My 43 Things

My sister just introduced me to a wonderful website that I would love to pass on to you. It's www.43things.com . This site is basically a To-Do list for your life. You wanna go to England before you die? Put that on it. You wanna learn to breakdance? Put that on it. It's really a very fun little program. You can even challenge yourself to do things within a certain time period, and they'll send you little reminders in your email.

You can make these life goals (like it's intended) or yearly goals (which is what I've chosen to do). All I know is if you're a master list maker, like myself, this is definitely a site you will enjoy.

An open letter to the American Dairy Queen Corporation

I've been enjoying your Blizzards for years now and have never had a complaint. That changed today. I was excited to try your new Kit Kat Blizzard so stopped at the Kingsville, TX location. When the girl handed it to me it looked horrible and it ended up tasting just as bad. If you've ever had a Sonic Blast, it was actually comparable to that. When she gave it to me it was already half melted and there were huge chunks of Kit Kats sticking out the top. There were no other Kit Kats mixed in at all. It was half a cup of melted ice cream (which really didn't taste as good as it usually does either) with just the Kit Kats on top. I don't know if she didn't mix it at all or what. And I'm guessing she knew she did a shitty job because she didn't even dare try to turn it upside down, she just handed it to me.

For the rest of my order I had a small Sweet Tea (delicious as always) and a Chili Cheese Coney Dog. For some reason it took 10 minutes to throw a hot dog together, and when I say throw, I mean throw. All that was on it was Chili and mustard, no cheese what so ever and it was given to me upside down (I suppose to make up for the fact they didn't give me the Blizzard upside down)- what idiots!

All in all I'm going to have to say this is a horrible location where apparently you need a criminal record and GED to work in since that's the look and attitude of 90% of their employees. I will not be returning. I will however give your other locations a try since I have enjoyed your frozen treats for years.

Sincerely,
Debra Galvan

For the Peanut Butter Lover in us All

I recently saw this on singer John Mayer's blog and thought it was quite fascinating. Let's all stand behind him in the push for this wonderful product. Enjoy.


DEAR J.M. SMUCKER CO, ORRVILLE, OH

Dear J.M. Smucker Co, Orrville, OH

Recently I have rediscovered the simple joy of a peanut butter and honey sandwich. The peanut butter I always choose is Jif. (The honey I use is not important.) I find its ease in preparation to be a large factor in deciding to make one of these sandwiches. Materials in use are as simple as a paper towel and a knife. However, when making large quantities of these sandwiches between dish washing cycles, the sink becomes cluttered with knives slathered to the handle in your gooey peanut butter. I find this to be annoying, as there is no ideal way to remove peanut butter from a utensil, not even immediately after use, as is the case with cream based soups.
Last night I had the idea for a solution to this problem: Jif's (your) P.B. Spreader's single-use peanut butter packet and applicator.

This design would allow for both consistent apportioning of peanut butter and would save your consumers the cleaning of a knife, or in my case, nineteen knives. Simply tear across the top of the mylar pouch to reveal a rounded plastic edge that acts as a "spreader". Squeeze the peanut butter off the edge of the spreader, and work it across the bread or testicles. When you're done, you dispose of the packet, never to be reminded of the exact count of peanut butter and honey sandwiches you've eaten.
Please review my design draft:


It's just a mock up, but I think you'll agree the design is compelling; it allows for the addition of any number of peanut butter's companion spreads, like say Smuckers jams and jellies. The pouch would be divided and both sides would dispense simultaneously.

I have also included an anthropomorphic concept for P.B. Spredder's namesake, Paul Benjamin Spredder. I feel that this makes the product feel "old-timey" and comfortable. Focus groups, as well as my informal street surveys, have shown that American consumers have a long-standing love affair with the knife, and it shows no signs of slowing down. This "namesake" approach will help transition users into such an advanced design. I don't have to tell you that the knife accounts for 97 percent of all peanut butter application methods, all but blowing away the second and third most popular, the spoon and the finger, respectively. Let's get in there and kick some ass!
Please see below:


I hope you've been enlightened by my online presentation and will entertain this idea. I see that there is a phone number on the side of your product and may use that method to communicate with you as well. (I have one question and two comments.) I'm never too busy to help my country in whatever ways I can.
Thank You For Your Time.
John C. Mayer
New York, NY

Pretty Washers Suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought that would get your attention..hehe

I had been eying these HE washers and dryers for a couple of years now because I thought they looked so cool. So when we got the house Rudy told me we could get them. We immediately decided on LG because they're supposed to be the best. Well all was well for maybe 2 months then it came......the smell. Something most people don't tell you is the horrible mildew problems you have with these kinds of washers. Since they are front loading sometimes all the water doesn't get out while washing and it builds up more and more over time until finally your entire home and all your clean clothes reek of it.

