt because it like gold to them.

TOM

February 01, 2014 - Msg 96434: Your are right TOM, it is about the only thing they have going for them... Pass the salt...G-F
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96435:
I guess you could say that they're "worth their salt!" :) mystery poster
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96436: APB for Mr Sawyer!
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96437:
Stop picking on poor Cleveland. According to the link below, CLEVELAND ROCKS!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYEzmuxPDww

from Poor Horatio
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96438:
And for all you Cleveland fans who want to sing along with the music, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KrUME5Bnvk

from Poor Horatio
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96439: I guess Ernest T Bass would have fun in Cleveland, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum has a lot of windows in it. The Cuyahoga river hasn't caught on fire in years... They produce tons of ROCK salt, so I guess you could say "It ROCKS"?....G-F
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96440: Hey gang ,just stopped by for a quick trouble check .Prayers for all
MDC,SPOT.. about Time for NASCAR to fire them up ...don't think I care for the new Chase format ,would rather they just go back to a points system for where you finish each race and let the drivers run for the championship like they used to do .
MAYBERRY DEPUTY
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96441: Hi.
Now you may me mad Poor Horatio CLEVELAND NOT LIKE THAT it is a sin city?
just make it sound good just just to cove it up
g f where do you thank everyone one get there rock salt from the store it all come from Cleveland.
tom

February 01, 2014 - Msg 96442:
OH NO! It looks like my last two posts got TOM mad. I guess I am in BIG trouble!
Maybe if I stop posting for a while, he might forget about why he is mad at me.

from Poor Horatio
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96443: Hi
No Poor Horatio your post did not do it!
It like everything from the pass that Cleveland sandy for is gong forgetting in time like the three school I are gong but the name are here on new one and like all the fun park are gong every so Cleveland be came a pop stare In mover it chang to the bag.

TOM

February 01, 2014 - Msg 96444:
Thanks for that explanation TOM. I now know that you like the old Cleveland and not how it has changed today.

from Poor Horatio
February 01, 2014 - Msg 96445:
Hello all, have a good Sabbath.
Dad doing pretty good today.
Cramps are almost all gone.
I'll let you guys deal with Cleveland! ha
MAYBERY DEP--good to see you! Is there more rules changes coming
up this year? I didnt hear about it.
But with baseball and nascar about to start,
2014 may be ok yet! ha
God bless,
MDC
February 02, 2014 - Msg 96446: Good Sabbath porch.

Glad your Dad is doing better MDC. Was thinking about you yesterday when I was watching golf yesterday. Quite the rowdy crowd that gathers in Phoenix. Is Waste Management headquartered in Phoenix?
I hope Boo is having a nice time at her retreat. She certainly deserves a few days off to recharge her batteries.

Sure am glad to see January come to an end. It is typically the nastiest and coldest month of the year. But this hasn't been so bad this year. But it has the water managers here really nervous. And farmers and ranchers are asking for folks to pray for a wet spring. I think the entire southwest is in a pretty severe drought. I knew southern California is in real trouble.Good thing the Lord is in charge and has a plan. Otherwise I'd be worried.

Well I better go get ready for preaching. I have an early meeting I am supposed to be at.

Prayers for all.

Asa
February 02, 2014 - Msg 96447: It's GROUND HOG DAY! Well Punxsutawney Phil made his prognostication... check out the link to find his answer... I won't believe it until we hear from our own prognosticator, "Carolina Possum" and see what she has to say about it once she gets out from under her rock... G-F (a lot of big words in this post, man, my brain & fingers are tired)...

http://www.groundhog.org/
February 02, 2014 - Msg 96448: Thousands of people waiting, freezing their butts off to worship a RAT! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSVeDx9fk60
February 02, 2014 - Msg 96449: time to make a soup out of him.


