Why I Will Never Eat Again at McDonalds

I am back from vacation. One of the lowlights of the trip was McDonalds. Once upon a time, McDonalds was a brand where you could get a predictable product at a low price when you were in a hurry. It wasn't necessarily great, but it was filling and always tasted the same whether you ordered your Big Mac in Augusta, Maine or Sacramento, California.

But, things have been changing over the years. And not in a good way. The once spotless stores are now dingy and tired looking. The adult workers who used to flash a big sincere welcoming smile and a hello - who would eagerly ask for your order - have been replaced by poorly trained kids who barely speak English and who could give a crap if you had a nice day or not.

The term "Fast Food" once held the promise of a rapidly-filled order. In and Out. The Drive thru was a way to have it even faster - you did not even have to leave the comfort of your vehicle to get the luscuous cookin's from the famous grill.

Now, if you go through the Open 24 hours a day Drive Thru (Winona Judd's favorite eating venue) you are lucky if they can fill your order when you get to the delivery window. You must check the bag to make certain they got the order right. And you need to ask for napkins unless you prefer to wipe ketchup on your shirtsleeve.

Recently, there have been a lot of radio ads touting the new improved dark roast coffee. I thought I would try it. On two separate occasions, I was disappointed. The first time at the counter when I ordered, there was only 1/2 cup left in the pot. They asked me to wait while they brewed a fresh pot. Sure, I said, fresh coffee is worth waiting a few minutes for. When I got it, it tasted like mud. I surmized that they added the "fresh" coffee to the 1/2 cup of old coffee. I threw it in the trash. A few days later, we were rushing to get to the airport at 5am and we decided to stop for a cup of fresh, hot coffee. I went through the 24 drive thru. When the gave us the coffee, it was cold. The kid said he would start another pot. I said we are in a hurry thanks for nothing and we drove off. Never to return.

I have four calls on voicemail from headhunters wondering what my current status is.
That's a very good question. I have a long list of promised "honey-dos" to do. There is painting to be done, and cleaning of the garage, and staining the outdoor furniture.

And, it is getting to feel like Spring. The yard beckens.

But the lure of easy money, the fact that someone is interested in my "skills" and the sociability of working on a project calls to me like a siren to a sailer ...