The only way I can keep it under control is to wipe out the excess water and wash the inside down with bleach once a week. Then about once a month I have to run a cycle of "Scum out" in the machine (that's a pool/hot tub cleaning product).

Since I bought it I've done alot of research and there's a million complaints about it online. When I called the company to complain myself I knew I was just screwed when one of the automated options was "If your washing machine smells like mildew press 7".

I'm annoyed. Yeah, they're pretty and they help the environment and our electric bill but that's about it. Next time I think I'm going back to the uglies.

Oh and an update on Radar, thanks to a wonderful vet who is willing to go that extra mile for his patients he has made a full recovery! He is completely back to his bratty self =)

It's more than "just a dog"

Awww my baby is so cute. And so sick. He's been having tummy troubles all week so I called the vet's office on Thursday to get an appointment. "Oh with diarrhea you just have to let it run it's course", the receptionist told me. Despite my better judgment I said okay and hung up without an appointment.

Saturday comes. He seems to be doing a bit worse, but still nothing horrible. At that point his tummy had been messed up for a week already so I thought well I'll wait until Monday and if he's still not feeling any better, I'll take him to the doctor.

Saturday evening comes and I notice blood in his stool. Now I panic. I start researching different things it can be and it all comes back to one thing.....parvo. Now I really panic. He starts throwing up and not eating, or drinking, or doing anything but lay around and cry. It hurts me to see him in such pain but I force myself to wait until Sunday before calling in the vet on his weekend.

This morning I awoke to a horrible noise. It was Radar, crying loud almost as screaming "Don't you love me?!?!?! Why are you letting me hurt like this?!?!?!", I immediately call the doctor and he agrees to meet me up at the clinic at 1:15 to check Radar out.

"Oh it can't be parvo" he said without hesitation. "He has all his shots and he's almost two but then again, he does have all the signs". He gave us pills with strict instructions to make sure he takes them, keep plenty of water in him, and no food oh and a shot. Then off we go with a very sick puppy, meds, and without a parvo test and without the 162 bucks we came with. Still no answers, still alot of pain.

I was able to get the pills down him however he just threw them back up 20 minutes later. He still won't eat or drink and he still lays at my feet crying with a painful look in his eyes.

I've failed him. He trusts me to make everything better and as much as I tried today, I don't think I made any progress. I think I'm going to take him to get a second opinion tomorrow. I really need to force them to give a parvo test. I have to because he's not just a dog, he's my baby.

Christmas Time Is Here!

The first annual Holiday Tea Party went pretty good! I had invited several but there were only five of us. That's really okay because it was more intimate that way. My mother in law, Aubrey, Stephanie, and Penny were the attendees. We had a little gift exchange, played a few games, and sat around, snacked and chit chatted. What girls do best!

All in all it was a good day. After I finished cleaning up after the party we went and picked up Radar (who had been boarded for the party) and took him to PetsMart for his pictures with Santa. Of course Santa ended up being the 1 person in the world that Radar was scared of so the pictures aren't so great. Oh well, at least we got them!

When we got back to town a little later we grabbed some dinner and went and found a good spot to watch the Christmas parade. It was okay....it was kinda funny because I've been calling it a "Mexican Christmas Parade" and well, let's just say it lived up to it's name! At one point there was a collection of "low riders" whose horns honked like freight trains and other various annoying and illegal noises. Then shortly after that came the all upscale El Camino that was covered in Christmas lights. I'm really glad that we went though, it was fun and we took Radar (who hid his chicken nuggets in the backseat- so that was an adventure in itself) and just laughed at the whole event and had a good time.

When we got back home we built a fire and watched "The Christmas Story".

It has been a crazy busy day to say the least. So I guess this is what the holidays are like as an adult? Well pull a chair up for me because this Santa's Helper is about to crash!

Is this FoxNews or a James Bond Movie?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-11-23-spy-illness_x.htm?csp=34

This whole story about the ex-Russian spy who was poisoned by them using large amounts of nuclear radiation is just all unreal. I mean what's up with that? Yeah, I know he betrayed them and that sucks but haven't you people ever heard of a bullet to the head? Did you really feel the need to fly from Russia to London and poison him? It's just totally bizarre. Like I know that it's real, but it doesn't seem like it. And now they're saying people who came in contact with him may have it which totally sucks. Not to mention they haven't been able to open him up for an autopsy or anything due to the high amount of radiation.

But more than anything I want to personally thank CNN and FoxNews for covering the story so well. Yeah, you know because now Al Quida (sp?) knows all about how to spread a horrible deadly source and where to get it! Good going guys, thanks for keeping us all informed!