February 02, 2014 - Msg 96450:
Another groundhog day. And we rely on a rodent that has no weather predicting talent other than a human interpretation of whether he sees his shadow on a particular day.
So just how accurate have these predictions been? The groundhog official web site claims 100%. But meteorological professionals calculate it to be more around 39%. Had we flipped a coin every groundhog day, we would average around 50%.
The funny thing is that if a professional baseball player had a lifetime batting average of .390, he would be in the Hall of Fame! Ironic, isn't it?

from Poor Horatio
February 02, 2014 - Msg 96451: Thanks guys, had a great time at retreat. The retreat center was a beautiful, peaceful setting and it was really a lovely weekend.

Thanks for the hashtag explanation, PH..I certainly didn't know any of that. I only do this and facebook.

Boo
February 02, 2014 - Msg 96452: Carolina Possum predicts.. an early Spring!!

Don't pay any attention to that overgrown rat up in PA.- I heard he hits the sauce! LOL

*******************
possum under a rock
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96453:
PH's education was worth every penny. :)
ASA- as far as I know...no, they just picked up the sponsorship. The 16th hole is pretty rowdy for sure.
Poor little Tiger got heckled there once, so he wont play the PO anymore. Poor baby.
Message 96449---I think Bill Murray already did that! ha
BOO- glad all went well and you had time to relax and renew!
Happy February!
MDC
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96454: Possum, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT! I knew you would peek out from under your rock with the right prognostication... I heard that about Phil too, plus he's not a very good driver either...
But, the weatherman are saying we are in for a double whammy storm this week, A lot of snow so better get prepared Auh2o.... SPOT I'll send you a box of road salt so you can be the only one in Atlanta who is prepared.... Do you think the Mayor & Governor called Cleveland and made that salt deal yet?.... Probably Not... those guys never learn, easier to blame it on the Weatherman!

MDC... Tiger better call the "Waaambulance"!

Romeena... The new owner at McDonalds close to me issued new "rules" if you want a cup of water it now costs $1.00! maybe not everyone WANTS 84oz of soda some of us just like plain old water! As for me,..."THE BIG FREEZE" until policy changes.

Boo, Glad you had a good relaxing retreat, good to recharge from time to time. Thelma Lou been behaving?

G-F....
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96455: Well MDC I'd say Tigers loss is Phoenix's gain. (sorry, I have no respect for that guy) I wanted to see Bubba win. Oh well. I wanted to see Seattle win. They came through.... big!

GF, seriously, a buck for a cup of water at Mc.D's? What a joke.

Glad you're back home, rested, relaxed, and ready to rock and roll Boo. Glad you had a good time.

Possum, I like your prediction way better than that rodent up north. Your education was worth every penny!

Better get moving. Monday mornings can be a real drag sometimes.

Asa
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96456: Thanks everyone! I am happy to be home, but looking at laundry and cleaning and wanting to "retreat" some more. ;)

Boo
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96457: I have to tell my McD's mayonnaise story too, awhile back I'd stop at one of the McD's close to work and I would get a plain regular hamburger with just mayo. Then one day I stopped to get my order the person stated she could not do it anymore, I said excuse me? The manager (with his back turned) said: "tell him he has to take it the way it comes" I said: "Sorry, no I don't"! Tell your manager I'll go across the street to Burger King where they will make it MY WAY! I wrote to the owner who ignored it so I wrote to the corporate office. They replied: We can not alter out "unique" sandwich combination. As a consolation they sent me (2) 50 cent gift certificates. I was appalled at such a lame excuse. I sent them a letter back asking what was so "unique" about mustard,ketchup,1 pickle and some reconstituted onions? I don't think a change in the condiments really effected their bottom line? So yes, I did send back their lame gift certificates along with a receipt from B-K showing a hamburger WITH mayonnaise just to rub it in. I did not eat at any McD's for about 2 years as my protest. I was the most upset by the Manager and his crude response, how unprofessional can you get? He was lucky I was not the kind of person who would served him more like a knuckle samich to go with his "unique" burger. I think he needed to go back to Mc Donald University for retraining in customer service, along with this new clown they have with this water decision... I think 1 clown is enough.. Right Ronald?....

G-F again...
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96458: Good morning, porch! My stars, G-F, who's running your McD's? Adolf Hitler? That's just ridiculous. About the charge for a cup of water - I could almost be tempted to give him a pass on that one, though a whole dollar sounds pretty steep. He has to buy the cups, and it takes employee time to serve him, but a whole dollar? Maybe a dime? If he's in a construction area or something, where he's using a lot of cups, I could sympathize, just a little, although usually people buy something, they don't just take the water and leave. But that "tell him he has to take it the way it comes" is ridiculous. Too bad he didn't have a way to record that. I'll bet the corporate office would have enjoyed hearing it. Well, don't worry. He won't last long. He needs a visit from the Undercover Boss.

A dollar for a cup of water, huh? And he probably would think the folks at Chic-fil-A are a bunch of fools for staying open and feeding the folks who were stranded during that ice storm, for as long as their food reserves held out. No charge. They just gave the food away, and not just in the restaurant. The employees actually went out along the highway and delivered the food to people in the stranded cars. http://tinyurl.com/me4zmry The folks at Chic-fil-A have taken some flak lately for standing by their convictions and refusing to cater an event that they feel violates those convictions. It's lovely to see that they also honor their beliefs in a situation such as this.

Well, guess I'll go scratch up some lunch. I have quite a bit of a pot of lentils left over, and they're gooood! Sounds like a winner to me. Later, friends! -- Romeena
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96459: Scratch up some lunch Rommena, just don't scratch McDonalds...The Big Freeze!... I told the group of Senior guys (mostly Vet's) who get together to gossip & have their coffee in the mornings they better watch out or they will be charged a loitering fee next, or have to put another quarter in the meter.. If that happens, you might hear on the National News where a McD's manager got whacked.
I'm just sayin'....G-F
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96460: If we are talking about McDonald's and their weird policy changes, I have one for you. It is kind of similar to yours, G-F. I may have already mentioned it hear before when it happened.

But here I go again in that case. ;)

My wife has always had me get her(since I am the one who usually goes to pick up the food) a hamburger Happy Meal, but with a large fry instead of the usual kiddie one they stick in there, and the clerk would always just add the cost of the larger fry to the Happy Meal price. No problem, right?
But then a few months ago, I went to order that same thing I always have, and the clerk informed me that "The Happy Meal comes with a small fry."
Ok.... I told her that I had ordered it this way before, but she insisted, and then told me I could have the large fry if I went with the "two hamburger" meal.
Uh... I didn't want the two hamburger meal. My wife wouldn't eat it, Kai had her own order, and I don't eat McDonald's.
Finally, I said "No, thank you. Just cancel my order." and drove off, to Burger King, where like you G-F, they did give me what I wanted.

I wrote to McDonald's, and, like you again, G-F, received a "sorry but we can't do anything about it" response and some coupons.

I have never used the coupons. Thought about sending them back, but didn't want to be that facetious, as Barney might say.

Seems all McDonald's are using the same playbook. "You'll eat what WE want you to eat!"
Does Michael "Nanny State" Bloomberg run McDonald's or something?!

-Sterling Holobyte


February 03, 2014 - Msg 96461: Ack! That should be "mentioned it HERE before". I must have saved that spelling for the next sentence. ;)

-SH
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96462: Wow. You can tell I don't eat at McDonald's very often, because these stories are news to me, but I don't doubt it for a minute. My own experience with McD's goes back a few years, and I may have told it here before. Anyway, I was getting a sausage egg McMuffin and hash browns, and there was a special "meal-deal" for those two things, with coffee (which I don't drink), and it was cheaper than just buying the sandwich and hashbrowns separate. So I ordered it, and when I got to the pick up window, I told the girl I didn't want the coffee. She told me I would owe 40 cents more, or whatever it was. I tried to explain, but she insisted. I either take the whole deal, or pay the full price. So I told her I'd take the deal. She smiled, satisfied with herself, and handed me the coffee and food. I poured the coffee on the ground, handed her back the cup, and drove away, leaving her with the empty cup and a dumbstruck look on her face. I loved it! Sometimes, there's just no room for logic anymore, it seems.

Well, off I go. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
February 03, 2014 - Msg 96463:
Speaking of McDonald's, below are some of my thoughts and experiences.
The one near my home will not charge me to add a tomato slice to my value burger. But another one farther away charges 25 cents.
Also, I have begun to see signs at the drive up window of a few McDonald's where they are now charging for extra packets of condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, tartar sauce).
And my province just approved increasing the minimum wage from $10.25/hour to $11.00/hour. How will this affect the fast food industry I'm not sure since I don't know if they pay their workers the minimum wage.
As a result, I have cut back drastically on purchasing fast food such as McDonald's. I limit my selections to their economical value menu because I am tired of purchasing their higher priced sandwiches with the oversized buns. And with large soft drinks (about 1 liter in volume) costing between $2.00 and $3.00, I only purchase cold soft drinks when they have their summer long special of $1.00 for any size. During the rest of the year, I carry in my vehicle a full 2 liter bottle of pop that cost me $1.25 or less.

Romeena, I've encountered something similar like your coffee experience. All fast food businesses sell combo meals that usually includes a sandwich, french fries, and a soft drink. Since I don't care for french fries, I tried ordering just the sandwich and soft drink. But I am always told that if I purchase the combo with the french fries, it would be cheaper. To me, it makes no good business sense to charge less for more food. Surprisingly, this applies to every fast food place I have tried this at, not just McDonald's.
As for charging for the water, I could sympathize with that if the charge was reasonable. But I believe $1.00 is excessive, even if it was manufactured bottle water.
What is next? Will they start charging to use the restrooms, or for the use of their playground equipment, or to use their indoor dining area? Afterall, those items are expensive to construct, maintain and insure.

G-F, regarding your mayo experience, you should have added that your entire family will switch to Burger King as a result. And you will inform all of your co-workers and post this information on the internet. Loosing one customer is no big deal to these large corporations. But loosing more, along with negative publicity, is a big deal. However, if they are firm about this policy change, even these drastic methods may not work unless it results in a decrease in their profit margin.

If I were fast food business owner near a McDonald's that adopted these unfriendly policies, I would use signs to advertise to the public that my business does not have such policies.

from Poor Horatio
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96464: Sorta like, Air & Water are free, but for gas we have to make a charge for that! There is a book called "Give em' the pickle!" by Bob Ferrell which speaks on the importance of customer service. Matter of fact there is a whole training seminar on the subject. We had a presentation once at work on it. Those who are not focused on the importance of this in their business sure had a "eye opening" experience. Those of us who practice & understand the concept fully got the message. I guess if they was Aunt Bee's pickles maybe it would be different story, anyways it is a good read for all who work with & for the public.

http://www.giveemthepickle.com/?atc=GOG&ctc=GEPBF&gclid=CKnSz7rMsrwCFeYWMgod_h0AOQ

G-F (waiting on the snow storm)
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96465: "The pickle principal" Story....

http://www.giveemthepickle.com/pickle_principle.htm
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96466: Well I cannot stand McDonald's food, so problem solved. :)

Rainy and cool here today but supposed to get up near 70 this afternoon. Hope the rest of you are staying warm.

Have to take Mom to a dr's appointment today.

Laundry to do!

Boo
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96467: Best thing at McDonald's is their sweet tea,and they don't even make that-it comes pre-made in a bag!

Their fries are okay,but I'm not a fan of their food & only eat there when it's my last resort.

Nobody's mentioned the "broken" Porch- couldn't get on the Porch last night & MDC said he had the same trouble. So,thanks for whacking them spiders out from under it, Floyd! We appreciate ya!!

*******************
possum under a rock
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96468: Lol! I love your "reply" to the McDonald's worker, Ro.

Is anyone going to be watching the Creation Debate between Ken Ham(Answers-in-Genesis) and Bill Nye(the anti-God guy;)) today? Here is a link to the live debate if you are interested: http://debatelive.org/ It starts at 6pm Central Time, 7pm Eastern Time, and I don't know any of the other times, you will have to figure that out yourselves because I forgot how. ;)

Our church is showing it so we are all going. I already know what I believe but it will be nice to watch something like this with people who (probably) share the same view.
Hopefully someone on the "other side" will come away enlightened and their heart pr1cked with truth, though I don't really know if anyone's mind will be changed on either side by this debate.

-Sterling Holobyte




February 04, 2014 - Msg 96469: Oh yeah, I noticed that last night too, possum. I just thought Floyd hadn't changed the broken porch lightbulb so I couldn't see it. ;)

-Sterling Holobyte
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96470: Good morning, porch! My last comment on the fast food discussion - there is a Sonic just down the street from me. I call my order in and immediately get in the car and drive up there, and my order is ready. I order a junior burger deluxe for $1.49, and when I ask for extra pickle and extra tomato, they say "Why, sure!" and always load it up but never charge extra. Can't beat that. The only thing I get from McD's now is the occasional sausage egg McMuffin. I love 'em!

I'll be recording the debate. Should be very interesting, though I cannot, for the life of me, understand how the other side can believe that some stray dust came along from somewhere (?) got together and finally exploded, and has just kept on expanding, more matter appearing from out of nowhere to support the expansion, and everything finding its place and staying in it. Where did the dust come from? Where will it all end, and what will be here when it does? What's at the end of the cosmos? Empty space? Where does that end? What's at the end of time? More time? Ha! No one has ever offered answers for any of that, and no one ever will, because the answer lies beyond that which we can understand. We will know the answers some day, but not in our mortal lifetime. To believe that all that I see around me just happened, a random occurrence, requires more faith in the unknown than I could ever muster.

Well, I'm about to go get Eloise, and we're going to pick up Subway sandwiches and take them to a friend who has had a hip replacement and is confined to her home for at least three weeks. She's a great gal, and we'll spend a lot of time laughing over there. You know, it strikes me that in general, Christians are the happiest people I know! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96471: I think Floyd was having computer problems, he was having problems with the Monday nite pod-cast too. Also speaking of Floyd, Mrs. Floyd is having back surgery in a couple of weeks, so keep her Floyd, and the family in your prayers..

Possum... Sweet tea in a bag? Man, that just ain't right!

TOM.. Be careful! We are hearing your area is going to get 2" of ICE! That's worse than snow, we are suppose to get 8" worth of snow starting early evening into tomorrow, followed by another blast on the week-end... Getting tire of this routine..

Sterling, Sounds like you must have the same stupid rules @ McD's too. I agree with Boo, I don't eat there much either so it is time to cut that pony loose. I like Subway better anyhow!

Romeena, I loved your solution..."Clean-up at the drive thru"....

G-F...
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96472: Hey.
G F.
I heard we are going to get 2"of snow not ice bad weather stat this evening and run tomorrow.
Where is good old 14 A.

TOM

February 04, 2014 - Msg 96473:
I'm glad Floyd got the porch fixed. Thanks Floyd, much appreciated!
As for the fast-food debate, I honestly dont do it very often at all. I do get Wendy's chili now and then, but that's about it.
Without sounding like a pompous a--, I find it much more satisfying writing to the White House or to my reps, because really, what's a pickle or two when our very country is in a downward spiral? OK, I've said enough, I'm sliding my soapbox
back under the porch. I guess the terrible ER
experience still has me all flustered.
Well, have a good day all, I'm off to run errands.
Prayers,
MDC :)
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96474: MDC...Run? off to do errands What's your hurry? You're not Malcolm Tucker, slow down, at least listen to some nice band music on your radio..."What's your Hurry?...
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96475:
I see that the Front Porch is back in service. Last night before I went to bed, I decided to make one last visit. I always come through the www.imayberry.com web page and click on the Front Porch link in the far right column. But that generated an error message. Then when I tried the other links in that far right column, about 90% also generated an error message. I don't know if this was a server problem or a hacker attack. I figured that nothing could be done about it so late in the evening, so I went to bed.

Sterling Holobyte, thanks for posting about that Creation Debate. I love watching moderated debates involving controversial religious topics.

My last word about fast food beef is this. I have switched to purchasing burgers from A&W. They advertise that their ranchers use no hormones or steroids to feed the cattle used in their beef products. There still is a debate about just how healthy this is for human consumption. But I find their burgers taste much better than McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc. I purchase their value burger that comes fried onions and ketchup for $1.75. Then I bring it home and pile on a tomato slice, cooked mushrooms, leafy greens and even more onions. M-m-m-m-m good!
All the ingredients I pile on my burgers are among the G-BOMBS that Dr. Fuhrman recommends at http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/gbombs.aspx

from Poor Horatio
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96476:
MDC, so you limit your fast food to just chili from Wendy's? I also like their chili and buy it about two times a month, usually when my wife wants one of their baked potatoes. However, are you aware that the meat in their chili is old broken up hamburgers that did not sell?
One thing bugs me about Wendy's. I don't like crackers so I never ask for them when I order chili. But they always give me crackers with my chili. Instead, I prefer the chili seasoning in the gold packages. But I always have to ask for them.

from Poor Horatio
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96477: Well, I like Whataburger because you can still get just what you want and nothing more...There! I said it and I ain't takin' it back. :)

Boo
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96478: Boo, We don't have Whataburgers over our way, I hear you & Romeena talk of them often. Are they a Texas chain or mostly out west?...G-F
February 04, 2014 - Msg 96479: G-F, Check out this link: http://www.whataburger.com/Company
Whataburger originated in Corpus Christi, TX, and now has over 700 locations all across the country. Where but in America?

MDC, your point is well taken, but in truth, probably about as much good is accomplished by taking a potshot at a company offering pitiful service, as is accomplished by writing to the White House. I know, I speak my mind now and then as well, but nobody up there gives a little rodent's hiney what we think. I seriously doubt they even open the mail.

Well, I've got supper all done. When I got my Subway sandwich for lunch, I got the footlong one, ate half at my friend's house and brought the other half home. Subway does make a good sandwich, and I like that I can stand there and watch them make it. I agree with Briscoe in that respect, I like to watch and make sure everything is clean. And - they'll build it any way you want it! That "tell him he has to take it the way it comes" still just amazes me. Even more amazing was the corporate office's response. You know what? Bigger giants than McDonald's have fallen, and they could too.

Well, I'm off to get in my jammies, and in my big old comfy chair, and watch a little TV. During the commercials, I'll admire my pretty toes! A pedicure just does wonders. Tonight, I have Happy Feet! --Romeena

February 04, 2014 - Msg 96480:
Boo- I forgot about Whataburger, WHAT was I thinking! Yes, we eat there about every six weeks or so. Of course, those hormones in the meat, PH, may explain my 6 breasts, but who knows for sure! haha
RO- we still have one of those original A-frames here in Phx area.
God bless America! :)
MDC
February 05, 2014 - Msg 96481: Thanks for the link Romeena, makes me hungry after shoveling my 8" of WET HEAVY SNOW! Yep, it's a mess around here, glad I'm retired and don't HAVE to get out in it! The snow flakes are falling now as big as a quarter... If I pound them, I'll have me a "Quarter Pounder"?...
Be careful Auh2o it's a bad one this time, well I think I'll make me a cup of tea and watch a few more inches fall...Yep, It's gonna be a fun day!

G-F
February 05, 2014 - Msg 96482: Uh, G-F, there's a nice house next door to me that should be coming up for sale very soon. Has a pool and everything. I could pretty well guarantee you won't have to shovel snow. Now that you're retired, and not tied to a job there - well, I'm just sayin'. I'd be happy to show Mrs. G-F all the good stores and things, and you and your family would love my church! --Romeena